“No, Amáne, that’s not true. I wish I could explain it to you right here ... right now. But I can’t. It will all eventually become clearer to you. I promise.” Her brown eyes reflected her sincerity.
She cleared her throat and looked into my eyes once again, then kissed my forehead. Her expression indicated the conversation was over. “I have business to attend to this evening, so I must go out, but we have a lot to discuss tomorrow. There’s porridge in the kitchen. Get some rest tonight.”
She turned to walk away, then stopped and faced me. “I am so very proud of you, Amáne. And your mother would have been, too.”
The sun shone bright through the skylight when I finally realized I should have been up, prepared to start my day. I jumped out of bed and saw Eshshah was still curled up in her sleeping area seemingly in no hurry to get outside. Finding a note on the floor, I picked it up and read what the Healer had written.
My Dear Amáne,
I had to go out early but I do want to apologize one more time for my mistreatment. I want you to know I never meant it to go as far as it did. Please be assured I was never angry with you, nor was I sorry that Eshshah chose you.
You are free to do what you will this morning. I have heated water and have placed some herbs and aromatics in the tub if you choose to soak in the bathing room. I know it has been a while since you have enjoyed one of your favorite pastimes. Today is also a market day if you want to go into town to see any of your acquaintances. All I ask is that you be back here by the midday meal.
Affectionately,
H
“Eshshah.” I exclaimed. “I have a free day. I can do whatever I want.”
“Good, Amáne, you’ve earned it. What are you planning to do?”
“First thing, I’m going for a soak. Eshshah, how long has it been since I’ve had a chance to do that?” Excited, I grabbed a bath sheet and rushed out of my chambers.
In the bathing room I inhaled with joy. The steam fused with the scent of lavender and herbs the Healer had combined for my benefit. I quickly dropped my clothing on the floor and headed toward the wooden tub that invited me into its fragrant mist.
Passing my reflection in the glass, I came to a standstill. I had always been of slight build and maybe a bit thin as far as body type, but I didn’t recognize my own body. My muscles had been toned, cut and chiseled into what reminded me of ancient drawings and sculptures I had seen. I was surprised and fascinated by my transformation. Not like I was anything special, but just that instead of looking plain and shapeless like I always had, I now looked ... well ... athletic. I had no time in the last several weeks to even think of my appearance, let alone ever look at myself in the glass. I lingered in front of my reflection longer than I should have, a little absorbed with myself.
“What are you doing?” Eshshah broke into my vain thoughts. Quite embarrassed, I stuttered some nonsense about getting ready to soak. Sliding quickly into the tub, I vowed to work on my humility.
I soaked until my fingers and toes looked like dried grapes — it was paradise.
After my bath, I told Eshshah I planned to go to the marketplace, just to get out for a while. I hadn’t been into town for quite some time.
Wandering the colorful stalls made me feel like an ordinary citizen of Dorsal again. The smells, the people, the buzz. I didn’t realize how much had changed in my life — it would never be the same. At least I could enjoy some normalcy for a little while.
I stopped at the fruit stand and bought an apple. I took pleasure in its juicy sweetness while strolling up and down the rows completely enjoying myself. Not paying much attention, I found I had subconsciously wandered into the weapons row — not a big surprise. I came to a halt in front of a booth stocked with blades of excellent craftsmanship and gazed at them with a new appreciation.
“Hi Amáne.” It was Kail, the grinder’s son, my old sparring partner. “Where have you been? Sorry about your Mother. Were you gone all this time on your memorial journey?”
I greeted Kail, then replied, “I’ve been back for a while, but I’m staying with the Healer and ... working around her place.”
“We should get together to fight sometime. I need someone I can defeat easily,” he said with such confidence, yet with a teasing look in his eyes.
“Hey, it wasn’t that easy for you. I had the upper hand enough times. You just never admitted it.” I shot back. If he only knew the truth, he wouldn’t dare to challenge me now.
Another of my acquaintances, Fiona, spotted me and came over to where I stood with Kail. She had her twin sisters, Rio and Mila in tow, both of whom ran up to me and gave me hugs.
“Amáne, how are you?” asked Fiona. “I haven’t seen you in so long. My condolences to you in the loss of your mother. May she rest with her ancestors.”
She turned to Kail with a change of expression and a timid inflection in her voice, “Hi Kail.”
Kail smiled and greeted Fiona a bit shyly, then excused himself, saying he had to help in his father’s grinder’s shop, sharpening knives, daggers and swords.
I felt the attraction between the two but said nothing. It was actually nice to see Fiona. She had always been kind to me regardless of my quirkiness. And I relished Rio and Mila’s affectionate attentions.
“Hmm, of course I would find you at this stall, Amáne,” Fiona said amiably. “We’re on our way to my favorite — the fabrics. Join us, will you?”
She took my arm and Rio and Mila fought for the other. How could I decline?
“Where did you go for your memorial journey?” Fiona asked.
As I was dragged to the fabrics and ribbons Fiona always loved, I told her I had gone camping on the cove.
“Oh yes, you and camping. If it were my mother who went to rest with her ancestors, I’d go to the City of Teravinea and wander the market place to see all the noble ladies in their silk gowns. My mother would of course approve.”
We arrived at the fabrics stall and as she admired the finery, she rambled on, “You’re so lucky you are of age, now, Amáne. No more classes and you can concentrate on finding a husband. Who’ll make the arrangements for that now, the Healer?”
“Fiona, I’m in no hurry to find a husband. You know that. I have plenty of time in my life before I have to start bothering with that.”
“Oh, but then you may not be young and beautiful any longer. You are beautiful, you know, Amáne. You just don’t use it to your advantage. Your sapphire blue eyes with your dark hair is rather exotic. Your light olive skin is perfect. You should capitalize on that. Men want beauty in their lives.”
“Fiona. Stop.”
“Look at that bolt of silk! Can you help me get it down, please?”
I reached for it with my left hand and my sleeve fell back exposing the scar on my wrist. I never had time to work with Eshshah on reducing it, or to ask the Healer for something to lessen the ugly mark.
“Amáne, what happened to you?”
“Er, I just got clumsy, that’s all. It’s not that bad.” I covered it back up as quickly as I could.
“See, that’s what I’m talking about. You need to take better care of yourself. A man doesn’t want a bride that’s all scarred up.”
“Fiona, is that all you can think about? Please, we are not having this conversation.”
“Well, all right, go ahead and amuse yourself with your swords, and I’ll let you know if I need you to fight someone for me. I’ll marry my true love and work with my silks, and you can let me know when you’re ready to act like a lady — then I’ll be there for you.”
“Deal.”
It was soon time for me to get back home on orders from the Healer, so I took my leave of Fiona and her sisters. I wondered again as I had wondered my whole life how different my existence would be if, like Fiona, I had two parents and siblings. Being an only child was not that great. I looked back wistfully as she was led down the row by a twin on either arm.
It was a pleasure to see Fiona, Mila and Rio.
But it was also nice to be on my own again, and away from her preoccupation with marriage. It made me nervous.
I leaned against Eshshah and took advantage of her shade as she soaked up the sun in the courtyard. The Healer arrived on Thunder. The blacksmith, Dorjan, rode in on his horse behind her. Gallen joined us just as Dorjan’s horse spotted Eshshah and reared up in fright. I was quite impressed with how Dorjan remained in the saddle and managed to get him under control quickly. He turned his horse toward the barn to get him some distance from my dragon so he could calm him down. Thunder, although not overly fond of Eshshah, was at least used to her. I wondered if they knew what a tasty meal they would make for her. Eshshah let out her laugh-like rumble as we watched them ride to the barn.
Dorjan and the Healer walked back to the courtyard where we waited. His ebony eyes rested on Eshshah. He gazed at her with admiration. Dorjan was a large dark man with a kind face, framed in a short dark beard. Walking straight up to us, he saluted both Eshshah and me. We acknowledged the greeting with a nod.
“May I?” He asked permission to speak with Eshshah.
“Of course,” I answered.
“Eshshah, red beauty, you’ve sparked a fire in this man’s heart. I am honored to meet you.”
Eshshah hummed her pleasure at his compliment.
“She thanks you, Dorjan. She’s pleased to meet you as well.”
We went inside to the kitchen and served ourselves our midday meal. I was famished, and without any further conversation, I drew my attention to my plate.
At the same instant that I’d gulped a large mouthful of my tea, the Healer spoke, “Amáne, you know Dorjan.”
I had known him all my life and we had already greeted each other so I wondered why she thought she needed to introduce us.
“It’s time for you to know his true name. He was formerly known as Ruiter, rider of the late Unule.”
I think Gallen anticipated my reaction. He ducked just in time to avoid the spray of tea that spewed from my mouth. I jumped up sputtering and coughing, but managed to give Dorjan a decent salute. As soon as he acknowledged it, I ran into the kitchen for a cloth to clean up my embarrassing mess.
Gallen burst out laughing. “Healer, do you think the next time you have alarming news to tell her, you could at least refrain from telling her at meal times?”
We all laughed.
“Thank you, Gallen. I’ll try to keep that in mind.” The Healer continued, “Amáne, you should be able to handle the rest of what I have to say without losing your food, or your knife, or anything else.” She made sure I was using open thought transference so Eshshah would be included in our conversations.
“First, you have to understand you have never known a world with dragons.” She looked at me, “The last one died two years before you were born —”
“That was Torin and his rider, Nara, I know the song. She was my favorite of all the riders.” I interrupted.
She paused, nodded and then went on, “But before then, our recorded history always included dragons. Never was there a period of time when dragons and riders weren’t seen in the skies. Until this usurper — this Galtero,” she spat out the name, “stole the throne by treachery — dragons and riders were a part of who we were.”
The Healer began to discuss what had been her mission for the last twenty or twenty-five years. She had been a member of the court of Teravinea as Healer, close confidant and advisor to King Emeric Drekinn, whose dynasty had ruled Teravinea for the last several hundred years. During times of war and strife more dragons and riders were linked, but in times of peace there were less. While the Drekinns ruled, the kingdom saw relative peace. There were still skirmishes, a few significant battles and border disputes, but generally speaking Teravinea had been in a period of peace for a long time. But even in times of peace, dragons still hatched and chose riders.
“There is a chamber in Castle Teravinea,” the Healer explained, “that houses dragon eggs laid by mating pairs duty-bound to the kingdom. A Hatching Gathering is held every year where dragon rider candidates are paraded past the dragon eggs in hopes they would be chosen as a rider. This has been the custom since our history began, so Galtero continues the tradition. But his hatching festival is a ruse. Since he has taken the throne there have been no linkings — none. For several years before King Emeric joined his ancestors, less and less eggs hatched, less riders chosen. Many ‘accidents’ occurred that ended the lives of the kingdom’s dragons and more than half of the riders.”
The Healer told us about her suspicions that Galtero was to blame for the failure of the dragons to hatch. It was her belief he wanted to guarantee there would be no one strong enough to resist him when he killed King Emeric and took his throne. His sorcerers and wise men surely were behind some dark enchantment of the dragon eggs, prohibiting them from choosing riders and hatching. The Healer shared her fears with King Emeric. Just before they could prove their theory, the royal living apartments of Castle Teravinea were destroyed in an explosion and fire, killing the royal family.
Her life abruptly changed. The Healer dedicated herself to avenging the murder of the Drekinn royal family. Instrumental in her cause, she had to solve the mystery of what evil had been perpetrated upon the dragon eggs. The solution would be necessary to save Teravinea.
Fervently, the Healer spoke of her concerns, “Our kingdom is deteriorating as Galtero sucks the life out of Teravinea. He cares only for power and riches, and does not concern himself with the people who represent the heart of our once-bountiful kingdom. With the dragons and riders we had a cohesiveness throughout the land — we had well-informed citizens. Linked pairs played an important role in communication. They could travel quickly from one end of Teravinea to another, keeping us united. This is what set us apart from other kingdoms. That, and the fact that the dragons and riders were a formidable foe to any who would desire to conquer us. Now we have nothing that would deter invaders, and our kingdom is divided. Galtero would sell us out for a price.”
“How can we find out what sorcery is keeping the dragon eggs from hatching?” I asked.
“The answer to that brings us to the crux of our mission. That is, if you and Eshshah will join us.”
“Of course, Healer. Eshshah and I would be honored to be a part of your plan. Whatever it takes to get our kingdom back to its former position — to defeat Galtero and stop his attack on our dragon eggs.”
“Thank you Amáne and Eshshah. Our plan is to procure an egg from the hatching chamber and bring it here. It must be an egg from the royal dragon line — Eshshah’s line. Only she could determine the lineage. I’ll need to discover what trickery is being used and develop an antidote. If I can do that, we hope the following hatching festival will result in some linkings. This will certainly alert Galtero as to the decline of his power and will assist us in taking our kingdom back. It is the necessary first step.”
“I can’t think of a greater honor than being a part of taking the throne from Galtero. I’m curious, though, who will rule in his place?” I asked.
“That’s something only the future can determine, and we will unfold it to you when we feel it’s necessary.”
She changed the subject. “In the absence of dragons, Gallen created an ingenious communication device to stay in contact with the other dragon riders throughout the kingdom.”
I had no idea there were riders in other parts of Teravinea. Before I could ask, Gallen motioned me to the back corner of the Healer’s library. He directed my attention to an apparatus that hung on the wall — a thick glass disc, about two hands-width in diameter mounted on an ornate wooden background. It was framed by two pewter dragons perched on either side of the wood. Behind the glass was an inlay of three dragon scales in a triangular formation. Below the glass disc was a brass knob. I had seen the same device in the corner of the library chamber at the outpost, but I thought it was a piece of art, and not a functional object.
The Healer indicated, “It is only operable by dra
gon riders. Gallen would you please instruct Amáne in its use?”
Gallen began, “Due to the decline of dragons and riders, our communication suffered greatly, which, of course, was the intention of Galtero. If we couldn’t communicate with other parts of the kingdom, we couldn’t gather important information on his doings — nor assemble an army to defeat him. We needed a method where we could still stay in contact with each other, so I designed this communication disc. It allows us to stay abreast of Galtero’s dealings. There are twenty-six of us dragon riders left. You make twenty-seven.” My eyes went wide with that revelation.
Gallen continued, “We’ve posted a rider in most of the significant townships, and each has one of these devices. There’s also a disc at every outpost. In case you were wondering why Dorjan and I are both here in Dorsal, it’s because of a foretelling that an unhatched egg existed here as well as a likely candidate.” He looked at me and nodded in my direction.
“We obviously were not as vigilant as we should have been, otherwise, you two would not have been in the dangerous situation of being alone when you linked.”
Eshshah and I acknowledged his regret, but assured him that it was meant to be. We held no one to blame.
“This instrument contains the scales of my dragon, Gyan — his name means ‘knowledge.’” He took a deep breath. I shuddered at the horror of losing a dragon.
“As you know, Amáne, a dragon’s scales exhibit the characteristics of their dragon. Therefore ‘knowledge’ would be a significant result of communication. These discs have played an important part toward our cause. They’ve kept us informed of the goings on around the kingdom.
“Here’s how it operates. You place your hand on this knob, and say or whisper ‘Gyan,’ and then the name of the rider who is manning that particular communication device. It must be his true dragon rider name. We will contact Kei, rider of the late Okeanos. Kei is currently known as Farvard. He is in Tramoren, which is in north-central Teravinea. You try it. Farvard is waiting to hear from us.”
Amáne of Teravinea - The Chosen One (The Teravinea Series Book 1) Page 11