Legends

by Melanie Nilles

  Fenwar approached, his eyes scanning the sky and the forest around him while he struggled with his mount. “I’ve no likin’ o’ what the beast may think.”

  Calli glanced at Ellead, who remained at a distance, and returned her attention to the dark-haired young man near her. “We need a plan. If it comes to combat—” She shuddered at the idea of facing down such a beast. They would never survive. How had the men of the old legends battled these creatures?

  Fenwar paled but nodded his head. His eyes darted up for an instant.

  Calli checked the whereabouts of the dragon. It descended on them. “No time to think.”

  Fenwar took her words as his cue to break away.

  Calli looked from him to the dragon, her mind running in circles around what to do. At least one of them would escape.

  An idea took shape. Calli shuddered, but she had to do it. Someone had to stand up to the beast to give the others a chance to escape. Neither Fenwar nor Ellead stopped with the same idea. Here went her life.

  She drew her sword and pulled Duke to a stop. If combat was required to face this foe, then so be it! Her eyes fixed on the red body diving from the sky. Despite that Calli stood her ground, the beast took chase after Fenwar. Come, you hideous beast! I’m right here!

  The serpentine form swooped down on the horse and rider racing full out among the scattered trees.

  For an instant, as the dragon’s humped back blotted out the sun, she gasped. A flash of memory—or had it been a vision—superimposed upon the image. Jayson, she recalled of the dream back in Arronfel. Had these red beasts killed him?

  “No.” Her whisper froze in the air the moment it left her lips. With all her heart, she refused to believe it.

  A deep roar shook through her. The dragon slowed its descent with outstretched wings. Jaws full of sharp teeth opened, and it caught up to the horse and rider.

  “Turn.” Her quiet urging never reached the pair. Without touching down, the dragon grabbed both horse and rider in its jaws.

  Horrified, Calli sat frozen. Duke stood still as if the same emotion grabbed hold of him. All they could do was watch the beast land and set one hind leg on the neck of the still struggling horse. They could not save him. With its jaws, it tore the man from the saddle.

  An agonizing scream cut short when the dragon threw back its head and gulped Fenwar whole. It then ripped apart the horse. The giant head came down, and the animal’s flailing ceased.

  When the red head rose with blood dripping from its jaws, Calli closed her eyes. The image stayed with her, churning her stomach. She took a breath to settle her nerves but made no move to run. What good was running if such a creature thrilled to the chase?

  She refused to give the beast what it wanted. In standing to fight, she would give it exactly the opposite. Perhaps Ellead would escape during her distraction.

  She found some comfort in that thought.

  When the red head with its rough scales rose above the trees, she swallowed her doubts. The dragon fixed its hideous yellow eyes on her. Using the claws on the top of its wings, it stalked towards her. Each step pounded over the snowy land.

  She fought with Duke to stand his ground. He reared but did not run.

  A deep rumble emanated from the dragon as it crept up like a cat upon a mouse.

  Run, human, a voice commanded in her head. Calli blinked but refused to give in.

  “I’ll play no more games!”

  Ssso be it! The dragon opened its jaws and sent a plume of fire at her.

  Calli kicked Duke hard in the sides, but he jumped away of his own accord. The heat warmed her back, narrowly missing her.

  Duke squealed and fell into a drift of snow. Calli’s stomach lurched with the hard landing.

  Unhurt with some room to spare in the snow, she pushed herself from the saddle, her leg coming out from beneath the horse.

  Duke threw his front legs out and struggled for footing, but could not stand. Calli pushed on his shoulder to help him as he let out a deep squeal of pain.

  With a look back to the approaching beast, she saw why he could not stand. “Duke!”

  Smoke rose from blackened hind legs and exposed tailbone. Singed flesh left the snow red and black.

  Her eyes blurred with tears, and she pushed on him with all her strength to help him stand, but he could do no more than sit with his front legs out. “Get up, boy. You can do it.” She doubted he could stand. His hind legs with white bones and ligaments exposed refused to cooperate when he tried to move them.

  The dragon was nearly on top of them.

  Covered in powdery snow, Calli rose to her feet and positioned herself between the gelding and the dragon. She would not end this without a fight. First Fenwar and Hersod, now Duke, and, quite likely, herself.

  With the back of her glove, she swiped the chill of tears from her cheeks and gazed up at the beast. It stopped before her, its yellow eyes daring her to take the first strike. Behind her, Duke breathed hard from his efforts but quieted his struggles. Had he given up?

  Give me your horssse and I may ssspare your life, the strange voice said in her mind. The dragon’s voice. It had to be.

  “Never!” Fear gripped every muscle of her body, but her loyalty to the animal stayed her feet. Duke was all that remained of what she loved most. He was the last close friend left to her. She would never abandon him, especially not for a dragon’s meal.

  With one last hope, Calli lifted the sword and recited the prayer on the crossbar. Her father taught it to her as a young girl when teaching her to wield his sword. She could only guess how the smithy hired by Phelan knew. For all the times her prayers went unanswered, perhaps the Creators would answer them now.

  As she whispered the prayer in the native language of her father, small flecks within the sword sparkled into a green glow. Her heart thumped in her chest and strange sensations tingled through her.

  The dragon let out a howl of rage and opened its jaws.

  Calli swallowed but repeated the prayer: “Aler ni Ûnsura lâreth na dôa nodral rassîl ther shenîel najêr n’îrdra.”

  The dragon loosed its fire upon her.

  Calli swallowed and continued to recite the prayer to the point that it became a steady chant consuming her thoughts with its meaning. The glow of the sword intensified. The green light enveloped her and flowed over her like a wash of cold water blocking the fire of the dragon.

  When the fire passed, she breathed again and blinked in surprise. She was unharmed. The glow subsided, and she stood on trembling legs.

  Impudent! The dragon hurried towards her. It opened its jaws—

  Calli rolled away as it closed its jaws upon where she had stood. She swung the sword, but it deflected with a clang from hard scales.

  Duke struggled again. She reached a hand to his face. Gratitude warmed her soul and fed her courage. Whatever magic lay within the sword had protected him also.

  The dragon growled its frustration.

  Calli smiled with renewed confidence and rose to her feet with the sword before her.

  The dragon snapped at her.

  Duke squealed and resumed his struggles. Without taking her eyes off the dragon, Calli tried to soothe him with her voice. “Easy, boy.”

  The dragon paused, its yellow eyes studying her for a moment.

  It struck. Calli ducked and rolled away through the cold, wet snow.

  A horrifying crunch ended Duke’s last squeal of fright.

  Calli jumped to her feet, swiping snow and wet hair from her face. Shock trembled through her at the gruesome sight.

  “Duke!” She choked on the name. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. Two gray legs hung from the dragon’s jaws as wing claws ripped the saddle from the rear half of the carcass. After gulping the front half of the horse, it lunged down for the rest.

  Calli stumbled backwards, too stunned to think. She had betrayed her only remaining friend.

  Tears streamed down her face, uncontrolled. “Duke.” A lump in her t
hroat blocked her voice from rising above a whisper. She stared in disbelief at the carnage left in the snow.

  When the dragon finished, it lifted its head and seemed to wear an insidious smile. Calli never moved.

  When a low rumble reverberated from the beast, Calli blinked. How could she have betrayed Duke?

  The dragon skulked towards her.

  She struggled backwards, her eyes on the monster, but a slippery slope impeded her escape. With the sword before her, she remembered the prayer. It flowed off her lips in a constant stream, drawing from whatever power lied within the sword. The green glow returned.

  She continued sliding along the snowy slope for a way to escape. The dragon approached warily this time.

  When the hill blocking her path sloped down to meet the ground where she stood, she backed up. Relief poured in, and she turned and fled.

  Searing heat blasted her back and legs, the force of it knocking her forward into the snow. The stench of cooked flesh filled the air until darkness descended.

  * * *

  Jayson heaved to catch his breath from his run and watched in amazement. The green glow emanated from the sword and surrounded Calli. It deflected the fire but did not deter the beast.

  Rather, it enraged the wyvern, but she maintained the magic shield while backing away.

  While he slid down the steep hillside, he missed her dash for freedom. Jayson reached the bottom in time to see the wyvern stomping towards the smoking figure in the snow.

  “Calli!”

  He never paused to wonder or consider his own life but ran as fast as he could through drifts ranging from ankle to knee deep.

  “Here!” he called to the beast, waving his arms for attention while running for Calli.

  The wyvern lifted his head and let out a screech. Wait your turn.

  “If it’s all right with you, I’d rather neither of us had a turn.”

  Jayson reached Calli and dropped down into the snow at her head and threw a handful of snow over the fire still smoldering on her clothes. Part of her hood was all that remained of her cloak.

  He grabbed the sword still clutched in her hand and held it between him and the dragon.

  The dragon drew back its head slightly in preparation to let loose a blast of fire.

  Jayson called forth the magic of the sword with his own. Flecks of green throughout the blade glowed, increasing into a steady light as the magic washed through him. When the dragon blew a stream of fire, it parted around him, leaving him untouched.

  Dragon scale! He’d heard of such weapons. Only a swordsmith trained in the ways of the Ancients could have forged her blade; tales of the days of the dragons told of such powerful weapons. The sword was not made for her by accident. Someone knew she could use the power in it.

  No time to wonder. He called on the power before the wyvern reacted. This time he used the power within him in combination with the simple magic imbued by the particles of dragon scale mixed in the metal of the sword.

  Power flowed like liquid fire through his body and set the sword ablaze with green light. It burned to white cold. The wyvern closed its eyes to shield itself from the intensity of the light.

  Jayson pointed the sword at the beast and let loose the power. A stream of green-white energy struck the red wyvern, knocking it down but not killing it. Its scales were too hard to penetrate, except through the two soft spots that allowed an opening to its brain.

  The red beast lay stunned, unable to move, and Jayson took the opportunity. He jumped to its head and, using his free hand, conjured the energy spear and slew the beast.

  He leapt back from the energy sizzling about the body and melting the snow around it.

  While the enormous beast burned in the crackling energy, Jayson bent over Calli. He laid his hand to the red flesh of her lower back exposed through the smoking clothes. Her skin had cooled in the air and life drained from her core.

  “Calli…”

  Jayson removed his cloak, spread it on the snow next to her, and rolled her onto it. Death had turned her face ashen.

  “Calli!” Panic crept into his soul. Had he arrived in time to see her die?

  “I’ll not let this happen. Not now.”

  The magic inside him pressed for release. He let it guide his hand to her chest, where no breath rose. His heart froze as a part of him connected with her spirit. She lingered in the world yet. Now, if Haiberuk gave him enough power…

  Without questioning his safety, he let loose the power of life. It seized him and rushed down his arms and through his hand into her. With a warmth like the sun it flowed from him.

  Calli gulped a breath of air, and her eyes fluttered open for an instant. As suddenly as she reacted, she lay quiet.

  The magic waned, leaving him cold. Her chest rose and fell with the steadiness of sleep.

  Jayson breathed a sigh of relief, noting the quiet of the land around him. His eyelids grew heavy with the fatigue numbing his body. The cold of the air and the enormous use of magic drained him, but he refused to let his exhaustion overpower him.

  He sheathed her sword at her hip, where it belonged. The prince had it specially commissioned for her. Hearing mention of the man had pained Jayson’s heart when she told him, and he pressed no further for answers, but now he had to know the sword’s origins.

  Concerned for her well-being more than his comfort, Jayson wrapped Calli within his cloak and lifted her. They needed shelter. Where was Duke to carry her?

  It took no time to locate her saddle. A red and black blotch of mud where her saddle lay sickened his stomach.

  “Poor horse.” His murmur dissipated as a cloud in the air.

  With little effort he found the familiar essence lingering in the place of Duke’s death. She loved that horse; even loaned him the noble gelding as a temporary mount to reach General Marjan after finding Arronfel. He never forgot her words to the horse, which he overheard. She expected Duke would carry him safely back to her, but whether because of deeper feelings or simply his skills with the others, he never asked. He feared the truth would be not what he wanted to hear.

  Fighting exhaustion, Jayson laid Calli on the charred earth behind the blood stain. They could use some of the provisions from the saddle.

  While untying the blanket and other trappings, the steady thump of hooves rose from behind him. When it stopped, the horse clinked the bit against its teeth. The rider shifted his weight with a squeak of leather.

  “Jayson?”

  He turned and smiled weakly up at Ellead, Eldred’s oldest son. He should have known the farmer’s son was one of the two with her.

  “We need shelter.”

  Ellead nodded and dismounted. The hot horse stretched its head down to its legs to satisfy the itch of the bridle. The chestnut steamed with sweat and melted snow. “Aye. We passed a farm not far back.” He studied the stain on the snow, a sullen expression on his face. “Duke.”

  Jayson nodded. A somber silence filled the air.

  “After the first attack we agreed to split if another happened.” Guilt sank Ellead’s voice.

  While trying not to think of the tragedy, Jayson finished removing the provisions. “Take these.” He handed the boy the saddlebags.

  They could have done nothing to help. In fact, Calli had far exceeded his expectations. That she survived a direct confrontation with one of the Red Clan amazed him, even if she would have died without his help.

  Ellead slung the bags over his strong shoulders.

  Jayson unrolled the blanket and wrapped it around Calli. He then picked her up in his arms and looked around. “Where is the other?”

  Ellead dropped his eyes and licked his lips. “Goddess take his soul—The dragon got Fenwar.”

  After a moment, Jayson took a deep breath to settle the sorrow rising. At least one of the brothers from each family was still safe, or so he assumed. “Mount up.”

  Ellead frowned.

  “Someone has to keep her balanced. I’ve not the strength to
carry her far.”

  “But you—”

  “Nevermind me.” He could explain magic later. Right now, shelter and Calli’s recovery were their highest priority.

  The boy did as commanded and mounted the hot horse. Jayson lifted Calli up to him, watching her face closely for any signs of pain or waking. She never moved, except for the light rise and fall of her chest with each breath.

  With great care, Ellead settled her on the saddle with him.

  Jayson took the reins and trudged through the snow where the boy told him to go. His body ached from his dash through the snow to reach them and he was weary from his efforts and little sleep; but he must continue.

  He had barely arrived in time, but he would do more if it meant saving her.

  * * *

  The smell of burned flesh faded. A voice called her name but from a distance. A sense of lightness carried her up, and she saw herself lying face down in the snow. The red dragon hovered over Calli’s body with a hungry glint in its eyes. At that moment, everything blurred with the surreal quality of watching a dream float by.

  Images faded and the world blurred into bright light in all directions.

  Is this a dream? No pain nor cold touched her. “What is this place?”

  [“You should not be here yet,”] a firm, familiar voice said in Lôringai, her father’s native tongue.

  She turned—

  And gasped. “Father!”

  Tears filled her eyes, blurring the familiar image of the tall, strong man she remembered. She rushed to wrap her arms around him, and buried her face in his chest and cried. Gentle hands stroked her hair. It all felt so real. If she dreamt, she never wanted to wake up.

  [“Listen, Callisara.”] His voice carried the same commanding but gentle tone she remembered when he requested her to do something. She would have walked to the ends of the world for him. [“You must return. The land of spirits has no place for you at this time.”]

  [“I want to stay with you.”]

  Kaillen shook his head, fiery red hair brushing his broad shoulders. He glanced aside as a woman materialized. Tears glazed her hazel eyes that could have been Calli’s staring back from a mirror. With her small, perfect nose and prominent cheekbones, the woman reminded her of someone. Calli wished she could match a name to the image.