Sands of a Millennium: The Dragonspawn Saga, #4

Dedication

I would like to thank my family, friends, my proofreaders and editors, who shall all remain nameless; you know who you are and I thank you. And to those who never gave up on me, and through their own ongoing trials, were steadfast and loyal supporters of my work.

Also, to all the unknown authors who still struggle with their own words, don’t give up. Every voice has an ear, no matter the genre. Enjoy the worlds you create, for they are the literal extension of who you are.

This project, begun over a decade ago, is still incomplete. This volume, Book IV in the Dragonspawn Saga, continues the fantasy adventure world that will come to its unanticipated conclusion in the fifth and final volume of this saga.

~Published~

Love’s Consequence – Book I

Dragonchild – Book II

Dragamere – Book III

~Coming Soon~

Dragonblood – Book V

From me to you, enjoy the journey!

G.W.S.

Chapter I

Journey Into The Past

Adalstienn Castle, Belōg Mountains

Ēast Engla Rīce

JD 2089080.394

(CE 1007 Augustus 04, 9:28 p.m.)

The dying embers in the large fireplace burst into flames; along with the rings-upon-rings of candles that sprang to life in the heavy, circular, iron chandeliers, the castle’s main room and its contents were illuminated instantaneously.

Grand wizard Alazais Moorlange’s boots clattered as he descended the grand staircase; hurrying into the room, he came to a halt before a large, well-worn table. Waving his hands over the ancient crystal ball that stood in the center of the table, he addressed it in his usual fashion, Is it finished? Have the intruders succeeded? Show them to me ... SHOW THEM TO ME—NOW!

As his voice echoed and then faded, his apprentice, Va-lon, entered; his hand covered his mouth as he stood behind and well away from his mentor, not daring to move.

The crystal flared, casting a harsh light onto Moorlange’s features and quickly produced the images of his liberated foes; alongside them were their redeemers ... all unharmed. His brow tensed, his lips moved, but, despite his efforts, he was unable to speak.

Damn! My curse, it has been broken, my antagonists are now free.

Moorlange’s features reddened, the veins in his temples throbbed as he stared into the crystal, watching the lovers’ tryst continue. His voice returned and the words trembled from his lips, Now ... they will come ... they will ... for a final confrontation.

He raised his arms along with his voice, "GISELLE, this is not finished! You and your lover must stand before me to be victorious!"

He took a deep breath and screamed, fists clenched, Return to Adalstienn ... NOW!

As the images faded, his visage paled; staggering backward, as if struck by a heavy blow, he fell into his protégé’s arms.

Dragamere

JD 2089080.3965

(CE 1007 Augustus 04, 9:31 p.m.)

Chelsey stared open-mouthed at Giselle and Gaddeon with Damien’s words still bouncing around inside her head.

Both of them smiled as she repeated some of them. The year is 1007; one thousand years into the past ... can that be? If so, then we’ve broken the curse and defeated Moorlange ...

Do not be alarmed, Chelsey, Giselle said, You have both come a great distance, have you not?

Chelsey nodded, Yes, we have.

From a distant time, too, Gaddeon said, eyeing them both, do you know how far?

Yes, one thousand years, Damien said, the time-span of Moorlange’s evil curse.

Gaddeon said, What Julian day would that be ... the day that you departed?

Damien’s right eyebrow rose as he looked back at him. The day we broke the curse and everything changed was Saturday, August 4, 2007.

Gaddeon’s brow wrinkled and he turned to Giselle.

Chelsey politely interrupted, Please, Gaddeon, allow me to explain. If I remember correctly, the calendars changed in 1582. Up until then, they counted the days consecutively with no distinction between days, months and years. The day-number changed with the sun, determining each new ‘Julian Day’, are you following me?

Yes ... please proceed, he said.

So, I’m going to keep track my own way, with our system, Chelsey said, looking over at Damien. That makes today Saturday, August 4 ... 1007. Who knows, we may end up going back, someday ... somehow.

Giselle’s mind drifted away from the conversation as Moorlange’s demented demands repeated in her mind; looking back at the others, she thought they probably heard nothing, or they did not understand his raging words.

She stepped closer to Gaddeon and said to all three, We must go to Adalstienn. This will not be over until Gaddeon and I face Moorlange one last time. Madness has befallen him and we must end his malevolence forever.

Startled by Giselle’s statement, Gaddeon took her by the arms and pulled her closer. Leave him to his madness, he said, feeling the heat of her body and seeing the fire in her eyes. I must dissuade her; I see danger here, for all of us. We are together and have no further need of him.

She saw the look in his eyes as he loosened his hold. He fears for us, my brave Gaddeon—but we must fight this together. No, we cannot pretend he does not exist, she said as she pulled him to her. Her breasts rising and falling as she pressed her body to his; she kissed his lips, luxuriating in their feel after so long. Breaking off, she stared into his eyes, We must rid ourselves of him, once and for all, if we are to be truly safe; and do not forget, this does not only involve us now, but our rescuers as well.

She looked around at the others. And we have exposed them to a danger too severe to imagine.

As Giselle’s gaze met hers, Chelsey removed the golden rose necklace from around her neck and pulled the crystal rose from her waistband. She took several steps toward the pair, her hands extended. These are for you ... people who have loved you for a long time gave me these gifts, she said, and handed the two roses to Giselle. The golden rose is from your father; a replacement for the crystal one after it was destroyed by Moorlange. It was his demented hope that its loss would deter us. The crystal rose was from your mother; it contained powers beyond my comprehension and whatever magic happened when we saved you, restored it. They both belong to you now.

Giselle looked down at the precious gifts and turned to Gaddeon; he looked at them, smiled and nodded. Giselle handed the crystal rose back to Chelsey and then placed the golden rose pendant around Damien’s neck. I have no need of these, for my own powerful magic has been restored. Take them as gifts from Gaddeon and me, that you may be protected from all harm. Moorlange may attempt to cast his malevolence upon you as well.

Chelsey clasped the rose to her breast and stood mute, mouth open. She glanced down at the rose and then looking up, managed to say, Thank you.

We have questions that I hope you can answer, Damien said.

Go ahead, Gaddeon said, embracing Giselle.

Chelsey and I came to Dragamere not knowing what we’d encounter. I think we’ve accomplished what we were supposed to, but the results aren’t exactly what we expected ... His voice trailed off, his brow twisted. Are we trapped here, will we ever return. He glanced at Chelsey who nodded back. She seems so complacent, as if she’s prepared to spend the rest of her life here. He looked at the others and said, We have, by saving you, traveled backward in time, is that correct?

Yes, you have, Giselle said. You have traveled back in time as a result of the curse. You probably witnessed Dragamere as it crumbled around you, but you see now that it is intact. Everything is as it was before Moorlange’s curse.

She smiled at Chelsey who said, Does the Guardian of Truth still live in the chapel near the city of Gosvacni. What if we seek him out? And, the children, our ancestors, where are they now ...

Her voice trailed off and Damien continued, Gaddeon’s magical castle, Ravenshorr, hidden by the cliffs, does it still stand?

Gaddeon nodded. Yes, in answer to all your questions.

Chelsey’s voice rang out, "The Black Castle of Adalstienn and Moorlange await us ... all of us!"

Yes ... Giselle said.

Then we must confront Moorlange together, Damien said, We have challenged him already and won, with the help of a dragon ... but there’s one thing we must do first.

And what is that? Gaddeon said.

We must return to the Guardian of Truth and inform him of our intentions. If we go in secret to Adalstienn and something disastrous happens, who’s to know our fate?

Giselle understood his concern. He is afraid, afraid he will never return to his own time; well, we will have to wait and see. As you wish, Damien, she said, We shall proceed to the Guardian, and then on to Adalstienn for the final confrontation. But first, we must all dress for our journey. Return to the magic room and ready yourselves; we shall then join you in the courtyard.

On their way to the doorway, Chelsey stopped, turned around, and said, Giselle, tell me, who built Dragamere and for what purpose?

The Guardian created it ... for us, she said.

The answer surprised both Chelsey and Damien as they stepped out of the chamber and back into the passageway; the doors slowly closed behind them.

Pulling Damien to her side, she looked at the last hieroglyph on the passageway wall; it now displayed the images of four people. Her voice echoed as she said, Look, the pictures changed to reflect the events as they unfolded. The story’s all here—from the start—but how will it finish?

He shrugged and said, We don’t have time now to figure that out—come on, we have to get ready, and with that, they hurried along the passageway and back down the spiral staircase.

Still wrapped in each others’ arms, they heard the voices fade, along with the footfalls on the stairway, and Giselle said, So young, and yet so brave ...

So ... Moorlange has tried his magic on them and has not succeeded, which means ... we will be victorious, the four of us, together.

We need them and they will help put the pieces together.

Their minds are fresher than ours; we have spent a thousand years suspended in time, our limbs and minds frozen.

She said, We are outcasts, we have been since birth. They had no antagonist until Moorlange. They have confronted him and witnessed the power he possesses. We have little time in which to defeat him; it must be accomplished quickly, for their time among us will be limited.

They will need protectors.

She stiffened slightly and gasped, her breath escaping in a snow-white cloud. Bhadrak and Orren, she said, they have been productive.

What do you mean?

She smiled. While we were captives they produced two eggs and they have hatched already.

Where are they now?

In the abyss ... hidden below the mist, she said.

How long have they been there?

They woke along with their parents on the successful breaching of the curse; they are juvenile and inexperienced, but they will learn all they need to know from Bhadrak and Orren. All four will accompany us to the Guardian, and then proceed, on to Adalstienn. Our visit to the Guardian will take place before the next sunrise. We will then continue, in daylight, to Gosvacni. After dusk, we will make our final passage to Adalstienn.

He kissed her softly on the lips and asked, Damien and Chelsey’s protectors, how are they named?

She returned the kiss as they remained locked together for a small eternity. They broke off gasping, undressed quickly and soon lay in each other’s arms, lost to lust and longing.

Their fire faded slowly as they lay in each others' embrace and he said, with a wide grin, And the names ...

She pushed against him and then rose to her feet. Bayn and Jaidan, she said, moving into the shadows beyond the window.

As he joined her, she turned; raising her arms to the darkness, the corner of the room brightened and two carved wooden stands appeared. Moving toward one stand, she removed the dress hanging from it. She paused, her eyes shut and face slightly raised, and then said, Come ... dress, the carriage and horses have already been summoned.

Gaddeon moved to the second stand; removing his garments, he dressed quickly. Recalling a vivid memory, he reached behind the stand, picked up an ornate scabbard from its hiding place, secured it around his waist, withdrew the long sword and turned to Giselle. I never thought I would have need of this again, he said, inspecting the blade, and certainly not against Moorlange. I do not relish the thought of doing battle with him again.

He still fears Moorlange, not that I blame him; I feared him once, but no more, I must support my lover if we are to be victorious. She approached him, smiling. You have had the experience, he will not be so lucky next he crosses blades with you; we have our magic, too. She kissed him on the lips. This time it will be different, his youth has vanished ... we will face an old man. She straightened her scarlet gown and wrapped the hooded cloak around her shoulders.

Sheathing his sword, Gaddeon looked at her and said, I do not remember that dress.

"No, but Moorlange will never forget it! she said, feeling her contempt for him rise in her breast. I must appear as I did long ago ... on that first night."

Her gaze softened then her brow furrowed, startling him. I will see him dead, that I swear.

His gaze intensified. How she must hate him, her face, her eyes, she is likened to a she-wolf bent on revenge.

We must go, she said, shaking off her thoughts and taking Gaddeon’s hand. As they walked through the doors and into the passageway, the torches flared; they grew dim once more as they approached the top of the stairway.

As she finished dressing, Chelsey said, Damien, are you ready?

He looked down at his leather breeches and sack-cloth shirt. Yes ... you know these clothes grow on you after a while.

She fastened her cloak and arranged the hood across her shoulders. I know. I’m starting to like them, too!

They turned together as the door to the secret stairway opened; Giselle and Gaddeon stepped into the room, and she said, I see you are prepared to go. She walked past Chelsey and stopped at the table. There is one item I must take on our journey. It is here, I know it is, she said, and squatted to search beneath the table. Here it is!

They heard a ‘click’ and the sound of a drawer opening. She rose, and placing a bulky article wrapped in linen on the table, she unfolded the fabric. She turned and faced them, her eyes gleaming