Ashes And Spirit (Book 3)

by A. D. Trosper

  “Kanther and Haraban are to the south. They will likely be left alone until it’s all over. It’s Galdrilene the Shadow Riders want control of, and you are in their path.

  “Trilene, Hanover, and Turindar are all against you. There are no nations standing between you and the armies of the Shadow Riders. The next nation to fall, if one does, is Markene. Perhaps you, who are the Heads of Houses in this nation, should be more worried about that than how much you will be able to stuff in your already oversized gullets.”

  She turned her back on them and strode through the door into the hall.

  Maleena reached for Nydara. “Has Mckale had any luck yet?”

  “Yes, he has found them on the north side of the encampment.” Nydara’s sending paused before the dragon continued, “You do know I would never condone dropping that man behind enemy lines? Even if he is the backside of a Shadow Dragon.”

  “I know, but he doesn’t. Sometimes it’s best to let them assume such a thing is possible. It’s the only way to reach them.”

  Maleena retraced her steps through the city, this time keeping her step quick and her eyes averted from any vendors lest she be stopped again. The guards at the city gate were still standing with bored uncertainty when she reached it.

  Pausing at the gate, where the land sloped down, Maleena swept her gaze over the collection of tents that spread over the wide field obscured somewhat by the falling snow. A large encampment by any comparison, until one took into account that it comprised three nations worth of people.

  The Shaderian survivors outnumbered the others but then they’d had more time. Most of the New Sharrens had also survived though there had been far fewer to try and save to begin with. The swiftness with which Calladar and Shadereen had been reduced to nothing shook what little confidence she had in the future.

  She took a deep breath and let it out, trying to send her worry away with it. What would come, would come. They would face it when it did. Maleena walked down the slope and circled around the outside boundary of the tents as she headed toward where she sensed Mckale. The flakes drifting on the wind fell cold on her face, and she pulled the shawl closer.

  Mckale stood with Sonja and Barden when she found him. Sonja’s tear-streaked face and Barden’s red-rimmed eyes showed Mckale had told them of Grandme’s fate even before their emotions hit her. Fresh and raw, the wave brought new intensity to the ache that had settled in her head since returning to Markene.

  Mckale moved to her side and took her hand in his to strengthen the shield. She sensed a new grief in her bondmate as well. Maleena looked around the cramped campsite then turned to Sonja. “Yaden?”

  Sonja wiped at the tears flowing freely down her face. “He is well. Serena healed him shortly after we arrived. But…Kaden is lost to us.”

  Barden sank onto a flattened log and stared at the fire in the pit in front of the small tent, his shoulders slumped. “So many lost. So much lost. How will we recover?” New lines left deep grooves in his face and more gray shaded his hair than before. He appeared to have aged ten years in just a couple of days.

  Maleena gazed at him through the tears shimmering in her eyes. “You will. Nothing will ever be the same, but you will recover.”

  Mckale’s father didn’t seem to hear her. He continued to stare at the firepit as if the answers to the future were in the dancing flames. “The home I was raised in, where I raised my own family, my goats, horses, Mola…”

  Pushing away thoughts of Arella, Maleena said softly, “Not Mola.”

  “What do you mean?” Sonja asked.

  With so much loss on so many levels, even the prospect of the dog’s safety brought hope to their eyes. Maleena managed a small smile. “Mola is safe in Galdrilene. It was because of her we found Kirynn.”

  Sonja sank onto the log next to her father with a sigh. “At least there is that.” She sniffled and wiped her cheeks as a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh broke past her lips. “How horrible I must sound for celebrating the life of a dog when my brother and grandmother are dead and everyone around us has lost most of their family.”

  “No more horrible than I for grieving the death of my horse when so many people have lost their lives.” Maleena blinked back tears. “Sometimes it’s the little things like the life of a dog that make the rest of this easier to bear.”

  Sonja took a hitched breath. “When can you bring Mola to Markene?”

  “As to that,” Mckale lowered himself to sit on the ground across from them, “there is a little girl in Galdrilene, Lenya, who is the sole survivor of her village. She’s only five years of age. Kirynn was barely able to save her during the final battle of Shadereen. Everything she knows burned to the ground, and everyone she loved or knew outside of Dragon Riders was killed.”

  “Oh, Fates.” Sonja covered her mouth, her eyes filled with compassion.

  Maleena settled next to Mckale. “Mola is with this little girl. I have removed most of the pain from Lenya’s heart and buried the memories of the horror, but her mind still knows something awful happened. Right now, Mola is helping little Lenya find fun and joy again.”

  Sonja nodded. “Then she should stay there.”

  “Probably safer there anyway,” Barden said in a defeated tone. “After all, Markene is next. How long do we really have before the Shadow Riders attack here? After what Mola likely went through, I would just as soon we not tempt the Fates again.”

  “I wanted to talk with you about that.” Mckale looked at both of them. “Sonja, you have no training with a weapon at all. Father, you look like you need to rest. I would like to take you to Galdrilene until the war is over.” He glanced at Sonja. “Yaden too, of course.”

  “Yaden won’t go.” A fresh wash of tears ran down Sonja’s face. “He is a trained Border Guard. He will stay to fight.”

  “And fight he should. You stop those particular tears right now,” Barden growled. “Yaden is young, strong, and skilled on the battlefield. You should be proud of him for staying to stand his ground instead of running.”

  Sonja shot him a glare. “I am proud of him. It doesn’t mean I can’t be worried about him or that I can’t fear losing him.”

  “Both fearing the loss of him, and worrying about him, rob you of the happiness of the present. If Grandme were here, she would tell you this too.”

  “Well she isn’t here, is she? No more than Kaden is. Excuse me if I don’t want to lose another loved one.”

  “Your feelings are perfectly understandable,” Maleena interrupted. “Just don’t let them overwhelm you. If you allow them to take away whatever happiness you may find in the moment, then you’ve allowed the Shadow Riders a certain kind of victory.”

  Barden sighed and rubbed his hands over his face before leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I find myself feeling older than I ever thought I would. I’m not as smooth with the swords or as quick-footed as I once was. In fact, since the battle at Calladar, I find it an effort to even rise in the morning.”

  He paused and returned his gaze to the fire. “I never thought aches in the joints or so much gray could show up so quickly. I would happily wade into battle with the rest of them, but instead of waking ready to leap from bed and defend our new position I just feel…tired. So tired.

  “I guess this is my way of saying Sonja and I will accept your offer. It has been many years since I set foot in Galdrilene. I find the mere thought of it brings peace to my heart. It’s a place where I know I will still be useful.”

  Sonja drew herself up. “Who says I wish to go? My husband is here.”

  Barden turned to her with sad eyes. “I can’t make you go, nor would I try. I can only hope you won’t make a suddenly old man go alone.”

  She stared back before slumping and looking away. “That isn’t fair you know.”

  “All is fair in love and war, and we are definitely at war. I have no problem using guilt if it keeps you safe, my daughter.”

  Mckale cleared his throat. “
I spoke with Yaden not long after I got back to Markene, it’s how I knew where you were. He agrees with Father that you should go to Galdrilene.”

  Barden reached over and took Sonja’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Please, Sonja. I lost your mother years ago. Now I’ve lost my mother and my oldest son in a single day. Mckale is a Guardian; there is no question he will be fighting still. Please, don’t make me fear for yet another of my children.”

  “You just contradicted your earlier speech about worry and fear,” Sonja said. “If it means that much to everyone, I will go with you to Galdrilene. At least I will be closer to my niece.”

  “We will stay and have dinner with Yaden. In the morning I will transport you to Galdrilene,” Mckale said. “There are plenty of guest quarters in the Dragon Hold. You can stay in those. Maybe you two can help take care of Emmaleen so it isn’t such a burden on Marda.”

  Barden smiled though it was tinged with sadness. “I would be happy to entertain and help care for my granddaughter.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Though Mckale’s face and voice remained neutral, Maleena sensed his relief, and she gave his hand a squeeze.

  While Sonja questioned Mckale and Barden about Galdrilene, Maleena let her thoughts wander to the tasks ahead of them. Although returning to her home village of Lowden was low on her list of things she wanted to do, it had to be done. Not only so those wishing to travel to safety could do so, but also because another egg sang for its rider. In her mind, she sensed the potential new rider in Lowden.

  Emallya had once described it as a light that burned like a torch showing the way. Maleena hadn’t truly understood it until the first of Nydara’s eggs had sung. It was an apt description. It flickered on the edge of her mind from the time the draclet inside the egg connected with its destined rider. When she focused her thoughts, it flared bright, and she knew exactly where the new rider was.

  She studied the flare in her mind briefly before turning her attention away. The torch died back to a small flicker again. Taela would sense it the same. She could ask her to go, but Maleena immediately cast the thought away. This was her duty as the head of Galdrilene and her own personal emotional shadow to face.

  With a small sigh Maleena gathered herself and stood. With a nod to both Barden and Sonja and a brief kiss for Mckale, she excused herself and made her way through the encampment to where Nydara worked with Shryden, Namir, Farynn, Tellnox, and Saria to knock down larger trees for firewood. The men wielding axes thanked the dragons profusely for each tree felled.

  Paki should be among them, but she and Taela stubbornly refused to rest until the remaining soldiers from Kanther and Boromar were transported to Markene.

  Taela tried to keep the worry of what would happen next to a minimum. She needed to focus on her task though it was becoming more difficult. It didn’t help that she and Paki were both exhausted from being in the air for almost three days straight. Neither of them had slept since…when had they slept last?

  Instead of stopping to do anything more than eat and drink, they had worked nonstop to move the Boromari and Kantherian armies to the banks of the Galdar River. Both sides of the river near the capitol were occupied by Galdrilene and its allies.

  She reached out and touched minds with Kellinar briefly, reassured by his presence. The border nations were devastated. Even so, Taela couldn’t help the relief that seeped through her body in spite of everything. Kellinar and Shryden were both safe in the city of Markene now.

  Anger registered through the bond, and she shook her head. The sudden influx of refugees into the capitol of Markene was causing all types of problems, and Kellinar was doing his best to help Kalila handle them all.

  Shelter, clothing, and food were issues now faced by everyone. Would any of them really recover from the mess of this war? The feelings of displacement, anxiety, anger, and sadness among the refugees added to the mix of irritation, sympathy, fear, and worry among the residents until all of Markene was an exhausting, boiling cauldron of emotions running high.

  “Maybe in time,” Paki sent in response to her unspoken thought. “First we have to make it through the war before we can worry about what lies on the other side of it.”

  “I can’t believe the Shadow Dragons are so strong.”

  “I can. It’s in my ancestral memories. The most frustrating part is those memories tell me there was nothing we could do to stop their strength from growing. It was a fluke that saved the world last time.”

  “I know,” Taela returned. Her mind went to Anevay’s weave. It would save the world from the Shadow Riders and take a high price for it.

  “We should return to Markene and let one of the others take over for a while,” Paki returned, interrupting her thoughts.

  “Why?”

  “I tire of Shryden’s constant demands that I rest.”

  Taela sensed Paki was torn between irritation at the blue’s insistence and happiness at the thought of seeing him again. Taela understood completely. It had been months since she and Kellinar had spent any real time together. The few, brief hours they’d had after the battle in Shadereen while they waited to search for Kirynn didn’t count. Still, she had a task to finish. “Tell him we are almost done. Two more runs and that should be it.”

  “I have already done so. However, we have yet another task,” Paki returned

  “What would that be?” Taela sighed and focused through thoughts of sleep.

  “We have been asked to Slide to both Boromar and Kanther to discuss the possibility of them taking on some of the refugees to lessen the burden on Markene. Kirynn and Brock have both agreed to go as well.”

  “Can Maleena not handle that?”

  “She goes to Lowden to move people out of harm’s way and hopefully bring the new rider to his egg.”

  Taela yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Then I suppose we Slide to the capitols of Boromar and Kanther when we are done.”

  Paki opened a Slide to bring the large contingent of Boromari solders through to the Galdar River. “Perhaps,” the silver sent as they moved into the whirlpool of air, “we can find time to at least eat first.”

  “I’m in favor of that idea,” Taela returned, her stomach clenching at the thought of food. When had they last eaten?

  “Three days ago for me. Yesterday afternoon for you,” Paki sent in answer to Taela’s unspoken thought.

  “I really didn’t want to be reminded.”

  The silver’s mental chuckle rumbled through her mind, and Taela couldn’t help but smile. Other than helping to hold the line at Shadereen and then transporting those on the ground at the last minute, they had been practically useless during all of the fighting. It was why she and Paki had thrown themselves into moving the rest of the soldiers as quickly as possible. Not only because Taela knew they would be needed soon, but because when the time came they wanted to be there alongside their friends.

  When they finally came through the last Slide, they moved slowly to ensure all of the soldiers made it with them. Taela’s head swam as her body reminded her that although she had extended stamina thanks to the dragon bond, it still needed food.

  Instead of landing in Markene, as soon as everyone was through the Slide, Paki let it close and soared higher until well above the city. A new Slide spun open. Paki flew through, and they were riding the updrafts over Galdrilene.

  “Why here?” Taela sent.

  “We need to spend a little time here. Even if it’s just for a meal and a bath.”

  “A bath?”

  “I realize human noses are much less sensitive than a dragon’s. That said, have you smelled yourself lately?”

  Taela chuckled. It had been a while since she’d bathed, but it certainly wasn’t the first time and Paki had never remarked on it before. “You are just making excuses to return home.”

  “Maybe,” came the return. “Maleena and Mckale did instruct everyone to make a brief visit to Galdrilene.”

  “I think a meal and a bath at home sou
nds perfect, my wise and wonderful dragon.”

  Paki barely landed long enough to let her get down and then remove the saddle before launching herself back into the air and Sliding away to her favorite hunting grounds well into the northern mountains where large herds of elk and deer would provide her with ample meat.

  On the ground, without the wind rushing past, Taela immediately began to sweat under the padded shirt and chainmail. With a tired sigh, she began to unbuckle the lacquered arm bracers. Paki was right; it really had been far too long since she’d taken the time to bathe. Food first, then a nice, long soak followed by clean clothes was exactly what she needed. When she reached her lair and stripped down to the silk undershirt, she got a real whiff of what lay underneath.

  Never mind the food. A bath first, clean clothes, then she could eat. She pulled off her boots, socks stiffened with too many days of sweat, and finally the leather pants before padding through the Dragon Hold in only the silk shirt and pants.

  The warm, balmy air of the bathing chamber closed around her as she stepped through the door. A glance around the room, while she shed the silk garments, revealed signs of its recent use—from the still wet drain channel to the water splashed about. She looked forward to reconnecting with the other riders, however, it was nice to have it all to herself for the moment—except for the attendants of course.

  Taela had finished washing, rinsing, and waiting for the pool to refill and was looking forward to a quiet soak when the door to the chamber banged open.

  “Why did you refuse to listen to Shryden’s calls?” Kellinar stormed into the chamber. “Do you really think you can just go on forever without resting, without eating? Do you even realize how much the lack of sleep can slow your reaction time?”