Greenstone

by C E Johnson

  “A cloud the color of their underlying aura?” Luke asked.

  “The cloud may be the color of their inner aura, or the color may be hard to ascertain. Madai also have an inner aura, usually imperceptible, but their mist also may be tinged. Very rarely, though, something different is released. We call this a death-light.”

  “That was a death-light?” Isabelle’s eyes widened.

  “Yes.” Ammolite appeared solemn. “The flash is most often associated with dragons, but any creature that can generate a death-mist has the power to generate light. The change occurs at the time of death in the twinkling of an eye.”

  “Why do we see it so rarely?” Anna fixed Ammolite with a curious stare.

  “On our planet, we believe it’s associated with the highest level of spirits.” Ammolite gazed into the stars. “Not just an honorable being, but one that is at peace with everyone on their planet. Often it will occur in one willing to die in some form of sacrifice.”

  “The ultimate honor,” Emily added quietly.

  Ammolite nodded. “A blessing and a tribute. It’s very rare. Few are able to see and apologize for the evil that they do in life. The occurrence is a tribute to those that attempt to do what is good and right, but also to those who make a sacrifice for others … they are the ones that give off the most magnificent death-light.” A gentle breeze drifted through their circle. “Someone who we would consider very good or worthy on this planet just died. Their inner spark flamed into light and shot straight into the sky. We don’t know where it goes, but light does not dissipate. It can travel forever. Perhaps it will be absorbed and merge with something else.”

  “It seems like a final reward.” Isabelle’s voice was full of wonder. “Perhaps it fuses with other similar spirits.”

  “I’m sure we all believe different things about what happens after death.” They all fell silent, listening to Ammolite speak, wondering what secrets she would reveal. “The dragons believe that if we live a fitting life and sacrifice for others and for our planet, we will be granted the honor of joining with other similar souls. We’ve learned to pay homage to those who are honorable enough to depart our planet in such a manner, pausing for a moment and bowing our heads to recognize the chivalrous passing of one’s death-light.”

  “Do many people strive for this final honor?” Anna asked Ammolite.

  “Many do, but again it’s very rare. We don’t know when our death will come, and to make a final sacrifice at a time when we’re at peace in life is difficult. The most common place to see the event is on the battlefield. Many people make peace with those they’ve wronged before a battle, and many will sacrifice themselves for others in a war. Perhaps we’ll see more instances of death-light in the future,” Ammolite said in a hushed voice before growing quiet.

  “I don’t understand some people like Samil.” Elizabeth threw a log on the fire. “They can take over the world, but in the process they will probably forfeit the potential to let their spark grow into something greater.”

  Ammolite snorted and lashed her tail. “Many are focused on the here and now, not on the after-light.”

  * * *

  The journey took several weeks. When they were a few days from the edge of the desert, a horse-clan scout came back with news of a nearby battle. A group of desert-dragons were attacking a squad of the lizard people, the Lacerta. Ammolite was beyond the desert, and Xena was with her, in her leather cave.

  I’m hunting, Ammolite informed Emily through their mind-link. I’ll begin my return, but be cautious if you join this battle, I don’t think I’ll be there in time to help.

  Emily could feel the worry building in both her bondsmates, but she hated to let the lizard-people die when she could potentially give them aid. “Father, I think we should try and help the Lacerta.”

  Dr. D glanced at Emily’s friends before regarding her grimly. “Let’s go investigate, but we need to be very careful. The larvae can branch out beneath our feet and create a sand trap in the blink of an eye.” Dax moved from Dr. D’s shoulder to his pocket-cave.

  “I’m not a fan of desert-dragons,” Cameron said as he rode up next to Emily. His lips were pursed, and he appeared apprehensive. “These things are unpredictable, but I’ll support your decision.”

  Emily looked at her Earth-friends with their pale faces. She knew they were worried about how they would react in another battle and she tried to encourage them. “Just stay where you feel comfortable. If we do engage, don’t fight until you’re ready. You’ll be under my shield.” She wheeled her horse around, putting her heels into her stallion to advance toward the battle. “Let’s take a look.”

  Once they crested a small hill of sand, they saw a group of twenty lizard fighters on the edge of a series of sand traps. Several of the warriors were low-level magicians with one orange, one yellow, and one blue aura amongst the fighters. Their auras suggested compassion, friendship, and strength. A few of the Lacerta rode on Chitahuri, large horned lizards. Scores of larvae and adult dragonflies were trying to herd the Lacerta into the adjacent pits, but the lizard-people surely knew of the dangers at the bottom, and although outnumbered, they were making a valiant stand. More sand traps were beginning to appear in the area as additional larvae were arriving. Emily reined to a halt next to her father and Cameron. “We need to help them now,” she said with a firm resolve.

  Dr. D’s mare tossed her head impatiently, but he quieted her with a few soft words. “Are you certain, Em, your arm is only just returning to full strength.”

  Perhaps you should avoid this conflict, Ammolite also sounded worried.

  I have to help them, Emily told Ammolite. “I’m certain,” she said firmly to her father. “Cameron, how should we approach?”

  “Our best offensive would be a charge.” Cameron forced a small smile. “Stay to the back and let me guard you.” He scrambled to organize the horse-clan warriors. Once they were prepared he gave her a small nod.

  If I’m dragging them into this conflict, I’m going to lead the charge myself, Emily thought to herself. She dug her heels into Beau, who reared majestically before plunging forward toward the outermost larvae. Gouts of sand came up from the hooves of the warhorses of the horse-clan as they followed her. Three of the largest flying adult desert-dragons identified Emily’s group and the winged demons turned from the Lacerta to meet their charge.

  Use your magic, Ammolite suggested. Once you kill a few, the others may flee.

  Emily steadied her mind and murmured the incantation for a fireball blast. She immediately felt a drain on her magus-level as she completed the powerful spell.

  Ration your energy expenditure, Xena warned.

  The magical fire consumed the demon-insects and their ashes fell to the ground as cheers erupted from her friends and the horse-clan. Unfortunately, the desert-dragons didn’t run away. Emily studied the next creature coming to meet their charge over the sand, a larva. It had six primary legs along with scores of smaller legs, all helping it scurry with surprising agility. Its main body had many ridges which looked like long thin shields. Its teeth, barbed swords, flashed in the bright sun.

  The larvae aren’t fleeing, Emily informed her bondsmates. Instead, they’re reforming and splitting into two groups. One group continued to attack the lizard people, and the second diverted to meet Emily and her squad.

  Emily barely kept her balance as Beau began to dodge back and forth in close proximity to the huge jaws of the first creature. Bringing out small bows, the horse-clan warriors branched out by her side, peppering the larvae with arrows. Cameron didn’t seem to worry about organization in this battle; he let his warriors pick their targets and attack at will as more larvae joined the conflict.

  Before Emily could slash at the closest creature with her sword, she let out an involuntary gasp as three more larvae erupted from the sand and surrounded her. “Beau, get out of here,” she yelled while jumping down from her horse and slapping its rump, sending it to safety. “I need more free
dom to move.” She cast her shield spell, Thyreos o, including her friends in the umbrella of power. Immediately she felt a small trickle of magus leave her as her magical-shield blocked a pincer bite from a lightning-fast larva that attacked her back. The repulsive creature backed away, letting out a nearly deafening roar of frustration when it realized its barb had not struck flesh.

  Emily surveyed her surroundings while regarding her enemies. She was on a large dune, with the terrain in rapid flux as sand-trap pits began to form around her position. What moments before was a wide field was now a sand-island surrounded by deadly abysses on all sides. There were sand bridges between the depressions upon which the four larvae surrounding her could still approach. The largest crater was by her right side and she saw an enormous cavern form at the bottom of the pit—the open mouth of a monstrous larva. Emily discerned the jaws at the bottom of the pit automatically closing on any trigger, such as falling sand, that touched its barbs.

  The jaws gave her an idea and she performed a running flip to flash across one of the sand bridges. She then used her push spell, mouthing “pulsus,” to send one larva into the largest pit, feeling grim delight as she watched its ridged body being pulverized by one of its own large brethren. Before they figured out her tactics, she was also able to push one more larva into the pit. The final two attackers focused on her became wary of this form of assault. Roaring in anger and moving as one, they were suddenly upon her. Emily blocked one insect’s teeth with her sword, but she felt a twinge of pain as her shield protected her from another otherwise deadly pincer strike at her back. I’m being reckless, she thought, her stomach rolling into a hard ball. Blood welled from a wound that formed on her leg and she staggered. Before the larva could attack again, it abruptly squealed in pain as a series of crossbow bolts shattered its exoskeleton, pulverizing its abhorrent face.

  “You looked like you needed some help.” Luke inclined his head in a quick nod before pointing his finger frantically toward something behind her. Just then Emily felt a bolt of pain radiate from her chest. The last survivor of the four larvae lashed at her, quick as a snake, before jumping back. Emily collapsed to a knee. Blood began to flow from lacerations that formed on her arms and back. How do I keep getting injured? Emily winced, the pain was increasing in lightning flares, shooting through her body.

  The insect’s dark, recessed, round, beady eyes regarded her warily. Emily stood. It advanced slowly, apparently now distrustful of its opponent. Anger at the death of its siblings overcame caution and it reared its head and darted forward in a vicious charge. Before its barbed teeth could descend on her, the desert-dragon larva was rocked backwards by three arrows and a crossbow bolt which sliced into its head. It wobbled once attempting to advance yet again, but a second volley of arrows and bolts rocked into the monster killing the beast. Its carcass fell to the sand and it began to roll down one of the sand pits. Emily looked at the beautiful colors of pink, turquoise, and blue on the feathers of the arrows as it rolled away. Staggering, she glanced at her friends pumping fists in the air, and she returned a fist pump in reply.

  Emily took a deep breath, attempting to ignore her growing pain. Dashing in the direction of the next ongoing battle, she dodged haphazardly through the colony of larvae, again bringing forth her magic to push multiple larvae into several of the surrounding pits. Her magical battery continued to drain, but she could tell she was making a dent in the desert-dragon forces and this form of attack took the smallest amount of her magus. Harsh, raspy cheers came from the Lacerta who studied her with their orange reptilian eyes.

  Emily next joined a sword battle alongside several beleaguered horse-clan warriors. Using her strength and reflexes, she helped them dispatch a medium sized larva, but she was beginning to tire and her sword felt heavy in her hand. More blood was running down her face, arms, and legs as her magical shield was taking more hits. A particularly agile larva came out of the sand into her area and aggressively struck at a horse-clan warrior at her right side. She gasped in surprise as the man instantly turned to death-mist.

  Did I make the right choice attacking these beasts? Emily felt overwhelming despair. She was sickened at the loss of life resulting from her decision. The larva’s hate-filled eyes focused on her and she wondered if she had the strength to deal with it. As doubt crept into her mind, a massive broadsword sliced just above her head, biting deep into the strong hide of the killer beast. The sword was quickly withdrawn, and a burst of black blood gushed from the wound. Slipping into an adjacent crater, the wounded larva squealed in pain. It tumbled downward to fall into the jaws of a larva at the base of the sand-pit.

  Luke agilely jumped from his horse to land next to her. “You’re getting tired, Em. I’m here to help.”

  “Are you sure?” Emily was amazed that he was ready for close combat.

  Luke swallowed hard and wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his sleeve. “Scarier than a video game, but I can’t sit and watch you anymore. There’s blood all over you.” Luke ran his finger along his sword. “I hope your shield holds because it’s time for my sword to go to work in close quarters.”

  Overcome with happiness and gratitude, Emily ignored everything to kiss his cheek. “It’s nice to have friends.” In the middle of the battlefield, almost unconsciously, she began to perform her fencer-handshake with Luke. Cheers emanated from the adjacent horse-clan and Lacerta, and Emily couldn’t suppress a small grin. She felt somewhat recharged. The two ran side-by-side to attack the next larva. Luke’s massive blade began cleaving into the desert-dragons. Rested and using his heightened ferocity, he granted swift death to the demons, even using a flashy moulinet move he had learned on Earth, and the stampede move learned from the horse-clan. Exhausted, Emily primarily guarded him from attacks.

  Like crashing airplanes descending to the sand, adult flying desert-dragons started falling from the sky as they fought. Many beautiful colored arrow fletchings were protruding from their foul sides. Eventually Emily’s squad fought their way to combine with the Lacerta.

  “He’s good.” Luke gestured wide-eyed toward a nearby Lacerta warrior. “I bet he’s the leader of the Lacerta.” The fighter was using a twirling sequence of sword attacks Emily had never imagined possible.

  They now fought on as a conjoined group. Ultimately the desert-dragon creatures were no match for their united forces, but several more horse-clan warriors and Lacerta were injured and killed before the battle was over. The dusky mist of the dead hung like a shroud over the remaining fighters, weighing on Emily’s conscience. After the last flying desert-dragon was destroyed, the larvae beneath the ground, creating the sand pits, disappeared and the fighters let out a weary cheer.

  We’ve won, Emily sent across her mind-link with Ammolite and Xena. She sensed their relief that the battle was over. She and her father used their remaining energy to heal wounds in their surviving group. When her magus was nearly depleted, Emily stopped her healing and sat down to rest.

  The remaining twelve Lacerta approached them behind their leader, an orange magician who was the skilled swordfighter. “My name is Luce,” he rasped, his massive muscles rippled under his gray-green leathery scales, which had a lustrous shine in the descending sun. “You saved our lives.” He knelt upon the ground and bowed his head in thanks, while his lizard-men followed suit. A rattlesnake bondsmate was draped around his neck. He had a small amount of extra skin by his neck, and Emily wondered if it was a dewlap or thrill. She thought she had seen the areas bulging at times in the battle. He stood slowly. “I’m amazed that you risked your lives for us.”

  Dr. D stepped forward, beaming at Emily. “My daughter never considered leaving you.” After introductions were made Dr. D studied a large laceration on Luce’s arm, with green blood trickling from the injury. “Let me look at your wounds. Can I help heal the injuries of your pack?” The Lacerta had all sustained trauma in some manner. Several had lost their short tails and one had lost his arm.

  “Save your magus.�
� Luce spoke in a gentle voice while waving a dismissive hand. “We don’t require your healing. Our extremities and tails will regrow over the next few days.” He brushed the blood off his scales. “The marks of injury are badges of courage to my people. I must decline your offer.” He turned to Emily, “We’re in your debt. You’ve saved my pack. Can we invite you into our tunnels? I’d like to pay tribute to your bravery with my dragon-oath in front of my people.”

  Emily was startled. She glanced at her father who nodded to her. “That would be an honor,” she answered in a hushed voice.

  Luce turned to his pack. When he spoke to his warriors, his gray-green scales changed subtly with different hues. His followers loaded their wounded on their Chitahuri, a horny toad-like creature with spikes on its legs and head. The back of the beast was free of spikes, and it served as a steed and pack animal. Once the injured were secured on the Chitahuri, they proceeded to a nearby cave entrance.

  “My warriors will descend, but I will wait with you until you’re organized.” Luce retreated to stand patiently near the cave entrance, treating his wounds with a liquid he pulled from beneath his armor that must have been more acceptable to him than magic. Luke went over to speak with Luce, and Emily could hear the two begin to discuss swordplay. At that moment, Ammolite and Xena darted into their makeshift camp, landing in a swirl of sand and dust, like a small tornado. Emily met with her bondsmates, fully opening their mind-link, replaying the complete images of the battle from her perspective.

  I’ll guard the horses while you visit with the Lacerta, Ammolite spoke through their link. Go with Xena and learn from the lizard-people. Perhaps we’ll need their help someday.

  Emily followed Luce underground, while glancing at his frame. He’s such an unusual cross between a human and a prehistoric-looking reptile. She studied the colors in his scales.

  It appears their pack communicates with colors. Xena theorized, loping at Emily’s side. They react not only to Luce’s spoken word, but they also appear to pick up visual clues from the colors in his scales.