by Lisa Rector
“Do you mean to say, since you altered the events of your daughter’s birth, you think we can change the events of the cataclysm?” Catrin asked.
“Not all of them,” Meuric said.
“Tiny creatures, you’re leaving me behind. Go back, and explain yourselves before I lose my patience,” Efa said.
“In our histories, stories are told of the War Between the Masters, the same war where the dragons were destroyed, all except the one egg,” Meuric said. “This event is yet to happen. We don’t know exactly when, but we know the events are set in motion. Now that Catrin has entered and the rift’s been torn open, the Dark Master can enter at his will, and he’ll destroy you.”
“We are many,” Efa said. “How can this Dark Master destroy all the dragons?”
“He has power that’s surpassed by only one, the Master of Light, the Creator. He made you, and he made the emrys. Deian will defeat the Dark Master, but not before every dragon is killed.”
“What are we to do? You said the events are in motion, but you hope they can be altered,” Efa said.
“Yes,” Meuric said.
“How?” Catrin asked.
“Efa, where are the eggs that are hatching? Do you have any that are…? What’s Blodeuyn’s color, Cat?”
“Green, like the green of a new blade of grass,” Catrin said.
“We have many eggs being fired,” Efa said. “The egg you speak of was laid two days ago. I haven’t started the firing.”
“She’s your egg,” Catrin said as the horrible realization hit her. “Blodeuyn’s your egg—the one egg that’s not being fired right now. Meuric, he will come shortly. There’ll be no other way to save the other eggs. Once the firing is started, it cannot be stopped or the egg dies. An unfired egg can lie dormant forever. Cysgod will come, and Blodeuyn will be the only egg saved. The other dragons will die defending their eggs.”
“You’re saying my offspring will be the last egg,” Efa said.
“Yes,” Meuric and Catrin replied together.
“You’re sure these events will come to pass?” Efa asked.
“Most certainly,” Meuric said.
“What hope have we?”
“Some of the dragons might survive.” Meuric squeezed his fist, wishing he had a stone to roll in his palm. “If they leave the realm before the Dark Master gets here, they’d live. They can build a life in a new realm. We have no idea if any of them left before. They could attempt it now.”
“Enter the mortal realms?” Catrin asked. “There were no dragons before in Terrin, Talfryn, or Rolant. What would this do to the land? History might be vastly altered. There’s a chance you or I might cease to exist.”
“Other lands are beyond the seas. The dragons could keep flying to the lands the fair people came from,” Meuric said.
“That’s Brenin and Sieffre’s people. They never said their lands contained dragons,” Catrin said.
“There’s no way to tell,” Meuric said. “I think it’s a good plan. It’s the only one I have. Once Cysgod is locked in his prison, he won’t be able to harm the dragons. And his servants won’t be able to reach them from across the sea.”
“Many of the dragons won’t leave their eggs,” Efa said.
“Well, we can save as many of them as we can,” Catrin said.
“What of my egg?” Efa asked. “How’s she to be saved? Do we move her?”
“No,” Meuric said. “I understand why Catrin and I came here. The histories never told how the last egg was saved, but I think I understand. We’re the ones to safeguard her. We protect her.”
Catrin shot Meuric a wary look. “What do you mean?”
“We hide ourselves in the mountain with her. With your power of light and my power of darkness, we’ll create a seal, and she’ll never be detected by the Dark Master. We’re the ones who save her. I know it.”
Catrin’s mouth dropped open. “So I’m to be the dragons’ death and their last hope.” Her shoulders sagged. “Meuric, what have I done?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ENTER DARKNESS
Catrin, don’t blame yourself,” Meuric said. “The rift would eventually open, whether by your hand or another’s. Evil will enter. The events of history can’t be drastically changed, but they can be altered. Efa, can you convince many of the dragons to leave? I don’t think we have much time.”
“Under any normal circumstances I’d eat you and call you liars,” Efa said. “I don’t know why I believe you now, except, I know everything happens for a reason. Your hearts are honest. I see the love you have for your female. You’re a good creature, Meuric, and the Creator has favored you two.”
“Thank you,” Meuric said. “Efa, what will you do? Will you leave with your kin?”
“No, I’ll stay and make sure you cannot be discovered.”
“No, Efa,” Catrin said. “Leave and live.”
“I cannot leave knowing many remain to protect their eggs.”
“I understand,” Meuric said.
“I don’t,” Catrin replied.
Efa smiled at Catrin. “When you have a child someday, you’ll understand. I have work to be done. Come. I shall fly you to my cave and show you my egg.”
Efa didn’t wait for them to respond or prepare themselves. Once again Meuric found himself flying in the clutches of a dragon. The flight was short compared to their initial flight with Urbgen. The council fire circle where Meuric and Catrin had spent the night was only a valley away from the mountain cave with the egg.
Efa landed and released them, on their feet, outside the entrance. She ducked into the cave and disappeared. Wrapping his arm around Catrin, Meuric steadied her wobbly gate, and they followed Efa inside.
The cave was dark, so Meuric projected a light over his head. Catrin grabbed his hand, squeezing his fingers together, and Meuric felt her nervous anticipation. The feeling lanced through him, and Meuric grew anxious, as if approaching the egg was the same as approaching royalty. Meuric hadn’t met his great-grandmother’s dragon. Witnessing the beginning of their great lineage was truly a privilege.
Meuric realized Catrin’s emotions were slightly different. She had been in Blodeuyn’s presence plenty of times. Honor wasn’t the notion that rolled through her, but rather apprehension due to guilt—to shame. Meuric hated sensing this in Catrin.
Meuric hated how she hurt—hated feeling her this way and seeing what her trials had done to her and her glorious light.
As they drew closer, his light shone on a green egg with a chalky, dull shell. Supported by a ring of rocks in the middle of the chamber, the egg stood to Meuric’s knee.
Catrin gasped and looked at Efa. “May I?” She held her hand out to the egg.
“Yes, go ahead.”
After one gingerly step, Catrin fell to her knees in front of the egg. She reached a shaking hand out to run her hand over the shell’s surface. She whispered, “Oh, Blodeuyn.”
Meuric touched Catrin’s shoulder. “She’s safe, Catrin. She will be safe.”
Catrin shuddered as sobs overtook her. Blodeuyn was the closest connection she had to home. Meuric’s feeble words would mean nothing to her, not until Blodeuyn was actually safe.
“I must tell the dragons of the plan. I trust you to keep my egg safe while I’m gone for a couple of hours. What can I do to assist you with preparations?”
“We’ll need food and water,” Meuric said. “I don’t know how long we’ll be in the cave after it’s sealed. I doubt you have waterskins. I can hunt though.”
“There’s a well in the rear of the cave, too far back for me to stick my head, but it’s there. That will provide water.”
“We won’t have time to dry any meat. It’ll have to be fresh.”
“You could bring a few small animals in the cave with you. Cut grasses and hay and slaughter them as needed,” Efa offered.
“That’s an idea,” Meuric said. “We’ll work it out.”
Catrin perked up. “I have a pack back a
t the entrance. I had a waterskin but no food. Plus my bedroll.”
“It shall be brought. Very well, I’m off,” Efa said.
Meuric squatted beside Catrin. He lifted her chin and wiped the tears away with his hands. Her cheeks and nose were red. “I considered going to the Eilian to resupply, but I cannot hop between the mortal and immortal realms in such a way with my gift. I’d have to exit through the portal and disappear from the snowy ledge. I dare not try it. I might be cut off if I run into him.”
Catrin inhaled with two trembling breaths followed by a long exhale as she controlled her sobs.
Meuric appraised Catrin. “Can you scavenge for edible plants? Wild carrots or onions? I’m going to hunt. Can you do this, Cat? I need your help.”
Catrin nodded.
“Good.” Meuric grabbed her hands, pulled her to her feet, and led her out of the cave. He kissed her cheek. “All will be well. Don’t worry.” He left her standing there and moved into a wooded area.
Meuric slunk through the woods, silently and quickly. He took in the area, sharpening his senses. Creatures crept with stealth, ever wary of predators. Despite their numbers, the dragons seemed careful with their consumption of meat to ensure plenty. Meuric recalled seeing the fields of grazing sheep, deer, and goats, but he didn’t think he’d have time to go down into the valley.
He tried to cultivate calm, but his pulse raced in his ears. Time was definitely running out. Every fiber of his body screamed urgency. Meuric worried that what they were about to attempt—their efforts to save Blodeuyn—would blow up in his face. With no faith to sustain him, Meuric was relying solely on the fact that he changed the past and someone saved Blodeuyn before. He and Catrin must have been the ones. This had to be the way.
The lines in his face deepened, forcing tension into his forehead as he thought about how Catrin was such a fragile mess—damaged might be the best way to describe her. He didn’t know how much her delicate state could handle.
A sudden movement. Slight, but noticeable. Meuric stopped. A trio of rabbits nibbled quietly on his right. Perfect. He wouldn’t kill them. Coaxing a bubble of light between his hands, Meuric thrust it outward, and it wrapped around the animals, sucking them inside. The creatures immediately became alarmed and dashed madly around inside the energy field, running into each other. Meuric sighed. Poor beasts. He floated the light, with the rabbits, into the air. As Meuric hurried to the cave, his cargo trailed behind him, and he deposited them inside the entrance, still within their prison of light.
Catrin was nowhere to be seen, but he discerned her light not too far away. She was at work, gathering supplies. Good. He wanted her to keep busy. Meuric strode into a nearby meadow and bundled bunches of grasses and clovers, some to make a soft bed and others to feed the rabbits.
Meuric reached for the knife on his belt, glad the weapon was still there, through every event with his wives, even before he knew Catrin. As he thought about the knife—he pulled it out and examined it. He’d always had it. Even in his time. The knife must have passed into his hands from Braith thousands of years ago. Time travel made no sense.
Meuric was hauling another pile of grasses when a rusty-brown dragon flew in with Catrin’s backpack. Meuric thanked him, and the dragon flew off. Rummaging through the sack revealed two empty waterskins and cloth that had once wrapped up the cheeses and breads. A bedroll was secured to the pack. Meuric tossed the whole bundle into the cave.
Catrin staggered through the cave’s entrance. She opened her wadded cloak to reveal clusters of edible plants, including wild mushrooms and berries. Her eyes enlarged as she held up one of her finds. “Peaches, Meuric, I found peaches!”
He wanted to kiss her for her enthusiasm and for the gleam filling her otherwise dead eyes. “Great, Catrin. Good job.” He hoped she didn’t think he was patronizing her. “We’re ready. The food might last us six days at best. I hope we don’t stay in here longer than that.” He passed Catrin the cloths from the sack. “Wrap the food, and stash the pack in the rear of the cave. It’s cooler back there, and food will keep longer.”
Meuric scanned the skies. Hundreds of dragons were flying across the valley, headed toward the portal. Good, some were leaving. Meuric wondered just how many would perish.
***
Efa returned late in the afternoon. “I sent as many off as I could. We have thousands of dragons, and I estimate that a third has left.”
Catrin gasped. “A third… so few!”
Meuric squeezed her hand. “They’ve made their choice, and we’ve made ours. That’s all we can do for now. Do they think they can stand against the Dark Master?”
“Perhaps,” Efa said. “Some of them do not believe the great dragon species will fall.”
She curled up at the cave’s entrance. “Now we wait. The atmosphere carries a sense of foreboding. It won’t be long.”
“I don’t understand why Deian’s not doing anything,” Catrin said. “Why would he allow this to happen?”
“I don’t know,” Meuric said. “I don’t know.”
***
An hour passed before a commotion stirred the silence, and the western sky grew dark. Black plumes billowed upward like a cloud of smoke.
Meuric rose to his feet. “It’s now. Look!” The portal’s entrance couldn’t be seen from where they were, but a disturbance moved at the border of the valley. Dragons were flying away from it. A lightning bolt flashed in the distance. Meuric growled. The Dark Master favored lightning. The ground trembled in a steady vibration originating from the darkening mass that stretched across the sky.
Catrin gripped Meuric’s arm hard as erratic breathing racked her sickly frame and panic took over.
Meuric wrapped his arms across her body. He whispered in her ear. “Catrin, slow down. Steady your breathing.”
Her eyes glazed over.
“What’s going on? What’s causing this?” Frantic, Meuric stroked her unkempt hair back, studying her face, wishing with all his might that he knew how to help her.
Efa rose to her feet and glanced over Meuric’s shoulder. “She’s beyond herself.”
A low, penetrating voice filled the valley. Meuric shuddered as he understood the chilling words.
“Catrin… Catrin! I feel you. I’m coming for you!”
“Go, Meuric, go now! Into the cave!” Efa commanded. “I’ll smash the opening.”
“Wait until we brace the entrance with our powers.” As Meuric dragged Catrin into the cave, the earth heaved in great rolling mounds, and thunder crashed above their heads.
“I can hear him! In my head! Get him out!” Catrin screamed. She twisted in Meuric’s arms.
“Stop! Catrin, I need you for this.” They were standing near the egg. Meuric turned Catrin’s back to his chest. “Hold still, please! We have to create the seal.”
Catrin stopped struggling and slumped, leaning into his grip.
“Support your weight. Come on, Catrin.” Meuric shook her shoulders until her legs stiffened. He grabbed her arms and lifted them out in front of her. “Channel your light, Cat. I know you’re weak, but you can do this.”
Catrin needed to use her light because he couldn’t channel darkness and light at the same time within himself. With a moan, Catrin made a halfhearted attempt at pulling the light from her core.
Meuric sighed. Using his light, he pictured fingers reaching toward Catrin’s heart-center. He latched on to her energy, ripping as much as she could spare up from her core and out through her hands.
He didn’t have time to be delicate.
Catrin cried out, and she swayed.
“Push out, Catrin. Push!” Meuric bellowed. “Take control. I can’t help you with the next part. You have to project.”
With Catrin’s exhausted effort, her light bellowed out. Meuric nudged the saucer of light farther, out to the cave’s opening.
“Good, hold it there. Just for a minute as I stabilize the energy.”
Loathing the power that connected him
with such a heinous creator, Meuric called on his darkness. His power seeped through Catrin’s palms and pushed against her light. The two energies expanded outward. Meuric envisioned—no—commanded his power to obey and push the light away as it fought back against his pressure.
Normally the mixed powers nullified each other, but as the negative force of the darkness exponentially expanded against the light’s positive force, the light contained the dark matter instead of scrambling it.
“One more effort. Catrin, give me one more effort. Make a final span of light.”
“I can’t do it!”
“This is for Efa. This is for Blodeuyn. Find the strength. I believe in you.”
She trembled more than Meuric thought possible.
“I cannot use my light while holding my darkness. You have to!” he yelled.
Catrin raged, her scream echoing around the cave, and as she elbowed Meuric away, a pool of light surged from her. Its might slammed into Meuric’s energy, and he almost dropped his hold.
Catrin fell onto her hands and knees.
“Easy, Cat, you’ve got it. Well done.” He wrapped his arm around her midsection, burying his head in her back, ignoring how frail she felt and how her bony spine stuck out. His power was enclosed between the two layers of light. With the opposing forces sliding against each other and making an undetectable shield, it’d keep them hidden.
“Now, Efa!” Meuric yelled. “Break down the entrance. The barrier will hold the cave and keep it from collapsing.”
The walls around them shook as Efa slammed her tail repeatedly against the rocky entrance until the outside light flooding the cave vanished.
They were buried alive. The only light that remained was the gentle glow of the inner bubble around them.