The Spires of Dasny: 2: Queen of Dragons

by Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait

  Once airborne, we continue our travel path still unsure if our heading is correct. During our flight, hills turn into mountain ranges. With it, a bitter cold wind whips Athan unsteadily from side to side. Grifton shouts in my ear, since the wind carries his words behind us. “We have no choice, Athan will have to find us a cave to retreat into and get warm. If Dreyth or any of our friends have passed this way and met with the storm, they too, will have sheltered out of the storm.”

  A sigh escapes as I nod my head. I remember all too well of what Dreyth, Athan and Ustice went through in another storm such as this. I won’t ask Athan to do more than he can. I trust the other dragons are doing the same and we don’t get further behind in our chase to reach them. Before the last of the hazy light is swallowed by the brooding storm clouds, Athan finds a possible cave and lands on the edge. It dawns on me—I didn’t bring a torch. Athan rumbles under me a split second before he spews a flame into the opening, allowing us to peer into the depths. The cave is empty, but is wasn’t always so. A stone circle stands in the middle with charred wood.

  I slip down Athan’s side, followed by Grifton. Athan sets the wood ablaze. Grifton grabs a chunk for a torch and walks the perimeter, searching any shadowed niches where an enemy might hide. I stand close to the fire, enjoying the warmth when Grifton runs towards me, flames dancing across the cave.

  “Look! A piece of a Beljeem Warrior’s tunic. I would know this anywhere!”

  My eyes grow round. We have found evidence that we are on a trail towards…I scratch my head and wonder. Even at the hint of one of Hu’gan’s warriors being in this same cave, he took many. It doesn’t tell me if it is the same one traveling with Dreyth. But we know, at least one warrior passed this way. That counts for something.

  “Seyra?” Athan says as he draws near.

  I answer, “Yes?”

  “We are still too far for me to hear or call out to them. No one responds and I’ve tried to reach them all.”

  I nod and sit near the flames, looking for answers. I don’t want to lead them into a wild chase of invisible trails. I despise the noises in my head that keep asking me if I’m doing the right thing. How am I supposed to know? I have to act on what my gut tells me, and it tells me to find Dreyth.

  Athan rumbles close by. “Sorry, Seyra. Sometimes it’s too difficult to turn your thoughts off when you’re close by. I wasn’t trying to poke inside your head but…”

  “It’s okay, Athan. I forgot that you are able to hear my thoughts like Dreyth can.”

  “Don’t doubt yourself, Seyra. That can only lead us into circles. The answer will come. It always does where you’re concerned. Dreyth chose you as his Queen for a reason. It goes beyond First Rider and beyond Kizmeht. Part of it may even be your ancestry, but there is something that burns within you, which will always guide you to your path. I won’t say it won’t be dangerous, but I do trust in it. I trust in you.” Athan lays his head down, eyeing me.

  “Thank you, Athan. I needed to hear that. My head is spinning trying to do the right thing. Part of me feels apprehensive in leaving the Spires without protection. If we’d stayed and a battle came, the people would have more of a chance for survival.”

  He chuckles a low, rumbling laugh. “You forget. There are plenty of dragons left to flame any intruder coming close to the Spires, and they have the guards and messengers to help. You can’t be in all places at all times. It comes down to you finding where you are most needed and I think you have done that.”

  Grifton sits quietly against the wall. I read the turmoil he fights. I wish I could offer a solution, but I can’t. I realize he’d rather be chasing after Elky than towards Dreyth. I move to sit next to him.

  “Grifton, once I find Dreyth, I release you of your duty. I’ll make Dreyth understand your need to search for Elky.” He lifts his head, hope shimmering in his eyes. Words threaten to crumble his exterior he holds by a ragged thread, so he only nods.

  “I think we should all try to sleep while the storm batters the land. We’ll want to move as soon as the storm subsides.” I grab my clothing bag and plump it for my pillow and lay close to the fire, closing my eyes.

  Swirling snow coils like a viper, biting into the hide of the dark dragon and companion. The freezing temperature slows their progress and moves them off course. The dark dragon motions his companion closer. Roars encircle them. Fire cuts through the whipping snow, illuminating their attackers. Two wingless dragons and a winged dragon. The companion to the dark dragon climbs into the snow storm and lunges into a dragon, knocking the rider off. Thrusting his blade into the dragon’s neck, he spirals. The companion leaps from his death fall to his dragon to battle the other wingless dragon as the dark dragon and the winged brown dragon fight in circles.

  Through a hazy fog, the wingless dragon and rider attack. The companion’s dragon is hit from behind as the brown dragon finds an open opportunity. They fall as heavy stone to the ground. The dark dragon is forced to land with the wingless dragon and brown dragon forcing him down from above. A blast from the brown dragon leaves the grounded one encased in stone. The attackers rise and fly west.

  “No! Stop it! Please someone, help!” Seyra cries out in her sleep.

  Grifton, startled by Seyra’s sudden call, awakes and hurries to her side. Grabbing her by her shoulders, he gently shakes her. “Seyra! Wake up. You’re dreaming.”

  Athan rumbles and sits on hind limbs. “Seyra, what is it?”

  My eyelids flutter open. “The dream…I think I saw Dreyth. Stars and Moon, they were attacked!”

  “Where Seyra? Remember all you can while it’s fresh in your mind,” Athan prods.

  “It was a snow storm, just like the one we had last night. Everything was whirling snow. I couldn’t make out any landmarks.” It dawns on me—this wasn’t a normal dream. My heart hammers wildly in my chest as I leap up. “We have to go! He’s out there somewhere and…” I can’t hold back the tears. I scared to death I’m too late.

  Grifton hustles around me, tying supplies to the saddle. I gulp for air. I can’t seem to breathe. “I’ve got you, Seyra. Come on. I’ll give you a boost.” He laces his hands together and I wedge my boot inside as I climb upon Athan. Everything I’m doing is in a haze. My shoulders pull into to me, as if I could hide inside. I feel Grifton slide in behind me and work the harness around us. He pauses and pulls me back into his chest and I crumble. Heaving racking sobs, I turn my head into his arm and let my heart break.

  The sun hides behind billowing clouds as we fly over the white-mounded landscape. It seems like we’ve been flying for most of the day without seeing a break in the clouds or snowfall. Suddenly, Athan shifts and tilts towards the ground. A few dark stony outcroppings pop up through the snow. He descends. Long invisible fingers clamp down on my throat, strangling me slowly. Then, I see it…

  “Dreyth!” I scream as I try to wiggle loose of the harness with Grifton fighting me all the way.

  “Seyra, wait! You’ll plunge to your death!” Grifton holds firm to my waist, keeping me seated until Athan lands. I shirk out of the bindings and stumble face-first in the freezing lumps of snow. I make out a folded wing and snout outstretched just at the snow line. I step back puzzled. My forehead pinches in confusion. It’s—a rock. Not Dreyth. “Thank the Stars and Moon, I thought at first it could be Dreyth down here.”

  I turn to look at Athan. His eyes are pools of water. He bursts a flame at the rock and it doesn’t singe. Athan shakes and folds down, lowering his head. “Our Brula’r. My friend…”

  “No! No, Athan! See, it’s just a rock formation. Not our Dreyth.” I tremble as the words rush out of my mouth, praying to whatever Life force is out there to please make it so. I stumble closer and dust the ridge of snow from the wing and catch my breath. There imbedded in stone, glistening through the rock, are stars shining in the night sky. My chin quivers as my tears pelt the frozen land. Not this, not the cold. How could he have been turned to stone by ice?

  Strangel
y, Grifton calls in an eerie voice, his arms spread wide and eyes shut in stern concentration. “Heal him, Seyra. This is why we’ve come.”

  I stare at Grifton, blinking rapidly. How can I? My Dreyth is frozen stone! A small spark kindles in my mind—the wall! The wall by Elky’s chamber! I dig out around the stone dragon and push myself against his chest using the Ziphan to prop me up. A sharp buzz hums through my hands as the Ziphan glows a bright green.

  Athan sits up, his eyes wide in shock. “Keep doing it Seyra, whatever you’re doing is working.”

  I clamber around his form, pressing my body against wings and limbs. I rain kisses across his snout as I see the rock melt away and sizzle into the snow. Athan blazes the snow from around Dreyth, leaving muddy puddles as I continue to work on his wing folded under his massive weight. He stirs. He stirs!

  “Dreyth! Do you hear me? You need to move your wings and sit upright.” I can only hope his movement isn’t his body responding to the ice and stone melt.

  In moments, I melt all the stone from the areas exposed. I have Athan help topple Dreyth. I must release his other side. Athan strains against Dreyth, grimacing at the effort. Finally, Dreyth tips to his side and I hurry to melt the rock encasing him. As the rock slides off, Athan drags Dreyth away from the stone solidifying around him. Dreyth has yet to open his eyes.

  Athan melts a circle behind us and slowly pulls Dreyth back away from the heavy snow. Flashes of Krulem’s evil deed are pressing into my bones. To die by cold is the worse that a dragon can face. Athan hunches behind Dreyth, forcing his warmth to him. Grifton hurries to one side as I snuggle into his torso, willing him to come back to me. I feel no movement, no promise of hope and I shudder. Tears are the only warmth my body feels.

  A whisper, like a bee buzzing close to my ear, causes a catch in my throat.

  “Seyra…”

  Jumping up, I spin to face him. His glorious green eyes peel open.

  I throw myself against him, crying uncontrollably. His wing moves as one arm embraces me. I can’t stop crying, even as my tears freeze against his chest.

  “How?” He manages to say.

  I gulp air and shakily laugh. “Remember when the wall melted by Elky’s chamber? Who knew I would need this ability? Do you think you can fly? We need to get you home.”

  “No, Seyra.” The softness in his voice is laced with a deep resolution.

  “But, you must! I almost lost you Dreyth. We have to make sure you’re well.”

  A soft smile moves across his emerald eyes. “It isn’t always what we want, my Sparrow. I am the Brula’r. The others have no idea what the Stone dragons can do. They will annihilate us. We were worried of the dragons and men from the east? They hold no comparison, as you can see.”

  I gape at him in surprise. He would go back to these wretched creatures to be put into stone again?

  “Seyra, even you know that I must. Just as I knew you would find some way of leaving the Spires. It isn’t what I wanted. I wanted you protected and safe. And yet, you risked your life again for mine.”

  “Then we go to battle,” I say fiercely. “Save your breath. I will not go back to the Spires, neither will Grifton or Athan. Our place has and will always be by your side and those who left us behind. Grifton needs to be by Elky’s side. Hu’gan said, the three of us will be important to our future, the magic of three, remember? Down to my bones, I know this is true.”

  “I have no saddle for you to sit in.”

  “I will hang on somehow, but I am going wherever you go.”

  A rumble stirs around me before Dreyth speaks. “Athan, clear away the snow that was next to me. There you will find Jiblout’s saddle for his dragon. They were sent to protect me and died doing so. We’ll have to make that saddle fit well enough where Seyra won’t fall off.”

  I hug Dreyth’s neck, bringing another rumble of pleasure from him. Hurrying, we work on the saddle to relax its frozen state to make it pliable once more. Grifton removes the extra harness from Athan and attaches it to the saddle. Fortunately, there is enough strapping to work around Dreyth’s girth. I cinch the saddle tight and slip into it. The saddle was made for the Beljeem Warriors. It lacks the extra backing behind it, and has a lower front without saddle horn. I tighten the shoulder harness realizing the saddle was designed for the rider to slide out and jump on an approaching enemy. Or, I think, to fall to their death!

  “I know where Hu’gan is heading. We’ll join with them to finish this battle.” His eyes hold a fierceness I pray will turn the battle in our favor… if we reach them in time.

  Finally the sun gives its warmth again, as we pass out of reach of the wintry storm. We still head east but slice through the air dropping south to follow the path Hu’gan takes. Dreyth has memorized the pathway with its landmarks, since this is the path where Hu’gan said the new dragons have surfaced. A shiver racks my spine. These dragons, the ones I call Stone dragons have a magic previously unknown—or is it something the Xi have been able to pull from the dragons?

  Each time I close my eyes, I see the Xi building their massive force to come against us. If only it had been the Xi, I feel sure we would win. Hu’gan would deal with their mind control and their wingless dragons would stand no chance against our dragons. By whatever forces that brought out the Stone dragons, it weighs heavily against our outcome. It is true that I have been able to release Dreyth from his stone encasement, but how can I do that to multiple dragons? What happens if they are turned to stone in flight? Could they also turn people to stone? Thoughts careen in my mind, searching for answers to turn the battle in our favor.

  Dreyth interrupts my thinking by speaking his thoughts internally to me. “You are correct. The Stone dragons are a formidable adversary. They can use their ability in air or on land. It was fortunate for me, they forced me to land before using the magic against me. If I had been airborne, the outcome would not be the one we have. But their magic isn’t the only thing we battle. Fighting the one that drove me to the ground, I discovered their scales are stronger than ours. It’s as if they are made of stone. Flames, bites and claws had little to no effect against them.”

  “Then how do we fight them?” I ask.

  A rumble vibrates under me. “I’ve been pondering the same question. At least when we are with Hu’gan, Elky will be able to keep a shield of protection around us. We had hoped her control of her magic would span the great distances, but it failed.”

  “Have you found any weakness of the Stone dragons? Anything we can use against them?

  A sudden burst of flame answers me before his thoughts do. “I have only discovered what doesn’t work against them…” He retreats into his own thoughts and I’m left to mine.

  The land below shifts from snow-ridden hills to forests of deep green and fields still verdant. Ahead is another chain of mountains, taller than even the Spires. I hope we can reach them before nightfall, to give us a shelter from the night and possibly from the Xi and their amassed forces. Thick cotton-ball clouds break up the sparkling blue of the sky. An occasional bird of prey darts from the heights to the tall grasses gently swaying in the breeze. Exhausted, I lean forward and wrap my arms against Dreyth’s neck lulled into a sleep.

  Chapter 21

  Rousted from my sleep, Dreyth warns, “We must find a cave for shelter. A storm is brewing.”

  I glance around to see lightning popping off to the east and thunderous clouds billowing dark and threatening. Dreyth and Athan fly hard, as the winds whirl and shove against us. The mountains are close. Dreyth soars higher and higher, trying to outpace the winds. Stinging fat raindrops pelt against us, feeling like pebbles thrown sideways. I duck my head to keep my face protected. At least with the cloak over my rider leathers, the sting is short lived. Dreyth tilts and heads towards the mountainside, searching for openings. Athan roars under us. I look down to see Grifton pointing to where they are heading; a triangular shaped dark opening. Dreyth changes his heading and drops swiftly downward and catches them as they
disappear inside the mountain. Dreyth catches the lip of the opening with his talons, jerking us to a stop.

  By the time we make our entrance, Grifton has produced a bluish-green ball of light. I’m met with the first smile I’ve seen from him. I walk around the room, curious if dragons had been here. I find no evidence in the immediate chamber. “Have you looked further?” I walk up to Grifton as his hands graze over the stone. He stays quiet. Frowning, I tilt my head wondering what he’s doing.

  “Grifton?” I ask again. By this time Athan and Dreyth stand behind me. A shiver hits me broadside, like a tree branch struck me. I jerk, looking around.

  He pushes both hands against the wall, murmuring in a deep guttural way. His head leans backwards and all I see is the whites of his eyes rapidly moving from side to side. A silvery light starts to leak through the rock wall. All the hairs on my arms and neck spike. I swallow hard. Leaping towards him, I grab an arm, pulling him away from the wall. Once he breaks contact, he shakes his head and slowly crumples to the ground. “What is this place?” I don’t expect an answer.

  “Athan, keep Grifton away from that wall. I want to slither through this opening to see what lies behind it.” I squeeze my shoulders through sideways and catch my breath. The inner chamber is a smaller version of the outer chamber. But as I step inside, my fingers trail against smooth walls. In the center of the room a clear crystal sits. Light radiates from the tip of the triangle, giving off a soft glow.

  “What are you seeing? We can’t pass through.” Dreyth is concerned.

  “I need more time, it’s an odd room. I need to explore it.” I can tell he is none too pleased to be separated on the other side. I allow my eyes a moment to adjust. Walking around the edge of the walls, I imagine they fell upon each other at one time since they all lean inward. I spot something on the walls. Centered on each wall is a mysterious design, like a trail circling in on itself. My breath catches in my throat just seeing it. I dare not trace the design with my fingertip, for there is a power in this room that oozes and drips. It feels heavy to my being. The designs appear to be part of the whole. Chewing on my lower lip, I kneel to look at the thick, triangular shaped crystal in the center of the room. It’s then I notice it: carved under the crystal is the same mysterious design joining all three pieces together. My eyes bulge at the discovery—it can mean nothing less than the power of three!