Halfblood

Chapter 17

Okay. Yet another place I had no hand in making. This is so confusing. This land was supposed to be filled with dragons and humans, along with a halfblood running around somewhere. It was not supposed to have elves, or kingdoms, or magical items. It was also definitely not supposed to have who or whatever this 'Malthazar' is.

"This may seem like a very unusual question, but are we still in the same world as before? Or did you transport us between worlds to get to this 'Dawn' place? Because this seems nothing like the world I wrote."

Mardil does not seem at all confused. "No. I did not transport you between worlds."

It would be an understatement to say I was surprised. It was more like all nonessential mental functions shut down for who knows how long as my mind attempted to process this new and game changing piece of information. Finally, I snapped out of it. "How is this possible?"

This time, it was Pythonia who spoke up. "When you were originally writing your part of this world, how much history did you write for it?"

"Not much at all."

"I see." Said Pythonia. "And did you at all specify that the world began when the history started, and not before that occurrence?"

The shapeshifter brings up a good point. One that is leading me to a possible answer to my own question. "Ummm, no. I never thought to do that, actually."

"Okay." Pythonia pauses for a few seconds to think. "That would mean that the most likely way for this to work is for Dawn to simply be part of that unwritten past. As well as possibly existing outside of the borders of whatever the land you wrote is called."

"The land of Lerand." I can't help but sigh. "But even if this is so, why are we here?"

Mardil took this as his cue to speak again. "A: because this is where Rosalyn is being held. And B: Because the only way I can think of for Rosalyn to save Spectrum's people involves Dawn being restored to its true status as a kingdom, not the ruins it is now.

You see, according to the ancient texts, the person or persons who restore a rightful heir to the throne of Dawn will have their greatest desire fulfilled on the spot."

"Okay then." I look around to see Spectrum speaking. "So all we have to do is find this Rosalyn character, sit her on the throne, and BOOM! my people are saved?"

Mardil shakes his head. "If it were that simple, someone would have done it by now." He takes a breath, and then continues. "Unfortunately, three magical items are required for a proper coronation." He pauses again, and then begins to speak in a loud and clear voice, holding up his hand as he does so.

"According to the scroll of Dawnian tradition, 'In order for the coronation to be complete, three items are required. The ruler to be must have the moonstaff in their hands. The Sunblade must be in its scabbard, which shall be strapped around their waist. And finally, the crown of the stars must be placed upon the head of the new ruler, making he or she the new king or queen of Dawn." He shakes his head. "All we have is the moonstaff. We still need to find the other two.

Pythonia sighs. "Well, if you could tell us what they look like, I could start searching."

"Well," Mardil glances down at the sword Pythonia was wearing. "According to my sources, the sunblade looked a lot like that. Only..." He looks at it again. "Can you try to draw the sword for me?"

Pyhtonia shrugged before putting her hand to the hilt of the sword and pulling. Yet no matter how hard she tried, it would not come free of the scabbard. Not even an inch of blade ever appeared.

Mardil nods. "Interesting. Now, Kaelie. Would you mind attempting to do the same?"

This time, I'm the one shrugging. "I don't know what difference it will make, but I don't see why I can't try." So I reach out and close my hand around the hilt of the sword.

Immediately, I hear a voice in my mind. But the voice does not belong to Spectrum. "You are not the one." Before I can even ponder what this means, the hilt glows red with heat and I am forced to let go of it.

I look at Mardil and he nods. "It seems I was wrong. All we have left to find is..."

Suddenly the bottom of Pythonia's bag gives way and the circle of metal lands on the ground with a clang. Mardil picks it up. "...nothing but the throne."