Acronis returned. “I heard the sound of shells crunching underfoot and feared someone was spying on us. I am afraid I was right. I caught sight of a woman sneaking about outside. I don’t know who she was, for I could not get a good look at her. When she saw me, she ran away. She must have come up from the water, for she left behind a puddle where she was standing.”
“A spy?” Queen Magali asked, amazed.
Acronis shook his head. He looked very grim. “I am sorry to say that I saw a glint of metal. The woman was carrying a knife. She was not a spy. She was an assassin.”
“The evil is indeed upon us,” the Queen said softly.
Aylaen stared at the queen in dismay. “I am so sorry, Your Majesty. This is our fault—”
Queen Magali managed a smile and spoke loudly, her voice deliberately bright and cheerful in case anyone else happened to be eavesdropping.
“I have heard of your Vindrasi dragonships all my life, though I have never before seen one, Aylaen. I would like very much to visit your ship.”
“I will be honored to have you as my guest, Your Majesty,” said Aylaen.
Queen Magali took hold of Aylaen’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “You must make ready to sail the moment your husband returns.”
“I do not want to leave you in danger,” Aylaen said, shaking her head.
“You will not,” said the Queen. “The person with the knife was not waiting for me, Aylaen. She was waiting for you.”
“But why?” Aylaen asked, startled.
“Sund knows you defied him,” said the Queen. “He has told Aelon. Skylan may be the one to find the Five, but you are the only one who can summon the power. You are the one they most fear.”
CHAPTER
32
The Dragon Kahg decided he liked living at the bottom of the ocean. All these years, he had sailed on top of the sea, riding the waves in the Vindrasi ships that carried his spirit with them, viewing with pity and disdain the lowly creatures forced to swim. Kahg could not imagine a life without flight, without the freedom to soar among the clouds, bask in the warmth of the sun.
He could have fled the Venjekar when the kraken attacked it, returning to his own realm. He chose to remain with the ship because the sacred Vektia dragonbone was hidden within the hull and he was determined to protect it. He was also determined to find out what had become of the Vektan Torque that held the second Vektia bone lost during the kraken attack.
The Dragon Kahg had used his magic to prevent the kraken from crushing the Venjekar, giving the ugly beast a powerful jolt when it tried to wrap its tentacles around his ship and biting its tentacles with his fangs. Kahg had chuckled as the kraken sullenly squirted a blast of ink in his direction before turning to find new prey.
The Dragon Kahg had been grateful to the Aquins who had come to the aid of Aylaen and the other humans. Kahg liked Aylaen far better than any other Bone Priestess who had served him over the years. The fact that he remembered her name marked his approbation. The dragon had even come to admire Skylan. Kahg had known so many Vindrasi warriors over the years, they all tended to blend together, but the dragon could remember Skylan’s name most of the time.
As for the fae boy, Kahg was firm in his dislike or at least so he continually told himself, even as he allowed the fae child to live on board the ship. Whenever the dragon found himself growing amused by the boy’s antics or taking too much interest in the gossip from those annoying oceanaids, Kahg would bare his teeth in a snarl that would send the oceanaids fleeing in squealing panic and the boy swimming off to hide in the hold.
The Dragon Kahg kept the Venjekar anchored to the coral reef and found he did not miss the blue sky or the sun or the gray clouds and the rain. He liked the stillness, the sunlit blue of the water, the hypnotic motion of the plants stirred by the movement of the waves. The storms that ravaged the world above had small effect on the world below. He knew such peace would not last long. In the interim, he was glad for the respite.
“Have you forgiven us, Kahg?”
Kahg shifted his gaze to the goddess Vindrash swimming alongside him. The goddess was in her dragon aspect, probably hoping to flatter him, appease him. She moved sinuously among the coral, her wings sleek by her flanks, her tail rippling. Kahg looked away. He gazed sternly straight ahead, pretending to be absorbed in watching a puffer fish.
“Have you forgiven us?” Vindrash repeated.
“Since you ask, no. You gods lied to us,” said Kahg. “Not once, but many times over. First you say the spiritbones of Vektia come from five mighty dragons. The thing that destroyed Sinaria was not a dragon. Then you claim that it was the power of creation—”
“So it is,” said Vindrash.
“But that is not all it is,” said the Dragon Kahg. “Even now, you will not admit the truth.”
Vindrash was silent a moment, studying the dragon. Then she said, “You have found out, haven’t you?”
The dragon gave a shake of his mane that sent the small fish swimming off in panic. He was not willing to commit himself.
Vindrash sighed. “If you know the truth, Kahg, then you must understand why I dare not reveal it.”
The Dragon Kahg considered this. Sighting some curious oceanaids hovering near, he snapped his jaws at them. The oceanaids cursed him roundly and angrily swam away.
Once he and the goddess were alone, Kahg said grudgingly, “Maybe I do understand. You thought that if we dragons knew the truth, we would try to seize these sacred bones for ourselves. Perhaps you were right. Perhaps we would have. But you might have given us the benefit of the doubt.”
“We could not take the chance. We feared—”
“Fear!” The dragon snorted clouds of bubbles from his snout. “You gods are ruled by fear!”
“We acted for the best,” said Vindrash.
“That’s always the excuse,” said Kahg.
Vindrash was quiet a moment, then said, “This, then, is the truth. The power of creation is stored inside the bones of Ilyrion. When the Five Vektia bones are brought together, the great dragon, Ilyrion, will be reborn. She will return to the world. We know this will happen, because Sund saw us all there, at the final battle. The great dragon, Ilyrion, fights at our side, as do you and the other dragons.”
“And what is the outcome of this last battle?” The dragon did not like the sorrow in the goddess’s voice. He swiveled his red eyes uneasily.
Vindrash shook her head. “All we know for certain is that whatever Sund saw drove him to madness.”
“And still you send out your Fish Knife to find the Five? Even though they represent your own destruction?”
“Without Ilyrion, we have no hope of defeating Aelon and the Gods of Raj.”
“Apparently we have no hope of defeating them with Ilyrion,” Kahg growled. “So what do we do now?”
“We find the Five,” said Vindrash, “and we hope.”
CHAPTER
33
The City of the Fourth Daughter was almost identical to the City of the First Daughter, as least as far as Skylan could see. Like the City of the First Daughter, this city was also built inside an island in the middle of the sea; the only access to the city was far beneath the ocean’s surface. The oceanaids, with Wulfe tagging along, led Skylan and the Aquin warriors to the location of the dungeon area and indicated with gestures that this was where they had seen the warriors drag the young Vindrasi.
Manta thanked the dolphins and dismissed them, asking them to come back when called. The sea around the Fourth City was alive with fish and Aquins, going about their daily routines, much as the streets of Skylan’s village would be filled with people heading out to the crops in the fields or to the woods to hunt. Skylan noted the presence of a great number of warriors among the people of the Fourth City, many of them male. The men had their heads shaved and marked with the serpent tattoo he’d first seen on Raegar’s head. He guessed that like Raegar, these men were Aelon’s chosen—elite Warrior-Priests.
O
ne group of Warrior-Priests was engaged in what looked to Skylan like mock battles. A warrior on land could hurl a spear at his foe. Below water, combat was entirely hand-to-hand and, interestingly enough, conducted without weapons. The warriors were being taught choke holds and various other means of subduing a foe without drawing blood. Skylan couldn’t imagine why at first. A moment’s thought provided the answer: pitched battle with armies of spear-wielding Aquins would end with both sides losing to the blood-seeking sharks. Skylan touched Manta’s shoulder to draw her attention and pointed to the training session.
She and her warriors watched the male warriors with amusement, judging by their derisive sounding clicks and squeals. Skylan shook his head, envisioning large numbers of these Warrior-Priests launching a swift and deadly attack on the First City, seizing those outside the safety of the city walls and either killing them or taking them prisoner. Once this was accomplished, the army would then move inside the city and put their spears and knives to use.
Skylan could envision this, but Manta and the Aquin warriors could not. He was glad he had come, if for no other reason than he could warn Queen Magali of the danger and she could train her people to guard against it.
The presence of large numbers of male Warrior-Priests ensured that Skylan and his warriors, wearing the armor adorned with the serpent, were not likely to be noticed—one small band among so many. Skylan kept close watch, but no one paid them any attention as the oceanaids led the group toward a cavernous opening below sea level.
Judging by the number of warriors gathered around it, Skylan assumed this must be their destination. Wulfe swam among the oceanaids. Manta tried, but, unlike the dolphins, the oceanaids were not about to be shooed away. They had never known such excitement and they swarmed around the warriors like silvery, voluptuous fish. Fortunately the Aquins were used to them and paid them no heed, ignoring them as they ignored the rest of the sea creatures that made this area their home.
Manta studied the terrain for long moments, then motioned Skylan to join her and the others in one of the many cavernous alcoves that dotted the island. Skylan broke through the surface of the water, took the tube from his mouth, and thankfully breathed air that didn’t come through a tube.
“That entrance the oceanaids showed us leads to the dungeons,” Manta confirmed. “Like our city, the dungeons are kept separate from the city proper. The young man will be well-guarded. How do you propose to free him? We will not fight,” she added, frowning. “We will not shed the blood of another Aquin.”
“Let’s hope Farinn’s Aquin guards feel the same,” Skylan said dryly.
“We are not like you land walkers,” Manta said, offended by his sarcastic tone. “You think of nothing except ways to spill each other’s blood.”
“Right now, I’m thinking of my man who is being held prisoner inside there,” said Skylan angrily. “You saw those warriors out there. What do you think they were doing? Playing games? Those warriors are being trained to kill. They are training for battle. The City of the Fourth Daughter is preparing to go to war—against your people.”
“You see what you want to see,” Manta insisted.
Skylan saw no point in arguing further. He swam over to talk to Wulfe.
“If I need your magic, what kind of magic spell will you cast?” Skylan asked the boy.
“Look at the bats up there!” said Wulfe, craning his neck.
“Wulfe, forget the bats. This is serious,” said Skylan. “We’re going inside the dungeon to rescue Farinn and I need to know what you plan to do with your magic.”
“I don’t know,” said Wulfe. He shrugged. “Magic isn’t something you plan. It’s something that happens—like a sneeze.”
Skylan glanced hurriedly at Manta and the other Aquin warriors, hoping they hadn’t heard that the magic that might save their lives was like a sneeze. The Aquin warriors were huddled together, talking in earnest. Skylan hoped they were finally taking what he’d told them to heart.
Skylan gripped Wulfe’s shoulder. “Going in there will be dangerous, especially for you. If Raegar gets hold of you, he’ll kill you—”
“He won’t get hold of me,” said Wulfe with a grin. “Maybe you, but not me.”
Skylan gave up. He considered the situation and thought that of all the challenges he’d faced in his life, this was undoubtedly the greatest. He was entering a dungeon filled with Aelon’s Warrior-Priests thirsting for his blood alongside a group of warriors who had vowed not to fight and a fae child who didn’t know what spell he was going to cast because magic was like a sneeze.
Skylan touched the silver amulet at his neck and prayed. “Torval, I know you never venture into the ocean and I can certainly understand why, but if you could make an exception, I need your help!”
His prayer dispatched, Skylan swam back to Manta. “You know what to say?”
She looked annoyed. “We have gone over this many times.”
“We have to get this right,” said Skylan.
Manta sighed. “I am a messenger from Priest-General Raegar. He has ordered that the young man be taken to the Temple of the Spirit Priestesses”—Manta stumbled over this title—“so that they may restore the tattoo on the young man’s arm that allows the slave to again receive the wisdom of Aelon’s counsel.”
Skylan nodded his head. “Good.”
“But what if these worshippers of Aelon don’t have these Spirit Priestesses?” one of the warriors asked.
“They will,” said Skylan with more confidence than he felt.
Logic dictated the presence of Spirit Priestesses among the Aquins. The Warrior-Priests were marked with Aelon’s serpent tattoo and, at least in Sinaria, that could be administered only by the Spirit Priestesses. The danger was that the Aquins might call them by a different name.
“What if they hand over Farinn, then decide to send an escort with us?” Manta asked.
“I will deal with any escort,” said Skylan.
The Aquins glanced at each other.
“You mean you will kill him,” said Manta in cold and disapproving tones.
“Farinn is my man and he was taken from your protection,” said Skylan in grim tones. “I’ll try my best not to kill anyone, but I will do what I must to recover my man. If you don’t like it, you can all swim back to your city. I’ll go alone.”
“With me,” said Wulfe. “I’m going.”
“The fae princeling is not coming!” said Manta. “He can wait for us here.”
“He’s coming,” said Skylan.
The Aquins were not pleased about any of this.
“If something goes wrong, the boy will provide a diversion. Like I said,” Skylan added, “you can all swim back home.”
The Aquins exchanged glances.
“We will come with you. Our honor is at stake. If there is trouble, we will deal with it in our own way. Once you have your man, you will return immediately to the First City. The dolphins are waiting to carry you.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to stay down here any more than you want me down here,” said Skylan. “The sooner I can breathe real air and feel the sun on my face, the better.”
Manta’s frowning gaze went to Wulfe. “About the fae princeling—”
“He’s coming,” said Skylan flatly. “He’s here in case something goes wrong. And nothing’s going to go wrong.”
“Something always goes wrong,” Wulfe whispered.
“Shut up,” Skylan muttered, and put the breathing tube back in his mouth.
* * *
Skylan found himself in an unusual situation, one he didn’t like. All his life, he had been in command. As a child of eight, he and Garn, Bjorn, and Erdmund and the other boys spent their leisure time forming a shield wall and charging into imaginary foes. Skylan had been their war chief then. He had been their war chief when he and his friends stood together in a real shield wall. Now, for the first time, he wasn’t in command.
Manta had made it clear before they left on this mission
that none of her warriors would serve under the leadership of a male and Skylan had been forced to agree to accept Manta as his commander or abandon the mission. Although he had boasted to the Aquins that he could do this alone, he hadn’t truly meant it. He would have tried, of course, because Farinn was his man and he wouldn’t abandon him, but he knew quite well he would have failed.
He climbed the stone stairs that led out of the water and up to the dungeon level, keeping in the rear, staying out of direct light, for he didn’t want the guards to get a good look at him. The breathing mask on his face, the harness around his shoulders, the clamshell attached to his back, and the serpent armor over his chest provided some disguise, but anyone looking at him closely would see that he wasn’t an Aquin.
He glanced over his shoulder, back down the stairs and into the water. Wulfe’s head bobbed on the surface, along with the silvery heads of the oceanaids, trying to see what was going on. The oceanaids had no love for Aelon, according to Wulfe, who said they had heard about his depredations among the fae from their cousins, the dryads. The oceanaids had offered to help if there was trouble. Skylan, more frightened of this than he was of the Warrior-Priests of Aelon, had issued a strict order that the oceanaids were not to get involved. Wulfe had only grinned. Skylan had left the boy and his fae friends with the gloomy feeling he was doomed.
The dungeons of the Fourth City were exactly like those in which Skylan had been imprisoned, only larger. He could see the prisoners hanging in nets suspended from the ceiling.
Aquins were by nature a peace-loving people, fond of simplicity and order in their lives, and the dungeons were not very crowded, for not many Aquins broke the law. There was no thievery because the Aquins kept nothing of value to steal. The idea of murder, of one Aquin taking the life another, was impossible to imagine. Aquins who did break their society’s few laws were brought before the Queen, who passed judgment on them, which meant they spent a few days in a net to think over their wrongdoing.
Rage of the Dragon Page 26
