“I was forced to put up with this arrogant bastard for six months,” Sova said, turning to Kai and Aarav. “Imagine that, would you. By the end, I was wishing I had been put in full exile.”
“It was no treat for me either,” Bastion retorted. “I had to put up with you boring me all night with elementary lessons and then I had to deal with you chasing me and clawing at me all day. I barely slept. And, I was only twelve!”
“For someone so smart, you sure say stupid things. You know that only happened twice. By accident. You knew what you were getting into when you came here. It was your fault for leaving your cabin during the day. You knew the dangers but you chose to ignore them.”
“I had to go to the bathroom,” Bastion shouted. His face was beginning to turn red. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you. You’re welcome for that, by the way.”
Kai and Aarav suddenly felt like they were suddenly in the middle of a sibling squabble so they stepped back and tried to not draw attention to themselves.
The owl jumped into the air and spread her wings out to their full width. She hovered ten feet above them and suddenly burst into flame.
“You dare speak that way to Sova Zlo, queen of the night,” the owl screeched.
Bastion sighed. He waved his hand at the owl which caused the fire to go out and the bird to fall to the ground. “Give it a rest. I just fought the Cracyn and I’m tired. We can do this anytime,” Bastion said. “My friend Kai needs your help and he’s been through a lot to get here, so if you wouldn’t mind, let’s do that instead.”
Sova was clearly not done yet. The bird thrashed around until she had gotten back to her feet and then turned to stare venomously at the boy.
“Just because you were chosen to be a Vessel, doesn’t mean you have to be such an asshole all the time,” she said, snapping at him.
“Just because you’re like a thousand years old, doesn’t mean you don’t have to show me a little respect.”
Kai sucked in his breath when he heard the boy’s remark. He expected the owl to burst into flames again and attack but the bird seemed to take heed of the boy’s implied threat. Sova seemed to consider his words as she settled her wings. She turned to Kai and Aarav and, as if nothing had just happened, she said, “Welcome to Burney Island. Kai Woods and …”
“Aarav, your grace.” The man stepped forward and gave a formal bow.
“Your grace?” The owl laughed.
Bastion snickered in the background but remained silent.
“You called yourself Queen of the Night,” Aarav said sheepishly.
“Ah, yes. I did, didn’t I?” The owl said with a laugh. “Such formalities are for petty creatures. Nothing but words with meaningless implications. Sova will be just fine.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Sova,” Aarav said with a smile as he repeated the formal bow.
The owl chuckled and turned to Kai. “And, you are Kai Woods. The man everyone is talking about.”
Kai stepped forward and gave a short bow. “I am Kai Woods but I doubt that everyone is talking about me.”
“Oh, but they are. And, not just about your pretty face,” the owl said with a chuckle.
Genuinely surprised and confused, Kai asked, “What is so interesting about me?”
Sova looked at Bastion and asked, “He doesn’t know?”
“He didn’t need to. The Wisps put him under and did some tests. They said to not mention anything so I haven’t,” the boy said.
“Well, it’s all I’ve heard about for the last few days,” Sova said.
“What are you talking about?” Kai shouted. “I want a straight answer. Now.”
Bastion groaned and stepped forward. “It’s the trollseed. No one has ever ingested it like you have and survived. It has changed you, somehow. The Wisps are working to find that out.”
“They figure you are going to develop abilities,” Sova said.
“The trollseed?” Kai was trying to grasp what they were saying. “What kind of abilities?”
“Nobody knows. This has never happened before. You are the first.”
“Oh.” That was the only response that Kai could seem to come up with.
“Anyway, so the theory is that I can use the natural mana from the trollseed in your bloodstream to access your memory and track the portal that was opened using the vividus,” the owl said.
“I’m not sure that I really follow,” Kai said. He looked to Aarav but his friend merely offered a shrug.
“You don’t really need to,” Sova said. “Let’s go to my home and get started.”
The owl took flight and headed south. Incredibly, the trees uprooted themselves and created a clear path in front of the bird. With Bastion leading the way, the group easily followed the newly created path toward a large compound near the center of the island. Kai had never seen so many lit torches in his life and he wondered how they hadn’t lit the forest on fire yet.
Magic, of course, he thought with a shake of his head.
As they approached, Kai nervously eyed the building that stood in the center of a large clearing. It was obviously the witches house, but that was not what made him nervous. On the front porch were two massive white lions, both lounging until they caught an unfamiliar scent. Both immediately stood and eyed the group carefully as they got closer.
The owl landed on the porch and said something to the beasts. When Sova was done speaking, the lions turned and left the porch, both stretching out on a patch of green lawn that ran alongside the house.
“Katha and Morrow,” Sova said, nodding toward the massive cats. “They are great company for one such as myself. They protect me from others,” the bird turned to look at the two men, “and others from me.”
Using magic, the owl opened the door to the house and led the group in. Kai was surprised to find that the interior of the house was just one big room. The ground floor was littered with shelves and tables but above all that was what really stood out. From the ceiling were large swings like one would find in the cage of a pet bird.
“What did you expect?” Sova asked, as if reading the minds of the two men. “I’m a sprix.”
Confused, Kai asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly is a sprix?”
The owl settled on the lowest hanging swing which was located by a seating area. The three men settled on the leather couches, thankful to rest in comfort.
“Basically, a wereowl,” Sova said. “But, wereowl sounds stupid so I am called a sprix.”
Kai laughed. “Fair enough,” he said. “So, would it be too blunt of me to ask another question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why are you so dangerous in your human form?”
The owl laughed. “If we waste much more time here, you will have the good fortune to find out,” she said.
“Trust me. Not something you want to experience,” Bastion said.
“I really don’t think they would mind,” the sprix said with a chuckle, “But, we should get on with it, anyway. Please, just lay back,” she said to Kai.
The owl closed her eyes and the air around them seemed to become electrified. A box on a nearby shelf opened itself and a silvery necklace floated out. The sparkling chain had a plum-sized bauble attached to it. It looked to be solid metal but Kai was close enough to see there was a thin slit down the side which emanated a purple glow. The necklace floated through the air until it came to rest around the large bird’s neck.
Sova spoke some words that were unintelligible to Kai. He could not even recall how they sounded seconds after she had uttered them.
Purple light began to seep out of the thin slit and surround the metal pendant with a glow. The glow began to drift forward until it became a solid beam of light between Sova and Kai. At first, he felt nothing but after a moment, Kai began to get very warm. Soon, the feeling began to get very uncomfortable, like his blood was boiling inside of him. He tried to move but the best he could achieve was writhing around on the plush couch.
/> “It’s uncomfortable but it won’t last too much longer,” Bastion said, resting a hand on Kai’s chest. A warmth emanated from the boy’s hand that sent some relief flowing through him.
Kai would have been more surprised by the boy’s supportive nature but he was too busy trying to deal with the intense pain he was experiencing. Thankfully, Aarav also came to his aid and forced a piece of wood into his mouth so he had something to bite down on instead of busting out his teeth.
Even with Bastion’s assistance, the pain began to grow until at it reached its peak and Kai thought that he was once again floating through the red water. The intense burning then began to recede and soon he became aware of his senses once again.
Kai felt a sense of great relief and passed out immediately. He awoke to find himself being shaken by Bastion.
“Oh, thank the gods,” the boy said as if in a panic. He turned his head and shouted over his shoulder, “He’s finally awake.”
“How could I sleep with you shaking me like that,” Kai said groggily.
Bastion looked at him with a familiar scolding expression. “I’ve been shaking you like that for over an hour now,” the boy said sharply. “We are running out of time. It is nearly sunrise. Sova needs to speak with you immediately.”
Kai pulled himself up to a sitting position. He blinked a few times as he looked around the room. The giant owl flew down to him, which gave him a start in his groggy condition.
“Apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you but we are in rush. My transformation is moments away,” the sprix said. A box floated through the air behind her and came to rest on Kai’s lap. Sova pointed to the simple wooden box with one of her wings and said, “Inside is a leaf. Place it on water and speak the word engraved on the lid. Go in the direction the tip is pointed and it will guide you to your friends.”
“They are here?” Kai said, still feeling disoriented.
“By the gods, no,” Sova said. “They are on Solotine.”
Kai was sure that there was something wrong with his hearing. Solotine was thousands of miles away, across the Great Ocean.
“I have communicated with a friend of the coven, a wizard by the name of Amaden. He will instruct you more when you arrive. Quickly, we must do it now. I can feel the onset of the change already.”
Adrenaline surged through Kai as he fully realized what was happening. “Aarav,” he shouted. “Where is Aarav?”
“He is gathering your pack. He will be back shortly,” Bastion said from behind the couch on which Kai had been laying. He extended his hand to Kai. “It was interesting travelling with you. I don’t have a lot of experience with the common folk so it was educational to spend time with you.”
Kai laughed and took the boy’s hand. “It was really great getting to know you as well. Thank you for all your help. Will we meet again?”
Bastion groaned but quickly tried to cover up his initial reaction with a forced smile. “I suppose we will have to, actually. It is not in my nature to forget a debt owed but with any luck that day won’t be anytime soon.”
“Until then,” Kai said, giving the boy’s hand a final firm shake.
“Your gear,” Aarav said as he appeared from around a large bookshelf. He handed Kai his pack, sword belt, and bow. With practiced ease, Kai donned his equipment quickly.
“Thank you,” he said, giving Aarav a heartfelt hug. “For everything. I never would have made it here without you.”
“Just bring them, and you, home safe,” Aarav said as he reciprocated the embrace. He leaned in to whisper into Kai’s ear. “I think I’m going to get my just reward pretty soon. I asked a few more questions while you were sleeping and it turns out that a sprix is a type of siren.”
Kai pulled back to look at his friend, who was wearing a wide, mischievous grin. He began to laugh. “Well, I hope that goes well for you,” he said. “But, I still owe you.”
“Just come home. That’s all I ask,” Aarav said sincerely.
Kai turned to face the sprix. “I’m ready,” he said.
The owl pointed to a circle of blue light on the floor. Kai walked to the center of circle and turned to face his friends. The light grew and reformed to encompass him inside a sphere. Kai could feel energy surging around him.
Through the blue light he could see the owl changing. The majestic bird twisted violently to become a beautiful, voluptuous woman. Long, thick blond hair was only thing she had to cover herself and it only went down to her waist. The last thing he saw before the light became too bright was Aarav’s smiling face as the sprix pounced on him.
…
When Kai awoke, he found himself lying on a mat of hay in the corner of a small cave. There was a dim glow that seemed to be emanating from a rock set in a corner. Other than a bucket of water next to his bed, the small room was barren. There was a low doorway leading to a corridor but Kai was not feeling up to investigating it. It took all his strength just to look around and after a brief moment, it gave way and his head dropped back down on the scratchy hay.
When he awoke again, there were a pair of bright green eyes staring at him. They belonged to an old man with a thick beard and pale, wrinkly skin. His long beard was a patchwork of gray and white which made him look much older than his upbeat demeanor suggested.
“Well, hello. I’m glad to see that you survived the trip,” the old man said. “How are you feeling?”
Kai attempted to sit up and with the old man’s help he leaned himself against the rock wall. “Thank you,” he said. “My head is pounding but otherwise I think I am OK. I’m Kai Woods, by the way.”
“Forgive me,” the old man said with a laugh. “I am Amaden Blugroson. Pleased to meet you.”
Kai took the man’s offered hand and shook it. Amaden still had a strong grip for one who looked so old. The seemingly contradictory signs made it difficult for him to even guess at the man’s age.
“Was I out for long?”
“Half a day, or so,” Amaden said. “Sova Zlo was pleased to hear that you made it in one piece. Such a distance is no easy feat, even for one as strong as her.” The old man held out a cup of dark liquid. “Drink this. It will help your head,” he said.
Kai took the cup and drank deeply, tipping it back further to get every last drop. He had no reason to trust the man but if the old guy wanted him dead, he would have done it while Kai slept. Thankfully, the wizard’s brew worked quickly and the pain began to subside and he could think clearly again.
“Where am I?” he asked as he got to his feet.
“Solotine. North of the Applomean mountains,” Amaden said as he straightened the crook in his back he got from bending over for so long. “More specifically, a cavern underneath a large mountain in which I make my home. Follow me. This place is much too dank for me.” Reading Kai’s expression, the old man continued, “I put you in there in case you were violent. Can’t be too careful,” he said with a shrug.
Kai nodded and followed down a corridor naturally formed by the cavern. The hallway let out into a wide cavern that held all the amenities a person would need to live. Amaden offered him a chair at the table that stood in the center of the cave and busied himself with making tea.
“You must have a lot of questions,” Amaden said as he put a pot of water over a cooking fire.
“I suppose I do,” Kai said thoughtfully. After a moment, he continued, “Honestly, its magic. I won’t ever really understand it so I will just leave it at that. I just want to find my friend and go home.”
Amaden gave Kai a surprised look. He was about to say something but then closed his mouth. The old man began to laugh and said, “Well, I guess I can understand that.”
The two strangers enjoyed a cup of tea together while Kai told the old wizard the tale of his adventures.
“That sounds like quite the quest you have been on. Are you certain you wish to leave so soon?”
“Quite certain,” Kai said as he pushed his chair away from the table. “The sooner I go, the soon
er I can get home.”
“Very well,” Amaden said. “I suppose you will need directions then. Head east until you see a grove of huge oak trees. They will be difficult to miss. We call them Witch Oak but they very much resemble oak trees that you would be familiar with. The grove marks the pass south through the mountains. Go through the pass and you will find yourself in southern Solotine. From there you can just follow your leaf.”
“Thank you,” Kai said and shook the old wizard’s hand before he headed out.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Amaden said as Kai was about to leave the cavern. “A favor really. If you happen to meet a young man called Nathan Stoneblood in your travels, please send him my regards.”
“I will,” Kai said with a nod. He turned and entered the dark tunnel that would lead him out into the foreign land of Solotine.
41
“What in the seven hells is that?” Isabella gasped, pointing at the sphere of blue light that was growing on top the of rock outcropping that stood in the middle of the wide grass field.
“Whatever it is, it can’t be good,” Sisera said. “Maybe we should go take a closer look.”
Adina stepped forward to get a better look. “I don’t think that is a good idea,” she said. “I recognize that light.”
“I am certain that it is a portal,” Apophis said grimly. “I am familiar with that type of magic. It draws an excessive amount of mana from the caster so it is usually only used by very powerful magic-users.”
“I saw the same type of light that night in the growing room when Raven and Shayla disappeared,” Isabella said, tension and fear filling her voice.
Sisera moved closer to her bonded as a show of support. “Are you OK?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” the dragonblood girl said with a forced chuckle. “Just had a little flashback but I am good.”
“I’m not sure how it is possible but we definitely have company,” Apophis said. “A group of men just appeared in the portal. Soldiers by the looks of it but it’s hard to tell in the dark.”
Dragon Flight: Sisera's Gift 3 (Dragonblood Sagas Book 5) Page 30