She stared in shocked silence as she first looked into the dome interior of the great room. Between each door was a large elliptical basin that seemed smoothly a part of the marble gray veined floors, a total of ten encircled the room. As Ange looked more closely to one on her right she realized a symbol was etched into it with words and she realized that each depression was actually a seat. A giant seat for a dragon.
She could even see ancient claw marks in certain areas. Some were just scratches while others were deep furious gouges in the polychromatic marble floor. Images of agitated talons flashed through her mind, accented with furious roaring echoing hauntingly as the visions quickly vanished. She blinked disoriented for a moment, scowling with confusion as she retched her gaze away from the scars and to the rest of the room.
At the center of the room was a deep and large round basin. Rimmed by a table and twenty seats, decorated with precious stones and gold. But what caught her attention was the glow coming from the center of the room.
Thick crystalline glass rose from the edge of the basin, creating a twisting tube that rose to the ceiling. Strange fiery liquid slowly swirled and glowed within the cylinder, ranging and shifting through what seemed thousands of shades of every known color. It held a metallic and milky quality as energy and warmth thrummed from it and bathed the room in a soft light. It was like the cosmos and stars had been trapped within a vessel, suspended on their earth for their appreciation.
Her eyes traveled from the unknown liquid to the great dome ceiling. Above the gallery that crowned the top of the ten doors existed vibrant paintings on the smooth dome. At the edges seemed to breathe trees and grass, little dragons lived in ever captured stillness, roosting, flying, hunting and participating in other activities. Above the painted landscape of every possible terrain stretched to a soft blue sky as clouds swirled around the dome, dissolving into swaths of stars and constellations in a midnight sky to the center of the roof, rushing to meet with the glass holding liquid. Each star held a tiny glowing sol crystal at its heart, shimmering like the real night sky. A large metal device could be heard ticking within the room at the center.
Ange gawked as she beheld the rings that rung around the cylinder of glass at the top of the ceiling. Several metal rings turned slowly. A large central metal base held out several globes forged into undeniable shapes. The first was a globe that held a large white sol crystal with metal flaring out like fire, the sun Ebur. Another globe on its own rod rotated slowly around the first larger globe and held a brilliant fiery red sol crystal within it, the sun Rubor. Five other smaller globes hung around the rings, moving in different directions. Carved metal shutters encircled the other five varied-in-size crystals. She recognized the five moons in a heartbeat. Each was a different shade of sol crystal, the metal shutters obviously rotated around them, obscuring the crystal or revealing it, giving the idea of their phases. One moon was half covered, one was full, and two were crescents, one waning and the other waxing. The last was completely hidden by its metal blinds, a new moon.
“It is a clock, seasonal, and celestial calendar all in one,” Showl explained to her as he came to her side.
Ange continued to gaze up at the amazing device as it slowly moved. Lines, numbers and words were engraved into the rings. The outer ring was divided into several layers in the form of huge golden metal discs. A total of four metal sheets were visible, overlapping one another, stating the year in large glyphs.
The ring that continued was divided into ten segments, one for each month of the year and each segment was written with the month’s name and the metal was a different color for each month, a complete spectrum. A disk and arrow hugged the ring closely as it pointed to the current month. The second third ring held the day of the month with its own disk and arrow, a total of forty-two segments with numbers was carved into the silver ring. The fourth inner ring was divided into four sections with smaller sections within it, declaring the progress of the current season with its own disk arrow. The first segment was white brushed metal, the second was a light green, the third was a golden bronze and the last was a bright maroon. The most inner ring that hugged the crystal cylinder was divided into twenty six segments with large numbers and half the ring was white gold while the other half was black silver. Each segment was divided into sixty smaller segments with numbers and lines. The arrow disk that rotated around that last dial stated the time.
The arrow was currently within the second segment of the day ring in the night section, pointing at the number twenty-six. It ticked and landed on the next number, twenty seven.
Ange pulled her eyes away from the ornate artisan clock and to the faces gathered at the center of the gigantic room.
They all stood waiting for them.
Ange’s eyes fell on the two unknown faces. The dragon was unmistakable, yet he seemed more human than the rest. His face was openly friendly and he was the shortest of the powerful beasts. His slate black hair was short and smooth, his dark brown eyes verged on the edge of being mistaken for black and Ange would have mistaken them for so if it wasn’t for the light in the room. He had a lank build, obviously meant for speed, not strength.
The girl next to him held herself shyly yet confidently, it was an odd and conflicting mixture. Her straight black hair reached to her shoulders and she was surprisingly the same height as her dragon, probably only two inches taller than Ange. Her brown eyes were wary and reserved as she gazed out at Ange. She was the thinnest of the group, and small featured just as Ange was in the body department but still looked like a fully grown adult.
Ange vehemently realized she was still the shortest and hoped that would not last long. If she could at least be the same height as Amaris and the other girl, then she could perhaps feel less inferior. Her height and features had never bothered her before, now she couldn’t help but feel disgruntled among tall and skilled warriors while she still looked like a child.
“Come on in, Angeline,” Grace invited with a wave of her hand.
Ange tried not to swallow as she stepped away from the entrance and walked slowly to the group.
Amaris ran ahead of her, Corvus followed her at a brisk pace, causing Ange to pause for a moment.
Her nervousness and anxiety began to crowd at the forefront of her mind as she looked down the long aisle.
She flinched as hand fell on her shoulder. She looked up at Showl who smiled at her encouragingly and gave her a small nod.
She nodded in return and mustered her courage, thankful for his presence and began to walk again.
“Welcome to the Council,” the unknown dragon greeted and he stepped forward as they came near the center of the room. “My name is Falco, and this is my partner Eirian,” he introduced in a deep and bright voice as he gestured to his partner.
The woman, Eirian bowed her head slightly to her in greeting. Ange nodded to them in return.
“I’m Angeline, call me Ange,” she greeted.
He smiled with a nod of acknowledgment, he turned his gaze to Showl.
“Hello, Rex Showl. It is good that you have a name to go by now,” he greeted in a friendly manner as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
Showl bowed his head in gratitude. “It is good to see you, Rex Falco.”
“Please, just Falco,” Falco insisted.
Showl gave him a slight smile. “Then I must insist you refer to me just as familiarly.”
Falco smiled widely. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He stepped away without another word as Ange walked the last few steps to stand before the Council of Sky Warriors.
“Welcome home,” Grace greeted with a soft smile.
Home…
The word echoed hauntingly in Ange’s mind, racing confusing feelings through her.
“Yes, welcome,” Chrysaetos welcomed.
“Welcome,” Adam agreed.
“Welcome to the family,” Ileana added unemotionally.
Family…
The new word
left her feeling suddenly dead and uninterested, the urge to cry was quickly threatening to overwhelm her as old faces flashed behind her eyes. Laughing, sneaking, and familiar faces.
Warmth began to push through her mind, brushing away her black thoughts with reassurance. She swallowed, feeling her body unfreeze as she looked up to Showl’s concerned and compassionate face. His eyes were sad, sorrowful for the grief she was currently trying to live past. She gave him a forced smile, shoving the thoughts away as she turned her gaze back to the greeting warriors.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, she didn’t sound sincere or grateful. She realized she wasn’t trying hard enough to hide her feelings and she could see it the faces gathered. Se cleared her throat and smiled as pleasantly as she could.
Amaris frowned concerned and exchanged a glance with Showl before turning her eyes to her sister.
Ange ignored them, disgruntled with her acting as she focused her gaze at the liquid behind the crystal glass instead.
“Well, I am glad you decided to stay,” Ileana continued.
Fury suddenly ignited within Ange as she remembered the girl’s threat. She turned a hostile glare at the female warrior.
Ileana stared at her impassively, seeming indifferent to Ange’s unfriendliness, only making Ange all the more furious.
“It’s not like you left us much choice,” Ange finally snarled accusingly.
Ileana’s eyes snapped back to her, furious yet her voice remained calm and her face composed.
“If you had lived as long as we have and endured the trials we have suffered you would be more than understand of my position. On any other occasion I would not have insisted on your support, but I swore to Harfang long ago that I would end this war by any means,” she stated with conviction.
Bewilderment flickered across Showl’s face. “I-Harfang made you promise such a thing?”
Confusion took up Ileana’s expression. “You truly do not remember?”
Showl frowned and shook his head. “That was a problem I wished to discuss with all of you. It…would appear that my memories are still…sealed.”
Several painful breaths could be heard among the assembled, as well as shock and disbelief.
“Still sealed?” Grace echoed.
He nodded gravely.
“How can that be?” Chrysaetos asked quietly.
Showl shook his head in frustration, Ange could feel his irritation and hopelessness of the matter burn strongly through their bond. She felt helpless and unable to reassure him.
“I don’t know, but it is simply so. I have not the slightest inkling as to where Phoenix is locked away.”
Ileana sighed heavily. “That is troublesome. But I suppose it does not matter for the moment, we would not be able to destroy her in our current states anyways. Only Harfang was able to hold his own against her and her…gift,” she trailed off worried, a note of dread in her voice.
Curiosity and puzzlement took Ange, but not even a pause existed after Ileana’s words.
“There are still a great other mysteries surrounding those final days,” Grace agreed worried. “So many of our memories were erased. And none of the research I or Corvus have done in the last eight hundred years can explain how so many of our memories were erased, and not just among us but the Adherent and the humans of that time. So much of our history surrounding Phoenix and other dragons is blank, eradicated. Erased from existence,” she finished exasperated.
“How is that possible?” Ange asked shocked.
Grace shook her head sadly. “We don’t know. The last months of the Great Demise are a great mystery to us. Suddenly, the few dragons on both sides that remained were gone and we were unable to remember why or how. Not a trace existed and Harfang and Phoenix were gone, vanished. And not just that, snippets of history are gone as well. Ancient books of old magic and research were blank as well as troves of other books on varies other subjects. Several sciences including, genetics, technology, energy…just…blank.”
Ange stared baffled.
“Not even the humans remembered we even existed,” Corvus added quietly. “We became myth, legend to the race we had shared our existence with for centuries… We just woke up one day…”
“And it was all gone,” Amaris finished choked with emotion, her eyes dark and distant.
“Only the ten of us remain,” Falco added regretfully.
“Perhaps time will reveal to us the past,” Ileana suggested in a distant and unconvincing voice.
“Well, eight hundred years surely hasn’t,” Amaris huffed sarcastically.
“Yes, but in those past eight hundred years we did not have Showl and Angeline,” Chrysaetos pitched in hopeful.
“Only time will tell if their presence will make a difference,” Adam reminded softly, hopeful as well.
Ileana nodded in agreement, though doubt shone in her eyes. “I only hope it is soon. We cannot continue to endure as we have thus far, this is no kind of life, immortal or otherwise.”
Amaris puffed out an annoyed breath. “Well, I say we roll out the welcome wagon and hope it encourages for an epiphany to show up sometime soon. Or at least a damn clue. Because it sure is damn late to the party.”
Chuckles broke out among the humans and dragons, enlightened by Amaris’s heated banter.
Only Showl didn’t laugh, seeming more troubled then the rest. “I’m afraid we have more news then that…it turns out that I and Angeline are Endowed,” he finished plainly.
Silent astonishment followed Showl’s declaration.
“No way!” Amaris yelled suddenly. “What is it?!”
Ange frowned, not sure if she should be excited, after Showl’s dreary reaction and the near death experience after its use she was hardly looking forward to using it again.
“We can…freeze time,” Showl replied unenthusiastically.
“Is…that what occurred yesterday morning?” Ileana asked with sudden understanding and wonder.
Showl nodded with a scowl. “Angeline…” he glanced at her before continuing, “accidently tapped into the power when we became trapped in the cyclone. That is how I managed to get out and wound Sora.”
“Not to mention why Ange was a living ice cube,” Amaris chipped in.
Ange shuddered in dread, recalling the horrible sensation all too vividly.
“This can’t be a mere coincidence,” Grace whispered thoughtfully as she set her fiery eyes on Ange. “It would seem you are more special than any of us could have imagined.”
“Indeed,” Corvus agreed. “Using magic and discovering your gift all in less than twenty-six hours of your bonding…this kind of phenomena is unheard of would be to say the least.”
“An understatement is more like it,” Amaris countered.
“It seems we can expect great things from you,” Adam added.
“Let’s hope so,” Ileana appended suspiciously.
Ange growled at the statement. A quick scolding from Showl cut her short.
“Be polite,” he growled mentally.
“She’s asking for a fight!” Ange argued.
“Can you blame her for being wary of your gifts under the circumstances? We were not exactly enthusiastic to help,” Showl reminded.
“You think our being here would have already stopped her harping,” Ange snapped indignantly.
“Give her time, as leader she knows it’s her responsibility to be wary when others are too enthusiastic and to be uplifting when those under her charge are at their lowest,” Showl insisted calmly.
“Fine,” Ange growled in resignation.
Ileana pulled something out of her pocket and held it before herself. “Under normal circumstances, you would not be joining the Council till you had been fully trained. Which takes many years, something we unfortunately do not have the luxury for right now. Your education will have to be rushed but I’m sure you will exceed,” Ileana said confidently, much to Ange’s surprise. “Adam will you do the honor?”
Adam nodded as h
e focused his gaze above.
“Exhaurire,” he invoked in a powerful voice.
High above a mechanism snapped as dialing began to thrum through the air.
Ange watched amazed as the lucent liquid began to quickly drain, colors swirled violently, colliding and creating new shades as the liquid drained to unknown origins below.
Soon no liquid remained in the crystal cylinder except the large basin at the center of the marble table.
“Aperiat,” Adam commanded with authority.
Another spinning of hidden cogs above began to snap. The twisting crystalline glass began to rise, separating from the basin, it quickly progressed and stopped, ten feet above the basin and remaining steely liquid.
“Let us begin,” Ileana announced.
As if signal the others encircled the table, Showl followed and Ange reluctantly followed and stood next to him, peering into the gigantic pool, perhaps twenty feet wide in diameter. A band encircled the basin, carved in glyphs like the ones on her sword.
“Angeline, before you is the heart of the Council, the very pool that ran red with human blood and bound the dragons to the human race. It is here where you like all the members of the Council before us will take your vows and take up the responsibilities that a Dragonbound of a Rex or Regina holds over our combined species,” Ileana stated with powerful and unshaken authority.
She opened her hand over the pool. A white ring escaped her grasp, hovering over the pool of thick and brilliant liquid. The ring was in the shape of a coiled dragon, its tail hugged a crystal clear gem against its detailed head. It glittered fiercely over the lambent liquid, twisting slowly as Ileana continued.
“Before we begin, there are some laws you need to be familiar with in these dire times.”
Ange felt Showl stiffen, tension began to strain between their bond before he blocked off his thoughts entirely from her, confusing her and raising concern for his behavior. She glanced at him but he refused to meet her gaze.
“I and Grace are leaders here, as a council we convey on all important decisions and matters before coming to a rule. Once a ruling has been made, we follow it to the letter. Our word is law and final when a decision is made, going against it is treason and will be dealt as a betrayal. Punishment is suited to the severity of the offense,” Ileana warned.
Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1) Page 26
