Cloud Lands Saga Box Set Books 1-3

by Katie Pottle

  “Did we win?” Lep asked.

  Cadin choked out a sob in relief and dropped down to give him a hug.

  “Careful, Cadin. He may still be a bit dizzy. He lost a lot of blood,” Headmaster Tripharian said gently.

  “Thank you so much!”

  Lep good eye tried to focus on Cadin. “Well, did we win or not?”

  “Let’s find out.”

  “Four hundred and eighty UOD!” Lep shouted. A healer treated his gouged eyebrow under a large awning by the back of the stage. “Fourth place,” he continued with a shake of his head.

  “I’m so sorry, guys,” Cadin said quietly from the corner. “I should not have used Tsuyo yet and I knew it.”

  “It wasn’t so much your exploding gin-shield, as it was you physically restraining me from getting those last points,” Lep said. Cadin got a good look at Lep’s face now that it was clean. The gash was through Lep’s eyebrow—giving him a fierce appearance. Cadin smiled at the thought of Lep looking fearsome.

  “Don’t laugh, Cadin. We could have gotten second, or even first if you hadn’t stopped me,” Lep said, misinterpreting Cadin’s smile.

  “You could also have bled out and died, and then where would we be?” Sun jumped in.

  “Sun’s right,” Bart said, “we need to accept what happened and move on to the Yellow Qualifier. We know now that we must place in both Yellow and the Final—so let’s do it!”

  “Yes, Bart. I’m in!” Sun reached over and high fived Bart.

  “Of course, you’re right,” Cadin said as he turned to Lep. “I really am sorry. Can you forgive me for both your eye and holding you back?”

  “My eye—no problem, it should look as good as new in no time.”

  “Actually,” the healer said, “it should heal fine, but gin-wounds this deep always leave scars.” The healer pulled her gaze over to Cadin who was still holding Tsuyo. She locked eyes with him as if willing him to understand the consequences of battling with gins. He managed a slight nod before turning away to wipe away un-invited tears.

  The healer excused herself and bustled out of the awning. Cadin’s heart sank at the thought of Lep being scarred for life because of his mistake. Very few weapons left marks on angels for long. Lep gazed in the mirror, pupils dilated. It was difficult to read Lep’s face until he turned around and smiled.

  “I look awesome! I’m in!”

  Everyone cracked a grin. The healer returned, leading Lep’s parents into the room.

  “What happened?” said Donavan

  “Are you all right?” Lakie asked at the same time.

  “Let’s give them some time alone.” The healer herded Cadin, Sun and Bart out.

  “We came so close to placing!” Lep said to his parents just before the door closed.

  “Excuse me,” Cadin said to the healer.

  “Yes,” she said turning to Cadin. She couldn’t have been much older than Cadin’s mom.

  “I was wondering how you know about gin-wounds?”

  She eyed Cadin and then said, “My great grandfather was a healer during the Great War. He told me many stories about that time, and the ones he was the most animated about were the gin-battles. He said gins caused wounds unlike any others. Be prepared for all outcomes if you continue to use them.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Prepare yourself for the likeliness that you may cause irreparable harm in the future.”

  “You think I should quit using gins?” He asked the question to himself as much as the healer.

  “It is not my place to say one way or another. This is your journey to make of it what you will. Gins are not traditional weapons, and so you may want to do things that are untraditional for a warrior if you continue wielding them.”

  Cadin cocked his head to the side.

  The healer put a hand on his shoulder. “If I were you, I would learn the basics of healing to help prepare for uncommon eventualities. My colleague will host a Level 1 Healing Seminar later this year at Glade Commons. You should consider joining.”

  Cadin walked home alone, though Sun offered to join him. He refused, explaining that he needed some time to think things through. Lep or anyone else for that matter could have been seriously hurt, Cadin thought as he walked along the streets, kicking any stray clouds wandering in front of him. All because I did not have enough control of my own weapon. Cadin shook his head, thoroughly disappointed in himself. He approached a fork in the road—the left fork would lead him home, the right fork into town. Cadin veered right, not ready to face his parents. He ran his fingers along the handle of his gin-blade as he walked. He would not bring it to school again until he had mastered Tsuyo. Master Emilio will help.

  “Oh, no, Master Emilio,” Cadin said with an agonized shake of his head. He had had been so worried about telling his parents that he had forgotten to worry about his Gin Master!

  Cadin wandered past the main fountain. When he walked by the front gates of the Glade Palace, the ruddy faced Ruben stood at the front entrance. He had stopped yelling at his guard long enough to give Cadin a stare of utter contempt. Cadin hurried past and wandered toward the main transport docks. Sun’s dad was preparing an unusually ornate group airship.

  Cadin turned around, not really wanting to talk to anyone and ran into someone behind him, stumbling to right himself.

  “Sorry about that,” Cadin said before realizing he had literally run into the entire red Aura team.

  “Watch where you are going, kid,” the girl on the team spat at him.

  Cadin should have realized the ornate airship was for them. He really was not in the mood be confronted. He was happy they were leaving Glade, though. He plastered on a fake smile, said sorry again, wished them a good trip and deliberately stepped to the side and continued on. It was a risk turning his back on them, but he was paying close attention to what they were saying and was ready to turn around if need be. He wasn’t quite prepared for what overheard from Ryker.

  “No, leave him alone, Valerie. Can’t you see he is already defeated? He is not worth any more of our time.” Ryker’s tone changed as if he was talking more to himself than his team. “Though, they did better than I thought they would.”

  Cadin reached for his front door, knowing he could no longer avoid his parents. He was shocked to find Lep and his family inside his living room, Lep stood in the middle with everyone’s attention clearly on him.

  “Just in time for your part,” Lep said with a big smile that creased the tape holding up his bandage. It was obvious the dressing was not going to last much longer with how much Lep had been showing off his wound and re-sticking the tape to his forehead.

  “My part?”

  “Yeah. So, as I was about to leap at the unguarded statue and score the winning points,” Lep said dramatically as he turned back to his audience, “Cadin went and jumped on me, pinning me down!”

  “Why’d you jump on Leppy?” Charlie asked Cadin, tugging on his sleeve.

  Cadin knelt to be at eye level with her and said very seriously, “because your brother was hurt, and I was afraid he would get even more hurt if he continued.”

  Charlie scrunched up her little face, deep in thought. “I guess it is okay, then.”

  “Thanks, Charlie.”

  “Whatever; we would have won,” Lep said.

  Cadin looked up at his dad for the first time since he walked in the door. Tal stared back with hard eyes and said, “Well I guess you and I have some talking to do, young man.”

  “Yes, sir.” Cadin dropped his head.

  “But that can wait until later. Who is hungry?”

  “Oh, me!” Charlie said, jumping up and down—her curly hair springing to her shoulders.

  Lep and his family stayed for dinner, which turned out to be quite nice. Lep kept getting in trouble for lifting his bandage during the meal to gross out his sister. Their parents talked about their normal stuff, and Cadin finally started to relax a little bit for the first time since the Qualifier. Howev
er, once Lep and his family thanked them for the meal and headed home, Cadin started to feel his muscles tense up and shake.

  “I’ll clean up while you two talk,” Sara said. “Gur can help with dishes as it looks like he needs a good bath.” Sara picked up a very dirty Gur from Cadin’s shoulder and playfully threw him in the frothy dishwater. Gur splashed around biting at the bubbles.

  “Let’s talk outside, Cadin.”

  Cadin followed his dad through the tunnel, watching the feathers on Tal’s wings gently slide back and forth across each other, the veratal coating making a slightly metallic clink with each step.

  Tal sat down and waited for Cadin to get situated before he began.

  “You look…defeated,” Tal said slowly as if searching for the right word.

  Cadin was totally taken aback by the start of the conversation.

  “I guess I feel defeated. I hurt my best friend for a school game.” Tears threatened to breach his lids.

  “It is okay, son.”

  “No, it’s not!” Cadin said fiercely. “I was not ready to use the gins and I did anyway, and now Lep is scarred for life!”

  “I meant it was okay for you to feel upset about your mistake. You did make a mistake, but I would be far more concerned if you felt nothing despite it.” Tal walked over to Cadin and lifted his chin to look him in the eyes, tears and all. Cadin resisted for a moment, but then met his dads gaze. His dad’s Aura was shining very bright, burning through the evening darkness.

  “Cadin, the mistake has been made, but you cannot let it defeat you. You have already accepted you made it—now you must learn from it and grow stronger! Do you understand?”

  Tal stepped back and Cadin took a second to let everything sink in before answering.

  “I understand, dad. I promise I will do my best to not ever let this happen again.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lynn’s Dragon Ranch

  “Hey, guys—here to help Lynn?” Damon called to them from the front gates. Damon’s muscles bulged as he grappled with re-hinging one of the large wrought-iron gates. Cadin rushed to help him lift one side and set it in place.

  “I think it’s in,” Cadin said as he stepped back.

  “Thanks. I was just fixing the hinge,” Damon said.

  “Sure, but I don’t think I actually did much.” He felt puny next to the tall angel with rippling shoulder muscles.

  “Sure you did,” Damon said with an easy smile. He reached up and pulled his dark hair into a pony-tail.

  “The gates still look good,” Lep said as he approached with Valentine.

  “Yeah, I just touched them up last week,” Damon said, looking up at the metal dragon sculptures adorning the top of each gate. “Don’t worry—I didn’t mess with your master piece!”

  Lep laughed. He turned to Valentine. “I helped paint the spine and tail of the dragon on the left.”

  “Very nice,” Valentine said. Cadin thought she was trying to hold in a giggle.

  “Oh, someone new. Hi, I’m Damon.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Valentine.”

  “Welcome. Why don’t you guys come on through—I think Lynn’s working in the outdoor enclosure.” He opened the gate and waved them on—giving Lep an inconspicuous thumb up.

  Cadin breathed in the familiar smell of the ranch.

  “I missed this place,” he said as micro dragons zipped in and out of the many ponds Lynn had meticulously cloud shifted to accommodate all the native breeds to Glade. They approached a large enclosure covered in a fine linked fence—allowing the light and air to move freely through, but keeping the rowdier dragons safe inside.

  “Wow, this is outstanding!” Valentine said as they stepped inside the first of the double door system.

  “Make sure there are no dragons in the antechamber with you before you go into the main enclosure,” Damon said.

  “Got it.”

  Cadin followed with Lep behind Damon and Valentine and smiled as a pair of grass dragons zipped across the path in front of him.

  Valentine, eyes wide, spread her stunted wings and spun.

  “I take it you like it?” Lep said.

  “I love it!”

  Cadin saw a small tear gathering, and her eyes opened even wider as Lynn approached.

  “Oh, my favorite apprentices return!” Lynn took off her thick leather gloves—revealing her many dragon-related scars as she pulled them into tight hugs. She gave Damon a smile and a quick kiss before turning her attention to Valentine. “Hi, I’m Lynn.”

  Valentine paused for only a moment, and Cadin realized she must be surprised by Lynn’s scarred face. “Oh…yes. It is wonderful to finally meet you. I’m Valentine.”

  “So, what brings the three of you here on this fine weekend? Miss shoveling dragon droppings did ya?”

  Cadin giggled and Lep looked appalled.

  “Eh, not really,” Lep said, his nose scrunched. “We were telling Valentine about our apprenticeship here, and she really wanted to visit.”

  “Wonderful. You guys know you are welcome anytime.” Her smile pulled her scars tight across her face. “I have to finish setting up the nesting boxes for the hyperions, but you guys are welcome to show Valentine around.”

  “The hyperions are breeding!?” It was important to keep some thriving hyperion dragons at the ranch due to the rare healing compounds within their scales.

  “Yes, for the second season in a row! Damon and I brought four more back with us from Carpathia on our last visit as well. Do you want to see the yearlings?”

  “Heck yes!” Cadin said.

  “Okay,” Lep said hesitantly.

  “Why are you acting all stiff, Lep?” Cadin asked as they followed Lynn to a bright corner of the enclosure.

  “I’m not!” Lep answered as a stealth dragon zinged by and he ducked dramatically.

  “Oh, yeah!”

  “What?” Valentine asked.

  Lep shook his head, but Cadin couldn’t help but fill her in. “Last time, two dragons collided and fell on Lep’s head! They started fighting while Lep was screaming to get them off!” Cadin was laughing so hard he had to stop walking.

  “It’s not funny! They pulled out a chunk of my hair.”

  “Not to mention pooped in it.” Cadin started to walk again when Lep tried to punch his shoulder.

  “Speaking of dragons,” Lynn said as they caught up, “where is yours?”

  “Our friend Sun agreed to keep him with her today. She wanted to come, but her wings emerged yesterday and she has flying lessons with her dad today.” Cadin paused as he thought about Sun showing off her bright, new wings. She was glowing when they came over. Both Cadin and Lep were more than a little jealous when Bart took Sun on a quick flight. Cadin shook his head and looked back at Lynn. “We figured it would be easier to not have Gur messing around with the other dragons—I don’t know if his dragon etiquette is up to average.”

  “Probably a good call. Though I bet he would have had fun with these three.” Lynn knelt down next to two established boxes nestled into a small hill. Several new boxes lay on their side with some small clouds floating next to them. Lynn reached into one and pulled out a sleepy dragon with shimmering gold scales.

  “Ohhh!”

  “He’s so cute!” Cadin said as he sat by Lynn and she handed him the young dragon. It stretched its wings and started rubbing his hand with its nose.

  Lynn pulled two more out of the same box and offered one each to Valentine and Lep.

  Valentine took the dragon and gently cuddled it. Lep simply held it out a good distance from his face as if expecting it to leap into his blond hair and make a nest out of it at any moment.

  “Can I ask you something?” Valentine looking up at Lynn.

  “Of course.”

  Cadin guessed it was going to be about her scars, but was a bit surprised when she said, “What happened to your wings?”

  Lynn didn’t seem shocked at all by the question. “I was attacked by a dire
dragon as a young girl which triggered early wing emersion.”

  Valentine gave a solemn nod. “I had early wing emersion too—though mine was due to a bad virus. Can you fly?”

  “Yes, but not well.”

  “Don’t let her try to demonstrate,” Damon said. “She will probably knock a hole through the barn again!”

  “Total exaggeration!” Lynn said, giggling. She reached for the dragon in Lep’s hand as it was now wide awake and perfectly happy to play. Lep sagged in relief.

  “Did you, or did you not run into the barn wall the last time you flew?”

  “Well when you put it that way, yes. But I did not put a hole through it!” Lynn laughed as the young dragons found each other and started to play.

  Cadin tried not to smile as Lep nursed his bleeding finger, the beautifully painted metal dragon gates fading into the clouds.

  “Are you sure you don't need a healer?” Valentine asked quietly.

  Lep puffed up his chest and dropped his hand. “No, really I'm fine. It was just a particularly vicious breed of dragon, that's all.”

  Illumin dragons were not exactly what anyone would call a vicious breed, but Cadin bit his lip for his best friend.

  “Cadin.” On the path ahead was Master Sanjen—his muscular frame blocking the way. The head Warrior of the Core looked impressive with the sunlight glinting off his wings and metal armor. “Your father told me where I could find you. Can I have a word?”

  “Oh, uh, yes, sir.” He glanced back at Lep and Valentine, both of whom had wide eyes and open mouths. “I guess I'll just meet up with you guys at school tomorrow?”

  “Okay, see ya,” Lep forced out.

  “Thanks for the tour of the Dragon Ranch, Cadin,” Valentine added.

  Cadin kicked the dirt path as Lep and Valentine left.

  “Walk with me,” Master Sanjen said.

  “What’s up?” he asked lamely.

  “I am in Glade on official Core business and was informed you have stopped suppressing your Aura.”

  “Oh, right,” Cadin said. He stopped to peer up at the Warrior angel. His face was smooth and he didn’t appear to be mad—just stressed.