by Aderyn Wood
As the wind whipped her hair, Dale calmed and raised her hands above her head. She closed her eyes and focused on the secret window inside her hysbryd that had been shown to her. The one that revealed their connection.
When Dale opened her eyes, she saw in the true realm, and found the golden cord of rope that extended from her core out to the darkening sky to where her hysbryd flew somewhere, alone.
Dale inhaled and filled her lungs with the ice air and then shouted out with all her might the name of her dragon “Azazel Zu Yam-Nahar! I order you return to me.”
NOOOOOOOOOO!
An emphatic roar of denial came to Dale through the true realm. A scream of both anger and grief. Reluctance, too.
Dale repeated the dragon’s name, shouting it to the wind. Icy snow clung to her eyelashes, but she held her gaze despite the growing wind, and in the distance, a speck flew in the sky, in another heartbeat, it grew bigger. Soon, large wings thrummed a slow graceful rhythm, the thud of them exhilarating, the warm rush of their breeze electrifying. The dragon circled. Her fiery eyes squinted hatred as she landed before Dale.
So, you’ve learned my secret, thief.
Dale held up her chin. She had to command this beast once and for all and cement her authority. How can a thief steal what is theirs for the taking?
The dragon stomped one mighty paw and turning her head released a trail of fire. The trees, mere meters away singed instantly, smoke smouldering from their blackened trunks.
You cannot resist my command now, dragon, for I know your name in full, Azazel Zu Yam-Nahar, and you are my hysbryd.
Dale took a breath. “Now,” she said out loud, her vision slipping back from the true realm. “I command you to come with me, to be my hysbryd as is your true path, and help me deal with the enemy.”
The dragon sat on her haunches the way a dog might and bowed her head. Puffs of smoke blew out from her nostrils. I will do as you say though I do not like it. Not one whit.
Dale’s smile faded. This was not how she imagined her relationship with her hysbryd would be. She’d hoped to have a cat like Cat, or an animal that she would have great affinity with, a friendship. The last thing she wanted was to have a hysbryd who thought herself a slave, trapped and forced to obey against her will.
Nothing ever worked out the way Dale expected. She had learned that a thousand times over, but she had to make this work. Somehow.
So, Mistress. The dragon’s thoughts when they come to Dale were full of sarcasm and bitterness. What do you command of me?
Dale bit her lip, trying not to let her disappointment show, but also trying to think of what her next step should be. She’d got her hysbryd, but her magic was yet to unlock. She needed time to practice. We shall rest. Until nightfall, then we’ll make our way back to Arcadia. We are needed.
27
That afternoon, Dale returned from the forest where she’d found more almonds. She stood on the ledge looking out to the forest below. The clouds had dissipated and a blue sky full of sunshine warmed them.
Her dragon, who Dale called Az for short, rested lazily in the sunshine, her scales gleaming deep velvet red that reminded Dale of her own hair.
“You enjoy the sunshine,” Dale said.
The dragon opened one green eye, the pupil narrowing, before blinking closed.
Dale sighed. It wasn’t going to be easy. Az only seemed to speak to her when Dale ordered her to respond.
She had to ignore the dragon’s mood for now and spend time practicing her magic. If her father was right, she should be able to do any spell.
Dale decided to try something she’d never been able to do, a fireball. Back in Arcadia, Samblar was always summoning fireballs and tossing them into the lake. No matter how it disturbed the elements, or how much energy he spent he would always want to throw fireballs. His adolescent fascination for blowing things up had annoyed her, but now her hands itched with anticipation. If the prophecy was right, if she truly was the saviour, and if she was a First as her father had told her, she should be able to cause an avalanche on the neighbouring mountain with a fireball powerful enough to melt the snow and explode the rock beneath it.
Dale closed her eyes and summoned the power of the elements. She could feel the vibrations of energy from the forest, from the mountain, from the snow, and with her mind’s eye, she weaved it all toward her, into her hands. A spark of fire fizzed and spluttered and Dale’s hope leaped. It was working! She focussed and kept fuelling the small beginnings of the fireball, feeding energy from the elements – fire, air and aether. The ball grew into a bright red glow that seemed to exist in its own right.
Dale looked to the mountain ahead. She took aim and then put her hand back ready to throw. She whispered a word, “Incendium”, and launched the fireball.
It glided through the sky and Dale’s eyes widened as she watched. Finally, her magic was working. But her joy was short-lived for the fireball fizzled and spluttered, then disappeared altogether with a pathetic puff of smoke.
The dragon’s laughter filled her mind, as her grumbles sounded low and rumbling.
Dale turned to see the huge beast lying on her back, a veritable smile on her maw.
“Nice,” Dale said. “You ignore me all day and then laugh at me. I thought hysbryds were supposed to be friends.” This relationship was going to be tough, even tougher than her relationship with arch nemesis Prudence Feathertop. She’d had enough of bullies back on Earth, the last thing she needed was one here in the Borderlands.
The dragon seemed to shrug her shoulders as though she didn’t care what Dale thought and rolled back over onto her back, scales gleaming the way water in a wave did. I had been lead to believe the one who was my hysbryd would have great magic. Well, it seems that was another lie.
Dale squinted. “A lie from whom?”
But the dragon turned her nose, silent once more.
Dale shook her head. “I’m supposed to have great magic. They’ve all told me that too.” She knew the dragon didn’t feel sympathy for her, but Dale needed to talk to someone, else she’d go crazy. She had a mind to return to her father and ask him to explain, but she needed to work it out herself once and for all. The prideful part she realised, that part of her that wanted nothing but praise from her father, and her mother. The part that got her into trouble with Balak, and Agathina, and Ness. The part that wanted the glory that came with being a hero. The saviour shall have fire for hair and emeralds for eyes – her heart knows both goodness and evil. The choral voices of the prophecy came to her in a rush. Yes, it was true; she had known both good and evil. That was her human side.
“My father told me if I found you, I would unlock my powers.”
The dragon sat up with a start and Dale jumped away from a claw. Az narrowed her green flaming eyes as she looked at Dale. What did he tell you? What were his exact words?
Why is it important? She thought back.
Az took a step toward her. Don’t think I’m interested in your problems, Earthling or Firstling, whatever fool breed you are, but I do enjoy a good riddle and your father is notorious for them.
A riddle? Her father hadn’t told her any riddle. Had he? She cast her mind back to the lake and the moment he’d told her about her quests. His exact words, what were they? Yes, that’s right, I’ve remembered them.
Small miracles do happen.
Dale ignored that. “He told me these words. You must find your hysbryd. When you unlock the power to rule your hysbryd you will unlock the power to your magic.”
The dragon blinked, then laughed again, rolling slowly over onto her back and almost slapping at her belly, or so it seemed to Dale.
You know you really look undignified when you do that.
The dragon snorted before rolling back and licking a claw with her long bristly tongue. Well, at least I’m not as stupid as some. The answer to your problem is as obvious as that nose on your pink face. The dragon seemed to grin at her. I’ll enjoy seeing how long it takes you to
work it out.
Dale clenched her jaw as Az laughed some more. She turned her back to the dragon, stepped off the ledge, and stalked down into the forest. She needed to be alone to think. Was the dragon right? Did her father give her a riddle? Why was everything so damned difficult? Why couldn’t he just tell her how to work her magic?
Anger bubbled in her veins but she knew it would do no good. She sat on a boulder and took a slow breath. She needed to be calm if she were to solve the mystery herself.
She thought about the words again. ‘When you unlock the power to rule your hysbryd you will unlock the power to your magic.’
“The power to rule your hysbryd, ” Dale said. The power that linked her to Azazel was a deep connection that seemed to exist somewhere in her very core. When she focussed there she could sense her hysbryd and the faint warmth of the prophecy stone. And when Dale opened her consciousness to it, a vast pool of power swirled. Infinite, exciting and strong.
“My god!” Dale opened her eyes. “That’s it!” she jumped up. “I’ve found it!”
It was that pool of power deep within her being that was the source for her magic. Not the energy around her. In Arcadia, when Sa’r Aethyll and Jaral, and everyone else had tried to help her with her magic and spell casting. They’d tried to teach her the way they’d known magic – to draw from the energy of the environment. To draw from the elements of earth, fire, air, water and aether. But that was not how Dale was supposed to harness magic. She was supposed to draw from the inner well. A raw and vast power that had always been there but one she hadn’t recognised till now.
That source of power connected her to her hysbryd, but it was also needed for her magic.
“Yes!” she shouted.
Now to try it. She had to know for sure if it would work.
Excitement pumped through her veins as she ran back to the ledge, ignoring Az who was pretending to snore. It took her longer than usual to calm her pulse and focus on the spell. She raised her hands in front of her, readying them to hold a ball of fire. Her breathing slowed, and when she was ready, she looked up to the mountains through her second sight. In the true realm, they appeared as silvery giants with hunched shoulders and bowed heads.
She drew from the energy in her very core, rather than the elements, as though she tapped a star of its energy, and a vast power now filled her hands – a simmering ball of flame she had trouble retaining. It lurched and jiggled almost with a mind of its own, wanting to be free.
Dale flung the fireball to the neighbouring mountain and snapped her sight back to normal. She watched in wonder as it collided with rock. A violent explosion erupted. Not Samblar, nor Jaral, not even her mother could have created such a blow. The mountain roared with flame, ice and rock flung high into the air. A darkening cloud blocked out the sun.
Dale watched, breathless. A slight heaviness weighed on her limbs, the after-effects of the spell casting, but exhilaration soon spread to her very toes. She’d not seen anything like it. Her power was there after all, and now, she knew how to access it!
Something fell from the sky with a thud. A bird. A falcon by the look of it. Dead. Then another, closer, only this was a pigeon. A third fell near Dale’e feet. A red breasted thrush.
“Oh, no,” Dale muttered.
It’s the balance, Az grumbled in her mind. It gives you magic with one hand, and takes life with the other.
A mushroom cloud stretched across the sky and debris started to fall with it. Small particles of ice and rock. Dale coughed and covered her mouth. Guilt washed through her as she considered the lives of the birds that had been sacrificed for her show of power.
She cast her eyes over the forest. And how many other animals have died?
Az snorted. A great many I should think, with a spell like that.
Dale's lips quivered. She would have to be very careful with this newfound power. It could be dangerous if she were to make a mistake. “Or if I were to use it for the wrong purpose,” she whispered. The warning from the prophecy sent an ice chill down her spine. Evil indeed.
28
Azazel flew in graceful loops. The wind rushed, the world spun, and sickness rose and fell in Dale’s stomach as she clung to the dragon’s red scales. Most people would relish the chance to fly like this, but Dale couldn’t wait to put her tingling feet back on firm ground. This was much worse than the flight with Ness had been. From the moment the dragon beat her giant wings, when the mountains grew as small as anthills, Dale’s stomach had tumbled and her feet had not ceased buzzing.
Her hands, sweaty and aching, gripped tight. Her shoulders tensed like tight coils. At first, she’d shut her eyes, but that had proved to be more sickening. Now, Dale kept them opened and focused on the red scales of her dragon’s back as she tried to ignore the force of the wind in her hair. Now and then, she’d glance at the terrain below, and her feet would tickle all the more. The dragon was warm, at least, something to be thankful for.
Please, Az, is there any need to do those loops?
Shouldn’t a courageous dragon-rider such as yourself be aware of my range of manoeuvers, Mistress? Az’s tone dripped with its usual sarcasm.
Don’t call me Mistress, I don’t like it.
Would you prefer Enslaver?
Dale winced. I only want to be your friend.
A friend would release me of this tiresome bond.
Dale grimaced as the dragon twirled down around a mountain peak; giddiness swelled and her hands tightened their grip, deepening the ache in her palms and fingers.
Below, another patch of black scarred the forest, clearly visible in the light of the moon. There’s been one just like it not far from Az’s mountain. Dale had seen it as soon as they’d taken flight. Az told her it was more evidence of the balance resetting after her spell. This patch of dead forest wasn’t as big. But how much of the forest had been killed because of her fireball spell?
In the distance, a large lake came into view – the lake where she’d met her father.
Take me to that lake.
Yes, Mistress. Az turned and descended sharply, Dale’s stomach dropping as they fell.
Az hovered over the lake’s shallows, then did something like bucking in mid-air, unceremoniously dumping Dale in the cold lake, before gliding to the bank.
Dale splashed ungainly in the water, clothes drenched. She kicked and thrashed her legs before finding her footing and wading to the shore where she dripped on the bank.
She flung back wet hair and blinked, taking in the bizarre sight before her. Everywhere she looked the free spirits played. Salamanders and sylphs, both with pointy ears and coloured skin played catch with stones and sticks in the forest. A group of gnomes tried to fish undines from the lakeshore, pushing and pulling with devilish grins. Beyond them, a circle of sprites built a sandcastle on the bank. They were everywhere. Dale had never seen so many free spirits in the one place. Az sat on her haunches preening her forepaws. When a gnome came close and prodded her with a stick she swatted him, sending the poor little guy flying.
“There’s no need to be so damned mean!” Dale shouted.
Az narrowed her glowing green eyes before returning to her preening.
Dale was wet and freezing now that Az’s warmth had left her, but at least she was on solid ground again, if only for a little while. Her dragon had made her point, but Dale had also made hers. She’d commanded Az to take her where she wanted, and Az had no choice but to follow. It was a small victory, a hollow one, but a victory nevertheless.
Dale shivered as she watched the free spirits and searched for Esme among them.
“Daughter.”
She turned. Her father walked toward her, Esme by his side and a line of sprites and sylphs behind him. His red hair such a contrast to the blue light of the moon.
“The free spirits,” Dale said. “What are they doing here?”
“War has reached Arcadia, they no longer feel safe among the Second.”
Dale frowned. “No.” W
as she too late?
Esme ran to her and hugged her wet leg.
Dale hugged her back. “You know Esme?”
Her father smiled. “I do, she’s been keeping an eye on you for a very long time.”
“You sent her to me?”
“In a way. She followed you to Earth when you were still a babe and has stayed by your side ever since.”
Esme looked up at her and grinned before joining the group of sprites pushing gnomes into the lake shallows.
Her father turned to the dragon. “Hello, Azazel.”
The dragon snarled. Don’t look so pleased with yourself, Ordo. As soon as I am free of your youngling here, I’ll fly so far into the void you will never see me again.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again too, Azazel Zu Yam-Nahar. Now go hunt.”
The dragon didn’t need telling twice, in two wing beats she was high above them, flying off for a meal.
“You can control her, just as I can,” Dale said.
Her father nodded. “And I’m glad to see your control over her is complete. You will do well in the challenges that await you.”
Dale shook her head. “But why didn’t you just summon her from the mountain? I could have met her here. Why did I have to go myself and waste all that time? War has come.”
Her father tilted his head. “There are lessons you have not yet learned, daughter. But that will come. Don’t you see? Some lessons cannot be told. They must be experienced for you to learn them, to know them.”
“You mean, I had to find the connection to Az myself, to understand the power that exists within me.”
Her father nodded. “Yes, though it doesn’t exist within you. Rather, you are connected to it. It is from the void. Or as the Earthens like to call it, the Cosmos. You have access to its great power. You always have, but now you know how to use it at will. Your hysbryd opened the window within you.”
