Born of Embers

by R A Lewis

  Chapter 15

  Nash entering the cave woke Kalina, and she realized she’d fallen asleep. She sat up, stretching, and looked around the cavern, still empty of dragons. Nash wasn’t drunk this time, which made for a welcome change.

  “No dragons tonight? Are they out hunting?” he asked casually, sitting down at the fire and pulling some leftover food to him. Kalina shook her head.

  “I don’t know.” She stood and walked to the edge of the cave. “They were gone when I got back just after sunset and I haven’t seen them since.”

  Nash’s head jerked up in alarm.

  “That long?”

  She nodded, fear wriggling in her stomach, her heart leaping in her chest.

  “I’m scared something’s happened.”

  Nash stood and began pacing.

  “I’ll go into town and see what I can find out. You stay here and wait for them.”

  He raced off, leaving Kalina to wait, alone in the dark, her fear growing by the minute.

  The next few hours were some of the worst she’d ever spent. The dragons had never been gone for more than an hour or two, preferring to hunt nearby. But this felt different, and she began jumping at every sound, that old familiar panic rising in her chest, threatening to drown her.

  Pebbles clattering on the cliffside announced Nash’s arrival. He ran into the cave, his breath coming in ragged gasps from running up the cliffside from the town. He stopped, hands on his knees, heaving breaths rasping from him. Kalina wrung her hands, waiting for him to speak.

  “They’ve been drugged and taken,” he gasped out. “Water.”

  She leapt to grab him their water skin. He took a few deep gulps before continuing.

  “They’ve been loaded in the hold of a ship in the bay, due to leave just after sunrise.”

  Her eyes went wide. That was barely an hour or two away. They had to act fast. She couldn’t fathom the idea of losing Maska. She jumped into action, allowing the movements and planning to take her mind off her anxiety.

  “What ship?” she asked as she dug out their weapons that they’d stashed in the corner of the cave.

  Nash came up beside her and dug out his own. Together they strapped on sword belts, and Kalina strapped her axes to her belt, one on each side for easy access.

  “A ship called The Swift. It’s part of a Wostradian trading fleet out of Harris Bay,” he explained as he spoke.

  “How in Skaldir’s name did you even find them?” She looked at him sideways as she braided her hair back.

  Nash shrugged.

  “I have my sources. I haven’t been drinking in taverns just for fun, you know. I have made connections. I merely spoke to some of my sources about what they’d heard of two dragons being bought or sold or transported. One of them was drunk enough to tell me.” His scowl deepened as he strode from the cave. “He won’t be feeling well in the morning.”

  Kalina barely caught these last words but she could imagine what Nash had done to the man. She followed him at a quick pace, trying to hold herself back from running and tiring herself out.

  The cliffside town was quiet, only the occasional sound from a nearby tavern or house disturbing the cool autumn air that blew in off the ocean, scented with salt. If she hadn’t been rushing to save her dragon, Kalina might have enjoyed the quiet, lovely night. The moon hung overhead, almost full, giving them plenty of light to see by. But it also meant that others could see them, so they stuck to the shadowed alcoves and overhangs of buildings, trying to remain inconspicuous. Their silver hair reflected the moonlight like a beam so they used their cloaks to cover their heads.

  The quay was quiet, only the soft lapping of waves against the loading dock breaking the silence. Kalina and Nash crouched behind a stack of barrels ready to be loaded onto a nearby ship. It was a triple masted monstrosity, clearly meant to move a large amount of cargo. But there was no sound or sign of the dragons. There was one lookout above decks, and Kalina assumed the rest of the crew were asleep below decks.

  “What’s the plan?” she whispered to Nash.

  He looked at her, his eyes wide and round with his own fear, as if to say ‘I got us this far,’ and she realized she would have to make a plan.

  “Fine. Here’s the plan.”

  She outlined it for him in quick, short tones, anxious to get to Maska, and then they split up. Nash put his weapons away in his belt, staggering out from behind the barrels, making his way up the gangplank of the ship, acting as though he was belligerently drunk. Kalina saw him pull a small flask from his vest, taking a swig to make the act more believable.

  “Hey! You!” he called out to the lookout as he stumbled on deck. He tripped over his own feet, falling flat on his face. The lookout came running over.

  “Sir, this is a private ship, I’ll need you to disembark.”

  The man helped Nash to his feet, and back towards the gangplank. Nash neatly pulled himself from the man’s arms, stumbling across the deck once again.

  “Is this the Maiden’s Hair? I remember when I sailed on that ship. She was a beaut, much like this one.”

  He stumbled off, leading the lookout on a rambling tour of the ship, talking about his previous voyage. Kalina stifled a laugh. Despite how desperate their situation was, despite the last few weeks of frustration and guilt and anger, Nash still managed to make her laugh. She vowed to tell him later that he’d missed his calling as a player.

  With the lookout thoroughly distracted and at the far end of the ship now, she snuck on board, making for the shadowed doorway to the hold. The moon lit the deck, but once she pushed open the door with a soft creak, she was plunged into utter darkness. Darkness had never scared her, and she recalled all the times she’d wandered the forest at night, or the halls of the castle, or the library, or the halls of the Valdir’s mountain. This was her element, something she was used to. She kept her twin axes in her hands as she slowly felt her way down a very steep staircase. At the bottom was a hallway, doorways to cabins coming off each side, and at the far end another staircase descending into the hold.

  She crept past the open door to a kitchen, a large man dressed in a stained white apron asleep on the table, his hand around a tankard of ale. The doors were closed along the rest of the hall and she tiptoed down the last set of stairs. She had no idea how she was going to get a full-grown dragon, that probably took up the entire hold, out of here, let alone two dragons, but she had to try. The hold below was huge, the entire length of the ship. A large bulk took up the majority of the space, and suddenly, Kalina regretted not bringing a light.

  “Sitala? Maska?” she whispered into the dark.

  The bulk moved slightly; a groan echoed around the chamber. Kalina edged forward, putting an axe into her belt. She had a hand out, feeling for dragon scales. Finally, her fingers touched the smooth scales of a dragon, its side rising and falling as if in deep sleep. She felt along it, searching for its head. Finally she found it, and tried to lift it, tapping between its eyes to wake it up.

  “Wake up! You’ve been kidnapped! We have to get out of here!” she whispered fiercely, praying to the gods for them to wake up, but Sitala didn’t move. Maska shifted, but didn’t wake. Suddenly, there was shouting from above on deck, which echoed below. She froze, fear lancing through her. There was a shuffle of movement from above and then the pounding of feet on the deck. Kalina pulled her second axe from her belt and turned to face whatever was coming for them.

  Someone hurtled down the stairs, a lantern in one hand, and a sword in the other. Kalina saw the glint of the sword and she didn’t hesitate. She lunged forward, striking with her axe, trying to catch her opponent off balance. But they were quick, leaping sideways and catching her blow on their blade. Despite their agility, they had to fight with a lit lantern, and it made them slower. She attacked again, whirling her axes with both hands, slicing from above and below, a move meant to force your opponent to react to one or the other, making them vulnerable. The man before her blocked the higher st
rike but missed the lower one, her blade sinking into his hip.

  A scream ripped from his throat, and he fell to one knee, almost dropping the lantern. Kalina backed off for a moment, unsure if she should risk a fire in the hold, or give him enough time to put the lantern down. Finally, he put it on a nearby crate and forced himself to his feet, his face tight with pain. His blonde hair finally caught the light and Kalina recognized him with a jolt. He was the man from the bookstore, from outside the coffee shop. He must have followed her to the cave. Her momentary hesitation gave him an opening and he swung his sword at her, catching her high on the shoulder. She screamed and staggered away, her scream finally waking the nearest dragon. The green of Maska’s scales reflected the weak lantern light as he struggled up, letting out a roar Kalina had never heard before. He was tethered to the floor of the hold but he broke the metal chains easily enough, the restraints snapping at his strength. He lunged forward, his enormous jaws clamping shut around the torso of the blonde man.

  Kalina leaned against the nearest wall, horror filling her at the utter surprise on the man’s face before he disappeared into the dragon’s maw. Maska crunched down, the sounds of bone snapping making her stomach churn. Blood spilled from between his jaws before he released the man, his lifeless, broken body slumping to the floor.

  Maska swung to look at her, his eyes still groggy from whatever he’d been drugged with.

  “Kalina,” he rumbled.

  The pain in her shoulder suddenly became overwhelming as the adrenaline began to fade and she looked back at her wound. The man’s blade had cut deep, and she was bleeding heavily. She needed to get Maska and Sitala out of here and somewhere safe.

  “Can you wake Sitala?” she asked her dragon as she clutched her wound, trying to staunch the bleeding.

  “Of course.” Maska turned and began releasing the chains around Sitala’s large, brown form. Kalina grabbed the lantern and began searching the hold for a release on the doors above them. Finally, she found a lever that she pulled, grunting at the pain and effort. Two great doors overhead creaked open, allowing the weak early morning light inside.

  “Maska,” she begged.

  Sitala sat up, blinking her eyes blearily.

  “Help,” Kalina begged with a grunt.

  Maska climbed the few crates within the hold and shoved at the doors, opening them wide. There was shouting from up on deck and more pounding feet.

  “We have to go,” Maska said, nudging Sitala up towards the doors and the open sky beyond. Kalina struggled towards him, using her good arm to haul herself onto his back, dropping her axes in the process. She immediately missed their weight but knew she had no choice. Maska was only just big enough to carry her, but she had no other option.

  “Go.” Her voice came out as a whisper, all her strength focused on hanging on with her legs and her one good arm. Sitala climbed from the hold and with a jerky bound, Maska followed.

  Chapter 16

  The deck of the ship was in chaos. Kalina couldn’t see Nash anywhere, but she didn’t have the energy to worry. All she could focus on was keeping them moving. They had to get out of there. Sailors were running around, gathering weapons. A few bodies lay prone on the wood, blood spreading out in dark puddles around them.

  Maska ran to the edge of the ship, trying to gain enough space away from the rigging ropes and lines to spread his wings. But when he paused before leaping out over the water, he turned back. Kalina was blinded by pain, unable to think straight, but she searched the deck as best she could. Sitala was using her massive bulk and tail to clear away the sailors who were fighting her. Kalina finally saw Nash in combat with a large sailor; they were locked in hand-to-hand combat, grappling against one another. His silver battle braids streamed out behind him as he fought, struggling to incapacitate the man and get to Sitala.

  Kalina’s heart was in her throat as she and Maska waited and watched. At any moment someone could recapture them and take Maska away from her, and it took everything in her to stay and wait for Nash to make it to Sitala. Nash’s face was bright red, the man’s massive arms bearing down, threatening to squeeze the life out of him. Kalina didn’t see Nash’s weapons anywhere. Sitala’s tail lashed out, hitting the center mainsail, snapping the huge beam in two. People screamed as it began to fall, the huge canvas sails, along with tons of ropes, came crashing down. Kalina and Maska launched into the sky, trying to avoid the collapsing ship. Fear clawed its way up her throat as Maska banked and came back around to watch the wreckage.

  Sitala was struggling her way out from under the huge canvas sail that had unfurled as it fell. Nash was nowhere to be seen but Kalina could see the large sailor sprawled on the deck, unmoving. Finally, she saw Nash’s head pop up from beneath the fallen sail and he clambered out, struggling to get to where Sitala was trapped. He helped her unpin her trapped tail before he climbed onto her back just as the large sailor began to stir.

  “Nash!” she called, urging him to move faster.

  Sitala launched them into the air and soon Maska and Kalina were following them up the coast line, away from the harbor town, the ship, and danger. Kalina’s arm and legs were shaking as Maska came in for a landing, her adrenaline fading, her breath ragged with pain. The moment his feet hit the ledge of their cave, she fell from his shoulders, hitting the dirt hard. Nash was off of Sitala’s back in an instant, rushing for her. He pulled her to her feet and urged her inside. Her silver braids hung matted with blood. He lowered her to the ground beside their now cold campfire before rushing around the cave, digging through their packs and pulling out things for bandages, a needle, and thread.

  Kalina laid back, her shoulder throbbing with a dull pain now. Her right hand hurt more than her left shoulder now, the strain from holding on to Maska bright in comparison. She let her head rest on the dirt of the cave floor and realized vaguely that she had finally flown on Maska. If she hadn’t been in so much pain, and so exhausted, she would have been elated. But the edges of her vision were growing dark, and she couldn’t bring herself to be excited or worried about anything as she slipped into warm blackness.

  When she woke, the cave around her was dark, the sound of Maska’s snoring a sweet melody to her ears. The fire was burning low, the embers casting just enough light to see the bare details of the cave around her. Sitala and Maska lay asleep across the cave entrance and Nash was sprawled beside her, an arm flung over his face. Kalina tried to sit up, but the pain of her shoulder caused her to slump back to the ground.

  They weren’t safe here. The blonde man had had help drugging and capturing Maska and Sitala. She was still mystified at how he’d done it. But it didn’t matter now, what mattered was they needed to get out, get away from Amberharbor. Word would get across the straits, and the king of Ethea would send his soldiers to track them down, torture them, and get information on her people. Then he would kill her. Fear began to overtake her as she lay there in the dark. She felt helpless, lost, alone, and in pain. In an effort to distract herself, she forced herself to sit up, pushing through the pain and gritting her teeth.

  She stoked the fire, putting on a pot of water to boil. Her hair was stiff and matted with her own blood, and once the water was hot, she used it to gingerly wash her hair one-handed. Her left hand hung down, partially useless. It frustrated her, but she grimaced and pushed through it, getting her hair clean. When the sun rose a few hours later, she was still awake, sipping on a cup of hot tea, waiting for Nash to wake up. When he yawned and rolled over to face her, she smiled grimly at him. He sat up.

  “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

  She gestured to her useless arm.

  “How do you think?”

  He bit his cheek before getting up to come over and inspect the wound. He peeled off the bandage he’d put on her the night before.

  “It doesn’t look too bad,” he commented as he began to clean it, using the hot water she had used to make her tea.

  She hissed as it touched her tender, stitched
skin. She couldn’t bring herself to look down, so she watched as the dragons began to wake.

  “Kalina?” Maska said as he woke, searching for her.

  “I’m here, Maska. I’m fine.”

  The dragon’s worried green eyes softened as he watched her.

  “What happened?” She couldn’t help herself. She needed to know.

  Maska turned to look at Sitala who had woken up beside him. Sitala looked away and Kalina thought she saw shame on the dragon’s face.

  “It was a silly mistake,” Maska started.

  She knew he was young. But Sitala was a few years older, and should have known better. Or so Kalina thought.

  “What mistake?” she demanded.

  Sitala was still not meeting Kalina’s eyes. Nash stood, hands on his hips.

  “What mistake, Sitala?”

  Finally, the brown dragon turned to face them.

  “For the last few days, someone has been leaving a pile of fish on the rocks below the cliff. I’ve been eating them. There’s not nearly enough food out here, our nets have been empty, and we can only do so much fishing at night…” it sounded to Kalina like the dragon was whining, begging to be forgiven.

  “So, you ate fish that a stranger left?”

  It turned Kalina’s blood cold. It meant someone had noticed their presence here days ago. They hadn’t been nearly as careful as she’d thought.

  “I didn’t think it would be poisoned.” Sitala hung her head, sadness and shame evident in her voice. Kalina suddenly felt sorry for the dragon.

  “I didn’t think it was a problem either,” Maska said, trying to stand up for his friend.

  Kalina stood and walked to her dragon, laying her good hand on his side and leaning into him.