by Jordan Baker
"A little excessive, perhaps," Storm rumbled as Crag rolled over and slunk away, beaten far more quickly and violently than he had imagined.
"Who is next?" Vale asked, and it seemed that she was not in a particularly pleasant mood.
Borrican followed Ariana into the cavern, no longer needing her reassurance, for it was obvious that Vale was not threatened at all. He was surprised that the other three drakes seemed no less eager to fight despite their friend having been beaten so easily, and he almost wished he could stay and watch Vale beat some sense into them.
"I suppose it's a dragon thing," Borrican commented to Ariana. "And I should understand it, but I really don't."
"It is fairly simple, Borrican. They want to mate," Ariana said. "Dragons call it bonding because of the bond that occurs, but it seems that those drakes are really no different than any other young males."
"I suppose that's true," Borrican said. "I guess I was just raised differently."
"You were raised at court, as a prince, to know your graces and manners," Ariana said. "Although, to my recollection you were never particularly good at such things. It seems the only difference between a young man and a young dragon is the claws and the scales."
"That's nonsense, Ariana," Borrican said. "I never challenged you to a fight."
"You teased me and acted like a fool most of the time," she told him. "If I had told you I would bed you if you lost a fight to me, do you think you wouldn't have handed me a cudgel and invite me to smack you with it?"
"All right, you might have a point," Borrican admitted. "Still, a little gentle teasing is certainly preferable to smashing each other into the ground, don't you think? "
Ariana shook her head at his ridiculous attempt at humor, though she smiled inwardly about how, no matter how irritating he could be, it was comforting in a way that Borrican was still himself, even at the most difficult of times. Still, she was not about to encourage him, or he would likely become entirely insufferable, so she sent him an irritated thought and walked a little faster, moving deeper into the cavern.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
"No, Borrican," Ariana said. "Why would you think that?"
"Is it because I wanted to defend Vale?"
"What?" Ariana stopped and turned to look at him.
"Oh," Borrican stopped as well. "I mean, I just... Well, is that all right?"
"It's fine, Borrican," she said, then she continued walking down the tunnel.
"It's just a bit strange, you know," he said. "I feel protective of you both."
"Well, it's a strange situation," Ariana replied as they walked into the large inner chamber. "And it makes sense. You may be bonded to me, but Vale and I are bonded to each other, which should not even be possible, so you are bonded through me. What's more, Borrican Akandar, dragon of the Akandra, you are also the reason for all of these."
Ariana pointed to the many eggs that filled the cavern.
"Yes, well, it wasn't my fault, really," Borrican stammered. "I mean, I wasn't myself. I nearly went mad and Vale tried to save me. You know this."
"Yes, I know," Ariana said. "I can still give you a difficult time about it, can't I?
"I don't see that I have much choice in the matter," he replied.
"There was a time when I might have been jealous about such a thing, but the ways of dragons are different, and even then there are things that are happening in this world that are beyond questioning." Ariana crouched down and touched one of the eggs, caressing it with the palm of her hand, and Borrican felt his passion for her stir at the sense of nurture that emanated from her thoughts, but he put those feelings aside, for he sensed that something was also wrong, and it occurred to him that there being so many dragon eggs might be a problem.
"What if there are no queens who will bond the drakes that are born when they come of age?" he wondered.
"That is something Vale and her mother are both concerned about," Ariana said. "There is something else, Borrican. Vale has been trying to hide it from her thoughts, but I can tell she is worried about her clutch. She has been keeping them hot with her fire, and I can tell that it is very tiring for her, so perhaps once she has taken those drakes as vassals they will be able to help her with it. That seems to be her intention, and I'm glad of it, for they were getting a little unruly."
"I never thought of that," Borrican said. "It would take a whole lot of dragonfire to warm this many eggs."
"That and without the fear of the big black and gold dragon to keep them in line, Vale might have been worried that the drakes might cause trouble," Ariana said. "I think she is nervous about us leaving, but even with the bond between us, if she chooses not to share her thoughts, then I can only tell how she is feeling, and not much more than that."
"Well, with the drakes and Vana helping her, she should be all right," Borrican said.
"Did the elders offer any help?" Ariana asked.
"No, they said they would not command the dragons to help, but if we could convince some they would not stand in our way, which means nothing. Without the elders and the queens of the dragon lines, most of the dragons are more interested in fighting amongst themselves or floating around in the flows than anything else. It looks like it is just the two of us."
"And Storm," Ariana said.
"Storm will come?"
"I think he is willing," Ariana replied. "And I can command him. Don't forget, he is my vassal."
"Please try not to remind me," Borrican said.
"Come," Ariana said. "Vale has finished with the drakes.
"You aren't planning on bonding him, are you?" Borrican asked as he followed her back toward the entrance of the cavern. Ariana smiled and shrugged.
"You never know, it might be necessary at some point," she teased. "But not likely. He is also Vale's vassal, though I suppose I will feel it just the same were she to bond with him, or any other dragon for that matter."
"That is something I really wish you had not told me," Borrican said.
"Did you not just say that you feel protective of Vale?" Ariana asked.
"Well yes," he said.
"Do you find her attractive? Did you enjoy the many attempts at bonding with her?" Ariana asked, needling him a little more. "You don't have to answer that, Borrican, I can tell your feelings. You care for her. I understand that. So do I."
"Then why are you giving me such a difficult time?" Borrican asked.
"Maybe I am just returning the favor for your teasing me whenever you would visit the palace," she said.
"Really? That's why?
"Maybe," Ariana said. "Or maybe I'm a little jealous."
Borrican sighed, and he felt almost dizzy at the frustration of trying to figure out what she was thinking.
"I always felt protective of you even before we, uh, bonded, you know," he said, his words sounding far less eloquent than he intended.
"I know," Ariana replied with a smile and sent him a feeling of reassurance. "I felt the same about you."
They emerged from the cavern to find Vale licking blood from one of her claws with the four drakes sitting in a row in front of her, like a group of obedient hounds. They were all a little worse for wear, but they all appeared to be pleased with themselves. Vale turned to look at Borrican and Ariana, and they could both see the tiredness in her eyes, not from battling a handful of drakes, but a deeper exhaustion, and it was clear that caring for the clutch was taking its toll.
"You will fly for Kandara soon?" Vale asked.
"Yes," Ariana said. "We would stay to help you, but we must return to our lands."
"Of course," Vale said, and she shifted form. "You will both be missed."
She embraced Ariana first, then Borrican, who blushed a little, then she looked over at the drakes.
"I will be fine with my new vassals to help with things," she said.
"Do you mind if I borrow Storm?" Ariana asked, and Vale smiled.
"You claimed him, he is yours," she replied.
"I am not some kind of possession," Storm rumbled. "I am a vassal, and I am pleased to oblige."
"Storm," Vale said, looking up at him. "You speak far more politely than these drakes. You make them seem like wildlings."
"I have been teaching him manners," Ariana whispered.
"I have excellent hearing," Storm interjected, but Vale ignored him and looked over at the drakes she had claimed.
"Perhaps it is time the four of you learned a little respect for your queen," she said.
"Whatever you say, Vale," Raz replied, with no small amount of sarcasm, and Kiva knocked him aside and bowed his head.
"As you wish," he said, then he turned and gave the other drakes a sly look. "I will be the first to bond with our queen."
Vale rolled her eyes and turned back to Ariana and Borrican.
"May you both find clear skies," she said. "I hope to see you again soon."
"You as well," Ariana said, then she walked over to Storm, who hopped down from his perch upon the rocks and let her climb upon his neck.
Borrican smiled at Vale.
"Be well, Vale," he said, then he shifted back to his dragon form and glared at the drakes, with smoke and fire dripping from his mouth. "Serve your queen as proper vassals, or I will hear about it."
The four drakes shifted uneasily on their feet, but they glared right back at him.
"Clear skies, Akandar," Crag said, with a nod. "May your fire burn true."
Borrican gave him a respectful nod, for he was no longer a drake but a young dragon, then he leapt into the air. With several beats of his powerful wings, he rose up into the sky and took flight, catching the wind with Ariana and Storm not far behind him. They flew across the hot flows of molten rock, through the smoke and ash filled air and, after a short while they came upon the village where Ariana and her companions had first encountered the woman, Dala and her people. The village was empty, save for a few of the young and the very old, who watched in awe as the two dragons soared down from high above and snatched two large bundles from the ground with their powerful clawed feet. They were even more surprised to see a young woman with hair the color of fire and glittering jewels across her skin and face riding on the back of one of the great beasts, and when she smiled at them, the fear and distrust they had known for generations began to give way to a newfound wonderment.
CHAPTER FIVE
A slab of stone slowly slid to the side, knocking loose dirt and rocks beneath the grass and mud covered mound among the trees. From a dark passageway, Brian slowly walked out, with his axes ready, scanning the surroundings, looking for enemies. He knelt down and touched the ground, then he closed his eyes and felt the earth, and he could tell that all was quiet for a great distance. He turned and nodded to Fergus, who stood waiting with young Diller behind him, along with all the people who had escaped White Falls, and they slowly began to emerge from the dusty underground tunnel.
"There is nothing nearby except a small bevy of deer and a few smaller animals," Brian said as he rose to his feet and walked over to where the people were quietly filing out of the tunnel.
"Some deer might make for good hunting," Fergus said. "We've supplies enough, but I've a recipe for venison you'd die ta' eat." His enthusiastic expression turned to a frown, having reminded himself that he would not be able to stray too far from the stone passageways or he might be the one to fall over dead. At first, Fergus had not been pleased when Brian had explained to him why the wound he had received had healed, and how he was only alive thanks to the spirits of the keep, but after thinking it over, Fergus decided he preferred his current situation to the alternative, though it would take some getting used to. The big man sighed then clapped Diller on the shoulder and smiled at him. "Mayhaps yer ol' brother'll teach ye how to fell a deer with that bow of yours, Diller."
Diller smiled and held up the bow he carried that was almost as tall as he was, clearly excited by the idea, but Brian shook his head and rested his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"One of the lads will have to take you hunting, Diller," he said. "I have some things I must do." Brian turned to Fergus. "You should be safe here, but there are enough places in the tunnels where everyone can hole up in case of trouble. I would gather firewood and any food you can, in case a large force happens this way."
"Can't we jes' hoof ourselves to another place should this one end up crawlin' with them lizards?"
"You can," Brian said. "A few of the lads can as well, if they're got defender blood, but a lot of these people don't, so there are certain passages they cannot travel. For now, this is as good a place as any, and finding somewhere else that might be safe to hunt and with a good supply of fresh water, might be a challenge."
"Yer soundin' wiser an' wiser, Brian, talkin' almost like Kaleb," Fergus said with a glint in his eye. "Where be ye headed?"
"North," Brian said, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "There is something wrong with the world."
"Aye, there be a lot wrong with the world," Fergus said with a chuckle, then his expression turned serious. "Don't ye worry 'bout a thing here. We're all well versed at takin' care."
"Thank you, Fergus," Brian said as he clasped the man's arm, then he turned to his brother, reached out and clasped his arm. "Diller, you follow what Fergus tells you and stay safe."
Diller nodded with a serious expression on his face, and Brian smiled at him for a moment, then he turned and took off at a run, disappearing through the forest.
"How are we going to get there?" Brian asked the god within him.
"If you don't mind letting me take the reins, I can show you how," Kroma offered.
Brian let the god take over his movements, which from his perspective, felt a lot like riding atop a horse and simply letting it roam, except in this case he was both horse and rider, but nothing could have prepared him for what Kroma did next. With several leaps and bounds, Kroma began to pick up speed, with the ground under his feet shooting upward beneath him, launching Brian into the air, as though the rock and dirt had become like a bowstring. Brian shot further and higher, emerging from the forest to an open plain, and he leapt high into the air, picking up even more speed.
"There is the place," Kroma said, eyeing a broken patch of ground, and in two more leaps, he was nearly upon it.
Brian felt his balance shift and he began to panic when Kroma sent him hurtling through the air and toward the ground, head first. Brian tried to bring his arms up over his head to protect himself from the impact, but the ground suddenly opened up as though it had swallowed him whole. The world around him rumbled as Kroma smashed through dirt and rock, then flashes of heat that Brian thought would make his skin melt away, but it was no more harmful to him than a warm bath and the solid rock and dirt before him parted like loose sand.
"Where are we going?" Brian asked.
"North," Kroma told him.
"It doesn't look like north."
"We are taking the shorter way."
"The shorter way?"
"In a word, yes."
*****
Hidden among the trees at a high vantage point along the edge of the river and wearing green cloaks that blended in with the leaves and undergrowth of the forest, Nathas and Kaleb, along with a small contingent of Maramyrian soldiers they had hand picked for their ability to move quietly, watched as countless winged Darga descended from the sky. The lizard creatures landed near a small group of black robed mages, who were gathered around some kind of cauldron, and it appeared they were working some kind of magic. One by one, the mages gave each of the Darga a sack of some kind, and then the lizard men took off again, flying across the river and into the elven forest.
"When did those blasted creatures learn to fly?" Kaleb muttered as he ducked down to avoid being seen as one of them angled in the direction of where the group was hiding.
"Most likely when they grew wings," Nathas observed.
"Thank you for that cunning observation, Nathas," Kaleb grumbled sarcastically.
"Maybe they're a kind of Darga that we haven't seen before," Nathas said. "Whatever the case, this presents both a strategic and a tactical problem if we're to meet them in battle."
"What are they doing? It looks like they are throwing something," Kaleb said, squinting up through the foliage as a Darga passed overhead. "It is almost like when a farmer scatters seed on the fields."
"They also appear to be better equipped than when we faced them at Kandara," Nathas commented. "We should return to the elven city and warn Queen Laurana and her troublesome son, Quenta."
"Agreed, but I'd like to find out what they're throwing into the forest," Kaleb replied. "It looks like they've moved on from this area, so we should be safe to take a look around."
Nathas turned to the soldiers, who were crouched in the undergrowth.
"Spread out and search for whatever those creatures tossed into the trees," he said. "As soon as one of you finds something, give the signal and we will meet at the gathering point, then ride for the elven city. Kaleb and I will remain here and keep watch."
The soldiers nodded then quietly dispersed through the trees in the direction of where the winged Darga had flown, while Kaleb and Nathas watched as more of the flying lizard men arrived and took off in different directions through the forest. The two commanders nearly jumped from their perch when they heard a scream from one of the soldiers. They froze, watching to see if any of the Darga had heard, but luckily the thick foliage of the forest and the rushing water of the river seemed to have obscured the sound. Carefully, they made their way in the direction of the yell, and they found several soldiers gathered around a man who had fallen to the ground. A thin trail of purple smoke was emanating from his hand, and his fist and entire forearm had turned completely black. One of the soldiers stepped forward toward him, but he immediately staggered back after inhaling a wisp of smoke and he fell to his knees coughing violently.
