TAKEN BY THE DRAGON KING

CHAPTER FORTY

No Turning Back

*

Elena pov

“Of course, I’m prepared,” I said, trying my best to act like I had this. I needed to keep this together, for Dracul. I couldn’t fall apart now, not when he needed me most, not when everything was riding on this.

I was a princess, I was a ruler, I knew how to keep my thoughts under my own control. I knew how to keep myself under control. That was all there was to it.

So why is my heart racing in my chest? Why was it pounding so hard I thought I might be Sick?

I shook it off and made my way to the horse. I gripped onto the saddle, sliding my foot into the stirrup and pushing myself up and onto the horse. I slid into place, shifting my skirts and settling into the reigns.

I gripped them tightly and Cannas nodded, letting go of the reigns and climbing onto his own horse.

He seemed experienced with riding. But so was I. I knew I would have no problems keeping up. In fact, at this point, I wanted nothing more than to keep going. I wanted nothing more than to push forward and get to Dracul.

I was sick of waiting. I was sick of letting the time tick by while Dracul got closer and closer to danger.

“Let’s go.” Gulliver said.

With a flick of his reigns, he was off.

I followed quickly, impressed by the responsiveness of the horse. It knew just what to do and when to do it. It was clearly very well trained, and I couldn’t help but feel another brief flush of relief.

If the horse was quick, if it was well trained, then maybe we wouldn’t be so far behind.

I followed Gulliver through the dips and valleys of the land, the bushes and trees rushing by as we stuck to the roads.

I hadn’t ridden for a while, but the rush of exhilaration and freedom was missing. With the heavyweight of worry and stress on my chest, I couldn’t enjoy the ride like I usually did.

With the worry aching at the back of my skull, it was a wonder that I was continuing to go at all.

But I had to.

The ride passed in silence, all of my focus on keeping the horse steady and us on track. I followed Gulliver carefully. He seemed to know the nuances of the land, the curves, and dips that made up the road.

His knowledge made it easier for me. I could have never found my way without him. At least, not in time.

But I still had to face the fact that I only had the backup of one man. At best, that meant two against two. At worst, we were outnumbered.

I had a feeling that it was far more likely that we were going to be outnumbered. The sinking dread in my stomach told me that I was probably correct.

I gripped the reigns tightly, the icy air whipping around me and leaving me shivering. The temperatures were fluctuated wildly and with unpredictability. I now knew that this was because of a dying land.

I shivered. I would cross that bridge when I got to it. When Dracul was safe, we were okay again. Then we could tackle the problem of the kingdom. Then, there would be time to focus on the problem at hand and move forward.

It was the only way.

At least, it was the only way forward that I could see.

I shivered, feeling the icy cold seep into my skin, burry its way through my very core and into my soul.

“We’re getting close.” Gulliver called from in front of me, the wind whipping away his words for the briefest moment.

I nodded, feeling anxiety twist in my stomach and leave me breathless. We were close.

What would we find at the castle? What would be waiting for us when we arrived?

“Okay.” I answered, calling back.

“We must be quiet from here on out. We will take the back way to the castle. I knew certain entrances.” Gulliver said.

“You do?” I asked, surprised.

I didn’t think Gulliver spent a lot of time at the castle. He honestly didn’t seem like that kind of guy. The place where we had settled, where we had come from, seemed much more like his style.

I couldn’t imagine him in a castle. He loved his work and his studies, that much was clear. And the castle would offer none of that.

“I have known Dracul for a long time.”Gulliver said.

Then he fell silent, offering no more explanation. I was curious, but now was not the time to elaborate, to press and ask more questions. Now was the time to quietly wait, to follow, to approach with caution.

We were going into battle with no idea what awaited us. The only way to survive this was with a measure of focus, a certain concentration in our minds.

And so, I fell quiet. We approached the castle grounds and I grabbed hold of my reins just a little bit tighter.

I didn’t want to give our position away. The quiet focus was key.

I almost felt like holding my breath.

In fact, around me, it truly did feel like the world was holding its breath.

As we neared, I saw the large iron gates of the castle. Without the carriage in the way, I got a much better view of the towering building

It was intimidating. It was certainly fit for the Dragon Lord, Dracul. The more I knew him, the more I was certain that he had earned his place as the king.

Gulliver pulled over to one side, guiding the horse closer to the gate as we entered. I followed his lead.

We stuck to the edges and the shadows as approached the castle.

I listened for the sound of fighting, for a fierce battle, but I was greeted with nothing but silence.

No lights burned in the castle. Everything was silent and still.

I shivered. I had a bad feeling about this. I wanted to hear fighting. I wanted to hear Dracul and know that he was okay. Combat was a good thing, it meant he was still alive and fighting.

This quiet, this dull, aching quiet, it was too much to handle. It made me feel sick with thundering uncertainty. I didn’t know if Dracul was safe or not. I didn’t know if he was safe, but I could only hope that he was.

I didn’t want to think of an alternative.

Gulliver slowed, stopping completely. I did the same.

He slid off his horse and tethered it to the gate. He grabbed a feed bag and attached it in place. He seemed to care about his horse.

He took care of it.

I dismounted and did the same.

Then Gulliver turned to me, his voice low,

“Can you fight?”

It was a simple, direct question, but no one had ever asked me.

“Not really.” I answered, reluctantly, “Father taught me enough for emergencies, but…”

Gulliver nodded slowly as if he expected that.

“Then take my staff. I can fight without it.”

He rummaged in his things and passed me a short, slender-looking thing. It was bladed on the end and looked like a fierce weapon.

“The incantation for defensive blasts is Mortorio.” He said quickly, “Don’t say it unless you absolutely have to. You are inexperienced and untrained and unstable magic often hurts the user more than the enemy.”

I held it in my hand, feeling stunned. I could feel the low hum of power beneath my hands and I just nodded numbly.

“Are you certain?” I whispered.

I had never used magic before. I didn’t know if I was skilled enough to wield a staff created by someone as powerful as Gulliver seemed to be.

“Of course.” He said, “You’re no good to me dead.”

It was brusque and short, but I couldn’t help but smile a little at his words.

He was warming up to me, at least a little bit. I just wished that we had come together for a cause that was a little less oppressive dark.

Please be okay, Dracul.

I wanted him to be okay. I needed him to be okay. What was I going to do if he wasn’t?

I didn’t even get a proper goodbye. He was in such a hurry, such a rush. I didn’t even get to apologize or sort things out between us.

The thought made me feel shaky and sick with grief.

But I had to focus on the present right now, not the past, and not the future.

I gripped the staff in my hands and stacked myself, focusing on my heart and my mind.

“Are you ready?'” Gulliver said, looking at me with a dark and serious gaze.

I looked towards the large, looming castle, and then back at Gulliver.

“Yes.” I said, “I’m ready.”

There was no going back now.