Our deepest Truth with each other, found.
9
GIFT
Bjorn’s father, Jarl Oggi Magnussen, seethes as Bjorn turns his back on him. But there’s nothing he can do now that we’ve passed our Trial and proved our Truth to this assembly of witnesses from the Magnussen Clan, not to mention our last-minute Eriksson supporters. As Bjorn ignores his father now, we come into a huddle on the ice with Jarl Jorg. Still in their dragon forms, the rest of our Eriksson protectors keep Jarl Oggi and his guards out of our discussion.
As Bjorn takes point, ready for what comes next.
“We need to speak with Captain Olander to get back all the ceremonial items we found in the underground altar atUnhaemmerten.” Bjorn regards us. “We need to see if any of it might help us wherever we’re going next to find the Black Dragon.”
“I don’t know where you’re headed eventually, but where you’re going first is back to the Old Palace, with us.” Jarl Jorg Eriksson steps forward now as he claps Bjorn’s shoulder, then nods to Ström and me. Turning, he hails Captain Olander Mortensen as if the Magnussen’s border-captain is known to him. “Captain Mortensen! Please escort us to the place you’ve stored the items from that altar beneathUnhaemmerten. My Jarl-Heir andhis mates need those items to investigate the Black Dragon for our King. Then we’ll head to the border and be out of your scales. Dining at the Old Palace by sundown tonight.”
I see Captain Olander Mortensen hesitate, however, as he glances at his Jarl. He knows there’s going to be hell to pay if he does as this rival Jarl has asked, against the wishes of his own.
But though Jarl Oggi snarls as his dragon at Captain Olander to stay put, I see the Captain’s gaze flick to the elder drakaina up on her boulder throne. As I look, I see her nod; whoever she is, she’s given him permission to overstep their Jarl in this matter.
Captain Olander Mortensen comes to us now—joining us in the line of lean, menacing Eriksson dragons.
“Come.” Captain Olander nods to us. “Shift up and we’ll fly to the storage cache where the items from the altar were secured. Then I’ll escort you to the Eriksson border.”
“Do this, and be banished from our clan, Captain.” Jarl Oggi’s voice is clear as a bell in my mind as he snarls, furious now, raking a talon across the ice.
“Do this, and find support from your Knights for it.” The old drakaina rises from her boulder throne. As she stands tall, seven others in the circle of thrones stand with her. Formidable Magnussens all, their power thunders through the small glacial valley, sending boulders crashing down to the lake from the steep mountains all around.
“Traitors!” Jarl Oggi’s snarl is more vicious than just about anything I’ve ever heard, as he roars at them.
“True.” The old drakaina is firm as she stares him down. “Remember who the real power is amongst our people, Jarl. And that we have one mission, and one mission, only—to stop the Black Demon, wherever it arises. Or have you forgotten our most ancient ways, my Jarl? And why the Magnussen bloodline was so specifically honed to breed only the strongest dragonsover the ages?”
As she speaks, I realize this old drakaina and the seven standing with her are part of the Black Dragon Knights.
And that they know a far deeper tale of the Knights than any I’ve heard before.
As she looks at me now, the look she gives me could core diamonds. “You, young Bloodwalker. Go, with the blessing of Aesa, gifted to you alone among countless others who have pursued it over the ages. For she understands you are the one who can bring down this terror of the ancients—something we have long feared rising again in the world. You and I will speak anon, if fate wills it. If not, know that my name is Svanhild Magnussen. I am the Mouth of Aesa—she who is the Mother of the True Black Dragon Knights. Go, you and your mates, with your protectors. Know that Aesa is with you, forever close to your breast. Call upon her when you have need of her vast inner knowing. And she will help you… I am certain of it.”
As the old drakaina Svanhild speaks, I know we’ve gained an ally of enormous magnitude, in addition to Aesa’s strange and formidable gift. But it’s time to go; I don’t know if we’ll ever see Svanhild again, though I have a feeling Oggi Magnussen won’t be able to bring her down, even though he’d like to, as he snarls at her now.
But I understand that she’s somehow part of theoriginalBlack Dragon Knights, formed ages ago to defeat and kill the Black Dragon, rather than whatever else they became later. Placing a hand over my heart, I bow deeply to her, and feel the silver gem in my chest thrum.
She sets her hand on her chest also, giving me a deep nod back.
And then it’s time to shift as we launch up, flying away from the basin, our Trial of Truth finished. It feels incredible to take to the skies as my dragon with my drakes beside me now, free at last from all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced in these Magnussen lands over the past few days.
I don’t have any magic-restraining manacles on now, and Captain Olander has all our things in a fly-bag, so my talons are unhindered as Ifly. I roar in triumph as I surge up into the clear mid-afternoon skies, and Bjorn and Ström echo me; all the Erikssons do, Jarl Jorg the loudest of all, despite his small frame.
As we wing high over the mountains and out of the Trial’s valley, I can’t help but glance back, however, seeing the swath of white ice and the blue hole of the lake below.
Something inside me hums now, as if some part of me is mournful to be leaving this place; with a snort, I touch a talon to my chest, feeling the silver stone embedded there whirl with power. Though that stone singes me like a burn, it also feels warm in the frigid high north day. I somehow know the ancient drakaina Aesa is with me now, alive inside that gem.
Mourning leaving her bones.
My dragon feels it, too, with our deepest instinctual knowing, though we try to puzzle out how Aesa’s essence is instilled in that stone and fail. The feeling of sadness vanishes now, though, as we pass the rim of the mountains and the lake-valley disappears from view. We’re flying onward, my drakes and I, supported by a powerful host as we get a royal escort back to the Magnussen border.
No thanks to Jarl Oggi—and all the ways he tried to kill us.
It leaves my mind now, however, as we fly over mountain range after mountain range. I’d had trouble breathing when we first flew up to these austere heights; now, I just feel invigorated, as I roar to the skies, feeling the glory of the high north day all around me.
Sunlight sparkles off the glaciers; the wind is fresh and cold, and something inside me has been renewed by whatever healing took place with Bjorn, Ström, and me after we passed Aesa’s Trial. I feel brand-new, ready to take on anything as I barrel roll and dive now, playing on the wind as we fly.
