It was most definitely the entrance into Rinora's lair, and the only thing separating Dalris and Jada from accessing it was a large army of elven paladins bearing the crest of Onoria.
Now marching toward the structure, their golden armor and winged helmets gleamed in the sunlight, though several possessed spatters of blood, proving their trek hadn't been entirely peaceful. Still, their even progression in numerous straight lines was impressive. The soldiers moved as a single unit across the terrain—yet the appearance of so many drakes entering the area stopped the paladins in their tracks.
Seeing their halt, Dalris gave the command to land in the wide field behind them. Of course, flying overhead to reach the entrance was an option, but the paladins might attack to stop their progress, and he hadn't forgotten the anonymous message's warning—The unworthy seeking to cause destruction shall never pass.
So he didn't make the attempt, and guided his drake to the ground.
With a colorful flock of exotic birds taking flight around them, Dalris tightened his grip on the reins once they'd landed, then goaded his drake toward the paladins—who remained unflinching in the face of so many large beasts.
Such fortitude was admirable, but he wasn't intimidated either, calling out on a stern tone, “Who's in charge here?”
Initially, silence was the only answer. But he soon noticed movement at the front of the lines in the form of several horses heading toward them—and Jada gasped in response to the sight.
“Oh goddess, I didn't think she'd come.”
“She?”
Nodding, his mate explained, “That's the Archon on the back of the white stallion at the center.”
Hearing this, Dalris looked ahead again to see one of the horses carrying a woman with teal eyes and hair hidden beneath a white coif and veil. The rest of her vestments were what he imagined had to be typical of the Udanian clergy, and her shoulders were held high, giving off an air of importance.
Additionally, as the riders emerged from the ranks to approach, he realized Menlor was with them. Wonderful.
Growling the moment he spied the tracker, Dalris prepared for what was sure to be a memorable experience—no matter how painful it was to endure.
Despite how surprised Jada was to see the Archon traveling with her paladins, she rolled her eyes in spotting Menlor accompanying her, and nearly groaned. Dalris must've just noticed him as well because he growled—a sound she could certainly sympathize with.
But she remained silent until they were within earshot, and even decided to show respect just to keep things going smoothly, greeting the Archon with a simple, “Your Grace.”
In response, Arja inclined her head cordially, then greeted the draconians present just as politely—not that they seemed impressed, particularly those of Nefilias' House sitting upon the red drakes. Indeed, their fearless stares added a good bit of tension to the situation.
Still, the Archon's next statement was just as composed as her greeting.
“I hope your trip wasn't arduous.”
“It was fine,” Jada answered, unable to stop herself from adding conspiratorially, “but if I could be blunt, why did you even bother to make this trip? Especially with an army. I mean, it's almost as if something's going on that you haven't shared with anyone else.” So much for keeping things smooth.
At her remark, a low hum of approval sounded from a few draconians nearby. Yet the Archon's composed expression remained unchanged, looking for all intents and purposes as if she believed she was obligated to come.
It also seemed she wasn't intent on keeping secrets any longer because she stated simply, “As I told your grandfather years ago, uncovering this temple could have repercussions that would devastate the entire world.”
“But how? What is supposed to be so dangerous?”
Arja had moved in much closer by the time Jada finished asking her questions, and Menlor stayed by her side, proving his devotion to her welfare was unwavering.
But he thankfully remained silent when the Archon answered on a softer tone, “The danger has to do with the Battle for Divinity, Jada. You already know records from the time of Rinora's House are shoddy, and whatever part they may have played in that conflict is unclear. Almost all we know of that battle is that the God of Darkness sent his army and defeated The Guardian, saving the pantheon, to say nothing for this world.”
After a brief pause, she added, “But the testament of Gowlan Corlas reveals that an essence of The Guardian survived, one which had to be contained and hidden away.”
“What?” Karina exclaimed incredulously just as Jada shared a surprised look with Dalris.
Arja gave a single nod, summarizing, “That's the danger in coming to this place. That essence is power, and if anyone possessed it, the damage would be immeasurable.”
Silence swept over the Skyriders, and it was hard to tell if the draconians were only stunned, or merely thought Arja was full of shit.
But her answer did prove Jada's theory right—the clergy had information they weren't sharing with anyone else. It was simply surprising to hear the Archon reference the testament of the legendary paladin, Gowlan Corlas, as her source.
As far as Jada knew, that testament was a compendium of journal entries, letters, and other notes gathered together after Gowlan died, and most of the information concerned his war against trolls, not details on The Battle for Divinity. So there was definitely more the Udanian Clergy hadn't mentioned, likely to prevent anyone from locating The Guardian's essence and using it to destroy the world.
Saying this power even existed.
Still, Jada wasn't nearly as interested in knowing the details of the Archon's source of information as she was hearing the answer to Dalris' next question.
“Even if you're right, what evidence is there that proves this power is contained within Rinora's lair?”
Surprisingly, the Archon admitted, “There is none, nor has any evidence ever been recovered detailing where The Guardian's essence was contained specifically. But Rinora's lair is a strong possibility.”
Jada wanted to argue with that assessment, but Morwin's own research proved Rinora's House played some part in the Battle for Divinity, making it seem Arja was right to suspect. Still, the power she feared now had once been used to attempt overthrowing Divinity and the pantheon. So if it was located within this lair, why would the God of Magic, or any other deity, protect it?
It made no sense, and as the thoughts struck, Dalris asked the Archon, “So what are you planning to do?”
Arja's response was immediate, and given with the utmost confidence.
“We're going to inspect this ruin, and if need be, we'll destroy it to keep that power from falling into anyone's hands.”
“You can't!” Jada impulsively retorted, ready to alert Arja of the anonymous message and its warning.
But apparently, her protest was premature.
At Arja's declaration, everything around them unexpectedly grew dim, the sun blotted out by a wave of clouds slowly building in mass overhead. In turn, a low, foreboding hum resonated throughout the oasis, escalating in volume so swiftly Jada almost had to cover her ears.
With the strange sound, those dark clouds began swirling, moving until wisps were stretching downward, spiraling around the entrance of Rinora's lair like a slow-moving vortex blocking the way forward.
Even more ominously, amidst the swirling mass were brief flashes of golden light, and Jada knew precisely what was causing it.
Velias.
The Archon's declaration had triggered a reaction, and it was easy to see that the God of Magic wasn't pleased with her intentions. Not only was the vortex growing in size, those golden flashes contained within the clouds suddenly forked out like lightening, two bolts hitting the ground not far from the paladins.
Initially, Jada thought the men would be hit by the powerful arcs of energy. Yet it seemed those bolts were just a summoning force because two sentinels appeared in their wake—and not just any sent
inels.
Instead of the human sized, headless suits of armor most mages conjured, these were fifty feet tall—big enough to take on a Great Dragon.
“Holy shit!” Karina exclaimed.
It was the first time Jada had ever heard her sister cussing. But in staring at the towering suits of armor with large, sharp swords glinting against the golden flashes of light, she couldn't help thinking the situation certainly warranted the holiest of holy shits.
Even more fitting would be to say this proved Velias wasn't fucking around regarding the protection of Rinora's lair—and the sentinels wasted no time approaching Arja's army.
From experience, Jada knew a paladin's skill could be summarized with one word—devastating. They might even last longer than most fighting these oversized suits of armor. But in the end, it wouldn't be enough.
Unless she and Dalris intervened, none would survive.
CHAPTER 39
“Arja! Command your paladins to stand down and revoke your threat! Rinora's lair is under divine protection!”
Baffled by Jada's direction, Menlor asked, “Stand down? Are you insane? They'll be killed!”
“Just listen to her!” Dalris shouted above a loud reverberation caused by the sentinels' swords—which had started glowing with energy during their approach.
Whatever the source of that power was, there was no doubting it would be destructive once unleashed. Yet, while the Archon stared at the sight before them in stunned silence, Menlor insisted, “How do you know this is divine protection? It could be the essence we—”
“Arja!” Jada cried at the top of her lungs, cutting Menlor off. “Do it now!”
The sentinels had raised their blades by the time she was finished, and finally, the Archon jerked out of her stupor in response to Jada's bidding.
“All stand down!” she quickly commanded. “We will not destroy this ruin under any circumstance! I vow it in Udana's name!”
“Your Grace!” Menlor interjected—but Arja didn't listen, repeating her orders.
Still, Dalris couldn't relax despite her change of heart, having no idea if it would be enough, or if the sentinels would continue to wipe their army out.
And what then? Would they target the Skyriders next?
It was a concern he couldn't dismiss—nor could he say he'd be ashamed to command a retreat in this situation. In fact, watching the sentinels' blades come down, and knowing the power pulsing through their weapons was going to erupt the moment it hit, he nearly gave the order then and there.
But that's when the sentinels abruptly stopped.
With their blades mere feet from causing any damage to the paladins—who'd just taken evasive actions—both halted in their attack, then vanished from sight with a strange warble of sound just as quickly as they'd appeared.
In turn, the vortex now blocking the entrance to Rinora's lair dissipated, the clouds breaking from the sky to allow the sunlight back in as if nothing had happened.
After such a stressful moment, the ensuing silence seemed deafening, stretching around them with a strange tension forming in its wake, almost as if everyone expected the towering suits of armor to reappear at any moment.
Everyone, that was, except Jada.
“Damn it, Menlor! The next time I tell you something's under divine protection, fucking listen to me!”
“I can't believe that actually worked,” the tracker muttered with a scowl.
In stark contrast to his incredulity, Arja looked relieved, turning a pair of curious eyes on Jada to ask, “How did you know this lair is warded by the pantheon?”
“I found information in Sadonia,” she started, and nearly went on to explain, but was cut off by an unexpected source—a roar echoing out in the distance.
And despite all that had just happened, the sound proved things were only beginning.
Curiously, the elves looked up toward the sky, and just after the first roar faded, another followed, sounds Dalris easily identified as belonging to the Great Dragons. Furthermore, the second one called to him, triggering his Wrath and proving beyond a doubt who the roar belonged to—Dra'Kai.
Seeing his glowing marks and black horns, Menlor groaned the words, “Now what?”
“Dalris?” Jada asked knowingly. “It's Dra'Kai, isn't it?”
He nodded in confirmation, then added upon realizing the rest of the Skyrider's were in the same aggressive state as himself, “And Nefilias.”
Hearing this, his mate excitedly bounced where she sat, and Dalris grinned at her eagerness to meet them, looking back toward the sky with everyone else just as the two Great Dragons appeared.
The pair moved with both speed and grace, their red and blue scales glinting so brightly in the sunlight they seemed to glisten. Swiftly drawing in closer, Nefilias was the first to swoop low while Dra'Kai moved ahead, likely to survey the area before landing.
Within moments, the ground quaked under the red dragon's thunderous footfalls, his towering body marked with slashes that glowed like smoldering embers. Additionally, a number of white horns spiked up from his head, offering Nefilias a menacing visage that was only amplified by his decidedly devious grin.
Voice a deep, guttural hiss, he lowered his head and drew out, “Ahhh, tiny elven snacks. A tasty treat, though I fear eating all of you would still leave me wanting.”
Arja was so focused on Nefilias that Dra'Kai's sudden landing nearby startled her. Like his brother, Dra'Kai's body possessed markings that pulsed with blue light, though his expression was more neutral.
Still, the Archon didn't let his sudden appearance stop her from calling the red dragon's bluff.
“You would not dare devour us!”
“Perhaps not, yet my kindred look famished after their long flight,” he observed in regards to the red drakes nearby. “So they may desire a few … appetizers.”
With that said, Nefilias drew out several low, intimidating chuckles—and Dalris genuinely felt sorry for Arja. First the sentinels, and now Nefilias. Talk about a trip gone wrong.
Still, it seemed Dra'Kai wasn't going to allow his brother to do much taunting as he moved in closer and announced, “That's enough, Nefilias. We did not come to incite their wrath.”
Grumbling, the red dragon relented by lifting his head with the words, “Fine. Killjoy.”
At that, Jada covered her mouth to stifle a few snickers, obviously finding Nefilias' attitude amusing. But there was no time for commentary when Dra'Kai requested an explanation, and Dalris immediately provided a thorough answer.
In the process, Jada produced the curator's diary to show everyone the anonymous message and prove that Arja's fears were unwarranted—and she made a good point. The Gods were highly unlikely to protect any location housing a power once used against them, leaving the Archon with no leg to stand on.
But she'd just lost ground anyway—no matter her reason for coming to this oasis, the decision on whether or not anyone entered Rinora's lair belonged to the Great Dragons present.
Such was a point Dra'Kai didn't hesitate to make, turning his gaze on Arja to announce, “You wish to protect this world, Archon. A noble cause we can admire, yet one that's ultimately misplaced upon your frail shoulders.”
“Indeed,” Nefilias seconded, and despite his large size, he swiftly moved around the group to stand next to his brother where he added, “the protection of Ithelyon is our responsibility, elf. So if danger is present here, we will neutralize it, and you will not impede the progress of those who wish to uncover the truth of our lost sister's fate. Any who wish to contest this may challenge us now.”
Unsurprisingly, Nefilias sounded eager for someone to try. Yet the paladins in Arja's ranks remained silent following his decree—Menlor included.
Realizing none present wished to challenge two Great Dragons, Dra'Kai looked down upon Jada and Dalris to direct, “Take the Archon and enter the lair now. We will remain here to await news of your findings.”
If Jada was surprised by the Great Dragon'
s command to take the Archon with them, it was mild in comparison to Arja's, whose uncertainty regarding Rinora's lair had her casting a set of wide eyes up as if thinking the dragon was daft.
But Dalris knew Dra'Kai wanted the religious leader to see what was inside for herself and prevent any miscommunication, and the only person who took exception was Menlor.
“Wait,” he started, gazing up at both dragons. “I can't allow her to go unprotected, so permit me to join her.”
It was easy to see that Jada didn't care for Menlor's request—Dalris wasn't fond of the idea, either. Even Dra'Kai seemed skeptical, returning, “Our draconians will protect your Archon.”
“With all due respect,” Menlor countered, “I trust my own abilities, and she trusts me.”
She'd be the only one, Dalris thought spitefully. Still, he wouldn't contest whatever decision Dra'Kai came to, and it seemed Menlor's determination must've convinced the blue dragon because he finally agreed.
“Very well. You may proceed.”
At his decree, Dalris and Jada dismounted their drake while Liam brought the carrier containing the babies with Karina following—and somehow, the moment felt much more significant than expected.
For two thousand years, Onoria and Draconia had been divided by the mystery of Rinora's lost House, and now, two Great Dragons, the Skyriders, and an army of paladins watched together in curiosity to know what would be revealed as they traversed the tall steps.
Seeing them gathered here to witness it almost made the situation feel … ordained in some strange way. Maybe this is what the gods intended all along.
Whatever the case, Dalris' concerns were much more personal. Two days ago, Jada said she knew they'd be together, but wondered how, and that was all he cared to know.
So it was relieving to find a simple lever near the door at the top of the platform instead of a podium requiring a key. Flipping it, the entryway opened with no trouble to reveal the stairs leading down—and in contrast to the darkness they'd encountered inside the shrine, there was a distinct, golden light emanating from below.
Fated Fortunes Page 29
