Amma's Liberation: Acabar Series, #1

Chapter 1

April 1149

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Hiss. BOOM!

Hiss. BOOM!

Amma groaned and rolled over to look out the window. What in the world is all that racket? She remembered, Ugh, I am going to be late meeting Teriliyn. I so do not like dragons let alone helping train them. Amma pushed out of bed and raced to get dressed.

A few minutes later, she flew out her bedroom door, skated on the stone floors as she rounded the corner to reach the stairs. Taking two at a time, Amma tore down the five flights of stairs in a matter of minutes, hoping she wasn’t too late to help with the training. As she rounded the last corner before heading outside, a bone-squeezing grip on her upper arm yanked her to a stop.

Ow! What the heck? Amma turned and glared at the offending body attached to the hand. Her gaze rose to the queen’s mottled face—lips pursed, cheeks flushed, and eyes narrowed on Amma.

What do you think you are doing running in the castle like some hooligan? the queen hissed through clenched teeth. You’re lucky I still allow you to live here! You are an embarrassment to this kingdom!

Having learned from past engagements with the queen, Amma blanked her face and replied, I’m late. I’m on my way to help Teriliyn on the training grounds. She yanked her arm out of the queen’s clutches and escaped through the front door. At the last minute, she turned her head back to look at the queen through the closing door. The black look in the woman’s eyes frightened her, just a little.

Amma slowed her pace to a fast walk as she passed through the courtyard. She started running again once she cleared the gate. Amma’s hands opened and passed over the top of the waist high grass stalks as she ran to the open field below. However, when she arrived at the field where she was to meet Teriliyn, she couldn’t see her friend anywhere.

Hiss. BOOM!

Amma jumped and looked up. There in the sky, just above the tree line, Amma found the source of the noise, a large black and blue dragon—Malandra. The dragon let loose a stream of fire, and at the same time, Teriliyn, who sat on his back, flung a round disc in front of him. The fire and the disc met; there was a loud BOOM, and the disc broke into insignificant pieces and fell to the ground.

Way to go, Malandra! Teriliyn yelled.

Amma cupped her mouth with her hands and hollered, Teriliyn!

Teriliyn glanced down and spotted Amma. Recognition dawned in her eyes. Malandra’s head dipped, his wings folded back towards his body, and he coasted down to the ground right in front of Amma. To Amma, watching Malandra maneuver through the currents was like watching the waves in the ocean crest and roll.

Teriliyn slid off the side of her dragon and plopped onto the ankle-high grass below.

Amma scrutinized Teriliyn’s flushed cheeks, windblown hair, and wide smile, and said, You love it up there, don’t you?

Teriliyn bounced on her toes and swung her arms around her middle. You can’t believe what it feels like. Imagine floating in the pond and having a breeze flow through and around you. It’s the most amazing feeling of freedom, and you can see for miles.

Teriliyn slowed and inspected Amma’s furrowed brows and down-turned lips. What’s wrong, and why are you late?

With an enormous sigh, Amma replied, I overslept.

Teriliyn stared into Amma’s downcast face. It was Mother, wasn’t it?

Amma clicked her tongue. First, she is NOT my mother. Secondly, I don’t want to cause problems; let’s just forget it. She continued under her breath, Besides, it isn’t like it's something new.

Amma noticed a steel glint enter Teriliyn’s eyes. Unfortunately, it seemed she’d heard the comment. Amma hoped she’d let it go. What’s the training schedule for today?

I need to make sure Malandra will respond to my directions even if I’m not on him, Teriliyn replied. I need you to ride him, so I can give directions from the ground.

Amma’s eyes widened, her mouth opened up into an O, and the warmth drained from her face. She shook her head back and forth. No. No. No! she said. I am not leaving this ground for anything.

Teriliyn couldn’t believe what she saw. But you’re supposed to be the one in touch with nature. Isn’t the air and the sky a part of nature? Her face turned red and steam came out of her mouth.

Amma tried to calm Teriliyn before fire followed. Can we go inside and discuss this with Vanessa? Maybe she can fly on Malandra for you.

Teriliyn turned and gave Malandra the order to return to the castle. The dragon took to the sky, and Teriliyn stomped toward the castle, mumbling the entire time about scaredy cats and not having enough patience for such things.

Amma followed behind at a much slower pace, hoping Teriliyn’s temper would have calmed by the time they reached the castle.

Chapter 2

King Alim wandered outside to consult Zander, the royal wizard. As he approached, he heard Zander bellowing at someone.

They allow no one in the Talon Woods!

Well, no one told me that, the unruffled voice said, and I’ve been and am back!

The king wondered who had the nerve to question Zander, let alone venture into the woods and survive. He stepped around the corner of the Dawn Stone Academy to see for himself. The sight blinded him. There stood a man not more than five-and-a-half feet tall with hair the color of the sun. A glow shimmered around his body, and behind him, at the edge of the woods, animals stood bowing to him.

What kind of person is this? the king thought. "I must meet him."

He approached the stranger. Sir, allow me to introduce myself. I am King Alim of Acabar, and who might you be?

The stranger showed no recognition for the king or his title. He performed no bow and made no greeting, only raised his eyebrows. The lack of recognition confused the king. He furrowed his brow and prompted the stranger to introduce himself.

The stranger said, I am known as the guardian of spirits throughout the forest and woodlands. I guard the woods and exact revenge on those who would harm their inhabitants. My name is Nippal.

The king walked around Nippal, gauging his height, strength, and poise. He thought this man would make a good and strong ally. Better yet, Nippal would make a good spouse for Princess Amma. Rubbing his chin, the king asked, Nippal, would you like to stay and visit at my castle for a few weeks?

Nippal rubbed his eyes while he thought about the king’s offer, and after a moment he nodded. King Alim and Nippal turned towards the castle, but before they had taken two steps, the king looked back at Zander with a twinkle in his eye and a smile that showed all of his teeth. This was a splendid start to his plan.

King Alim caught the frown that covered Zander’s face and his narrowed eyes directed at the disrespectful foreigner.

*****

On the way back to the castle, Nippal studied the large, four-story, reddish-brown brick castle with its three Princess towers on different sides forming a man-made barrier to attacks. He turned and looked back over his shoulder. The forbidden forest formed a barrier to the fourth side of the castle.

Nippal entered the castle, and a shiver ran down his back. He’d assumed it would be bright and airy inside, not a long, narrow hall with walls lined in dark and foreboding paintings. What’s the deal with all the paintings on the walls? he asked.

King Alim turned to discern what Nippal referred. Those are stories of our history. They’re painted throughout the castle and show everything from weddings to wars to play. They’re meant to remind us of where we’ve come from and what we’ve achieved and learned. For instance, this painting shows the great fire during the Great War. See the flames engulfing the trees. He pointed to a section of the painting. Here you can see the wide-eyed animals fleeing the safety of the trees for open ground and the blue skies turning black with smoke.

With narrowed eyes and a tilted head, Nippal made his way down the wall, looking at the various paintings. Three fourths of the way down, he stopped, reached out, and traced the body of an eagle with his finger. What is the significance of the eagle to your people?

Queen Amara has an affection for the mystical and magical, the king replied. Her favorite is the eagle. She believes that, though not a magical nor mystical animal, it portrays leadership, power, and wisdom. She believes it’s an appropriate representation of the royal family.

The king’s scrunched eyebrows and tight jaw made Nippal wonder what the king believed about the magical and mystical, but he moved on without asking.

Pounding feet accompanied by a yelling female voice wrenched Nippal’s attention from the paintings. He spun around to see what had caused the racket just in time to see two girls come to a halt in the doorway. They wore what looked like the highest quality silk and a miniature version of the king’s crown—presumably royals of some sort.

The girls took a moment to straighten themselves. Nippal noted that the girl with the severe frown and disapproving brows wore her crown woven into her short, red hair. Odd for a royal to have short hair, he thought. Besides that, what looked like steam came out of her flared nostrils and ears. Am I seeing that right?

With a shrug, he turned to look at the next girl. Her deep-brown hair flowed, more typically, past her shoulders. Were they sisters? he wondered. More tanned and with darker features, she appeared to be more passive than the red-haired girl. She was also tinier, though neither was overweight.

Just as he finished his observations, another girl, wearing silk and a crown, appeared in the doorway at the opposite end of the hallway. Though similar in build to the second girl, her long hair fell in blond waves, not brown.

Nippal turned back to the king in time to catch him rolling his eyes skyward with a soul-searing sigh escaping his throat. His smile became a slight frown.

King Alim adjusted his frown into what Nippal assumed was supposed to be a grin, but it looked more like a grimace. Let me introduce my daughters, he said, then pointed to the smoke-breathing girl. This is Teriliyn, and beside her is Amma. At the other end of the room is my third daughter, Vanessa.

Nippal bowed to each as the king introduced them, noticing their hesitancy to return the courtesy. Since they didn’t know who he was, they would be unsure of proper protocol.

When the king had finished the introductions, Teriliyn growled through gritted teeth, Father, I need help training Malandra, and Amma is too afraid to ride him.

Amma’s gaze fell to the ground and her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Do you need to discuss this in front of guests? she snarled at her sister.

Teriliyn turned her head a little towards her sister and smirked. Why, yes, Sister, I do. As you were late for practice to begin with and wouldn’t tell me why! In addition, you looked upset and were holding your left arm.

Amma’s eyes grew wide and filled with tears. Nippal wasn’t sure what was going on, but decided he didn’t need to be part of the rift. I think I’ll take a closer look at the paintings further down the hallway while you handle this, he said to the king, hoping his absence would relieve some of Amma’s distress.

*****

While Nippal took his leave, the king inspected his children. As Vanessa made her way across the room, his thoughts turned to the remaining seven years of his reign, and he bemoaned the fact that he had no sons whom to pass the crown. His only recourse was to marry off his stubborn daughters. Based on this current display of manners and, he feared, likely soon to be an outright argument, the crown may fall to another line—though that