Bronwyn dropped her head down, wrinkled her nose, and squinted her eyes shut, smiling, trying not to giggle. His muscled waist felt pleasant under her hands: warm and firm. Focus, idiot, focus. No, not on him. She breathed in as the horse started walking, the thud of his hooves stirring up puffs of red dust. “So, you’re saying that if you didn’t need me to save your world, you wouldn’t care if I fell off?”
She was happy he couldn’t see her cheeky grin.
He snorted. “You women always turn everything around. It seems women are all the same, no matter what realm they come from.”
“You mean fabulous and smarter than men? Yes we are.”
“Oh, boy. Hmm, I wonder if Korden wants to swap. I don’t know if I can take a whole day of this.”
Bronwyn took her hands off his waist. “I’d be happy to swap, since all you men are the same.”
“Hey, I was only joking.”
“I know. Sorry. I’m just not in the mood. It’s easy for you to ask Blayke and I to go and catch a deadly dragon, but now we have to figure out how to do it without getting ourselves killed. You do know that if we die, Talia dies and so, I guess, a whole lot of people from somewhere in this realm will die too. It’s not much fun to have that much pressure, you know. Who are you, anyway? Where do you live, what do you do, other than accosting realmists from other realms to save your hide?”
“I’ll only tell you if you put your hands back where they belong.” He stayed quiet until Bronwyn placed her hands on his waist. “Okay then. Where to start? Korden is chief of the King’s Guards, and I’m second-in-charge. My parents live in the main city, Arethene. I have two brothers and a sister. That’s all there is to tell.”
“How old are you?”
“Well, assuming your years are the same as ours, I’m twenty-four.”
“Can you tell me about the dragon?”
“He’s the last greater dragon in our realm. There are lots of lesser dragons, but they’re not as fierce and they’re much smaller. Devorum breathes fire, of course, but he can also sway you with his mind. He can make men kill themselves, or each other, by invading their thoughts. See that tree over there?” He pointed to a tree that stood thirty-feet tall. “He’s about that big.”
Bronwyn swallowed, eyes wide. “Shit.”
That marked the end of their conversation for the next two hours, until they rode into a village and stopped for lunch. Bronwyn and Blayke dismounted, Blayke trotting to her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You look, well, not happy I suppose.”
“I’m wracking my brain, trying to figure out what we can do to beat this dragon. Sander told me a bit about it. Did Korden tell you anything?”
“Enough that I’m preparing to die.” A tired smile rested on his face. “After lunch we’re going to set off for the base of some mountains, Ishkatar I think he said. We’ll summon the dragon there.”
“How?”
“They have a whistle that screams at a frequency that travels long distances. Apparently only dogs and dragons can hear it. It mimics the call of the dragons’ ancient foe.”
“What? Is that wise? I mean, why would you call the dragon with a signal that will have it being totally angry by the time it reaches us? They haven’t thought this through very well.”
“It’s the only way they can get it to come out, or so the gods have told them.”
“So, have you got any ideas?” Bronwyn looked at her brother expectantly.
“I have a few ideas, but the problem is we don’t know what power this dragon has, what he’s capable of. We could make a net out of Second-Realm power, which could catch him, but would it be enough to stop the dragon performing magic on us? Korden says the dragon can hypnotize people and make them do as he wishes.”
“We’ll need to shield our thoughts. Avruellen has taught me a couple that could work. Don’t forget about the dragons breathing fire thing. We’ll have to think of some kind of physical shield. This is all going to take a lot of power. I know we’ve been practicing, but are we strong enough? We might end up like Arcon did after shielding your symbols, especially if we have to hold a Second-Realm net over the dragon until we get it to wherever it has to go.”
“You’re right. Could we do it with earth magic? I wonder if we can combine the different power sources? I know I don’t feel as tired after using the earth energy.”
Korden had tied up the horses and, tired of trying to get their attention by waving, approached the realmists. “Come on, there’s lots to do. We’re hungry and then, after lunch, we have to get you two some horses.”
They followed him into a nearby tavern. Men and women sat around expensive-looking stone tables on cushioned chairs. Near the clean hearth, which remained unlit in the warm weather, slouched padded armchairs arranged around a low table. Bronwyn thought if she were to design a tavern, it would look like this. Small vases on the tables cradled small, white flowers that gave off an intense, caramel scent. Bronwyn was reminded of Avruellen’s garden at home. Not for the first time, she wondered if she would ever see it again.
Sander pulled out a chair for Bronwyn. “Oh, thank you.” She hesitated before sitting: no one had ever pulled out a chair for her before. One dimple appeared on Blayke’s cheek as he gave in to a small smile. He’d have to have a word with Sander later. Bronwyn was also happy to discover Sander was a vegetarian too; then she thought of Sinjenasta. Last time they’d met, they both thought Sander had killed the panther. “Sander, do you remember the last time I was here, you shot my panther?”
He blushed and looked at her, guilt in his eyes. “Yes. How could I forget? I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s okay. When I got back to the First Realm, he was alive. I don’t think everything that happens here, happens there. Don’t ask me how or why, but Sinjenasta was fine.” She smiled.
“I’m so glad to hear it. That panther must mean the world to you.”
“He does. If anything happened to him, I don’t know what I’d do.” Sander grinned, and Bronwyn thought he must be relieved he didn’t have to feel guilty anymore. After lunch, which passed in jovial banter, Korden took them to the local saleyards and they picked out two stallions. Blayke rode the black one, Bronwyn the bay.
Shortly after leaving the town, Blayke rode alongside Sander while Bronwyn chatted with Korden. Blayke cleared his throat, not used to having conversations like the one he was about to have. “I couldn’t help noticing, Sander, that you have an interest in my sister.” Sander looked across at him but said nothing. “I just want you to know that she’s a good kid and doesn’t have a lot of experience with men. Do anything to hurt her and I’ll kill you. Understood?”
Blayke straightened in his seat and scowled, trying to look as menacing as possible.
Sander kept the smile from his face, knowing Blayke was trying to be a good brother. He might have told Bronwyn he was only twenty-four but he had lived a lot longer than that and had many secrets, most of which he hoped to tell Bronwyn one day. He knew they would be together, and until that time, he would be patient. “Understood.” Sander shouted over to Korden. “I think we’d better pick up the pace. It will be dark in three hours and we want to be there before Vertem is in the sky.”
“Vertem?” asked Bronwyn.
“A blue planet that rises two hours after the sun sets. It’s at this time that the dragon has the least power.” Bronwyn opened her mouth to speak. “Don’t ask me why; it just is. If you have any plans to finalize, I suggest you do it while we ride. You will face Devorum soon.” He drew his sword out of its scabbard and thrust it above his head.
“To war!” he shouted and dug his heels in. Bronwyn and Blayke followed, galloping towards their fates.
***
The sun slipped below the horizon to their left, the last slanting rays piercing the dusty air and coloring their horses’ hooves with bloody light. A dark mass of mountains rose in front of them, rocky outcrops a jagged black outl
ine against the dusk sky. The trees and grass were thicker here, although there was still not as much protection from above as Bronwyn would have liked. She shivered and breathed the damp night air.
Blayke dismounted. “Korden, what are you two going to do after you blow the whistle? Have you got somewhere to hide?”
“We’re not going to run away like cowards. You’ll need our help.”
“I hate to say this, but if we have to protect you with our power, it will be more of a distraction than a help. I’m thinking this dragon will be breathing fire and trying to get into your heads. What if it talked you into killing one of us?”
Korden swung off his horse, his feet thumping on the ground. “Sander and I have dueled with this dragon before and out of two hundred soldiers, we were two of the eleven survivors. We are immune to its mind speak.”
“How?”
“There is a trial our soldiers endure when they wish to enter the top three ranks of the King’s Army. During the trial, which some do not survive, we are bestowed with a gift from Drakon, god of the dragons.”
Bronwyn butted in. “Oh, we know him. He’s the reason we’re in this mess now.”
“Don’t blaspheme against a god.” Korden shot a look to the heavens and from left to right. “They’re always listening. You don’t want to invite their wrath.”
“I wouldn’t worry, Korden,” said Bronwyn. “Drakon needs us alive if we’re to help save his precious dragons. I daresay he’ll keep us alive until we’re not needed anymore.”
Sander said quietly, “He’s not as bad as you think. He has his faults, but he wouldn’t kill you without a good reason.”
Bronwyn wanted to ask why, but Kalden held the whistle up.
“In approximately one hour, I will blow this. What’s your plan?” Bronwyn and Blayke looked at each other and shrugged. You tell them, Bronwyn spoke into Blayke’s mind. I need to go relieve myself. I’ll be back in a minute.
That’s right: leave the hard work to me. Go on. Go pee. I’ll still be here when you get back. He laughed.
Thanks, Brother; I knew I could count on you. She giggled and went to find a large tree to hide behind.
Sander listened to Blayke. Their scheme was simple, and even though they would likely fail, it had its merits, and nothing he had run through his head had been as good as what Blayke had just suggested. He watched Bronwyn’s dark shape emerge from the trees. He hadn’t been in love for a very long time, and as much as he wanted to sweep her into his arms, she could do without the distraction before facing Devorum. If they lived after this night, maybe he would tell her his secret … if he had the courage.
Bronwyn returned to the men. Their silence was solemn, almost defeated. “Are we all ready?” When she realized no answers were forthcoming, she continued, “There’s one dragon and four of us. They’re quite good odds. You guys haven’t seen what Blayke and I can do. Seriously, you want us on your side.” They looked at her, and although she couldn’t see their expressions, she could feel them. “Oh, for goodness sake, ladies, work with me here. Every day, for the past few months, I wake up wondering if today is the day I die, or tomorrow, or when the gormons get to Talia. I’m sick of stressing about it. I’m going into this with the belief that we’ll win, because I don’t like the alternative.”
“Who are you calling a lady?” asked Sander. He turned to Blayke. “Can we throw her to the dragon as a distraction?”
“I have a feeling if the dragon ate my sister, he would end up with a severe case of indigestion.”
“That’s the spirit.” Bronwyn laughed; then a blue glint caught her eye. She caught her breath. “Is that Vertem?”
Korden mounted his horse; the others did the same. “It’s time. Ready?”
They answered “yes” in unison. Sander’s sword hissed as he released it from his scabbard. Blayke had already reached the Second Realm and was searching for their symbols. Thankfully they were in a remote, unpopulated area. Any symbols that came near them would stand out—it was an early-warning beacon Blayke was happy to have.
Bronwyn rode her horse to a nearby tree, dismounted, and placed her palms on the trunk, drawing power from the rivers beneath the ground. She carefully wove a net with the power, which stayed in the trunk of the tree and could not be seen unless one was touching the tree. If she had made the net out of Second-Realm power, it would have been visible to the dragon, or so she assumed. They were leaving nothing to chance.
When the dragon flew above the tree, she would release the net—to shoot up and, hopefully, snag the dragon. Once the dragon was safely secured in the net, Blayke would release a containment spell, which would stop the dragon from accessing the Second Realm or breathing fire on anyone. It sounded simple, but the dragon would have to fly where they wanted it to, and Bronwyn’s timing would have to be perfect. Setting a trap was something she had never done before.
Korden put the whistle to his lips and blew. Blayke sat on his horse, watching in the Second Realm. Sander, unwilling to observe from a distance, rode to Bronwyn’s side, ready to protect her if a mere sword was needed. She looked up and was about to say something when an echoing shriek rent the night, and another, then another. Blayke yelled into Bronwyn’s mind, There are four symbols. It looks like Korden’s whistle called all dragons within hearing distance! One looks bigger than the rest, so he’s our target, but we may need to kill the rest. Try not to die, Bronny.
I’ll do my best. Good luck. I love you. She felt strange saying it, but now might be the only time she got.
I … love you too. I know I haven’t said it before, but you’re an awesome sister. I couldn’t have asked for better.
Thanks. You’re the best too. They cut off the connection, and Bronwyn relayed the information to Sander.
“Shit. Why do things have to get complicated?” He drew his bow and arrow. “Dragons are endangered, so I don’t want to kill them. Is there anything you can do to my arrow to make it put them to sleep for a while, instead of killing them?”
“Hmm, I’ve never done that before, but I’m sure it can be done. We don’t have much time. Maybe you should have thought of that before. Here, give me all your arrows.” Bronwyn took them and closed her eyes. She remembered a sleep intonation Avruellen had used on a horse. Farmer Smilton’s best breeding mare had broken her leg. Avruellen had put her to sleep so she could mend the leg without the horse feeling pain. Bronwyn mouthed the words and directed fluorescent flows of power into the shafts. Sander saw the arrows glow then fade.
“Wow! That’s pretty impressive.”
“Thanks. I also added a little something to make the arrows more accurate and fly further.” Screams claimed the night, and Bronwyn ran from beneath the tree to see what was happening. Blayke and Korden galloped towards her, dark, winged shapes close behind. “Oh, gods, they’re coming. Get ready!”
Sander walked his horse from beneath the protective canopy to get a clear shot. Bronwyn ran back to the tree and placed her palms on the cool bark. She sent to Blayke, Tell me when to let it go.
Adrenalin thrummed in tune with the power in her blood, and her breaths quickened, barely reaching her lungs before rushing out.
Bow in hand, arrow shaft between competent fingers, Sander inhaled the cool air. Blayke and Korden neared, but so did the dragons, one swooping low—mere feet from the men.
“Come on, come on.” Sander breathed. He cocked an arrow, his aim following the dragon as it approached.
Blayke huddled over the neck of his horse, trying to make himself as streamlined as possible. The symbols were almost melded with his, and the tree was so far away. He looked up and behind, confirming with his physical sight what his other sight told him: one of the dragons was almost upon them. His heartbeat raced in time to the pounding hooves on the hard-packed dirt. He faced forward again, and in the Second Realm, the symbol closest to his glowed—the dragon was drawing power. Blayke hastily formed a shield over himself and Korden, whose horse sprinted next to his.
Korden and Blayke were one-hundred feet away. Sander had seen the fireballs exploding, relieved when one disintegrated in a shower of sparks above his friends’ heads. The next one barely missed its mark. He couldn’t watch from this distance any longer. His horse bucked when he kicked his heels to her flanks—she smelled fire and dragons. He kicked again, and she surged forward, tossing her head in protest. When the two groups were fifty-feet apart, Sander aimed, his arrow flying straighter and faster than he could have hoped. It pierced the dragon in the chest, flaring. The sizzle of contact reached his ears. One dragon dropped to the ground, narrowly missing Blayke and Korden.
Sander stopped his horse, her hooves skidding over scattered stones. He nocked another arrow ... aimed ... shot. Caressed by the wind of Blayke and Korden’s passing, he turned his horse and bolted for leafy shelter, trusting from the squeal and brief glow gracing the night that he had found his target.
Blayke reached Bronwyn and spoke into her mind. I’m exhausted. Shields take up more energy than I thought. I have enough to subdue the dragon, I hope, but there’s still two breathing fire at us. The dragon we want is staying too high. It’s assessing the situation, I would imagine. Do you know how high the net will fly?
I have absolutely no bloody idea. It would have been good to get some practice shots in first.
A Time of Darkness (The Circle of Talia) Page 19