“I can only hope. After all, we desperately need Amorez’s diary.” Dimitri muttered. He sighed and finally turned to fully face her. “Have you thought about my proposal?”
She was quiet as she thought back. “You still want me to marry you?”
“Of course.” He smiled.
“I still don’t see why I should.” Godilai stood and turned away to scan the chamber. She growled in annoyance when Dimitri’s strong arms gripped her around the waist.
“You would be High Queen of Ithnez.” He whispered in her ear. “Subject to no one. Think of all the Humes you could kill or enslave for any reason.”
“Enticing offer, I will admit.” Godilai broke free of his grasp. “I will think on it a while longer.”
Dimitri frowned. “Why won’t you just say yes?”
Godilai flipped her white hair over her shoulder as she met him with an unreadable expression. “Because I’m not yet sure if it is a wise union.”
“You want me to prove that I am a strong and capable mate? Haven’t I done that already?”
“You are still part Hume.” Godilai turned away from him again. “You are weak and you have lost more battles against Amorez’s heir than I care to count.” She sighed. Dimitri’s hands turned to fists as he fought to control his rage at her words. “You are not a worthy mate.”
“What would make you change your mind about marrying me?” He was surprised how even he kept his voice despite his boiling rage.
“If you really want to claim me for yourself, you will figure it out.” Godilai said as she walked away. Dimitri growled through his teeth.
I finally got to see the woman the whole camp was abuzz about. I thought, how could this no-name peasant woman be given command of the entire army? Then she did something and a wild flurry of colors and shapes burst forth, and suddenly we were in the presence of dragons. It was amazing, Mom!
– FROM “A LETTER HOME” BY PG. VELARD R. MARTKEIN
I whooped as the wind rushed passed me. I felt almost weightless as Helios dipped in time to catch the next air current. The ride had my head spinning and my stomach turning, but it felt so good. My dragons were right; flying was so exhilarating that no words could adequately describe the feeling.
Glancing downwards, between Helios’ wing and neck, I watched as the lush, emerald forests whipped passed. The deep, blue-green water that marked the Dragon Head Bay came into view moments later. We had made excellent timing on this leg of the quest. The distance would have taken over a week by wyvernback, but four dragons covered it in just over a day.
I smiled and leaned back in my seat. The last six months had been like living in a nightmare. I was amazed that I was still alive. Hopefully soon, I would have half of the Dragons of Light collected. Quite an accomplishment. However, I couldn’t escape the feeling that things were about to get extremely complicated.
“There! I see Nemlex!” I barely heard Kkorian’s shout over the rush of wind. The dragons banked slightly left and I once again looked earthward. Half a heartbeat later, the trailing edges of the fishing town, Nemlex, came into view. Built upon the shores of the Dragon Head Bay, it sat at the heart of the Eastern Trade Routes. Though it was not the largest city on Ithnez, Nemlex held the record for the world’s most expansive open-air market, which included over one hundred kilometers of shopping stalls collectively known as Centre. Being the height of the summer trade season, Centre would be swarmed with people from all over the world. I could only pray that Dimitri was not among them.
“Helios, land at the outskirts of the town.” I said as I thumped him on the neck to get his attention. The white dragon looked back at me and nodded. He led the other three dragons in a dizzying, downwards spiral. A few stomach-turning minutes later, all four dragons back-winged and poised their hind legs to take the impact of their landing. They touched down on the rocky beach in-sync, with barely a hands-width between their outstretched wings.
Kitfox immediately jumped down from Atoka’s shoulder and sprawled out on the ground. I laughed as I watched him. “Ugh! All that spinning made me sick.”
“Yeah, it didn’t sit too well with me either.” Muttered Thera as she used her ebony wings to drift down from her spot astride Vortex. She stuffed Dragon Diary into her pack and glanced around.
“This Hume seemed to have enjoyed the entire ride.” Shazza said as she dropped Kkorian on the ground before gracefully hopping off Kkaia’s back.
Kkorian shrugged as he smoothed his wind-licked, blonde hair. “What can I say? The ride was fun.”
“Sure. If you don’t mind the whiplash from the wind or the sickening spiral descent, the ride was great fun.” Kitfox muttered and finally got to his feet.
“Perhaps you should look into obtaining some gear for when we fly you.” Said Vortex as he sat on his haunches. “Something to cut the wind down.”
“And some sort of device to communicate between team mates.” I replied. “I barely heard Kkorian’s shout.”
“I might be able to rig some kind of communicator. It would require some sort of catalysts though.” Thera explained.
“Lemme know what you need to make the coms. I can get it.” Kkorian winked at her. Thera rolled her eyes.
“I am more than capable of acquiring my own items.”
Kitfox crossed his arms and frowned. “Must you hit on every woman you see, Kkorian?”
“Cark it, Kitfox. I’m not going to have another blue with you.”
“Knock it off, both of you.” I sighed. “You act like such children sometimes.”
“What in the--?!” A stranger’s voice shouted from a little ways away. I looked over my shoulder at the owner of the voice. It was a middle-aged fisherman and he wasn’t alone. In fact, it looked as though half of the town had come to see us. I was surprised to see that they weren’t cheering the appearance of the dragons like the people of Kamédan had. “Who are you?”
Helios turned to face the villagers and crouched low to the ground. I finally dismounted, ran a hand through my tousled hair, and greeted the townspeople. “I am Xyleena, Daughter of Amorez and the new Dragon Keeper. These are my friends: Kitfox, Thera, Shazza, and Kkorian.” I pointed at each of them respectfully. “And these four are the Dragons of Light.”
“Well met, Villagers of Nemlex.” Helios said, nodding his great wedge of a head in greeting.
“What are you doing here?” Asked a woman from the crowd. It still wasn’t the reaction I had been expecting, but I could see the excitement on her face.
“We are here to find two more dragons. We believe they are hidden somewhere beneath the bay.” Kitfox explained as he and Thera moved to stand beside me.
“You mean our town is the home to two dragons?” Asked another face in the crowd.
“That is what we’re hoping.” Kitfox smiled.
“How will you find these dragons?” The first man inquired.
“We’re not totally sure yet, but I will personally guarantee that no harm will come to anyone or anything in Nemlex.” Shazza announced, finally stepping forward. Several people in the crowd recognized her as the Queen of Katalania and bowed.
“Miss Shazza! Miss Shazza!” A young girl ran right passed everyone and glommed onto Shazza’s leg, taking the Dákun Daju by complete surprise. “Miss Shazza, can I help you find the cave?”
“Er...What cave, child?” Shazza said awkwardly.
“The one the other people were looking for.” The girl looked up at Shazza with big, blue eyes. I shivered. Shazza sent me an unreadable look.
“‘Other people?’” Kitfox quirked an eyebrow and looked at me. “Dimitri?”
“Feels like it.” I muttered. With a sigh, I stepped forward and knelt beside the child. “Do you know where the other people went?” The girl nodded vigorously. “Can you show us?”
She beamed and released Shazza’s leg. “Follow me!”
“Hold up, child.” Shazza caught up to the girl in a few quick strides and took her hand. “Are your mom and dad
in the crowd?” The girl shook her head. “Where are they? I have to tell them about–”
“Mellyn’s mother is busy at the Widwe Wiccan.” Said a soft-spoken boy in the crowd. Shazza glanced at him as he walked closer to us. “I’m supposed to keep an eye on her, but she keeps running away from me.”
Shazza nodded. “I see. And who might you be?”
The boy flushed bright red. “I’m Jox. Mellyn is my cousin.”
“Would you accompany her and us to the cave?” Thera asked gently. “It wouldn’t be safe to have her with us while we’re searching the cave and we certainly can’t leave her all alone.”
“Anything to help the Queen and Dragon Keeper.” The boy said with a bow.
Shazza and I thanked him. Then I turned to face the four Dragons of Light. “Will you be staying here and enjoying the sun and water or coming with us?”
“We will come, Hatchling.” Vortex said. I watched as he and the other three faded into their elements. Earth, wind, light, and ice swirled around me before shooting into the Dragon Eye Amulet. The jewels marking their presence flashed with their powers.
“Alright. Let’s find this cave.”
“This way! This way!” The girl called Mellyn cheered in a sing-song voice. I chuckled as I watched her grab Shazza’s hand and lead her along the beach at a brisk, child’s pace.
Death and disease were everywhere. In the trees. The land. The people. All due to that damned dragon and the man who had unleashed it. It? No. Them. I counted them as they perched on the courtyard walls and circled overhead; fifteen in total. We are doomed.
– CARVED INTO THE PRISON WALL IN ARCADIA BY AADRIAN ZA’CAR, FIRST KING OF THE SECOND AGE
The five of us and Jox followed Mellyn as she skipped along the beach. The town of Nemlex was now about a quarter of a league behind us and still growing further away. The girl finally stopped and pointed.
Just ahead of us stood the remnants of a house. The blackened lumber lay collapsed and strewn over the ground. Wild vegetation had begun to reclaim the area, creeping over the wood and climbing its way up the only thing that still stood: an old, stone fireplace. I frowned as a feeling of familiarity washed over me. I had been here before.
“Mellyn, that isn’t a cave.” Jox muttered as he came to a stop beside his cousin. “That used to be someone’s house.”
“Not that!” The girl frowned and pointed again. “That!”
All I could see was what remained of the abode. Kitfox clicked his tongue and stepped passed the kids, gesturing for them to stay put. I watched as the Fox Demon sniffed the air as he drew closer to the house. He frowned and sent me a look before continuing on. A moment later, he stopped and waved for us to come.
Upon joining him, the first thing I noticed was the gaping crater cut in the ground. Rocks, charred wood and other debris lined the area around the hole. It was almost as if something had exploded outwards from the depths with tremendous force. That must have been the cause of the house’s demise. Odd. There wasn’t anything even remotely volcanic in the area that would cause such an explosion.
“Some of the debris has been moved aside.” Shazza said. She knelt to take a closer look and nodded. “Looks like there is a hole just big enough for someone to slip through.”
“What do you think?” I muttered, looking at Kitfox for an answer.
“Something doesn’t smell right.” The Demon frowned. “I caught trailing edges of Dimitri’s scent, but it keeps fading in and out. Either it is a few days old or someone is trying to mask it.”
“I’d bet a bundle that it’s the latter.” Kkorian muttered. His hand instinctively found its way to one of the pistols on his hip as he looked at the surroundings.
“Mellyn, how long ago were the other people looking for this cave?” Shazza asked, looking sweetly at the child.
“Lunch time.” She said as she sucked on her thumb. Shazza turned a frown on me and I nodded.
“They’re trying to ambush us to get the diary again.”
“You’d think they’d give up on that idea after a while.” Thera chuckled and knelt beside the crater.
“So, what’s the plan?” Kkorian asked, crossing his arms.
“We spring the trap.” Thera grinned up at him, mischief teeming in her violet eyes.
◆◆◆
I whistled a happy tune as I strode confidently down the crystalline tunnel. Though I knew of the danger present, I couldn’t help but smile at the good mood Thera’s mischievous and ingenious plan wrought. Not to mention, the cavern was an absolutely splendid sight! Try as I might, I couldn’t remember how it had been created, though I was sure I had played a part in it.
Kkorian stopped frequently to stuff his pockets with the gold and gems that lined the tunnel. I frowned and promptly smacked him soundly on the head. He flashed me his best innocent look, but I wasn’t fooled in the slightest. So, with a groan, he emptied his pockets.
Kitfox chuckled and gently grasped my hand, effectively averting my attention from the pirate. I shot him a look, and stole my hand back. He frowned and crossed his arms with a sigh. We walked on in silence.
I knew Kitfox had only the best intentions in mind, but I couldn’t afford to let myself get attached to him any more than I already was. I don’t know what I would do if I lost him. And who knows how long it would take me to recover from his death so shortly after Ríhan’s. It was better to just keep my distance... even if I did feel guilty about hurting him.
“We’ve finally reached the end of the tunnel.” Thera announced much louder than she needed to. She winked at me and cast a spell as quietly as possible. I stood back and watched as the spell went to work. A few moments later, the Feykin led the way into the room beyond. I hesitated only a moment before following.
Once all five of us were in the room, we surveyed our surroundings. Nothing jumped out at us right away like I had been expecting. But Dimitri was clever and his Dákun Daju friend was even more so.
Kitfox sniffed the air and coughed. “Smells like sea water and smoke.”
“Interesting perfume, hey mate?” Kkorian jabbed the Demon in the ribs with his elbow. The act earned him a menacing growl. I chose to ignore the two of them, focusing instead on locating the two dragons.
I had only taken two steps passed the boys when a voice echoed throughout the cavern. Half a heartbeat later, an opaque dome ensnared all five of us. Violet and crimson lightning crackled and danced over the surface of the trap, effectively dissuading any attempts of breaking free.
My gaze fell on Dimitri as he stalked out of his hiding spot, laughing like a madman.
There were many nights when I had watched Amorez from afar. She would spend hours staring into her fire, oft until it had turned to ghostly embers. I always wondered where she went during those times. Now, looking at Xyleena as she does the same, I realize, they are lost in dreams of happier times.
– FROM “THE SECOND KEEPER” BY THERA ONYX
“I finally have you, Xyleena!” Dimitri’s cries of triumph echoed in the room. He turned slightly to face the three members of his team. “I told you this plan would succeed.”
“Oh, shut-up.” Muttered Godilai darkly. “Just grab the damn diary and step aside so I can kill the wretch who stole Luna’s life.”
“All in good time, Godilai. All in good time.” Dimitri smirked. “First, I want to revel in my good fortune at capturing Amorez’s heir.” He turned to sneer at me, choosing to ignore Godilai’s mumbled string of insults. “So, how does it feel, little girl, to be caught by your nemesis?” He stepped closer, barely avoiding contact with the dome’s electric wall. “I can tell you, as your nemesis, it feels great to actually defeat you. And now I will make you wish you had given up your futile attempts to thwart my plans of revenge.”
I stared back at him, completely disinterested. “Are you done yet, or would you prefer to soliloquize a little more?”
All smugness instantly evaporated from his face. “Do I bore you?” Dimitri scowled. �
��You seem to forget, little girl, that I currently hold your fate in my hands.” He made a show of clenching his fists. “I could kill you right now, if I wanted!”
“So what’s stopping you?” Kitfox smirked. Dimitri growled fiercely, making the Demon laugh. “I’m guessing you are too feeble to even attempt to end her life.” Kitfox strode right up to Dimitri until the only thing between them was the crackling dome wall. The two of them stared each other down. “Make no mistakes, Hume-aju, she will beat you.”
Dimitri roared. In uncontrolled rage, he pierced through the dome to land a punch to Kitfox’s face. Dimitri’s fist went right through the Demon as if he were air. Kitfox smirked before fading with a puff of smoke.
“What?!” Dimitri retracted his fist from the sphere as his other captives vanished in swirls of smoke. Behind him, Godilai swore loudly and unsheathed her weapons.
“Now!” Simultaneously, all five of us launched from our hiding spots. Thera led the offense, hurdling spell after spell at our opponents. Kitfox tackled Godilai to the ground. The two of them wrestled while Shazza and Kkorian went head to head with Vincent and Pox.
I faced Dimitri alone. He glowered at me as I flared my tessen fans. I sunk into my Demon-modified Dákun Daju fighting stance and smirked. “I can’t believe you fell for the same trick you used on us during the race to Atoka’s island.”
“Mirages...” Dimitri scoffed and sunk into his own stance. “I should have known better.”
“You should just give up, Dimitri. All of your attempts to kill me and steal Dragon Diary have proven futile.” He snarled at that and swung his dual sword in a feral sweep. It was an easy block, but that didn’t stop him from attempting the same maneuver again and again.
I closed one of my fans as I spun away to chuck it at Dimitri’s head. He narrowly dodged in time to avoid the hit. My war fan sunk into the wall of swirling water behind him causing it to bow and flex. I was mesmerized by the effects wrought by the piercing and narrowly avoided Dimitri’s next attack.
Culmination Page 3