The Last of the Firedrakes (12 page)

“The what?” I said, looking down at the small gold medallion that I had worn around my neck for as long as I could remember. Was he serious? First he didn’t believe me, now he thought I was some legendary fae-mage.

“I will tell you everything you need to know, but we have one more thing to do before we begin,” said the duke. “Take off your amulet for just a moment, although not for long, because it’s what keeps Morgana from finding you with magic.”

“Are you sure?” I asked skeptically. “And what if I take it off and Morgana finds me here?”

“It doesn’t work that fast. You have to have it off for a certain amount of time for Morgana to find you, and even then she has to be looking at exactly that moment.”

I hesitated. I had never taken the amulet off before; somehow I never felt the need to. I even kept it on while I slept. It was all that connected me to my birth parents. They had given it to me for my protection, and it had kept me safe from Morgana for all these years.

“Don’t be afraid, Aurora,” said the duke kindly. “I only want to test the intensity of your powers, so we know what we are dealing with. Just the presence of that amulet around your neck tells me that you are indeed telling the truth.”

I hesitated, but I removed the amulet and put it down on the table in front of me. I glanced down at my hands. They had started tingling, and then slowly a strange light started seeping out of my palms. It was as if I was lighting up from the inside. Soon my whole right hand had started glowing with an iridescent, blue-white light. I was stunned. I really did have magic.

“That, my dear, is truly a remarkable sight to behold,” was all the duke said, as he stared at me. “Please, put the amulet back on now, Aurora, that is more than enough.”

I slipped the chain round my neck. The amulet rested heavy against my chest, and the light that had infused my body went out.

“Like I said before,” said the duke, “there have been instances when a child has taken on both powers. It is very rare, and you are the only fae-mage to have been born in over a thousand years.”

“A thousand years! Are you serious?” I blurted out.

The duke looked amused. “Yes, I am very serious, Aurora. Your powers are probably unsurpassable, but you will have to learn how to use them, or it could lead to disaster. A fae-mage who cannot control both her mage and fae powers is a threat to herself and to the world around her. For now, tell no one what we have discovered here. I will let you get settled in and then we will begin lessons to help you learn to wield your magic.”

He suddenly got up from his chair and came over with his arms outstretched. I stood up awkwardly as the duke enveloped me in a big bear hug. Unexpected, happy tears pooled in my eyes as I hugged him back.

“Welcome back, Aurora,” said the duke, stepping back, but still holding on to both my arms and looking at me, as if he was seeing me for the first time.

“Thank you, um . . . Duke,” I said, a little embarrassed at the sudden affection. Ever since my adoptive parents died, I had forgotten what it was like to have someone actually care about me.

The duke laughed, a happy, deep rumble. “Call me Uncle Gabriel from now on, Aurora—after all, we are family.”

10

Silverthorne Castle

Uncle Gabriel summoned a plump maid who was to show me to my room.

“Now you must rest,” he said. “It’s been a long ordeal for you, and I am sure you will be glad to have a decent bed to sleep in. Tomorrow my daughter, Serena, and my grandson, Erien, will be visiting for a while. It is fortuitous, as now you can meet the rest of your family. Herring here will show you to your room.”

I thanked my granduncle and followed Herring. She led me down many long corridors. Some were small and draughty, with dark stone walls and slits for windows, and some were brighter and wider with high ceilings, where large open arches lined the corridors and the walls were covered from ceiling to floor with beautiful tapestries. We crossed small, enclosed courtyards, and long, open walkways, through huge echoing halls, and up the main stairs to the second floor of the east wing of Silverthorne Castle.

I tried to remember how I got there. It would be quite a task getting around a castle this huge. I was sure I would get lost before I could manage to find my way around without effort.

I was just too tired to take in the rest of my surroundings. When I reached my room, I wobbled over to the bed and fell asleep almost immediately, without changing my clothes.

When I woke up, I was disoriented. I had no idea what the time was, and for a moment I couldn’t even remember where I was. This was the first time I had slept so soundly. The dream had not returned, and I hoped it never would again.

I looked over to see the same young maid bustling about the huge room quietly, doing some chores. Then I remembered the mages, the fae, the dungeon, and Silverthorne Castle. Oh no! It hadn’t been a dream. I really was in a strange magical land where nothing made sense, and now was the time to face reality. I racked my sleepy brain for the girl’s name.

“What time is it, Herring?” I asked politely as I sat up in my massive four-poster bed.

“Oh you’re up, my lady,” said Herring, coming over to the bed. “It is now evening and time for supper.”

I looked around. Herring had opened the heavy velvet curtains surrounding the bed, and muted sunlight streamed in through a large open window. Sumptuous rugs covered the white stone floors, brightening the enormous room. Ornate mahogany dressers and a few luxurious chairs were scattered about, completing the space. I was shocked; I had slept the whole day! And now I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

“Would you like me to run you a bath?” said Herring.

I got out of my bed and followed her over to a curtained doorway.

The bathroom was a cavernous room, with beautiful arched windows adorned with thick green velvet curtains with a gold trim. A huge marble bath with a silver fountain shaped like a water sprite with a jug lay proudly in the center of the room. A green silk daybed strewn with comfortable, colorful cushions lay along one wall. There was an alcove, which expertly hid the garderobe, a medieval-style toilet.

I hadn’t really thought of all the bitter realities, and now this was one of them. The garderobe was in the shape of a huge high-backed chair; I had read about them in history class. It was not as rustic as a real medieval privy. It was very clean, and it didn’t smell at all. In fact, it was quite comfortable. And I knew most people didn’t have the luxury of privacy, as typically medieval toilets were communal. At least it looked like the castle had some sort of drainage system.

Next to it was another room. As I pulled back the heavy, emerald-green curtains that separated the rooms, I gasped. The room beside the bathroom was just as large and filled from top to bottom with some of the most beautiful clothes, slippers, and boots that I had ever seen. I looked up and down at the endless rows of clothes. They were just too beautiful and all my size. There were gorgeous silk dresses, exquisitely adorned with flowers, butterflies and vines and stunning pale chiffon dresses, which were worn with long fitted coats that were buttoned down the front but slit open from the waist, so that the swirling chiffon could be seen.

I ventured further into the vast closet, touching all the clothes with the tips of my fingers as I admired the wonders I had just discovered. I had never seen such wonderfully crafted, soft leather boots. Some were for riding and others were daintier and could be worn under dresses. There were also riding clothes, breeches, and long-sleeved doublets specially made for women. Plainly put, it was everything that I could ever need if I lived here.

“The duke will be expecting you in the great hall soon, milady,” said Herring.

I was so taken aback by everything that I didn’t have time to process all that had happened. It was only when I soaked my tired body in the huge bathtub that I thought about what this all meant.

Everything had changed. This wasn’t like going off to boarding school or to college. There were no rules to follow, no way to know if what I was doing was right. Who to trust? Who should I stay away from? My granduncle seemed nice enough, and later that night I would be meeting other members of my father’s family, my aunt Serena and young cousin Erien.

I wondered if they would they like me. Was Uncle Gabriel going to tell them I was a fae-mage?

There were just too many things to think about, so I quickly got out of the tub, dried myself off with a thick and extremely soft muslin cloth that Herring had given me as a towel, and hurriedly dressed myself in a simple, rose-pink silk gown. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever owned.

Avalonia didn’t seem so bad after all, I thought, as I studied myself in the mirror. I had let Herring have her way with my hair since she insisted on doing it up for me. She had seemed distraught that I wanted to do my own hair and dress myself. I was pleased that I had let her do it in the end; it made a real difference to my appearance.

The rose-pink dress fit me perfectly, and it was bound about my waist with a thick gold sash weighted on the ends with real rubies. My dark hair, usually straggly and tied roughly in a ponytail, was washed and combed and held back from my face with elegant pins, and small, white flowers had been artfully woven into it.

I could hardly recognize myself.

Aunt Serena came to see me in my room. She was tall and beautiful with warm blue eyes and long hair the color of fresh honey. She immediately came up to me and hugged me fiercely, then looked me up and down and hugged me again. I have to say I was secretly happy with all the attention.

“I’m so glad that the clothes fit you,” she said warmly. “My father kept my whole room and wardrobe intact when I got married. None of it fits me now, so I’m happy someone can make use of it.”

“Thank you, Aunt Serena,” I said. “The clothes are really beautiful. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all, my dear,” she said, giving me a big hug. “That’s what family is for.”

I was touched. She had only known me for a few minutes, but Aunt Serena treated me so kindly.

“My father told me what happened to you,” said Aunt Serena in a softer voice, after she had dismissed Herring. She looked at me in wonder. “I can’t believe it, Azaren and Elayna’s daughter, and a fae-mage on top of it all. My father was right, you do look a lot like Azaren.”

I smiled at that. Aunt Serena was cheery and warm. She seemed a wonderful person, and I already felt quite at home.

“Well, it appears that you have been a busy little lady since you got here,” said Aunt Serena, smiling and putting her arm around my shoulders. “Father says your story is very intriguing. You can tell me all about it while we go down for supper.”

I nodded and accompanied Aunt Serena down the castle corridors to the main hall where a feast was being held.

The great hall was massive and filled with people. Long wooden tables and benches lay interspaced across the room. The hall was packed to bursting point, and raucous laughter and the clink and tinkle of plates and mugs filled the air. There were people eating and talking, and a scruffy looking group of musicians were playing a lively melody in one corner of the vast room.

I followed Aunt Serena to the other end of the hall, where a wooden dais stood. Uncle Gabriel was already there. Sitting next to him, on his left, were two men I had never seen before, and the duke introduced them to me.

First I met Lord Larney, the thin one who looked like a crow. He had oily, black hair, which was thinning at the temples, and his nose was pointy and reminded me of a beak. The second man, who had not looked up from his food, was Sir Gothero, and I thought that he looked like a fat, angry toad. His face was red and splotchy, and he ate his food with his hands, oblivious to the droplets of sauce dribbling down his massive double chin.

I disliked them both at first sight.

Uncle Gabriel introduced me as his ward, who had come to visit from another kingdom. He had explained to me earlier that no one must know who I really was. The two men got up and bowed, first to Aunt Serena.

“My lady,” said the one who looked like a crow, in a slick voice. The fat, toad-like fellow mumbled something incoherent and planted a sloppy kiss on Aunt Serena’s hand. She had to discreetly wipe it on her skirt. Aunt Serena nodded at them and sat down on her father’s right, with me seated next to her.

I smiled and nodded at the two already drunk men. They didn’t seem to be too interested in me, and I was thankful for that.

I glanced at Uncle Gabriel. He had given up listening to the ramblings of the insipid Lord Larney, and was busy eating his food, spearing the contents of his plate with a small, sharp dagger.

I looked down at my plate. I was famished, and Aunt Serena had piled my plate with everything that the blue-and-gold-liveried pages were serving. It included small game pies with golden crusts, fresh breads, sliced meat, and cheeses that were quite different from those I had eaten before, but nonetheless quite delicious. There was a fish dish in a citrus sauce, roast duck and venison with some delicious looking vegetables, and a whole roast boar, which was carried through the hall by four plate bearers. I wondered how I was possibly going to eat so much food, but I was quite happy to give it my best shot.

Suddenly, a handsome young boy, slightly older than me, arrived huffing and puffing. His fine, blond hair kept flopping onto his face as he pushed it away irritably only to have it fall back into his heavy-lashed, blue eyes all over again.

“Sorry I’m late, Mother,” he said and sat down next to me.

Aunt Serena gave him a fierce look. “And where have you been, young man?”

My blond cousin laughed jovially. “Oh, just catching up with some old friends,” he said, as he started eating immediately.

“Can you at least have the decency to greet our guest before you stuff your face?” said Aunt Serena, softly but sternly to Erien.

He turned, embarrassed. “Greetings. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady,” said Erien formally, suddenly remembering his manners.