by Lexy Wolfe
“Do not apologize,” she purred, nuzzling his cheek. “I am so very proud of you, my Githalin. I wanted someone who would love Storm as I loved my brother. Care for her enough to love what she loved. Even if it went against me.” She gestured him away. “Now go. Get that outlander woman to mend your wounds.” She touched a deep cut on his cheek. “Perhaps leave that one as a scar to remember my love.”
“Do you think she will be all right?” Star asked as they watched the four Totani leave down the other path to the plateau.
Skyfire smiled before turning toward the trail they had come up. “She will be fine. Me, on the other hand.” He chuckled at their expressions. “You have yet to be scolded by Taylin. Believe me, she is not one to cross. She even gets Storm to back down.”
Seeker mused, intrigued. “Really now?” He smirked at his brother’s elbow in the side.
Keaira shrieked, refusing to be consoled by anyone who tried. Lyra paced in a circle outside the cavern, patting her back. “Hush, little one,” she begged. “Please hush. Your mother needs her rest. You just ate. You are clean. What do you want?!” She startled when a hand touched her shoulder. Exhaling, she turned bright red. “Sorry, Ash.”
His scowl from his encounter with Nolyn melted into a faint, loving smile for his tiny daughter. “Here, let me try.” He held his hands out and took the tiny bundle. He carefully nestled her against him over his heart. Almost immediately, she quieted. “Oh, I see you are going to be a handful, aren’t you?” he chided with unabashed affection, kissing the top of her head. “No one but your parents will do, hm?”
“Her temper is very much her mother’s,” the deep voice of the dragon god rumbled. “As is her need for closeness.” Lyra squeaked, ducking behind Ash out of reflex when they looked up to the ledge above the cavern’s entrance. She shrank back more when He moved His head to look around the mage.
“It’s okay. You have done nothing to warrant Lord Desantiva’s anger. He is only curious.” He stepped to the side, putting his arm around her to bring her forward.
“Ah, f-forgive me,” she stammered, her face and neck turning bright red. “You surprised me. I didn’t know you were a real dra-…ah, you could move so quietly.”
Ash shrugged one shoulder when the dragon’s focus shifted from the girl to him, a brow arching. “Elder dragons do not often come in contact with humans in Forenta. Most of my people have never seen a dragon at all.”
“Elder dragons are very few.” He looked at the sky briefly. “Dragons themselves are very few.”
“Human ignorance,” Ash stated with bitterness. “If it is not like us, and cannot be dominated, we try to be rid of it.”
“Actually, it is more our own fault than any humans,” Desantiva corrected. “Dragons were one of the first races. When younger ones appeared, we did little to give them reason not to fear us. Fear often leads to hate.” He turned his head to fix the two Forenten in the stare of one eye. “As you well know.”
“I cannot argue that.” Ash looked down at the sleeping infant, thoughtful. “Aelia has always kept herself so distant from everyone. It is difficult to imagine she was ever otherwise.”
The dragon snorted. “Do not try. You may not be able to look past the scars once you become aware of what could have been. She has no patience for pity.”
“Storm has patience?” Lyra asked before clapping her hands over her mouth. She cringed until she realized the dragon’s rumbling was laughter. She managed a timid smile. Ash hugged her with his free arm to soothe her trembling.
“Now and then. It is admittedly rare.” The dragon god stretched His wings out and folded them again. “I have considered your request, Ash Avarian. The quest to reunite the A’tyrna Ulan to the reborn na’Zhekali tribe is important enough to allow divine aid.”
The tension across Ash’s shoulders eased. “Thank you, Lord Desantiva. I know offering us shelter, even to save Aelia’s life, treads close to forbidden limits for You and the Totani. I am deeply grateful for Your aid.”
The dragon rumbled. “Do not be too grateful. As you noted, Our help will be limited. You can only utilize the pathways that occur naturally between here and the mortal realm. My Totani will try to find those closest to your destinations but they may not be there to return. Any mortal who leaves must find their own way back to the Rumblelands.” Teeth bared briefly in a draconic smile. “Wise of you to have a Githalin with each group.”
“Do divine servants have to use them to come to the mortal world, too?” Lyra wondered.
“No. These are the paths that allow mortals to come to the divine realm.” He shifted his position like a great cat, settling again. “But the mortal needs to have a resonance with the realm to be able to find and open them or a Totani must do so for them. Divine edict restricts Our freedom to do so. It was fortunate Citali was able to discover one so near to his Githalin when My daughter needed aid.”
The mage held his right hand up, looking at his Illaini mark. “Is that what the divine marks are for? Besides enhancing our senses and awareness of the world around us, they give us the ability to sense or manipulate the resonances?”
“You are intuitive, Ash Avarian,” Desantiva observed. “Yes. They bequeath many things to their bearers. I would say blessings, but sometimes they feel more like burdens. At least that is how Aelia has always viewed it.”
“Mm, yes. I can agree with that completely. They are a balance of burdens and blessings both.”
Ash looked up as the dragon snapped at the sky, a lick of flame flickering from his mouth. “The balance My land clings to is fragile. The burdens reflect its demands.” He fixed one eye on the mage. “How do you propose to divide your people?”
Ash’s lips pressed together at the reminder of the results of his ancestors’ foolishness. “Taylin will remain here with Storm and the twins. Marcus and Lyra as well. Terrence and I will take Seeker with us to find Etienne. Izkynder can be our intermediary so we can find out more about the spell he lead that has bound the A’tyrna Ulan. Given the tribes avoid the Blighted Lands, there shouldn’t be any risk taking him with. Star knows where Nyla is and can speak with her. As one of the na’Zhekali tribe, Skyfire can—”
“Skyfire!” Both males looked at Lyra at her unexpected shout of dismay, then followed her gaze to the three siblings as they approached. They frowned while she ran to them, taking Star’s place supporting him. The Githalin Su’alin bobbed a bow to the dragon god before she hurried into the cave to fetch Taylin. “What happened?”
“It was just a discussion with Kailee,” he assured the archer, grimacing at an injudicious step. “We Githalin and our Totani had a meeting to discuss…” He glanced at the cave for a heartbeat. “…how to find Thandar.”
Ash looked him over with frank, critical examination. “I hope you don’t plan on having too many more discussions like that. It appears to be rather hard on the body.”
Skyfire laughed tiredly. “I did not plan to have this ‘discussion’ but things became tense. I thought Terrence was going to strike someone himself.”
Ash frowned. “Where is Terrence? Mureln said he needed to go speak with Dzee earlier. He hadn’t said anything about a meeting among the Githalin.”
“We did not know until we all arrived at the same place at the same time.” The tall Desanti echoed the mage’s frown, barely taking note of Taylin beginning healing on him or the others following her out. “He did not come back here?”
They all tensed when the ground shivered under their feet. The dragon god growled, his eyes narrowing as he raised his head, teeth baring. “Sumyr?!” He fanned his wings. “Dzee! What is your Githalin doing? There is a rent between realms and it is his energy bleeding into it!”
The wyvern landed near him, her upset trembling through her flanks. She flicked a look at Nolyn as the mage skidded to a stop at the edge of the hill path. Senigu alighted on a tall boulder on the man’s other side. “I do not know, my lord. My perception through him had been blocked and now it is obs
cured. I have no idea where he is.” She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “But I can tell you he is no longer in the Rumblelands.”
Great wings unfurled, the dragon tensing to launch himself into the air. “I will deal with him later. This rent must be mended before more damage is done.”
“Lord Desantiva, wait!” Ash called. The dragon’s expression darkened with malevolence. “If there is a rip between realms, Terrence might have fallen through, we need to find him!”
Desantiva snarled. “There is no time for your ponderous Forentan thinking and planning and preparations. This must be closed now! It will harm the mortal realm more than this one.”
Nolyn stepped forward. “I’ll go find him, Ash.” Star covered her mouth, biting her hand to keep from saying anything, but her fear could not be missed.
Seeker touched her shoulder for her to take his place supporting Skyfire. The younger brother stated. “I am not risking my sister’s happiness by letting you go into danger alone. And if he is hurt, you will need another Githalin to return.”
Ash pressed his lips together, then waved his free hand imperiously. “Go. Go! Quickly!” Everyone jumped when the dragon snatched the two humans in his massive forefeet and took off with them. The mage pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment before he began swearing under his breath.
Skyfire blinked at him, staring. “I am pretty sure that is not physically possible. And an insult to those poor creatures.” Ash gave the tall man a sardonic, sidelong look that drew weak laughter from the remaining humans. The Swordanzen hugged his sister whose laugh ended with her breath catching in her throat. “Rengi and Nolyn will be fine,” he murmured to her. “Believe in them. They need that most from us right now.”
Terrence stormed off the path to the plateau and headed away from the caves where the rest of the tribe were. Petal and Nim flew off their perches on the craggy rock face, squeaking when he swatted at them as they attempted to land on his shoulders. The pixie put his hands on his hips, his scolding shrill. He ducked behind a boulder when the mage spun with a glare. “Shut up! I am in no mood for you to be yelling at me.”
Petal flew in front of him, her expression worried. “What is wrong? Why unhappy?” He did not look at her, fuming. “Terrence mad at Petal?”
“I’m mad at everyone!” He stopped by the edge of a lake of lava, fists clenched at his sides. “Gods expecting me to fix everything. Me! Just because of who I had been born as once.” He snatched a rock near his foot and flung it at the liquid rock. “Siblings from that former life depending on me to save them from the fix they put themselves into. That I still couldn’t repair back then and got myself killed in a previous life.”
He watched the rock impact on the glowing lava, then slowly sink, consumed by the heat. “You keep pushing me to do this or think that or whatever.” He waved at Nim as the pixie flew near. “I can’t even understand you most of the time, and all you do is scold me, too. And Storm!”
Terrence’s expression crumbled, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes, but it did not stop tears from escaping. “Aelia. She’s very nearly given up. She’s the one I have expectations of myself for, and she’s the only one who’s not demanding anything from me at all.”
He dropped to his knees, shoulders slumped. “I don’t know what to do.” Trembling with frustration, he yelled, “Someone tell me what I need to do!” In a whisper, he begged, “Please. Help me save my friend.”
A sharp pain shot through his palm. He flinched and dropped the all but forgotten crystal, the small object clattering as it skittered across the rock toward the lava. Without thinking, he lunged forward just as it flew over the edge. His fingers curled around it, but he could not stop his momentum. He closed his eyes, waiting for the pain of his hand plunging into lava.
When he felt no pain and both Petal and Nim chattered excitedly, Terrence stared in shock. As though a ball surrounded him, the lava was pushed aside, lapping against the invisible spherical surface. Pushing himself up, he turned his palm up.
A glow stirred within the crystal, pulsing with the beat of a heart. Without looking away from it, he got to his feet. “I understand,” he whispered. He put all his focus on the crystal.
His eyes snapped open when the air seemed to pucker and tear, the force of it sucking him into the darkness. He dropped the crystal, ignoring it as it flew into the portal, grabbing the ground in a desperate attempt to save himself. “Petal! Nim! Hold on!” He tried reaching for them, but his grip slipped and he vanished.
The intensity of the vacuum eased enough after Terrence disappeared, allowing the pair of tiny creatures to crawl away. They looked up at the shadow that fell on them as the dragon god landed. Nolyn and Seeker barely got their feet under them when Petal latched onto the mage, Nim onto the warrior, each shrieking in panic.
The two began to head to the hole when the dragon’s tail slammed down in front of them. “I cannot tell you where it goes,” He warned. “It may go nowhere.”
“And it may go somewhere where Terrence needs our help!” Nolyn snapped. “Don’t think just because I was born Forentan I’m a useless coward!”
Desantiva snarled, moving his tail. “Then go! Run away from the fears that plague you in a grand northern gesture of heroism. Know it will not console your lifemate or brother if you are lost.” He ran a few steps, stopped and grimaced a moment as the dragon god’s words registered, then jumped into the vortex. Seeker followed him without hesitation.
STAR AND THE three remaining Swordanzen looked between the na’Zhekali as everyone raised their eyes up, all going extremely pale. Storm cried out. The Su’alin hurried to Storm’s side when the weakened woman awoke, the twins screaming. “Terrence.” She clasped Star’s hands. “Something has happened to Terrence! I have to—”
“Aelia, no,” Star begged. “Please, trust in Nolyn to help him. He will make sure nothing happens to him, I promise you. You need to regain your strength.” She kissed the other woman’s knuckles, frowning in worry. “You are so cold.”
“I am not important!” Storm hissed. The Su’alin flinched when a lick of flame danced over her hair. “My son is hurt! I cannot—” Her eyes closed as she sagged against her back rest. Ash knelt by her, murmuring as he brushed his hand over his lifemate’s hair, then the infants who quieted in sleep from his spell.
Star looked at the man’s profile. “Is she becoming Totani?”
“I don’t know. I hope not. Our memories of those lives sometimes overwhelm us. And Zhekali’s mind was always strong. She had to be to endure as long as she had. But that is a matter to worry about later. We must reach Etienne and Nyla as quickly as possible.” Ash closed his eyes, his anguish briefly showing in his expression. “I pray I make it back to her.”
Star bowed her head, her fist over her heart. “Stay with her. Wait for my brother and I to return from finding Nyla and then Skyfire can go with you to Etienne. You need a Githalin so you can get back from the Blighted Lands and with him by you, Izkynder can remain safe here.”
Ash turned a sad smile to her. “No. This must be done quickly and there is no guarantee when you will be able to return. I’ve felt how tired the other A’tyrna Ulan were when we reconnected with them. I want Storm to know all of Zhekali’s children in case…”
“Have faith,” Star stated with intensity. “She needs your faith to bolster her own.” She looked down, then pushed herself to her feet. “I still would feel better if more warriors were with you than me.”
“You said Nyla is near the path several tribes traverse on their way to the Citadel. No one goes into the Blighted Lands. You need them more than we do. Now go. We will be as safe as anything can be in Desantiva.” Star nodded and hurried out.
Tyrsan knelt where she had been earlier, studying Ash’s profile. “Are you certain you want me with them? You’re going to have two warriors. Three if Mureln’s skills are enough for whatever you might encounter. And a child.”
“I am.” Ash met the other�
�s eyes, his expression grim. “It is less about your fighting skills than your objectivity. I had hoped to have Nolyn present to be the non-Desanti view.” He looked at his right palm, then clenched his fist. “But that is obviously not possible. You’re the only level-headed one with enough experience I trust to deal with their tempers.”
The Sevmanan man appeared confused. “Why would objectivity be required?”
“Star says Nyla is near Citadel. I am certain that is where the na’Citali are. At least, they will be nearby. I told her if they cannot find a way back here to meet us there. From what I have seen of Star and Skyfire’s sire, he will drive his tribe to reach there as soon as possible.”
“I see.” Both men stood. “I will do my best to keep things relatively sane and keep anyone from getting too hurt.”
“Thank you, Tyrsan.” They both looked down at Storm and the infants. “I hope I’m doing the right thing.”
The former Dulain put a hand on Ash’s shoulder. “Even if it is not, it is preferable to doing nothing. We know where that path ends. She would agree action is better than inaction.”
“Dusvet Tyrsan!” Windsong looked into the cavern. “The drizzen and supplies are accounted for. We must go. Kailee is impatient.”
“I know,” the mage murmured. He covered the other man’s wrist briefly. “Good hunting.”
“Gods’ speed to you, Ash.”
Taylin squinted at the tall Desanti man as she turned back to resume her interrupted healing of him. “You want me to leave a scar on your face? Dare I ask why?”
Skyfire chuckled as he leaned on Lyra. “Do you really want to know?”
“No,” the healer sighed. “I suppose I don’t.” She put her hands on his chest and closed her eyes. Slowly, the open wounds and bruises began to fade.
“I wish I could be with you,” the fair archer said in a small voice. “I know you are needed more out there than here but...”