The Dawning of Power

by Brian Rathbone

  Beron walked into the darkness, not knowing what to expect. Master Edling closed the door before lighting his lamp. Beyond two short halls, they came to a room filled with treasures of all varieties. Master Edling walked straight to an oddly shaped, metallic rock, which rested on a supple piece of red cloth.

  "A gift from the gods," Master Edling said, his eyes full of fervor. "Dropped from the sky, it was delivered to us hundreds of years ago. The gods have blessed us. We will prevail over the Herald. I'll show you the scriptures."

  Master Beron looked at the strange stone, wondering if a weapon from the gods would be so formless, but as he looked at it, he saw magical symmetry and graceful lines all over it. What had first looked like big holes, under a careful eye, were each a work of art. It looked as if the winds of a billion years had scoured the rock's surface into patterns. Then he read the scripture.

  In the hands of the righteous, the sky stone will capture the power of the mighty one.

  "I'll take her power and use it as my own. I'll bring true power back to the Masterhood," Master Edling said.

  * * *

  "We've made the best repairs possible with the materials available to us, sir," Bryn said. "There's not much more we can do. We've stopped all the leaks, and we have additional pitch ready should we need to patch any new leaks."

  "Your crew has done well," Nora said with a firm nod.

  "Thank you, Mother," Kenward said. "A better crew I could not ask for."

  "On that we agree," she said.

  Bryn flushed, embarrassed by the compliment. Catrin stood at the gunwales, her strength returning. Given her leisure while she recovered, she spent most of her time watching Kyrien and his kin. Though Kyrien kept constant vigil, other dragons occasionally joined him, and their synchronized acrobatics drew more than just Catrin's eyes.

  "Such fearsome beauty," Nora said as she joined Catrin.

  "I can't make myself look away."

  "You've an attachment with Kyrien; that much is clear. He seems a noble and loyal beast to protect us in such a way. I would never have guessed such a thing would happen."

  "They are more intelligent than I would have thought possible," Catrin said. "Kyrien and another spoke in my mind; they spoke not in words, but in images and emotion. They asked me to save Kyrien from Belegra, and I suppose they are repaying the debt."

  "Whatever the reason," Brother Vaughn said, "they have saved us all. I've always loved flying creatures, but these dragons are beyond my wildest expectations. None are as large as the skeleton found in Faulk, but they are undeniably beautiful. Their ability to communicate makes them even more remarkable."

  For a while they simply watched as Kyrien and two other dragons danced in the skies. Much of the crew stopped to watch as others joined the dance. Like a flock of birds, the dragons moved in unison, as if of a single mind, changing directions so dramatically that it was a wonder none collided.

  "We're ready to raise our anchors and set sail," Kenward said. "We've only to fill the hold with fish before we are ready to leave this place. I assume we are to travel back to the Godfist?"

  "Yes," Catrin said. "I'm ready to go home."

  "I suppose the safest route will be to go back the way we came. There may be a shorter route to the Godfist, but we've no way of knowing."

  Belegra had a map.

  Turning at the sound of Prios's voice in her mind, Catrin looked for him. It took a moment before she found him reclining in the shadows. Remembering Belegra's books, Catrin turned back to Kenward. "I think we have a map."

  "What?" he asked, clearly excited. Few things seemed to excite sailors more than maps and charts.

  "Before we left the mountain hall," Catrin said, "we took some books from Belegra's quarters. I had completely forgotten, but I think we should look there first." After retrieving her pack, she rummaged through and found the leather-bound tomes. Holding the first in her hand, she was loath to open it, but she remembered Prios's words: The books are not evil. Running her fingers over the unadorned leather binding, she made herself open it.

  The pages were of finer quality than any Catrin had ever seen before, and the text had been meticulously scribed. Much of what she saw seemed to be equations and formulas, and after leafing through the pages, she set it aside. When she opened the second volume, she immediately found what she was looking for. Kenward, Nora, and the others stood by, waiting with undisguised anticipation. Folded in half was a finely woven canvas with a colorful map painted on it. The crease down the center had damaged parts of the map, but it was otherwise whole. Kenward drew a sharp intake of breath when she handed it to him.

  "By the gods!" he said. "It's all here. The Firstland, the Greatland, the Godfist--all of it. And look here, there are at least three chains of islands I've never seen or heard of. What a treasure!"

  "Taking this route," Nora said, "we can make it back in half the time."

  Catrin looked at the map, trying to figure out why the thought of taking a different route made her stomach hurt. The map gave no indications of any danger save a large expanse of open water, but something told her emphatically not to go that way, and she was torn. "Can you think of any dangers that we would face taking the direct route?"

  "There are always dangers," Nora said, and she pointed to a place on the map. "Most of these waters are unfamiliar to me, but there are some parts I have traveled. The biggest danger I think we would face are storms, and we could run into those anywhere."

  Still, Catrin could not shake the feeling, and she decided to give her instincts credence. "Something is telling me not to go that way. I cannot explain it, and can find no reason to support it, yet I feel compelled to heed it."

  "Sometimes we must listen to our instincts," Kenward said, "especially when they contradict the most likely course. Given your magic, I would be inclined to follow your gut. In my younger days, I would have taken the shortest course no matter what you said, but now I have seen too much, and I find myself given to caution."

  "It's certainly taken long enough to beat some caution into you, fool boy," Nora said, but her eyes shone with pride.

  "Are you certain about this?" Chase asked as he forced himself into the cramped cabin, trying to get a better look at the map. "I don't want to spend another year at sea if we don't have to."

  "I can't tell you why, Chase, but I feel very strongly about this. I've no desire to prolong the journey home, but the thought of going back any way but the way we came makes me ill."

  "It's decided, then," Kenward said with a sigh. "I'll have to save exploring those waters for another journey."

  Under Kyrien's watchful eye, they fished until the Slippery Eel sat heavy in the water. As Kenward set a course for the Keys of Terhilian, Catrin stood at the stern watching Kyrien. As the Firstland faded in the distance, two other dragons joined Kyrien. They escorted the ship to deep water, but as the sun began to sink below the horizon, the other two dragons refused to go any farther. Circling, they called out to Kyrien, and he seemed torn. After several long and tense moments, the other dragons turned on their wingtips and soared back to the Firstland. Catrin watched, also torn. Part of her wanted Kyrien to come with her, to be a part of her life, but she wondered what kind of life he could have without other dragons. In the end, she knew she needed to do what was best for Kyrien. Opening herself to a trickle of power, she did her best to communicate with him using only her mind: Go. Be free. Live well!

  His only response was a mournful call; then, after diving down and soaring low over the deck, he flew after his brethren, back to his home. Catrin watched with tears in her eyes, hoping he would live a happy life. Though she had known him only a short time, she left the Firstland with what felt like a gaping hole in her heart. Prios joined her and seemed to share her sadness.

  I will miss him too. I was responsible for delivering him to Belegra, which is something I may never be able to forgive myself for, yet somehow he found it in his heart to do just that. I always thought he hated me.
He could have let Chase kill me, or he could have killed me himself, but he did not. I cannot say I understand it, but I will forever be in his debt.

  "Perhaps, someday, you will get a chance to repay that debt," Catrin said.

  I don't see how I ever could, but I suppose it's possible. No one can say what the future will hold.

  * * *

  In the following weeks, Catrin spent much of her time with Brother Vaughn. Together they learned everything they could from Belegra's books. One volume was about the physical laws of her world; it was this tome that was filled with equations--most of which only made Catrin's head hurt, and she doubted she would ever find any of it useful. Brother Vaughn had little more success, and they set that book aside.

  The second seemed of little use at first since it contained descriptions of mythical creatures, from harpies to bearbulls, most of which neither Catrin nor Brother Vaughn believed existed. When Brother Vaughn flipped to the section that described dryads, though, Catrin became intrigued, especially since much of what it said rang of truth. "I thought of those other creatures as mere fairy tales, but I know dryads exist. Could these other creatures really have once existed?"

  "I suppose it's possible," Brother Vaughn said. "Let's see what other creatures are described." Turning the pages carefully, he passed a section describing giant birds called phirlons and another on glowing sea serpents known as godhairs. It was when he reached the section on dragons that he drew a sharp breath. He read aloud: "Of dragons there are three types: verdent, feral, and regent. Verdents are most common and are by far the largest dragon species. Despite their size and power, they are docile and easily tamed. All verdent dragons have mottled bluish-gray coloring.

  "Feral dragons, as black as night, are as ferocious as their name would imply. Generally, ferals are solitary creatures that only congregate during mating season, but there have been incidents recorded where groups of ferals have attacked verdents who intruded on their territory.

  "Regent dragons are the most rare and intriguing species. Regents seem to live more like ants than dragons. That is to say that they live in colonies and have specialized roles. Each colony has but one female--the queen. There are many types of regent males: warrior, protector, hunter, and nurturer are but a few."

  "So Kyrien is a regent dragon?" Catrin asked.

  "I would say he fits the description, and the skeleton found in Faulk would have to have been a verdent."

  Seeing a vision of skies filled with all three types of dragons, Catrin felt a chill run down her spine. The thought was thrilling and terrifying.

  "Regent dragons have other remarkable qualities," Brother Vaughn continued. "The ability to change the color of their skin to blend in with their surroundings is among the most formidable trait. Regents are so skilled in camouflage that they can become nearly invisible in almost any environment. It is their innate ability to transform noonstone into dragon ore, though, that makes these creatures the most highly sought after."

  Pulling Belegra's dragon ore from her pocket, Catrin held it up. It caught the light and cast it about in disorganized fashion, which detracted from its beauty. "So that was why Belegra wanted Kyrien," she said. "For this."

  "It would appear to be so."

  Nothing could be worth the torture Belegra inflicted upon Kyrien. She was tempted to cast the stone into the sea, but Catrin came to see that even though the way the stone was created was evil, the stone itself was not. When she began to view it as a gift from Kyrien, a piece of him that she could take with her, it became a cherished treasure.

  The book gave few more details, and they set it aside. The third volume gave Catrin chills, for it told of ways to enslave the mind of another. Chilled by the gruesome and cruel techniques described in painful detail, Catrin decided that this book truly was evil. "This is knowledge that no one should have. I think we should burn it."

  Brother Vaughn seemed appalled by the idea of burning a book at first, but as he looked through the rest of the book, he came to agree. There was no joy in the act, but Catrin felt a little safer knowing it was gone. With any luck, those skills would be lost forever.

  Catrin's thoughts turned to all that had been lost, and tears gathered in her eyes. When one fell to the floor, Brother Vaughn looked up. "Will you tell me what's bothering you?" he asked.

  "I just feel so alone," she said. "It's not that you and everyone on the ship are . . . It's just . . ."

  "I miss them too," Brother Vaughn said, and Catrin let her emotion flow. "May I share something with you?"

  "Please do," Catrin said with a sniffle.

  "What is there between us? Right now. What's separating you and me?"

  "Nothing, I guess," Catrin said.

  "Nothing? Really."

  In the silence that followed, Catrin tried to understand his meaning, but then something occurred to her. "Air?"

  "Air. Indeed," Brother Vaughn said. "Now I want you to step away from everything for a moment, including the air."

  Catrin smiled, knowing it was impossible. "I suppose I could submerge myself in water."

  "Not for long. But the point is that you and I are parts of the same system. We are parts of the world, and we cannot separate ourselves from it. Everything I do influences you, and everything you do influences everyone and everything else. Do you understand?"

  "I think so," Catrin said.

  "Since we are part of this enormous system, we are always connected and can never truly be alone. And even when we seem to depart from this world, our energy remains. In this sense, we are one and we are eternal."

  His words gave Catrin solace, and she turned her thoughts back to anything that could help her in the future. Again she looked at the dragon ore she held. So precious and so very rare, she was afraid she would drop it and shatter it into tiny pieces. Oddly shaped, it felt clumsy in her hands. The stones in her staff had been masterfully cut, their symmetry somehow balancing them. Then she remembered Imeteri's Fish; it had been such a simple carving, yet it, too, had symmetry and balance. "Do you think the shape of the dragon ore could enhance its effects?" she asked.

  "The thought never occurred to me," Brother Vaughn said, "but I suppose it's possible. Do you have reason to believe it could?"

  "The stones Mother Gwendolin gave me have been carefully cut, where Imeteri's Fish was just a simple carving. The one thing they have in common is that one side seems to balance the other. When I hold Belegra's stone, it feels unstable, out of balance."

  "Perhaps you should have a gem-cutter cut it for you? Or you could carve it yourself. You did say that Imeteri's Fish was only a rough carving. Surely you could do just as well," Brother Vaughn said.

  Catrin turned the translucent stone in her hands, and as she looked at it, a simple but elegant shape became apparent to her--the shape the stone wanted to become. It was as if all she had to do was peel away the husk that shrouded the stone's true form. "Could I be so bold as to try to carve it myself? I've no skill for art or carving. I might destroy it."

  "I suppose you must follow your heart."

  * * *

  Cradled by her hammock, Catrin closed her eyes. As had become a bit of a ritual, Prios chose this time to spend with her. Though walls separated them, it was as if he were sitting beside her.

  "Is it not difficult for you to talk to me without touching me?" she asked aloud, despite the fact that she had only to think of saying it to him for him to hear. "You could come in here while we talk if you'd like."

  There is a bond between us that I do not understand. I believe I could speak with you over almost any distance without the slightest strain. It is something I share with no one else. Perhaps it is your abilities, but I wonder if it isn't something else . . .

  Catrin let his unspoken question go unanswered, afraid of things she was not yet prepared to face. Grateful that he could not read her thoughts unless they were directed to him, she changed the subject. "Do you think I should try to carve the dragon ore? I'm afraid I'll only destro
y it."

  I know nothing of the properties of dragon ore, but I, too, sense its flaws despite its purity. When I look at nature, I see varied shapes and forms of life, yet those forms are not chaotic or random, as the shape of Belegra's dragon ore seems to be. My instincts tell me that giving it orderly shape and form will give it new life. I cannot be certain, and there is the risk that you will destroy it, so I am hesitant to give council.

  "It would be so much easier if someone would just tell me what I am supposed to do."

  I've lived my life doing what others have told me to do. While not being responsible for my own destiny may have been easier, I certainly would not say it was better.

  "You make a good point," Catrin conceded. "I suppose I'll just have to stop my whining and get on with it." She could almost hear Prios chuckle.

  * * *

  As the sun rose over the sea, the lookout called out: "Land!" His call drew everyone to the deck. Having seen nothing but waves for months, it was a thrill to see land, even if they would only pass it by. When they neared the Terhilian Lovers, the sun cast a ruddy glow, and there, perched upon the man's outstretched arm, waited Kyrien. Glimmering like a jewel, he spread his wings and extended his tail. Dropping his head down, he wove back and forth hypnotically. No one spoke, and Catrin was held in thrall, not wanting to move or speak for fear he would fly away, but he just watched them as they slid past. Not long before he would have been lost from sight, he slipped from his perch, spread his wings only part of the way, and slammed into the water.

  Watching for him to emerge, Catrin waited at the gunwales for most of the day, but he did not show himself. She was left to wonder if his presence was but a final farewell.

  "He's a remarkable beast, your Kyrien," Nora said as she walked to Catrin's side.