Missy was gone for two days as they continued to head towards Heart, and Lov was just beginning to worry about her. In the distance, the tower of the main temple stuck up into the sky. It was brown and gray, and Koan shook his head sadly every time he looked at it. They had stayed in farms as they traveled, with the young Ogier stopping to work on the fields. The ground under their feet seemed to sprout more life where he walked. A wide swath of emerald green spread behind the group thanks to him. Carts began to pass them from time to time, most heading away from Heart, but the plants grew stubbornly as the horse teams trimmed them. The people of the farms were grateful to the travelers, willing to risk their lands for the Ogier's talents.
They were good times, and some of the farmers showed their own hidden talents. Some played instruments, and most of the wives sang, if not well. Sanche had borrowed a straw hat from a farmer to hide his ears. It fit loosely on him, and the elder elf continually glared at Lov. It had shown itself to be useful as they traveled. Titans began to pop up more frequently, and Lov was glad for the lessons on changing his form. At night, he practiced hiding Sanche's ears so the elder could give the hat away. But so far Lov had been unsuccessful.
Koan was in great spirits, filling the world around them with loving thoughts, waving to everyone they passed on the road. As they drew closer to Heart, the land seemed more and more dead. Fields stood brown and withering until Koan passed them, singing to the plants and spreading life.
This was how they had decided to stop the Titanbringer from fleeing south. Koan was going to stay and sing to the plants, using them to choke the roads into and out of Heart. It would take time, and continual singing over a long period to connect all the fields together, but Koan knew he had the time.
Lov watched as Missy appeared in the air, stepping out of a hole. “I see you finally found somewhere you can use your magic again.” He said casually.
“Yeah, all the way at the Great Wyrm Desert! It'll be weeks til I can get you home!” Missy replied in exasperation.
Lov chuckled. He was happy that his wasn't the only plan that was having problems. “Well, can you go on ahead and tell Nord and my mother we should be there in a few weeks to help?”
“Yeah, I can do that. I'll meet you guys on the outskirts of the desert. I'll start searching for you north of Heart in a couple weeks. Until then, stay out of trouble.” Missy shot away from them, heading towards the tower in the distance.
Sanche snorted at Lov, “You and Missy assume we'll make it through the city unscathed. I wish I was as confident as the two of you.” The elder elf pushed ahead of Lov, walking next to Koan and talking to the young Ogier quietly.
Lov shook off Sanche's negativity, and started to plan how to see Martell.
Chapter Thirty eight
The family they stayed with were close to Heart, only a half day's travel. They were also devout followers of Dalanar, and had been happy to have an honored Ogier in their home. Koan used the teachings he learned in the temples to share stories about Dalanar, ones that Lov had heard all his life. The farmer and his wife seemed happy for the stories all the same, letting them stay there several nights. The day of worship came, the three travelers walking to the city with the family. There was safety in numbers after all.
They passed into the city without incident, the Titans didn't even seem to look twice at the Ogier coming to the city. They blended into the crowd, heading to the bridges that led to the temples. The priests had an island in the center of the canal, forcing it to split around their temple complex. Five buildings were spread around the island. There was an entire building devoted to making armor and weapons for the Titans. Two devoted to clothing and housing the priests and acolytes of the temple. Another to feed them. The last major building was the temple itself. It stretched into the sky, thousands of feet into the air. Dead trees had fallen from the buildings, landing in heaps on the rock walls. The stone they had fallen from was bare compared to the brown of skeletal trees refusing to release their hold on the rock.
Lov felt his dragonhunger growl, and he understood completely. His mother had told him of the beauty and splendor of the temples, the Ogier keeping the plants healthy and hearty. Hope had always filled her face when she talked about it, and when Lov pictured the trees alive, he could see why. It must have been a beautiful sight, one to stun the eyes with life.
They passed into the temple, the group splitting away from the family they had traveled with. Lov wanted to stick to the back of the temple, away from the vigilant eyes of the Titans. Koan stood in the back, leaning against the wall. The Ogier seats were empty, and if he were to sit with his friends he knew he would stand out like a sore thumb.
A troop of Titans thundered into the room, marching in formation. Martell walked in the center of the troop, taking a place at an altar on a raised stage. His vestments were blue and green. Lov's dragonhunger stirred, seeing the Titanbringer before him. It wanted him to rush the stage, kill the old man now, when he wasn't expecting it. Lov took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Finally, he mastered his dragonhunger, though it continued to push at him.
If you asked Lov later what the sermon had been about, he would never be able to tell you. The young half-elf focused on using his new gifts to study Martell. Lov stared at the old man, looking to see through the smiling and loving deception.
A thin silvery line stretched away from Martell, through the ceiling and out of sight. When Lov saw it, he knew something was being hidden from his vision. Lov studied the line with his new gift, until it began to turn black and emanate darkness. He looked to Martell again, confident that the line led to someone controlling the poor old man. Pity filled the young half-elf for a moment, but he hardened himself to confirm what he thought.
Lov shifted his vision on the Titanbringer, looking for the master of the unseen hand. The old priest's features shifted. His face elongated, becoming more reptilian, and his skin became scaly like Lov's. He was even the same stormy blue gray as Lov. And somehow, the young half-dragon felt a kinship to this being.
The rest of the ceremony passed without incident. Lov and Sanche headed north with the crowd, as Koan headed back south. The Ogier was laughing and joking with the humans he walked with, and seemed at peace with the world.
Lov wished he was as lucky. He felt riddled with worry now that they were close to exiting the city. They followed the crowd through the beautiful streets, the young half-dragon too preoccupied to really drink in the scene.
The Titans at the walls of the city appeared less than vigilant as they passed the crowd through. Lov and Sanche walked through the gates without incident. They traveled with pilgrims as they headed north to their homes.
They spent that night sleeping in the bushes on the roadside, Lov loving his new pouch. They had shelter, food, and spent the time comfortably.
Book Three
Chapter One
The grass began to melt into the brown sand as they approached the Great Wyrm Desert. In the distance, Lov could see an enormous Wyrm's skeleton, buried at the base of a sand dune. The head was upside down and sand spilled from the eyes, leaving the long fanged teeth free to the air.
Sanche sat in the grass, looking at the bare patches. “Would think the grass would fill in.” He said absentmindedly, running his fingers through the green swathes.
Lov sat next to the elder elf, shading his eyes with his hands as he scanned the area around them. “I can't wait to have a real bed underneath me again.” Lov said as he kept an eye out, looking for Missy. “I need to tell you what I saw when I looked at Martell.” The young half-elf picked up a blade of grass, picking at it carefully as he inspected it. “There's something controlling him. A hand guiding him, and I felt a kinship with it. I don't know how I know, but I'm connected to it somehow.” Lov shook his head, “Truth be told, this new vision is so unknown to me, I don't even know if I should trust it. But if what I saw is true, maybe I can save him. Bring the man back from the darkness.”
Sanche snorted at Lov. “It'll never happen, my boy. Your great grandfather tried for years with Asheron, his brother and one of the first Wyrms.” Sanche lay back, looking up at the sky. “Sometimes they're gone, boy, and there is no saving them.”
“I've got to try, Sanche. I've killed people,” Lov's eyes picked up a slight glee and his dragonhunger hummed within, “watched the light fade out of their eyes. And enjoyed it, loved the thrill of my blood singing in my veins. Loved watching as their souls left the now empty shells. There's a part of me that enjoys killing.” Lov shook his head, clearing his mind's eye. “But every time I've killed someone, afterward I've thought of all the uses I could have put them to. Imagine how much simpler a transition would be if I could convince Martell to let me cleanse him. Imagine if I could purify his soul!”
“You can't save something that was shit to begin with, Lov. Martell never had a heart. He pays attention to numbers, and sheets, forgetting the people beneath him. It's part of why what you did to me is dangerous. I'm seeking death.” Sanche pointed at a cloud, “It's ironic, I see a cloud shaped like a Wyrm, and I find myself sympathizing with them, thinking that I know how they feel. If others wish to follow me to the grave, I won't stop them. I can't be the general you want, though.”
“Then I'll use you as a champion. You'll shore up defenses as we have to fight.” Lov shook his head disappointedly, “I know I can't stop all clashes with the hot tempers of the parties involved. Especially the orcs.” Lov glared down at his old mentor. “I'll use you then, I'll use you like a hammer until you break. If that's what you want.”
Sanche sat up, putting his arm around the young half-elf. “It is, my friend. I want to end all of this as soon as possible. And I'll do everything in my power to die. Throw me into the battles against the Titans. We'll cut a path straight through to Heart, draw them all from the city. Give you the most chance to sneak in and assassinate him.”
“I won't kill Martell unless I have to.” Lov said, “I don't think I want to kill him. That's why Nord will remain in charge of the armies. I may know how to fight, but he knows how to win battles. All those years of experience, I know I'm green.”
“Let's give it to Missy.” Sanche replied, “Nord will be a good leader someday, but he lacks the discipline.”
“And Missy is too flighty. I mean, hello, who are we waiting for?” Lov said, gesturing around them.
“Point taken, she does always seem to disappear.” Sanche was quiet for a moment. “What about the Anuunaki?”
Lov's gaze continued to wander lazily. “I've talked to their leaders. Most of their tactics focus on defensive formations, which are great, but we need to smash the Titans in the mouth to reach Heart. And the orcs, well, the elves killed most of their brilliant tacticians. That leaves me, unwilling to do it. You, willing to kill us all if I force you to. And Nord, an unproven, but promising, leader of men.” Lov covered his face with his hands. “Shall we leave it to a toss of the dice?” He asked the elder elf.
Sanche laughed, the old laugh that Lov remembered, filled with joy, hardly a hint of anger. Then the coldness and anger returned. “Only if you leave me off of the roll.”
Lov nodded, bending to his mentor's wish.
The young half-elf looked to the penny pouch in his hand. He didn't know how it worked, or how it was made. But he loved it, the little brown pouch no bigger than a coin sensed what he wanted. Whenever he reached into it, the item he wanted was there. Missy said the fairies worried about him wandering, and they felt he needed one. They were made as survival packs for them, but one of its magical properties made it a bag of infinite size. Only simple items of survival and games were loaded into it, but more than enough for die. Lov pulled a six sided wooden die free. “Here goes.” He said, shaking it in his hands. “One, three, six for Nord. Two, four, five for myself.” Lov let the die go, anxious to see how it would land.
Each tumble seemed to sound like thunder in the young half-dragon's ear as the die rolled. Lov could sense when it would happen. He knew what the numbers would be. A six stood face up, and he heaved a sigh of relief when he turned out to be wrong. “See Sanche, even the gods of chance agree. Nord is our best choice.”
“That's nothing, want to prove it to me, the gods of chance will let you do it two more times.” Sanche rolled onto his side and fell asleep, looking to pass the time until Missy arrived.
Chapter Two
Kahia looked around the sparse council chamber, anger clear on her face. Nord stood, waiting for her to start the proceedings, but they both knew the words would be empty without the people. There were even some Greatmothers missing from the council. All those that had any real power independent of Kahia were gone, leaving the head Greatmother with her lackeys. Few people, the stalwart supporters of the hardline, sat in the open area and those that did were not the elite that Kahia was used to seeing.
“So where is that damned she-elf speaking from today?” She demanded of the tall rail thin general. “If she doesn't have the strength to come to me, then I will show the strength and go to her.”
“I'll take you to where she's at, but only after I change your perspective a little bit. Orcs are stubborn, so I don't know how much of this is going to get through, but here goes.” Nord stepped close to Kahia. “She's got a handle on you and your authority. We army men like to call it having you by the balls. She knows the people are swayed by her son. She knows you've poisoned your own daughter against her. And she knows that the army isn't yours.”
Nord stepped back, walking towards the stairs and gesturing for Kahia to follow him. “Why would she come into your stronghold? Let you set the grounds for battle? When she knows you are the one who needs to fight.” Nord chuckled as he led the head Greatmother from the building. “She knows her enemy, and she's taken away your strength. I know, it's scary. Dragons tend to have that effect, you'll come to learn.”
“Dragon? I refuse to believe that little whore is a dragon.” Kahia let out a hard snort of a laugh. “I'll believe she's a dragon when I see her fly. I'd sooner expect a damn pig to fly!”
“I can arrange both if you want. Seriously though, do you doubt her son is a half-dragon?” Nord asked. Kahia shook her head negatively. “Her husband was my brother, and you know I am no dragon.”
“You're not just an elf either.” She pointed out as they took to the streets, heading through the city.
“Touché, I'm not. But my brother and I share the same mother, and my stepfather was the very image of a stubborn elf. So I know my brother's not the dragon. Yet there stands Lov, scaly and shiny, like a dragon. Imposing his will upon people, like a dragon.” Nord laughed a little more as he watched kids stream by, playing a new ball game that Lov had introduced. It involved kicking it around, aiming for a goal. “He even seems to be changing the very course of history. I don't understand why you few stalwarts refuse to see he's only helping.”
“He's not Orc! He seeks to dilute our society, shape us to fit your elves and humans.” The last word she all but spit out. “Humans are so disgusting. Your people at least have honor, humans are a waste of space.”
“And yet, the same as you or I, they're people. They imagine, they invent, they ritualize. They worship gods.” Nord stopped, buying two meat pies from an elven vendor, passing one to Kahia. “And it's not like we aren't showing any improvements in your society. Look at the city itself. Half of the garbage is gone, the streets are clean. Crime is at an all time low. We're even beginning to use the empty buildings as housing for those without a place to call home. Hell, you can even eat that pie from this vendor without fear of sickness because we're helping to make it safer!”
“Letting the weak ones live instead of culling them from the herd as Gruumnsh would want.” Kahia replied stubbornly, wolfing down her meat pie.
Nord shook his head, breaking his own into two pieces and handing them to the kids running by. “Share that, you lot!” He said affectionately as he mussed one of the young girl's hair. “Should we le
t the weak ones die? Who knows what kind of resources they can bring to the table. We need to consider every option. Look at Fiksu. Even you admit he's proven his worth. He survived when no one took care of him, when everyone shunned him. He's thriving now, ready to lead your people into the skies!” As they continued on their way, Nord pointed out all the smiling faces.
Kahia got a nauseous look on hers, wrinkling her nose as she followed him. “How can you associate with such filth? Doesn't it shame you?” she asked him.
“Never, I love each of these people. They're my brothers, my sisters. The people who will fight with me for a better world. Isn't that something we all want?” Nord quickened his step, and Kahia sped up to a jog to keep up with him.
The tall elf led Kahia into a wide open square. It was packed with orcs, all quiet, looking to where Tyrosh spoke from. The elven woman's voice could be heard clearly in all areas of the square. “And see how she handles a crowd.” Nord pointed out. “She's limited in what she can do right now, but dragons are still impressive in their power.”
Kahia ignored what the bitch was saying, focusing instead on her people. She saw the changes that had come over them. None of them were snarling, looking to take advantage of a weaker neighbor. They were all standing and listening, intense concentration clear on their faces. They stood as if in a trance. It slowly dawned on Kahia. “You've hypnotized them.” She said quietly to herself, then as rage filled her, she called it out louder. “My people! She's put you under a spell!”
Kahia continued to scream and shout about the people being under a spell, interrupting Tyrosh's speech. The dragon's voice echoed through the square as she shifted her focus. “It appears Greatmother Kahia has something to say to you all.”
Kahia passed through the crowd, climbing onto the makeshift stage that had been set up. Tyrosh used her power to send the Greatmother's voice throughout the square. “My people! She is a witch working magic upon you! Even now she uses her words to seduce you away from our true purpose!”
Breath of the Titans: The False Titanbringer: Complete Trilogy Page 34
