“That’s a few miles from here,” Piers challenged, appraising the distance, keenly aware that would mean walking straight through the remains of a forgotten city. Looking at Meena, he laughed, attempting to lighten the mood. “Know any rain charms?”
Her eyes lighting up, she grinned, “Actually I might. Let’s find a tree.”
Moving quickly, they gathered their gear and continued on from there as they had been. A few hundred yards ahead, a small grove of trees stood, with a much larger one in the center.
“Will this do?” Piers asked as large drops began to splat against them.
“Yes, if I can do it,” she agreed, dropping the basket she had been carrying and holding her staff with both hands. Chanting quietly to herself as she stood beneath it, she tapped the ground repeatedly.
“Well this feels odd,” Rey observed, turning in a slow circle next to their litter, which they had set down.
“Oh my God,” Amicia breathed, pivoting as well, noting that the rain had begun in earnest, falling all around them, but not through the tree. Dropping her head back, she began to laugh, “It’s shielded. Like a glass dome placed over the top.”
“Yes, precisely,” Meena agreed, pushing her hood back to look up as well. Stifling her grin, her pleasure at her success refused to be hidden.
“Well done,” Piers praised, clamping her on the arm. “The only problem is, it’s getting damned cold.” Casting his eyes about, he swore under his breath. “This wood isn’t going to burn, either. It’s too fresh,” he advised, giving a lower branch a shake.”
“We have the desert wood that Meena shrank down,” Bally interjected.
“Ah, yes, let me just bring it to normal size,” she agreed, searching for it among their things.
“Can you make it bigger?” Animir asked. “I mean, if you could, we would only need one piece.”
Pulling one of the logs free, which she held easily with one hand, she laughed, “Let’s give it a try, shall we? Where do you want it?”
Clearing the ground and gathering rocks to form the circle, Piers pointed, “Right here, love.”
Placing the wood in the center, Meena gave the log three taps with the tip of her rod, and it grew tenfold in size. “Is that big enough for you?”
“It sure is!” the elf agreed.
Happy for the small number of rations they had picked up in Heewan, the group spread their blankets and had their meal, ready to call it a night. Lying around, enjoying their fire in their magical dome, they talked quietly about their adventures.
Getting to his feet, Bally stepped over to the edge, where a drip line had formed. Poking his hand out and then pulling it back in, his sleeve had been wet up the elbow. “This is really amazing,” he spluttered. “Is there anything you wizards can’t do?”
“Oh, yes,” Meena assured.
Sitting cross-legged, staring into the flames, Piers muttered, “Transfiguration, perhaps.” Glancing at the others, he explained, “You know, turning themselves into something else. Or death.” The moment the word tumbled out, he regretted it.
Pivoting his gaze, the look on her face said it all. “I’m so sorry, Meena,” he breathed.
“It’s ok. Don’t trouble yourself,” she whispered, her eyes distant, as if reliving the horror of Jaco’s demise. After a long moment she added, “Yes, there are certainly things no amount of magic can change.”
“Did you try to save him?” Bally asked, still shaking his wet hand as he reclaimed his seat.
The entire party turning to look at him, Piers scowled, “Can you really be that thick.”
“No,” the younger man denied, glancing one to another, “I mean, you’re the one that brought it up.”
“I wasn’t there,” Meena provided. “Otherwise, I might have tried, even if it would have exposed me. It’s a hell of a thing, to have someone knock upon your door to tell you your mate is never coming home.”
Amicia’s heart ached for the other woman as she recalled their conversation over purchasing cloth. “It’s a hell of a price, loving someone,” she agreed, shifting her eyes to Piers. Eventually, it costs you everything when they’re gone.
New Abolia
“Here, let me help you with that, love,” Piers offered early one morning a few weeks later. Meena was having difficulty tying the ropes for her baskets, and he felt more than happy to give her a hand.
“It’s the damn chill in the air,” she observed, rubbing her palms against each other briskly. “My fingers aren’t as young as they used to be.”
“I hope summer hurries up and gets here,” Bally chortled.
“This is summer,” Meena informed him, cutting her eyes over to catch his look of disbelief before she added. “Eriden is a vast continent. Did you think it was a little island, after all?”
“No, I…” he stammered, “I just didn’t realize we were that far north.”
“We’ve been walking forty-six days since we left Whitefair,” Piers informed him. “I’m out of paper, and down to making simple tally marks on the side.”
“Oh, wow,” Amicia said in surprise, swallowing hard. “So, we really are in troll country.”
“Aye,” the Mate nodded, the pack adjusted. “Time is against us, and bitter cold looms in our near future.”
“I’m beginning to think the western shore has no beaches that aren’t claimed by someone else,” Rey interjected, tending to their litter.
Amicia caught the glance that passed between their oldest members. “What’s that for?” she demanded. “What is it that you know?”
“Nothing,” Piers said quietly, looking at her over his shoulder. “We’ve been discussing what we will do if we don’t find something soon. We may have to build a shelter and winter here.”
“You’ve already been looking,” the blonde accused. “That’s why we assembled the coats and gloves from the leather. You think it’s too cold already.”
“Aye,” he nodded, noting the others either had not heard or did not understand the implications.
“Shit,” Amicia breathed. “How long before we must stop?”
“Three days,” Piers clipped.
Angry, she turned to Rey and grunted, “Here let me help you with the load.”
“Why?” he replied, tightening the ropes. “I can handle this, I assure you.”
Pulling on the line on the opposite end, she squatted and examined his handywork, her breaths frosting in the cool air. Seeing her ignore his denial of the need of aid, he scooted around and took a knee next to her. “What’s the matter?” he asked more quietly.
“Forty-six days,” she whispered, cutting her tear-filled eyes up at him. “We’re never going to find it.”
“Then we’ll build a shelter and put in for the winter. Try again next year,” he soothed, freeing the ropes from her grasp. “This wasn’t a now or never deal, love. We’ll get another chance.”
Her heart ached at the thought of spending the winter watching Meena and Piers. As they had pushed forward, the relationship between the couple had become openly exposed. “He loves her,” she choked, wiping at her damp face. “I don’t know if I can share a cabin with them,” she confessed.
“I’ll be there as well,” Rey pointed out, laying his arm across her shoulders and giving her a squeeze through the thick hide. “And we have four more days, the Mate said. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“Three days,” the girl corrected, emitting a tiny, spastic laugh. Seeing the care in his eyes, she sighed. “Thank you. I know we’ll get through this, and having to wait isn’t the end of the world,” she lied, almost certain that it would be.
On their feet, the group prepared to move out. Falling into line, Amicia’s mind began its typical wandering, and she thought about how the changes within their group had been slow. She couldn’t say exactly when she realized Meena had been right about her life with the Mate. In the beginning, he had appeared self-conscious about their deepening romance, keeping it hidden.
However, he had
eventually relaxed into his place by her side. He protected her as anyone in his company, maybe even more so. A sure sign he is in love with her, Ami observed. And he goes to great pains to keep their rendezvous private, she added, pursing her lips. He had never done so much for his previous conquests. But Meena Gavaan was far more than a notch in his belt even if he had difficulty admitting it.
Of course, as the relationship between Meena and Piers had grown, Ami had agreed to some of her Rey’s demands. She allowed him to court her openly, and their relationship had deepened, although it had not been consummated physically. She still hoped to keep to that tradition, saving it for the night that they wed. If we make it that far.
Smiling as Reynard marched ahead of her, it lightened her mood to consider the depth of his caring. He is faithful to a fault, and I should count myself lucky to have him. She should have, but it had been far more difficult to convince her heart of as much.
Could she settle for such a thing? To simply give up hoping for something better. The thought rolled in her gut. She had become aware that she agreed with Meena, that there was nothing better than a man who held a woman with love in his heart and respect in his eyes. She had belittled the belief in Nalen, but through time and hardship, she had come to realize how much she had left behind.
At the head of the line, Piers halted without warning, having cleared the top of a small crest. Staring at the steep drop on the other side, he knew they would have to take the descent slowly, but that was not what had him in awe.
Before him, a wide beach expanded, lapping gently at the sloped shore. His eyes scanning the horizon, the water in the bay appeared clear with no reef to be seen. “Dear God,” he breathed. “We’ve found it.”
Holding his position, the others joined him, forming a line on the ridge above the alcove. “Oh my God!” Amicia squealed, covering her mouth with delight. Smelling the leather of her new gloves, she inhaled it, connecting it with the sanctuary before them.
Turning, she threw her arms around Rey’s neck. She had been troubled all morning about her treatment of him, as if she were leading him on and eventually would break his heart. Standing there, looking down at what she hoped would be the place they could build their vessel, she was overcome with a mixture of joy and sadness.
If they weren’t able to build the boat, he would remain with her forever, and she would make things right between them. And if they were able to construct it, he would leave her, and she would face the rest of her days in Eriden alone. At the moment she could not say which she hoped would be their end, but the stretch of sand implied their final path lay near at hand.
Recovering from his shock, the Mate announced, “Ok, we are heading down. Everyone stay focused. Don’t let your joy at this discovery distract you from the trail.”
Making the treacherous descent, the group soon arrived on the flat spread of the lagoon, its size and shape eerily similar to that of Riran. Dropping everything at the line of trees, they all hurried towards the water’s edge.
“Will you be able to swim here?” Rey asked of his tiny mermaid, helping her from her pack on Zae’s back and placing her on the ground.
Oldrilin gave no reply, her eyes bright as she inspected the flatness of the waters. The shape may have been similar, but the beach itself was quite different from the small grains of sand at Riran. Instead, it appeared more like small rough stones, with sharp jagged edges. Feeling the water kiss her toes, she paused, waiting for the others to join her.
Falling onto the rough sand, each pulled off their shoes and boots, ready to test their find, but the frigid temperature quickly drove them out of the surf.
“And I thought the lagoon was bad,” Rey lamented, staring at his wet feet.
Sitting on the sand and wearing a small pout, Oldrilin studied the waves, aware this was not her home.
“At least give it a try,” Ami encouraged. “If only to discover if you can transform.”
Shaking her head, Lin curled her knees to her chest and rested her chin upon them. “I might get stuck in such cold water,” she observed with a tremor in her voice. “Stuck in the ocean alone,” she sighed.
“I’m sure you would be able to come back, but you can wait a few days if you would like,” Amicia soothed, understanding her fear. “We will be here for many months while we construct the ship. You will have plenty of time to try.”
Leaving the water’s edge for the time being, the group explored the edge of the woods, which began a mere one hundred yards from the water. The distance perfect, all they needed was a clearing where they could construct their cabin and prepare their temporary home for the winter they would surely face before they could set sail.
Coming upon a suitable location, Bally laughed, “I knew we would find it! It’s perfect,” he screamed, slapping Animir on the arm as they ran to gather their gear.
“We’ll help them,” Rey volunteered. “You guys decide what we need to do next,” he suggested, giving Ami a tug to come along and leave the couple to discuss their needs.
The air amongst them had shifted, and a great burden had been lifted. Hauling their things to the future site of their cabin, the group laughed and teased in a manner they had not shared in some time. Eager to hear their assignments, they knew they had a few hours of daylight left, and the sooner they completed their construction, the better off they would be.
Beneath the afternoon sun, they used thin limbs cut from young pines to lay out the foundation for their cabin. Then Bally showed the others how to fell and prepare the trees, training each of them for the job that would be theirs as the cabin was raised over the next few days.
Circling at a distance, Lamwen observed the group with his keen eye. He would not land and make his nest until the cover of darkness, but he knew the forest surrounding their new domain would provide him with all the cover he would need to continue his surveillance.
Seeing their progress in their first afternoon of construction, he reached out to Amicia. “So, you have settled at last.”
Smiling to herself, Amicia continued to rake the bark off a long pine, removing it as she had been shown. “It would appear so,” she silently replied. “Are we safe here?”
“You fear so much, princess. But winter is upon the land, and the trolls have buried themselves to the north.”
“And that’s a good thing,” Ami concluded. “They will leave us alone then.”
“Until the thaw next spring,” he assured.
“You will remain close?”
“Ah, you will miss me,” he teased. “I must travel to Adiarwen to stand before the council. My return is not a given, but I am certain it will be allowed.”
“They tell you what to do?” she asked in surprise, not realizing he had been ordered to spy on them. The idea of it darkened her mood, as she had come to think of him as her friend.
“Ah, sweet Amicia, do not fret my presence, or the lack there of. Our connection has grown strong, and you will find me in your thoughts, though the miles between us may number many,” he assured.
Smiling in spite of herself, she sighed, “Be safe then, Lamwen.”
Be safe? Her sentiment stung him, like a thorn beneath a scale, digging into his flesh. Leaving the group to their construction, he turned to the east, the sinking sun to his back. Surely, she has not formed an attachment, he mused.
He had come to realize Amicia held great bravery within her, strength to stand whenever the occasion called for it. She had asked if they would be harmed, there in their new stretch of trees and sand, but he knew it was not for her own safety that she feared; it was that of her friends. Be safe then, Lamwen. Her words echoed in his mind, tearing at him from within.
His massive wings undulating gently, his thoughts churned. As captain of the king’s guard, he had been assigned this task, by trust or exile he could not be certain. He had spent near on a year acting as her shadow, and in that time his heart had become fully divided.
He had briefly considered killing her, bu
t the notion had been removed by the warmth of her touch. On the night they had left the desert, his decision had solidified when she stood before him, again without fear. Up to that point, he had oscillated between the two sides, weighing each but doing nothing to align himself with either.
As the cool wind flowed over him, he skimmed the tops of the trees, distracted as he prepared to face the strongest of their kind. I must have control of my faculties, he chided, as he knew this night would be far more dangerous than the last time he had faced the flames of their leaders.
Last time, he had neglected to reveal some of what he knew. Tonight, he would outright lie. He knew his thoughts were protected. He was strong, and no other could enter his mind without his invitation. Still, the idea he might be discovered in his treachery caused his heart to pound.
Foolish girl, he fumed, the smell of the sea greeting him as he arrived at the stone cliffs of his home. If he were not successful this eve, he knew that it would be Ami and her friends who would suffer.
The day not quite spent when he landed upon the rock of their meeting place, he glared at the pit that would soon burn brightly with the ceremonial fire of the elders. To the north, he could see the great prison, the scent of Ziradon reaching his sensitive nostrils in faint patches.
Growling to himself, he thought of Kaliwyn’s father and longed for a moment to speak with him, to assure him that his child lived. Taken with a fit of folly, he imagined he would ask for her, as well, as the idea of her becoming his mate had become a recurring fantasy of his.
A fire had sparked within him the night she had touched him, examining him by the light of the hamar gem. It burned for her, yearning to see her returned to her true form, where he might pursue her as one of his own. Suppressing his laughter there on the sacred cliff, he knew it would never be. Even if all were set right, it would not be permitted.
There were over a hundred male dragons but less than a dozen females within their realm. New dragon hatchlings were rare, and the privilege to mate was kept for only the most highly decorated members of the kingdom.
Dragon of Eriden - The Complete Collection Page 47
