“A little more than thirty years ago,” replied Iserum, “many of our children and their parents were being taken by Tessír for their special gifts, ones such as Ledría has. Many of the ways our people survived in the desert depended on those Sacred Ones who were able to breathe life into the Desert sands. As a means of retaliation, many of the nomadic tribes launched an assault against Noiknaer in hopes of looting the resources and finding and freeing our family. The assault was a failure and many of our men died.”
“Have you tried the political approach, sending an emissary?” Maerek asked. “Seeking peace in some part of the country?”
“You haven’t heard, have you?” Iserum asked. “I suppose you wouldn’t have the chance to hear it, or the traders.” He looked at Maerek and then back to Japeth. Japeth looked up at Iserum, seeing the concern, and came to the front of the caravan.
“What is it?” Japeth asked.
“There was a horrible fire at Noiknaer. People still aren’t sure where it started, but it engulfed most of the city. Tens of thousands had to evacuate and were left with nothing. Even the government buildings were destroyed, and a few rulers died in the fire.”
“Where did they all go?” Maerek asked, a hint of anger rising in his voice.
“Most of the citizens and all of the government officials, including the guard, relocated permanently to Anteperil. I sense that you are a little upset about that. Why?”
Maerek scolded himself for not having more control over his emotions. He was concerned for Mearto. If the city had burned down, she could have been taken to the new capital, or even killed in the fire. Maerek blocked out these thoughts and turned his attention to Iserum.
“I have a cousin who was taken, much as your Sacred Ones were, as a slave in Noiknaer. In part, I had hoped to build up a life in Port Rasmú and then buy her freedom.”
“Perhaps she escaped her captors and was able to escape during the fire,” Iserum said. “I wish you the best of luck in finding her. What was her name, in case I find hear of her?”
“Her name is Mearto.”
At the mention of her name, the wolf flipped his ears back and growled low. He looked at Maerek, let out a low growl again. Maerek looked at the wolf and thought about flaring his scent and trying to communicate with the beast, ask it a question on a more primal level as to why it was angry, but decided against it. Iserum patted the wolf on the head and scratched its ears as they walked.
“I know of her. She used to help our tribes before we attacked Noiknaer. The rumor was that she left the city and was able to travel to Port Rasmú with another tribe’s caravan. I didn’t know that she was a slave.”
“She is, or maybe was. I visited with her father when I was in captivity. He told me everything about her, and made me promise that if I escaped, that I would do all that I could to free her. Luckily, I was able to escape, but her father was killed in the process.”
“A life debt is not easily repaid,” Iserum said.
“Then you understand my urgency,” Maerek said firmly. Iserum nodded.
“We are about ten to twelve days away from the coast. From there, it is two days to Jettismore. We will stop on the outskirts of Jettismore and trade with a few merchants to stock up on supplies and then we will travel east to Port Rasmú, combining our caravan with any others that are headed that way. I’d say we are about five weeks out.” Japeth grumbled and scowled at the ground as he walked. “If you are unsatisfied with length of time this journey will take, please run ahead.”
“Don’t take me for a fool, Iserum,” Japeth chided. “It is what it is and there isn’t anything that can be done about it.”
“Thank you,” Maerek said softly to Iserum.
Five weeks was too long. There were too many other scenarios that the Seer and his allies could come up with another ambush or trap. Too many thoughts ran through his mind, too fast to say or sing, thousands and thousands of various scenarios that a human mind, or a group of humans could create to make turn this journey to Port Rasmú against him. He needed to leave tonight. Thankfully, with the meal Maerek had a few days before, his mind was fresh enough to know that is was about a six-hundred-mile journey in a straight flight, to the port city. And that if he only flew at night and walked during the day, he could make it in two and a half days.
It was fortuitous that Noiknaer burned, and perhaps Mearto escaped. From what Iserum discussed, if others were looking to flee the county by way of working and hiding in Port Rasmú, then for certain, a dragon could hide there as well. But for how long under the sight of a Seer? Two and a half days would give him enough time, Maerek was sure, to find Mearto, ensure that she was safe, and kill the Seer, and whoever else held her captive, if needed.
That night, as the fires were lit, Maerek sat with the traders and told them of his plans to leave that night. The nomads sat amongst their own, around their own fires, well out of ear shot. The traders were given a wooden cup with lukewarm water and a piece of the hard biscuit. The traders sucked and chewed on the stone hard bread, trying to crack palatable pieces off to eat. Naeru seemed to be having the toughest go of it, almost gagging each time he put the hard bread to his lips. Maerek smiled at the traders and didn’t speak for some time. Naeru broke his piece of bread in half and handed one part to Maerek.
“It is a tradition of my people to give gifts to those who begin a journey,” he said with a smile as Maerek took the piece of bread. Maerek took one bite and chewed vigorously. The bread stuck to his teeth in sticky, chewy, rubbery chunks. Maerek tried to swallow it but it stuck to the back of his throat and made him cough and gag. Thomas handed him his cup of water. Maerek, trying to be polite, only took a couple sips and swallowed hard. The bread finally loosed its hold of his throat but left his mouth as dry as the sand they sat in. The traders then laughed together.
“It was a trick?” Maerek asked. The traders laughed a little harder. “It was a trick! Why?”
“It was the only way we could think to have you try this bread before you left,” Keane said. “You haven’t touched it since it was handed out on the first night.” Maerek glared at them, and then smiled slightly.
“I’m not sure if that can even pass for bread.” Maerek swallowed and then licked his teeth. His face reddened in embarrassment.
“If you are going to become one of us,” Thomas whispered, “you need to learn to take a jest every now and again. I suppose one might say it is what makes us human.”
“Or at least a true Tessíran,” said Keane. “We wish you a quick and safe journey Maerek. And we all hope you find her.” Maerek nodded in appreciation and then looked across the fire, staring solemnly eastward
“After I find her, I will try to find you. You have done so much for me and my kin, and though I have been a protector to you, I have caused more danger to come upon you than I think you needed to bare on my behalf.” Keane was about to protest, but Maerek continued to speak. “I am still in your debt, and I will do what I can to repay it someday.”
“There isn’t a debt to repay,” said Aelex with a smile. “We’re family now. Oh, which reminds me, I’ve thought of a name for our group, Dragon’s Shield Trading Company.”
“It is a fitting name. It has my blessing as does your cause.” Maerek paused and looked deep into the fire. “You will seek to do more than trade. Your actions must be slow to start, and your movement must be done deep within shadow and secrecy. Your motive will not be one of vengeance, but of protection, of justice, of honor, of peace. You will be the shield, protection and shelter to the people who are oppressed and taken advantage of by those who swear falsely to be their watchman. Any deviation from this, and you and your cause will fail.”
“You speak as if you have a touch of the Seer’s gift within you,” Naeru said softly.
“I only have the mental capacity to outwit a human who knows what my next moves will be. He will be waiting for me at the Port, and it is there that I will end him. If he is smart, he will have Mearto close to
his side and will try to use her as a final play for my surrender. If what Iserum says is true, and if she is free, she will be doing all in her power to evade him, and possibly has already sought passage to Caite or another country.
“This I know, that the Seer will seek me out, and I must get to Port Rasmú before he has a chance at finding Mearto. I cannot wait any longer.”
“We understand,” Keane said. “Good flying.”
Maerek bowed, then stretched and started walking eastward. He took about five steps and then turned back to the group.
“And fair weather for your caravan.” With that, Maerek sprinted out into the moonless night.
The desert sand and horizon were mostly level, which made for easy running. He was tempted to change into his true form but knew couldn’t risk the caravan seeing him as a dragon. He had to run for at least five miles until the fires of the nomads dipped beyond the horizon. Then he could change and fly.
It was the longest five miles he ever ran. The soft glow of the crimson camp fires continued to flicker behind him. The wolf at the front of the caravan was growling in his direction and Iserum was trying to calm the hound. Insects buzzed, hissed and chirped as Maerek ran by clusters of desert grasses and dried bushes. In the starlight, he could make out the faint tracks of some other large, predatory desert lizard, and by the distinction of the impressions in the sand, the tracks were relatively fresh.
Maerek nodded again as he ran and followed the tracks, understanding their predatory instinct of following a herd. He and his family did the same thing for elk and other large game, though from the air. The lindworms would wait, searching out the caravan for one of the weaker, more vulnerable individuals, or they would wait until one member broke off from the caravan and then converge and attack. He smiled. Soon the lindworms would converge on him.
“Mmmm… Dinner!”
CHAPTER 17
Maerek thought that the lindworms would have closed in on him after he came across the first set of fresh tracks. Yet, it had been at least three miles since he first saw the sharp claw marks in the loose sand, with no other sign of them. He paid strict attention to the sounds around him, the wind pushing the sand across the ground, the quick wing beats of a small sparrow seeking shelter in the night, the rustle of nocturnal fox rushing from bush to bush, searching for mice and other creatures. Everything seemed to be calm and normal for a desert night.
The light from the fires of the caravan disappeared over the horizon. Maerek considered disrobing and changing into his actual form. It was highly unlikely that he would come across another change of clothes in the near future. He stopped running long enough to disrobe, then blew thick black smoke from his nose, engulfing himself and the surrounding area, and emerged as the dragon he was. He stretched his claws out in front of him, easing tension that built up in his arms and chest from running. After flapping his wings twice, to get the blood circulating through the membranes, he gathered his clothes under one arm, and began to run, building up enough momentum to launch into air.
Just before he jumped into the air, he heard quick, scrapping sound, like two stones striking against each other. It was quickly followed by a bright flare of light. Maerek skidded to a stop and turned toward the sound, lifting his arm to shield his eyes until he could adjust to the sudden fire that was burning next to him.
Instantly, he jumped back and lowered his head, his mouth filling with combustible saliva. In front of him was a black-cloaked man surrounded by four lindworms. Each of the desert lizards flicked their tongues in Maerek’s direction and hissed but did not move. Some lay next to the cloaked figure like a dog resting by their master. Others mimicked Maerek’s intimidating stare but did not advance.
“At ease dragon, I am not here to kill you.” The dark figure wheezed and coughed after he spoke. Tatters from his cloak fell into the fire and were engulfed in a black flame. Maerek looked the figure over quickly, searching for a hidden weapon, and found something, or rather couldn’t find something he was looking for. The man that sat next to the fire, surrounded by the lindworms had no heartbeat. Maerek swallowed his spit and then took one step closer to the man. The figure turned slowly, his soft amber eyes a strange reflection of the red and black fire. At times, Maerek thought he could see through the figure and as he moved, it was as though he were vapor, flowing from one place to the next.
“Speak quickly, I do not have time to accommodate a dying man,” Maerek said, focused solely on the figure.
“You and I have a common enemy, one who seeks to end my life and that of your kin, your love, Mearto.”
“What do you know of this!” Maerek roared.
“The Seer used us. I showed him the secrets of prolonged life, and he took those secrets and turned them against me and you. You know of what I speak.”
Maerek lowered his head again and glared at the figure. Blood surged through his veins, his wings and flushed with color and anger… the tainted blood.
“I should kill you, but something tells me that the death of my keep, of my brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, that it was not your bidding.”
“It was never my intention to harm your kind. The Seeps, the great chasms in the north, those were my prize. Yet the Seer found ways, evil ways, to manipulate what I taught him. But there is a catch in his plan.”
“I told you once, I will end you if you delay me further. Speak plainly.”
“The Seer’s life is bound to mine, and as I live, he lives.”
“All the more reason to end you,” Maerek advanced, his wings tucked in by his sides.
“If you end me now, you will never be able to save your future mate.” Maerek stopped in his tracks. “As we speak, the Seer is making his way to Port Rasmú. He seeks to take your female a-prize, and then use her pain as leverage against you to leak the other locations of the dragon keeps. I would end him myself if it was in my power to do so, but I am only a shadow of the man I once was.”
“And what do you seek in return for this? You would not tell me this freely.”
“I will tell you where the Seer will be and when and what he will do. Your race will be saved, and you have my word that you will never be hunted again. I will do all I can to save your magnificent race. In exchange, I ask that you bring me the head of the Seer.”
“That is an unusual request.”
“That is my offer,” the figure said, looking back into the fire and petting the neck of a lindworm that sat next to him. “If you kill me, you may save Mearto, but the port is a large city and I am unsure if even two dragons could find each other in such a place.”
“And how do you swear the protection of my kin?” asked Maerek, shifting his gaze to other portions of the desert.
“My word is my bond. I fear that I and your race are the only two who hold such a pact as sacred.” Maerek stared at the figure again, and the figure turned to meet his gaze. Words and images began to come into his mind, almost like those that the dragon songs created.
“She is working in a tavern on the coast next to slip number 115, on the western side of the bay.” Maerek could see the name of the tavern, “Kelp’s Catch”, the sign, the dock that was across the road and the large cargo ships that were pulled in next to it. It was midday and he could hear Mearto’s voice as she took orders and fended off or yelled at sailors who advanced on her with too much gusto. “She works for room and board and lives above the tavern. Behind the tavern is a long alley way.” Maerek could see the deplorable conditions of the alley, and the smell almost overcame him. The stench of human excrement mixed with the salty odor of the sea. He started to gag, but the smell suddenly changed to a strong lilac and gentle sea salt. “The lilac and sea salt are her scent. She uses it to put her tenants to sleep. In this alley way, the Seer will appear in five days’ time. He will be wearing a brown boat cloak with a cargo rope tied about his waste. There will also be an amulet around his neck with a bone of your kin as the talisman.” Maerek could see what the Seer looked like a
s he rode along in a caravan that headed from the ruined city of Noiknaer. “I will have a messenger nearby who will bring you a weapon to kill the Seer. Collect the head for me. You need not fear my messenger, nor kill him. Ask of him what is needed. He will speak when addressed.”
“What is your name?” Asked Maerek telepathically, surprised at the sudden connection and ease of it.
“Vilheim.”
As the images in his mind faded, he was brought back to reality, but the fire, the lindworms, and Vilheim were gone. He was still in his dragon form, yet it was as though he only slept. He sniffed the ground thoroughly and could smell the lindworms had been there.
Maerek knew that it was real, and he could taste the honor in the promise that Vilheim made. The way that the images and reality of Port Rasmú came to him as if it was a dragon song, and no words were sung, set him on edge. He recollected back into his own memories, searching for anything about such an instance in the history of Moving Mountain, but found none. Vilheim wasn’t human, and he wasn’t dragon either, yet communicated like one and promised like one.
“Why would a dead man make an oath such as his?” Maerek asked himself as he flew in the desert night. The cooler air made it easier for Maerek to rise higher into sky and hopefully glide on an upper air current. Maerek decided that he would take Vilheim at his word. A dock or point of commerce was as busy a place as any, and if there were news of a woman as beautiful as Mearto, Maerek was sure that he could catch word of her whereabouts there. Maerek nodded to himself in satisfaction and grinned slightly from the thoughts of finally meeting here face to face. Images of her shimmering scales, her scent, and her determination flooded his mind. The warm feelings and fluttering in his chest stopped when one word came to his mind.
Courtship.
Tales were sung in the Keep dozens of times concerning brothers, cousins, second cousins and so forth of courtship, of the chase, of forbidden night escapades for an enchanting evening flight. Both the male and female were in the throes of passion and infatuation and sought after each other seemingly without caution or reservation. If the circumstances were different, then perhaps that chance might exist between he and Mearto, but given that her life and his, and those of his race was in danger, he was unsure of how he should approach her.
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