Anders wasn’t going to argue further with the rider. They had to make this quick so they could get back to Aquina. Anders followed Hannah as she led them to Kirsten, Thomas and the others. As she called for the dragons and riders to gather, Kirsten and Thomas came running up to them.  

“Anders,” Kirsten said, giving him a hug. 

Anders caught his cousin in his arms, “Kirsten, I’m alright. I’m glad you’re here.” 

“They said you were in danger and they needed our help,” Thomas said. 

“They saved us,” Anders said, motioning to the Northland riders. 

“The rest of the army is coming behind us. Rune said they would arrive by dusk,” Kirsten told him. 

“Good,” Anders replied.   

Evans and Inama greeted them next. “So, you have one too?” Anders asked Inama. 

She nodded and pointed her thumb to Kirsten, “She let me try. Says I'm a natural.”  

He nodded, then Hannah motioned for his attention. Anders continued to explain everything Zorna had taught him about the inhabitance crystals.  

Most of the Northland riders caught on much more quickly than Anders had anticipated. They had the advantage of knowing the ancient language. Each practiced with the one crystal Hannah had taken the week before. After this first try, he passed out more crystals to the riders.  

A dragonrider who’d been standing near the outer edge of the group pushed his way to Hannah’s side and spoke to her in a hushed tone. Anders saw Hannah’s face turn stark white. She whistled once, immediately gathering the attention of the two dozen dragonriders.  

“We ride now,” she shouted.  

The Norfolk riders rushed to their dragons. Anders stood at Zahara’s side. He’d only handed them half the crystals Zahara had in her bags. Anders glanced at Maija, noticing she too had a large sack of the sapphires.  

Hannah looked at them, “The dragons are moving to Merglan’s aid. We must ride.”  

Anders nodded. He grabbed Kirsten while Thomas went with Maija. Evans and Inama were summoned away by two nearby Northland riders. Joining them in the air, Zahara and Raffa flew alongside the flight of dragons.  

Being surrounded by so many dragons with bonded riders was something Anders had never dreamed would happen. For a moment he and Zahara were overcome with joy, then instantly reminded of the reason why they they’d taken flight so suddenly. The battle would begin soon. As the sun began to rise in the east, Anders wondered if it would be the last he would ever see. Anders speculated what the sudden presence of what appeared to be a close relative would mean for his future. Was he really the one the Prophecy spoke of? After spending so much time denying that he was meant to be King, he had finally come to terms with it. Now he learned the Prophecy may not have been referring to him all along.   

Chapter 94

The Beginning of the End

Maija, Anders said as they flew alongside the Northland riders across the Bareback Plains.  

Yeah? she replied. 

Tarron’s coming back, he said.  

What happened to him? she asked. 

He won’t say, I don’t think he knows.  

I know exactly what it was, Tarron said to both of them sounding like himself again. 

Then why did you…, Anders started but the rider’s soul cut him off.  

It was because you’d gone completely AWOL. I had to use a spell to find the right channel to push through to that elf’s brain. If you hadn’t disappeared on me, the magic’s effect wouldn’t have drained me into darkness.  

You disappeared? Maija asked. 

I went into survival mode, I guess, Anders said. After I broke through his mental defense and saw what Merglan was doing, I let my guard down and he came at me. He came through and I ran.  

You didn’t just run, you vanished, Tarron explained. If it weren’t for your body being present, I would’ve thought you had transported.  

And I heard Ivan, Anders said, remembering the event as if it had happened years ago. Why didn’t I remember that sooner? 

Ivan was there? Maija asked. Do you still have it?  

Anders felt at the small bag near his thigh. The sealed cube was there. Yes. It’s still there.  

That’s probably where you went, Zahara chimed in. 

I don’t know how to access the inside of that cube, let alone enter it, Anders said.  

But you did hear him? Maija asked. 

Anders remembered chasing after the bright light, He was glowing and he kept saying I needed to understand.  

Understand what? Tarron asked. 

Something about the flow of magic, I think? I don’t know, it’s hazy and I hardly heard him before he disappeared, and the rider pulled me back out.  

What if Ivan knows how to defeat Merglan? Maija asked. 

Sensing Anders’ thoughts, Zahara asked, What did you see Merglan doing when you looked into the enemy rider’s thoughts? 

Anders told them about the visions of the elf’s life and then the vision of Merglan taking hold of the light. 

Was Ivan trying to tell you something about Merglan’s powers? Do you think he figured it out before Merglan trapped his soul? Maija asked. 

I don’t know? Anders said. For all we know, I was just seeing what Merglan wanted me to see.  

Can he do that? Maija asked. 

It’s possible Merglan could’ve manipulated the rider’s memories in case Anders broke into his mind, Tarron said. 

Why don’t you try to talk with Ivan now? Maija suggested. 

Right now? Anders wondered. 

Why not, we’re still at least an hour from Aquina and I haven’t seen any dragons yet, Maija said. 

I don’t know, Anders thought.