Thorns of the Black Rose

By Tom Frye

This is the fourth book in the Havelock Emerald series, where Lucas, Alex, and Celeste find themselves back in the realm of Valasar. They find themselves in a quest to not only slay a dragon, but a conspiracy to save one, as well.

When a lesser king and his two Sword Lords refuse to slay the dragon, Elendria, in order to steal

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Cat
• Release date: Sep 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958557150

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

CELESTE HOLLAND’S SUDDEN disappearance weighed heavily on her little brother’s mind. Lucas had woken up the next morning after his encounters he had at the castle at Wounded Arrow, excited to tell Reason how his hunt for Hunter Synn had ended, but it seemed Reason already knew most of the story. As Lucas and Alex sat down to breakfast at the kitchen table, Reason told them that Beef had gone off on a mission to hunt down the two fire gods and that Celeste had not been heard from since. Reason was not happy with Lucas for taking Lobo without his permission. He was even less pleased that the kid had taken on the role of handler in order to have the dog track Hunter down. Reason said a sniffer dog should have only one handler so it didn’t get confused about who it should be pleasing and working for. In the world of dog training, Lucas had broken protocol, and as his foster dad, Reason was not going to let him forget it without a heated lecture.

While Lucas sat there sulking, Alex ate his cinnamon and sugar toast in silence. He was afraid that Celeste’s disappearance would have consequences for him when it came to play-testing the game. First, with Billy’s vanishing act and now with Celeste pulling the same thing, Reason was now being overly cautious to allow anyone else to take the chance that they, too, might mysteriously vanish.

Game play, for the moment, was put on hold.

It about came to a fist fight, Reason said as he put away a gallon of milk that the boys had just used on their cereal, when Nate showed up here last night, demanding that I don’t let you or your sister anywhere near the Dragon Room. He’s already suspicious and it didn’t help none with the stunt Alex pulled.

And just when I thought, Alex said, you had taken me out of your sights for this morning lecture. Figured with Lucas screwing up so badly by taking Lobo out there in the country, I, for once, would be free and clear of any wrongdoing.

Lucas finished chowing down on his flavored cereal and belched. He looked across the table at Reason leaning against the fridge. Why? What stunt did Alex pull?

Finishing his toast and keeping his mouth closed until he could swallow it, because he despised people who smacked their lips, Alex sniggered behind his pursed lips. Now more intrigued than ever, Lucas said, It must have been good if it impressed even Nate.

Impressed him? Reason said, shaking his head in frustration. It freaked him out when he heaved a pool ball at the Emerald’s stained-glass window.

Alex actually laughed out loud. Reason shot him an irritated look. Boone and I were not laughing last night when we tried to explain why that eight-ball flew through the window rather than busting it into a million pieces!

Lucas pictured the image in his mind. He flicked his long, unruly blond bangs out of his eyes, and said, Yeah, I can about imagine the look on Nate’s face when he saw that. Hell, you should have been there the night I went to smash that window with a baseball bat. I literally, fell completely through it! That is an enchanted window that old Billy got from the Fairy folk of Ireland. And it protects itself in rather strange ways.

Alex said, The eight-ball sank into the lake on that window.

It became quiet there in the kitchen for several long moments. Reason picked up the cereal bowls, dumping the excess milk down the drain in the kitchen sink. Alex got up from the table, taking the two empty bowls from him, placing them in the dishwasher. Lucas fiddled with the sugar shaker. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Grunge from his place on the floor, sent, *Little Luke, don’t lip off. Reason has his hands full, keeping you, Alex, and your sister safe. He doesn’t need you to goad him on with some ridiculous whim you’re planning on proposing.*

Lucas turned his head so that he could lock eyes with the pit bull. *Goad?* he thought. *What kind of word is that, doggie dearest?*

Grunge stretched himself out on the kitchen floor, being careful not to place his paws on the other two dogs snoozing nearby. *Goad,* he sent back, *in your case, it means to stab with words. And your whim? Why, you want to enter the forbidden chamber to go in search of your sister, right?*

*Bingo!* Lucas sent back to the Brindle pit. *Exactly what I intend to do, Grunger. I’ve got a plan, too, how to get Reason to allow us to enter the Dragon Room, without him putting up such a fuss.*

If a dog could roll his eyes, Grunge would have done so, instead he raised his head and cocked it to one side. *Save your breath, Little Luke,* he sent. *You’ll just end up in a heated debate with your foster dad, one that will lead to another one of your blow-ups. You’ve done well these past few days. Goblin and I were just sharing thoughts on your good behavior last night. Both of us have been quite impressed that we haven’t had to tamp down your rages, as you have remained calm and collected. Cool, as you humans say, as a cucumber.*

Pleased with the compliment, as the dog usually was forced to play a mental game of Chess with the boy to manage his anger outbursts, Lucas smiled. *Wouldn’t you,* he sent, *want me to come looking for you if you got lost out there in an alternative realm? Reason can’t turn me down. Not when I invite him to come along with me.*

Grunge slowly lowered his head. *You and Reason,* he sent, *entering that room together? Don’t you think he is staying shy of the Dragon Room since his grandfather vanished inside of it?*

Lucas nearly snorted out loud, yet caught himself as he didn’t want to give it away that he was communicating with the dog. Alex, of course, knew about his special skill to connect with Grunge, Goblin, and Lobo, but Reason would more than likely freak out if he knew of all the secret conversations Lucas shared with the canines. *Reason,* he sent, *has nothing to fear. We, meaning the three of us, would join him on an adventure inside the room.*

*How,* Grunge sent, *is that going to keep any of us safe? You do know old Billy Connors has that plaque beside the door of that chamber for good reason, right? Inside that room, and beyond, there really are dragons—*

*And fire gods!* Lucas sent. *Don’t you think with Beef and Wolf gone off hunting Baphomet and Molech, that Reason is feeling left out? I’ve been inside of that room! It’s a cool experience.*

Grunge rolled over on his side and stretched to get more comfortable in his place on the kitchen floor. *Reason,* he sent, *as an adult, can make those decisions for himself, but you are a child. As your foster dad, he is obligated to keep you safe, Little Luke.*

Lucas nearly muttered out loud. Disgruntled with the dog’s logic and reasoning, he was on the verge of getting up and storming out of the kitchen, determined to find a door to slam on his way out. He shot the dog an annoyed look, a scowl creasing his face.

*What’s up?* came from Goblin, now awake and aware that Lucas and Grunge had been sharing thoughts. Tearing his gaze away from the smaller, gray pit sprawled only inches from Grunge, Lucas suddenly realized that Reason and Alex had been talking quietly why he and Grunge had carried on with their thought sharing. *Never mind, Gobs,* he sent to the young pup, *Grunge just rained on my parade.*

Lucas asked, Why not? Beef has gone off to stop Molech. Why not join him over there in Valasar? Besides, aren’t you worried that Celeste is now lost? We could try to rescue her, couldn’t we?

Shaking his head and running one hand through the thick tangles of his shoulder-length hair, Reason firmly said, No. Out of the question. I am not placing you boys at risk. I going to suspend game play until we find out what happened to Celeste, maybe even until I find out what happened to my grandfather, Billy. At this point in time, that room is dangerous.

Lucas tried using one of his disarming smiles on Reason. Ah, he said, grinning, where’s your sense of adventure?

Reason muttered, Adventures make one late for dinner.

CHAPTER TWO

LATER THAT AFTERNOON inside the Emerald Pub, Lucas launched himself at Alex standing in a dimly lit room with Lobo at his side. The big pit barely moved aside in time. Lucas looped his left arm around Alex’s neck, while bringing his right arm up to put the dark-haired boy in a headlock. Grunge growled a warning. Lobo gave a growl of his own. Goblin whined anxiously as the two boys ended up sprawled on the floor of Billy Connor’s Dragon Room.

Lucas knew he didn’t stand a chance at beating Alex in a wrestling match. The raven-haired child of Gypsies was way too wily for him, and he knew far too many moves to even be considered an even match for Lucas. If he didn’t cheat, he knew that soon Alex would perform an arm lock or wrist lock on him and have him tapping out.

Lucas latched onto the sides of Alex’s head, then swiftly brought up his knee for a groin shot. Had he performed it just right, Alex would have been writhing on the floor, and Lucas could have been on his way into the realm beyond. But Alex turned at the last moment, and the knee struck him on his hip. It was delivered with so much force that it would leave a bruise, but not leave him incapacitated on the floor as Lucas had planned. The three dogs began to softly whine as the fight between the boys heated up. Goblin let out a weak bark. Lobo looked over the heads of the struggling boys and met Grunge’s wary look. It was clear neither dog wanted to take sides in the affair, knowing it was something the two boys needed to work out between themselves. Both dogs knew that to tap into that kind of aggression for either of them would have serious consequences later.

Alex said through gritted teeth, You know you’re not supposed to go into Valasar! Why can’t you get that into your thick skull?

Unlocking his fingers from Alex’s ears, Lucas wrapped both of his arms around behind his neck, pulling his head against his own chest. Celeste. Is. In. There! Lucas breathed his words. She’s my sister! You should be helping me, not trying to stop me, you stupid dork!

The dork, Alex said, is the rage infested kid who would attract a demon to yourself the first time your mad meter went south!

With a heave and a grunt, Lucas tried to head butt him. Twisting his head to one side, Alex absorbed the blow on his chest. Besides, Lucas said, I’m armed with enough magic to kill any demon! More magic than Merlin, Gandalf, and Harry Potter combined!

He snaked his arm up and planted his hand on Alex’s face. All three pit bulls peered at the glowing ring on Lucas’s ring finger of his left hand. Alex swiped his hand from his face, concerned that Lucas might summon arcane power. Remember, Lucas said, Reason said that as a Gypsy you would not tap into the Otherworld because you might attract an unseen entity? But I did, Alex. I slipped the ring on, and the entire world turned a brilliant shade of violet. I saw fairies trailing sparkling dust, their wings fluttering as they performed loops in the air. They gave off a violet aura as they flittered about before the Dormer house. There, a doorway appeared, blue mist spilling from a plane beyond this one. When two young boys sprang out of the portal, one wore an orange hunting cap. It was the ghost of George Dormer, who got shot by his best friend, John Rhys, in a hunting accident in 1913 outside of Havelock. I saw the bullet hole in John’s chest where he shot himself in remorse for what he’d done to George. I told them, ‘Your parents, George, forgave John, for you were buried beside each other at Fairview cemetery as a gesture to pardon a tragic mis-take. I see the realm where you’ve been trapped for a hundred years. Time for you to move on.’ They passed on their way together.

A bright green glow emanated from the ring Lucas wore, and it flashed brilliantly before Alex’s fear-widened eyes. Lucas said, I would not use it on you, Alex. I’d never do such a thing. Besides, I’d like to share some of the magic of the rings with you.

With that, he tossed one of the rings he’d stolen from Reason’s chest over to Alex. Catching it warily, Alex studied the silver band. You should have never trifled with Reason’s rings, Lucas. It’s a good way to break his trust.

It was Lobo who caused both boys to look over at him as he sent, *In Ulster, in the 12th century, their was a slave trade inspired by the demon Molech. He and his minions abducted thousands of children in many lands. Sacred Bands were sent out to destroy them, but as they became invisible they became invulnerable. Ring Smiths forged rings that allowed their wielders to see these demons. The rings were given to four warriors, who slew Molech’s minions and yet, Molech escaped. Many years later, the warriors were buried in Ulster. As a boy, Reason was taken to the Grand Lodge of the Templars by his grandfather, Billy Connors. He refused to join the order. One evening years later, he received a package from the old Irishman. It contained the rings. His grandfather urged him to become a Templar Knight. Even though Reason scoffed at Billy, he tried on one of the rings and discovered it was endowed with power.*

Narrowing his eyes as he peered warily at the ring, Alex crawled over to a spot between Lobo and Grunge pushing the two dogs apart. Goblin waddled over and gently head-butted Lucas, planting a wet kiss on his chin. Resting his chin on Goblin’s head, Lucas said, The ring is not my only source of power, Alex.

He reached beneath his shirt and produced a small eagle feather he wore there attached to a leather thong. He said, When Ben, my foster dad, was a boy, he witnessed an encounter between the Tall Man and Crazy Horse. The Tall Man’s knife slid through the symbols painted on the breast of Crazy Horse’s long shirt. Each symbol sent sparkles through the air as each talisman shielded Crazy Horse from taking harm. The Tall Man thrust his knife at Ben, and the tip of the knife connected with the stone arrowhead he wore on the thong around his neck. A bolt of purple lightning coiled up the blade of the knife. The Tall Man vanished into thin air. Crazy Horse swiped at the air with his tomahawk and at once, a doorway opened into the Other-world. The Lakota Warrior turned to Ben and said, ‘Whoever gifted you with that did you a great favor.’ He then stepped through the rip in the fabric connecting two worlds and was gone. Ever heard of a talisman? A token of power to ward off evil? Like silver bullets against vampires? Wolf gifted me with an eagle feather once worn by the Shirt Wearer, American Horse. The arrowhead and the eagle feather were wielded by Ben and I at Wounded Arrow a short while back, and those two talismans revealed the workings of the Other-world. There are unseen things going on in the spirit realm, right?

Alex said, Yes, angry spirits that should have never been aware of you were attracted to you when you disturbed the fabric of the Otherworld with your outbursts.

Yes, Lucas agreed with him. I must be the calm in the storm. Grunge and Goblin have helped me countless times to master my anger. He gently patted Goblin on the head. A dog is a man’s best friend. Dogs leave paw prints on your heart forever. Dogs love unconditionally, no strings attached. Dogs live only in the moment. Remember the old Cherokee Proverb? There is a battle of two wolves inside all of us. One is evil. The other is good. The wolf who wins? The one you feed. Through the dogs, I am learning to master my angry outbursts. One night, an entire pack of Devil Dogs came after the dogs and I out at Ben’s dog cemetery. I held the eagle feather above my head. Gold sparkles of light flickered from the feather. Like magical fireflies they whizzed through the air, sizzling as they struck the forms of the Devil Dogs. Each one vanished in a rush of black vapors. Later, Wolf gifted me with a colorful medicine wheel. I wear it attached to a leather cord around my neck. In the battles ahead, it is to help me remain centered and help me to remain on the Red Road as a Thunder Dreamer. It is shaped like a cross, but the pattern is far older than the Christian symbol. One of the earliest Medicine Wheels was created 4,500 years ago, 2,000 years before Jesus died on the cross. The wheel is used for healing illness. The focus of healing is to treat the source of the problem, not just the symptoms.

Alex sat there, trying to remain calm. I get it. You’ve got two magical tokens. But think this through, even Celeste wouldn’t want you placing yourself in danger to rescue her.

Lucas said, I’ve actually got four magic weapons to wield, Alex. He scrambled to his feet and moved toward the doorway leading into the portal room beyond the Dragon Room. He kneeled down in one shadowy corner of the room and came back to his feet, holding up a short sword and a black walnut crossbow.

Recognizing them from Gus Howard’s weapons trove, Alex gasped, Lucas! Where did you get those?

This time it was Grunge who sent concerned thoughts Lucas’s way, *Remember when you first asked Ben to work with me? He said you might not have the patience, that I am a damaged dog who needs a lot of stubborn love to bring me around. He said I would read you like a book, that if I sensed you losing your cool with me, that you might do more damage to me. He then asked if you could manage your tantrums. If things don’t go your way, you turn into the Tasmanian Devil. If you want to heal me, first heal yourself. When you spoke to Cora, and she told you that her Uncle Colton considered you a special mediator, do you recall what you told her, Little Luke? You told her that you were the most unholy kid she’d ever meet. Far from special. Knowing nothing about magic. That if she could see through to your true nature, she would be terrified because—*

I am a raging demon most of the time, Lucas said, finishing what Grunge was trying to tell him. I know all this, Grunge. But don’t you think I have changed?

*No!* was sent to him by all three dogs.

CHAPTER THREE

LOOK AT THIS! Lucas said, pulling the eagle feather from beneath his shirt. Magic knows magic! The feather attached to the leather cord around his neck pulsed with a blue light that lit up the words engraved on the stock of the bow and the blade of the sword. Reading them, Lucas said, Morrigan and Herne. According to Gypsy lore, the Morrígan is a battle-maid from Ireland. Her name means queen of phantoms. She appears as a crow or raven. She encourages warriors to do brave deeds and is associated with the banshee. Banshee means woman of the fairy mounds and the barrows of Celtic kings. Herne has the antlers of a stag on his head. Your Gypsy kin claim Herne is the Huntsmen, the Celtic god Cernunnos, the Lord of Wild Things.

Do not be a fool, Alex said. You’d go after Celeste, lamely thinking that these weapons would protect you against demons? What happens when you come face to face with these mad-dog demons, and no magic comes to life?

Lucas snorted, That’s not going to happen, Alex!

Alex muttered, Famous last words.

At a sudden noise from the bar room of the Emerald, all three dogs let out soft growls. Someone had opened the front door to the pub and barged into the place, knocking over tables and chairs as they entered. Loud, angry voices carried into the Dragon Room. Alex and Lucas crept to the door to take a cautious peek into the bar room. Two mot-ley bikers belonging to the Elder’s Den stood before the long bar. Nate Holland’s bald head gave off a shiny gleam. Beside him, his black hair trailing over his shoulders stood Gypsy. Settle down, Nate, he said. Now you’ve broken the lock on the old man’s door. We’re trespassing. I followed Lucas here this past week. He was met by Boone Nelson, then sent on his way. I asked Boone what Lucas was up to. After three rusty nails, I asked him about that trick Alex pulled when that pool ball was sucked through the window.

Nate grunted, What did he say?

Gypsy said, "That our hometown of Havelock is known amongst the White Council. In our suburb are way stations between alternate realms, where Guardians of the Gateways are located: The Emerald Pub, owned by Billy Connors, who has gone missing. The Roaring Lion, owned by Cinnamon and Cat. The Station, owned by Rain Nel-son, president