Dragon School_Dark Night

by Sarah K. L. Wilson

  We should have gone back for them and loaded them on our dragons.

  Then we would all be dead.

  It felt too cold to think that way.

  We saved as many as we could at the first gateway. What were the chances that all the refugees would fit within the glyph? I would have liked to send the Dominar and Savette with them, but we had no time. Even so, the light shone on us when we were able to get them safely away. I mourn the deaths of my brothers, but we are close to our own end, Amel. We can not spare energy second-guessing, we can only make the best choices we can in each moment, remembering that one false dive could be our last.

  I shivered and placed my palms flat against his back to feel his warmth and remember we were still alive.

  Savette is recovering from our last battle. Perhaps she will find the energy to use one of these fading gateways.

  Now that was an idea with some weight to it!

  Hubric’s idea. He is five steps ahead of the rest of us – it helps that he truly believes in her and the Ibrenicus prophecies. Rasipaer continues to explain our situation to the Dominar. He is taking it well, considering what is happening.

  Maybe Savette could use the dead gateway at the center of this hub. We were almost there - the black statue outlined by Savette’s gaze.

  No, not this one. She needs one that has a little energy of its own, so she can see how it works. She’s never done this before.

  Would she be able to do it now? She wasn’t a Magika. Her power worked differently.

  She also isn’t a dragon and this is dragon magic, not Magika magic.

  What was the difference?

  Our magic is the magic of roots pulling water from the ground. We draw on life from within the earth. The magikas do this also, but more like finding wells here and there, where we siphon it out. Savette does none of those things. She reminds things of the truth of what they are.

  Details aside, we’d need to find a lit gateway to do that. Raolcan dove suddenly, and my arms wrapped around the Dominar without thinking as we corkscrewed through the air in a downward barrel roll and then shot out of it like an arrow, zipping in an unpredictable pattern. My eyes shut of their own accord and all I could do was hold on and fight down the nausea and spinning headache that accompanied this insanity. It felt like a full minute before we climbed again, leveling off and slowing down. I opened my eyes, taking great, heaving breaths and screamed as a hand made of wind and dust snatched toward me. Raolcan spun away, seconds before it plucked me from his back.

  They’re too fast. They’re everywhere. They led us into a trap.

  Chapter Seventeen

  How had they arrived here before us?

  There are many ways in!

  I scanned the area looking through the darkness for everyone else. Gouts of flame were all I could see of the dragons. Perhaps I could have seen them in the light of the flames, but Raolcan was maneuvering too erratically for me to keep my eyes fixed on any one point.

  They’re faster than me.

  Things must be bad if he was admitting weakness. The Dominar slumped against my chest. The erratic ride must have been too much for his weak body. I wrapped both arms around him, keeping him from injury as best as I could. Raolcan spat flames and then spun himself to the side. Why did he bother?

  It hurts them. Just not enough. There need to be more of us – at least four or five for each Ifrit.

  Then why do it at all?

  It slows them. Distracts them while Savette works.

  If she spent all her energy fighting Ifrits, she’d burn it all away and we would never be able to use a gateway to get out of here.

  If she doesn’t, then we have no offensive weapon.

  And then we die, one by one in the velvet dark of the warrens. I swallowed down bile, clutched the Dominar close and bit my lip. There was nothing I could add right now except hope and faith in Raolcan. He had to know that I trusted him and believed he could get us out of this alive. I fed my confidence and faith into him through our mental bond, thinking hard about how much I loved him, about how amazing his strength and faithfulness were. It was all I had to give him.

  The dank smell of moisture in a closed space filled my nose and I shut my eyes against the nausea-inducing sight of flames and light flashing at sudden unexpected moments while we rolled and wove around enemies I couldn’t make out in the dark. Something hit me – not hard enough to injure me badly, but enough that I was knocked mostly off of Raolcan’s back and had to scramble to straighten myself. The Dominar hung from his safety straps.

  If only I knew his name so that I could call to him and tell him I was helping. Instead, I worked silently, hauling him back up, inch by inch, sweat forming across my brow and my mouth dry from effort and fear.

  Work faster. We are going to be in a tight place again in a moment.

  I’d need to tighten the play on those safety straps so he didn’t jar loose the next time we were attacked.

  That wasn’t an attack. Kyrowat flew too close avoiding an Ifrit.

  I finally had the Dominar in place, his safety straps tightened so he wouldn’t be able to move more than an inch in any direction.

  We missed our chance at the warren. It’s blocked. We’re trying a different arm.

  How would we know which one to take? No one had been able to read the center hub this time.

  It won’t make a difference. We aren’t heading anywhere in particular except for away from these Ifrits – if we can get away. They might be at the next hub, too.

  I heard a cry from behind us and Raolcan made a nasty noise like a cross between a hiss and a bark. Savette lit up like a torch ahead of us, Eeamdor somersaulting upward in a loop, and then she was facing the space behind us. I closed my eyes tight, but the flare of her light still left purple after-images across my vision.

  Lean down over the Dominar and get as flat as you can. She’s bought us enough time to make it into these tunnels.

  I obeyed, pushing the Dominar flat and lying over top of him, arms spread out around us and clinging to the saddle, my teeth gritted, breathing fast, and nerves tingling. Something scraped across my back and I clenched my jaw hard to keep from screaming. I was bumped and jarred from every direction, like a rock tumbling down a hill, but I had the impression that I – we – were being squeezed.

  It’s very tight. We are going in first. Skies and stars, if I never see you again, at least let me not get stuck!

  The rock scraped across my cheek and I squeezed my eyes tight. Nothing else could move. The breath seemed to press out of my lungs, each breath more shallow than the last. I half-sobbed – more in panic than in pain. Beneath me, I heard the Dominar moan.

  Just as I was beginning to fear we were going to die like that, there was a sudden thrashing push and we were free. I eased my weight off the Dominar, pushing my hair out of my face. My hands came away wet and sticky, but Raolcan wasn’t stopping. He corkscrewed through the warren like a dragon with his tail on fire, though I felt exhaustion in his movements. They were clumsier than usual, lacking his usual effortless grace.

  I’m afraid I used up a lot of energy kicking through that tight space.

  How would Rasipaer do with three men on his back?

  Two men. One died at the last hub. Maybe more. They would have had to wait for us to push through that tight space.

  I wrapped my arms around the Dominar again. Judging by the way his body slumped and rolled with every one of Raolcan’s movements, he was out cold. The minutes drew out long, leaving a taste of acid and iron in my mouth. The taste of fear turned my stomach and made each second ring with importance.

  I choked back a sob of relief when fresh air hit my face and Raolcan burst from the tight warren into a wide hub in a gentle soar. This time, there was a faint flicker of light at the hub. As we sped towards it, I risked a look behind my back, relieved to see Kyrowat pushing through the warren behind us. We hadn’t lost my mentor yet. I fixed my eyes on the hub, anticipation building. Maybe this t
ime there would be a way out.

  It grew closer and closer and then suddenly, Raolcan spun back towards the warren. What happened? Was there an Ifrit I hadn’t seen?

  Savette and Eeamdor need help.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Eeamdor crawled out of the warren to the wide bridge on the other side – were these bridges wider? – lit in the other-worldly blue light of the central hub. One of his wings was crumpled at his side and the other was completely gone. Savette was nowhere to be seen. I looked at his back a second time, certain I must be wrong, my breath speeding in panic.

  Calm. Look beside Eeamdor.

  She was walking beside her dragon on the wider bridge and for the first time since the healing arches, her eyes were dark. No, no, no! She turned her face toward me as if she could still see me, but there was not a flicker of light behind her blindfold. I had thought it was hard to hope before. Now, I felt only ice where hope had been. I’d counted on her magic to get us out of this hole in the ground. I’d been counting on a miracle. And what about Eeamdor? What did a dragon do if he lost a wing?

  Underneath me, Raolan shuddered, giving me my answer. There was no coming back from losing a wing when you were a dragon. It was as bad – maybe worse than my leg and the Dominar’s arm.

  I swallowed hard, trying to think of what to say or do. Raolcan was circling as if he was watching Savette’s back for trouble, and Kyrowat swooped in and landed beside them, quickly loading Savette up with Hubric on his own back. That made sense. Eeamdor could not carry her now, and now – more than ever – we had to hurry. Where was Rasipaer?

  Stuck. Fortunately, the Ifrits are also stuck. They can squeeze more than we can – shape their body to fit the tunnel – but it takes time to adjust their corporeal forms.

  Good. We needed time. Eeamdor limped toward the hub with Kyrowat flying beside him. Hubric signed encouragement to me – an ‘all’s well’ sign and a ‘keep it up’ sign. He didn’t bother to sign instructions. At this point, our dragons were the ones making the strategy decisions and I knew that while Hubric might have something to offer to them, there was no way I could help.

  Raolcan circled near the entrance and I could tell from the way his body moved that he was tense.

  I don’t want to get too close. If an Ifrit comes out next ... I have you and the Dominar to worry about. But I don’t want to leave yet, either. Rasipaer and his riders have yet to emerge. They might need help – like Savette did.

  Wise. Raolcan was surprisingly wise about everything. Eeamdor and Kyrowat had just reached the hub when Rasipaer’s gnarled snout shoved through the warren and out into the light beyond. He flamed irritably and shoved off from the ground in a weary soar. On his back sat a single figure – Iskaris. This journey had not been easy on the Dominar’s guardians. We took up a spot on his flank, winging our way to the center hub. Iskaris drooped in the saddle, shaking his head occasionally like he was having trouble staying awake. He favored his right side and clutched the saddle desperately, like he might fall off at any time. Maybe he might. I didn’t know how he’d lost his companions and just thinking of it made me shudder.

  One was killed by an Ifrit. The other didn’t survive the squeeze through the narrow part of the tunnel.

  Unbidden, a memory of that journey rose to my mind, only this time I envisioned what it would have felt like to be smashed against the rock instead of merely battered by it. My own face and shoulder throbbed painfully at the memory, but I couldn’t dwell on that now. If we survived this we could take a count of our injuries. Until then, we had to press on.

  Raolcan was the last to land beside the pillar. He set down wearily next to Kyrowat, their massive chests heaving in synchronized deep breathing as they caught their breath from the long retreat.

  Hubric had his hands on the central pillar, studying it with Savette as Iskaris slid off Rasipaer and joined them.

  “Get us out of here,” Iskaris said. “As quickly as you can.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  If I dismounted, I would have to leave the Dominar slumped over Raolcan, whereas this way I could hold him up, his head leaning against me. That had to be better for an injured man, right? They should have taught me this better in Dragon School. If Ashana was here she would have had a few sharp words about that.

  She’s probably got all the refugees to safety and is fretting for Rasipaer now.

  I liked that thought. Could Rasipaer feel her so far away?

  No. Our range is incredible, Amel. Few riders can feel their dragons from so far as you can feel me.

  I felt a warmth at that despite the cold darkness around us, but there was a crackling feeling when I tried to smile. Blood must have dried across my cheek. At least we’d made it through that rock wringer alive.

  “We’re trying to see if we can get it to work on its own,” Hubric said from the pillar. “The last time it had plenty of energy and Ashana knew what she was doing. This time, I’m not sure it has enough.”

  “It doesn’t,” Savette said, wearily, placing her head in her hands. “And neither do I.”

  “You can’t give up now, girl.” Hubric’s words were gentle, but his steel core was closer to the surface than usual. We were all worn down.

  “Well, don’t just sit there! Do something!” Iskaris barked. “We have the Dominar to protect! Let’s get that girl down to help you.”

  I had misjudged him. He must not be Dusk Covenant or why would he care so much about the Dominar? Why would the Ifrits be attacking him?

  The Dominar is more important to the Dusk Covenant alive than dead. Don’t mistake a desire to keep him alive for loyalty to the Dominion. The Dusk Covenant wants the Dominion for themselves. They will use any tool necessary – including the Dominar.

  But then he could just leave with the Dominar and the Ifrits, couldn’t he?

  It’s possible that they have turned on him. I doubt the Dusk Covenant can control them like they think they can. Ifrits have their own goals and desires that no mere humans can dictate. Iskaris has his own goals, too, though they are murky to me.

  It made a lot of logical sense.

  Just don’t trust him. We don’t know for sure who he is.

  “Calm yourself,” Hubric said. He didn’t even bother to look up at Iskaris. He was conserving his energy. “Savette, do you know why the power is so dim?”

  “I’ve used up too much.” Her voice was small.

  “It’s the power of truth, isn’t it? The power to make things true again?”

  She nodded her head.

  “So, you need help thinking of the truth and bringing it back.”

  “This isn’t helping,” Iskaris fumed. “We need to set up a defense.”

  “Shut up. I’m working.” I’d never heard Hubric so terse. “Amel, come here, please.”

  Gently, I leaned the Dominar over onto Raolcan’s back, grabbed my crutch from its spot and slid down to the ground, hurrying to his side. Hubric must have a plan.

  “Savette needs help. Come here. Sit beside her and take her hand, and I’ll take the other.”

  “What are we going to do?” I hurried to obey, but I couldn’t see what he had in mind yet.

  “We’re going to give her our minds.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “I don’t understand,” Savette said.

  “You’re out of truth and the healing that comes from it,” Hubric said. “Or rather, you’re out of hope so you can’t hold the truth of it in your mind anymore. Amel and I are Purples. We are dedicated to truth. Our dragons are Purples. They love the truth and guard it carefully, too. Kyrowat and Raolcan are going to channel our minds to you and you’re going to take all the truth, and hope, and power that you need to fire up this gateway and get us all somewhere else. Rasipaer will tune it as best as he can, but honestly, anywhere is better than here right now. Remember the words of the prophecy: ‘For in the day of darkness the Chosen One will find hope in our hearts, and from hope truth, and from truth, light that opens doors
.’”

  I licked my lips. Did I trust Savette enough to let her in my head like that? To offer up hope and truth? What if she took all of it and I had nothing left. I’d never heard of anything like this, but I’d seen what she did to the Ifrits. What if she couldn’t help doing that to me, too?

  I’m not big on trust, either, but don’t worry, she has to go through me to get to you. I’ll stop the access if it starts to harm you.

  That’s all I could ask for. I pushed an encouraging smile onto my face and gripped Savette and Hubric’s hands in mine.

  “Begin when you’re ready,” Hubric said.

  “This is nonsense,” Iskaris said, leaping off of Rasipaer to the ground beside us. “The Ifrits will be here at any moment. If you can’t make this gateway thing work, then we need to flee.”

  His fears only reinforced my own. I tried to think about something other than Iskaris. Somewhere out there, Leng was either in hiding or fleeing for his life. Somewhere, Rakturan sailed across the Eastern Sea to his homeland to convince them war was not the answer. Somewhere Ashana was worrying about Rasipaer. Somewhere Lenora and Ephretti fought the Dusk Covenant. All those things made me more nervous than hopeful. I felt Raolcan reach out to me and I leaned into the comfort of his vast mind. That was hope. In the middle of terror and desperation, there was one person who was always there for me, who put me ahead of himself, who wanted nothing but good for me, who had risked himself and his own honor to choose me in the first place.

  I leaned into that sense of Raolcan and that gratitude for his friendship, treasuring the hope of it, remembering the truth of it. I didn’t know when Savette began to draw on that, but I felt a tug in me as if she were drawing on our hopes.

  In the background, I watched as Iskaris slid the Dominar off Raolcan, carrying him to the center of the sigil beside us. My mind grew thick, but I held onto that feeling of hope. It was a good thing that he was bringing the Dominar close. Maybe even Iskaris was not who I thought he was. Maybe he really did care only about the Dominar.