Blood of the Dragon

by Sarina Langer

  Rachael bit her lip. Lon had been a good friend, and the first Sparrow besides Cale and Ailis who had welcomed her. They’d hold a memorial once everything was over and they were back in the White City. Maybe she could commission a monument as a permanent reminder of the Sparrows’ bravery and their sacrifices.

  But thoughts of the future had to wait. Right now, Rachael worried they wouldn’t be a match for Cephy’s army. It was just Cale—who was injured—, Kiana, Reeve, Ludo, Desma, Kaida—who was too exhausted to stand—, and herself against Cephy’s infernal army of Mothers and the Dark One. How long would it take them to find her? How fast would they fall?

  Rachael sighed. No one else would die. She’d see to it that Kaida had all the rest she needed, and then she’d make Kaida obey her. She was a queen, for Maker’s sake. She was Lady Eleftheria, named by the Krymistian lady herself. She needed to win this war and she’d do it without losing any more people. All she had to do was convince a dragon to bleed for her and find a way to keep the dragon alive, no matter what the spell, or whatever it was, demanded.

  “We’ll stay here for tonight,” Rachael said. “We’ll cover more ground once we’ve had a night’s rest. The library is still far away.”

  Or so she guessed. The Red Wastes were as dead as she’d imagined, nothing but cracked ground and dried-up shrubs no matter where she looked. Even the few ruins she spotted had crumbled to little more than their foundations. If the library was nearby, it’d have stood out. It made her shiver that the old sorcerers had devastated an entire country with one spell. Perhaps, in that regard, it was a good thing that some secrets had been lost.

  “Put up our tents,” Cale said. “See if we have any rations left or if Kiana has eaten them all.” Rachael smiled when Kiana rolled her eyes. “Rachael.” Her heart skipped. “Do you have a moment?”

  She needed to talk to Kaida, but it was probably better to give her a breather. Kaida had earned a break, and maybe she’d be more likely to co-operate once she was rested.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Cale smiled. “You mean, besides the usual?” He gestured to a spot a little way off from their camp and led her there. “I wanted to see how you’re doing. Are you okay?”

  She grimaced. “Am I okay? How are you doing? You’re the one who—” She didn’t want to say, ‘lost a Sparrow’, because Lon had been her family too. He’d just been Cale’s family for longer. “I’m sorry about Lon. If I hadn’t moved us to Malia…” She didn’t want to continue that line of thought either.

  “If I’ve learned anything since I’ve rebuilt the Sparrows, it’s that you can’t blame yourself.” She raised an eyebrow, and Cale smiled. “I didn’t say I was good at it. But there’s always another fight, always another enemy trying to ambush you, often just around the corner when you’re still trying to recover from the last fight or ambush.” He sighed. “Lon was one of my best. I always say each Sparrow knew the danger when they joined, but—”

  “But it’s still hard. I know.”

  Cale took her hand, and her stomach flipped. She wondered if she’d ever get used to the feeling.

  “When you blame yourself, you don’t focus on what’s important. Cephy drove us off the island. The snake killed Lon. Aeron corrupted Cephy. The Dark One corrupted Aeron. Blame any of those, but never yourself.

  “War forces us to make desperate decisions, Rachael. It tries to bring out the worst in us. You can’t let it.”

  She nodded. “There’s always time to mourn once we’ve won or died, right?”

  “Right.”

  Could their Sparrows hear them? They were busy assembling the few tents they’d brought, and Kaida was resting on the side. Reeve kept an eye on Kiana and glared every time she got too close to the dried beef. Lon was gone, but so many of their family were still alive. Most of them weren’t even here but in Rifarne, safe and wondering when their leaders would return. Who would die next? Reeve? Cale? Kiana?

  Rachael’s heart constricted. She had come close to losing Kiana too many times. She would protect her Sparrow with everything she was. Kiana wouldn’t die while Rachael breathed.

  “I don’t think I ever thanked you,” she said.

  Cale ushered her around until it was just them and the vast, cracked nothing of the Red Wastes.

  “Thanked me?”

  “For saving me from Aeron. For teaching me to fight. For believing in me.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and sting in her eyes; she needed to say it now, in case she didn’t get another chance. “For giving me a family.”

  Rachael didn’t resist when he held her. Cephy could march in at any moment, but she wouldn’t take this from Rachael.

  Cale touched his forehead to hers. The last time they’d stood like this, Lon had interrupted. Cale must have realised it too, because he pulled away and simply held her in his arms.

  “What do you want to do?” he asked. “When all this is over?”

  “I want to go to Blackrock. Maybe make a memorial of Cephy’s old home. A reminder why things had to change.”

  He kissed her hair, and she wanted to melt. No one had ever shown her this much affection, or maybe even love.

  “I’ll come with you,” Cale said. “Arlo’s hut is near there. Perhaps we could stop by?”

  She nodded into the warmth of his chest. “Of course.”

  “And once all that’s done, I’ve got a few things I’d like to show you. If you’ll let me.”

  Rachael blushed. “Like what?”

  He touched his forehead to hers again. This time, neither of them pulled away.

  “A calm, relaxing day, for one,” Cale said. “I bet you’ve never had one of those.”

  She couldn’t even imagine it. “Can’t say I have.”

  He laid an arm around her waist, and her insides lit on fire. “Then it’s about time.”

  He flinched. Rachel drew away.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “It’s my shoulder. The snake spat acid at it. I should probably see if Kaida can heal it.”

  “You didn’t think to do that sooner? Doesn’t it hurt?”

  Cale shrugged and grimaced. “You should have seen what it did to the beach. This is a scratch.”

  Rachael frowned but left it at that. “Let’s go see Kaida, then.”

  She had her own questions to ask the Mist Woman.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  It was remarkable how fast Kaida recovered. A spark had returned to her eyes, and her skin had returned to its normal pale glow.

  Rachael chewed on a dried strip of beef while Kaida tended to Cale’s wound. He’d turned away from Rachael the second he’d moved his sleeve down. Part of her was glad she didn’t have to see how bad it really was, but another part was angry he hadn’t seen to it first. Like his well-being wasn’t as important as catching a moment alone with her.

  The others had curled up in the tents and were fast asleep. Reeve stood watch just outside their camp, his eyes focussed on the dark night and his own worries.

  “Roll your shoulder,” Kaida said.

  Cale did as he was told. “No pain.”

  “Good. Now, I suggest you rest and come to me sooner the next time you are hurt.”

  “Thanks for healing him,” Rachael said. “I hope it didn’t take too much energy.”

  “Not at all. It is an easy healing spell; most gifted children can perform it.” She gave Cale one more warning glance and turned to Rachael. “You wanted to talk to me?”

  Rachael nodded. She hated how nervous she felt.

  “Let’s talk over there.”

  Rachael led Kaida away from the camp. She didn’t want anyone else listening in; maybe Kaida would be more open to whatever they needed to do if no one else heard it.

  “You are worried.”

  Rachael grimaced. Worried didn’t begin to describe it.

  “I’d like you to contact the other Sparrows in the White Palace. Lady Nerine as well. We need their help.”

&n
bsp; “Consider it done, Rachael. You must understand, however, that it is unlikely they will get here in time.”

  “I know. But it’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

  “But this is not what you wanted to talk about.”

  Rachael sighed. “I want to try forcing my visions again. I’d prefer it if I didn’t have to do it alone.”

  Truth be told, she was scared. The last time she had forced a vision, her nose had bled and she had passed out. How many more times could she do this before it would cost her a lot more?

  “Of course. I can lend you some of my strength.”

  “No. You need to recover, and I need to do this myself. All I ask is that you guide me if I need help.” And that you don’t let me die or lose my sanity, or both. Her mouth was dry.

  Kaida nodded. “Sit. It will be easier if you are relaxed.”

  Rachael sat on the hard desert ground and willed her breathing to calm despite her racing heart. If this worked…

  “Empty your mind. Find your gift and guide it.”

  It wasn’t as simple as it had been when her life had depended on it; however, that time, the Dark One had erected a barrier inside her mind, and she had managed it regardless. If she could achieve that, she could do this today too.

  Rachael reached for the gift inside her necklace. Her own source felt far away—she needed the necklace’s help. Kaida could have helped, but Rachael wouldn’t ask her just yet. She needed to do it on her own or it wouldn’t mean anything.

  The magical spark inside her amulet responded. Rachael smiled—it felt familiar, almost happy to see her again.

  She embraced it…

  And her gift lit up like a beacon on a faraway shore on a moonless night.

  Bright.

  Beautiful.

  Hers.

  Rachael was no longer the only one reaching out. Her gift stretched its arms for her in response, white and shining like a million stars in her private sky.

  They collided.

  Power. So much—

  Rachael gasped and lost her hold over her gift. Her eyes snapped open. For a moment, she didn’t remember where she was. Her stars were gone. Her light had vanished.

  Kaida smiled.

  Rachael blinked as if to wake up faster. “What happened?”

  “I felt a little of what you felt. I hope you do not mind that I connected myself to you. I did not help, I was merely curious to watch your progress.”

  “What happened? I saw my gift, I felt so—” Describing it had been easy before, but now her hold was gone the magic had taken her words with it.

  “I believe you just experienced the full potential of your gift. It is an awesome moment. Here—” Kaida handed her a handkerchief. “For your eyes.”

  Rachael touched the tears on her cheeks. She hadn’t realised she was crying. She wiped her tears away and stared at the ground. Why did she have to cry?

  “Do not be embarrassed. Our gifts are miraculous, a wonder to behold. It is a sight some never see. There is no shame in tears when confronted with your own strength.”

  “Is that what it was? My strength?”

  “In a manner of speaking. In the empire, it was a common belief that a sorcerer was only as strong as his gift. Above all else, it is your potential. You have seen it yourself. What did it look like?”

  Rachael missed it already, like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. “Bright. Brighter than anything I’ve ever seen. And warm. Comforting.” Like a home or a mother.

  “Then that is the future you can bring to Rifarne. Your gift is as much a part of you as your eyes or your mind. Never forget that.”

  A tiny spark flared deep inside her. “I want to try again.”

  “I will observe, but I do not believe you will need my help.”

  Pride swelled within her. She had accomplished this, on her own. All her life she had believed that she couldn’t control her gift, but now… The possibilities, good and bad, made her head spin, and suddenly she understood why the gift demanded balance.

  Rachael closed her eyes again and reached out for her gift. This time, it was right there, waiting and ready. She embraced it. For a moment, all she saw was its bright light—her bright light—and it nearly overwhelmed her. Was this really what she could give her people? How could anyone hate what she felt right now? How could anyone want to destroy it?

  Show me, she commanded, and her gift responded, tapped into her mind where her visions rested. She’d been able to wake one before because the sorceress had tried to reach Rachael in turn. This time, no one was trying to find her.

  She was on her own. But she had come this far, and she refused to give up.

  The ground disappeared under her feet, and Rachael found herself back in the same beautiful room filled with leather bindings and knowledge.

  The woman stood at her window. Her eyes were focussed on something outside.

  Rachael shuffled her feet; she felt like an intruder. “Hello?”

  The woman spun around, her eyes wide and red but unafraid. “It’s you. How did you— You’ve mastered your gift, haven’t you?” The woman smiled. “And you come to me now, of all times.”

  Rachael had never been this happy to see someone she didn’t know. She felt an odd kinship to the woman. Rachael smiled, and the woman mirrored it.

  “I’m Rachael.”

  “The Sparrow that Sees Ahead. I know.”

  “You know the prophecy?” When she’d met Vail and Commander Kavan in the ruins of Archos, they hadn’t heard of it.

  “I’m the one who received it.”

  Rachael stepped back. Ever since Cale had told her about the prophecy and her role in it, she’d hated whoever had come up with it. Someone long dead had meddled with her life in a way she could never forgive. Arlo and Ailis and so many others were dead because of this prophecy. Her own life had been taken and stirred against her will because of it.

  Cephy was now trapped in Aeron’s darkness because of it.

  Rachael had never thought she’d meet the person who wrote it. She’d never imagined she’d feel such a strong, positive connection to them.

  But something the woman had said made her pause. “What does that mean, you received it?”

  Mavis raised an eyebrow. “Are there no prophets in your time?”

  Rachael shook her head. “I’m the only seer as far as we know, but I don’t write prophecies. I just have visions.”

  Mavis’s smile left her eyes. “We don’t write prophecies either, we receive them. Imagine them like ideas, but stronger. They are rare.” She sighed. “I suppose that’s even more true for your time.”

  Rachael needed a moment to come to terms with this. She believed the woman, but that meant no one had tried to involve her in any of this. It had just… happened. There was no one to blame, no one who had set her on this path. Not destiny, but coincidence. It was a lot to accept.

  Rachael wandered to the window, too curious to resist. From what little she’d seen, the old empire had controlled and created beautiful things with magic. Now she was here, she had to see for herself.

  But there was nothing outside the window. Just more light.

  “Why can’t I see?”

  The woman stood next to her, gazing out over a city Rachael couldn’t imagine.

  “The first time we met, you saw this room because you were inside my vision and I know this room. But this time, you’re here without my guidance. Your mind has recreated my room from memory, but it doesn’t know what Sanciond looks like.”

  It made sense, but she still wished it wasn’t so.

  Goosebumps ran over her arms and back. “Sanciond. That’s your city?” She finally had a name to put to the old empire—or at least to a small part of it.

  Mavis looked crestfallen. “Yes. It’s the capital of Ar’Sanciond.” She opened her mouth to say more but stopped herself. “I apologise, I never introduced myself. My name is Mavis.”

  Rachael’s head shot up. “Vail mentioned you. He seeme
d fond of you.”

  Mavis grinned, and an affectionate light entered her eyes. “We should talk about why you’re here. These things can be unstable.”

  “You mean my visions?”

  “Yes; although, you seem to control it well. Still, we shouldn’t risk running out of time.”

  “I need to know how you banished the Dark One. I only have a small army with me, and I don’t think the rest will catch up in time. We need an advantage.”

  “I’m afraid we can’t banish him entirely. We can only trap him to buy time. Surely you know this?”

  Rachael nodded. “You want to trap him on Kaethe. Vail said we need a dragon to send Him back to the Mists.”

  Mavis raised an eyebrow. “And do you have a dragon?”

  Rachael couldn’t resist, she had to know. “We do. You might know her, her name is—”

  “Uh uh! Don’t tell me. If this is truly someone I know, I don’t want my last moments spoiled by what could have been.” Mavis’s eyes clouded with dark shadows. “Whoever they are, I have to trust they have good reason not to help us. Perhaps you can achieve what we couldn’t.”

  “What do I need to do?”

  Mavis met her eyes. “You need to kill the dragon.”

  Rachael swallowed. She couldn’t kill Kaida. “Even if I wanted to do this, I can’t. Dragons are far too powerful.”

  She hoped Kaida’s gift hadn’t followed her here.

  “Then you will die, just like we will. Unless you have enough sorcerers willing to repeat our actions?”

  Rachael bit her lip. As strong as dragons usually were, Kaida was weakened. Perhaps they could—

  No. Kaida had saved her life and those of her Sparrows. She had granted Lon a quick death. Because of Kaida, Rachael could finally control her visions.

  They were only here at all, alive and fighting, because of Kaida.

  Killing her wasn’t an option.

  “We don’t. Magic isn’t what it was in your day. I’ve seen some of your marvels, and we have nothing like it.”

  Mavis averted her eyes. “I’m sorry, Rachael. I’m afraid the dragon’s blood is your only option. If you change your mind, I’ve written down the ritual in my notebook. Vail has hidden it somewhere, but he didn’t tell me where. I’m sorry.”