Three Drops of Blood: Zygradon Chronicles Book 3

THREE DROPS OF BLOOD

Zygradon Chronicles 3

By

Michelle L. Levigne

Uncial Press       Aloha, Oregon

2009

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events described herein are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN 13: 978-1-60174-052-6

ISBN 10: 1-60174-052-2

Copyright © 2009 by Michelle L. Levigne

Cover design

Copyright © 2009 by Judith B. Glad

Background photo: M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy in Dust and Stars; N Scoville (Caltech), T. Rector (U. Alaska, NOAO) et al., Hubble Heritage team, NASA

All rights reserved. Except for use in review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the author or publisher.

Published by Uncial Press,

an imprint of GCT, Inc.

Visit us at http://www.uncialpress.com

Before the ending of all things worthwhile and strong, there will be three drops of blood born to the bloody sword.

The daughters shall walk in light and be strong, but the son shall overstep them.

One shall serve and one abominate and one will triumph.

One will sleep and one shall wait and one shall suffer.

They shall do so forever, and yet even to forever there is an ending.

The blood drawn from the third shall open the doors and smooth the road and waken the sleeper.

Protect the strong and vigilant, so that the three drops of blood may come.

Though you look for the abomination, you will not find her until she has destroyed innocence. Keep her from the blood drawn from the blood, or all is lost.

Chapter One

Meghianna didn't know she had a sister until her sixth summer, when she went to visit her father, Efrin Warhawk.

The adventure of racing through her suite of rooms in the Warhawk's fortress, looking for the surprises her father left for her, ended abruptly when the door from the hallway banged open. Thinking her father had left his council meeting to greet her, she turned around to race from her study room to the front room to throw herself into his arms. Instead, she froze, stunned to see her near-mirror image standing in the doorway, staring at her in return. The wide-eyed surprise on the other girl's face crumpled into tears, and she went to her knees there on the threshold.

Nalla! Meghianna hurried across the room. She reached out to lift the other girl back to her feet when a gasp and a muffled curse from her nursemaid startled and stopped her.

So it's true, the silver-haired Rey'kil healer muttered.

What's true? Meghianna asked.

Warned by the frown on the woman's ordinarily cheerful, round face, she took a step back. The Threads chimed around her, responding to the tightening in her belly. She reached with her mind to calm them. So far, only Lord Mrillis could hear when she disturbed the Threads, but she knew that was only because she was so young and weak. He had promised to keep her secret--and also made her promise in return to tell him whenever she learned to do something new, no matter how small or odd. Disturbing the Threads too much would alert others to her magical talents. Now was not the time to let the world know she had already found her imbrose. Not with this mirror image of herself crying silently on the threshold of her suite, trembling and looking at her and Nalla as if she expected to be tossed out like so much trash.

Well, you'll find out sooner or later. And pick it from our minds, no doubt, if we try to keep it from you. Nalla knelt and caught up the little girl under her arms, just like she picked up Meghianna even now, when she was frightened or upset, with no regard for her dignity as the daughter of the Warhawk and future Queen of Snows. The stranger with Meghianna's pointed chin and red-gold hair and silvery-green eyes certainly seemed to need the coddling.

I wouldn't do that, Meghianna said, following her nurse further into her suite. Lord Mrillis said it isn't polite to go into people's heads without their permission. And anyway, I'm not strong enough, even if I thought I needed to.

There you go again, talking like a girl twice your age. Nalla didn't smile, like she usually did when she made that complaint. She settled on the nearest couch and used a corner of her apron to wipe the stranger child's face. Here now, little Megassa, there's no need for tears. We're the last ones in this place to want to hurt you.

But--but--why does she look like me? the other child wailed.

Meghianna frowned as a thread of dislike curled through her belly. She had learned long ago that whining and wailing didn't do her any good, and was ugly and irritating. She wondered if this girl acted that way deliberately, or only from fear. She reminded herself to ask Mrillis why she had that idea, the next time she spoke with him.

That thought made her smile. The prospect of seeing the Rey'kil enchanter every day, to learn more about magic and the women who were Queen of Snows before her, was almost as wonderful as being able to see her father every day for the entire spring and summer.

"To be totally correct, you look like her. Meghianna is your elder by three moons. And you look alike because you're sisters. Half-sisters, anyway, Nalla corrected quickly. She sighed. And, because your mothers are cousins. Were cousins, because sweet Queen Belissa is dead."

And your mother most likely killed her, but that's not your fault, so I won't say it.

Nalla's thought rang loudly through Meghianna's head, startling her. The girl yanked her mental fingers back from the Threads, feeling a little queasy at the strength of the thought, as well as the guilt of trespassing. A moment later, curiosity overrode everything.

So... Megassa? She waited until the other girl raised her head and looked at her, silvery-green eyes big and glossy with tears. We're half-sisters, and we're cousins both, yes?

I guess so. Megassa nodded. You're the princess, just because you're older than me?

We should both be princesses, shouldn't we? She turned to Nalla.

That's a subject best left for later, when you're better able to understand. The woman sighed and raked her long, elegant fingers through her silver hair. Let's find your nurse, little Megassa, shall we?

She told me to go away. The younger girl pouted as Nalla put her back down on her own two feet. She followed readily enough when the woman led the two girls out the door.

Before they took more than three steps down the hallway, a woman in the brown and gold uniform of the Warhawk's personal guards, with a captain's triple knots on her shoulder, hurried up the nearest staircase. Amusement lit her wheat-colored face when she saw Meghianna, walking down the hall next to Nalla with her hands clasped behind her back, deep in thought. Shaking her head, she sighed and reached to take hold of her hand.

Come along, troublemaker. You've had your fun, but now-- Then she saw Megassa, who had ducked behind Nalla. Her mouth dropped open and she looked back and forth between the two girls. I think we're headed for years of trouble, she muttered. You're Nalla, aren't you?

And you must be Captain Gynefra. Nalla reached for Meghianna's hand. This one is my charge. This one must be yours. She claims her nurse told her to go away.

"She's telling the truth. The girl is the laziest little tart I've ever had the displeasure of--well, none of that matters. She wanted to spend time chasing one of the new Valors in training, rather than her duty. Little Megassa isn't half as much trouble as her former nurse wants people to think. Her smile turned rather grim as she looked at Megassa and nodded for emphasis. Gynefra held out her hand again. Come along and we'll find someone much nicer, shall we?"

Meghianna opened her mouth to ask why her newly discovered sister couldn't stay with her, but Nalla stopped her, tugging on her hand.

Thank you, Captain. It's time for Meghianna to make her appearance, and I wouldn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers so early. Nalla waited only until Megassa let the soldier take her hand, then headed for the door to the enclosed, spiraling staircase that led from the royal family's private quarters, still holding Meghianna's hand.

Considering everyone's feathers are ruffled all the time nowadays, we thank you. Gynefra chuckled and bent to scoop up Megassa, so the child straddled her hip. Let's see what the cooks can spare us for a treat, shall we?

Meghianna looked back just long enough to see the smile on the other girl's face, then let Nalla hurry her along. It was time to see her father--and Lord Mrillis. Even anticipation couldn't drive the questions from her thoughts.

Where is Megassa's mother? she asked, when she and Nalla had reached the bottom of the staircase and she could see no one else in the hallway either behind or ahead of them. Meghianna had learned long ago the necessity for speaking with caution.

No one knows for sure.

Is she my aunt, or my cousin?

She's no one and nothing to you, my dear. And you'd be wise not to ask your father about her, either. It's hard enough for him to admit Megassa exists. Other men would think themselves justified in having such painful reminders removed from sight. Permanently.

But Megassa didn't do anything wrong. Meghianna stumbled as the implications of Nalla's words sank in. The woman meant other people would think it justified if Megassa died. What evil had her mother done, that someone would want a little girl dead to pay for it?

Exactly. But there are those who think a child's innocence is no justification for mercy. Nalla sighed and stopped and went down on one knee in front of the girl, so they were nearly eye-to-eye. She rested both hands on Meghianna's shoulders. Sweetling, you're far too young to hear such cruel things, but considering who you are to be someday, I wouldn't doubt you're wise enough already to understand. It's said Lady Ceera was wise ahead of her time, as well.

Lord Mrillis' dead wife.

You've had your lessons about the Nameless One. Nalla waited until Meghianna nodded. He was your great-grandfather. His evil came down through two of his three children, Endor and Triska. Nainan, your grandmother, broke free of the magic he used to control her. Triska's daughter is Trevissa, and she used magic to trick your father, to think she was Belissa. And so Megassa was born.

Oh. Papa must be very uncomfortable when he sees Megassa. She frowned and chewed on her next thought a moment. Or doesn't he see her ever?

I'm not sure. She's been living somewhere else, and only came to the fortress last fall. Most of what I know about your sister, I have only heard from others. But show your father some mercy, and don't ask him. Let him tell you what he thinks of your sister when he chooses, all right?

Meghianna nodded, and slipped her hand back into Nalla's as they continued down the long, shadowy hallway of smooth, golden stone.

She had heard enough people say Efrin Warhawk was far too young to carry the burden of the throne. It prompted her to step back and look at her father as if she had never seen him. That was easiest to do when she came to the Warhawk's fortress in the spring, after being separated from her father all fall and winter. When she walked into the council room that afternoon and saw him sitting at the far end of the long council table, she noted the touch of silver in his oak-colored hair and short beard, and new lines around his mouth and eyes. She hoped those lines would go away when he stopped frowning. Efrin was only twenty-eight. She supposed older people would think that was very young to be the High King, charged with keeping the entire World safe. From her very young age of six, twenty-eight seemed enormously ancient.

Then again, she knew Lord Mrillis was over eighty years old, but he didn't seem any age at all to her. He was her favorite teacher, and Nalla scolded him quite often for spoiling her. Meghianna couldn't understand how Mrillis teaching her whatever she wanted to learn, taking long walks with her on the Lake of Ice for private talks, and sending her long letters explaining everything that happened in the World could be counted as spoiling her. To her, spoiling was letting her have too many sweets, letting her sleep late and stay up late, and bringing her all sorts of useless gossip about the women of the Stronghold. Everything Mrillis did was to make her the best Queen of Snows who had ever been born.

Enough! Efrin Warhawk shouted.

Meghianna took half a step backwards, startled out of her thoughts. Then she realized that was a shout full of laughter, not anger. Efrin leaped from his chair at the head of the long oval table and spread his arms wide as he hurried down the length of the room, straight for her. Laughing, she ran to her father.

Council is dismissed for the rest of the day, he called back over his shoulder, then swooped to pick her up and lift her high over his head. Meghianna let out a squeal, kicking her feet.

But Majesty-- Lord Markin began.

Not a word, or I'll cancel all Council meetings until the new moon. Efrin settled Meghianna on his hip. He scowled as he looked her over, head to foot, and shook his head. The laughter in his eyes made a lie of his mask of anger. What did I tell you not to do, my girl?

Grow. She giggled.

And what did you do? Against all my orders. My dear Lady Nalla, haven't you found any magic yet that will keep her small enough for me to carry around in my pocket?

I'm sorry, Majesty, but one of the first rules of magic is to interfere as little as possible with the way of things as the Estall has established them. Nalla's face turned rosy as she struggled to keep a serious expression, and dropped down in a curtsey. Little girls growing too big to be their father's pets is a law of nature.

Ah, there, you see my dear? Efrin nodded absently as the members of the Council bowed to him, winked at Meghianna, and made their farewells. It doesn't do us a speck of good to be important, because the Estall treats us just like everyone else.

But isn't that a good thing, Papa?

That is a very good thing. He kissed both her cheeks and the tip of her nose, making her giggle. We need to be humble so we can do our jobs properly. But enough serious talk. He spun on his heel and swung her off his hip, to settle her on the edge of the table. My sweetheart is here and the rest of the day is entirely ours to do with as we wish.

He stroked his golden-brown beard, striking a pose of deep thought. His short hair looked like he had worn a helmet recently, damp and crushed together. Meghianna wondered if the Encindi invaders had been especially active this spring, so her father had to lead his soldiers out in battle so soon. How much time would he have to spend in battle instead of with her this summer?

So, what shall we do first? Efrin said, blue eyes sparkling with laughter and secrets.

Papa. Meghianna knew he teased her. They had a set ritual they followed every time she came to the fortress. We have to tour, first.

Ah. You're right. How could I have forgotten?

It is part of getting older, I'm afraid, the mellow voice of Lord Mrillis informed them. He stayed in the Council room doorway and swept them a low bow, so the sleeves of his plain gray robes swept the floor. As he straightened, he winked at Meghianna.

Do you think your papa is an old man, my sweet? Efrin swept her off the table and set her on the floor with a little jounce.

You're not allowed to get old, Papa. That's the first enchantment I'll make, when I'm grown and Queen of Snows. I'll make sure you never get old, and you'll always be Warhawk. She emphasized her words with a sharp nod.

Now that's cruel. Efrin took her hand and led her to the door. Only the young can know how cruel unending life is, don't you agree, Mrillis?

But-- She stared, shifting her gaze back and forth between the two men, who quite obviously fought to keep straight faces. Meghianna knew her mouth hung open, and it was very unbecoming, but she couldn't seem to get hold of her thoughts tightly enough to close it.

I don't want to fight the Encindi and rebel Rey'kil forever. Efrin relented and went down on one knee so he and his daughter were eye-to-eye. I can't keep from getting old and turning my duties over to younger men, and I don't think I want to. Any more than I want to keep you a little girl forever. Someday, my Meghianna, you'll be a grown woman, and you'll take care of your Papa, just like he takes care of you now.

Oh. That makes sense, she murmured, as the new thoughts tumbled through her head. They settled into place with an almost audible click, in the world-encompassing mosaic that filled her mind. Meghianna marveled at the new depths of understanding that bit of knowledge granted her, which she sensed more than actually saw. Her father and Mrillis waited, watching her, and she knew better than to sit and think for the next few hours. She would save her new insight for tonight, when she was alone in her big, curtained bed.

I am assured yet again that our world will be in very good hands, when we lay down to take our rest, Mrillis said.

He smiled warmly at her, but there was something in his eyes, a dimness that came from sorrow, and a wry curve to the corner of his mouth, that told Meghianna he knew something that didn't make his words exactly a lie, but rather granted them multiple meanings.

Enough seriousness. Efrin straightened and clapped his hands three times. As of now, we are on holiday. He took Meghianna's hand, led her to the door, and beckoned with his other hand for Nalla to follow. The healer woman met Meghianna's gaze and rolled her eyes, effectively breaking the somber mood.

Mrillis walked with them, slowing his steps as Efrin did, to save Meghianna from having to run. They were both such tall men, with such long legs. She muffled a giggle, delighted that he seemed to be included in whatever her father had planned for her welcome. Efrin had said several times that Lord Mrillis was as close to a grandfather as Meghianna would ever have, and all he had left of his father. He insisted on including the enchanter in their time together, whenever she came to visit the fortress. Mrillis never asked Meghianna to call him grandfather, and she was strangely grateful he didn't. A deep, inner sense of her place in the world warned her that as she grew into her duties and gifts, it would be awkward to have to change how she thought about him.

They toured the fortress, all the public rooms, the healing rooms, the storage rooms, the offices of the seneschal and chatelaine, the common rooms for the Valors, the armory, and the archives. Meghianna satisfied herself that nothing essential had changed since she left in the fall.

She began to suspect something when her father led them on a tour of the gardens, and took extra time to show her the walled garden that was always her province. Seedlings and cuttings had been planted as she had requested in the diagrams she sent to the fortress half a moon ago. Meghianna was pleased to see more people took her instructions seriously now, not just humoring her because she was the Warhawk's daughter. Still, there was no reason for her father to devote so much time to something she could just as easily examine on her own.

Efrin pointed out the spring growth in other parts of the gardens, where the kitchen staff had dominion, where the healers grew fresh ingredients for their herbal potions, and the flowers for decorating the ladies of the Court. Meghianna's suspicion grew when he led her away from the stables, which should have been the next logical step, to the barns where several new litters of puppies and kittens frolicked in the sunshine and shadows. Their next stop was the mews, to visit the ancient warhawk that sat on the top of her father's chair during High Court sessions.

Papa, when we are going to the stables? she finally asked, stopping short in a patch of sunshine between the mews and the Valors' training field. Efrin stopped just as short, his mouth open, one hand gesturing in the opposite direction. Meghianna knew something delightful was planned when her father glanced at Mrillis, as if asking a silent question.

I have said nothing to her that you have not heard, the enchanter said, and shrugged. The caution he displayed in not looking her in the eye hardened Meghianna's suspicions.

Her surprise was in the stables--that much was obvious.

Stables equaled horses.

A pony? You got me my own pony? Meghianna remembered just in time to stifle her squeal. The falcons and hawks didn't appreciate high-pitched noises.

Of course not. Her father took hold of her hand again. Why would I get you a pony, when all the animals in the Stronghold are yours as Queen's Heir?

But if it comes from you, Papa, that makes it special. She trotted along next to Efrin, and nearly tripped over her own feet when she tried to look over her shoulder at Mrillis, who walked several steps behind them. Meghianna felt very tempted to pout, but having seen her new half-sister pout, she disliked such an infantile tactic. Besides, she was busy unraveling this new puzzle. She had been so sure the stables held her surprise, and logic said it had to be a pony.

Hmm, yes, and I'm more thankful than ever you're out of the reach of my enemies on the Council most of the year.

Why? She giggled a little when Efrin made a face at her.

If they convinced you to speak on their behalf, I would never be able to stand against them. You, my sweet, know exactly the right thing to say to turn my heart into melted candle wax. He stopped short on the threshold of the stables and bowed grandly as he gestured for her to go in ahead of him.

Chapter Two

Meghianna saw the mist-colored shape standing in a shaft of light coming through the vent door in the sloped roof. A man in the Warhawk's livery held its reins, but the proportions were all wrong.

A horse, not a pony, she whispered. Meghianna looked over her shoulder at her father. Efrin and Mrillis grinned, their faces bright in the sunshine. Nalla, of course, wore an expression that was a mixture of pleasure on her behalf, and all the caution and horror of a dutiful nursemaid. A moment later, she burst out laughing and leaped into her father's arms. A grown horse, for me? She kissed both her father's cheeks. I'll need a ladder to get into the saddle.

You'll grow fast enough, I'm afraid, Mrillis said.

Do you like her, Meggi? Efrin said.

Yes, Papa. Very much. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed until he pretended to choke, and laughed.

Mist is full-grown, but she is small for her breed, Mrillis said. She is very intelligent, and very gentle. Usually, horses as smart as her tend to be bad-tempered. Mostly because they're independent, and believe they know better than their riders.

A snort from inside the stable startled the four of them. Nalla stood back, crossed her arms over her chest, and shook her head instead of laughing with the others.

Yes, Mist, I know you think you're smarter than everyone, but Meghianna will be your rider now, Mrillis said, and I promise you, she is very smart. Besides, we are depending on you to take care of her as if she were your own colt. Do you understand?

The white shape moved away from the stable hand, and grew taller, taking on a silvery sheen as it moved to the doorway of the stables and into the sunlight. Meghianna looked into the ebony eyes of a pearly gray horse. The delicate, long face was only a little higher than her, held in her father's arms.

Now, shall the two of you be friends? Efrin said. He swung her out and settled her on Mist's back. The mare nickered and bobbed her head. Her hide shivered once under Meghianna's hands as the little girl wove her fingers into the coarse, long mane in dozens of shades of gray and silver and black.

Thank you, Papa, Meghianna whispered, feeling tears and giddy giggles mixing in her chest. She knew how tears affected her father, so she fought the sensation until she could lock it away, and spilled smiles and laughter for both men.

Efrin walked her around the practice fields and the inner and outer courtyards, until she grew used to riding bareback, and assured in her seating. When Meghianna went to bed that night, she wore a new bracelet made of hairs from Mist's tail and mane, and her mind was full of plans to go on adventures with her new companion. She suspected that escaping the watchful eyes of the Warhawk's bodyguards would be easy compared with escaping from Nalla--but how could she have adventures if someone always watched over her?

You're not like other little girls, she whispered into the darkness of her room. Meghianna heard the words echoed in a dozen other voices. It hadn't taken long for her to understand the boundaries on her life, both as the next Queen of Snows and as the Warhawk's only child. Still, that didn't mean she had to forfeit all fun, did it?

* * * *

Should I send her away? Efrin stayed at the window that looked down over the inner court of the fortress.

Mrillis sat back, pressing his shoulders against the chair, and studied the young king. The window looked down over Meghianna's garden. That was the entire reason why Efrin had given that particular