Dragon Choir

by Benjamin Descovich

  “But, he did let them free,” said Elrin, frowning. “Would you have done that?”

  “It served Kobb’s purpose to do so. If it served ours we would have done the same.”

  Elrin was quiet, the sunset glow warming his intelligent eyes. How could she explain he was caught in something dangerous, more dangerous than a dead letter? No fool would trust the word of someone they just met. Not about this. She had enough trouble herself.

  With raven hair kicking up in the wind, he broke the silence. “The mountains are so high above the sea. I can’t tell where the road to Calimska would be.”

  “You’ll not see it now, we’ve sailed too far north. Stoneheart’s pass is way back to the south now. Are you missing home?”

  “No, but I miss my mother. That sounds like I’m, you know, I don’t really miss her, I’m just worried about her.”

  “I miss mine too.”

  “Where is she?”

  Minni noted the waxing moon glowing through the dusk. “All the Reik will be gathering. Our camp will be on the roll by now.”

  “I was saving my shine. You know, to get out. I would have loved to see a gathering. I heard Reik can play down the stars with music so loud all the gods come and join in.”

  “Ha! What a story. An outright lie, of course. There’s no Reik who can play a tune to please Jandan’s Lord high and mighty. No song would tempt that old bastard to so much as tap his toes, let alone set to with a jig!”

  Elrin laughed. Minni was glad for the moment to rest her eyes on his. She caught herself letting down her guard. She hardly knew the shiner and was thinking of him like some stupid girl, lost in a dream. It bothered her; he was too kind, too accepting, too ready to help, too damn easy to like. She needed to take her own advice. She couldn’t trust him, not yet anyway. Damn her heart melting under a single sunset. She had to know more before she made her choice.

  “Elrin, you need to tell me what happened in Calimska, why you stowed away in those wagons.”

  “I was fleeing the city guard. I already told you; they tried to kill me.”

  “Why the wagons I was with?”

  “I overheard those Jandans arguing in the tent. They were leaving Calimska, but I didn’t know you were with them. I would have asked otherwise.”

  Minni smiled, adding ‘too polite’ to her list of things that bothered her. “Not a good idea for a stowaway to ask permission. Ruins the whole idea of stealing yourself away.”

  “You make a good point,” Elrin shook his head. “Remember, I’m new to all this. You seem to be, ah, quite an accomplished woman. Is that the right word for your line of work?”

  “My line of work?” Minni mocked her concern. “What exactly are you implying?”

  “Oh no, I didn’t mean that, my Jandan isn’t so good. I just meant that I noticed your—”

  “Noticed my what?”

  Elrin flushed red.

  “What were you looking at?” pressed Minni.

  “No, no, I didn’t, well, not deliberately—”

  Minni laughed and punched his shoulder. “Come on Elrin! You’re far too easy.”

  Elrin took it in good humour. “You’ll keep.”

  Sailors came down the rigging and gathered on the decks. The night crew took to their stations with the final light of the day fading from the sky. A sailor came up to the forecastle with a glowing taper in hand and gave them both a knowing look while he lit the lantern on the fore mast.

  “Smokin’ lamps a’lit!” he called to the milling sailors below. He gave Elrin a sly wink. “The lads’ll be takin’ a breath or two. Wants ta git a bit rowdy up ere for a spit. Might’s ya lay the lass aft for a spell.”

  Elrin’s face wrinkled with confusion then flushed red as he processed an inadequate translation of the sailor’s words. “What did he just say I should do?”

  Minni stifled her laughter, grabbed Elrin’s hand and led him past the sailors lining up for their smoke. They relocated to a couple of barrels beside the stair to the quarterdeck and watched the stars glittering across the night sky. The sailors off their shift cursed and called, with rowdy laughter.

  “What did Kobb have from you?” asked Elrin.

  “Is that of concern now is it?”

  “Just asking after you, that’s all, to make sure he didn’t ... you know.”

  “What if he did?”

  “If he did then I’d, I’d stick him while he sleeps.”

  “I’m sure he’d enjoy that, coming from a strapping lad like you. Are you in the habit of sticking idle men unawares? I never guessed that was your thing.”

  “No, I didn’t mean ... Oh I see, go on then, have your fun with me.”

  “You just walk yourself into trouble don’t you.” Minni couldn’t keep a straight face. “Fall right in it every time.”

  Elrin didn’t laugh with her, his face was sombre as he stared at the moon. “You’re right, I couldn’t even deliver a note to the Guildmaster without landing a bounty on my head. Everything I’ve done since then dropped me in deeper water, like I’m the punchline of a grand joke; a plaything for the god’s petty amusement.”

  “What if you were?” Minni wanted him to know the truth.

  “I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if the joke was funny, but I’m no fool. You and Delik dodge my questions and tell me half of nothing. You know something about the Dragon Choir and you know I need to find it.”

  “What makes you say that?” Minni couldn’t tell him, she had to be sure.

  “You both made it quite obvious when I told you I was seeking passage to the Hoard Islands. Why don’t you just tell me?”

  “Delik’s not convinced you are ... He wasn’t sure if you were ready to be told.”

  “That’s just what I mean; damn secrets and lies. What do I have to do to be trusted?”

  “I don’t know. I trust you, but prophecy is a murky business.”

  “What prophecy?”

  “It’s a secret. You are right; damn secrets and lies.”

  “Why is it a secret? If it’s a prophecy of what will come to pass then it will happen no matter what, whether I know or not.”

  “Not so. It is our guide to a future of hope, a map that tells us how to free the coast from slavery. If I get it wrong, if I stray from the markers then ... I don’t know. I don’t know if I can decide.” Minni slumped her chin onto her knees and hugged her legs.

  “Who told you the prophecy?”

  “That is the secret. If you betrayed our source, if the Jandans knew ...”

  “So don’t tell me who gave the prophecy. I don’t need to know. I do need to know if your prophecy means you won’t let me find the Dragon Choir.”

  Minni sat silently, berating herself for letting so much out, chastising herself for needing help, wanting Elrin to be the one and fearing that he was no more than another tool she would need to use. She hugged her knees tight.

  “Minni, you’re crying. I’m sorry.” Elrin reached out and put a tentative hand on her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have pressed you.”

  Minni sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. “Yes, you should.” Minni smiled, liking Elrin’s hand reassuring her, enjoying the tender contact. She put her hand on his. Damn the secrets and lies.

  “Elrin, I need your help to find a key.”

  “Of course, what does it look like? Did you leave it on Juniper?”

  “The key to free us shall fall in your hand,

  holding a note, but no name.

  Sounding the choir to your aid,

  shifting the balance, sinking the stars.

  Darkened threads will stain the weave,

  summoning the blood monsoon.”

  There, it was out. Minni studied Elrin, tried to gauge him, measure his fit and weigh his response. Elrin was confused at first then thoughtful. He removed his reassuring hand and rubbed his neck, squinting his left eye.

  “Amber!” he said, excited, grabbing her shoulder again. Realising his outburst, he quiete
ned his voice. “Amber is the Key. It has to be her, she had no name, she weaved that magic with her voice and those notes she was holding made such potent elemental magic. Her power would rival sorcerers in the Order of Calim.”

  Minni just listened, smiling with him, loving his exuberance.

  “You said, ‘sounding the choir,’ it has to be her. Perhaps she sings and the Dragon Choir is activated. What is the Dragon Choir anyway?”

  “We aren’t sure; some kind of device to summon dragons.”

  Elrin’s hope dropped, touched by doubt. “I suppose we shall soon find out. Once she has it, do you think she would let me use it to help my father?”

  “She doesn’t know about this. Elrin, you mustn’t say anything yet.”

  “Why ever not? She might already know about the Dragon Choir. Have you asked her?”

  “I did. She has overheard Uighara speak about it more than once. He must seek it too.”

  “How did he know Amber was the key?”

  “He is a powerful redeemer, close to the High Priest of Jando. Those dogs have their ways.”

  “At least she’s safe with us now, out of the hands of that cruel monster. It explains why Uighara was so upset when Kobb refused to give her back.”

  Minni agreed, Amber must be the Key; everything Elrin said made perfect sense. So why did she still think it was him? Why didn’t he even have an inkling that he might be the Key? She had secretly hoped that the prophecy would have sparked something for him, something to light a beacon of truth to make the path clear, but telling him made no difference. She still had two keys and couldn’t decide which one fit. Some ‘Lock’ she turned out to be.

  Minni pressed on, looking for a sign. “What about the rest of the prophecy? What do you make of that?”

  “Your mysterious prophet must like teasing you with riddles. I didn’t understand much, though it didn’t sound pleasant at the end. A blood monsoon, that can’t be good. And what about the stars sinking, do you think that means the Jandan armada?”

  “That is what we hoped,” said Minni, desperate for Elrin to find himself in the prophecy. “You were told to seek the aid of the choir, weren’t you?”

  “That’s what Herder Kleith said. Though, I didn’t have time to ask why or how before the guards came for me and I had to run.”

  “How did he know about the Dragon Choir or to go looking on the Hoard Islands?”

  “How did you know?” Elrin shot back.

  “We were told in the Prophecy of the Fist.”

  “Another prophecy, how many are there?”

  “Many.”

  “Fine,” said Elrin, holding his hands up in surrender. “I get the hint. I don’t need to know.”

  “No, you don’t,” Minni chided gently. “Not now.”

  “So there’s hope for me, then?” Elrin’s mischievous grin was a gem in the night.

  “Maybe,” Minni returned the smile, expecting Elrin’s lips to take her own.

  Elrin just held her eyes for a moment longer, his smile warmed her heart, but his lips never approached. He adjusted his position against the barrel, shuffling a touch nearer.

  They sat together quietly. Elrin chuckled then looked around to make sure no one was near.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. He’d kiss her now. How could he not?

  He brought his face closer to hers and whispered. “I’d bet my pants you both planned for Kobb to capture us and take us to his hideout. You did, didn’t you!”

  “Careful what you bet, Elrin.”

  “No, you don’t fool me. Why else would Delik say that Bone Dancer was my passage? He knew. You knew.”

  She leaned her face close to his, caught in his know-it-all grin. “Keep your pants then, and keep that smart mouth shut too. If Kobb finds out we’ll be overboard before you figure what you’ve missed.”

  “What did I miss?” whispered Elrin, his grin fading.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know!”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Rally the Faithful

  Pelegrin was compressed to dust, then stretched to the stars. A heartbeat felt a day, and then in a blink he was himself again. Every organ rebelled against the contortion. His mind spun and he collapsed to the floor in the grip of nausea. With a heave his stomach emptied upon polished black tiles.

  Uighara was on his knees, panting. Even with bloodshot eyes and blood dripping from his nose, the strain of the blessing was not enough to weaken the Priest’s severe manner. “You’ll be cleaning that up.”

  At that thought, Pelegrin wretched again, his vision blurring with tears.

  Leaving the circle, Uighara opened a drawer and tossed Pelegrin a rag. “Quick now, before it spreads to that sigil! Disturb an active net and you’ll know about it.”

  He did as he was told, mopping up the mess with care not to rub out any of the red luminescent powder.

  They had been delivered onto another temple stone, surrounded by neatly cut black tiles, which formed the four points of the black star. It reminded him of the mosaic in the high temple, though this was much smaller. At each point of the star was a bowl with a green flame burning above a thick red substance.

  What was wrong with his head? He was thinking through a fog. He took care as he rose to his feet, fighting to control his senses. The air was damp, smothered in a pungent mix of urine, burnt hair and manure.

  “Where are we?”

  The redeemer snorted, but didn’t answer. He busied himself, writing something upon a table in the corner. Pelegrin stepped out of the glowing circle, tossing the soiled rag beside a large wooden crate. The crate shook and a rooster crowed from inside. Startled, Pelegrin took a quick step backwards, bumping into a cabinet and rattling the jars and bottles on its shelves. Beside him came the short wail of a baby. He reeled in shock, not knowing how he could have trusted Uighara. A child in a place like this? It was abhorrent to think of such a thing. Pelegrin pulled back a dark cloth covering the large cage.

  Inside was a monstrous rat covered in feathers. It pressed its fanged snout through the bars, licking and mewling like a babe. Pelegrin covered the drape over the cage again.

  “What demons do you keep?”

  Uighara’s face screwed up at the distraction from his writing. “Would a demon keep in a cage like that? Leave the colo colo be! Unless you want to feed it?”

  “What does it eat? Human flesh?”

  “Spittle!” The priest close to spat the word himself, his annoyance growing. “It’s a colo colo, imbecile. If you want to feed your flesh to something, open up the cockatrice crate and stuff your nose in there!”

  The small room crowded in around Pelegrin. He had to get some air. The only shutters were above Uighara’s writing desk. There was no door. Pelegrin strode over to the desk. He pulled on the shutters, but they were nailed closed.

  “Do you mind?” Uighara shoved him away. “You’ll ruin the script.”

  “How do we get out of here?”

  “Oh, calm yourself, for mercy’s sake.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing at the moment, you keep interrupting.”

  Pelegrin retreated, confused by his memories. How did they get here? Wherever here was, he didn’t like it. He found a stool by the wall and sat, trying to navigate the fog of his memory. He remembered being set free and Uighara healing his arms. He remembered the strength he had, rowing so fast, the sea shining silver and then the dead bodies of his men on the docks. They went to the temple and Uighara delivered a sermon. He remembered that much, Uighara was amazing, the Lord shone upon him. Something went wrong though, what was it?

  “There,” said Uighara, sprinkling sand over the paper. “All done. Patience pays its own rewards.”

  Pelegrin shook his head full of cotton and rubbed his brow.

  “What happened? We were in Rum Hill a moment ago, a day ago, how long? Why can’t I remember?”

  “The Lord’s power is difficult to fathom without his gift. Don’t worry yours
elf, you are home, Commodore. We are in Jando.”

  “That’s ... that’s impossible.”

  “I agree and yet we are here. The Lord’s blessings are many. Come now, we mus—”

  “The blessing! You were to give me a blessing.”

  “And I did,” said Uighara, twisting his mouth around a smile. He walked toward Pelegrin and took his hands. “You will convince your father to rally the armada.”

  Pelegrin’s head cleared. “Yes, I will convince him,” he said, confident in his task.

  “You have proof the rebel leaders and the pirates are hiding out on the Hoard Islands. He will be grateful. You will be rewarded.”

  It was true. “I have the proof. I will be rewarded.”

  Uighara let go of Pelegrin’s hands and walked over to an empty bookcase against the wall.

  Pelegrin straightened his shoulders; everything made perfect sense. The Lord was great and mighty. The Lord was with him, guiding his hand. He was blessed with righteous power and would see the Lord’s will accomplished, or die trying.

  The redeemer leant his shoulder against the bookcase and it slid to the side. Behind was a door with strange symbols scratched into the timber. He incanted a coarse unintelligible phrase, tracing over four of the symbols. They glowed after his touch and with a soft click the door opened into a dim corridor.

  They strode through a mess of silent halls and small connecting chambers, passing furniture draped in linen and caked with years of dust. Webs hung in the corners, the spiders absent, given up on catching anything. Uighara opened a door into a stairwell where reverent choral voices drifted down with the specs of dust, filtered and faint like the moonlight from a skylight high above.

  The singing invigorated his spirit. Pelegrin sung along with the hymn in his head as he climbed the stairs. The Seas of Faith. It was the very song that had played for his graduation from the academy. Every step up brought him closer to crowning that small glory. This would please his father and be an end to the Scrambletoes. An end to them would end the rebellion and the glory of Jando would bring peace to the chosen land. The grubs and wanderers, the scalers and frogs, every corrupted soul would yield, or serve under the yoke.