“Cyrus can fly ahead to alert Cane. You and I can lead the Ddraigs to their location.” I kneel to be at Cyrus’s side as I give the orders before anyone can protest. “Find Cane and play nice when you get there. Tell him that all of the people need to be prepared. Warn him that the Ddraigs are coming. His people need to shed their masks and be ready to share their true names with us. We are no longer a land of houses and unchosen. Try to make them understand!”
Cyrus huffs as he stands, leaning heavily against Suryc from exhaustion. “Why yes, I’d be happy to become your errand boy! I’m surprised you would trust me with such an important task, given your low opinion of me.” His lips pull away to bare his teeth in disgust.
“There’s no time for this!” Siri roars over whatever sarcastic curse I am saying. “Suryc, get away with your Cadogan. Iris, come with me. You need to address the other Ddraigs before they will fly with you.” Siri thunders into the tunnels as a shiver of excitement steals over my skin, raising goosebumps as I tremble. We are meeting more of the Ddraigs, who until now have stayed away. Cyrus will be gone, so this treat is entirely my own. My feet smack the stones like claps of thunder, but I do not stop until I catch up to Siri’s slender, pearly body. Neither of us looks back as Cyrus and Suryc soar out of the Pith cavern.
The air is cooler the deeper we trek into the tunnels, dampness clinging to my skin with its earthy aroma. Siri’s eyes seem to glow with their metallic sheen, the only light emanating in this place. My toes stub on an uneven rock, and the only thing that keeps my teeth unbroken is the tail of the Ddraig. I land on its serpentine form, holding tightly to Siri’s scales as she glides over the ground, allowing my feet to dangle behind me as she moves. Deeper and deeper we travel into the earth, and I notice some small bits of roots hanging from the sides of the tunnels. They brush my body like the very hand of death, eerily similar to the feeling of beetles crawling over my limbs.
The part of me that hates tightly enclosed spaces suddenly takes offense to my presence in this grave like space, and my breathing tightens in my chest. My eyes dart from side to side, finding no comfort in the dark, rich dirt around me. “Si…ri….” I pant her name in time with my heartbeat, ever increasing as my panic sets in.
“Almost there, Iris. It will get better in a moment,” the Ddraig calls over her shoulder as she quickens her pace. My hands quiver so much that I fear I will drop my hold on Siri’s tail. My eyes clench closed as a wail escapes my lips.
Finally, we reach the Ddraig’s nesting area. I feel the change in the air pressure before I open my eyes. The hallway’s tight space sighs into an open cavern, large enough that I cannot see its vast ceiling. The walls are filled with holey, gaping maws where the Ddraigs have carved out individual beds. In these holes, their colorful fires glitter as they welcome my presence. “I will never get used to this,” I mumble, awed by the myriad of brightly hued bodies and limpid eyes peering curiously at me.
“There are more dens than just this one, much like your houses,” Siri calls out to me, pride in her voice. “If we can find even one hundred of these Cadogans, then we’ll stand a fighting chance against Déchets when they set out to attack us.”
Siri screeches as loudly as an emergency bell clangs, immediately rallying the Ddraigs around us. Many of the massive creatures rush to obey her call, soaring down to our position and landing as silently as an owl’s flight at night. While I am delighted by the jewel toned bodies that simper up to me, Siri’s head remains high. She snorts and straightens her spine, her posture turning rigid as she roars once more.
Following her line of sight, I notice that there are about fifteen Ddraigs who linger at the back of the cave. At the center of this group stands a huge, fiery red one. Its head turns marginally when Siri beckons, but with this much distance between us, I can tell it is furious. Siri rises onto her back legs, spreading her silver flames high into the mouth of the cave. They arch across the expanse, racing like a pack of dogs toward a fresh kill. Most of the wayward Draigs cower under the reign of fire, scuttling toward Siri in penitent obedience. Even the red Ddraig inches closer, though it is clear by its swagger that it is not impressed by Siri’s power.
What is that one’s problem? I question, appreciating our mental connection for the first time since I learned of its existence.
He is jealous, Iris. We’ve been waiting a long time to find our Cadogans. There are some among us that were hoping that their warriors would find them first so that they would be the leaders of the Ddraigs. Siri answers me smugly as she stares down the red Ddraig. Reluctantly, he drops his head. I fear he will be a problem one day.
You think he will challenge your right to rule?
Probably. A lot will depend on the personality of his Cadogan. For now, he will follow us, so do not worry over him. Speak your piece to the Ddraigs. Show them that you are strong.
The brilliant green creature that had carried away Cane strides up to my side until her nose is pressing against mine. “You were with my Cadogan.” She is quiet when she speaks, her voice as melodic as the symphonies of old.
My heart rends as I recognize immediately who the young Ddraig means. “I never knew her true name. To me, she was always Warbler, and I am so sorry that she is gone.”
“So am I. When she passed, her memories came to me, Cadogan. I bear a piece of her heart and soul with me always now.” The small creature blinks her vibrant yellow eyes, and in their hues, I see the connection to my lost friend. “Her true name was Laurel, and she loved you dearly.” The Ddraig saunters over to stand beside Siri, her head lowered toward her feet as she waits.
“What is your name? And what happens to you now that Warbler is gone?” The idea of leaving this Ddraig behind tastes like a bitter herb on my tongue.
“I will fly with you unbound to any Cadogan. When you need me, I will be there out of respect for my Laurel. She’d want me to support you.” I can hear the sorrow in her voice as she speaks of her lost Cadogan. My beautiful friend touched lives she did not even realize existed.
“Siri, what happens if our Ddraig dies?” I feel obligated to ask, now knowing that a Cadogan’s memories pass through to their Ddraig.
“Well, it’s much the same for you as it is for us. If we die, our memories transfer to you. However, the human brain is ill equipped to handle so much new information. It often causes our Cadogans to go crazy, especially if the death is sudden. It’s why our lifespans are longer—Ddraigs are better suited to handle such losses.”
“Do you ever seek another warrior?” I ask, immediately hating the jealous monster awakening in my heart. A fierce demand for loyalty roars to life in my heart. The thought of Siri with another Cadogan feels like a worse betrayal than finding your lover in another’s arms.
“It is the same for me, Iris. Ddraigs are naturally hoarders, and this fact does not stop with objects we find appealing. It applies to our Cadogans too. Once you are gone, I will forever fly alone. One loss is enough.” She stares at me grimly as she adds, “I know this is not the right time, but this conversation should explain to you why you must couple with Cyrus, Iris. If I ever had to fight with my Suryc, one of you would suffer too. Think what would happen to you if I failed.” Her words are brusque, a hateful reality that clangs in my ears. “I am sorry for the unfairness of it, but just because you don’t love Cyrus doesn’t mean that you can give him up.”
My mind blots out her words as I inspect the Ddraigs before me. I cannot allow myself to dwell on Wolf or Cyrus or even my own worries right now. My attention must be on these Ddraigs first, gaining their trust, getting them to help me in this battle. That’s not it at all, Siri contradicts me through our bond, her words biting at me in her exasperation. You just don’t want what I’ve said to be true, so you’re ignoring it. But it won’t just go away, Iris. You’ll have to face your fate with Cyrus eventually.
A tiny Ddraig baby toddles up beside me, his violet blue scales so dark that they blend with the stones below his feet. The little one
sneezes, a beautiful magenta flame catching the laces of my boots afire. The Ddraig snuffs them out with its tail, sniffling as it stamps its feet.
“What is your name?” I bend down to touch the babe’s small head. It makes a strange chortle deep in its throat, eyes closing as it enjoys being petted. He does not speak words that I can understand, but he makes his needs known when he flops on his back for a belly rub. I laugh as I pat his tiny scales, listening to the creature coo in delight.
“He has no name yet. His warrior isn’t yet born or named. We take our titles from our Cadogans, did you not notice?” The brilliant green dragon explains as she swipes the baby up into the curl of her tail. “Ddraigs and Cadogans are two halves of one being, really. We reverse your names like a mirror, to reflect our bonds. Iris becomes Siri, Suryc becomes Cyrus. Laurel becomes Lerual.” Warbler’s Ddraig raises a claw to point at her chest. “This baby cannot know his name until his Cadogan takes one.”
“Le-ru-al.” I test the green Ddraig’s name on my tongue. It is a beautifully simple connection to one another when I think about it: united but still unique, independent.
“The nameless unchosen—could any of them have Ddraigs? Do they have secret names like we did, or are they the ones that you protect? How little time there is to learn all your ways, Siri! Our enemy will soon be marching over the Devil’s Spine!”
“I don’t have those answers for you. The world we remember is no longer the world we will find above ground,” Siri answers, facing the rest of the Ddraigs urgently as her voice rings out. “Your leader of the Cadogans wishes to formally address you.” She drops her head, and as she bows to me, the rest of the Ddraigs follow suit.
Waiting until I see them standing tall once more, I meet the curious eyes of a golden Ddraig with ruby spines, while a persimmon hued one hisses and paws at the ground beside Siri. A small brownish one peeks out from a hole in the cave wall, a perfect hiding place to oversee without being noticed. At least none of them are leaving or blatantly turning against me. Hopeful, I plunge forward with my request. “I am new, I know. Untried as a Cadogan or leader. I’ve never wanted to be in control of anything. But I cannot hide from the duty laid at my feet. Not when the innocent would be left to suffer. I cannot guarantee that I’ll be good or that I won’t make mistakes. I am asking for your help. Fly with me to find your warriors. Help me save us all from the people of Déchets.”
“They are coming, truly?” A neon pink Ddraig squeaks as she slithers closer, her movements more snakelike than anything I’ve seen so far.
“They’ve already been in the antechamber of our den! If we do not prepare to fight, they will overtake us before we can blink. Now, will you join us as we seek to find the other Cadogans? If so, be outside the Pith by nightfall. We travel as soon as we see the stars.” Siri growls as she picks me up, flying out of an unseen exit on my left. Lerual is the only Ddraig that follows us deeper into the tunnel.
“What now, Siri?” I bark as I dangle precariously from her claws. She does not answer as she glides easily through the dizzying network of tunnels.
“Are you sure, Siri? Is this wise?” Lerual exclaims as she nervously flaps her wings behind us.
“She needs to understand what we are fighting for,” comes the enigmatic response from my Ddraig.
Chapter 15
Siri carries me through the dizzying network of tunnels. I have little panic attacks as my limbs swing dangerously close to the cavern walls, and I imagine all the ways I will break if she isn’t careful. With the slightest miscalculation, I could be tossed against the rocks, shattered like a porcelain doll dropped against marble floors. A wordless scream pours from my lips when Siri freezes mid-air.
We are deep in the earth of the earth; I can tell by the dank, musty odor in the air. Siri lowers toward the ground, releasing me when I am about three feet over the rocks. As I roll on the cave floor, I can feel bits of grit itching as they enter my skin.
“We really got to work on the drop landing,” I groan when I am finally able to breathe.
“Go in there,” Siri commands, pointing into a tiny hole barely large enough for me to fit my body through. “You must go alone, so only your questions are answered. Carreglas is unreliable if there are too many souls lurking about.”
I push myself toward the hole, cringing at the tightness of the crack. My ears grate along the walls as I thrust my head through. How on earth will the rest of my body fit? Still, through a long process of twisting and rocking, and more than one occasion where I feel like I am shoving a baby’s sock over my entire midriff, I squeeze into a dimly lit alcove.
“The stone accepts you,” Siri answers as she rounds the corner, looking relieved.
“You mean there’s another way to get in here? You let me wedge myself through that pinhole while you waltzed right in the back door? Why would you do that?” There weren’t words enough to express the hateful curses I want to lay on the Ddraig.
“This is the test of the Carreglas’s design. If it does not accept your presence, you would have been crushed in that tiny expanse. The fact that you are still alive is proof of your decent heart, despite what you might think of yourself.” Siri exits the cave, her long tail nearly swiping my feet out from under me. “Come out this way when your questions are answered.”
It does not take long for the Carreglas to appear then; in fact, I’ve barely moved before I find myself eye to eye with a milky blue image. “What do you seek, Iris, first Cadogan of the Ddraigs?” A fair-haired figure emerges in that strange light, her eyes the azure of the deepest ocean.
“She’s dead! Who are you?” I breathe, unnerved by the ethereal form. It’s exactly like Warbler, a carbon copy of my dear friend. I’d recognize that blonde hair and those piercing eyes anywhere. Yet upon closer inspection, I see subtle differences. There was a lightness in Warbler, a freeness of movement and personality that is missing from this being.
“Forgive me,” whispers the shape, morphing into a taller, less familiar figure as she strides closer. “I had hoped that if my face was familiar it would lessen the shock of my presence. I see now that I chose wrongly for you. What do you seek to know?” The clear sounding voice reminds me of the babbling, off-shooting brooks from the River Sangre.
“Truth,” I answer immediately. “I seek to know the truth. About what the people of Déchets want, about the use of Carreglas.” Another answer bubbles out of my throat unbound, despite my efforts to quell it. “I want to know about Cane and Cyrus, and their father too.” Embarrassment forms a pit in my stomach. I feel like a silly child for asking about boys. There are so many more important things going on right now!
“You feel uncomfortable for the questions in your heart?” The Carreglas’s visage shifts, fading and solidifying as it floats around me. “Do not worry over what is said here. Whatever is asked remains in my confidence.” Crossing in front of me, the image raises a finger and brushes it against my cheek. Every place where we make contact seems to buzz with electrical energy. My teeth rattle with the strange current. “Some say truth is perception. What do you say to this, Iris?”
“I’m not here to play games! Just show me how things truly are, and I will figure out the rest,” I answer, throwing my hands up into the air in frustration. It gives me the chance to back away from the specter and release myself from its touch.
The ghostly creature laughs, its shape flickering with every chuckle. “Spoken like a true Gwen. But you are young yet. You will learn that in the minds of your adversaries, the truth that they cling to is not always the reality that you hold precious. The people of Déchets believe themselves to be justified in their battles. You, and the rest of Cassé, claim that they are wrong. Who determines what is truth?”
“Do you only speak in riddles? All my life seems to have been filled with half-truths and mysteries. I just want to know what’s real!” I howl, my hands grasping at my temples as if they radiate with pain.
The ghostly face turns very still as she point
s to me once more. “Very well, Iris. Reality you shall see.”
A blinding flash of bluish light stains my eyes, and in its afterglow, I see the faint likeness of the Carreglas’s true form lying in a smooth rock basin. It is a white stone with streaks of iridescent violet and cerulean tarnish. It appears to be no larger than the size of my palm. How could something so small and insignificant cause all of this? What’s so special about Carreglas?
Then the light shifts, and a heartbreakingly familiar scene appears before me. Two dark haired boys play in the fields in front of my white sided house. My father nervously drives up to the front door, his eyes twitching to observe every movement around him. My mother stands on the porch, wringing her hands as he approaches.
“Is it done?” Mom asks, her voice both a soothing balm and agonizing curse to my ears. My heart forever bleeds its sorrows from my unhealed emotional scars as a sharp pain tears into my chest.
Dad nods, and my eyes drift shut as he speaks. “There is nothing more to be done. If the people of Déchets decide to use their gifts against us, then we are doomed. We don’t stand a chance against them, darling.”
“Then we need to take our daughter and find the Pith. I know you don’t see it from my side, but my father always claimed that there were—”
“Stop, please. I cannot listen to this!” My father slumps as he scuffs his feet on the stairs.
“Do not shut me out!” My mother cries, reaching out for my father’s arm to stop him from entering the house. “Listen to my warnings, my love. The leader of Déchets is ruthless! He will stop at nothing until he’s overtaken Cassé. Being this close to the Devil’s Spine is suicide! Do you want that for our daughter? Or do you want to give her the chance to survive?”
House of Vultures Page 22
