"Perhaps we should look some more?" Kendra said with a twinkle in her eye.
Sinjin smiled. He loved his wife. "That's a splendid idea. I don't know about you, but I could use a second set of eyes."
Kendra just grabbed Strom by the arm and propelled him to where Gerhonda waited. Sinjin guided Osbourne toward Valterius. Durin was already saddling the dragon, and several people assisted Kendra and Strom saddle Gerhonda and get strapped in. Strom paled. "Perhaps you could just draw me a map," he said to Kendra and Sinjin laughed.
"It's not funny," Osbourne said. "I could make do with a map."
"It'll be fine and there is nothing like seeing for yourself. Am I right?"
Osbourne appeared dubious and looked Valterius up and down. "Do these things have a weight limit? I'm not made of flakewood, you know."
"I think Valterius can handle it," Sinjin said, and his dragon snorted, forcing Osbourne back a step. After climbing up, Sinjin offered Osbourne a hand, and his mother's old friend took it reluctantly. "I won't kill you. Promise," Sinjin said.
With that, Osbourne grabbed tight and pulled himself up. Durin climbed up and got Osbourne strapped in; he also double-checked Sinjin's straps, something Sinjin had grown accustomed to but still appreciated. Once Durin jumped down, Valterius started for the wind channel.
"Are we really ready? Are my straps tight enough?" Osbourne asked.
"You've been cleared," Sinjin said, and Gerhonda fell in alongside Valterius. Before anyone could say anything more, both dragons surged forward and thrust themselves into the warm, blue skies. Lush greenery was already reclaiming the scarred landscape around Windhold. Evidence of the mighty battle was largely obscured, but skeletal remains along with circular impressions left in stone and sandy areas were difficult to miss.
Strom held his breath as the world fell away from underneath him. This was worse than flying with Kenward, as now rock and trees hurtled toward him at incredible speed. When Gerhonda extended her wings, Strom was pressed down into his seat by the force, and he couldn't prevent the scream issuing from his lips. Osbourne, apparently, couldn't either. But then an amazing thing happened, Gerhonda and Valterius found thermals and started riding them in lazy circles. The land below grew farther away and the view even more impressive. They had seen some of this scenery on their approach aboard the Serpent, but that had been a very different experience.
Once the dragons had gained sufficient altitude, Sinjin and Valterius turned first and dived toward the twisting valleys. Gerhonda followed and Strom had never felt such a rush of excitement in his life. It was terrifying and thrilling and beautiful all at the same time. Kendra pointed out the second hollow mountain they had mentioned, where the openings were too small for the dragons. He also pointed out the clearly man-made ruins giving evidence of the Firstland's distant past. Beyond that, they had to squeeze through a narrow and twisting valley, and it didn't appear wide enough to accommodate them. With wings trimmed, the dragons narrowly avoided the rocky peaks. As a passenger, it was difficult to do anything but ride along and watch the rapidly approaching trees and rock. Despite that, Strom turned his head and looked about as they flew. Just before they burst forth from the narrow valley, he saw a bright flash of green light.
Before them waited an amazing sight. The Valley of Victors was far more imposing when seen up close than from afar. The dragons flew along the twisting river, the Eternal Guardians rising up before them, only the giant statues were facing the other direction. Even from behind, though, they demanded respect. Strom could barely keep his breath for all the wondrous sights, though his eye was drawn by dark shapes moving through the trees and causing the canopy to shake. When the harbor came into view, shrouded by black beaches lined with glistening bodies, Strom forgot everything else. Corpulent seal-like creatures sunned themselves along the shores and on glistening rock formations.
Valterius winged toward a section of beach free of wildlife. As his shadow approached, many of the distended beasts thrust themselves into the water. With a few flaps of his wings, Valterius slowed and landed on the obsidian beach. Gerhonda landed not far away.
"I thought you might like a chance to catch your breath," Sinjin said.
"Is it safe to be here?" Osbourne asked.
"The dragons will keep most of the wildlife at a distance," Kendra said. "But if you see a big, black fin coming, get away from the water."
"Maybe I'll just stay up here," Osbourne said.
Strom unstrapped himself and climbed down. The flight hadn't been a long one, but it felt good to stretch nonetheless. Eventually Osbourne joined them.
"We considered moving closer to the beaches, where it is easy to land, but there are too many predators at forest level. The hollow mountains are the only inhabitable structures at a sufficient height above the tree line. We can look some more, but I'm not sure how much we'll find."
"It could be nothing," Strom said, and all eyes rested on him. "Have you ever seen green light flash in that gorge?" He pointed to the place through which they had flown.
"No," Sinjin said after turning his eyes to where Strom pointed. "That's a pretty tricky stretch. I've never noticed much of anything going through there. Too busy trying to stay alive."
"What did you see?" Kendra asked.
"It lasted only for an instant," Strom said. "But I saw a flash of green light come from up there, by where that flat spot is, next to the dip. See where I mean?"
No one did.
"If you'll fly us back up there," Strom said, "I'll show you."
"We'll have to get some serious altitude over the sands," Kendra said. "You know how dangerous the air above those peaks can be. One downdraft, and you'll be smeared across the mountainside."
"Maybe we should wait here while you look," Osbourne said. "I'm sure the extra weight just makes it more dangerous."
"Come on, Osbourne," Strom said. "I see a big, black fin coming. Don't get eaten."
"Very funny," Osbourne said until he, too, saw the giant fin racing toward shore. He managed to get back in his place atop Valterius before anyone else. The fin continued toward them, pushing a wall of water with it, and one of the oversized seals was thrown into the air by the wave. The shark's head and gleaming white teeth gnashed the air as the seal writhed, trying to escape its fate. The shark was ready and struck as soon as the creature hit the water. It was over in an instant, and Osbourne paled even further.
Strom wasted no time in regaining the saddle, and the dragons kept close watch on the shoreline. Strom didn't want to think about who would win in a battle between shark and dragon, and he triple-checked the straps holding him in. Kendra checked them herself once, and they were on their way. With a powerful leg thrust and a few wing flaps, the dragons gained the air. Soaring low over the water, they could see oversized shadows moving beneath the surface. Strom didn't want to know what those creatures were. Knowing such massive beasts now ruled the seas and the skies, he felt a great deal smaller than he once had. It was an adjustment all of them had to make. On the Godfist or even the Greatland, humans had been at the top of the food chain. Here the same could not be said. These days, no place was safe.
Soon black beach rushed beneath them again, and warmer air pushed them upward. Higher and higher they went, and it still wasn't high enough to suit Kendra or Sinjin. Strom's head felt as if it would explode, and he wasn't certain how much more he could take. Kendra showed him how to relieve some of the pressure by holding his nose, closing his mouth, and blowing. Though he felt much better afterward, he still wasn't certain how much more altitude he could withstand. Thin air left him struggling to breathe. Kendra noticed his discomfort and signaled to Sinjin.
"Be careful," he shouted.
Flying through the valley had been a frightening experience. Knowing it was a good bit safer than what they were about to do made Strom's stomach hurt. Clouds obscured much of the landscape below them. The air moved in ripping torrents, sheared by the peaks themselves. Tenacious trees clung to the
heights, reaching out to them and coming perilously close. Valterius pulled away from the rocky peak, but Kendra would not be so easily dissuaded. Strom held on with a white-knuckled grip. If she or Gerhonda miscalculated, they could slam into the side of a mountain. Clouds obscured his vision, and he waited for death to come. Instead, they burst into an area almost completely surrounded by peaks. Misshapen spires surrounded a grove, and by their very shape, they directed the persistent wind into the hidden valley, creating a persistent updraft.
Gerhonda floated on the updraft, small movements of her wings allowing her to turn them in a slow circle. Moments later, Valterius burst from the mists, his roar echoing within the sheltered vale. No one spoke as they took in the beauty of the place. At the center stood a clearing of weathered stone with twenty-four towering green crystals on the perimeter. And in the surrounding valley walls were openings large enough to admit dragons. Each one was shaded by overhanging rock that made them difficult to see from above.
Valterius landed first and Gerhonda floated down beside him. The landing was remarkably soft. This time no one hesitated in climbing down and exploring what they had found. It was impossible not to be drawn to the crystals. With flat, glossy faces, they formed geometric shapes with no names. White striations broke up the green. They were beautiful beyond description. Each stone was unique, and the deeper you stared into them, the more texture you found. Strom backed up when he realized all of them were staring directly into the crystals.
"Do not get lost," Strom said. His words echoed.
It took a moment before the others responded, as if they had to cover a great distance to return.
"Wow," was all Osbourne managed to say.
"Beautiful," Kendra said, running her hand along a sheer face.
Strom walked to the center of the vale, to the very heart of the bare stone. Never had he known power like Catrin's, save maybe when her dragon had spoken in his mind or when he was at the forge and swinging a hammer. The world shimmered around him, the updraft warm, almost gentle in its caress. Perhaps it was just his mind playing tricks, but Strom would swear he felt something. This place had such power even he could feel it. For once, he was glad Catrin was not by his side; what might happen if she tapped into this power? He tried not to think about it.
Sinjin stared into the crystals until Kendra went to pull him away. Osbourne joined them. "It's creepy," he said.
Strom knew exactly what he meant. This was so much like the event in the Grove of the Elders all those years ago, yet it was so very different. It smelled the same, as if the air were charged, like right before a storm.
Kendra led Sinjin away from the crystals, but rather than coming to where Strom and Osbourne stood, she took him toward a shaded entrance. Strom moved in that direction, and Osbourne followed, still in an apparent haze. The air was cooler there, and there was less of an updraft. The openings themselves, five of them, were large enough to admit regent dragons, which meant no problems admitting the smaller regal dragons--except all of the orifices were blocked.
Strom whistled when he saw the stones used to block the entryways. The blocks were well cut and would weigh as much as a warship. "They really didn't want anyone getting in there," he said.
Kendra had her arms crossed over her chest, her thoughts clearly intense.
"What would it take to move these stone blocks?" Sinjin asked.
"Dragons--" Osbourne said.
"And Martik," Strom finished for him.
* * *
Martik had never been more frustrated. Trinda had forbidden him to work any more on the great wheel, which continued to turn a little faster every day. He suspected there was a limit to how fast such a colossal stone could turn and not have disastrous consequences. Yet he was denied access to the vast new stores of ancient knowledge found within the hold. Surely there had to be clues if not the answers themselves, and they were just out of reach.
The only thing he was allowed to concentrate on now was the viewing chamber. He knew what had happened to Catrin and Prios when they had used the chamber without the metal-streaked stone throne, like the one present within Ohmahold's viewing chamber.
A stack of books with descriptions of the stone chairs and their composition were brought to him, but he was no miner or prospector. He was trained to build things made of stone, not figure out where to dig for rare and specific types of stone. He didn't know how much metal there had to be within the rock for the chairs to serve their purpose, or even exactly what types of metal were needed. All he had were dimensions and a vague idea of the required material.
He could deduce from what he knew of Catrin's work that she had commissioned stone thrones from the Greatland. This led him to believe the required stone was not known to exist here on the Godfist and that it was known to exist somewhere in the Greatland. It occurred to him that the thrones Catrin commissioned were probably still resting within Catrin's Vale upon the Firstland. That thought stuck and Martik struggled to find words capable of convincing Trinda to allow Sinjin to bring the throne.
There was nothing else for him to do regarding the viewing chamber. It was fully functional, had no moving parts, and essentially consisted of two holes cut in a stone wall. It was exasperating.
He could no longer avoid the inevitable. He needed to face Trinda. They had not spoken in person since his "betrayal," as she referred to it in her missives. She was clearly still not pleased with him, but he could stand his current assignment no longer. Perhaps if he was able to negotiate a trade with Sinjin, he would be allowed to go back to work on the wheel until Sinjin arrived.
Walking into the hall, he found Bernerd, Trinda's trusted guard.
"I need to speak with the queen," he said.
"Why?" Bernerd asked, disinterested.
"Because I need to speak with her about the viewing chamber."
"What, exactly, about the viewing chamber do you need to speak with the lady about? You see, the thing you must understand is that anything you wish to say to the queen must be said to me first."
"The thrones we need are on the Firstland."
"See now? That wasn't so difficult. And how do you propose to retrieve them? Do you require a boat?" Bernerd asked with a smile.
"I suggest we trade with Sinjin Volker for it."
It took a moment for Bernerd to stop laughing, but he finally wiped a tear and drew a deep breath. "This should be fun to watch. I'm going to allow it just to see her react when you say the name Sinjin Volker. Trade, he says . . ." Bernerd continued to laugh as he led Martik to Trinda's day apartments. It was rare for him to be allowed into her personal space. Bernerd wanted it as uncomfortable for him as possible.
"And why is he here?" she said by way of greeting.
Bernerd smiled. "He insisted on seeing you." Trinda turned to Martik with a raised eyebrow. Insisted wasn't the word Martik would have used. "He has a question he simply must ask you. Go ahead, traitor, ask her."
Could there be a worse setup for a question? Martik wondered. He thought not.
"You have asked me to understand the viewing chamber and bring it to full utility, as you put it," Martik said, pausing to take a breath under Trinda's cold stare. "It is my opinion the correct composition of stone is not known on the Godfist, and commissioning new thrones will be expensive, laborious, and take a long time. This all seems avoidable since the very thrones Catrin commissioned are resting on the Firstland."
Trinda's soured.
"Surely if we offered them something, they would be willing to trade. I'm betting they would bring the thrones to us."
"Only if the thrones are delivered by Brother Vaughn," Trinda said, shocking both Martik and Bernerd.
He knew the man had been close to Trinda, but it was an odd thing for her to request, especially when he had expected a real fight. "What may I offer them in trade?" he asked, wondering if this was where it would begin.
Trinda tapped her chin for a moment then gave him a wicked smile. "Perhaps I should offe
r them you."
Martik didn't know what to say.
"Or perhaps I'll keep you just a little bit longer," she continued.
The girl did have a cruel streak.
"Offer them food and goods of equal weight. They may select what they wish from the market when they arrive. I believe they are aware of the quality of our produce, herbs, spices, and other goods. You have way to get word to the Volker boy?"
"Uh . . . yeah," he admitted.
"At least you were honest about that bit," she said. "Go. Send your missive."
* * *
Sinjin sat across the table from Strom, Osbourne, and Durin and had Kendra by his side, along with Arakhan and Mikala. Surely they would find some solution to their problems, he thought, yet they mostly came up with more questions. What was in the head of Trinda Hollis was a subject of much discussion, but no one could say for certain what the girl was up to. She was as easy to understand as dragons, Kendra had come to say.
Sinjin thought the same could be said for women in general.
Durin sighed. "I'm worried we might end up spending a lot of resources and energy with the very real chance there's nothing in those holes worth having," he said. And Sinjin recalled Durin had just been saying how nice it was to have finally settled in to his new home.
Sinjin could see his point, but he also saw what Strom and Osbourne meant about the sheer lack of physical security. If the ferals wanted to attack, they could fly right in, just as they had when the regent queen had been here, and knowing where her skull rested made clear the outcome.
"It's worth at least investigating," Kendra said. "If you don't believe me, then I'll take you up there and show you. No one who has been there would feel as you do."
Durin waved his hands in front of him, "No need. I just wanted to make my point. Do what you need to do, just try not to use all of our precious resources in the process, and try not to get anyone killed. You all aren't the folks I'd call if I needed help moving dragon-sized rocks, except maybe because you actually have dragons. But seriously, don't kill yourselves."
Sinjin turned to Arakhan. "Who among you are the builders?"
Arakhan shrugged. "No builders, only shaman. There are Drakon shamans. I am one."
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