Gallrum peeked above the edge of the alcove. “It’s so big. Are you sure we want to do this? This plan feels like a certain demise.”
Medolas was quick to snap a response. “Clandestiny would’ve given her life’s source for you! Would you turn your back on her?”
“Of course, not!” the king snapped back in defense of the goswig. A moment later, Shiver shook his head and sighed. “Must we start this again, Medolas? We all know Clandestiny’s mettle and want to help her.”
Medolas did not respond. Instead, he turned to watch the gashtion tear into the meat. A few moments later, he looked over his shoulder at the others and grinned. “It eats like Clandestiny.”
With the others chuckling, Gallrum raised another question as he flew away from the opening of the alcove. “Priestess, are you sure there’s no other way? We’ll be so close to it. What if we’re unable to teleport fast enough?”
Gage was the one to respond. “Just stay near me, and remember the task you were assigned. Don’t take your focus off of the Tear. It is up to us to feed its power if the priestess’ plan is to work.”
Fosalia reached out and took hold of one of Gallrum’s claws. “I’ll be protecting you from here. You’ll be shielded. The moments will be available for you to flee if needed.”
“But what if the beast doesn’t respond to Gablysin’s song?” the serwin countered. “Are you sure we can focus on the Tear and still realize the moment to flee? What if the gashtion is too quick and breaks through your magic like it broke through our wall during the battle? We’ll be squashed.”
Shiver looked at the priestess. “The goswig has a point. Are your sure your magic is strong enough to hold the weight?”
“Yes, Your Grace, I’m more than confident. The barrier will hold.”
With the pile of meat nearly gone, Medolas had heard enough quibbling. Despite the gashtion’s size, he did not believe Clandestiny would hurt him. And if it was not Clandestiny who had survived the battle between the gashtions, he did not want to live without her. With the others debating, Medolas quietly crawled out of the alcove and began running toward the edge of the chasm. He lifted his hand and shouted before the others realized he was gone. “Clandestiny!”
Hearing his friend’s insanity, Shiver ran to the opening of the alcove and called for Medolas to stop, but the king’s order was discarded.
With the meat still holding the gashtion’s attention, Medolas was able to close the distance before Clandestiny finished licking the ice. He waved his arms and shouted again. “Clandestiny, it’s me ... your Meddy! You must come back to me and remember who you are! We are to unite!”
“He’s a fool!” Gablysin shouted as the gashtion lifted its head skyward and roared. “He’s going to become part of the feast.”
Shiver placed his hand on Gablysin’s shoulder as the ruby eyed man was about to crawl out of the hole. “Wait. Fosalia, place a barrier around Medolas.”
Fosalia shook her head. “I can only do it once, Your Grace. Would you have me waste it now? We only have one opportunity for success.”
Hearing the priestess’ response, Gabs’ eyes filled with anger. “Medolas is not a waste. Put up the barrier.”
“No!” Shiver rebutted. “She’s right. We cannot allow our emotions to control our actions. If that fool wishes to sacrifice his life’s source, then there’s nothing we shall do to stop him. We stick to the plan.”
Clandestiny lowered her eyes after she finished her ferocious roar and focused on Medolas’ tiny form. She felt he was familiar, but she could not understand what he was shouting. Her instinct was calling for blood, yet something inside was pulling her in another direction. She snorted and then lowered to sniff Medolas’ scent.
With the gashtion lowering its snout, the ruby eyed man reached out and grasped Shiver’s arm. “I hope it’s her and that her love for him has remained steadfast.” He looked out across the ice and pleaded, “Please, be Clandestiny.”
Shiver shook his head. “Medolas is either an imbecile, or the bravest Isorian I know.”
Using his magic to hold himself high enough to see above the ledge of the alcove, Gage added, “Perhaps he believes the gashtion will proclaim him a bite not worth taking.”
“I vote for imbecile,” Gallrum announced with his claws digging into the ice.
Medolas’ smell was inviting. The memories of their moments together were fighting their way to the forefront of Clandestiny’s mind, yet she was unable to recognize them as thoughts of a life past. All she understood was that this being gave her a sense of comfort, and devouring him, no matter how large her desire to consume, did not feel right.
As her moments passed, the comfort Medolas offered was beginning to be overshadowed by hunger. She sniffed again, but during this moment, she took in a much longer whiff. Another long period followed while the gashtion loomed above Medolas—the drool from her lips plopped onto the ice all around the Isorian as she struggled with the turmoil that was growing in her mind.
“Disgusting,” Gallrum groaned as a mound of the gashtion’s drool pooled at Medolas’ feet.
The badger’s nose crinkled. “I second that.”
“Do you think he’s winning it over?” Shiver queried. A few moments later, the king patted the ruby eyed man on the back. “Gabs, it must be Clandestiny. Look ... her eyes.”
“You’re right. They’re softening. I think she recognizes him.”
Fosalia placed her hand on Shiver’s shoulder. “But she should be transforming by now. Medolas’ love for her must not be enough to trigger her desire to change. Perhaps you should join them. The face of another friend might help.”
A look of disbelief appeared on Shiver’s face. “You cannot be of sound mind. I’m not going out there.”
With Medolas’ hand touching the end of Clandestiny’s snout, she closed her eyes. His touch was familiar, and she could feel the gentleness of his caress. As he continued to call out her name and profess his love, the language was beginning to make sense. His tone gave her a sense of belonging, and she did not want to leave.
Another long period of moments passed, and still the transformation did not happen.
“Someone needs to intervene before she decides to return to the ocean,” Fosalia warned. “The longer Clandestiny stays in this form, the greater the chances are that she’ll never return to the being whom you love.”
“That would be unacceptable,” Gage responded. The badger faced Shiver. “What are your orders? You must make a decision.”
The king sighed. “I don’t know what to do. I struggle to employ good thought. What do you think, Gabs?”
The ruby eyed man shrugged. “The answer evades me as well. I don’t know what to think.”
“Well, I do,” Gallrum announced. “I’m staying right here. He’s doing just fine without us.”
Gage struck the serwin on his tail and gave him a look.
“What?” the serwin groaned as he lifted his tail to rub out the sting. “Just look at her fangs.”
With Medolas continuing to express his love, Clanny’s mind was becoming more in tune with him by the moment. Oh, Meddy, it’s me, she wanted to express, but her mouth was unable to utter the words. I love you, too, but this power ... this energy ... the dominance ... it’s all so intoxicating. Join me, my love.
When next Medolas spoke, it felt as if he was responding to her thoughts. “I would join you if I could, Clanny, but I can’t. You must return to me. There’s nothing to stop us from uniting. After 300 seasons, we can express our love the way we’ve always desired.”
Another fair series of moments passed as Medolas continued to entice Clandestiny into making the change. She was about to surrender and begin the transformation when Shiver’s voice insulted the evening air and ruined the peace that was filling her moments.
“Clandestiny! We all love you!” the king called from a distance. “Come back to us!”
Before another word could be uttered, the gashtion lifted her head and
let out an angry roar. Clandestiny was able to remember the way Shiver had tried to undermine her relationship with Medolas when they were young. Of all beings to step out of the alcove, the king was the worst choice the priestess could have recommended.
Medolas tried to fix the damage. “It’s okay, Clanny!” he shouted. “Look at me! Look down at the one you love! I’m here for you!”
Clanny refused to pull her glare off Shiver.
Medolas turned to find the king. “Go back! We’re fine without you!”
As Clandestiny continued to stare at Shiver, her dislike for the king forced what was left of her desire to transform to the back of her mind. Medolas’ words became unclear as his expression of love no longer carried meaning. The comfort she had allowed herself to feel was consumed by rage, and once again he became foreign to her.
As her jowls pulled back, her teeth were exposed. A moment later, Clandestiny dropped her mouth to the ice. Her jaw snapped shut as Medolas jumped to avoid the deadly points of her teeth.
“Noooooooo!” Shiver screamed as Clandestiny lifted her head and swallowed Medolas whole, her massive Adam’s apple traveling the length of her neck as she did.
Gablysin was quick to react. He grabbed Gallrum’s claw with his left hand and touched Gage on the shoulder with his right. “We go now! Take us onto the ice!”
As soon as Gallrum’s eyes closed, they vanished and reappeared below the head of the gashtion. The priestess extended her arms and used her power to place a bubble of protection around them.
Clandestiny lifted her massive claw and brought it down on top of the trio, but as promised, the barrier held firm.
Gallrum screamed, “We must flee!”
Gage quickly turned and hit Gallrum on his tail with his cane again. “Focus on the Tear, or we’ll perish!”
“But—”
“But nothing!” the badger scolded. “Focus!”
With Gablysin lifting the Tear of Gramal toward the gashtion, Gage and Gallrum set their eyes on the crystal as it began to glow. The ruby eyed man’s mouth opened and a song penetrated the air.
Again, Clandestiny’s claw smashed against the barrier, but Gablysin and the goswigs stood their ground. The ruby eyed man closed his eyes and put all of his love for Clandestiny into every lyric. As the mood of the song increased, so did the light that emanated from the Tear.
The gashtion’s claw pounded against the barrier on four more occasions before Clandestiny was affected by the mood of the ruby eyed man’s song. Rather than strike the barrier again, she dug her claws into the ice, lowered her eyes near the bubble and stopped growling.
Many moments passed as what was left of the sun fell below the horizon, and many more moments would pass before the rage that consumed Clandestiny would soften enough so that she could once again understand the Isorian language.
Seeing the shift in Clandestiny’s demeanor, Gablysin changed the lyrics to speak of her life with Medolas. The song spoke of their Peaks as children—Peaks when they would hide to enjoy one another’s company. The lyrics further spoke of the tales Medolas had told the ruby eyed man upon their return from their journey to find the Ko-dess, and how, through it all, the obstacles they faced only managed to strengthen their love.
By the moment Gablysin had repeated the lyrics for the tenth occasion, Gallrum broke his concentration and whispered to Gage, “Is she ever going to change? We cannot stay here all night.”
The break in the goswigs’ focus on the Tear effected the power of the ruby eyed man’s song. Clandestiny lifted her right front claw and growled as she brought it down on top of the barrier.
With her foot lifting for another strike, Gage barked an order. “Gallrum, focus, damn you! You’re going to get us slaughtered!”
The badger no sooner finished his chastisement of the serwin when Clandestiny’s claw smashed against the barrier again. She would strike on two more occasions before her mood would soften enough to once again listen to the song.
Back inside the alcove, Shiver had reclaimed his position in the alcove and was remaining out of sight when Fosalia dropped her hands to her sides. “I can do nothing more,” she conceded. “If the gashtion strikes again, the barrier will collapse. They’ll be forced to flee.”
“But if they flee, Clandestiny will be lost to us,” Shiver argued.
The priestess looked across the ice. “She may be lost already. She should’ve transformed by now. There’s nothing else I can do.”
As Shiver swallowed at the thought, a long strand of drool fell from Clandestiny’s jowls. It smothered the bubble and rolled toward the ice as it followed the arc of the barrier’s circumference.
The king pulled his eyes off the gashtion. “What about the Tear? Priestess, focus what’s left of your energy on the Tear. Perhaps it would help.”
Fosalia did not argue. She looked across the ice and concentrated on the light emerging from the ruby eyed man’s palm. A moment later, the light intensified.
“It’s working!” Shiver exclaimed. “Focus harder, Priestess! Focus!”
With the estimated series of moments of Midnight approaching, Clandestiny finally surrendered. The song brought tears to her dragon eyes as the memories of all that was good about Medolas consumed her mind.
Seeing the change in the gashtion’s posture, the ruby eyed man changed the song. He spoke of how Clandestiny needed to release Medolas from her belly and help prepare the celebration of his passing. She would further need to return to her true form so that she could kiss Medolas goodbye.
Gablysin would repeat the lyrics of this subtle demand on 27 more occasions before the dragon finally opened her mouth. She regurgitated Medolas’ lifeless form onto the ice, but before Clandestiny surrendered to the transformation, she lowered an eye above his corpse and then used her tears to wash his body clean.
“It worked!” Shiver boasted from inside the alcove. “She’s changing!”
Fosalia pulled her eyes off the Tear. They were bloodshot. She had been so focused on the crystal that the news of the gashtion’s transformation caught her by surprise. She closed her eyes, and a moment later, the exhaustion from her excessive use of power consumed her being. She collapsed to the ice.
The Next Morning
The Lands of the New Heaven
Anahita shut the ancient tome the Archangel Michael had left behind and leaned back against one of the knuckles on top of the Source’s right front claw. “Would you stop that?” she chastised as she lowered the tome onto the dragon’s foot.
Dorick smiled as smoke rolled past his eyes. “Why, Child?” The dwarf lowered the pipe the Source had created for him to his lap and then reached down to pat the top of the Ancient One’s foot. “If the big guy approves, who am I to argue? This weed is divine.”
The angel looked up and found one of the dragon’s massive pupils. “I know you said that smoking the leaves of the bagges flower would help a mortal’s mind comprehend the words written on the pages of this book, but I fear the plant you taught me to create has spawned an addict. Perhaps you should tell Dorick not to abuse the privilege.”
Before the Ancient One could respond, the dwarf smirked. “I’m hungry.”
The Source’s booming laugh forced Dorick to cover his ears. “You cannot fault him for his enjoyment of the moment. Who is the dwarf harming, and what rule is he breaking here on a world where no beings have yet to establish law? For now, allow the dwarf his amusement. When the moment arrives, I shall cleanse his being before I send him back to the worlds.”
Dorick stopped snickering. “Am I to be sent back then? Which world will I be sent to?”
The Source lowered his head to the ground. “The beings who call themselves gods have yet to allow the races to merge. Considering your current form, I don’t wish to draw unwanted attention to my plans. I intend to place you on Trollcom.”
The dwarf scowled. “When I was on Grayham, I read about Trollcom. I know the trolls on that world enslave the dwarves. I don’t want to be a
slave, Mighty One.”
“Nor do I want him to be a slave,” Anahita added. “Why does he have to return to the worlds for heaven’s sake? Why can’t you let him stay with me?”
The Source took a deep breath of the field filled with flowers that extended as far as his eyes could see. This field was the best of Anahita’s creations to date. “I have plans for Dorick. The dwarves on Trollcom must be liberated. They have suffered for far too many seasons, and this shall be his calling.”
“That’s no small task,” Anahita replied. “What can one dwarf do to change the fate of a race?”
The dragon smiled. “And if no dwarf was to ever make a stand, would change occur? Too long have I allowed the failings of the Collective to effect the lives of their creations. There is too much that is perfect with what exists on this plane to continue to do nothing. The moments have come for me to influence the direction of things with a few subtle adjustments.”
Dorick lifted his pipe and took a puff. “If liberating a populace is considered a subtle adjustment in your mind, I’d be interested to hear what a monumental adjustment would be.” The dwarf hoisted his pipe in the direction of the dragon’s mouth. “Perhaps you should be smoking one of these yourself.”
As the dragon smirked, Dorick added, “Did I mention, I’m hungry?”
Anahita rolled her eyes. “You’re not hungry. You have the munchies.”
The Ancient One rose to his feet. When the earth stopped shaking, the dragon spoke. “That is enough talk for now, little ones. The moment has come for Anahita to create my new home. Please don’t disappoint.”
“No pressure there,” Anahita jested. The angel touched the dwarf on the shoulder and then teleported to the top of the dragon’s snout. “How would you like a mountain range, a lake and a nice cave that would provide space to expand your wings when you stretch?”
The Tear of Gramal Page 54
