Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 17
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 16/Chapter 18//Masterpost
It was still dark when Virgil woke up. She couldn’t remember why, the traces of her dream taking flight the second her eyes opened. The idea of getting up was far off in her mind, not when she was this warm, what must be Laurus nudged against her side.
How had she fallen asleep, anyways? The last thing Virgil remembered was insomnia, racing thoughts. So she’d gotten out of bed, and come into…Roman’s room. Where she’d talked with them for a while before falling asleep and…
Oh. That was definitely Roman’s head. Virgil reconsidered her stance on staying in bed. The last thing she wanted was somebody to come in here to wake Roman up and find her. She was certain that that would be mortifying. Taking care not to disturb her sleeping friend, Virgil got out of the bed and tiptoed back to her room.
Well, at least she’d gotten some sleep. Still half-awake, Virgil went back to sleep—in her bed, this time. Laurus had taken over the middle of her bed, so she pushed him to the side and settled in.
***
Jessie woke her up in the morning, throwing the room into light, and she got up in record time. For the first time since the dragon had showed up in Straith, she had a good night of sleep, and most of it was due to Roman. Somehow, around them, she had just…calmed down. She supposed that talking about her problems (for once in her life) helped, but maybe there was something else.
It was ridiculously early when she woke up, and Jessie appeared to have slept well. Their rainbow-haired chaperone rambled about how excited she was to go on this adventure, and how much she missed her family. Having nothing better to do than awkwardly interact with Roman, Virgil joined in, surprised to find herself with enough energy to match the bounce in Jessie’s step. Laurus was much more tired, opting for Roman’s shoulder over hers.
Their bags were already packed and taken away to the ship, which meant that they were going to get to do “all sorts of team-building activities!” in Jessie’s words when they all met the captain of the ship. As much as Virgil found Jessie to be endearing, the thought of talking to Roman in front of other people was enough to make her hurl herself off the side of the ship. She focused on carrying Gray’s case down the path to the docks first.
Fortunately, their captain, who introduced himself as Mac, was not interested in team-building activities.
“I have places to be, and I don’t have the time to play games when it is still nighttime and I have stuff to do,” he said when Jessie suggested it, hands on his hips and eyebrows fully raised. “You can go hang out in the cabin, unless you want to freeze out here.”
Before Roman or Jessie could suggest anything, Virgil was down the hatch and making a beeline for the cargo. Setting down her magical dragon carrier on the wooden floor, she cast all the spells she could think of to keep the dragon asleep and the case in place. Once it was all done, Virgil sat behind a box marked FRAGILE and stared at the countless packages in front of her like they were going to tell her the answers she hadn’t even asked herself.
Well, Virgil supposed a good start to getting answers from something other than clearly non-sentient boxes would be asking herself questions. She started with the obvious— why was she being so weird about last night? It wasn’t like she’d never shared a bed with anyone before, as Missy and Jest could attest, and though she wasn’t unfamiliar to paranoia over simple social situations, this was ridiculous.
Roman was her best friend, and Virgil couldn’t even look them in the eye. Had something crazy happened last night that her very subconscious was protecting her from? No, it couldn’t be. All she remembered was asking Roman if she could come in, then settling herself in next to them, how she’d felt like she was intruding, but they had assured her she wasn’t. It had been so nice, holding their hand, and not feeling alone in her struggles. She remembered smiling at their stories and laughing even when it wasn’t funny, just because she loved them.
Hold up. She loved Roman? Well, certainly as a friend. But just thinking about the many ways that the sticky word “love” was used made her contemplate if her feelings for Roman were anything other than platonic. The more she rolled the thought around her head, the more Virgil realized that she wasn’t opposed to the idea of kissing them, or holding their hand. In fact, she’d be okay with a date, maybe a nice restaurant. She wouldn’t mind a long walk with just the two of them either.
Virgil widened her eyes, staring down the boxes in front of her as if to silently impart the one thought running through her head. I have a crush on Roman. It was a relief to figure it out, but it also created a new batch of problems. Which she would rather talk to Roman again than think about, which was saying something. Before anxiety could take root in her head, she got up from the hard floor of the ship and moved back towards where she’d came in, seeking a distraction.
She made her way back easily enough—this wasn’t a very big ship—and saw Roman and Jessie sitting on chairs in the cabin of the boat, talking. They stopped when she walked in.
“Hey guys,” Virgil said, trying to remember how words worked. “Um, are we going to eat breakfast soon?”
“Yeah, in an hour. There’s a tiny kitchen around here somewhere, but we’re not supposed to use it. Jessie and I were just talking about it, actually,” Roman said, giving Virgil one of their easy smiles.
“Sounds good, I don’t know if I can wait much longer, it feels like I’ve got a miniature dragon clawing at my insides,” Virgil said, noting that her purple dragon was curled up in Roman’s lap.
Roman laughed, and Virgil felt the flutter in her chest. Noticing it startled her—usually, she didn’t notice the quickening of her heart around Roman— but not anymore. “How’s the dragon, by the way? Is it safe? I don’t want it getting out on the boat.”
“I worked some sorcery so that it won’t roll around in the hold, and I gave it another sleep spell. It’s fine, there’s nothing to worry about,” Virgil said, trying to comfort them the best she could.
Something in her tone must have been off, though, because then Roman asked, “Are you okay?” Their eyes spoke volumes, referencing the night before.
Virgil looked at them, at her friend who had stuck with her through everything, who had been the first to hear the secrets she kept closest. She could see the concern for her woven into their face, feel how much they cared. There was no way that Virgil would let her crush create a divide between her and them.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little out of it.” She had to tell them about her feelings.
Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 14
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 13/Chapter 15//Masterpost
The sun was peeking over the clouds when the ship arrived at port in Chanidy City. Roman and Virgil woke up when the voices of the sailors above them became loud and energetic, the rare sun waking everyone up. After thanking the ship’s captain, the pair left the ship, Virgil levitating the dragon above them. It still slept, deep in the trance Virgil had crafted. Laurus decided to perch on Roman’s shoulder, deciding it was the best view when their owner was occupied. The little dragon slept peacefully in the boat, and he was happy to feel the sun shining on his scales again.
Roman had warned her about the crowded market before they left, and neither the early hour nor the cold wind had dissuaded merchants and customers alike from filling the space.
“So, where do we go from here?” Virgil asked, taking in the bustling marketplace and magical chaos of Canea. “I assume we need to go to the palace and get someone to help us find Lyrwrithe.”
“Yeah, basically. I know people there, so it shouldn’t be too difficult. The palace is right there.” Roman pointed. It was within walking distance, but not an enjoyable one. “I have the royal seal of Straith for identity purposes, and I met the king. They have to let me in,” Roman said, although without Tyler by their side, they felt less certain.
“Okay,” Virgil said. She looked at the market once more. “Is it okay if we go slowly? I know we’re on a tight schedule, but I’ve never seen this much magic before.”
“Sure. We’ve got the time, just don’t take all day,” Roman answered. They remembered the first time they saw this market, how overwhelming everything had been. Now, knowing what it was like, the market was less overwhelming, but only a little.
Virgil talked to several of the vendors, curious about everything. Though the dragon she carried would have stood out anywhere else, nobody batted an eye. A dragon breeder even asked her if she was selling. Virgil asked them about containing dragons, and was told that her sleep spell and perfectly made trap would hold it, but to add another sleep spell for good measure. She asked the woman selling portable balls of light what the spell was, and quickly learned that those sorts of things were trade secrets.
Watching Virgil experience it all was almost better than seeing it for the first time to Roman. They admired her curiosity—not just at the more outlandish things, but at things as ordinary as soap and mood rings that worked with magic. She took all the free samples and trinkets that the stands had to offer, and demonstrated her sorcery abilities when asked “Are you a sorcerer?” No one pressed her about her age, and many commented on Laurus’s cuteness, as if Roman wasn’t holding onto him half the time. She laughed, and was more friendly and social than they’d ever seen her before.
Roman didn’t mind being ignored, but as noon approached, they knew that, in the interest of time, it would be best to get going. “We should head to the castle soon,” they said, trying to gently nudge Virgil away from the market.
“Okay, I’m going to buy a book or two first,” Virgil said, heading to a spellbook vendor. She gave the merchant a few coins for a handsome leather-bound volume, and they were off to the palace.
Unlike Straith, there weren’t any guards around the perimeter, so Roman circled the palace in search of a front entrance. After what seemed like forever— they were both getting hungry— Roman found a small corridor that led into some offices. Roman knocked on the door to one of them, which opened to reveal an unfriendly sorcerer, a cloud of brilliant yellow-white energy surrounding him.
“What do you want?” he said, looking from one of them to the other. “I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“I’m King—Prince Roman, I’m looking for King Mark. This is my good friend, she’s a sorcerer.” Virgil gave a small wave and smile, not sure what to do.
“Well, if you want the king, maybe you shouldn’t be in here,” the sorcerer said. He took a deep breath, steadying himself to give them a telling-off to go with his glare.
“It’s okay, Matt, they’re with me.” Roman and Virgil spun around to see a tall girl with multicolored hair, turning from orange to turquoise before their eyes. The sorcerer grumbled and closed the door, muttering something about kids these days.
Jessie watched the door close, then turned to the two teenagers. “Roman, what are you doing here? Not that it’s bad to see you, of course, but I didn’t think you would just show up. And who is this?” She pointed at Virgil, looking between the two of them as if trying to puzzle out something. Laurus curled around Roman’s feet, looking up at Jessie with wide-eyed curiosity.
“We’re here to get that dragon— “ Roman pointed to the purple bubble, where the gray dragon inside was, thankfully, slumbering. “To Lyrwrithe, the place you told me about. The thing is, my father wants to kind of…take back the kingdom. He said that I’m unfit to rule because I let that dragon terrorize Archdale, but I managed to negotiate. If I can get the dragon to Lyrwrithe and keep it from terrorizing anyone else within the week, I get to stay king. If I don’t, he —he makes sorcery illegal again. Virgil is um, she’s a sorcerer.”
“Okay,” Jessie said, and Roman could see her thinking it through. “You said you had a week, right?”
“Yeah, so we kind of do need to leave today,” Virgil said, biting her lip. “Any help would be good.”
“I remember Epos’s reign,” Jessie said. A cloud passed over her face, and her hair turned gray. “And I don’t really have anything pressing to do this week, and I know Tyler is really busy. You guys just have to get to Lyrwrithe and back, right?”
Roman nodded. “Yeah, and we need some supplies, but nothing fancy. We were thinking of just taking the Graelen River, all we’d need is a boat and someone to sail it.” They looked at Jessie expectantly, hoping that she could help, or Rafaela was as good as dead.
Jessie took a deep breath, gathering herself. “I don’t want to get your hopes up,” she started, uncertain. “But I might be able to guide you guys there. I do have family that work at Lyrwrithe, but I need to talk to the king first. I can’t just abandon the palace, but I definitely think the world is a better place when Straith allows magic. Plus, I haven’t seen my brother in a while… I’ll talk to Mark, okay? No promises.”
“Thank you so much,” Virgil said, without a touch of sarcasm. “Um, is there anything here to eat?”
“Employee breakroom. Go straight, take a left, second door on your right,” Jessie said, “I’ll go ask the king. See you in an hour or so.” She waved goodbye, and walked to the nearest stairwell, hair changing to electric blue.
Roman and Virgil didn’t have any difficulty finding the break room, and they dug into the soup someone had brought from home. “What’s the book about?” Roman asked Virgil, trying to make conversation to pass the time. They slipped Laurus a piece of meat, knowing the little dragon had to be hungry. He gulped it down.
“History of sorcery,” Virgil answered, turning the volume over in her hands. “It’s got some cool spells in it, too, that’s what the lady said. I… do you mind if I read it now? Just sitting around and waiting makes me anxious.”
“Go ahead, I don’t mind,” Roman said, even though there was nothing for them to do. “You don’t have to ask me.”
Virgil opened up her book and started reading. “Cool.”
Since Roman hadn’t slept well in the boat, and they certainly couldn’t sleep well now, they had seconds of the soup, and tried to look inconspicuous as various people came in and out of the break room. Fortunately, Laurus and the grey dragon helped them fit in, this was the sorcery wing after all.
Going by the clock on the wall, it was about forty minutes before Jessie came for them. She almost ran over to them, a wide smile on her face as she crossed the room to the pair. Virgil looked up from her book when she saw Jessie, looking at her hopefully.
“So, I have good news and bad news,” Jessie said, sitting down next to Roman. “Which do you want first?”
Roman perked up, Laurus running up from their lap to the table. “Good news,” they said.
“No, bad news first,” Virgil said, picking up her dragon and taking him off the table. “Whatever. Just tell us.”
“I can take you guys to Lyrwrithe, but not until tomorrow,” Jessie said, patting Laurus on the head. “You can stay here tonight—there’s some guest rooms—and we’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. Is that okay?”
“Yeah,” Roman said, a flutter of hope leaping in their chest. “That’s almost perfect. Do we get to eat dinner with the king?”
“Wait, that’s an option?” Virgil asked, looking terrified at the prospect.
“Don’t get too ahead of yourselves, Mark will be busy with other engagements tonight. I think you’ll just get food delivered to your rooms,” Jessie said, her hair shifting from deep black to platinum blond as she twirled it around her finger. “In fact, I can take you to your guest rooms right now, unless you want to spend more time outside the palace.”
“Can we drop our things off at our rooms and then leave?” Virgil asked, running her fingers over the cover of her book. Roman wasn’t big on the idea of going back out into the cold, but with Virgil it wouldn’t be too bad.
“Sure, I can give you a tour, too, Virgil. If you want, that is,” Jessie said, carding her hand through her hair.
“Oh, I think I’d rather visit the market, sorry,” Virgil said, blushing a little with embarrassment. “Let’s go to our um, rooms.”
“Sounds good to me,” Roman said. “To the market we go.”
Chronicles of Straith#2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 13
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 12/Chapter 14//Masterpost
Something was pounding on Roman’s door. It wasn’t even light out yet, and the room was still dark. When it refused to stop, Roman got up, still in last night’s clothes because they’d been so tired, and opened the door. The red scarf was somewhere in their room, they couldn’t be bothered to look for it.
Their chief advisor, the only person outside of Roman’s cabinet who held any sort of power over them, was standing in the doorway, looking very unhappy with the king. “Your father is here,” he said, taking in Roman’s tired appearance. “While I am glad that you are back, there’s really no time. This is a pressing matter at hand.”
“My —what?” Roman asked, not even sure if they weren’t dreaming. Their father was away in a vacation home on the coast, insulated from all outward news as per Roman’s demand. There was no reason for their advisor to be standing here, in the middle of the night.
“Your father has arrived. Evidently, he caught wind of your legalizing magic and the chaos it has caused, and wishes to see you.”
Roman respected Camden. The man did the difficult, thankless job that was advising them, and he did it well, even if he was a bit robotic at times. He was one of Roman’s biggest supporters, although if he didn’t always show it. Nonetheless, Roman’s brain wasn’t functioning. “Ok, well um, can you tell him to wait until the sun is up?”
“He is the past king and your father, Roman. And he is very, very angry. Get dressed and be in the council room in ten minutes.” He smiled, then closed the door in front of a still half-asleep Roman.
So, Roman got dressed. It was dark, but it didn’t take long to put on something that looked about halfway to kingly. Not even bothering to look in the mirror, Roman went downstairs to the council room, still rubbing their eyes and unaware of how shocking their presence was to literally everyone they passed.
They reached the council room, taking a brief moment to attempt composure before opening the door and stepping inside. Roman gave the room a visual sweep, wondering who they had to ask to take over in order to get back to bed. That train of thought ground to a halt when Roman realized that no, it hadn’t been a joke.
Epos Theularus stood in the center of the council room, looking at Roman with disappointment practically radiating from his body. “Hello, Roman.”
“Father.” It was a statement, since they were still trying to figure out what was happening.
“I trust that I don’t need to explain to you how the chaos you’ve unleashed on Straith is a terrible mistake, and you will hand the throne over to me immediately, since I’m not so foolish as to actually legalize sorcery. Just show me to the throne room.” Epos stopped talking, waiting for Roman’s response. Judging by his tone, he expected a quiet “Yes, father.”
Well, even half-asleep Roman wasn’t that much of a pushover. “Actually, no. I’m the king of Straith, remember? And my actions have done a lot more good for everyone than you could ever imagine. So if you would, please go back to your lovely vacation home and leave me to deal with my own problems,” Roman said, staring their father down. This had to work, there was no way Roman could put up with their shitbag father for more than a few minutes without losing all the sanity they had.
“Actually, I have just as much of a claim to the throne as you do, Roman. Considering that I am the older member of the royal family, and gave up the throne voluntarily. I can always take it back,” Epos said, frowning and crossing his arms.
Roman kept glaring at him, too tired to do much more.“You gave it up. The throne, the kingdom is mine now. Right, Camden?”
“Well…” Camden began, looking down at his hands. “Roman, you are still a child in the eyes of the law, and considering that you are currently co-ruling with a cabinet, he can take the throne back. You could be relegated back to the status of prince, assuming that you willingly give your father his crown during the coronation ceremony.” He looked up at Roman, apology clear as day in his eyes.
“Exactly. Roman, I see no reason for you to object to this simple request. After all, I am not the king who allows magic to terrorize his capital city. I have a solution to that problem, which is eliminating all magic in the country. In fact, we could go before a judge and get the official ruling that would make me king due to your disrespect of time-honored traditions.”
“But I can solve the problem without eliminating magic,” Roman said, tilting their head. Checkmate. “There’s a place in Canea called Lyrwrithe. It’s a reserve for magical creatures, like the one that is the root cause of the magical problems Straith is having.”
Epos’s reaction to Roman’s mention of Canea was priceless. His face twisted, he opened his mouth to speak, but held back. “We should make a deal, son of mine. If you succeed with eliminating this danger within a week, the kingdom is yours and I will go on my merry way. If you do not succeed, sorcery becomes a crime punishable by death. The deaths start with your, ah ‘Head Sorcerer.’ I believe that’s what you called the lunatic you freed from the dungeons, yes?”
Taking in the nervous faces of their cabinet, Camden, nobles, and even the staff, Roman knew they had one choice. Neither of them were perfect kings, but Epos was a proven tyrant. “It’s a deal.” They stepped forward and shook hands with their father, knowing that this was a dangerous game.
“I’m glad we can come to an agreement, Roman. I can’t wait to take back my rightful throne in a week’s time.”
“Fine. So long as my choices for the crown can govern while we carry out our challenge.” Roman trusted Corbin and Sloane over their father in more or less every situation, and this was no exception. While they hated to put it on the couple, the two were the best people they could think of for the job.
They were wide awake now, and they had to talk to Virgil and Rafaela immediately. They left the council room without another word, cutting through the hallways of the castle to Rafaela’s quarters. The first goal here was to capture the dragon, put it in a cage that could at least be used to transport the creature. And the only way to do that was figure something out with Rafaela. Roman stopped in their quarters to grab a few things for the journey before heading to the Dragon Witch’s rooms. They made sure to grab their mother’s scarf—the last thing Roman wanted was for Epos to have it.
This plan was ambitious, but Roman knew it was the only way. They knocked on Rafaela’s door, slightly nervous. It was still very, very early.
Fortunately, she answered, with the dark eye circles of someone who was up late rather than awake early. “King Roman. What brings you here?” She didn’t open the door completely, wary of why Roman would be here at this early hour.
“Epos is back,” Roman said, giving her a second to process. “He caught wind of what I’m doing here and, well, it’s a long story. Can I come in?”
Rafaela let them in, sitting in one of the armchairs in her room, gesturing for Roman to take another. “Tell me everything, I assume we don’t have much time.”
Roman recounted everything that happened that morning, leaving out the night before but mentioning the preserve for magical creatures, Lyrwrithe. Rafaela took it in, growing more concerned as they continued.
“You need me to capture the dragon, yes?” She was matter of fact about it, and her gaze went to the books lying open on the floor of her room. “I can do that.”
“Great, that’s perfect. Can you do it now, or…?” Roman asked, bouncing a little with the first excitement they’d felt this morning.
“I can give you the trap. You need Virgil to set it, I can’t approach the creature. Get her, and by the time the two of you come back, it will be ready.” Rafaela stood up and began gathering books, flipping through them and placing magical bookmarks at important parts. “Go.”
Finding Virgil wasn’t too difficult, she was still asleep. Roman woke her up gently, and had to explain everything once again. Before long, she was awake enough to realize that they had to move now, or Virgil would be stuck cleaning up after the dragon for who knows how long. As a side effect, Laurus also woke up, which was adorable. Both Roman and Virgil could have watched the tiny dragon make adorable snuffly noises for hours, but they didn’t have the time. Virgil set Laurus on her shoulders and they left her quarters.
The pair raced back to Rafaela’s quarters, focused on getting that trap. Virgil burst into Rafaela’s room, much to Roman’s surprise. “Rafaela, you can stop the dragon? With us?” she asked, daring to hope.
“I can give you the trap and send you on your way,” Rafaela said, still fidgeting with some sort of magical device. Much like the still-sleeping Laurus, she was unaffected by Virgil’s entrance. “I myself cannot be near the dragon, and using my magic against it could prove fatal. But I can give you the means to trap it yourself.” She held up the fist-sized device in her hand.
Virgil’s face fell, and she focused on the thing in Rafaela’s hand. “How does it work?”
Rafaela handed her the small contraption of gray metal. “It’s very simple. Find the dragon, and keep it in one place with a freezing spell or something similar. Then, give the device a shot of your magic—not a spell, just a bit of sorcery— and throw it at the dragon.”
“Okay, got it,” Virgil said, turning the device over in her hands.
“Can I come along?” Roman asked.
The Dragon Witch’s harsh gaze scanned them. “I suppose, just stay out of the way. The dragon shouldn’t care about you, you’re irrelevant. It cares about Virgil, though, she looks so much like me.”
Unsure as to what she should say, Virgil nodded.
“We should get going,” Roman said, swallowing their questions and hoping this all worked out well.
Roman and Virgil walked outside, only to find that it was still dark. That was winter, especially here in Straith. The darkness had one advantage: when they looked at the city, it was immediately clear where the dragon was. On the outskirts of town, a small puff of blue flame would reappear, only to disappear again.
“It’s…sleeping?” Virgil half-asked, looking to Roman for reassurance.
“Yep.”
Without another word— it was way too early for words, after all— the two walked towards the dragon. Virgil did her best to keep her footsteps quiet, knowing that it would be easier to trap a sleeping dragon than an awake one. Her dragon rested around her shoulders, a comfortable weight. She hoped Laurus stayed that way, there was no telling how he would react to the much larger dragon currently terrorizing Archdale.
After an uncertain period of time, they reached the dragon. Roman almost gasped aloud at the sheer size of the beast, stopped only by Virgil’s hand on their mouth. They stood stock still as Virgil approached the sleeping creature carefully, making sure that it was still sleeping after each hesitant step.
Its head twitched up, a bloodred iris looking out on them. Virgil raised her hand, not sure what spell to use. The jolt of anxiety in her stomach propelled itself out through her outstretched fingers and hit the dragon in the eye. The eye snapped shut, and the dragon fell back asleep, even more deeply than before.
Roman startled as a puff of dragon breath interrupted the darkness of night. “Is it… asleep?”
Virgil nodded, shushing them, then dug Rafaela’s trap out of the pocket in her cloak. Holding her breath, she sent a jet of purple magic into the contraption. When the dragon kept sleeping, Virgil threw the device. For a second, it didn’t look like anything had happened. The bundle of metal and magic just sat on top of the dragon, doing nothing. Her sleeping spell had to be more powerful than usual.
Then, purple streaks of magic engulfed the dragon, moving across it to create a translucent purple bubble. The dragon still slept. They breathed a collective sigh of relief.
After a minute or two of looking at the dragon and feeling very happy that it was caught, a large error in their plan dawned on the pair. “How are we going to put that on a ship?” Roman asked, “Can you like, shrink it?”
Virgil considered it for a second —that was one big dragon —and decided that she could. “Yeah, I can make it smaller. It’s not an easy spell, but at least undoing it is simple.” She pointed her fingers at the purple bubble and focused, pouring the emotions that had resurfaced in Roman’s chambers last night into stretching the very boundaries of space and matter. It took a lot of concentration for approximately six in the morning, but Virgil pushed her magic to its limit, and the dragon shrunk before her eyes.
“Let’s go,” Virgil said, and Roman didn’t question it. She levitated the dragon and its carrier so that it followed just behind them, and the pair made their way to the docks. Every so often, she looked back to make sure it was still asleep.
Thankfully, one of the sailors at the dock had caught wind of Roman’s quest, and was more than happy to help them get to Canea. She was already delivering a shipment to Chanidy City, so Roman and Virgil sat quietly in the cabin of the ship and tried to get some sleep.
Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 8
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 7/Chapter 9//Masterpost
It was Roman’s second full day in Canea, and third day overall. They didn’t want this vacation to end, it was too perfect. Seeing Thomas, the feast, and Lilly’s stories about their mother all made Roman never want to leave. Were they not an actual king, Roman would stay for months.
Another morning of sleeping in, and Roman could appreciate being well-rested with less of the morning fog. Jessie woke them up, once again. Despite her youthful appearance, she was twenty years old and a full-time employee of the castle, as she explained when Roman expressed that they thought she was much younger.
She was a much more pleasant alarm clock than Roman’s annoying ticky thing in Straith. Roman’s morning improved even further when Jessie told them that the king wanted to spend some time with them. After meeting the king last night, Roman wasn’t too anxious, but they were incredibly curious.
“He said he wanted to show you some of your mother’s things,” Jessie said, leading a just-dressed Roman to where they were meeting the king. The clothes in Roman’s guest room fit them perfectly, and many of them were their mother’s. Apparently, Roman could take some home with them if they wanted, but for now, Roman was really digging this blouse. It was simplistic, a feminine style that fit them just the way they wanted it to.
“That should be fun,” Roman said, admiring the art in the corridors. How anyone could get used to this much beauty, they didn’t know. Their eyes lingered on the swan wallpaper that blinked and breathed. “Who did all the art here? It’s so pretty.”
“Lots of different artists, I believe. When the palace was built, they added lots of magic touches to provide jobs for struggling sorcerers. Specifically, the art sorcerers were becoming extremely undervalued, as increased paranoia over internal politics led to more people using magic to protect themselves instead of to add beauty to their lives,” Jessie answered, giving the wallpaper a passing glance. “That’s all the history of it, anyways. It’s not that interesting.”
“No, no. It’s really neat, I love history.” Roman wondered who had made the plant with a hundred different flower blossoms in front of them. “Do you know who made specific pieces?”
“There’s a record of them somewhere, I think,” Jessie said, stopping to knock on a door. “We’re at the king’s chambers, so have fun!”
The door opened before Roman, by none other than King Markus himself. He gave Roman a strong handshake, surprising his nephew.
“Roman, so good to see you! I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to talk to you earlier, but duty calls. How has your time in Canea been so far?” The king walked into what looked like a study room of some sort, and Roman automatically followed.
“It’s been wonderful so far, really,” Roman said, taking in the room. It wasn’t much to look at-a simple desk and a few bookshelves and cabinets, all in the same dark wood. Much different than Roman’s office back at home. They were almost scared to do work in there half the time, everything was so nice. “Jessie showed me around, and I got to meet Lilly. Dinner last night was great, too.”
“I’m glad you’re having a good time,” Mark replied, pacing around the room, clearly looking for something. “There’s some old things of your mother’s in here, it’s just been a while since I’ve been in this room. It’s a chest of some sorts.”
“Were you, um, close with my mother?” Roman asked, noting the change in the king’s tone when he mentioned Madeline. They looked around the room, wondering where a chest would be.
“Yes,” he responded, “She was my sister, and we fought sometimes, but at the end of the day we were in it together.”
There was an awkward pause of silence as Mark continued rooting through the room, and Roman watched. They weren’t sure what to say to that—it wasn’t like Roman had any siblings.
“Must be in the other room,” the king said, sighing and walking through another archway to a bedroom. “Sorry, I really do want to spend time with you and go through her things, but I only have a few minutes. I hope you understand, Roman.”
“It’s—it’s no problem. I have similar problems in Straith. The stress of being king can be difficult to bear,” Roman said, waving the apology away with their hand.
“Yes, I’m surprised you’ve managed to spend this much time away from your kingdom,” the king said, rooting around under the bed in a very undignified manner. “Ah! Found it.”
“I have, um, very capable advisors,” Roman said, remembering that they had essentially abdicated the throne with little to no warning. That thought quickly disappeared from their mind when Mark pulled the trunk out from under the bed. “What’s in it?”
“Lots of your mother’s old papers, diaries and letters. She kept a very thorough diary, and wrote to many of her college friends. So many pen pals— and many of them didn’t even know that she was the princess.” He struggled a little with picking up the trunk, heaving it in the direction of the office.
“Don’t you have servants who can assist with this?” Roman asked, surprised at how much Mark was struggling. “Here, I can give you a hand.” They held onto one side of the trunk.
“Thank you, Roman. I do have servants, but I wanted to speak with you in private. Besides, it’s good for me, with all the sitting I do all day,” Mark said, guiding Roman into the office. Together, the two kings set the chest down on the desk.
“Anything I should definitely look at?” Roman asked, already fiddling with the clasp of the chest.
“Oh, all of it’s interesting. Tell me what you find at dinner, it’s been a while since I looked through it all,” Mark said, helping Roman with the clasp. The lid of the chest flipped backwards, and Roman dove in immediately, grabbing a sheet of paper to read. “I wish I had more time to talk with you... We should have a real talk sometime. How long will you be staying?”
“Um, a week, I think,” Roman said, already skimming the letter. “Maybe we could tour the city together, or something.”
“I would love that. Now, I’ll send someone to get you for lunch,” Mark said, walking towards the door. “I hope the papers help you learn more about Madeline.” The door shut behind him before Roman could reply, leaving them all alone with a lot of reading to do.
The king seemed nice enough, but Roman really didn’t care about him when there was a whole treasure chest filled with their mother’s handwriting in front of them. Starting with the letter in their hand, Roman sat down in the chair and read. The chair appeared to be wooden, but Roman could swear it felt cushioned.
Just another touch of magic in Canea, they supposed. But Roman soon forgot about their chair as they read further in the papers. Madeline Elthren’s life unfolded before them, the world of an intelligent socialite living as part of the ruling class of Canea. She loved magic, and mourned the fact that she wasn’t a sorceress. In one letter to Lilly, she recalled playing “sorcerer” as a child. Roman found the paper hard to read as tears welled in their eyes at the thought of Madeline loving Virgil for her powers.
Past college, the letters changed their tone. They weren’t to friends anymore, but to important members of the court. Roman was confused when they saw the first letter addressed to someone within the Canean court, but the person wasn’t on vacation. The story unfolded from there, and Roman couldn’t believe how…callously she talked about Epos.
It wasn’t like Roman hadn’t said similar to their friends, but this was the man she eventually married. Yet there was another twist — letters about Epos’s corruption—and how marrying him could be the only way for Canea to infiltrate and neutralize the threat Epos presented.
Counselor Alexa
I understand that we should not interfere in affairs that are not our own, but the more news we receive about Epos’s reign and how it is harming the people of Straith, the more scared I become. He could cut off trade with Canea, and then where would we be? Their imports of coal are vital for our economy—he could cause a complete collapse—and as much as I absolutely hate him, marriage might be our best bet. It’ll forge an alliance, if nothing else.
But I cannot allow assassination to take place with my knowledge. As queen, I will have enough power to hold sway over their government to hopefully keep anything too terrible from happening. Once I produce an heir, I’ll be vital enough that no one will be able to dismiss me in court. I hate that it’s the only way I’ll gain respect in Straith, but we can’t change everything overnight.
I have sent a letter to Epos with an affirmative to his proposal. I hope we can work together on this, though we have different views.
Love and victory,
Madeline Elthren, Crown Princess of Canea
There were more letters than just the one, but this was the one that Roman gripped hard enough to wrinkle the paper. A loveless marriage. A refusal to assassinate. Respect, gained through an heir.
It wasn’t surprising. Roman had always wondered how someone would fall in love with their father, especially when their stepmother had only married Epos for his money. She’d disappeared after Roman took the crown, there for their coronation and gone the next. Roman supposed she was with her family, happily working on the family business of mining. They’d never thought to check, but her apathy towards Epos made the letters between Roman’s mother and the former king more shocking.
Dearest Madeline
It brings me so much joy to know that you will take my hand in the sacred bond of marriage. I don’t say these words to merely be courteous, but because I am happy to be marrying for love, not politics. You have listened to me when no one else would, and taken sympathy in the plights of a jaded king when many would scorn me for my status. Truly, there is no one like you. Your wit lights up a room, and I cannot wait to see it grace the halls of Straith’s castle.
Thank you for your kind words since the death of my father, and may they continue every day. I await your visit with much anticipation, and if there is anything you desire for the wedding, say the word and it is yours. I am so glad to have found an ally in my vision for Straith, and to have that ally at my side in court.
With all my love,
Epos Theularus
Roman didn’t realize how much their father had loved Madeline. And how little their mother loved Epos. Her words felt fake in the responding letter, the tone completely different from her other correspondence. The manipulation was obvious, every syllable a betrayal to the idea of a loving person that everyone at last night’s dinner had built.
Beloved Epos,
I am counting down the days, this is truly a dream come true! I believe we will be excellent rulers together, and companions in the most intimate of ways. To join you, not your country, but you, in marriage is the highest honor I could imagine. There is no visionary I would rather follow into a new world. Your intelligence and foresight is one that I admire, and it is a privilege to listen to your innermost thoughts.
I wish I could write more, but it is late and I fear someone will notice me grinning over a letter in the dead of night, loopy with love and giggling to herself. For the wedding, I wish nothing but to have you by my side.
All the love in the world,
Madeline Elthren Theularus
They read on, despite the sting of their mother’s lies. There were so many letters to and from the nobility of Canea, some describing how Madeline should seduce Epos in so much detail that Roman couldn’t read them all the way through. Even Markus was in on the secret, telling his sister to make her “intentions more obvious to the moronic monarch you married. Alliteration!” As much as Roman wanted to be mad at her on their father’s behalf, they couldn’t blame her. Even in youth, Epos was a downright terrible person, and he’d grown into an awful king who cared more about his fragile ego than the people he was supposed to be serving.
After years of being forced to conform to Epos’s idea of what a “son” should be, Roman knew that it must have taken guts for their mom to subject herself to his rule every second of her life, willingly. If you had asked Roman, at fourteen, if they wanted to live with Epos or literally anywhere else, they would have chosen anywhere else in a heartbeat.
During her pregnancy, she wrote about Roman. It was strange, the things she wanted for them. The way she talked about them as a hopeful future, someone she would bring up to be more like herself than Epos. It was sad, but Roman couldn’t stop reading. These were the only words she would ever write about them.
Lilly,
Epos keeps asking me if there’s any Canean sorcery that lets us know the gender before the baby is born, and I keep telling him there isn’t. Fortunately, he’s too stupid to know that there absolutely is (Straith’s library is a joke, honestly), and I don’t really care if it’s a boy or girl. Either way, I just want to raise a child that will rule Straith better than their father. Someone with a good heart, and enough patience to put up with their father because I could certainly use some.
Cravings are, well, interesting. I’m hoping I don’t get the urge for something magical, because every time I bring up sorcery, I get this look like I murdered everyone’s cat. I really don’t understand what about sorcery is as awful as cat genocide, but I’m almost afraid to ask. Perhaps my baby will somehow get this country to not have such a prejudice against magic. I’m pretty sure Epos would flip if he visited Canea, but he’s too self-obsessed to even think about it.
I hope all is well in Chanidy, and Mark isn’t too stressed over the training for monarchy. I remember being sixteen and terrified that I could literally kill people with a few words. He’s more anxious than I am, so make sure he’s ok.
Love and victory,
Madeline Elthren (technically Theularus, but not happy about it)
Well, at least Roman was able to bring sorcery to Straith. Their mother would be proud, certainly. Roman sat in that room, letting their emotions fill them to the brim, until Jessie brought them to dinner.
Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 6
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 5/Chapter 7//Masterpost
“What do you mean Roman’s missing?” Virgil asked the king’s chief advisor, frustration bleeding into her voice. She was eye-to-eye with the short man, teenage defiance matching his bored, professional air. Laurus curled protectively around her shoulders, slitted pupils giving the advisor the stink eye.
The advisor appeared unfazed by Virgil, but kept looking at Laurus like the dragon didn’t belong in the castle. “King Roman is nowhere to be seen. We have sent out people to search for him, and with any hope he will be found soon. Of course, the king’s orders in case of absence must be obeyed, so there has been no searching of his private quarters, the Head Sorcerer’s rooms, or any of the servant’s areas. I would suggest that you, Apprentice Sorcerer, focus on your duties and not the king.”
“Listen, I don’t care about the particulars of your search, sir. I need to know where my friend is, because there’s something of an emergency happening right now, which requires—three guesses—Roman. Also, they’re my friend and I’m a little worried. So, do you have any actual information regarding the royal’s whereabouts?” She could feel the anger pulsing inside her, begging to be released in a wave of magic, but she stamped her emotions down.
“That is information privy to the king’s cabinet. I’m sorry, miss, but I have other things to attend to.” He turned and strolled down the hall away from Virgil, leaving her fuming where she stood. Laurus slid off of her shoulders and flapped his wings twice to land next to her, trying to avoid the purple strands of energy flitting out from the very angry sorcerer.
A tap on her arm made Virgil flinch, but it was just Patton. “Hey, it’s going to be ok. Logan and I thought we’d ask the staff some questions, see where Roman was before they left. You saw them last, do you have any ideas who we could ask first?”
Virgil let her anger die within her, sighing as she faced Patton. They’d gotten to know each other a little in the months since the quest, although neither was really sure how to approach a conversation together. Regardless, Virgil trusted Patton, and his calm in the face of stress was a welcome relief from her own anxious mind.
“We had lunch in the library, right before the explosion. Maybe have Logan ask the librarian, he’s been dying to know more about the castle library for ages anyways,” Virgil said, pulling her hood over her hair. “I think I’m going to ask Rafaela about it, because she’s been keeping awfully quiet.” Laurus perked up at Rafaela’s name, and immediately started running in tiny circles around her feet, claws clacking on the tile floor.
“Logan already went to the library. I’m not sure if he’s after the librarian or the books.” Patton sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know who some of Roman’s friends in the castle are, so I’ll ask around. Sorry the guards didn’t have any information.”
“It’s ok, we’ll find something soon enough,” Virgil said, trying to keep up hope. The explosions of the last few days were nerve-wracking, and she’d reverted back into some of her old habits of worrying. A little positivity was the most she could hope for when her stomach felt like a wrung washcloth.
“You’re going to talk to Rafaela, right? I know she’s been off lately, but maybe see if she has a spell that could find Roman?” Patton looked around at the now-empty corridor, as if uncertain that his suggestion would be taken seriously.
Laurus stopped running, deciding to sit on Virgil’s feet. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Virgil said, knowing that she’d rather talk to her trusted mentor than a near-stranger. Unlike Patton, she had difficulty befriending the palace staff, as she could never find the right place to slide into their conversations. “Let’s meet at the gates before sundown, ok? So we can tell each other what we found.”
Patton smiled. “Sounds like a plan. Good luck.” He waved back at Virgil.
“Same to you.” Virgil let her feet carry her to Rafaela’s rooms, Laurus on her heels, knowing that when the Head Sorcerer was in such a state, she could usually be found in her private quarters. They were the same as the ones she’d inhabited over a century ago, when there were more members of the royal family who needed rooms.
Virgil knocked on the door, and took Rafaela’s distant “come in” as her opportunity to enter. She opened the door to find Rafaela sitting at her desk, creating a sphere of water over her fingers only to let it evaporate, then forming it again.
Lost in thought, Rafaela didn’t look up as Virgil entered. Something about the way she sat almost perfectly gave Virgil a bad gut feeling. Laurus slunk behind her, as if afraid.
“Roman’s missing,” Virgil said, trying to say something that would clear the air, or at least get the Dragon Witch’s attention.
“That’s unfortunate.” The water in her hand turned to a snowflake, then an ice cube. Virgil watched, puzzled.
“Do you know a tracking spell? Something that could help us find him?” She didn’t understand why her mentor was acting like this. It was common for Rafaela to be stoic, or reserved, but not frozen like a statue.
“Only if they were a sorcerer. What a pity.” Her head tilted a fraction of an inch, and the snowflake reformed. “Snow is so pretty in the winter, isn’t it? I hadn’t seen it for decades.”
“Rafaela. What’s wrong? Why—why are you acting like this?” Virgil tried to keep her tone polite, formal, but her nerves were fraying after the day she’d had. Last night, she’d barely been able to sleep.
“I’ve made some bad decisions in my life, Virgil. Spur-of-the-moment things. I had too much power, and nothing good to do with it. I’m very sorry.” Nothing moved except for her mouth. The water turned to blue flames, casting a ghastly glow on the Dragon Witch’s face.
Virgil let herself marinate in the silence, hoping that Rafaela would continue, explain. But it was the door opening that punctuated their conversation.
“You guys need to come quick. There’s been another accident. This time, it’s worse.” Logan was out of breath and panting, and he leaned against the doorframe as he took in Virgil’s shocked expression and Rafaela’s passive one. “What’s with her?”
“I don’t know. What happened?” Virgil looked from her mentor to Logan, not sure what to do.
“I’m sick. Continue without me.” She allowed the flames to melt, dripping down her hand.
“Come on,” Logan said, waving Virgil through the door. She followed him, tightening her cloak around her shoulders, but not before shooting one last glance over her shoulder at Rafaela. Laurus jumped up onto her shoulders, making Virgil stumble for a second.
“So, Rafaela aside, what’s going on?” Virgil asked, hurrying after Logan. He must have really been in a state, because usually he never moved fast unless books were involved.
“There’s been a fire on the outskirts of town, near the forest. Right around where the source of our problem is.” He took a sharp left. “People are really freaking out, because nobody has any idea how to put it out.”
Virgil drummed her fingers along the wall to release her nerves as they walked. “Is the fire department there?”
“Yeah, and that’s part of the problem. They think it’s magical, and nothing scares the daylights out of a rule-abiding citizen of Straith like sorcery,” Logan said, sighing as he pushed open a door to the outside. A large crowd was gathered at the castle gates.
“Anything unusual about it beyond not being able to put it out? Does it spread abnormally fast, or is it a weird color, or does it burn things weird? Does it smell weird, or something?” Virgil made a quick mental list of all the spells she knew that could extinguish fire.
“No, it’s an ordinary fire in every aspect except that water is not putting it out,” Logan said, pacing impatiently towards the small gate in the wall that would let them through.
“That’s not good. I think I’ve read a spell like that somewhere.” She wracked her brain for the information on how to put it out, following Logan through the gate.
They were invisible in the thick crowd, the panicked voices unmistakable. Everyone wanted something done about the problem in the woods, whatever the hell it was, and the fear was palpable. Virgil sensed the undercurrents to the panic: after so quick of a power transfer, was their country ready to face this threat? Would the young king be able to handle it?
While Roman was nowhere in sight, Virgil supposed she could make do in his place. As Logan led her to the fire, she tried to take note of easy-to-fix problems on the streets of Archdale. When they got back, Roman would have a lot to deal with. She could only hope that they were doing something that could help the country, even if it wasn’t in the castle where the king belonged.
She smelled the fire before she saw it, and the familiarity of it almost knocked her over. It was one of Rafaela’s favorite spells, the one that was burning the torches of her bedroom right now. Next to her, Logan’s face was a mirror of her own confusion.
“I didn’t think Rafaela would be involved in this,” Logan said as the building came into sight. A simple farmhouse was on fire, the blue flames consuming everything. The handiwork was so familiar, Virgil knew exactly when it would flicker.
“At least I know how to stop it,” Virgil said, pointing her hand at the house. It was an odd gesture, but the people milling around the fire didn’t even notice her. The black and purple of her cloak allowed Virgil to fade to the background, and Laurus was invisible on her shoulders, scales transparent.
She ignored the twang in her heart as the fire splintered like glass, the light blue shards catching the winter sun until Virgil floated them out of the house and stacked them next to her in a neat pile. What had Rafaela done?
Heads turned, following the glossy blue shapes, a wall of astonishment facing Virgil. After an awkward pause of silence, Logan said, “She’s the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Kind of cool, right?”
Before any of the gawkers had a chance to respond, a woman broke away from the crowd to stand before Virgil. “Thank you so much,” she said. Logan and Virgil took in her haggard expression. Her eyes were red, but from smoke or crying it was impossible to tell.
“It’s—it’s what I do,” Virgil replied, dropping her gaze to the snowy ground.
“It’s miraculous. You just saved—that house has been in my family for generations. I’m not sure what happened to it, but there was a boom—like the explosions recently, then before I knew it, the house was in flames and we had to escape. I thought I’d watch the place where I grew up burn to the ground.” She sobbed, a fresh tear running down her right cheek. “I know it might be too much to ask, but do you know what happened to set it on fire? I can’t thank you enough.”
Virgil’s eyes went wide, tears of her own on the edge of spilling over. “I don’t know what happened, sorry. I’m happy I could help, I know how it feels to think you’ll lose the only place you’ve ever lived.” Uncertain of what to do next, she swallowed her sobs and embraced the woman, closing her eyes so that the tears wouldn’t help.
She felt Logan’s hand on her shoulder, a comfort. When she broke away from her hug with this total stranger—what was she doing?—the crowd was applauding her. A standing ovation. Virgil froze where she stood, panic rushing through her as she realized what had just happened.
“Thank you, I have to go tell my wife,” the woman said, leaving Virgil to disappear into the crowd, just as quickly as she’d come.
Logan led her away from the crowd, before the situation could freak her out any more. She wanted to thank him, but Virgil couldn’t seem to find the words for the life of her. They walked down the familiar streets of Virgil’s home until they were at the doorway of Food for the Mind. Virgil felt some of her anxiety fade away as she stepped into the bookstore.
“Are you alright?” Logan asked, inviting her to sit next to him on a beanbag in the kids section. “I thought you might just want to get away from the situation, if that’s fine.”
She sank into the small yellow beanbag. “I’m better, thanks. Thank you for taking me here, too. I’d rather be here than the palace, or that house, or anywhere, really,” Virgil said, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “Crowds. Crowds watching me do magic are…fun. So much fun. Full sarcasm. And strangers who approach me to thank me for solving a problem my mentor may have created in the first place.”
“Sorry about that, do you want anything?” Logan was still worried about her, but Virgil couldn’t focus on that for long.
“If you could tell me why I just saw Rafaela’s fire destroying someone’s house, that would be great. No one else makes fire like that, mine’s always pink or purple. And it doesn’t look like the lovechild of ice and fire.” She leaned forward to put her chin on her hand, already brainstorming.
Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 24
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 23/Chronicles of Straith #3//Masterpost
It was her cell. She would have known it blindfolded, drugged, and mind-wiped. You didn’t forget a century easily. The walls were pale white, more Solus stone. Rafaela hadn’t missed it. She hated it.
They hadn’t given her the chance to defend herself, capturing her while she slept in her bedroom. Everyone else was taken away too. Logan, Patton, Corbin, Sloane, and even Camden. Those who had sided with Roman to the end, past Epos’s threats. There were more, more names she couldn’t remember.
Right now, she was miserable. Here, once again. Trapped, with no piece of magic to ensure she would get out. If she got out, it would be so that she could be killed. This had all gone so, so wrong. At least Roman and Virgil weren’t captured, she thought. At least they had a chance to defeat Epos now, surely they would have heard.
She couldn’t imagine a world where both of them wouldn’t fight for what was right. Help had to be coming. Virgil had to be coming.
Virgil was shoved into the cell next to Rafaela. Her hands were bound with Solus stone, just like Rafaela’s. Tears already streaked her cheeks, and her hands shook.
“It hurts, Raf. It hurts so much,” Virgil whimpered, slumping against the cell wall.
“I know, I know.” Rafaela remembered how much the stone hurt when you weren’t expecting it, the way the betrayal stung. She wrapped the girl in an embrace, stroking her hair. While she wanted to reassure her that everything would be okay, Rafaela wouldn’t do that to Virgil. Lies were terrible things.
They stayed there, and Rafaela didn’t think about anything other than the sobbing girl in her arms. At least she wasn’t alone this time. She had another sorcerer, someone to commiserate with. But, oh, Virgil was so young.
Rafaela didn’t lift her head when Logan and Patton were taken into their cell. When the metal door banged shut behind Roman, she didn’t look up. Not them too. This was awful, worse than anything Rafaela had endured in these cells before.
She and Virgil would remain, tethered to the thing killing them while it kept them alive. Everyone else… they would die. One way or another. Rafaela knew what Epos was like. This wouldn’t end happily. Not when their best shot at getting out was that they would be executed publicly.
There was a knock on the cell door.
THE END
A/N:yeah i know, cliffhangers are a pain in the ass, i promise y’all the next (and last!) installment of this series is coming in August 2020. wish my procrastinating ass luck. also ik i didn’t have to write “THE END” i’m just dramatic.
Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 18
Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 17/Chapter 19//Masterpost
Well, Virgil had to tell them her feelings at some point. Which was not going to be that day, when they coped with seasickness and she stared at the passing riverbank. Or the next day, because then they were both too nervous about making it to Lyrwrithe.
It was midday, the sun burning bright on the ship, known as the Dark Thought. If you leaned over the railing just enough, and took care not to fall off, shining silver lettering spelled the words out on the hull. Jessie had done that several times today, being the only passenger on board who wasn’t seasick.
She ran across the dock to where Virgil and Roman were standing at midday. “I’ve taken this route dozens of times,” she told Virgil, a cheery smile still on her face. “You get used to it.”
“I’m sure you do,” Virgil said, wondering if Jessie actually was a mermaid, the way that she looked so happy at sea. Almost as if, like the poor sailors of legend, she would drag Virgil down into the river and leave her to die.
At least then, Virgil wouldn’t have to deal with Roman’s seasickness. Her friend was much less attuned to being on a boat, especially one this big. She knew they’d never been on a ship for a long period of time, and well, were overall sensitive and royal.
“I don’t like boats,” Roman said after Jessie bounded to the other side of the ship.
Virgil rolled her eyes at them. “Suck it up, princess. Some little choppy waves aren’t going to kill you.”
“What if they do, Virgil? What then?” Roman widened their eyes, as if trying to persuade her with just a gaze.
“Then it’ll be just me and Jessie on this hellcraft of a ship. Oh, and Epos will take over back in Straith. So basically, life will suck. Fortunately, the waves won’t kill you,” Virgil said, giving Roman her best look of disappointment.
“Random question—do you like Jessie?” Roman asked, dropping the part of their seasickness that was an act. They leaned close, as if exchanging secrets.
“She’s pretty cool, I guess. I don’t know her that well yet, but I don’t dislike her,” Virgil said, confused as to why Roman was asking in an undertone.
“No, do you like her?”
A thousand lines of thought in Virgil’s head knotted together, and she recalled one of their lunches back at Straith. She’d nervously rambled about finding girls cute, wondering if the cashier at the brand-new apothecary liked her. Which reminded her of liking Roman, which reminded her that she was going to tell them at some point here…what was the question again?
Oh right, Jessie. “Nah, she’s not really my type,” Virgil said, knowing that the blush rising in her cheeks had nothing to do with Jessie. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious, I guess. You talked to her a lot this morning,” Roman said, shrugging it off. “Ugh, I feel like I’m going to barf.”
“Do it over the railing,” Virgil told them. She looked out at the passing shore, wondering for the millionth time today if the ship would reach Lyrwrithe in time. Or if the dragon was safe in the hold. She hadn’t checked on it since yesterday, when she’d been even more seasick than now, not to mention confused about her feelings.
Letting go of the railing that had been steadying her, Virgil tried to pretend the floor wasn’t spinning under her. She walked down to the cargo hold, wondering as she did how Laurus was faring. The little dragon hadn’t been enjoying the boat, and had been hiding in and around the cargo since yesterday.
Retracing her steps from the day before, Virgil found the purple bubble sitting where she had left it. Which would be fine, and normal, except that the dragon was moving beneath it.
Memories of blue flames and ruined buildings flashed in Virgil’s mind, and she stepped much more slowly towards the beast. It looked at her and snarled, blue flame turning the purple surface black for a second. She cast a quick sleep spell on the dragon, and its movements became more sluggish. The fire stopped.
Virgil still couldn’t exhale, since it was still awake. Mustering all her frustration at seasickness and the ridiculous demands of Epos, she thought about sleeping well and not sleeping in the same bed as Roman. Gray curled into a ball at the bottom of the floor, unmoving like the gargoyle it so resembled.
She reapplied the spells that kept the dragon carrier from sliding around the hold, figuring it was better safe than sorry. Wondering where Laurus was, Virgil sent out a bolt of magic to search for him. It bounced back to her in a minute, telepathically transmitting Laurus’s message. He was fine, but didn’t want to move.
It was warmer down here, so Virgil stayed. The cots for her, Roman, and Jessie were set up nearby, but it was too early. In the meantime, she sat in the warmth, hoping that they would reach Lyrwrithe tomorrow morning.
Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 10
Chronicles of Straith#1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 9/Chapter 11//Masterpost
The next morning, Virgil burst into the bookstore ready to drop the bomb of news—she knew where Roman was, and she could possibly stop the dragon. Even on four-ish hours of sleep, it was the most alive she’d felt since before the dragon showed up in the woods.
Patton and Logan were much less surprised by the news than Virgil thought. They exchanged a look, Logan shrugged, and Patton agreed to go get Roman.
“Roman may have abandoned us, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to let them,” Patton said, his mind already made up. “Logan?”
“I don’t know, Patton... if my dads are going to be doing a bunch of stuff in the government, I need to stay here. Even though I’d love to go, really. Canea sounds absolutely fascinating, and the magic there is… remarkable. However, I can’t make my fathers run a country and a bookstore at the same time. I’ll have Dominic, we’ll work it out. Virgil, did you ask any of the advisors what they’re supposed to do?” Logan asked, giving Patton a mournful look.
“I haven’t asked yet. I wanted to talk to you guys first. I know that whoever is succeeding the throne usually has to be present in the palace, so they can be protected. It’s why Roman couldn’t leave the castle very often when they were a prince,” Virgil said, chewing on the inside of her lip. “So it might be best if you…stayed.” Her eyes flicked to the window and back.
“Ok, that’s good to know. Patton, are you ok with getting Roman?” Logan asked, barely stopping himself from adding on your own. Patton was competent and resourceful, but even so, Logan didn’t like the idea of him trekking across the country alone.
“Yeah, but isn’t there anyone from the castle who can come with me? Because otherwise, how am I even going to get there?”
“Take the North river, and you can take a boat from the little shed by the bay,” Virgil answered, looking out the window again. “I don’t think the castle can spare any staff, but you’ll be fine. Just take the royal seal, and go. We don’t have much time before people start to realize something’s up.”
“I think they’ve noticed already, Virge. You have no idea how many people have ranted about our incompetent government when I’m ringing up their books,” Logan said, giving Virgil a look of concern. “Who have you been talking to lately?”
“Nobody, that’s what happens when you’re trying to keep a goddamn dragon from destroying the city. And Rafaela won’t help me, because apparently she created this mess in the first place,” Virgil said, irritated. “Patton, leave right now if you can and you can get there by the afternoon. Get Roman back for us, please.”
“I’ll do my best, Virgil, as long as you keep our city safe. Keep studying dragons, and don’t lose your spirit. Roman may or may not be able to stop this problem. You’re all we’ve got for now. I believe in you.” He gave her a hug, a quick embrace to try and put meaning behind his words.
Patton turned to his boyfriend. “Logan, I love you and you’re going to do amazing things someday but right now you’re just going to keep this bookstore running and stay alive, okay?” He gave Logan a quick peck on the lips, not wanting to linger because then he would never leave.
“Love you too, Patton,” Logan said, “I’ll check in with the orphanage for you, alright? And this isn’t goodbye yet, you still have to pack a bag.”
“Yeah. But I have to do that at light speed so I can get to Canea on time, and I don’t want to rush my goodbyes.” Patton managed to tear his eyes away from Logan and walked around the store to go up the stairs and throw something together, quick.
