Iduna

A large shadow surrounded her.

  Looking up, she saw the dragon. It was like a finely carved sheet of granite skimming over her head. The air off its massive wings knocked her to the ground like a bug.

  In response and without thought, she reached out to grab the air with her will and added eddies to disturb the dragon’s flight. It tilted to and fro as it tried to master the new current. Sensing who was to blame, it looked back and blew a small flame in her direction as it continued moving forward. Iduna reached to use the wind to block the dragon fire and was completely shocked when it had no effect.

  The fire kept racing toward her, and there was nothing she could do.

  The wispy white flame licked her with a shocking cold before collapsing back on itself. She got to her feet and started running after the dragon’s vanishing figure.

  She'd run for a while, then slowed as animals stopped passing her, and it became clear that nothing was chasing them. Since a dragon appeared in the image at Akio’s house, it must be the key to her training here.

  Fingering the stitch in her side, she kept walking in the general direction the dragon had headed while she thought. What did she know about dragons? She now knew they were terrifying in person. What if it had turned the full force of its fire on her? She wanted, no needed, to unlock the Okeeno power and not die in the process.

  Remembering all her lost friends, she had to admit that her life was worth nothing if she couldn't learn something here. Akio was right.

  If the dragon was indeed the key, she would do whatever it took.

  One problem—she didn't know what she needed from the dragon. Was she supposed to kill it? Was this some kill-or-be-killed scenario? She hoped not. The flash of opalescent scales, the fluid power, all made the creature beautiful.

  She shook her head. “Stay grounded. Stay calm.”

  Dragons were fierce, and her people evidently had no defense against them. Stopping fire was a basic skill. She'd learned to do it when she was twelve. Thinking about everything she'd read on the creatures, which hadn't been much, there'd been no mention of their fire properties.

  Was it just her in danger from dragons? She couldn't count on it. The dragon was a danger to Lawanians, and she'd have to be prepared to kill the beast.

  She cursed her past single-minded focus on spells at the expense of reading on other subjects like, say, dragons. If she could observe the dragon, maybe she'd find a hook, some way to approach, get close and learn or kill. Maybe it wouldn't remember her instinctive attempt to bring it down. She walked, and the sun rose higher. The wind had changed direction.

  She'd need to learn more about the creature to find an angle and hopefully get a lead on what she was supposed to be learning overall. It was one thing to learn without any guidance; it was a whole other level of crazy to not even know what she was supposed to learn.

  The mountain in front of her appeared exactly like the one in the metallic image at Akio's. Yorin, it looked tall. Clenching her fists by her side, squaring her shoulders, and fixing her gaze on the mountain, she flattened her lips in a straight line.

  “I will do whatever it takes.”

  She broke into a run through the overgrowth and ducked under fronds. When she reached the first enormous boulder, she drew dry dirt to her in a quick burst and rubbed it in to coat her hands.

  She began her ascent not knowing exactly what she would find, but hoped it wouldn’t kill her.

  Chapter 44

  Iduna pulled herself onto a ledge jutting from the side of the mountain. She’d been alternating climbing with running and scrambling over sections of boulders for hours. Just above her head was the bottom of a thick layer of cloud cover that sat atop the mountain.

  Exhausted and wishing she was in better shape, she sank to the ground and leaned back against the face of the mountain. She took out some water and rice balls that were in her pack. Each of the rice balls had been carefully wrapped in banana leaves and had a sweet bean center. Her hands were getting roughed up from all the jagged handholds. She took out two socks from the pack and wrapped them around her palms.

  The quiet was profound.

  She couldn't remember when she'd heard such absolute silence. The rustling of her pack, then of the banana leaves seemed like the only sounds in the world. She relaxed into her perch and felt some of her nerves settle. The exertion, the action, had probably helped. Food made for her by others also touched a spot. Surat had frequently packed lunches for Iduna whenever the cook sent her looking for anything that required travel. It always reminded her why she was out there.

  She set out with a little more energy and perspective.

  Barely ten strides later, she rounded a corner and stopped abruptly. There stood a smaller golden version of the enormous gray dragon that had swooped over her that morning. It was no bigger than a cow, and the small pack of four-legged beasts surrounding it seemed to think it would be just as tasty.

  Each of the beasts was as tall as a man with shaggy gray fur that drew back from their snouts in a sweeping mass. One beast bit into the small dragon's outstretched wing, piercing the thin wing with his fangs. Iduna could see the bones that ran medially from the base of its body out to the tip of its wing, like golden veined, ribbed paper.

  The dragon struck at the grasping beast with its head. The dragon’s other wing was trapped under a boulder, pinning it down. The dragon gasped and puffed, its sides expanding and contracting rapidly, fluttering, as it faced its attackers.

  Iduna stretched her senses to the boulder and tugged. It didn't move. She couldn't be sure the dragon would be able to fly off even if it were freed.

  Another beast crept toward the rear of the dragon, his fangs dripping with drool, while the first one remained in front, growling. The third seemed to be eying the situation and would jump in once the other two attacked. They just wanted lunch, but today wasn't going to be their day if she had anything to do with it. This wasn't the dragon from the vision in Akio's shack, and maybe she was wasting valuable time, but there was something noble about its solo struggle.

  She dug out the bag of matches from her pack, keeping her movements slow. She was upwind of the beasts and didn't want to draw attention. She lit the match just as the rear beast leaped onto the dragon's unprotected flank. The dragon's tail writhed as it sought to strike the beast off its back. Iduna split the small flame in three directions, hurling growing fireballs at each of the beasts, enough to smart and singe, but not maim. Their bodies jerked in shock, and they tried to bite where they were hit. Noses singed, they took off running.

  The little dragon looked relieved but wary.

  Iduna approached the injured dragon with her hands turned palm up and head lowered, making a crooning sound. It wasn't a scared child, but maybe the same rules applied.

  “Everything will be all right, little one,” she said.

  Getting closer, she could see the detailed circular patterns in the dragon’s light-gold scales. Its amber eyes were large in its relatively small horse-shaped face. The tip of its nose curved down into a pointed beak. She didn't think the dragon trusted her and wondered if she'd be its lunch if she freed it. It looked weak, but it was a dragon, not that she knew what that really meant.

  She was still standing in front of the small golden dragon, entreating, when she heard the flap of large wings as a massive ruby-red dragon descended behind her.

  Iduna swallowed. Standing between two dragons was not a good place to be.

  Iduna could swear the golden dragon was laughing at her now in the quicksilver change of mood of the young. Iduna glowered at the small dragon and turned to face the much, much larger one.

  “Hi,” she said. Her Lawanian formality deserted her.

  “What are you doing?” it asked. Each word sent a wave of warm air in Iduna's direction. Her whole body heated, and her face turned a deep red. It wasn't going to be easy staying cool.

  “I just saved this dragon. I assume it’s yours. It was about to be eaten by a pack of four-
legged beasts.”

  “I only see a two-legged stick.”

  The small dragon made a sound as if it were calling to the larger one. This seemed to swell the red dragon even larger; pent-up violence radiated from its scales, creating a heat shiver.

  She turned back to the small dragon, saying, “Hush.” Facing the red dragon, she said, “Those bites in your baby's wing aren't mine.” She gestured to the punctured wing.

  The adult dragon became even angrier, its red scales now a deep maroon. It was at least starting to look around, searching for someone else to blame other than Iduna, which was just what she was hoping for.

  She used its inattention. She felt for the fissures in the boulder, found them, and it crumbled, freeing the baby dragon. The red dragon moved forward to inspect her youngling, barely avoiding crushing Iduna in the process. She knew being between them wasn't going to be a good thing. Both creatures were exchanging coos and purrs. The sounds from the red dragon started to sound a bit sharp, then went back to nurturing.

  Iduna backed away a few feet but stayed near to see what would happen. She fought her flight instinct. She must.

  The red dragon was curled around the golden youngling — the baby dragon's face was hidden under its wing. The red dragon turned a cool gaze to Iduna. Its red eyes were disarming. “I owe you my thanks. My name is Rubino, father to my son, Esten. Who are you?”

  “I'm Iduna of Lawan, Elite Spellcrafter.”

  “Iduna of Lawan, this isn't Lawan. Why are you here?”

  “I came here to look for you. I need to learn from you.”

  “You didn't come for the music?” Rubino nudged the youngling with his nose. “Now that is surprising.”

  “Music?”

  “Haven't you heard it? It was very loud this morning.” He looked at her appraisingly. “You're not affected by it, are you?”

  “Since I don't really know what it is and I seem to be the same as yesterday, I'd have to say not. If you don't mind explaining, what is ‘it’ and how are people usually affected?”

  “The music of the island enchants creatures and can drive them crazy. Many are drawn to the island from far and wide, only to find themselves prisoners of their delight.”

  “Is that why you came here? You don't seem enchanted or affected either.”

  Rubino considered Iduna until Esten made a little noise. “Yes, we were drawn to the island by its music. It is glorious and ever-changing. It stirs the blood and makes you feel. …When this little one was born, my mate and I went different ways. She's still mesmerized by the music.” Rubino looked away as if searching the mists for his mate. “But I'm with the little one.” He looked down with affection as his son looked up at him. “He saved me.”

  Iduna was awed by the bond between them and sad to hear of their separation from the boy’s mother and the father’s mate. It reminded her of the bonds she’d had, the people she loved, who were now lost. Her face hardened. She did have an agenda and brought herself back to it.

  “How do you both stay immune to the music? We have a problem on the mainland, and I'm hoping you can help me.”

  “I've had enough of talking to humans. It's time for you to leave now.”

  “But people are being enslaved, drained of liveliness. They won't survive.”

  Rubino rose to his full height. “It is time you go.” Small flames punctuated his words.

  She stood unmoved.

  He sent a wall of fire at her, and she twirled around to escape getting burnt to a crisp. As she staggered to find her footing and ran back down from where she came, she cursed. She needed to learn, or die.

  Chapter 45

  Iduna halted her descent when she thought she was far enough away that the dragons would not detect her. She crawled into a nook in the mountain and waited. She had to learn more. She felt the years spent sneaking and acquiring things for the Institute’s cook coming back to her. She would follow the dragons until she learned what she needed.

  She climbed to a part of the mountain upwind of where she'd left the dragons. Esten’s injuries should slow their pace, making them easier to keep up with. She followed the dragons to their nest and tried to get a sense of their patterns.

  Rubino took his charge slowly up the mountain to their home, moving awkwardly on land. They had a cave large enough for both of them, though it wasn't spacious. They spent most of their day laying on the ledge outside, sunning themselves. Rubino left occasionally to fetch dinner for the two of them. The mists of the mountain made small waterfalls and pools. Sometimes they both went down to one to bathe and drink. Both of them climbed instead of flying when together. Rubino was staying close.

  She began waiting at the pool they frequented, hoping to learn anything useful. She got to see a dragon's version of water play—Rubino's fiery breath creating a steam bath. They splashed in the eddies and made swirls with their tails. These scenes charmed her. Of course watching them eat whatever animal Rubino brought back was never charming.

  In some of the play she could sometimes pick out lessons that Rubino was teaching his child, though any flight-related lessons were clearly out of the question as Esten's wing healed.

  One afternoon Rubino left Esten at the pool and quickly returned with two claws full of coconuts. He dropped them to the ground in a tumble. He took a few and lined them up, each one farther away than the last. He had Esten’s attention, and Iduna's, as she hung in a tree upwind. It had been a challenge staying upwind since the wind direction changed morning, noon, and night on this part of the island. She had accumulated a variety of perches at this point.

  Rubino looked to his son, then took a shallow breath. Iduna could see his rib cage lift ever-so-slightly with his small inhale. He exhaled with nothing but air coming from his mouth and nostrils. Esten looked disappointed. He tried to show up his father and took a swift inhale and then exhaled with all the force in his body. Only tendrils of smoke escaped. Rubino decided to take the interest as a win, and he beckoned Esten over to him as if to let him in on a secret.

  Rubino stared at Esten with a gaze that seemed to hypnotize. Esten’s jaw hung open as he was completely enthralled. Rubino closed his eyes and drew in a long, slow, seething breath, his expression expansive with his nostrils flaring to take in more air. His scales burned a hot glowing red. His eyes flashed open, focusing on the coconuts as if they were his greatest enemy, and he exhaled a giant whoosh of flame that turned the coconuts into piles of smoldering ash.

  Esten loved the fire and trod over to the burned area in playful glee. He blew small puffs of smoke at the expired coconuts as if celebrating his father’s victory over a great enemy. He looked up at Rubino while standing with wings spread in a posture emulating his father's threat.

  Rubino strode over to his son, his face right in front of Esten’s. Esten quieted.

  “Close your eyes,” Rubino said.

  Esten did as his father asked. His excitement faded to ripples of disquiet in his eyelids.

  “Take the spot behind the top of your nose and imagine a heavy weight there, drawing your eyes further closed and quiet.” Rubino watch his son follow his directions. “Good, good. In your next quiet inhale, follow the air through your body with your mind's eye. With each inhale, try to locate its deepest point.”

  Rubino waited. “Keep trying. You will find it.”

  “When you have found a deep point, inhale just a little more, not too deeply, and imagine the air going in further than it's ever gone before.”

  The air around Esten was starting to tremor ever-so-slightly in waves of oscillating color.

  “Think about what you feel. Focus on the same feeling, like we do when the island's music starts.” The emanating heat around Esten changed to a steady golden radiance.

  “After a few more breaths, pull in a little stronger and then exhale all the air from inside you in a smooth wave.”

  As Rubino finished his last word, Esten again exhaled with all his might and a small puff of smoke came from his
wide-open, expectant jaws. Esten collapsed to the ground in disappointment — his face a portrait of abject despair.

  A coconut rolled up and thunked the child dragon in the face. His eyes flew open right before his father then rolled him into the large pool of water.

  …

  Iduna stayed at the pool after the pair had trekked back to their cave. She walked over to the water and kneeled. She tried to look below the surface, part of her wondering if she'd have fish for dinner. Catching her reflection, she saw how roughed up she looked. The days had taken their toll.

  Thinking back to Akio's words, she wondered again what she needed to learn from her foe. What was she supposed to learn from the dragon? Well, she'd seen a lesson today, and she might as well try. The idea of her breathing fire made her laugh. Sure, she'd be the amazing fire-breathing woman. She could tour with the circus. Her laughter faded. The idea of burning Vilir to ashes and freeing her friends made any foolish attempts worthwhile.

  She stayed kneeling and closed her eyes. She was used to meditating and this sounded similar. She looked for the deepest spot within her where the inhaled air touched. She felt the hollow of sorrow that Vilir had awakened within her.

  She breathed air into the space.

  A spark ignited.

  The sorrow flared through her as it followed her exhale. She was overwhelmed with emotion. It started as sorrow, then began to grow to an unencumbered rage.

  Music swelled around her in chaotic waves. The sounds were syncopated and deeply disturbing, like fingernails plucking the strings of her raw nerves.

  It wouldn't stop.

  Her heart rate escalated, and her skin flushed with annoyance. The feelings intensified. She collapsed to her hands and knees, panting as she fought this onslaught of annoyance that came from everywhere to pinch, poke, and scrape her.

  She scanned her skin, and nothing was happening, but in her mind it felt like fire ants biting. She jumped into the pool, and it turned the little fiery bites into licking flames. She scrambled out of the pool and stood, looking around her for some solution.