Dracon and the Edge of the World

by Michael T Payne

  “I will.” Kaylin said wide-eyed.

  “Alyndra, I’m sending you away, maybe it will make you appreciate her some. Your sisters will train without you.” Venalina announced.

  “What? I don’t want to go away?” Alyndra was in a sudden panic.

  “I made it sound more sinister than it is, my dear, Talila is coming home and I want you to join our husband.” Venalina said chuckling.

  “I’ll go.” Kaylin offered immediately.

  “No,” Alyndra snapped, “she said me, I’m going.”

  “I can’t wait to see how fat she is!” Saida laughed.

  “She has not begun to show yet, but she has begun to thicken.” Venalina said.

  “How did she get so lucky to be the first to have his child?” Kaylin asked.

  “Ha!” Saida exclaimed.

  “You forget how Talila dominated him, even until now!” Alyndra said.

  “Don’t be bitter, or spiteful. She only developed a relationship with him you were too shy to do. In any case, you’ll each get your chance; I’ll see to that. Don’t squander it, I expect to see you each carrying his child.” Venalina said.

  The girls all started giggling.

  “How long will it take for you to become with child, Alyndra?” Kaylin asked.

  “Pretend you’re Talila and make it quick!” Saida laughed, “We want our turn.”

  “I will not return without a child of my own growing within me!” Alyndra said.

  “There is something you should know. Talila’s child was conceived before your ascension.” Venalina said, “It’s not natural, it may not be possible for you to have his child the way you think, you may need more training. Your mother, Kalla will teach you more about that. The reason you are going, is so that we can bring Talila home and have someone watch over our husband for me.”

  “Why can’t you train us, be our mother?” Alyndra asked.

  “We share a husband, a bed, we are lovers, I cannot be your mother. I will not be your mother. You are ascended, it is customary that you are awarded to a loyal servant of the queen, to train you, raise you, a mother, a Vordalyn mother. Kalla was alive when we flourished, she saw first-hand how we fell.” Venalina said.

  “But what about your vessel, didn’t it tell you everything?” Alyndra asked.

  “Dhysevera’s vessel was made at a time before the fall, Dhysevera only saw victory, her knowledge was based in the past. It is Vordalyn like Kalla who will make sure we don’t make those mistakes again. I honor her by allowing her to be your mother.” Venalina spoke mainly to Alyndra but all the sisters were quiet, seeing Kalla in a new light, “When you go to Dracon’s side, you must honor the tale Talila has been telling him. He does not know I live yet, and I do not want you to tell him. Before you go, Talila will return and what she tells us we will honor.”

  “If we can’t have children yet, why are you sending me?” Alyndra asked.

  “I’m not entirely sure you cannot have his child because Talila was able too, but to be sure, I want you to try.” Venalina said with a smile, making the other sisters giggle.

  “Oh, I’m sure she’s going to try a lot!” Saida laughed making Alyndra blush.

  Venalina turned around and wiped the air in a circular motion opening a portal to the underground city of the priests. She looked back at the girls.

  “Go see Janouc and feed, I’ll join you shortly.” Venalina ushered the girls into the portal.

  As soon as the girls walked through the portal, it closed and Venalina teleported from the area. She reappeared back in the plane of air, on another floating floor. The marble floor was white and blue resembling the airy plane around her. Nothing but sky. Taranath was never as full of her people as the plane of air was, whose portals entry was only accessible through Taranath. There they could fly free, it was a paradise to them, one Venalina was happy to share with them. It made them love her. Kalla flew in from the sky around her and landed several feet in front of her, followed by Diama who was about to kneel. Venalina took a step toward her to tell her not to, but Diama caught herself and stopped from kneeling. It was still obviously uncomfortable for her not to kneel.

  “You’re back!” Kalla said, “I thought you would be gone longer, I am happy you’re here, care to take a run?” Kalla flapped her wings, like she was about to fly away, tempting Venalina to give chase. Venalina smiled.

  “Maybe, but I want your assessment first.” Venalina said.

  “Do you wish me to leave, your highness?” Diama crouched, ready to leap away.

  “No, I want you here.” Venalina said, she could hear a voice speaking out in the sky around them and looked to see a group of women flying in formation, being instructed by a Vordalyn who led them.

  It made Venalina smile watching her kind together again, she knew her mother, Ashavera, and her aunt, Dhysevera, would both be proud. A surge of pride filled her, almost bringing a tear to her eye. She wondered what it was like when they ruled the world, Vordalyn flying the skies, free. She wanted freedom for her people, some semblance of what they once were. At the very least, she wanted safety, for every single one of them who still remained.

  “You have done us a great service. You should be proud.” Kalla said being able to read Venalina so well it was like she could read her mind. Venalina was almost brought to tears hearing Kalla speak, to Venalina, it was her mother’s voice that spoke, “The ascended have much potential, each show’s promise in their own right. I feel I may lack the ability to mother all of them alone. I admit, I was so overwhelmed with the honor; I chose pride over reason. In the past, the ascended have always been given as one mother one child. In my vanity, I accepted them all. Now, I better understand why the custom was what it was. I still feel I could be affective with more than just one, but three… I feel I may do you, and them, a disservice.” Kalla said.

  Venalina nodded listening to her, no longer hearing her mother’s voice, trying to focus on what Kalla was saying.

  “You have much wisdom to pass on, I would regret not having you train them all. So, instead, I will offer an alternative, help, Diama,” Venalina said turning her attention from Kalla to Diama.

  “Yes?” Diama was surprised Venalina addressed her.

  Kalla stepped away from Diama and stood next to Venalina’s side, already knowing what Venalina intended.

  “We would like you to accept Saida and Alyndra as your daughters?” Kalla asked.

  Diama’s face changed, her surprise was evident. She fell to her knees, grabbing her face with her hands, crying.

  “I am not worthy of such an honor!” she wept, “I would fail! I am weak! Surely one more worthy than me can raise the ascended? I spent years hiding as a pig from those who would kill me, I am not worthy, your highness, that you let me live at all is more honor than I deserve!”

  “Diama, you have survived with cunning and skill, the lessons you have to teach, more importantly, the heart that beats within you, the loving mother I see you could be, you are needed.” Venalina knelt in front of Diama and took her hands away from her face, “We have all had to do things that we can never forget, to survive. You are alive, Diama, I cannot imagine what your struggle was, but I do know my own struggle. I endured shame after shame. I thank all that is, and ever will be, that you did what you did. To hear you call me queen makes my stomach turn, to see you bow before me makes me feel far from worthy. Get up, my sister, together we will find strength, and with your wisdom, we will find a future!”

  “I cannot do it alone, Diama, I need your help. We can discover their talents together, and I will help you remember who you are as well, sister. Say yes?” Kalla asked, “Say yes and rise, never again should you be on your knees.” Kalla said looking at Venalina with her chin out and her horns back proudly, then flapped her wings.

  “Never again will we ever be on our knees.” Venalina said, exuding the same pride as Kalla, “Rise, sister, mother!”

  Diama swallowed hard, then wiped her face and stood up.
r />   Chapter Five

  Two servants walked up the back steps to the second floor. The boy, a long beanpole of six foot, carried two full buckets of water, slowly, taking one step at a time. He was careful not to spill a drop, the last thing he wanted was to have to make another trip. The girl, a tiny skin and bones waif, carried an arm full of fresh towels. She was several steps ahead of him and had to stop every so often to wait for him to catch up. Her name was Meredith and the boy, Kival.

  “Merri, run ahead and drop your towels on the landing, then come back and take one of these for me?” Kival asked, to which Meredith immediately laughed, “Come on, give us a hand?”

  “You ‘member what mister Martine asked ya when he hired ya?” Meredith piped up immediately.

  “But I got the job now, I’m sure he didn’t mean I would have to do all the heavy liftin’.” Kival complained.

  “Yes sir, mister, sir, strong as an ox I am!” she laughed, “I can take buckets up and down, ten times a day, more, if need be!” her head bobbed back and forth imitating Kival’s voice.

  Meredith stopped on the second-floor landing and waited for Kival. A few beleaguered steps more and Kival joined her on the landing. He was panting and set down the buckets while Meredith opened the door to the long hall.

  “Which room is it?” Kival asked panting.

  “It’s the adjoining room to the new lady and her lord, eight.” Meredith said.

  “Are you sure it’s the adjoining room? Are you sure this water isn’t going to the lady herself?” Kival asked.

  “She was very clear, Kival, the adjoining room with the towels and the water.” Meredith answered.

  “Jasper said he led a giant beast to that room, later he found out it was the same one that stole Razor-tooth’s tooth!” Kival exclaimed while trying to keep his voice down so as not to disturb any of the guests.

  “The lady’s champion is in that room?” Meredith asked.

  “So, you heard then?” Kival asked.

  “I was awake when she and her lot came in, she’s a real pretty lady, not like them others. She’s young and full of life, you should have heard her tell them others what to do and such. She ain’t beholden to no lord, that’s for sure.” Meredith explained.

  “Did ya see it then?” Kival asked.

  “No, I had my breakfast and was off to get an early start on the linens. Mister Martine gave me two extra copper this month and I aim to see he never has reason to take it back.” Meredith said.

  “I wish he’d give me two extra copper; I’d buy a horse in a year’s time.” Kival said.

  “A horse? Whatcha need a horse for?” Meredith asked.

  “To ride away, maybe get a job with one of them caravan’s as a guard?” Kival pondered.

  “A guard?” Meredith laughed, “Ya can hardly protect the kitchen from your own belly, how ya gonna protect a caravan of all kind of what nots you ain’t ever seen before?”

  “You wait and see, someday, I’ll have a horse and ya won’t have me to carry these buckets no more!” Kival set the buckets down in front of the door.

  The door opened just as they arrived at the room. Talila looked at the skin and bones that were at her door with buckets of water and fresh towels.

  “Come in,” she said turning away from the door, leaving it open. The two servants entered behind her, timidly.

  “Where would ya like the…” Meredith started to say as she entered the room then stopped talking when she saw Um’Vec standing in the center of the room, towering above them.

  “Put the buckets there.” Talila pointed just next to Um’Vec, “Set the towels down on the divan.” She said then walked out of the room to the adjoining suite that she and Dracon shared.

  Um’Vec ignored the young servants, instead, he watched the door Talila went through. Kival slowly walked over to Um’Vec and set the buckets down. The sound of the buckets hitting the floor made Um’Vec jerk his head to look at Kival. The boy froze, petrified he was about to be eaten by the bugbear. Talila returned to the room, shutting the door behind her, quietly, then looked at the petrified boy.

  “If you stand there too long, he might think you’re his breakfast.” Talila said with a smirk.

  “Kival!” Meredith called, “Come away with ya now, you’re disturbing the lady!” Kival pried himself away from his frozen position and rushed to Meredith’s side by the door. Talila followed, meeting them at the door. “Will there be anything else, milady?” Meredith asked.

  Talila looked at her for a moment.

  “How old are you, the both of you?”

  “I’ll be fourteen in three months.” Meredith answered.

  “Fif, fif, fifteen, ma’am.” Kival stuttered.

  “Do your parents work here as well?”

  “I don’t know my mum, my lady. I lived with a lady who found me when I was a baby. I worked for her until she died, mister took me in then and now I work here.” Meredith explained.

  “My fathers a brewer, ma’am, he works at the tavern, in the back.” Kival fidgeted as he talked.

  “Here,” Talila handed each child a silver coin, “that’ll be all.” She shut the door and turned around, walking back to Um’Vec. Talila grabbed a towel on her way over then dropped it in the bucket. “Take these off.” Talila pointed at Um’Vec’s bracers.

  He obeyed and dropped the bracers to the floor. They landed with a heavy thud. Talila grabbed his hand and lifted it, examining his hairy knuckles and forearm. Um’Vec watched her curiously. Talila bent over and took the wet towel out of the bucket, then washed his hand and bloody forearm. She picked out bits of skin that dried into his forearm hair, cleaning him, one arm at a time.

  “Why are you doing this?” Um’Vec asked. Talila glanced up at him then back down at his arms, she let his arm fall back to his side. She started picking leaves out of the fur around his jaw and in his neck hair, “You saved my life, you never told me why?”

  “You came to serve my mistress,” Talila looked back over her shoulder at the door to her room. She decided she would speak Um’Vec’s language so that Dracon could not overhear anything he could understand, “You came to serve my mistress, you serve her, by serving me.”

  “I no longer serve her, I serve you, you are the true dark goddess, you are powerful. I pledge my life to you.” Um’Vec declared.

  “Are you my faithful servant?” Talila asked.

  “Until I die.”

  “Do you love me?”

  “If you were not powerful, I would tear open your belly and eat that child growing inside you, I would let you live long enough to watch before you died.” Um’Vec’s face reflected his pleasure at the very idea of such an act.

  Talila slapped his face, before she even realized she was doing it. He was unfazed. Talila turned away from him, walking a few steps, furious with his ghastly admission.

  “You talk like that to me, after I saved your life!” She growled, “Even now I keep the Dark Lord from killing you!”

  “Are you angry with me?” Um’Vec asked.

  “Yes!” Talila walked in a circle thinking about what he just said, “No,” she corrected herself.

  She knew what he was. He spoke the truth. If she was not what she was, and she met Um’Vec, he would have eaten her, or worse. It was her power that made him her servant. His nature was still what it was, “How did you know I was with child?”

  “I can taste it in the air around you.” Um’Vec answered.

  “Never repeat it! No one can know!” Talila commanded.

  “As you wish.” Um’Vec nodded.

  “Kneel.” Talila turned to face Um’Vec, who fell to his knees immediately.

  She walked closer to him, then circled him, slowly trailing her finger on his skin, examining the scars on his body. First, his massive shoulder, then his shoulder blade. She lingered at his back, trailing her fingers on the many scars that covered its massive surface, spots so scarred, fur would not grow. She could see his skin react to her touch and wondered t
o herself if it pleased him that she touched him so.

  “You treat me as a child, wash me like a bird in a pond.” Um’Vec said, “Why?” he asked.

  “You’re no good to me if you cannot accompany me everywhere. I have to make you presentable. You are terrifying enough, without the blood and entrails of others, dangling from you like clothes. You must be perceived as somewhat civilized, or you will become a problem, rather than my champion. We do not want the Dark Lord, or any in our group, to decide we are better off without you, than with you.” Talila explained.

  “I am ready to fight.” Um’Vec growled.

  “No. You will never stand against Dracon, if you do, I will kill you myself. Do you understand?” Talila asked.

  “Yes, mistress.” Um’Vec answered, “What are you doing?” he asked, feeling her once again trace her fingers along a scar on his back.

  “I want to see your wounds.”

  “They are many. You remind me of the first few days after my birth, before I was thrown to the horde. My mother touched me like this, it was the last time I ever felt such a pleasure or saw her face.”

  Talila stopped, considering what he just said.

  “You remember that far, as a baby.” She almost laughed when she referred to him as a baby, but she didn’t know what else to call him. She couldn’t even imagine the hulking beast at her fingertips as a baby.

  “I can, and the brutality that followed, until this very moment.” Um’Vec shivered suddenly.

  It made Talila smile and recoil her fingers from his skin. Her touch pleased him. He was the same as any man, beast or not, she thought.

  “So, you don’t know pleasure?”

  “Pleasure in the feast of flesh that is the vanquished before me!” Um’Vec shivered again when he growled those words.

  “Yes,” Talila laughed, “I suppose that is pleasurable. Vanquishing and what not.”

  “Dark lord.” Um’Vec straightened up.

  “What?” Talila asked looking around Um’Vec to see Dracon standing in the doorway. He was leaning against the doorjamb with his arms folded over his chest, watching the two of them.

  “What do you two talk about, while you’re fondling him?” Dracon asked.