Age of Valor: Dragon Song

by D. E. Morris

  Gianara gave only a moment's hesitation before she pulled a ring of keys from her belt. “Can I trust you?”

  “I think you know you can.”

  The taller woman pursed her lips, tentative. The horn blew again behind her and she grabbed the lock with an impatient growl. As soon as the door was open, Cailin rushed out and Gianara slammed it closed behind her with a look of warning to Connor. “Take me to her,” Cailin urged. With no more communication for the men, she followed Gianara and the older man down back the way they had originally come in at a sprint.

  For a few moments, Connor and Jaryn stared after them with unspoken questions. When Jaryn turned to the boy, however, Connor shook his head. “I don't understand anything that is happening right now.”

  “That makes two of us, lad. That makes two of us.” Jaryn frowned to himself. “Since Cailin doesn't need my tunic right now, you should put it on.”

  “What about you? You only have that thin shirt.”

  Jaryn shrugged, one arm wrapping around his bruised ribs. “I'll be all right. You keep warm. I think it may be awhile yet before we get any kind of blankets or a fire. Just don't fall asleep.”

  “I doubt I'd be able to.” Connor picked the tunic up off the ground and dusted it off before threading his arms into the sleeves. It had been too long and big on Cailin and didn't fit the young boy quite right either. Still, he fastened the clasps and tucked his hands inside the sleeves when he was done. “I hope Misuzu's okay.”

  “So do I.” Sitting down and leaning his back against the adjoining cell walls, Jaryn ran a hand over his beard. “She either didn't get a chance to shift out of her dragon form and has gone feral – Giver help us all if that is the case – or whoever this 'Master' is that got Gia's attention so quickly is someone who Misuzu is familiar enough with to illicit such a visceral reaction.”

  “What happens if she's gone feral? I didn't think that could happen to the Elementals.”

  “Aye, they're just as susceptible to the call of the wild as any Gael.” Jaryn shook his head. If Misuzu had lost herself, they had lost the Element of Air. Had she a child to pass her powers on to...but then she would have to be killed for that to happen. Even if she had become more dragon than human, she was still a friend. No one would be able to take her life. “If she's gone feral,” he eventually continued, “we may well be stuck here for a good long while.”

  “How long is awhile?”

  The rest of our lives,was the immediate thought that he had, but aloud Jaryn simply said, “I suppose we'll have to wait and see.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Cailin had all but forgotten about being cold as she and Gianara raced down the side of the mountain, leaving the older, out of shape man behind. She was thankful that she'd worn her new bandit outfit for traveling rather than the dress Connor had given her. The layers of fabric and long skirts might have kept her warmer if they were dry, but they certainly would have done nothing more than trip her up now. If Gianara had any concerns about her trying to escape, they were well hidden. The pair ran through the center fields where she barked out orders to those she passed, precautions to take in case Cailin's promise of calming didn't take and Misuzu broke free and took her temper out on the island.

  Dragons still flew high in the sky, but many more were perched on mountain ledges above as the two sped toward a ground-level opening in the middle mountain. Cailin couldn't help but stare, even knowing Misuzu was in some sort of distress. She had never seen so many dragons in one place before. It was obvious they were attuned to the distress of another of their kind just by the way they all looked toward the opening, heads tilted with large, curious blinking eyes.

  “This way!”

  Gianara's shout pulled Cailin's attention from the colorful audience, keeping her from accidentally running into an abandoned cart of hay. As they passed through the mouth of the cavern road, the pace did not slow any. Though she was careful not to show her interest, Cailin took great care in making note of everything she saw so that when she was reunited with Jaryn, she could share what she knew. There was no telling if any of it would ever be useful, but it was habit to be more aware of her surroundings than most. What stayed with her above everything else she saw was the way they had dug into the mountain and built structures into it, just as they had on the outside of the other mountain, likely as Altaine had in her very early days.

  A great roar like that of an angry lion swept through the halls, its decibel so loud that both women had to stop and cover their ears. Loose stones rattled to the ground around them and the torches blazed so brightly that Cailin was sure Gianara would figure out that Misuzu was no ordinary dragon. “We have to hurry,” she urged once the sound had died. Gianara only nodded and took off running once again. When it felt like they would be running forever, they finally came to two great wooden doors, taller than five men standing on each others' shoulders and almost as wide. Gianara threw herself against them and, with Cailin's help, shoved them open. Without asking permission, Cailin ran ahead as soon as there was enough room to squeeze through, shouting Misuzu's name with her thoughts.

  Cailin!

  You have to calm down. You may actually be powerful enough to bring this mountain down! Hurrying past stalls that looked like they had been built for titan's horses, Cailin finally saw Misuzu and slowed in her approach, catching her breath. Gianara was close behind, so Cailin held out a hand to the agitated dragon before her to keep up the facade. “Easy girl. You're all right.” Are you all right? Were you able to shift?

  The dragon coiled like a snake ready to strike, successfully keeping Gianara outside the gigantic stall even as Cailin went farther in. I'm okay for now, Misuzu confessed, her telepathic voice much calmer than she appeared. I was able to walk around in my human form for about a half an hour before anyone came to check on me. Where are Jaryn and Connor? She opened her maw to give a warning growl for show, but still Cailin proceeded toward her.

  In cells. Jaryn has some bruised ribs and a cut lip like me, but we'll all survive.

  That's good because my father's here.

  Cailin stopped, confusion drawing her brows together. For a split second she almost spoke aloud, but Gianara took note of her sudden change of appearance and asked, “What is it?”

  Shaking her head, Cailin closed the distance between herself and Misuzu and laid a hand on the side of her scaled face, pretending to calm the dragon at last. “I think she's been underground for too long, that's all.” Turning to Gianara, she said, “Air dragons need seclusion when they rest but otherwise need to be able to be in the sky as much as possible. Of all the dragons, they are most like the birds.”

  “I should have realized as much.” Gianara scowled as though she were upset with herself. “Can you keep her calm for now? I have business to which I must attend. Once it is finished, you may let her fly.”

  Cailin nodded and pet the dragon fondly. “Of course.”

  “I will return as soon as I can.” She didn't need to give Cailin a look of warning but did so anyway as she retreated. Cailin stuck her head out of the stall to watch until Gianara was gone, then turned to Misuzu.

  “All clear.”

  The dragon shrank in size, rising up on its stubby hind legs as they stretched, her tail disappearing into her spine as scales and fur became clothing and hair. When the transformation was complete, Misuzu groaned and cracked her neck. “I can't keep doing that. Little breaks here and there are helpful, but they aren't going to be enough for very much longer.” She looked at Cailin's swollen eye with regret. “I wish you would have let me help all of you.”

  Cailin shook her head. “I think of all of us, you are the safest. Gia holds dragons in extremely high regard.” She crossed her arms. “Why is your father here? He hates dragons and this place seems like a breeding ground for them.”

  “I don't know. They brought him down here to see me as if they thought he would be impressed.”

  “Was he?”

  Misuzu's brows twitc
hed together. “For all intents and purposes, he certainly seemed to be. I tried calling out to you with telepathy, but the distance between us must have been too great. I thought throwing a fit would be the best way to get one of you down here.”

  Cailin smirked. “It clearly worked.”

  “I have to go see why he's here.”

  With a nod, Cailin glanced around. “You have a better chance of eavesdropping than I do. I'll stay here and poke around, see what I can find out. Just promise me you won't do anything crazy if you hear something you don't like.”

  Misuzu grimaced. “I promise to try to keep myself under control. Be safe.”

  “You, too.”

  Once more Misuzu's body changed shape, black wings of a raven sprouting from her back as feathers of the same color covered her now tiny body. With a farewell squawk, she flew down the long tunnel, keeping as close to the ceiling as possible on the off chance she would come across anyone. Luckily for both her and Cailin, most of the island's population was concentrated in the center where a large crowd had gathered. Misuzu went almost straight up as soon as she was free of the mountain corridor, almost running into a dark brown and cream dragon roosting on a cliff ledge. It looked at her with one sleepy golden eye, then went back to sleep. Doing a tight spiral in the air, Misuzu flipped over and dove back down, fanning her wings out to give a few directional beats that led her to one of the trees surrounding the watch tower. She passed easily among the branches and landed, wrapping talons around the sturdy wood, then did little flaps as she hopped from branch to branch, trying to find the best place to be able to observe what was going on.

  She could see her father speaking with some of the islanders, his usually stern expression still as she remembered it. They all looked in awe of him, as though his being there was some special gift or treat. Misuzu watched the way the women whispered to each other, blushing at the words they shared. Some of the younger ones even turned away with a little giggle if he looked their way. The men, no matter their age, stood just a little taller than they might normally, chests out and chins elevated as though they had something to prove.

  As the gathered crowd parted, Misuzu realized she had beaten the woman, Gianara, to her destination, and watched as all fell back to let her speak with Hideo as a silent audience.

  “Konbanwa, Hideo-tono.” Gianara pressed her palms together and bowed when she was before him. Her greeting was met with a formal bow in return, then Hideo clasped her forearm as the westerners did when greeting someone long familiar. “We were not expecting you.”

  “I see that. Did you get that dragon under control?”

  “She is nothing to worry about.”

  Hideo frowned, making the lines around his mouth even deeper. “I was told you have prisoners and that dragon belongs to them.”

  “Harmless,” Gianara promised. “Lovers who were sent here in search of a new life and a safe place for their dragon.”

  No one else seemed to notice it, but Misuzu saw the curl of his lip as he glanced toward the dragon caves. “This is a good place for them, then. Will you let them stay?”

  “It is likely, yes.”

  “Very good.” Hideo sniffed as though he really didn't care. “And the castle raid?”

  “Almost as expected.” Gianara was emotionless with her report. “We suffered very few casualties and hopefully the same can be said for them as well.”

  Hideo's brows came together and he held Gianara in a cold stare. “It matters little how many casualties they faced. They are your enemies, remember?”

  With a shake of her head, Gianara returned his gaze with just as much conviction. “Every life matters, whether they are friend or enemy. All life is sacred and should not be so easily destroyed.”

  Misuzu couldn't believe what she was hearing. She suspected that this was the group who had attacked Altaine, yet what she was hearing now made it sound like her father had been the one responsible for orchestrating it. He knew Misuzu, his own daughter, was at the castle for the wedding, and still he had it attacked. A rage built in her veins so powerful that she felt herself shaking on her tree branch. If she didn't calm herself down, she would shift right then and there and tear her own father limb from limb.

  “The children were taken as instructed,” Gianara was saying. “None were harmed, though the man who found them killed the scout who had them and sent him home on the back of his dragon.”

  “Then it is good that you have new recruits for your army, as well as their dragon. If you are so careless as to let even one of your own perish, you will need to find able bodies to occupy the position left open after their departure.”

  Gianara clenched her fist at her side, and Misuzu could see that the woman was working to calm herself down as well. Clearly she didn't like Hideo, even if she felt she owed him some sort of respect. “You must be tired after your journey here,” she hinted. “I will have your usual house prepared for you with food and wine.”

  Waving a hand, Hideo shook his head at the offer. “I only came to hear how the attack went.”

  “And so you have done.”

  He studied Gianara with a slight nod. “Indeed I have. Now I will return to Siness under the guise of concern. My daughter is there, after all. Why should I not check to make sure she is well? The news of the attack has already spread quickly, which is exactly what we wanted, so no one would question my being there.” He paused to take his eyes off of Gianara and sweep the crowd of people who seemed to hang on of his every word. “Do not forget for a moment that these people are your enemies. Those who call themselves the high rulers of Siness hate you and your dragons. They seek to find and destroy every last one of them, to rid the earth of the creatures you hold most dear. If you weep for one of their lives lost, how much more will you mourn when one of your own precious beasts is slain by them?”

  A rippled murmur worked its way through the crowd. Listening to the quiet comments of support for Hideo and hatred for those in Siness, Misuzu felt she could be sick. She was confused and heart broken, but more than anything, she felt betrayed. There had never been any great affection between Hideo and herself; Misuzu had always loved her mother best, if only for the similarities between them. When she met Hideo later in life and learned how cold and unforgiving he was, she knew she would never care for him but must always respect him. He had been upset to learn of Mei Xing's passing even if he refused to admit it. There had been pain in his eyes when Misuzu told him, pain that said he once loved Mei Xing greatly even though their relationship lasted no longer than a single night, and for that reason alone, Misuzu gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now, listening to him speak such lies and condoning, even organizing an attack on a place he knew she held dear and chose to stay when he left, any small spark of devotion she might have been nurturing inside for him was completely extinguished.

  “Have their been any orders from the Shadow King?”

  “Merrik?” Hideo asked.

  His question made the heat building within Misuzu turn to ice. She knew Tadhg had been tormenting Ashlynn in dreams and shadows, and that she believed Merrik was still alive somewhere, biding his time, but to hear his name spoken here where everyone was all but cut off from the rest of the world was alarming. How could any of them possibly know who Merrik was if they didn't even know a Gael sat on the high throne in Siness? More importantly, why would they be asking her father about him?

  Hideo answered with a shake of his head. “I have not heard from him in some time.”

  She couldn't listen anymore. The tremors in her body were so strong that Misuzu knew she couldn't stay where she was and hear any more, even if the information could be valuable later on. None of it would make a difference if she couldn't control herself. She hopped from branch to branch until there was a clear shot out, then flew into the darkening evening and straight for the mountain cave she'd recently left. As soon as she was closed within the safety of the rocky walls, she landed and shifted to her human form to run the rest of t
he way deep into the mountain, hoping to burn off some of her anger and terror. It was only when she approached the breeding barracks that she slowed in case anyone else was down there, but Cailin must have heard her approaching; she stuck her head out of the first stall before Misuzu was even completely inside the barracks.

  “I'm in here. It seems like Jaryn was right and that these caves, too, were manmade. They have different stalls for different breeds of dragons. I assume this one is for fire dragons since there's no wood; it's all stone and metal.” She stopped talking, seeing the tremble in Misuzu's hands and her widened eyes. “What happened?”

  “My father,” the younger girl managed, then found it hard to summon the right words. She shook her head, her shoulders hunched. “He had these people attack Siness. He told them Ashlynn and Jaryn are trying to destroy the dragons.”

  “What?”

  “They all look at him like he's some sort of god, that everything he says is so important, all of them except for that woman.”

  “Gia?”

  Misuzu nodded and bent over, her hands on her knees. “I feel like I'm going to be sick.”

  Cailin rushed to her side to gently guide her back down the barracks to her designated stall. There, they sat on the ground together and Misuzu recounted every detail of what she had seen and heard from the moment she'd left. “He hates dragons, natural born or otherwise,” Misuzu protested, her brow furrowed. “Why would he align himself with people who take care of a whole island of them? For that matter, how would he even know this island existed? He never leaves Takashiri, let alone has the need to travel to a remote, unknown island way off the Ibayish coast.”

  “I don't know,” muttered Cailin. “None of this makes any sense.” She gasped as a sudden thought came to her. “You don't think he'll want to see this island's new prisoners, do you? I spoke with him on more than one occasion when he was at Altaine, and he will surely recognize Jaryn.”