Born of Embers

by R A Lewis

  The village of Windpost had still been in war torn chaos when they’d left. But Leif had insisted that Jormungand and his second, Halvor stay to help their people pick up the pieces. As Kalina waited for her commander to give orders, she sat atop Maska and watched as her people dragged the bodies of Ethean soldiers into one giant pile, ready to light on fire. With a shock, she realized these were all her people, the Etheans and Valdir alike. She’d killed her own men on the battlefield. The thought made her sick. Not even the wind in her face, cooling the sweat that lingered on her skin helped remove the horror of what she had done.

  Suddenly, more than ever, she wanted an end to this madness, this conflict, this war. She wanted to unite her people and take back the Ethean throne from its king. Her mother might even be grateful. She needed to talk to Eira once she was back about getting a message to her mother through Eira’s contact in the castle. But first they needed to secure the mountain.

  Four hundred Valdir flew with them south through the Wastes to the mountain. The sun was going down, setting the barren plains before them ablaze. If she hadn’t been so utterly terrified of what they might find when they arrived, she would have thought it was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.

  The sun had set by the time the mountain came into view, but they didn’t need the sun’s rays to see what was happening within the mountain. Light and fire blazed from every cave opening, shouts and the clash of steel rang out across the distance as they flew in. Kalina and Maska made for the entrance cavern at the top of the mountain. Beside her, Leif shouted orders for half their forces to land in the dragon’s cave at the base of the mountain. Kalina was focused on landing and saving her people. The dragons couldn’t navigate the small corridors so as soon as Maska’s claws hit the stone, Kalina vaulted off, her spear held tightly in her grip.

  “Go help the other dragons fight down below.”

  She sent him off, and he launched himself from the cliffside and dove. Her heart climbed into her throat at sending him off alone to fight, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. Suddenly, the Valdir’s decision to settle here, in a mountain with small corridors and spaces for enemies to hide, seemed ludicrous. The Valdir were meant to fight with their dragons, not alone.

  Leif landed beside her; the entrance cave oddly quiet. Finally, the sounds of screaming drifted to them from down the corridors. Once a few dozen warriors had gathered beside her and Leif, she motioned for them to follow and then she led the way into the mountain, aiming for the main dining cavern.

  The halls were dark but Kalina knew them like the back of her hand. She’d spent enough nights wandering them that she knew every nook and cranny, every hiding spot. Leif had sent some men down different corridors, splitting the forces to come at the Etheans from all sides. This was their territory, and they knew it better than anyone.

  So, when the clash of weapons suddenly filled the passage, and the sound of running feet met them, Kalina motioned to the Valdir who melted into nooks in the walls and nearby rooms, effectively disappearing in the gloom. Bodies hurtled by, the ragged breathing and jangle of metal told Kalina these weren’t the Valdir. They were Etheans with their metal armor. She stuck out her foot from her small alcove and tripped a soldier, the men behind him falling heavily to the floor, shouting at the one who had fallen. Someone lit a torch and as the fire blazed up, Kalina leapt from her hiding place, spear at the ready.

  “For the Valdir!” she screamed, her people pouring from their hiding places and attacking the fleeing Etheans.

  Within moments they were slaughtered, Kalina having run two men through with her spear before they stopped coming. And suddenly, the tunnel was quiet once again. She shoved down her disgust at slaughtering her own people and pressed on, wanting to find Eira.

  Chapter 21

  The dining cavern was filled with people, soldiers from each side clashing with one another. Kalina led her people into the fray, slicing left and right, a hoarse cry coming from her lips as she fought, searching the faces of the Valdir frantically for Eira. Surely, she would be here, with the majority of her people.

  Finally she broke through to the other side of the chaos, the bathing chamber only a few dozen feet away through one of the many hallways that branched from this cave. She couldn’t hear anything above the clash of weapons and screams of dying men and women behind her but she pressed on.

  Steam rose from the dozens of pools cut into the rock as she entered the women’s bathing chamber, making it hard to see. Bodies moved in the swirling darkness, the torches either extinguished or the Valdir hadn’t had a chance to light them before they were attacked. Holes in the roof let in the occasional beam of dim moonlight, and in the darkness, Kalina began to feel exposed and alone. Neither Kari or Leif had followed her here, and she stood there alone.

  Fear crawled its way up her throat as she stood wrapped in the darkness, the steam making her lungs feel wet and heavy. Just when she thought she might turn and run out of the cavern; a hand alighted on her shoulder. She jumped and almost ran Leif through, but he stopped her blade, knocking it aside easily. He held a finger to his lips and pointed to the far side of the cave where Kalina’s straining ears could now make out sounds of battle. Together they ran through the cave, avoiding the sunken, steaming pools until they were on the far wall. Past the door was a long hallway that led to many rooms beyond

  Flickering lights played along the tunnel, and the clashing of many blades rang clearly. Kalina slunk down the passageway with Leif close on her heels. She wondered vaguely if two of them would be enough to fight off whatever force lay before them, but it didn’t matter now, there was no time to go back. A large room opened onto their right where the fighting was coming from. Kalina slowly peered around the doorway before ducking back, breathing hard.

  Leif looked at her questioningly. Kalina shook her head and reached up, pulling his head down so her lips were on his ear. His nearness made her shiver but she whispered urgently in his ear.

  “Eira is in there with a few women and children. She’s fighting off five men.”

  Leif nodded, drawing back, his eyes fixed on hers. For a heartbeat she thought he might kiss her, but then she took a step away, readying her sword. This wasn’t the time or the place. She nodded to him and then she stepped through the doorway.

  Eira was single handedly holding off five Ethean soldiers with a single Valdiran spear. She looked haggard and exhausted, her silver hair unbound from its usual braids, and blood dotted her face and neck. Kalina’s heart swelled at the sight of her aunt and she rushed forward silently, taking the first soldier by surprise. Leif was hot on her heels and within a few moments, the two of them, with Eira’s help, had dispatched the five men.

  Eira threw an arm around Kalina, hugging her fiercely before letting her go. She handed her spear to a woman behind her before turning back to them.

  “They came in just before sunset. We didn’t have the men to run proper patrols so we didn’t see them approaching. We were careless, thinking we were safe way out here in our mountain.” She paused, catching her breath. “There are about two hundred of them. Now go, find the rest and take our home back.”

  She nodded to the door, and after braiding her hair back quickly, she took the spear back from the woman and stood before the women and children behind her. Kalina squeezed her aunt’s arm before turning with Leif and running down the corridor, searching for more soldiers. She handed her own spear to the woman who’d been holding Eira’s and drew her own short sword. She wished, not for the first time, that she had her twin axes. She turned to the woman who stood stoically beside her, her strong features cast into sharp relief by the flickering torchlight.

  “What is your name?” Kalina asked.

  “Hilde, your Majesty.” The woman executed a short bow.

  “Help Eira keep these people safe, Hilde.”

  Kalina clapped the woman on the shoulder before turning to nod to Leif to lead the way. Behind her, Hilde stepped up beside Eira,
Kalina’s spear clutched tightly in her fist. Most Valdir are taught to fight as young children, but not all continue to fight. Many went on to have other professions and specialties. Kalina briefly wondered what Hilde’s profession was.

  They worked their way down to the dragon hold, killing soldiers as they came upon groups of them throughout the mountain. When they entered the chamber from the stairway, they saw a pile of bodies in the middle of the floor, dragons arranged all around it. Maska was there and he came running over, his powerful muscles gleaming in the light from the torches that always burned along the walls. Kalina threw her arms around him, grateful and relieved he was alive and unharmed.

  “What happened?” she asked as Arikara came over to join them.

  Maska looked back over his shoulder at the bodies before lowering his huge head to her level.

  “We found intruders in our nest. So, we destroyed them.”

  His deep voice rumbled through her, making her insides quake. She was exhausted, every inch of her so tired of fighting she could barely stand.

  “Good.” She barely managed to whisper. She put a hand out onto his warm scales, using him to hold herself up. Her side ached horribly, and it felt sticky. She was sure the stitches Kari had given her had been torn. She looked up and saw Leif’s grey eyes watching her.

  “We need to check the mountain, make sure they’re gone.” His voice was kind.

  He knew how much he was asking of her. She nodded dully and followed him back up the long stairs.

  They checked the gathering chamber and found dead Valdir and Etheans but no living enemy. They found the rest of their army gathered in the dining hall, most of the soldiers sprawled out on benches and tables, exhaustion written in every line of their bodies. She had asked so much of them. Today they had fought two battles, and many of their people had died. She couldn’t just walk away without recognizing it.

  As Leif began to organize food and water for the soldiers as well as the survivors, Kalina walked among her men, nodding to them, squeezing a shoulder or hand here and there, murmuring a thank you occasionally. She was so tired but this she forced herself to do. Finally, she made it through the group to where Kari sat against a wall, her spear broken beside her. She smiled grimly up at Kalina, and Kalina collapsed to the floor beside her, using the wall to help control her rather un-queen-like fall to the dusty earth.

  Women of the Valdir walked around, offering food and water, and Kalina had to force her own hands to rise and accept them. Her muscles felt like lead. Leif stood before the group and began talking, thanking the men for their hard work and for saving their people but Kalina’s eyes began to drift shut, and soon she was asleep against the wall.

  She woke in her own bed, the mattress soft beneath her, the sun shining in through her window. She tried to sit up but hissed in pain, a hand going to her side. A fresh bandage encircled her side, her bloody clothing gone. She searched the room and found herself alone, but just as she was contemplating getting up, the curtain over her door flew aside and Eira entered, a tray in one hand and a stack of fresh clothing under an arm. She smiled tightly at Kalina as she set the tray on the nearby table.

  “Good. I’m glad you are awake. We need to change your bandage.”

  Kalina scooted to the edge of the bed and allowed Eira to sit beside her. Eira took Kalina’s arm and propped the elbow on her shoulder as she unwrapped her queen’s bandages. Kalina’s side was red and swollen, the angry slash freshly sewn closed. It was seeping a little blood which Eira gently washed away and applied a strong-smelling salve. It reminded Kalina of the salve they’d used on her feet when she’d walked through the hot coals. When she was re-wrapped Eira smiled again and reached over to the pile of clothing, handing Kalina a white, loose shirt.

  “Are they waiting for me?”

  “Yes. As soon as you are decent, they will come in. Jormungand arrived in the night with much of his village in tow.”

  Kalina looked up at her aunt, curiosity as a brief flash of fear ran through her. Was Jormungand there to beat her while she was down? Or was he there to support her? They had left so abruptly yesterday in the aftermath of the fighting that she wasn’t sure she could be completely confident of his loyalty despite his declaration. But she nodded and pulled the shirt on, then reached for her pants. Once they were buttoned, she stood, wobbly on overly sore legs, and straightened her back.

  “Let them in.”

  Chapter 22

  Kalina stood on the edge of the cliff, leaning against the red rock beside her, watching the sun set over the Wastes. Maska lay behind her, basking in the disappearing sunlight, his green scales reflecting a golden glow. His tail flicked back and forth lazily and Kalina looked at him over her shoulder, smiling. The council meeting had been a hard one. Jormungand had been as good as his word. He had brought his men back to the mountain, leaving Halvor to bring the rest of the Valdir home, while only a skeleton crew of soldiers stayed behind to tend what herds of cattle they had left.

  Kalina was cautious of his support, but knowing he wouldn’t let her run away again made her feel a bit more confident. She had allowed Asta, Arvid, and Ingvar back onto the council, but it made her skin itch when they spoke. She didn’t trust them after they abandoned her but she realized that she had abandoned them first, and they had every right to leave. It bothered her that even after she returned, they had chosen to stay with Jormungand.

  Kari had once again suggested they attack the king directly and take back the throne for Kalina, and she finally agreed with her cousin. But it wasn’t a thing to celebrate. Her stomach twisted as she thought about her decision. Now the hard work would come. She felt like she barely had a hold on the Valdir, and now she was expected to somehow take over an entire kingdom, one with a large army and considerable resources. Besides, Askor to the north was loyal to the king, since he was its youngest prince. If she did by some miracle manage to take the crown, could she convince enough of the nobles and commanders to follow her? A long road stretched before her and she wasn’t sure she was equal to the task but she would surely try. She owed her people that much.

  Rocks skittered across the ground behind her as a boot scraped along the rock floor. Kalina tensed, turning to see who was behind her. Leif stood there, watching her, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. He smiled as she met his grey eyes and he approached, coming to stand beside her on the edge of the entrance cavern. She smiled, relaxing in his presence.

  The setting sun glinted off a ring of golden dragon scales around Leif’s wrist. It was something Kalina had never seen before and she impulsively reached out to touch it, taking his hand in hers. His hand was warm and calloused and she heard him suck in a breath as she held his hand, turning his wrist this way and that.

  “Are these from Arikara?”

  He nodded as she looked up, suddenly acutely aware of his nearness, and his eyes searching hers. She couldn’t seem to forget the closeness of his body and breath the night before in the tunnel either. It was an effort to hold herself apart from him and not lean towards his warmth, his solid, reassuring frame.

  “Her discarded scales. I was bored one day and decided to shoot one with an arrow. It bounced right off.”

  Her eyes went wide and she looked at Maska. She knew dragon scales were tough, as dragons rarely came out of a fight covered in cuts and slashes. Their wings however were often punctured. Maska raised his head, listening.

  “I realized that perhaps we’ve been too hasty to give them away as a trade item. Our tough leathers stop most things, but what if we could have armor as tough as the Ethean’s metal armor but lighter? That’s the main reason we haven’t used metal. It’s too heavy for the dragons to carry, and too hard to move in. But dragon scales-” he grinned, taking the bracelet of scales off his wrist and showing her how easily it was manipulated and how light it was. “They can be manipulated and moved in any direction while still providing protection.”

  She looked up into his face, alight with passion an
d excitement. It was in that moment; she knew she felt more for him than just the friendship they’d been building for the last months. She wanted to see him this excited and happy all the time. She wanted to be the reason.

  The scales were cool in her hand, like water made solid. She marveled at their lightness and movement. Could it really be possible?

  “Leif,” she breathed. “This is genius. Have you made anything else besides this?” She handed it back to him and he clasped it back onto his wrist.

  “I’m working on a shirt but I don’t always find all of Arikara’s scales.”

  “Just walk around the dragon cave. I’d bet you’ll find enough for a dozen shirts.” He smiled.

  “Yes, then it wouldn’t look uniform.” He looked out at the setting sun, a small smirk on his lips. “It wouldn’t match Arikara.”

  Kalina let out a surprised and delighted laugh.

  “You’re worried it won’t match your dragon?” He shot her an amused look.

  “Yes, I know it’s silly. But it feels important.”

  Kalina grinned but she thought she might understand. He’d look handsome in gold, his silver hair, a gold dragon scaled shirt, and golden Arikara beneath him. He’d strike a formidable figure on any battle field.

  “Could you make me one?”

  He looked at her, his eyes searching.

  “Of course, my Queen.”

  She waved away the title. She both hated and loved when he got formal with her.

  “How soon can you have one ready?”

  He looked her up and down, as if measuring her. It made her flush and she looked down, suddenly self-conscious under his scrutiny.

  “Give me a few weeks.”

  Her eyes snapped up.

  “That fast?”