Azurynn eyed him up and down. “Careful, Kovan, or maybe we’ll kill you.”
He shrugged and called Quillan down. He glanced at her as the big black settled to the floor. “Do whatever, Azurynn, I tire of hearing you.”
A slow smile tugged at her lips. “My, my, my aren’t we testy? You seem to have lost your good temperament…oh when was that?” She tapped her lips, pretending to think hard as she ignored the cold look he sent her way. “Oh I remember now, about the time you threw your pregnant little maid out. You never did say why you did that. It’s something you’ve kept closed up tight behind sturdy walls in your mind. Perhaps you should fetch her back or choose another to take to your bed. Your lack of bed partner seems to have affected your good sense.”
Azurynn wove a heavy web as she watched his fist ball up. “Remember, Kovan, I can see your magic the minute you start to weave it. I can also read the thoughts running through your little mind right now.” She narrowed her eyes. “If you wish to test it so badly, go ahead.”
The younger Shadow Riders watched the confrontation with mixed expressions. Tension hung thick in the air as their emotions rolled over Azurynn. A mixture of fear and hope that they would actually kill each other and be out of the way.
Sadira shifted slightly on the peripheral of Azurynn’s vision. Without taking her eyes off Kovan she sent a warning to the dark-haired beauty. “Sadira, lovely, don’t get any ideas. I’m quite capable of handling multiple weaves.”
Oksana walked between them on the way to her dragon. “Oh, leave off you three. You’re like three wet cats in a bag. Stop your scratching and spitting long enough so we can get something done.”
Azurynn barely flicked her eyes at the blonde; a little annoyed at the lack of respect Oksana seemed to give her.
Kovan glared at Azurynn for a long moment before turning his back, stepping up on Quillan’s leg and then pulling himself into the saddle. Disappointment and relief washed through the cavern.
Azurynn watched him closely and kept her attention on Sadira as she climbed on Murynn. Sadira climbed on Ranit without looking at her.
Kovan finally turned his cold eyes on her. “Are we going to test this thing of yours or not?”
With another lazy smile at him, she signaled Murynn to take off.
Jocelynn walked down the hall of the castle at Markene. Where had Loki gone off to now? Honestly, the boy needed to take his duties more seriously. Especially since an undercurrent of dissension still flowed through the nation even after the visit by Sadira. Granted, Sadira’s visit had made the people understand exactly what they were up against. The story of Haden’s display of abject fear, witnessed by many, had spread like wildfire as had the story of Kalila’s firm stand. It had cemented her place on the throne and yet still someone stirred up trouble.
Minor trouble to be sure, but it still undermined what Kalila was trying to do here. Jocelynn glanced down a long hall. It wasn’t likely the boy was hiding in here. Exasperated, she reached out for her green, Adirynn. “Can you get Merru to answer you?”
“I have tried several times.” The green’s irritation mirrored her own. “You would think after what happened last time, they would know better.”
Jocelynn flipped her long red-blonde braid over her shoulder. “If he gets into enough trouble that Kellinar has to come after him again…well it might be the first time ever that a Guardian has killed another Guardian in the history of Galdrilene.”
“Abrax and Varnen are out searching, perhaps they will find them,” Adirynn sent.
Jocelynn looked over her shoulder as Kalila’s advisor Lalani turned into the hall. “Lalani, have you seen Loki or Merru anywhere?”
Lalani raised her thin, arched eyebrows. “Missing again is he?” She shrugged slightly. “I am sure they will turn up.”
Jocelynn watched the woman walk away. She was no Silver, but her gut told her Lalani knew more than she was saying. What was the woman up to? What did she know of Loki’s whereabouts?”
She turned and walked back down the long halls until she reached the inner courtyard. The mid-day sun shone brightly against the stone and reflected off Adirynn’s rich green scales as she walked toward the dragon. She sent a brief glare in the direction of the sun. Wonderful. Now she got to spend the rest of the day out in the bright sunlight searching for the boy. She didn’t get along well with the sun. Her skin was quite fair and she burned easily, often breaking out in a rash if in it too long. With an irritated sigh Jocelynn buckled the catcher strap on. She was going to have to Slide to Galdrilene after this to see a healer again. She leaped off Adirynn’s leg and caught the saddle, pulling herself the rest of the way up. Maybe when Serena or Anevay got back to Galdrilene they could work up a weave of some sort to keep the sun from bothering her so much. A moment later she had the safety straps tight across her thighs.
As they rose in the air, Jocelynn caught sight of Abrax to the north, soaring over the trees and the low craggy hills. The sun rippled along his scales like blue fire. If Abrax and Varnen had the north, she would take the south. Hopefully she wouldn’t be too tired or too burnt to a crisp to enjoy the evening with Varnen. They weren’t bondmates, but they had still developed a deep attachment to each other. She was glad they got assigned here together.
Adirynn turned south. They began to make long sweeps across the wide expanse of the prairie that reached to the Galdar River and then continued on the other side, stretching all the way to the desert.
Kellinar sat down. It had been a busy morning. He smiled to himself; it had been a busy night too. He had to admit, it was nice having Anevay back with him. Kellinar had worried more about her when she was on the border than he ever had when she’d been in Trilene. He couldn’t convince either of his bondmates to stay in Galdrilene where it was safe. If they had to go throwing themselves in front of swords, at least they were with him. Although the knowledge Anevay and Latia brought back with them about the Ke’han certainly made Anevay’s return interesting. Who knew there were Kojen-like beings that weren’t really Kojen out there?
Serena, Anevay, and Taela settled down in chairs around him on the wide terrace in front of the Thieves’ Caves. The cacophony of the Mallay provided familiar background noise. As late afternoon set in, the herders brought their goats and geese in from the pasture. Hawkers still called out their wares, babies cried, people argued or laughed, and goats bleated loudly at being put in their small pens.
Between them, Belan and himself had gotten a lot done that day. The seeds of dissension were spread, helped along by those few in the Trilene and Dellar Districts who wanted nothing to do with the Shadow Riders. Down on the docks, in the vineyards, around dinner tables, and in the out of the way corners of the markets, people whispered that maybe there was another way. That the cost would be high but maybe it was worth it.
The city of Trilene was a boiling cauldron about to explode.
Anevay, Taela, and Serena all leaped to their feet at the same time as Shryden’s urgent sending flowed into Kellinar’s mind. “There are two distress calls. One from Nydara and Tellnox; Maleena and Mckale are injured, Mckale badly. The other is being broadcasted by Adirynn and Abrax in Markene, something has happened to Loki and Merru. I’m getting a call from Merru as well, but it’s very faint.”
Kellinar rose from his seat as the dragons dived toward the terrace. Which did he go to first? It felt like he was being torn in half on the inside.
Serena shook her head, worry clear on her face. “Kellinar, you, Anevay and Taela take care of Loki, the danger is there. From what I’m getting from Tellnox through Miya, it’s bad. I will see to Maleena and Mckale.”
Seconds later the dragons were landing on the terrace and at the bottom of the stairs. Kellinar sprinted to Shryden and started to jump in the saddle.
“Catcher strap,” Shryden reminded him. “I won’t fly until you have it on.”
Cursing, Kellinar snugged the strap down and buckled it tight then leaped into the saddle. “Alr
ight it’s on. You can take off while I get the other straps on.”
The blue launched into the air.
The sun sat cocked to the west when Jocelynn decided to take a rest. They’d covered the south for miles and most of the west. She let herself down from the large green and settled on a rock outcropping. In front of her, the ground fell away for at least two dragon lengths. She and her dragon could rest here and still keep a good lookout. The sun burned down on her and she glanced at her arms. They held the distinct pink shades of a sunburn that would deepen. Glancing back she eyed the two shrubby trees behind her. Turning around, she laid her hands against the trunks and let her magic flow into them. They bent easily to her will, leaning over her and lacing their branches together, creating a well-shaded place for her to sit.
Drawing her legs up, Jocelynn rested her arms across her knees and stared out over the land. Where had Loki gone? Should she let Kellinar know he was missing? She shook her head. No sense making him worry when there was likely nothing to worry about.
“He should have been back by now,” Adirynn sent. “He was only flying patrol. They’ve been acting pretty good lately.”
Jocelynn looked at her dragon. “What are you getting at?”
“I don’t think they would have just taken off like that. Not after the last time.” Adirynn turned anxious green eyes on her. “I’m worried.”
She sent waves of comfort to the dragon. “It hasn’t been that long, maybe a couple of hours. He probably just grew bored with patrol and decided to fly for fun afterward. Loki is young; he likely didn’t think to tell anyone.”
“It isn’t like Merru not to answer us,” Adirynn’s sending was full of worry.
Do you think you should send a message to Shryden?”
The dragon huffed a heavy breath and indecision weighed heavy in her sending. “I don’t know. I hate to have them all running here for nothing. And yet if something is wro—”
The dragon jerked her head up, her wings raised in agitation.
Jocelynn jumped to her feet. “What? Adirynn, what is it?”
“Merru just sent a distress call. He’s been unconscious…” She swung her head toward Jocelynn. “It’s bad. Get on, fast!”
Jocelynn leaped into the saddle, fumbling with the safety straps in her hurry. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. It’s fuzzy and weak. His distress call isn’t reaching very far.” The green let out her breath in a long hiss. “A soul separator.”
“A what?” Jocelynn grabbed the handles on the front of the saddle as Adirynn leaped off the outcropping into the air. Her wings pushed them forward with powerful strokes.
“A soul separator. What nearly took Syrakynn. They have a working one. I already sent a call to Shryden. He and the others have already Slid. There are Shadow Dragons.”
Dread settled in Jocelynn’s stomach as the green spun open a Slide and dove into it.
Fire burned across the sky as they came through the other side. A black dragon nearly crashed into them and Jocelynn was thrown against the straps as Adirynn twisted away. Shryden came within touching distance as the blue flew at the black, grabbing it by the throat.
The blonde on the back of the Shadow shrieked curses at him as a black arrow coated in sickly green lightning leapt from her bow. It burned across Kellinar’s shoulder. With a roar, Shryden released the black dragon and snapped instead at its blonde rider.
Syrakynn blasted fire at another black. Latia streaked through the air after a man and his Shadow. Namir crashed into the Shadow that Latia chased. The two dragons tumbled through the air as their riders tried to aim weaves at each other.
Jocelynn searched the ground and saw a group of Kojen standing around Loki and Merru. Adirynn flew at them, landing a few paces away though she didn’t stop. Instead the green charged into them snapping at them and crushing them in her jaws.
More came running from a copse of trees. Jocelynn loosed the safety straps and leaped off the running dragon, her zahri in hand. Her feet hit the ground and she rolled, coming up ready to fight. The Kojen turned and charged her. Jocelynn set the zahri in her hands and waded into them; the blades on either end of her weapon were immediately bathed in dark blood.
On her left, Varnen fought through the Kojen with his twin blades and Abrax at his side. Sweat rolled down Jocelynn’s face as time took on no meaning. Using every trick taught during her training in Boromar, she cut down her enemies. Adirynn had her back leaving her free to concentrate on those that came at her front.
Surprised, she saw Kellinar, Taela, Anevay, and Vaddoc working their way through the Kojen. Jocelynn glanced at the sky. It was empty of Shadow Dragons. Kirynn appeared at her side, flashing a smile as she took down the Kojen. “Hello zahri sister,” she called.
Jocelynn smiled back and nodded, acknowledging Kirynn’s welcome but not taking time to shout back. Bringing down Kojen took more effort for her than it did Kirynn. No one was as good as the flame-haired woman.
After several more felled Kojen, Jocelynn turned to find her next target only to realize there wasn’t another one. Instead, all she saw was a sea of dead Kojen littering the grass, their dark blood staining the ground.
Kellinar looked around to make sure no more Kojen were going to charge out of the trees before turning back to the gold dragon and his young rider.
Merru was sprawled in the grass with his eyes fixed on Loki who lay with his hands bound behind his back, and a heavy black chain around his neck. Loki struggled to a sitting position and tried to pull his hands from their bonds as blood seeped from under the ropes.
Kellinar ran to him. Pulling out a knife, he sliced through the ropes
Loki grabbed at the chain as he staggered to his feet and stumbled toward Merru. He yanked on the black links, tearing his skin. The chain wouldn’t come free. Loki screamed as he tried to pry it away from where it had embedded itself in him. Blood ran down his chest as the skin ripped more.
His heart in his throat, Kellinar grabbed Loki’s wrists, pulling his hands away from the black chain that seemed to have burrowed further into the boy’s skin. “Stop! It won’t come off that way.”
Loki’s eyes were wide and frantic. “Get it off me, Kellinar! It’s tearing Merru away from me!” He twisted away from Kellinar and tore at the chain again. Tears ran down Loki’s cheeks as he struggled to rip the metal from his flesh.
“Loki, Anevay and Taela are here. Taela can remove it. Try and be still.” Kellinar’s voice and hands shook as he tried to get Loki to sit down.
Kellinar glanced at Merru. A ripple ran over the dragon and some of the gold faded from his scales. His heart pounded and terror welled up inside him. Oh Fates, they were too late. They were going to lose them.
“I can’t…I have to get it off. Merru is fading!” Loki screamed through panic-filled sobs, yanking at the chain again with bloodied fingers.
Taela threw herself at Loki, tackling him to the ground. Closing her eyes, she placed her hand on the necklace and pinned him down with surprising strength. Kellinar, Vaddoc, Kirynn, and Anevay rushed to help her as Loki writhed and thrashed, shouting that he had to get to Merru.
A ripple worked its way down Merru’s body, taking with it more of his color.
“Merru!” Loki managed to yank his hand from Kellinar’s grip and lay it on the gold’s snout. “Merru, no! No, no, no...stay…”
Another ripple flowed along Merru. Kellinar’s heart thundered in his ears and tears welled in his eyes. He watched in helpless frustration. Why hadn’t Adirynn called for Shryden and him sooner?
Taela didn’t move or open her eyes, but Kellinar felt her through the bond, working frantically. Tears ran down Kellinar’s face as he struggled to hold Loki and ignore the boy’s screams to get the chain off. He tightened his grip as Loki fought to reach for the black links. Kellinar glanced at Merru again. The golden scales had faded even more and the dragon’s bright blue eyes were closed. “Hurry, Taela,” he pled through gritted teeth.
Everyone sprang back as the necklace exploded. It ripped through his flesh and sent shards of metal flying through the air. Loki opened his eyes and scrambled on hands and knees to Merru, crying in relief as the gold color of the dragon’s scales slowly brightened.
Kellinar reached for Taela as she doubled over from the pain of the chain’s backlash, the knowledge of the agony in her head slamming through the bond. He felt her stomach heave and quickly pulled her hair away as she vomited on the ground. When she was done, Kellinar pulled Taela away from the mess and held her as the pain slowly ebbed.
Anevay crouched next to Loki and examined the wound left by the necklace, heedless of the blood running down the side of her own face. She looked at Taela. “It’s clean, there is no metal left in his skin.” She closed her eyes and Kellinar saw the effects as she began to heal Loki.
Kellinar helped Taela to her feet when she was ready. She smiled unsteadily at him. “I think it might be best not to tackle those chains alone. It was bad when we took Kirynn’s off, but the backlash was divided between three of us.” She rubbed her forehead. “Taking it all was…painful.”
He shook his head at her understatement and knelt next to Loki putting his hand on the boy’s shoulder. Anevay still sat in the grass with her hands on the boy, a small furrow between her brows as she worked to remove the damage done by the chain. As he watched her, anger built inside him. How in the name of the Fates had this gotten so far?
Kellinar looked up and asked, “How did this happen? How were they able to take him without anyone noticing?”
Jocelynn straightened, a worried look in her pale green eyes. “We did notice, but we didn’t realize anything had happened to him. He has had a habit in the past of taking off and not answering calls to him. When he didn’t come back from patrol, we thought he was off having fun.”
Tears of War Page 38