The Traitor

by A D Lombardo

  There would be no food in this long-lost home, but desperate to rest, Kai opened the chest, hoping for a blanket or used coat. Inside he found an old navy-blue dress, a brown cloak, and a pair of brown shoes. The pain pulled him to his knees; he could hardly breathe, and a sadness deeper than he had ever known panged his heart. “Don’t give up,” Kai heard a soft voice whisper as he pulled something from the pouch secured to his chest.

  The next strike of lightning and the glint from a metal blade captured a reflection—Riome!

  Kai woke from his dream with a shutter. Not only was she alive, but she was coming back to Diu. Somewhere in the woods surrounding the city, she lay severely wounded, maybe dying. He shot from his bed. There would be no time to explain; he needed to go. Riome needed him, and he might be her only chance for survival. It was still hours before dawn, and he knew he had to be quiet if he hoped to sneak out with no one the wiser.

  Dressed in black, Kai pulled on his boots and ran down the spiral staircase of his grandfather’s Bodhima tree, the Cosmos vines illuminating in a pale blue glow as he woke them from their slumber. Smoke bounded after him. At the bottom, Kai stopped. “Sorry, Smoke, where I’m going, I cannot take you with me.”

  From the darkness, a voice whispered. “I see no reason why Smoke can’t go. He has flown with us before,” Rayna called, stepping into the dim blue light.

  There was no point in asking why she was awake or how she knew he was leaving. He spotted the pack strapped to her back, the black pants, thick cloak, and hiking boots. She was ready for travel, the same as him; except that she had managed to bring supplies.

  They were three black figures darting through the night, traveling high into the hills away from Hiowind. It felt wrong to leave without letting anyone know, but he needed to get to find Riome, even if it meant going to Diu without permission. This might be his only chance to stop Nola. There was no time to waste arguing his cause or his method of travel. He would need to transform into a dragon and keep high enough—and circle wide enough—to avoid being spotted.

  Although he was fast, it still took them hours to fly over the Katori Mountains, Albey, and Baden Lake to Thade Mountain. Dawn threatened to peek over the horizon as Kai landed on the massive overhanging rock known as Eagle Peak. The same place he’d met Sabastian, Ryker, and Simone with his uncle Haygan long ago.

  Rayna and Smoke hopped from his back, and he transformed back into his natural form. No sooner did he arch to stretch his back than he felt a gust of wind and saw the hint of blue light. Sabastian dropped a few feet behind Kai.

  “I saw you coming from miles away.” Sabastian patted Kai on the back and angled around him to greet Rayna. “Dear Rayna, it is a pleasure to see you again. Why are you two here?” He shot a displeased look at Kai.

  Tension swelled in the pit of Kai’s stomach. Even though Sabastian was Kendra’s husband, he did not give his trust freely to Kai at first. And although he helped Kai battle the Guardians last spring, it did not mean he would agree with Kai returning to Diu. He could only hope that because Sabastian was a friend to Yulia, that her daughter Riome would be just as important to him. He hoped his friend would understand him landing near Sabastian’s treetop home. There was no time to mince words.

  “Riome is in trouble,” Kai said bluntly, “and I am here to search for her. My vision puts her in the woods outside of Diu. She is avoiding the Diu patrols, hiding in a small cabin cleaved in half by a tree, and she is severely wounded.”

  “What I asked was, why are you here?”

  Sabastian’s tone felt harsh, and Kai stepped back.

  Had he done something wrong? Surely Riome’s friends would want to know. Yulia, her mother, needed to know. “I came for Riome,” Kai insisted.

  “Did you?” The intense expression coming off Sabastian came in waves, and Kai felt stunned. “As a Beastmaster and the grandson of an Elder you know better than to show your dragon form.”

  He did know better, but he was careful. “Why can dragons no longer fly over Diu and Baden Lake?” Kai asked. “My grandfather Benmar did it for years. My first flight was over the lake. As a boy, I saw dragons many nights. Now they are disappearing from our skies. Why?”

  Sabastian chuckled. “I see the Elders still provide no explanations. First, you and I both know nobody tells Benmar what to do, but even your grandfather now heeds their warnings. When your mother was presumably killed by a dragon, they were all ordered to remain on the Katori side of the mountains to avoid war. The black dragons are less of a concern; Simone is practically invisible at night, but you, my boy, look like a roaming star in the sky. Granted, my eagle eyes give me an advantage, but it is prudent to listen. The Elders want the world to believe the dragons are disappearing.”

  Kai opened his mouth, but Sabastian held up his hand, halting the question forming on his lips. “The Elders have their reasons. Keeping the dragon numbers a secret is better for Katori and better for the dragons. It is not our place to question the Elders.”

  “Since when do you follow the rules?” Kai chided. “Riome needs me, so here I am.”

  “You did not need to come yourself,” Sabastian scolded, turning his back on Rayna to square off with Kai. “And I follow the important rules. But this is not about me; it is about you. Your own cousin, Cazier, warned you to stay away from Diu. Yet here you are. Do not give me an excuse about some vision—you could have sent word and we would’ve found Riome ourselves. So, tell me the truth. You wanted to come to Diu. You know Simone could have come; she would do anything for Yulia. No, you took a foolish risk, driven by your desire to come back here.”

  Every excuse Kai could think of fell flat in his mouth. Sabastian’s words hurt, but it did not make them less accurate. He had been looking for a legitimate excuse to come to Diu, to save his father and face Nola. He set his path wide knowing the risks of flying over Baden Lake at night, but in those final hours, he cut close to Diu in order to reach Thade Mountain.

  “Do I need to justify wanting to help find Riome?” he thundered as boldness formed in his bones. “So, what, you are sending me home?”

  There was no denying the heat building inside Kai. If he were a dragon right now, he would spray fire. A blue glow emanated from Sabastian’s crystal, and Kai felt the flow of magic pour into the seasoned warrior. “My Guardian days may be behind me”—Sabastian opened his arms wide—“but my loyalty to Katori remains steadfast. This is something you need to learn.”

  “I won’t go!” Kai barked. “I came to help Riome, and you cannot stop me.”

  Smack! Sabastian’s hands slammed together.

  A burst of golden light poured from Sabastian’s fingertips directly into Kai’s eyes. The heat was intense, and the light pierced deep. In great pain, Kai dropped to his knees, covering his eyes. He screamed in agony. Hot tears streamed down his face, and he tried to blink his vision clear.

  Everything was dark. Kai could not see. “What have you done?” he cried.

  Rayna darted to Kai and touched his face. “I am here, Kai,” she soothed. “You burned his skin and his eyes!” she gasped in fury at Sebastian. “His eyes are blood red. Why would you do this?”

  Sabastian knelt and touched Kai’s head. “Go home, Kai, back to Katori. Tell Lucca, Haygan, and Simone you are going to visit your father in Diu. No need to ask for permission, but they deserve to know where you went. Second, travel with your men. Kempery-man Dresnor and Captain Drew have discovered Davi’s community. They often visit, inquiring about you. Only then can you return to Diu the proper way. Not like some thief in the night.”

  Kai blinked his eyes; still, he saw nothing. “How?” he begged, “I am blind. How did you do it? How can a Beastmaster create light?”

  “Consider this a lesson.” Kai heard Sabastian’s tone harden. “Think before you act. Never go against an opponent you don’t fully understand. One of my ancestors was a Lumen; my mother called me her ‘golden boy’ because I could make light with my fingers. Many thought I would be a
Lumen, and over the years, I learned how to control the light, use it. You have seen me fight only once, but it doesn’t mean I used every trick I know. You must remember that the best warriors keep a few secrets for that once-in-a-lifetime moment. You should have paid attention to the flow of magic. I purposefully pulled in excess—I wanted you to notice. Not that you would know how I would use it, but you should have known something was coming. In a full-on battle, the best of us can sense the shift, find the source, and be prepared. You never want to get blindsided again. I knew Rayna could heal you, but we learn the best lessons the hard way.”

  “Let me help you,” Rayna massaged Kai’s temples. Her hands warmed steadily, and he saw the light bloom in his field of vision. As his sight returned, he saw Sabastian and Rayna kneeling on either side. Rayna’s eyes were soft and sincere, while Sabastian remained severe and persistent.

  “Kendra has told me about the tension building in Diu. I see her less and less these days, but I slip into the city from time to time. Many here in Diu are fearful over the health of their King and they question the rumors surrounding their missing Prince. Kai. You will have to choose.” Sabastian rose and offered Kai a hand up. “Time to go home.”

  Humbled by the moment, Kai accepted the gesture. “What about being seen?”

  “Dawn will provide your escape. Shortly after the sun breaks along the horizon, there is a bright streak in the sky. The pale colors of dawn–white and yellow are perfect for you. It will last long enough for you to get well over Baden Lake. Go due east into the sun, north of Chenowith until you reach the mountains, then cut north behind Albey toward Benmar’s cavern. Fly as high as Rayna and Smoke can tolerate—the rising sun will continue to ensure you go unnoticed. You know the path, do not deviate. And one last thing. Respect your elders, Kai. Maybe, just maybe, we know a little more than you think.”

  Kai wanted so desperately to stay, but he nodded with understanding. Lucca and the other Elders would notice they were gone. They might go searching, something he should have considered before leaving. Like it or not, he did owe them the respect of telling them about his decision to visit Diu. “Sabastian, thank you for searching for Riome. There are five days until the Winter Festival.” Kai took Rayna’s hand. “We will return to the palace in three. Let Kendra know whatever you find.”

  Smoke slipped around Sabastian as Kai transformed and jumped up with Rayna. The trip back with little rest would be difficult, and Kai did not enjoy returning with his tail between his legs.

  Chapter 4

  A Just Cause

  Sabastian’s warning to not deviate echoed in Kai’s mind. He wanted to listen, but before flying back to Katori, he slipped north, dropping into the dense forest a few miles from Davi’s community. He had promised to go straight home, but he needed to speak with his men. He owed them a face-to-face meeting after months of silence.

  Sprinting through the forest, Kai and Rayna reached the Katori outcast village, and true to Sabastian’s report, Dresnor and Drew were there making inquiries.

  Kai whispered to Rayna, “It might be better if I go in alone to speak with my men. If you are with me, I have little leverage to travel back to Katori. I will need a reason to leave. If Dresnor can send for a ship, we may return to Diu before the festival. Wait for me near the first waterfall; I will catch up with you and Smoke there.”

  Green ivy and moss sprouted around Rayna, covering her in a delicate camouflage. She nodded and disappeared into the foliage behind Smoke.

  Alone, Kai sauntered into the Katori community, stopping to talk with one man and laughing loudly. He wanted Dresnor to spot him first. He did not want his old friend to know he had come here, hoping to find him. Perfected over his years of pretending during his spy training, Kai did his best to act surprised when Dresnor called.

  “Prince Kai!”

  “Dresnor, what brings you here?” Kai said, offering a hand in feigned surprise and delight.

  Dresnor’s cold expression left Kai hanging in midair.

  Kai let his hand fall, pursed his lips, and offered a nod. “I am glad you are here. I was coming your way after I spoke with Davi. Rayna and I would like to return to Diu before the Winter Festival. The last word I received about my father was Cazier’s letter. I need to go home.”

  Dresnor huffed. “Home, is it? Still home, I mean. It seems you prefer living among the Katori over your own people. The last news from you was nearly two months back. I come here every three days inquiring about you. To what do we owe the honor now?”

  Drew held his tongue, but his posture gave Kai the impression he felt the same as Dresnor. “My love for my father, for Diu, remains unchanged,” Kai tried to assure them. “But I would be lying if I said I do not love my mother’s country. The Katori are good people, and I am thankful for their hospitality. They saved my life, and I have worked hard to earn their trust.” Then Kai shot back, “Something I thought I already earned with you.”

  The tension did not improve. Cold stares lingered, and clamped jaws left little room for pleasantries. Davi intervened. “Welcome, Kai. I am sorry to see Rayna is not with you. I trust she is preparing for your departure.”

  “Thank you, Davi.” Kai broke his focus on Dresnor to offer a hand to Davi. “Rayna and I are ready to travel, but my grandfather would appreciate one last dinner before we go to Diu. As I am sure you can imagine, he is particularly unhappy we plan to leave, but family is very important. I will not abandon my father, nor will I forget the relationship I have with my grandfather.” He gave Dresnor a stern look.

  “One last thing, Kai.” Dresnor stepped in close. “I hear Nola has Diu soldiers looking for you and Rayna. The longer they go without news, the more manpower they will throw into the search—or at least that is what Nola wants the citizens of Diu to believe. Each passing day proves her point: either you have abandoned them, or you are dead at the hands of the Katori. Your letters no longer carry weight. They could use a little hope, the city you once called home. There is much unrest—the fall harvest was lacking, and the winter has been cruel.”

  Guilt seeped into the cracks of Kai’s heart. Diu was his childhood home, a place he would forever love but belong to no more. A fact he was coming to realize the nearer he got. “Can you make the arrangements?” Kai pressed Dresnor. “Send for the Dragaron. I wish to be home swiftly to see my father before the festivities.”

  Dresnor bowed, “Your Highness, Prince Kai, I will be honored to see to your preparations. I will send a letter on the afternoon ship. Enjoy dinner with your grandfather; I expect the Grand Duke’s ship could be here tomorrow early evening, or the following morning at the latest. Either way, we should be in Diu with days to spare before the festival.”

  The brevity in Dresnor’s tone left Kai sour, but he kept his face neutral while saying his goodbyes.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Running at a quick clip, Kai darted through the forest. The smell of earthy pine and melting snow was a welcome aroma to his Beastmaster nature. Thankful for the moment alone, he thought about telling his grandfather Lucca that he needed to say goodbye to his father before he died. If this was Iver’s time to die, he owed him for a lifetime of love. Nobody could begrudge Kai one last moment.

  The use of magic pricked Kai’s senses, giving him an uneasy feeling as an unnatural fog rolled through the Zabranen Forest. Suddenly worried about Rayna and Smoke, Kai ran faster. Each footfall pounded into the soft wet soil, and red mud splashed his black boots. Greeted by the sounds of rushing water, Kai weaved through the trees to follow the narrow trail along the river.

  When Rayna’s familiar form emerged through the mist, Kai quickly noticed she was not alone. Two Katori Guardians he recognized from training waited with her. The Weathervane, Gail, stood silently weaving her hands in a pattern he recognized; she was creating the mist. Dressed in deep purple and black with a longbow slung across her back, she stopped and looked to her fellow Guardian. The menacing brawny Stoneking, Mekael, carried two battle axes, several dagg
ers strapped to his chest, and one shoved into his boot. His stoic profile made him difficult to read, but Kai knew both were deadly serious.

  Before Mekael could tell Kai why they were here, beasts of all sorts rushed through the trees. Concerned by the multitude, and their distress, Kai reached out to an oncoming black panther. Their minds joined, and he felt the creature’s fear. The animal stopped in front of Kai as he knelt on one knee.

  Why do you run? What have you to fear? he asked with his mind.

  The panther responded, Men in black attack anything that moves, animal and mankind alike. They wear a raven on their chest.

  Shocked by the news, Kai connected to his sight and gleaned the forest. The vast distance was no challenge for any seasoned Katori, and Kai’s range was more than adequate. Animal upon animal darted in fear. His mind drifted deeper northwest until he found Davi’s village. True to the panther’s story, men with swords were attacking the Katori villagers, who were struggling to fight back. Volley after volley of flaming arrows rained from the sky. Flames licked at the trees and danced from structure to structure.

  “Beastmaster,” Mekael interrupted Kai’s gleaning, “you should return to Katori. It would appear that Diu and Milnos soldiers march on the Katori outsider camp. I glean at least five hundred warriors.”

  Stunned by Mekael’s order, Kai stepped toward Rayna and took her hand. “I will not abandon Davi and his people. If you are going to help them, let us come with you!”

  “You are no Guardian, boy,” Mekael thundered. “It is our place; other Guardians are already on their way. We will defend our people, but we do not need an unseasoned Beastmaster boy in the way. The girl would be of more help; as a Kodama she could heal the wounded, but she should stay here until it is over.”

  Two thoughts tabulated in Kai’s mind as he slowly collected energy from the sunshine and the rolling waterfall. First, he knew there was no arguing with the Guardians, even though he wanted to help. Second, he knew Rayna would agree with him to stay and fight.