by Jada Fisher
“I do not know. I have a theory that perhaps the old spirits will find another host, but I do not believe it. There’s something special about you, there has to be. I do not believe that they could just find another one of you, or create another avatar so easily.” She heaved a long breath. “Then again, it’s all conjecture on my part. But my heart feels that, should you perish, so our world will with you.”
“That’s… That can’t be true.”
“Maybe it isn’t. But you can understand why I needed you to know. There is something great and terrible coming, Ukrah. I need you to be prepared for it, not protected.”
Ukrah nodded, not knowing what kind of words could follow that. Because how could someone reply to the governess of all witches telling them that people were going to try to kill them, and their death could ruin everything?
“Do you need a moment, or would you like to return before Eist can begin to worry about you?”
Ukrah drew in a shaky breath. “Yes, let’s do that. I… I need to think.”
“I understand.” The woman stood and the dragons roused, taking their own leave. “And one last word of warning. I’ve heard from Eist that you dreamt of your friend when he was taken. Pay attention to those dreams. Often our sleep is the only time that we are able to escape our perception of how time works.”
“I… Alright. I will try to do so.”
“Good. Now, inside. I’m sure you could use a good meal after the stress of today. I wouldn’t be surprised if Braddock swung by tomorrow to bake off his aggression that somebody dared stress any of his little ones.”
“I’m not—”
“Please, all of us are Braddock’s little ones. He’s the only person I’ve met who’s more of a mother hen than Eist, and that’s an impressive claim.”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“I often do.”
They shared a small, tentative smile, and Ukrah began to wonder if maybe she had even more allies than she thought.
13
Glimpse into the Inferno
I take a single nap atop this house and then you go and get yourself expelled. Sometimes, I think you do these things on purpose.
Ukrah’s eyes opened and she rolled on her side, looking to the window of her old room to see Tayir perched there, looking at her with his little head tilted.
“I thought you would have been happy that I’m no longer going to be distracting myself with being a dragon rider?”
Oh, I am happy. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not surprised by your propensity for getting yourself into trouble. I would almost think that you have a propensity for mobs considering how often you seem to accumulate them.
“That’s not funny, Tayir.”
Good, I wasn’t attempting to be so. I am happy, however, that you will be concentrating on what you are meant to be concentrating on.
“And what exactly would that be?” she snapped.
A groan sounded from Crispin, and Ukrah stilled. While she was in her old room again, the young man had refused to return to his. Despite Mrs. Kaldonner’s disapproval, he demanded that they put a cot in the corner of her room so he could room with both her and Voirdr. For some reason, she didn’t want him to know exactly what was going on.
Maybe she was protecting him just like Eist was protecting her.
Oh, do you still have questions on that? I would have thought that would have been obvious by now.
“And why would it be obvious?”
Because you know your true self. You are a vessel. A spirit reborn.
“…and? What does any of that mean? What am I supposed to do?”
I don’t know. I am simply a guardian, not a manual.
Ukrah groaned and rolled away from him. “You have a real knack for giving the most unsatisfying answers of anyone I know.”
Thank you. I live to serve. Ukrah let out a grumble, and he chuckled. The only thing I want is for you to understand yourself and accept what’s within you. The more you give yourself to it, the more you’re likely to understand what your purpose is.
“And what if I don’t have a purpose?”
Of course you do. I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.
“What do you mean?”
I’m a guardian, my dear. I was created specifically for you the moment you were awoken. I knew nothing beforehand, and when you succeed, I will return to nothing.
Ukrah blinked at him, completely taken aback by the revelation. “Wait, you die if I succeed in whatever it is I’m supposed to do?”
What? Die? No, guardians do not die. We just disperse to become what’s needed next. He ruffled his feathers. It’s shaky in my head, but I know in the olden days, we had many powers. We were mighty and connected to the magic of the world. I remember grand days of protecting heroes and banishing spirits that had been corrupted. I had seven heads and four wings, or at least I think I did. Now… I’m just this.
“I… I’m sorry, Tayir. I had no idea.”
I know. There is a reason why I never mentioned it before. I do not need your pity, Ukrah. I need you to succeed so our world can heal, and I can return to the nothing. If I return to the nothing, then the next time I’m needed, I can return to my former glory.
“I… What if I fail, Tayir?”
You will not. I have known many heroes in my time, and you are the one I have the most hope for. You are so close to unlocking your true potential.
Ukrah rolled back to him, smiling softly. He wasn’t that bad, even if he was cranky most of the time. “Thank you.”
But one more thing, Ukrah.
Her smile fell at that.
“Yes?”
Remember that your potential is a gift, not a right, and it can be taken away should you prove yourself unworthy.
“What does that mean?”
Exactly what you think it does, Ukrah. Do not ruin the gift you had been given.
Her brow furrowed at that, but he fluttered off back to his nest up on the roof, leaving Ukrah to stare into the darkness until she fell into slumber.
Fire.
She was so tired of her dreams being consumed by fire.
At least she was above it this time, looking down on the burning hellscape and the strange color slinking maliciously through it.
She was atop the shadowed dragon again, but she finally understood it wasn’t really shadows at all, but rather black scales upon black scales, glistening rainbow in the flickering light of the inferno.
Voirdr. Her little guy. He was there. He had been there all along.
Despite the horror all around her, she felt her heart swell. She had never been alone, had she? He’d always been there, waiting for her to reach him.
She reached down and stroked the scales below her. They were soft and cool and so very much him that tears appeared in her eyes. No matter what happened, she would always have him with her.
“Sister!”
Ukrah jerked her vision away from him and down to the inferno below. Just like every other time she’d had a similar dream, the gold cloud broke into its different parts, which fell to the chaos far below.
But instead of staying little balls of shimmering energy, they began to grow, merge, take shape. Ukrah watched, mouth open, as they seemed to take on the shape of humans.
Not solid enough to be defined, neither feminine nor masculine, but inherently human. They stood there, arms reaching up to her.
“Sister!” one cried again.
“Sister!” another said, flashing brightly as it called to her.
“Help us!”
“We’re lost! We cannot find the light!”
Ukrah stared at them, that feeling of protectiveness rising so fast and hot within her that she nearly lurched forward. They needed her. They needed to be saved from the flames!
“Ukrah!”
The girl looked up to see Eist and Fior in front of her again, the woman dressed all in white once more. “It’s too late to stop the fire,” she said gravely. “It needs s
omething to burn.”
Ukrah tightened her knees, pushing her dragon downward. “I can save them! I have to save them!”
“It is too late!” Eist called after her. “The fire must burn!”
But Ukrah continued to hurtle down toward them, arms outstretched. Just when she had almost reached the closest, the fire burning the hair on her arms and face, everything vanished, leaving her right back in the sky again.
“I told you,” Eist said, her face grim and eyes glowing gold. “It is too late. You must find them before the first steps begin, or this can’t be stopped. The fire must burn once it begins.”
“I don’t understand. What do you—”
“Save them, Ukrah. Find them. Save them.” The golden silhouettes appeared behind her, all reaching out and calling for her. “You have to find them.”
“You’re not really Eist,” Ukrah said, clutching Voirdr’s back. “What is this? Who are you?”
“I am exactly as I need to be. Save them, Ukrah. Time is running out.”
And without another word or image, Ukrah was flung back through what seemed like time itself until she slammed into her bed, panting and shaking and covered in sweat.
“Ukrah? Hey, hey, Ukrah, are you alright?”
The desert girl looked wide-eyed to Crispin, who was holding Voirdr and gazing down at her in concern.
“I…” She took a ragged breath and sat up, trying to collect herself. She felt like she was on the verge of death, her mind scrambled until it was inside-out, and it was only after several beats that she was able to remember everything that happened to her.
As if it hadn’t been a full enough day, she realized exactly what she needed to do.
“Come,” she said, getting to her feet and swaying slightly. By the spirits, she was so dizzy. That could stop at any moment and she would be grateful.
“What? Where are we going? What are we doing?”
“We’re going to wake up Lord and Lady W’allenhaus.”
“Why?”
“Because,” Ukrah said, throwing the door open and finding herself unsurprised to see Cassinda standing there, dressed in her nightclothes and clutching a very worn doll. “I finally know what I need to do.”
14
What Lies Ahead
Ukrah probably should have knocked when she shoved open the doors of the W’allenhauses’ bed chambers, but she didn’t think of it. She was driven by a singular purpose, still fueled by the echoes of her dream.
She had to beat the flames. Something dangerous was happening, simmering just below the surface of their world, and she had to beat it or everything would burn. Just like speaking words, it couldn’t be undone once it was released into the world.
Of course, Eist sat up in an instant, knife in her hand, while Athar jumped to his feet with his massive fists raised. Yes, Ukrah definitely should have knocked first.
She pulled up short and they both seemed to realize exactly who she was and that she was flanked only by Crispin and Cassinda, not assassins of the night.
“What’s going on?” Eist asked, sounding so worn and exhausted that Ukrah almost felt a flicker of guilt.
“I had a dream.”
“What? Was it a n-nightmare?” Athar asked, sitting back on the bed and yawning. It was only then that Ukrah noticed he was dressed only in a pair of sleeping pants, his broad, barreled chest bare. She felt her eyes grow wide and her jaw slacken at just how big he truly was, only for a hand to cover her eyes. A beat later, she realized it was Crispin, and she didn’t know whether she should be grateful or pull his hand down and gawk some more. She’d never seen someone with so much muscle, and it was almost enough to distract her.
Almost.
“Perhaps we could discuss this in the drawing room?” Crispin said, his voice much higher pitched than usual. “Give everyone a moment to get decent?”
“No,” Eist practically growled. “My feet are too swollen and if I try to stand, I’ll get sick. Whatever you needed to wake me up for when I’ve finally fallen asleep, tell me now.”
Crispin’s hand was still over her eyes and she did bat it away, only to find that Athar had grabbed his tunic from where it was on the floor and pulled it over his head. He certainly did move fast for being so large. She wasn’t sure why she felt a pang of disappointment, but she definitely did.
Weird.
“Well?” Eist asked, drawing her back to the matter at hand. “You had a dream.”
She nodded. “I realized that I’m not the only vessel out there.”
The woman’s expression seemed to transition from crankiness to surprise. “Come again?”
“There’s more of me. A handful or so. We’re scattered across the world, and if I know it, so do other people. I have to get to them before…”
“Before w-what?”
“Before anyone else can get to them.”
“And what if we don’t get to them first?”
Ukrah frowned, her stomach twisting at the idea. “That would be a very, very bad thing.”
“So what th-then?” Athar asked. “Do you know where they are? Who th-they are?”
Ukrah shook her head. “No. I’m not even sure how to find them. I just know that I have to.”
“You want to go on a mission. To find them.” Ukrah nodded, and the woman sighed. It was such a weary sound, tinged with far too much regret. “I can’t go with you. I’m too far along. Even if it wasn’t a matter of not being able to fly, I’d slow you down.”
“I…”
She waved away whatever Ukrah had been planning on saying. “It’s fine. I’ll get Dille. I just need to know, are you absolutely sure about this?”
Ukrah was tempted to tell her about the full dream, about seeing her in white and how she somehow knew the danger lurking, but something made her hold back. She couldn’t say why, it just sat inside of her chest, keeping the words locked behind her teeth.
“I am. I can tell. I have to find them. I have to.”
“Alright then,” Eist said, her words going faster as she went along. “Planning it out can wait until morning, right? There’s plenty to prepare for, so there’s no use in worrying about it tonight.”
“That’s it?” Crispin sputtered. “You’re signing off on us going off on some mission to who knows where to find people we don’t know when we don’t even know how to find them?”
Eist shrugged and laid back down. “When I was your age, I read forbidden texts and got into a one-on-one fight with a vessel possessed by the Blight. People like us don’t get to be careful or cautious or have childhoods. We just have destinies.”
The woman’s eyelids were already fluttering, and Ukrah guessed it was because her baby needed her rest. Despite the excitement and fear churning in her stomach, she backed up and let the woman sleep.
“Goodnight, Lady W’allenhaus, Lord W’allenhaus.”
She closed the door behind her and headed out, ending up in the hall with Cassinda and Crispin.
“Look, Ukrah, I don’t know what you mean about vessels or anything, but I’m really not sure about thi—”
“I want to go with you,” Cassinda cut in before he could finish.
Eist turned and looked at the young girl to see that she was staring at her intensely, her green eyes blazing.
“I’m not sure Lady—”
“You need me. I… I’m good in a fight. In the sense that I’ve never been in a fight longer than a moment because I am…efficient at ending them. But I need to come with you. I can feel it.”
Ukrah wanted to say no—that she didn’t know where they would be going, how dangerous it would be, or if it would even be fruitful—but something about the girl’s expression stopped her. The desert girl thought back to how Cassinda had handled those assassins so easily, not even breaking a sweat as she dispatched them with a simple word. If they couldn’t have the god-woman, maybe having someone like her on their side could indeed be a boon.
“We will see what Eist says in the morning
. Like she said, there’s lots of planning to do on a journey like this.”
“She will agree,” the girl said confidently. “But for now, how about we got to your room and you explain to us exactly what you mean by ‘vessels’ and there being more than just you.”
She walked forward primly, her doll still clutched in her hands. Crispin and Ukrah exchanged looks while Voirdr just wiggled out of his hold and shuffled after the girl, happy that she was at least walking back in the direction of his bed.
“You know, I wouldn’t be opposed to a little explanation either.”
Well, they both probably had a right to a little more information, but for some reason, Ukrah’s stomach twisted at the idea of them knowing everything. Like she wanted to protect them from the stress and uncertainty of it all.
She guessed that she really did understand Eist more than she thought.
“Alright, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for reading Black Dragon, the third book in the Rise of the Black Dragon series. The black dragon has returned and the world is on pins and needles waiting to see what happens now.
The next story in the Rise of the Black Dragon series is called Reborn will be available soon, so keep an eye out for it on Amazon.
While you’re waiting for the next story, you should check out the Brindle Dragon series which set the stage for the Rise of the Black Dragon series. The first book in that series is called Chosen and features the beginning of Eist’s quest to become a dragon rider.
Get Chosen here:
amazon.com/dp/B07LCT7ZCN
I really enjoy hearing what readers think so if you could leave a review for me on Amazon, that would be really cool.
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