Shadow

by Mark Robson

  Day by day Pell’s strength improved until he regained enough stamina to manage longer spells in the air. By the time they came within sight of the home range of the night dragons, he had lost all sense of time. They might have been travelling six days or sixty for all he could remember. The journey was a blur of mounting and dismounting, frantic flying and breathless rest stops.

  Shadow was nearly as tired as he was. He could feel her fatigue through their bond. She had pushed herself to the limit. But the weather had been kind -the prevailing westerly wind had aided them all the way and they had gained back the entire day they had lost after his fall. So long as they secured the orb quickly and set a steady pace on the return journey, they should make it within the fortnight.

  For the first time since he had left Elian and the others, Pell suddenly wondered what he would do if he could not find the orb. What if it was not at the enclave, but in some distant corner of the world? He shook off the thought. The dying Oracle had given them the rhyme to guide their path to the orbs:

  Release the dark orb – death brings me life.

  Take brave ones’ counsel, ’ware ye the knife.

  Exercise caution, stay pure and heed,

  Yield unto justice: truth will succeed.

  The meaning of his verse seemed clear. The ‘dark orb’ must be the orb of the night dragons. He was to seek the counsel of the ‘brave ones’. Who could that be, if not the leaders of the night dragon enclave? He felt sure the verse did not refer to anyone from the day dragon enclave, no matter what the other riders had said. He was supposed to come here. He could feel it. He was following his destiny.

  The mountains loomed ahead of them; purple-grey with majestic white caps. They were taller and altogether more imposing than the mountains of central Orupee. Excitement warred with nervousness within Pell’s chest as they drew ever closer. Shadow turned slightly south towards the pass they would need to enter to reach the enclave.

  ‘The watch dragons have seen us,’ she announced.

  ‘Already?’ Pell said, more than a little surprised. ‘But we’re still leagues away!’

  ‘They are ever vigilant. Segun would have them severely punished if they are found to not be so.’

  Ah, yes! Segun, he thought to himself. Self-styled, yet accepted, leader of the night dragon riders. Just the thought of him sent a shiver down Pell’s spine that was half fear, half excitement. The man had a reputation for being both brilliant and ruthless. The senior riders were all loyal to him. He had long since ejected from the inner ring of power any who disagreed with his thinking. He was not a man to cross. Well I’ve no intention of annoying him, Pell thought. I’m here to impress . . . and to find the orb, of course.

  Squinting upwards, he could just make out the watch dragons sitting on rocky outcrops high up on the shoulders of the mountains that towered into the sky on both sides of the pass. Quite why Segun felt it necessary to guard the passes into the range, Pell could not begin to imagine. There was no power in Areth strong enough to assault the stronghold of the night dragons, except maybe the entire enclave of day dragons – but that would never happen. The day dragons were too wound up in their sense of nobility to attempt a sneak attack. If they ever did challenge the night dragons, they would do so openly.

  As Shadow drew parallel, the two dragons launched, stooping like giant falcons from above. Pell could sense Shadow’s nonchalance through the bond, so he felt no real concern as the two dragons dived towards them in a coordinated mock attack.

  ‘Ignore them. They’re just showing off,’ Shadow said, her tone derisive. ‘They are fools. To attack like that for real would invite disaster. They have generated too much momentum to change their attack path now. A simple tight turn would throw their little game into chaos.’

  ‘Do it then!’ Pell urged.

  ‘No. Don’t react. Just keep looking forwards.’

  The two watch dragons whistled past them, each giving a bellowing roar as it dived with talons extended. Shadow continued to fly ahead, not deviating so much as a hair’s-width from her chosen course. Pell did as he was told and kept his head and eyes straight ahead, though his stomach leaped at the sudden noise of the great dragon voices. He felt the disturbance of their passage in the air around him. The dragons had missed them by no more than a few spans.

  ‘Well done,’ Shadow said, pleased. ‘Keep ignoring them. It’s the best response to such nonsense.’

  ‘But why didn’t you make fools of them?’ Pell asked, gritting his teeth with frustration at having to let these dragonriders literally fly rings around them. Both watch dragons had now zoomed back to position themselves on either side of Shadow.

  ‘Because I did not wish to be responsible for the unnecessary deaths of my fellow night dragons and their riders,’ Shadow responded. ‘What they just did was both ridiculous and very dangerous. One wrong move by either could have seen them crash into each other. At that speed and height a collision could have proved fatal for both the dragons and their riders. Don’t worry. I imagine Segun and his dragon, Widewing, will be as unimpressed with their idiotic behaviour as I am. They do not suffer fools gladly.’

  Shadow was right, Pell realised. But knowing this did not make ignoring the two watch riders any easier. His competitive spirit yearned to demonstrate that he and Shadow were more than a match for them. If he had not been under time pressure to present his request to Segun, he might have pushed Shadow into showing the two watch dragons and their riders some real flying skill. But the meeting with Segun was far more important. When Segun and his council of senior riders discovered that Pell and Shadow were here as part of the Great Quest, everything would change. His status would rise. If he succeeded in the Quest, he might even be invited to join the senior council.

  Pell quashed any thoughts about reacting to the watch riders and kept his focus forwards. The watch dragons flanked them for a while, but soon lost interest and turned back to retake their places on the watch posts.

  Shadow powered up the pass and into the maze of mountains beyond. It was well that she knew the range intimately, for Pell realised it would be easy to get lost amongst the peaks. He had not come here often during the two season rotations since he and Shadow had met, but his previous visits had failed to give him any sense of familiarity with the route through the valleys.

  It was theoretically possible to enter the mountains at any point, but there were only three main routes into the heart of the range that did not require risking the dangerously thin air of high altitude flying. Dragons could enter over the peaks, but it was not without risk, and several foolhardy riders had died attempting it. This made the night dragon enclave the most difficult of the four enclaves to access, but the easiest to defend.

  They dropped down the other side of the pass into a great valley that ran northwest to southeast, and Shadow made a gentle turn to the right. The sheer scale of his surroundings made Pell feel very small and fragile, and for a moment he understood what it might feel like to be a fly weaving through a crowd of humans armed with swatters. This vulnerability did not generate fear, rather an edginess that heightened his awareness.

  Flying in the vicinity of such huge mountains was never without danger. Even in fair weather there were numerous traps for the unwary. Valleys funnelled wind, accelerating the air and creating swirling eddies in the most unexpected places. Then there were vicious up- and down-drafts that could be caused by any number of triggers. Under certain conditions, the air crossing the mountains could even react in such a way that severe air currents, like great waves, could be experienced up to one hundred leagues away. As they turned up that first major valley, Pell wound safety straps around his wrists and checked that his feet were securely fixed in the stirrups.

  The next hour was a medley of bumps and stomach-lurching drops as Shadow navigated through the valleys and inner passes. The final, tight V-shaped valley was particularly treacherous. Air currents swirled, whistling around the craggy cliff walls and howling over hollow
s with the voice of an invisible giant.

  As they rounded the final bend he saw the most unforgettable view in this mountain range. The valley widened out into a bowl-shaped dead end. The sheer cliff at the end was riddled with caves. Many were natural in origin, though many more had been carved out to make new habitations for the numerous night dragons. This was the home of the enclave.

  Black dragons perched on ledges and rocky outcrops. The vast grey wall looked as if a swarm of giant rock-worms had made their homes there. So many great black openings dotted the face of the cliff that Pell wondered again why the mountainside had not collapsed.

  Pell’s heart began to accelerate as Shadow proceeded without hesitation to one of the largest caves, high up the mountainside.

  This is it, Pell thought, unable to contain his excitement as they approached the gaping maw of the cave. Our time is here at last.

  Chapter Seven

  Segun

  ‘The Great Quest, you say?’ the rider asked. ‘Yes, Segun will want to see you immediately. Come. Follow me and I’ll lead you to him. What was your name again?’

  ‘Pell. Rider of Whispering Shadow,’ Pell replied, keeping his voice calm and steady.

  The rider’s response was exactly as Pell had imagined. The hint of excitement in the man’s voice, the urgency with which he was taking Pell to meet Segun – everything was exactly as it should be. So why did he suddenly have a bad feeling brewing in his stomach?

  ‘What’s the matter, Pell? Is everything all right?’

  ‘Yes. Everything’s fine, Shadow,’ he replied. ‘I’m probably just a bit nervous about meeting Segun.’

  ‘You’ll be fine, Pell. You’re my rider. Together we make as formidable a partnership as any in the night dragon enclave. You have nothing to fear. Be strong. I’m told Segun respects strength.’

  ‘Normally that wouldn’t be a problem, but it’s hard to imagine being strong when I’m still sore from my fall.’

  ‘You have recovered quickly,’ Shadow responded without pause. ‘Many would have taken weeks before riding again after such injuries. You were on my back the next day. You are strong, Pell. Do not forget that in Segun’s presence. I am being ushered out of the cave-mouth now. I shall have the honour of sitting with Widewing and the other senior dragons while you meet with Segun, but I’ll be out of range of your thoughts. Good luck, dragonrider. Do not fear. We will find success together. I feel it.’

  Shadow’s words were warming, but Pell could not totally shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. By the time he reached the solid wooden door set into a small stone archway in the right-hand wall of the cave, he realised that any second thoughts were irrelevant now. He had come too far to turn back.

  The rider opened the door and led the way through. Pell had to stoop under the arch. On the other side was a tunnel, lit by a line of torches that were visible for some distance. The walls were rough and unfinished, the subterranean corridor hewn into a functional walkway. Thick wooden supports shored up the roof at regular intervals, setting Pell to wondering about the stability of the caves. The more his mind questioned, the more he imagined the weight of the mountain pressing down above him. If the roof collapsed, he would be squashed flat in a heartbeat. The knowledge made him feel tiny and fragile, like a bug. It was not a pleasant sensation.

  Although Pell could walk upright along the passageway, he had to duck under the support stays to avoid hitting his head on the crossbeams. They passed several doors along the passageway, but his guide did not so much as glance at them. When they rounded the bend, the end of the corridor became apparent. The door at the far end was no different from the others, save for an image of a black night dragon, forged from metal and inset into the wood.

  The rider rapped hard on the door with his knuckles and then opened it without waiting for a response.

  ‘What is it, Murvan? I told you we were not to be disturbed.’

  The voice was hard as granite, and almost as rough.

  ‘A rider named Pell wishes an audience, my Lord. Claims he’s here on the Great Quest.’

  There was a brief silence, followed by some rapid, excited muttering that Pell could not make out. ‘My Lord?’ he thought. He called Segun ‘my Lord’, but nobility’s never been recognised amongst dragonriders! Besides, Segun came from a humble farming family. There’s something strange going on here.

  ‘Show him in then, Murvan. And prepare quarters and escorts for him as we discussed.’

  The voice, now commanding, held no apology. Segun, it appeared, felt himself above the need for politeness. It was also clear that Pell was expected. That was something of a surprise. How had they known he was coming?

  Pell was ushered forwards through the door and into the chamber beyond. The interior was as intimidating as Segun’s voice: hard lines, bleak furnishing and a huge, stylised night dragon motif, black as the dead of night, adorning each wall.

  A large rectangular table dominated the centre of the chamber. Six men sat at the table, but there was no mistaking Segun. There was an undeniable aura of charisma and leadership about him. Even seated, Pell could tell he was taller than average. His face was clean-shaven, with strong features and a noticeable cleft in his chin. Dark hair, cropped short, showed hints of grey at the temples, but all of these details were incidental compared to his eyes. Segun possessed pale blue eyes, the like of which Pell had never seen before. Shadowed by heavy black brows, they burned out of Segun’s head with the icy power of a glacier.

  ‘Welcome, Pell, rider of . . .’

  ‘Whispering Shadow,’ Pell provided, deliberately not adding ‘my Lord’, but unsure exactly how to address Segun.

  ‘Of course,’ Segun replied, his voice suddenly much smoother. ‘From the Steppes of Central Isaa. You met with Shadow around two season rotations ago if memory serves.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Good. So what can I do for you, Pell? You claim you’re here on the Great Quest.’ Segun stared unblinking at Pell as he waited for a response.

  It was unnerving to be the focus of such intense concentration. Pell’s mouth went dry and he ran his tongue around the inside of his lips, searching for moisture as his tongue started to swell. The other five riders around the table were all watching him with nearly as much fervour as Segun. If he was ever going to join them he knew he had to put in the performance of his life.

  ‘That’s right,’ Pell replied slowly. ‘I’ve come to ask your help – the help of you all. I need to find the night dragon orb. The Oracle gave us cryptic instructions. Those referring to the night dragon orb have led me here to you.’

  ‘“Gave us instructions”? Of course, there are always others involved in the Great Quest,’ Segun said thoughtfully, glancing around pointedly at his inner council of riders. ‘Please, tell us more. We have been aware for some time that the Oracle’s strength is failing. Despite this, it’s been a long time since anyone attempted the Great Quest. You must be an exceptional group of riders to be given such a huge responsibility. The Oracle clearly thinks very highly of you to place its existence in your hands.’

  Pell’s chest swelled with pride at the compliments. All doubts and misgivings about this meeting melted in that instant. He felt the tension drain from his muscles and he began, hesitantly at first, but then with growing confidence, to tell them about his quest.

  First he told what he knew of the other riders, his first impressions of each of their characters and what little he knew of their backgrounds. The encounter with the Oracle he described in great detail, but then he skimmed through the battle with the dragonhunters and his decision to pursue the night dragon orb alone, rather than risk unnecessary conflict by going with the others to the day dragon enclave. Day and night dragons had teetered on the brink of open conflict for centuries. Only the influence of the Oracle had prevented what many felt was an inevitable confrontation. Pell felt confident that his decision would not be interpreted as cowardice but as a sensible precaution to a
void becoming a catalyst for full-scale war. He said nothing about his fall, but gave a detailed account of the antics of the watch dragons at the Eastern Pass.

  Segun and his inner council sat in silence throughout his account, listening most attentively to every word. When he finished, he was gratified to see Segun lean close to those on either side of him and he watched as they whispered back and forth with serious faces. The importance of his mission was not lost on them.

  ‘As I said at the beginning, I’m here to ask your aid,’ Pell added after a moment. ‘Can you help me find the night dragon orb?’

  Segun turned to face him, clearly irritated at the interruption to his whispered conference, but holding his anger in check. For a moment, Pell felt as strong and powerful as Shadow had told him he was.

  ‘Tell me the rhyme again. The one you say relates to the night dragon orb,’ Segun ordered.

  ‘Very well,’ Pell replied, slightly taken aback by the underlying aggression in Segun’s voice. ‘Release the dark orb – death brings me life. Take brave ones’ counsel, ’ware ye the knife. Exercise caution, stay pure and heed, Yield unto justice: truth will succeed.’

  Segun looked around at the other riders. Each nodded as Segun looked at them.

  ‘And you’re sure there’s nothing else you can tell me about your quest, or the other riders?’ the night dragon leader asked, his piercing eyes probing Pell’s once more.

  ‘I’m sure. I’ve told you everything I know.’

  ‘Then I must thank you, Pell. You have done the Night Dragon Council a great service by bringing this information to us today. We’ve long held that the Oracle’s power over dragonkind has become an unnecessary burden. Now you’ve presented us with the perfect opportunity to rid the world of its influence for good. The Oracle’s demise will finally allow dragons and their riders to assume their natural place in society – at its head.’