Rended Souls

by Daniel Kuhnley

  The wound stung his hand, but the thought of Gnaud dead stung his heart. Ƨäʈūr, don’t let him be dead.

  Nardus reached Theyn and stopped next to her. He met her gaze briefly, but then his gaze locked onto the tufts of fur and the pool of dried blood at the bottom of the mound they stood atop.

  Nardus’s hands dampened, his breathing shallowed, and he dropped to his knees. Pain ripped into his heart, a feeling he’d experienced too many times in his life.

  Theyn’s voice quivered in his mind. “I’m so sorry, Nardus. I don’t remember any of it. Forgive me.”

  Nardus clenched his fists. Forgive you? How could I? Anger welled in his stomach, swelled in his chest, rose into his throat, and burst from his lips as a bone-chilling, guttural scream.

  Theyn slunk back. “Kill me if you must. I will not fight you. I deserve nothing less.”

  Nardus rose to his knees and shook his fist at her. “No! I’ve been down that road. Killing the men who took the lives of my wife and youngest daughter brought me no satisfaction. I’ve suffered endlessly since that day. Nothing I did brought them back, and nothing ever will.”

  His chest convulsed, and he sobbed. Have I lost hope? Will I never see you again Vitara? Savannah? And what of you, Shardan? Do you still live, or did I bury you with your mother?

  Nardus took a deep breath, wiped his eyes, and looked down at Theyn. “So no, I’m not killing you, Theyn. I’ve lost almost everyone I’ve ever cared about or loved. I’m not losing you, too. Do you hear me? Whether I choose to forgive you or not is irrelevant. I will not abandon you.”

  We’ll be damned together.

  Theyn crawled over to Nardus. “How will I live with myself knowing that I ate your friend? I can’t even fathom having done so.”

  Nardus couldn’t wrap his mind around it either. He pulled his hair back and groaned. “I don’t know. Every time I think my life can’t possibly get worse it does.” He punched the remnants of a book next to him.

  Theyn jerked upright and craned her neck forward. She blinked several times and then howled. “At the far end of the room, there’s a door with a bloody handprint on it!”

  Nardus jumped to his feet. He squinted but couldn’t even find a door let alone discern that a bloody handprint marred its surface.

  He looked down at Theyn. “Are you certain?”

  She nodded. “I can see for miles. How do you think I spotted you in the middle of the lava fields on Incendia Island?”

  Nardus ignored the question and bolted ahead, Theyn at his side. “Gnaud!”

  Chapter Two

  Nothing in life could’ve prepared Aria for the experience of riding a dragon. The speed alone frightened her, and the weightless sensation while diving recklessly toward the ground drove her stomach into her throat and frayed her nerves, but the sense of complete freedom it provided left her begging for more when Cinolth landed atop the southern rampart of Galondu Castle.

  She slid from Cinolth’s neck and down his long arm, landing on her feet, but the rain-slicked stone and her wobbly legs tumbled her to the ground. She grunted as pain flashed in her knees and spread the length of her legs. They’d flown perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, but the toll it took on her inner thighs and her buttocks would certainly present itself in the form of bruises by the evening; the next morning at the latest. Despite the pain and fear, she wouldn’t hesitate to take flight again.

  Aria had seen Rídärz Drezhn depicted on tapestries and paintings throughout the castle, each sitting in a saddle fashioned for the dragon they rode. They certainly looked like they’d be more comfortable than sitting on rock-hard scales and hugging a long, bony spike.

  Perhaps I’ll commission a saddle of my own. But would Cinolth allow me to use it on him?

  After spending several days with him in her head and understanding the depth of his pride and arrogance, she doubted it. Still, she’d find a way to broach the subject, but not until she understood him and their bond better.

  When the time comes to go to war, he’ll understand the need of it. At least she hoped he would.

  “Today, chaos will rain down on the Ancient Realm.” Cinolth’s presence and his voice in her head startled Aria and pulled her from her own thoughts.

  Having no experience communicating with dragons, she didn’t know if she should answer back in her head or aloud. Commonsense told her to speak aloud, but he’d chosen to speak to her mind. Should she do the same, or did he have a reason for doing so?

  Can he not speak aloud?

  “I can,” said Cinolth in her mind again. “However, you may find my speaking voice both harsh and difficult to decipher, so I chose to mindspeak for brevity and clarity.”

  Mindspeak…

  She’d never heard the term before, but it lent itself to a clear understanding of what it entailed. But could she mindspeak with anyone or just dragons?

  “You may speak to me as you wish. My hearing is quite good. Far better than yours. Be aware that you can mindspeak with me at far greater distances than your voice would allow as well. If you can feel my presence, you can mindspeak with me.”

  Can he always read my thoughts? She gasped. Can others?

  “Have you learned nothing yet?” Cinolth’s condescension grated her nerves.

  Heat shot up her neck and warmed her cheeks. She crossed her arms and gazed up at the brooding clouds, but the rain proved too heavy. Instead, she focused her eyes on Atrum Moenia far below. “Pravus promised to teach me how to use my powers, but he never has time to do so. Also, it’s hard to learn anything when I’ve worn ƨäbräƨär since before I knew I had mezhik.”

  “Never let that collar touch your skin again.”

  “But Pravus says I’m a danger to everyone until I learn how to control and use my mezhik.”

  Flames shot from Cinolth’s mouth and lit the dark sky. The rain sizzled as it evaporated. It reminded Aria of frying bacon. “He’s a liar. That collar leeches your mezhik energy and stores it, even when you’re not trying to use your mezhik.”

  “I don’t understand.” She fingered her neck where the collar had been for so long. “What purpose does it serve?”

  “Pravus accesses that stored energy to enhance his own mezhik abilities. He is nothing but a weak and pathetic man without you. That is why he married you and insisted that you bind your soul with his. Don’t you see? Through the use of prophecy and deception, he created you. His agenda has nothing to do with love for you. I warned you about him, but you chose to marry him and spread your legs for him.”

  Had Pravus used her? Paranoia gripped her as her mind spun through memories of her past. How had he known about her and where to find her?

  “You’ve haunted my dreams for years,” Pravus had said when they’d first met in Dragnus’s office.

  But he’d saved her from Dragnus, hadn’t he? She took his word at face value, but she’d always had reservations about his intent and doubted he disclosed everything to her despite assuring her that he would. Every time she discovered something new about him or something he’d done, he never denied it, but he kept more secrets than a pack of tongueless thieves.

  “Do you know this about Pravus, or are you just guessing?”

  “The man reeks of weakness and seeks power wherever he can find it. If you doubt my word, ask Wizard Wrik.”

  Aria sighed and waved her hand dismissively. “No matter the reason or intention, I’m bound to him. There is one thing that troubles me though. Can he read my thoughts as you can?”

  “When I’m in your mind, can you feel my presence?” asked Cinolth.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. This will be true of anyone entering or probing your thoughts. Only dragons, wizards, and sorceresses have the ability to force-enter another’s mind. You must learn to guard your mind against it, especially when it comes to your foes. Imagine how easy it would be for your enemy to kill you if they knew your every thought and move. Even worse, imagine if they co
ntrolled your actions and turned you against your allies.”

  Aria turned and peered up at Cinolth. “Will you teach me?”

  Smoke bellowed from Cinolth’s nostrils. “I will, but only because we share a bond through your blood.”

  She had a feeling that the reason was far greater than a simple bond, but she didn’t press Cinolth on the matter.

  Less than a half hour later, she’d mastered the techniques of guarding her mind and thoughts from her enemies. However, she sensed Cinolth retained access to her mind beyond what she felt, and her shoulders tensed with unease. Cinolth denied it with a scoff, so she let it go.

  “Thank you,” said Aria.

  Aria’s white, rain-soaked shirt clung to her sides, its buttons still undone from the stone ceremony. With wet, exposed breasts she should’ve been freezing in the cold rain, but Cinolth produced an aura of heat that warmed her and the surrounding air. A belly full of fire had many uses.

  Aria pulled her shirt closed and began buttoning it. “What did you mean earlier when you said that chaos would rain down on the Ancient Realm today?”

  Cinolth roared and spewed a column of fire skyward. “There are a hundred thousand humans across the realm who are lying in a comatose state and will awaken at my command. They will rise up and slaughter everyone around them, both friend and foe.”

  Alderan’s face flashed in Aria’s mind. She tensed. “Not just how is that possible, but what is the purpose of the attacks?”

  “Humans are a plague that devastates our world with every thought and action. When I lived before, two factions of humans warred: the zhifʈäd and the ʊnzhifʈäd. The ʊnzhifʈäd believed that any person or creature that possessed the ability to wield mezhik should be imprisoned and, in some cases, eradicated.

  “I fought alongside the zhifʈäd to bring justice to the world, but a select few of the zhifʈäd known as Ūrdär Dhef Ƨäfn Dhä betrayed us. Those traitors killed my servant, Magus Carac, and then tried to kill me by removing my heart, but they didn’t have the means to destroy it. So, they took my heart and locked it up in a place where no one could ever retrieve it.”

  Aria nodded with understanding. “Until Nardus came along.”

  “Yes.” Cinolth crushed the top of the rampart barrier in his clawed hand. “So, now I will do everything in my power to bring the human race to its knees and plunge it toward extinction.”

  “I understand why you think this will satisfy you, but your plan is flawed.”

  Cinolth’s head snaked down to her level. Rage pulsed in his red, reptilian eyes, each the size of her head. “You question my intelligence?” His thick, gravelly voice shook the rampart. Her shirt and hair dried instantly from the heat of his breath.

  Aria backed away with her arms raised. She choked on the sulfuric fumes from his breath. “Never!”

  “Then what?”

  “First off, I am human.”

  “And I’ll let you live.” His voice returned to her head.

  “You and I both know that you have no choice in that.”

  Cinolth’s eyes narrowed. “Do not fool yourself, girl. If I kill you, you will stay dead, but I can be resurrected again.”

  Aria hadn’t thought of that, and she didn’t want to dwell on it, so she pressed on. “I agree that many humans are evil, but not all of them. Pravus and I have gathered an army of our own. There are gnolls, orcs, zhebəllin, giants, ogres, and humans that will fight for us. We will march on the Three Kingdoms soon and gain control of the Ancient Realm.

  “Would it not make more sense if we were to join our forces? A coordinated attack would prove far more effective than random acts of violence throughout the realm.

  “Not only that, but word of a risen dragon will have traveled far and wide already. There are many people who will see these attacks and quickly conclude that you’re the one behind them. They will come after you with everything they have and drive you back down to the pit you crawled out of.”

  “I’d love to see them try.”

  “Trust me when I say that I have the capacity to be the greatest mage to ever live. Teach me everything you know, and we will be unstoppable.”

  “You are full of yourself.”

  “Perhaps, but there are many prophecies written about me. Together, we can fulfill them.”

  “To what end? What would I gain from it?”

  Aria needed to stroke Cinolth’s ego and knew just how to accomplish it. “It’s simple. Instead of killing all the humans, we’ll enslave them and force them to worship you as a god and make daily sacrifices to you.”

  Cinolth stared into the distance. Raindrops sizzled on his scales, producing a barrier of fog around him and her. “To humans, I’m already a god.”

  Aria brooded. “Then what will satisfy you? What is it you seek?”

  Cinolth said nothing, but memories flashed through Aria’s mind. Not her memories, but his. A legion of dragons. They stood opposed to him. Banished him from his home. She’d never felt such hatred and rage. Humans had only been the tipping point. A name entered her thoughts: Quldrai.

  Aria rested her hand on Cinolth’s leg. His red eye narrowed as he glanced down at her. His voice shook her. “And what is it you think you understand? What brings that smile to your lips?”

  Aria stared into his eyes for several beats before speaking. “Do this for me. Join our forces, and I will ensure your revenge against Quldrai.”

  Cinolth stomped the rampart, and it trembled beneath Aria’s feet. Smoke and fire joined the words from his curled lips. “And what do you know of that beast?”

  “Only what you’ve shown me.” Aria closed her eyes. “Together, we will bring her reign to an end, and you’ll take your rightful position as king of the dragons.”

  When Aria opened her eyes again, she stared right into Cinolth’s right eye. His hot breath billowed her shirt. Her heart thundered in her ears as she stood her ground and awaited his response.

  An eternity of moments passed before he mindspoke to her. “My forces will join yours, and we'll take the Ancient Realm by storm. In a few hours, my followers will awaken and begin their journey here.”

  “Thank you,” she mindspoke. “You’ve made a wise decision, as I knew you would. Quldrai will not live another year.”

  “Disappoint me, and it will be the last thing you ever do. Now, I must go feed. Twelve hundred years without food is far too long.” His mind withdrew from hers.

  I must learn how to do that.

  Aria smiled to herself. “Very well. I will let Pravus know your decision.”

  Cinolth snorted and took to the sky, his wings a gale force in her face. Aria covered her eyes and stumbled backward. Rain poured down, soaking her once again. She pushed her matted hair behind her ears. Cinolth’s presence faded from her mind as he disappeared into the blackened sky.

  Cinolth would join them. She’d never been happier of anything.

  Pravus will certainly be pleased… but I’ll never trust him again.

  Chapter Three

  Rayah stretched her arms and legs and yawned. The haze of sleep still lingered, and the morning sunlight filtering in through the front windows didn’t help. She rolled onto her side and slid right out of the rocking chair. She landed hard on the wooden floor and grunted, every bone jarred.

  She sighed. A perfect start to the day.

  She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stared at the vaulted ceiling suspended above her. Three large oak beams stretched the distance from the front of the living area to the back wall that separated it from the kitchen. She didn’t know how someone could’ve moved such large beams into place without the use of mezhik.

  Mezhik ruled the world—at least it did hers. Would the world she knew exist without it? She doubted it, and the thought of it left her cold. She’d heard tales about the far reaches of Centauria banning mezhik and sacrificing any who were caught wielding it. Such rumors circulated every few years like seasons, but
their absurdity didn’t prevent her mind from lingering on them.

  How would she cope without her mezhik? More to the point, how would she cope without her wings? Love. Nothing else matters. She’d know soon enough.

  The impending change scared her, but she understood the sacrifice she’d be making. She knew exactly what she’d be giving up for Alderan the moment she had realized that they’d bonded.

  Everything. I’ll sacrifice everything for you, Alderan.

  How would she tell him though? How would she explain it to him in a way he’d understand? Could she do so? Would he still marry her if he knew the cost she must pay?

  Should I tell him now, or wait until after it cannot be undone?

  She brooded over the fallout she’d face from Alderan no matter which path she chose.

  No. I cannot keep this from him. He’d never forgive me if I did. He must know, and I must tell him while I still have the courage to do so.

  Rayah sat up. “Alderan? Are you awake?”

  He didn’t answer. Maybe he’s still asleep. She turned around to check on him, but his rocking chair sat empty. She stood, pressed her hands against the middle of her back, and leaned backward until her back finally popped. A sigh of relief escaped from her lips.

  She walked over to the couch. Eshtak wasn’t there either. The door to Savric’s room stood wide open. She walked over to the doorway and peeked inside the room. Empty… where is everyone?

  Jealousy bubbled in her mind like a festering wound. She balled her fists. Why didn’t they wake me? She stormed across the living area, yanked the front door open, and stepped out onto the porch. Birds chirped and sang, and leaves rustled in the trees, but the porch and yard were empty.

  The crisp morning air caressed Rayah’s bare arms and legs, transforming her skin from a silky-smooth porcelain to bumpy gooseflesh. She raised her shoulders, squeezed her arms tight to her body, and trembled for a moment, forcing warmth back into her bones. She scowled.

  Have you abandoned me too, Spring?

  Rayah turned around and marched back into the house, through the living area, and into the kitchen. Stacks of books littered the counters and covered the small kitchen table. She rounded the table and gasped. “Zerenity!”