The Traitor

by A D Lombardo

The moon kissed his head and blessed him. The stars giggled with delight and blessed him. Even the wind did its part and rushed up to bless him. Kendra and Sabastian each set a hand on his shoulder. Given freely, he felt their magic swirl into his core. Collecting all the power within his soul, he gave it purpose, wrapped in memories of Rayna; his gleaning ability would focus on her energy and draw him to her like a moth to a flame.

  Releasing the molded magic through his gleaning sight, a dart of cosmic power and light shot from Kai. His mind traveled on stardust over the treetops and across the wind-swept waves of Baden Lake. Miles of rippling water raced beneath him as his mind’s eye flew toward Rayna’s spirit. Near the distant shore, he saw the Dragaron underway, still within view of the Chenowith docks. Rayna’s gleaming outline sparkled with Katori magic. She stood alone facing the bitter winds. No chains held her; her eyes had no tears, but her gleaming form held a brilliance, a beacon to his soul. He sent her a whisper on the wind—I am coming, Rayna.

  Her mouth curled ever so lightly, and she thought back—I know.

  As his mind dropped the connection, he started to smile, but it quickly faded. From the position of the Dragaron, he knew that Sabastian was correct; Rayna would be in Diu shortly after dawn. The seven or so hours while they sailed would be his best chance of rescue before she reached the city—or the Diu dungeons.

  Various possibilities sprang to mind. He could fly down to her, but the shimmering scales of his silver dragon would reveal his arrival and break the promise to hide the truth of dragons. Sending Kendra and Sabastian might be an option, but this was his mistake. No, this was something he needed to do himself—but for once, he would ask for help. There was no weakness in admitting that he could not do this alone, no shame in admitting he was wrong.

  He turned to face Kendra and Sabastian. “I need your help. If I am to save Rayna, I need to reach the ship before dawn. The storm is subsiding, and the clouds are fading. Will you carry me over Baden Lake and drop me in the water near the ship?” His voice sounded distant to his ears, and he felt outside himself.

  Kendra nodded. “I am out of practice carrying people; there is no way I am strong enough. I think Sabastian is your best choice. While you save Rayna, and I will begin to search for Iver. I will start with Thade Mountain and the surrounding farms until Sabastian returns.”

  “Thank you both for believing in me and helping me correct this mistake.” He looked between Kendra and Sabastian, and then he confessed, “I have no idea how to ride an eagle.”

  “You have the easy part,” Sabastian said. “Lay against my back and maintain your balance. But I am more concerned about the distance you need to go. I cannot carry you the entire way. Eagles typically fly a little over one hundred miles in one go—a Katori eagle, double that. Alone, at top speed, I can make it across in about four hours, but with your added weight, I must rest before returning.” Sabastian shook his head. “I am no dragon; I can only carry you so far and still make it back to shore.”

  Baden Lake was massive, he knew that firsthand, but he had not considered the limitations of an eagle against his dragon. Flying across the lake to rescue Rayna and escape would not be possible for an eagle Beastmaster. “Understood,” Kai responded. “If you can get me close, I will do the rest. Take me as far as you can before you need to turn back.”

  Sabastian raised an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned? You cannot use your dragon. Do you plan to swim the rest of the way?”

  Kai shook his head. “I can become other animals. The eagle design and other birds of flight elude me, but water and land creatures feel very natural.” Given they had little time to argue, he was thankful they did not push because he had no idea what he would do once he fell into the water.

  A brilliant white light seeped through Sabastian’s fingers as he drew on the magic within his stone. Kai watched with amazement as feathers erupted over his friend’s changing form. The speed of the transformation was quick, but Kai’s Katori Beastmaster eyes noticed the ripple of change, and for the first time, his senses felt the subtle draw of power raise the hair on his neck.

  “Time to go.” Kendra wrapped an arm around his shoulder and squeezed. “We will see you in two days; I promise we will find a way out of this. Do not give up hope.”

  He nodded and stepped up behind Sabastian. Excited and nervous, he took hold of the wings close to the eagle’s head. As Sabastian fell forward over the edge, treetops rushed by. Soring down the mountainside under other circumstances would be exhilarating—this was not. Kai did his best to stay centered as he clung to Sabastian’s eagle. He knew the risks his size posed. Sabastian’s eagle was only a foot taller than Kai and not much wider. There was little room for error if Kai shifted in flight.

  Focused on remaining calm, he thought of a creature, a construct which only existed in his mind, a beast born of fiction. He needed something nobody would see coming. It needed to be dark, it needed to be swift, and it needed to be strong. With no such animal to emulate, he risked being lost in a new creation.

  Ryker once reminded him about the first dragons, and how dangerous it was to create a novel beast from nothing but one’s imagination. His snow wolf was not original, not really—it was more a blend of Smoke and Anjo. The experience remained fresh in his mind, along with the memory of nearly getting lost in the attempt.

  Of all the creatures Kai knew, the dragon was the strongest, the snake was the fastest, and black was the color of night. To go unseen, he would need to blend them into something new. As they flew over the lake, Kai started to sense the flow of magic. He would need power if he hoped to transform, but he did not want to take anything friend required. The wind flowed into Sabastian, restoring him and prolonging his ability to carry a passenger. Collecting moonlight, he pushed his strength into the eagle’s wings and felt them lift higher.

  Kai, you will need all the magic you can collect for yourself, he heard Sabastian speak to his mind.

  His friend did not know how right he was. As they continued, he took magic from the moon and the clouds and the star-filled sky; from the depths of the lake, he drew power. His skin began to tingle with anticipation, and his mind detailed the creature he needed. Power flowed freely, and Kai felt it build faster than he ever remembered before.

  Wind-driven waves reached for him in the night; the tiny mist of water told him they were flying lower. Sabastian was getting tired from the hours of flight. They had flown a great distance, and with each beat of his wings, they flew a little lower. His friend had reached his limit. With no land or ships in sight, Kai said goodbye.

  Thank you, Sabastian, Kai thought with his mind. You can let me go alone from here.

  Good luck, Kai, he heard back just before Sabastian rolled over midflight.

  Baden Lake swallowed Kai whole. Her bitterly cold waves greeted him with open arms and concealed his entry. His crystal already was aglow as he sank into the blackness. His last view was of Sabastian circling, waiting.

  Transformation always began the same way, with the thread of creation locked within his soul. Blended with the design of another, he could become any beast he knew. Focused on the creatures he’d studied and the animals he knew, Kai imagined a serpent-like creature. It was bigger than any dragon with scales black as night, with a body able to glide through the water and eyes capable of seeing even in the dimmest of light.

  The waves provided an abundance of energy. Kai pulled every ounce he could from their crashing. They gave freely. As if with a pen, Kai drew the serpent in his mind: the dark red eyes, spine-frilled neck, ridged spine, black diamond-shaped scales. Wings to serve as fins and a broad tail to help him slip through the water, and a sharp, menacing horn.

  Inspired by his design, the golden braid coalesced into a spiraling coiled ladder. Magic-infused light swirled around Kai’s body. His arms stretched and flowed into long wing-like fins, legs pressed tight they grew together as his body became longer and his tail unfurled. Taking a breath, he sucked water in over his new gill
s, and he felt the expanse of his head and the change of his eyes.

  As he slithered from the deep, his head rose out of the water. Higher and higher he went, up into the sky. Still pulling from nature, the wind died with the waves. Studying his reflection in the dark waves, he beheld his creation, down to every detail. The beast was just as he hoped. The one surprise was his serpent tongue, pointy and forked, but it felt right.

  His elongated body rolled out behind him. Elegant wing-like fins fluttered at his sides, and a fin-like tail swooshed through the water. Feeling complete, he stretched and recoiled. His new form slithered through the water, leaving little trace he was ever there. The sounds of an eagle’s cry rang in his ears, and the gold tips of an eagle flashed by his eyes.

  He watched the bird swoop and dive and transform into a man landing on his third protruding hump.

  “Kai!” the man shouted. “Remember who you are, your mission—save Rayna!”

  Kai slithered and bobbed in the water. Pictures of a girl flashed in his mind. He repeated her name in his head—Rayna—Rayna—Rayna. He remembered everything, his feelings for her, her predicament, and his mission to save her.

  Thank you, he said in his mind. Return to Kendra.

  Sabastian bathed in moonlight to regain his power and Kai sensed a shift in magic as his friend reverted to his eagle form and disappeared into the night.

  Concentrating ahead, he held his head high while his body slithered through the water. With his massive size and speed, he was within view of the Dragaron in less than an hour. Easing his pace, he slowed, letting his body sink below the surface; the tip of his black horn just missed the hull of the Dragaron.

  Kai’s glowing red eyes watched the ship pass. He could not speak to Rayna in this beastly form, but he had to get her attention. His horn rose from the depths, piercing the wake behind the Dragaron. His winged head, nearly as large as the entire vessel, made a new wake. He watched from a distance, searching for a way to get her attention.

  Two guards approached her. One was rail-thin, and Kai saw him pointing. Rayna shook her head in disagreement, and the other heavyset guard grabbed her arm. Rage boiled in his stomach, and he felt an uncontrollable instinct take over. His rolling body propelled him from the water as he lunged at the ship. Water drenched the deck as he passed over the top. Using his wing-like fin, Kai snatched the man from the boat and plunged back into the darkness. Rage consumed his mind as he swam in a downward spiral. Air bubbles poured out the guard’s mouth, and his eyes bulged in fear.

  Realizing the man was suffocating, Kai swam for the surface and flung him into the air. He landed on deck in a fit of coughs as Kai rose high above the ship. The white sails were soaked in water. Men shouted, drawing their swords. The captain pulled a crossbow and aimed at Kai’s writhing form. Rayna screamed, her hands held out to the captain. “Don’t shoot!” she begged.

  Kai did not want to hurt the men on the Dragaron, but he wanted Rayna. A roar rolled up his throat, and he blasted the ship with the frightful sound. Men screamed in fear, and the captain let loose his arrow. It struck Kai’s diamond black scales and bounced off without a scratch. Rayna ran to the rail and dove into the water.

  Dumfounded, the crew watched as the leviathan sank beneath the surface. Rayna floated beneath the water, basking in the glow of Kai’s red eyes. Kai nudged her with his horn, and she took hold. Anxious to put distance between them, he swam away from the Dragaron, rising from the depths so she could breathe.

  The Dragaron bobbed motionless in the middle of the lake. Kai imagined it would not take long before the crew came to their senses and sail for Diu. They would arrive emptied-handed, with no bait to lure Kai back into captivity. He thought about Nola’s anger and the added intrigue behind a mythical monster spotted in Baden Lake.

  Rayna perched behind his horn between his winglike ears as he swam into the darkness. Dawn’s rays cut through the fog, and the shoreline unfolded before them.

  Kai eased into the sandy shore. Rayna slipped from his head, and he transformed. Standing in knee-deep water, he looked at her, wondering how furious she might be.

  Her eyes held no anger; only a small tear ran down her already wet cheek. She ran to him, and he welcomed her with open arms. He could not thank Alenga enough for keeping her safe. It felt good to have her back.

  “I should not have left you,” he admitted. “I thought I knew better, but I was wrong.” Scooping Rayna into his arms, Kai lifted her from the cold water and carried her to shore.

  “I knew it was you,” she confessed. “You are becoming a very powerful Beastmaster. The leviathan is your fourth animal, and second new creation—or are there others I don’t know about?” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him as he walked.

  She had every right to be mad. Lowering her into the tall grass along the shore, Kai tried to smooth the tension. “Leviathan,” he offered with a smile. “That was the name I thought of, too.”

  The gesture fell flat.

  “I am sorry,” Kai admitted. “I have made so many mistakes, but one just led to another. It’s as if I cannot stop.”

  Her eyes softened, and her shoulders relaxed. “It means a lot to hear you say you are sorry, but you need to stop taking risks with your magic.”

  Eagar to share his latest discovery, he changed the subject. “You know, I finally see now how the crystal channels our magic. The stone amplifies and softens the raw nature, and if we find the balance to let it flow freely, we can do anything.”

  She pushed his shoulder. “Seriously, Kai, you look exhausted. Not magically, but emotionally. How are you doing?”

  “Don’t worry about me,” he said, shrugging off her concern. “We need to get going. We should be a bit south of Chenowith but not close enough for anyone to spot us. I want to get in the hills before I…”

  “Before you what?” Albert shouted from the shadows. “Traitor. MURDERER!”

  Kai peered in the trees. “Albert Chenowith, is that you?”

  Rayna stepped close to Kai. “Be careful,” she whispered. “Albert is the one who turned me in.”

  The possibilities danced through Kai’s mind. What had Albert seen? Rayna and Kai came ashore only moments ago, less than fifteen feet from where they stood now. Did his friend see him transform? Did it matter? With a protective hand, Kai pulled Rayna close. “Albert, I know what you’ve heard, but it is not true. I did not kill my father. Please let us go. I need to find the people who took my father’s body and return him to Diu.”

  “Liar!” Albert dropped the reins of his horse and drew his sword. “Our Queen commands that we turn you over. You are a murderer. You are a traitor to the crown and must pay.”

  If Albert were anyone else, Kai might have thought twice, but his friend was no swordsman. In three quick steps, he disarmed Albert.

  “Come now, Albert, how long have we been friends? You know me, the real me. I would have no motive to kill my father. Only someone who wanted his crown would benefit from killing him, and you and I both know that being a king was never my ambition.”

  Albert started to speak but stopped—twice—as if caught between the sword’s tip and the truth. With his friend pondering the facts, Kai relinquished the sword back to its rightful owner. “I am returning this to you as a symbol of trust. Believe me when I say I did not kill my father.”

  What appeared to be a mix of skepticism and relief caused Albert to slump and sheath his weapon. Trust was a precious gift, Kai wanted to relax, but Albert had tricked Rayna and was planning to hand her over to the dungeon masters. But, if he wanted to earn Albert’s trust, he needed to trust him first.

  “I need time to prove I didn’t kill my father. I believe—”

  “Let us leave, Albert,” Rayna interjected. Then she whispered to Kai as she pulled him toward the trees. “We do not have time for this . . .”

  “We need to go to Port Anahita,” Kai agreed. “I hope to find Iver’s body there. He was not on the ship with Keegan, and I have onl
y today left to search. Tomorrow, I must return to Diu, with or without proof of my father’s fate.”

  Albert followed them. “Keegan?”

  “Why is he following us? There is no time for explanations. We need to go.” Rayna tugged Kai into a quicker pace.

  “I am sorry, Rayna,” Albert said, jogging to catch up. “Let me prove my loyalty. You must understand, I had to turn you in. It was my sworn duty. You really did not kill Iver?” His begging tone left a speck of doubt in the air.

  Kai stopped to let his friend take a breath. In as few words as possible, and omitting a few special details, he told the facts as he knew them from the moment he was with Queen Nola in his father’s chamber, though Keegan’s abduction, his promise to Dresnor, and today’s rescue of Rayna.

  “I could not allow Queen Nola to manipulate me,” Kai explained. “I will return as promised to Diu tomorrow, but I could not allow the love of my life to go to prison because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Albert, tell your father that if he wishes to learn the truth, he should be in Diu tomorrow afternoon.”

  A moment of silence passed before Albert spoke. “Take me with you. Let me help.”

  Thoughts of Lord and Lady Chenowith’s kindness rippled through Kai’s memory. “I am sorry, Albert. I cannot risk being captured.”

  “I need a chance Kai, please. Let me prove my loyalty to you.”

  Kai felt his heart soften to the idea, and it must have shown on his face before Rayna pulled him back. “No, we cannot trust him. Plus, his mother will kill you. I have met the woman; she is strong-willed.”

  Years of friendship hung in the balance. Kai studied his friends face and saw the sorrow in Albert’s eyes. His friend wanted to believe. He needed someone to believe in him.

  “Rayna, please forgive me,” Albert pleaded. “I only did what I thought was best with the information from Queen Nola. Rumors of Kai’s disloyalty have poured into Chenowith for months. I should have trusted Kai, but the news of King Iver’s death was very personal. Let me make it up to both of you.”