Travellers (Warriors, Heroes, and Demons Book 2)

by Dave Skinner

  “You will cease struggling and do not be foolish enough to think your flame will defeat us. We saw your stomach heaving. We are impervious to your fire breath.” He smiled.

  Ichaca burped a small gust of fire. The wizard was correct—he was protected against the flame, but in the midst of it he did not see Ichaca’s front claw snake out. With a quick snatch the dragon flipped the wizard directly into his mouth and crunched. The resulting sound was satisfying although the taste was terrible. He spit the torn remains at the other two wizards. It followed them through the opening they had created to escape. Ichaca sent a spume of flame after them for good measure before leaping into the air. He would have to find a new nesting place, but first he would fly the volcano again to burn off any residue of the binding spell they had attempted. That spell had worked when he was a cave worm, but once was enough.

  He spent the day after his lava bath and a steam, finding and preparing a new nest sight. It was high up on the side of a mountain. The flat area he tore out for a bed was only large enough for his body. When he curled up for the night, Ichaca was sure he would not have any more visitors, but still his mind would not settle with his body.

  He kept thinking about the two KaAnians who had freed him years before. Were they involved with the fight against the Demon Lord? He hoped not. Ichaca did not trust intelligent beings of any type, but he had a special dislike for demons and their ilk. They even tasted foul as he had been reminded yesterday. He tossed and turned well into the night and only managed to sleep by promising himself to drop in on KaAn to see how they fared. In a few days, if he was bored, he would undertake the excursion. In a few days.

  Chapter 29

  Two more days of climbing brought Ran and Tamican to the snow line and into a snow storm. They found shelter for the night, but the following morning the snow was still falling, heavy wet flakes that stayed where they landed. Ran would have preferred to wait out the storm, but Tamican’s fever had returned during the night, and the boy was barely coherent. He had told Ran the night before that, if they were lucky, they would reach the pass to the Skyrider’s valley today. “I would like to be buried there,” the boy had finished.

  “Nonsense,” Ran had tried to reassure him. “We will make it.” Now, his confidence had been buried by the snow. He was only sure of one thing: Tamican would die without immediate help.

  Ran packed their supplies, loaded the boy on his back, and wrapped the bearskin around them. With a curse to the Destroyer, he set out. The snow was blinding, but the sky was lighter ahead and he could see a lightening where a saddle between two mountains slopped down to form the pass Tamican had told him was their path. Each time Ran stopped to rest, Tamican’s condition was worse. By late afternoon he could not get a response from the boy at all. He trudged on. The day faded. The snowstorm stopped, stars blazed above them, and a half-moon lit the landscape. Ran pushed on.

  He saw a lone pine tree ahead. It seemed to take most of the night to reach it, but eventually he staggered within reach. Pulling his knife he cut branches and bound them together with rawhide. Sacrificing the last scrap of Manda’s shirt and the last few drops of oil from his gourd, he managed to get a flame going on the torch. Shouldering his pack and the silent Tamican again, he continued to trudge forward while holding the flaming torch as high as possible. He lost all sense of direction, all sense of movement, and finally all sense of self. He found himself crawling, the torch gone somewhere. With his last strength he filled his lungs and shouted to the mountains, “Tamican.”

  ***

  Ran regained consciousness with a soft mattress beneath him. He was on the floor in the middle of a small bedroom. A light warm sheet covered his naked body. He could see his clothes folded neatly and sitting on a bed to one side of the room. The sound of light breathing came from another bed against the wall on the other side. His effort to move brought an involuntary grown that he tried to bury in his chest. The breathing from the bed stopped, and a young Far Darrig rose from it.

  “Be at ease, friend. You are safe. My parents wish to be told as soon as you awake. I will tell them now.” The youth pulled a red robe about his body and started away but stopped and turned back.

  “Thank you for my brother’s life.”

  “He lives?” Ran asked.

  “Yes, for now, but it is too early to say if he will remain among the living or join our ancestors beyond the mountains. I must get my parents. Please excuse me.”

  Ran heard soft sounds of quiet talk and then movement. The youth returned shortly with an older Far Darrig, also in a red robe. A long white beard suggested a man of some years. He carried a mug.

  “I have a drink here that will ease your muscles,” he said. “I image even someone as strong as you must feel sore from exhaustion.”

  “Thank you,” Ran said, as he sat up. The liquid was clear and smelled of peppermint. A small taste brought a feeling of wellbeing rushing through his body. A long drink drained the mug.

  “My wife is preparing food. It is early, but we often break our fast before the sun touches the valley floor. We thank you for returning Tamican to us. You have brought great joy to our hearts.”

  “He is badly hurt inside his chest. I hope he can be mended. I have come to think fondly of him. I was sorry that I could not do more for him to ease his pain.”

  “He is with our finest healer. My wife and I believe he will recover, but life has a way of surprising one sometimes. My name is Kerrycon. I am father to Tamican and his brother Rubic, here. My wife will want to introduce herself.”

  “My name is Ran.”

  “Well, Ran, I smell bacon and corn bread. We will leave you to dress and meet you in the kitchen.”

  Ran’s stomach rumbled with anticipation. He dressed quickly and ducked his way out the low doorway. The room beyond resembled the central room of the cabin he had grown up in, except for the ceiling being lower. A large fireplace/oven made of square-cut stone dominated one wall. What looked like comfortable, although smallish, wooden chairs formed a cozy area off to one side while a large table dominated the center of the room. The furniture was intricately carved. The chairs around the table looked too delicate for someone of Ran’s size, but he noticed a sturdy bench was also available. Kerrycon and Rubic were seated in chairs at the table. A small plump woman was serving them from a large black frypan.

  She placed the pan on the table as he came forward. He watched Rubic steal another strip of bacon.

  “Thank you for returning our son to us,” she said, as she wrapped her arms around his waist and held them there. Although her head only reached his waist, he could feel the strength in her embrace. “If you were shorter, I would kiss you. Know that you are a friend to this family. We are indebted to you. Now, have a seat. You must be hungry. I hope I made enough food,” she finished as she released him. “My name is Ara, and you are…”

  “My name is Ran, Ara, and it looks like you cooked for an army.”

  She laughed, a delightful sound that made him smile. “We have never entertained a... person of your size before. I was unsure of how much you would eat. I hope you like bacon and corn bread.”

  “Two of my favorites,” Ran replied as he found a comfortable position on the bench.

  Ara heaped his plate with food. They all concentrated on eating.

  “Would you like a tour around the village?” Kerrycon asked when they finished.

  “Very much, I am interested in the birds your people fly and, if possible, I would visit Tamican.”

  Chapter 30

  The large doors of the throne room thudded closed as the demons came forward. Transgarin inspected them. He would choose one to lead his army against the KaAnians. A groveler would not do. Of the ten originally identified, only these three had survived the dragon tests. All looked proud of their accomplishment.

  “I congratulate you all on surviving your testing. You have done well, but one more challenge has to be met, as only one leader is required. I need someone who s
hows initiative, a fast thinker who is not afraid to take chances. I leave it up to you to suggest the final method of testing.” Pointing at the demon on the right he continued. “Let us start with you. What would you suggest?”

  “A race, my Lord. Fleet of foot is also fleet of mind.”

  “I believe you are a racer of renown, are you not?” Transgarin asked.

  “Yes, my Lord. I pride myself on being able to move and think quickly.”

  Transgarin stoked his chin and pointed to the demon at the other end of the line. “Do you agree?”

  “Na, my Lord. I suggest a game of chance. Luck plays a large part in all wars. A leader should be both capable and lucky.”

  Transgarin leveled his gaze on the demon in the centre. “What is your opinion?”

  “I agree with what my companions have said, my Lord. A leader must be fast, capable, and lucky, but there is one characteristic my esteemed colleagues have not mentioned which I would add.” The demon’s hands fell to the handles of the two knives protruding from his belt. “He must be alive,” he stated, as he drove his knives into the throats of the other two.

  Transgarin smiled. “Your name?”

  “Rapterron, my Lord.”

  “Rapterron, you will lead my army against the KaAn host. You have one dragon currently. The search is ongoing for a second. I will have Fluffercain affirm your position with your peers. Get me my crystals and kill the KaAnians.”

  “I will incorporate the dragon into our next battle. I believe it will devastate the KaAnian army.”

  “Good, now, Sarinson my beast master is waiting. Send him in to me and inform Fluffercain a disposal is needed.”

  “As you command, my Lord,” Rapterron said. He bowed and backed away.

  Transgarin let the large crystal globe beside him command his attention again. The whiteness within called to him continuously now. At first he ignored it for weeks on end, but not anymore. Now it scratched at his mind, a little niggly thing that disturbed his waking hours. It needed attention. It needed solving.

  He heard the throne room doors clank shut and looked up to see his master of beasts approaching.

  “At your service, Lord.”

  “How is the search for the second dragon proceeding?”

  “Slowly, Lord. Dragons have been on decline for many thousands of years. There seem to be far fewer than the last time we searched.”

  “When was that?”

  “During the old Lord’s reign. He had heard of the birth of a strange dragon. It bothered him, so he ordered the family destroyed. “

  “He destroyed the parents and the worm?”

  “So the story says, my Lord. He killed both adult dragons and the white worm.”

  Transgarin’s head jerked forward as he growled. “The newborn was white!”

  “Y...y... yes, Lord.” Fear was evident in the ogre’s eyes, “but most newborns are white, or so the books claim.”

  Transgarin’s gaze fell on the globe and stayed there. Eventually he looked to Sarinson again. “Are all of my wizards searching for the second dragon?”

  “Yes, Lord. All nine searchers are engaged in the looking.”

  “Take two groups off the task. I want them searching for a white dragon. I have penetrated the haze within the crystal enough to get the impression of dragon. Send them to me soonest. I will point them in the direction I want them to search.”

  “Yes, Lord. Shall I mention to Lord Rapterron that having only three wizards searching for the second dragon will take more time then what was originally promised?”

  “Certainly, tell him to speak with me if he has a problem. You are dismissed.”

  Transgarin was lost in the whiteness within the crystal globe before Sarinson had reached the door.

  Chapter 31

  “Have you been close to a teratorn?” Kerrycon asked as they approached a large area at the side of the village which was fenced off with well-fitted stones.

  “No,” Ran admitted, “but I look forward to it.”

  The Skyrider village was located in a wide canyon encircled by high cliffs. Ran could barely make out the rock walls on the far side of the canyon, but on this side where the village was located, the walls were close. Kerrycon and Rubic had led Ran through the village which, to Ran’s mind, was typical of many settlements he had seen, except for the smaller size of the buildings and the rock construction. Kerrycon was a stone mason who took pride in his work. He identified many buildings his hands had crafted. Like many tradesmen, he expected his sons to join him in his craft.

  “Rubic looks forward to learning the ways of the trade, but Tamican wishes for something different. His hands have a talent for leather work which I encouraged, but he wanted to ride the skies—a typical wish for many young men, but when it came time for the weighing on his name day he was too heavy.”

  “So the birds are limited in what they can carry?” Ran asked.

  “The birds are used to hunt and carry, so having a smaller rider means they can carry additional weight, but the size of the rider is more important at first when the pair is training. Our birds are bred for size, but are still limited by their nature. You will see what I mean when we fly you out of here... if that is how you wish to leave.”

  Ran felt a tingle of anticipation. “A bird would be able to carry me?”

  “One bird, no. You would have to be carried in a net by four birds, but it is still faster than walking. There is no need to decide right now. See the birds first.”

  They had arrived at the structure’s stone wall and followed it towards the cliff. The ground rose as they walked and Ran found he was able to look into the enclosure before long. The stone wall continued up to the cliff and encircled a bed of sand, on which ten birds rested. Most birds sat on a pile of branches, twigs and grasses which Ran reasoned were nests. Two stood. One was drinking from a large pail of water placed close to a nest. Other pails were visible at other locations across the sand.

  Judging from the two standing birds, Ran estimated they were as tall as he was. The legs were short, as were the necks, so most of the size was in the body. They reminded Ran of vultures in colour and shape although the heads were larger, and the beaks were longer and more wickedly curved. A collar of white feathers encircled the neck, adding to the vulture-like appearance. The feathers of the body were a dark purple, so dark as to look black where the sun did not make them sparkle. The short muscular legs ended in talons. A predator for sure.

  Ran considered how he would go about killing one if necessary. As if sensing his thoughts all the heads turned towards him, but then he heard sounds coming from the entrance of a cave located in the face of the cliff, and realized the birds were looking that way. A procession of Far Derrig came into sight.

  The group resolved into ten pairs, a variety of men and women with an older person accompanied by a younger.

  “The riders,” Rubic whispered, awe apparent in his tone.

  Kerrycon leaned closer to Ran, “The older riders belong with the mothers who are birthing. The youngsters are the riders to be. They learn how to care for the birds while waiting for the hatchlings to break forth.”

  Each pair, carrying a large covered basket between them, made their way to an individual bird. The youngest of the pair reached under the basket lids and pulled forth a rabbit which was passed to the older rider. With a practiced flick of hand and arm, each rider tossed a rabbit to a bird. The birds snapped them up as they arced through the air. Not one escaped. Ran did not witness a single miss by the birds although a few times a fur-covered foot escaped the snapping beak and ended up on the sand. At the completion of the feeding the older riders spent some time stroking their birds while the youngsters gathered up the feet.”

  “The feet are treated and sold as talisman,” Rubic said. “Some consider them lucky.”

  “Superstition,” Kerrycon snorted, his derision obvious. “Only the feet of wild rabbits are lucky. Ours are bred in captivity; they do not eat the foods that cau
se luck to develop.”

  “Oh, look,” Rubic pointed at the top of the canyon wall where birds were taking to the sky from cave entrances. “I never get tired of seeing them fly,” he admitted.

  Kerrycon looked at Ran and shrugged his shoulders. “Youth, what can you do?” For a few moments he too looked skyward before he sighed and turned away. “Shall we see if Tamican is available to visitors?”

  The healer’s house was located close to the centre of town. It was the same one story height as the other dwellings, but looked more substantial because of a high stone wall that ran across the front and extended for the equivalent of three houses. Kerrycon knocked at the wooden door and they were shown into a garden area hidden by the wall. They were bid to wait. After a little time, an elderly woman with pure blue hair joined them.

  “Tamican will make a full recovery if I am any judge,” she told Kerrycon. “You can visit for a short time, but he still needs to heal. He tires quickly.”

  She led them into a large room containing multiple beds, all empty except for one. Tamican was awake. He greeted his father and brother warmly and then turned to Ran.

  “Thank you, Ran, for everything. I am in your debt.”

  “No debt owing, Tamican. At the end of our climb, I thought I had lost you. Your recovery gladdens my heart.

  “I wish you would stay around until I am able to move about. Is that possible?”

  “I think not. I must be on my way soon, but I will come and visit every day I am here, if allowed.”

  “I see no problem with that,” the healer stated.

  “There you are,” Ara said as she entered the room. “I have been looking for you.”

  “Hello, Mother.”

  Ara came to the bed and gave her son a gentle hug. “You can tell me all about your adventure in a few days when you are feeling better. I will bide a bit today, but your father and Ran must away.” She turned to her husband. “The Elder wishes to meet Ran. She is waiting.”