Phillip didn’t answer her question, or even acknowledge her presence. Instead, he strode past her, a grim expression on his dirt-covered face. It was then that Dearra saw her—Mili was no more than five feet away, still holding her dagger in her hand. She must have seen her opportunity when Dearra and Darius had been distracted. With so much going on, it wasn’t surprising that Brin had not noticed her silent approach. After all, what else would she have been thinking except thoughts of killing, and Brin heard that all around him.
Phillip knelt beside Mili’s still form to confirm for himself that she was, indeed, dead. He yanked his arrow free, stood, and then kicked the body with all of the force he could manage. “That’s for Zuzu!” He lifted his foot high, and then drove it down, heel first, into her face. “And that’s for my sister!” Phillip spat on her lifeless form, turned back toward Dearra, and said, “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 41
“It’s time,” Dearra said.
Darius nodded. Dearra was right. If they were going to try the spell to free Brin, it could wait no longer. The battle raged around them, and while the Mirin Tor were holding their own, they wouldn’t be able to go on indefinitely.
Reo ran alongside Darius, and Phillip kept pace with Dearra. The only time they paused was when a Breken challenged their progress to the mountains. Other than that, they ignored everything around them.
“We’ll have to find Jacob. Brin can’t hear him. If anything, his time with us has made him even crazier than he was before.” Dearra frowned. The mountain tunnels and caves were a maze. It could take quite a while to locate the prisoner.
“I know where he is, Dearra,” Phillip said confidently. “Carly said we needed to keep an eye on him at all times so he’s being kept with the food stores by the pool, because it’s kept under guard all the time. Even with their good hearts, the Mirin Tor get hungry like anyone else. The rations we get don’t always satisfy, and every once in a while the temptation to sneak in and supplement their diets proves to be too strong. The guards there are a tough lot. They have to be, or they’d probably give in to the pleas for just a bit more to eat. Anyway, they have Jacob watched really well.”
“Perfect, Phillip! That’s saved us a lot of time. Now, if I ask you to do something for me, will you obey without argument?” Dearra looked sidelong at the boy, and didn’t miss the way his face screwed into a pout.
“If you ask me as my sister, then probably not, but if you command me as Lord of Maj, then I will obey.”
Dearra puffed with pride. He was certainly growing into a fine man. “Then, as Lady of Maj, I command you to join the archers on the cliffs and do what you can to protect our flank. You are an excellent shot, Phillip. We can use your skill. I can take you to the spot I mean.”
“That’s okay. I know where it is. After all—”
Darius cleared his throat loudly, cutting Phillip off before he could tell his sister that he had been on those cliffs all day. Until, that is, he snuck away to find her.
Phillip looked at Darius and caught the slight shake of his head. Realization dawned on the young face. “After all,” Phillip continued, “I’ve seen them up there. I know a path I can use to join them.”
“Good. Thank you, Phillip.” Dearra didn’t relish putting her brother in harm’s way, but he was good, and he deserved the chance to fight. She could only protect him for so long. If their plan didn’t work, he would be forced to fight anyway.
They came to the spot where they would leave one another, and Dearra hugged Pip in a one-armed embrace.
Phillip whistled for Reo to come, but the wolf wanted no part of being separated from Darius again, and refused to budge.
“I’ve got him, Phillip. We’ll see you soon,” Darius said, smiling at the boy.
Phillip smiled in return, and then his face changed back to the serious look of someone who had important work to do. He raised a hand in salute, turned, and swept up the path that would take him to the archers above.
Darius reached down and ruffled the fur on Reo’s neck. “Together again, huh, boy?” Darius laughed out loud and the wolf tipped his head and perked up his ears as if trying to understand. Darius sent thoughts to the wolf, letting him know all was well, and Reo jumped up, put his paws on Darius’s chest, and licked his jaw. “That’s enough, now.” Darius gently pushed the wolf down. “Come on, Reo.”
They worked their way up the path that would lead them to the supply caves. Darius took Dearra’s hand into his own and they went forward together.
“No matter what happens,” he said, “I want you to know that I love you, and I wouldn’t change anything about our time together, even the rough patches, for it was those moments that made us stronger.”
“I love you, too. Forever.”
The mouth to the cave loomed before them. It took their eyes a moment to adjust to the torchlight within. Almost as soon as they’d arrived, three guards approached to investigate what was going on. They seemed only too pleased to hand over their prisoner. Dearra told them they should join the others, as protecting potatoes and carrots seemed a pretty low priority at that moment.
Darius ducked further into the cave and picked through the provisions. He was searching for the items they would need to set up the spell. He packed them all into a large sack and handed it to Dearra. He felt bad making her lug the heavy load, but he would need his hands free to control Jacob.
“I’m not going to help you! I won’t!” Jacob said in protest as Dearra unbound his feet and made sure that his wrists were still securely tied.
“I think I might be able to find some way to motivate you,” Darius growled. He shoved Jacob roughly to get him moving.
They took the steep path that would lead them away from the mountain and onto the top of one of the foothills. They wanted to be able to see in all directions to make sure they wouldn’t be interrupted without warning. Also, if the spell were a catastrophic failure, even a little distance between them and the Mirin Tor might save some lives.
Jacob twisted his body, repeatedly trying to break free of Darius’s grip. His eyes seemed to roll wildly in their sockets as he searched for any chance of escape.
“You’ll kill us all,” Jacob whined.
“Maybe,” Dearra said, “but maybe not. We may even let you live if you do as you’re told.”
“You won’t! I know you too well. You’ll kill me no matter what. Why should I even consider doing as you ask?”
“First off,” Darius said, “we’re not asking, we’re telling. Secondly, it all comes down to choices. We all have them, even you. You can choose to help us, and we’ll either let you live or kill you quickly, and painlessly. Your other choice is to try to fight us, in which case I will ensure that you suffer, and when it’s done, you will beg me to kill you.”
Jacob uttered something that sounded like a whimper.
Dearra rolled her eyes. She thought that if they lived through this, it would indeed be kinder to kill Jacob. What a miserable existence he had. He could never be trusted, so, if he lived, he would need to be kept prisoner forever. It wasn’t even his fault, really. His mind had never been quite right. She was surprised to discover that she didn’t even hate him anymore. How can you hate someone who had no control over his thoughts or actions?
Still, that didn’t mean she was ready to trust him. She couldn’t hate a viper for being a viper—it was what it was born to be, but that didn’t mean she should take one to bed with her. If the viper were content to slither away and bother her no more, she was just as happy to let it go, but Jacob would never truly be gone. Even if he meant to go and leave them in peace, his mind would continue to needle at him until he was driven to return again and cause more trouble.
Dearra looked down the hill and saw that the Mirin Tor had once again been backed up to the pass. The Breken were threatening to break past them in spots. Dearra watched as the king directed troops to reinforce those trying to hold the Breken off.
Dearra could
see, now, where her fairy guard had disappeared to. They were grouped together, struggling to keep the Breken at bay. The spells seemed feeble. The fire was not as high, the winds not as fierce. They were tiring. They must have lost sight of Dearra and Darius in the battle and regrouped to do what they could.
“Brin? You should tell Aesri where we are.” Dearra knew that the fairies would be worried.
I’ve told them. They have been trying to get to us for a while, but they are meeting resistance. There isn’t anything they can do to help now, anyway. They’re better off where they are.
She felt blessed to have so many people around her who cared about her. Her father had been right—he was with her still, forever. He showed himself in Phillip, who was becoming a brave, honest, and reliable young man. He showed himself in the acts of kindness from the Mirin Tor and the Etrafarians. He showed himself in the love that Darius had for her. He even showed himself in the loyal eyes of one winter wolf. Dearra stroked the animal’s fine head. When she stopped, Reo took himself off and lay in the grass where he could watch Dearra and Darius, ready to respond the instant either of them called.
Dearra surveyed the top of the hill, looking for just the right spot. “The circle won’t be as round as the one Carly made for us, but it will have to do.”
Lay me flat on the ground, Dearra. Let me try. We’re not going to take any unnecessary chances. Brin’s blade began to glow as soon as she rested it on the grass. Sit ignis. Sit circuli hujus, spiritus est in draconem absque fine trahunt. (Let there be fire. May the breath of the dragon draw this circle without end.)
A flash of fire propelled outward from the blade and left a perfect circle of scorched earth behind, five feet in diameter.
It’s not really a circle. Strictly speaking, it’s an orb, but it’s round, and the edges are perfect.
Candles were placed around the circle, and a shallow metal bowl was set into the center. There were only a few meager sticks and a handful of incense within it, but the fire didn’t need to be large.
Darius continued to hold Jacob tightly, and dragged him to the circle so the fire and candles could be lit. He passed his hand over them and they sputtered to life.
Dearra reached under her leather armor and withdrew the folded parchment that held the words to the spell. She unfolded it and shoved it into Jacob’s shaking hands.
“Reo!” Darius said crisply, and the wolf was up and alert in an instant. “Watch him!” Darius said the words aloud for Jacob’s benefit. He could have just as easily conveyed the message to the animal in his thoughts, but he wanted to ensure that Jacob got the point.
Darius released the grip on Jacob’s arm. The man sidled a step away, but was halted by an ominous snarl. Reo bristled and bared his teeth at the man, and Jacob froze in place, eyeing the wolf warily.
Dearra was watching the fight when the swirl of a white cape drew her attention. Down the hill, a hundred yards distant, Cifera stepped from the woods and stared up at them. Even at this distance, Dearra could not mistake the look of rage on the woman’s face. She stalked forward several paces until she was out of the shadow of the trees. The creature named Dibbuc flew just behind her.
“Darius!” Dearra called out. A sliver of fear had worked its way into her heart.
“I see her, Dearra. We’ve got to hurry.”
Dearra watched in terrified fascination as Cifera undid the clasp of her cloak and let it flutter to the ground, exposing her clawed hand and misshapen arm. For a moment, the woman appeared to almost blur around the edges, and then a violent tremble swept through her, like an invisible and soundless explosion. Where once there had been a woman, now there was a gigantic white dragon.
Cifera spread her wings and reared up on her hind legs. She issued a roar that was so loud, it reached the ears of the combatants on the field of battle. Even with the distance that separated the fighters from the roar, they all saw the dragon.
“Dearra! Hurry,” Darius screamed at her, but she was in shock. Her death was approaching. Brin said nothing. He was as locked in the moment as was Dearra, both of them paralyzed with fear.
Cifera started to beat her wings, lifting her immense bulk and sending debris in all directions. And then—
“No, Cifera! I cannot allow you to harm them!” Niada came running and stopped in front of the dragon. Only a few feet separated them.
It was almost laughable. The enormous dragon pulled up short and came to a rest in front of the diminutive fairy. There was a startled and confused look on the dragon’s face.
“Do not defy me, child,” the dragon said. “I do not wish to hurt you, but I will not be stopped.”
“Cifera, I have taken an oath to protect the dragon, Brin’du Drak’Tir. I cannot break that oath.”
“Child, I have waited a long time for this moment. I was weakened when the wizard, Oke, saved Brin’du Drak’Tir from me. It should have been over then, but the wizard’s spell bit deep, and it took me centuries to be able to transform back into my human form. I have bided my time. I have searched, and Dibbuc has searched for me. I will have my revenge!”
“Revenge? Cifera, I do not understand. Please, let us talk.”
“No more talk!” Once again, Cifera spread her wings, and her eyes narrowed to slits.
“Hurry, Dearra! Do it now!” Niada called out to her.
Darius yanked her arm, pulling her from her trance. The last thing Dearra saw was Niada holding her hands before her, poised to defend herself.
“Say the words, Jacob,” Darius said.
Jacob swallowed a few times but then began to speak.
Blood of my enemy,
From across the sea.
Pure of body,
No taint can there be.
Blood of the warrior,
Wild, brave, and free.
Blood of the dragon,
Imprisoned by me.
Trapped in a cage,
By the blood of all three.
Locked in steel,
Bound without key.
Dearra took hold of the sword and ran her hand down the blade. Darius did the same and then tipped his hand to allow his blood to join with hers, both of them careful not to let the blood reach the flames before the appointed time. Darius took the sword and moved it a safe distance away.
There was a high, piercing shriek of agony. Darius looked up in time to see Niada consumed in a wall of freezing blue flames.
Dearra’s throat constricted painfully. The dragon was charging in their direction. Darius ran back to Dearra, and he rested his hands on her shoulders.
Just before Dearra closed her eyes, she saw the Etrafarians. They had arrived too late for Niada, but in time to shield Dearra and Darius with their bodies.
Time slowed down. Dearra could hear the beat of her own heart. She tipped her hand and felt the blood as it fell to the flames below. She even had time to pick out the strange sizzling sound as the blood made contact with the fire.
***
Darius pushed himself upright and waited for the ringing in his ears to subside. The first thing he was aware of was the smell of blood, and hot breath in his face. His vision cleared, and as the whiteness dissipated, it was replaced by another kind of white, only not as blinding, and spattered red.
Reo’s face was only an inch from his own. The wolf had been protecting him, waiting for him to wake up. Darius was concerned that the wolf had been injured. There was so much blood. But then Darius saw Jacob’s body. Darius’s sword was in his hand. The man must have come to first and saw his chance for freedom, revenge, or both. Unfortunately for Jacob, Reo had been quicker.
Dearra stirred beside him, and he helped her to sit up.
“Brin!” she said, and the two of them turned.
He was magnificent, every inch as large as Cifera was. His scales were red, but where the light hit them, they almost shimmered gold. His body seemed unnaturally still, and Dearra staggered to her feet and rushed to his side.
Aesri was already there
. Her hands stroked his face, her tears falling like raindrops on his head. Dearra knelt beside her, her own tears flowing freely.
Dearra rested her head against his. “Please, Brin. Please wake up,” she whispered. There was a sharp intake of breath through his mighty nostrils and when he exhaled, Dearra could feel the air, like a blast from a furnace. His eyes opened, and they were the same magnificent gold as the gem that had once adorned the hilt of her blade.
“Dearra? Did we live?” he asked her.
Dearra laughed aloud and swiped the tears from her cheeks. “So far,” she responded, “but the day isn’t over yet, so don’t get too excited.”
He shifted his bulk and stood up. Dearra reached up and wiped a tear from his face.
“Are you all right? You aren’t hurt are you?”
“I feel…I feel…It’s been so long.” Brin sucked in a deep breath. He exhaled a long, slow breath. “I’m free.”
Dearra smiled at him.
“Look,” Aesri said. “They are running away.”
The Breken were indeed fleeing before the Mirin Tor who pursued them.
“Aesri,” Darius said, “where is Cifera? What happened? We didn’t see.”
Dearra and Brin looked at her expectantly.
“After Niada fell,” here, Aesri’s eyes filled with tears again, and she was quiet for some time before she could continue, “we arrived too late to save her. If it had not been for her sacrifice, we would not have been in time to help you, either. My brothers and sisters and I blocked Cifera’s way. She did not seem very strong. It was as though the magic she performed against Niada had depleted her strength. There was not much fight left in her.”
“She said something about that. She said that when she tried to destroy Brin, she was wounded by the wizard, Oke. Evidently, the wounds took a long time to heal, and even now, she isn’t at her full strength.” Dearra tried to piece together what Cifera had said. She still couldn’t understand what Brin’s mother could have done for Cifera to hate her so, seeking vengeance on a dragon who had yet to be hatched.
Echoes Page 28
