Master Ad’yra shook his wings out, as the throng of dragons’ protest grew louder. “But, your highness, your dragon side already knows what beauty is. How can you deny that you yearn for Mistress Felonia? Even now, she and we feel the rippling of your scales underneath your puny human flesh.”
“Nonetheless, I would like to see her in her other form, then I will make my decision.” He hated to tell them the movement under his flesh was revulsion at marrying a dragon.
The chamber was silent.
“Perhaps we did not explain to you adequately.” Master Ad’yra clicked his claws upon the floating marble table. “You are our Treasure. As such, only you and your line have the ability to shift between man and dragon. But, whichever form you settle in, you will remain. Choose the dragon too often, and this ability along with your … human concerns, is lost. None of us can shift out of our dragon form nor do we wish to.”
“What do you mean, human concerns?”
Master Ad’yra sighed, but it sounded like thunder rumbling. “Choice of meat. Humans don’t particularly taste good, but when you’re a dragon and hungry, it matters not. Your conscience or at least your human conscience will fade.”
“I-I must think on your words, and—”
“You have no choice. Once the Treasure has returned, he must pick a bride from among us.” As if reading Landon’s thoughts as his eyes drifted to Mirhana, Master Ad’yra added, “Only one of the females from our tribe.”
Mirhana looked as if she prayed to the gods to strike all the female dragons here dead. Instead, she cast her murderous glare at Celeste. “We should not have come.”
“Now, at twilight, the passage will show our bride is worthy of you. And you will be in dragon form when you marry at sunrise.”
“What passage?” Brock asked. “I thought Mistress Felonia was already deemed worthy.”
“True. But it is custom for all of the Treasure’s brides or grooms to complete the passage.”
“And this passage, does it do anything else besides prove one worthy to marry him?” Celeste took another bite of the fruit and Landon wondered why she was so curious.
“Aye.” His nostrils flared. “It is the rite of passage that all dragons take.”
“Hmm … And it signifies?”
“Worthiness as a dragon. It’s a custom, a formality if you will.”
How was such a thing necessary? Any here with their colored scales, forked tails, and long snouts who would consider them not dragons? Landon wondered.
“So, if one passes through, they are deemed … ”
“A dragon.” He finished for her.
Celeste turned to Mirhana. “Do you love Landon enough to take this challenge?”
In answer, she nodded.
Master Ay’dra interrupted them. “That is not possible. For one, she is a human.”
“Elvin,” Mirhana corrected.
“She is not a dragon, nonetheless. And only another dragon may nominate her for the passage.”
“H-how dangerous is this rite?” Landon asked.
“I’ll face any challenge if it would provide you with freedom of choice.” Her voice softened. “That is if you wish to have one.”
“It is safe enough …. ”
“I accept.” She took a step forward.
Mistress Felonia narrowed her eyes as if she wanted to eat her competition. All around them, protest and curses grew louder.
“I’ve told you, you are not a dragon and no dragon here will nominate you for the—”
“I nominate her.” Landon’s voice silenced everyone. His hope was that it was an easy test. What if he lost her over this?
“You do not realize what you’ve done.” Master Ay’dra unfurled his wings.
“What do you mean?” Dread worked against his swallowing to swim upstream from his stomach into his throat. “You said it was a simple thing … a mere formality.”
“Aye, for a dragon. It would kill anyone else.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
“What!?” Landon’s shout shook the crystal chandeliers and vibrated with the hint of his dragon nature.
All the dragons fell prostrate to the floor, and even Master Ad’yra bowed his snout lower than he’d seen since meeting him. “T-tis a simple thing for dragons, but the passage is deadly to all others.”
“Then I recant … Mirhana—”
“Once the nomination is spoken, it cannot be removed. Not even by the Treasure. She must journey through the opening.”
“Surely this path isn’t all that dangerous,” Nivel said.
“Come.” Master Ay’dra clicked his claws together as one after the other the dragons rose. “It’s time for the candidates to leave.”
They filed out of the chamber.
“Why did I do this?” Landon placed his arm on Mirhana’s back as they followed the others. “Didn’t you hear them? You’ll be killed.”
But she didn’t answer him, just gave him a look that stopped him in his tracks. “I did this for both of us. Now I can do something instead of wanting to rip everyone’s throat out here.”
His eyebrows rose. She gave him a tight smile.
Outside, they trailed along the crystal streets until they faced a spiral of granite cut into the mountain. They climbed single file down this stairway. On either side, clouds hid cliffs.
At the bottom, they found a cave. Nivel whistled.
Landon glanced up and nearly jerked Mirhana behind him.
It was a cave, but not just any cave: it was a gaping mouth with razor sharp teeth. Inside, the light from the setting sun seemed to color the teeth red.
“We have two candidates for the dragon’s mouth.” Master Ay’dra waved an arm and Mistress Felonia stepped forward, her tail almost thrashing Mirhana off the cliff.
She disappeared inside the cave.
Mirhana marched forward.
“Wait.” Landon moved between her and the cave. “Perhaps I may go in her place as her champion.”
“Nay, you are too valuable. Besides, the test is to prove her worth, not yours.”
“But what of a champion?” Brock asked. “May any go in Mirhana’s place?”
“Nay.” Master Ay’dra appeared uncomfortable, the way his clawed fingers clutched at his sides. “But she is allowed to bring one other with her since she was not born a dragon.”
Celeste stepped forward. “I will go with her.”
“Nay, the council of dragons must decide who goes.”
Landon worried they might chose a dragon that would leave Mirhana to die. After all, even with their treasure returned to them, many seemed more pleased to kill them.
The dragons moved off into a huddle and their grumbling words Landon could not make out.
“They’re speaking dragon,” Nivel told him.
“Haven’t they always?” he asked.
“Nay, they know all languages, and have accommodated us by speaking ours.”
Even though Landon didn’t understand their words, he noticed a dragon or two within the council turn and look in their direction.
“We’ve reached a decision. Brock may go with Mirhana into the cave.”
“Nay.” Celeste grasped her garnet dagger. The stone was still dark like the approaching night.
“Our decision is final. Do you think to mock our traditions?”
“But he has no magic that would help him—”
“Enough. He has a sword. No other dragon will go with a hum-er elf. Therefore, they will go together. Else you wish to forfeit by not entering the cave before the sun sets?” He raised a claw. “And whoever completes the trials first, is the one the treasure will marry—either Mistress Felonia or Mirhana. Each member is allowed to give the champion one gift or weapon to take with her into the challenge.”
“I’ll keep Mirhana safe,” Brock promised Landon.
Dragons laughed with their voices like thunder rumbling in a summer storm. Landon turned to Mirhana. He wanted to tell her to leave, forget him and move o
n with her life. For years, he had been groomed to marry a stranger. He wanted her to have the freedom of choosing someone else to love, even if it wasn’t him.
Instead of taking Mirhana in his arms and kissing the frown from her lips as he longed to do, he gave her a nod and handed her his sword.
Celeste gave Mirhana a hug and her hand weaved a pattern over Mirhana’s shoulder. “This protection will only last one time. Please use it wisely. I don’t think the dragons would appreciate me leveling this place to get you out if you are hurt.”
“And this is from me.” Nivel handed her a pair of thick leather gloves. “In case you forget about Brock’s curse and need to rescue him.”
“Thank you.” Then Mirhana turned and smiled slightly at Landon, before she and Brock stalked to the mouth of the cave.
“You don’t have to do this,” she whispered to Brock as they stood side by side with snarling teeth greeting them.
“Aye, I do.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
Even with her Elvin vision, she hardly saw inside the cave. Her mouth dried when the cave rumbled and behind them, the mouth they had just hiked through clamped shut.
With a weak smile, Mirhana motioned Brock deeper into the cave. She wore Landon’s sword at her hip and it comforted her that part of him was with her even he could not be. The memory of their lovemaking brought heat to her cheeks. Perhaps since he was a dragon was why he had lasted so long when they made love. He satisfied her repeatedly until she had pleaded for them to get some sleep before the trial.
As they walked further into the cave, she donned the gloves from Nivel. Already, since the Warloc’s physical body had been destroyed, he aged. His face, which once had been smooth despite his silver hair, had wrinkles around his eyes and lips. How much longer before he died? She believed the only reason he hadn’t yet was his stubbornness and that once the Warloc had passed, it released the bond keeping them both frozen in time. Now that time had begun moving forward again, he would age much quicker.
In the distance, they saw flames and heard scuffling.
“Must be Mistress Felonia.” Mirhana shrugged. She’d been in worse situations than this in her long life. Yet, she felt as if she would leave a part of herself behind if she was second out of this test and Landon was shackled to Felonia for life. And with a dragon’s lifespan, that would be an enormous time to be miserable.
Cautiously, they trekked upward into the cave.
Thankfully, the dragons let Mirhana bring her bow and arrows. Brock had his sword and his power, whatever good either would do.
Mirhana braided her hair as they went forward. She didn’t need the distraction of it catching on something or flying in her face.
A sickly putrid scent burned her nose. Still they marched ahead.
Seconds later, Mirhana grabbed his cloak and jerked him back. “Look.”
An inch from his foot was a bubbling black lake. It stretched for miles.
“How do we get across?”
“More than likely, they expect us to have wings.” Mirhana squinted. “Yet the ceiling is so low here, even Mistress Felonia would have had to glide carefully between.”
“So now what?”
“Has Nivel taught you levitation?” Mirhana asked.
“Nay, none have been born with enough magic to extinguish a candle in generations.”
“Oh, I’ve only managed to wobble a few pebbles. If I try to move us over the acid, we’ll both sink.”
“What now?” He kicked a stick.
Mirhana realized at the last moment that it was a bone of some type. She dove at him, knocking them both to the ground. Brock’s curse tickled along her skin and he shoved her body from him. Their clothing saved her life. “Have you lost—”
“Hush.” She squatted on her heels, an arrow notched and drawn in her bow. “Something is here.”
“Here?” he whispered looking around. Only the bubbling of the acid answered him.
Then, a wave shuddered through the lake about a foot from them. Amber eyes glowed as a creature stared over the acid lake.
Mirhana’s arrow soared through the air and lodged into the lake inches from the creature. It gurgled and rose looming up to the ceiling. Coils spread up the length of its body. Its eyes were on the ends of antennae. The creature looked like a giant slimy caterpillar.
Black acid dripped from its body and rained down. Brock snatched Mirhana’s tunic and hauled her away from the smoking rock floor.
When they were a safe distance away, the creature thrashed about, then sunk down beneath the acid waves.
“Where did it go?”
She didn’t answer him, but with an arrow ready, she crept forward.
The black lake was still.
“Why didn’t you kill it? Since this creature is immune to the acid, perhaps we could skin it and cross.”
“Perhaps.” She scooted closer to the lake and he closed the distance between them.
With a splash, the creature rose towering over her.
Instead of fighting, she lowered her arrow. It barred its blade-like teeth and lunged for her.
“Look out.” Brock raced with his sword drawn.
“No. Leave it alone. I think it’s full of bluster.” She laid her bow and arrow down then moved away from the weapons. The creature snapped its teeth.
“Mirh—”
“Let me try this. If it attacks, then you may use your sword.” She removed her own sword and tossed it with her bow. If she was wrong about this, the creature could snatch her from the bank and allow the acid to chew her flesh and bones.
Her boot scraped across the rocky ground as she stepped forward. She raised a hand out, willing thoughts of friend and peace toward it, just as she would an unknown animal. When the creature undulated as though to strike, she froze.
She heard Brock hiss behind her, but she shook her head once. “We will not harm you. Brock, put your weapon down.”
He cursed, but she heard the blade clang against hers.
“Stay where you are, for now,” she said to him. Instead of moving closer to the creature, she stayed on the edge of the acid lake with her hand outstretched. Her eyes stayed down, but she could see the creature leaning toward her.
Its slimy skin brushed her hand and Brock let out a breath.
That’s it. We are friends. She didn’t glean anything from the creature’s mind as she did with her pet. May we cross the lake on your back?
She grinned when the creature raised more of its body out of the lake and lay across the water. “Come on.” After she snatched up her weapons, she leapt onto its back.
“Are you sure that thing won’t drown us? It looks like it attacked our competition.” He pointed to the ceiling where spots of black acid dripped down in a zigzag pattern.
“And I can see bite and claw marks on it. She probably fought it and it defended itself.”
He shook his head, but sheathed his sword. After he jumped on, he sat behind her. The giant caterpillar swam through the acid, keeping most of its body above the surface.
Maybe they could get across this dark abyss of acid after all. Experimentally, she nudged their mount to avoid the dripping acid. To Mirhana’s amazement, it turned in the direction she wanted.
Acid bubbled and spurted in the air.
Sweat trickled down Mirhana’s back. They were still too far from the rocky shore to leave. In the middle of the lake, it would be easy for it to dive under the water and take them to an acid grave.
“It’s too far for us to jump now.” One of the stalactites crumbled in front of them.
When the stalactite hit the lake, a wave of acid surged. Mirhana cringed as she squeezed her legs together to get it to swing to the left.
“Hang on. We’ve got to get closer to shore.”
“Just hurry.” His voice was strained.
The waves of black acid licked at their boots, but did not quite reach them. “Almost there.” She patted the creature.
She cajoled the c
reature as it swam though the waves.
Mirhana made out the jagged coast.
As Mirhana felt the muscles beneath her coil, she realized they could leap from here to the shore.
“Only a few more feet.”
As if the creature was as anxious to get them off its back as they were to reach the other side, it sliced through the black liquid.
She was glad they didn’t have to harm it. It helped them cross this impossible acid lake.
In the distance, she saw light flickering as if a fire burned farther down into the cave. She opened her mouth to point it out to Brock, when the creature jerked underneath them.
Unbalanced, Brock toppled from the creature’s back. Mirhana jerked his cloak to keep him from falling.
“Than—”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
At the lake’s edge, she let go when he nodded. He jumped through the air and landed.
“Thank you,” she said and kissed the creature’s head. Then she hopped off.
The acid bubbled where the creature had been.
“What now?” His tone was laced with sarcasm and tiredness.
“Let’s move on.” Her legs shook.
His disbelief showed on his face, and she frowned at him.
“Do you have a better plan?”
“No, you’ve gotten us this far.”
She heard the waves gurgle behind them.
She felt a vibration underneath her. “Hurry, it’s collapsing.”
With her teeth clenched, she squeezed her eyes shut, and concentrated to create a shield as the stalactites crashed around them. Her shield rose, but the acid clung to it like sap.
As if alive, the acid had eaten holes through her magic shield.
“Use your strength and save yourself!” Brock yelled.
She gritted her teeth, refusing to give in. Her only regret was that she would not be able to tell Landon she loved him. Nor hold him as she took her last breath.
Acid smoldered along the edges of her boots.
Suddenly, she felt the cave shift around them. Then they were hurled into the air. At first, she thought perhaps the creature had taken pity on them.
Son of Dragons Page 18
