by C E Johnson
Emily used her memory spells to recall Ladon’s words. “Ladon told me my friends would be important to me for the rest of my days. One of the three would always be a helper, the second would save me in my moment of need, and the third would be a great friend for many years, but would eventually betray me.”
“Be wary of all of your friends until we learn more,” Dr. D advised. Emily continued packing her backpack.
“Listen, I know you just gave us your thoughts on the four of us being your family.” Luke appeared so solemn and serious, Emily wanted to go to him and hold his hand. “If you meant it, I want to give my input right now.”
He’s right. Xena was firm in her resolve. Listen to them.
Alright. Emily tried to be patient. “Tell me what you think.” She sat hesitantly on the log.
“I don’t think you should run off by yourself, no matter how powerful you are. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Luke’s concern staggered her. “Maybe I’ve watched too many movies, but this situation has ‘trap’ written all over it. I think helping each other out is something we’ve done ever since we were kids. Teach us a little more before you leave us with a load of information and nothing to do to help you.”
Ammolite approaches, Xena whispered as Emily’s ki also alerted her to her approaching dragon.
“What in the world is that?” Isabelle was pointing upwards. A shape, a far-off dot on the horizon approaching at a very high velocity, loomed out of the darkening sky. They watched as the outline got bigger, hurtling toward their position like an enormous eagle that continued to increase in size.
Emily stood and walked toward a clearing next to their campsite. “Ammolite’s coming.” Her heart suddenly felt as if it were going to burst with joy, shattering her fear and confusion for a moment.
Everyone began to crouch except for Emily and Xena who stood tall in anticipation. The scaled creature connected with the ground, which vibrated with the shock of dragon-flesh landing with such a rush. Xena dashed forward to touch the multi-colored dragon and Emily was just behind her. Sighing in contentment while throwing her arms around Ammolite’s neck, she buried her face into her dragon’s scales. She and Xena fully opened their minds to their bondsmate. I missed you so much.
“Are you kidding me?” Luke slowly walked toward the dragon. “Look at the scales.” The majority of Ammolite’s scales were pulsating with varying colors, but everywhere that Emily touched, the scales glowed with a rich blue color along with scattered shades of violet.
“I’m proud that at least someone appreciates my appearance,” Ammolite spoke with mirth. Her words were both audible and projected into everyone’s mind.
You spoke to them in English? Emily stepped back from her bondsmate and stared into her eyes, molten gold with specks of colors of every hue. She lifted her hand toward her dragon bondsmate. “May I introduce to you, Ammolite, my bondsmate, and the daughter of Tiamat, dragon lord and protector of Acacia.”
Dr. D inclined his head. “A true honor.”
“Ammolite, this is my father, King Andrew Dalton of Angkor, and his bondsmate Dax.” Dr. D moved forward to get a better look at Ammolite. Emily gestured to her friends, “and this is Luke, Anna, Isabelle, and Elizabeth from the planet Earth.”
“A true pleasure to meet the father and friends of my bondsmate.” Ammolite gave a small bow of her dragon head.
“Oh, Ammolite, you’re simply beautiful.” Emily walked around the dragon, letting her fingers lightly trail over the scales, light as cloth but strong as steel.
“I’ve grown a little since you were last here. I’m now over 300 years old, not yet fully grown, but I’m strong enough to carry an adult Acacean or Earthling.” Ammolite stretched out her wings to their full extent while regarding Emily’s friends. “And yes, you may all touch my scales.”
They rushed forward to marvel at Ammolite’s beauty and power. “Okay, I’m starting to believe all of this.” Elizabeth murmured as she ran her hand along a silver scale. “This would be a hard trick to pull off.”
“Ammolite,” Emily spoke out loud to respect her friends, wanting to let them hear her bondsmate’s advice. “As you know, Hadrian just contacted me by a dream-link, and he’s been imprisoned by Samil. What do you think I should do?”
Ammolite’s tail began to lash back and forth. “I believe this is a trap. Samil would like to capture or kill you. In my opinion, Hadrian is speaking words Samil fed to him.”
“But you could help me,” Emily urged. She felt her face flush and despair nibble at the corners of her mind as even her dragon doubted her course of action. “He’s truly on Bashan. I verified that during the dream-link.”
“I don’t think Samil knows you’re now linked with a dragon, but I’m sure he would have a group of his greatest magicians and dragons ready to corner us the second we arrived.”
Dr. D paced near Ammolite, glancing from the dragon to Emily. “Ammolite is giving wise advice. We don’t want you to rush into an ambush. We need to plan this out. Ammolite, what do you know of Samil?”
“I’ve been investigating the arch-mage to determine how to counter his aggression towards Emily. He has rare powers that I believe are enhanced by his conversations with those in Ater.” Ammolite’s tail continued to move, but she held her head still. “You’ve been gone for three hundred years, and in that time Samil has set up many more bonds in return for dragon-oaths.” Ammolite turned her golden eyes to regard Emily’s friends. “You see, when a bond forges between a magician and an animal, it allows the person to live hundreds of years longer, an immense reward for many.”
“What’s a dragon-oath?” Isabelle asked.
“A dragon-oath is a verbal bond that involves magic.” Ammolite’s scales pulsated with faint colors as she continued. “Usually only one dragon-oath can be offered by a magician to a liege lord, because giving more than one might create a conflict. Samil calls his followers his ‘Oath-bound.’”
“Do the bonded animals of the Oath-bound also serve Samil?” Luke pushed his unkempt brown hair out of his face.
“Possibly, but again conflicts could occur.” Ammolite readjusted her wings, folding them seamlessly along her back. “For instance, if Samil fought my mother, Tiamat, some of the dragons linked to his Oath-bound might refuse to fight against their dragon queen.”
“What does Samil want?” Elizabeth’s voice was quiet and sad.
“The power to rule Acacia, even if that means eliminating the dragons,” Ammolite answered in a soft voice. “My mother doesn’t believe we should attack humans unless we’re threatened by a potentially deadly force, so we will wait until a war develops that we are drawn into. That war would likely involve not only massive armies led by Samil and Cyril, but also dragons fighting dragons.” Everyone was silent for a moment, considering Ammolite’s words.
“I understand Samil might be setting a trap, but I have to try and help Hadrian,” Emily whispered with a resigned expression.
What did you think of Hadrian’s eyes? Xena questioned both Emily and Ammolite in their mind-link.
Ammolite echoed Xena’s question aloud, “Yes, what did you think of Hadrian’s eyes, Emily?”
Dr. D looked quickly at his daughter with a worried expression. Emily reluctantly answered, “Father, I didn’t want to worry you, but I think Samil has hurt Hadrian.”
“What do you mean?”
Emily heard a fury rising in her father’s voice. “Hadrian spoke with unusual inflections, and his eye motions were different.” She choked back tears. “He was blinking rapidly ... so rapidly. Something must be wrong.”
Emily waited for at least her father’s anger to burst, but he paused, and his enraged tone melted away. “You say he was blinking quickly?”
“Yes, in strange patterns at a rapid, heightened rate. I’m worried about an injury. I could also tell they were hitting him in the head at the end of the link.”
Dr. D appeared lost in thought. “Could Samil’s apparition see Hadrian’s eyes
? Was the shadowy figure of Samil in front of your brother or behind him?”
“Behind Hadrian. Why?” Emily felt beads of sweat forming on her brow. She blinked back the tears that still wanted to flow.
Dr. D still bristled, but a smug smile tugged at his lips. “A dream-link is a projection and your brother created a link that was visually based. Samil could hear everything, and see everything, but only from his point of view. Samil couldn’t see Hadrian’s face.”
“Hadrian would be able to give clues with his face or hands,” Anna said in a rush. “Some things were hidden from Samil.”
“Correct.” Dr. D’s forehead was creased with worry. He put a log on the fire, and the flames hungrily darted higher. “There was a soldier on Earth named Jeremiah Denton. His jet was shot down over Vietnam and he was held in prison for almost eight years. He fooled his captors when they paraded him in front of the world on television by blinking his eyes in Morse code. He was spelling out the word ‘torture’ over and over again to let his government know that American prisoners of war were being tortured in North Vietnam.”
“Do you think Hadrian was sending Emily a message?” Isabelle asked as she went to sit closer to the fire. A light was dancing excitedly in her eyes.
“I think so.” Dr. D’s face was equally enthusiastic. “I hope I can decipher it. Em, can you project out the blinking of his eyes, and I can attempt a translation.” Emily began projecting the message to everyone in their assembled group. “That’s my smart, smart boy,” Dr. D murmured to himself in a low voice while viewing the link.
“Is it a message?” Luke gave Dr. D a long look.
Dr. D nodded. “He’s using his heightening to blink rapidly to give us this information:
Dysis, Duke alive.
Samil making a weapon to kill a powerful female, perhaps Emily.
Plans to incite a dragon war.
Do not come to Bashan, a trap. Raise an army. Pull him to your battlefield.
Your friend...
Abruptly, Hadrian stopped the blinking message and began to speak. “Emily, I met your friends and one betrayed me. Beware of C...” They watched in tense silence as someone knocked Hadrian unconscious before he could finish his final word.
“A dragon war.” Ammolite’s tail lashed more rapidly back and forth just above the grass, with the green blades bending solemnly under the breeze she was generating. “His words confirm my mother’s suspicions.”
“He believes we must challenge Samil on our own field.” Dr. D stared into the flames before him.
“I can’t believe they hit him.” A tear fell from Elizabeth’s eye, making a wet streak on her cheek.
Emily studied the concern etched on her friends’ faces while trying to cast away the ache in her chest. I’ve got to get them out of this world. Ammolite, do you think I should take them back through the portal tonight?
I patrolled this region before I flew down to meet you and I think it’s safe, Ammolite studied each of her Earth friends. I’ll watch over your group if you want to let them stay for the night to give you counsel.
Xena? Emily wanted the added advice of her steadfast sentinel.
I agree with Ammolite. I think we can guard them for one night. Xena sniffed the air, and Emily closed her eyes, smelling the transmitted scents of burning ironwood, warmth, and friendship.
“There are shocking elements to this world.” Emily massaged her temples while speaking to her friends in a soft voice. “I can take you home now if you want.”
“I don’t want to leave yet.” Anna shook her head. The rest of Emily’s friends nodded in agreement.
Emily looked to her father over the crackling logs. He appeared to still be lost in thought. Shifting shadows twisted over his troubled face. She asked for his opinion, “Ammolite and Xena think they’ll be safe if they stay until tomorrow. What do you think?”
Dr. D straightened. “They should be safe with a dragon to guard them.”
“Yes!” Luke gave a small fist pump. Emily knew she should give out more warnings, but the words caught in her throat and she tried to suppress her nagging doubts.
Let them experience the joy of Acacia, Ammolite whispered.
“I’m glad you want to stay.” Emily tried to hide the nervousness in her voice. She exchanged a glance with her father. “If we’re going to stay the night, do you think we can make it to the Castle Cave?”
He gave her a nod. “The journey will take a good portion of the night, but I think the cave will be much safer than sleeping here in the open.” Dr. D began to organize their supplies. “We can discuss more of this world as we walk.” Everyone pitched in, helping him pack.
We’ll keep them safe, Ammolite promised Emily. As they started their journey, Ammolite took to the air and Xena bounded into the woods to begin their patrols, both sending Emily visual information from their sweeps.
The night was warm, and the breeze felt so soft that Emily could close her eyes and picture velvet delicately caressing her face. She walked next to Elizabeth and grabbed her hand. “Still scared?”
Elizabeth shook her head defiantly to say no. “I didn’t like seeing Hadrian getting hurt, but I love this world.” She walked with a smooth elegance. “The night noises are amazing. I feel like the bands of crickets are giving us an impressive serenade.”
Emily laughed as she released Elizabeth’s hand. Glancing above her at the stars, she felt a new sense of optimism. They were glistening in the heavens like countless tiny diamonds, leading her onward.
“Is the passage of time the same here on Acacia?” Luke jogged over to walk next to Emily. They were on a barely discernable path that weaved between rocks and the lake before entering the woods.
“Actually, we can be here on Acacia for a year and that will only be one day on Earth.” Emily waited for their snorts of disbelief, but they didn’t question her words. As her friends nodded, she could see their immediate acceptance of this amazing concept. Their minds are rapidly adapting to our world of magic.
Ammolite smiled in her mind. Ideas that a day earlier might have been too outlandish to believe are now easily accepted as fact.
Emily’s friends formed a loose group around her as they plunged forward into the growing dark and another portion of the sense of dread in her mind began to lift.
Maybe you can relax knowing your pack wants to help you, Xena suggested. They aren’t defenseless whelps.
You’re right. They’re much more than just friends on a campout. They’re powerful allies with incredible intelligence and insight, ready to advise me. Emily felt a growing sense of pride in her small group as she listened to the quiet cadence of their walk. She took out her staff and amplified the light from the ends of her bluestone, causing the shadows to recede.
“Better than glow sticks.” Elizabeth stared at the staff with disbelief reflected in her wide eyes.
“A world more exciting than the best video game.” Luke picked up a long stick. He tested it for balance, slashing at an imaginary adversary.
“After experiencing what we’re capable of here, Earth will feel like a dismal place when you return tomorrow.” Emily felt sorry for what her friends were going back to.
“What will it feel like?” Anna pursed her lips with resignation. The breeze tugged her unbound hair. Emily could hear a touch of sadness in her voice.
“You’ll feel like cotton is shoved in your ears and there’s a veil over your eyes.” Emily wrinkled her brow. “But you’ll get used to it again.”
“Acacia is like a little slice of paradise.” Isabelle performed an impressive cartwheel, even with her backpack on, giggling as her brown curls flit just above the lush carpet of grass.
Emily started when a lone wolf began to howl in the distance, and a sing-a-long chorus quickly erupted in a series of mournful cries. Dire wolves, Xena passed the information into Emily’s mind, don’t worry, they’re far from here.
You still have stress in your heart, Ammolite whispered. Release your bu
rdens. Emily sighed and flowed into her link with her bondsmates, feeling immediately cathartic as she unloaded her fears and insecurities. There was no judging, no condescension, only instant acceptance and love.
I think part of your doubts comes from your increasing authority. Ammolite dove through the air, performing a slow glide just over their heads. Your father is encouraging you to become more of a leader, and you must learn to shoulder the burden.
We’ll share the strain with you, Xena whispered.
Emily looked ahead at her father, leading their procession with squared shoulders and quick steps. She rewatched her latest interactions with her father from Ammolite’s point of view, smiling at her added insight gained through Ammolite’s mind. Emily went to walk by her father. “Do you want me to become a leader? Are you challenging me on this trip?”
Dr. D gave her a wry smile as he put his hand on her neck, and began speaking in a gentle voice, “We won’t all undergo tests like Hadrian endured to become a king, but we all need challenges to reach our potential.” The uneven calluses on his fingers were iron-strong. His hands felt rough on her neck, but there was soft love in his touch.
“You don’t want me to have a relaxed and easy life?” Emily asked her father with a good-natured laugh. She thought about the poem suggesting trees and man needed testing confrontations to strengthen.
Xena and I will be with you wherever you go, but your father is right. You will need to be strong and of good courage against your enemies, Ammolite whispered in her mind. It will also take a strong hand to drive Samil from our land.
“Life is the ultimate test, and we’re all trying to advance ourselves to the highest level we can attain.” Her father stared off into the distance along their path. “I reached my leadership peak many years ago, and I find myself now an advisor to great leaders. You and your brother are the future of Acacia. This is not a test … this is very real.”
Emily glanced at her father. His jaw was locked, and his hand felt suddenly heavy on her neck. “I’m not sure if I’m capable of leading anyone.” She sagged under his palm.