Amane of Teravinea - The Crown (The Teravinea Series Book 3)

by D. Maria Trimble

  The day of the battle dawned. At last the word came to mount up. Eshshah and I were to accompany Sovann and Ansel and cover the breached walls to assist our troops entry. Ansel would direct the battle from above.

  We soared over the castle. The enemy soldiers had become accustomed to our surveillance flights. They were not alarmed at our approach but called taunts and curses. Some headed to the harpoon cannons on the battlements, but they only made halfhearted attempts. No one so much as struck a flint for the fuse.

  Our enemy didn’t realize this was the beginning of our attack. They had become complacent with our presence for so many weeks.

  Instead of our usual path that took us near the walls before veering off, we flew directly over the city wall. Sovann shrieked a war cry as Ansel unfurled his pennant and signalled our men inside.

  Sovann and Eshshah shot straight up and away. A loud explosion reverberated below. I looked down as the front outer wall of the city tumbled into rubble. Screams and shouts filled the air. The city watch at the entry gate were swallowed in the dust and destruction. Pandemonium broke in the battlements. A second eruption shook the ground as an inner wall crumbled.

  Our troops fell into action. They clamored over the wreckage. The breach opened wide to accept our army.

  I shook my head in disbelief at the unexpected sight below. A horde of ferocious-looking warriors poured from the outbuildings of the castle and fell upon our men. Where had they come from? More of these fierce men rushed from the barracks wielding giant axes. They charged into the battle with harsh cries. Our soldiers were too close to them for us to make use of our dragon’s flames.

  Ansel and I flew higher to get a better view.

  “Over there!” Eshshah cried.

  We turned our heads toward the sea. An armada of sleek black ships slid from their hiding place behind the protection of the cliffs north of the castle. Their flag hoisted high on their masts, a white shark on a midnight blue background. Why hadn’t we bothered to fly that far north on our patrols?

  Dozens of these war ships were already moored in the harbor east of the castle. I knew they had not been there the night before. Row boats filled with the savage-looking men pulled to shore. They spilled out of the boats, swarming like insects into the castle and around it. From our vantage point, it appeared the gates had been left open for them to enter the castle grounds.

  Ansel signalled for Eshshah and I to follow him toward the ships. We began our onslaught, diving and flaming. It took several passes to incapacitate just one ship. There had to be nearly a hundred of them. Eshshah and Sovann could only slow the enemy approach. We overcame a number of the black vessels, watching as the sea swallowed them. But more sailed toward shore. Two dragons were not enough to stave them off.

  “Amáne, go warn Braonán. He needs to send the second wave,” Ansel called. “Sovann and I’ll stay to try and slow their approach.”

  Eshshah banked a sharp turn and we headed back to headquarters. We flew low over the command pavilion where Braonán would be. Eshshah trumpeted an alarm as I called out. He rushed out of the tent and headed to where we landed.

  “There’s a fleet of ships on the other side of the castle,” I said from my saddle. “They’re fighting in support of Galtero. I don’t recognize their colors. It’s a white shark on a background of blue,”

  “Norlaners. Mercenaries,” Braonán said almost to himself. A troubled look reflected in his eyes. “They’re some of the fiercest warriors known.”

  Braonán turned and called to his second in command. He gave orders to rally the next wave to the castle.

  Sweeping his eyes up to me, he said, “Amáne, you have to go in and extract the Serislan team.”

  I gave him a puzzled look. I value every life, but I had to ask, “Why would twelve Serislan soldiers rate such importance? Couldn’t Eshshah and I be of more benefit elsewhere?”

  “Because one member of the specialized team is King Tynan’s nephew, and heir to the Serislan throne.”

  “Ryant?” I asked in disbelief.

  “You know him?”

  “Yes.” It took a moment to find my breath. Ryant had asked for my hand in marriage when we revealed Ansel’s identity to King Tynan. “Why would he be here?”

  “He insisted that he owe Teravinea a service.”

  I closed my eyes. He and his brother were held in the same slave ship as I. Eshshah and Gallen had saved us. Is he trying to reciprocate for his rescue?

  “There are twelve of them,” I said. “Eshshah can only safely lift eight plus me.”

  “Then the others will have to fend for themselves. King Tynan’s heir must be rescued.” Braonán’s voice was sharp.

  “Yes, Braonán. How am I to find them?”

  “They were to first destroy the front gates, then the front interior wall. After that, they would head to the battlements over the river gate. You should come upon them there. Don’t look for soldiers. They will be dressed as rich merchants in fine clothes.”

  Without another word, I removed the rescue rig from its place behind me, and secured it to a ring in the front of my saddle. I saluted Braonán.

  Eshshah leaped into the air. We charged back to the castle.

  Eshshah circled high as we tried to locate Ryant and his unit. I could see Ansel and Sovann in the distance, flaming the black war ships. Eshshah sent word to Sovann of our mission.

  “Amáne, down there,” Eshshah said.

  Below me a group of men, fitting the description Braonán gave me, fought valiantly. They headed backwards up the stairs that rose from the castle grounds to the battlements high above. The stairs were narrow, without any kind of railing. The small band of Serislanians ascended slowly, fending off a group of warriors pressing upon them. My heart sank when I saw with whom they fought — Norlaners.

  Two of Ryant’s men dragged one of their wounded up the stairs, a dark stain soaked the front of his shirt.

  Eshshah screeched her terrifying war cry. She dove in and swiped her tail at the Norlaners, flinging several over the edge of the stairs to the stonework below. More rushed up to take their place. They demonstrated their fierceness by slashing the air at Eshshah with their large axes. I did, however, note a slight hesitation at the sight of my dragon.

  I threw the rescue rig down as Eshshah lowered toward the battlements. Realizing it would not be possible to lift out the wounded Serislanian with the rig, I said, “Eshshah would you be able to land on the wall?”

  “I can do it, Amáne.”

  She maneuvered so she could get hold of the ledge of the wall-walk with her hind legs. Her talons scraped the stone as they found purchase. She grabbed the parapet wall in front of her with her front talons, using her wings to balance. I snatched my bow from the saddle and hooked a full quiver to my belt. As soon as I jumped from the saddle, I froze. The injured soldier was Prince Ryant.

  “Hurry, bring him here. He’ll ride,” I shouted at his men.

  I paused to look at Ryant. His face pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead; his shirt wet with his blood. I hope I’m in time.

  Ryant’s eyes flickered open and a recognition crossed his face. I ordered those carrying him to get him up into the saddle. He raised his hand in a weak protest. I ignored it.

  We were running out of time. The Norlaners were fighting their way up the stairs. Ryant’s squad would not be able to hold them off much longer.

  The men looked from Ryant to me. The life of their lord took priority. They did as I directed.

  His men hoisted Ryant to the saddle. I secured the boot straps and used another emergency belt around his waist to assure his safety.

  “Eshshah, I’ll wait here. You take the men. Can you manage the eleven of them? It’s almost two full men more than you’re used to.”

  “I can. I must. But, Amáne, I can’t leave you here.”

  “Go, Eshshah. I’ll manage until you return.”

  She reluctantly consented.

  Eshshah lifted slowly off the battle
ment. I pulled the extraction line taught and ordered each man to grab a loop in their hand and put their foot in the next loop. She rose higher off the wall as each Serislanian secured himself. Our rescue rig was made for only eight. They had to double up on two spots. Several of the soldiers protested and insisted they be left behind so I could escape. I refused.

  “Grab that line, now!” There was no time to argue, the Norlaners were gaining the stairs.

  I took up my bow and began to pick off the axe-wielding warriors as Eshshah continued to stroke her powerful wings. She slowly gained altitude. The Serislanian team clung on.

  Eshshah strained to lift the eleven. I melded with her to offer what little strength I could. Once she had them airborne, I sighed in relief. Her wing strokes were less labored as she headed toward headquarters.

  “Amáne, take care. I’ll be back for you straightaway,” she said as she flew off.

  I continued to dispatch the Norlan warriors. My quiver emptied, but more swarmed up the stairs. I let out a curse when I realized I’d left my glaive on my saddle. My sword sang as I drew it from its scabbard.

  The large warriors were forced to ascend the narrow stairs single file. Although it may have prolonged my life a bit, my sword would be no match for their axes. What was I thinking? Even with Eshshah’s venom running in my veins — which gave me my extra strength — holding them off would be nearly impossible.

  A Norlaner mercenary cleared the stairs and leaped onto the battlement. He swung his blade. I dove and rolled. I’d miscalculated. My roll took me over the edge of the wall-walk. Twisting I grabbed blindly at the ledge. My fingers found a grip. Hanging by one hand, I looked up into the sneering face of the mercenary. Death lit his eyes as he stood above. He peered down at me as a cat would eye a trapped mouse.

  The Norlaner lifted his axe slowly, savoring my fear. I held my breath for the blow. A shadow passed overhead.

  “Hang on, Amáne,” Sovann swooped in. His tail whipped around taking out the warrior on the wall. He flamed those on the stairs.

  I pulled myself back up to the wall walk, afraid to think of what almost happened. Sovann and Ansel hovered above. Ansel threw down his line. I grabbed the first loop as Sovann lifted me into the air.

  Glancing down as I hung on, I thought I saw a group of Galtero’s men ushering a man into a doorway. He looked a lot like my father. I shook it off. It couldn’t be him.

  We hadn’t gone far when Eshshah informed me she was heading back our way. Her load had been safely dropped off.

  Because of the rush of the wind, it was easier for me, and much more preferable, to communicate through the dragons. “Sovann, we’ll do an aerial mount.”

  “Lord Ansel would rather haul you up so we can land. You can transfer to Eshshah from the ground.”

  “There’s no time for that.”

  “Very well, Amáne, we’ll do the aerial mount,” Sovann relayed.

  This was a maneuver we had practiced quite often since the battle of Gorria Pass.

  I hung from the rig while Eshshah soared in the same direction below, rising closer as we flew. Sovann and Eshshah kept at an even pace. Eshshah closed the gap until I was level with my saddle. I grabbed a ring attached to the saddle. Placing my free foot in the boot peg, I released the line, then swung my leg over and buckled in.

  Our dragons adjusted to fly abreast. I saluted Ansel. His jaw was tight, but he nodded in relief.

  We surveyed the battle from above and determined we were needed desperately back at the front wall.

  Norlaners continued to pour out of the castle, punishing our troops in wild disregard. Our only consolation was that we hadn’t waited another day to attack. All of the sleek black ships would have unloaded their warriors by then. Their numbers would have been devastating. As it was, our victory retained only a thread of hope.

  When I thought it could get no darker for us, I cringed in terror. A putrid scent preceded the appearance of a host of Galtero’s despicable lizards, with their riders. Flightless dragon-like creatures, about the size of horses, were Galtero’s attempt to breed dragons. Though not nearly as large as Eshshah, they made up for it with their voracity.

  The lizards rushed over the demolished walls and plowed into our troops. Bodies flew as they tore into our front line. I screamed. One of the beasts snapped its jaws on Bern, shook him like a rag doll and threw his lifeless body aside.

  Eshshah attacked. She closed her talons on the monster lizard, lifting it into the air, rider and all. Mid-flight, she bit through its neck and dropped it onto the enemy below. Sovann did likewise as he fought the lizards off of our troops.

  I heard my name echo in the back of my mind.

  “Amáne, Charna Yash-churka has come to help,” Eshshah said.

  I looked below to see the large black lizard that was linked to me. He charged one of Galtero’s monsters. Charna set upon the vile beast with a fierceness that startled me. But there were too many for us to defeat.

  “Amáne, over there!” Eshshah directed my attention to the northeast horizon. A black cloud loomed in the distance, growing larger as it headed toward us. What horror is Galtero sending our way, now?

  At the speed the dark mass approached, we could never outrun it, as tired as Eshshah was. Regardless, we would not abandon our troops. I didn’t want to lose hope, but a thought pierced my heart that we were doomed.

  Our forces were overwhelmed. More lizards rushed out. The Norlaner mercenaries continued to swarm through the castle grounds and out to the battlefield. They cut down anyone in their path as they moved to flank us. Anger blazed through me. I will not lose hope.

  I pulled out my glaive as Eshshah dove. She screeched her deafening cry. I brandished my weapon and yelled, “Rally for Drekinn and the crown!” Eshshah spewed an inferno through the enemy center.

  In the next breath, a cool breeze of hope flowed from Eshshah.

  “Amáne,” Eshshah cried. “It’s the Ancient Ones, from the Valley of Dragons!”

  The dragons from the Valley filled the sky. Hundreds of them blotted out the sun. Screams of terror rose from the battlefield.

  Our troops panicked. Ansel rallied our soldiers to stand their ground. When they realized the horde came to support us, they cheered and fought with new life.

  “Amáne,” said Eshshah, “Sitara and Dinesh are leading the dragons. They told me Senolis, the Ancient One, sent them with his blessing.”

  I closed my eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”

  The storm of dragons hovered as Sovann and Ansel paused before Sitara and Dinesh to give battle direction. After a few moments, flights of them banked off and headed where needed.

  I watched their ferocious attack as they dove upon the large lizards, scooping them from the ground, as Eshshah had done. They dropped them to their deaths in the midst of Galtero’s troops.

  Another flight fell upon the Norlaner mercenaries. The wild dragons belched their inferno on our enemy, leaving nothing but black ash. Eshshah and I renewed our fervor. Unbearable heat assaulted me as Eshshah plunged in and added her flame to the frenzy below. The smell of burnt flesh make me gag. The Norlaners broke and fled, but didn’t stand a chance as the dragons pursued.

  Thick smoke rose from the harbor where the sleek black Norlaner ships had been moored. The few mercenaries that managed to escape the inferno below would find their vessels aflame, in boiling waters, with nowhere to seek safety.

  The battle turned quickly. The enemy sorely beaten, we took the castle in a short time. Small pockets of fighting could still be seen. One pass by a dragon to snatch an enemy from the ground sent those nearby scattering.

  A cheer exploded from our ranks as we witnessed the Drekinn banner of the golden dragon raised over the ramparts. Dragons trumpeted in victory.

  That evening I assisted the Healer in the hospital pavilion. The Ancient Ones possessed healing powers and offered their much-appreciated help. They worked beside Eshshah and Sovann treating the wounded. Several had decided to st
ay on and not return to the Valley. Eshshah told me they had felt an attraction to humans after hearing stories from Sitara and Dinesh, the two who had at one time been linked to riders of Teravinea. Meeting me had increased their desire to seek human companionship.

  I checked in on Prince Ryant, who was recovering well. Eshshah had treated his injuries.

  He gave me the dragon salute and said, “Thank you, Rider Amáne. And thanks to your beautiful Eshshah. Once again, Serislan owes you two for my life.”

  “You owe us nothing. Thank you for your bravery in aiding our victory.”

  He paused, and with a resigned smile added, “I’d like to offer you my congratulations on your betrothal to Prince Ansel. I should have seen the connection he had with you. It was brilliant thinking on his part in saving you from an arranged marriage. You truly deserve such a fine man as he.”

  I felt a bit awkward and wondered how he even found out. But I was relieved he seemed to have no hard feelings. “Thank you, Prince Ryant. I’m sure you’ll soon find a young lady worthy of your attentions.”

  I excused myself with a curtsy and went back to treating the wounded.

  The more I practiced my healing gift, the more I learned about it. My abilities increased. Though my hands burned — sometimes quite painfully as I placed them over a wound — I could conserve the energy I expended. A healing still drained me, but I began to understand when I needed to walk away and restore my strength.

  We worked into the night. Ansel entered the pavilion just before dawn. Fatigue showed on his face, as I’m sure it did on mine.

  “Will you walk with me, Amáne?” Ansel said.

  “Of course,” I said. I took his hand and followed him outside.

  He led me to a spot where we could at least imagine we were alone.

  “I’m pulled in every direction,” he said, “but I wanted a few moments with you.”

  Ansel wrapped his arms around me and drew me in close. He covered my mouth with his warm lips. Our kiss became a release from all we had been through. I locked my fingers behind his neck and pressed in closer. Nothing else mattered but my betrothed. For just that one moment, it was only Ansel and I.