Fated - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 19

My view was a splendid one. It allowed me to view the vast open land west from the dragon's castle. I could see the vast sea of green grass. Down below the cliff where I was nested, I could see the leaders of the different armies slowly riding towards each other."Diana, do you see them?"My queen's voice was a broken whisper, but I could hear her as if she stood right beside me. The glass goblet she gave me was singing with her magic; the white water shimmered under the high sun, showing off the sparks of her magic."Yes, Milady, I see the prince with both of his uncles. It would seem that his general is staying back with their army. I see that the vampires and humans have sent their royal representatives. Should I activate the spell?""No, not yet; wait until they release Crastil, then activate the spell; kill three birds with one dragon."The water vibrated under her crackling voice, and I nodded, fully knowing she couldn't see me."As you wish, milady."My eyes danced over the field again, and down below, I could see the men on their horses. The red of the dragons was vibrant and obvious with the green under them. The humans and vampires seemed to blend in with each other, but it was their skin and body shapes that separated them.I was gifted with the cat's ability to hear and see better than any other being, it's thanks to this, is why my queen chose me to be her handmaiden and best spy. These abilities were my pride and joy, and I happily used them to help my queen get whatever she wanted.The sound of leather beating in the wind caught my attention. Above me in the distance was a dragon beating its wings under the bright sky above me. Right on time. My queen has planned for this day to the very last second."It would seem that they are separating; a new rider has appeared from where the dragon's army is waiting."I was crouching over the edge, looking over the land below. Each army was hidden, but the leaders knew they were there. The dragons had the upper hand with their dragons, but neither of them was nested on the land. The only one flying about was the one I could hear in the distance."I see Lord Crastil."A knight was riding his horse with a second attached to him. A man was tied to the second horse, Lord Crastil. I could see that much. The man's arms were tied behind him, and a thick chain was connecting him and his horse to the other rider."Good, start with the summons.""Yes, Milady."With that order, I followed the ritual she drilled into me before I left my home to complete this task. I pulled out a leather wrap bag from the satchel attached to my grazing horse. The leather was cool in my hands; the spell I casted over it kept it, and its contents cool under the heat of the South.I unravelled the string that held the cloth closed, then slowly rolled it out over the grass. I hid from any eyes from down below now; the sound of my magic and casting is going to make noise, and I don't need to attract unwanted attention.Once I opened the cloth, the cooling spell was released with a small puff of cool air. There, neatly tied to the material, was a thick strand of black hair, a small vial of blood, and a piece of material that held the princess's scent.My hand wavered above the small trinkets, and my fingers danced slightly as I muttered the woman's name over and over, allowing the wind to take my voice. Once I felt a warm breeze dance on my neck, without any hesitation, I drew out my blade and grasped at it.I sat there silently, muttering my queen's spell. I repeated the verse three times, and by the third time, I felt another warm breeze on the back of my neck. Within a heartbeat, I pulled my arms down and sliced my hand open.My blood hit the leather with light thuds. I made sure that my blade messed up the red liquid over all of the items before me and over the leather cloth holding them. A sharp, cold pain ran up my spine, forcing my head to fling back and making me scream as the connection was made.I could now see, feel, and hear what the dragon princess saw, felt, and heard. Her eyes were dancing around as she tried to fight my presence in her mind. So did the dragon."Serina, Tìr."The beast shook its head as it cried at my order."Serina, Tìr."She groaned in my head but slowly followed my order. I watched as the beast slowly twisted in the sky and set her pathway to the opening down below, where Lord Crastil was. Slowly, I crawled to the edge of the cliff, using my hands to find the spot I was leaning over.The view that the princess and dragon shared was slowly reaching the place where I wanted them. The beast's eyes adjusted, and her speed picked up as my thoughts edged her on to crash into the very spot where the lord was.The knights exchanging the captured lord were dismounting their horses, oblivious to their approaching deaths."Apollo, what are you doing?"The voice was sharp in my ears. She was near me, but I could hear her. My queen warned me about the half-breed and that her voice could break my spell. Gratitude ran through me as my queen's words ran through me."Luckily, my dear, I'm smarter than that half-breed; she won't know there is a spell until it's too late."The princess tried to speak, but nothing left her lips as I stopped her."Serina, Tìr."With that final order, the beast crashed to the ground, causing the cliff I was hidden on to vibrate. The sounds of men shouting and roaring soon followed. Lord Crastil was finally dead.I felt the princess's body jerk and swing as she fell from the seat on the dragon. I felt the grass and stones scrape at her skin. I felt the pain she felt, but my body never took damage; only hers did.Our eyes fluttered open as we felt hands tug on our arm. I followed the princess' movements as the spell blended me with her mind even deeper. The smell of dust filled our nose as we were pulled up by an unseen force."Apollo? Apollo?"The familiar voice filled our minds slowly, and our eyes slowly focused on the messy image of the half-breed; she was bleeding and covered in dirt and grass. We took a few moments to ground ourselves before the woman.Slowly, the dust around us started to settle. We could see shadows approaching us at a rapid pace, and the sound of hooves hitting the ground hard filled our ears. The other woman's hands ran over us, looking for any wounds.Bright green eyes were on us once again, and she was close once again. Our lips curled as our fingers wrapped around a hilt on our hip. With a simple thought, a thick, short blade grew from the hilt as we drew it out of its holster."NO!"The sound of the prince screaming filled our ears, and the green eyes looking at us slowly filled with tears as a warm liquid drizzled down our hand. Slowly, we looked down at where we shoved our blade into the gut of the half-breed.Our throat was suddenly aching and raw; the dragon princess was breaking from the spell; she was screaming as she realised what she had just done. Still bound to her, I watched as the half-breed smiled at us.Bright blood trickled from the corners of the woman's lips as her body started to drop from our grasp."I now release you."How did she know? How did she know about the spell? With her fresh wound and oozing blood, the half-breed broke the bound suddenly. Leaving me sitting on my knees, alone, and crying.My queen was right; we killed three birds with one dragon.