by Mark Robson
‘It’s a bit more complicated than that, Nolita,’ Kira said, sounding much like a mother explaining a concept to her little child. ‘It’s your destiny to go to Orupee. You can fight it, but you can’t avoid it. None of us can. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t want to be a dragonrider any more than you do. All I ever wanted was to be a hunter for my tribe.’
‘A hunter?’ Nolita asked.
‘Yes. I remember the first time I saw the hunters coming home from the bush. They looked so fine with their faces and bodies painted for the hunt. We all raced to meet them, clapping and cheering. The celebrations made the hunters important – more important than any others in the tribe. That was enough for me.’
Kira’s eyes were distant as she relived her memories.
‘My elders laughed when I began to train the following day; I was barely five season rotations old. I must have looked ridiculous, prowling through the bushes with my pretend spear. I knew they were laughing at me, but I didn’t care. I hounded the hunters with questions whenever I got the chance, and as I grew, so did my determination. I worked harder than anyone else, gradually getting better and better until the tribe had no choice. They had to take me seriously. I was so close when Longfang appeared. Just a few more days and I would have taken my first proper trip into the bush as a hunter for my tribe. My dream died the day Fang came, but I knew I couldn’t refuse him.’
‘Why not? Why didn’t you run and follow your own path?’ Nolita asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
‘Because I couldn’t deny the bond,’ Kira replied, a note of anguish in her resigned statement. ‘The moment Fang spoke to me in my mind, I knew we were meant to be together.’
Nolita’s eyes took on a guilty look.
Kira met her eyes with a knowing gaze. ‘Yes, I could have run like you did,’ she continued. ‘Where has it got you? You were starving, Nolita. If we hadn’t found you, you would have died before another season turned. Denying destiny invites death.’
‘But you’re strong. You know how to hunt. You could’ve—’
‘No,’ Kira said bluntly. ‘I couldn’t. If I’d run then my dream would have died anyway. I wanted to be a hunter, but I couldn’t have hidden Fang from my tribe. A dragon can’t be denied, Nolita. If you’re called, you’re called. You can run, but it won’t do any good. In the end the Creator will turn you back to His purpose.’
‘You believe the Creator decides the bonds? That’s ridiculous!’ Nolita exclaimed.
‘Who else can decide what’s going to happen hundreds of season rotations before the day?’ Kira asked.
‘The King of the Underworld for one,’ Nolita said quickly.
Both Elian and Kira spontaneously burst out laughing.
‘What’s so funny?’ Nolita asked. ‘I’ve heard lots of stories about him. Why shouldn’t he be able to control the bonds?’
Elian regained his composure first.
‘Sorry, Nolita,’ he said. ‘We shouldn’t have laughed, but you just saw Firestorm heal Aurora. Before you woke up, Kira and I had also seen him heal you. The King of the Underworld doesn’t have the power to heal. From what I remember he can’t create and doesn’t know the future. More importantly he can’t read minds. He needs words to be spoken aloud. That’s why Clerics drone on and on about guarding your tongue. The rider’s bond with his dragon is silent until the dragon and rider meet. Your bond with Firestorm is pure.’
‘But what if a beast is corrupt before he meets his rider?’ Nolita persisted, her mouth set in a stubborn line.
‘Weren’t you listening to Elian?’ Kira asked, anger in her voice. ‘Think, Nolita! Dragons can only mind-speak. They don’t say words aloud, so Underworld creatures have nothing to work with. The only way they can turn a dragon to evil is through you.’
Nolita’s eyes widened with shock. ‘Are you suggesting that I . . .’
‘I’m not suggesting anything, Nolita,’ Kira said, raising her hands in denial. ‘I’m just giving you the facts.’
Elian watched with satisfaction as Nolita took a swift glance at the three dragons. Her eyes paused for the slightest instant on Firestorm, and Elian could see that some of the fear had gone. She still looked frightened by the proximity of the dragons, but there was a hint of self-control about her that he had not seen before.
‘Here – have a drink,’ he offered. ‘Water should help you recover. You were unconscious for some time.’
He passed her his water bottle and she gave him a nod of gratitude. To his surprise, however, rather than lift it to her lips she poured the water over her hands. The look of intent concentration on her face as she scrubbed at her palms and nails was fierce. Nolita had taken a step forwards, but he could see she still had a long path ahead if she was ever to be comfortable as a dragonrider.
The distant rumble of war was constant throughout the afternoon, but it was not until dark fell that the true alien nature of this world became visible. From the edge of the woods an endless series of flashing lights on the eastern horizon was visible, marking the fiery explosions of weapons. Elian tried to explain to Nolita what he and Kira had seen during their last visit here, but there was no sign of comprehension in her eyes. The concepts were just beyond belief to one who had not seen them for herself.
The dragons sat guard while the three riders rested. Despite their presence, Nolita went to sleep quickly. Elian and Kira were not long in following her lead.
Chapter Sixteen
The Oracle
‘It’s time,’ Kira announced.
The two simple words brought the terror flooding back. Nolita did not need to look at her hands. She could feel them shaking. With a groan, she slumped to the ground as all strength deserted her legs.
‘I can’t,’ she sobbed. ‘Leave me here. I can’t do it.’
‘Yes you can, Nolita,’ Elian said firmly. ‘We’re not leaving you here, so you can forget that idea right now. You’d be killed for sure. Trust us. We got you here safely, didn’t we? Firestorm won’t leave without you. You’ll be far more comfortable flying with me on Ra’s back than you would in Firestorm’s talons. Those are your options.’
‘I’ll be sick,’ she sniffed, the tears still running down her cheeks and under her chin.
‘If it makes you feel better, then go ahead,’ he replied. ‘I’d prefer you were sick now rather than later, but a little mess won’t hurt me.’
‘Speak for yourself, rider. I don’t take kindly to having human vomit staining my scales,’ Ra said, her tone haughty.
‘Come on, Ra! Helping Firestorm and Nolita was your idea to begin with. Don’t get all high and mighty with me now.’
Ra did not answer, but Elian could feel her disdain for Nolita’s extreme behaviour.
‘Would you feel safer if I tied you into the saddle like before, Nolita?’ he offered. ‘It’s no problem.’
‘I need to wash my hands.’
‘You washed them five minutes ago,’ Kira sighed.
‘Washing helps me feel better,’ Nolita insisted. ‘It gives me a feeling of control. I need to wash my hands.’
‘There’s no time, Nolita. You have to come now.’ Elian felt rotten for using such a commanding tone, but he knew there was no other way. He bent down and grabbed her by her right upper arm. Kira took the other arm and between them they half dragged, half carried her across to where Ra was waiting.
The closer they got to Ra, the more terrified Nolita became. She was shaking like a fish out of water, and gulping great lungfuls of air as panic gripped her. Just as they reached the dawn dragon’s foreleg she retched, heaving the contents of her stomach onto the leafy mulch that covered the ground. Ra flinched slightly as her talons and foot were spattered. Her nearest eye turned to stare bale-fully at Elian as he and Kira continued to drag her forwards.
‘I’ll give you a scrub-down later,’ he promised.
Ra’s response felt distinctly like a ‘humph’, though he did not actually hear anything.
It
was a struggle to get Nolita into the saddle. Once there, Kira made sure the terrified girl was tied on securely before climbing back down and running across to Fang. Elian climbed into position behind Nolita and put his hands around her waist. She immediately clamped her hands over his and gripped them with surprising strength.
‘Don’t fight me, Nolita. If you’re difficult, I’ll push you out of the saddle. You’re tied on so you won’t fall far, but Ra might find flying awkward with you dangling underneath her. Just relax, do what I tell you, and you’ll be fine.’
Nolita did not answer. Instead she retched again. She did not have much left in her stomach, but what little she did have sprayed down Aurora’s side.
‘Delightful!’ Ra said, her disgust washing through Elian’s head in a wave. By chance Elian happened to look across at Firestorm. He would have thought it impossible for a dragon to look embarrassed until he saw Firestorm in that moment. Somehow he managed to convey the emotion in a way that was beyond anything Elian had ever seen in a human. ‘Dawn is almost upon us,’ Ra continued. ‘We must leave now, or wait for another day. It is vital we leave at the instant of dawn. Making such large gateways has stretched my powers to the limit. This one will have to serve as the last for a while. I will need some time to recover before I will be able to form another.’
Elian had not realised Ra’s ability to open the gateways at dawn was in question. He had felt her strain to open the gateways through the bond each time, but had not fully appreciated how draining they were to her.
‘Sit tight, Nolita. Here we go,’ he warned.
Ra shot forward with her customary burst of acceleration into the pre-dawn mist. As she did so, Nolita rocked back hard against Elian, who had anticipated the movement and braced forwards. Her head struck his a glancing blow that left him with a ringing in his ears and stars dancing before his eyes. Somehow, despite the unexpected clash, he hung on tightly to her and maintained their balance through the take-off run.
Fang flanked Ra on one side, with Firestorm on the other, but once airborne the three dragons shifted their relative positions until they were one behind the other. Firestorm led with Fang behind him and Ra bringing up the rear.
A strange tingling began inside Elian’s body as he sensed the moment of dawn approach. At first he thought it was a symptom of his clash of heads with Nolita, but this was not restricted to his head. It thrummed through him with a resonance of power that could only have come through his link to Ra. As the sensation of vitality and strength peaked, Elian felt Ra open the gateway. As she did so, the fizz of energy he had felt the instant before was replaced by a huge sucking vortex that threatened to strip him bare. The few heartbeats before they entered the swirling gateway left Elian under no illusion as to how difficult it was for Ra to create and maintain it long enough for three dragons to pass safely through.
Elian had not experienced these sensations on previous trips through gateways. He had been vaguely aware of Ra’s efforts, but this time the twisting lurch as they entered limbo was combined with the feeling that he was more a part of what was happening. His link with Ra was deepening all the time, he realised. His conclusion triggered mixed emotions. On the one hand, it felt good to be more closely allied to his life partner. On the other he realised he could now expect to feel these terrifying sensations every time they travelled through a gateway.
Emergence was accompanied by a feeling of deep mental fatigue. Elian’s head hurt as if he had concentrated on something for too long, but more so. The ache was sharp and his right hand went automatically to his crown to cradle it. He felt awful, but even as the needle-like spiking inside his brain reached a peak it suddenly ceased altogether.
‘Sorry about that,’ Ra said apologetically. ‘It will take me a while to recover. That was hard work.’
‘Why did it hurt so much?’ Elian asked, grateful that the pain was gone. ‘And what did you do to take my pain away?’
‘I’ve just restricted our link for a while,’ she explained. ‘I’ve still got the pain, but there’s no need for you to share in my recovery. It will be a while before I’m ready to make any more gateways. It was the first one that brought this on. If I hadn’t had to form one so long from the perfect moment of dawn, I could probably have taken us back and forth several more times before needing a rest. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine again in a few days.’
‘A few days!’ he exclaimed, not wanting to think about the pain Ra would have to bear during that time. ‘Can’t Firestorm heal you?’
‘Not this time, Elian. It’s not that sort of hurt. But it was a good thought, thank you.’
‘But you’ll be all right, won’t you?’
‘Yes, Elian. I’ll be fine. There’s no need to worry. I just need some rest, that’s all.’
Nolita gasped. She wanted to close her eyes, but was terrified that she might fall from the dragon’s back. The view was every bit as spectacular as any she had seen in Cemaria. Snow-capped mountains dominated the landscape around them. The long drop below set her heart drumming in her chest and, as she gasped great gulps of air, her head spun with vertigo. The air was crisp and clean, but also freezing cold. A stiff wind was blowing, which cut through her clothing with a cruel bite. She began shivering within a matter of heartbeats after they emerged. It’s all right for Elian and Kira with their fur-lined clothing, she thought bitterly. Elian’s arms were wrapped around her, but they did little to shield her from the icy blast. She was going to freeze if they did not find warmer air or shelter quickly. ‘There – the ridge ahead of us,’ Elian said, his voice loud in her ear.
At first she could not see what he was talking about, but as she played her eyes back and forth across the ridge two things suddenly stood out. First she saw a huge dragon. It was staring at them with bright orange eyes. She shuddered. Its body was black as coal, and lined with vicious-looking ridges and horns that gave it an evil appearance. Near to where the dark beast lurked she could see a large cave entrance high above the floor of the valley. They were heading directly towards it.
As they began their descent, they encountered one of the many dangers inherent in flying over mountainous terrain. The wind over the rocky landscape had stirred up the layers of air, making it rough with turbulence.
‘Don’t worry, Nolita. I’ve got you. Hold on tight to the pommel. Everything will be fine, I promise.’ She could hear the note of fear in Elian’s voice and her heart rate accelerated even further. He had always seemed so calm before. She squeezed the pommel with a death grip and tightened her thighs against the dragon’s sides. For the next few minutes she was sure she was doomed to fall to her death as the dragon bucked and bounced under them like a wild stallion, intent on throwing them off his back.
Elian’s arms tightened around Nolita’s waist and she clung to his promise. Her mind was blank with fear and sparkling points of light danced in her eyes as her rapid panting flooded her body with too much oxygen. The dragons and riders fought a dangerous battle through the swirling air currents all the way down to the cave mouth. Nearing the cliff-face, she caught a glimpse of a young man sitting just inside the entrance with his back against the left-hand wall.
As they approached the ledge in front of the cave, Ra suddenly dropped like a stone, falling rapidly below the level of the entrance. There was a frantic flurry of flapping as Ra dragged them back up through the vicious down-draft. The landing in front of the mouth of the cave felt clumsy and unbalanced. To Nolita’s surprise, Fang and Firestorm fared little better, arriving in a most undignified manner on the ledge next to them.
The young man rose. He was tall and muscled, with a classic V-shaped torso and long blond hair tied back into a ponytail. Elian’s arms had relaxed around her waist after they touched down on the ledge, but she felt them tighten slightly again as the stranger approached. One look at his cold blue eyes, square jaw and thin, curving lips and Nolita sensed Elian’s reaction was one of wariness, and possibly even dislike. The response struck her as unusual. But
this was the least of her worries. Her mind was fixed on one thing – getting down off the beast and as far away from it as possible.
‘At last!’ the young man said, walking over to Aurora’s side and offering a hand to help Nolita down. ‘I’ve been waiting to see the Oracle for three days. The Guardians told me I had to wait for more riders. What kept you?’
‘That’s a long story,’ Elian responded, his voice flat. He slid down and landed neatly next to the stranger. ‘Elian, Aurora’s rider,’ he said, offering his hand in a gesture of greeting.
‘Pell, rider of Whispering Shadow.’ The rider of the night dragon half crushed Elian’s hand with a rock-like grip. ‘We should go in. The Guardians are worried. There’s something wrong with the Oracle.’
‘So Ra tells me.’ If Elian had possessed hackles they would have been up. There was a cold arrogance about Pell that made Elian want to grind his teeth. ‘Pell, meet Nolita.’
Pell inclined his head towards Nolita, but addressed his question to Elian. ‘So why’s she riding with you? Are you together?’ he asked pointedly.
‘No. Nothing like that. It’s complicated, so it can wait. This is Kira, rider of Longfang,’ he added as Kira approached. ‘We’ve travelled together from Racafi.’
‘Good to meet you, Kira,’ he replied, but his greeting held no warmth. ‘Come. We must go in now. Shadow tells me it’s time.’
‘Of course,’ she responded, glancing at Elian as Pell turned to enter the cave mouth without waiting to see if they were following. ‘Lead on,’ she said to his retreating back. There was an edge to Kira’s voice that set danger bells ringing in Elian’s head, but it felt good to know he was not alone in his initial reaction to Pell.
‘Interesting chap,’ Elian muttered.
Nolita appeared to be in shock from their short ride to the ledge. Elian did not blame her for the reaction. It had been frightening for him, and he had experienced several hours of flying in calm air first. He and Kira positioned themselves on either side of Nolita, lending her support as they followed Pell into the yawning chasm.
