Lyra nodded. “Thank you.”
“True. And here, it’s suggested that different seers intuit varying types of information. Some read primarily objects, some interpret faces or people, while others may see places. The combinations are unique to the particular seer, but there will be a regular tendency for that individual.”
A battle patrol of dragons sailed past the library windows, and Lyra was on her feet. “Did either of you notice if the Imperial Dragon was in that squadron?” she asked, forehead pressed to the glass, trying to get a glimpse of the landing ledge below.
“I’m sorry. I was reading,” the Guardian replied. “You’re obviously eager to see him. You hardly touched your meal. Why don’t you slip down to the foyer and check?”
“A brisk walk will settle your nerves,” Mimio added.
Lyra bolted through the door but only reached the turn into the main corridor before she ran into the Imperial Dragon. His wingtips dragged along the floor. The golden scales along one flank had been charred, exposing a thin line of flesh.
“You’re injured!” Lyra stepped to his side. “Can I mend that?”
The leader shook his head. “Heal the others first. Two in my team are worse.”
Lyra glanced at the dragons milling behind him in the grand hall. One limped with a bloody leg, and the other had a badly torn wing. She waved to the nearest lair guard. “Bring Sorceress Mimio from the library to help me heal the injured.” The startling news about Eburscon’s son would have to wait. She didn’t expect to need to put something as important as that on hold. It hurt her to see their bravest fighters wounded. Walking toward them, she called over her shoulder to the leader, “Are Cullen and Yord’s group coming in soon? I could use his help too.”
“No idea,” he said wearily before bellowing across the hall to a dragon standing in the foyer. “Tarn, you spoke with Yord in the Meadow. They weren’t hit as hard—all flying square. When will they be in?”
“He noticed we were more badly injured and sent us in first,” the senior blue responded.
Lyra positioned the blue with the torn wing on his side and carefully extended the wing tendons enough to allow her hand inside the delicate folds.
He grimaced but didn’t complain.
Mimio scurried through the room, skirt and scarf billowing behind her. Without a word, she set to work on the other seriously injured dragon.
Lyra’s task progressed slowly, restoring internal layers of crushed bone and shredded cartilage first. She stopped periodically to mend vessels and control bleeding. But by the time she rebuilt the thin outer membrane of the wingsails, the dragon’s blood covered her. She was thankful for having had the experience of mending a dragon’s wing before, for Yord. The procedure required precise skill with her aura, nothing for the squeamish.
The fighter caught a glimpse of his blood staining her jeans and jerked.
“Lie still. The worst is over. I’m working on the sails now,” she assured him.
“Will the wing fly again?” he sputtered with a raspy voice.
“Yes, but not soon. You’ll need more than a week to finish healing well enough for battle.”
The blue groaned, closed his eyes, and rested his head back on the floor.
Lyra looked over at Mimio, whose satin gown remained only slightly cleaner than Lyra’s clothing.
The sorceress worked on the final stages, repairing fascia over thigh muscles and a new layer of scaly skin.
Beyond her, another squadron arrived on the ledge backlit by the setting sun. Most of the Imperial Dragon’s had cleared the area, although he stayed behind, encouraging his fighters receiving treatment through their pain.
Lyra’s heart leapt. She strained against the sharp sun’s rays to see Cullen, Yord, Yasqu, and any who might have suffered serious injury.
Cullen held his arm close to his side, but his expression seemed only drawn with exhaustion, not pain.
Surface wounds marred Yord’s shoulder and Yasqu’s hind limb, both much like the leader’s injury. None in that patrol had taken bad hits, but all needed minor treatment in order to continue fighting.
With one leg numb from sitting awkwardly for so long, Lyra pushed to a standing position and stumbled through the tangle of at least a dozen dragons toward Cullen.
He embraced her tightly with his good arm. “Two of the leader’s patrol required urgent care. Do you need my help?” He wiped a blood smear from her cheek. “You’ve been working hard.”
Lyra nodded. “Mending a bad wing tear.” As she walked, she checked on the pair of treated dragons being helped to stand by the lair’s guards. “Those two are stable. We’ll need your help with the others. It looks like everyone is hurting. How bad is your arm?”
“A burn from a magma drake, small but grazed the bone.” He moved the arm from under his cloak, and Lyra pulled back what remained of his sleeve. “Luckily the extreme heat cauterized the ruptured vessels. I’m not capable of much self-healing while throwing powerballs.”
Directing him to sit with her on the floor, she steadied his forearm in her lap. Over the next half hour, her hands traced the edges of the charred tissues, reconstructing the missing muscle and connective tissue fibers. “Not nearly as difficult as a dragon wing.” She gave a weak smile and released his arm.
He stretched the limb and flexed his hand. “Stiff, but all in order. Thank you.” He leaned in and kissed her lips.
In the next hours, Cullen, Lyra, and Mimio scattered in all directions within the lair. They treated dozens of wounded dragons and applied additional healing to the two in serious condition.
***
Lyra finally found her way back to the library, uncertain what to do next. Stress, fear, fatigue, and hunger wrestled for her attention.
Kenzo caught up to her in the side hallway.
“Thanks for helping us check on everyone and delivering water and food to the pair who couldn’t move easily,” she said.
“Have you told the Imperial Dragon yet?”
She shook her head and pushed the door to the library open. “No time.” The Unicorn’s billowing white aura spilled over her feet. It seemed odd that he reported in to the lair. He normally resided in the forests under his care.
The Imperial Dragon rested in the corner of the room, talking with the Tortoise and Unicorn.
“The two I needed to speak with.” The leader raised his torso slightly.
Lyra and Kenzo looked at each other, and she wondered what the Imperial Dragon already knew.
Cullen and Mimio entered behind them, carrying trays loaded with food.
“Please, come in and rest a moment.” The leader waved his front claw. “Sire Drake, the Scribe, your assistant, and I are about to have an enlightening chat.”
After glancing at the tiger owl, Cullen’s eyebrows jumped.
“Around mid-day, I arose in my chamber after night patrol and overheard you both in the main room of my study. You discussed a name I couldn’t recall—Ashbine. The topic was something about a person by that name crippling the young mortal girl, Kessa. It seemed an odd thing to discuss, given the urgency of our threatened status. But I had no time to pursue the matter with my squadron about to depart. The name stuck with me, yet only the elderly wizard who helps with the flower faeries came to mind. Later, when I checked in with the Phoenix Guardian for an update, I asked her if she knew others by that name. Being sensitive to evil and warfare, she whipped into a blaze of panicking fire and led me to a storage alcove of the cave. She related that there was one other by that name, a teenage magical with whom she had some difficulties during sorcery training. In order to bring him in line, during a conference with his mother, the woman defended her son’s magical nature. Eburscon is the boy’s father.”
“Damn!” Cullen exclaimed. “Why didn’t we think that snake kept a connection to the Alliance?”
“Not many would so conveniently have a bastard son or sons to help,” the Unicorn said with a snort.
Mimio shook
her head in obvious disbelief.
“Lyra, is this the matter that has had you so agitated today?” the Tortoise asked.
“Yes.” Lyra nodded. “When Kessa and her mother helped us locate an amulet, I kept finding clues that told me the girl might be a magical.”
The leader leaned his neck forward. “She gave off no aura. What made you suspect?”
“I didn’t sense her aura either. The girl told me about how her grandmother magically used the items in the jewel case,” Lyra answered.
“I didn’t hear her say that.” The Tortoise tilted his head.
“She spoke into Lyra’s ear,” Cullen added.
The Tortoise lifted an eyebrow at the sorcerer. “How did you know? Oh. I forgot. You two have mental communication.”
“Plus, there were so many times that her mother stopped Kessa from demonstrating what she did with the items.” Lyra’s hands flew up in the air. “I became suspicious and tested the girl. When she held the compass, I placed my hand underneath and voiced a directive. I supplied no magic. The compass may have been enchanted, but it responded to Kessa, not me.”
“How did you learn about the connection to Eburscon’s son?” the Unicorn asked.
“Since I was busy studying the ancient books, I had Kenzo do some work to learn about Kessa and her overprotective mother.” Lyra motioned to the owl to continue the report.
“I made friends with the girl and gained her trust,” Kenzo explained, his wings folded unusually tight. “With my aura, I played games to hide myself, and sometimes objects, to test and strengthen her ability as a seer. She eventually told me—”
“The child is a seer?” A shower of sparks spraying from the Imperial Dragon’s nostrils.
“A seer?” the Unicorn repeated. “Are you certain?”
Lyra nodded. “She told us about how the other children are afraid of her because she can see things before they happen. Kenzo tested her plenty of times, making her stretch her ability to see through the shield of his aura.”
“Like I tried to say,” Kenzo cleared his throat and continued, “when I saw scars on Kessa’s legs, I knew she had suffered an injury. She was fearful but told me that a person named Ashbine caused her to be crippled.”
“We’re still not clear why Nillea is against her daughter’s magic,” Lyra said. “She confronted me once, when I talked to Kessa about her powers and said they were a special gift to be proud of.” She scanned the room. “I’m guessing Nillea thinks her daughter will be vulnerable to attack if people find out she’s a seer. Maybe she thinks next time the child might suffer worse than crippled legs.”
Mimio nodded. “Makes logical sense.”
“I don’t understand. If she really felt that strongly, why bring her daughter to the lair to begin with?” Lyra asked. “Surely she would think the higher magicals might notice the girl’s gift.”
“I agree. And the fact that Kessa emits no aura is also suspicious,” Cullen added. “Cloaking an aura is a very advanced magical procedure.”
The Imperial Dragon released a built up puff of smoke toward the ceiling. “Well. That account related to Ashbine was more than I expected. It raises many questions. Clearly, the odds are against us now with the Black Dragon taking more control. The Dark Realm is now using scores of magma and fire drakes in addition to small teams of cimafa, and solitary green dragons. Our fighters have suffered numerous burns, some severe. There is a leak of information out of the Alliance, probably to the Dark Realm, from a source who knew we possessed the next seer before we did. Given her potential, it’s a wonder Eburscon and his son didn’t kill the girl.”
“It’s a tremendous thing, maternal instinct. Would we have wanted that child anywhere but the lair during these attacks? Luck has been with us,” the Unicorn observed.
A round of nods and heavy sighs showed the realization of his observation.
“We need to move forward with some changes.” The Imperial Dragon stood. “I’ll assign a patrol to visit the secured areas and find out what has become of the boy, Ashbine. If he remains in the Alliance, we must assume he’s a spy and keep him under surveillance.” He turned toward Lyra. “ Where are you in your studies?”
“We only have to read through Brigid’s book. Then, I need to form plans about how to find the keystones and in what order.”
“Good work, Lyra. That’s fast,” the Unicorn said.
“We’re all eager for you to return those gems to the Elementum Arcesso. Then we can put an end to this constant battle.” The leader paced in front of the windows. “The last of the five night squadrons has left. Many of us need to sleep before our next watch. As for Kessa, I’m not sure what to do.” With a raised brow, he looked at Lyra. “Her mother seems to know you suspect the child has seer abilities, correct?”
She nodded. “I’m afraid if we push harder, she’ll take her daughter away from the lair.”
“Exactly. Maybe to some place we can’t find them,” the Unicorn added.
“Or worse yet, fall into the hands of Eburscon and the Dark Realm,” Cullen added, running a hand through his hair.
“On the other hand—and I believe Lyra has already thought of this—we need to train Kessa to use her powers.” The Tortoise motioned to the recent references about seers spread over one of the tables. “With evil invading, the Alliance desperately needs a seer.”
“Will Nillea accept my orders if I charge them to stay here and permit Kessa be trained to use her abilities?” the leader asked Lyra and the owl.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I spoke to her once but didn’t press. I was afraid to tell anyone else until you returned, thinking if we didn’t act together, they’d run off. Kenzo, you know them best. What do you think?”
“That mother is as protective as they come. She’s already on edge. It doesn’t matter whether we give a decree or a heart-to-heart talk. I feel she’ll bolt.”
“Hmm. You both have tried kindness, a skill none can do better than the two of you. The message of our intent for Kessa to serve the Alliance as a seer needs to come from me. Before I speak to Nillea, I’ll be sure to step up the number of guards watching the girl to make certain the mother doesn’t try to take the girl away.” He scanned the room and strode to the door with the Unicorn following.
“I’m going to our quarters. Come to bed soon. You look tired,” Cullen said, touching Lyra’s elbow as he passed.
Chapter Fifteen: Wounded Fighters
Lyra’s mind spun. “Since Kenzo is with us, let’s discuss how to train a seer.” She scanned the faces of Mimio and the Tortoise before turning toward the owl. “Then, you can pay a visit to Kessa before her bedtime to calm her. I worry that Nillea might frighten the girl after the Imperial Dragon’s talk.”
“Good idea.” The Tortoise aligned the spectacles on his nose and examined an open reference. “Here’s something of interest. Seers are particular about how they take in information to form the question they will answer. Some use skin, like Heilia, Kessa’s great grandmother. Others use gemstones to collect knowledge.” He glanced over the top of his glasses at Kenzo. “Do you know what Kessa uses?”
“I think her skin since she holds her hands out, but I’ve never tested if using a seeing stone would improve her input. I don’t know that she has one.” His feathers lifted along the length of his spine.
“I wonder if any of the items in the jewel box will help her?” Mimio asked. “Maybe the emerald ring?”
“It glowed for me but not for her,” Lyra replied. “Knowing Nillea, I’d expect if Heilia passed her seeing stone to her mother’s family, she would have it locked up where Kessa can’t find it.”
“No doubt in my mind there,” the owl snapped.
“Perhaps you can subtly make some inquiries on that topic then,” the Tortoise suggested. “It’s possible Kessa has a magical connection and senses an object that will enhance her power. Without training, she might not have the ability to break physical locks or hiding spells.”
Kenzo unfolded his wings with care. “Is there anything else for me to work on?”
“Here are notes about training seers to read with more clarity, especially around the shadowy edges of intuitive information.” Mimio looked up from a journal. “It sounds like something you’re already doing—hiding things in your aura and encouraging Kessa to pierce through the magic. Keep up that method.”
“Will do.” Lyra opened the door, and the owl flew out.
“Take care,” she called after him. Returning inside, she sat at the table where Brigid’s Book of Dragonspeir lay. “With the increased dangers, it’s going to be harder to concentrate now, but I need to get finished even if it takes me all night.”
“I’ll stay with you as long as you want to work, but be careful not to overdo.” The Tortoise lumbered to the other table.
Mimio delivered a tray of food and the tea service. “I agree; your health is important. Be sure to get something to eat. You didn’t eat much earlier. Thankfully, this book won’t be as difficult since you’ve already read it once before.”
Lyra scooped up a handful of nuts and nibbled while she found the proper scene to study. “To save time while I get organized, will you tell us what you know about fluorite, the last keystone?”
“My pleasure.” The sorceress sat straight and presented an illustration of the gem. “Fluorite is not native to Dragonspeir but naturally found in the middle western lands of the human world, throughout the Ohio River Valley.”
The Tortoise pulled the diagram closer. “I’m not familiar with this gem. I’ve been eager to learn about it.
“Fluorite crystals possess earth’s energies and are known to be the home of rainbows because the gem appears in a range of hues, from green and pink to purple and white. The colors are significant to its use. I’m expecting the keystone to be purple, which promotes psychic expansion, spiritual growth and intuition, although white is known to help access astral energies. The blue variety aids communication, green steadies troubled relationships, and yellow is a healer’s stone. I’m interested to learn which color our keystone will be.”
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