Dragon's Heart

by Martin Gallagher

  To the naked eye, she looked a sorry sight, a once-proud princess now brought low in the face of adversity. Beneath it all, Matra could see her undaunted will; her eyes clear and intense. Hope was an eternal wellspring within, and her courageous spirit glowed ever bright and beautiful to behold. Matra felt cold fury build within him that the princess could be so poorly treated. He was still fighting for self-control when he noticed the other woman in the tent. His soul focus writhed and seethed with rage at seeing one of the princess’s captors.

  “No, Matra, don’t harm Hedra. She is with us, she is going to help me escape,” Emeldra said, sensing Matra’s wrath and outrage. She feared he would unleash his fury at Hedra. At once she felt his self-control strengthen and his focus steadied.

  “So why have the fearless Amadon maidens switched sides?” Matra asked, still suspicious of the maiden. His voice seemed to come from all around them.

  Emeldra felt surprised that Matra knew of the Amadons, but there was a lot she didn’t know about Matra. She realised as time seemed to freeze at the moment, everything that had happened to her, all her thoughts hopes and desires seemed to condense into this one moment of time. Emeldra knew with crystal clarity it did not matter how much or how little she knew about Matra. She only knew that she could never doubt him again. Dragon or man she loved him, doomed though their love might be. Matra’s focus seemed to answer her thoughts. Time moved on again, and she became aware that Hedra was kneeling, head bowed and speaking with Matra.

  “We have erred and let ourselves be led astray, my Lord Dragon, but no more. You are the true one we have sought, as told in prophecy. If it is your will, my maidens and I will take our own lives for having failed you.” Hedra prostrated herself before Matra’s focus. Emeldra, catching Matra’s attention shook her head. A moment of silence passed before Matra spoke again.

  “Ah, you have to help rescue the princess and her maid first, then we can talk about this matter further,” Matra said tactfully. His focus wavered, reflecting his surprise in what Hedra said. He didn’t know that much about the maidens then, Emeldra thought; she must tell him when she had the chance to be careful in his handling of the maidens.

  “As you wish, Lord Dragon. Know that we pledge our lives to you and your lady.” Hedra paused, standing up tall and proud. She bowed to Matra and Emeldra. “We will delay taking our own lives until the princess is safe with you once more,” she concluded solemnly.

  Matra felt exasperated. This was another problem to add to the rest that he could do without right now. He had no intention of letting Hedra and her maidens kill themselves; he had a premonition he would need their help in the not too distant future. They talked a while, discussing possible escape plans until finally agreeing on the most likely to succeed. Matra’s focus finally returned after having told them to wait till he contacted them again when all should be ready for their escape plan to be put into action.

  Two days passed without Matra contacting them, and Emeldra fretted that something had gone wrong while Hedra remained calm, assuring her that all would be well. Gradually the maidens began to gather round Emeldra with what at first seemed a casual, hardly noticeable act until it became too obvious to ignore. The mercenaries began to complain, and the Paenalirs approached Hedra and her maidens with suspicion etched on their faces and demanded to know what they were doing.

  Hedra looked scornfully at the tall Paenalir clansman and dismissed him with a shrug of her slender shoulders, telling him that the lord dragon had made the maidens responsible for guarding the princess, and assured her that the maidens would be held accountable if she escaped. Therefore, she was taking her duties seriously by guarding the princess well. She also added pointedly that the lord dragon said the princess was not to be touched by any man, that she was for him alone. She looked around at those gathered watching the exchange, her eyes burning fiercely at their brutish faces.

  On the third night Matra contacted them there had been no sign of Firedragor, but Matra knew his dragons were not far away. He decided to stay in human form until he got close to the princess, then he could fly her to safety on his back.

  While Matra, Jason and the knights approached as quietly as they could, Hedra and her maidens deftly slit the throats of the men guarding the princess’s maid and brought her to Emeldra’s tent. Hedra silently motioned to the maidens, indicating the sentries around the camp. Emeldra watched as the maidens silently spread out, blending into the shadows. Each sentry died swiftly and silently until the camp was left unguarded.

  Wearing only light mail so as not to make a noise, the knights crawled on their bellies. Though there had been some complaint beforehand that it was not an honourable way to do things, once they accepted it the knights warmed to the task. Only when they were within a shortdistance did they stand, running forward, shouting their battle cries.

  The camp turned into pandemonium as men came running from their tents, some still half asleep, wondering what was happening, others coming fully awake and reaching for their weapons. At first, confusion reigned and the knights pressed their advantage home, cutting a wedge through the enemy ranks. Matra saw Hedra and the maidens tightly grouped with Emeldra and Senion in the middle, fighting their way towards him, then he lost sight of them as Paenalirs rushed him.

  Sand suddenly rose up, blinding everyone. Emeldra found herself separated from Hedra and the maidens. Blindly she called out, but through the murk, it was hard to see. She could make out shapes, and she could hear the sounds of battle not far away. But somehow she seemed to be going away from it. Turning, she tried to head back though not wanting to go too close in case she ran into an enemy. She skirted around the area, trying to make out friend from foe.

  As the sand began to settle Emeldra came face to face with a red dragon. Rough hands grabbed her from behind, pushing her towards the dragon’s back. Emeldra went limp as the dragon slammed a mental attack on her awareness. Not enough to make her unconscious but to render her, much to her dismay, powerless as she was crudely hoisted onto the dragon’s back.

  Matra cursed his decision to remain in human form. Sand stung his eyes, blurring his vision. He stabbed his sword at a blade which peered out of the gloom, aimed at his head and followed through with a sweeping slash at the shape that lunged at him. He was rewarded with a scream of pain as a Paenalir fell at his feet, blood and entrails darkening the golden sands under the fallen body.

  From nearby he heard Jason call his name, then he was beside him, both fighting Paenalirs and mercenaries. Somehow they had got separated from their men; Matra suspected this had been the whole idea. Cold dread filled him, the whole thing smacked of a carefully planned trap. Their attackers did not press home their advantage, however, giving the knights time to find them. As the sand began to settle they were still hard-pressed to hold off the group that surrounded them. Matra glimpsed the maidens with Senion making their way towards him but his heart sank as nowhere could he see the princess.

  Jason elbowed a mercenary in the face and thrust his sword into the chest of another as he tried to blindside Matra. Turning, he slashed the one he elbowed across the throat. Blood gushed out as the man let out a gurgling moan, reflexively putting a hand to his throat to try and stem the outpouring of his life’s blood, before falling backwards, his eyes blankly staring skyward. Jason looked round to see Matra run another mercenary through. As the sand began to settle the knights broke through to them, followed by the maidens and the battle came to a swift end.

  “Matra, the princess.” Jason pointed in the direction where a red dragon disappeared through a gaping, circular black hole, carrying the princess as well as some Paenalirs. “Hurry, Matra! Shapeshift so we can pursue them before they escape.” Jason grabbed at Matra frantically, anger and desperation showing on his face and colouring his tone.

  They had come been so close to rescuing the princess only to see her once again taken out of their reach. It was almost too much for the young knight to tolerate. Matra started to move at Jas
on’s prompting, then stopped, his expression bleak. He slammed his sword into the hot sands, shaking with barely controlled rage. His face became anguished as Jason looked on, aghast.

  “We cannot follow,” he grated out, his voice sounding strangled even to him.

  “What! But there is still time. If you shapeshift we can follow them through the same hole,” Jason said, voice rising to a shout.

  “It is a trap, Jason, but even if it weren’t it would be near impossible to follow a path through the void made by another. Only the one creating the opening can follow it successfully. We would become lost to wander in the darkness until we died. The opening has already remained too long, they want us to follow. Undoubtedly they would close it once we entered, trapping us there forever.” As Matra finished, the black disc finally disappeared, putting the matter beyond any further discussion.

  Matra surveyed the scene around him. Bodies lay everywhere, some already half covered by the sands raised by the red dragon. Two mercenaries had surrendered as the battle ended and were disarmed by the knights. Matra hoped he might get some idea of where the red dragon might have taken the princess from the prisoners.

  “Well, I’d best see to the men. Have you any idea of what we do next? As much as I hate to admit it, we won’t be in any fit state to travel for a day or two.” Jason tried to keep his voice calm and collected, though some of his frustration and dismay leaked through, making his words seem bitter.

  “I’ll question the prisoners. You’d best see to the wounded and Senion,” Matra replied wearily. Jason looked towards where Senion stood between the maidens, who were speaking to her gently. She seemed not to notice where she was or anybody around her at all. Jason took a shuddering breath, his expression anguished as he turned to see to his men.

  The cold air rising from the sea made Emeldra shudder as she looked down towards the island they approached. Even though she was on the back of an enemy dragon, it did not detract from the feeling of exhilaration of flying on a dragon’s back.

  At least Senion had been freed and would be taken care of, one less worry for her to think about. She would have to think of herself now, there would be no chance of escape from this island so she would have to make the best of things. Emeldra knew beyond any doubt that Matra would find her and come to her rescue and most likely even her father would come this time. Emeldra shuddered again, this time with a sense of precognition.

  She felt that somehow things were coming to a head, forces were in play beyond her understanding, and she could do nothing but let herself be carried along towards some unknown destiny, a destiny which could decide the fate of the world. Emeldra put her fears aside and studied the island as the dragon coasted in for a landing.

  “Your time will come, Weaver of Destiny!” Emeldra nearly lost her hold on the dragon. The voice that whispered in her head was so faint that she wondered if it was her own wishful thinking yet it had sounded so familiar, and she was certain that it didn’t come from the dragon that carried her, nor any of the many dragons she could see on the ground or patrolling the island from the air.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Slowly the sun rose above the mountaintop casting light across the shadowy snow-capped peaks. The snowy caps sparkled in the sunlight, reflecting light back from peak to peak in a display that heralded the dawning of another day. Mount Kondragor, as it had come to be known, stood tallest of all in the Dragor Mountain Range and had for as long as man or dragon could remember dazzled and spellbound all with its spectacle as the sun rose above its peaks. On a high plateau gold mingled with the sunlight this morning as it touched the scales of the twelve dragons crouched patiently in a circle.

  All night long they had debated back and forth with the time-honoured patience of all dragonkind. Cara had stood firm in her belief that they must come to the aid of the humans against the red dragons and their allies; the time of decision had arrived. Should they fail to act now the world would fall into chaos. Humans would come to blame dragons for bringing the chaos and so would begin the end of all dragonkind.

  All in the circle knew the predictions and possible scenarios: there was a possibility that even humans may not survive. That all life might perish in the ensuing chaos. How this would come about, none knew, nor did they want to know yet still, Keldragor and her cousin Shadragor were reluctant to agree. Everyone else seemed to support Cara’s stand, albeit reluctantly. Normally all needed to agree, but Cara made her decision to force the matter to a head, even if it split the circle.

  “There is no more time for debate. If you and your cousin wish to sit and ponder while the world is consumed in chaos so be it. The rest of us will do our bit to try and stop the chaos,” Cara said, her mental tone equally biting as her words. Some of the assembled dragons looked aghast at her.

  “It is clear that your judgement is clouded by that part of you which is human, Beldragor,” Keldragor spat back vehemently. For a moment tension filled the circle as the two dragons faced each other. Shields flared as Keldragor and her cousin lifted their muzzles, baring razor-sharp teeth.

  Cara looked at them, unmoved, her expression and stance conveying the exasperated patience of a mother considering punishment for her naughty children. Then she turned her head, ignoring them as she addressed the other dragons. An act not unappreciated by the other assembled dragons.

  “If you wish to stand idly by like Keldragor and her kin, that is your choice. I and mine go to the aid of the humans against Firedragor and his allies.” Cara’s tone was forceful as she let her gaze pass round the assembled dragons.

  “Your concern is well intentioned even if your manners fail you. We believe moreover that you are right and we will support you in this endeavour.” The elder spoke gravely. There was an immediate uproar among the assembled dragons. In the end, only Keldragor and her kin remained steadfast against Cara’s proposal. It was a sad day for dragonkind as Cara left. She knew that the split, taking into account Firedragor and his dragon allies, divided nearly half of all the dragons.

  Jason took Senion by the hand and gently led her to the tent the maidens had prepared for her. The look on his face was one of deep anguish, his eyes haunted and his jaw set firm. He had, Matra noticed, avoided contact with her as much as possible, busying himself with his men, setting up camp and sending out patrols to watch for any Paenalirs. When he did finally come to see Senion his grim expression and stern manner softened a little, and he became solicitous of her needs.

  Matra’s mood was one of growing anger. Once or twice one of the knights had approached him to ask him something, only to turn away without speaking when they saw the black look he gave them. Now they avoided him altogether, giving him a wide berth. Only the maidens dared approach him, and he gritted his teeth each time one came to speak to him.

  He passed the night fitfully and woke the next day feeling he had hardly slept at all. Matra had decided to take them all through the void to Castle Talmon once everyone was fit to travel.

  “Lord Dragon.” Matra looked up from his breakfast to see Hedra approaching him.

  “What is it, Hedra?” In spite of his black mood, Matra found himself smiling as the dark-skinned woman stood before him. There was something calm and reassuring about her and her fierce independence and confident manner helped to add to that feeling.

  “One of my scouts has seen a dragon approaching from the south. She can’t make out what colour dragon as yet, so we can’t be sure if it’s friendly or not,” Hedra said calmly. The camp came alive as the word spread, and Jason rapidly rallied the knights into battle readiness. Matra dropped his dish and stood to send his thoughts out, searching tensely.

  Then he relaxed just as the dragon came into sight, circling high above the camp. Lower and lower the dragon circled until coasting in to land not far from the camp.

  “It’s just Mother come to pay a visit,” Matra said, his black mood mellowing a little.

  Jason let out a gushing breath as the tension in the camp relaxed. Senio
n came to stand beside Jason as they watched the gold dragon’s shape blur, then Cara walked forward into the camp. She took one look at Senion then took her into her arms. Immediately Senion broke down and wept on her shoulder.

  “You know what’s happened here, I suppose?” Matra asked Cara in a gloomy voice as she approached, the still distraught woman in her arms. Cara nodded then looked at him sternly.

  “Stop blaming yourself and taking it out on everyone else,” Cara said firmly. Matra sighed, letting out a deep breath.

  “I suppose I’ve been a bit hard to live with lately,” Matra said, grimacing slightly.

  “I have been to Castle Talmon and spoken to the king,” Cara began some time later as they gathered in Matra’s tent. Matra noticed that Senion looked a little more like herself, obviously as a result of Cara’s ministrations. “The king is moving the bulk of his army to Port Baram at Cyomatro. Var and his allies are holding the princess at the Isle of Storms,” Cara explained grimly. Her expression darkened as she mentioned the red dragon’s name.

  “I suppose we can’t just go through one of those holes and pop out there?” Jason asked. His expression conveyed that he didn’t think it a viable option.

  “The island is well warded, and in any case, they will probably be expecting us to try something like that,” Cara replied, looking at Jason and Matra. She had one arm comfortingly round Senion’s shoulder. Hedra sat on the other side of Senion with an expression of awed reverence as she listened to Cara talking.

  Surprisingly, Hedra suggested Cara take her to her people so that they could bring more of the maidens to help. Cara had immediately agreed, giving Hedra a warm smile. Matra tried to think if they had left anything out but couldn’t think of anything else for the moment.