Ashes And Spirit (Book 3)

by A. D. Trosper

  “And yet, what fee do you charge when you aren’t in need of their services?” Sehlas finished. “You see the complication.”

  “No, actually, I don’t.” Kellinar pushed away from the wall and folded his arms. “They need to be here. You don’t need them to be here. They can take their trading fees and shove them up the backside of a Shadow Dragon. Simple.”

  “And this, Kellinar, is why you don’t negotiate things,” Kalila said with a chuckle.

  Lalani gave him a flat look. “If only it were that easy. Without a fee negotiated, they will not stay. To refuse a trading fee would be the same as turning them away at the gate.”

  Kellinar sighed and ran a hand over his braids. “They’re making complications where there should be none. If you must participate in this fire-brained idiocy remember that you also have two Silver Riders in the city.”

  “I thank you for the suggestion, however, I have no doubt Lalani can handle it,” Kalila said. She started for the stone steps that led down to the outer castle courtyard.

  “Am I the only one who sees this negotiation as a foolish waste of time?” Kellinar sent to Shryden.

  “I see it that way too. Of course, I saw your attempt to argue that point as a foolish waste of time as well. Human females seem to be rather determined and stubborn.”

  Kellinar trailed behind the Defenders. “And dragon females aren’t stubborn?”

  “Dragon females aren’t stubborn. They’re just usually correct.”

  He snorted. “Paki’s listening to this conversation, isn’t she?”

  “Maybe.”

  “It might be best if we waited until another time to talk about the similarities between human and dragon females.”

  “Agreed,” Shryden returned.

  “In the meantime, that trail of dust looks extensive. We should grab a couple of the others and start flying patrols to make sure the trains stay safe until they make it to this side of the river.”

  “I will send a message. Wait for me there, it will be quicker if I come to you.”

  Kellinar followed the others down the stone steps then waited alone in the courtyard for Shryden’s arrival.

  Vaddoc and Namir flew over the long stretch of wagons and wheeled houses. It extended almost three miles behind the lead wagon that was just beginning to make its way across the Markene Bridge. It appeared that every Trader from Yari was in that long train, including all of their livestock.

  On the ground, several of the young Ke’han warriors with their Nagi and Nagas patrolled along with Border Guards and soldiers from Kanther and Boromar. Loki and Brock flew to the north while Kellinar and Taela patrolled the south. A little farther to the west, Jocelynn and Varnen flew an outlying patrol.

  A ragged group of travelers that weren’t Traders trailed at the end of the long column. Loki and Brock had discovered them wandering in the forests northwest of the Lake of Spirits. Once the residents of the village Calla, they’d fled when the neighboring village was wiped out by the Shadow Riders. A Slide to investigate found Lowden in the same condition as Vaddoc had once discovered Basc.

  Vaddoc wasn’t sure if the news would upset Maleena, but for now the dragons and riders flying patrol had decided to keep it to themselves. With Maleena and Mckale both in Galdrilene for a few days, there was no reason to mar their time.

  Namir banked and flew in a wide circle as the people below made a slow but steady progression toward Markene.

  “Shadows!” came Namir’s alarm as several dark Jumps opened above the expansive plain.

  Namir and the other Guardian Dragons roared in warning to those on the ground as Kojen and soldiers from the Trilene army poured out into the trampled grass. The column of Yari broke ranks as they nearly trampled those ahead of them and the long, orderly train became a mass of screaming people and animals charging toward the bridge.

  The Border Guards and soldiers, with the Ke’han at their side, surged toward the oncoming army without hesitation. The Nagas and Nagi flowed like multicolored lightning along the ground as they ripped into the Kojen.

  Namir dove at the first Shadow Dragon through a Jump as the clash of battle echoed up from the ground.

  Vaddoc didn’t have time to keep track of the ground war. Namir locked his claws into the shadow. His wings worked in quick, heavy bursts. The shadow sank its teeth into the gold’s neck. As the two dragons tried to rip each other apart in mid-air, Vaddoc hit the shadow’s rider with a ball of glowing energy. At the same time, he worked a second weave to try and shield those on the ground.

  Slides opened as Guardian Dragons converged on the battle.

  Jocelynn and Adirynn burst through a Slide. The green hit the nearest Shadow Dragon from behind with a blast of fire. The Shadow Rider and dragon both screamed as the flames engulfed them. The green lashed out, snapping the burning rider in half with her teeth.

  Another Shadow Dragon slammed into them. Adirynn twisted and grabbed it by the base of the throat. It raked its claws down the underside of her belly. Blood and green scales flew through the air. Jocelynn began a weave, pulling tiny seeds and pollen that drifted on the breeze into it. After altering and combining them, she meshed it with the weave then sent it slamming into the rider.

  The Shadow Rider’s agonized screams rent the air. Vines sprouted through his skin and began twisting around him, pulling tighter and tighter until the sickening sound of multiple bones breaking at once silenced his cries. The Shadow Dragon released Adirynn, shriveling as it fell to the ground.

  Merru and Keta shot through the air. Working together, they tag teamed one of the larger Shadow Dragons. The slower black spit fire and twisted, snapping at them while its rider threw bolts of green lightning at Loki and Sumara. Both rider and dragon continued to miss while the two Guardians kept drawing blood.

  Loki held a protective shield in place on the ground, but like Vaddoc’s and Brock’s shields, it flickered as his attention wavered during the fight. Another shadow dived at Merru. Loki split his power just in time to throw up a light-bending weave. Merru dodged to the side. The shadow sailed through the empty space, twisting and turning, and pulling up short. Its hesitation undid it.

  An arrow sailed through the sky from Kirynn’s bow, piercing its rider’s chest…then it exploded. Pink rain showered down along with chunks of the Shadow Rider.

  A lucky snap by a black dragon ripped long tears through Keta’s wing and broke the bone in its leading edge. The green tumbled through the air with one wing flopping uselessly. Sumara held tight to the saddle as they fell. She saw the image of Galdrilene form in the dragon’s mind. A Slide opened up just before they hit the ground. They plunged into it and came out above the lake before plummeting into the water. Bubbles swirled around Sumara. Unable to tell which way was up, she held her breath and waited. They broke the surface, and Keta swam to shallow water then hauled herself up onto the shore as the inhabitants of Galdrilene rushed across the caldera to them.

  Loki lost the light-bending weave as a Shadow Dragon crashed into Merru. The shadow twisted and unleashed sickly green fire. The blast struck Loki in the side and arm. Agony burned over his skin. Distracted by the injuries to his rider, Merru didn’t react in time to stop the shadow from ripping into him.

  The gold retaliated with a wide band of bright fire, setting the shadow’s entire wing ablaze as the black’s claws sank into Merru’s scales. Unwilling to give an inch, Merru locked his claws into the black. They tumbled through the air tearing at each other. The shadow’s wing talon ripped across Loki’s face, tearing across his eye and scalp.

  Loki screamed in agony as the vision in one eye went dark. He managed to get the flames out in time to see the ground rush up at them. He threw a lance of light at the shadow’s rider just before they hit. The impact barely registered before darkness closed over him.

  Kirynn nocked another arrow, targeting the rider on the small Shadow Dragon. She blocked out the war around her, watching as the black dove and twisted, attempting to dista
nce itself from Syrakynn.

  …And then—there!—the black twisted quick to the side. Kirynn pulled back, anticipating where the rider would be, trained the arrow…and released. The arrow sailed, burst into flames, and struck home.

  The rider screamed as the flames left the arrow and burrowed through her body. The Shadow Dragon’s shrieks joined its rider—then silence. Tiny flames burst from every pore of the rider while the black shriveled and crumbled as it fell.

  “Brock and Olen are down somewhere. Olen sent out a distress call but now doesn’t answer,” Namir sent

  Vaddoc strengthened the shield around those on the ground still fleeing toward the bridge. “We can’t help them until this is over.”

  A massive Shadow Dragon collided into them, digging its claws into Namir. Roaring in rage, the gold sunk his talons and teeth into the black. The dark-haired Shadow Rider laughed and threw a weave. He would recognize Sadira anywhere. Vaddoc flung a weave at the same time.

  The two weaves met, meshing and melting together. Sweat sprang up on his brow as he fought the dark magic. The weave wavered, turning blacker then surging with light.

  An arrow struck Vaddoc’s chest, pain searing through him. His hold on the weave faltered. Tendrils broke loose from it and waved. Sadira’s eyes went wide. Ranit tore away from Namir, opened a horizontal Jump beneath her, and dove for it. The weave shimmered dark and light, then exploded in a flash of blinding light, striking them like a massive fist. Namir hurled through the air, both wings broken.

  Vaddoc’s vision swam as a band of burning agony tightened around his chest. Namir slammed into the ground. A shock flashed through Vaddoc’s back then everything went numb. He stared at the sky as it grew dim and finally faded altogether.

  Kellinar gripped the saddle handles tight, bracing himself just before the shockwave hit, sending Shryden hurtling through the air. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark Jump open and a similarly flung black dragon tumble into it. Kellinar closed his eyes and sent a plea to the Fates, and only opened them after the blue regained control and was again steady in the air.

  The Shadow Riders were gone. On the ground, the Kantherian and Boromari soldiers were systematically working their way through the leftover Kojen with an efficiency he’d only seen in Kirynn, Jocelynn, and Marcaius. The small group of Ke’han warriors gathered around a broken Namir while two of them, along with Kirynn, knelt next to Vaddoc.

  “Shryden, get down there.” He searched the sky with a quick look and spotted only Varnen. “And find out how many Guardians are down.”

  The blue reached Namir and Vaddoc an instant later. Kellinar yanked off his safety straps. Grabbing his knife, he slashed the catcher strap loose. As soon as Kellinar was free from the leather, Shryden turned and waded into the battle still raging on the ground with Syrakynn at his side.

  “Sumara and Keta are recovering at Galdrilene. Taela and Paki are heading your way and will be there soon,” the blue sent. “Jocelynn and Adirynn are down but alive. They need healing. Varnen and Abrax are with them and in need of it as well. Nolan is taking care of them, although he and Vasa could use healing too. Maleena and Mckale will arrive from Galdrilene shortly. Nira and Saria are relatively unscathed. Nira is healing Marcaius and Tanis now. Serena and Miya also are in good shape. You should be seeing them any second. Belynn and Farynn are injured but not critically.” Shryden paused. “Merru doesn’t answer. He and Loki are unaccounted for as are Brock and Olen.”

  Kellinar tried to push away the worry over Loki, Brock, and their dragons as he reached Vaddoc. The two Ke’han kneeling next to his friend pressed their hands around the gaping wound in Vaddoc’s chest. It looked like something had burned a hole through it. Blood oozed between their fingers. The Ke’han dug in the pouches on their belts and pulled out wads of a moss-like substance, packing the wound before reapplying pressure.

  Kirynn knelt with her hands on either side of Vaddoc’s face. “If you even consider dying I will make Maleena take me to Maiadar so I can kill you.”

  Unsure how to help, Kellinar stood back. Vaddoc hung from the safety straps at an unnatural angle, although the blood from the chest wound had slowed. Was it because whatever the Ke’han used was working or because Vaddoc was dying?

  Paki landed and as soon as Taela was out of the saddle and free of the catcher strap, the silver moved to help finish clearing the battlefield. Kellinar glanced up. The Trilene soldiers were in full retreat with Boromari on their heels. As he watched, more Boromari rose out of the tall grass in front of them. There would be no retreat.

  The humans and Ke’han withdrew from the fight, allowing the dragons to finish the Kojen. It didn’t take long. The cries of the Trilene and the roars of the Kojen faded, and silence hung over the cleared battlefield. In the distance, the Yari had regrouped and were drawing close to the bridge.

  Miya landed, and Serena leaped from the saddle. She had removed the safety and catcher straps mid-flight. She dropped to her knees next to Vaddoc. “You two,” she pointed at the Ke’han, “cut those safety straps and let’s get him flat on his back. Kirynn, find Loki and Merru. Taela, you find Brock and Olen.”

  “I prefer to stay,” Kirynn said, her gaze locked on Vaddoc. “It was my arrow that caused the chest wound. I was aiming at Sadira, but Ranit and Namir twisted and placed Vaddoc in the line of fire. I stopped the burning weave as quickly as I could.”

  “You will go.” Serena shot her a stern look. “This isn’t your fault; it’s a tragedy of battle. You of all people should know that. It was beyond your control and the product of an ever- shifting and changing fight.” She glanced at Taela. “You too will leave. Neither of you can heal him. But you can find the two that are missing.”

  Grumbling a string of curses under her breath, Kirynn stood and strode toward Syrakynn. Taela nodded and left as well. Maleena and Mckale landed as the Ke’han maneuvered Vaddoc until he laid flat on his back. One by one, the others arrived, though Serena barely noticed. Her attention and magic were focused on the broken man before her. He was one of her friends, one of her family, but right now, she couldn’t think about him that way, not if she wanted to keep from breaking down.

  What she found when she delved into him wasn’t encouraging and made her doubt any amount of healing would save him. She could only start with the life-threatening injuries and see if he survived.

  Serena examined the wound in Vaddoc’s chest. “What have you placed in this?”

  One of the Ke’han withdrew more moss from the pouch at his belt. “It grows around the home settlement on the eastern coast. It has something in it that stops the bleeding.”

  “It saved his life,” she murmured as she snapped the arrow shaft and drew it out. Then she placed one hand on Vaddoc’s chest and reached into the wound with the other. Slowly she worked the moss out, healing the damage behind it as she pulled it free. When the last of it was out, the surface of the wound closed over the freshly healed tissue inside.

  Serena pulled her hands away and moved to his neck. “That was the most critical of his injuries though the others are significant. The injury to his back is…catastrophic. I will heal his neck and stabilize his back before we move him.” Her magic made its way to Vaddoc’s broken neck. That she was able to heal fully. She wasn’t sure about the rest. Finally, she pulled her hands away and rocked back on her heels. “I would do more but it takes energy from him as well. It’s possible I can put things back where they belong, however, his body has to follow the instructions of the magic.”

  Mckale frowned and crossed his arms. “You can’t heal him the rest of the way?”

  “Not at this moment.” Serena sighed and stood. “He is barely alive as it is. Whether or not he stays that way remains to be seen. If he lives, it will take at least two more healings to finish. If I were to try now it would only hasten his death.”

  The chances of his survival were minimal. There was so much damage left. His upper back could probably be mended as soon as she could link with
the others. But the entire lower half of his spine was like a puzzle whose pieces had been scattered. Even if Vaddoc woke that moment, he would be unable to move his arms or legs. If he survived the healings, it would still take months before the nerves in his lower back came completely alive again. Magic could only do so much.

  “Can he be moved to Galdrilene?” Maleena knelt in the grass and brushed Vaddoc’s hair out of his face.

  “He can.” Serena turned to Kellinar. “I would like to secure him to a board to stabilize him and his back. There is a lot of internal bruising and a couple of tears to his organs that I could only partially fix. I still need energy for Namir, and I don’t want them tearing open.”

  Kellinar nodded. “I’m sure there’s something in Markene that will work.” He hurried to Shryden and hauled himself into the saddle.

  Serena watched them go and reached for Miya, “Any news on Loki and Brock yet?”

  “No. There continues to be no response from Merru or Olen. It worries me.”

  “It worries me as well.” She walked around Vaddoc and the Ke’han and laid her hands on Namir. The gold’s wings lay crumpled and twisted at odd angles. Long, deep tears marred his neck, head, and entire underside. “For now though, I need to see if I can save Namir. Without him, Vaddoc has no chance at all of recovery.”

  Taela kept her gaze on the ground as Paki flew low in their search for Brock. They made broad sweeps across the entire area that had been the battlefield then began working their way out from there. A thin scream echoed in the air.

  “Did you hear that?”