The Crown's Fire - Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Spirit of the Dragon
Tarah found herself teleported back to the area where she had contacted Devon, far from the encampment and shrouded in darkness. Utilizing the draconite stone she possessed, she cloaked herself in invisibility and stealthily made her way back to Ezekiel’s tent.

Upon her return, Tarah first checked on Prince Ezekiel’s condition, ensuring his vital signs were stable before settling onto her own bed adjacent to his. She adjusted the partition fabric slightly to afford her a clear view of Ezekiel’s sleeping face, contemplating the various thoughts swirling in her mind.

She inwardly cursed, realizing the consequences of her actions. It hadn’t occurred to her that mentioning the tophet bloodchain spell would also result in punishment for Levi. “I must exercise greater caution from now on,” she muttered with a heavy sigh, scolding herself for not seeing the potential harm.

Delving into Marla’s memories, she gleaned insights into Devon’s expansive plans, not only against Ebodia but also Cordon and Valcrez, realizing the extent of his schemes and network of spies.

“Focus on what can help Levi and me,” she reminded herself, shifting restlessly as she pondered potential strategies guided by her visions. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she succumbed to a deep slumber.

*****

The next morning, Tarah awoke early to find Queen Dana entering the tent, accompanied by Cora with a tray of breakfast.

“Your Majesty,” Tarah greeted with a respectful bow as the queen approached, inviting her to join her at the table.

As they quietly partook in their meal, Queen Dana broached a topic that sent a shiver down Tarah’s spine – the extraction of Vulcan’s soul from Prince Ezekiel.

“That would be exceedingly perilous,” Tarah murmured, her complexion draining of color at the implications. The alteration of her vision’s sequence of events loomed ominously, and the thought of being tethered to Devon indefinitely sent a wave of dread coursing through her.

Her face went pale at the thought of being forced to remain by Devon’s side indefinitely. “No, it can’t be!” she thought urgently.

“In my previous vision,” she confessed to Queen Dana, “I saw Prince Ezekiel killing Devon using the dragon’s power.”

Queen Dana furrowed her brow and asked, “Was the vision clear and detailed on how it happened and when?”

Tarah bit her lower lip, her voice trembling as she spoke. “The vision is crystal clear. I saw him gruesomely kill and decapitate Devon. He burned Devon’s body and head using the dragon’s power.”

Queen Dana’s expression darkened. “No other details?” she inquired, to which Tarah simply nodded.

A heavy silence hung in the air before Queen Dana finally spoke. “I can’t risk my son’s safety, Tarah. I can’t sit back and wait for your vision to unfold, watching my son struggle for control of his own body.”

Tarah understood the depth of the queen’s concern, rooted in a mother’s instinct to protect her child. But she also couldn’t compromise her brother’s safety. She knew she had to ensure that her vision became reality to free both her and her brother from Devon’s grip.

She had to manipulate the prince’s emotions, fueling his desire to kill Devon at any cost. For that, she needed the dragon’s power to remain within him, enabling him to successfully eliminate Devon just like what she saw in her vision.

Tarah nodded, offering a weak smile to the queen. She agreed simply to avoid raising any suspicions. In truth, she lacked a compelling reason to dissuade the queen from her plan to extract Vulcan’s soul.

Queen Dana proceeded to share her plan to extract Vulcan’s soul from Ezekiel that night with the help of wizard Lurio. Tarah simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Then, Queen Dana changed the subject, expressing her curiosity about Tarah. “Tell me about yourself. Due to certain circumstances, I haven’t been able to converse with you properly. Our people are delighted to hear about Ebodia’s new Seer. They can’t wait to meet you.”

Tarah reciprocated the queen’s smile and proceeded to share her story, similar to what she had told Cora.

“I see… You’re not only a Seer but probably the last of the dragonrider bloodline,” Queen Dana remarked.

“That’s correct,” Tarah confirmed, her thoughts drifting to her brother Levi, who shared the same bloodline and had the gift of foresight. However, he hadn’t ascended like her since Levi didn’t have the same mark as them.

She subconsciously glanced at the mark on the back of her left hand, a symbol of her ascension as the new Seer of Ebodia. Ezekiel bore a matching mark on the back of his right hand.

“Once we have the opportunity, we’ll hold a formal ceremony for you to be recognized by all Ebodians,” Queen Dana informed.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Tarah responded sincerely, though she couldn’t help but wonder if that time would come, as she hadn’t seen a vision regarding it. Perhaps it was because she had her own plans in mind.

As Queen Dana left, Tarah approached Ezekiel’s bedside and sat down, gently taking his hand in hers. She gazed at his face with a heavy heart, silently apologizing to him in her thoughts. ‘I’m sorry, but Vulcan must remain within you for now. I must deliver you to Devon with the dragon inside, no matter the cost. But I promise Your Highness, I will ensure your safety, no harm will befall you.’

With determination, Tarah began chanting a powerful spell, tightly binding Vulcan’s spirit to Ezekiel’s own. Beads of sweat formed on her brow as she poured almost all her energy into the spell. A translucent light emanated from her hand, enveloping Ezekiel’s body as the spell took effect.

Tarah’s breath caught in her throat as she felt her consciousness being drawn into Ezekiel’s body. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a different realm, surrounded by darkness. Before her stood a magnificent golden dragon, unlike any she had seen before. Its presence was awe-inspiring, emanating power beyond measure.

‘Am I within the depths of the dragon’s subconscious soul or its spirit?’ Tarah pondered, her mind racing with questions.

“Why would a dragonrider seek to form a life and death bond?” the dragon’s voice rumbled, deep and resonant, yet oddly calming compared to Vulcan’s.

“Vulcan?” Tarah whispered, uncertain if this was indeed the spirit of the dragon or Vulcan’s soul.

But the dragon’s response made it clear that it was not Vulca’s soul.

“I am the spirit of the golden dragon, bearer of its power. I have no name,” the dragon replied.