Maev and the Prisoner of the Mind

“Who are you?” It was more a demand than a question that battered against Erylis’ body while attacking her mind, probing her thoughts and memories. Erylis let out an exasperated sigh. The last thing she remembered was being hauled off in a transport to be transferred to a maximum-security prison. But as soon as the door had closed everything had gone black until she woke up here in this bedroom with a crazy woman and her two massive bodyguards holding her down. 

“I already told you,” Erylis said through gritted teeth. “My name is Erylis.” 

“That is impossible! Erylis the Bringer of Death is a bronze dragon not an Exemian teenage girl!” 

“You’re right and I am! I don’t know how I got into this body or how I even got here!” 

“How you got here is the simple part – my man out front, you remember the surly bartender, said you came in here pretending to be my niece. And while you do bear a passing resemblance to me you are certainly no family of mine. You then found your way to my flat where you were searching for something in my bureau,” she said motioning with her chin towards a chest that sat on the floor by the foot of a four-poster bed. 

“Did you find what you were looking for? My men didn’t find anything on you so you must have secreted it away somewhere. If you would just let me into your mind, I could confirm what you say is true,” offered the woman as she gracefully slid over to a vanity, sat down and crossed her long, elegant legs. 

“Ask me any question, anything at all that only Erylis would know but I’m not letting you into my mind!”  

“Yes, more’s the pity for that since I don’t know a bloody thing about Erylis other than that she’s a dragon, was set to be transported from prison today and that I was paid a not so insignificant sum of money to extricate her from said transport and deliver her to my client. It is rather remarkable that you can resist my telepathic probes. Exemian’s are not known for having any extraordinary abilities outside of an acute sense for mathematics.” 

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I’m not Exemian! How else could you explain why I can resist you?” 

“Training perhaps? The mind can be a very powerful thing indeed when properly harnessed,” the woman said cocking an eyebrow. 

Erylis shook her head. This was pointless. This woman wasn’t going to let her go and in this humanoid form she couldn’t force her way out. She had to convince her that she was Erylis but how?  

She scanned the room hoping for anything that could give her a clue as to how she got her. Then, by the women’s black stiletto heeled boot, a slip of red fabric caught her attention 

“How were you planning on getting a dragon out from a heavily guarded, magically enhanced transport?”, Erylis asked. 

“As if I would share that information with you.” 

“That piece of fabric by your boot. That looks like the remnant of an object endowed with a Harrapatu. The Eta Askatu capture spell to be precise.” 

“And if it was?” 

“That’s what happened!”, realization hit Erylis as a flood of memories spiraled through her mind. Each one clicking into place like puzzle pieces forming the complete picture she now saw almost as if she had known about this enchantment all her life even though she couldn’t recall one syllable only a moment ago from those boring courses she was forced to take in school last semester.  “One of the guards handed me a small box just as they were shutting the door to the transport, and it brought me here.” 

“So?” the woman asked in a bored tone. 

“Whomever it was, this girl,” Erylis said pointing at herself, “must have somehow opened the reentry box and caused us to switch places.” 

“An interesting theory except for the eta askatu enchantment is only meant to release the person that is caught inside not transfer them to another body.” 

“Then something must have gone wrong. What if I can figure out who she is? Once I find her then we can switch back. Then you can take me to your client.” 

“Perhaps that is something you can explore with my client once I hand you over to them.” The woman nodded. Erylis felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck and then everything went dark. 

Erylis woke up with a start. A bag was over her head, but she could make out muffled sounds. It seemed like someone was having a conversation. She tried harder to listen-in. 

“I dunno. This wuzn’t part of the deal,” a gravely male voice said uncertainly. 

“How do we know this isn’t some sort of a trick?” another voice said. This one female and brisque. 

“Ask her yourself,” came a third voice and with that the bag was pulled off. 

Erylis squinted and blinked to see clearly. Standing in front of her were three hooded individuals. Even with the dim light cast by the flickering candles in the chandelier above she could make out that they were dragons transformed into their smaller dragonborn form meant to conceal their presence here but also so that they could even fit in the small confines of the darkened room. One was a female black dragon. Taller than the other two with a slim build. To that dragon's right was an older male blue dragon and to her left was a male green dragon with broad shoulders and considerable heft. Behind Erylis was the woman that had captured her. 

“Lavantys, Anker, Hogarth! It’s me, Erylis!” 

The three dragons exchanged dubious looks. 

“Anyone could know who we are. Jus knowin’ our names ain’t enough to prove yew is Erlyis,” grumbled the blue dragon. 

“Ask me anything only Erylis would know. Anything!” 

“No,” Lavantys said stepping forward. “This witch,” she said pointing at the woman that had captured Erylis, “could have easily read Erylis’ mind or could be doing it right now to assure you spout out the right answers. This wasn’t the arrangement we had agreed to Elysant,” she said in a tense voice. “We require the princess not this humanoid,” she bit off the last words in disgust. 

“No, what you paid me for was to deliver the individual that was being transported and that is the person you have before you,” Elysant replied coolly. 

“Anker,” Erylis pleaded with the blue dragon, “remember the battle. Right before our line was overrun what did I say to you?” 

“This is ridiculous! Anyone there could have heard this!”, said Lavantys outraged. 

“In the heat of battle? Over the noise and chaos? I think not,” Anker said, forcing Lavantys to step back. “Yes, of course I remember.” 

“I told you that if this was the end then so be it. That at least I lived, served and died as my father would have wanted.” 

“This is nonsense!” Lavantys protested. 

“Enough!” Anker said in a commanding voice. “It is true. Those were the last words that the Lady Erylis spoke to me.” Anker stooped down and looked into Erylis’ eyes. 

Come on, come on. You know me. You know me!, thought Erylis. 

Anker took a step back then turned to Hogarth and Lavantys. 

“This is the princess,” he confirmed. “No witchcraft can hide the true eyes of a dragon.” 

“Excellent! Then I shall leave you to it. Feel free to stay here the night but I’d advise you to be gone by morning,” Elysant said then turned and left the room. 

“King Corliss will not stand for this!” Lavantys hissed. 

“He has his daughter back and that is all that he wishes,” said Anker unperturbed. 

“Perhaps but not as a humanoid. No one will accept her to rule over us.” 

“A problem that we will need to remedy but not now. The hour is late, and we have a long journey ahead. Retire to yur quarters and we shall start off at first light.” 

Lavantys and Hogarth quickly left the room, but Erylis grabbed Anker by the arm to hold him back. 

“Thank you, Anker. I owe you a debt.” 

“Think nothing of it my lady. I owe yur family much more than this small gesture I was able to assist with. Now go to yur room. In yur current state yew will require much more rest than us and yew will need to be vigilant.” 

Erylis caught his silent meaning and nodded. 

The next morning Lavantys walked into the room eying Hogarth and Erylis with suspicion. 

“What are you doing?” asked Lavantys scowling. 

“What does it look like? I've prepared a meal before we leave.” 

Lavantys strode over to the table and sat down. Erylis poured her a bowl and slid it over. Lavantys looked over at Hogarth who shrugged as he spooned the broth into his mouth. 

“Where is Anker?” 

“How should I know? Sleeping most likely, the old bastard,” Erlyis said with a soft chuckle. “Are you not going to have any? It’s a long trip and I assume we won’t be stopping.” 

“I’m not hungry,” Lavantys said as she rose from her seat and moved to the door where she pulled down a wooden beam bolting it shut.  

“What are you doing?” asked Erylis apprehensively. 

Lavantys looked at Hogarth and nodded. Hogarth stood up and moved behind Erylis, his hand on the hilt of his sword. 

“What’s going on?” 

“You are a naïve, simple fool,” Lavantys said coldly. “When the broker first pulled the hood off your head, I thought for sure it was just a ruse or a mistake. Perhaps they had rescued the wrong prisoner. When I repositioned my troops to fall back and allow the left flank to collapse, I had hoped you’d get cut down as the CommonWealth army swarmed the field before you realized what had happened. You were so sure of victory. Striding out there in front for all to see. A bold, brilliant target. It didn’t occur to me that the CommonWealth armies would take you alive. But those incompetent fools, no doubt as part of their code of chivalry and fair play, spared you. So now I will just have to take matters into my own hands.” 

Erylis should have been shocked, but she had known from the first time she had met Lavantys that she would do anything to get what she wanted. And now, it seemed that she wanted Erylis dead. 

“I thought you would wait until we were on our way. Maybe chalk my death up to being an accident. Or raiders perhaps that killed me and yet let you live?” 

Lavantys snorted in derision. 

“I’m not taking any chances to allow you to slip away.” 

“And what about Anker? When he learns what you did, he’ll go straight to my father.” 

“We’ll deal with him as soon as we’re done here.” 

Behind Erylis, Hogarth forcefully cleared his throat. 

“Are you sure all of you are up for this? What will my father say if he hears that I’m dead.” 

“He will mourn your loss, no doubt. The disappointment that you never fulfilled his grand plans being the worst of his heart ache. A pain that I am more than willing to help soothe,” Lavantys said with a devilish smile. 

So that’s your real play here Lavantys, thought Erylis. I’m not about to let that happen! 

Lavantys slipped out a dagger and waved it in front of Erylis. 

“I’m curious if this body you’re inhabiting still retains any of your abilities to fight. I had hoped for a bit more of a challenge but no matter. I’ll make the end swift.” 

At that there was a loud banging on the door. 

“Anker! Hurry, they’re...”, Erylis started to scream but was cut off as Lavantys swiped at her with the dagger. Erylis dove at the table and rolled to the other side putting it between herself, Lavantys and Hogarth. 

Hogarth staggered to one side of the table, his breath coming in deep ragged gasps. 

“Poisoned the broth, did you? I’m impressed,” Lavantys said as Hogarth fell to the ground. 

Erylis shrugged and took a step back as the banging on the door continued. 

“But I didn’t fall for that simple trick your royal highness,” Lavantys said mockingly. She grabbed the table with her free hand and flipped it over. 

She took a step towards Erylis then stopped suddenly. 

“No, I didn’t think you would Lavantys. But I knew you always carried your prized dagger with you. Your choice of weapon for close quarters combat.” 

Lavantys stared down at her dagger in shock. 

“You see, this particular poison can take effect both by ingestion as well as being absorbed through the skin. Even the scales of a dragon.” 

“No!” Lavantys screeched throwing the dagger at Erylis but the strength had already left her limbs and the knife clattered to the ground in front of Erylis harmlessly. 

Erylis stood over Lavantys who was now on her knees. 

“How, how...you don’t know witchcraft...” she struggled to say as she took in deep gulps of air. 

“You’re right, I don’t. But this body does. She’s a veritable encyclopedia of potions! Rather useful when having to fight an opponent that is bigger, faster and stronger but maybe not quite as smart. And I had all the ingredients I needed right here,” Erylis said as she sat down on the bench and motioned to the cabinets against the wall. “Exactly what I needed to make breakfast and the Heriotza Nigmós poison potion.” 

Lavantys collapsed to the floor just as the door splintered into pieces and came crashing down. 

“Whut, whut happened here?” bellowed Anker as he frantically looked around the room. 

“What needed to happen,” Erylis said in a hard voice. 

“Your father will nawt be pleased with this.” 

“My father wanted me to be strong, to lead his armies. Lavantys stood in the way.” 

“Erylis, yew never really wanted to do be the heir to the throne. The pomp and circumstance. The fake civility and properness never suited yew. The gods have given yew a gift. A means ta escape from all that. Yew could still walk away. Go and live the life of this gurl. Corliss will never find you.” 

“I won’t be able to escape him or the will of the Council,” Erylis said. “Maybe in another life but not this one. No, I have the life the gods have given me. I need to stop running away from it.” 

Anker nodded. 

“And whut of Hogarth? He was a trusted lieutenant and warrior of yur fathers.” 

Erylis turned to look at Hogarth’s prone form on the floor. 

“He was Lavantys’ lap dog. He would have sought revenge at the first moment he could. We were at war, and he chose the wrong side. That’s something my father will understand.” 

“So, whut now?” 

“Lavantys was right about one thing. My father will never accept me as I am now. We need to find this girl and get my life back. Whatever or however it takes.”