Chapter 25
"So what is it?" Freya asked.
"I'm not quite sure," Dragoon answered, turning the metal object over in his hands. "It appears to be only a fragment. See here? Two other parts fit into this."
"Three parts?" Freya said, "So…it's magical? She said it would help with healing."
"Perhaps. If Morgause wanted it I suppose it must do something important." Dragoon looked at her, "Take it when it's safe to do so. I'm sure we'll find out before long, whatever it may be."
The girl nodded and carefully wrapped the fragment before leaving. Freya had been working in Camelot ever since she had returned to assure Arthur she was no longer dangerous. He seemed quite relieved, even pleased for her, granting her a job in the kitchens much like the one Dragoon had once had. She liked it here, though the smell and noise of the city took some getting used to. The old man had advised that, given the successes of the past few weeks despite the turbulent few days in-between that Arthur should give a feast, to reward everyone and to help people relax.
Well, everyone bar the kitchen staff. She and every other cook, chef and servant had been rushed off their feet with the amount of work needed to be done. However Arthur had visited them personally to fill out his order for the feast, thanked them in advance and offered the day off after the feast. Thus no one really minded. Freya certainly didn't…although she did miss not seeing Merlin and Morgana so often. Quite aside from the issue that her magic had been awakened and really needed to be refined, they were her friends.
Still, it would be good to see Morgause again and pay off her debt. Freya was surprising herself at how eager she was to see magic again, considering all she had suffered from it. But it was different with Morgause and Merlin. It felt…warmer. Perhaps she could help teach her to control magic a little more. Freya didn't want to keep accidentally igniting things around her room (which was lovely) and kitchen, the matron already thought she was suspiciously flammable sometimes. She could sneak out of Camelot tonight and be back before being missed, if all went well.
Morgause and Cenred were once again padding quietly through the wood towards the tower. With the now complete key, the dragon egg was one step closer to freedom. Cenred however was curiously silent.
"Something doesn't feel right," he muttered. "We crossed paths with the Wyverns far further out than this last time."
"Perhaps the key is allowing us safe passage," Morgause called back, "or that their territory is large enough that they can't sense us on the other side of it."
Cenred grunted and continued onwards, still uneasily glancing upwards. However, they made it to the tower several miles later without incident and the key was now becoming warm to the touch.
"Perfect, let's unlock the door," Morgause said, unfurling the completed key and moving towards the entrance.
"Morgause, stop!"
She froze as she heard Cenred's hiss. Turning to look at him, their eyes met before his flicked upwards. Perched atop the tower were dozens of wyverns staring at them unblinkingly. Others began prowling out of the undergrowth and heads swung out from the tops of trees.
"They were here the whole time?" she whispered to Cenred.
He nodded, swallowing. "They've been waiting for us."
"Indeed we have," a hard voice rang out from the treeline. "Now if you want to live, I suggest you drop that key and turn back the way you came. Now."