The Four Tales Read online

  The dragon flapped his wings in one big gust of expelled air. His next breath of fire came closer to them. Kemyss advanced to the side of the dragon, and her words acted as a trigger. His next reign of fire came more fully in their direction.

  “You can’t just be doing this for revenge!” the king shouted. “Kill me but leave everyone else be!”

  “Father, no!” Simon shouted back.

  King Tritium shook his head at Simon. He put a finger to his lips. Simon shook his head, silently. His eyes pleaded with his father.

  “Your death won’t be satisfactory. I want to destroy your world,” Kemyss called out. “I want my revenge, but not just for what you did to me, but for what your ancestors did to my world. Your own allowed them to murder each other. I will have my vengeance for them all!”

  “You can’t!” the king bellowed. “No one here is at fault for the past! Stop this madness! You’ll destroy the whole world!”

  “Good! None of you deserve it! I’ll start over and make it my own. No one will be persecuted because of who they are!”

  “No one tried to persecute you!” King Tritium refused to back down. He inched forward with every shout, and the guards moved with him.

  Simon followed as he tried to think. He’d heard something as they’d approached. It had been Cassie’s voice. She’d said something. He’d heard Cassie call the dragon “father.”

  Pushing next to a guard, he squeezed between two and looked through the slit at the dragon. He watched the dragon flap its wings and push huge gusts of air their way. The beast’s head turned from looking at them to the trees.

  Simon could make out Cassie’s crumpled form on the ground. The dragon took a step in her direction but halted when the witch screamed at him. The large reptile turned to them.

  “Alasdair?” he called.

  He didn't know if it was true, but if Alasdair had been turned into this creature, he could tell his friend inside of the beast was losing the battle. Whatever language the witch and Cassie’s stepmother and stepsister spouted caused him to sputter and rear in an odd fashion, as though being held my puppet strings.

  “Destroy them all!” Kemyss shouted in their own language before lapsing into the dark words again.

  The dragon twitched, his large golden eyes glancing at the body beside the tree again. Without hesitation, Simon fought off the protection of the guards and stood outside of the circle they had created. Shouts for him to return were of no use. One bold knight attempted to grab and drag him back under their shields.

  His father peeked out, “Simon, get back here.!”

  Simon didn't want to return. The book had been right. Cassie was the key.

  After his limited research, he knew of only one thing. The dragon had to kill the witch to break the curse. To end the curse, the witch must die. She controlled all the power of the curse. Her magic kept it alive.

  This was the one thing Simon knew. At first it had seemed the blacksmith's sword might hold the key, but it was nothing but a part of the blacksmith's story. That was all. The real answer came from the dragon himself. He had to kill the witch to end the magic she had resurrected.

  As Simon saw Cassie lie upon the ground unmoving, he yelled the only thing he could to the dragon, whom had once been his friend. If only he could get his old friend to hear him and understand. If only there was a bit of Alasdair left inside the dragon.

  “If you kill the witch, this will all end!” Simon shouted.

  An invisible blast ended any other words he'd speak. Diving back beneath the shields, which arose around him, arms pulled him back beneath their limited protection.

  “Alasdair, eat the witch!” he cried out again, after the intense eruption of fire missed them by a hair's breadth.

  An eternity passed in the next pause. Simon shouted his message again, but the witch countered his message with foreign words of her own. He watched as she indicated Cassie on the ground, and the dragon spit another round of fire in their direction as they backed up as one.

  “You must end the curse, Alasdair. No one can but you,” Simon screamed through another roar, as the dragon slid closer to their upraised shields.

  Soldiers from the right approached and threw spears. None touched the dragon, and he turned to roar at them as well. A weird chant filled the night, and Simon feared his instructions would not be heeded. The witch had too much control. It wouldn't work.

  “Alasdair, save Cassie and eat the witch!” He made another attempt.

  Instead, the dragon leaped off the ground and soared into the air above them. He hovered there, and fire reigned down upon them. Shields raised. Men shouted.

  A few soldiers screamed as the fire caught them. They rolled to the ground in efforts to put the flames out. The voices raised.

  “Shoot the women!” a guard called out.

  Simon knew he meant Miriam and Petunia. Even though he knew they were involved, the thought of killing them made his stomach lurch. He shook his head.

  “Alasdair! Kill the witch!” he called out.

  The soldiers surged forward. Their weapons raised. Bows prepared to kill the women. Simon held his breath. He glanced from his men to the witch to the dragon.

  The creature continued to back them up with every spray of fire. He doused the ground in blazes. Grass burned, and smoke wafted in the air.

  “Kill them!” Kemyss screamed as her hands stretched out into the air.

  “No!” Simon cried out as the dragon turned the full-force of his fire onto them. They ducked behind a stone wall, shields raised, but several men were caught in it. Screaming, the collided with the ground.

  Bows returned and shot at the dragon, and two took shots as Miriam and Petunia. The arrows were deflected from the women, and Simon knew they were protected by a spell. An arrow shot through the air toward Kemyss, but it dropped far from the mark.

  Their arrows found no purchase with the dragon either. It only served to anger the dragon more. He stalked toward them. Breathing flames down upon them.

  Men screamed and died in front of his eyes. Their bodies disintegrating before him.

  “Back! Get back, King Tritium!” Simon heard the guards shout.

  Their hands pulled at him and his father, dragging them backward and closer to the castle. They were beside the stone wall coming down from the side of the house. A set of steps arose to the back of the house.

  Soon, the guests would be involved in this war.

  “Father, yell with me!” Simon pulled on his father’s arm.

  “What?” King Tritium cried.

  “Alasdair!” Simon bellowed.

  “Alasdair!” his father echoed.

  “Kill the witch!” Simon hollered with his whole body.

  “Kill the witch!” his father screeched.

  “Kill the witch!” others called out.

  Shouts arose from their ranks, “Alasdair, kill the witch! Kill her!”

  “Save Cassie!” Simon gave one final attempt as the dragon roared and flew closer.

  Kemyss and the others continued to shout.

  A bright light began to build from them. Alasdair roared. He screeched and spit fire once more.

  Watching between the slits of the shields, Simon watched and hoped his words would be heeded. The shouts continued around him. Jerking from left to right, the beast seemed to be fighting against an invisible force.

  He swayed, snapped, and roared. His ever-present fire continued. Snarling, he snapped at a soldier who broke ranks and marched closer to shoot an arrow.

  Diving, the soldier missed the powerful jaws scooping him up. Simon yelled, “Alasdair, kill the witch and save Cassie!” You can save her!”

  His men shouted the message repeatedly.

  Shifting, the dragon moaned a high-pitched wail.

  “Alasdair, please!” Simon broke out again.

  A voice echoed from across the field. Simon paused and tried to hear over the guards. Could it be? He held his breath and listened for the noise again.
Yes!

  “Alasdair! Listen!” Simon pushed forward again. “Listen!”

  Turning, the dragon shuddered. Its body fell to the earth. Simon heard the witch screech on in the unidentified language. Wavering, the dragon turned to the right.

  Simon lurched forward but found the guards blocking his way with their bodies and hands. They formed a shield around him and his father. Shields still raised, he could barely see the dragon now.

  “Alasdair! Do it! Do it!” he shouted above the madness.

  Again, his men echoed his cries.

  The dragon scrapped the ground with an enormous paw and shook his head. Sniffing, he turned to the trees. His head waited.

  He was listening. Shivering and standing in one place. Voices crowded around the creature. Yet, his eyes fastened to one spot and refused to look away.

  “Yes!” Simon whispered. “Yes!”

  His father looked at him. They stared in the distance. Simon held up a hand, and they waited.

  23

  “Cassie!” a voice called to her. “Cassie! Wake up!”

  Hands patted her cheeks. They shook her shoulders. Each slap pierced the darkness.

  “Wake up, wake up, wake up! You’re the only one who can stop this!”

  The voice echoed in her ears. She heard a roar. Screams and shouts and chanting crashed into her. Groaning ended in coughing, as she returned to consciousness.

  “Finally!”

  Her body felt broken. Every bone seemed to crack as she moved a hand to her throat. Rubbing the skin, she sucked in breath after breath. Her eyes wouldn’t open, and her head throbbed.

  “I might have a concussion,” she whispered. “You people keep throwing me into things, and even my hard head can only take so much.”

  “Sorry,” Aven muttered.

  It was the first time he’d ever said the word, and Cassie knew he meant it. Her eyes slid open. She gazed up at her stepbrother. He watched her, sitting on his knees, his hands resting on either side of him.

  “I think you actually mean it,” she whispered.

  “I do,” he told her. “You have to stop this. You’re the only one who can.”

  Cassie made every effort to sit up but could only groan. “Sitting up feels a bit difficult at the moment,” she spoke through gritted teeth.

  “Right,” Aven said and wrapped his arms beneath her own. He pressed her back into his chest and heaved her to her feet with a grunt. Letting her go, his hands rushed to hold onto her arms as she swayed.

  “Thanks,” she whispered. Her eyes closed again against the spinning world.

  She heard Aven ask, “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I hope so.” Standing straight, she nodded slowly. “Let me open my eyes before you let me go.”

  “Okay,” he agreed.

  Shouts and screams resonated around her. Blocking it, Cassie concentrated on taking deep breaths in and out of her nose and mouth. Swallowing, she steadied herself and wrapped her hands around Aven’s wrists.

  “What’s happening?”

  “Your father is setting everything on fire.”

  “Well, that can’t be good,” Cassie grumbled.

  “Not when some of those men are soldiers, and they aren’t getting back up.”

  Cassie knew what he was trying to tell her. She nodded once and took another deep breath. Gradually, she opened one eye and the other.

  Aven’s blue eyes met her own. His were darker and worried. She knew he wasn’t faking his concern.

  “How can I stop him?” she asked.

  “Listen,” he whispered.

  Another round of shouts caught her attention. Between all the other sounds, she couldn’t make them out at first. After a few minutes, she heard his voice.

  “Alasdair, kill the witch!” his voice shouted.

  Others picked up the words, and she lost his voice. It wasn’t long, and she heard it again. “Save Cassie!”

  Her eyes found her father. He jerked unnaturally, and she knew it was against the words the witch was reciting. The sounds repeated in her ears, foreign and harsh. She knew they were urging the dragon to kill the men. While at the same time, the king’s men repetitive voices rose among her own.

  “Father!” she shouted. “Father!”

  Hoping the witch wouldn’t hear her or have time to react, Cassie took Aven’s hand and whispered, “We have to get closer.”

  He nodded and helped her forward. They covered several feet and stopped in eyesight of the dragon. He fluctuated between looking at her and looking around. A soldier came close and shot an arrow at him, but he didn’t make contact.

  “Father!” she called out.

  “Alasdair, listen!” Simon’s voice came to her.

  Looking around the chaos, Cassie prayed he was somewhere safe. Through the smoke and flames, she could make out a group of men several yards away and closer to the castle. They were backing themselves into a corner. She had to stop her father before he lost control.

  “Father, kill the witch! Trust Simon! Trust me! Kill the witch!”

  “Alasdair! Do it! Do it!” Simon’s voice reached her ears.

  The dragon turned toward the sound before turning back to Cassie. She could hear the witch’s voice pick up speed, and her body became illuminated once more. This was it.

  “Father, please. Save us!” she pleaded.

  I’m sorry, he whispered in her mind. I’m sorry.

  Father! her mind shouted. Father, kill the witch! You can do it!

  I can’t, he moaned.

  You must! We’re all going to die! Please!

  His moan filled their ears as it reached a shrieking pitch. Cassie covered her ears and reached out again.

  Please! Do it! It’s our only chance!

  She’s too strong!

  You can do this! I love you, Papa. I know you’ll save us. I know you’ll save me.

  I’m sorry, he roared.

  Kemyss glowed. Her body was so blinding, it blurred. Cassie watched in fear as her father apologized, and Kemyss burned brighter.

  Father!

  His eye was large, glassy, and green. It met her own. He was there but slipping away. She shook her head at him. He blinked.

  Roaring so long and loud, Cassie and Aven covered their ears. His body lurched up into the sky and came crashing to the ground with a shriek. His tail whipped out and knocked Miriam and Petunia over. Their bodies crashed to the ground on separate sides of the ground.

  Guards sprinted forward and grabbed them. Holding them at sword point, they inched backward. Once with the security of the other soldiers, hidden behind shields, they tied the women up.

  The dragon flicked his tail in Kemyss’s direction. As the connection between her and Miriam and Petunia broke, her blinding light ebbed, and she began to descend to the earth.

  “No!” she screamed. Her words tripped over themselves as she tried to regain the energy she was losing.

  “Kemyss!” King Ammandon cried out and ran to her side.

  Their hands locked, and Kemyss continued her incantation. The king’s voice joined hers. She began to glow again, but it was muted.

  Cassie walked toward them. Aven supported her on the side. Shouts filled the air again.

  “It’s time,” she called to her father.

  Kemyss’ eyes flew open when they heard her voice. Her father’s eye blinked at her, and he bent his neck toward her. Putting her hand out, Cassie touched his nose.

  “No!” Kemyss screeched.

  Her father pulled away. Cassie took a step back. The dragon’s eyes blackened and burned bright.

  I’ll miss you, Papa.

  The green glowed again, and the dragon turned with a swift jerk and clamped his powerful jaws around Kemyss.

  In horror, Cassie watched as his teeth sank into the woman’s flesh. The witch's hold broke as her power’s energy ended. The chants died. The glow vanished.

  “Noooo!” Kemyss’s scream echoed into a loud gurgle.

  “Kemyss!”
King Ammandon screamed as King Tritium’s men raced forward and subdued him.

  Screams from the witch reminded Cassie of a dying cat. It reminded her of the same thought she’d had months before concerning her stepmother. The woman had been a witch then too.

  Cassie closed her eyes. She couldn’t watch the rest of what was happening. Feeling Aven’s arm wrap around her, Cassie felt a moment’s surprise.

  “I’m shocked you helped me,” she whispered amidst the screams and gurgles. Her body shivered. She leaned against Aven’s side as dizziness hit her.

  “I’m surprised myself,” he returned.

  “Why did you?” she asked.

  She felt him shrug. “Perhaps I wanted to decide for myself, for once.”

  “You never made a decision before?”

  “Only with Petunia and mother’s approval. I suppose I don’t really know who I am.”

  “Are you the person who slipped dead tadpoles into my bed, threatened me with retaliation, and shoved me down the cellar steps?”

  Several minutes passed, in which Aven didn’t answer, and they listened to the final death rattle of the witch.

  The dragon and the witch disintegrated in a flash of white light.

  Cassie dropped to the ground, and Aven followed her. He held her in his arms and whispered, “I never put the dead tadpoles in your bed, and I never shoved you.”

  24

  “Cassie!” Simon broke free from the guards and sprinted toward her. He saw Aven holding her, and his hands became fists. “What did you do to her?”

  He skidded to a stop before them and pulled out his knife. “Get up! Leave her alone!”

  Aven gently laid Cassie’s head on the ground and did as he was asked. Simon looked down and willed Cassie to open her eyes.

  She was stretched out on her back in a soot and dirt-covered dress. Her hair fell around her head and covered part of her face. Dark strands blended into the night. Simon feared she wasn't breathing as he picked up his pace and ran the last few feet.

  “Cassie?” He whispered, his hand brushing over her cheek, sweeping her silky hair to the side. He felt for a pulse.

  It was there. Slight, almost faded, but there.