by Dreagen
“I can assure you that the name Rex is known throughout the Northern Continent. In fact, it is the reason we accepted Alpha VayRonx’s invitation to perform in KaNar during this year’s Harvest Festival.”
“And here we were thinking it was because of KaNar’s clean mountain air,” LyCora said sarcastically.
The Vanguard’s beautiful songstress just smiled. “I apologize. I did not mean to offend. Of course we were honored to receive an invitation from your tribe; it’s just that when we first heard that there was actually someone with a red flame, a SaVarian no less, we knew we could not pass up the opportunity to meet him.”
“What I want to know, though, is how exactly you came to know of me?” Rex pressed.
“Like I explained, word has spread of you all over this region of EeNara. Perhaps even beyond by now.”
“Yes, but how?” DiNiya asked.
“We heard it from a CyTorian messenger out east,” said the BorKovora, “who heard it from a High Wing.”
“So word of him has spread to Grand Heights, then,” DiNiya said. “But that’s far northwest of here.”
“And you said you heard all the way in the east?” EeNox asked.
“That we did,” the BorKovora said. “In truth, we were surprised we didn’t learn of him sooner, given how much we travel.”
“That’s both sides of the continent,” said ShinGaru. “Well, Rex, it seems you’re almost as famous as The Vanguard here.”
“Are you sure you don’t mean infamous?” Rex replied.
“We realize that you have probably come to expect all manner of negative connotation to the red flame,” the fair-haired woman said. “By the way, my name is FiNaya. This is DoroBak,” she added, pointing to the BorKovora. “And the rest of this little motley crew are KyoNar, BrinGard, KinTark, and SevoMar.” They all bowed in return, smiling proudly.
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” DiNiya said. “We thank you for giving KaNar some desperately needed fun.”
“Yes, we were sorry to hear of the attack on your people,” KyoNar said as he finished polishing the bowstring of his instrument. “I personally didn’t think there would be anyone in this day and age who would still try to engage in tribal warfare with the unified tribes.”
“He’s right,” agreed BrinGard. “Not even the wild tribes would be so bold.”
“Foolish is the word I would use,” said DoroBak. “Still, there have been rumors of something looming on the horizon.”
“Looming?” repeated EeNox. “What do you mean?”
“Just rumors, really, but there have been enough of them to get people talking.”
“I still don’t follow.”
“Certainly you must have heard,” he said, giving the young man a pressing look. “Tales of something at work far out west near the coast in the ruins of DaiGar.”
“I believe I know what it is you speak of,” offered up ShinGaru. “And yes, such talk has been spreading, but all attempts to seek out the truth to these rumors have resulted in nothing at all.”
“Time out,” Rex said, holding up a hand. “Someone care to explain what any of this means?”
“DaiGar is the largest ruin in the Northern Continent,” ShinGaru explained. “It was abandoned thousands of years ago and stands as a monument to the past. In truth, hardly anyone goes there anymore. Even archeologists like myself have learned all there is to about it and rarely travel there for anything other than personal curiosity.” He turned back to the six musicians. “And you say there have been rumors of activity there now?”
FiNaya nodded. “I wish we could tell you more, but I’m afraid that’s all we know.”
“What exactly does this have to do with what happened in KaNar?” LyCora asked.
The members of The Vanguard looked at one another before DoroBak finally answered. “We were performing in Bloodstone, which I’m sure you know is only fifty kilometers east of DaiGar, when there was a report of a deranged DyVorian wandering outside the gates.”
“Apparently he was suffering some sort of psychosis,” said KinTark. “Or at least that’s what we overheard members of the city guard saying one night at Bloodstone’s tavern. In any case, they said he was acting violent, as if almost possessed by something else.” Rex and the others immediately experienced the same cold chill run down their spines as they recalled the day in the forest when they were attacked by a CeraVora that was behaving much the same way. “Some time later we heard more stories of similar cases taking place at various points between there and here. We were very surprised and heartbroken to learn that an entire clan had been killed.”
Noticing their sudden silence, FiNaya said, “I am sorry if we have spoiled your mood. We should have thought better than to speak of such ill tidings.”
“No, it’s fine,” DiNiya said, quickly throwing back on a smile. “We really appreciate you telling us all of this. I think the more we know about what’s happening the better we can prepare for what may come.”
“I agree. Still, our sole purpose tonight is to bring joy to KaNar.”
“Oh, trust me, you did a fine job of doing that,” EeNox said happily. “In fact, I was hoping you could sign this for me.” He held up what at first looked to be a rolled-up scroll, but he opened it to reveal a poster with an artist’s representation of the band.
“Is that us?” asked DoroBak.
“Wow, this one actually looks like us,” mused BrinGard.
“They always make my neck too long,” DoroBak criticized, giving the poster a scrutinizing look.
“It would be a pleasure and an honor,” FiNaya said, taking the picture from EeNox and bringing it over to a table in the back where she took a quill, dipped it in ink, and signed her name just above her image. Then, passing it on to the other members, they all did the same before handing it back to EeNox, who beamed with delight.
The rest of the evening was spent at the tavern with The Vanguard, who were more than pleased to share stories from the road with the six eager listeners who asked them all manner of questions ranging from what was the most bizarre thing they experienced while touring the continent, to which region had the best food. The Vanguard did their best to answer all such questions while trying to keep pace with their curiosity. At one point, FiNaya noticed EeNox fawning over her from the corner of her eye, and turning in his direction, gave him a wink. EeNox was taken by such surprise that he fell backwards out of his seat, prompting her and the girls to laugh.
As the night stretched on, DiNiya found herself marveling at the tall, beautiful woman that sat across from her. In truth, FiNaya seemed to be everything she wished she could be. She, too, noticed how the boys could do nothing to keep their eyes off her. Not that she blamed them, of course. Still, she could not help but wonder what it would be like to have men and even women look at her the way they did the songstress. So deep was she in thought that she had not noticed FiNaya stand up and move around the table and stop behind her.
“DiNiya,” she said, taking her by surprise. “I was going to grab a bit of air upstairs on one of the balconies. Care to give me some company?” DiNiya stared at her for a moment, as if unsure if she was indeed referring to her. “I would take it as a personal kindness,” she added with a smile.
“Yes, of course,” DiNiya said, standing up.
“We’ll be back,” FiNaya said to the others, who nodded briefly before returning to regaling each other with stories. All except LyCora, who watched the two disappear into the crowd.
After taking longer to get upstairs due to the unusual amount of people lingering both near and on the stairs, they finally reached the tavern’s uppermost balcony, which to their delight was abandoned. FiNaya immediately leaned forward against the edge and allowed the autumn wind to blow through her long fur. “I love that feeling,” she said, closing her eyes. “It reminds me so much of home.”
“You grew up in the north?” DiNiya asked.
The older woman nodded. “A small village called DiaTar, at the base of the
ClyVen. DoroBak is from there as well. We have been best friends ever since we were old enough to talk.”
“I see,” said DiNiya, stepping up to the balcony and looking out at all the people in the streets below. “So you two started The Vanguard together?”
“Yes,” FiNaya said with a broad smile. “We were younger than you when we started playing music together. Eleven years old, or around there anyway. He was always fiddling with his father’s RowVow, and I was always being forced by my mother to take singing lessons.”
“Wow, so you were destined to live a life of music.”
“I suppose so, but we would have never guessed back then because he couldn’t play anything that could pass as music, and I hated my lessons,” FiNaya laughed.
DiNiya looked somewhat dumbfounded before eventually succumbing to the laughter that was now overtaking them both. “So…what changed? I mean, you two are just incredible now. You captivate everyone in the audience when you’re on stage. How did you gain such…power?”
“By abandoning such thinking, Red Flame,” she replied in a calm voice, gently brushing a strand of auburn fur out of DiNiya’s face.
“How did you know?” DiNiya asked in a frail voice.
“Though your eyes do not burn with the light of a flame, it is far from hidden.” She stepped closer and placed her hands around the younger girl. “Even now I can feel it, locked away deep inside of you, but there still.”
“Well…that makes one of us,” DiNiya said, looking away. “I can’t feel anything. Not for some time now.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“It is,” she said, turning back to look up at her with a look of defeated resolution.
“Well, then, we have a very different way of seeing the world, for I could feel that beautiful crimson flame of yours desperately wanting to burn free tonight when you were at the show, when you were…with him.”
“Him?” FiNaya gave her a look that DiNiya knew meant not to play dumb. “All right. You’re right. I did want to feel something back there. I always do when he’s near.”
“Quite understandable,” FiNaya said with an approving smile. “He is rather gorgeous, is he not?”
“No, wait—that’s not what I meant.”
“Broad shoulders, strong jaw, thick arms, the beginnings of a barrel chest, and those beautiful eyes. I could just lose myself staring into them.”
DiNiya could not help but look somewhat surprised. “They don’t scare you?”
“Perish the thought! In fact, if I was a younger woman, you might have some competition.”
“Competition? Wait…you don’t think…”
“Think what? That you have eyes for Rex? It’s fairly obvious.”
DiNiya felt heat rushing to her face as she began to stammer. “No! You must understand Rex is very important to me, but not like that! I mean, that is to say, it’s not that I don’t think he is deserving of being viewed as such, but—”
“Ahh, so you have noticed him like that?”
“Yes, of course, I mean no! I mean…” DiNiya stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. “Rex is my best friend, and that is more than I have had in some time. Right now that is more than I could ever ask for, and I will not pressure him into anything more.”
FiNaya regarded her for a moment before nodding in concession. “I understand. No sense in rushing things. After all, it’s my experience that these sorts of things tend to work themselves out.”
“You still didn’t answer my question,” DiNiya said, meeting FiNaya’s eyes with hers.
“Where I found the power you see me wield on stage? From within, of course. But only when I threw aside such notions as a person’s power coming from an external source.” She placed a hand over DiNiya’s heart. “All the power you will ever need resides in you. It always has, and it always will. Remember that, DiNiya.”
DiNiya, for the briefest of moments, thought she felt something stir within her, burn within her. Looking at the older woman, she said, “I will.”
They talked for a time atop the tavern, with FiNaya bestowing her wisdom and experience on what DiNiya was and would be going through as a woman in the years to come.
DiNiya delighted at her constant reassurance that she was not as different as she believed and that she had much to look forward to in the next few years. Suddenly, the thought of starting a family did not seem so distant or unachievable. In fact, she even went as far as to imagine herself with a mate at her side, watching their children play in the fields of KaNar. It was a comforting and uplifting idea, but whenever she would turn to see her mate, they would always be a blur, shrouded in obscurity. Still, she knew what her heart was telling her, and she wondered if the unfocussed individual was so because of the uncertainty she knew resided in their heart; his heart.
Eventually, they made their way back downstairs and joined the others. DiNiya sat close to Rex, who smiled, before resting her hand on his. To her delight, he did not pull his away or flinch at her touch, but instead wrapped his fingers around hers and gave a light squeeze. DiNiya knew better than to read too much into this, for the act itself was more than likely out of friendly affection. Still, it was enough for her for the time being, and she allowed herself to be fulfilled in the moment.
The next day came and went, and once again the six of them found themselves enjoying the festival. They were back in the tavern, with Rex and EeNox marveling at the towering behemoths locked in fixed combat. “How many do you think he found?” asked EeNox, stepping next to Rex, who had not taken his eyes off them. “KyGahl, I mean?”
“Don’t know,” Rex replied with a shrug. “Couldn’t have been too many if no one has ever found any before.”
“That’s my point. Why now, and why not before?”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“Good idea. Hey, KyGahl!” EeNox shouted at the top of his lungs across the room, over to where KyGahl was conversing with NyRo and FyNasia. The tall man turned his head in surprise and stared in their direction. EeNox motioned him over with exuberance while Rex glared at the other boy.
“I meant ask him when you saw him,” he said angrily.
“And I did,” EeNox replied simply with a grin.
Rex snorted fire from his nostrils and shook his head, just as KyGahl strode over.
“Hello, you two,” the large man said. “I couldn’t help but notice that you wanted me for something.”
“We wanted to ask you something about the TyRanx you found,” EeNox said, motioning to the skeleton behind them.
“Certainly. Always happy to indulge inquiring minds.”
“How many did you find?”
“Just the one, I’m afraid. Although we made casts so we could put numerous skeletons on display all over the world. The real remains are kept in the archives of the Natural History Museum in the capital for study. This one here is really just for show, but we hope it will generate enough interest from the public to prompt the Guild to further indulge my madness,” he said, giving a wink to Rex, who smiled in turn.
“So where exactly did you find him?” Rex asked.
“About two hundred kilometers west of here, right on the coast. I have discovered countless fossils in that area due to some of the decaying rock formations, but what we found on that day was something new and special altogether.”
EeNox looked irritated. “Oh, come on! Don’t stop now for dramatic effect!”
KyGahl smiled. “Just pausing for breath, young one. In any case, what we appear to have found was some sort of burial site—or battlefield, most likely. We could tell because the soil in the whole area was filled with ash and mangled bone. But after some digging, we discovered this beauty. A mighty 10,000-year-old TyRanx queen.”
“So it’s female?”
“Indeed. We’re still trying to determine exactly how old she was when she died, but we think she was probably a young adult based on the rings we counted in a cross section of her femur. That, of course, would mean she coul
d have still had some more growing to do.”
“You mean they could grow bigger than this?” EeNox asked in surprise as he gazed up at her. “Damn, that’s incredible. She’s already twice as big as VayRonx.”
“What about sexual dimorphism?” Rex asked curiously.
KyGahl smiled. “An excellent question. We are theorizing that the females may have grown larger than males, like with the TarBoranx and many other species of DyVorian.”
“Is that because they are closely related?”
“Indeed, from the same family, to be exact. We suspected as much due to historical descriptions, but now that we have actual fossil evidence, we can see that they were indeed part of the same evolutionary lineage, with one probably having broken off from the other.”
“Now there’s a thought,” said EeNox. “Still, which one came first, I wonder?”
“It’s difficult to say,” explained KyGahl. “With so little information available to us, we can only speculate. Still, her discovery is a promising start, and I believe that if we keep searching, we will find more TyRanx buried out there, just waiting for the light of the sun to shine upon them once again.”
“Maybe someday I will help you,” Rex said.
“A day sooner than you think, perhaps,” KyGahl said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’re old enough to start specializing in a trade. I imagine EeNox here has already decided what he wants to do.”
The other boy groaned. “Please, not you too. My father keeps trying to force me to come to a decision about ‘what I want to do with my life’ and all of that.”
“He’s merely showing his concern,” KyGahl said. “Any parent would.”
“I realize that, but it’s an enormous amount of pressure.”
KyGahl just laughed, taking both boys by surprise. “You think you know pressure? You should have seen my parents. They practically forced me into the family trade. I spent my entire youth hearing them tell me how I was destined for greatness and that my destiny was written long before I came into being. Now that’s an enormous amount of pressure, especially when you are only three years old.”
