Suddenly, Brea heard a loud cry coming from her right. Now what?
“Look!” Elspeth whispered.
The whisper was quiet, but Brea heard excitement and surprise in the voice.
“I can’t look. What is it? What is happening?” Brea huffed. Didn’t they know how difficult this was for her?
“I think its Arfael,” Elspeth said. “A large… thing just jumped off the balcony opposite.”
“It’s Arfael,” Gialyn said. “At least he’s wearing his armour.”
“Good, he’s changed. Where is he going? Is Alacin still with him?” Brea asked.
“I don’t think so,” Elspeth said. “And if he was, I doubt he would jump off a balcony. At least he had better not.”
Elspeth sounded upset, Brea realized.
“He is safe, Elspeth. I spoke to him a few minutes ago, remember.”
She heard Elspeth sigh. “Yes, but that was a few minutes ago. Anything could have happened since.”
The girl was right; anything could happen, and she was stuck holding a dragon back. Come on, Alacin, we don’t have time for you to be hurt.
* * *
One look at the rubble-strewn hall had changed Mandic’s mind about entering. Whatever was going on in there, it would do nobody any good if he got himself killed: who would fly the dragons back to Toi’ildrieg? Well, that’s what he told himself, anyway. Truth was, he had no idea what he was doing there. Oh, he was a soldier, but attached to the Flying School. All this… this fighting, that was for other men. Why did Sergeant Haselan have to land at his station? Another hour or two, the man could have flown to the capital and gathered some real soldiers to rescue Vila.
He edged his way around the curving corridor, keeping behind the pillars as much as possible. Trainer he may be, but it wouldn’t do for any of the lieutenants to see him skulking around, never mind Vila herself. The dragon, his dragon, was sitting in the middle of that rubble-strewn hall, staring up at a balcony. He didn’t want to know what was up there, what had caused a Cuis’gaw to stop dead in her tracks.
He turned the corner into what looked like a quiet hallway and then jumped back when a young man popped up out of nowhere. Pulling his sword, he forced the man back into the hall.
The young man had no weapons that Mandic could see, but he was quite tall. He looked like a southerner, someone from Krasis, maybe. He certainly wasn’t Toyan.
“You just stay where you are,” Mandic told the man. He fought against the urge to run, and barely manage to stop his sword from shaking.
The man took a step forward. Mandic thrust his sword at him. “I told you to stay where you are. I know what you’re trying to do. Just… just stay still, and be quiet.”
Mandic risked a glance to his side. Where were the other men? They couldn’t all be outside fighting the city guards. He stepped to the side and put his back against one of the columns. At least he wouldn’t be burned if Salini decided she was going to breathe fire again.
Pregnant these past four years, his dragon shouldn’t be here, never mind fighting in a battle. For that matter, all the dragons from the school were too young, too old, or pregnant. He could hardly believe his ears when the colonel had agreed to send them. If they hurt my Salini! He felt a surge of anger and directed another jab at the young man – even though he had not moved a muscle.
* * *
Alacin dodged the guard’s attack. How the man knew Alacin was on his way to turn the dragon was a mystery. Maybe he would ask him, if he ever stopped thrusting that damn sword in his direction.
A loud shrieking cry filled the hall in front of him. The man dropped the sword and ran towards the open archway. Alacin eyed him as he ran. “What’s gotten into him?” he whispered.
Then he saw why the man was running. A huge stone beast was charging down the hall towards the northern exit. “Arfael? Is that you?” Alacin shouted. The beast paused for a second. He seemed to grin, and then continued on its way. Alacin knew of the Cinnè’arth, and had even seen one once, but not in its full beast form. It… he…was impressive.
He put the beast out of his mind and turned his gaze to the forty-foot, slender dragon sitting in the middle of the hall. Slender, but for the large bump of a stomach. The creature was looking up at one of the balconies. He followed its gaze and saw Elspeth waving down at him. She seemed very excited to see him. He raised a hand before running over to the dragon.
The creature was a Cuis. Dark green in colour, it was a female, and probably pregnant, by the looks of her. She ignored him as he approached. He laid his hand on her stomach.
Closing his eyes, he let the curtain fall and felt for the creature’s mind. There were three minds; the dragon was having two young, both boys. He suppressed a smile and concentrated on the adult’s mind. It was full of fear. Probably fear for its young. Slowly, he laid a feeling onto its mind, soft, like a woollen blanket. She wasn’t as easy as Karlas had been; her mind was far more focused. She was protecting her young, too, which doubtless gave her more willpower.
He fought against the visions in the creature’s mind. She was old, probably six or seven hundred years. She had seen war. Weaving around the anger and fear was difficult, like calming a puppy who had lost its mother. There was little reasoning to latch onto; the creature was working on instinct, mostly. Pushing that aside, Alacin could see Vila’s bond laying over the creature’s mind, preventing the dragon from making her own choices. He cut into the dark blanket and slowly pulled it away.
He heard the dragon gasp, and for the first time, it turned to look at him.
“What have you done?” she asked.
“Have no fear,” he said. “My name is Alacin. I have removed her influence. You are whole again.”
The dragon stared for a long moment. She got to her feet and turned to face him. “I am Salini, and I thank you, Alacin. I have been fighting the darkness for so long. You must come with me, help the others.”
Alacin raised his hands and backed off a step. “All in good time, Salini. If all goes to plan, Vila will lose her influence very soon. You won’t need my help.”
“And how will you accomplish this?” she asked.
“The Barrowstone is lost to her. She’s trying to acquire another, but we won’t let her have it!”
The dragon nodded. “Very well, I will help you.”
“Help us!” Alacin shook his head. “No, you must stay here. The other dragons will kill you, and you have your sons to think of.”
“My sons? How do you… Oh, of course, you are a Raic.” She smiled. “Sons you say… their father will be pleased, though I wanted a daughter. Still, it is good. Thank you, Alacin.”
Alacin heard a commotion as Brea and the others ran into the hall. The Oracle had a smile on her face, but looked weak at the knees.
“You took your time, I nearly lost her.”
Alacin introduced the dragon and they all exchanged greetings.
“It’s time we were gone,” Gialyn said. “We’re too close to the trouble here.”
Alacin agreed. “You should wait here,” he told Salini. “Please, don’t risk yourself.” The others gave him a look as if he were mad. “Our friends will stop Vila getting what she wants.”
“Very well,” the dragon said. “I will wait, but if she comes to me, I will not back down.”
Alacin could do nothing but agree. He could hardly blame her. Leaving the dragon sitting under the high balcony, he led the others back through the hall. This battle couldn’t last much longer; best for them if they stayed out of sight.
* * *
Snarling, Arfael retreated behind the debris that had fallen from the tower. There were too many dragons. He could have confused one or two, maybe killed them, but five! He had already helped the general’s troops to defeat three groups of Kel’madden Troopers – after persuading them that he wasn’t the enemy – but none of their attacks had had any impact on the dragons, until…
Explosions had rattled the towers as the Eiras fir
ed their “starburst” into the air. The general had said they were to “scare them off” but Arfael had no doubt they would cause some damage if they actually hit one of the dragons. The noise alone would deafen them.
That had been all well and good, but he wanted to fight, not watch.
The explosions died away and then started up further north. A few of the dragons were making their escape, being followed by the boom of starbursts as they flew over the city. Arfael was making his own way around the tower. No more help from the Eiras, the general had insisted it was only a matter of time before the “witch ran off to lick her wounds” – idiot. Two dragons were still fighting behind the tallest tower. The big Nirad and the larger of the Cuis appeared to be waiting for something. Circles of soldiers were defending them. Arfael made his way over. If Vila were going to show, it would be there.
* * *
“I think we’ve gone far enough,” Elspeth said. “We may as well stay here. It’s starting to quieten down a bit maybe we’ve won already?”
Brea blinked; she was having trouble focusing after the effort of holding the dragon. Alacin was holding her up, and Gialyn was hovering, asking her every few moments if she was well enough to carry on. Elspeth was right; the boy was annoying. “Let’s at least find somewhere with chairs,” she said. “I’m not sitting on the floor.”
Elspeth nodded and continued along the hall. She had decided to take on the mantle of scout, despite Gialyn’s complaining that she should stay behind. “Do you think Arfael is safe?” she said over her shoulder.
Gialyn snorted. “I’d be more concerned for those who get in his way,” he said in a level tone.
Brea wished that the two of them would sort out their feelings for one another. Oh, Elspeth acted like it was nothing, but Brea knew better; she had seen the look the taller girl had given Gialyn when Arfael said they had only come to save her. If that wasn’t love in her eyes…
“Why would you worry about them?” Elspeth asked him.
“I’m not… I’m only saying. Gods, the man is made of stone, he’s not likely to get hurt.”
Elspeth had stopped. She turned back to the front and took a step though a tall door. Brea heard her yelp as two pairs of arms grabbed her and pulled her to the side. The door slammed shut.
“Elspeth!” Gialyn shouted. He ran at the door and barged it with his shoulder. “Elspeth!” He kicked the door.
Brea looked behind. They were in a long hallway; how had the attackers known Elspeth would be there? They must have been watching for a while.
Alacin released her after helping her sit. He joined Gialyn, and the pair of them kicked and banged at the door. Gialyn continued shouting while Alacin repeatedly kicked against the door handle.
“They must have jammed it,” Alacin said, taking a rest from his pounding. “This is no use, we should go around.”
Gialyn stared at him. “The temple,” he said. And without another word, he ran off along the corridor.
“Wait for us, you…” Alacin shouted. He bent down to help Brea to her feet.
“No, leave me here. Go after him before he gets himself killed.”
“But –
“I’ll be fine. Please, just go.”
Alacin paused for a moment. Then turned and ran after Gialyn. “I’ll send someone back as soon as I can.”
Brea pulled herself into the corner next to the door and settled against the frame where she could see along the corridor. Was this it? Was this what the vision had hinted at, when she was told Gialyn would be needed? She hoped not; that vision had ended with him dead.
* * *
Vila cursed again as the girl tried to free herself from her grip. To think, she had liked Elspeth, even thought of making her an ambassador for that village she came from. No more; when this was over, the girl would be her bathing servant. Maybe thirty years of washing hair would calm her down.
Breani was waiting in the temple.
“You could have helped,” Vila told her. “What if I hadn’t found her.”
Breani curtsied. “I did what I could, Madam Vila. The temple would be swarming with guards if I hadn’t sent them away.”
Vila suppressed her anger. Maybe the woman wasn’t completely useless. Still, she could have arranged for Elspeth to be there, instead of forcing her to run all over the tower looking for the girl. “Is it ready?” she asked.
“Yes,” Breani said. She gestured towards a small table and pulled back the cloth. The Aregolas Blade and a small shard from within the cave were laying on it.
Vila pulled the girl over to the table. “Hold out your hand,” she told Elspeth. Of course, the girl refused. Vila picked up the Shard and the knife and turned to Elspeth. “Now, you can do as I say, or I can slit your throat and continue while you’re bleeding to death. Which would you prefer?”
The girl squirmed and bared her teeth, but she opened her hand. “I hope Arfael finds you and rips you to pieces,” Elspeth said.
Vila chuckled. “Oh, I’ll have my day with the Cinnè’arth, I can assure you of that. But not today.”
* * *
Gialyn’s heart pounded as he ran along the hallway towards the spiral stairs. He would have to slow down soon, or they’d hear him coming. But the panic clamping down on his throat wouldn’t let him stop. Why couldn’t Elspeth have listened to him just this once? Why did she have to go off in front? He knew very well that if she hadn’t, he’d likely be dead, and she would still be captured, but that didn’t curb his frustration. Everything she did seemed to frustrate him.
The stairs were quiet. Gilayn crept down, listening all the while. There were voices up ahead. Someone was chanting; the voice sounded like Vila’s. She had started the ritual. Gialyn wondered how many others would be there. He paused a moment to listen. He couldn’t hear anybody else, and no one was coming down the stairs to help, either.
At the bottom, he tiptoed to the arch that led into the temple and peeked around the corner.
There were six people in the cave, including Elspeth, the witch, another woman, and three guards. Gialyn was surprised to see Breani among them, and not as a prisoner. The woman had betrayed them. His anger boiled when he remembered her “volunteering” to stay behind. She’d been playing with them all this time. She had probably been the one who sent for help.
Vila held Elspeth’s hand in hers. She was still chanting. Gialyn could see blood dripping from underneath their joined hands. Two of the guards were holding Elspeth up, her face was pale and she was swaying, despite the support. What were they doing to her? The other guard looked like an officer. Gialyn ducked back around the wall when the man turned in his direction.
Listening, he heard Vila laugh. “It’s done!” the witch shouted.
“We should go through the back tunnels, Ma’am,” the officer said. “I thought I heard someone coming down the stairs.
“Bring the girl,” Vila told him.
Gialyn waited. In a few moments, they would cross the small hall and head towards the lower tunnels.
Vila left first, then the officer, followed by Breani. The guards were all but dragging Elspeth along behind.
Now was his only chance. Gialyn took a deep breath and ran. Barrelling into the two guards, he grabbed Elspeth by the arm and pulled her into the temple cave. She smiled at him, though she could hardly stand. Gialyn sat her down behind a large rock. He quickly pulled his daggers just in time to let loose on the two guards. One guard took a knife in the neck, the other in his chest, but not before he had thrown a dagger of his own. Gialyn fell to his knees and stared at the hilt sticking out of this stomach.
“No,” Elspeth cried.
Gialyn watched her struggle to her knees. She pulled a dagger from his belt.
“Get her!” Vila shouted. “And hurry up about it.”
The last guard – the officer – edged his way into the mouth of the cave, warily watching for movement. Elspeth threw the dagger, but it glanced off the wall. The officer rounded on them, and was abou
t to push forward, when…
“They’re coming!” Breani forced a whisper through clenched teeth. “The stairs. Can’t you hear it? Someone is coming.”
Gialyn lay down on the cave floor. He heard Vila shouting, but couldn’t her what she said. The officer turned and ran back towards the lower tunnels.
Gialyn could feel the smile creasing his lips. For all the agony he felt, he was happy, happy and… content, he realised. I saved her!
* * *
Skirt hiked to her knees, Elucia ran down the spiral stair that led to the temple. The fighting had stopped, the dragons had gone – most of them. She had heard the explosions ringing out across the city – the starbursts had done their job. The tower was in a shambles; dozens were likely dead, but none of that mattered. What was happening in the temple was far more important.
She hated running, and running down stairs was worse, but every slip, every curse she made was followed by a prayer that the youngsters were not dead. She would need them, Brea especially. Even the other girl might prove useful. And that Alacin… what a find; if more of those Cren had his power they would be a true force for good in the battle against Diobael. She suppressed the feeling of guilt at wanting to use them; the situation was too dire to worry about personal feelings. Ash’mael could escape at any moment. Diobael’s second would bring the Karakin out of Aldregair. No, she would use them, and anyone else who might prove useful.
She rushed into the Temple, followed by a dozen guards, just in time to see a Kel’madden soldier disappearing down the lower passage. Without a word, she pointed the sergeant in that direction. He, and six others, took off in pursuit.
Elucia ran to the mouth of the cave and then stopped. A mixture of relief and worry coursed through her. Elspeth was safe. But the boy, the young man who obviously loved her, was lying on the floor, a dagger stuck in him.
The Dragon Oracles: Omnibus Edition (The Eastern Kingdom Omnibus Book 1) Page 110