Taking up a waster for each of us, he handed me one.
“Ready?” he said. He pointed his sword at me.
I gave him a doubtful nod. A nervous sweat broke out on my face.
Avano didn’t wait another breath before he lunged at me and executed a series of strikes. I parried all of them. Just as I felt a sense of accomplishment, he changed his timing and whacked my shoulder. I yelped, then tipped my head as I conceded that round to him.
We began again. Avano made it a point to exploit my every mistake. Eventually, I adapted to his style and reacted quickly to each of his moves. He gave me pointers and added praise when I succeeded in a hit.
Trading the wasters for the practice spears, we continued sparring.
I was pleased with my newly-discovered talent. But, it only made me more desperate to find out who I was, and why I would know how to wield weapons at this skill level.
I chanced an attempt at conversation. “So if you can’t give me any information about who I am, the least you could do is tell me about yourself, Avano.”
“Not much to tell,” he said, not missing a step in his advance. “Been a dragon rider since before you were born.”
He brought his spear in a downward motion.
I leapt aside and redirected his swing.
“I was a foot soldier before that. I’ve seen and done more than a man’s lifetime should hold.”
Breathing heavy, I continued my queries. “Any family?” I tried to bring my weapon behind his leg to trip him.
He anticipated my move and sidestepped. “No. Never had time for any of that.”
“At the risk of being too forward, I’d say you need someone, Avano. You should find a lady.”
He blinked, but didn’t break his concentration.
We circled each other, trying to detect an opening or weakness.
“I like you, Avano. I like you a lot.” I said between breaths.
He jabbed. I evaded.
I lunged at him. He parried.
His eyes darted to mine. A strange light in them gave me pause.
“As a brother, I mean!” A blush rose in my face. I lowered my guard.
Avano swung toward my head. He couldn’t check his swing. I ducked as his spear arced over me.
Ignoring his near miss, I put up my hand, palm out. Cutting off his imminent reprimand, I said, “Wait! Are you and I ... am I your ... I mean are we ...”
“No, no, no, no! We are not a we!”
“You don’t have to be so emphatic about it.” I stomped my foot.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. I’ve loved you since we first met, but as a sister. That’s all. No, you and I are not anything but friends. Truthfully.”
“Do I have ... someone?”
“Practice is over, Vann. You did well.” He spun around to leave the field.
I ran up behind him and grabbed his arm to make him turn to me.
“That’s not fair. I need to know. What was my life like? You knew me before ... before this.” I swept my hand up to my head. “Why won’t you help me? I just need to know if I had someone.”
“Amá — Vann, not now.”
“You started to call me Amáne again. I’m not Vann, am I? My name is Amáne, isn’t it?”
I squeezed his arm and drew his eyes to mine.
He sighed. “Yes. That’s your name. Please don’t ask me anything else.”
I could see his distress but I wanted to push him further. I inhaled to press on. Letting my breath out, I dropped my eyes and acquiesced with a nod. My teeth clenched, my eyes burned.
“Go get cleaned up, Amáne,” Avano said. “Meet us back in the dining hall in two hours.”
He turned and strode away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A whirlwind swirled through my thoughts. Instead of heading in to the bathing room, I found myself moving toward a far field. In the fading light, I could see Eshshah in the distance. A huge golden dragon lay next to her. I wondered if it was her mate. They both picked up their heads and watched my approach. My steps slowed.
The large gold, touched his nose to the smaller red. He turned and leaped into the air. I stopped and watched his graceful, yet frightening ascent. His wingspan was imposing.
Wanting to pivot and run for shelter, I fought the urge and held my breath. I summoned my courage and continued to move toward Eshshah. Coming as close as I dared, I lowered myself to the ground, sat cross-legged and faced her. If she wanted to flame me, she could probably still reach. She didn’t move, but only watched me with her golden eyes. An intelligence I didn’t expect reflected brightly.
“Er ... majestic Eshshah,” I said as I gave her the dragon salute. She tipped her head. Her eyes seemed to light up even more.
Fear overcame me. Instead of finishing my greeting, I scooted back further. “With all due respect, don’t be offended, but I remind you, please do not get into my head.”
Her eyes dulled slightly.
“I came here because I just ... uh ... felt I owe you an apology for my rudeness earlier. I don’t know if you can understand me, but I ... I’m sorry for being unkind to you. I don’t know anything about dragons, or if you even know what I’m saying, but ...” I shrugged.
The red dragon surprised me with a movement of her head.
“Did you just nod at me?”
She bobbed her head again.
“You understand what I’m saying?”
Again, an affirmative motion.
I let out a long breath. Dropping my eyes, I picked up a handful of sand and let it sift through my fingers. My lips pressed together as I searched my memories. Maybe something I knew about dragons would surface. Nothing.
I couldn’t stop my eyes from welling up. The air around me hummed. Blinking back my tears of frustration, I raised my head and noted the humming came from Eshshah. She droned a relaxing tune that emanated from her chest, or possibly her long elegant neck.
I smiled. “You ... give me comfort, Eshshah. Thank you.”
Rising to my feet, I saluted her again and backed away. “I have to go now, but if it’s alright with you, maybe I can come back. I could use someone to talk to.” I laughed to myself at what I’d just said. Somehow it didn’t seem as unbelievable as I would have thought only a short while ago. I spun around and ran back toward the inn.
I exited my chambers and met up with Avano as he came down the corridor. Giving him the dragon salute, I fell into step beside him. We made our way to the dining hall.
Several eyes turned in our direction as we entered. I saluted the riders and nodded at the soldiers who had gathered in the hall. To those that greeted me using the name Vann, I told them in a stuttering voice my real name was Amáne.
They smiled or tipped their heads, but otherwise didn’t make an issue of this revelation.
The kitchen staff scurried around the tables, mouth-watering aromas rose from the plates they carried. Silence filled the room as we all set ourselves to eating. Once the last dish was cleared and the pitchers of ale were nearly empty, Braonán stood to address the group.
“Riders and soldiers, we’re down to our last details for our mission. All the pieces have come together and our operation begins tomorrow at dawn.”
“Tomorrow?” I blurted out loud. All eyes turned to me. I slapped my hand over my mouth and fought the red rising in my face.
“I beg your pardon. I’m sorry,” I said. “I thought maybe we had more time.”
“I’m afraid we’ve run out. If we don’t get our king out by tomorrow evening ...”
I dipped my head.
Braonán went on, “Sovann is keeping us abreast of King Ansel’s location in the castle.”
I leaned in to Avano and said, “Who’s Sovann?”
“King Ansel’s dragon.”
“The beautiful golden one?”
He nodded.
“How does he know where King Ansel is and how does he keep Braonán informed?”
Avano held up h
is hand. “I’ll fill you in later.”
“They are moving his location every few hours,” Braonán said. “Galtero is taking no chances. King Ansel is, at present, being kept relatively comfortable. I’m sure Galtero’s hospitality will not last much longer. He will, no doubt, have a double-cross in his plans. Even if we were to comply with his demands for an egg, I am certain we wouldn’t get our king back alive.
“The components for the explosives have arrived from Serislan. The blast sticks have been assembled.”
I turned to Avano, shrugged my shoulders and mouthed “Serislan? Blast sticks?” Again, he gestured for my patience.
I sighed and attempted, with my limited knowledge, to absorb as much information from Braonán as I could.
Braonán’s eyes scanned the group and rested on me. He must have sensed my frustration. “To bring you to date, Amáne, we’ve been searching for Galtero since his escape when we defeated him in the War of the Crown. Our victory put King Ansel, the rightful heir, on the throne of Teravinea. By instigating this ... situation ... Galtero has given away his location. Once we’ve extracted our king, this is our chance to capture or eliminate this man, for good. We cannot let him escape this time.”
He paused to let the significance of his statement sink in, then continued, “Serislan is our ally to the north of Teravinea. King Tynan of Serislan has a team that is known for its knowledge of explosives. They were instrumental in our success to win back the crown from Galtero. Serislan has supplied us with the materials we needed for this mission. Normally, these devices are made with a heavy parchment outer cover, but bamboo is more readily available here, so we improvised.
“We have been in contact with Lia’ina, inside the castle. She is the tribal chief’s daughter, the same tribe as Mora’ina. Lia’ina is also a captive, but is allowed moderate freedom. She is head of the kitchen staff. An acquaintance of hers, here in the village, delivers foods and goods daily to Galtero. She has put us in contact with this supplier. He agreed to help us infiltrate the castle.
“We will conceal the explosives in bags of grain. Rider Perrin, being the smallest among us, will be stowed away in a crate to be a part of the morning’s delivery. Once inside the castle, he will set the explosives.”
I glanced over to the rider of whom Braonán spoke. A serious man, thin perhaps, but small? Not one of these dragon riders would be what I considered small.
A ripple went through my stomach. I had to swallow to keep my dinner down. My mouth moved, but nothing came out. I cleared my throat and managed to whisper, “Excuse me, Braonán.” I rose to my feet.
He gave me a questioning stare.
I took in a breath. “I’m sorry to interrupt you again, but I couldn’t help but notice I’m much smaller than Perrin.”
A low murmur, mostly snickers, swept the room. My eyes flashed. “I’m serious. A crate sized to fit Perrin might bring attention. It would take a much smaller and less conspicuous box to conceal me than it would him. Having said that, I ask that you choose me for that assignment instead of Perrin.”
Did I just volunteer to go back into the black castle?
My knees went weak, but I stayed on my feet and forced a resolute expression on my face. Avano snapped his head in my direction. I felt the eyes of all in the room, but I would not be swayed.
Braonán rubbed his beard and frowned. He stood in thought for what felt like forever. Finally, he spoke slowly and deliberately, “You have a good point, and a viable solution. However, with your recent injuries and ... uh ... current ... condition, I’m reluctant to allow you this role. I’d planned on using you as a back up, in a surveillance position. Possibly on Eshshah.”
My response was instant, and loud. “I recall enough of my past to know King Ansel is in this circumstance because of me. My sense of duty for his sacrifice demands I do what I can to extricate him, and not stand back and watch in safety. I ask that you strongly consider my offer. In my opinion it’s an improvement over your original plan.”
Avano cleared his throat loudly. The room fell silent. Sweat beaded across my nose.
Maybe I overstepped my bounds.
Braonán scowled.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but before I could say anything, Braonán simply said, “I don’t see this as a plan to which King Ansel would readily agree.”
“King Ansel doesn’t need to know. Not until I’m safely in.”
I caught a glint in Braonán’s eye. His mouth lifted as if he remembered a private joke. He struggled for a moment and then, exhaling, turned to Perrin. “We will put you in the air, Perrin, Amáne will take your place in a smaller crate.”
Encouraging comments echoed throughout the room.
To me he said, “We’ll take your measurements and construct a new crate. You will be instructed on the use of the explosives when this meeting adjourns.”
I nodded, and quickly took my seat before my knees gave out.
Feeling Avano’s stare, I swung my head toward him. “What?”
He smiled. “You did well. Just what I would have expected from you, Amáne.”
“So there’s hope for me, yet?”
“There’s always hope.”
“And hope better not disappoint” I said under my breath.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The riders and soldiers filed out of the dining hall leaving me with Braonán and Avano. Calder came back in with a roll of sail cloth. Carefully unfolding his package, he unveiled a small collection of bamboo segments — both ends sealed, with a cord fixed at one end.
“What are they?” I said.
Braonán chose one and holding it up, said, “This is a blast stick. It is filled with black blasting powder, a chemical explosive. Sulfur and charcoal act as fuels, and sodium nitrate is the oxidizer. When ignited, it will create enough of an explosion to burst through rock.”
He handed the stick to me. I held it with respect.
How fascinating that a piece of bamboo the length of my forearm could house a material with such power.
“So, I’m to place these in strategic areas in the castle?”
“Not in the castle, but at the outside walls. We want to create diversions and get Galtero’s men mustering their defense as if from an outside assault. Placing the blast sticks in tactical areas can direct his soldiers away from where they are holding King Ansel. I am certain they will not all make off and leave him on his own, but if we can lessen the numbers guarding him, King Ansel can deal with those left.”
I nodded slowly.
Braonán unrolled a map and spread it on the table. It depicted the layout of the black castle.
“This floorplan has been given to us by an old villager. He told us his tribe’s ancestors were forced to build the castle a couple generations ago. The plans have been handed down through the years. We are fortunate they have allowed us possession. This map shows us not only the configuration of the outside walls, but also the interior chambers and the secret corridors they constructed.”
He smoothed the edges of the rolled parchment and placed some tankards on the corners to keep it from rolling back up.
Braonán leaned over the table and paused over the detailed drawing. “I believe we can get the results we need with only two walls targeted.” He indicated the western and the southern walls.
“What of the north wall?” I asked.
“That entire area is still in ruins. Galtero is restoring the castle. The north section has very little, if any, reconstruction.” He waved his hand over that section.
“According to natives of this island, in the time of their grandfathers a man by the name of Berdosa enslaved their tribe. Under the watch of his henchmen and the loss of many of the tribe’s ancestors, the fortress was erected. They were forced to work all hours of the day and night, and construction was completed in record time. Even at that, it took years. The tyrant ignored all advice against building it in such close vicinity of the mountain. He could not be dissuaded from his grandiose plan of
completing his legacy. Berdosa assumed since he built on higher ground, he would be safe if the volcano blew. He was wrong. He didn’t yet know its fury. The eruption was so great, much of the lava overflowed in the direction of the castle, as did the ash and fumes. That section was destroyed. No one survived.”
“What is it about evil people,” I said, “that they believe they’re superior to everyone else, and disdain any who might know better than they?”
Braonán shook his head.
“How do you know, or, how does Sovann know where King Ansel is?”
Avano took on my question. “Dragons and their riders communicate by thought transference. They can essentially speak with each other without words even when apart. The distance at which they can converse varies with each pair. King Ansel and Sovann have a long thought-transference range. They’re in almost constant contact.”
“Speak without words? That sounds ...” Before I finished my sentence, a vague memory flashed. My hand shot to my temple, but the thought was gone before I could get a hold of it. I grunted.
“What is it?” Avano asked.
“I ... just ... it’s nothing. I’m fine.”
He gave me a sidelong glance.
“Where exactly do I have to plant these blast sticks?” I said quickly.
After a moment’s pause, Braonán answered, “We’ve calculated they would best be used at this point on the west wall, here, and in two spots here on the south wall.” He put his finger on each spot.
“When the fortress was built, drain spouts were put low in these walls. Their positions line up, near enough, under the harpoon cannons.”
“Harpoon cannons?”
“Anti-dragon artillery. A harpoon shot at the right spot, can bring a dragon down.”
My eyes widened. The thought of losing one of those majestic, yet frightening beings was incomprehensible.
“Let us go over our strategy,” said Braonán “The goods are brought in near an entrance in the western wall. Here.” He indicated the location on the map.
“They are unloaded from the cart and left in a small courtyard just outside of the kitchen. Lia’ina and her kitchen workers take the supplies from there and haul them in to the storerooms.”
Amáne of Teravinea - Black Castle (The Teravinea Series Book 4) Page 11