Phoenix Gift

Chapter Two

The castle’s shadow crept toward the pair as the suns slowly sank westward. The herds of magical equines had already gone. Two unicorns remained: a blue mare with a golden blaze and a red stallion. Akina saw the unicorns, but could not tell if they were real or imagined. Her gaze turned to the sky as a dragon appeared, just as Alexis predicted.

The dragon flew over the canyon walls, dropping to skim over the forest and meadow. The great beast slowed and hovered in the air above them, showering them with a warm breeze. It was teal with gold-colored underscales. Its muzzle was broad and it had four short legs. A row of forward-curving spikes ran along its spine. Two wizards perched on its back, seated on thick pads between the spikes.

Its wings were dark with a slight pink iridescence. Slowly descending, the dragon came to rest on solid ground. It folded its wings then lay down, allowing its riders to dismount from lumpy straw-filled sacks serving as saddles. The youngest of the pair touched the securing ropes with his staff. Smoke rose from the taunt ropes and the saddles slid off.

The dragon rested on the grass as its riders approached Akina and Alexis. A Castle Dragon scampered ahead of the two men. Its nose was tapered, and it had a short, furry crest at the back of its skull. The small, red-orange dragon was serpentine, like Cadmus, but it was a wyvern. Unlike Cadmus, it possessed only one pair of legs. It bent its wings at an awkward angle to use the wing joints as a second pair of feet, making it ungainly on land. Cadmus bound between his mistresses and the strange visitors.

As Alexis had said, one wizard was very old. His beard dragged on the ground as he walked bent double, leaning on his ornate, golden staff. His violet robes were embroidered with golden symbols and sagged from his lessening frame. Following the elder wizard were a white cat and a gray wolf, both wearing jeweled collars. The wolf carried a bulging carpetbag in its mouth.

The other wizard walked upright. His beard, though white, was short. The younger wizard also carried a bag and a golden staff, but his staff was plain with one clear crystal set in it. The pair halted in front of Akina and bowed, though the elder could hardly bring himself lower than his natural posture.

“Greetings and welcome. Milagros is honored by your presence,” Akina greeted.

“Thank you, Your Majesty and young Highness. It is we who are honored,” the elder bowed again. His voice was gentled by time, yet still echoed with the strength of youth, “I am Absalom and this is my son, Tavel.”

Akina nodded. Alexis giggled as the red-orange dragon mouthed Cadmus’s bell. It sat back and snorted with envy, or maybe disgust, that Cadmus should wear such a shiny bobble.

“Cadmus likes having a friend. Is he yours?” Alexis asked.

“Yes, young Highness, he is my familiar,” Tavel answered. “His name is Eja.”

“You are welcome to stay, though I caution you, Milagros has a way of keeping one from leaving with any great speed,” Akina smiled.

“I have heard such tales,” Absalom nodded.

“I invite you to dine in the royal chambers tonight. It is my hope you may be persuaded to entertain us with stories of Nuwa.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. It would be an honor.”

“Good, but your dragon has traveled far. I’m sure the clan here will accept him and grant him space in their caves.”

The dragon rose and nodded to Akina. It then lumbered into the air, flying over the castle to the dragon caves. Akina hoped that the island clan would welcome him with good humor.

Akina escorted the wizards to the main gates, across the courtyard and into the octagonal entry hall. The high ceiling vaulted several stories up to a jeweled dome. Designed like a compass along the outer rim, images of the Hereafter and the Phoenix’s Chosen, Deren among them, swarmed around a castle in the center. The marble veins of the floor reflected the jeweled pattern above. Opposite the doors, a staircase led to the next floor.

Large, clerestory windows allowed the suns’ light to penetrate every corner of the hall. Colorful tapestries covered the walls between and below the windows. To the left and right, doors led to other areas of the castle.

In the center of the hall, a crystal fountain rose from the marble floor. Water cascaded over the edges of the upper levels into the wide, circular basin. The nine levels of the fountain were carved with the forms of all the creatures of creation: inlaid with precious metals, enamel and encrusted with gems. At the height of the fountain there was an orb enveloped in the amber flames of the Phoenix.

Alexis ran to the fountain with Cadmus in her arms. She set the dragon down on the flat edge of the lowest level and gazed into the shimmering water. Akina perceived voices drifting from the direction of the banquet hall and recognized Xavier’s voice among the echoes.

Absalom struggled to stand erect and gazed at the glittering dome above. The old wizard’s eyes watered with tears as he eased back into his stooped frame, whispering, “It is just as I remembered.”

Akina walked beside the old wizard. Alexis giggled as the two Castle Dragons chased one another in a friendly game. Cadmus’s bell jingled, filling the hall as the walls resonated with the sound.

“The wizards’ chambers are beyond the staircase. Will you require assistance settling in?” Akina inquired.

“No,” Absalom stared at the fountain, “we will manage on our own. Thank you.”

“Then I shall inform my husband and the kitchen that we have guests for dinner.”

“Might I have a dinner plate delivered to my quarters for my familiars?” Absalom asked, turning toward her.

“Of course. What should I inform Geraint and Miette to prepare?”

“A platter with raw meats, vegetables and fruits will be fine.”

“I will see that they prepare it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Absalom bowed.

Akina left. Alexis watched as the old wizard abruptly turned from the fountain and walked past the staircase to a dark corridor behind it. The old man was surprisingly quick despite his appearance. Tavel and the animals followed. Cadmus chirped. Alexis met its shiny, ruby gaze, hesitated, then followed the wizards into the dimly lit hall.

The corridor was long, straight and lined with doors. The only light permeating its depths was from small flames flickering in bowls between each of the heavy oak doors. Alexis watched Absalom walk down the hall and choose an unoccupied room.

He touched the door and the torch bowls on either side blazed to life. The door soundlessly opened, allowing Absalom to enter as Tavel selected the neighboring room. Alexis crept to the open door of the elder wizard’s room and stood at the threshold. Cadmus stood at her side, the jingle of the bell seemingly unnoticed by the wizards.

The room was small. Dusty shelves lined the walls. A bed with a stone frame and straw-filled mattress stood across from the door. The wolf set the carpetbag down in the center of the room, stepped away and sat next to the cat. The two animals waited as Absalom struggled to balance himself, pointing his staff at the bag. The smooth crystal at the end of the staff glowed. The carpetbag reflected the magical light and opened, allowing its contents to stream out, glowing and floating to their places.

Books settled on the shelves, hemmed between stone, gargoyle bookends alongside vials, jars and a skull with a candle attached by hardened wax. A chandelier of candles floated up to the ceiling. Then a trunk settled at the foot of the bed while a table and chair placed themselves in the middle of the room. Scrolls and loose paper flopped onto the table or piled on a shelf.

A golden bowl on a tripod and filled with clear water settled on the table in front of the chair. Potted plants situated themselves on a stone sundial. A gyroscope and globe mounted on wooden poles moved beside the wall as a rug unrolled itself beside the bed as blankets covered the mattress.

A wooden perch with a white owl shackled to it by a string of spherical crystals moved next to the bed. Its feathers were ruffled and slightly unkept. An iguana in a small glass case settled on an empty shelf. A black bat streaked out of the bag, shrieking and fluttering around the room’s perimeter before settling in the branch-like protrusions of the chandelier. A black rat emerged from the bag. It twitched its nose, then scurried down the side of the bag, traversed the now cluttered room to disappear into one of the skull’s eye sockets.

Alexis studied the animals with fascination. It was unusual for wizards to have more than one familiar though no one truly knew how such partnerships were formed. Rhi’ana’s home was surrounded by several cats which seemed attracted to the witch. However, she only had one familiar. It was unclear if Absalom’s menagerie was similar. None seemed particularly concerned about their master as they made themselves comfortable in their new environment.

Now empty and several sizes smaller, the bag closed and floated to the trunk. The trunk opened, allowing it to slip into one corner. Strapped to the inside of the trunk’s lid was a sword with a gilded hilt. The trunk closed and latched itself. The cat curled up on the bed while the wolf moved to the rug and lay down.

“Just like home,” Absalom said, looking at the clutter. “It is not polite to stand in doorways, young Princess.”

Alexis stepped into the room. The golden-eyed owl blinked. The iguana turned its head, sticking out its tongue. Yawning, the wolf twitched his tail in welcome and the cat seemed to take no notice of her.

“Well now, would you be my escort to dinner?” the old wizard asked.

“Ah, yes. Are you ready?” Alexis asked, uncertain of proper etiquette. This was the first time they had ever hosted guests.

“Yes, I believe so. Shall we see if my son is ready?”

“Okay,” she shrugged.

The pair stepped out of the room as a servant approached with a silver tray. The servant bowed to Alexis and offered the covered tray to Absalom.

“Just set it on the table. They’ll see to the rest,” Absalom waved him on.

The servant nodded. He entered the room, uncovered the tray and set it on the table as instructed. The animals watched, but did not move until the servant left, and the door shut behind him.

“Are we going to see if Tavel is ready now?” Alexis asked as the servant hurried back to the kitchen.

“Of course. Shall we?” Absalom nodded.

They turned to Tavel’s open door. Books, scrolls and a table cluttered his room with a small, golden bowl standing on a tall tripod. There were considerably fewer things than in Absalom’s room.

“Well, my boy, are you settled in? The young Princess is here to escort us to dinner. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

“Yes, I am ready,” Tavel bowed to Alexis.

He extended a hand toward his dragon. The red-orange dragon crawled onto Tavel’s arm, then up to the wizard’s shoulder where it perched. Alexis giggled, turned and led them back to the entry hall. She ran up to the top of the staircase, Cadmus bounding and jingling beside her. At the top, they waited for the wizards. Absalom managed the steps with difficulty and paused at the top, to catch his ragged breath.

“Maya’s this way.”

Alexis touched Absalom’s hand. The pain in the wizard’s chest and limbs dissipated, and he stood a little straighter as Alexis led them to the double doors of the royal chambers. She pushed open the doors without difficulty and led them inside.

The royal chambers consisted of three rooms and a balcony. There was a bedroom and a bath, which included a separate space for a wardrobe and dressing table. The anteroom, where they were now, was furnished with comfortable lounges and chairs with tables and a large fireplace.

Akina sat in a chair close to the cold hearth silently knitting. The wizards followed the young princess into the room. Alexis skipped to Akina’s side and kissed her cheek. Akina blinked, turned her attention to her visitors, nodding as they bowed.