The Huntresses' Game

by Joe Jackson

  At last they reached the side of a hill, and the light disappeared into the ground. Kari waited for it to return, but it didn’t, and after a few minutes, she stepped forward and touched the side of the embankment. Her hand passed through, and she looked over her shoulder at Aeligos, who was shocked. He couldn’t see the light at all, so Kari figured to him, it must have looked like she just found the illusory wall by chance.

  “That is some impressive illusion,” he said, putting a hand to his chin as he inspected the perfect blending with the hillside.

  “Seems like something a dragon would do to hide the entrance to its lair. Unless maybe it was looking for trouble like you-know-who,” Kari answered, gesturing toward Fireblade’s lair with her head.

  She passed through the false wall, only a little wider and higher than a tall man. Aeligos came through the illusory wall behind her, and both stared in wide-eyed awe at the shimmering, archway-encased portal tucked within. Much like the portal that brought them back from the edge of oblivion or the gateway to Mehr’Durillia they’d destroyed in the syrinthian valley, this was an obvious means of shifting people from one place to another. There was nothing that indicated it belonged to Alamarise or would take them to his lair, but it was what they had been looking for, at least.

  Kari’s little guiding light paced back and forth before the portal. Its mannerisms were so odd, almost like it was too impatient to be an angel. Then Kari reminded herself that she knew nothing about angels, and that sometimes, she appeared to be a little slow to those around her. “Thank you, whoever you are,” she said, and the light dimmed and then brightened, almost as if it had winked at her. It disappeared, then, leaving the two in the darkness of the cave with only the barely-perceptible shimmer of the portal before them. Kari and Aeligos exchanged a glance and then stepped through the portal.

  They arrived on solid ground, but all around them was the foggy fluff of clouds. It was cool and the air thinner up here, and the night sky was bright and expansive over them. Kari’s jaw dropped as she beheld a giant castle with a front door large enough for a full-grown dragon to pass through.

  “Mom is never going to believe this,” Aeligos said.

  Kari laughed. “I can hardly believe it.”

  Chapter XIV – The Cloud Dragon and the Oracle

  Kari and Aeligos approached the castle doors. There was something odd about the walls of the palace, almost as if they lacked substance. It was difficult for Kari’s mind to comprehend, since she was standing on clouds as it was. What sort of magic was this, that allowed something to not just live in the clouds, but build a castle among them and have guests? She looked at her feet, shrouded in the foggy fluff, and was suddenly glad she couldn’t see the ground, however far below it was. Wings or not, she was pretty sure that was a sight that would turn her stomach.

  More impressive was the starry sky above, somehow even more majestic and awe-inspiring than it appeared from the ground. Kari had never spent that much time considering the heavens above, even when lying under a blanket beneath the night sky as she traveled from place to place. Somewhere out there, presumably, was Earth – the planet the humans had come from some three thousand years before, and somewhere, too, were Mehr’Durillia, Hrastiria, and an untold number of other worlds. The bright bands of light that streaked through the heavens’ brilliant, sequined overcoat were nothing short of spectacular, and even with the weight of everything before her, Kari felt small, insignificant.

  “Enter,” came a deep, resonating voice as the doors of the palace opened.

  I wonder if the heavens make even a dragon feel that way, she thought.

  Though night had fallen outside, the interior of the castle was brilliantly illuminated. At first, Kari expected to see innumerable light sources to brighten it so, but as it turned out, there were actually few of them. What multiplied and intensified their splendor were the gleaming scales of an immense silver dragon whose curled, sinuous form filled the majority of the castle’s open entry room. Every inch of the dragon’s metallic scales reflected the light in little rainbows and sparkling hues, casting a mock starry sky upon the domed ceiling above. His great head was adorned with ivory horns, dozens of them of varying lengths and thickness.

  Kari paused just inside the doorway. While it appeared there were other parts of the palace that might accommodate humanoid visitors, the entire center section was one big, open room. Alamarise filled the majority of it, though around its perimeter stood treasures and trophies of indescribable beauty and priceless value. Sets of plate mail – some elven, some more traditionally human – stood at attention on mannequins. Many of these also bore decorative and fascinating weapons. Shields bearing unfamiliar coats of arms hung with crossed swords behind them at intervals along the walls.

  The centerpiece of the grand hall – aside from the dragon residing in it, of course – was a set of polished plate armor with a winged helm and a great spear-headed lance clutched in the mannequin’s hand. It was no more impressive than any of the other sets of armor or weapons about the room – less so than the elven, to Kari’s eye – but it held some great value to the elder silver dragon. Its central location and prominence said that clearly.

  The eyes of the great wyrm watched his guests as they inspected his domicile. Deep purple with slit pupils, his eyes showed a great many things at first glance: wisdom, warmth, respect. Kari might have even said hope if someone asked what she saw; was the dragon aware of why they had come? Had he expected them, or at least expected someone to come and ask for his help with Zaliskower after all these years? He was said to be a pacifist, but the armor and weapons around the room made Kari wonder if the people of Terrassia had him all wrong.

  “Greetings, noble Alamarise,” Kari said, sweeping into a respectful bow that Aeligos mimicked.

  The dragon lifted his great head and stared down at them. It was a little unnerving to have something so large and powerful gaze down at them like they were insignificant, even if his gaze said he didn’t see them as such. “Welcome, Lady Karian Vanador,” Alamarise intoned, his deep voice rumbling like thunder through his cloud-top palace. “They are indeed strange times when someone I knew of several mortal lifetimes ago once again walks the world, and comes to visit me in my very home. I welcome you to my abode. You honor me with your presence.”

  Kari was surprised at that. “I am honored to visit your home, mighty dragon.”

  He chuckled, a deep rumble in his lower throat. “And what of you, young man?” he asked, fixing his amethyst gaze upon Aeligos.

  “Frankly, I am a bit awestruck,” the rogue said. “You are the first dragon I have ever come face to face with, my lord. I am Aeligos Tesconis, and I consider it an honor and a privilege to stand in your presence.”

  Alamarise crossed his front legs and looked a bit puffed up by the flattery. Kari had to stifle a laugh, but Aeligos had done well. It was always a good policy to lay it on a bit thick with dragons, and if Alamarise truly was the first one Aeligos had met, the rogue’s instincts hadn't failed him. Still, dragons were very particular beings, and Kari understood that the initial flattery was only a part of the lengthy introductions that would be expected. Dragons lived for centuries and millennia, and they were not given to casual relationships; when one was introduced to a dragon, the first impression was extremely important, both for dragon and acquaintance.

  “I’m honored that you know of me, but most of what I’ve heard of you has been tales and rumors,” Kari said. “We would be honored to hear of your name and deeds in your own words.”

  Alamarise turned his head and gazed at Kari through a single purple eye. “You know of the ways of my kind, it would seem. This must be due to your relationship with Ashurinax the Black, yes?” Kari gave an over-exaggerated nod, more of a bow of the head. “I am called Alamarise, the Cloud Dragon, the Untarnished Winter Wyrm, the Coldbringer, and the Lord of the Morning Skies. I am also called, by some of your people, a Veteran of the Apocalypse. And lastly, I am the former
mount to the honorable Sir Mitchell Steinbeck.”

  Kari glanced at the suit of armor that had the honored place in the center of the great hall. She pointed at it, and the massive dragon nodded. “That is Sir Steinbeck’s armor, gifted to me when the great knight flew his last sortie with me. I have borne other riders in my lifetime, but none so dedicated, gracious, or compassionate.”

  “So the legends of the dragon-riders are true?” Kari asked.

  “Indeed they are, though the tales told these days grow further and further from the truth,” he answered, reversing the crossing of his clawed front feet. “It was a tradition brought here from the far west, on the island of Tsalbrin and the western coast of Dannumore in the early ages of your peoples’ history. Oh yes, there are still dragon-riders amongst the bah’qitur of Dannumore to this day. When the elves came here from Tsalbrin, they brought the ancient ways of the bah’qitur with them, though our kind have never prospered here, so keeping the traditions alive was impossible.”

  There were elves on Tsalbrin, Kari thought. I knew it. How long did the czarikk keep the knowledge of their language after the elves left?

  “Do you still have a rider?” Aeligos asked.

  “No, young one. A dragon of my size does not make a suitable mount. Dragon-riders are bonded with and assigned to younger dragons. As I understand it, it teaches the young dragons respect and humility, and once they grow to a certain size, they are released to return to our kind. At least, that is how things are handled on Dannumore. I have a much different history with the tradition, and have borne only one rider in these last several centuries.”

  He paused, and Kari expected he didn’t want to reveal that if he had stopped there. “Is Ashurinax still alive? Do you know anything about him or where he’s gone to?” she asked to change the subject a bit.

  “He left Terrassia many years ago for other skies,” Alamarise answered. “He is not dead. I have not had any contact with him in decades, but I have heard of him through secretive but reliable sources. As I understand it, if he wants to be found, you will find him. Otherwise, you should respect his wishes.”

  Kari nodded. “You said you’re a veteran of the Apocalypse?”

  “Some of your people call me by that honorific. Others call me coward, pacifist, or other choice names I shall not repeat in polite company. You must understand, I am not young, even by the standards of my kind. I have been fighting for the majority of my life. I choose now to spend my time waiting and watching, aiding where I am required, but otherwise enjoying what life has to offer one of my age. I did not involve myself directly in the Apocalypse, but when the demon king Arku invaded my homeland, I was forced to intervene. However, I was still hesitant to act until…”

  He paused again, then looked toward what Kari suspected was the north, though what that gesture meant, she wasn’t sure. He continued, “Until I heard his call. The king of the luranar, Kalamaris Talvorus, called upon me to bear him into combat. If you are wondering at our names being so similar, it is no coincidence. I cannot explain it, but there was a connection between us, and I felt honor-bound to bear this noble paladin into battle against the demon king. Alas, though I fought beside him and his allies, he fell in combat. He and his people achieved victory, but at great cost; some of them attributed the victory to me, while others assigned me the blame for the great cost. So yes, I am a veteran of the Apocalypse; make of it what you will.”

  “I call you a brother-in-arms,” Kari said. “Your reasons are your own.”

  The dragon bowed his head graciously, then turned his attention to Aeligos. “I know of the deeds of your companion quite well, most especially her efforts against the mighty Fireblade. Would you care to speak of yourself, young one?”

  Aeligos scoffed, then put a hand to his mouth and shook his head. “No, my lord. Like you, I’m a veteran of the Apocalypse, but I think beside you and my sister-in-law here, the things I have done in my life pale in comparison. I am honored to aid Kari where I can, but when it comes to personal achievements, I fall quite short of her mark.”

  Kari wanted to counter that, but bit it back. “Humility, a trait lacking in so many would-be heroes these days,” Alamarise said approvingly. “I am suitably impressed. You have honored me and yourselves. Now that we have dispensed with formality, please, tell me what you require of me.”

  “My lord, Zalkar the Unyielding, tasked me with putting the vampire Annabelle to rest,” Kari began to explain. “She was my friend, almost like a sister, and even served as my partner for many months when she was rising through the ranks of our Order. On her own, I’m sure I can best her, but as you probably know, she keeps company with another of your kind – the great black dragon Zaliskower, who–”

  The dragon made a sound deep in his throat, and Kari stopped talking. “A shell of one of my kind, just as Annabelle is a shell of one of your kind. Lost, corrupted, and devoid of the grandeur or the honor of our kind, Zaliskower has become. But forgive my interruption.”

  “I’m not tasked with destroying Zaliskower, though I’d like to if I can manage it,” Kari continued. “But I can’t fight both of them at once. Either one is enough of a test; and I have to bring reinforcements just to deal with their minions. What I would ask of you, my lord, is that you come and engage Zaliskower. You don’t need to kill him or even fight him directly; if you can just keep him away from Annabelle and let me do my work, that alone might drive him off.”

  The dragon considered her for a minute. “No,” he said quietly, or at least as quietly as he could with that thunderous voice.

  Kari was shocked; she expected he would at least think about it before turning her down flatly. She thought about the people who called him a pacifist and coward, but was more of the mind that Zaliskower might be even more powerful than she had come to believe. She wanted to give Alamarise the benefit of the doubt, but that still left her a bit disappointed. “If that’s your decision, my lord, we will respect it. If you could just show us the way back down, we won’t trouble you any further.”

  He angled his head back as if suddenly seeing her for the first time. “Hmmm? Oh, you misunderstand,” Alamarise said, shifting his long reptilian body so that the light sparkled and blinded his guests temporarily. “I was simply answering my own thoughts, not your question. I will, of course, aid you, Lady Vanador. However, I do not think this coming battle will be as straightforward as you believe. If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, there is an oracle in the southlands that I would like you to speak with first. She is kwarrasti, and lives among the nomadic tribe of her people despite her exalted position. Let us go and speak with her first, and see what she has to say on the matter. Once we have her insight, we will rally these allies of yours and take the fight to our enemies.”

  Aeligos leaned toward Kari. “I’m thinking you’re not going to need me to talk anymore once you reach the rank of Avatar.”

  Kari shoved his shoulder playfully. “I’m concerned about time, great Alamarise; the kwarrasti are far to the south, if we’re truly above Emerald City. But if you think it’s best to see the oracle first, we can make the time for it. The wisdom of dragons is considered almost sacred even among our people.”

  “It is better to make the time and suffer minor loss, than to rush in hastily and suffer a total failure,” he agreed. “I could see by your reaction that you put little faith in the words of those who call themselves oracles. This one will change your perceptions, I believe.”

  “Where do we need to go?” Kari asked, not bothering to hide her smile.

  “Just north of the Valley of the Luranar,” he answered. “I will be happy to take you there by wing to shorten the journey. But first, rest here the night, and we will depart at first light. Be aware that first light comes a little earlier up here in my cloud-top home.”

  Aeligos laughed. “Seriously?” he blurted, and turned to Kari. “We’re going to ride a dragon now? Nobody’s going to believe any of this when we get back home.”

&n
bsp; Kari laughed as well, and the crease of the dragon’s snout and the upturn of the corners of his reptilian mouth suggested he was smiling as well. “You have guest quarters here, my lord?”

  The dragon nodded that great head again. “I do. Olitasiniri will show you to the guest quarters, and see to your needs should you be hungry.”

  A miniscule drake flew into the great room, seemingly at the sound of his name, and came to hover before Kari and Aeligos. “If you would follow me,” he said, his voice much higher pitched than his master’s. He was barely larger than a good-sized housecat, and his little wings beat quickly to keep him aloft. He started off to the west toward one of the corridors.

  “Good night to you, my lord,” Aeligos said to the dragon.

  “Rest you well. Tomorrow may be a long day for you, my friends.”

  Kari and Aeligos were shown to a massive bedchamber, and opted to share it, which seemed to come as a shock to their guide. He made no protests, however, and left for only a short time. He returned followed by a captivating sight: an invisible, ethereal essence carried a tray of foodstuffs aloft, and set it down for the pair to eat. Kari wasn’t sure where the food came from, much less what had carried it, but she wasn’t about to ask irrelevant questions. She and Aeligos shared the meal, and then the bed for the night.

  Dawn came early up in the clouds, just as Alamarise had suggested. Kari was used to getting up at odd hours anyway, on the wrong side of the world twice over. She found there was already breakfast in their room when she woke up. She surmised that Alamarise informed his servants that Aeligos said he was Kari’s brother-in-law, so the dragon expected little chance of romance happening between them.

  Kari woke Aeligos and they shared the meal and got ready to leave. The palace was a glowing maze of crystalline halls when they left their room, and Kari understood the strange form of its walls the night before. It was a crystal palace, reflecting and refracting light in stunning, incredible patterns. The walls of their chamber had been opaque, allowing them the darkness to sleep, but the rest of the palace was an arena for the glory of the sun’s light.