At that instant with the memory fresh in her mind, Akira realized a simple thank you would have been in order. She had thought the worst of his actions.
Akira pushed the morning’s memory away. The column was approaching a great plain. She looked at the vast horizon ahead of them. Beyond the plain lay the city of the buffalo people, the city called Buffalo Horn. On the other side of the city advanced the Dark Lord’s army. Death was ahead for many men. Dimitri was leading them into battle. It had been agreed upon at the war council that Dimitri should lead the advance. His allegiance was with the Order of the White Rose. The Order of the White Rose was committed to keeping peace between the kings and warlords, providing sanctuary for the oppressed and persecuted. Dimitri was the logical choice, the safest choice. His reputation as a fierce honorable warrior couldn’t be challenged. A surge of pride filled Akira. She told herself she was proud to serve under his leadership. A small voice that whispered that she was proud to be his wife, if only in name, was quickly silenced.
Suddenly she regretted snapping at him. He had been honorable after all. He hadn’t reneged on the agreement their marriage was to be in name only. It was childish of me to refuse to engage in a mature fashion this morning. My quick temper has not improved with my newfound knowledge. I hope I’ll have a chance to apologize.
The young dragon warrior looked at the owl who took flight. Was it her imagination, wishful thinking, that she felt her father’s presence when the owl was perched on her arm? She looked back over her shoulder to see the handsome mage, Zane staring at her. He smiled. She glanced past him to see Waldorf staring at her also. Waldorf’s face was anything but friendly. He wasn’t fast enough to hide a look of disdain. The look gave Akira a jolt. What is wrong with him? Is this the jealousy my father warned me of, the resentment some mages will have because I have been given the gift? Akira felt uneasy. She looked back again. Waldorf’s expression was unreadable this time. The other mages made eye contact. Nothing out of the ordinary other than a speculative look coming from Zane. His intense gaze made her look forward quickly. She missed seeing his satisfied grin. It was a gaze a man shouldn’t give a woman married to another man. But then, reasoned Akira, Zane knew her marriage was a sham. She shivered, imagining his eyes boring at the back of her head.
Dimitri raised his hand. “Halt! Give the men a short rest.”
The command went quickly down the ranks. The march ground to an organized halt. Canteens were raised to lips. Cinches were checked and adjusted. Soldiers relieved their bladders. Conversations started. Riders dismounted and stretched legs. Foot soldiers put down their shields. Some of the foot soldiers sat upon their shields, sipped at their canteens sparingly. Horses nickered and pulled quickly at the plain’s grasses. Sky Spirit circled over the army then landed as near Akira as was possible without spooking the horses. Curious eyes followed the dragon’s every move. Akira had already dismounted. She walked over to the dragon with Pegasus following behind her. She didn’t lead him. He followed of his own accord. She smiled at her dragon mount. The snowy white owl was perched on Akira’s dragon saddle back rest. It blinked and tipped its head sideways as if studying the young dragon rider.
“I see you have another rider my friend. A much lighter passenger,” said Akira.
The dragon replied, “So light I hardly noticed.” To eavesdroppers, the dragon’s speech sounded like strange clicking sounds.
“Shall we take a short flight and scout ahead?” Sky Spirit asked.
“We could, but I’ll use my father’s globe to try and see what lies ahead. No use in tiring you out unnecessarily.”
Akira reached into a saddlebag and pulled out the carefully wrapped globe. She removed the soft wrappings and looked into the glass. A grey mist formed inside the globe. It swirled like a lazy smoke plume. Colors started appearing in the mist. Forms took shape. Akira saw an army advancing past the hills footing a mountain range. The army had a black cloud hovering over it. Black war horses, dust rising from the plains, villages set ablaze, the glimpses of scenes in the globe made Akira shudder involuntarily. She put the globe away.
“I must tell Commander Dimitri the Dark Lord has also entered the plains.” Akira strode quickly back to the column. “Commander, a word please?”
Dimitri turned away from his conversation with a warlord who had ridden up the column to talk to him. He signaled for Akira to approach. “Speak dragon rider.”
Akira looked meaningfully at the warlord, then back at Dimitri.
“Our friend here can hear whatever news you bring. I noticed you were gazing into a crystal ball.”
Akira nodded. “The enemy has entered the plains also. They are just leaving the hilly country. They move slowly with war machines pulled by great beasts.”
“They will move faster on the plains,” said Dimitri. Cronus handed Dimitri a map. Dimitri studied it carefully. We have no great war machines to pull so we should make better time. Our supply wagons will not slow us down. If we march double-time we should be able get past Buffalo Horn and choose where to do battle.”
The warlord pulled at his braided beard. “My men are strong and fit. We can march triple-time if need be.”
“Double-time will be enough. We need to save our strength for the battle. We need to dig trenches in front of the advancing enemy. If we can flank the enemy and place the trenches in front of the protective walls of Buffalo Horn, the wheels of their great machines may break at best and be slowed at worst. Give the order to mount up.” Dimitri ignored Akira until the bearded warlord rode away. Cronus barked out the orders. It echoed down the column. The column tightened up. When the march double-time order was given, more than one man gave thanks for the short rest they’d been given. “Ride beside me Dragon Warrior” said Dimitri. Akira mounted Pegasus and rode up beside Dimitri. Dimitri glance sideways, then looked forwards. “Are you over your irritation with me?”
“Yes sir,” Akira said clearly.
“Good. I need you at your best. Whatever personal feelings you have, lose them. You are the inspiration those men behind us need to go into battle against great odds. You are a powerful mage, a dragon-riding warrior. Nothing more, nothing less. Forget that we married. We both know it was a political alliance. It’s fortunate we never let the physical attraction we felt for each other be acted upon. Our hearts are intact. Gods be willing, I will help you achieve your dream of being a mighty warrior. You and I will go into battle unafraid to die.”
“Commander, forgive my surly attitude earlier. I’m indebted to you for taking this girl and making a warrior of her. My freedom from the bonds of marriage, to be what I wanted to be, to be treated with the same respect as men accord each other was my heart’s greatest desire. Sacrificing that was harder than I expected.”
“You regret agreeing to marrying me to satisfy the need for that damn prophecy to be filled?”
“No. Not anymore. It is a small price to pay for the greater good. The price to those who will die, believing in the prophecy, is far greater.” Akira let her head turn to look into Dimitri’s face. Her face was solemn.
“Dragon Warrior, do you not realize that you have fulfilled another part of the prophecy?” Dimitri looked as solemn as Akira. Her conflicted expression was testimony to her stubborn unwillingness to believe in the prophecy. “Have you not sacrificed much to help defeat the Dark Lord?” Dimitri waited for her answer. “Are you so blind you can’t see what others see?” He hesitated, then added, “What I see?”
Akira stared at her commander. His words had a profound effect. Her face paled. She faced forwards. If his words were meant to build her confidence, to make her believe in herself, to recognize herself as the promised dragon warrior, they fell short. Akira’s heart pounded in her chest. A blur of white flashed in front of her eyes. The white owl landed on her shoulder as if to comfort her. Dimitri said nothing more. Akira looked over her other shoulder. Zane nodded his head as if she had asked him, “Am I truly the one?” Akira sucked in her breath sharp
ly. Zane’s eyes glowed with an eerie light.
She appeared as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders and she was bracing herself. She was starting to believe. The crystal ball hidden in her saddlebag began to vibrate. She reached inside the saddlebag. She unwrapped the globe. The grey mist swirled. It became like a small sparkling snowstorm. The flakes formed letters that jostled themselves into order. “Believe.” The word dissipated into nothingness, then colors swirled and Tazir’s face looked back at her from inside the globe. Akira’s hand shook. She looked backwards again. Tazir’s eyes locked on her pale face. The power in his gaze made up for his lack of size. She turned forwards and looked into the globe again. Waldorf’s face stared back at her. All his image did was give an affirmative brief nod. His expression gave no clue as to his feelings towards herself. Akira started rewrapping the globe. It vibrated in her hand. She let the wrapping slip down. Mage Yooda’s face appeared. He, too, gave a slight nod of his noble looking head. Akira quickly wrapped the globe and pushed it deep into her saddlebag. Thankfully, it vibrated no more.
Dimitri gave Akira a knowing look. He urged his mount ahead of hers to ride beside Cronus. Akira fell in line behind them. Akira closed her eyes and started to softly chant. The words came from somewhere deep in her memory. She knew not if they came from her father’s memory or her own. They were in a different language; one she had never spoken before. A sense of calm enveloped her. When she opened her eyes again the color had returned to her face, and Zane was riding at her side. Akira’s heart stopped racing. Her fear was under control. Pegasus snorted and tossed his magnificent equine head. Pegasus danced sideways in reaction to the mixed mood of his mistress. Akira patted his neck reassuringly. “Steady my friend.” Akira realized her body was not reflecting her state of mind. She relaxed her knee pressure against Pegasus’s sides. Pegasus responded. His ears flicked backwards, then forwards again. He relaxed back into the column’s steady pace.
Akira felt Zane’s presence acutely. Energy radiated between them. Akira realized Zane was teaching her how to absorb energy from him. He spoke not a word. She knew what to do. Her father’s knowledge was working for her. Akira responded by sending a surge of energy to Zane. His eyes widened. He gave Akira an approving look. “You are a quick study.”
“I had an amazing teacher,” said Akira. She noticed a tiny scar through one of his eyebrows. It did nothing to detract from his physical appearance. She unconsciously started comparing Dimitri and Zane. Both had muscular physiques. Both were ruggedly handsome. Dimitri’s face bore more fine scars than Zane’s. Both men were tall. Zane sat higher in the saddle than Dimitri and both men had confident cocky attitudes. They will serve me well she thought. Oh, seven hells what am I thinking? Serve me? Where did that come from? I will serve Commander Dimitri. I will work with Mage Zane … and the other mages of course! My mind must be affected by power exchanges! I must be careful.
Mage Zane smiled. “He had an amazing student.”
Akira looked at the handsome mage. Flattery from men had always been suspect. She wasn’t altogether sure how to respond. “A simple ‘thanks’, or ‘gratitude’ would have sufficed. She looked at him suspiciously.
“I am a product of amazing parents.”
“Then no surprise their daughter is also amazing.”
“Do you always use flattery so lavishly?”
“Do you always find it hard to accept compliments?”
Akira sighed out loud. “Never had much practice. Flattery is a tool men use to trick women, and other men.”
Mage Zane smiled. Akira liked his smile. It was a generous smile that showed even white teeth.
“Oh my! You are cynical for one so young. Such a beauty as yourself must be used to flattery.”
“Get stuffed! There you go again. You must be an accomplished ladies man.” Akira gave him a disgusted look.
The handsome young mage laughed. “A smart man, a gentleman, does not boast of his conquests.”
Akira snorted. “There must be a shortage of smart men and gentlemen. I’ve met few.”
Zane laughed again. “She is quick-witted as well as fair of face!”
“Stop. Enough already. Be silent or ride along someone else.” Akira’s eyes sparked.
“Apologies. Your wish, is my command.” Zane looked forward. He looked not even slightly apologetic. In fact, he looked quite satisfied with himself.
Akira’s annoyance was short-lived. She realized she enjoyed Zane’s company. Certainly, he was full of bullshit flattery, but he reminded her of her brothers, who dearly loved to tease her. It wasn’t his fault he was too handsome for his own good. He was born that way. Akira generously decided not to hold it against him. After all he was a man. She looked sideways at him and smiled.
At that moment, Dimitri looked back and caught the smile. He frowned. Akira noticed. His frown surprised her. She hid her surprise well. If I was a fool, I would think he was jealous. Akira looked at his back. I’m no fool. I know better. Perhaps I’m mistaken and he was frowning at someone behind me. Am I so vain that I imagine his every look backwards is at me?
Akira chastised herself silently. She was glad Zane remained silent. She focused on the sounds around her. The jangle of spurs, the clinking of metal on armor, the beat of hooves lifting dust into the hot afternoon air filled her ears. Occasionally the men behind would break into a bawdy marching song. Their voices were deep and gravelly. Sometimes she could hear the words, sometimes the voices were too far back. Onwards they marched, with few breaks to rest, and always marching double-time. Akira felt sorry for the foot soldiers. She marveled at their endurance. She looked towards the horizon. It shimmered in the afternoon heat. A sip from her canteen eased her dry throat. Through the heat haze, she thought she saw the outline of a city. She shaded her eyes from the sun. It was a city in the distance. No ominous smoke filled the air above the city. The enemy had not yet reached the city gates. Akira hoped Dimitri had time to set in motion the defense plan he had made with the other commanders and warlords. She looked up to see if she could see Sky Spirit. She hadn’t seen the she dragon’s comforting shadow fall on the ground below for some time and distance. The sun had been higher in the sky when she last saw the dragon. Akira tried not to worry. She had an impulse to call out loud, like a mother calling for a child, but quelled the instinct in time. No good would come of worrying the men around her. Besides that, she had her magic amulet. It was the same amulet her mother had worn, the amulet that brought a dragon to her mother’s rescue, the amulet that gave life and legs to giant trees that plucked her mother from a raging river. She took it out from under her tunic. She rubbed it between her fingers and thumb. It grew warm between her fingers. A silent to human ears hum radiated for miles. Sky Spirit had probably just landed and was waiting for the allied armies to catch up. Akira told herself be patient. Spirit needs water too. Akira had taken to shortening the dragon’s name for expediency.
Akira looked at the sky and remembered the storm vulture attack, she, her father, and Sky Stalker had survived not so long ago. The evil creatures would be accompanying the Dark Lord, roaming the skies for the evil one. Akira shuddered. The scar on her shoulder was proof enough of how sharp and dangerous the talons of the flying beasts were. She wondered if it was the Dark Lord who had sent the assassin to kill her, the assassin, who’s poison arrow killed her warrior friend Nels. The Dark Lord would know of the prophecy. He, more than anyone, would want her dead.
Akira was reluctant to believe, was starting to believe, she was the dragon rider of the ancient prophecy, but it all seemed surreal. To those watching her ride her war horse she looked serene and confident. Nothing was farther from the truth. She was trying to make sense of all that had happened. Her dead stepfather wouldn’t have sent the assassin. He wanted Akira alive, to set an example of her, break her spirit, punish her for daring to defy him. Akira was suddenly grateful for her bodyguards. The extra protection that seemed unnecessary at times made her look at Dimitri i
n a new light. It wasn’t that he was coddling a new warrior that had him taking extra precautions, or protecting a female he’d taken a personal interest in. It was because she had a powerful enemy. I’m untested as a mage, and a novice warrior. If I’m not the one, we’re in big trouble. If I’m the one, we stand a chance to defeat evil, send it back to the seven hells from where it escaped. I guess we’ll know when the battle is over. She patted her steed’s neck as if he needed comforting. She realized she was the one needing reassurance. Surely the gods of the Sarcenians in their wisdom could send a sign to their chosen one? A lightning bolt would be good. Is that too much to ask?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The city of Buffalo Horns sat upon a slight rise on the gently rolling great plains. Built like a fortress, the walls that protected it were built mostly of logs. Rocks were not plentiful, and the distance to haul them was prohibitive There were few sections built of stone. The walls primarily served as a wind barrier. Huge storms would blow in sand and dust from the west in the season of the great winds. High temperatures of the summer would bring the storms. Most of the buildings were adobe bricks. All window openings had shutters that could quickly be barred. The city site grew around an underground river that came near the surface of the land. For centuries, animals, large and small migrated to the lush grasses surrounding the city. The lush grasses fed by the fertile dust that dropped on the plains from the great dust storms, watered by the underground river attracted animals. Animals attracted hunters. Hunters made campgrounds. A campground became the seed that grew a village, because farmers followed the hunters, and tradesmen followed the farmers. The village became a city.
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