“Yes,” Tani said.
“Do you need to wear the necklace in order to heal?” Trey asked.
“No, Dede,” she replied. “It’s just a necklace now, though a very special one that I will always wear in honor of Riata. Without her aid, I don’t know what would have happened these past couple of weeks.”
“Riata has ever been a blessing to us and our people,” Lariah agreed.
“We should probably go to the mine now so you can see the Nomen and the android.”
“Of course,” Garen said. “If you’ll guide me, we should be able to speed travel there.”
A few seconds later they all stood in the middle of the mine compound. Tani led them to the empty armory where the Khun had put the android. The Dracons nearly smiled at all the chains wrapped around it until they saw that, in spite of the damage done to it, it was still active.
“Trey, let’s get some men down here to secure this thing for transport, as well as some of these Nomen remains.” He turned to Tani. “Will the Khun mind if we search the office for information? We’ll return anything we find, of course.”
“No, they won’t mind,” Tani said. “Anything that might help identify who is behind all of this is yours to take. The Nomen with the controller that Steel mentioned is in that bunkhouse there,” she added, pointing. “You’re free to take him as well.”
Trey nodded and stepped away to make the call while Tani took the others into the mine to see the liquid metal after Garen checked to be sure the gas had dissipated. They took a canister of the metal which was carefully packed and sent up to the Ugaztun.
“I’m sorry it’s not really whole,” Tani said while they watched the android being readied for transport. “It was threatening to kill everyone with some sort of built-in laser weapon. The only thing I could think to do was take it as high as I could and drop it. It was either that or melt it, and I knew you’d want something for the council to examine.”
“You dropped it,” Lariah said, arching a brow at her. “Is this where you finally explain to us why we feel such a powerful presence within you?”
Tani sighed. She’d never been good at hiding things. “Yes, I suppose it is. One of the latent talents Riata’s necklace brought out in me was a dracon. A dracon trapped inside of me without strength enough to come forth. Magda’s magic strengthened my dracon, but also changed it. My alter form is not a dracon. It’s a dragon. It’s…reptilian.”
Lariah stepped forward and placed a gentle finger under Tani’s chin until her daughter looked up. “The Jasani were angry with the Narrasti for centuries for something, it turned out, that they’d never done. Because the Narrasti were reptilian, the Jasani were prejudiced against all things reptilian which, when you think about it, is more than a little unreasonable. But those days are in the past, Tani. We have no aversion to reptiles, nor do we object to them and even if we did, that would be our problem, not yours. You must accept who and what you are Tani, as we will accept you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Tani said, hugging her tightly. “That helps.”
“Shall we fly back to the caves?” Garen asked Tani, knowing that she was nervous about letting them see her new alter form.
“Yes, I suppose so,” she said reluctantly.
“Good, I’m looking forward to seeing your dragon,” Lariah said.
Tani nodded, stepped back so she had a little room, and summoned her dragon. A moment later she looked out through eyes that were sharper and clearer than her human eyes, relieved to see her parents smiling up at her. Then they shifted into their leopard spotted dracons and a moment later they all leapt into the air and circled the compound. Tani was surprised to find that she was closer to her father’s size than her mother’s.
“Tani?” Garen asked, wondering if she’d be able to speak with them this way.
“Yes, Ata?” she replied.
“Your dragon is a magnificent creature,” he said. “And, I wager, a formidable one.”
“Thank you, Ata,” Tani said, her heart soaring for the second time that day.
“You’re so beautiful,” Lariah said, flying beside her. “I love the red. It’s always been a good color on you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” she said, laughing in their minds.
“You’re stunning, Tani,” Val added. Tani laughed some more and did a little loop in the air before taking her place in their formation again.
“I like the crown,” Garen said.
“Crown?” Tani asked.
“When you shift, Riata’s necklace takes the form of a gold crown with a large oval ruby in the center that bears your likeness,” Lariah said. “You didn’t know that?”
“No, I didn’t know that,” Tani said. “This is only the second time I’ve shifted, and I can’t see it myself.”
“It’s beautiful, and it suits you,” Lariah said.
“Do you know what the magic will do to the Khun when they shift, Tani?” Trey asked.
“No, I don’t,” Tani said, sobering. “I know only that it’s meant to complete what was begun.”
“Complete how?” Garen asked.
“Their alter forms were…unfinished,” Tani said. “They could shift, but they didn’t get much benefit from it. The women’s flesh became tougher, more difficult to injure, but their bodies become so dense and heavy that they could barely walk, and they didn’t have the ability to fly, like the men. Shifting put them at a definite disadvantage. The men became much larger, but they also became hard and dense, so they couldn’t run or move with speed. They had wings, which was helpful, but it took them so long to get off the ground that they were easy targets for anyone with a laser or projectile weapon.”
“They had no magical power at all?” Val asked.
“Aside from the ability to shift, no,” Tani said.
“You said that they looked like gargoyles,” Trey said. “What do you mean, exactly?”
“I remember seeing pictures of gargoyles in school when we studied ancient Earth,” Tani said. “They looked like they were half human, half beast, and that’s how the Khun looked to me. Like they’re half human, half…something else. Bat maybe. Or…I just don’t know.”
“Half dragon?” Lariah asked.
“Yes, Mom, I think that might be it, I really do, but I’m afraid to say that to Steel or the others. I don’t want to get their hopes up too high.”
“And none of them have tried shifting yet because they want you to be present?” Garen asked.
“Yes, that’s what Steel told me,” Tani said. She felt her parents’ curiosity, but she really didn’t want to get into her personal issues with Steel. “I think they’ll try it when we get back.”
“We’re almost there,” Garen said. “Should we return to the Ugaztun now?”
“No, please stay,” Tani said. “I don’t know what’ll happen and I’m nervous about it.”
“Nervous how?” Trey asked.
“I’m worried that they’ll be disappointed, and if they are, I’ll need to find a way to help them through that.”
“Why do you doubt that they’ll shift into dragons when you know that the previous inhabitants of this world, those that provided them with the change, were dragons?” Val asked.
“Because the women don’t have wings when they shift, and the men do.”
“You said that an Earth dragon gave her essence to the women,” Lariah said. “Perhaps earth dragons do not fly.”
“That’s right,” Tani said as they started to descend, suddenly feeling more hopeful than she had been.
The Khun, who’d been alerted to the arrival of the five enormous creatures, came out of their caves and watched in awe as four furred dracons, and the deep red dragon that they knew was Tani, landed in the valley and shifted into their human forms. Suddenly, a little boy with black curly hair broke away from the crowd and ran out to meet them.
Tani spread her arms wide and knelt down so that Dirk could leap up into them. “Gunji Tani, I want to be a dragon when I grow up.
Can you make me a dragon? Can you? Pleathe?”
Tani laughed, then turned around to face her parents. “This little imp is Dirk,” she said, chucking Dirk under the chin. “Dirk, these are my parents. Gunji Lariah, Garen Khan, Trey Khan, and Val Khan.”
Dirk bowed his head deeply as he’d been taught. “I am honored to meet you,” he said, then grinned, his eyes lighting up. “You’re tho lucky Gunji Tani to have three daddieth.”
“You’re right, Dirk, I’m very lucky,” Tani said. “Hey, you were running so fast! No pain in your leg at all?”
“Nope, and I beated Rikard in a race too!” Dirk crowed proudly.
“Rikard is a whole year older than you!” Tani said. “You must be very fast indeed.”
Dirk nodded happily, looked at Lariah and the Princes and frowned. “Gunji Tani healded me when I broked a bone in my leg and she healded Ruya when the Nomen shotted her. You won’t take her away from uth, will you? We need her.”
“No, little one,” Garen said, smiling at Dirk. “We will not take her anywhere she doesn’t want to go, and I have a feeling she wants to stay right here.”
Dirk grinned, then gave Tani a kiss on the cheek before wriggling to be let down. Tani set him on his feet, but before she released him she asked where Wily was. “Oh, he went to be with Thteel. He mithed you.”
“Thank you, Dirk,” she said, then watched him run back to his grandmother. They followed at a more sedate pace.
“Who is Wily?” Val asked.
“He’s the wyvern I told you about,” Tani said.
“We would like to see this Wily,” Garen said. Tani nodded, then placed two fingers at her mouth and blew a long, high whistle. A moment later a creature no bigger than Tani’s hand flew out of Astra’s cave and headed toward Tani. It landed on her shoulder, clicking and nodding as it rubbed against her neck and turned in circles with more excitement than it knew how to express.
“All right all right, Wily,” Tani said, laughing. “I get it, you missed me. I’m sorry I was gone for so long but I’ve no doubt that you were taken care of properly so ease up a bit.”
Wily clicked a little more, then suddenly froze. “Oh, you finally noticed huh?” Tani asked, smiling. Wily shifted a little closer to her neck and peaked around at the Dracons, then ducked backward a little.
“These are my parents, Wily and they aren’t going to hurt you. Now come on out and be polite, please.”
Wily climbed slowly down Tani’s arm, pausing every few steps to look at the Dracons’ warily before continuing. By the time he reached Tani’s hand she wasn’t’ sure whether to scold him or laugh at him.
“Good boy, Wily,” she said when he folded his wings on his back and looked up. “This is my mother, Princess Lariah.”
“Hello, Wily,” Lariah said. “I’m very happy to meet you. Thank you for saving our daughter’s life.”
Wily raised himself a bit higher on his front legs and pushed his little chest out, then nodded slowly. Tani laughed, then gave him a little kiss on the top of his tiny head. After that the introductions went well. Wily felt safe enough to climb onto each of them in turn, checking them out as thoroughly as they did him. By the time they were finished Steel had joined them.
“How’d it go?”
“Good,” Steel said. “Everyone is willing to turn things over to the Jasani if they’re willing to help.”
“We are,” Garen said. “We’re currently transporting the data from the mine office to our ship, as well as a canister of the metal, the android, the controlled Nomen, and some of the other clone remains. Please be assured that all of those items still belong to the Khun of Garza, and will be returned to you immediately on request.”
“We don’t want or need any of it, Highness, but thank you,” Steel said. “All we want is a chance to live our lives in peace. To accomplish that, we must find a way of discouraging the Nomen, and whoever controls them, from returning here.”
“Don’t worry, Steel, your people are no longer alone,” Garen said. “Now that we know what’s been happening here, we’ll see to it that you have all the aid necessary to accomplish that goal.”
“Thank you,” Steel said, bowing solemnly.
“And, don’t forget that the magic is complete now, which could turn out to be a valuable asset,” Tani said. “I think it’s time for the Khun to discover what changes have been made.”
“Agreed,” Steel said. “We’ve just been waiting for you to return.” He turned and raised one arm into the air and signaled. The Khun were obviously waiting because there was an instant rush as everyone hurried down to the valley. Steel excused himself and went to help with the women who were still weak from their year at the mine.
“He’s certainly excited,” Lariah said.
“Yes,” Tani said. “And for good reason. Their alter form isn’t powerful enough for them to protect themselves against the Nomen and, until this past year, they’d never learned to fight. What they do know, they’ve had to teach themselves.”
“If they intend to remain on Garza, they will need more than the ability to shift, Daughter,” Garen said.
“I know, Ata,” Tani said, smiling up at him. “I’ve begun teaching the women how to use hand lasers, and giving some advice to the men on different things. They’re natural warriors and quick learners, and have already improved a great deal. I’ll teach them more and, perhaps one day, we can get some masters to come here.” She shrugged. “I was going to try to get a med-tech or two to come here, but Khurda self-healed yesterday after being shot, so I’m hoping there won’t be a need for them.”
“Med-techs?” Val asked. “What need have the Khun for med-techs?”
“The Khun have some outdated, but fully functional, medical equipment, but the only med-tech they had was taken to the mine, and died there. I’ve been teaching Astra what I know, but that’s not much. Being able to heal has come in very handy, especially when Dirk was injured. Without it, he would have died.”
“Wait,” Trey said. “Are you saying that they cannot self-heal at all?”
“That’s right,” Tani said, frowning. “I’m sorry, I thought I mentioned that.”
“You did, but I don’t think we understood exactly what you meant,” Lariah said. “It is difficult to believe.”
“I know, it shocked me at first too. I assumed that, since they’re shifters, they should be able to self-heal. But there’s a big difference between the Jasani and the Khun. Clan Jasani use magic during the shifting process, but they’re shifters on a physiological level too. The Khun’s ability to shift is pure magic, and until now, that magic has been incomplete.”
“But after you released the magic yesterday, one of them was injured and self-healed?” Trey asked.
“Yes,” Tani said. “That gives me hope. Especially for the women. They’re still so weak.”
“There are so few of them,” Garen said softly.
“Yes, I know. About half of their women have died in the past year, most of them starved to death by the Nomen at the mine. There are only about a hundred and twenty left, and some of those are past their child bearing years.”
“It reminds us of our own situation before we discovered your mother, Tani,” Val said.
“We will do all that we can to help you, and the Khun, Daughter,” Garen promised.
“Thank you, Ata,” she said, blinking back tears as she gave him a tight hug. “That means a lot to me.” She looked around at the gathering people, then back to her parents. “I hope that whatever happens next, they’re not disappointed.”
“I’m so very proud of you, Tani,” Val said, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking down into gray eyes that exactly matched his own. “Do not worry. All will be well.”
“Thanks, Popi,” she said, smiling. He kissed the top of her head and stepped back when Steel joined them, nearly vibrating with excitement.
“We’re ready,” he said.
“Astra?”
“She’s helping with the
children,” he said. “Do you want me to call her?”
“No, I just wanted to be sure she was here,” she said, then turned to Wily who was now sitting on Lariah’s shoulder. “Wily, fly over there and stay with Dirk, please.”
Wily clicked and nodded, then spread his little wings and flew to where Dirk stood with Drya. Dirk smiled at the tiny wyvern, then looked up and waved at Tani.
“We’ll fly up to the cliff top and watch from there,” Garen said. Then he bowed to his youngest daughter, fist to heart, with Val, Trey, and Lariah following his lead. “Fly true, mighty Dragon.”
Tears stung her eyes so unexpectedly she didn’t have a chance to stop them. She placed her fist over her heart and returned the bow. “Soar high, beloved Dracons,” she replied in a choked voice. She watched as they shifted and flew up to the cliff, then wiped her eyes and turned her attention back to the people around her.
“Is everyone ready for this?” she asked.
“We’re ready,” Steel said, but she barely heard him above the shouts of all the others. She looked around at the Khun, her new people, and felt pride in them. They’d gone through hardship after hardship for centuries, and yet they’d never given up.
She stepped back, shifted into her dragon, spread her wings and bowed her head to the Khun, holding the position until they understood and, in absolute silence, returned her bow. She straightened, folded her wings, turned her gaze to Steel, and waited. It took him only a moment to realize that he, as king of the Khun, needed to be the first to shift into whatever their new alter form would be. He drew a long, nervous breath, then cleared an area larger than his mahrac would ever need in hopes that his deepest wish for the Khun would be realized.
Then, looking into Tani’s eyes, he summoned his mahrac.
“Not bad,” Tani’s voice said into his mind.
“What?” he asked, then looked down to see that he was bigger even than Tani, his flesh covered with deep black scales that shone like glass in the fading sunlight. “I thought I would be red, like you.”
“No, you’re the Dragon King,” she replied, not knowing precisely where the information was coming from, but knowing it to be true.
Tani's Destiny (Hearts of ICARUS Book 2) Page 32