Sapphire Kingdom: Quest Two (Dragon Quest Series Book 2) (4 page)

“My father is right. Everyone has faith in the dragon warriors, including me.” Mina said, walking toward us with two helpers carrying our bags. “The journey into the Sapphire Kingdom will not be a very long one, but I have prepared light snacks of bread and cheese, and containers of water in case you become parched.”

Mina motioned the helpers toward us, turning toward Nolin, before we could get a chance to respond to her kindness.

After retrieving my bag, I could tell that she had packed more than a light snack.
I hate to admit it, but I am actually going to miss this place.

“This must mean we will be leaving now.” Ashley muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

“Don’t worry, we still have each other, we can become lost together.” I joked.

“Yeah, misery does love company.”

“That’s my girl. Come on, we have to be strong for April’s sake as well as our own.” I whispered this part, as I looked at April still staring down at her celta stone as if she was in a trance.

Walking over to April, I really wished there was a way to stop her from looking so sad. “Cheer up April, We at least need to thank Mina for loading our backpacks with a month worth of food.”

Reluctantly she stood up following Ashley and I to where Mina was having a conversation with her father.

“Mina, we would like to thank you for going through the trouble of packing food for us.”

“Tis no trouble at all, I was happy to do it. Also, there is a protection around the food, and so it will keep for quite some time” Mina assured us with a smile. “Just remember I am here for all of you, just think of me before activating the celta stone.”

Mina took turns hugging each of us, but it felt as if she spent a longer amount of time with April. For some reason it seems that there is a connection between Mina and April, or maybe I am just reading too much into it.

“The time has come for us to bid our farewells.” Nolin said grabbing our attention, to find a path starting at Nolin’s feet leading toward the exit of the training grounds. “This path will lead you straight to the western gate of the castle, where you will be able to begin your journey.”

“Thank you, Nolin. I promise we will let you know about our guardians as soon as we hear from them again.” I assured Nolin.

I could tell that he was as worried for our former adoptive parents as much as I was.

As we began to step on the path, I noticed that Leo and Prince Leev had disappeared. Maybe it is for the best that I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to Leo, and see his excitement of no longer having to watch over us.

“Before you go,
Rṓ
gaire will be accompany- -ing you as well to help in your travels.”

I could tell that Mina wanted to argue, but her father had already spoken. I don’t know what it was, but the distrust everyone else expressed for him, made him even more suspicious in my book.

Rṓ
gaire stepped on the path without a word, as he turned and bowed in the direction of Nolin.

With one tap from Nolin’s cane the path began to move steadily away from Nolin, and everything I had come to like.

“Have you ever been to Sapphire Kingdom?” Ashley asked
Rṓ
gaire, as soon as we were out of eyesight from Nolin and Mina. “If you have been to the Sapphire Kingdom, do you know who my real parents are?”

“I am here only to guide the dragon warriors, not to reply to questions, you have already been explained cannot be answered.”

“Rude much? She only asked you a question.” I muttered trying to control my emotions.

“And I only truthfully replied.”

I could feel the palm of my hands heating up, as he continued to ignore us, while looking into the open field around us.

We stood together as we traveled on the moving path through the open field that seemed endless, not knowing what lied ahead of us.

As soon as I spotted part of the palace protective wall, I knew we were almost there. Well, that and the fact that
Rṓ
gaire sped up the path, without warning us.
I will have to remember to thank him for that later.

“Okay, you can slow down now.” I yelled, as we quickly began to approach the wall. “I said stop!”

I stomped my feet sending the message directly into the path. Causing it to quickly stop, sending us flying forward. If it wasn’t for April quickly using the grass in the fields to catch us, we would have been seriously injured before we even left The Inner Kingdom.

“Do you have any idea what you could have done?”
Rṓ
gaire grimaced in my direction as he lifted himself off the ground.

“If you had stopped when I told you too, this would have not happened.” I replied equally furious.

“It actually is quite nice, seeing her direct her ire at someone other than me.” Leo chuckled leaning against what I suspected to be the western gate, right beside Prince Leev.

“What are you two doing here?”

“Is that anyway to speak to us? The captain of the royal guard and the prince of this land?”

“What if I said please?” I stated in an annoyed voice.

“I am only here due to a prior engagement within the Sapphire Kingdom.” Prince Leev said walking toward us, wearing the same type of guard uniform Leo always wears.

“Okay, so do you mind explaining to me why you are here…please?”

“Better, I currently have some leave, so I am going to visit my family in Ruby Kingdom.”

His entire excuse was flimsy at best to me, why would the captain of the guard be granted leave, when such a huge threat is looming over this entire world?
For now, I am just going to go along with it, but I will find out the truth.

“Time is short we need to get going if we are to make it to Sapphire Kingdom before nightfall.”
Rṓ
gaire announced opening the gate, to reveal a beautiful black carriage led by two brown horses, and tied to the back of the carriage were two beautiful white horses with black spots.

“I guarantee your comfort in one of our finest carriages.” Prince Leev said, while opening the door for us to get in.

Before I could open my mouth to express my opinion on the matter Leo interrupted me. “Just get in, we do not have time to explain or answer any of your questions.”

“Come on,” Ashley said, pulling me into the carriage behind her.

It seemed, as soon as my feet were inside, the carriage began to move. “That is so rude, I hate being bossed around.”

“We know.” Ashley and April said in unison, causing us all to laugh.

The inside of the carriage gradually became silent as we all became lost in our own thoughts.

The way April was nervously looking around, made me more afraid for her than myself. She was the only one out of the three of us that really wanted answers about where we truly came from, and I was beginning to think that it was helping her come out of her shell; but as soon as our training started she began to transform back into the way she was when we were on Earth…distant and afraid.

“Are you okay?” I asked April noticing that she was actually trembling.

“I am just a little fearful of the unknown. What do I know about fighting a war?” April admitted rubbing her celta stone between the palms of her fidgeting hands.

“Don’t worry Angie and I will be here with you, remember you will not be alone.” Ashley said trying to console her.

“We will be fine,” I said to assure myself as well as her.

Becoming a little uncomfortable in the gloomy carriage. I moved the white lace curtains from in front of the window, and found a latch that was not too difficult to unlock, to let in some fresh air.

It seems as if we were far away from the Inner Kingdom, as I observed the wooded area we were passing through. The cool midday wind was just what I needed to unwind. The moment was just perfect until I heard the sounds of horse coming near.

“Don’t you know that there are dangers all around us?” Leo whispered furiously. “It is hard enough guarding you, without you making yourself a bigger target by putting your body out of the window.”

It wasn’t until that moment that I noticed that almost half of my body was indeed out of the window. “What do you expect? It is stifling inside of this carriage.”

“Be grateful you don’t have to walk the entire way to Sapphire Kingdom.” Leo stated.

“Where are we?” I asked still ignoring his comment, as I reached out to touch the hair on his horse, almost losing my balance when the carriage went over a tree stump.

“We are in the Estelle Forest, the source of most of the food served within the Inner Kingdom. Now get back inside you are beginning to make me nervous.”

“Why? After all, my sisters and I are just obligations.”

“That’s-”

Leo was not able to complete his sentence as a large tree fell across our path, causing me to fall back inside the carriage on my butt.

“What’s going on out there?” Ashley yelled to the guys outside as she helped me up.

“Just stay inside.” Prince Leev’s voice responded.

“Angie did you see anything?”

“Only a giant tree fall in front of the carriage.” I explained, trying to get a look at anything out of the window. “It was too close for comfort for me, and now I don’t see anyone out of the window.”

“Do you think something happened to the guys outside?” April asked standing up inside the carriage.

It is a good thing that the carriage was big enough for all of to stand up at the same time and not hit our heads.

“I am going to check and see if they are okay out there.” I announced reaching for the inside latch.

“The prince told us to stay inside.” April pulled my arm to stop me.

“They may actually need our help.”

“Well, if you are going, we are all going.” Ashley exclaimed reaching for April’s hand. “Isn’t that right?”

Not waiting for April’s answer I slowly opened the door and cautiously stepped outside. At first, it appeared that we were all alone, until I saw the bushes moving and Leo emerged with a ‘not so excited to see us’ look on his face.

“I thought I told you to stay inside.” Prince Leev said appearing from the opposite side of the woods, with
Rṓ
gaire.

“It is not safe out here.”
Rṓ
gaire announced, as they all came closer to where we were. “Which one of you thinks this is funny?”

As my sisters and I looked at one another, we verified that none of us were laughing. “It’s not us. We can hear it too.”

“Stay behind us.” Leo commanded as he and the other guys stood in front of us.

The laughing was beginning to grow louder, as we all looked to see where it was coming from.

“My have you all grown. It seems as if I have been waiting an eternity to meet the new dragon warriors again.”

Encounter

Location: Estelle Forest

◑
Apri
l
◐

It can’t be, it just can’t be the same voice that has haunted my nightmares for years; but there was no denying that menacing, yet compelling voice.

“I know that voice.” I whispered. I can never forget it no matter how hard I tried.

“I am so happy that someone here remembers me.” The voice echoed throughout the woods.

“Show yourself!” Leo bellowed.

“Since you know her, who is she?” Ashley asked, as she frantically searched for the owner of the voice.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean? I thought you said you knew the voice?” Angie exclaimed never taking her eyes off of the trees around us.

“I do, but she never told me her name when she appeared in my dreams.” I admitted reluctantly hoping that what I said didn’t sound as crazy as it sounded in my head.

Suddenly the forest became eerily quiet as I could only hear the sound of my breathing in my ears.

“Where did she go?” I asked more afraid of the owner of the voice, than whether or not I was going insane.

“Are you looking for me?” The voice said appearing to be a lot closer.

There was no mistaken the person I saw when I looked up. Standing on top of the fallen tree in the road, was the girl who appears to me in my nightmares.

“What are you doing here? You are not real?” My voice came out shaky and broken, conveying the feeling that were deep inside of me.

“Dear April, you hurt my feelings, as you can see I am very much alive and real.” The girl said vanishing from the fallen tree to appear right in front of me.

Dressed in a long white gown, with her long silver hair and pale skin, she appeared to be a princess from a fairy tale, but her eyes told all; this was no innocent princess, I was made immobile by soullessness and cruelty exuding from them.

Straining my eyes I was able to see that I was not the only one paralyzed by the unknown girl.

“Who are you?” Leo spat, I could make out the vessels protruding on his neck as he ineffectively tried to move.

Everyone seemed to be froze, forming a circle around the one holding us captive.

“Dear Leo, I am hurt that you don’t recognize me. How about you mighty prince Leev?” The girl asked sounding genuinely upset. “Nevertheless, I know all about every last one of you.”

“What do you want from us?” Angie yelled as she stared down the evil stranger.

“Where are my manners?” The girl proclaimed dramatically turning back towards my sisters and myself. “April, Angie, and Ashley. Do you know how long I have waited to be able to play with you again?”

“Leave them alone!” Leo and Prince Leev yelled.

With a wave of her hand, she silenced them both taking away their voices, which left them opening their mouths with no audible release. 

“That is much better, tis very rude to interrupt a conversation.”

“How do you know us?” Ashley asked staring wide-eyed at the fact that she knew our names.

“I see your temper has not diminished.” The girl teased, focusing only on Angie.

The tone of her voice sounded as if we were her long lost friends, but her eyes were cold and emotionless. This fact alone left me riddled with goose bumps.

As I stared at her the scenery around me began to change as I saw my sisters and I seven years ago. The day Angie fell out of the tree in our backyard.

This has got to be a dream, I must have passed out, and now I am dreaming.
I thought as I looked around franticly.

There was no denying the feel of the wind and the scent of mom cooking drifting in the air, mixing in with the scent from the pine trees surrounding our home…
This is all too real!

We were all so dirty, as we played with the fallen pine cones that littered our backyard. I began to remember how competitive we all were, as I stood and stared at all of us trying to see who could throw the pine cones the farthest.

The air was becoming cooler as the sun looked as if it was preparing to go down.              
This should be around the time Ashley and I went inside.
I thought to myself remembering every single detail of that frightful day.

I watched as Ashley ran into our house that was half painted yellow, since dad had ran out of paint earlier that day.

As I waited for my younger self to follow, I was shocked to see myself stay with Angie near the tall oak tree.
That can’t be true, on that day I followed Ashley inside.

I began to step carefully toward the younger Angie and myself, not because I was afraid they would hear or see me, but because I felt conflicted on whether I should try to stop what was obviously going to happen.
But do I really know what happened that day

As I began to move closer I saw myself running toward the tree with Ashley. A tiny buzzing sound started in my ears getting louder as I tried to move even closer.

My vision slowly blurred, as I found myself face to face with the strange girl. Without any warning she placed the palm of her hand on my head. Her hand was so cold it burned, even though she only kept it there for a few seconds.

“Nanina and Machen, thinks themselves to be very clever.” The girl hissed as she quickly removed her hand from my head, as if I was the one that was hurting her.

“Speak your name!”
Rṓ
gaire demanded, the veins on his arms and neck protruded as he struggled to break free from our paralysis.

“Why are you in such a hurry to identify me
Rṓ
gaire son of Raven?” Her voice was now deathly cold, stretching her arms toward
Rṓ
gaire. “You are quite resilient, I may have failed in destroying you seven days ago, but hear me, you and that crazy old bat will not succeed.

The color of
Rṓ
gaire’s face was now changing to an unnatural blue color, as if she was really strangling him. I don’t know how, but I knew somehow she was doing this without touching him.

“Jewels Stop!” I yelled before I had a chance to process the words coming out of my mouth, but they felt right. Somehow I already knew who she was when she first appeared before us.

Jewel suddenly released
Rṓ
gaire leaving him gasping for air. “You finally remember me.”

I could feel my pulse quicken as she now focused all of her attention on me. “What do you want from us?”

“Are you really that naïve, what do you believe me too want? After all, you were only born to destroy me.” She laughed humorlessly. “Poor little April, being chosen to stop the inevitable.”

If I wasn’t frozen in place, I knew my legs would have no longer be able to support my body. The evil intent in her words traveled straight into my bones.

“Stop it!” Ashley screamed taking the wrath of Queen Jewels glare.

To my surprise she Queen Jewel began to clap, turning toward Ashley. “Are you actually trying to protect her? This is new from a girl who could stomach her persecution in front of your so called friends, all for the purpose of obtaining some form of normality.”

Pushing pass the pain, I manage to catch a glimpse of Angie straining her eyes at something in the tree above. Once the scent of smoke wafted in the air, I realized what she was trying to do. Focusing my energy on the large branch above Jewels head, we managed to bring it down with a loud thud.

Staring wide-eyed I watched Queen Jewel remain standing as the limb fell right through her.

“I will be awaiting your arrival in Diamond Kingdom, if you can survive your journey.” Queen Jewel cackled as her image shimmered and disappeared, releasing all of us from our binds.

“I thought you said she was weak.” Angie turned her anger toward Leo. “I don’t know your definition of the word, but what she just displayed was more along the lines of strength.”

“What she just demonstrated is just a taste of what she can do.”
Rṓ
gaire admitted as he rubbed the discolored hand prints left around his neck.

“What do you expect us to do against someone like that?” Ashley threw up her hands in frustration.

“If you start to think that way than she has succeeded in her purpose for revealing herself.” Prince Leev stated looking on the ground where the branch landed.

Due to my training I found it easy to move the now charred branch off to the side, making it easier for Prince Leev and Leo as they searched the ground for something.

“What are you looking for?” Ashley asked walking closer to them.

“This.” Leo stated holding up a round rock with a strange symbol written on it.

“What is that?” I asked studying the strange rock.

“It is how she was able to just appear here. This stone acts as a guide to help people temporarily transport their energy anywhere they want.”

“If that is how she got here, how did that celta stone get here?” I asked, as I watched the stone slowly turn into sand in Leo hand.

“It must mean she has an accomplice helping her.”
Rṓ
gaire deduced heading back toward the carriage. “This changes nothing, we have lost time, and we will need to make haste if we are to reach Sapphire Kingdom in time.”

“So, that is it? We just forget about the powerful weak Queen who wants us dead?” Angie asked while walking toward the carriage. “Well I guess that makes much sense as everything else that has happened so far.”

After I removed the fallen tree off of the path, we all continued our journey onward.

This time the ride was not as smooth, I felt every tree root and pothole as
Rṓ
gaire continued at full speed unfazed.

“As soon as we can, we need to contact Nolin.” Angie yelled over the sounds of the horse gallops.

“Do you really think he will tell us anything?” Ashley responded. “I mean we already knew she had to be strong and dangerous, or else this matter would have been solved with the previous Dragon Warriors.”

What she said made sense, we all knew there would be risks involved, but I see I am not the only one who never expected the risk to be so great.

Out of nowhere the entire carriage jolted sending Ashley and I flying into Angie on the opposite side.

“I am guessing we are here.” Ashley muttered opening the small window, only to reveal sand.

As far as I could see was white sand. “Are we stopping for a break?”

“Let’s get out and see.” Angie led the way onto the hot white sand, revealing ahead of us a large beach. There was water as far as the eyes could see.

“Where are we?” The words escaped my lips without me knowing as I took in the beautiful scene before me.

“We are finally here.” Prince Leev announced coming up from behind us with the other guys.

“Are you sure? There is nothing here.” Ashley sighed with disappointment.

“You are looking with the wrong things.”
Rṓ
gaire explained. “Only a person from Sapphire Kingdom can guide us to the entrance.”

“Okay, why don’t we have a guide? I have never been here before, at least not that I can remember.”

“There is no other guide but you, after you were born and your care was given to Nolin, no one has been able to enter or exit Sapphire Kingdom. They have completely closed themselves away from the world.

Ever since starting this quest it has been one problem after another and it is still day one.
I wonder if we bit off more than we can chew. Maybe we should turn around.
I thought as I watched Ashley stare at the small waves clawing at the white sand.

“There is no turning back.”
Rṓ
gaire stated, reading my mind. “You need to close your eyes and see with your energy and heart.”

Ashley eyebrow lifted in doubt, but she did what he instructed. “It is not working.”

“Try harder.”

Ashley’s skin began to radiate a blue hue, as a blue dragon tattoo wrapped around her upper right arm.

“I see something.” Ashley smiled following something only she could see. “I can see a path, it leads out into the water.”

Ashley did not stop surprising everyone when she stepped right off of the sand and on top of the water, like she was on a bridge only she could see.

“Do you see where I am standing? Do not go pass these points.” Ashley displayed by using the tip of her feet to show us the width of the path. “I don’t know what will happen, but I will advise you to not step off of the path. I have a bad feeling about it.”

One by one we followed Ashley off land, as the water moved below us, we stayed upright walking as if we were on land.

Mesmerized by the genius behind whoever invented this, I wondered if maybe there was a thin layer of glass beneath us, but there was nothing. Testing the width with my feet to see the difference of the path and the water, I could tell no difference. Moving a little closer to the edge, I slowly placed me foot off of the path. The water quickly acted as quicksand pulling me into the water.