by C. K. Rieke
“Why?” Fewn’s eyes darted around at the sand at her feet. “I told you, I was scared. I thought they were going to come after us. They still are. That’s why we need to stay together now.”
“You led me into a trap. A trap you thought I wouldn’t get out of. You thought I’d die, be eaten by those things, and you know what? I almost did die. I shouldn’t be standing here in front of you now, but somehow, I am. I don’t know if that’s lucky— or unlucky— for you.”
“I am so happy to see you’re alive. I think a part of me always knew you were going to make it through there. You’re strong, Lilaci. And I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. It’s something I’m going to have to live with. The regret haunts me every day. I want to redeem myself. More than anything.”
I’m trying hard, but how can I ever truly forgive her for what she’s done? How many times am I going to forgive, only to be hurt again, and regret it later. Why is Kera asking me to do this? I need to trust her, I know I do. But when I love someone the way I do, how can I forgive the one who hurt them?
“She did lead the girl here to where we could find ‘em, and she’s still alive,” Burr said from over behind Kera. He put his palms up to his chest. “I know this is all past doings you’re talking about, but I’m just getting that out there."
“She also tried to kill Lilaci,” Roren said to him.
“Nobody’s perfect,” Burr said.
“The only redeeming thing I see in you, Fewn, is that Kera is still here,” Lilaci said. “So, somehow, someway, you protected her— hid her— until we arrived at this moment. That’s all I see. The rest— is just a scared girl who got in trouble and doesn’t want to be punished. It’s as if we’re back in Sorock, and Elan found you stealing food again. You’d cry and beg for forgiveness when you were little.”
“I’m not that little girl anymore,” she said, with her shoulders perking back up from their hunched position, and she wiped the tears from her cheeks with her fresh bandage. “I’m here to protect her, that’s my life now. I have nothing left. Except you.”
Lilaci looked deeply through Fewn then. I don’t like either of the two options I have here. The first is I kill her where she stands now. Shove my sword straight through her heart. Kera would never forgive me though. She’s still quite fond of her, but she’s also young and naive. The second is to forgive her the best I can and let her come with us. The upside to that is that we have one more strong fighter to help us, but I’d have to constantly keep an eye on her. Kera won’t let me just leave Fewn behind, so that’s not even an option.
“Kera,” Lilaci said. “I trust you. I trust your judgment. What do you want me to do with her? Do remember though, she took you from me once— I can’t let that happen again. She won’t get a second try at that. If you want me to forgive her, I will do my best. But it may be safest to move on without her.”
Kera looked up at Lilaci with a serious gaze, and then walking back over to her she grabbed Lilaci by the hand, who dropped to a knee. “Thank you,” Kera said to her softly.
She then walked over to Fewn and grabbed her hand, as Fewn fell to a knee. “Fewn, I thank you for bringing me here safely. You do mean a lot to me, as does Lilaci, as does Roren. I’m asking Lilaci to forgive you.” Fewn began to smile, but then Kera’s tone took a grave tone. “But if you ever do anything to hurt her again, you won’t have Lilaci’s vengeance you’ll have to worry about. You’ll have mine.”
In the early morning the next day a crisp dew collected on the dying grass as it swayed in the breeze. The smell of saltwater in the air rolling up from the sea was a pleasant welcome to Lilaci. That was the closest she’d ever been to the sea in her life. She was the first one awake, as the others were huddled into their blankets at the mountain’s base around the freshly-stoked fire at their center. Lilaci stood with her blanket around her shoulders, and she felt the cool breeze wash over her sandy cheeks. She watched the sea as it rolled back and forth onto the sandy beach. Its gentle roar was a reminder of her small existence. Lilaci grew up with a sense of respect for the power and might of the desert, and then, standing in front of the ocean like that, she felt even more respect. She thought about the amount of courage it would take to cross such a thing. Something you could not walk over, something that would pull you under to depths unfathomable by man. What creatures live in such a wild place, she thought.
Then the small island in the distance caught her eye as a white, cloudy fog rolled past it. With her keen eyes she was even vaguely able to make out the palace on the island, the home of the gods— Firen-Ar. She remembered that not all the gods were there then, one wasn’t— Garenond, before his death, told her that The Witch Queen was still in the Arr. She was back in Voru. Lilaci knew that for Kera to live, the gods have to be out of the picture, somehow. Dragons could at least fight the gods. They were powerful enough to match the brute strength of the gods. But what would a dragon do against the magics they wielded? Did the dragons have magics of their own?
How long will it be before we see a dragon rip through the air, even if we are able to succeed? We’d have to bring to life a full-sized adult if it were to stand any chance against Dânoz in battle. A mere hatchling would be butchered without a chance. How many years would it take for a new offspring to grow to that size? If we do find a dragon up there in the mouth of the cave above, will we have to hide it until it is ready to fight? How do you even hide a dragon in the first place? They’re the wildest of beasts, no chains I know of can harness a dragon’s might— a dragon’s fire. Perhaps Kera will know what to do when and if we ever are able to fulfill her destiny. Maybe Burr would have some insight— some ancient knowledge that will be useful. I can’t help but think about the pixies back there though. Its words still linger. It told me that I needed to survive if Kera is to succeed, that I have no intention of not heeding. It also told me that Gorlen will come, and that I need to find another way to stop her— that is logical, as the Sanzoral was a gift from her, and wouldn’t have the power to defeat its maker. The third thing though, that is most troubling— that some in the shadows will come to light, and the opposite is to be true as well. Does that mean that we are going to meet another ally, but they won’t start as an ally? And— an ally will fall into darkness? It’s my mind and heart telling me it’s Fewn. I know that Kera wants her to stay, and I’ll follow her wish, but I can’t get the feeling out of me that’s she not to be trusted. But perhaps I’m still just pissed at her for what she did. I’ll just have to keep my eyes open. At least I know I can trust Roren with Kera completely. He’s sworn an oath to . . . Hmmm, that makes me think. What of the other two? Have they sworn oaths? That may not be a horrible idea. One more thing that still bothers me about the pixie’s words— Burr said there was a curse hidden in those words, but he’s yet to speak further about his comment. I’ll have to press him on that soon. For the moment, you can at least be a little relieved that you’re finally back with her. Yet, we need to scour what lies up the mountain. She can’t make the climb, her limbs are too weak and short. I’m not leaving her alone with Fewn again, or even Burr— I trust him, but he’s still too new to our party. Looks like Roren is staying with her.
After the party was all awake, breakfast was prepared by Roren— warm dried deren meat and some thin slivers of cactus. They sat around in a circle, all five of them, looking around at each other as Lilaci explained to them her plan. Roren seemed just fine with watching over Kera as the others climbed upward. Kera was the only one with any objection— she wanted to climb up as well, and Fewn said she’d help her, but Lilaci said they would make it up and back quickly, hoping if they started directly after breakfast, they be back down by nightfall. None of them knew exactly how high, or even where, the cave was. Fewn hadn’t been able to find any traces of it while climbing the day before, and before she heard the yelling from down below, and she climbed back down quickly to help Lilaci and Kera. They decided the three of them would all climb up separate areas, but within sight of one another
.
Shortly after, the fire was extinguished, and the three of them readied themselves for the climb. Their boots were laced tightly, all loose clothing was tucked in neatly, and all left their hood and cloaks behind. Anything heavy, such as swords, were left. Water and daggers were the only things not cloth they’d be taking. Lilaci put her hair back and braided it, to keep any stray hair from whipping her face in the winds high up. Fewn saw this and did the same.
“Be careful,” Kera said. “And come back soon.”
“We will,” Lilaci said, putting her hand on the first grip she found. “Watch over her, Roren. And lay low until we get back.”
“She is safe with me, just find what we are looking for, and travel back,” Roren said. “We can’t stay here too long. This place is like a beacon to all the surrounding sands. We best move at early daylight in the morn.”
“Aye, and I myself am eager to lay my eyes upon the dragon egg,” Burr said. “I know the lass is, aren’t ya?” Kera nodded her head hastily.
“We’re going to be on our way,” Lilaci said. “Hold tight until we get back.”
The three others began their ascent, and the winds had already begun to pick up as they each carefully selected their hand and foot placements. The upwards jutting rocks made for good holds, once they found the right ones as they were scattered over the face of the vertical cliffs. Climbing up from a distance, they looked like ants crawling up a dune. The higher they climbed, the further from one another they spread apart, and the harsher, and fiercer the winds blew in from the seas. They all had to huddle their bodies in close to the rock wall, so as not to be blown off, and go tumbling down through the air towards the rocky floor far below. The winds made their climb not only more difficult, but it made the ascent take much longer, and time was not on their side.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Thick clouds of gray and dark sea blue drifted in with a cool breeze. Hovering low in the sky, they crept between the sun and the three climbers, casting dark shadows onto the high-reaching cliffs. Lilaci could feel the air becoming thicker, and she knew rain was coming. Luckily, the winds had calmed significantly in the hours since they first started climbing. They were making good time up the mountain, and Lilaci had made her way over the bottom part of the dragontail carved into the mountain. They made their way up quickly as they could, all the while making sure each hold was sure and true. Each of them hoping to find some sign of a cave entrance— before the rains set in.
An hour passed, and still there was no sign of a cave. There was also very little too alleviate the strain on their fingers and toes. Every now and then, a thin ledge would appear that they could take a short break upon, so they could shake off the weariness of their extremities. Once they recuperated with fresh water, then they continued their climb. The arduous work in the overcast sky dragged on. Fatigue wore heavy on muscles not normally used in crossing the deserts.
“Hoi,” Burr hollered over from the left side of the mountain. Lilaci and Fewn looked over to see him pointing up above him. “Hoi, I see something!”
It took Lilaci close to fifteen minutes to make her way over to where Burr was, only to find him gone. Once she got close, she realized where he’d disappeared to. Reaching her fingers around the break in the wall, she found Burr’s gauntlet grabbing her forearm tightly. His strong arm pulled her around the break in the wall and into the crevasse he was standing in. She meant to look back to check in on Fewn’s progress in making her way over, but the sight before her was too much for her to look away.
Within the crevasse, which stood five times her height, and just as wide, harbored back into the crevasse was a dark cave. The entrance to the cave was framed by an intricate carving.
“Stay close to the walls, lass,” Burr said, pulling her fully around into the crevasse. “Those winds’ll blow you shear off if you get too close.”
The whooshing winds flowed out of the cave’s entrance like a heavy rainwater flowing down a mountain gully. The winds were so loud and ferocious Burr had to yell so that Lilaci could hear him.
“This is it, isn’t it?” Lilaci yelled back.
Burr stared at the cave and nodded. Lilaci inched her way safely along the wall towards its entrance. Around its mouth were carvings of hundreds of small dragons. Each in a unique pose, some carved as if soaring through the air, some being born from dragon eggs, some breathing fire in a beautifully rendered pose, and even some eating— eating humans. As Lilaci stood there inspecting the cave’s entrance and examining the cave’s carvings for a clue as for how to enter, Burr helped Fewn come over the threshold into the crevasse, and she bent over to catch her breath. Then she looked up to see it— the cave they’d been looking for.
Lilaci was entranced by the entrance to the cave, she marveled over the intricacies of the sculptures. She scanned through the many dragons, seeing the fine dragonscales carved into wings. She looked at the delicate nostrils, horns and eyes in the carvings that seemed as pristine as the day they were first etched. What a marvel a living dragon would be to see in real life. I’ve heard Burr talk about their raw power, and I’ll admit to myself that seeing one flying at me on the open desert would be enough to get me praying to some form of god. But the sheer magnificence of such creatures— these lands would be completely different with predators like these; wild, powerful, and free. In their age, they experienced freedom like nothing else in this world I bet. They had nothing to hunt them. They ate as they pleased, hunted as they pleased, and wherever they laid their head become their home. And anything that came hunting them felt a fire and a fury like nothing else in these lands. Hot flames would incinerate flesh and bone like the sea washing away sand. Whatever made them, truly created perfect life. But whoever created our gods, made perfect death.
“Lilaci,” Fewn yelled out over the wind, “how are we going to enter? Do you have any ideas?”
Lilaci shook her head, and as they were all huddled against the right wall, Lilaci held her hand out with her fingers closed tightly together. The winds roared into it, shoving it back almost into Burr.
“There’s no way we can just walk into there without a stray wind catching us and blowing us clean off,” Fewn said.
“We’re getting in there one way or another,” Lilaci said. “There’s something in there. I can feel it. There’s got to be something, some information, or a clue in there as to why this mountain is here. We didn’t come all this way to head back. Burr, have you any ideas?”
Burr looked at her with a serious, stern look. His one eye was focused on her as if he were going to answer her or ask a question. But he didn’t speak, he only rolled up his dark brown sleeve to reveal his tan, scarred forearm, littered with scars. He unsheathed his dagger from the back of his belt, and dug the blade into his arm, dragging it across as fresh blood began to pool and drip. He then flipped the dagger over in his hand with the handle pointing out towards her.
“Go on,” he said.
Looking into his eyes, she saw his gaze unwavering. What is he doing, and handing the blade to me? What sort of strange trick is this?
“You want me to do the same?” she asked. He nodded, his one eye staring seriously at her. “This is going to help us somehow?” He nodded again, raising his hand to usher her on. She took the blade from his hand and placed the cool blade’s edge, dripping with warm blood into her pale skin. With a dragging motion, she felt the blade cut through her skin, and she watched as her own blood began to run from her body, slowly dripping to the rocks with the roaring winds blowing next to them with the force of a hurricane. She looked back into his eye, with a glint of approval, then he motioned his head towards Fewn.
Fewn looked at the blade and shook her head. “No way I’m cutting my arm, that’s going to hurt like the Eternal Fires.” She held it out for them to see. “It’s just bandaged up, and it finally stopped bleeding.”
“You can use your other arm I’m sure,” Lilaci said.
“Great, now I’m going to have two bad a
rms. Is this a joke? You really want me to do that? You just going to do everything he does from now on? You know he lost an eye, right?”
“Just do it,” Lilaci said to her, jostling the dagger again in her hand, with its leather handle extended.
“Fine,” Fewn said with a sigh, and took the dagger, holding it in her hand, hefting it to feel its weight and balance. And then she cut across her arm, blood slowly dripping. “There,” she said, handing the dagger back to Burr.
“Strong magic has strong thirst,” Burr said as he stared at the blade, now covered in their blood. “This is a strong, old spell,” he said. “. . . Very old.”
“Your people know blood magic?” Fewn asked, holding her fresh wound with her hand.
“Some, most spells are long forgotten, washed away from the sands of time. But this spell that creates these unnatural winds I know, because my people created it.”
“The knights?” Fewn asked. “The Knights of the Whiteblade made these winds?”
“Aye, to protect and hide whatever lies inside.”
“You know how to remove the spell?” Lilaci asked. He nodded.
“If you know they put it there,” Fewn interjected. “Do you know what’s inside?”
“I believe I can alleviate the spell for a time, and no, I do not know for sure what is inside,” he said, gazing over to meet Fewn’s look. “But I have my guesses.”
“Well, what then?” Fewn yelled over the winds.
“We’ll find out soon enough, if this works.” He took the blade of the dagger and lifted it close to his face, just in front of his lips. Lilaci for a moment thought he was going to put it in his mouth. As he closed his eye, he began to whisper. She couldn’t read his lips, let alone hear what he was saying in the roaring winds next to her ear, but she saw the knight at that moment in a new perspective. She could feel his presence then, like she’d never felt another living soul before. He felt dense, like a power was collecting inside of him, and then she looked down to see the hairs on her arm were beginning to stand straight up. Looking back at him, she noticed a single light on the dagger forming, under the blood. It was a white aura that glowed brighter as he seemed to whisper faster. He began to rock, swaying back and forth as he the light in the dagger lit his face like the morning sun.