SWNOVELS Chapter 26
WITHOUT ANCHOR
CYRUS TOOK EDWARD FROM Fibian’sopen palm.
“Edward, wake up. Edward?”
Cyrus rubbed his best friend’s back. The spider did not stir. If Edward dies, I’ll be all alone in the middle of King knows where. He looked to Fibian.
“What do we do? Will he live?”
“I think so,” Fibian replied, collecting the spent arrow from Drache’s eye and gathering up Cyrus’ fur hat, “He just needs a little time to recover.”
The dragon’s carcass shifted and groaned as scales and sand settled within the bubbling pool.
“What happened?” Cyrus asked, making his way over to the shore, “How did he end up buried inside the dragon’s remains?”
“We will have to wait until he wakes to find out,” Fibian said, “Come, we must build a fire to avoid your blood running cold. And while on the subject of blood,” the froskman pulled the pinky-sized, glass vial from around his neck.
“What is that?” Cyrus asked, dreading the answer.
The vial was blood smudged. Cyrus inspected the swirling liquid within. He swore he could almost see fiery phosphorescence dance and spark against the glass tube.
“Dragon’s blood,” Fibian replied.
“You took it from Drache?”
Cyrus stepped back.
“It was not difficult,” Fibian said, gesturing to his blood-spattered body.
“You don’t expect me to drink that, do you?” Cyrus asked.
“There may come a time, young Master, when you do not have a choice.”
***
WHEN THE GLOW OF THE SUN vanished, and the moon began to rise, Cyrus and Fibian were sat around a crackling fire, drying themselves in its warmth.
“Come on, Edward, wake up,” Cyrus said, shivering in his underwear, petting the spider curled up in the palm of his hand.
The flames toasted one half of Cyrus’ body, while the night air froze the other. His clothes were drying beside him along a log.
“Give him time,” Fibian said, “He is still breathing. He will be all right.”
“What are we going to do?” Cyrus asked, desperation in his voice, “We’re trapped on this island, and Rorroh must know we’re nearby.”
“Our plan remains the same,” Fibian said, inspecting the remaining arrows, “Tomorrow we will make for that fishing village to the west. There we can find a boat and head north in search of the yeti ourselves.”
“Won’t sailing north be dangerous?” Cyrus asked, “And what if Drache was lying about the yeti?”
“Sailing north will be very dangerous,” Fibian said, “But I believe the yeti to be real, and staying here within reach of the Warrior Witch is sure death.”
Cyrus could not think of an alternative. He just sat beside the licking flames, his belly grumbling as he studied the sleeping spider balled up in his hand.
“You do not think you can defeat Rorroh, do you?” Fibian asked, his eyes aglow in the darkness.
“How could I?” Cyrus said, “She’s immortal and far more powerful than I am. I don’t even know how to fight.”
“It is true that no mortal hand will ever take her from the seas,” Fibian replied, “but it is your destiny to end her reign over this world. You will destroy the form in which her tainted soul rules. You will cast her adrift to wander the oceans without harbor or anchor. And you will do this because you have love in your heart, and all she has left is hate.”
Cyrus stared at Fibian for a long moment.
“Love?” he finally asked, “Love? How the Angels will love help me against an ancient, ax-wielding witch with black magic, immortality, and monsters on her side? Are you insane?”
“What if Rorroh appeared right here and now?” Fibian asked, “What would you do?”
“I would run,” Cyrus said, his skinny arms goose-pimpled.
“What if you were back on your island and Rorroh stood between you and your home?”
“She could have it,” Cyrus replied, “I would still run.”
“But what if Edward were inside the home?” Fibian added.
Cyrus thought about that. His breath quickened. He could not just leave Edward to die.
“And what if Edward was not alone?” Fibian continued, “What if your brother was alive and at his side?”
Cyrus felt a bubbling anger rise in his belly.
“My brother is dead,” he said, fighting to keep his voice steady.
“Even now you can sense the great strength love lends you,” Fibian said, “You will defeat her because of your love for Edward, and because of the love you feel towards your people.”
“My people tried to kill me,” Cyrus shouted, “I hate them. I’ll never risk my life to help them!”
But what about Sarah? Cyrus thought. Surely she doesn’t deserve to die.
He heard a small coughing noise.
“Master Edward has decided to join the conversation,” Fibian said, his voice calm.
“Edward, are you okay?” Cyrus asked, holding the spider close to his face.
“What happened?” Edward asked.
“The dragon tried to double-cross us, and we crashed. I lost you during the fall. Then Fibian found you near the dragon’s dead body.”
Cyrus saw Edward’s confusion turn to fear.
“Do not be afraid, little one,” Fibian said, “You did the right thing. You saved Master Cyrus’ and my life.”
Edward said nothing. He just shook ever so slightly in Cyrus’ slender palm.
“What are you talking about?” Cyrus asked, “What did Edward do?”
His best friend would not look him in the eye. Cyrus turned to Fibian. The froskman stared knowingly back.
“Wait,” Cyrus stammered, “Are you saying that Edward killed the dragon?”
“You did, did you not?” Fibian asked Edward.
“I don’t know what happened,” Edward finally said, “After the crash I found myself clinging to Drache. He was trying to kill Cyrus. I was terrified, and then I became angry. I lost my temper. I don’t remember much after that.”
“My guess is that the blodbad in you took over,” Fibian said, “You bit into his exposed scar tissue and killed him.”
“You killed a dragon,” Cyrus said, bewildered, “I never would have thought that possible.”
“I’m so sorry,” Edward started to cry, “I never wanted to hurt anyone.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Fibian said, “You saved our lives.”
Cyrus saw Edward in a whole new light. A killer. A hero. He owed him his life. But Cyrus could not help the fear he felt.
“Am I evil?” Edward asked, his round eyes watery.
“No,” Fibian replied, “You are unique among your kind. Be proud of that fact, for even now, the Warrior Witch’s wrath works against her in you.”
Cyrus flushed with shame. He wanted to give his best friend a hug, tell him that everything was going to be all right, tell him he loved him. But something held him back. They had to focus on getting to the fishing village. They had to escape north and elude Rorroh.
“You did good,” Cyrus finally said, stroking Edward’s back, “You did really good.”
A cold shiver ran up Cyrus’ spine, as the yellow skull on the spider’s body glared back at him.