When the remnants of the white cloud dissipated, Nester approached the woman. He prodded her body with his foot. When she didn’t move, he replied to Omari, “Datura. ’Ighly potent, it is.”
“Datura?” Omari asked. “Those flowers grow wild in my home country. I did not realize they could be used like that.”
“Aye. Poisons can be made from many types of flowers.”
“How many more of those things do you have?”
“That was my last one. Need to make some more soon, I do. Ankhram traders are usually th’ only ones who carry it, unless you’re lucky to find some in th’ black market, and they sell like ’otcakes. Ankhram traders are sneaky ’ustlin’ types, they are, chargin’ an arm, a leg—and sometimes a few fingers an’ toes—for small amounts!”
Omari bristled. “Do not speak about my people in that manner.”
Nester raised his nose at him. “It’s th’ truth, and everyone an’ their mum knows it.”
Omari swore under his breath and crawled over to the woman. He examined her corpse a moment, and then held his hand out to Nester. “Let me borrow your knife.”
Nester’s eyebrow rose. “For what?”
“There is something I must do.”
“An’ ’ow do I know you’re not just gonna stab me with it?”
Omari scowled. “I am a mage, not an assassin.”
“Don’t it mean th’ same thing, these days?”
“Enough, Nester. Give it to me!”
Frowning, Nester reluctantly handed him a dagger, then took a large step backward. Omari took the tiny weapon, cut off one of the woman’s ring fingers, tore off a piece of cloth from her sleeve, and wrapped the finger inside.
He placed the wrapped finger in his bag. Looking at the woman again, he pursed his lips and repeatedly drove the blade into her throat.
“Death to all renegades,” Omari muttered, staring at the bloodied blade. His eyes momentarily went white and pupilless, crackling with electricity, before returning to normal. “May you forever burn in the Abyss.” He snarled and tossed the dagger at Nester’s feet.
Nester grimaced, and retrieved the weapon. “Now what in th’ soddin’ ’ells did you do that for?” He wiped the blade on the woman’s robe.
“I have my reasons....” Omari’s eyelids fluttered, and his body swayed. He sank to his knees and rubbed his temples.
Nester sheathed the dagger and rushed to Omari’s side. “Oy! You don’t look so ’ot, mate. Are you all right?”
“I am fine,” Omari grumbled, waving the brownie away. “I exerted more energy than I should have. Go help the others.”
Miele scanned the battleground. Only two raiders remained, and they both closed in on Aidan, who remained helpless and bleeding. Zarya uttered a prayer, and a shield of bright light formed around her and Aidan, momentarily blinding the raiders.
Sephiya approached the men slowly, her hand extended as she concentrated on something. “Leave him alone.”
Two glowing yellow ropes appeared and bound the men. Her frown of concentration deepened as the men struggled.
Sigmund, Evan, and Nester surrounded the two raiders.
“Keep them restrained for as long as you can, Sephiya!” Evan shouted, aiming his bow.
Sigmund charged at the men, his sword poised to slice through them. Nester approached cautiously, his gaze darting nervously at the two men.
Sephiya trembled, and the ropes began to fade. “They are ... strong—too strong.... These men have been enchanted somehow ... Kill them quickly, before—”
One of the men broke free of the bonds and met Sigmund, force for force. Iron clanged on steel, and the raider managed to successfully deflect Sigmund’s weapon and kneed him in the gut. Sigmund groaned and stumbled backward.
Sephiya’s spell flickered and dissipated.
Evan launched his arrow at the other raider, but it plinked off the man’s armor. The uninjured raider lunged at Sephiya, who still looked groggy from the loss of her spell. As he raised his sword, a throwing knife struck him in the underarm.
Amazingly, he barely faltered.
“Sephiya!” Evan yelled. He dropped his bow, pulled a dagger from a sheath hidden in his leathers, and rushed at the raider.
Sephiya made a desperate attempt to summon a spell to shield against the raider’s incoming blow, but the man sliced through the spell with ease, and through the side of her neck. Sephiya collapsed.
Two more throwing knives pierced through the raider’s neck, but he didn’t slow. He spun around to face Evan.
Nester appeared behind the raider and stabbed behind his kneecap with a dagger dripping in a thick, greenish substance. “Soddin’ ’ells! Why won’t you die!” He drove the dagger down the leg, widening the wound.
The man went into a frenzy, then fell forward, the blade coming down on Evan. The blade skewered his chest, and the raider collapsed atop him, pushing the sword in until only the pommel was visible. Nester, with all his might, heaved the raider off of Evan.
“’Ey, wake up, mate,” the brownie said, slapping Evan’s cheek a few times. “We’re not done yet.”
Evan gurgled. His face was paling. “Sigmund ...” he whispered. “Help him ... please...”
Nester turned to the fight between Sigmund and the last raider standing. Sigmund swung low and struck the back of the raider’s legs, but the man kept his feet.
“Defiler! Return to the Abyss from whence you came!” Sigmund’s sword glowed white. The raider attacked again, and Sigmund struck his glowing blade underneath his arm, driving the raider to the ground. He placed his foot on his foe and stabbed again.
At first, the raider fought back, kicking and struggling, but his efforts quickly waned as blood oozed from the wound. Sigmund yanked his sword out, and the blade’s glow faded.
Omari hobbled over to Nester and Sigmund. “I sense magic about him.” He pointed. “There. His hand.”
Nester, one hand pressing a small injury in his side, plucked a silver ring from the raider’s finger. “This must be what made that bloke stronger than an ox.”
Omari leaned most of his weight on his staff as he eyed the accessory. “It has been enchanted with a strength spell, which enhances the bearer’s strength and resilience.”
“Aye?” Nester looked at Omari.
Sigmund frowned. “Enchanted items. I should have known. They’re nothing but useless junk now.” As he spoke, the ring blackened and disintegrated in Nester’s hand.
Nester blinked in surprise. “Aww. What a waste of good jewelry!”
Ignoring the brownie, Sigmund laid hands on himself and healed his injuries with a prayer, then went to Sephiya and Evan.
Omari scanned the sea of bodies and said coldly, “So, it seems that we have won.”
Sigmund fell to his knees. “Sephiya ... no ...” He covered his face with his hand, and his body shuddered. Tears streamed down his cheek, and he quickly wiped them away.
Zarya dismissed the protective ward around her and Aidan and got up. Sweat poured down her cheeks. “You should be okay now, Aidan. I finally managed to mend the last portion of the wound.”
Aidan turned to face her. He gingerly worked his back muscles, then flexed them more vigorously. A wide smile parted his lips. “You ... you saved Aidan again!”
Zarya nodded slowly but said nothing. Her attention went to the corpses. She got up and approached Evan and Sephiya. “By the goddess,” she whispered, her eyes widening. She clapped her hand over her mouth.
Nester stood beside her. “A little ’elp, beautiful?” he mumbled, showing her his wound.
Zarya faced Nester, then laid her hands over his injury. She prayed, and the small wound mended.
When she finished, Nester rubbed his ribs, stretched his side, and then smiled. “Much appreciated!”
“That is why Aidan does not like violence. Someone always gets hurt,” Aidan said darkly, going to stand beside Nester.
Nester’s brow wrinkled. “Aye? Well if I didn’t kno
w any better, I’d say you were ready to chew off that one bloke’s ’ead, th’ way you were goin’ on like a mad beast!”
Aidan looked shocked and then rubbed the side of his head. “A–Aidan does not know what came over him. Something ... made him very angry.”
“You can say that again!”
“Aidan hopes it does not happen again.”
Zarya knelt before Sephiya and Evan and examined them. “Maybe we’re not too late. Maybe—”
Sigmund placed his hand on the priestess’s shoulder, and she jumped. “No, there is nothing more that can be done. May the goddess take them.”
Zarya looked at the guardian, eyes widening in horror. “But we cannot be so certain!”
Sigmund raised an eyebrow. “Once a Celestial dies, they cannot be returned to the mortal realm. Their bodies turn to dust. Surely you are aware of this, Zarya.”
Zarya lowered her head. “It has been a long time since I’ve been around others of my kind. I have been told what happens, but I have never seen it for myself.”
“A shame that you have been sheltered for so long, then.” Sigmund pointed. “Witness it and embrace it, for they now return to the goddess, Celestra, our creator.”
Nester shook his head. “I still can’t believe you never told us about yourself, beautiful. Why th’ big secret?”
Zarya bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry, Nester, but as I said before, I have my reasons. Please know that I meant no ill intent by deceiving you like that.”
“What are you gonna tell Kaijin when ’e wakes up?”
“If he wakes up, you mean,” Omari interjected.
Zarya didn’t respond.
Nester scowled at Omari. “’E ain’t dead, I tell you!”
Omari crossed his arms. “How much longer are we going to wait for him to ‘awaken’, then, hm? Until we can smell his rotting corpse?”
Miele soared into the middle of the group, startling them a moment. She screeched and looked at each of them in turn.
“’Ey! Miele!” Nester said, beaming. “What’re you doin’ ’ere?”
“She looks healthy now,” Aidan said. “Could it be that—”
“Aye! Kaijin must be awake. I ain’t seen ’er this peppy in days.”
Omari eyed Miele and huffed. “If that is true, then we should see him ... or perhaps Miele is really Kaijin looking at us at this very moment.”
“Eh? What do you mean?” Nester asked.
“Her eyes have a glow to them. She is possessed.”
Flustered, Zarya turned back to the corpses. As she reached out toward the silk of Sephiya’s robes, the mage’s body disintegrated into a grey sand. Evan’s body did the same.
Nester, Omari, Aidan and Zarya gasped in surprise. Sigmund simply lowered his head in prayer. “Celestra be praised.”
While the others focused on that, Miele soared into the night sky back toward the mountain peak.
As Miele drew nearer to the top of the mountain, Kaijin saw himself standing alone at the cave’s mouth, and he released his mental hold over her. He blinked a few times, feeling as though he were awakening from another long dream. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Miele, who fluttered to him, screeching happily. He couldn’t believe what he’d seen and heard.
“Have you any idea what they were talking about?” Kaijin asked aloud.
Miele landed on his his shoulder. She batted her wings once and gave a low screech.
“Huh. Now I’m starting to wonder if that creature from my dream was right—that I really was asleep for almost three days. Nothing seems to make sense anymore.”
A shadow suddenly swept across the ground from above, startling him from his musings.
Percival began chirping loudly, as if frightened. He stood on all fours, his supple body arched and trembling, his beady eyes turned to the sky.
Kaijin followed the weasel’s gaze. A large shadow circled the mountain’s apex. The great mass appeared to be a creature more than twice the size of the monster from his dream.
Kaijin heard the sound of large wings beating, and fear overtook him as the area reverberated with a terrible roar.
XVI
The monstrous silhouette descended from the sky, and a creature nimbly landed atop the mountain’s crest. It reared and stretched its massive wings, which spanned almost twice its own length. The moonlight glistened on its scales.
Returning to all fours, the creature climbed down the crest and made its way to the cave’s entrance. It poked its head inside, then jerked it back out and let out another mighty roar.
Kaijin stood paralyzed in fear. A Dragon! Sweat formed on his palms. After all my reading and all of Master Jarial’s stories, I never thought I would encounter such a majestic yet terrifying creature.
Percival anxiously wove around Kaijin’s ankles.
Kaijin turned his gaze to the weasel and then to Miele. “Am I ... dreaming again?”
Percival shrilled, seemingly empathic to Kaijin’s tension.
Miele shrieked, and a wave of warmth and assurance filled Kaijin.
The Dragon roared again, a thunderous sound that promised violence. A dazzling display of lightning streaked the starry sky.
Kaijin’s heart pounded. Dreaming or not, I’m not waiting to find out! He fled down the winding mountain path as fast as his exhausted body would allow. Miele flew off his shoulder and soared above him, shrieking—though Kaijin did not sense fear from her. Percival followed in Kaijin’s footsteps, frantically chirruping.
Kaijin’s feet quickly grew heavy. His legs ached; his steps slowed to a stop. Miele landed on his shoulder, while Percival curled himself around Kaijin’s ankles. Percival shivered and turned his ears backward, staring back at Kaijin.
Kaijin stopped for a moment, panting. “Don’t ... worry, Percival. I will make sure we ... make it to the bottom safely.”
Further down the mountain, his companions headed his way. Nester, leading the group, pointed at Kaijin and then broke into a sprint, leaving the others behind.
Is Nester mad? He continued trudging down the rocky path. “Stop, Nester!” he yelled, motioning for Nester to stop.
The brownie reached him. A bright, gap-toothed smile spread across his face. “Kaijin! I knew you’d wake up, mate!”
Kaijin huffed, catching his breath, and then reached to pull Nester with him down the trail. “Nester, we have to hurry before—”
Nester sidestepped away from Kaijin, and his gaze drifted toward the mountaintop. His face lit up. “She’s back!”
“What? Who’s back?” Confused, Kaijin spun around and watched Nester bolt up the path. The brownie stopped short of the Dragon, who sat near the cave’s entrance. This is madness! Can he not see that the Dragon is angry? Knowing our luck, it will take its anger out on us.
Percival wound around Kaijin’s feet, tickling his ankles. The weasel then skittered away, his stubbly legs a blur of motion as he went to meet Omari and the rest of the group. Miele flapped her wings and shrieked lightheartedly.
Kaijin received another warm, reassuring sensation from her, which piqued his curiosity. “You’re not afraid? The Dragon looks intimidating. Nester’s liable to get himself squished like a bug if he keeps this up.”
Sigmund soon approached, along with Zarya, Omari, and Aidan. “It’s a blessing that you’re still alive, Kaijin.” Sigmund carefully studied him. “I have seen enough death for one day.” He peered up the mountain. “It looks like the Mistress has returned from her hunt.” He beckoned the group to follow. “Come.”
Zarya offered Kaijin a bright smile, and then ran to catch up with Sigmund.
“The Mistress?” Kaijin repeated, watching them ascend the path. “Wait, where are you going? Don’t you realize—”
“The Dragon,” Omari said, brushing past Kaijin. “Ker ... Kah ... Confound it! How in the hells do you pronounce it again, Aidan?” He looked back at the giant.
Aidan smiled. “Her name is Kyniythyria.”
Kaijin furrowed his brow. He at
tempted to pronounce the name, as well, but only ended up getting tongue-tied. Aidan chuckled.
“Do not bother trying to pronounce it, Kaijin,” Omari said. “It is a Draconic name, and Draconic is such an awkward language.”
Kaijin hesitated. “Well, it doesn’t seem so difficult for Aidan.” He paused and glanced up the mountain. The Dragon was still occupied with Nester—and it seemed Nester was still alive. “She looks plenty mad. Are you certain she’s on our side?”
Omari looked back at Kaijin and snorted. “Indeed. You have missed much while you were napping.”
“Will you enlighten me, then?”
Omari picked up Percival, held him in his arms and stroked his tawny fur. “After our camp was attacked, we were captured and brought here atop this mountain.”
Kaijin blinked. “We were? Captured by whom?”
“Them.” Omari nodded toward Sigmund, who continued walking ahead of them. “There were two others, but they were slain.”
Kaijin paused, thinking about the battle he’d witnessed. “Who are they?”
“They are an ageless race of creatures known as Celestials. Sigmund explained that Celestials are servants to the Dragons, and many believe they are descendants of the goddess.”
Kaijin tilted his head. He recalled reading stories about the great Celestials as a child, and he’d thought them nothing more than just that: fanciful creatures in children’s stories. “Descendants of the goddess?”
“Indeed.” Omari nodded. “It is believed that their kind can live for almost a millennium.”
“Really? There must be millions of them around, then.”
“Not really, no. They are very slow to propagate. The Mistress went into great detail about it.”
“Interesting. But how can they be descended from the goddess if they are mortal creatures? This all sounds a bit farfetched, don’t you think?”
“It is cryptic, yes, I know. But it is not wise to question a Dragon’s explanation. Take it for what it is, Kaijin. Look at any Celestial, and you will discover similar physical qualities that are linked to the goddess: perfectly proportioned, inherent healing powers, and they smell like honeysuckle, which is said to be Celestra’s scent.”
Enflamed (Book 2) Page 16
