Amane of Teravinea - The Crown (The Teravinea Series Book 3)

by D. Maria Trimble

  “Sacrifice?” I asked.

  I tried to pull my arm free, but two other tribesmen rushed in and held me. The chief gave me an angry look.

  Lia’ina continued translating. Her father had to slow down and repeat some of his narrative so she could put her words together in a way I could understand.

  “Before sacred journey Chief Father must fix evil done. Ancient ones will anger if deed not punished.”

  The chief called out an order and three natives dragged a man to the front. He was close enough to me that I could hear his ragged breath and beating heart, and smell his fear. His eyes wide, he looked at me with a mixture of hatred and apprehension. He was the one who had jumped back when I regained my strength — the one I’d humiliated.

  The chieftain turned to me. Lia’ina conveyed his message, “This man had duty. Must give Amáne nápoj when come. Did not do. He dishonor tribe and Amáne, our sacrifice.”

  Murmurs came from the villagers.

  “We avenge Amáne for his wrong. Man must die.”

  My eyes shot at Lia’ina. “Die? They’re going to kill him?”

  She gave me a slight nod, as casual as if I’d asked if she’d like some tea.

  “I don’t want to be avenged! I will not have this man’s blood on my hands.”

  Lia’ina scowled at me, as if embarrassed by my outburst. She didn’t translate it to the chief.

  “Tell him, Lia’ina. This man does not need to die because of me.”

  She stayed silent.

  I yelled at the chief, “Let the man go!”

  “It is our way, Amáne,” Lia’ina whispered to me. “What Father say, must do.”

  At the chief’s word, the three large men dragged the offender away. The man thrashed and yelled. The huge natives overpowered him, then hauled him into the forest. My heart beat fast, my stomach churned as the man’s screams became more desperate. I swallowed hard at the blood-curdling howl. Then silence.

  I stood in shock. The world receded. I felt like I was in a tunnel, moving backwards. The chief’s voice echoed in my head, wrenching me back to reality. Fighting my tears, I pushed the event of the man’s execution to a dark place in my mind. Eshshah hummed to help me. I took in a deep breath and focused again on the chief. He went on as if there had been no interruption with the brutal killing of one of his clan.

  Lia’ina continued to translate as the chief began his story.

  “Many many season ago, our ancestor live in valley. Live in harmony with Ancient Ones. One bad bad night, crazed dragon fly close, breathe fire and death on our village, kill our people. Only few escape to jungle. Run deep in forest to this place here now.

  “Wise man say must offer up maiden each seven season — sacrifice to appease Ancient Ones. If not do this, dragon come in many numbers and breathe fire through trees. All our people die. He say offering must continue until pale maiden from across water come. She last sacrifice. After you give your heart, our people can return to valley and live in harmony with many dragon.”

  A chill went up my spine.

  “Eshshah, could dragons truly have a taste for human flesh?”

  “Things are different here, but my memories recall nothing of human sacrifice to dragons. It has to be a superstition they’ve passed down through their generations, but that doesn’t lessen your danger.”

  The chief faced me. Through Lia’ina he said, “On sacred journey you travel until moon in sky. You arrive at Valley of Dragons. Must pour ashes on stone table.” He handed me a small cloth bag, filled with what I assumed were the ashes he spoke about. “You lay on stone table. Medicine man use sacred knife.” With that he made a stabbing motion at my heart. I gasped. My hands shot to my chest.

  Then he raised his open hands above my head and said, “Go. My blessing on sacred journey. You must pride this great honor, warrior maiden.”

  The villagers cheered. Music and dancing started. My hands were bound again. I started to resist, but one of the natives raised his blow gun in warning. A rope was tied around my waist — the ends left at about a man’s length in front and behind. It was decorated with leaves and beads. Two large natives emerged from the crowd. They had henna decorations on their bodies similar to mine. In an exaggerated ceremonial ritual, the chief handed each an end of the rope, which they tied around their wrists. The rope would keep me equal distance between the two to prevent me from overcoming either of them. Another tribesman, who was probably the medicine man, led the procession. They guided me out of the village.

  To my surprise, we took the path that headed toward where Eshshah waited. My heart lightened.

  “Eshshah, be ready. Once I see you, I’ll yank the rope and try to pull these two down. Take care of the man in the lead and then you can help me with the other two. This will soon be over.”

  The light of the sun filtered down through the trees a little more brightly. I allowed a small sigh of relief. But before we came close enough to Eshshah, our little procession turned sharp right — away from my dragon and back into the dense forest. I nearly collapsed.

  “Stay brave, Amáne.” She tried to hide it, but her disappointment matched mine. “I could crash through the trees now, but they may harm you before I could get to you. We must be patient. There has to be another opportunity soon.” Eshshah took flight and followed from high above.

  The rain started as small drops that made their way through the canopy of trees. In no time the drops increased until they pelted down upon us, even through the foliage. Hours later the downpour continued as we traveled on a precarious trail by a river. I could hear the rushing water far below to my left. A steep slope rose up on our right. We followed a narrow ledge. As the water cascaded down, it brought mud sliding on to our path. The trail washed away before us in several places. We lost our footing a number of times, causing us to slide down the embankment before one of the men could grab something to stop us. After which we had to make the difficult climb back up to the trail. They practically dragged me back up to the path each time. I didn’t have full use of my hands.

  The mud clung to my body — my hair matted with it. I couldn’t remember a time I’d felt more wretched.

  The medicine man stopped our small group and said something to the rope bearers. They cut the rope from their wrists and from around my waist, then unbound my hands. My skin had been rubbed raw. Free of the ropes, I felt an unbelievable relief. The trek would be much easier. I thanked them.

  We continued our miserable trip for an indeterminable amount of time. The rain didn’t let up, but came down heavier. I’d never seen such a deluge. Our path headed downhill, now. The sound of the river we followed came closer although it was still a ways below us.

  The man behind me cried out as he lost his footing. I turned to see the ledge collapse from under his feet. He desperately grabbed for something to stop his fall. That something turned out to be me. He hooked my leg on his way down and dragged me with him. I plowed feet first down the hill, sliding out of control. A jolt of pain shot through me with every rock I hit, with every bush I crashed through. I was unable to find anything solid to slow my momentum. The native careened down the hill in front of me. He hit a tree and lay still. I slid past barely clearing the tree, but I couldn’t grab it either.

  “Eshshah,” I called out loud. There was nothing she could do but to offer me her strength. I accepted it gratefully. The slope ended abruptly and I plunged into the raging river.

  The rapid waters swallowed me and pulled me down into their depth. I tumbled and rolled beneath the surface. Panic set in. Which way is up? I pumped my arms in powerful strokes. My head struck a rock. Pain shot through me. It was the wrong direction. I gathered my feet under me and pushed off what I hoped was the bottom. My lungs burned. The turbulent water thrust me up above the surface. I gulped in precious air before it pulled me under again.

  “Amáne, I’m following you, but I can’t get in yet. The river is narrow here and the cliffs and trees are too close. Stay with me!”
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  Even with Eshshah’s strength, my efforts to survive the rapids and avoid the rocks began to fail. The river shoved me under one last time. My lungs couldn’t hold any longer. My sight blurred.

  A pressure constricted my body as if a giant hand were squeezing me. My head spun and all went black.

  I coughed and sputtered as I heaved. Eshshah sat behind me and pushed her nose on my back. Breathing her healing breath, she forced the water out.

  The sound of the river raged nearby, as if it had already forgotten me and its failed attempt to take my life. I lay on the rocky beach and filled my lungs with air.

  Turning on my back, I looked up at my dragon. “How did you reach me?”

  “The river widened. The trees thinned. I spotted you immediately, but almost too late. Once I could get in, it was easy to pluck you out of the water. I’ve caught fish much larger than you.” She rumbled her laugh, but it sounded a little flat.

  I smiled. “Thank you Eshshah.”

  She breathed on me once more. I inhaled slowly and sat up to assess the damage to my battered body. Without the powerful healing gift of my dragon, I don’t think I would have been able to move. But the pain subsided as my bruises began to heal. My skirt and top had been washed away. There was not much left of the henna tattoo.

  Holding on to Eshshah’s foreleg, I stood slowly.

  “Take it easy, Amáne. You should probably lie still for a bit longer.”

  “I just want to get out of here, Eshshah. It’s time to go home.”

  Pulling myself up on her leg, I reached for my clothes in the saddlebag. I threw on the first things I found.

  As I tightened my belt over my shirt, I felt Eshshah stiffen and come to full alert. Before I could ask her what was wrong, a shadow fell upon us. Three dragons flew overhead. Eshshah covered me with her wing ready to defend me. The dragons bellowed. Eshshah answered the call. A sound I had never heard from her. Like a trumpet of thunder.

  A fear gripped my heart. If these dragons were aggressive, we would never stand a chance against them.

  A conversation ensued between Eshshah and the three dragons. They communicated in a language I couldn’t understand. It sounded similar to Charna Yash-churka, the black lizard who rescued me from the arena of death in Castle Teravinea — only more refined.

  “They feel your presence, Amáne, but they won’t hurt you. They’ve ordered us to follow them. Mount up.”

  “What now, Eshshah?”

  “I don’t know. Please hurry. They seem a bit apprehensive about us.”

  Wincing, I pulled myself up to the saddle. As I buckled in, Eshshah thrust off the ground. One dragon led us, a dark emerald green one. He was quite large. The other two trailed us. Both were brownish grey and smaller than the green, but larger than my dragon. Regardless of my trepidation, I couldn’t suppress my pride. Eshshah, by far, surpassed them in grace and beauty.

  We flew with them for a short distance. I started to relax as I felt Eshshah calm down. Up ahead I saw a beautiful valley spread out below us. I could see dragons circling in random patters over the vale. The sight was beyond magnificent. I forgot to breathe.

  “Dragons, Eshshah! Hundreds upon hundreds of them. We’ve reached the Valley of Dragons.”

  We landed in a large field in front of a cave that opened at ground level. A rock cliff rose above us. Other caverns dotted the face of the cliff. Dragons of various sizes and colors exited and entered. Several landed nearby. I had no fear of these magnificent creatures. There was no feeling of hostility. In fact, I had the impression they were as fascinated with Eshshah and I as we were with them. I remained in the saddle and gazed in wonder.

  A few curious young-looking dragons approached. They brought their great heads close to me and sniffed. I sensed they’d never encountered a human. I smiled at them and tried to convey a friendly sentiment. I didn’t know their language. Eshshah was engaged in dialogs with others that approached and couldn’t translate for me.

  I cocked an eyebrow as the young dragons around me parted to open a way for an older-looking silver-scaled dragon who came toward me. It drew close and bowed its head.

  “Greetings, young rider,” she said, “I am Sitara. Leyna was my rider.”

  My jaw dropped. I saluted her as Eshshah turned and nodded a salutation.

  “Sitara,” I said, “your scales still shine brightly here and in Teravinea. It is truly an honor to meet you.”

  She nodded acceptance of my compliment.

  “It has been long since I’ve seen a rider.” She brought her face close and inhaled. I felt her joy. She moved aside as another yellow dragon approached.

  “This is Dinesh. His late rider was Hajari.”

  I saluted him and uttered a compliment at which he nodded his appreciation.

  The two dragons that had been at the root of my search for this place stood before me. It made our entire ordeal almost worth it. Almost, because only one thing would make it entirely worth it — that would be to confirm their support in our fight for the throne.

  There was so much I wanted to ask these two. Trying to decide how to begin, I opened my mouth when Sitara stopped me. She glanced over my shoulder and then brought her head down to the ground in a deep bow. I noted that all of the other dragons took the same posture.

  “Senolis, the Ancient One,” she told me in thought transference.

  I turned in the saddle to see a dragon emerge from the cave. An awesome air enveloped him. It caused me to bow my head in respect. Eshshah already had her nose on the ground. The Ancient One’s grey scales no longer shined like Eshshah’s and the others. He embodied his name, Ancient One — as if he had seen this valley when it first formed. His wings were folded but dragged on the ground as he approached. I guessed he hadn’t used them in ages, and that was the reason his cave was on ground level.

  Senolis gazed intently at Eshshah and then at me with eyes wizened beyond belief. I could have lost myself in their depth if he had wanted to pull me in.

  He conversed with Eshshah in an ancient sounding language that I couldn’t understand. She conveyed his dialog to me.

  “Greetings, young dragon and human child. What brings two youngsters from such a distance?”

  Eshshah bowed her head to him. “Ancient One, we are honored to be in your presence. My rider is Amáne and I am Eshshah from the Kingdom of Teravinea. An event beyond our control has brought us to your Valley.”

  He tilted his head. Switching to the common tongue, he spoke in thought transference so I could understand. “Perhaps, but I sense it was not beyond your control to seek our island.” Senolis rested his gaze upon me. I cringed in shame.

  His eyes released me as he said, “Teravinea? I have not heard any news from that kingdom since Leyna rode in on Sitara.” He glanced at Sitara, at which she nodded in reverence at his attentions.

  “An event beyond your control? I hunger for a good story.” He lowered his great body and lay in front of us, looking expectantly at Eshshah. She obliged and relayed our story of how we had flown in to Orchila to inquire about directions to this valley; about the natives attempt to use me as a sacrifice; and my harrowing ride on the white waters of the river. He listened intently, interjecting questions here and there.

  When his curiosity was satisfied, he said, “Well told. Thank you, Eshshah. First, let me assure you that we never have, nor ever will condone any human sacrifice. Those mortals and their superstitions have created their ritual. By the time those poor females were left on the stone table, their lives had already been ended. Their deaths were useless and wasteful ... humans.”

  He lay still for a time, staring at the valley behind us before turning his golden eyes on me. Now, Amáne, tell me why is it a dragon and rider from Teravinea seek the Valley of Dragons?”

  I inhaled sharply, my mouth went dry. Why would he decide to address me? I cleared my throat and began to speak out loud without realizing.

  “Ancient One — ”

  He rumbled deep in
his chest. The same sound Eshshah made when she was amused. Their version of what I would relate to laughter.

  I caught myself. Embarrassed, I switched to thought transference.

  “Excuse me, sir, uh, lord dragon ... uh ... I too am honored to meet you.”

  He nodded.

  “We had hopes of bringing the heir to the throne of Teravinea to petition assistance from the Ancient Ones. With your support, we could win the throne back from the usurper who’d seized it from King Emeric Drekinn.”

  “I recall the Drekinn name favorably. Tell me about the usurper.”

  I proceeded to tell him of Galtero and how he had sent the king and queen to their ancestors, and how the heir escaped harm. Because of Galtero, there were no longer any dragons in Teravinea, only Eshshah and Sovann.

  I startled at the vibration in his chest. This time it sounded angry, dangerous.

  “This human, Galtero, has destroyed dragons?” He switched back to the ancient tongue. Eshshah translated for me, but I didn’t need her help to feel his burning anger. I felt it emphatically.

  I nodded. It took several minutes before Senolis managed to compose himself. He looked at me again and indicated for me to continue.

  The hours passed as Eshshah and I answered his questions into the night. Sometime early on, I had dismounted. I had a feeling we would be speaking to the Ancient One for longer than I cared to stay in the saddle. It proved to be a lengthy audience. My anxiety grew with my desire to leave. But the old dragon relentlessly directed queries at us. There was no way we would deny him his satisfaction.

  When it seemed like he had exhausted all the information he could extract from us, he went silent. Time passed. I began to wonder if he’d fallen asleep.

  At last he broke the silence. “What is it you expect from us?”

  His question puzzled me. I thought he understood what we were asking.

  “We hoped you would join forces with us to overcome Galtero. That this valley’s dragons would fly into battle. Perhaps some would carry a dragon rider. With your assistance, we can win the throne and assure more dragons will hatch and choose riders.”