Ash

Chapter 8 of Act 3 of "Obsidian and Flame" (FINAL CHAPTER)

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If you’re new to The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, welcome! You might find the Glossary helpful for some of these words. Colons indicate the sea dragon’s thought communications.

Obsidian and Flame chronicles the story of Panawr, a sea dragon prince with a deadly secret, and Arddun, who possesses a useless gift and has no desire to marry a prince. When they come together, sparks fly, but they grow aware that something more is at stake than the throne. Can they save their home, Caer Morgana, or will their quest be in vain?

Panawr felt guilty that Arddun got infected. They vow never to be separated. They are tried for the Esteemed’s murder. The evidence is damning. To save Arddun, Panawr took the blame. He is condemned to death, despite the Esteemed having declared that this should never happen again.

:No!: Arddun blazed.

Panawr stumbled back a step. She really did blaze. Incandescent with fury, she pulsed with golden light.

:No!: Arddun’s thought resounded throughout the Great Hall. Sand fell in showers from vibrating roof beams. She spun toward Morfudd, Rhydderch and Indeg, her pale green robe flaring at the hem. She stretched out her hand toward them. :Confess.: Arddun hissed.

Golden streams twined along the length of her arm and burst from her palm, bathing the three in the same golden light.

:Confess!: Arddun steamed. The watery atmosphere around her heated, evaporated and reformed, cloaking her feet in a thick fog.

Indeg fell to her knees. :I did not kill her. I called for you yesterday so Morfudd could hide the evidence in Panawr’s rooms.:

:Liar!: Morfudd backhanded Indeg, sending her sprawling.

:Confess, Morfudd. Speak the Truth.: The golden light coalesced around Morfudd, pulsating and swirling.

The princess stumbled back, glaring at Arddun, fists clenched at her sides.

In the golden light around her, Arddun’s pale green robes bleached to gray. Her dark hair wafted, lifted by flickering tongues of fire. Her dark eyes turned to molten gold. :Speak truth!:

Morfudd swayed under the magical onslaught. Slowly, she sank to her knees. :Truth? You want truth? The truth is Eigr murdered my mother because her Consort grew too attentive.:

Rhydderch blanched. :It’s true. I loved her, my sweet Enid. I loved her, my Eigr and your mother.: His face twisted into an agonised rictus. :Now I have lost them both.:

Morfudd rocked, bouncing on her heels. :I got my revenge. She is dead by my hand and I will rule in her place. Neither brother can stop me now!: She giggled, a girlish sound at ghoulish odds with her macabre confession. :You can’t stop me either.:

:Can’t I?: Even her thought threatened flame, taking on a fiery otherworldliness. Fresh fire flamed forth from Arddun’s palm, widening the fiery stream into a river. Panawr, councillors, and spectators scrambled back from the heat. :Did you not know that I carry death?:

Panawr paled. Could she control the infection once released? :Arddun, don’t!:

The golden flames from her fingertips gave way to ash: swirling curlicues of black, glittering dust. It rolled in inexorable waves toward Morfudd, heaving, twisting, surging.

Morfudd laughed at her. The laughter continued, growing hysterical.

Panawr stepped in front of Arddun. His skin shrank from the incredible heat pouring from her. Gritting his teeth, he stared into her eyes of golden flame. :Arddun, look at me.:

She stared beyond him, focused on Morfudd behind him.

He drew close, grabbing her robe’s lapels, straining against the ropes that bound him. Blisters blossomed on fingers and palms. He groaned.

:Arddun, don’t do this. Don’t destroy the caer.: In his gut, he knew the infection dwelled in the obsidian particles headed for Morfudd. Her fire contained it, for now, but once they floated free in the caer’s watery atmosphere …

:Take it back, Arddun. Come back to me, please.: Blisters formed on his cheeks and burst from the heat.

Her eyes refused to focus on him. To his horror, he realised her features and form blurred, melting into her magical fire.

The flames consumed her.

He tugged on her lapels, feeling them disintegrate beneath his touch. :Look at me,: he begged, despair clogging his thought. :Come back to me, please.:

The golden fire in her eyes flickered and then focused.

:That’s it, love,: Panawr coaxed. :Morfudd’s confessed. Let the council decide her fate. Come back to me.:

Her irises darkened into the warm gaze he loved dearly. He didn’t dare look away. Didn’t dare to let go, ignoring the agony in his hands.

:Panawr?: she murmured, confused, with none of the strangeness that had been in her voice earlier.

He sagged, felt her robe solidify beneath his ruined hands. :I’m right here, Arddun,: he murmured, seeking to soothe and reassure her. :Come back to me, mi cariad.:

Her fiery aura shrank, fading to a faint glow close about her person. She saw him, really saw him, for she stared in wide-eyed horror. :What happened to you?: Her frantic gaze encompassed the hall, her eyes wide and panicked. :A healer! Here!:

Panawr held onto her robe. In fact, he found he couldn’t release her, his hands reduced to blackened claws.

:See to him,: Councillor Mabsan ordered, his own face reddened from Arddun’s fire.

The Chief Healer and others set to work, coaxing Panawr’s skin to restoration, bringing life back into his hands and face.

Freed from Arddun’s golden prison, Morfudd shrieked, leaping to her feet. She skipped up the dais stairs and danced around the throne. :Mine! Mine! Mine!: she sang in between cackles.

The Chief Healer bowed to Panawr. :Your hands need further tending to fully regain their use. Your skin will be tender for several days, but you will heal without scars.:

Panawr and Arddun thanked him for his care.

Arddun gathered his newly healed hands in hers, stroking and checking them for herself. With a shaking hand, she brushed the pink new skin on his cheek. His short beard had burned away in the conflagration and her fingertips trailed over his bare lips and chin.

:Mi cariad,: he murmured, kissing her fingertips. :It will grow back.:

:You look so much younger.: She blinked and shuddered. :Oh, Panawr, I never meant—:

:Hush.: Despite the ropes that still bound him, he drew her into a tight embrace. She buried her face against his shoulder. :I know, mi cariad, I know.:

The Chief Healer, flanked by guards, approached the childlike Morfudd who had settled onto the throne. Her legs swung over one of the throne arms. The Council looked on, sitting or standing in various poses of stunned amazement.

:Councillors.: Panawr kept Arddun safe in his arms. :Arddun’s gift has revealed Morfudd’s guilt. I’m sure if you pressed her, the princess would be delighted to share how she set me up for the blame, for she is a clever girl, aren’t you little sister?: This last he extended to Morfudd, who ignored the chief healer’s attempted ministrations.

:I am clever,: the princess declared, sticking out her tongue at him. She laughed gaily.

:Free the prince,: Mabsan spoke with reluctance.

Panawr sensed the gossip current running strong between the councillors and the crowd behind he and Arddun.

A guard cut his seaweed bindings. The ones across his chest fell apart in charred chunks. He shook out his arms and held them out to Arddun.

She stepped into his embrace, shivering as if the cool seawater chilled her still glimmering body.

:We will not find the princess guilty,: Mabsan announced. :Her confession was forced by Arddun ferch Wyddel’s attack.:

:Mine was forced also,: Panawr got out, grinding his teeth.

:Precisely so. We commute your sentence to exile, Panawr ap Rhydderch. Arddun ferch Wyddel will go with you, until she can control her gift without endangering the caer.:

Panawr closed his eyes for a long moment, feeling Arddun’s trembling shudder through him, before giving a slow nod. :We will go alone. No escort. Teithi ap Rhun and the others will be spared any punishment.:

Councillor Mabsan agreed. :You will leave at once from the palace gate.:

Arddun shuddered. :But—:

Panawr bowed. :I need only some bandages. To Arddun alone, he whispered, :A tight bandage will stop any leaking while we change into our draig môr selves.:

:What for?: Mabsan demanded. :You are healed.:

To his mentor, Drudwas, Panawr thought, :The shining black sand? It all returned to her?:

Drudwas nodded. :Flame and dust alike went back into her body. Why?:

Panawr’s shoulders sank with relief. :I do not wish to endanger the caer further,: he told the Council and all in the Great Hall. :You heard I was cured from a long dangerous infection. Arddun has it. It is small, so I will bind her arm to prevent its spread when we pass through the palace gate.:

:Nobody may leave by that gate for a month after you leave. Take her far from here.: Mabsan ordered the Great Hall cleared and bandages brought. Drudwas wished them both well before leaving with the crowd, some of whom had left already on hearing Arddun’s illness.

:Go well,: Mabsan said to Panawr and Arddun. :Your way will be cleared. Do not dally.:

The Council proceeded from the Great Hall, leaving the couple alone in the enormous space.

:Roll up your sleeve,: Panawr unhooked her finger from its slot in her sleeve. She obeyed, trembling.

Panawr’s gills flattened against his neck. The spot had grown to twice the size it had been the night before.

Arddun uttered a soft despairing cry on seeing it.

He covered it with the bandage, wrapping it around her arm. He tugged hard, tying the ends so it wouldn’t shift when she changed shape.

They strolled to the palace gate. Beyond lay the vast ocean, new uncharted territory. :This is not how I expected to make this trip,: Arddun murmured.

:Oh I fully expect us to dance,: Panawr embraced her from behind, nuzzling her neck, his lips tickling her gills. :Are you ready for our next adventure, my love?:

She leaned against him. Air gusted through her gills. :With you? Of course.:

And that’s a wrap! Would you like to see more of Panawr and Arddun? Comment below or drop me an email/message.

One more thing … Hiraeth will make its return next week, as a monthly serial. Catch up on the six episodes in Season 1 here:

Start Here: Hiraeth

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