Another Dread Dragon appeared heading straight south. Asaph’s great heart skipped several beats as his eyes fell upon its rider; a blonde-haired woman dressed in white. Cirosa. For a moment it seemed her chains still held him and his mind fogged over. If it hadn’t been for his dragon form and cloaking magic, she would have detected him for sure.
She killed my father. Rage made his heart beat strong. He would willingly die killing her. His muscles bunched and it took all his willpower not to leap into the air and attack the woman. If he attacked her now, he would fail his mission and fail Issa.
The harpies and Dromoorai holding the sword fell into line behind her and disappeared from view. Asaph unwedged himself from the wall. He would have to follow them.
A cold, slithering feeling stroked his back, the fine scales of his neck itched. Something was watching him. His eyes darted left and right then rested at the top of the stone steps, the horrid feeling intensifying.
The necromancer’s gaunt grey face matched the rocks so well, Asaph didn’t immediately spot it peering at him. Asaph froze and stared at its sunken, unblinking eyes. It couldn’t see him, surely? He didn’t move but the necromancer was looking straight at him.
‘My, my,’ it said, its voice slithering around Asaph and making him shiver even in his dragon form.
It moved forward, its feet invisible beneath its long black robes, making it seem as if it floated. It paused. Long white hands folded over its chest. Its milky eyes were hungry and utterly unafraid. Dark spots flecked its aura and swiftly grew as it drew upon the Under Flow.
17
Teramides
ISSA stood on the jetty dressed in her dragonscale armour and wrapped in a cloak.
She held the reins of Duskar and Ironclad, and Ehka perched on her shoulder shielding her face from the cold breeze. The sky was brightening with the dawn and the rippling clouds were a beautiful pink.
The merchant ship before her was large, the biggest she’d seen, and the Atalanphian crew scurried this way and that, hefting boxes and barrels as they took the cargo below deck. Others scaled the rigging, adjusting sails and tying ropes. They seemed to know exactly which each of the thousands of ropes did what.
She sighed. She missed Asaph already and imagined him flying into the frigid north. He had to go, and she had to go alone, for now. Beloved Zanufey, I pray for the time when we no longer need to be separated. Together we are stronger.
She turned and saw Iyena, Domenon, Haelgon and a handful of heavily armed elves chatting to each other as they walked towards her along the wooden jetty. Iyena gave Issa a warm smile and took her hand.
‘You will always have a home on Myrn,’ said the seer.
‘Thank you for all that you have done and all you’ve taught me,’ said Issa. ‘I hope that you can manage with all the elves until they find their own place. At least you’ll have your first ever standing army.’
Iyena laughed. ‘You could put it like that. Already Orphinius is deciding where to settle them. If your campaign is successful, he has his eyes on Intolana with a legion of elves at his back.’
‘I want to take all our lost lands back,’ said Issa, setting her jaw. ‘Hmm, where is Freydel?’ She suddenly realised the wizard wasn’t with the others.
‘Oh yes,’ said Iyena. ‘He said to tell you that he’s deeply sorry he can’t make the journey to Davono because he has to return to Carvon to assist the king.’
Issa let out a silent sigh but said nothing. She would be making the journey without even her most trusted friend and tutor. King Navarr was more than capable of managing his own army. Was it an excuse so Freydel could secretly return to Ayeth? The thought was disturbing but she couldn’t know for sure. Perhaps she should give him the benefit of the doubt.
‘And do not worry for the manner of Queen Thora,’ said Iyena. ‘She is an austere woman who demands respect and truthfulness above all else. Qualities which you naturally possess. Speak frankly with her and she will be your loyal friend. Somewhere in there, there’s a warm and loving person despite her coldness.’
‘Thanks for the advice,’ said Issa, wondering about the nature of the queen. She’d gone over and over the things she wanted to say to her, but nothing seemed quite right. She planned to play it by ear.
‘Looks like it’s your time to board.’ Iyena pointed to the captain who was waving at them.
The Atalanphian captain was a short, stocky woman as wide as she was tall, and looked to be made of muscle. Her long hair was braided back and her smooth black skin made it impossible to tell her age. Her wide-brimmed hat shielded her blue eyes from the low sun and her above-knee dark boots rang out on the deck as she paraded back and forth shouting her orders to the crew.
Issa turned and hugged Iyena. The older woman patted her back.
‘Trust in yourself and follow Zanufey’s guidance. That is all the advice I can offer you,’ said Iyena.
‘Please look out for Asaph,’ said Issa.
‘We shall watch for him in our sacred pools,’ the seer replied. ‘Now you look after yourself and remember, trust in spirit.’
Issa nodded and turned to follow the wizards and elves onto the gangplank.
‘Lady Queen Issa! Lady Queen Issa!’ a voice called out.
Issa paused and peered over Duskar’s back, her eyes widening. Velonorian was pelting towards the ship, his pack, bow and quiver bouncing madly on his shoulders. Iyena stepped aside with an amused grin as Velonorian stopped abruptly beside Issa. He bent over, panting to catch his breath.
‘Sorry I’m late, my lady. I couldn’t find my knife,’ he said.
‘Velonorian, why are you here? You can’t come with me, you should be training with Orphinius,’ said Issa.
‘I’ve pledged myself to you, my Queen. I’ll not leave your side. Especially now the Dragon Lord has left you.’
‘He has not left me for long, Velonorian,’ Issa sighed and caught Iyena grinning.
She clearly wasn’t going to get rid of the elf, not that he was really a bother. Now she thought about it, perhaps having him along would make her feel safer. He could help clean weapons and look after the horses.
‘Very well then,’ Issa said, breaking into a smile. ‘Then you can help me by taking Ironclad. He can be your horse until Asaph returns.’
‘Thank you, my Queen,’ Velonorian bowed deeply then grinned up at her, his eyes filled with devotion that was as flattering as it was unsettling.
‘Issa,’ said Issa, passing him the reins.
‘My Queen Issa,’ Velonorian said, standing tall and proud. He took Ironclad’s reins as if he’d been given a grand task.
‘Horses below,’ the captain hollered as they stepped onto the deck.
Ehka hopped off her shoulder onto the railings to watch the sailors work. Several young deckhands came to take the horses’ reins. Duskar tossed his head, making the boy who reached for him pause.
‘It’s all right, Duskar,’ she patted his neck. ‘He’s not too fond of boats. When he was a foal, the ship he was on sank.’
The sailor swallowed, nodded and pulled on the reins but Duskar planted his feet firmly. Issa sighed. It was going to be a long journey for him if he already hated the ship. Speaking softly, she rubbed his neck and looked into his big brown eyes. Using the Flow, she focused on calming his nerves but he still tossed his head.
‘I’ll take him,’ said Velonorian, and the sailor happily passed him the reins.
The elf stood close to Duskar and stroked his neck whilst whispering words in Elven. Duskar immediately stopped tossing his head and stood calmer.
Velonorian smiled at her. ‘It is our way with horses.’
Issa returned the smile. ‘You’re the only person other than me able to calm him.’
He began to lead the horses away but Duskar stopped and turned to look at her. ‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘You can trust him and I’ll be right on board with you. You’ll have a nosebag of oats if you follow him.’ This seemed to satisfy the hors
e and he followed Ironclad down below.
‘Miss?’ said a young deck-hand with freckles scattered across his nose. ‘I’ll take you to your cabin.’
She followed him down one flight of narrow stairs and along a corridor of closed doors. He opened one of them and passed her her saddlebags.
‘Thank you,’ she said. He nodded and turned away.
Her cabin was tiny with a short, hard bed, a single shelf, a privy bucket and a bowl and jug of water for washing. It was all she needed and she squeezed inside and dumped her bags on the bed. A small porthole looked out across the ocean. She would be several days at sea, probably a week, but despite being cramped and not able to do anything, she liked sailing and being on the open ocean. It would give her a chance to relax, think and plan.
Not wanting to stay in her room, she went back up onto the top deck just as they were casting off from the jetty. Iyena still stood there and waved at her. Issa waved back. Will I ever see Myrn again? Celene was lost and gone and her Little Kammy was crawling with Maphraxies. It struck her that, since most ships sailed from Myrn to Davono, her mother must have made this same journey, decades ago. Knowing she travelled in her parent’s footsteps brought tears to her eyes. Her parents had never returned to Myrn. Yet, a determined voice within said.
Keeping out of the way of the busy sailors, she made her way to the prow of the boat. The sails filled with air then became slack and filled with air again as the captain turned the ship through the wind towards Davono. Even Issa could tell it would be a long journey against this wind.
‘Want a few lessons in Weather Magic?’ asked Haelgon, coming to stand beside her.
She looked up at the tall Atalanphian wizard and smiled. ‘Sure.’
‘All right. Now, we can’t change the direction of the wind, at least not for long and not without abusing the natural state of things,’ he explained. ‘Always we must try to work with, rather than against, the forces of nature. It’s far less taxing too. So, with the wind coming almost straight from the direction we want to travel in, you want to use the Flow to part the wind so it flows past on either side, then swirls around and back into the sails, much like a heart shape.’
Issa frowned, trying to imagine what he was saying.
‘Think of the flow of wind moving like water,’ he said. ‘Just like this ship is ploughing through the waves and parting it. We need to divide the wind so that it diverts around the ship, then bring that same wind forwards to push into the sails.’
‘I think I get it.’ Issa frowned.
‘This is the hardest so if you can master this one, you can master all weather magic. Now, watch me in the Flow.’
She nodded and entered the Flow, seeing the wizard’s buzzing, rainbow-coloured aura. He pointed forwards and she could see the wind rushing around them. It was a pale grey-blue. The ship was a fuzzy brown when she focused on it. Haelgon drew the Flow to him and lifted his arms.
‘Part Wind,’ he commanded. At his words, the wind divided into two streams and flowed past them. She felt the ship lurch a little at the sudden drop in resistance.
‘Wind Forwards,’ said Haelgon making a circular motion with his hands. The wind circled behind them and then came forwards. The ship tilted as the recircling wind filled the sails fully. The sailors cheered and the captain adjusted their course accordingly. Soon the ship’s sails were straining and the sea-water surged against the prow.
‘It really works’ She laughed with delight.
Haelgon grinned, his blue eyes becoming even brighter as he used the Flow. ‘Why don’t you focus on parting the wind, and I’ll work on circling it?’
She looked into the Flow and mirrored what Haelgon had just done. The wind parted at her request and she laughed at how easy it was. She revelled in the rush of air and magic around her. The ship was really ploughing through the waves now and already they had lost sight of Myrn. She could just see the captain at the helm, a huge grin on the woman’s face.
Someone else entered the Flow, startling her. She blinked and saw Domenon standing behind them. In the Flow, his powerful aura flared all colours.
‘Wave Forward,’ he commanded.
The Flow beneath her feet became deep blue and undulating. Raucous laughter and cheering made her look outside the Flow. The sailors up the rigging were laughing and pointing. She noticed then how the ship was leaning forwards and gasped when she realised they were riding a huge surge in the ocean.
Domenon grinned at her and she smiled back.
‘If you wizards keep this up, we’ll be there in days rather than weeks!’ Laughed a sailor hanging off a rope thicker than his arm. He wasn’t wrong, they were literally surging through the sea.
‘I hope Baelthrom won’t detect this,’ Issa said, the thought frightening her.
Domenon shrugged. ‘The sooner we get to Davono the better. He will hunt your orb and you anyway. And besides, wizards using weather magic aboard ships is a common thing and also signals a dangerous target to attack.’
Issa allowed herself to relax.
On the evening of the fourth day, the sailors spied Davono’s coast long before Issa could see anything and their excited hollers rang out across the ship. Issa, Haelgon and Domenon grinned at each other, each of them had eyes that were luminous from using the Flow.
‘You can’t beat three weather wizards,’ said Haelgon.
Soon after the hulk of green land slipped into view, they spied the major port city, Teramides. The wizards calmed their weather magic and the ship slowed to an easy pace. Issa watched the huge port loom ahead. Even though it was late in the day, merchant ships, fishing boats, and dinghies were coming and going through the narrow harbour entrance. She had never seen so many ships. It was so busy that they had to queue behind a couple of smaller Frayonesse galleons whilst the harbour master directed them to suitable jetties. Ehka landed on the railing beside her to watch their approach.
Endless rows of warehouses and shops circled the harbour which disappeared into the distance. A hill rose beyond it, covered in houses that ranged from hobbles and shacks to terraces, and then palaces with turrets. All were constructed out of the same pale red stone. The countless streets were paved with dark grey cobbles along which donkeys and horses pulled carts and carriages.
A small white temple stood to the west of town, its spire poking up through the red houses. The site of any temple now left Issa feeling uncomfortable, bordering on angry. Perhaps this one was different, its priestesses diligently serving the spiritual needs of the people, but she doubted it. More like they just drained their hard earned money.
To the north, at the furthest and highest point of the city, was an enormous palace. It was long and thin and marked at points with round turrets. It was huge and seemed to stretch across the entire hill, its great red walls circling down around the city, hugging it like two arms.
Within the hour, the gangplank was down and they were disembarking. Ehka had disappeared off on his own to inspect the city. Duskar was so keen to get off the ship Issa had to hold his halter firmly. Velonorian followed with a more placid Ironclad. The young elf gawped at the city with his mouth open. Every now and then he would murmur “wow” making her grin.
‘Have you never seen the world outside of the Land of Mists?’ asked Issa. The very thought was shocking. The younger elves would know nothing of the real world.
‘No, my Lady Issa. It’s incredible,’ he said.
‘Well, it’s infinitely more dangerous than anywhere you’ve been before,’ said Domenon as he squeezed past them. He gave a cautionary glance at Issa. ‘This is the busiest port in the Free World, and all sorts disembark here. I’d keep your weapons and your wits about you at all times.’
Issa nodded but found the thought of danger exciting.
‘It’s too late to make it to Rebben so we shall stay at the palace, courtesy of Duke Beddan,’ said Domenon. ‘It is possible the queen is already there since she will have received message of our plans, so be prepared. Now
follow me.’
Their unusual band of wizards and elves caused people to stop and stare. Domenon received several nods of respect; being advisor to the queen, he was well known in Davono. The Davonians tended to be shorter than Domenon but stockier. The men were Issa’s height and the women were smaller. Their hair was often black, and their skin tanned and olive. Their quick, dark eyes seemed to miss nothing and everyone wore some kind of weapon whether it be dagger, sword or crossbow.
Amongst them milled dwarves, not too many but more than she had ever seen in Carvon. Their bearded faces and hard eyes stared long at the elven warriors. The elves paid no one any attention and talked only amongst themselves. Sometimes Domenon would say something in elven to them but Issa did not understand what.
Domenon lifted his hand and beckoned to a standing of horse-drawn carriages waiting for passengers on the other side of the road. The carriages were black and decorated with gold painted swirls along the rims. Their wheels were the biggest she had ever seen and nearly as tall as she was. The drivers were dressed in tall black hats and coats with tails that came past their knees. They tapped the horses’ rumps with their long whips and moved the carriages over to them. One driver jumped off and tied Duskar and Ironclad’s reins to the iron loop on the back. He then opened the ornate wooden doors for them to embark.
Issa climbed in excited, she had never been in a carriage before. Velonorian tried to climb in after her but Domenon grasped his shoulder. ‘No, we need to chat. If you don’t mind, please go with Haelgon or the elves.’ He pointed at the others climbing into their carriages. Velonorian shrugged and went to the elves.
Domenon climbed in and shut the door. Issa gave him a questioning look but the man said nothing. His dark grey eyes simply watched her as the carriage clattered along the cobbles.
‘What is it?’ she asked, quite used to his odd manner. ‘Are you going to apologise for throwing me aside? For one who wants to chat, you don’t have much to say.’
Dragons of the Dawn Bringer: The Goddess Prophecies Fantasy Series Book 5 Page 21
