Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (15 page)

Elanna morphed into Roxees.  “Fools.  They rush here to kill Elanna.”  She looked down at the dagger.  “Well, this may sting a bit.”  Roxees jabbed the dagger into her abdomen.  She twisted it, causing more and more blood to pour onto the floor.  Roxees took the dagger and placed it in Elanna’s hand.  She then lay down next to her and allowed her blood to pool on the floor.  She held up her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, Elanna came back to consciousness.  Roxees went limp and pretended to be unconscious.  Elanna screamed at the sight of the bleeding Roxees.  She then looked down at the dagger in her hand and her eyes widened.

The door burst open, Draken and his guards rushed into the room.  “How could you!” said Draken.  He looked to Roxees.  “You killed them!  You killed them all!”

Elanna dropped the dagger and screamed, “No!  No!  I don’t know what happened!”  She burst into tears.

Draken glared and pointed at Elanna.  “You’re a murderer!  You killed the Lord of Riverwood and the Countess of Abinburrow!”

Elanna shook her head.  “No… I couldn’t have!  I was in our chambers resting!  I woke up here!”

Draken shook his head and shouted, “Liar!  You killed Roxees too!  You ungrateful bitch!”

Elanna stared at Draken in silence.  Draken looked to a guard next to him.  He took the guard’s sword.  “After all these years, you betray me like this!  Now, I must kill you!”

Fear and sorrow overtook Elanna’s face.  “No, I didn’t.  I would have never betrayed you!  Please!  Don’t!”

Draken approached his wife.  He pushed the tip of his guard’s sword to her chest.  With a quiet voice, Draken spoke, “Elanna Draken, I find you guilty of three counts of murder and one count of treason for interference in the selection of the future King of Kynlynn.  I sentence you to death.”

Elanna wept and gasped for air.  “Please, I’m innocent.  Please.”

Draken pierced Elanna’s chest.  “I am sorry, my love.  May you find peace.”

Elanna looked at Draken with tears streaming from her eyes and blood dripping from her mouth.  She gasped for air and muttered her final words, “I forgive you…”  Her head fell forward into the grip of death.

Draken let out a scream filled with anger and sorrow.  He dropped to his knees in front of her.  “Why!  Why did you make me do this?”  He closed his eyes and dropped his head.  Roxees let out a cough and gasped for air.  Draken immediately leapt to her side.  “You’re alive!  Guards, hurry get a healer!  Now!”

Roxees slowly opened her eyes.  “No… No healer.”

“But,” said Draken.  “You will die!”

“No, I’ll be fine,” said Roxees.  She held her hand over the wound on her abdomen.  A faint red glow began to emit from her wound with the slight sound of a hum accompanying the eerie light.  Draken watched as the wound began to close and heal.

Roxees took a deep breath and sat up.  “That bitch almost killed me!  She was mad!”

Draken ran his hands down his face.  “What happened?”

Roxees laid her head against Draken’s shoulder.  “She burst in here and seemed upset.  I asked her what was wrong.  She approached me with such hate in her eyes.  She stabbed me.  Before I lost consciousness, she said, ‘If I can’t give my husband an heir, no one else will either.’  That was the last thing I remember until I woke a few moments ago.  Surely if I hadn’t, my magic would not have been able to save me.”

Draken stood, and a single tear escaped his eyes.  “The poor woman must have been driven mad with grief.  First, the loss of our son, then the inability to bear another.  Perhaps she is at peace now.”

Roxees stood and looked into Draken’s eyes.  “What happened?  Why did she come after me?”

Draken sighed.  “I… I’m not sure.  As you know, the Lord and Countess would not endorse me as King until meeting with my wife.  After she arrived, she burst out, admitting she was barren.  Then she… she killed them.”

Roxees smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow.  “So Lord Montu and Countess Ellenhar are dead?”

Draken nodded.  “Yes.  Ana’s throat was slit and Montu’s heart pierced.  Nothing we could have done.”

Roxees grinned and knelt before Draken.  She looked up at the guards and spoke loudly, “Kneel before the new King Kynlynn!  Long live King Tieren Draken the First!”

The guards immediately knelt before Draken as he looked around.  “But at what cost?  Montu will not be missed… but Ana was so young.  So much life unlived.”

“The cost has already been far too great, your majesty,” said Roxees, looking up to her King.  “How many lives have been lost to that magical beast because of your predecessor’s incompetence?  Now, we have a strong, bold King who will destroy the dragon at its source.”

Draken regretfully nodded.  “Rise now. All of you.”

Roxees and the guards stood before their new king.  “Now, my King,” said Roxees.  “You must show your strength.  What will your first action be?”

Draken looked to his guards, then to Roxees.  “I will show them what happens to anybody who works against Kynlynn.”  Draken looked to his wife’s corpse.  “Guards, take her corpse and hang it from the castle ramparts so word of what happens when their King is defied will spread across the land.”

Roxees smiled devilishly.  “Excellent, your Majesty.”

The guards grabbed Elanna’s corpse and began to drag it from the room.

Draken watched regretfully.  “I am sorry, Elanna.  I wish this did not have to be.”

“Hurry,” said Roxees. “I wish to address the King alone.”

The guards left the chamber, leaving Roxees and Draken alone.

Roxees stepped closer to Draken.  “There is a matter that remains unattended, your Majesty.”

“And that is?” Draken asked.

Roxees leaned in to Draken’s ear and whispered, “You need an heir, my King.”

Draken quickly stepped back from Roxees.  “You bring this up moments after I have executed my wife?”

Roxees looked Draken over.  “I mean no disrespect, Your Majesty.”  Roxees smiled.  “Might I suggest you take me as your queen?”

“My wife is barely a few moments dead,” said Draken.  “And you suggest this? Why?”

Roxees giggled.  “First of all, a sorceress as your queen with the power to cripple entire armies in moments would serve you well.”  Roxees ran her hands down her breasts and to her hips.  “Secondly, look at my body.  You have lusted after it since the day I first came to Allendale.  You cannot deny it.  Even your wife noticed.”

Draken stared at her intently.  Roxees bit her lip and stepped closer to Draken.  She took his hand, placing it upon her breasts and slowly sliding it down her body to her groin.  “Feel how supple, warm, and youthful I am.  I have not aged a day since we met, and I assure you, I am fertile and perfectly capable of giving you a son.”

Draken trembled.  “Yes… That I cannot deny.”  He was completely mesmerized and enthralled by her every word.

Roxees leaned in to Draken’s ear once again and whispered, “Then, it is settled, my love.  I will be your queen.”

Evening fell upon the castle in Allendale.  Roxees sat upon her bed, waiting to be summoned.

A guard entered her room and bowed before her.  “My lady, the King is ready for you.”

Roxees smiled at the guard.  “Thank you.  Now, leave me.  I shall arrive momentarily.”

The guard nodded and left the room.  Roxees stood and proceeded to leave her chambers.  “All is falling into place.  Soon I will be the queen and the supreme leader of this pathetic kingdom.  Lord Commander Dreathous shall be pleased.” Roxees entered the throne room to see many members of the nobility and peasants alike looking upon the throne.  She walked across the room to Draken, now wearing a bejeweled crown.  He took Roxees’ hand into his and softly kissed her cheek.

The two turned to face the crowd before them.  Draken spoke in a thunderous voice, “Amidst the tragedy that has befallen us this day, it is with my deepest sympathy and honor to stand before you all as your new king.”

Roxees rolled her eyes and smiled to the crowd.  “What a dramatic fool,” she said to herself.

“We have all lost someone close to us in the recent years,” said Draken.  “The winged black devil has caused widespread terror and destruction of our lands, our homes, our families.  I vow to end that filth once and for all!  By tracking down the enemy in the shadows that unleashed it upon us!”  The crowd erupted into applause at their king’s words.

Roxees grinned devilishly but contained her laughter.

“The Elves, who were thought to be extinct,” said Draken.  “Nothing more than a myth, exist in the shadows of our lands and are waging a war against us!  They unleashed this dreadful creature upon us… and for that… they will all suffer!”  Once again, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

Roxees continued smiling amidst Draken’s words.

“As my first act as your king,” said Draken.  “I hereby take Lady Roxees as my wife and queen.”

A guard approached the two, carrying a decorative pillow.  Upon that pillow lay a silver tiara lavishly decorated with diamonds.  The guard kneeled before them.  Draken took the tiara and placed it upon Roxees’ head.

Draken looked to the crowd.  “Now, kneel!  Swear fealty to your queen!”  The crowd quickly kneeled and lowered their heads.

Roxees continued grinning, knowing the people would now obey her with no resistance.

Draken looked to the crowd and shouted, “Long live the Queen!”

The crowd replied in thunderous unison, “Long live the Queen!”

Roxees smiled.  “Rise!”  The crowd quickly stood and looked upon their devilish new queen.  Roxees momentarily bowed before them.  “It is with my greatest honor that I accept the role as wife and queen to our beloved King Tieren Draken.  I am also your queen!  I will do everything within my power to ensure safety and prosperity for our kingdom!”  The crowd erupted thunderously in cheers and applause.

Draken pointed to the doors of the throne room. “Now!  Go forth and spread word to all corners of Kynlynn of what you have witnessed here this evening!”

The crowd bowed and spoke in unison, “My King!”

Draken placed his hands on Roxees’ hips and pulled her close to him.  “After all these years, tonight you are mine.”

Roxees gripped his sides tightly and pulled him against her.  She looked at him and bit her lip.  “No, my King.  Tonight you are mine.”

Draken shuddered with anticipation.  He took Roxees’ hand and began to lead her from the throne room.  They journeyed through the castle, up flight after flight of stairs until they finally reached the King’s royal chambers.  Draken opened the large wooden door, allowing Roxees to enter first.  Roxees looked around the room.  It was littered with Darken’s personal possessions, and drapery decorated the walls.  Roxees looked at the very large bed, made up with white silk sheets.  Draken shut the door behind him and approached the bed.

“Sit, my love,” said Roxees in a seductive voice.  “Remove those awful garments as well.”

Draken smirked at her while he quickly removed his clothing.  He lay back on the center of the bed, eyeing Roxees.  She stood at the foot of the bed, licking her lips as she undid her skimpy top.  It fell to the floor, revealing her ample breasts.  Draken looked upon Roxees, intoxicated by her beauty.  She slowly began to slide her bottoms down revealing herself to Draken.

Draken stared at Roxees.  “Come to me, now.”

“As you wish, your Majesty,” said Roxees.

She crawled slowly on top of Draken.  Roxees kissed up his abdomen and chest slowly.  She let out an intoxicating moan of pleasure.  Then, she leaned in to Draken, her lips finally meeting his.  Draken’s eyes widened as a painful sensation shot through his body.  The air became frigid.  He attempted to scream out in pain, but was unable to make a sound.  Draken struggled to move, but he was paralyzed.

Roxees sat up on top of the vulnerable Draken.  “Now, Your Majesty, I’m going to tell you a secret.”  Draken looked at her in silence.  “From the day I first set foot in your kingdom, my plan was to have it all for myself. 
I
made you lust after me. 
I
made your wife jealous. 
I
manipulated that poor wretch, Sarath, into murdering your son,” said Roxees, giggling.  Draken looked on in horror, a single tear escaping one eye.  “Your wife did not kill those fool humans.  I did.  Of course, you would have no idea about that.  I can take any form I wish.  I made you execute your own wife.”  Roxees laughed hysterically.  “You didn’t even grieve!  You immediately wed me, hoping to finally bask in the gloriousness of this body!  Now, I am your queen and the sole heir to this kingdom when you die!  To beat all, you believed that fool story about the Elves.”  Roxees looked up for a moment, then smiled.  “Well, mostly foolish.  They do exist, but they certainly did not unleash that dragon.  And they would not be your enemy… but your closest ally!  But, would you like to know my deepest darkest secret, your Majesty?”  Draken looked up at her, his mind racing with fear, regret, and anger.  “Of course you would,” said Roxees.  She leaned down to him, running her tongue up the side of his neck to his ear.  Roxees whispered, “I am the dragon.”

She rose back up as the amulet hanging around her neck began to glow. Draken’s eyes widened, but he was still unable to move. Roxees leapt back from the bed into the air.  She spread her arms as they began to take the shape of the dragon’s wings.  Roxees morphed into the terrifying dragon before the paralyzed Draken.  Her massive form broke through the roof of the castle, sending stones flying upon the town.  She let out a terrifying shriek.  Roxees grabbed Draken with her mouth.  Jagged teeth tore into his flesh.  She snapped her mouth, killing Draken and leaving his body in tatters.  Roxees dropped his body on the bed and quickly returned to her human form.  She leapt onto the bed and rolled in his blood. Roxees grinned before letting out a terrified scream.  Guards immediately burst into the room.  They peered upon the debris littering the room and the massive opening the dragon had made.

Roxees began crying uncontrollably and screamed, “The dragon!  The dragon killed the King!  My husband!”  The guards quickly rushed to Roxees’ side.  She looked to them and swung her arms frantically.  “Get away from me!  Ready fifty soldiers!  Go now! Get away!  Leave me to grieve in peace!”

The guards brought their right arms across their chests.  “Yes, my queen,” they said.

They all retreated from the room.  Roxees held the mangled corpse of King Draken in her arms tightly as she sobbed.  Then, her sobs turned into laughter.  “Long live the King.”  Roxees looked to the sky.  “I must inform my Lord Commander of my success.”  Her amulet began to glow again, and she morphed into a black crow and flew from the castle toward Dawn’s Grasp Valley.  Her wingspan lengthened while feathers shed, and she morphed back into the dragon.  Roxees flew swiftly, crossing the Telindells.  Upon entering the valley, she saw that the land was now barren.  Small camp fires littered the entire valley.  The Dalronian legion lined the valley, hundreds of thousands of them, waiting anxiously to begin the siege upon Zaneen.  The base of the mountains had been carved back from excessive mining.  Upon the coast of the Eternal Sea sat a large dreadful fortress forged from black stone.  Roxees flew toward the roof of the fortress.  She came to land just as Dreathous emerged onto the roof.  The dragon bowed down before the Dalronian Commander.  She shifted back into her true self, her long white hair flowing over her shoulders.  Roxees smiled, showing her fangs as she looked upon Dreathous with her wicked red eyes.

Dreathous looked down upon Roxees with an emotionless face.  “You return after six and a half years.  I hope for your sake you bring news of success.”

“I do, my Lord Commander,” she said.  “First, I would like to say that I like what you have done with the place.”

“I thought you might,” said Dreathous.  “I call it Dreath-hold.”

Roxees smirked.  “Being a bit vain?”

“Not at all,” said Dreathous.  “Soon the name Dreathous will strike terror into the heart of Zaneen, just as it did in Dalron when I took control.”

“Indeed it shall,” said Roxees.

“Rise, my loyal General,” said Dreathous.  Roxees stood, looking upon Dreathous intently.  Dreathous glared at her.  “Now for the news you bring.  Speak.”

Roxees gave him a malicious smile.  “I am now the Queen of Kynlynn.  My husband, the King, has fallen to the monstrous dragon unleashed upon the land by the Elves.  At first light, I will order fifty soldiers north to the outpost that has harbored the boy.  We will take revenge for our fallen King and slaughter them all.”

Dreathous looked at her for a moment, then turned away.  He started to laugh sadistically.  “Well done!  After the boy is dead, we march on Kynlynn and make some of the lesser humans our own and treat the rest of Kynlynn as our cattle.  Then, we extinguish every human and elf alike!”  He began laughing again, thinking of the blood that he would spill.  “Then, the magic of this world will be ours, all ours!  Dalron will be reborn anew!”

Roxees smiled.  “Yes, my Lord Commander.  I thought you would be pleased!”

“Indeed I am,” said Dreathous.  “Now go, accompany your soldiers.  When the boy is dead, bring me the sword and then we march!”

“As you wish, my Lord Commander,” said Roxees.  She bowed and morphed back into her dragon form.  Roxees spread her wings and took flight, heading back to Kynlynn.

Roxees walked into her throne room as dawn approached.  Before her stood fifty well-armed soldiers eager for battle.  They all bowed down.  “Rise,” said Roxees.  “Today we exact vengeance for the murder of our king, my husband, and every other poor soul that has fallen to the Elves.”  The soldiers shouted eagerly.  “To the north,” said Roxees.  “Beyond the eastern borders of Abinburrow and Allendales northern border, you will find the Elves well hidden in a stone outpost concealed by the vegetation of the forest.  Slaughter every last one of them!  Now go!”

The soldiers shouted and began marching from the throne room.  Roxees left the throne room and returned to her chamber.  From the balcony, she watched while horses carried her soldiers into the distance.  “Fools.  So eager to do my bidding.”  Her amulet glowed as she morphed into the crow and followed them.