by Megg Jensen
It was as if Solnar was testing Ademar's very strength. Solnar, he thought as he continued down the hall, a god he'd always believed in. But now? He was no longer sure. It was something he'd have to think on when he had time to rest. If that time ever came.
Raseri stopped at the end of the hall. She turned to Ademar and pointed to the left with her tail.
Cautiously, Ademar turned left through a carved doorway. He was greeted by another huge cavern, also lit, and so large he couldn't see the back of it.
His jaw dropped. He couldn't believe his eyes. Ademar looked back at Raseri. He could have almost sworn the dragon had a smile on her face.
Chapter 52
Nemia tried not to look at the dead orcs littering the floor. She stepped farther into the cave avoiding the streams of blood flowing out toward the entrance of the cave. Tace stood behind Jokan, staring at the crack in the cave wall as if she could make Ademar and Raseri appear.
It had been a long time, and neither of them had returned.
Nemia wasn't sure how long she and Tace would wait. Surely the rest of the day, though they had no way of knowing how much time had passed. Save the light from the torches, it was dark in the cave. If they let the torches burn out, they'd lose light. Perhaps they'd lose their way out.
A shudder swept over Nemia's body as she thought about getting lost in the darkness, particularly with the dead bodies. Nemia had enough of dead bodies in her life. Perhaps she could have helped Tace and Ademar during their fight with the Consecrated, but she couldn't muster the power. She'd crouched behind Jokan, willing that horrible magic to life again, to save her friends, but she'd felt only emptiness.
In a way, she was happy to discover she wasn't simply a killing machine. Still, what she'd done to Sabniss was wrong. She'd let anger overtake her until it had gotten out of control. Maybe that was the difference between then and today, when she had only felt fear.
Nemia crept over to Tace, not wanting to startle her. Laying a hand on Tace's arm, she looked up at the orc, whom she'd grown to admire over such a short time. Tace was strong and determined. She faced life without flinching, even in the face of danger. Yet, she also cared about her companions and had opened herself up to a male of a different race. Someday, Nemia would like someone to think the same of her. Though perhaps not a love affair with a human. That was too much to contemplate—no matter how much she liked Ademar.
Tace looked down at Nemia, her eyes wet and her shoulders slumped. "They'll come back," she said.
Nemia's eyes wandered away from Tace's to the hole in the cave wall. "I hope so. The torches—”
"Will last until they come back," Tace interrupted, the staff gripped tightly in her hand.
Nemia bit her lower lip. "But..." She didn't finish her sentence. There was no reason to. Tace wasn't ready to listen.
Tace took a step forward, her shoulders suddenly squared. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Nemia asked. She clamped her hands over her mouth, then listened very carefully.
Tace took another step toward the hole. Then another and another, until she was only an arm's reach from it. Nemia hurried to catch up, stopping behind Tace.
That was when she heard it: Ademar excitedly yelling Tace's name.
"He's coming back." Tace's voice was filled with relief. "But what about Raseri? Do you think he found her?"
"I do," Nemia said. "He sounds happy."
"Let's go in." Tace grabbed Nemia's hand, and before she had a chance to object, Tace had pulled her through the hole.
Darkness surrounded Nemia, her torchlight illuminating nothing more than their bodies. It reminded her of nights underground, living with Sabniss's parents. It was too dark. She clutched Tace's arm, refusing to let go.
A light flickered in the distance. It grew with each passing moment, and finally, Ademar came into view, a dragon wrapped around his shoulders.
"Raseri," Tace laughed and looked down at Nemia. "Looks like they finally became friends."
As Ademar approached, Tace's laughter died. She hardened again, as if she'd never had that moment of mirth. She was a complex orc, and Nemia couldn't be more impressed by her.
"I see you found my dragon," Tace said to Ademar. "Thank you."
Raseri jumped off Ademar's shoulders, settling quickly on Tace's.
"You won't believe what else we found," Ademar said, his voice pitched higher than normal. Excitement sparkled in his eyes. "Come on!"
Nemia gasped as Ademar turned his back on them and ventured into the darkness. Tace followed, pulling Nemia along behind her.
"What is it?" Tace asked.
"You have to see it to believe it," Ademar said.
Nemia struggled to keep up with the pace Ademar and Tace were setting. She kept her eyes on the ground to avoid stumbling over rocks. Her breath rattled in her chest, but she wouldn't give up. They had to see Ademar's discovery. Whining about how tired she was wouldn't help anyone.
They paused for a moment, climbing through another hole in the cave wall. Ademar noticed Nemia's labored breathing as she pulled herself into the new cavern.
"Here," he said, handing his torch to Tace. "You take this. I'll carry Nemia."
She would have insisted she was fine, but she wasn't. Nemia let Ademar scoop her into his arms. She nestled her head into his shoulder, trying not to think about the bruise she'd have on her cheek when this was over. Her head bobbed around as Ademar ran through the tunnel, Tace hot on his heels.
If they could slow down, no one would get hurt. If Ademar stumbled, or, Drothu forbid, fell, they'd both be in a lot of pain. Whatever he'd found must have been more important than anything else.
It wasn't long before Ademar came to a stop. He set Nemia down gently on her feet. She smoothed out her dress, looking up at the two. Ademar had a stupid grin on his face, and Tace seemed to get more annoyed by the moment.
"What is the surprise?" Tace asked. "We're in a lighted hall. Based on the smoothness of the walls, it's not natural, either. Something, or someone, made this portion of the cavern."
Ademar held up his hands. "I need you to take a deep breath. You're about to see something unbelievable."
Tace rolled her eyes. She checked Ademar with her shoulder, going past him and around the corner.
Nemia jumped when a loud gasp broke the silence.
"Go on," Ademar said, pushing Nemia in the direction Tace had gone.
She stumbled and peeked around Tace as she regained her footing.
A huge cavern opened in front of them, lit with thousands of torches. Seven levels of pathways wound through the stone walls. Guardrails made of iron bounced the light from the torches around the entire cavern. But the clever engineering didn’t steal Tace's breath.
It was the dragons. Hundreds of them. Of every color and size.
Tears sprang to Nemia's eyes.
"Who built this?" Tace asked Ademar, disbelief in her voice.
"Dwarves. Another race of so-called myth." Ademar crossed his arms over his chest, smiling.
"Myth." Tace rolled her eyes.
“Have you ever seen a dwarf?" Ademar asked her.
“Well, no, but haven't you realized yet that everything you believed was myth could be true, human?"
"I've studied religion my entire life. I was taught to seek the unseeable, believe in the unprovable." Ademar took Tace's hand. "For the first time in my life, I truly believe in miracles."
"Is this your home?" Tace asked Raseri.
The little dragon jutted her neck out as Tace scratched Raseri under her chin. Then Raseri took off, flying to another cobalt dragon standing taller than four orcs stacked on each other's shoulders.
"Hey, I see you found your friends!" A small man with a big nose and a long beard walked over to Ademar, holding out a hand.
Ademar shook his hand, then turned to Tace and Nemia. "This is Myrk, keeper of the dragons."
Tace pumped the dwarf's hand with hers. Nemia nodded. The dwarf was a little shorter than
she, but he was clearly fully grown.
"Please to meet you two. Ademar had quite a lot to say before he ran off to get you." Myrk laughed, his cheeks pink above his beard. "I'm glad to see you made it back safely."
"What is this place?" Tace asked, her eyes wide as she scanned the cavern.
"It's the dragons' lair. I assist here, keep the place safe and comfortable for them. Kill anyone who might mean them harm."
"I assure you, we mean no harm," Tace said.
Myrk chuckled again. "Oh, I know. Raseri told me all about it. She's a smart dragon, but a little too feisty. She flew off weeks ago. Her mother, Pesha, feared the worst. But, as you can see, they are happy to be reunited."
Nemia watched Raseri fly around and around her mother's long neck as her mother snapped at her dragonling with sharp teeth. A squeal fell from Raseri's mouth as she finally settled at her mother's clawed feet. Pesha bent over Raseri, covering her with mighty wings. Nemia supposed they were hugging. It was so beautiful.
"I'm glad we found Raseri's home," Tace said, a catch in her voice. Perhaps she'd fancied herself Raseri's new mother since rescuing her from those awful orcs. Ademar had told Nemia the story as they'd ridden the arkai up to the Frozen Wastelands. It was another reason Nemia had become fond of Tace so quickly. "I suppose we ought to be on our way back home now."
"Wait," Nemia piped up. "We haven't done everything we've come here to do. We have to..."
"What?" Tace asked. "What else is there? We found the staff. Maybe it will prove to be of some use to us."
Nemia bit her lower lip. True.
Tace bent down on one knee, her face even with Nemia's. "It's time to go home."
Home. It was the last place Nemia wanted to go. She'd pushed Agitar into chaos. Going home would surely mean death for her. Nemia's heart began to flutter.
"But the elves are taking over!" Nemia said, stuttering.
Tace ran a hand over Nemia's hair. "It's okay. You have me. I'll protect you."
"Thank you so much for not killing me when you first saw me," Ademar said to Myrk with a laugh, ignoring Nemia’s concerns.
Myrk twirled the club in his hand. "Good thing I saw Raseri when I did, or you'd be dinner tonight for one of those dragons." He winked at Ademar.
"We should head back the way we came," Tace said. "We have a long journey home, and the arkai are out there waiting for us."
"Pesha wouldn't hear of it," Myrk said. "She wants to take the three of you home herself."
"A dragon?" Tace asked, dumbfounded. "Agitar hasn't a seen a dragon since... well, it's been so long they've mostly forgotten they exist."
"Then this is a good day to remind them," Myrk said. "Come with me, meet Raseri's mother."
Nemia tailed the three, her feet suddenly feeling like lead. She'd traveled so far to find Tace and Ademar, and circumstances were pulling her back to Agitar. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to see the chaos her anger had wrought.
Chapter 53
Tace still couldn't get over the scene in front of her. Sure, she'd assumed Raseri had a family somewhere. Dragons didn't spring to life from thin air. They had to have parents. But until she saw Pesha and all the other dragons, she couldn't possibly fathom their existence.
"Pesha wants to fly us back to Agitar?" Tace asked again.
"Yes, Pesha will take you home. She says it's the least she can do to thank you for bringing Raseri home." Myrk cocked a stubby finger. "Come, meet her."
Tace followed behind Myrk, Ademar and Nemia hot on her heels. "You keep telling me what Pesha told you. Can she speak?" Tace felt silly asking.
Myrk stopped, looking at Tace with a serious face. "Dragons will speak, but only if you are willing to listen." Then he continued toward the dragons.
It was a curious answer, though perhaps Tace knew what he meant. When she'd contemplated naming the dragon she’d rescued, the name Raseri popped into her head. It wasn't a name she had been familiar with, and she had no idea where it had come from. Yet, here, in this cavern filled with dragons, Myrk also used Raseri's name as if he'd known it all along. Perhaps Tace had heard Raseri speak.
Myrk stopped short of Pesha. She lowered her massive head until her eyes were even with Tace's.
Her mouth gone dry, Tace licked her lips. She started into Pesha's eyes, getting lost in the chocolate brown depths. Intelligence sparked within those eyes, a knowing Tace had never seen in common animals. She felt humbled by Pesha's attention, hoping the dragon would find her worthy, despite all of her flaws.
Pesha moved closer to Tace until the tip of Tace's nose was touching the tip of Pesha's snout. Tace held as still as she could, waiting for judgment from the magnificent creature.
Thank you.
Tears sprang from Tace's eyes as Pesha's long neck guided her head back. Raseri squealed, flying in circles around the two of them, then landing on Tace's shoulders. Her tail snaked around Tace's arm.
"Pesha wants to know if you'd like to fly home now, or wait for the new day?" Myrk asked Tace.
"Now." She wiped away her tears with her sleeve. "I need to get home. An elf has taken the orc throne. I need to find out why and stop him."
Myrk bowed. "Then you shall go now. My blessings for a quiet and peaceful journey."
"Thank you," Ademar said.
Tace's had forgotten he was there. Nemia, too. For a moment, nothing had mattered other than Pesha. It was as if the entire world had ceased to exist when they touched.
"So we're supposed to ride Pesha?" Tace asked Myrk. "How?"
Myrk stuck two fingers in his lips, letting loose a loud, shrill whistle. Two more dwarves came running from the other side of the cavern, carrying a giant saddle between them. They tossed it onto Pesha's back. One held it in place while the other ran underneath her to tie the straps into place. All the while, Pesha sat still, an amused look on her face.
When the dwarves were done, they stood next to Pesha, their fingers laced together, forming two footholds. A small leather ladder hung down from the saddle, above the dwarves' heads.
"Climb on up," Myrk said. "Once you're settled, we'll strap you in up top."
"We left the arkai outside the cave," Tace said.
"We will care for them. Don't you worry. Now up you go!" Myrk gave Tace a little shove toward Pesha.
Tace stepped onto the dwarves’ interlaced hands. They lifted her until she could grab the ladder and climb up. She straddled the saddle and reached down, helping Nemia up from the ladder. The young orc settled in front of her while Ademar climbed onto the saddle behind Tace. She tried not to think about his body pressing against hers.
Though she'd willingly given herself to him, it was still strange to think of mating with a human male. It was something she'd never considered doing, and now that she had, she didn't see anything wrong with it. Still, others wouldn't understand, including Nemia.
Myrk and his dwarves showed Tace, Ademar, and Nemia how to wrap the leather straps around themselves. Once they were comfortably secure, the dwarves backed away, giving Pesha the room she needed to spread her wings.
The dragon's cobalt scales glistened in the torchlight of the cavern as she flapped her wings. Slowly they lifted into the air. Tace felt like her stomach wasn't keeping pace with Pesha's ascension, but it quickly caught up, slamming into her throat. Tace closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths, hoping her insides would settle into this new rhythm quickly.
As she began to feel better, Pesha entered a long tunnel, increasing her speed with every flap of her wings. Raseri nuzzled Tace, as if she knew Tace was feeling unwell. Ademar wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Though it was in her nature to resist, she gave in, letting his strength carry her as Pesha exited the tunnel and bolted into the sky. The sun blinded them, shining off the snow-packed peaks. The small hills they'd entered had given way to mountains in the distance. The dragons lived underground between them, hidden from prying eyes.
Once Pesha settled on an
altitude, Tace felt well enough to sit up straight again, though part of her regretted leaving the warmth of Ademar's chest. Still, knowing he was there was enough.
"It's beautiful," Nemia shouted in front of her.
"I agree," Tace said. "Look down there. Polar bears!"
"Oh!" Nemia gasped.
Tace had always observed her world from the ground. She hadn't imagined what it could be like to see it from the air. Her whole world had shifted in such a short time. It was as if the world was completely new, reborn from her pain. Her mother dead. The Consecrated chasing her across the continent. Her mentor committing suicide. None of it made sense, and yet, she would have to come to terms with all of it eventually.
For now, she relaxed, enjoying this unexpected ride over Doros, heading toward Agitar. An elf had crowned himself king of the orcs. She would land at her home and join in the effort to displace him, for an elf could never properly rule the orcs. They would teach him a lesson he would never forget.
Chapter 54
Brax swayed, his knees weak as he eyed the great chasm in the ground. The tentacled beast had plucked Jahn out of the air and taken him underground with it. Now everything was quiet. Brax didn't want to think about what it might have done with Jahn.
"What was that?" He turned to Vron, his angry eyes burning into the orc's. "What foul manner of beast do the orcs hide underground?”
Alyna translated furiously between them.
Vron's lips were pressed together, his brow furrowed. "Do you think we keep a monster under our city to eat those who oppose us? We do not! I have no idea what that thing is."
"You know what it is," Kazrack said, his silky voice laced with fear. "A xarlug."
Dalgron harrumphed. "Xarlugs don't exist. They are in children's stories."
Alyna's eyes burned with anger. "Xarlugs are a harbinger of the apocalypse. You know it as well as I do, and I am not an orc."
Brax swallowed hard, attempting to keep anything in his stomach where it belonged. "Your children's stories are about the apocalypse?" The orcs were savages. He always knew it. Who told frightening stories to their children?
