Phoenix Destiny

Alexis was surprised by the softness of his lips, but there was also strength and her heart fluttered. Cadmus barked, but it seemed distant, like an echo blending with the surf. “ALEXIS!” They whirled away from each other to face the speaker. A group of mounted knights surveyed them from the edge of the beach. Dismounting, her father strode forward. He wore dark, formal dress with metallic gold thread based on the styles of the Western Continent. Cadmus barked again, standing between Alexis and her father. The dragon whined as if to appease Xavier’s fury. He shooed Cadmus aside with a kick in his direction. Cadmus yelped and hid behind her. Though the dragon had always protected Alexis, there was no defense from her father’s anger. “Daddy, I…” “Silence.” Alexis cringed, but her father’s attention was wholly on Jaron. Jaron calmly returned his deadly gaze and seemed unmoved. “Alexis, take my horse and return to the castle,” Xavier said, not taking his eyes off Jaron. “But—” “I said go! NOW!” Alexis bit back her protest. “Go,” Jaron whispered. She looked at him, but Jaron only gave a shallow nod. “Alexis!” her father yelled. She clenched her jaw and dropped her eyes, wondering what she should do. It didn’t seem right to leave Jaron to face her father’s anger alone. The promise she made to Nikiti echoed in her mind. Alexis wrung her hands, but no solution presented itself. “Do as he says,” Jaron whispered. “Just go.” She gave her head a shake. There had to be an answer. Jaron nudged her forward. It seemed even he didn’t have faith in her to figure something out. Alexis forced back frustrated tears and hurried toward the horses. Cadmus followed, though she paid no attention to the ringing of his bell. At the edge of the beach, she slipped on her boots. The sand scraping against her skin did not appease her rising tide of frustration. She was a princess, and she should know what to do in this situation. Her mind just needed to work faster. “Sir Evan, accompany her and see her to her room,” Xavier’s voice followed her as she climbed into the saddle. Alexis reined the large bay gelding around and kicked it into a gallop. The horse whinnied surprise and bolted forward. She heard the knight’s protest, but she only wanted to get away. There was only one clear thought in her mind: Mother can help. She always knows what to do. The horse pounded down the maze of streets to the castle. Her cloak trailed like the tail of a falling star. The night was quiet, indifferent to the rage of her passing. She raced through the gate and threw the horse’s reins at the first stable hand daring to show his face. She ran inside as her bewildered escort arrived. Blindly, Alexis hurried up the stairs, to her room not seeing anyone she passed. Nikiti waited with Ivan outside her room when Alexis arrived. “Alexis, I’m sorry your father barged into your room when I told him you were—what happened?” Nikiti said as she rushed after her cousin. Alexis didn’t answer as she threw open the doors to her parents’ bedchambers only to find them empty. Perhaps, mother is waiting in my room. She whirled around and opened the doors of her room across the hall. It, too, was empty. Now, what was she supposed to do? “Alexis.” Nikiti stepped behind her. “What happened?” Alexis paced the room, trying to calm her thoughts. She had to think. She didn’t notice her mother coming to stand behind her confused cousin and the Dragon-Knight. Cadmus peered out from behind the queen’s gown and chirped. “Alexis?” Akina asked. “Deerling, what is it?” Alexis spun around to face her mother, stammering, “Maya, you must speak to abu. You have to stop him from—”[1] “From what?” Xavier’s voice answered, standing in the doorway. “Dyre?” Akina looked from Alexis to Xavier. “What happened?”[2] “She was nearly—” “It was only a kiss,” Alexis interrupted. “Jaron wouldn’t hurt me.” “Well, he certainly won’t now.” “What do you mean?” Alexis started. “What have you done?” “It is of no importance,” he answered. “Suffice it to say you will never see that man again.” He didn’t…Did he? Alexis shivered with a sudden chill. She had never been afraid of her father before, but now his face was impassive, heartless. She whispered, “How could you?” “Dyre?” Akina looked at him in confusion. When Xavier left her in the ballroom to see what was keeping Alexis, she had been worried they would argue. When Cadmus suddenly appeared upset, Akina excused herself and went in search of them both, fearing what might have transpired between them. This was not a situation she remotely considered, and she was not sure if she understood exactly what happened. “Alexis, you will remain confined to the castle grounds for the rest of our stay. You will go nowhere without a proper escort and there will be a knight posted by your door at all times,” Xavier’s voice was even, but his eyes glistened. “I’m not a child anymore,” Alexis insisted. “So, I saw tonight,” his earlier anger seemed expended and replaced by pain. Alexis blinked. Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed. What does he mean? “You are a young woman, a beautiful young woman, with a large and envied dowry. It is time I treated you as such,” Xavier took his wife’s hand, drawing her toward the door. “Nikiti, I suggest we leave Alexis alone for the rest of the night. Ivan, you will take the first watch. No one goes in except those of us present and Alexis does not leave without an escort.” He ushered the others out, leaving Alexis alone. She heard the soft click of the latch as she ran to the door. Pulling on the handle, she found it locked. She kicked it in frustration, succeeding only in making her foot hurt as much as her head. Her energy expended, Alexis walked to her bed, sitting with a sigh. She was frustrated and angry with herself. Cadmus emerged from his refuge under the bed. The dragon’s bell jingled as his claws scraped the stone floor as he wiggled free. He climbed onto the bed and crawled into her lap. She clutched the loyal creature, listening to his comforting purr. “It’s my fault, Cadmus. I shouldn’t have left Jaron. Why didn’t I return to the castle when he told me to? Why didn’t I listen to Artac?” The dragon purred. “Well, what are you waiting for, Artac? Where is your I told you your life affects others speech?” The sprite didn’t answer. Alexis looked up and searched her room with a teary gaze. She could not sense the sprite’s presence. Has he abandoned me too? * * * An invisible watcher sat in the crow’s nest of a trade ship as it sailed into the night. He did not know the destination of its unique cargo but could sense a shift in the balance of magic. Something happened that the watcher had not guessed. The Phoenix called him to follow. He wondered what the firebird planned this time, and he sensed he would be needed before the end.