by M A Bernier
Rothyn glanced at the dome of vegetation where his mother and others were inside. EverGreen had created the dome, not for privacy, but for the need to concentrate without distraction. A gentle breeze brought the scent of the ham roasting over the cooking pits at the west end of the meadow. Two mages from the northern end of the continent, Carolin and Jaan, had insisted on visiting to take care of the cooking while Eryyn and the others tried to find those who had been taken without warning. The one called Carolin was thrilled to have the chance to try her recipes for the two dragons watching Cadan. She sent Jaan to town and he returned with several pigs ready to be roasted. With a little help from EverGreen cooking pits were created instantly. Carolin set to work with various combinations of spices the scents of which filled Rothyn with anticipation. She more she could cook the happier Carolin was. She delighted in cooking for two dragons who could consume a great deal of food. He continued to watch as the two mages prepared the food. Carolin seemed to be the one in charge and Jaan appeared more than happy to let her take care of the details of the meal. Rothyn watched as she said something and pointed to the vegetation dome. Jaan collected several portions of food both hot and cold, placed them into a large wicker basket with cover and carried it towards the opening in the dome. Jaan waited while two visiting mages carried several books out of the dome. The books contained a portion of the knowledge Eryyn had obtain from the previous council of mages.
Jaymee and Syl looked up as Jaan entered with a large wicker basket and placed it on the table formed from granite. The sight of dragons turning the pages of a book delicately with a large claw seemed out of place, and almost amusing. Ambassador Ardant sat within a small crescent ring of strangely shaped objects that hummed and made strange noises. Jaan did not understand what a ‘computer’ was but it seemed to obtain a wealth of knowledge. Evergreen stood with his eyes closed and his hands slightly raised as if each were resting on an invisible object waist high. Every few seconds a small root would emerge, caress the bottom of EverGreen’s hands, and retreat slowly into the ground. Eryyn and Alys stood face to face with their palms pressed together and glowing white eyes. All of the beings here were involved in some manner in trying to find those missing or what the link was to the birthmarks. Over a week had passed since the disappearances stopped and, so far no one found reasons why they had started. Jaan left the dome, returning an hour later to pick up the empty wicker basket. Although he knew they had eaten, all were in the same positions as when he brought the noon meal, it was if they had eaten from where they stood. It was still a few hours before sunset when Syl and Jaymee emerged followed by the others. Rothyn was in front of the house when they emerged and the tips of Gydin’s wings could be seen on the far side where he was watching Cadan. As they walked towards Rothyn, Syl’s eyes narrowed at him. Syl saw the look of someone trying too obviously hard to look innocent. If it were Gydin she was sure the look would be one of guilt, however with Rothyn it was harder, he was the one to be embarrassed by words and not get into trouble.
“I think Gydin and Rothyn might need an extended punishment.” Syl said to Alys. “You see the way Rothyn looks?”
“Like he is trying to hard to look innocent which means either Gydin has done something or Cadan has and he is not sure how we will react.” Alys and Syl smiled at one another and Syl raised her head over Rothyn’s and intently stared at him. The others were heading to the library as Syl and Alys stopped where Rothyn sat. “Out with it my son.” Syl wasted no time in forcing him to get to the point. Rothyn quickly explained that Cadan was inside trying to fit the symbols together and Gydin was watching him. Rothyn accented the last part of the sentence as if to indicate that in part his brother was doing something as he was told. The two mothers exchanged glances. Syl walked to the back of the home where Gydin was. Alys walked through the door and into the kitchen. As Syl rounded the corner of the home Gydin immediately sensed her already disapproving glare. He backed away from the window so that Syl could peer inside.
Alys stepped through the doorway and walked the short hall to the kitchen where she saw Syl’s face in the kitchen window staring at the table where Cadan sat. She seemed unusually transfixed by the small pieces of paper that Cadan had carefully arranged in front of him. Alys stepped closer to the table and saw why Syl was staring. Cadan had somehow arranged the available pieces so that they appeared to connect and form a complex symbol, although several pieces were missing.
“What does it mean?” Asked Cadan as his mother approached and stood next to the table at the partial symbol. All thoughts she had of his misbehavior were now gone.
“I’m not sure Cadan.” She spoke half to him and half to the table. “Ask your father to come here, tell him its important.”
“He is already on his way back.” Alys smiled inwardly at Cadan’s remark. She should have known Eryyn would have sensed the sudden change in her emotions.
As time went by Alys realized Eryyn was becoming more attuned to people and events around him, almost as if at times he were becoming part of the world. Over the past few years she could see his connection growing to all things around him. She knew he had a destiny far into the future apart from hers that she kept this to herself. When she had first been shown her own destiny with Eryyn she had been sad, but not for long. She took advantage of every moment she had to commit to memory and savor her relationship with him. In the few months after touching the DragonStone and seeing her path, she had questioned whether or not she should tell Eryyn what she saw. In time, she realized the life she now shared with him was meant to be. His destiny awaited for him in the future, revealing it to him might taint the life they had now. She felt selfish at first for not telling him. Her heart however, mind, and the distant voice of destiny reminded her of the pleasant memories he would need to carry with him when time came for his path to continue after hers ended.
The door to their home opened and Eryyn walked into the kitchen followed by Jaymee and Ardant.
“I think you should see this.” Alys gestured to the table. Eryyn and the others gathered around and looked at the partial image arranged from the small pieces of paper.
“What does it mean father?” Cadan looked up with innocence in his eyes. Ardant moved closer to the table and held a small, flat, circular scanning device in his hand. He held it over table while speaking into his comm unit.
“Do you have the image?”
“Yes sir.” A female’s voice responded.
“Start searching the database files for any relevance and see if the system can complete the image.” Ardant closed the signal and placed the scanner into his pants' pocket. He looked up to see EverGreen and Eryyn standing on either side of Cadan, they seemed transfixed by the partial image before them. Alys noticed their intense concentration and ushered Cadan into his room.
“You have some things to pick up don’t you?” Cadan frowned. His mother was using a tone of voice to indicate her request was not to be debated.
“Yes mother.” He sighed and went to his room.
“And no snooping on us young man.” She said just as he closed his door silently. She walked to the opposite side of the table where Ardant and Jaymee stood and looked at EverGreen and Eryyn. “It’s familiar to you both isn’t it?”
“This is very old, very old.” EverGreen remarked as he passed his hand over it. “This symbol may even be before my time as protector.” Alys, Ardant and Jaymee glanced at one another, then at Eryyn.
“Then how do I know this symbol?” Eryyn said as he looked at all of them. “It feels, somehow, familiar.”
“Somehow it must have been known to your old mage council.” Ardant looked at Eryyn. “Maybe one of them saw this symbol in an image, a cave drawing.” Ardant left the sentence open as if someone else could complete it.
“It doesn’t really matter at the moment.” Eryyn replied. “The knowledge is either in my head or, in one of the books in the library.”
“I think we should start with the books father.”
The others waited for Jaymee to explain his choice. “You have said that knowledge is so vast that you have a great deal of difficulty recalling it, it really only becomes known to you when something triggers the memory. The books you have been transcribing, the knowledge may be out of time order and full of what may seem as statements which make no sense, but writing did trigger the memory.” Jaymee finished speaking. Eryyn looked at Alys however she already knew his decision.
“EverGreen and I will start searching the books.” He turned to Alys. “Ask Rian and Kend to assemble a hundred of the mages strongest in writing and deciphering and bring them to the library in the morning. The rest of you get some rest.” Eryyn turned to Syl. “Can you consult with your father and his book as well as the knowledge the dragons hold of history?”
“I will commune with my father and the dragon council.” Syl’s dragon head disappeared from the window. She would find a place nearby for solitude and spend the night communing with her father.
“What about Cadan and his ability to find memories?” Almost as soon as Jaymee asked his question he knew what the answer would be and why.
“I don’t want him involved that deeply with the knowledge I possess. We don’t know what the search for that symbol may reveal.” Eryyn then turned to Alys. “We may not be able to keep him innocent forever, but for the time being let’s do what we can.”
*** Dark Paths ***
Odien imparted to Jyn-Taa another portion of Vuuaan’s power. For Odien it released him from the pain of containing an overwhelming power that threatened to consume him. For his master Jyn-Taa, it strengthened him and made him whole. Moments after the exchange the doors to the chamber opened and Koth entered. His face was a constant expression of hatred and discontent.
“A hundred thousand or a hundred million of these pathetic mortals as an army are no match for EverGreen and his friends.” Koth said quickly to Jyn-Taa inferring that he should explain himself.
“You should learn to think more positively Koth.” Jyn-Taa replied as Odien took several steps backward and lowered his head to show submission. Whenever Koth was around he did so as instructed by his master so that Koth would overlook his importance to Jyn-Taa.
“And you should take lessons from your own servant on obedience.” Koth snapped back as he pointed to Odien. He stopped several feet away from Jyn-Taa and eyed him from head to toe. “You look different,” he paused a few moments longer. “You carry an arrogant smugness of confidence about you, why!” Koth demanded.
“We will succeed in our task. I know my enemy and his weaknesses. It is only a matter of time before they are exploited.” As Jyn-Taa spoke he conveyed a false sense of calm in his voice and posture.
“If you think you can win by tossing an entire continent of these followers at him you’re an idiot. The dragons alone could turn them into charred corpses before they struck their first blow.”
“Then the dragons must be made to serve us.” Jyn-Taa walked to the chamber table and casually poured himself a cup of water. Even as he turned back to face Koth he could feel his heated response.
“You fool!” Koth seethed, “no one commands them, not even our own masters.”
“It will be by their own kin who will help us invade their minds and hearts.” As Jyn-Taa set his cup down he could hear Koth’s breathing quicken as it always did when he was about to let loose of string of continuous insults. “Before you are so quick to dismiss the idea Koth you will recall a few of them betrayed their own kind, or at least attempted to before returning to this world.”
“They are no longer dragons, they are nothing more than weakling mortals condemned on a planet guarded by dragons.” Koth stepped close to Jyn-Taa and poked him with a crooked finger. “Even you do not have the power to bring them here and, even if you did they are no longer dragons.”
“But they are still dragon kin and the subtle powers and will of the universe which made them dragons still flows within them.”
“Bringing them here is too great a risk.” Koth waived his hand to dismiss Jyn-Taa’s suggestion
“We only need one, for a short time. With your masters help I believe that it is possible to do more damage with one dragon than with a thousand at our command.” Jyn-Taa stepped casually back from Koth and seated himself. He often found if Koth stood over him it gave him the mistaken impression of being in charge and often softened Koth’s heated reactions. “In the same way you inhabit the body of the high cleric, the Shadow Demon can place a portion of himself within the one we seek. I can promise you he will help us willingly. He will allow us to work through him to reach out into the mind of a young dragon. We will then force it to do our will even if only for a few moments.” Koth stared coldly at Jyn-Taa, “I believe the path is there for us to take, all we need is the knowledge the betrayer possesses of his kind.”
“And what if the dragon is too strong, what if it does not do our will? You will only prove that is a waste of time.” Koth continued to glare and challenge any suggestion Jyn-Taa made.
“Even if we cannot control the dragon long enough for the task, another purpose will be served.”
“And that is?” Koth began to pace back and forth, a sign he was contemplating presenting the idea to his master.
“Fear, they will fear their minds are not strong enough to resist us. They will react in haste to seek an enemy they cannot find, they will make mistakes.”
“Leave this chamber and return when I send for you.” Koth turned away from Jyn-Taa and walked to the gateway used to summon and speak with the demon masters. Jyn-Taa stood as commanded. He and Odien left chamber and walked in silence along the twisting corridors as they made their way to what was formerly the private chambers of the council. Jyn-Taa knew Odien had something on his mind he wished to address but would not do so until given permission.
“What is it you wish to speak of Odien?”
“Sryn is as dedicated to Katanz as I am now dedicated to your service. I know her well and would have said she prefers death before betraying the knowledge she has to you.”
“You are wondering why she gives so freely of that knowledge to you and not to me?” Jyn-Taa stopped walking and turned to Odien, Odien turned to face his master but did not look him in the eye. “It is love which sways her loyalty. Her love for you, my servant, is a weakness, a disease, one which will be the downfall of our enemies.”
“I too loved her in return, but I will not allow her to betray you. When she is no longer of service to you my task will be clear.” Odien spoke without hesitation in his voice as he looked directly at his master then once again lowered his eyes. The two resumed their walk until they reached a large set of doors guarded by two heavily armored cleric guards. At their approach the guards opened the large, double wooden doors, after they walked through the doors closed behind them. To their right, two more guards stood on either side of an open door to one of the chambers. Inside Sryn was on her knees, her back to the door she faced a small statue of Katanz. Her arms were outstretched, her head bent forward, as she chanted the ritual for forgiveness. Jyn-Taa and Odien paused for a moment to watch and listen. She did not turn even though she knew she was being watched. Jyn-Taa had instructed the guards that so long as she remained in the chamber she was not to be harmed. “She prays for the path of forgiveness, a path long lost and one I never fully believed in. She will find no answers to her prayers.” Odien spoke softly, his words echoing the emotion of pity.
*** Lost Paths ***
Eryyn closed yet another book on the pedestal before him. He closed it with such force the library trembled for a few moments as if in response to a small earthquake. A week had gone by and yet nothing even remotely connected with the symbol had been found.
“I don’t recall you ever having a temper when you were younger.” A familiar deep and husky voice broke the silence and quickly dissipated the growing anger from frustration within Eryyn. Eryyn turned left to see a familiar face at the top of the stairs.
�
�Sernik.” The two met halfway and clasped arms, then Sernik clasped him in a bear hug which might have crushed anyone else. The man, as large as life itself, released Eryyn, “I promised your father and mother I would look after you.” When Eryyn’s mother died Sernik had become a surrogate parent. Eryyn’s own father, a part of the old mage council, was unable to fulfill the role of father. He and Eryyn had become distant and it was not until moments before his father’s death that Erin learned his father had always loved him. Destiny had forced him to a path apart from his sons in order to protect him when he embarked on a path destiny had set before him.
“Miram is with Alys, Resam is with Cadan and under the watchful eyes of Gydin and Rothyn. Rian and Kend have already told me what you’re looking for. I may be just captain of the guard, but I do know how to pick up a book and read.”
“With you Miram, Rian and Kend here it feels like the family is back together again.” Eryyn breathed slowly, the present of Sernik calmed him.
“That family is one who will help you by doing whatever is necessary.”
“Even if it means doing nothing?” Sernik watched Eryyn’s face become very serious. Eryyn walked back to the pedestal and sat on one of the stools while offering Sernik the other. Sernik said nothing knowing that Eryyn would tell him what he meant by his words. “I am not sure if I can explain it completely, but I will try. The short version is that Ardant will be faced with a decision that will determine the fate of our world and beyond. The DragonStone, it seems, has confirmed in its own way that Ardant, myself, Alys, Syl and Jaymee are somehow involved as well. I don’t fully understand what we know, but the task is ours alone and no one else can interfere. The consequences could be very bad.”
“This has something to do with the disappearances and the symbol that Alys told me about doesn’t it?” Sernik absentmindedly picked up the book Eryyn had slammed shut. He flipped idly through the pages several moments before closing it. He looked at Eryyn, “Well, I cannot see any harm in reading books. Where did you get this one from? I will put it back and get two more.”