Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): (14 page)

T
HE SOUND OF
steel drums and clamshell castanets fell silent as Marlin held up his hand. Everyone turned toward the stage.

“I am Prince Marlin, heir to the throne of Aquatania,” he said, voice booming over the crowd.

Standing on a raised podium just off the shores of Aquatania Beach, he looked every inch the prince, dressed in red velvet robes dotted with golden jewels. The domes of the city spread behind him, glittering in the surf. His father, King Spartos, sat beside him, scanning the representatives from Aldenmor gathered to hear the prince’s speech.

“This year, the Wave Fest is truly a special celebration,” Marlin continued, gesturing across the beach. “Today we are making magic!”

Anxious merboys and girls formed a long line, waiting. And at the front stood Emily, Ozzie, and the other mages. Beside them a pile of dazzling eggs shone with all the colors of the rainbow.

“What is the meaning of this?” King Spartos rose to his feet as startled gasps ran through the crowd.

“Father, you have taught me the rich history of the merfolk,” Marlin said. “But a future without magic is a future
without
merfolk.”

“You promise something you cannot deliver,” the king said, regarding his son sternly. “We must face the truth.”

“This
is
our truth,” Marlin’s voice rang out. “We must not, cannot let magic die!”

Jaaran, Kee-lyn, and the other dragon riders applauded.

King Spartos nodded curtly, not convinced, but willing to give his son a chance.

Marlin sought out Emily and smiled, confidence shining in his eyes.

The healer took a deep breath as hundreds of anxious eyes turned to her. She gestured to the first merboy in line, a skinny teenager with dark curls, and black eyes wide with fear and excitement. He approached Emily and knelt in the sand.

Concentrating, she saw his magical aura dancing around him, pure and bright as a sunrise. Her rainbow heart jewel sparkled in the same colors.

With the strength of her paladin, she sent golden light shimmering over the eggs, searching for the perfect match. And then, from deep in the pile, an aura glinted. The magic was strong, its bright pattern about the same size, shape, and luminance as the boy’s—a perfect magical fit. Biting her lip, she carefully extracted a yellow-gold egg and placed it before the merboy.

The entire crowd took a collective breath as a loud crack echoed up and down the beach. A crooning noise filled the air as a small fin pushed a section of shell away. An infant sea dragon suddenly popped his head out, eyes blinking in wonder. As the merboy peeled the sticky shell from the baby’s head, their wide eyes locked.

Emily alone could see their bright auras float together, blending into a bright new golden pattern filled with hope and promise.

With a squeal of joy, the baby dragon flopped into the waiting arms of its bonded. The boy rose to his feet, holding his new friend aloft. The crowd erupted in cheers as the other teens congratulated the boy, eagerly waiting for their chance to get their own bonded dragon.

“Remarkable.” King Spartos surveyed the ecstatic crowd. Then he turned to the prince. “I applaud the prince and the mages for this gift. But, son, how did you know they would bond?”

“I am the merfolk prince.” Marlin met his father’s gaze. “But I am also a dragon rider.”

The merprince shook off his ceremonial robe, revealing a blue-green jumpsuit underneath, the traditional garb of the dragon riders. Shock registered on the faces of the king and the merfolk in the crowd.

Marlin waved a hand toward the water. “I bring you—my bonded, Niva.”

Scales of purple and green glittered over Niva’s sleek body as she rose from the waters. Marlin dove in to meet her. In an instant, he resurfaced astride the beautiful sea dragon’s back.

“And Harry, Elroy, Avril, Bertrum, Fizzles, well… you’ll meet them all later.”

A dozen baby dragons frolicked around Niva, adoring eyes locked on Marlin.

Niva reared up in the waves as the merprince raised his fist in the air triumphantly. “Together we will spread our magic throughout the oceans, and all of Aldenmor—for what once was, and for what will be again!”

Jaaran and Kee-lyn stepped forward and clapped, joined by the other riders. Soon everyone at the Wave Fest was cheering wildly at the prince’s proclamation.

Offshore, the sea dragons of Aquatania leaped into the air, scales gleaming as they splashed happily in the water. The merprince grinned ear to ear as Niva deposited him on the beach by the eggs, six baby sea dragons bundled in his arms. Several more clung to his legs and feet.

Joy filled Emily at the sight of Marlin’s magical aura, clear and bright. Niva and a dozen babies had increased his magic tenfold.

From the waves, a figure made of water surged to the surface. Flowing aquamarine hair highlighted with turquoise danced on the frothy spray.

“Marina!” Emily cried. “You’re okay.”

“Thank you, healer.” The shimmering blue watermental smiled at Emily. “The sea dragons will keep the water magic strong.”

“Was the Dark Sorceress really a mage?” Kara asked.

“That is true, blazing star,” Marina admitted. “The prophecy has foretold that three mages will find the home of all magic. Many have tried to find Avalon but none have succeeded.”

Adriane’s wolf stone flashed silver. “What makes us so different?”

“Even without a mentor, you have all learned what it means to be a mage.” Marina flowed over the water. “You must use nine power crystals to open the Gates of Avalon and reweave the web with Avalon’s magic.”

“What if we can’t?” Kara asked worriedly.

“The web is almost gone. You are the last hope, the last mages.”

Emily, Kara, and Adriane exchanged a startled glance.

“So it’s all up to us,” Emily said softly.

“What about the crystal that you-know-who,” Adriane nodded at the blazing star, “lost?”

Kara glared at the warrior. “I’ll find a way to get another one.”

Tasha stepped in. “I’m working on some ideas.”

“At least we know where to bring the crystals when we have them,” Marlin said, beaming at Emily.

“All right, who’s next?” Ozzie stomped up and down the line of waiting merteens, clam-on-a-stick held behind his back. Two of Marlin’s baby dragons waddled after him and gobbled up the treat. The ferret turned and bit down on a wooden twig.

“Who’s a good widdie biddie dragon?”

“Cribby?” Emily turned, smiling incredulously.

The ornery sea elf sat in the sand, cradling a white and gold sea dragon pup in his arms. Cribby tickled the happy pup, then looked up at Emily. “What? So the merboy missed one.”

Marlin grinned. “Looks like you have a new first matey.”

With a toothy smile, Cribby held the wide-eyed pup over his head. “His name’s Cribby, Jr.”

“Wonderful.” Emily beamed. “Good job, Cribby… and Cribby, Jr.”

“Can I pick one out?” Kara was practically dancing. “Come on, Em, pleeeeeeze!”

“Sure, everyone can.” Emily smiled. “Show them to me as each rider approaches. I’ll know if it’s the right match.”

“All right!”

Lorren, Kara, and Tasha fell into the eggs like kids on Christmas morning.

Jaaran approached the merprince, Kee-lyn by his side. “Marlin, I’m sorry.” The tall rider spoke without hesitation or embarrassment. “We were wrong about you.”

“No, it’s me who should be sorry.” Marlin faced the warrior squarely.

“You saved the dragons and our magic.” Gratitude shone from Kee-lyn’s eyes.

“Believe me, I had a lot of help.” He gestured toward Emily and the mages.

Kee-lyn smiled at the healer. “We’ll have our hands full training the new riders and dragons.”

“We all have important work to do now, keeping the magic strong. We want you to know, Marlin, the dragon riders swear their allegiance to the future king of Aquatania.” Jaaran extended his hand.

Marlin grasped it firmly. Jaaran and Kee-lyn nodded, then left to join the others by the eggs.

Marlin gazed at Emily shyly. “Still have some things to work out with my father, you know. I guess that’s how it is.”

“You stood up for what you believe in. He has to respect that.” She gazed at the king, proudly accepting congratulations from the guests. “I think he knows how lucky Aquatania is to have a prince like you.”

He took her hand in his and looked deeply into her eyes. “No one ever saw magic in me, until you.”

Emily blushed bright red.

“How’s this one?” Kara plopped a bright orange and yellow egg in Marlin’s hands.

“Kara,” Emily giggled as the blazing star winked at her.

“I need to Google you.” The blazing matchmaker pulled the befuddled prince away, leaving Emily alone. “See how you match up with our healer.”

Turning, the healer spotted a solitary figure watching the ocean, her back to the happy throngs. The tall warrior’s magic shone like a full moon in the midnight sky, full of mystery, deep as the night. Emily strode over to her.

Adriane turned and smiled. “Good work, Doc.”

“Thanks.” Emily looked around. “Where’s Zach and Drake?”

“They left to find Moonshadow and the mistwolves. He has a lot of questions about his parents,” Adriane said, then asked abruptly, “Have you noticed anything different about Kara?”

“You mean she’s pushier than normal?” Emily joked, but she could feel the anger radiating from the warrior’s tense figure.

“You just can’t force others to use their magic.” Adriane’s dark eyes shifted toward Kara distrustfully. “She could’ve really hurt Zach.”

“Adriane, she didn’t mean to do that,” Emily said gently. “She was just trying to help.”

“That wasn’t the first time she’s lost control of her magic,” Adriane said coolly. “And it won’t be the last.” The warrior’s dark eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t the Fairimentals tell us there were other mages? What else haven’t they told us?”

A chill went up Emily’s back.

“We’ll figure it out together, like we’ve always done.” The healer tried to sound convincing.

“This one!”

“No, this one!”

“Emily, come on! Which one?”

“GaH!” Ozzie dashed by, clutching an egg as the dragon riders chased him.

“Hey,” the healer said, smiling at Adriane. “Come help with the eggs.”

“No, I’m going to take a run. Later.”

Emily sighed as she watched Adriane jog down the beach. As if from thin air, Dreamer appeared by her side, easily keeping stride with the warrior’s fast pace. Emily blinked, startled by the silver magic glowing in a perfect halo between them. Instead of two individual patterns blended together, their aura was one solid circle, as if they were one and the same.

She turned her gaze to Kara. The blond teen sparkled with beauty as she chitchatted with Lorren, Marlin, Tasha, and King Spartos. Adriane’s magic might be shadowy and mysterious, but Kara’s magic could blind you.

Emily knew Kara had a good heart, but she did share some of Adriane’s concern. The blazing star was meant to enhance magic, but if she wasn’t careful, her brilliance would eclipse everyone around her.

The mages had to work together, now more than ever. But instead of bringing them closer, it seemed as if the magic was driving them apart.

Emily gazed out at the hopeful faces of the dragon riders and her friends, all waiting for the touch of a healer. Her anxiety melted away with the joyous cheers that filled the Wave Fest. She’d be busy the rest of the afternoon matching merteens with their bonded dragons and she couldn’t be more thrilled.

Bonding with Indi had connected her to the essence of magic, the friendship between humans and animals. Every animal she had ever touched shone from her heart jewel, reflecting from its gleaming rainbow facets.

Emily was a healer. She would have to deal with pain.

But her magic had the power to transform pain into something far stronger: love.

And where there was love there was hope. No matter what might happen, she had found the true heart of Avalon.