Eristta’s heart ached at the pain and terror that filled the atmosphere like an interment. And with the golems’ arrival, defeat seemed imminent; retreat not an option. Garethan’s army effectively cut off the rear and the army at Tee’amon prevented them from fleeing west.
And were they to seek cover in the forests…
Her gaze cut skyward.
They’d be cooked alive.
The obsidian dragon soared, its tail lashing the air. Mouth gaping; smoke curled around its man-sized incisors. “Selena, take Amerald,” Eristta whispered as she leapt from the stallion’s broad back.
Her bond-sister did not question her, and Eristta sensed the Phoenix’s presence. Her encouragement. Her respect.
At ten paces, Eristta stopped and took a deep breath. She mind-linked with Selena: If this turns out poorly, please tell Red Claw he is in truth my soul mate. My love. I cannot tell him. I—
Eristta stopped, her throat tight, her emotions raw.
We will tell him, Sister, came Selena and the Phoenix’s blended voice. Do what you can. For yourself. For Tir na n-Og.
Clearing her thoughts, Eristta took the pendants in her fist and found the dragon. Power tingled up the leather thong and into her hand. She closed her eyes and focused her danu awen directly at the winged ancient.
As her questing mind struck the dragon, Eristta gasped.
Hate…pain…sorrow…
The dragon’s danu awen pulsated with dynamic force as it worked to deflect her probing, but the pendants’ great need would not allow it. Her hand burned. Her spirit shook with intensity.
I don’t know if I can do this!
You were born for this, Earie…you have been working toward this moment from the first day you drew breath…
Darous!
Her friend’s presence touched her softly, and Eristta fought to stay focused. To believe. Allowing her body and spirit to relax, Eristta mind-spoke in Aquier. Feeling the words build like living tissue in the air around her. She wove them expertly, creating a funnel of elfin magick ripe with light, temperate knowledge, and sincerity.
It is time, she breathed.
Eristta’s spirit rolled free and arrowed directly toward a fissure near the dragon’s overlapping scales at its breast. Narrowing her danu awen, she shot her awareness into the heart of the great creature.
The dragon thrashed in the sky, its pale belly rippling as it spun, wings nearly folding before it righted itself.
Things are not what they seem, Eristta mind-spoke, fighting for balance within the swirl of polluted emotions.
She was answered with an inner roar of fury, and Eristta braced herself as the dragon fought to repel her like an unwanted parasite. The intensity of the creature’s assault shook Eristta to her core, and distantly she knew her body was suffering. Her spirit weakening.
The mercury flame of the dragon’s spirit absorbed Eristta’s consciousness. Held it. Squeezed so tight Eristta thought she might break in half.
Do not fight him. Show him, Earie…
Her awareness was no longer her own. Her flesh was thick, tightly sealed plates of armor. Impenetrable to most ordinary weapons. Her thoughts were a finely woven mesh of experiences, power, desire, questions and raw emotions. Like a child strong beyond its years. A middle youth harboring the unrefined thoughts and feelings that thrust it into adulthood.
But underneath it all sat perplexity, and a burning need to understand the void within it.
I can fill the void…
Sssshow me.
Eristta released her hold on the pendants, letting them fall, memories and all, into the dragon’s heart.
They landed softly. Like a drifting feather, caught in a gentle breeze. The moment the magick and memories of the pendants came to rest in their rightful place, the world went silent. A sigh echoed, and Eristta pulled her awareness back slightly, as she knew what the dragon would see, sense, experience. But there was much more than what the pendants had shown her. An entire history. A wondrous legacy of powerful creatures that had been nearly forgotten by fey and man alike.
Seconds ticked by as Eristta floated within the dragon’s silver heart.
Eylnnie’an…that is my name.
Yes, Eristta murmured. It means Eternal Legacy. You are their legacy, their last connection to the world of their origin.
No, Eylnnie’an rumbled, her spirit voice rough. We are not from here, Elf. Our truth lies among the stars.
Eylnnie’an allowed Eristta a glimpse of what the pendants had revealed to her. A vermilion sky studded with yellow diamonds reflected light in flashes and pulses. Coal black mountains pierced the heavens, and beneath that lay a valley so deep and green, Eristta understood that no elf or man resided there.
It is beautiful, Eristta whispered.
Fury flared anew within the dragon and Eristta found that she could bear it, connected as they were. It was a reaction to the horror perpetrated on her people. Purpose drove the dragon now, fueled by knowledge instead of mindless hatred. As Eylnnie’an’s energies twined with Eristta’s, she recognized them as an ancient part of her. Her blood sang with the familiarity. Welcomed it.
“Yessss,” Eylnnie’an spoke. “My blood knowssss you. Knew you, even as you ran through the world of my exile. Which is why I followed. Your creation of the doorwaysss woke me. Brought back the frustration and loneliness of my existence. When I crossed over, the hatred alssso came back.”
A flare spiked through Eristta’s conscious. But is has been misplaced, Great One.
The dragon hissed and swung its head to take in the chaos below. Yessss. Their deaths were not just.
Eristta absorbed Eylnnie’an’s regret with gratitude and sorrow. Will you help us, then, Eylnnie’an?
Looking through the dragon’s eyes, Eristta surveyed the battlefield. The fey armies had stopped shooting arrows and elf-fire at the scaled beast. Stopped looking at her at all, actually. Eristta’s brethren were too busy fighting for their lives on the plain below, to care what might rain down on them from above.
Golems had surrounded the valley. The stinking, hulking demons were hacking their way through the ranks with wild abandon. From the north and the south the battle raged—and the golems kept coming. No longer from the rear, but from the south they marched from their assault on the Summer Kingdome.
Eristta realized that Tee’amon had never been their true objective. Garethan had masterminded a way to gather as many loyal fey as possible in one area. He’d taken advantage of Eylnnie’an when the opportunity presented itself, but he’d obviously had enough demons to do the job without otherworldly interception.
This battle is key, Eristta said, her silver light pulsating with that of the dragon’s. If we fail, Tir na n-Og is doomed for a dark period unlike any other. And now Garethan seeds his evil in our sister world.
The dragon grumbled at the mention of Earth, but Eristta also felt a measure of grudging respect. The terran world holds its own magick, but the people have forgotten to honor it, so it fades to nothing. A bottomless hunger filled Eristta and she realized for the first time, why things had been so difficult for Eylnnie’an.
You feed on magick…
The great beast growled and with a sudden broad stroke of her wings, they shot up. Yessss. The honoring of magick nourishes my kind. And in turn, we give back elemental magick which becomes available to all creatures.
It was the use of magick that kept the dragons alive. How Eylnnie’an must have suffered on Earth. Eristta wrapped her danu awen around Eylnnie’an and the dragon sighed. Your magick is powerful, sssister. Pure. True and untainted.
As Garethan had claimed. The thought reminded Eristta of the atrocities being perpetrated on her kind now. Of her friends still awaiting rescue. Of her father and brother, still missing. Gently, she began to unravel the threads of her spirit from Eylnnie’an’s. If you truly feel me a sister, please help us. What happened to your people is now happening to mine. Eristta reached for her brother’s mind.
> Exhaustion. Fury. Soul searing pain.
Alarm lanced through Eristta and without thought she reached for her body. Nothing happened. Similar to being wound in Garethan’s spell, her spirit was bound to the body of Eylnnie’an.
I must go! If you will not help, I will fight by my family’s side! Release me!
The dragon was silent, and still Eristta could not disengage herself from the enormous force that was Eylnnie’an.
“Stop,” came the dragon’s low voice. “Ride with me, sssister.”
Before Eristta could respond, the dragon drew its wings in, and they were diving. They sliced the air like a fine-honed blade. The sensation was exhilarating. Muscles, blood, bone…all functioning in perfect unison.
The battlefield loomed, and Eylnnie’an swooped in a wide arc, allowing them an astonishing view.
So many. More than Eristta and Red Claw had originally seen. They rippled over the hills and into the valley in such numbers; Eristta realized there had never been any hope. Garethan’s forces would have been able to conquer any Kingdome they chose by sheer numbers alone.
They have no soulsssss, Eylnnie’an hissed and Eristta confirmed her observation.
They were created—by Garethan.
Revulsion pulsed through Eylnnie’an and as the dragon breathed deep, Eristta felt a distinct pull on her solar plexus. The same pull she’d felt on Earth. And with Red Claw.
Eristta sensed the magick amass in Eylnnie’an’s heart, and she realized the dragon was absorbing magickal currents from her and the surrounding area. I only take what is freely given by your manipulation of the currents.
Eristta understood. Accepted it. A part of her exulted in it.
Watch, sssister. We turn the tide.
It was then that Eristta remembered the firewhit conclave prophecy. “Crimson portals held in trust. Unconcealed, their power calls. On honored wing—teeth and bone—steel and stone. Expose the doorways to turn the tide of evil’s flow.”
Of course. If she’d not opened the doorway, Eylnnie’an would never have been afforded the opportunity to enter Tir na n-Og. Darous’s insistence had been vital to the prophecy’s success. And Ferra’leen’s prophecy spoke of a power that rules the air. Eylnnie’an. Which again, would not have been possible, had she and Red Claw not admitted their love for one another. Pledged their bond.
Eristta’s focus shifted. The ground rushed to meet them, but Eylnnie’an exercised total control. Stench from the golems met them in a toxic cloud, and Eristta gasped as Eylnnie’an let the power at her heart expand. Pure energy washed through Eristta and she cried out in Aquier, sending her own threads of magick into the currents, feeding the dragon’s power.
Eylnnie’an breathed out, and fiery magick plowed a twenty-foot channel through the field of golems. Demons burst into fine ash. Eristta laughed with elation, her spirit pulsating.
Three pumps and Eylnnie’an turned eastward, repeating her actions. They blasted several rows of ash across the plain before turning toward the closer fighting. Golems had finally sensed that something was amiss. Glossy, muddy eyes turned skyward, and unhinged jaws dropped.
It wasn’t only the golems who had noticed the change. Elves, centaurs, sprites and mages wasted not a moment cutting down the distracted demons. Eylnnie’an grunted. I can create a ring of fire that will cut the outer forces off from those at the center, allowing your comrades an opportunity to eliminate those closest.
Yes! Eristta cried, understanding that they would at least be afforded a chance that way. But will our forces be able to escape the fire?
Eylnnie’an rumbled aloud. “Yesss. I will create a flame that burns only for a limited time.”
Eristta hissed in surprise. You can do such a thing?
Without replying, the dragon tipped her wings and arced through the air, jetting streams of pure elemental magick between the golem ranks and the fey. Cheers filled Eristta’s ears and she smiled. She spotted Serosen and Selena at the center of the fray. With renewed strength, they hacked their way forward, forcing the golems toward the ring of silver and blue flame.
Thank you, Eylnnie’an, Eristta said with sincerity, her heart beating with hope for the first time. I must now go back. Help in the fight.
You have helped, Elf. The gift you brought made it possible. I will be forever grateful.
A sadness at the thought of leaving Eylnnie’an weighted heavy on Eristta’s conscience. There was so much more she wanted to know. To share. She felt a kinship to the dragon.
What will you do now? Eristta asked.
For now…I will ssstay in this land. Assist in destroying these demons. Then I will build my strength. Feed my spirit, and search for a way to journey to my homeworld.
Eristta well understood the dragon’s need to find her own kind. To fill the void of loneliness within her heart. Eristta had felt the loneliness herself. Despite her loving family. Her fast friends. Her busy life.
Only one person had been able to fill that void.
And he needed her.
“Go,” Eylnnie’an spoke aloud. “This is not our last bonding, sister. A part of you lives within my blood.”
With her words, Eristta felt her spirit fly free. Once disconnected from Eylnnie’an’s form, the reek of golems, blood, fear and pain assaulted her with the horrible reality of what had taken place. Of what was still raging. Eristta sped toward her body, hoping it was still in one piece.
* * * * *
Turn around!
Feed us!
We will take from you, shaman.
Red Claw gripped his head, his mouth curled in a permanent snarl. His eyes darted as his heart pounded, blood calling for blood. He’d felt the battle escalate. The use of magick hung thick like ozone before a heavy rain. The stench of death, fear and defeat sizzled along every line of his body.
The spirits within him had become more demanding, and Red Claw realized that he was losing the battle. Their hunger infected him like a festering wound. Calling, screaming to be fed—satisfied.
The killings did not assuage their desires, as the creatures he’d slaughtered had no souls, possessed no magick. Red Claw purposely kept his attention away from Eristta, even though every fiber of his being longed to know how she fared. It was impossible to avoid recognizing the flash of her power when she bonded with the Unhcegila. It resonated through the ether like an earth trembler, shaking the very core of Tir na n-Og.
The creatures within him shrieked in response to the fluctuation, and directly after, pummeled him with demands. And whereas before the energies fought against one another, they now operated in collusion, their hunger so great.
Red Claw knew he was losing. But he would not bow to their demands, no matter the cost. There was only one thing he could do.
The portal loomed ahead. It still gaped, though considerably smaller than the maw that allowed half of Garethan’s army to march through. As soon as the energies within him recognized it, they balked. With hook-sharp tentacles they raged against the shaman, trying to drive him back.
Ignoring the burning pain that threatened to consume him, Red Claw walked steadfastly forward. Each footstep drug like an eternity, but within seconds he faced the portal. Wild slashes of emerald green and crimson lanced from the opening. The muscles in his neck corded, and using every ounce of energy he possessed, Red Claw threw himself into the sacred portal.
* * * * *
She fell back into her body with little force, but once there, Eristta couldn’t seem to find a way to open her eyes and stand up.
“Eristta!”
Her ears worked fine, though.
She opened her mouth to tell Darous to quit shouting, but all that came out was a sigh.
Then she felt a concussion to her heart that snapped her eyes open and her head up.
Red Claw.
She blinked rapidly, clearing the haze from her vision, then stood. Almost. Her legs shook, and Eristta made it only to her knees. Her body felt as if it had been sent through the fi
res of Heragoth. Her skin was hot to the touch, her muscles ropy and loose.
Still, she found her feet and took in her surroundings. She was on the battlefield where she’d stood to face Eylnnie’an. And surrounding her was a ring of warriors, all driving back golems toward the wall of enchanted flame.
“Mistress!”
Eristta’s attention snapped to the side. Darous careened into her, landing unceremoniously in her hair.
“You did it, Earie! You fulfilled the prophecy!”
“Yes,” Eristta said, plucking the firewhit from her locks and holding him in front of her face. “And I think you and I have much to discuss when the time presents itself.”
Darous’s thin brows rose and a hand went to his chest as if to say “who, me?”
“But not now. Now I have to find my love.” She opened her hand and Darous flew free.
“I know how to get you there quickly,” Darous called, zooming closer. “Come.”
Eristta didn’t question him. Darous had been full of surprises as of late. She thought that perhaps like everyone else, she had seriously underestimated her friend’s powers and purpose.
Calling what energies she could from the depleted land, Eristta followed her friend as he zagged a seemingly random path across the battlefield.
Eristta! Her brother and bond-sister’s mind calls sounded in unison.
Eristta touched their spirits, dread sitting like a stone in her heart. I must find Red Claw!
Go, sister. Serosen’s deep voice filled Eristta’s mind. Remember—follow your heart. Daiasthma eerin dea freenaugh, Eristta.
Daiasthma eerin dea freenaugh, brother, Eristta replied before whipping up into the bough of a battle-scarred oak that Darous had disappeared into. She looked up to see the firewhit shining near a knotted branch thicker than a centaur’s torso.
“Darous! How is this getting to Red Claw quicker?!”
The firewhit smirked and motioned Eristta higher. She complied; fatigue forgotten as worry for Red Claw seized her anew. She swung onto the branch and crouched, looking expectantly at her friend. The friend she’d thought for a brief moment, merely a tool for evil. One she’d thought she’d lost. “Darous, how do you know where Red Claw is?”
Night Elves 2: Dangerous Obsession Page 15