“Okay, what is this troubling news you have?” Edward asked Gaylen, when the guards left them alone in his cabinet.
“It appears that there is more to worry about then just Angelique, I fear,” he replied with a grave look on his face.
Edward’s eyebrows knitted together. “Go on.”
The four of them listened as Gaylen spoke of Baldour and how he’d learned that Segomo had brought the dragon back from the dead.
Marcus frowned. “Who told you this?”
“Someone I trust. A friend who claims to have seen the dragon with his own eyes,” Gaylen replied with a grim expression.
“I thought all dragons were extinct?” Aiden asked, looking at his father.
“So did I,” Griffin said, frowning.
The wizard nodded. “They still are. All except for Baldour.”
“Why would Segomo do such a thing?” Marcus asked, crossing his arms over his chest with a dubious expression.
“To get to me.” Gaylen looked at Edward. “As well as you, Your Majesty, and your entire family.”
Edward’s chest tightened in fear. He’d heard all kinds of stories about Balfour terrorizing Syracuse before Gaylen actually killed him. It was one of the reasons his great, great grandfather had rescued the wizard from Segomo in the first place. To get rid of the beast.
“Why would he come after us?” Aiden asked, looking shocked.
“Because it was our family who helped Gaylen escape from the prison he’d put him in,” explained Edward.
“Which is why I will always be in your debt,” the wizard said, bowing slightly.
“May I ask why he’d imprisoned you in the first place?” Marcus asked him.
Gaylen let out a weary sigh. “He accused me of some things that were false; when I failed to admit to the lies, he became furious and locked me away. The gods can be very temperamental.”
“What did he accuse you of?” Aiden asked.
“I truly think that there are more important things to discuss at the moment, like Baldour,” Gaylen replied.
“Yes,” agreed Edward. “Gaylen doesn’t have to explain himself to us. Now, what are your thoughts on the dragon?”
“That he needs to be destroyed as quickly as possible,” said the wizard.
“Will you be able to do it?” Griffin asked.
“If I can find him, yes. I believe that I can,” Gaylen replied and smiled. “I’ve aged, but I’m also wiser.”
Edward nodded. “I have total faith in your abilities. Hopefully it can be done swiftly, before anyone gets hurt.”
“I will do my best, Your Majesty,” he replied.
“Are you sure this isn’t related to Angelique?” Marcus asked. “After all, Aiden claimed that she turned into a black dragon. Maybe Baldour isn’t really alive? Maybe it’s just the sorceress he saw?”
Gaylen nodded slowly. “Yes, I suppose there is always that. Regardless, you’ll need to secure the castle for a possible attack.”
Edward threaded a hand threw his hair. He needed to get his family to safety. If, by chance something went wrong, the dragon, if there really was one, could destroy the castle and everyone in it.
“What do you propose we do, Father?” Griffin asked.
“Exactly what he said, we’ll secure the castle and prepare for an attack. Gaylen, make haste and find out where this dragon is and if the threat is even real,” Edward said.
He nodded and disappeared.
“What would you like me to do?” Marcus asked.
Edward told him about his plans to move his family away from the castle. “I’d like you to help with that.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“Leave? I’m not going anywhere,” Griffin said stubbornly. “I’ll fight with you.”
“Me, too,” Aiden said bravely.
“There isn’t going to be a fight. It’s us against a dragon,” Edward said, staring at his sons with pride. Both were definitely chips off of the old block. “But, I applaud your courage. Both of you. You cannot stay, however. I won’t allow it.”
Griffin started to protest.
Edward put his hand on his shoulder, silencing him. “Your safety is crucial. If something happens to me, the country will need you to step up as king. And you, Aiden,” he added, staring at his younger son, “you’re just as important to me as your brother. If anything happened to either of you, I’d never forgive myself.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Griffin said firmly. “I won’t allow it.”
“We won’t allow it,” Aiden said.
Edward smiled at the sheriff. “Do they remind you of someone, Marcus?”
“Definitely. Like father like sons,” Marcus replied.
A loud rap on the door interrupted them.
“Come in,” Edward said, releasing his hand from Griffin’s shoulder.
One of the soldiers stepped inside, a concerned expression on his face.
“What is it, Monty?” Edward asked.
“A message, Your Majesty.” He handed him the folded parchment paper.
“From who?” Edward asked.
“A boy delivered it to the castle. That is all I know,” Monty replied.
Edward opened the seal.
You are in mortal danger. Gaylen is plotting to kill you and your family for the throne. He lied about Baldour and I can prove it. Meet me in the woods, behind the castle, in ten minutes. If you care about the safety of your wife and children, do not trust the wizard.
He pursed his lips. What kind of treachery was this now?
“What does it say?” Marcus asked.
He handed him the message.
Marcus read it and his eyebrows knitted together. “Who do you think it’s from?”
“Angelique, obviously,” Edward replied, rage boiling in his stomach. “She just won’t stop with the lies.”
Griffin asked to see the message.
Marcus passed it to him and both boys read it together.
“You don’t believe her do you?” Griffin asked, looking up.
“Of course not. They are lies. Gaylen has protected our family for generations. She’s trying to cause trouble, as usual,” Edward muttered. Was there no end to Angelique’s madness?
“If this really is from Angelique,” Marcus said, “we could use it to our advantage. If you can regain her trust, you could take away her wand and have her arrested.”
Edward nodded slowly. “Good thinking.”
“What if it’s a trap to kill you?” asked Aiden looking alarmed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to meet with her, Father.”
The king sighed. The boy was right. He couldn’t risk it and the odds were that it was definitely a trap. “We should show Gaylen. He can advise us on what would be the best.”
“I’d think about that if I were you,” Marcus replied. “Just in case there’s any truth to what she’s saying.”
“You don’t believe this nonsense?” Edward asked, looking surprised.
“I don’t know, but something seems not quite right about this entire situation,” Marcus said. “I think we should send someone to meet with her, but not you. In fact, I will go.”
“Marcus, I don’t think it’s a good idea,” the king replied.
“Why not? She didn’t kill me earlier,” he said with a smirk. “I think that’s a good sign that I’ll walk away again. If she wants to relay a message to you, she wouldn’t kill the messenger, right?”
“Let’s hope,” Edward replied dryly.
Another soldier appeared, a shocked look on his face. “Sire, a dragon has been spotted, circling the towers.”
13
UPON LEARNING THAT her message had been delivered, Angelique turned into “Baldour” and flew up into the moonlit sky, hoping her plan would work. She realized that Edward would never believe words alone, and needed to make sure he was witness to the wizard’s treachery. As far as she was concerned, both of them could kill each other in the end. She just couldn’t be part of Gaylen’s plot to murder innocent children, not even the king’s.
Spotting her, Edward’s soldiers appeared at the castle battlements, their bows poised and aimed in her direction. With her heart pounding in her chest, she flew to the eastern turret, where she was supposed to meet Gaylen. Seeing him, she drew closer and with a wave of his wand, he mounted her in the air.
“What now?” she roared in the dragon’s voice.
“Just as we discussed. Kill as many of them as you can,” he said, his voice filled with glee. “And then we’ll go after the royal family.”