Darkness: A Guardians of Orana Novel

by Nancy E. Dunne

  Thirty-Six

  Circling the Dragons

  Gin squeezed the bridge of her nose as she stared out into the setting sun. It would soon be morning in Aynamaede, on the other side of the world from where she and Sath had landed. Thankfully they had avoided hitting the trees that densely covered the land in M’aanyr, the home of the Mother Dragon—and the ice that Taeben had encased them in melted in transport. Luckily the forest canopy here shielded the lush ground in the same way it did in the Great Forest, and they were able to find berries and plants to eat along with the magical food that Gin was able to conjure. She had laughed when the spell worked—the memory of her mentor Allyna’s face when she tried Gin’s first attempt at magical bread matched the look on Sath’s. The sun had set soon after they arrived, and now was setting again, but they had still not found the coast—despite walking for most of the day.

  “Do you think any of the time traps are attached to this part of the continent?” Sath was busy finishing a sketch in the dirt on the ground to help them remember where they had walked that day. A fallen tree was providing them both shelter and firewood that night, and he was working just to the left of the campfire that Gin’s magic had helped him build. It reminded Gin of the night they spent right after escaping the first of the Mother Dragon’s traps—when they were still sharing stories, and trying to find a way home was the top priority. Not so anymore.

  “No. I don’t think the traps are attached to anything, exactly. There may be portals along the coast that take the unwary adventurer TO the traps, but -”

  “So, we need to avoid the coast, most likely.” Sath’s voice was pinched with frustration. “Why is it always that when you and I get within arm’s length of home—and happiness—it is yanked back further away Gin?” She frowned. “I don’t mean it’s our fault, I just mean—well it would be nice if we could catch a break, is all.”

  “Agreed.” Gin closed her eyes and sent her consciousness out in all directions to check for anyone nearby. She found nothing save a few small animals that were burrowing in for the night. It would not do to tell Sath that—it would be no time at all before the poor creatures were roasting on her campfire if she did. She opened her eyes to find Sath looking at her. “Seems we are the only ones for miles around—I don’t know if that is good or bad.”

  “Me either,” Sath replied. He drew with a stick in the dirt and then indicated the top of the drawing. “Look, so this is where we have been, and I’m trying to add in what I remember of the first place after we left the prison.”

  “J’yr Va’al.”

  “Yes, that place. See, I’ve put it up here and to the right, because I remember Josiah saying he was from M’aanyr and I think he said ‘down’ in M’aanyr once or twice, indicating that it is south of—um—Jarvel.”

  “J’yr Va’al.” Gin smothered a giggle behind her hand.

  “YES.” A growl rumbled in Sath’s chest, but Gin ignored it. “So, if we can find some sort of boat and then some water in this direction -” He pointed to a spot along the continent he had marked with a large M, presumably for M’aanyr. “We put in there and then sail west, and we should eventually make it to Calder’s Port.”

  “Sath, we can’t just leave.”

  “Why not? Of course we can!”

  “Taeben is controlling the golden dragon and will kill her if he tries to take her body permanently. He will have the orb if he doesn’t already. We have to stop him.” Gin got to her feet and looked down at him, her hands on her hips. “We cannot allow him to come back to life in our world, Sath.”

  “We cannot do a lot to stop him, Gin.”

  “Not alone, no, but if we can convince Sephine, the Mother Dragon, and Omerith to help us -”

  “See, you’re just talking crazy. You need to go home, Gin, because you’ve clearly LOST YOUR MIND.” Sath chuckled for a moment, stopping when he noticed that Gin wasn’t smiling. “Come on, there is no way that Sephine and Kaerinth will work with each other, let alone her son or us—and don’t forget that Omerith is clearly under the control of Taeben via his daughter.”

  “That’s it.”

  “What’s it?” Gin grinned from ear to pointed ear. “Uh oh, I recognize that look, and I do not like it. What are you thinking, Gin?”

  “We do what I used to do to my siblings when they were doing something wrong. We need to tattle on Omerith to his mother.”

  “Right, I’m going to carry you to the coast. Too bad I don’t have the shackles from the palace dungeons.” He made a playful move toward her, but she jumped backward, raising a hand toward him.

  “I’m not kidding, Sath. The Mother Dragon wants the orb as much as Taeben does, so we need to distract him long enough to break his hold on Omerith’s mind. What better way than to send the Mother Dragon after him?”

  “Okay, I’m with you, but how? And we don’t know if Daelyth is still in there at all—what if the Mother Dragon kills her outright by attacking Taeben?”

  Gin frowned for a moment, but her face soon relaxed into the smooth countenance Sath had seen before when she was acting in her official capacity as Nature Walker. “Then that will be a tragedy, no doubt, but if it keeps Taeben and Lord Taanyth safely in the Void—it’s a price we must be willing to pay.”

  Sath sighed loudly. “This is not like you, Gin.”

  “I know.” Gin’s voice was tinged with sadness. “But I cannot allow either of those two to walk among the other races of Orana ever again. It’s why we are Guardians—OH Sath, the Guardians, that’s it!”

  “What’s it? Slow down there, Gin, I’m not following.”

  “The other Guardians. Who are they? We have traveled in the name of the Guardians, but it has only ever been the two of us. The original Guardians had members from all the races, didn’t they?”

  “No, not the races that live under the mountain, but the Rajah of Qatu’anari, the Nature Walker, the high king of the high elves, and a human were to make up the Guardians—is that right?”

  “YES!” Gin was positively vibrating now. “We may be able to turn Omerith’s mind without having to resort to an alliance with the Mother Dragon. We just need to find out who the other two are, the high elf and the human.”

  “But how?”

  Perhaps I can be of help.

  The two of them looked at each other. That was a new voice that neither of them recognized, but it was female and spoke with an Ikedrian accent. “Is that Elspethe?” Gin whispered, afraid to even say her name aloud, else Taeben somehow would know they had communicated with his apprentice.

  Close, Nature Walker. I am D’Ayna Turlach, and the Elspethe of which you speak is my descendant.

  With eyes as wide as saucers, Gin and Sath looked at each other once again.

  I am sorry to invade your bond, Nature Walker, but since only a few are taught to use it anymore, I find it easier than trying to initiate a new bond in these circumstances. You understand.

  Sath growled low in his chest. What do you want?

  Ah, Rajah, you are as forthright as your ancestor was when he tried to assist us in the war rooms. I am pleased to see his directness was passed down to your generation. As for what I want, I am here on behalf of my great-great niece, Elspethe. She can no longer communicate with you because she is imprisoned within her mind by the wizard. But I am free to help as much as I can from the Void. I believe you wish to know who the other Guardians are?

  Gin looked at Sath before she responded. Yes, please—Lady Turlach?

  Please, Nature Walker, call me Ayna, I was forced to give up my allegiance to my house to help your ancestor, Draoch. I will go to the gods and goddesses in the Void and find these other Guardians for you, and then return with their answer.

  Thank you, Ayna. I am proud to be from the city that bears your name.

  The bond weakened but did not sever. Gin rubbed her temples. This felt like the bond she formed with other ancestors—her head throbbed, and her muscles burned as though she had been running. Sath rea
ched over to move her fingers and then started rubbing her shoulders and neck. She relaxed against him.

  “So, now we wait?” he asked, half whispering into her hair.

  “I suppose.” Gin let her head fall forward. “Oh, that’s good, Sath, thank you.” She cleared her mind, searching at the same time for any other intruders. Her mind was blissfully her own. “I have no idea how long it would take for her to find out -”

  I have an answer for you, Nature Walker.

  Gin almost came out of her skin at the abrupt interruption, and Sath’s hands froze in place on her neck and back.

  Apologies, I feel that I have startled you. I was able to find your Sephine and Kildir. It seems that there is currently no high elf Guardian—when King Nim gave up his throne to the council that now rules Alynatalos, his line of Guardians ended. She did have a suggestion, though, that she thought you would approve without question: Nelenie, the exiled paladin.

  She knows where Nel is?

  Aye, Nature Walker, and she will bring her to you if you agree to -

  Of course I do! I have known Nelenie my entire life, and I trust her.

  Rajah, do you agree?

  She is Tairn’s sister, Gin, I just don’t know—okay, there’s no need to glare at me like that. Nelenie is fine. I approve as well.

  They could both feel Ayna’s amusement at their exchange and laughed along with her.

  Excellent well, Nature Walker. Now, for the humans, I can find a descendant of Eleinnagh Calder, but Isona refuses to assist in bringing him to you. He lives in the Great Forest, on the coast by Qatu’anari as he seems to be some sort of ambassador from the humans to the Qatu. I will continue to work on him, but I feel that with at least the high elf Guardian in your camp, you have a better chance of success.

  Thank you, Ayna. We will await Nel’s arrival.

  If it works like her question and answer did, Gin, we won’t have to wait long.

  I like your humor, Rajah. You are a lucky female to have him, Ginolwenye of the Trees. Draoch was like a father to me, and I envy the family bonds your kind form. You are lucky that your family is intact and secure.

  Sath and I are lucky, indeed, Ayna.

  Your child will grow in love for sure, something my own kind knows nothing about as young ones -

  Our—what?

  Oh, dear—I may have spoken out of turn. I will make the bond with the high elf and bring her to you at once.

  The bond severed with an almost audible pop. Gin’s eyebrows knotted as she looked at Sath. “What was that about?”

  “She must have meant Khujann, Gin. I told you, he thinks of you as his mother, and I intend for you to be First Wife of Qatu’anari.”

  “Right.” Gin stood and stretched, walking out from under the shelter. She turned back to say something to Sath but stopped as a bright light suddenly appeared in between them. “SATH!” She ran toward him and headlong into a female high elf, knocking both of them to the ground.

  “Easy, Ginny, you’re liable to knock yourself unconscious against my armor.” Gin found herself eye to eye with Nelenie, her childhood friend. Before she said even ‘hello,’ she threw her arms around Nelenie’s neck and pulled her into a tight hug. Nelenie matched the embrace—the tears on her cheeks matching Gin’s as well. “I can’t even—so good to—oh, Ginny -”

  Gin pushed back from Nelenie’s embrace. “Just don’t call me that anymore, okay? I’m just Gin now. Ben used to call me that, and -” A loud growl from Sath sent Nelenie scrambling for her feet and her weapon. “It’s all right! That’s Sathlir Clawsharp. Nel! Stand down, he is on our side.”

  “Of course he is, I’m sorry. The All-Mother filled me in that you were—um, that you and he are—um…”

  “I guess he is my—um, mate?” Gin smiled over her shoulder at a still scowling Sath, who softened his expression as he caught her eye.

  “You guess? Bah.” Sath turned and busied himself with stoking the fire so that Gin wouldn’t notice his grin. The sun had finished dipping below the horizon, and it was becoming colder by the minute.

  “So, Sath, this is one of my oldest friends, Nelenie.” Sath looked up and beamed a toothy grin at Nelenie, who backed up a step or two. “She doesn’t have Qatu friends, Sath, you might want to take it easy with those smiles, okay?” Nelenie and Sath laughed, and she sat down opposite them at the fire.

  “Pleased to meet you, your Majesty.”

  “Please, just call me Sath.”

  “All right, Sath, so what do you two need from me?” Nelenie unhooked her cloak and revealed a very familiar-looking haversack on her back. “Mother thought that you might need your things, Gin. They were left in the red dragon’s stronghold when Daelyth pulled you through the portal to bring you here.” Gin took the pack from her and looked inside. “She says you must be more careful, for this is not the first time.”

  “Clearly, I have nothing that anyone wants, as my pack keeps finding its way back to me,” Gin said. Sath laughed and nodded. “I think you and Sath need to work on our strategy. I’m still hopeless as far as that is concerned.”

  Sath scoffed. “She really doesn’t give herself enough credit.”

  “Never has.” Nelenie smiled at Gin. “By Indarr, it is good to see you, though.”

  “Aye. I was afraid that you stayed away because of what happened with Dor, Nel.” Surprisingly, Gin felt no growl from Sath at the mention of the human’s name. Nelenie reached out and took Gin’s hand, covering it with her own hand.

  “Not for a moment. All of us did things we weren’t proud of, Gin, and the fact is that he changed after he left us and took up with that dragon.” Nelenie looked off into the distance. “He changed when YOU left us, Ginny. I think that you were the only barrier he had against the growing darkness inside him. To be honest, it was right that you were the one that ended his life. You were the only light he had.” Gin hung her head and pulled her hand away from Nelenie’s.

  “You heard about that.” Gin’s voice was soft and pinched. Sath found his growl and leveled his gaze at the high elf.

  “You think she hasn’t felt enough guilt about that?” he snarled. Nelenie’s eyes narrowed.

  “You think you could have killed him, so she didn’t have to?”

  “STOP IT.” Gin took a deep breath before she spoke. She loved them both, and there would be time to sort out the past after they took care of the present. “It’s all right, Sath. Let’s just focus on the plan. How are we going to get the Mother Dragon to help us get the orb from Taeben—if he does indeed have it?”

  “Don’t you think that she will be spurred to action when she finds out that her granddaughter has been taken over by Taeben, Gin?” Sath and Gin both looked at Nelenie in surprise. “What? You think Mother Sephine would send me to the front without a full briefing?” Gin studied her friend, noting the lines in Nelenie’s face—her skin had been as smooth as porcelain when they were younger. Her blonde hair, once long and pulled back in a ponytail most days, now only fell to her jawbone and was much darker blonde than it had been when they were children together in the Great Forest. There were reddish streaks in her hair that reminded Gin of Nelenie’s sister, Tairneanach. She thought back to time spent with their family in Alynatalos and smiled as she remembered their father, sitting at one end of the table and stroking his dark red beard as he laughed at his daughters' squabbling over who got to sit by Gin. “Ginny?”

  “Nel, I asked you already...please, don’t call me Ginny. That’s what Ben calls me.”

  “Called you.” Sath narrowed his eyes. “Unless you are maintaining your bond with him from the Void too?”

  “The bond, right, Mother told me about that too, but I’m not certain I know how to use it.” Gin smiled gratefully at Nelenie and Sath scowled as he looked back at the map he had drawn in the dirt.

  “You don’t have to know yet, Nel. I will teach you about that after we are done here. I think it might be safer if you aren’t open to it so that Ben can’t -”


  “Gin, call him Taeben, please!” Both of their heads swiveled toward Sath at his outburst. Gin held her hands up in the air.

  “I’m sorry. It might be safer if you aren’t open to it so that you can’t be manipulated by anyone.” Gin looked pointedly over at Sath, and he nodded sullenly.

  “Fair enough.” Nelenie tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “So, we need someone to go to the Mother Dragon and tell her about Daelyth, or can you contact her with your—um -” Nelenie pointed at her forehead.

  “I can. I’ve already accidentally contacted her once.” Sath stopped drawing circles in the dirt and looked up at them. “But what do I say? She won’t believe me. ‘Oh, hey there, Lady Kaerinth, by the way, your granddaughter has a wizard squatting inside her mind. Have a great day.’ That will only get me pulled to her and killed.”

  “Well, yes, if you say it like that.” Gin narrowed her eyes at Sath. “My idea was that we use the fact that Ben—Taeben ported us here to our advantage. We are in M’aanyr, Sath. We are in her territory.” Gin looked back and forth between them. “Honestly. And I’m the one that isn’t good with strategy? We wander until we are detected, and then we spin a story of how we were run out of La’al Drygyr by Omerith because he has the orb and is planning to use the magic of Ikara to destroy his father in the Void.”

  “So then she flies up there and kills Omerith and the wizard in the dragon suit before we find out where the orb is?” Sath looked at her with confusion. “We need to protect the red dragon, don’t we?”

  Gin nodded. “We do. He is the founder of the Guardians, and the sanest of all the dragons, all things considered. Even with the disappearance of his mate, he did not give in to madness. I am also hoping we can save his daughter from the wizard’s control.”

  “Aye, it would be best. If not, the red dragon will be alone in the world—because I am assuming a part of your plan involves the end of the Mother Dragon, Gin?” Nelenie tucked another piece of hair behind her pointed ear. Gin noticed the gesture and remembered how her friend used to wind her ponytail around her fingers—with the lack of long hair, Nelenie had found another nervous habit.