Talismans

by Lisa Lowell

  As he flew Mohan kept his mind shielded and protected tightly. Exiled dragons fled mainly to Malornia in the west and these renegades might hold a grudge. According to legend, the forests and unexplored mountains sheltered demons that went unchecked over this frontier and every moment Mohan remained in Malornia he risked being attacked on every front. At least up high he could see the danger coming.

  As he flew over the alien land Mohan mourned for the people, both human and dragonkin who lived in Malornia. He had heard the tales. Magic had warped the landscape. Twisted mountains, malformed trees, toxic deserts and salt-riddled lakes evolved with uncontrolled use of magic; a paradise for demons. The humans who lived here crowded for protection into cities on the coastline, behind high walls with still more magic to keep demons away from them. The human magicians kept careful control over the population, but it was difficult to say which resulted in a better lifestyle. Dragons in Malornia became weapons of terror, controlled and abused by the powerful human sorcerers, but they willingly submitted in order to have access to something only a human population could give them; power through fear. Mohan did not understand the attraction.

  Although he flew high above the clouds, invisible to those below, Mohan could easily see through his magic eyes how life faired below. The humans struggled to harvest their crops and bring in their stores while sorcerers and their pet dragons kept watch covetously. These enchanters counted the people under their influence like jewels. Farther west the forests and wild places teamed with demons and even a few of those dragons exiled from the Land. Mohan dreaded seeking out someone he might have once known, but he had to know.

  Mohan had participated in the Conclave of Exile for only one dragon in his lifetime, but Tilziminik had chosen his lot. The black dragon had been so anxious to spread the boarders of the Land, expanding the Seal that he had been willing to attack other lands, driving out the humans in order to expand, no matter the cost to others. This was counter to the Law and Tilzim chose exile rather than submission to the borders God had prescribed for the Land. Now Mohan remembered his former friend with regret. Pride was as much a draconic flaw as it was a human one.

  And now he feared to see how Tilzim lived in this twisted land. Malornia, the land of the lost, Mohan thought. But would Tilziminik want to punish humans so much that he would return to the Land to steal the standing stones? Did he even care? Mohan had come to ask his former friend just such a question.

  “Tilzim?” Mohan called at his strongest, longest range, hoping his call found itself into the correct mind. Mohan felt a flicker of acknowledgement to the northwest but it stifled itself quickly. So the gold dragon turned his flight path toward that direction, sped up and again called. “My old friend, I need to speak to you.”

  A magically sent snarl, completely devoid of words came through the golden dragon's mind.

  “Have you gone so feral that you have lost your words?” Mohan replied, hoping to insult the dragon into revealing himself. The ultimate debasement, going feral, would get a reaction if in fact it was not true. But if Tilzim had indeed given into his animal tendencies, abandoning all civilized discourse and logical reasoning, then the dragon would feel no offense. Could a refined and well educated dragon really fall so low in only a hundred years?

  “No, but I might go wild on your insulting wings if you come any closer,” Tilzim replied with an echoing snarl, helping Mohan narrow in on his location. “You come here at your own risk.”

  Mohan knew better than to bother. He didn't need to be closer to be sure it was his old acquaintance; they had been friends before the Conclave and he knew Tilzim's voice still. The gold dragon hovered in the air above a mountain, tested the presences there and then settled on a warped mountain top like a bird on a branch, ready to take flight again at the least provocation.

  “I have come to speak with you, which I can do without coming into your territory. I just need to ask a few questions and then I will leave you in peace.”

  “What would the all-knowing Mohan have to say to me since he was part of the Conclave that sent me here?” Tilzim snapped.

  Mohan replied carefully*. “I am not all knowing. Only a fool would think he knows all, especially when I have learned that there is always more to learn, which is what brings me here. Do you recall the standing stones at Zema, in the forest at the Elbow?*”

  Silence greeted that question, but Mohan could tell that Tilzim was listening and he could comprehend the words so the gold dragon continued. “They have disappeared. They had markings on them that a human can read, so they are of value only to another human. Can you think of any of the men you know here who would want them?”

  The roar of disgust reached Mohan's physical ears as well as his mind, but it echoed off the mountainsides, making it impossible to point to a specific location and the golden dragon dared not try to track it. He had made an implied promise not to come closer and Tilzim was still willing to talk to him…from this distance.

  “I have not fallen so far that I would consort with humans to know their types or desires. Here in Malornia humans enslave other magical beings. Why should I let that happen to me?”

  Mohan sighed in resignation. “I just hoped that since the message on the stones was written to men, and yet behind the Seal, that perhaps it foretold of when men come and manage to break the Seal…as a message to those about to enter.”

  “Man will never enter the Land,” Tilzim stated flatly. “The dragons see to that and defend the borders.”

  So Tilzim did not know of the promise of the Wise Ones. He knew nothing about Owailion. This did not surprise Mohan because God announced this to the conclave and he assumed no one else. Accordingly Mohan moved on to other topics. “And have you felt the urge to Sleep?”

  “Sleep?” Tilzim's reply dripped with mockery. “Dragons do not sleep. Why would you think I would stoop to such a human act? You must think I'm a fool.”

  This news did surprise Mohan. He had assumed that all dragons, no matter where on the planet, would have to obey the instinct to sleep. Alarmingly Tilzim did not have the compulsions of the dragons in the Land any longer. So why only dragons in the Land? That seemed strange. Why would God …

  Interrupting Mohan's thoughts Tilzim made a final voluntary comment. “One thing I will tell you; there are plenty of evil men and sorcerers here in Malornia who would pay your weight in gold for possession of those stones. And some actually have the gold to do it.”

  Now it was Mohan's turn to go silent, keeping his thoughts solidly behind shields. How would Tilzim know this and yet not know about Owailion's coming and the Sleep. This whole situation was confusing beyond belief. How did this help discover the thief who had taken the stones? For that matter, did he actually trust Tilzim's news?

  “I will keep that in mind, my friend,” Mohan replied carefully. He did not know what else to say, for he feared to think deeply and become distracted in his thought while he remained unsafe here*. “If I do not speak with you again, be well and free.*” Mohan then launched himself back into the sky, rose into the clouds and then turned east to return to the Land.

  Mohan could have used magic to launch himself directly back home, but instead he elected not to. Owailion did not need him at the moment and while Mohan still felt in danger flying directly over the heart of Malornia, he coveted the time to think. His discussion with Tilziminik had done little to reassure him.

  Obviously dragons in exile, even those that retained their sentience and magic remained outside some of the factors of those dragons in the Conclave. How could they not be included in the Sleep? God was allowing only the Conclave to sleep because they needed to and the wild or exiled dragons did not? Was it only because of the constant burden of protecting the Land? Did vigilance come with such a cost? Somehow Mohan doubted that. There must be something more. Back when Tilzim had been evicted from the Land no one had known or even suspected the Sleep was coming. Prophesies of men coming to the Land had been introduced at the same time
as the Sleep so the two events were obviously related. Why had God withheld that need from other dragons, or even awareness of that fact from the Conclave?

  As he flew Mohan considered why God would have kept them uninformed of this. Mohan held talon-tight to his utter faith in God's motives and purposes but not knowing had a way of niggling at one's mind, driving you to doubt other things that before you need not question.

  “You have not needed to know and do not need to know now,” a gentle voice in Mohan's mind admonished.

  Mohan recognized it; the peace and love the voice bore for him could not be feigned nor forgotten. Suddenly the dragon needed to stop flying, just to concentrate and to be in the right state of mind to listen to what God would share with him. He wheeled down toward the ground and with relief found he had come far enough to be out to sea once again. He alighted on the water, tucked his wings in like a duck and awaited this singular interview.

  “If I do not need to know, then please do not share it if it will not be wise. I am not worthy,” Mohan replied humbly, hoping he was not being too bold.

  “But Mohan, you are curious and you will think on it until you have every question and no answers. No, my son, you need to know if only to keep yourself from speculating. But this which I will share with you must not be revealed; not to the Conclave and not with the humans who will come after you. It must not be shared when you pass on your knowledge of the Land. This is for you alone until I will reveal it to whom I will.”

  “Yes, my Lord,” Mohan promised.

  “Very well,” said God. “This is the mystery I will share. The Sleep is for the dragons of the Conclave only. It is for a wise purpose that I do this. You must sleep, for you are going on a long journey to a new world that I have prepared for you. Where you go, the other dragons outside the Conclave and mankind cannot go. The Land has been prepared for a purpose, where the gifts of magic were controlled and refined by those only who are worthy. It was done in wisdom with dragons first. In man, it has yet to succeed, for mankind is not as easily led in the paths of virtuous magic. If the Wise Ones that come after you are able to hold to the values the Heart Stone instills within them, then they too will be trusted with greater, deeper powers that they may progress as have the dragons of the Conclave.”

  Mohan sighed with wonder. A long sleep for a long journey, like the one Owailion had taken to come to the Land? They were not going to just sleep, they were going to travel? All of them in the Conclave? To a new world? Mohan's mind reeled with wonder and excitement. He wanted to ask so many more questions but knew that patience would reward him and he would know eventually all the answers. It would be unseemly to ask more. But…

  “And the rune stones that were stolen? Is it for man or dragon to discover their meaning?” Mohan could not resist asking.

  “There are many purposes in the rune stones. The writings are for the Wise Ones. They contain a prophesy of their coming and their type. The stones also were set there as a mystery for the Conclave. In them one in the Conclave will reveal themselves as unwise. Evil will be set in motion…not of dragon creating. A simple, innocent nudge of a pebble can lead to a great avalanche. It is grievous that the stones are lost but more so is the act that has sent them away from the Land. Owailion will find them eventually and the message will be revealed. At this time, before the Sleep, what must be revealed is the one who would sell the prophesies. They were given to evil men who will try to use them to overthrow the Land when you are gone. That is not the Conclave's mission.”

  “Be at peace, Mohanzelechnekhi. You have done well. Your stewardship is almost complete. The agency of others is no longer your concern. Know that Owailion will do well, no matter how long his road. He will fly alone, but he will stay the course and one day he will find joy as you have found.”

  Mohan felt humbled and relieved. He did not have to find the rune stones. Owailion would oversee that task. The dragon lowered his head, almost to the water upon which he floated in grateful honor to God who had revealed this to him. He would not share this with anyone, not until the time he was given permission, when all would be revealed.

  “Then I am not to confront the thief?” Mohan asked, sensing one last, very grim task.

  “They will be revealed and you will know what to do when that time is come. Be at peace and know that all will be well with the Land and her inhabitants. Now go, do your duty and stay the course.”

  And with that, the interview with God was done. Humbled and in a solemn mind, Mohan shook himself, lifted his wings and rose above the waves, seeking the Land.

  Chapter 10 – King and Queen

  Owailion and Raimi talked the night around, focusing on magic as the main topic, but also what they could glean of their pasts, talents and interests. He shared how he found the skills to build things and became the King of Creating, but resisted telling about the demons and sorcerers. Instead he showed her the map in hopes that she recognized the writing he had applied to his work. When she looked at it she drew her fingers across the words with wonder.

  “These aren't the right symbols…and yet, I can read them,” Raimi commented in puzzlement. “How is it that I can read this new language?”

  “I wondered that myself. There were some rune stones that Mohan tried to show me but the stones were stolen. We are supposed to find them so we can read them. I was so curious to see if they were written in a language either you or I understand,” replied Owailion. “It's a miracle that we came here, let alone that we understand each other, and can speak and read the same language.”

  “It is a miracle,” Raimi agreed, but then asked. “Why not bring magicians already trained? What are we to do here? Why us? What does the Land need with protecting?”

  This question at least Owailion felt qualified to explain. “We were chosen because the magic would not corrupt us. We are good people by nature. Other lands beyond the Seal have human sorcerers, and I've already fought one trying to infiltrate. Apparently too often these men and women are corrupted and crave more power. So the dragons distrust humans because of their evil nature. You and I however, have been brought here with a Heart Stone. Which reminds me; in the morning we have to go looking for yours. It's probably in the middle of the river.”

  Helpfully, before she could ask Owailion brought out his Heart Stone and showed it to Raimi. “This acts as a conscience that prevents us from doing evil with our magic. You'll find you cannot even lie as a Wise One.”

  Raimi looked in fascination at the glowing globe he held out to her. The white and blue orb lit her eyes more than the firelight. Before he could become equally bedazzled by her glorious eyes, he put the Heart Stone back near his heart before he continued. “And with it comes other gifts. I've already found insights I know the old me would never stumble upon. Our duties are to use that magic in protection of the Land from outlander magic and demons.”

  “Protection from…from demons?” Raimi's fascination bore a note of recklessness. She was not as gentle as she seemed, but fierce in the face of a challenge.

  “Yes,” and Owailion then shared a vision of the crab going demon and how Mohan had dealt with it. He was about to tell her more of the Talismans he had created from the stone 'going demon' but something blocked him. The bowl he had crafted for her was to remain secret.

  Instead he equivocated. “I don't blast them with fire. Instead I redirect that magical energy into Talismans that I then hide and the other Wise Ones must discover. The effort of seeking for these Talismans will strengthen our magical skills.”

  Raimi thought over his explanation while Owailion shamelessly listened to her mind and learned more about her with every moment. He began to realize she wasn't afraid of anything, except perhaps of herself.

  “It seems,” she eventually sighed, “like pioneering is what I've come to do in the Land. I told you that I thought I had worn boots before. Well, I get the sense that some kind of frontier life has been my experience. I think I left my old life behind on purpose. I wanted
to go off on my own and explore, cutting my own path. Does that sound realistic?”

  Owailion smiled at the recognition of the symbolism of her words. “Like the path of a new river,” he replied. “It sounds no more unrealistic than my experience. Sometimes I even have dreams that give me instructions on what to build. I knew to wait here on the river for your arrival, even though I have never been here. I just have to be wise enough to listen to the promptings.”

  Raimi nodded in understanding. “In my case I think…,” she paused thoughtfully and changed tactics. “I'm not very outgoing. I don't want to interact or lead. I want to be left alone to explore.”

  And in the back of her mind, unsaid Owailion heard something pitiful.

  “I just don't want to hurt others,” Raimi's mind whispered.

  It was enough to make him wonder if she remembered more than she was admitting. How had she hurt others in her past life?

  Meanwhile, Raimi continued on, unaware of his distraction. “That's why I was a pioneer. No one will make demands of me that I could not fulfill. I want to be alone so I don't have to be…”

  Alone? Owailion rocked back in surprise and his shields slammed into place even if Raimi had not yet learned how to listen to them. She wanted to be alone? Well, the Land was empty, but for him and a few dragons. She could be alone if that was what she wanted, but Owailion swallowed a terrible disappointment. Raimi was lovely, sweet and shy. He knew he never had encountered a woman more attractive to him. With time he would get a grasp on her personality but if she was saying that she wanted to be alone, how would that comfort him? Owailion felt the exact opposite; he wanted a companion, a confidant, a support system that would help him build what God had wanted.

  Something in Owailion protested. She was being cold. Raimi had the gifts to be his companion and obviously she was magical. The promptings Owailion himself felt could not be wrong. Would she reject him and his help just for want of her privacy or a forgotten fear of responsibility? Then, just as he realized he was upset with her, a magical hand set on his shoulder and it calmed him instantly. This quelled the foolish reaction the old Owailion probably would have made. Instead it slowed him and reminded him that he possessed magic.