Aberration

by Kyle West

  “You were,” Isaru said. “For that, I’m sorry. However, it’s Odium you should blame, not me. The possession occurred through an accident that would take too long to explain, since we are flying south today to save the garrison at Kalear.”

  “So, this force of dragons was not meant to intimidate me.”

  I shook my head. “No. We’ve come here to formally end the war between our countries so that we might work together to ensure our mutual survival.”

  Tertullian frowned at this. “So, now that I’ve established myself here, you are extremely keen on having peace.”

  “We did not provoke this war,” Fiona said, heatedly. “Don’t you hear what we’re telling you? Odium possessed Isaru, something that is possible when speaking of Elekai and Radaskim. He is the one who lured you and your army here to its own destruction.”

  Tertullian’s lips tightened, clearly not trusting any of this.

  Fiona went on. “The Makai city of Sylva fell two weeks ago, and what Makai are left are fleeing to Haven. The Makai kingdom was never yours to take. And they’re coming for Haven next, but before they get to Haven, they will find your camp.” She nodded toward the outer defenses. “If you think that is enough to stop Odium’s numbers, then you will find out differently soon enough.”

  “Of course, we know of the troubles to the south,” General Tertullian said. “Though you have told me about Odium many times in your letters, I don’t know how much of it to believe. It could all be a story designed to lure me and my men out into the open field, to be prey for your dragons.”

  “The time for petty squabbles is over,” I said. “We need your men, General Tertullian, and we need food and supplies.”

  I didn’t mention the fact that most of the food and supplies were stolen from the Elekai. Tertullian gave no answer.

  “With your men,” I continued, “we have a hope of holding Haven. Without it . . . we will surely fall. Both of us.”

  “If all this is true, then what is preventing me from withdrawing my men and marching them south to Mexico, in the defense of Emperor Titus, as it should be?”

  I did my best to remain calm. “Perhaps that’s as it should be, but you and I both know that’s not possible. You are cut off, and as soon as you are too far to be helped, Odium will strike, and do so without mercy. That’s why we must work together if you’re ever to have a hope of seeing home again.”

  Tertullian frowned, perhaps realizing, for the first time, the situation he was actually in.

  “I’m sorry you were drawn here,” I said. “I know you were following the orders of your Emperor. The facts are simple, and I think you can see that. There’s no point in arguing about who should get what.”

  “An end to the war that’s barely even begun,” Tertullian mused. “So, you are surrendering?”

  I almost laughed at that. “There’s no winning and losing here. The only loss that matters is losing to Odium. When that’s over, then we can discuss other, less important matters.”

  Tertullian grunted a laugh. “And what would that look like, Anna?

  “I don’t know,” I said. “Sharing the food you’ve hoarded in your camp while redeploying your men in defense of Haven would be a start.”

  “The Elekai are our traditional enemies,” Tertullian said. “I could never convince my men to do such.”

  “You mean, they wouldn’t obey a direct order from you?” I asked.

  Tertullian shrugged, not really having an answer for that.

  “It’s not unreasonable to think that in the interest of preservation, old rivalries can be set aside,” I said.

  “It’s a nice thought,” Tertullian said. “Unfortunately, I have much to lose from a formal alliance with the Elekai.”

  “You didn’t think so when you entered into an alliance with me two months ago,” Isaru said.

  Tertullian smiled grimly. “Yes. There was that. I suppose exceptions can be made.”

  “I don’t have much time to stay,” I said. “I’ve said my part, and now must be on my way south. That will give you a few days to decide.”

  “Very well,” Tertullian said. “Unfortunately, I do not see an alliance between our countries as profitable, even in the short-term. I cannot disobey a direct order from my emperor, unless I wish for my head to be separated from my neck.”

  “That’s a great plan if you’d rather die between a dragon’s jaws,” Shara muttered.

  Tertullian’s face reddened, and his knights stirred uneasily. Shara looked nonplussed. I was a bit annoyed, because the comment could do nothing to help us. Worse, the comment didn’t specify whether the dragon was Radaskim, or ours.

  But Tertullian chuckled, as if Shara’s insult were a great joke. “It is a risk I’ll have to take. Unless we have further business?”

  I shook my head. “Good luck, Tertullian. There’s only one right answer here. I hope you have the courage to find it.”

  “I’ve enjoyed this talk,” he said. “It’s been . . . entertaining. I truly hope it isn’t our last.”

  He clicked at his horse, turning it around. As soon as he did this, his knights did the same as one unit, their steel armor gleaming in the morning sun. Trumpets sounded once again as the Novan train returned to the walls from which they came.

  “That went about how I thought it would,” Fiona said.

  “It was a conversation that needed to happen,” Isaru said. “He knows now where we stand, and who leads the Elekai people.”

  “Is there a way we can contact the emperor?” Isa asked. “See if he can give permission for Tertullian to help us?” Isa asked.

  From her tone of voice, I could tell that even she thought this would be worse than useless. It was an excuse on Tertullian’s part, a way to deflect responsibility. He had no real intention of helping us.

  “Let’s go,” I said. “I won’t waste any more time here.”

  Chapter 6

  Within minutes, we were flying south with the dragons toward Kalear. The distance would only take a few hours to cross. The dragons flew lower than Odin would have, and it was much easier to make out the details of the land below. We were over the heart of the Xenoplain, following the line of the Pilgrimage Road, which was thronged with thousands upon thousands of refugees fleeing north, almost all of which cowered for cover at the sight of our dragons. There was nothing to be done about that, but maybe some of them would realize who we were once we had passed.

  Morning passed into afternoon, and the roads grew emptier, the fields, houses, and towns fewer, and the terrain rougher, covered with forests and hills. Smoke rose from various points in the distance, tinging the air with an acrid aroma. The horizon was gray, lost to fog or smoke, and the land seemed to lay in darkness despite the brightness of the sun above.

  The land turns foul, Flame said.

  Is it the fires, or something else?

  There was a pause as Flame considered his answer. It is the flames. But beneath the flames . . . something worse. There’s something in Odium’s army doing this, clouding the skies.

  A reversion?

  Something else, Flame said. It is bile to my soul.

  I wanted to ask more but was distracted by an alarming sight. Upon a high hill stood a wooden-walled town, not unlike Northold or Kalear, reduced to a smoking heap of ruins, out of which still poured smoke from smoldering coals. I could see crawlers scuttling on the ground between collapsed wooden buildings, their high screeches sounding in alarm upon seeing us.

  If Odium doesn’t know of our coming, I said, allowing everyone to read my thoughts, he knows now.

  We should be close to Kalear, Isaru said.

  Close enough, I hope.

  Within a few minutes, the mountains in the distance closed in, and within the haze covering them, I could see the outline of the Stronghold, looking incredibly small with distance. The town lay at its foot, lost to the trees and smog. It was hard to tell from where we were, but the walls looked intact and the town whole. There was no reaso
n to think anything had happened. Yet.

  As we closed in, the air became more difficult to breathe, and warmer, though there was no evidence of fires in the town south of the Stronghold. Looking down, the buildings looked all but abandoned. No one was in the streets, though doors and windows were opened, and many of them broken. Random debris, furniture, and rubble was strewn along the streets, as if people had been in a rush to escape, but unable to take everything.

  But the Stronghold itself stood at the end of the main road, its gates closed, its towers seemingly empty. Something didn’t seem right, and my heart fell.

  Stay back, I called toward the other dragons.

  I let the rest of my friends follow me on their own dragons over the wall.

  * * *

  The entire inner courtyard was filled with people and campfires. The fruit trees had been felled by this point, likely for firewood. Shouts and screams filled the air as people rushed for cover.

  I only had a few moments to make myself known before Flame became the target of ballistae and crossbow bolts.

  So, I directed Flame to land in front of a contingent of Sphere Priests, who were readying themselves for battle with swords drawn.

  Flame landed and I slid off, all in one motion, landing nimbly in front of them. They stared at me dumbly for a moment before recognition registered on their faces.

  At last, one of them broke into a laugh and shouted, “Anna returns!”

  I turned around, so all could see and recognize me, while my friends circled up above. Others took up the shout, and slowly but surely, others joined in. What had been abject terror a minute before had become praise and adulation.

  “Where are my parents?” I asked.

  “In the keep, my lady,” a random man said. “By the gods, she’s returned!”

  He reached to touch the hem of my cloak. I backed away as others crowded around me, some crying for joy.

  “Excuse me,” I said, pushing my way through the crowds.

  At this point, spaces were cleared, which allowed the rest of my friends to land. Isaru landed neatly beside me, hopping off Falling Star in a graceful motion. Several stepped back, apparently recognizing him, and he quickly joined me in my attempt to get to the wooden doors.

  Those doors promptly opened, revealing my parents standing there and gazing out at the five dragons resting in their courtyard. But before they could do anything else, I was shouting at them above the din of the crowd.

  “Mom! Dad!”

  They seemed to hear me, but to not pinpoint where I was. I was rushing forward, and in a moment, they saw me. They ran out the doors in my direction.

  I was just a few feet away from embracing them when the screams of multiple dragons filled the air. Out of instinct, I turned up to see several of the dragons from my army circling the air above. Something was wrong. I could feel it.

  My parents each threw their arms around me, but I had to untangle myself.

  “Something’s wrong,” I said.

  “They massacred the town,” my father said. “We could only save a few within our walls before we were forced to bar the gates. The crawlers . . .”

  Trumpets sounded an alarm. Soldiers and white-clad priests manned the walls and towers, pointing upward into the air with what few ballistae they possessed.

  “They’re back,” my father said.

  “Get everyone who can’t fight inside,” I said. “If the battle above goes well, we have to leave Kalear.”

  I left them with that as Isaru and I ran back to our dragons.

  Chapter 7

  As soon as I was mounted, I urged Flame into the air. I rose above the walls and turned Flame in the direction of the disturbance.

  Dozens of black dragons streamed from behind one of the mountains rising behind the Stronghold, and more were appearing all the time. I felt dread rise in my heart. Just how many would there be? Was it better to attack now, or to wait until we had a better idea of what we were dealing with?

  I reached for the Xenofold. Its power was weaker here, near the source of Odium’s reversion, but it was still present. There was still hope we could turn them back.

  Stay with me, I said, making sure all the dragons heard, along with my friends. Fight with me. We can win this if we stick together.

  Around me, the others remained seated on their dragons, nodding to show that they understood.

  The black dragons ahead fanned out, forming a single line while flying high into the air.

  We needed to not let the Radaskim get above us. Up! Fly with all your strength!

  Flame screeched his assent, flapping his wings with steady strength. I looked behind me, to see that the two hundred dragons at my command were doing the same, their eyes glowing in the afternoon darkness. Ahead of us flew what appeared to be an equal force of dragons. At long last, no more dragons were appearing from the other side of the mountain.

  All was eerily silent. The only sound was the gusting of the wind and the collective flapping of dragons’ wings. There were no screams or battle cries. Only the calm before the inevitable storm.

  Of Odium, there was no sign or feeling.

  There was a change in the ranks of the Radaskim ahead. The flanks of their formation widened, and the dragons in the middle followed those on the edges until two separate contingents, one flying to our left and one to our right, each remaining a hundred feet or so below us. They no longer were attempting to get above us.

  I opened myself to the group consciousness. The Elekai dragons I commanded were ready and eager, but they were tiring fast. They had flown all morning with hardly a rest. But I knew the opposing dragons were likely just as tired.

  Stop the ascent, I said. Wait for them to fly under us.

  At once, the dragons stopped climbing into the air. I watched as the Radaskim approached, flying not directly under us, but to either side. We had to attack, and soon, or they would reach the Stronghold.

  That was when I got an idea.

  Flame’s voice entered my mind. Elekim?

  Let them pass, I said. Then follow them.

  It wasn’t much, but having the Stronghold firing their ballistae and crossbows into the approaching Radaskim might thin their numbers enough to give us an edge, however slight. But at the same time, that meant risking lives in the Stronghold itself, not to mention the lives of my parents.

  I decided to take the chance. They had survived one attack already; they could weather another one for a short time.

  All right, I said, once the final dragon had passed. Follow them.

  Strangely, it seemed as if the Radaskim didn’t even notice that we were above them. They gave no sign that they saw us following, not changing their direction in the slightest; they still made directly for the Stronghold. The only sign that they might have seen us was in the splitting of their forces a few minutes ago, but already the two sides had rejoined as a single force.

  Did they want us to follow them? Caution wasn’t an option; people would die if we allowed those dragons to go uncontested.

  Now, Flame. Catch them!

  Flame roared his assent, leading the charge. Shara and Fiona flew on my either side, only a few feet behind me. Both had their swords drawn, holding them two-handed while clenching tightly to their saddles.

  I did the same, feeling as if I myself were flying. I was so close to the last of the Radaskim dragons, about fifty feet above the opposing host. The frontrunners of that swarm were nearly at the walls of the Stronghold. Already, bolts were flying from the towers, some of which were finding their marks.

  Flame dove, too quick for the bulky Radaska at the end of the swarm. His long claws extended until they landed directly on the dragon’s spiky back. The Radaska screamed as Flame’s claws dug in. The Radaska’s long neck coiled upward, snapping at Flame’s neck, which was just out of range. I reached for Silence, needing the focus to slash with my blade, cutting along the side of the Radaska’s neck. The cut wasn’t deep, due to the thickness of the dragon’s
scales, but it was still deep enough for purple blood to leak out. The Radaska screamed as Flame dealt the final blow, chomping deeply on the Radaska’s neck. Flame pushed off the dragon with his claws, sending it spiraling to the forested hillside below.

  Flame veered himself upward, just grazing the tops of the trees where the bulky Radaska had fallen. Now pointing toward the sky, I was given a view of the madness above. Hundreds of dragons swarmed in and out of each other, the air filled with their piercing cries. There was no longer any sign of my friends. Though it was hard to tell one side from the other just from looking, I still somehow knew which dragons were friend and foe. The two swarms clashed, a chaos of claws, wings, and shrieks.

  There was no telling which side was winning. All I knew was whichever side came out alive would be far less numerous. I feared for my friends, knowing that with two equal forces, one or more of them dying was a huge possibility. I had to do everything in my power to stop that.

  At that moment in the madness, I remembered the awesome power Alex had displayed in Hyperborea, how he had tethered dozens of dragons all at once, rendering them useless. Now that I had inherited his powers as Elekim, perhaps I was capable of the same.

  I deepened my connection to the Xenofold, probing the opposing side for weakness. The minds of the enemy dragons were empty, empty of all but one thing: Odium.

  From their hundreds of eyes, it seemed as if he were staring out.

  You’re not here, I said. You’re hundreds of miles away.

  I realized Odium was here, at least his presence. He could see, yes. But he could do nothing to shore up the power of this swarm, to protect them from any weaknesses of the mind.

  Around me, the mayhem continued. We were above the Stronghold now. Radaskim swooped down into the courtyard below, taking aim with their claws for the squadrons of pikemen and crossbowmen set up to defend against them from below. Meanwhile, our own dragons engaged them from above. Several Radaskim, and at least one of our own, had fallen into the courtyard. Ballistae from the towers shot at anything that tried to attack them.