The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set

by Leslie E Heath

  “I apologize for the interruption, but I think it best if I determine the source of that noise before we continue. Please wait here, and I shall return in a moment.”

  He stepped off the dais and strode to the outer doors, stepping out into the daylight.

  Ahren jumped up and ran out after her father.

  * * *

  The flight from Kasanto to Nivaka–normally half a day’s walk–took only a few short minutes. The dragons circled above the roof of the Pavilion and rumbled. Aibek watched, curious, as Gworsad used a foreleg to point to the open park between the Pavilion and the Meeting Hall, and Tukanli shook her head. Gworsad swung his head back to look at Aibek and gestured to the boardwalk again.

  “It is strong? We no break it?”

  Aibek considered the question, glancing from the wooden walkways below to the two enormous dragons. He envisioned the crowds of villagers dancing in the Pavilion, and the way the boardwalk had swayed under the weight of the attacking army. He remembered the deep divots the dragons' feet had made in the rocky soil around the river and shook his head.

  “You can’t both land at once, but it will hold one of you.” He pointed to Serik and Kai atop Tukanli. “Let them down first.”

  The dragons rumbled and chirruped, and Tukanli descended to the open area of the boardwalk. She curled her tail around herself to keep from smashing houses along the Square. As Aibek watched, Valasa walked out of the Meeting Hall wearing his formal robes, cupped his hands around his eyes and fell to his knees. Ahren followed close behind him, and what looked like the entire village poured out of the Meeting Hall to gawk at the dragons.

  From Gworsad’s back, Aibek couldn’t hear what the villagers said, but Valasa swung Serik down and wrapped him in one of his famous crushing hugs. Villagers swarmed the dragon and swept Kai up in their midst in a scene of joyous celebration.

  Valasa set Serik on his feet, and the old man pointed toward Aibek and Gworsad. Valasa tipped his head back to follow Serik's gaze, wiping his cheeks with a handkerchief.

  The realization struck with the weight of the blacksmith’s hammer. Valasa only wore his robes for weddings and funerals, and the Dodonni leader had said something was wrong in Nivaka. Who had died? Aibek’s mind flashed to Faruz and his plan to trek into the swamp. Had something happened to him? The wave of grief squeezed the air from Aibek’s lungs, and he struggled against the dizziness that threatened to pull him under.

  Struggling to reign in his wheeling emotions, he muttered to himself under his breath. “You don’t know anything yet. Keep your head until you land and find out what’s happened.”

  Gworsad turned his head and peered at Aibek with one orange eye, the brow raised in confusion.

  “What you say? You talk to me?”

  “No. I’m just…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

  Tukanli rose above them with great beats of her wide, leathery wings, the churning air ruffling his hair.

  Shoving his hair out of his eyes, he inhaled deeply and choked on the musty odor.

  “When can we land? I’m ready to see my friends.”

  The dragon nodded and guided them toward the boardwalk and the ever-growing crowd.

  Gworsad settled gently onto the wooden walkway, tucking his tail around his body.

  The huge beast lowered his belly to the boardwalk, and Aibek slid down the rough, wood-grained scales at the beast's shoulder and landed with a thump, barely keeping himself upright when his injured leg buckled. He patted Gworsad's neck, and the dragon nodded once more.

  “Thank you…for everything.”

  Gworsad rumbled, chirped, and asked. “I see you soon?”

  “I hope so,” Aibek answered with all the confidence he could muster.

  The dragon took flight, and Aibek watched his graceful flight until he and Tukanli disappeared over the treetops.

  Iron bands caught him around his chest and squeezed until his breath rushed out in a whoosh. His injured ribs sent pain shooting through his chest, making his head spin.

  “We thought you were dead.” Valasa spun him around and grabbed him by the shoulders. “The dwarf queen said you had been killed by an emrialk, and we were set to elect a new mayor.” Valasa’s bushy eyebrows pulled together in a frown. “What happened to you, anyway? You look awful.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he crushed Aibek in another merciless hug. “I’m so happy you’re home.”

  As soon as he could breathe again, Aibek grinned. “Me too. I’ve missed you all.”

  He glanced at the faces surrounding him, expressions of relief and happiness marking the crowd.

  His face ached from smiling as he shook the hand of each villager, the hugs from his dearest friends drawing tears to his eyes. These people had thought him dead! He rejoiced with them and assured them all that he wasn't badly injured and was happy to be home.

  * * *

  Ahren hovered at the edge of the crowd as Serik and Kai climbed off the dragon and into her father’s waiting arms. Joy and fear warred within her at the sight of the frail old servant and her dear friend, but where was Aibek? Had the emrialk gotten him after all?

  As the thought passed through her mind, Serik looked up and pointed at something above the village. Ahren shielded her eyes and followed his gaze. A second dragon circled above the trees, Aibek perched on its back and watching the commotion below.

  “I knew it! I knew he wasn’t dead!”

  The joyful shouts of the villagers drowned out her exclamation, and Ahren stopped to watch the celebration, a huge grin on her face. The expression felt foreign after so many days of tears, and her chapped skin protested. She ignored the pain, smile spreading wider. Villagers near her had given up on trying to hold in their emotions and tears streamed unchecked down their faces. Others exclaimed in awe over the thorny dragon with wooden scales that had borne the servant and councilman home.

  Ahren threw her head back and laughed. Leave it to Aibek to show up the moment they tried to replace him–and riding a dragon no less!

  The thorn-draped dragon lifted off the boardwalk, its great wings churning the air and whipping her father’s formal robes about him. Before the leaves had settled, another dragon brought a gust of wind with the mayor aboard.

  Ahren rushed forward to welcome him home, but someone grabbed her arm. She tried to shake off the offending hand, but it held firm. Rage welled up in Ahren, and she spun around.

  “Well, so much for that.” Tamyr scowled, glancing at the center of the Square where Aibek climbed down onto the boardwalk and greeted everyone near him.

  “I told you he wasn’t dead, now let me go. As a member of the council, I should be there to welcome him home. See? The rest of the council is there at the front by my father.” Aibek limped toward the dragon’s head. “Oh, no. Look! He’s injured. I need to find out what happened.”

  "You're not going to go make a fool of yourself, are you? You've been moping around here for days. Now that he's miraculously returned don't go throwing yourself at him. There's still a chance for someone else to take over the mayoralty."

  Ahren, who had begun to work her way through the crowd, jerked around and faced her friend.

  "What are you talking about? He's home, so he's the mayor. No one else has any right to that role." She frowned as the rest of Tamyr's words sunk in. "And I have no intention of ‘throwing myself at him.' I'm a member of the council, and as such, I should be there to welcome the mayor home. That's all."

  Tamyr made a face but released her grip on Ahren’s sleeve. Tamyr followed close behind her, but nothing would stop Ahren from greeting Aibek.

  When she reached the center of the crowd, Aibek patted the dragon on its neck and said something. The beast nodded, made a rumbling noise, and beat its wings, lifting off into the sky. The graceful flight of the dragons awed Ahren. The wind calmed, and Ahren turned her attention back to the returning travelers. Serik had retreated toward her as the second dragon took to the sky, and she threw her arms aroun
d him, but drew back, startled by how thin he had gotten in such a short time.

  “Are you all right?” She took in his haggard appearance. Dark shadows ringed his eyes, his cheeks had hollowed out, and his aged skin draped limply over razor-sharp cheekbones. “What have you been eating?”

  He laughed, the smile softening his haggard appearance. “Not nearly enough, but I suspect Cook will remedy that soon enough.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. Welcome home.” She smiled and hugged him again.

  Once he had released her, she moved away to where Kai stood talking to his brother and Zifa. A huge smile stretched across her face as Kai broke away from the others, grabbed her in a hug, and swung her off her feet in a circle. When he set her back on her feet, they both laughed.

  “I’m so happy you’re all right. We feared the worst.” Her gaze raked over his features, noting shadows and hollows like Serik’s.

  “So, I hear. You can’t get rid of us that easily, though. Aibek will do anything to get home, even tame a dragon!”

  Everyone in hearing distance roared in joyous laughter, drawing the attention of those at the center of the Square. Aibek limped over to his friends, Valasa following close behind.

  “What’s so funny?” Aibek asked.

  Tears glistened on his cheeks, but his eyes shone with happiness. Ahren resisted the urge to pull him into a hug, Tamyr’s words sounding in her ears once more. It wouldn’t do for all these people to see her throw herself at him. Instead, she smiled up at him and took his hand between her own.

  “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  He nodded and patted the back of her hand before withdrawing his own. “So am I.”

  Before she could say anything else, her father clapped him on the shoulder and drew him off toward the meeting hall, heads bent close in conversation. Ahren watched them go, noting his heavy limp, and turned toward home. She would have all the time in the world to find out what had happened now that he was safely home.

  * * *

  The afternoon passed in a blur of faces as the villagers clamored to welcome the mayor and his team home. When they finally dispersed to their homes, he limped home, ready for some solitude and good food.

  Once he’d had a bath and Valasa had tended his wounds, the council members assembled in his dining hall for a reunion meal and to discuss his journey.

  Cook outdid herself, serving a feast of roast duck, spiced root vegetables, and an endless parade of cakes and pies. Aibek shoveled food into his mouth like a starving man until his stomach bulged and he had to loosen his belt.

  He set his fork down and leaned back in his chair. Content and sleepy, he looked up. Valasa, Ahren, and Zifa stared over empty platters, and Kai slumped over in his chair, snoring softly.

  Zifa leaned closer. “I can’t wait a second longer. A dragon? Really? How did you manage it? And does that mean you succeeded?”

  Aibek grinned and threw his hands up. “One question at a time. Yes, they were dragons. They’re the Bokinna’s protectors, and they’ve agreed to help us fight Helak.”

  “But how?” Ahren shouted. “How did you manage it when we all thought you were dead?”

  "Well, I didn't know I was supposed to be dead." He grinned. "We did encounter an emrialk; that's how I got these." He pointed to the wounds on his head and leg. "But we survived, found the Bokinna, and since she expected me, we didn't have to fight her protectors. She agreed to help us as long as Faruz can save her, but she wouldn't promise anything until the Dodonni agreed to help, too."

  He launched into a brief explanation of the journey, touching on the emrialk since that seemed to be the source of their concern. They stared wide-eyed. The wind howling outside the window punctuated the silence.

  Zifa stood, rubbing her neck. “Well, it sounds like you had a grand adventure, and you have secured some valuable allies. Well done. I think I’m going to get his brothers and try to get him home.” She gestured to Kai, still sleeping in his chair. “We’ll meet again tomorrow to discuss what comes next.” Her expression softened, and he smiled. "Welcome home, Aibek. It sure is good to have you back."

  A lump rose in Aibek’s throat, but he swallowed it down and accompanied his guests to the door. Once he had bidden them goodnight, he closed the door and made his way to his own bed. The next day, he would spend some time in his meditation room and hopefully speak to his parents, but tonight he only wanted his featherbed and a warm blanket.

  23

  Fishing

  Over the next days, Faruz and his friends gorged themselves on fish and berries, snared plump rabbits, and dried some extra meat for their journey back into the swamp. They each bathed in the icy water and washed the swamp stink out of their blankets and clothes.

  After spending the past week stretching their meager food supply, Faruz inhaled two or three helpings at every meal. The others all did the same. When the lingering hunger had abated, they gathered on the stream’s banks and lit a small pyre for Amiran.

  Faruz swallowed against the lump in his throat, but let the tears fall as he knelt and lit the pile of brush. He and Dalan had spent the day building a raft to support the pyre. As they worked, they had discussed the days they'd spent with Amiran, his honor, his determination. Faruz's eyes blurred with tears as he bent and blew on the tender flame, encouraging it to burn more of the twigs and leaves. When he was confident it wouldn't go out, he released it from the bank, setting it free to float with the current. Struggling to breathe around the ache in his chest, Faruz watched the flickering pyre twist and dance on the stream. The waves rocked it like a child, and it moved slowly toward the swamp that had been Amiran's undoing.

  “Goodbye, my friend,” he whispered, choking back a sob.

  He eased himself to his feet, left leg protesting after so long spent kneeling. Welcoming the distraction, he pushed his knee through his regular stretches, and turned back to the pyre.

  The glow disappeared into the gloom of the forest, leaving a hollow emptiness behind. Faruz stood still, staring at the spot where the pyre had vanished, and listening to his friends’ shuffling steps. He stayed until his feet went numb and his breath puffed out in little clouds. He wiped the tears from his eyes and turned back to the campfire’s glow. He had to take the watch so his friends could sleep in safety.

  * * *

  Temperatures had fallen over the week, and when they awoke on the appointed morning, a heavy frost covered the ground. Faruz grimaced at the thin layer of ice covering the swamp. The river's current kept their path clear, but that water would be painfully cold. At least the current would be behind them this time. They cleaned up their camp, packed away dried fish and rabbit meat, and stepped back into the murky bog. The semi-frozen mud kept their boots from sinking, but the benefit disappeared as the water deepened. The cold cut into Faruz's flesh like a thousand knives, stealing his breath and numbing his mind. He shook his head to clear it and waved the others into the water behind him.

  “L…Let’s go. The faster we get back, the faster we can get out of this swamp and head for home.”

  The stench of rotting vegetation and stagnant water overwhelmed him as they moved further into the murky bog. He covered his face with a handkerchief to keep from gagging. How had he adjusted to this?

  They moved effortlessly through the water, the current helping them along, and reached the clearing as the sun breached the treetops, beating down from directly overhead. Maybe they could get the fruit and get out of the swamp before sunset. He dreaded the thought of another night spent sleeping in a tree, especially when the alternative meant heading toward home and his sweet wife. He had missed her these past weeks, and longing had awakened him more than once.

  Standing in the clearing, Faruz tipped his face up to the sun's warmth as he waited for the Saethem to acknowledge his arrival. The others lined up behind him.

  They waited until the sun began its descent and drifted past the treetops, casting the clearing into shade.

  Faruz needed
to act or go back to freezing in the bog. “Madam tree, we have returned, as you ordered.”

  The silent trees absorbed his voice. Had she heard him? Did she have the fruit? He shifted his weight, easing his injured leg out to the side. His friends shuffled and sighed, but he didn't turn around. He gathered his breath to speak again, louder this time, but screamed and staggered backward when the serpent dropped from the tree beside him and raised up to look him in the eye. The gashes on the creature's back had healed over, and only faint scars marked the places where they had been. Its eyes, so intelligent, bored into his, and he found himself unable to look away. He drew a breath, breaking the spell. The venomous creature dropped into the water and swam away.

  When Faruz raised his eyes to the tree, green eyes stared from the broad trunk. A small smile turned the corners of her mouth upwards. It was the first time she had shown emotion besides disapproval, and Faruz couldn’t help but smile back.

  “I have spoken much with my sister these past days. She grows weaker by the day. You must hurry if you are to save her. Have you something in which to carry my fruit?”

  Faruz blinked. Her speech reminded him of the odd dialects of the elderly, and he had to concentrate to understand her. He swung his pack off his shoulders and opened the drawstring.

  “Guard these with care. I give you three. Do not let anyone know you possess them, as many will kill for their power.” A long willow branch swung out across the clearing and dropped three fist-sized violet fruits into his bag.

  “When you arrive in the forest, give them to your mayor. He knows how to get them to my sister.” She paused and waited while he closed the pack and eased the straps over his shoulders.