Mariana's Secret

by A D Lombardo

  Frustrated, Kai paced back and forth. What do I do if Haygan doesn’t come? He had no idea where to go or whom they sought. To center himself, he leaned against a tree and gleaned the area for surrounding dangers.

  Through his sight, he sensed small creatures in the trees and others scurrying along the ground. He searched farther in the tall grasses, beyond the trees and the animals of the night. To his relief, there he saw the wisp of a man approaching. Haygan was running quickly in his direction. Kai smiled and stepped out as Haygan came through the trees. “Took you long enough,” he joked.

  “We need to run. There is no time to lose. Use all your senses, stay close. Be aware of everything. We will enter wolf and mountain lion territory up there. Shiva and Smoke will keep some animals away by their very presence. But don’t be fooled, they might circle behind us.” Haygan did not wait for a response. He turned, leaped over a downed tree, and started to run.

  Kai caught up and weaved between trees, leaping over stumps and streams. Keeping his eyes and his senses sharp, he ran one step behind Haygan using his ability to glean the wave of energy emanating within and around every living thing. Tonight, as he ran, he also felt everything around him—a connection through all his senses.

  He felt Smoke and Shiva about ten paces out, one on each side. He felt Haygan in front more than he could see his black clothing running through the darkness. It felt good to run. The air whipped through his hair and across his skin. He could now run great distances at great speeds without feeling winded.

  Unable to talk to his uncle, he thought about the night's events. His mother was alive. His mind ran wild with theories. Joy and sorrow pulled at his heart. He speculated her long imprisonment, trapped in dragon-form all this time. Is that what it meant to be Katori? What one did to protect their secret? Or—could she not change back? Why did she transform into a dragon in the first place? Unfortunately, Kai had more questions than answers.

  He desperately wanted to make sense of her absence. The only possibility he could accept—she was trapped. Unable to return to him. Who could hold a dragon? How were they controlling her? Could she not rip them apart and return? The thought made him shudder. Killing to gain her freedom would not be a simple choice, either.

  Disrupting his thoughts, Haygan turned sharply uphill. Kai followed. Smoke ran at his side, and Shiva veered closer to Haygan. Kai continued to follow Haygan as he leaped over underbrush and weaved around trees. The dense forest started to slow them down. Still, Haygan climbed higher. Directly to their right, Kai heard rushing water. Moonlight shone through the thinning trees. They approached a small clearing. Large rocks and a downed tree lay across a deep ridge cut into the mountain by a roaring river.

  Haygan stepped quickly across with Shiva two steps behind. Kai jumped onto the rocks. Below, the rushing water roared. He looked down into the blackness, gleaning the gap and the water below. Haygan motioned for him to make haste. Kai leaped onto the tree and made his way across. Smoke followed.

  When Kai reached the other side, Haygan darted into the thicket. Pine needles and decaying leaves made their climb challenging. Several times they both slid a few feet backward. They finally stopped under a large overhanging rock. Haygan pointed. “We need to climb up there.”

  The trees were dense, and the incline continued to get steeper. Haygan showed him a technique of stepping on the base of the trees to advance up the embankment. Kai used the various trees like a ladder to scale the mountainside. Once they reached the rock overhang, Kai looked out over the trees. He saw the thick, black forest below. Moonlight danced across Baden Lake and a light spring breeze whipped through the mountain air. “What are we doing up here, exactly?” Kai asked.

  Haygan sat down on the large stone outcropping. “You’re about to call for help. I don’t have time to explain everything you should have grown up learning. But should you ever need to do this again, alone, you need to know-how, and now is as good a time as any to learn. Sit.”

  He took a seat next to Haygan. “What do I do?” Kai asked.

  Haygan pointed into the trees on the right. “Do you see those trees and the nests on top? Focus and find the largest eagle. Just like reaching out through your bond with Smoke. Share part of yourself. Give your intent and open your spirit. Call him to you. You will know which one. He will ignore you at first. You should sense wisdom and understanding in return. See who he is.”

  Kai closed his eyes. Connected to the energy within, he opened his mind. He reached into the darkness. Through his sight, he found two eagle pairs—their large nests were nearly five feet wide and four feet deep. Astonishing. Their peaceful nature cooed at his spirit, but that was all he felt.

  Then he found a third nest, perched within a cluster of three treetops. Larger, deeper. Radiant energy emanated about the top. Another eagle. He sat alone, no mate. Its size was superior to the others. He was more than the eagle. His light was brighter than any animal. If he didn’t know better, Kai would’ve said this spirit was a man.

  Kai looked in more detail at the nest and shook his head at the image. How can this be? The possibility confused him. The three trees looked like they had grown together, massive live limbs interwoven with one another. Deep inside this enormous treetop structure was a home. He could hardly believe his senses. There were personal spaces with furniture—table, chairs, and a hammock.

  Opening his soul to the eagle, he shared his intention, who he was and what he wanted. His soul and mind connected, he felt the eagle’s wild nature—and something else. Wisdom. Can he understand me? Kai tilted his head at the thought.

  While he felt silly to ask a bird for help, he reached out, and he sensed acceptance. I need your help, come to me. There was no reply. Only resistance. “I must be doing something wrong. I feel the wisdom within, but he refuses to acknowledge me.” He looked at Haygan.

  “Relax. Think of your mother, think of Kendra and Rayna. Ask again. Think of the people you love. Show him your truth and your soul.”

  The thought of the people he loved swelled his heart. Kai pushed those feelings to the eagle. He thought of his mother’s face and Rayna’s kindness. Their faces flashed through his mind. I need your help. Come to me. In return, he felt a sense of freedom come back from the eagle. He opened his eyes. In the distance, he saw the shadow of the great eagle fly out over the trees before circling back around to land in front of them.

  His mouth agape, Kai stared at the eagle. From his seated position, the eagle towered over him. Sharp talons scraped at the stone, and a pale-yellow eye studied him. As it turned its massive head, Kai noticed a deformity. A deep scar was carved into its face. “He is amazing. Now what?”

  “Watch,” Haygan whispered.

  The eagle’s two massive wings expanded wide, blocking out the moonlight. Then the bird raised them high above its head and pointed upward. Kai watched in awe. Suddenly the bird dropped his wings, and they wrapped around the bird’s body. In a puff of air and a glint of blue light, the eagle disappeared and revealed a tall man wearing black pants and a flowy white shirt.

  The bright moon left the man’s face shrouded in darkness. He stood proudly above them, his arms folded. Haygan stood and offered the man his hand. The stranger pulled Haygan into a one-armed hug and stepped to the side.

  Kai hopped to his feet. Now illuminated by the moon, he saw the man’s golden complexion and shoulder-length blond hair. The man had two huge scars on his right cheek; this explained the deformity on the eagle. He had one short cut through his eyebrow above his piercing blue eyes, and a much longer scar crept around the outline of his temple and cheekbone.

  “Kai, I would like you to meet Sabastian. Sabastian, this is Kai. Mariana’s son. I am sorry Kendra could not be here to meet you. I know she would have preferred to introduce you herself.”

  Stunned by what he had witnessed, Kai drew in a breath. Sabastian squinted his eyes together and clenched his jaw. “Why did you bring him here? Why have ‘him’ call for me?” Sabastian asked i
n a distrustful tone.

  “He should know how. It seemed only right. He has news, news of Mariana. We know where to find her. This is the first real information we have had in years. Will you help us?”

  Eyes fixed on Haygan, Sabastian asked. “You think you can trust this boy? This Half-Light raised by average humans. The ones who lost Mariana. If he is anything more, you know what that means for our people.” He was not kind with his words. His eyes said it all. He loathed Kai. “If you had not been here, I would not have come to him.”

  The man’s disdain shocked Kai. “I don’t know who you are,” Kai huffed, “but I do know this—you’ve watched me. I have seen your golden tipped wings in the sky over Baden Lake. I never thought to look beyond the giant eagle that blackened the sky. If you think so little of me, why bother?”

  Sabastian scoffed, releasing his arms. “A favor for Kendra. And love for Mariana. She was a friend and I do not believe she was killed by a dragon.”

  Kai thought about the stranger’s words. This Sabastian fellow’s body language and tone changed when he said her name—Kendra. She obviously meant a great deal to him. Kai thought about what else he knew. Kendra took the occasional few days off. Maybe she spent her time here with this man.

  He had no idea why the man seemed to loathe him. His comment about if Kai were anything more only provoked questions, which he was sure had no answers he would be privy to.

  Kai focused his blue eyes on Sabastian’s. He thought of his mother. “I am desperate. Right now, Haygan says to trust you. You are all I have. I trust Haygan and Kendra.” As he spoke, he felt the passion for saving his mother fill his heart. “I am, as you call it, a Half-Light. Raised by ordinary people, but I am also Katori, and I mean to save my mother. Either you will help me, or I will find another way. You decide, but we are wasting time.” His words were confident and firm.

  He waited.

  “Sabastian, you can trust him,” Haygan assured him. “Kai is Mariana’s son. He will keep our secrets. Surely you felt the energy in the air this evening. The wave of power came from him.”

  Unwilling to delay longer, Kai spoke up. “I am here for my mother. I have found her. Haygan believes you can go for help. I felt her energy push back on me. Please.”

  “The boy has power.” Sabastian shook his head. “What Half-Light has magic? I suppose he has the gift of sight as well. Can the boy glean?” he continued to grill Haygan. “For that matter, what Half-Light can push their emotions to an animal. I felt great power tonight. None since Mariana’s time have I felt such intensity.” His tone softened, but he remained leery.

  Kai focused his desires, letting his emotions build. He felt the change—his eyes turned green. Sabastian grasped at Haygan’s shoulder. “Do you see that? How did you change the color of your eyes? This boy is NO Half-Light! You know what that means. Who he could be?” Sabastian’s expression shifted from distrust to concern. “Haygan, this is dangerous. If our leaders knew, I cannot even imagine. What foolish person taught the boy how to light up the world. Now every Katori will know where he is, what he can do. I can think of one in particular. Keegan will come for him.”

  Kai knew Sabastian would not be happy to learn Kendra taught him how to collect and push energy. There was the name again, Keegan.

  A concerned look crossed Haygan face. “I wonder myself the truth of his parentage, but that is a conversation for another time. Right now, we need you to find Simone and Ryker. We need their help. They are staying east of Chenowith. You know the spot. Send them back here to us.”

  “I will find them, my friend.” Sabastian nodded. “We will talk about this further.” In an instant, Sabastian took off at a run and leaped into the night. In a puff of air, he changed back into the great eagle and disappeared.

  Kai had to believe they would find his mother. Although so much of his life was changing without warning, it did feel right. Haygan went and lay down in the grass near the trees. With his hands behind his head, he closed his eyes. “Now we wait. Try to get some sleep. The wolves will keep watch. Katori eagles are fast, but it will still take several hours for Simone to arrive.”

  Kai had learned over the years during their summer camping trips that small naps were often a necessity when traveling. This night seemed to be raising as many questions as it provided answers. Now it appeared this Sabastian feared him as much as loathed him.

  Haygan rested. Frustrated, Kai watched a small cloud drift in front of the moon. As the last tiny sliver of light winked out of sight, he huffed in protest. Even the moon was hiding. Reluctantly Kai followed suit, finding a soft spot in the grass a few feet away. Surprisingly, he too drifted off to sleep despite his active mind.

  ◆◆◆

  He woke hours later to a small nudge from Haygan. “You won’t want to miss this,” Haygan said, pointing to the massive overhanging rock in front of them.

  Kai stared into the night sky. The clouds had cleared, leaving bright stars twinkling against the blue-black heavens. A large shadow loomed across the sky, blocking out the stars. He could barely hear the flap of its wings as it swooped up and dropped with a thud on the rock in front of them.

  Torn between fear and excitement, Kai held his breath. Long sharp claws scraped at the rock as it shifted its weight back and forth. Its near-black scales glimmered with hints of blue in the moonlight, and its amber eyes pierced Kai’s soul. Its massive size was unbelievable. The fierce nature of its appearance was terrifying, yet he sensed peace. He had seen this creature before. This was the dragon from the battle at Hamrin, two summers ago.

  Still afraid, Kai stepped back and bumped into Haygan. He watched in awe. The massive horns about its head and the almost palpable heat emanating from within was intense. From its back, slid a man dressed in all black—Ryker. Before Kai could react, the dragon raised its wings above its head and wrapped them around its body. With a burst of air and a small blue light, the dragon collapsed inward and disappeared, leaving behind a woman with short-cropped black hair, olive complexion, and dark almond eyes. She wore a blue shirt and black pants with gold crisscrossing chains around her bodice.

  Around her neck, she wore a long necklace with a blue triangle-shaped crystal pendant. Kai felt astonished by the mystery he’d just witnessed. She was a dragon—a Beastmaster. Haygan stepped forward and greeted them. “Ryker. Simone.”

  Simone stepped forward. Her hand tenderly touched Haygan’s chest. Kai could see the affection they shared as Haygan pulled her into his arms. Letting her go seemed difficult, but Haygan offered his hand to Ryker.

  Meanwhile, Simone took Kai’s hands in hers. She studied his face. “This is Mariana’s boy. I can see her in your eyes and smile. I am guessing it is you I felt this night, pushing your soul out into the world. Dangerous move, young man. But as I understand, you have information about Mariana’s whereabouts.”

  She let him go, but Kai could tell she yearned to wrap him in a hug. Kai watched Haygan’s eyes, the depth of their connection was evident. “It was me,” Kai responded.

  “Sabastian was breathless when he found us and did not explain. He only mentioned there was news about Mariana and to come to you.”

  Haygan reached his hand to touch her arm. “We need you both to go to Ahana. We believe Mariana is there.”

  Ryker interrupted. “I searched the island of Ahana—two years ago. She was not there. I have followed every clue. Any news about a red dragon. The only thing that makes any sense is she is a prisoner, and they move her around. I’ve come close a few times over the years. News of a dragon defending a ship.”

  “You are a good friend,” Haygan nodded to Ryker. “Thank you for continuing to believe in my sister.”

  It struck Kai’s heart to feel such loyalty for his mother.

  “I have searched abandoned beach campsites, still smoldering.” Ryker continued. “They’re a large group, soldiers, I think. They march in formation. Pitch tents in rows. Always near the shore. They must have access to a fleet. I am speculati
ng, of course, but I am trying.”

  The passion Ryker had for his mother made Kai wonder about their relationship. If this man loved his mother, did she once love him back? Why else would he continue to search?

  “Well, she is there now,” Haygan insisted. “We must act now before they move her again. She is in dragon form, which would explain why we have been unable to find her. I know of no other Katori who can search for her as Kai did tonight. We cannot lose her again.”

  Ryker’s intense look softened when it landed on Kai. “Your mother is a strong woman. I hate to make promises I cannot keep but mark my words I will bring Mariana home. No matter what, I will never give up on her.”

  Simone let go of Haygan’s hand and approached Kai. “We all care deeply for your mother. I am sorry the burden of finding her fell to you. “We will depart immediately,” Simone walked away, a burst of blue light and black smoke surrounded her, and she turned back into the black dragon.

  Ryker looked to Kai. “I will save your mother, I promise.” Then he climbed up the dragon’s back. In an instant, they were gone.

  Kai’s mouth fell open. He wanted to say something, anything, but he didn’t know where to start. In one night, he had learned his mother was alive, Haygan was his uncle, Katori Beastmasters could turn into animals, and he could push his energy out and sense the world.

  He thought of his father and his anguish over her loss. There was no way Kai could explain what he knew. People would think he was crazy. Not to mention, it would reveal a Katori secret—one his mother gave up her life to protect. A secret he would now protect with his own.

  Chapter 9

  Old Anger

  It was a warm summer morning just before dawn. Everyone had packed their gear and saddled their horses. Prince Kai and his group prepared to depart, and he was far from excited about visiting the small town of Albey located at the base of the Katori Mountains, south of the Conha River, which is the primary source of Baden Lake. What he wanted was news about his mother, but Ryker and Simone had only been gone a day.