Dracon and the Edge of the World

by Michael T Payne

  “What is it?” Rayna asked.

  “One of the gold etchings down below has this same depiction.” Katlin explained.

  “What’s the connection?” Rayna asked.

  “I don’t know, where is the gold plate in relationship to this door?” Katlin asked Rayna.

  “I don’t know!” Rayna responded defensively.

  “Go ask them.” Katlin said shaking his head at her.

  Rayna walked to the railing and looked over the edge, the others were milling about, waiting.

  “Find the gold plate with a picture of people on it.” Rayna called down.

  “A man and a woman holding hands.” Katlin clarified.

  “A couple holding hands.” Rayna called down.

  Each of them went to the nearest gold plate, on pedestal’s leaning against the wall behind it.

  “Here!” Dracon announced, “What do I do?”

  “What should he do?” Rayna asked Katlin behind her, who was still looking at the door.

  “Give me a minute, where is it?” he asked Rayna.

  “Directly across the room from us.”

  Dracon examined the gold plate closely, while the others gathered around to see. Dracon looked at the others then yelled up at the second floor, “Well?”

  “He’s thinking!” Rayna yelled across the open area to the other side of the room, where she could see Dracon and the others gathering around the etched gold plate on the floor below.

  It was a very thick plate. Dracon grabbed it with both hands then pulled the base toward him slightly.

  “Tell him not to touch anything, yet.” Katlin said to Rayna.

  The gold plate slid down off the back wall it was propped against and landed flat on the stone pedestal with a loud bang. The pedestal sank slowly, echoing the sound of stone, sliding against stone, throughout the area.

  “What was that?” Katlin asked looking over his shoulder at Rayna.

  She had a smirk on her face and shrugged her shoulders. The door in front of Katlin slid open, making him take several steps back, all the way next to Rayna by the railing. When the door slid away, it revealed an open coffin standing on its end. Within, lay a skeletal warrior holding a sword over his chest. The skeleton was covered in cobwebs. The eye sockets of the skeletal warrior started to glow green, slightly at first, but became a bright green at which time the skull quickly tilted up to look at Rayna and Katlin.

  “Put it back! Put it back!” Katlin screamed grasping Rayna’s forearm with a death grip of fear.

  The skeletal warrior creaked and popped to life, lifting its longsword and stepping from the coffin to the hall. It paused a moment, then ran at them lifting its sword overhead.

  “Put it back!” Katlin yelled again, his eyes widening in fear as the skeletal warrior closed in on them.

  Rayna jerked her arm free of Katlin’s vice like grip, then shoved him away from her, diving the other way, clear of the skeletal warrior.

  The skeletal warrior swung down on the pair just as they separated, his forward momentum carried him over the edge of the railing, where he fell to the onyx floor below. Its body fell to pieces and its sword clanged against the floor. Bones spread across the floor with a hollow sound like a xylophone.

  Rayna and Katlin looked over the railing, side by side to see what became of the monstrous creature. The others, on the first floor, gathered around the spread-out bones, examining the remains. Dracon looked up at the pair at the railing.

  “What was that?” he asked.

  Katlin lurched over the railing up to his armpit and pointed at Dracon.

  “Don’t touch anything else!”

  Dracon looked around at the others shaking his head confused. Satana knelt to retrieve the longsword that lay among the bones. Before she could grasp its handle, it slid away from her and across the floor, right into the skeletons dismembered hand. The bones slid across the floor to one another.

  “Uh, you guys.” Satana stood up slowly, watching the bones moving across the floor, some meeting and reconnecting then moving on to others.

  Dracon pulled out his Unholy Reaver.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kalla and Venalina walked down a long, isolated hall, far from the central area of Taranath, where most of the returned Vordalyn had made a new home. The hall was made of a milky white stone, resembling a tube rather than a hall.

  “It is unusual for one such a she, to be a mother, it may only be timing and she may never be able to do it again. Only time will tell.” Kalla explained.

  “What if I am not a mother and she is the mother of our generation? I have not had a child yet, only the ascended?” Venalina was concerned that she was again at a loss of her true nature.

  Kalla laughed and stopped walking, she turned and took Venalina’s hands in hers.

  “You are truly a mother, my queen, have no fear of that. When you wish to have a child, it will be so. It is an act of your will, not biology, like a human.” She smiled, looking deeply into Venalina’s eyes, “I see so much of your mother in you.”

  Venalina’s sour expression disappeared instantly.

  “You knew my mother?”

  “I did, I knew the sisters before they took the Horns of Gold from Junia, the Golden Queen. When you and I first met, I led you to believe I had only heard of them, but that was because I was unsure of you,” Kalla turned and started walking, but continued to hold one of Venalina’s hands, beckoning her to continue walking with her, “You know, Ashavera was a mother and the true heir to the throne of the Vordalyn, not Dhysevera. Even Junia knew she was next, but Junia refused to relinquish the Horns of Gold to her. Ashavera didn’t want it, nor did she pursue it. She let Junia remain queen for hundreds of years. It was Dhysevera who pushed for her abdication, it was Dhysevera who led the revolt. Which was just, because the Golden Queen was crazed, becoming blood thirsty for the eradication of all creatures that were not Vordalyn. Your mother was the most loving creature. It was only then; did she stand beside Dhysevera and rallied the Vordalyn against Junia. To save the world against her thirst. Your mother alone had the power to defeat and banish her, for as the rightful queen, no creature on earth could stand against her power, as it is with you.” Kalla smiled at Venalina and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Venalina’s smile was wide, hearing about her mother. “But your mother was a mother to us all, a sister, she would not rule, she refused it. Dhysevera, on the other hand, coveted the Horns of Gold all her life.”

  “She took it from my mother?” Venalina interrupted.

  “With your mothers blessing, Venalina. One thing was always as sure as the sun rises; the sisters shared a powerful love, a bond deeper than just blood. Dhysevera would never act against Ashavera, everything they did was of one mind or not at all.” Kalla chuckled.

  “What happened to the Golden Queen?”

  “Banished.” Kalla said as they reached the end of the long hall, “Beyond that wall is the old slave city, the place where you encountered the Gyona and the Naga.”

  “It’s where I…”

  “Found Dhysevera’s vessel.”

  “Why didn’t I change then? I mean, I died, and only then did I truly transform into the queen?”

  “You needed a spark to release your power. A mother cannot die, when that protection was sparked, so too was your own ascension to the Horns of Gold.” She reached up and touched the golden base of one of Venalina’s horns. Venalina had a thoughtful look in her eye, Kalla could see she was somewhere else, “Curious, your beloveds?”

  “How so?” Venalina asked returning her attention fully to Kalla.

  “The others,” she started, “they speak of Princess Talila as though her mind was lacking, mentioning, now and again, that she is a simple-minded child, older in body than mind, do you know why it is they speak of her so?”

  Venalina smiled.

  “My little chameleon is quite clever.”

  “Can you explain?” Kalla asked intrigued.

  “Talila is a chame
leon, a talent developed early on in her childhood, convincing enough, to fool even her own sisters. A talent born of necessity and her environment. One she has trouble shaking free of. But do not be fooled, inside burns a heart of fire, and a will to survive and adapt. She can fool the most adept judge of personality.” Venalina swelled with pride as she spoke of Talila.

  “You admire her.” Kalla pointed out, making Venalina’s face change.

  “If I had an ounce of her talent as a child, I would have walked among humans unnoticed, rather than hiding alone in a cave for centuries.” Venalina scowled, “When my mother died…”

  Kalla put her hand on Venalina’s shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, Venalina, I did not wish to bring up terrible memories for you.” Kalla tried to comfort her, Venalina shook her head.

  “It’s fine, it was a long time ago. Much has happened to be joyous about, life has moved on, for the better.” She said making Kalla smile and nod in agreement.

  “I take it you are aware that Princess Talila has absorbed a fire elemental?” Kalla asked, changing the subject.

  “Yes,” Venalina answered, “It was trapped in an amulet I gave her. Do you think she will suffer for it?”

  “No. But I do feel it is too much power for her to wield unchecked. I recommend removing it from her essence, immediately.”

  Venalina straightened up.

  “No. We will not do that. She has mastered that elemental inside her, it acts on her will, that cannot be taught. I will not strip her of her innate power, simply for fear of her mastery over it.” She narrowed her eyes, “How is her training coming along?”

  “Her skill in flight is incredible for one so recently ascended, it’s as though she were a true-born. I am also impressed with Kaylin,” Kalla added, “her fighting skills have far outpaced her sisters. I’ve pulled her from training with Diama, she has the potential to reinvigorate the warrior clan.”

  “What of her magical training?”

  “Saida and Alyndra are both very adept in the power of our magical essence. It is right that they spend quality time with Diama, for that is her arena. Diama is powerful with her essence. Kaylin excels in her physical attributes, she is strong, she is fast, she can fight and fly, with great skill, she is in touch with her Vordalyn form.”

  “Now it’s your voice that exudes pride, I take it you find a commonality with her?” Venalina smiled, “I trust your assessment, Kalla, you can have Kaylin all to yourself.” Venalina said with a smile, “What of Talila? Where does she fit in your assessment? Diama, or Kalla?”

  Kalla frowned.

  “Talila is a rare creature, she almost killed me. It is embarrassing to say, but she frightens me.”

  “Go on, explain?” Venalina’s curiosity was piqued.

  “She moves like a true-born, she fights like a true-born, her magic, mind, and body, are one. It is…, I’ve never seen it before. I encased her, in what I thought, until then, was an impenetrable shield. She physically smashed her way through it, no magic, just her will alone. It shook me to the core, Venalina, it is not something we should overlook.” Kalla sounded truly worried.

  “I am not afraid of her.” Venalina said, “I love her.”

  “Yes, of course, but I fear, she is one Vordalyn that could kill another Vordalyn.”

  Venalina’s face reflected her instant anger, her jaw tensed. She remembered when Janouc confessed his own fear of Talila.

  “Do you mean you? Do you wish me to give her another mother, maybe I should train her myself?”

  “No, I see you are angry, but know, I do not lie or hide my thoughts from you, my queen, I am an open book, ready to serve you with what is written.” Kalla said, performing the hand gesture of respect.

  “I am not angry with you, Kalla, the truth can sting. It’s not your fault, I’ll remember not to let it reflect on my face.” Venalina said, making Kalla laugh.

  “My queen, you would have to have lived ten thousand years to control that look you had on your face.” Kalla cackled, making Venalina smile.

  “Was it that bad?” she asked, Kalla nodded in return, “How old are you, Kalla? You appear to have complete control?”

  Kalla raised her eyebrows.

  “I’m older than the Golden Queen, Diama is the same age as me.” Kalla said as a matter of fact. “We’re the oldest among us. I am not surprised she survived, she is wise and powerful.”

  Venalina took Kalla’s hand, then turned back around and started walking again.

  “I don’t know how old I am?”

  “You are seven-hundred and fourteen.” Kalla said, almost before Venalina finished asking the question. Venalina stopped in her tracks and looked at Kalla shocked, “A lot of you don’t know your own ages. So much time hiding from humans can be taxing, living in one form or another, no Vordalyn to teach you, you can remain a child for hundreds of years, under those conditions. Time has no meaning to a child, and we are timeless, Venalina, don’t concern yourself with age, or years. We are eons.”

  They walked the length of the hall to an area, where, if they chose, they could fly up into the rest of the city or continue walking down another similar hall, also toward the city. Kaylin and Saida came flying down from above to the opening and landed ahead of Kalla and Venalina. Kaylin rushed over to Venalina with a wide smile on her face, she took Venalina’s hands.

  “Venalina,” She said smiling with an excitement that made Venalina smile right back at her, “Can we go up?”

  Saida joined her sister’s side.

  “Please, Venalina?” She asked.

  Two other Vordalyn landed behind Kaylin and Saida, also baring similar smiles. Venalina looked at the new arrivals.

  “Up where?” Venalina asked.

  “They mean to the surface.” Kalla answered.

  “Yes!” Kaylin said, “Can we, please?”

  “Where will you go?” Venalina asked smiling at their excitement.

  “I want to fly in the sky! Through the trees! We want to stretch our wings!” Saida bubbled with excitement, the others giggled behind her.

  “What about the plane of air, it’s nothing but sky?” Venalina asked.

  “It’s not the same, Venalina, I want to fly in our own world.” Kaylin pleaded.

  “I’ll accompany them, if you permit it?” Kalla offered.

  Venalina considered their request, looking at each of them one at a time, then back at Kalla.

  “Ok.”

  Kaylin hugged Venalina then jumped up and down excited. Saida rushed over and kissed Venalina’s cheek.

  “Thank you, Venalina,” Saida whispered in her ear, “The others will be happy you said yes to us.”

  Venalina laughed at Saida’s words in her ear.

  “Be cautious and come home safe.” Venalina said.

  Kalla performed the ritual hand gesture to Venalina then followed Kaylin, Saida, and the other two Vordalyn. They moved through Taranath, making their way to the surface world. Saida ran a few feet ahead, then leapt into flight, followed by her two friends. Kaylin started to follow but Kalla grabbed her arm.

  “Wait.”

  “Why, I want to fly too?”

  “Follow me instead.” Kalla leapt and flew straight up like a comet.

  Kaylin looked to where Saida and the others flew off to, then up at Kalla. Kaylin crouched and leapt up then flew after Kalla as fast as she could. Kalla led her over the top of a forest, slowly descending and diving in and out of the treetops like a dolphin alongside a ship. They flew lower and lower until they were dodging trees at a very high rate of speed. As much as she wanted to be with her friends, Kaylin enjoyed the challenging flight with Kalla. It was exhilarating, dodging trees so fast, she could feel them scrape, ever so lightly, against her skin. Kalla was amazing in flight, it encouraged Kaylin to imitate every move she made. She followed Kalla through the forest to a cliff’s base, where Kalla shot up along the cliff face, inches away from it. Kaylin matched her, flying side by side with Kalla. She turned t
o look at Kaylin, who looked back at Kalla. Kaylin’s exhilaration was evident on her smiling face. They flew past the cliff’s top, shooting up into the sky. They continued higher than the clouds. Kaylin instantly remembered her first training session in the plane of air. She kept a close eye on Kalla, readying herself for anything. Kalla hovered in the night air above the clouds. She spun in a slow circle enjoying the night. Kaylin relaxed and took a moment to enjoy the view, enjoy the fact that a year ago, she was a frightened girl climbing into a carriage with Venalina and Dracon, just to please her father. Now, she was a powerful Vordalyn Princess, one of the most feared creatures on earth. How different her life was, than what she thought it would be. Married off to some business associate of her fathers, but instead, she got into that carriage with Venalina and Dracon. Now, she was flying over the world with Kalla.

  “Follow me with stealth, daughter.” Kalla smiled at Kaylin.

  They took off toward the ground much slower than their ascent. They glided on the wind, one behind the other, Kalla leading the way. They flew over a road, just above the treetops. In the middle of the road there were two wagons surrounded by a dozen horses. There was a woman’s scream a few yards off in the bushes to the side of the road.

  “Come on Ken, slap that bitch!”

  “Get a hold of her, now, get a hold of her.”

  “Leave her alone!”

  “Mama!” A little girl screamed.

  Two men were beating another man, while yet another restrained a little girl, holding her head from behind and forcing her to watch, as his friends beat her father. Others tore her mother’s clothes off, preparing to rape her.

  Kalla and Kaylin hovered over the scene.

  “You remember what I taught you?” Kalla asked, Kaylin nodded emphatically, “Have fun.”

  Kaylin smiled then folded her wings and dropped to the ground. Her landing was hard, shaking the ground and stopping every man from what he was doing.

  “What was that?” A man between the mother’s legs asked, standing up quickly. The two men holding her arms looked at him, then around at the others standing by watching. All the while the woman was screaming and struggling for freedom. The whole group looked over at the other two men who stopped beating the father, they were also surprised by the sound. Kaylin walked up behind the man holding the little girl and grabbed his head, popping it off his body in a clean jerk, then tossed it into the bushes. His body fell to the ground twitching. Kaylin whisked the little girl from his arms, turning the little girl to face her before she could see what happened to the man.