Flameseeker (Book 3)

by R. M. Prioleau

  Kaijin tried to move his body. He wiggled his fingers slowly, then his toes. He smiled. I’m alive! He heard light screeching next to him, and a furry body brushed his cheek. Startled, Kaijin turned his head, and Miele licked the tip of his nose.

  “M—Miele ...” Kaijin managed to whisper, smiling. So none of this was a dream after all.

  “Shyrgra wux grxoal ekes rurlve jakyon?” a familiar voice asked.

  Kaijin blinked. Aidan? Where did he come from? Grunting, he sat up slowly and looked around. Men, women, and a few young teenagers scurried about the cave tending to a mass of people who were sprawled out all over the cave’s floor. In the midst of the commotion, Kaijin spotted Aidan across the cave, his silver back turned to him as he knelt with an elderly man, who seemed to be praying.

  “Hexi, get more water for your mother,” a middle-aged man standing in the center of the cave instructed a teenage girl as she rushed past. Kaijin recognized his voice as the man giving orders.

  “Yes, Father!” the girl called back, flinging a lock of her bronze-colored hair behind her.

  An elderly robed woman stopped in front of Kaijin and gasped. “Oh, my! You’re still alive?” She gestured to the middle-aged man. “Come quickly, Jovi! Look! This one is still alive!”

  The middle-aged man rushed to Kaijin and knelt beside him. Jovi’s slightly wrinkled face twisted with curiosity as he stared at Kaijin with teal-colored eyes. Then he smiled. “Celestra be praised! He was one that Rrax tried to revive but was unsuccessful. I am glad that he’s awake now. Kaijin, is it not? Aidan has told us about you.”

  He has? Kaijin looked at the two strangers before him. “Where am I? What happened? What is—”

  Jovi held up his hand to silence him. “Not so fast, Kaijin. You might still be injured. My mother—Kerapha, here—will assist you. We will talk later.” He returned to his previous spot and resumed giving out orders.

  The elderly woman smiled at Kaijin and placed a warm hand over his cheek. She uttered a prayer, and her hand began to glow.

  Kaijin soon felt rejuvenated. “Thank you.”

  Miele, seeming to also feel his strength return, flew up and perched on his shoulder.

  Kerapha concluded her prayer and inclined her head. “There are many others we were unable to save or revive. Perhaps their souls do not want to return.” With a sigh, she slowly stood and went to tend to another person nearby.

  Kaijin tried remembering all that happened before he woke up in that cave. He thought about his “dream”—the glorious encounter with the Firelord. He stared down at his right hand, at Ranaiah’s ring.

  “You will never see her again,” Bhalzek had told him.

  Kaijin gritted his teeth. Like the hells, I won’t.

  A strong grip on the sides of his arms shook him out of his thoughts. “Kaijin! Are you okay?”

  Kaijin blinked and stared straight at Aidan’s broad chest. He slowly looked up to his face. “Aidan?”

  The giant beamed and released him. “Aidan was worried when you didn’t wake up before. Do you remember anything that happened?”

  Kaijin tried, but the memory of what happened before the Realm of Fire was still hazy. He recalled seeing water—lots of water—and hearing screams. Then darkness. “No. I don’t remember much of anything.”

  “The ship we were on was destroyed in a storm. It killed many, including the captain,” Aidan explained. “But this wonderful clan of Dragons brought us to this seaside cave, which is also their home.”

  Kaijin arched an eyebrow. “Dragons? I don’t see any Dragons here.”

  “They are all Dragons, but they have currently assumed their human forms.” He pointed to the middle-aged man who was still giving out orders. “Jovi’vezzyvex is clan’s leader. He was the one who found Aidan.”

  “Jo ... Je—what?”

  Aidan chuckled. “Non-Dragonkin call him Jovi.”

  Kaijin’s head spun. He watched the commotion continue around him. Some of the victims were sitting up, including Zarya and Nester. Next to them was Omari and Jarial, who remained lying lifelessly on their backs. “How many survived?”

  Aidan’s face fell. “Aidan was the only one at the time, but these Dragons have amazing ability to revive the dead and have saved many of the crew and passengers.”

  Kaijin noticed more people stirring, but Omari and Jarial still did not move. “Why aren’t they waking up?”

  Aidan glanced over his shoulder, following Kaijin’s gaze, and his face went pale. “Aidan does not know. Everyone tried and tried, but ...”

  Kaijin gasped. No! With a grunt, he stood and hobbled over to the bodies.

  “Kaijin! Wait!” Aidan called, following. He touched Kaijin’s shoulder.

  Kaijin shrugged him off and knelt before the two bodies, staring blankly. Omari! Master!

  Jovi yanked Kaijin back on his feet. He spun Kaijin around to face him. “I’m sorry, Kaijin. We did everything we possibly could. Their souls refuse to return.”

  Kaijin’s eyes burned with tears, but he did not shed them. He wriggled out of Jovi’s grasp and frowned. There must be a way to save them.

  “Kaijin,” Zarya said from behind him. Her hand touched his shoulder.

  Kaijin looked over at her. Sadness filled her eyes.

  “Can’t you do anything?” Kaijin asked her.

  Zarya shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she replied softly. “Calling back the souls of the dead is beyond my ability. Besides, even if I was able, if someone’s soul is unwilling to return, then the spell is useless.”

  “Oy!” Still sitting, Nester rubbed his head groggily. “Now I know ’ow a deader feels!” He looked over to Kaijin and Zarya. “I think I saw my pa, I did! ’E said it ain’t time for me t’ die yet an’ gave me a swift kick in th’ ’ide, ’e did.” He stood up slowly and swayed a moment. After catching his balance, he approached Omari and Jarial’s corpses. “Soddin’ ’ells! Are they ... Are they ...”

  Unable to bear to witness any more death, Kaijin turned away from them and headed for the cave’s mouth. I have to get out of here.

  “Kaijin!” Jovi called. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Kaijin halted and sighed, but he didn’t turn around. “I just ... I need to go somewhere ... anywhere. Thank you for saving us.”

  Jovi snorted. “Well, if you insist on leaving so soon, even without your friends, then at least take your belongings with you.” He pointed to a section of the cave where some of the survivors had gathered around a mountain of salvaged items—torn bags, tattered clothes, jewelry, damaged crates, and more—that were piled up. “Of course, whatever you fine folks don’t take with you, we shall simply keep as ... treasure.” He grinned slightly.

  Kaijin looked at the mountain, feeling hopeless, and sighed. I guess I should try to find my spellbook amongst all that junk. He went over to the mound and joined the other survivors rummaging through it. Miele helped by picking up smaller items with her jaws and moving them aside. As he worked, Kaijin occasionally glanced back at Jovi, who sent one of the adolsecents out to fetch more water then turned and crossed his arms, watching Kaijin.

  “Where do you expect to go?” Jovi asked. “You don’t even know where you are, do you?”

  Kaijin pursed his lips, feeling silly for wanting to leave when he didn’t even know where he was. He tossed aside wet clothes and ruined books. “No, I don’t. But I know where I must go.”

  “And where would that be?”

  Kaijin stopped working and looked at Jovi directly. The man’s eyes flickered with an unnatural white glow, as if they possessed magic. “Are you really a Dragon in disguise?”

  Jovi lifted a dark eyebrow and smiled. “And what if I am?”

  “Then I would ask for your great wisdom and guidance. I am in search of a renegade priest who has fled to Ankhram. I must find him ...” He glanced toward Zarya and Nester, who both huddled around Jarial and Omari. Aidan stepped away from them to help Clarice, who had awoke at the rear of the cave
and sat up. “With or without my friends.”

  Jovi nodded in understanding. “Fortunately for you, you are in Ankhram. As for renegade priests, we’ve not seen anything like that around here, though you may want to consider investigating an area further inland. There have been recent sightings of strange designs that are drawn in the sand there, and the area emits divine magic. Many mages from the Harran have gone out there to investigate, but their results have so far been fruitless. The designs have been changing every few days or so, as if someone or something is revisiting that area.”

  Kaijin nodded slowly. “It sounds like it’s worth checking out. Can you tell me more about the Harran?”

  Jovi shared his knowledge, and they talked for a while longer.

  Miele gave a happy screech. Startled, Kaijin turned to his familiar, who was tugging at a wet leather strap. “My bag!” Kaijin shooed Miele aside and grabbed the strap with both hands, yanking it out from under a pile of clothes and damaged food crates.

  Kaijin examined the wet seaweed-covered leather haversack. He peeked inside and nearly dropped the bag. Percival? Kaijin stared open-mouthed at the weasel’s waterlogged and bloated body, curled up at the bottom. Grimacing, he scooped Percival out. Beneath the weasel, Kaijin discovered Omari’s spellbook. How did that get in my bag?

  Jovi blinked. “What’s a weasel doing in there?”

  Kaijin shrugged. “I don’t know, but he belongs to Omari over there.” Kaijin pointed. “Can you revive Percival?” He held the small animal out to Jovi.

  “I cannot at this time. I am exhausted after expending so much energy helping the others. But don’t worry. My son, Graask, can help.” Jovi carefully took Percival’s body with both hands. His teal eyes gave off a faint flash. “This animal is magical. A familiar, I presume?”

  Kaijin nodded.

  Jovi beamed. “Well now. This might be just what we need, then.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Not replying, Jovi turned and quickly headed to the rear of the cave, where a young stocky man had been kneeling and tending to one of the survivors. Kaijin followed, but stayed out of the way.

  Jovi showed Percival’s body to him. “Graask, see what you can do here.”

  The young man carefully took the animal and examined it. Then, holding Percvial in one hand, Graask plucked a pinch of white dust from one of his belt pouches and sprinkled it over Percival’s body. His eyes emitted a soft blue glow as he prayed, as did his hands. Graask lowered his hands onto Percival’s body, encompassing it in light. He shut his eyes a moment, then opened them slowly. The light faded, and he exhaled. He removed his hand from Percival’s body.

  Percival remained lifeless, and Graask frowned. He approached Zarya and Nester, who were still gathered around Omari and Jarial. “Excuse me,” Graask said to them, and they promptly moved out the way. He knelt before Omari and carefully lay Percival atop him. As Graask stood up again, the weasel suddenly stirred, twitching his tail.

  Percival’s legs moved. Water spewed from his mouth.

  Smiling weakly, Graask knelt again and rubbed Percival’s soft fur.

  Percival let out weakened squeaks and looked toward Omari’s still body. He slowly leaned toward his master.

  “You did it!” Jovi patted his son on the shoulder when he stood again. “Great job, Graask.”

  Graask’s eyes drooped. He swayed slightly while he stood, but managed to keep himself steady. “Father, I ... I am exhausted,” Graask said. “May I rest now?”

  “You may.” Jovi nodded, helping Graask up. “You’ve done well, helping everyone. Take Khan’na with you.”

  Graask left them and approached a bleary-eyed younger boy, who was sitting off to the side of the cave with his back against the wall and holding his head. Graask helped the boy up, and together they left through the exit, into the dark tunnels beyond.

  Percival hopped around on Omari’s chest, lashing his tail and squeaking louder. His beady eyes went alight with blue-violet electricity. He crawled to Omari’s face and licked at it several times.

  Almost immediately, Omari’s fingers twitched.

  Zarya gasped. “Omari! You’re alive! Praise the goddess!”

  Omari’s arm moved, and he groaned.

  “Welcome back, mate!” Nester greeted.

  “Thank the gods you’re okay, Omari.” Taking Omari’s spellbook out of his bag, Kaijin drew nearer to the other mage. He set it down next to him, and stood back. “Uh, that belongs to you.”

  Omari, now fully awake, slowly sat up. Percival moved up to his shoulder, where he sat, squeaking and nuzzling against the side of Omari’s neck. Omari placed his hand atop the book beside him, then gently curled his fingers over its edge. He looked at Kaijin. “Thanks.”

  Kaijin nodded. “Of course. How are you feeling?”

  “Like I was just in a tornado.” Omari rubbed the back of his head and groaned. “Dare I ask what happened?”

  “I am not entirely sure, myself.” Zarya lay her hands on Omari’s spellbook and spoke a soft prayer, restoring the sopping wet pages to their dry, crisp state.

  “I’m sure one of these fine folks ’ere’ll be able to fill us in once everyone’s awake,” Nester said.

  Kaijin looked over to Jarial and saw that he hadn’t awoken. Maybe Master Jarial needs Sable. Kaijin left his friends and returned to the pile of junk and began searching for Sable. Miele helped.

  After several long minutes, Kaijin spotted something black and furry caught between two broken crates. He tried to move them himself, but they were much too heavy. He looked around for Aidan to help, but the half-Dragon was still sitting with Clarice. The two of them appeared to be talking, and Kaijin did not want to interrupt, so he called on one of the survivors next to him who had been scrounging around the junkpile. Together, they managed to heft one of the crates off, revealing Sable. Her sodden body was contorted as if she’d been crushed and maimed. Kaijin carefully picked her up, uncovering Jarial’s spellbook beneath. Sable’s body felt limp and heavy in Kaijin’s arms. “Sable!” he exclaimed.

  Jovi drew over to him. “More animals? How did we manage to overlook them? Well, no matter. I shall see that this one is helped, as well.”

  Kaijin handed Sable to Jovi, who handed her to Hexi—the teenaged girl Kaijin had seen earlier go fetch water for her mother—to tend to. Hexi prayed over the animal and summoned her divine magic. Sable’s body healed, and soon, she sprang back to life.

  Kaijin smiled and exhaled a sigh of relief. He retrieved Jarial’s spellbook, then continued his search for his own. After several minutes of searching, he found it under a clothes pile. He snatched it and held it tightly in his arms. Oh, thank the gods. Relieved, he returned to Jarial.

  Sable purred and watched her master. She licked his wrinkled face, but he still didn’t stir. Hexi knelt beside Jarial’s body and summoned divine magic in the form of pure white light in her hands that encompassed the mage’s body. Yet, once she ended her prayer and the light in her hands and around Jarial’s body disappeared, the mage remained still. Kaijin swallowed. No, Master. Please ... Don’t be dead!

  Hexi stood up, her face looking somber. “I’m sorry.”

  Sable went from licking Jarial’s face to nipping his ear. Jarial’s face contorted in pain, and he jerked slightly.

  Kaijin’s eyes widened, unsure whether what he saw was real or not. He knelt on the other side of Jarial and held his hand. “Master?”

  Kaijin felt Jarial squeeze his hand. He’s alive! Kaijin beamed.

  Sable meowed and twitched her tail.

  Jarial’s eyelids fluttered open, and his slate-grey eyes stared blankly toward the ceiling for a moment before he turned his head to Kaijin. He slowly mouthed Kaijin’s name.

  Kaijin nodded. “Yes, Master. It’s me.”

  Hexi sighed, smiling weakly. “Celestra be praised!” She wiped a layer of sweat from her brow.

  Kaijin looked over at her. “Thank you.”

  “Of course.” Hexi stood. �
��Please see my father if you require anything else. I am very tired.”

  After Hexi left, Jarial released Kaijin’s hand and slowly sat up, grunting. Sable meowed and wove around her master’s arms and body. With a smile, Jarial pulled her into his lap and stroked her fur.

  “I think Sable tried to protect your spellbook, Master.” Kaijin handed Jarial’s leather book to him. “I hope it’s not completely ruined.”

  Jarial stared blankly at the book before taking it. “Thank you, Kaijin,” he said, not looking at him.

  They were soon joined by Nester, Omari, and Zarya, who applied her magical mending skills to Jarial’s and Kaijin’s spellbooks.

  Percival and Sable greeted each other with sniffs and nuzzles, then chased each other around the cave, darting amongst the other survivors. Miele joined in the play, swooping on them both from the air.

  “I’m glad to see you are all awake and well,” Jovi said to Kaijin and his friends. “Terrible, indeed, what has happened....” He went on to tell them about the storm, and the ship’s unfortunate fate.

  “So we’re stranded here?” Zarya asked after he finished.

  “Not at all,” Jovi replied. “Our clan will escort everyone to the Harran tonight. I’m certain the mages there will give you food, better accommodations, and help to reach Sinan safely. Sinan is about a half a day’s journey south of here.”

  Omari blinked. “The Harran? Then that must mean we are ... And, this place is—!” He sprang up, looking around at the rest of the cave.

  Kaijin watched him curiously.

  “But ... Dragons ...” Omari muttered. “He always talked about the Dragons....”

  Jovi smiled wryly at Omari.

  “Omari, what are you rambling about?” Jarial asked.

  Omari glanced at Jarial, then looked toward the exit. “The Harran. My father is there.”

  XXIV

  Early that evening, after the sun had set and Ankhram’s dry climate had cooled, Kaijin, his friends, and the seventeen other survivors followed Jovi, Hexi, and Graask, who were still in their human forms, to the mountain, while the remainder of the Dragon clan stayed behind.