by Shawn Sodman
Nimbus’s tail almost touches the tops of the trees as they pass over them. Through the branches, Belron spots the road below, but it is empty. He leans to the left and Nimbus instinctively turns. Belron continues the search until lightning strikes nearby. “I don't think they’re here,” he says to himself.
Belron leans to the right and, just as before, Nimbus follows Belron's non-verbal commands. Soon the trees clear and Belron finds himself overlooking the plains to the north of Sheathelm. He leans back in the saddle and calls out to Nimbus over the storm, “Up!”
As they fly higher, the orcnea camp can be seen off in the distance. “There they are,” Belron says to himself. “Looks like they haven't moved.” Belron decides to continue with his usual patrol and leans left again. Nimbus begins to turn when suddenly another drake appears. It is a spine drake and it has brown scales and sharp spines down its back. Its tail has many long quills the size of a man's forearm. Belron leans down quickly and Nimbus tries to dive, but it happens so fast that they are not able to completely get out of the oncoming drake's path.
Belron is impaled with two quills, one in his right arm above the elbow and the other in his right thigh. He lets out an agonized yell. Nimbus starts to dive as Belron looks behind him to see the spine drake turning around to follow them. Knowing that if he pulls the quills out now he will bleed even more, Belron grits his teeth and tries to concentrate on losing the pursuing drake. They gain more speed as they dive toward the ground.
Nimbus pulls up as Belron shifts his weight back, and soon they are skimming the treetops once more as they try to flee. The spine drake attempts to follow them but falls far behind as it is much slower than the sky drake. Belron starts to feel drowsy and his vision begins to narrow as darkness overtakes the edges of his sight. He covers the wound on his arm as best as he can as they continue to fly over the pines below. After two minutes they reach the other side of the forest, and Belron says, “Down, Nimbus, down.”
The sky drake lands and Belron carefully dismounts as he struggles to stay conscious. He opens a pouch on the side of his saddle and takes out a vial containing a potion. With his left hand shaking, he fumbles with the cork, but is eventually able to remove it. He looks down at the dagger-sized quill in his leg.
Nimbus turns and smells the wound. Belron says, “That spine drake got me good.” He takes several deep breaths and puts the potion in his left hand. With the other quill still in his arm he winces in pain just holding onto the vial. “All right, let's hope this works.” He grabs the end of the quill in his leg, takes a deep breath, and holds it. Gritting his teeth, he pulls the quill out and throws it to the side before grabbing the potion again with his good arm and taking a drink from it. Soon the wound begins to heal.
He holds the potion again with his left hand and says, “I hope there’s enough left to heal this one.” He takes hold of the quill embedded in his arm and pulls it out as well. He finishes the potion and soon the wound in his left arm begins to heal, but only slightly. “I was afraid of that,” he says. Belron goes to side of Nimbus and looks through the pouch on the saddle. He pulls out a bandage and begins to wrap it around his arm when they hear the screech of the spine drake approaching.
Belron, still feeling extremely weak, says, “Nimbus, we have to take our stand here.” Belron takes the fire elixirs from the saddle and places them on the ground. The spine drake comes into view over the treetops. It lands and lets out another screech. Belron, holding the last fire elixir from the saddle in his left hand, says, “Nimbus, attack.”
The blue drake flares its wings and lets out a posturing screech of its own. Belron stumbles back to safety behind a tree stump. He ducks down and prepares to throw the fire elixir. The spine drake hisses and lifts its tail into the air, ready to strike. The two beasts begin to circle each other, and once their sides are facing Belron, he steps up to throw the potion at the spine drake.
Unfortunately, because he uses his left hand, the throw is not accurate and falls short of its target. The potion hits the ground and explodes, leaving flames behind. The spine drake looks at Belron, and Nimbus takes the opportunity to attack the distracted enemy. The sky drake's claws are sharp and gouge into the spine drake’s side. It counters with its quivered tail, striking Nimbus on the back. Fortunately, the saddle absorbs most of the damage and only a couple quills actually make contact with Nimbus.
Now locked into close combat, Nimbus and the spine drake begin to claw and bite at each other. Nimbus is able to overpower the enemy and pin it to the ground as their attacks continue to tear into each other’s scaly flesh. Belron watches anxiously, unable to help his friend and steed. After a vicious battle, Nimbus stands victorious over the lifeless drake as the rain continues to pour down from the sky.
Belron checks on Nimbus to make sure he is fit to fly. “Good boy, Nimbus,” he says to his mount. Belron stumbles, feeling faint once more. He looks at his bandage, which is soaked with both the blood from his wound and rain from the storm. Belron looks at the two quills embedded in Nimbus's back. “That doesn't look so bad. You should be fine if I pull them out.” Nimbus lies down so Belron can reach the quills. After pulling them free, Belron sits down and says, “Nimbus, you must get help. I’m too weak to fly with you.” As Belron begins to slip into unconsciousness, he utters one final command to Nimbus: “Get the others. Go!” Belron slumps to the ground as Nimbus takes to the sky.
Back at Sheathelm, A'ranah is in the courtyard of the castle. She looks to sky to see the dark clouds now overhead. As a few of the Amazons make their way into the courtyard for the ritual casting of the spell to push the storm back, Nicari is looking at the hourglass as the last grains of sand pass through the middle.
“He's late,” she says quietly. She says to A'ranah, “Something is wrong. Belron should be back by now.”
A'ranah asks the four remaining drake riders. “How long before you search for him?”
Ashden says, “With this storm, I think it’s best if we begin now.”
“You should at least stay in pairs,” A'ranah suggests.
“Of course,” Ashden replies with a nod. He says to the others, “Laycor and I will follow the normal flight path. Re'ann and Toren, you two follow it in reverse.”
Toren nods while Re’ann tucks her long brown hair under her leather cap. Ashden and Laycor mount their sky drakes. Both pairs take flight in search of their captain.
To the north, ten orcneas on horseback are traversing the road through the pine forest. General Lortec Ka is leading them. He asks a shaman, “Are you sure they landed near the road?”
“Yes, General,” the shaman replies. “I saw it in my vision as they fought. The rider was injured badly.”
“Let's hope they’re still licking their wounds,” Lortec says.
At the castle, Nicari waits impatiently in courtyard with Va'leen. “I’m sure he’s all right,” Va'leen says. “Perhaps the storm has delayed him.”
Nicari, looking to the sky, says, “I hope you’re right.” She looks to the other side of the courtyard where a dozen Amazons have gathered in a circle. Nicari says, “I hope they can push this dreadful storm back. It will make it harder to find him if they cannot.”
From one of the towers that are evenly spaced around the courtyard, a guard calls out, “Sky drake incoming!”
Nicari's face lights up with joy and she says, “It's Belron, it has to be.”
Soon Nimbus comes into view over the top of the wall. When Nicari spies the empty saddle, her heart sinks. “No,” she gasps.
Nimbus lands close by and lets out a snort. Nicari rushes to the winged beast's side and asks, “Where’s Belron?” When she sees the quills in the saddle, she begins to sob.
“I’m sorry,” Va'leen says to her friend.
Nimbus lies down before Nicari and nudges her towards the saddle with his snout. Va'leen says, “I think he wants you to go with him.”
Nicari stares at the saddle nervously. She pulls the quills free and begins to
climb onto Nimbus’s back. She says, “Tell A'ranah that I went after Belron.”
“Wait,” says Va'leen. “We can send others with you.”
Shaking her head, Nicari replies, “I have two healing potions with me. I must not delay. Besides, they will only slow us.”
Va'leen says, “Be careful.”
“I will,” replies Nicari. “Nimbus, fly us to Belron. Hurry.”
The blue beast gets to its feet and runs several paces before its wings lift them to the sky. A'ranah rushes over and asks Va'leen, “What’s happening?”
Va'leen replies, “Nimbus returned without Belron. Nicari is going after him.”
“She should have waited for help,” says A'ranah.
“That’s what I suggested,” Va'leen replies.
A'ranah shakes her head and says, “We can't possibly catch up with her so long as this storm keeps up. I just hope she knows what she’s doing.”
On Nimbus’s back, Nicari is taken higher and higher through the driving rain. Her knuckles are white as she clings tightly to the saddle. She mutters to herself over and over, “What am I doing? What am I doing?”
Soon they break through the top of the clouds and the raging storm is left behind. Nimbus flies as fast as his wings will carry them through the much calmer skies above the tempest. Nicari looks around. Clouds stretch off into the distance, as far as she can see. She says to the drake, “Where is he, Nimbus?” The drake screeches as if to acknowledge her inquiry. They fly on for several minutes, then suddenly Nimbus begins to dive. Nicari lets out a startled cry as they descend once again into the tempest's fury.
The stiff winds make for a turbulent flight, as Nimbus slows their fall and prepares to land. With her eyes closed, Nicari continues to hold on with all her strength. She is so petrified that she does not even realize when they land. Nimbus lets out a short grunt, and Nicari finally opens her eyes.
A short distance away, Belron lies in the mud. Nicari jumps down and runs to her husband. “Belron!” she calls, but he doesn't move. Once she reaches his side, she takes out a vial from a small pack on her belt. She calls to him again and gently shakes his body.
Belron slowly opens his eyes, and Nicari lets out a sigh of relief. “Here, drink this.” She opens the vial and tilts his head forward so that he may drink the potion inside.
After swallowing the elixir, Belron puts his head back again and says, “Why are you here? Where are the other riders?”
“They’re out looking for you,” Nicari says.
With his strength returning, Belron sits up. “You shouldn't have come alone.”
Nicari scoffs, “And let you bleed out while I waited for the others? I think not.”
“It's dangerous out here,” he says as he stands up and looks under his bandage.
“Is it healed?” Nicari asks.
“Yes,” he nods.
“Good,” she says before hitting him lightly on the injured arm.
“Hey, that hurt,” he protests.
Nicari says angrily, “I overcame my fear of flying and risked my life to help you, and you still haven't said thank you.”
Belron puts his arm around Nicari's waist and pulls her close. “I’m sorry.” He kisses her lightly on the lips. “Thank you.”
She smiles. “That's better.” They kiss again as he runs his fingers through her soaked blonde hair.
Belron says, “You have always had my back, my love.”
Nicari replies, “And you have always had mine.”
He leans his forehead against hers. “I always will. Until the day I draw my final breath.”
The tender moment is broken when Nimbus hisses toward the pine trees not far away. Belron and Nicari both look and find the orcneas emerging from the forest, led by Lortec. They are on the path that leads to Sheathelm.
Nimbus is closest to the orcneas and Belron says to his steed, “Hold, Nimbus.” The sky drake heeds his command and stays where he is, ready to pounce. Nicari starts to walk towards the orcneas to stand at Nimbus's side when Belron grabs her arm and asks, “What are you doing?”
“You’re still injured,” Nicari replies. “Stay behind me.”
Belron pulls her back. “I’m fine.”
Belron starts to make his way towards his mount when Nicari pulls him back and says, “Then we go together.”
Belron nods, then turns his attention to the orcneas. As he walks side by side with his wife, Belron asks Lortec, “What are you doing this far south?”
Lortec stops his horse and holds up his fist to motion to the others to stop, as well. “I gave my word that we would hold our distance a half days travel from Sheathelm. We are further than that now. The real question is what are you doing this far north? It could be considered an act of aggression.”
Belron replies, “We are not the aggressors here.”
Lortec glances at the dead spine drake. “Then why is our drake dead?”
Belron replies, “That drake attacked us. We fled and it followed. We killed it to defend ourselves.”
Lortec dismounts his horse and approaches Nicari and Belron, unintimidated by Nimbus standing next to them. Belron steps forward to stand between the orcnea general and Nicari before she does the same. The two lovers struggle for positioning to protect each other before Nicari finally relents and allows Belron to stand in front of her.
Lortec says, “If you had not flown so close to our camp, then our drake would not have attacked. It was defending us against your aggressive presence.”
Belron replies, “We gave no promises that we would not scout out orcnea activity to be sure that you kept your word.”
“You do not trust us?” Lortec asks rhetorically.
“Why should we?” Nicari retorts.
Lortec looks past Belron at Nicari and says, “Because when I give my word, I keep it. Even if the others do not agree.” Lortec laughs and continues, “We know that you Amazons deceived us into believing that you had many forces in the north. You may have given yourselves more time to prepare for our arrival, but it will not matter. Three sunrises from now, Sheathelm will fall.”
“You seem pretty confident of that,” observes Belron, keeping himself between Nicari and the general.
“That’s because I am confident,” Lortec says with a smile. He eyes Nicari, then looks back at Belron. “Don't worry, we have no intention of breaking the cease-fire. So long as you do not attack us, you are safe.” Lortec turns and takes a few steps away. His feet sink slightly into the mud of the soaked path. He continues, “In fact, we are only here to see if you were in any need of our assistance.”
Belron looks back at his wife. They look at each other with the same doubtful grin. Nicari says to Lortec, “We thank you for your concern, but we’re fine.”
“Very well,” replies Lortec. He walks back to his horse and says, “I would suggest that you do not stay much longer. As you can see, we have acquired more drakes, and they are not as well trained as yours is. I fear that if one of our patrols comes by that you may not be safe.”
Belron says quietly to Nicari, “Come on, let’s go.”
As Belron climbs onto Nimbus, Lortec calls to them, “We will see you all soon. Give Chance Na'Moon my regards.”
Nicari climbs on next and wraps her arms tightly around Belron's waist. The captain of the drake riders pats his mount on the side and says, “Nimbus, fly.”
The sky drake turns away from the orcneas and takes to the air. The storm continues to pour rain down on them as they fly higher. Nicari looks back at the orcneas below. She begins to worry about the battle ahead.
Chapter 45
Wilting Petals
In the royal library, Sven is waiting on the lower level for Lyra. He is now wearing a black vest over the white shirt that he has been wearing since arriving in Sheathelm. Yentroc enters through the doorway on the upper level. She looks down, and when she sees Sven, she says, “Good, you’re here.”
“Is everything all right?” he asks. “Where is Lyr
a?”
“Everything is fine,” Yentroc laughs. “Lyra is right outside. We just wanted to make sure that you were here already. Now, close your eyes.”
Sven chuckles before doing as instructed. Yentroc turns, opens the door, and motions for Lyra to come inside. Soon, Sven hears Yentroc say, “You can open your eyes now.”
When Sven looks up the stairway, he sees Lyra standing at the top. She is wearing a red dress that extends from her neck to her toes. The skirt is ruffled and flared, and the flounce is adorned with an intricate rose-patterned lace. This same lace is also around the high neckline of the sleeveless dress. Red silk gloves cover her hands and arms to her elbows. Her brown hair is pulled back into two tails that intertwine like the spiral of a unicorn's horn, and flows midway down her back.
Sven stands there, spellbound by her presence. Stuttering over his words, he says, “Lyra, y-you-you're...” He struggles to find the perfect word to describe her. Finally, he manages to pull himself together and says, “You are beautiful.”
Yentroc nudges her and says quietly, “I told you he’d like it.”
Lyra smiles and asks Sven, “Do you like it? The dress, I mean, does it look all right on me?”
“Dress?” Sven asks. “Dress is nice, but it is person wearing it that is beautiful.”
Lyra's cheeks redden slightly as she replies, “Thank you. You look handsome, as well.”
“You are too kind,” says Sven. Next to him on a table is a red rose. Sven takes it and begins to ascend the stairs. He says, “Sven got you rose. It will go nicely with dress.”
Sven reaches the top of the stairs and hands the rose to Lyra. “Thank you,” says Lyra. “It's perfect.” Lyra shortens the stem and fixes it to her hair above her right ear.
Sven looks over at Yentroc as she stands and watches him and Lyra. Sven asks Lyra, “She is not coming with us, is she?”
