by Megan Derr
It won't come to that, Binhadi said. I've made a great many mistakes, but I won't let them end that way.
We won't, Mahzan said emphatically. They are taking you out of the city. Toward the Great Lake, I think. There's a crowd of people falling some distance behind. The soldiers were quick to spread word about what's happening. I'm trying to keep them from getting overexcited, but I fear it may turn into a riot. I really wish you'd been wrong about them blaming the fearmonger on us.
Binhadi's bitterness bled into the line, but Mahzan tore it viciously away. Sule left them to their bickering, content to close his eyes and save his energy.
I somehow thought we'd meet a bit more quietly with Yavuz before all of this, Cemal said.
We may yet, Sule replied. I've given up guessing what's going to happen. Soldiering prepared me for a lot of things, but nothing like this.
They subsided into silence after that, even Binhadi and Mahzan. The ride was unbearably long, but uneventful, though the crowd Mahzan mentioned eventually grew close enough he could hear it, and then closer and closer still. Eventually, they stopped the wagon and let them all out to piss in the woods. Sule had barely pulled his pants back up when he was dragged back to the wagon and thrown inside, all the jeers of a bloodthirsty crowd.
The tedious traveling continued on, until Sule wanted to scream.
Guards dragged them out of the wagon and along what seemed to be a rough, uneven stone path, into a place that was cold and damp. He could smell torchlight, taste the oil and ash on his tongue. Where are we?
Mahzan replied, Some sort of garrison was built at Barren Point.
We're at Barren Point already? Sule asked. Last time, it had taken them two days of slow, difficult travel.
New roads, they cut right through the forest. It's only taken several hours instead of a couple of days. I'm working on getting inside.
Be careful, Sule said, the other two echoing the thought. Mahzan scoffed at them, and then faded off again.
Eventually they stopped moving, and Sule was kicked to his knees on a cold, hard floor.
"My dear Binhadi, I admit I'd hoped you would decide not to come back. That you'd wander off in the middle of your quest, or vanish after dealing with Seda. I hoped and hoped, no matter how convenient all of this is for me, that you would vanish. Father was right in that you have a good heart, but unfortunately for you, Seda was correct in saying you're a fool blinded by always wanting to do the right thing."
Binhadi said nothing.
Yavuz huffed. "Get that hood off, bind his eyes heavily."
Sule listened to the fumbling and grunting as the guards obeyed, trying to keep Binhadi's eyes covered by the hood while also trying to bind them with heavy strips of fabric.
"Why do I only see three men?" Yavuz asked. "Where is my jester?"
"He got away, Your Majesty," a guard said. "Knew we were coming and abandoned them."
"I see. Are you searching for him?"
"Yes, Majesty. Every available man and what few mind mages we have to hand are searching every nook and cranny."
Yavuz grunted. "You're dismissed."
"That's not safe—"
"You're dismissed!"
The guards shuffled out, leaving them alone with Yavuz, or so Sule presumed.
Almost. I snuck in through the kitchens. I'm up above looking down. Still deserted up here, looks like a bunch of old junk. Say the word and we can get out of here.
Not yet, Binhadi replied. I want to know what he's up to, why he's stalling.
His thoughts are pretty heavily masked, but I think we're definitely waiting for someone to show… Oh, no. We're waiting for the fearmonger to show. He's bringing the fearmonger here.
Damn it, Sule snarled.
"Leave it to you, Binhadi, to survive the destruction of the Heart and fall into an Oath that requires you kill my fearmonger. You are remarkably vexing in a way that none can match. Too bad you're too stupid and gullible to put that quality to real use."
"If you're hoping to anger me into some foolish action, you will have to try much harder. Start with why you've sold Orhanis out to Petrocia. That will get me good and angry, I promise."
Yavuz gave one of those condescending chuckles that always made Sule want to punch someone. "Orhanis struggles as a country. We're too small, too remote and difficult to reach, too spread out. Having the resources of Petrocia will make us a better colony than we ever have been as a kingdom. And now I have the sordid tale of the last Morlock turning traitor just like the first one. By a Morlock's hand we became a kingdom, and by a Morlock's hand we'll return to Petrocia's fold."
Sule wanted to scream.
"You're turning Orhanish citizens into slaves," Binhadi said, voice so frigid Sule shivered. "That's not good for anyone—except you. At least until they send your replacement."
"No one is replacing me," Yavuz said. "Pity you won't join me, Binhadi. Petrocia would respect your lineage, grant you first class citizenship with my word. We could throw the rest of these dogs to take the blame for the fearmonger."
"I would rather die a dog," Binhadi said, "than continue to ally myself with the greatest coward I have ever known."
Yavuz sighed. "How dull and predictable of you. Such a waste." He rang a bell.
"What happens now?" Binhadi asked.
"Now the fearmonger is headed this way after you sent it to destroy some forgettable little town on the opposite side of the lake. You will attempt to use it to overthrow me a second time and die in the attempt. I and our noble Petrocian friends will save the day, and in our weakened state, we gladly accept help from Petrocia, and all that they do will be for our own good."
"And you live the life of a spoiled regent. Just remember all regents not of Petrocian blood always wind up eating poisoned soup at some point, Yavuz."
Yavuz just laughed, and a moment later the doors swung open, and Sule could hear the familiar scuff of boots and the rattle of armor and sword belts before he was once more hauled to his feet. "Where is my fool, Binhadi?"
"I don't know," Binhadi replied. "He fled and locked us out. He's done it before."
"I see." Yavuz didn't sound happy, but there wasn't much he could do, either, since that was a perfectly logical reaction from a mind mage. "To think all this time, all the searching I did to find a suitable mind mage to bind, and I was laughing at one the whole time. I should kill him just for lying to me."
No one replied, and Yavuz just chuckled again.
I've had just about all I can take, Cemal said.
Agreed, added Sule.
Then I think it's time we demonstrated that, Binhadi replied. Mahzan, give me chaos. Then we'll get free, and everyone make for the water. If we can reach a ship, they'll have a hell of a time catching us.
Sule frowned. They'll send the fearmonger after us, pretending we manage to make it that far.
Better to fight over open water than where thousands more people will die.
Alright, but if after all of this I wind up drowning, I'm going to spend my ghostly existence kicking your soggy ghost in the nuts.
Fair enough.
What about Yavuz? Mahzan asked.
Leave him to me. Though I'd appreciate it if someone got me a dagger.
Snorting, Sule replied, I can do that.
Thank you. Chaos, Mahzan. Now!
Mahzan laughed, and gave them chaos: guards started screaming, and Sule could hear more screaming from all over the garrison. Even Yavuz screamed and started running.
Sule didn't bother to ask for details. He grabbed hold of the bag over his head and burned it to ash. By the time that was done, Binhadi had removed the cloth over his eyes and his shadows had broken all their manacles, save for Cemal. He'd simply gone straight to gigantic wolf-man and started knocking people out of their path.
Kneeling beside one of the men Cemal had knocked out, Sule removed the dagger at his belt and flipped it to Binhadi. He helped himself to the man's sword next, hefting it in his right hand as he drew a flame swor
d in his left.
Binhadi had chased after Yavuz down the hall. Mahzan, stop him.
Yavuz came to an abrupt halt, eyes wide with terror. But behind it was anger—he was trapped in his own thoughts and knew it, and whoever was bonded to him wasn't strong enough to best Mahzan while also protecting his oathbound while they controlled the fearmonger.
Binhadi never slowed as he drew closer, just kept going and slammed the dagger into Yavuz's gut. He twisted the knife, unmoved by the wet, sucking noises Yavuz made as he collapsed against Binhadi. Shoving him off, Binhadi stared impassively as Yavuz bled out on the floor. Sule had never felt his mind so blank or cold.
Dropping the dagger to clatter on the stone floor, Binhadi beckoned to them and headed off down the hall. "Let's go."
Cemal chuffed and overtook the lead. Sule took the rear, silently ordering Binhadi to stay between them.
Fighting their way out of the garrison was a brutal, bloody affair, even with Mahzan manipulating minds to send people fleeing. Sule wiped blood from his face, stepped over the latest dead body, and pushed on, throwing out fire and melting stone as he fought his way through the brutal tide of soldiers. Up ahead, Cemal was throwing more people around. Binhadi was at his side, shadows filling in the gaps in Cemal's offense.
Of Mahzan, there was still no sign. "Where are you, you fucking fool?" Sule muttered. Three more guards came at him, including a familiar sergeant. "Back off if you know what's—" He broke off as they charged him, and made short, brutal work of them.
He stepped over their bodies, wrinkling his nose at the stench of scorched flesh. Where are you, Mahzan?
"Here!" Mahzan bellowed from where he stood on the docks.
"I'm going to kill you myself," Sule muttered as he fought his way there, relieved when the last few obstacles abruptly took off running. He wiped blood and sweat on his sleeve as he reached Mahzan, who was dressed in royal livery, a grease-stained cap covering his hair. Sule ripped it off, fisted a hand in Mahzan's hair, and dragged him into a rough, toothy kiss. It lasted only a moment, but he felt infinitely better.
The others came running up moments later.
"Go, go, go," Binhadi panted, and shoved them into motion.
Sule sprinted down the dock to a boat that looked as though it had been abandoned. It had only barely been secured; another hour or so and it probably would have drifted free. He threw off the ropes and clambered on board, bellowing orders to Cemal—and hit the deck as the boat gave a jerk and started moving itself.
He rolled over and braced himself on his elbows, glaring at Mahzan, who'd dropped to his knees with the effort and looked close to either throwing up or passing out. Possibly both, if past precedent was anything to go by. "You've done enough, fool! Let us handle it from here."
"Just—a little—" Mahzan collapsed.
Sule swore and despite the clawing need to go examine Mahzan for himself, ran for the helm to get the boat under control. The moment Mahzan woke up, Sule was going to kill him.
He's fine, Cemal said as he examined Mahzan before scooping him up and carrying him to a safer part of the ship.
Binhadi was focused on the chaos they'd left behind, his fingers twitching as he slowed their pursuers.
Sule threw out a hand, and fire burst to life on the bank and swiftly shot out to surround the crow, trapping them in a wall of fire. Behind them, the castle was a swiftly-crumbling conflagration of flame and molten rock.
When it looked as though most had passed out or died from the heat, Sule snuffed everything and turnd away. "I don't know how in the Dragon's name we're still alive," he said, though the truth was they were barely alive. He had more bruises and cuts than he liked to count, including a long slice on his right thigh that hadn't been helped by all the running. His head ached something fierce, partly from fighting, and the rest he was blaming on Mahzan overtaxing himself and spreading the misery.
"We escaped," Binhadi said. "That's what matters. Now for the fearmonger. The rest I really don't care about. If we somehow survive the fearmonger, we'll sort everything else out then."
"I don't even think I care about the fucking fearmonger anymore," Sule muttered. "Yavuz is dead. Maybe the fearmonger decided to return…" He trailed off as the unmistakable stench of sulfur permeated the air, and on its wake was the thundering roar that still occasionally haunted his dreams. "Yes, I suppose it was too much to hope that it might simply leave now that it's free."
Cemal threw up a shield as the fearmonger came at them, reinforced by Binhadi. Even through their barriers, the heat of its fire was unbearable. Sule couldn't breathe. His skin felt like it was melting off—
The fearmonger broke away—then abruptly dropped down upon them. Sule screamed, felt and heard the others do the same, dropped down to the deck in the futile hope that it would somehow save his life—
And then everything exploded, and something slammed into his ribs. There was only wet and cold after that as he plunged into the Great Lake. Terror overtook him, lost in the dark and wet, unable to feel the others. Oh, Dragon, they were dead, all dead. They'd come so far and faced so much…
He screamed as he was yanked, jerked, pulled through the water—and broke the surface screaming and sobbing. He was draped over a floating bit of ship and clung to it desperately as he coughed and sobbed and shuddered. Is anyone there?
Just as he wanted to scream, Cemal weakly replied, I'm here. Binhadi, too, but his head is bleeding and he's out cold.
I'm here. We're all alive for a few minutes more, Mahzan said. But I don't have much strength left, and that fearmonger is heading straight for the city. I don't know if it's following its last orders, merely angry, or doesn't care, but it's determined to destroy.
What are we supposed to do now? Cemal asked.
Sule looked around, but in the scattered, burning, slowly sinking wreckage, he could not see the others. We're all thinking it. What do we have to lose?
Our lives? But Cemal's attempt at humor just sounded weary and resigned. But we're going to lose those anyway. Let's do it, then. Sule's right: we were all thinking it. What do we do? Because I don't think we were at Eser's house long enough to—
—I know how to do it, at least in theory, Mahzan cut in.
Better than nothing. No one else I'd rather try it with it. Although if I hadn't joined up with you damned fools, it wouldn't be an issue at all.
Sule could feel the smile as Mahzan replied, We'll see if you complain about me later when I'm putting my tongue to creative use. For now, if you trust me, give me your minds.
Don't we already do that? Cemal asked.
No, we don't, Binhadi said, his thoughts faint, weak. We let him into our minds, share thoughts and feelings with each other. We don't give him our minds.
Well…how do we do it?
Don't fight me, Mahzan said, the words a whisper and a plea.
We won't, fool, Sule replied.
Mahzan pushed into his mind, and Sule hadn't realized until then just how much Mahzan had always been holding back. It was intimidating, and awe-inspiring, and he was eternally grateful Mahzan was on their side. He shuddered to think how different all of this would have gone if Mahzan had been on Yavuz's side.
You and Binhadi would have found a way to kill me, and I would have deserved it, even if that me wouldn't have agreed, Mahzan replied. But I'm on your side, and I will be even in death.
Then he took their minds.
DRAGON MAGIC
Possession made everything so much easier. He was Cemal. He was Sule. He was Binhadi. He knew every secret, every wish, every desire.
He understood, intimately and painfully, why it had once been law to kill mind mages who could not be controlled.
Mahzan would have cried from shame and misery if he'd had the energy to spare.
As it was, he could barely control everything. He took their minds, possessed them, stole them away—
And then he turned them into a dragon.
That was Cemal's bit. Mahza
n filled his mind and found the way to do it, the ability and will to shift into any form. As the shifting began, he turned to Binhadi for the added stability, coating a being made of pure energy in shadows, merging the two to give them form.
Sule, with a heart of fire and a tongue of flame, became their power and their greatest weapon.
Then came the last step: Mahzan turned them into one mind, one heart.
The dragon roared, his wings spreading to blot out the sun as he lifted into the sky, ponderous but capable of flight all the same. Flames licked at the edges of his mouth, smoke poured from his nostrils. His scales gleamed in the light of the setting sun, a mottled pattern of red, blue, black, and silver.
Hearing his roar, the fearmonger paused and winged around. It flew higher into the sky to stare down at him, baring its fangs, dripping fire into the lake below. It bellowed its own roar, flew higher still, until it finally flipped backward and came barreling toward him.
Bracing himself, the dragon spewed fire, its blue-white flames clashing with the red-orange fire of the fearmonger, the smell of hot metal clashing with sulfur as the fearmonger slammed into him and sent them both plummeting toward the lake.
The dragon sank his talons deep and twisted, pulled, yanked. Thick, dark blood hissed as it fell into the lake, left bloody streaks as it ate through the dragon's scales.
The fearmonger twisted and roared and spewed flame hot enough to crack rock, but the dragon held fast, until they'd traveled so far they crashed into the ruins of the Heart instead of the lake.
He disentangled himself from the stunned fearmonger and limped back several steps. He tried to flex his wings and snarled at the pain that flared. Not broken, but nearly enough he probably wouldn't be able to fly again, at least not for long.
So it had to end here and now.
The dragon spread his legs and dug his back talons in deep, tucked his wings in close and lowered his head to point his horns. As the fearmonger started to rise, the dragon charged. His footsteps made the treacherous ground tremble, sent piles of broken stone and shattered wood tumbling into the lake.
The fearmonger screamed and tried to brace itself, but the dragon slipped beneath its weak guard and shoved its horns into the fearmonger's gut. That drew another scream as the fearmonger writhed and thrashed, pulling itself off the dragon's horns. The dragon grabbed it, sank talons through flesh and muscle, scraping at bone as it drove the fearmonger back to the ground and pinned it there.