Akshasa let out an angry snort. Khalid insisted it could not be done. The old liar. He said blue dragon blood was not compatible with the Nagas and would kill them.
Kanvar laughed. I'm always doing things people say I cannot do. He lowered his hand from Dharanidhar's leg and limped closer to Akshasa. You have every reason to hate me and all other Nagas. I know that. I've seen memories of Stonefountain. And though you would have me killed, I revere the fight you fought to bring freedom to humans and dragons alike. War now rages between dragons and humans, but let there be peace between you and I.
Akshasa reached out a claw and wrapped it around Kanvar.
Kanvar stayed motionless as the wall of dragon flesh and bone closed around him.
Akshasa's hand shook while the ancient dragon battled in his own mind whether to kill Kanvar or let him live. Old anger and hatred twisted through Akshasa. Hurt and desperation along with the ultimate decision he'd made long ago to kill every Naga, no matter the consequences. At odds with Akshasa's brutal instinct to kill was the stark wonder that the new gold king had allowed a crippled child to live and bond with a blue dragon. That the Naga powers no longer rested solely with the Great Golds. That perhaps against all possibilities a new age had dawned on the world. A better age. A time that once, when he was very young, he had believed might be possible.
The towering claw uncurled from around Kanvar. I am at peace, the ancient dragon said. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. His dragonstone pulsed once and then went dark.
A great weight lifted from Kanvar's mind, and a sudden emptiness spread through him as if some large and important part of the world had slipped away.
Dharanidhar lifted Kanvar in his claw and carried him out of the darkness into the sunlight. He let out a great keening wail of sorrow. The Great Liberator was dead. The other dragons picked up the cry, and it rolled on and on for hours, not falling into silence until the sun slipped down over the horizon.
Waiting for Dharanidhar's wing to heal grated on Kanvar's nerves. He was stuck on the ground out in the open with Devaj. And the temperature dropped at night near to freezing.
It's the altitude, Dharanidhar told him. The sweltering heat of the jungle didn't reach the high peaks and valleys. During the cold season, snow even covered the mountains and dusted the valley floor. The blues preferred it that way. Cold and high.
Kanvar rubbed Devaj's icy skin. The clothes he wore could not keep him warm.
Dharanidhar instructed the young blues to gather firewood. Then Dharanidhar set it alight with a lick of blue flame. Kanvar took his own jacket off and wrapped it around his brother then dragged him over close to the fire.
Devaj did not stir. The back of his head was swollen and matted with blood where he'd cracked it on the rocks when Dharanidhar had dropped him days before. A cold wind whistled across the valley, accenting the dark silence. It made Kanvar nervous after so many years of hearing the throbbing call of insects and other jungle creatures at night.
Dharanidhar settled down beside Kanvar and Devaj and wrapped his tail in a circle around them and the fire. A reflection of the flames glimmered from his polished blue scales.
The blue dragons left their lairs and flew off to hunt in the dark. The young ones brought back food for Dharanidhar and Kanvar. Kanvar cooked his portion over the fire, showing Dharanidhar how humans prepared their food.
After Kanvar had eaten, he walked down to the lake for a drink from the crystal waters. The icy cold liquid slid down his throat. When he returned, he found Devaj's skin had turned a dusky blue. His chest no longer rose and fell.
"No," he cried, shaking his brother. "Devaj. Wake up. Breathe."
Kanvar pressed his hand against Devaj's forehead and tried with all his strength to touch his brother's mind. He felt nothing. Then a glimmer of gold and light, and his father's mind swirled into his own. Parmver says you must breathe for him. Cover his mouth and nose with your own mouth and force the air into his lungs. Between breathes make his heart beat by pressing down on his chest. We're coming. Don't stop until we get there.
You're coming here? Kanvar said in alarm as he hurried to follow Parmver's instructions. You can't. It's the blue dragons' stronghold. You've been at war with each other since the fall of Stonefountain. They'll kill you.
We'll have to take that chance. His father's mind slipped away.
Kanvar puffed into Devaj's mouth and watched his chest rise and then fall again. He pressed hard on Devaj's chest in a rhythm he thought a beating heart should make. Then he breathed again for his brother.
Keeping his brother's heart beating and air in his lungs took all of Kanvar's strength and concentration. He felt Dharanidhar close by, worried. Listening for the sound of Rajahansa's wings.
Anilon clattered to an abrupt landing beside Dharanidhar. Rajahansa and another gold dragon have been sighted coming this way. They must be following Kanvar's mind. Tell him to block his thoughts. How many blues should I send to stop them?
Let them come, Dharanidhar ordered.
What? Let Rajahansa into our mountains? He'll discover where we nest. The Nagas will come and enslave us all.
Let them come, I said! Dharanidhar barely stopped short of forcing Anilon to obey him.
Anilon backed away, considering for the first time disobeying Dharanidhar, even challenging him for leadership. If the gold dragons found the blues' refuge, all would be lost. He stood up on his back legs and spread his wings.
Kanvar breathed for himself. For his brother. Forced Devaj's heart to beat. He wanted to say something to ease the conflict between the two old friends, but could not divert his concentration from his brother.
Anilon. Dharanidhar stayed on all four feet, his tail wrapped protectively around Kanvar and Devaj. Don't do this. Trust me, just this once. The Nagas can no longer enslave us. My mind is now as powerful as Rajahansa's. Let Rajahansa come for the prince. I will deal with him.
Anilon let out an angry spurt of blue fire. If you're wrong, you've doomed us all.
I'm not wrong.
Anilon dropped back down to all fours. Despite Dharanidhar's reassurance he called all the blue dragons back from their nightly hunt and had them perch on the cliffs above the lake, ready to fight.
It seemed like forever before Kanvar felt the throb of Rajahansa's wings fanning the air above him.
The Great Gold King landed by the lake along with Ceiron, Parmver's dragon who had the same brittle, sunken skin as Akshasa. Parmver slid from Ceiron's back and hobbled over to Kanvar and Devaj with a vial of orange liquid. He pushed Kanvar away, lifted Devaj's head and poured the liquid into his mouth. Then stroked his throat, forcing the liquid down.
Nothing happened.
Parmver started counting under his breath. When he reached ten, Devaj's body jerked. He coughed. And then sucked in a breath of air. His eyes fluttered open.
Kanvar let out a breath he'd been holding. "Devaj," he cried, grabbing his brother's hand. "You're alive. Thank the fountain, you're alive."
Devaj blinked up at Parmver and Kanvar. "Where am I?"
"You probably don't want to know," Kanvar said. He turned his gaze to the gold dragons by the lake. Anolin had placed himself between Dharanidhar and the golds, reared up and spread his wings ready to fight, though fear coursed through him at facing the Gold King and his Naga. He had an iron box in his claw, and Kanvar realized he'd retrieved Akshasa's stone from the cave.
"No." Kanvar darted forward before Anolin could open the box.
Dharanidhar moved faster. His claw closed around Anilon's, trapping the iron box in his grip. Rajahansa and I need to talk. Perhaps we should have taken the time to do it long ago.
Rajahansa lowered his head in agreement. We have long been enemies. He gazed down at Kanvar. Now it appears the boy has brought us face to face. His spirit and independence have shown me that I was taught incorrectly about some things. Now I find myself rethinking many other things as well.
Dharanidhar spread his wings in a show o
f strength. I promised Kanvar the life of his brother in exchange for his own. Tonight I keep that promise. Take Devaj and go. This is not a good time or place for us to discuss the mistakes of the past and plan for a better future. Dharanidhar's thoughts flicked to the circle of angry blue dragons perched on the cliffs ready to attack, and Anilon's claw trembling with fear and anger trapped in his own.
Kanvar rubbed the pain in his left arm, caused by Dharanidhar's spread wing. Dharanidhar wouldn't be able to hold it up for long. Amar stared down at Kanvar, but said nothing. His mind was locked away behind a thick shield.
Parmver got Devaj to his feet and helped him shuffle past the blue dragons and down to the golds. Parmver's ancient dragon lifted the two of them up onto his neck and then launched into the air.
Another time then. Rajahansa half-bowed to Dharanidhar and then lifted off, shooting after Parmver's dragon as he sped away from the valley.
Dharanidhar lowered his wing and released Anilon's claw. Akshasa's last desire was for peace. Look into my mind and you will see it is true. Dharanidhar showed Anilon the exchange Kanvar had had with the Great Liberator.
Anilon let out a low rumble.
It may take some time, Dharanidhar said. But I think Rajahansa and I will be able to come to terms that will be good for all of us.
Anilon growled, then flew up, and retreated into his lair.
A flight of older blues crossed the valley and took up watch on the far cliffs to be ready in case the gold dragons came back to attack them unawares.
Dharanidhar groaned and stalked back to the fire. He threw some more wood on the flames and then sank down next to them.
Kanvar walked over to join him. "I hope Devaj will be all right now."
He seems to be. The tip of Dharanidhar's tail twitched back and forth. Stupid weak princeling, can't handle a little knock on the head.
"The singing stone didn't help any," Kanvar said in defense of his brother. He shrugged back into his dragonhide jacket and slumped next to the fire. "Or the cold."
You Nagas are far more trouble than you're worth. Dharanidhar shifted so his foreclaw rested comfortably against Kanvar's back.
Kanvar leaned against Dharanidhar's claw, grateful for the feel of the dragon against his skin and in his mind. "I can be useful. I finished Abhavasimha off, after all."
A lucky shot.
"Not true. I even killed a Great Green Dragon without your help." Kanvar smiled at the warmth of the fire on his face and the comfortable banter with Dharanidhar.
You killed Mahanth? Dharanidhar chuckled. Should have known. We'll have to go back and get his stone for our collection.
What? You collect dragonstones like a dragon hunter? Kanvar was certain the gold dragons would think that barbaric.
Only the stones of those who challenge us to combat. We avoid killing Great Dragons otherwise. A lick of blue fire escaped from between Dharanidhar's teeth. Abhavasimha's and Mahanth's stones will be a great start to your own collection, little dragon hunter.
But a villager told me I couldn't take Mahanth's dragonstone. It needed to stay there to give life to the jungle. Kanvar remembered how adamant Tana had been that he leave the stone with Mahanth's corpse.
Dharanidhar growled. That's nonsense. The native villagers are far too superstitious, but they've been in this jungle longer than we have. They've always treated dragons with respect, so we leave them alone. But they have no right to stop you from taking a dragonstone you rightfully won in combat. We'll get it. Don't worry. The villagers won't stop us, and nothing bad will happen to the jungle despite what they believe.
I get to keep the stones then? They're mine to do with as I please? Kanvar couldn't suppress his excitement.
Yes, of course.
Good, then I know exactly what we're going to do as soon as your wing heals.
Chapter Sixteen
Kanvar limped out of the shadow of the trees into the sunlit field. He paused for a moment at the old stump where he'd first practiced with his crossbow not that long ago. Half-consciously, his hand went to the empty bolt loops on his harness. He'd lost every one of his bolts even after telling Chandran he hated to lose them, because they cost too much to replace.
His hand dropped to the full money pouch tied to his belt. Dharanidhar had often wondered what the use was of the little round metal pieces he so often found on human soldiers. After Kanvar's explanation of money, Dharanidhar had laughed and offered Kanvar his whole stash so he could buy more crossbow bolts.
Kanvar shook his head at the pathetic little target and started walking again toward the main colony gates. The heavy satchel he had hung over his shoulder bumped against his side. The coins in his pouch were worth scant little compared to the treasure in his satchel.
It was morning and the gate was open. Dharanidhar had flown Kanvar as close to the colony as he could during the night without being seen. Kanvar had to walk the rest of the way. It wasn't a great distance, but still a bit taxing for Kanvar. He felt hot and sweaty in his patched dragonhide armor. "Better that than cold," he muttered to himself.
He waved to the soldiers who guarded the gate as if he was returning from emptying Chandran's chamber pot out to fertilize the fields. Something he'd done every morning for so many years.
The soldiers waved back, then Kanvar felt their minds dive into a flurry of disbelief. The watchers in the tower had reported Kanvar being carried away by the Great Blue dragon almost a week before. Everyone figured Kanvar was dead. Before they could straighten their minds out and say anything, Kanvar had limped past them into the colony.
He went straight to the weapons shop where he'd purchased his crossbow.
Inside, the shop smelled of hot steel and dragon scales. Kanvar meant to just pick up a few more crossbow bolts, but stopped in front of a new set of shiny blue dragonhide armor that hung on the wall.
"Great Blue dragon hide. The best defense against blue dragon fire. Sewn in a way to maintain full mobility," the shop owner said as he walked over to Kanvar and admired the armor with him. "Not that you'd ever be able to afford it, Kanvar."
Kanvar stared down at his own mismatched armor. His hand pressed up against the bulging pouch. Yes, he could afford it, but his greatest prizes needed to go for something else. He shrugged and moved on. "I need five more crossbow bolts."
"Lost the others already?" the shop owner went to the case where he kept the bolts and pawed through a box of them looking for the size to fit Kanvar's bow. "Wait a minute." He popped his head back up and stared at Kanvar in surprise. "You . . . you're dead. The dragon hauled you off along with the Naga's corpse. You shouldn't have been messing about with that one's sword. I always figured you'd come to a bad end."
Kanvar wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. "Make it ten bolts," he said. "And another strap to hold the extra five."
"Ten bolts? Kanvar, you're alive. But how?" He fumbled through the bolts in a rush. "Dare I ask how you're going to pay for these?"
"I raided the blue dragon's hoard." Kanvar grinned. It was the truth minus the fact that Dharanidhar had offered it to him.
"You did not."
"Did." Kanvar opened his coin pouch and counted out the necessary money while the shop owner slid the five extra bolts into slots on a second leather strap and hooked it onto his harness.
"The watchers said you blinded him. I suppose that's how you managed it. Though how you got out of there and all the way back here alive, I can't imagine."
"It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I had to kill a lesser green serpent, escape a Great Black serpent, and kill a Great Green dragon." Kanvar enjoyed himself bragging like any great dragon hunter would.
"That's a load of camdor droppings," the shop owner said. "The dragon probably just dropped you in the trees a mile from here and you stumbled across some dead colonist's remains. Stole the money and came back."
Heat rose into Kanvar's face. He opened his mouth to contradict the shop owner and then changed his mind. He had n
othing to prove to this man. "Don't sell that suit of armor. Next time I come back into town, I'll bring enough money to buy it."
"Sure you will." The shop owner was still laughing when Kanvar went out the door.
Kanvar's next stop was the general store where he picked up a tin cup, a hunting knife, a frying pan, and a very warm blanket. Basic necessaries to make himself at home in Dharanidhar's lair. He kept his interactions with the store owner minimal, not wanting a repeat of the exchange at the weapons shop.
When he stepped out in the street, he was surprised to see a crowd of soldiers and colonists waiting for him.
"There he is," a woman exclaimed, pointing at Kanvar. "It is him. He's alive."
The street erupted in a flurry of surprised shouts and disbelieving guffaws. Worse was the sudden rush of thoughts that inundated him. So many minds, tumbling all over his with questions and theories about his disappearance and return. Kanvar gritted his teeth and built a shield to protect his own thoughts.
Chandran appeared, pushing his way through the crowd to get to Kanvar. "You wretched boy," he said, grabbing Kanvar's good arm. "I should have you whipped for disobeying me. I told you to stay at the barracks. But no. You had to go mess around with that Naga." Chandran's face was red, and he sputtered in indignation. But his thoughts screamed past Kanvar's shield. Chandran had been devastated when the dragon carried Kanvar away. It was a heart-wrenching loss that had nearly put the old soldier into his grave.
Kanvar was glad Chandran didn't know the truth the Kanvar had not only gone into the jungle but also that he was a Naga and had bonded with the Maranies' worst enemy. Kanvar felt a bit guilty about that, like he'd betrayed Chandran, but Kanvar couldn't bring himself to regret his actions. He'd done what he had to do to save his brother.
Dragonbound: Blue Dragon Page 14