by Lakshman, V.
FORGING THE ISLE
Just as one cannot fill an already full cup,
One cannot teach the Way of Making
To those who believe they already know.
To learn, they must first empty their cup.
—Lore Father Argus Rillaran, The Way
Dragor grabbed another book, hefting it onto their table. "This is a list of the known Lore Fathers and Mothers. There are many pages missing, but in what’s there, the name ‘Armun’ doesn’t appear."
"Not surprising. Who knows how many were lost during the heyday of the Galadine purging," Giridian said softly.
Dragor sighed. "Did anyone mention the name?"
The lore father shook his head. "Not exactly. I remember Themun arguing more than once with Thera, who wanted to find Dawnlight. She might have said something that sounded like the name ‘Armun,’ but I could never be sure."
"Wasn’t Thera found at Dawnlight?" Dragor asked.
"By Themun," Giridian replied. They were at a dead end. There was no way to move forward without understanding the lore father’s reason for mentioning Armun, and that left only one solution. Given what Thoth had said, though, he now felt like this was a waste of time. Still, something about Themun’s dying words spurred him on. He turned around and said haltingly, "I... I will search his memories."
Dragor arched an eyebrow. "Two hundred years of it? For what, exactly? You said earlier the right vision doesn’t just pop into your head. Where do you look?"
Giridian leaned against a shelf, turning over Dragor’s question in his mind. What did he look for? Then, the solution came to him in a moment of clarity. "Maybe Themun said the name because that would be enough. Maybe I just need to focus on his name and let Themun’s memories guide me."
"You think it will work?"
"We shall see." He closed his eyes then and opened his mind to Themun’s thoughts. They were available, a lifetime of learning at his mental fingertips, only he would have to go through them in real time, unless he knew where to look.
He thought about the name, Armun. Somewhere, he hoped the memories of Themun Dreys would help him solve the mystery of who this person really was. He had to trust his desire would lead him to the right memory to watch.
Slowly, Giridian’s vision went black, then he saw Themun, much younger, standing on a rocky outcropping. Beside him stood Thera and another man who looked similar to Themun except slightly older. They had outfitted themselves for combat, with tight fitting clothes and swords across their backs. Giridian marveled again at their appearance, for he had never imagined Themun quite so young.
The young Themun here did not look much older than Tomas or Arek, but Giridian knew appearances were deceiving. In this memory, Themun was close to his thirtieth summer. His aging had already slowed, though he was clearly not a lore father yet.
The trio looked over a green expanse and the mountain that struck upward from it like a giant granite fist of stone and snow. This was Dawnlight, the first place the light of the sun touched their land. It stood on the horizon, its icy peaks sparkling. Giridian heard the older man heave a sigh.
"You sure?" he asked, looking at Themun pointedly, his expression clearly reflecting he did not relish the idea of scaling something so big. "It could just be something natural."
Then his name—Armun—became one with Giridian’s own knowledge, along with the stunning realization that Armun was Themun’s older brother. Neither Themun nor Thera had ever mentioned him before. Another thought occurred then, bringing a small smile to his lips. Interesting that even then, Themun was clearly the leader.
Themun nodded and answered, "Nothing natural is that powerful, and there is the disappearance of the dwarves. They journeyed to this spot as well. The two may be connected."
Armun leaned forward and squinted. "The power of whatever lies there is incredible. I couldn’t sense it before, but from here it shines like a star."
With his new power, Giridian knew he could now do more with his visions. He bent his will and felt his perspective shift, then swoop down until he could feel, see, hear, and sense everything Themun thought or felt. It did not give him all of Themun’s knowledge, just his state of mind during these events. For these next moments he was Themun, and saw the world through his eyes.
* * * * *
Themun knew he was strongest in sensing these sparks of Talent, but this was something completely different. It seemed inconceivable a single person could radiate such power. But the only way they could know for sure would be to investigate. He looked at the other two, catching for a moment the strange look that passed between them. It was happening more often as they all journeyed together. Themun was sure they fancied one another, but his focus was on keeping them all alive, a promise he'd made to his father.
"Something is inside that mountain and if we can sense it, so can the king’s Magehunters," Themun said. "We need to get there first."
Just then, an earsplitting shriek sounded. It came from below the ridge they stood upon, from a small clearing that led to a ravine. As they turned their attention there, the shriek sounded again, forcing them to cover their ears. They looked down and saw a black, reptilian shape quickly circle up a rocky outcropping, clearly evading something coming out of the brush.
It was a young dragon, its black scales scintillating in the dappled sunlight that filtered down through the canopy of leaves above. It circled itself at the top of the outcropping, hissing at something yet unseen from its makeshift perch. The brush shook, but the trio above could not yet see what hunted this creature through the undergrowth below.
Then the crack of breaking limbs echoed across the clearing and the trees and underbrush gave way to three lizard-like shapes, similar to the dragonling, but clearly not dragons. Each stood a man’s height at the shoulder, but unlike the dragonling these had massive forelimbs and walked almost upright. They had heads like crocodiles’ and looked to be full-grown adults of a different species altogether.
Giridian quickly recognized them as basilisks. They had gray, dry scales, with neck frills that expanded as they hissed. Their nictitating eyes shone silver, affording them protection against their own petrifying gaze.
Themun asked the other two, "What do you think?"
Armun was first to respond. "Animals fighting is not our concern. Plus, we cannot prevail against a dragon, even with three basilisks to help."
Thera looked wide-eyed at him. "You are joking..."
Armun nodded, rolling his eyes and flashing a smile, and Themun felt a flush of relief. His brother was not as callous as he sometimes acted. Still, he couldn’t help but be annoyed at the joke. His intent to come to the dragon’s aid was predictable, and Armun was poking fun at him, even now.
"All right, what do we do?" Themun looked about the clearing, starting to formulate a plan.
Armun clapped him on the shoulder. "It’s four against three... stop thinking." With that, he stood up and stepped off the ledge, dropping from sight.
"Assuming the dragon helps us," said Themun, in a voice that sounded more resigned than angry.
"It’s not so bad," Thera replied, her eyes on Armun. Without another word, she stepped off the ledge and fell to join him.
Themun stood by himself, shaking his head, then surveyed the scene, his mind automatically assessing the strategic situation. In this, he was much like his father, who had taught him the importance of tactics and position. Seeing where the conflict would likely end up, he ran to his right and jumped, landing near the dragonling.
Armun fell an easy fifteen man lengths down, but his landing demonstrated his training, as he did so with barely a sound, exhaling softly. He took stock of the situation, then ran up to the closest basilisk.
The creature was fixated on its most dangerous prey, the young dragonling, and did not notice his approach. Armun leapt up into the air and drew his sword in one fluid motion. The blade flashed white and silver, potent with power. He descended and cut, severing the monster’s h
ead from its torso. The detached head tumbled forward some distance, coming to rest at the base of the dragonling’s perch.
The basilisk next to the unfortunate first kill looked up and focused its baleful glare on Thera. Had it been turned upon those without Talent, it would first paralyze, then char them into a statue of ash within heartbeats.
Thera was far from untrained, however, having spent the past fifteen years under the Dreys family’s tutelage. She called upon the Way and the very air around her became a reflective shield, one that let her see out, but did not let the basilisk’s gaze penetrate. Then she moved forward in a blur.
She called upon the Way again, her very being speaking to the earth and trees. Grass, caressed by her summons, grew at an impossible rate, encompassing the basilisk in a web of woven fibers and pinning the man-like reptile in place. It tried to escape, but Thera’s sword licked out, unerringly. Within a heartbeat, another lay pierced through the back of the neck and impaled to the ground, its legs twitching in death.
The third creature seemed intent on the dragonling, a strange sight as by now it should have tried to escape. Basilisks were at least intelligent enough to know when the odds were against them, yet this one did not run. The thought crossed Themun’s mind that something may in fact be controlling these creatures.
Its single-minded attention on its prey proved to be its undoing. A wing-shaped shadow crossed it, and a clawed foot smashed into its skull and obliterated the head in a wet explosion of gray matter, bone, and blood. To the surprise of Themun and his companions, there stood atop the ruined skull of the third dead basilisk a full-grown dragon with black wings encompassing the entire clearing.
Themun landed in time to realize his leap had been perfect, bringing him within a sword’s length of the dragonling, which still stood curled upon its perch. Somehow, it looked smaller now that the full-grown dragon had appeared, but no less dangerous.
The thought flitted through Themun’s head that he now stood close to the young dragon with an unsheathed blade in hand. If the elder believed Themun meant harm to the younger one, he knew they would all die. He decided that straightforwardness was the right approach and in one smooth motion sheathed his sword and bowed, addressing the elder dragon. "By your leave, my lord."
The great dragon turned, hissing a challenge and warning. Both Armun and Thera melted back into the brush, ready to help, but Themun stood near the hatchling and in direct view. It was too late for him to retreat and the wrong move would prove his end.
The creature turned its yellow-golden gaze on the mage and said, "Dost thee seek ransom?"
The voice was deep, like gravel against stone, and Themun found himself kneeling. He opened his arms, showing no weapons, and said, "Nay, my lord. We only offer aid." He knew dragons detested normal speech and his kind in general.
"Thou hast given aid. And now?" The dragon moved forward, taking time to trample the body of one of the basilisks who had threatened the younger dragon’s life.
From behind Themun came a girl’s voice, young yet strident, "Thy companions intervened, my sire."
The dragon’s eyes narrowed and it said, "Nay, no companions of mine. Naught but halfling vermin."
Themun looked behind him and saw a young girl, no more than fifteen summers. She looked normal, except for the two black wings that emerged from her back. They flashed in the shafts of sunlight, iridescent and beautiful. The expression on her face, if readable, seemed vexed.
"Sire, I have not earned thy name yet, but these three came to my defense," she stated. "They hath no need to do so." She narrowed her gaze and Themun felt the distinct impression this young dragon was used to winning arguments with what was obviously her father.
The great dragon changed, a flash of light that left a dark armored knight that Giridian now recognized as Rai’stahn. The knight approached Themun and said, "Thou know of the Way. By what means?"
"My father," Themun answered, "who taught me that the Way is that which makes us."
Rai’stahn’s eyes narrowed. "Thine answer is childish, but that is expected."
While the dragon seemed angry, Giridian sensed it had been impressed with Themun and his openness.
"Wouldst thou live in these times, son of the Way?" Rai’stahn continued, "Thy king’s men hunt all with Talent."
"Aye, you have the right of it. But my friends and I come to the aid of those we can." At his gesture, both Armun and Thera emerged. "We three live outside the law and escape the king’s long arm. What is your intent, my lord?"
The little girl dragon came up then and said, "Thou wert ever impatient with me. Now I wilt have my say."
The great dragon inclined an armored head, but Themun could see the hint of amusement in the corners of the knight’s golden eyes. "Very well, have at it," he said in voice that sounded more like a growl.
"Thee hath spoken of the king’s justice. These three are strong in the Way. Wilt thou turn thy back on them in such a craven fashion?" The girl spread her arms, encompassing the clearing with Themun and his small party. "Surely thou wilt offer them thy aegis?"
Rai’stahn stared at the young dragonling, his golden eyes narrowing in a calculating stare. His mien reflected what Themun could only interpret as frustration, but that countenance was mixed with a sense that this exchange was one the great dragon was accustomed to from this particular dragonling.
Before the younger dragon could say more, Rai’stahn turned and addressed Themun, saying, "What is thy business here?"
Themun motioned to his companions, who moved slowly forward. "We seek a plume of power, somewhere near Dawnlight."
Rai’stahn’s head swiveled, looking to the great peak. He sighed, then said, "A rift hath opened upon this world. Remember its taint well, for it marks danger to all the land."
Themun stood aghast. "Do you mean like the one through which Lilyth’s forces emerged?"
Rai’stahn looked back at the young mage and nodded. "Verily, for I and my hatchling journey to the same place, to ascertain the threat and put an end to it."
"Sire, shall I speak of the Isle?" asked the younger dragon, steering the conversation back to the fate of Themun and his party. "Thou canst grant haven, if they so petition." She cocked her head to one side, a small smile escaping from her youthful face. Behind that smile, Themun could see razor sharp teeth, reminding him once again that this was no young girl.
The great dragon drew a deep breath, its eyes never leaving Themun’s own. Then, as if coming to a decision, he said, "Thee hath come to the aid of my daughter. For that, I offer a boon. I and my kin stand as guardians of the Way. We serve a Conclave and protect the world from those who would desecrate it."
The girl dragon then offered, a bit eagerly, "My sire and I make our home deep in the Shattered Sea, at the end of a chain of islands, southeast of Koorva. It holds upon it enough sustenance for those of thy kind."
The dragon-knight rumbled his displeasure at his daughter’s interruption, "Why dost thou seek permission, only to speak regardless?"
When the younger dragon didn’t answer, Rai’stahn looked back at Themun and said, "It is named Meridian, and stands as home to my hatchlings, though some may not survive this journey." He eyed the dragonling meaningfully, but the younger dragon seemed unperturbed, smiling innocently up at her father.
Themun could see the great dragon deflate, accepting his loss to the younger, then heard him growl, "Seek it and I will allow thee and thy companions to remain there, safe from the king’s justice."
Themun looked at the dragon, questions stumbling in his mind, clamoring to be given voice, but held his tongue. Before insulting anyone, he bowed formally and said, "We stand honored."
"Pay heed, for thy boon comes with a price. Thy petty affairs concern me little, for thy people are short-lived and useless. However—" Rai’stahn held up a taloned hand—"thy current king hath a long reach and seeks to eradicate those gifted with Talent. This I cannot abide. I stand against him and offer thee and thy peo
ple haven. In return, thou shalt aid me in protecting the Way, in any manner I deem necessary."
"A fair exchange, my lord." Themun bowed again, then stood and stepped back from the great dragon. "If I may ask your name?"
The dragon looked at the young mage, then stepped forward. He raised his armored hand and placed it upon Themun’s forehead, as a god would to a supplicant. "I am known as Rai’stahn, Lord of Meridian, and guardian of this world. Dost thee accept me as thy lord?"
Themun did not directly answer, instead saying, "I am Themun Dreys. With me stands my elder brother, Armun, and Thera Dawnlight. We seek to save those born into this land with Talent and would ally ourselves with you."
"Well met," intoned the dragon, Rai’stahn. "Two shall journey back to the Isle with my hatchling and prepare for my return."
"My lord?" Confusion ran across Themun’s face. "What of this rift we sense?"
The dragon moved forward, towering over the young mage, and stated, "Mortal, I do not request. I command as your liege."
Themun took a deep breath, then slowly stepped back. The power this creature radiated was palpable and he knew his next words could still condemn them to death. Rai’stahn was an elder dragon, and they would have little hope of defeating him should he suddenly change his mind. He spread his arms and bowed, breaking eye contact. "As you wish, my lord, but you said two. Who remains?"
The great dragon looked at the three, his golden gaze measuring. Then he pointed at Armun and said, "Thou shalt accompany me."
Themun and Armun locked gazes, then Armun said, "It is better I go. You must see to this island and our continued safety."
"No!" Thera blurted. "It may not be safe."
Armun looked at her and smiled. "With a dragon as my companion? You were safer with me than I with you. I will see to Dawnlight and this rift. Await my return."
Themun stood speechless. His brother and he had not been apart since their father’s death, and a part of him feared their separation.
As if answering his unspoken thought, the younger dragon stepped forward and said, "Thy brother is safe. He stands under the wing of my sire, and that is enough. It is not thy place to question thy lord."
