by Josie Walker
“I’m going through the cavern to wake the Dar-fnar. Sa-br’wren is out front directing the search. Tell him what has happened and get Kay. He is to assemble all of the men in the clearing with weapons and in battle form. I will come there with the dragons so that we can prepare our war-craft. I want to be ready to mount the attack within the hour.”
My worst enemy has taken my mate, and he has had hours for a head start. We have already lost so much time! I will do whatever must be done, but inside I’m panicking. She is my everything, and I have lost her again.
We split up at the bottom of the tower, and I shift into battle form as I descend the stone stairs to the dungeon. I reach out with my mind to alert the Dar-fnar that I am coming, and tell them what has happened. Their leader and my friend, the huge red dragon called Sca ’hlet, meets me before I even reach their lair.
The tendrils of smoke wafting from her nostrils show that she is every bit as ready for battle as I am. The Hock-Ver are sworn enemies of both the Dar-fnar, and the Ro-heem. The Hock-Ver have hunted and stolen the eggs of the Dar-fnar young. None of us know for sure their purpose, but we speculate they are trying to hatch dragons of their own to use in battle. But what they don’t know is that the eggs will not hatch without the blazing heat of their parent’s fire during the incubation period.
The numbers of the Dar-fnar have been drastically reduced because of this crime, though not as badly as that of us Ro-heem. The fate of the young that have been stolen from them is unknown. If Endingo’s people have kept them in their fortress, they might still be able to be hatched in the future if they are retrieved, but we fear they’ve destroyed the eggs.
The reason Endingo was imprisoned in my dungeon was that he was caught trying to steal yet another Dar-fnar egg. He almost succeeded, but was discovered by the night watch before he could get away. We considered executing him, but decided to keep him alive in hopes of learning more about the fate of the stolen dragon eggs. If any remain, we assume they are being kept inside the Hock-Ver fortress.
The Dar-fnar and I travel quickly through the caverns to the exit nearest the clearing. Most of the adults are coming with me to battle, but Sca ’hlet is leaving a few Dar-fnar here to protect their young. I agree with this strategy, and I will also leave some men on the wall to guard the castle.
I try to remain focused, but my mind drifts to TSSS. If my enemy has harmed so much as a hair on her head, not one of his people will be left breathing. There will be no mercy. I know Sca ’hlet feels the same way. She has an old score to settle with the Hock-Ver. We communicate telepathically as we hurry to the clearing.
“My mate,” I say, seething with barely restrained rage.
“My children,” she howls with murderous intent in her mind.
Sca ’hlet communicates wordlessly that she will help me rescue my mate, but she also intends to use her senses to search for any of the missing eggs while we are at the enemy camp. If there are live eggs still there, she will find them.
“Together, we will prevail,” I promise my friend.
We enter the clearing, and I am relieved that Sa-br’wren has assembled everyone. Kay, my war chief, has all of the men ready, in battle form. They are armed to the teeth. I see many new and creative weapons melded to their bodies.
De-Var has used the time to draw creation symbols with the Roktar Ore paint that can only be made using the instructions in the hidden manuscripts. He has drawn one large circle, and multiple X-shaped markings on the ground. Each of these drawings will become an air-ship.
“Which one first?” I ask De-Var.
“We will do a transport ship first, large enough to hold all our men,” he says. “Then we will make the small fighter ships.
We step around the circle, each taking our designated place according to the diagram that De-Var has drawn. Sca ’hlet and I stand exactly opposite of each other across the circle. The sun reflects off the ruby scales of her armor, causing prisms of light to flicker. The Dar-fnar and Ro-heem have been connected in this way for millennia.
We share a power that can not be wielded without the help of the other. The ruby, emerald, amber, and sapphire Dar-fnar are alternated with the designated Ro-heem: myself, Kay, De-Var and Sa-br’wren.
I lift my arms and point them toward the center of the circle. I connect with that other part of myself and summon the Roktar Ore. I feel the enormous mass of metal deep in the earth, thousands of feet under me. This mountain is full of Roktar Ore. At first it feels stuck, but with a visceral tug I pull harder, setting it free from the rock, hidden deep below the surface.
Like a geyser it pours through my fingers. Right on my heels it erupts from Kay, De-Var, and Sa-br’wren’s hands as well. With a roar, Sca ’hlet opens her mouth. A stream of fire blasts toward the center of the circle, quickly followed by fire from the other three Dar-fnar. The large transport ship quickly begins to take form. I visualize the shape and details of it, for I am the one leading the circle.
As heir to this kingdom I was born to do this. I have been tutored in our secret metallurgical arts since infancy. Minutes later the ship is complete, and we move on to form the X-shaped fighter ships. They have unbelievable maneuverability and each is mounted with fire weapons. But I will ride Sca ’hlet. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish with our minds melded as one.
After we finish, the dragons lumber over to the large pile of obsidian which is purposely kept here in the field. They eat obsidian in order to replenish their ability to make fire, since their internal stores were depleted while forging the ships. Kay, De-Var, Sa-br’wren and I drink deeply from the water flasks handed to us.
This liquid is drawn from our wells deep beneath the mountain, and is saturated with Roktar. With our ships completed and our metal stores replenished, we are ready for battle. Endingo’s trail may have grown cold, but it matters not. Where else would he go but home? His land borders my own, and unlike him we won’t be on foot.
I know backup is on the way because I have communicated with the other rulers. This will be a united battle of the five kingdoms, but I dare not wait for them to arrive. The Ro-heem and Dar-fnar from each kingdom will meet on the battlefield to annihilate our common enemy. The superior technology of the Hock-ver will not best us again. Today the slayers of our women die. Vengeance will be ours, and I will hold my TSSS in my arms again.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tessa
The caverns are cold and damp. I would be hopelessly lost if it were not for Endingo. I am relieved that he seems to know exactly where he is going. I follow closely on his heels, terrified of being left behind, alone in the dark.
We each have torches but they only illuminate a small distance around us. After what seems like forever, I see sunlight from an opening above us. I’m thrilled about getting out of the scary dark cavern, but it’s not like Disneyland is waiting for me on the other end.
I don’t want to get eaten by some awful monster. But I’ve come this far and, unless I want to die a gruesome death, Endingo is my only hope. He sets his torch down and begins to climb the large rocks to the surface.
“COME,” he says, turning back to wave anxiously at me.
I place my feet in the same footholds that he has used. It is an arduous ascent, and once again I’m grateful about all the effort I’ve put into getting in shape since leaving Earth. Once Endingo has climbed out of the cave he reaches back inside to help pull me the rest of the way out. I recognize immediately that we are in the scary forest where I almost died the last time.
“That thing is deadly,” I say, spotting one of the carnivorous plants close to me. “I found out the hard way that some of the plants will try to eat you.”
“FOLLOW ME. KNOW I WHAT ISSS SSSAFE AND WHAT ISSS NOT.”
“Thank goodness,” I mutter, as I follow him.
I’m exhausted, and my nerves are frayed from being careful not to brush up
against all of the dangerous plants he points out. There are so many of them, I can’t possibly remember what’s what. The route he’s taking is on a high ridge that runs parallel with the river. I watch my step so that I do not get too close to the edge.
The last thing I want to do is slip and fall off the side. Part of me wonders if my recent ally would go to great lengths to rescue me were something bad to happen. I decide that it’s better if I don’t test him. I’m deep in thought when his voice interrupts me.
“DOWN HERE.”
When he starts descending the steep embankment I have no choice but to follow him. It’s scary, but there are rocks to use as footholds. He holds onto vines and small trees as he makes his way down. I do the same, just hoping that they are not only strong enough to support our weight, but that they aren’t the kind of plants that bite back.
When we reach the bottom he makes his way over to a huge, flat-topped boulder that juts out over the river and sits down. I plop down beside him with a weary sigh. I could so take a nap right now. I’m worried because I heard somewhere that fatigue is a sign of early pregnancy.
“WAIT NOW,” he says.
“Oh, are we resting?”
“YESSS. RESSST HERE.”
“Do you have a canoe or something?” I ask hopefully.
“NO. RESSST, ” he repeats a bit impatiently, then turns his back to me. He seems to be in a mood about something, not nearly as friendly as he usually is. I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to talk. Maybe he’s having second thoughts about bringing me along. Or maybe I’m overthinking things, and he’s merely tired like me.
“I was wondering what the plan is,” I try again.
“SSSOOON GO. SSSTOP TALKING,” he says placing a hand to the side of his head as if he’s concentrating on something.
I try not to be offended, but I’m starting to have doubts about my impulsive decision. He’s not providing a lot of information. I imagine my absence has been noticed by now and I have a pang of guilt over how Bocc-d’ar will take the news. Stop it, I tell myself. He’s the one who got you into this mess. And Endingo is going to get you out of it, not Mr. Trident Man.
We sit there a few minutes and my stomach growls. I know we have no food, so I say nothing. I hear something off to the right and Endingo gets to his feet and looks in that direction. He must have heard it too. I stand, following his lead.
“What is it?” I ask, fearful that it may be the Sprek beasts. Just then a group of about a dozen aliens round the bend and come into clear view. They are his people I realize instantly because they look exactly alike, from the tarry skin and the bug eyes down to the futuristic gray uniforms. He must have communicated with them somehow to meet us here. But why wouldn’t he just tell me that?
They begin talking to him rapidly in their alien language. They point and gesture toward me as they do so. Then they all rush toward me, and their demeanor seems menacing. I wish Endingo would talk to me.
“What’s going on?” I ask as I back away from them, nervously. They form a half circle around me with the river to my back. I glance over my shoulder at the raging river below as they quickly close the distance. A feeling of déjà vu settles over me. Before I even have time to process what is happening, two of them grab my arms and pull me away from the bank.
“Let me go!” I scream, struggling and jerking against them. One of them holds my hands out in front of me and another takes a small device off his belt.
“HOLD SSSTIL. OR WE FREEZE MORE OF YOOO . . . LIKE YOUR MOUTH,” he threatens, pointing his alien weapon at my hands.
This is my first clue that they also speak English. I want to keep struggling but his words scare me, so I remain still as he aims the thing at my hands. I scream, thinking he’s going to shoot me, but instead of a bullet, a tendril of blue electricity bursts from the gun and hits my wrists.
When I try to pull them apart, I find that they are stuck together as if I have on hand cuffs. Snakey blue threads hold my arms together. It doesn’t really hurt, although it’s cool to the touch. I try to force my wrists apart, but this gives me a shock, which stings, reminding me of an electric dog fence.
“DOWN YOOO,” he orders.
I am pushed to the ground and held flat on my belly by a boot pressed into my back. I scream and kick until the gun traps my ankles. My captors roughly jerk me back up to my feet, and my legs are now hobbled together with strings of electricity. I can’t possibly run away now.
“Endingo!” Help!” I call out desperately. I take a small step toward him and it doesn’t hurt. I try a larger step, only to get zapped like a dog who’s trying to leave his yard.
Endingo looks down at me with a contemptuous look. “GAG HER. SSSICK TO DEATH I AM OF HER INCESSSANT WHINING,” he hisses, looking directly into my eyes.
I scream and then choke as a tendril of the blue electricity is shot directly into my wide open mouth. I feel choked as its force pushes my tongue back in my mouth, triggering my gag reflex. One of them grabs my arm and starts walking with long fast strides. I’m jerked forward and almost lose my balance.
I struggle to keep up with the pace they’ve set. I can barely stay on my feet with them hobbled together as they are, and when I try to lengthen my strides to keep up I get zapped. Fortunately, I don’t end up having to walk far. Just around the corner I see the vehicle they used to get here. I try to double my speed with tiny mincing steps in order to keep up.
If I could I would scream for Bocc-d’ar, but they’ve made that impossible. He’d never hear me all the way out here anyway. I wonder if he’s even noticed I’m gone yet? Despair chokes me even more effectively than the gag.
The alien vehicle kind of looks like a helicopter. I am tossed inside carelessly. I land hard on my side, my head hitting the floor with a violent thud. They climb in around me and take their seats. I hear the soft purr of the engine come to life and then the alien helicopter lifts into the air.
It is flying low, just above the trees. This is likely to keep from being spotted by Bocc-d’ar and his men. It is very quiet, which I guess is why I didn’t notice it when they arrived. They ignore me as they converse in their alien language.
My mind tries to process what has happened. My world comes crashing in as I realize what an enormous mistake I have made. My ally is in fact nothing more than a smooth tongued devil. Why, oh why did I not trust Bocc-d’ar? Language barrier be damned. He always treated me well. I should have known he wasn’t a bad guy.
I am such a moron to not have realized how good I had it with my sexy alien. My heart lurches in my chest when I realize how my betrayal will hurt him. I start crying when it dawns on me that I will probably never see his beautiful face again. I can’t believe how easily I was duped.
Why do I always screw everything up? I can’t accept it when something good actually comes my way. It’s like when I was a child and I got placed in a decent foster home. I’d always do something to sabotage it because I could never trust that it wouldn’t end anyway. It was how I stayed in control, but I’m certainly not in control of anything now.
I am filled with self-pity and remorse, and soon my tears are running down my cheeks. I try to get myself under control because if I start sobbing I could very well choke with my mouth gagged. Unbidden, Bocc-d’ar’s face comes to my mind. I wish I could tell him how sorry I am that I didn’t trust him. It hurts me to realize that I’ll never see him again.
“WHAT’SSS WRONG TESSSA?” Endingo taunts. “TAKE YOU NOT PLEASSSURE IN YOUR FREEDOM?”
I am lying at Endingo’s feet while he sits in the chair above me. My face is wet with tears, but of course I cannot say anything because of their strange technology that has gagged my tongue. I bet the bastard likes it that way, since he likened my talking to incessant whining.
“FREED YOU FROM YOUR BARBARIC CAPTOR HAVE I. ARE YOU NOT GRATEFUL?” He pauses, the
n continues. “SSSUCH A SSSTUPID CHILD. SSSO EASSSY TO MANIPULATE. A WORTHY OPPONENT YOOO ARE NOT. YET COMFORT I HAVE IN TAKING YOOO. SSSUBSSSTANTIAL BLOW HAVE I DEALT TO MY ENEMY. EXCITED WERE THEY ABOUT YOOO GIVING NEW HEIR. PATHETIC. ANYTHING COMING OUT OF YOOO MUSSST BE TRASSSH.”
I try unsuccessfully to block out his hateful words.
“LIE TO YOOO I DID. BOCC-D’ARSSS BABY NOT HURT YOOO . . . I HURT YOOO.”
Endingo’s says something in his own tongue to his comrades. Their vicious laughter fills the air. Then he switches back to English to continue tormenting me.
“PREGNANCY DID NOT KILL THEIR WOMEN. WE DID. SSSTOPPED THEM FROM BREEDING LIKE PIGSSS WE DID. WITHOUT WOMEN THEIR KIND DIE. BUT THEY ARE TAKING FOREVER. I WOULD BLASSST THEM OFF FACE OF PLANET, BUT ORDERED NOT TO. MUST FIRSSST DISSSCOVER HOW THEY MELD METAL TO THEIR BODIESSS.”
If I could speak I would scream at him to shut up. Every word he says is like a dagger plunged into my chest. He’s pure evil, and I let him go without question.
“THINK WE DO HASSS SSSOMETHING TO DO WITH DRAGONSSS, BUT UNABLE TO HATCH TO TESSST. SSSICK TO DEATH AM I OF THISSS PLANET. BUT ORDERSSS ARE ORDERSSS. DID NOT PLAN ON GETTING CAPTURED WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE YOOO. BUT ALL WORKED OUT IN THE END. CAN’T ALLOW YOOO TO GIVE THEM HEIRSSS.”
I am so stunned by his revelation that I can barely breathe. I released the very enemy that Bocc-d’ar locked away to protect me. Is there no end to my stupidity?
“WORRY NOT TESSSA. YOOO DIE NOT YET. PLANSSS FOR YOU I HAVE. AFTER WE CONQUER THISSS PLANET WE GO TO OTHER THREE PLANETSSS YOU TELL ME OF. TAKE THEM ALL WE WILL. SSSAGREN, KRINA, AND EARTH WILL BE OURSSS.”
I feel ill. What have I done? I’ve doomed three species and four planets! Endingo would not know of the other planets if I had not blabbed my big mouth to him. And now he will reveal all of this to the authorities on his home planet. I’m not a hero. I’m a monster, and a fool. Earth and Krina won’t know what hit them . . . and it’s all my fault.
