“But how? It sounds like your father means to lock up the entire mountain. He doesn't even want Mau and I to leave.”
Kaleb grunted angrily. “I'll rip the ceiling off this mountain and fly out if I have to. Heilo Lake and Gloirs Mountain are crying out for help—what choice do we have? We need to get back there at once.” He paused. “Have the lake or mountain reached out to you again?”
She shook her head. “No, not since that last time.” Frankly, she was thankful for it. The cries she'd been subjected to had been profoundly painful to bear.
“Can you try and reach out to them? Maybe, if they respond, we can find out what's troubling them,” he suggested.
Minx didn't have a good record for initiating conversations with Heilo Lake. Nearly every time she'd called out to the lake of her own volition, her summons had gone unheeded. “Well... I could try, I suppose.” With little to lose, Minx stationed herself against the wall in a dark nook where the prying eyes of passersby could not easily reach her and calmed her mind. She cast a mental hook into the sea of silence and waited for a nibble. Are you there? Please, answer me. I've heard your cries. I want to help, but I need to know what's wrong. Is it Torrent? Is his magic causing you pain? What's happened?
For some minutes, the trio stood there, waiting for Minx to dredge up an answer.
None came, however. As had happened so many times before, the lake was apparently not in a talking mood.
Kaleb's annoyance reared its head once more. “Oh, that's convenient. The lake only wants to chat on its own terms, huh? Real nice.” Angry though he was, he was still looking threadbare. His father's concern had been well-placed. Despite his lack of exertion, his face had become dappled in sweat, and his color remained poor. Even his step, usually so sure and strong, was plagued by a limp so that he walked like a man many years his senior.
“Maybe we should take a break, get you some rest,” she said. “You look like you need it.” Minx was plenty discouraged by the lake's silence, but was more worried in that moment by Kaleb's appearance. She was sick to her stomach thinking about the state of Pandling Grounds, and had been alarmed to hear that Torrent's forces had begun moving on the Talon Range. The collapse of the dragon scouts had provided still more unnecessary terror and agitation. All of it, though, paled in comparison to her feelings for him. If Kaleb was unwell, suffering, then she needed to get him fixed up.
“Siding with my dad, are you?” he scoffed.
“He's not wrong. You look rough,” she admitted. “Anyway, we don't have to delay for long. Just long enough for you to get some rest.” Minx was no stranger to loss—she'd endured more in the space of a few weeks than she'd ever imagined herself capable. The thought of losing Kaleb, though, inspired in her such stone-cold fear that she couldn't bear to meditate on the merest possibility. If something were to happen to him, I'd probably cry for the rest of my days. My tears would become a sea and I'd disappear beneath the waves, weeping all the while.
The mental image reminded her of the story Kaleb had once related—the legend of the Fae and dragon who'd fallen in love when Aleio was young. During a vision, she'd witnessed a scene not unlike that story, where a dragon had mourned his lost love until his tears had become a lake and he had gradually become petrified—giving rise to both Heilo Lake and Gloirs Mountain.
She laughed to herself as Kaleb reluctantly led the way to his chambers. She'd thought it a sweet story, and at witnessing its reality in her lake-borne vision, had been greatly moved by it. She felt, in a way, that she was living it now, except that the roles had been reversed. Nothing had better happen to you, she thought as they walked along. Else it'll be me crying like that dragon did.
Chapter 6
Kaleb stared up at the ceiling of his room, arms crossed. His bed, ordinarily so comfortable, didn't appeal to him in the least. Minx and Mau were stationed nearby, nodding off against one another, and the moon was partially visible in the high-set skylight.
Rough though he felt, he couldn't just sit idly by and wait for his father to give him permission to leave the mountain. I'm a dragon, he thought, sitting up promptly. I'm not taking orders from anyone. I'll either forge my own destiny or die trying—this lounging around is pointless, a waste of my time!
He balled his fists and tensed his arms. His bones felt hollow and his head felt packed with dense fog. Something's not right. Ever since we came here I've felt off. I nearly shifted mid-flight, lost control... I didn't feel this way at Pandling Grounds, though. It was only after we left that these symptoms began. He stood, pacing slowly about his room. I don't think I'm sick... and I doubt I've caught whatever it is that those scouts brought with them. No, this is something else...
He looked to Minx and smiled as she slumbered peacefully against the Faelyr. Both Heilo Lake and Gloirs Mountain made contact with her tonight. They're suffering immensely because of Torrent. Is it any wonder that I'm feeling out of my element too?
There was a sound at the door—a faint rustling as of scurrying feet. Kaleb crossed the room and listened through the dense wood. Mau stirred at the sound of a furtive knock moments later.
Kaleb opened his door just a few inches, peering out into the dim hall narrowly. “Who is it, at this hour?” His voice was gruff, imposing.
The visitor, timid at the best of times, was sent scurrying back into the hall at this hostile answer and only replied when he was sure that Kaleb meant him no harm. It was a Kurg—a tall one with alabaster skin. Kaleb recognized him as the current leader of that elusive race. Not all of the Kurg could speak the common tongue; this one, though, proved a rare exception. “Good evening,” came the visitor's nervous reply. “I come bearing news, sir.”
Kaleb opened the door a bit further and adopted a friendlier countenance so as not to scare off the jumpy creature. “Oh, I see. What is it?”
The Kurg, wringing his flabby hands in the shadowed hall, drew a little closer. “I have come to inform you that my people and I are leaving. We are bound for Heilo Lake.”
“Heilo Lake?” blurted Kaleb. “What for?”
“We are needed there,” came the cryptic response. “And sir, Gloirs Mountain has need of you, as well.”
At this, Kaleb stepped softly into the hall and eased the door shut behind him. “You don't say? Have you spoken to my father? Any of the other generals? We're currently under house arrest, the lot of us. The Talon Range leadership won't take kindly to your mission.”
“I have not spoken to them,” replied the pale Kurg. “Gloirs Mountain has no need of them, sir—only you.”
“I see.” Kaleb took a step back into his quarters, where Minx and Mau were both in the process of waking up. “Perhaps we'll join you, then. I can't say no to such an invitation.”
“We intend to leave immediately,” continued the Kurg, retreating a little further down the hall. “We will travel most of the way underground. Safe travels, sir.” With that, he disappeared into the darkness.
Kaleb slipped back into his quarters and found Minx watching him from the corner. “Who was that?” she asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
“The leader of the Kurgs,” he replied. “He and his people are on their way to Heilo Lake.”
“Really? Even though your father's ordered everyone to remain in the mountain?”
Kaleb grinned. “Technically, that order was for us dragons. The Kurgs occupy the mountain, but their society runs parallel to ours. They don't really live under our control, so they don't feel pressured to comply with such orders. But he said something interesting—something that makes me want to join them. He told me that Gloirs Mountain needs me. Not just any old dragon, but me, in particular.”
Minx stood up, treading on Mau's tail and waking her in the process. “What? Well, what're we doing here, then? We need to go, immediately!”
“You took the words out of my mouth.” He waited for Minx to strap on her quiver and then led them out into the hall. “I know this mountain as well as anyone. There are plenty of
ways out that won't attract much attention. Are you guys ready? We're going to fly to Gloirs Mountain as fast as we can.”
“Are you feeling well enough?” chanced Minx. “I don't want you to push yourself too hard. Last time...”
“I remember,” he said. “I have a feeling that the closer we get to Pandling Grounds, the more energy I'll have. These symptoms only began as we ventured here, remember?” Urging them to remain quiet, he brought them through the network of passages. They stepped silently through the winding tunnels, and within minutes arrived at a narrow opening on the mountain face. Stepping out onto a narrow stone platform, Kaleb shifted, his red scales glittering in the moonlight. The Fae huntress and Faelyr took their usual positions and within moments they were aloft.
Kaleb knew that the flight would take them most of the night, but since hearing the Kurg's words, he felt thoroughly energized. For the first time ever, the distance between the Talon Range and the lands of the Fae didn't seem so daunting.
Chapter 7
The mountain entered into view, and Minx was rather concerned to find that the amount of smoke pouring from it had only increased since their last visit. “What does it mean?” asked Minx as they sailed toward it.
For hours, they'd been cruising through the skies, monitoring the movements of enemies below and wondering what role Kaleb had to play in what was unfolding at Gloirs Mountain. Sure enough, as the scouts had earlier relayed, dark forces were gathering around the Talon Range. Their numbers were not yet great; they spotted only a few battalions as they soared past the dragon lands in the night. Soon, though, these numbers would increase. It was just as she'd always expected; once the Fae had been dealt with, Torrent would seek to topple the dragons, too.
Now, approaching their destination, they entered a patch of rough weather. A storm was brewing and Kaleb was forced to grapple with sudden bursts of rain and hail. Thunder and lightning were on the horizon, and the winds were conducive to anything but straightforward flight. “I'm glad we're nearly there,” he growled. “I can't imagine trying to fly in this much longer...”
The dragon shifter decided to land upon the mountain and to seek out shelter in one of its many caves while the clouds opened and the storm began to rage. He slipped into one of the larger hollows on the mountain's northernmost face and, once Minx and Mau had dismounted, promptly shifted back into his human form. Panting for the hours of exertion, he sat upon a flat stone nearby to catch his breath.
Minx was overjoyed to be back in familiar territory—but now that they'd arrived, she was at a loss. “What now?' she asked, exploring the depths of the cave as lightning streaked across the charcoal-colored skies. “What does the mountain need?”
Mau, sniffing the air, wandered a little further. There are passages straight ahead, leading deeper in. Perhaps that's where the answer lies... The Faelyr stopped dead in her tracks and then turned back to her partner with wide eyes. And there's something else here. A familiar scent!
Kaleb, jumping to his feet, had picked it up at the same instant. “Hey... I know that scent...” He grimaced, starting through the cave into its most shadowed corners. Studying the air for a moment, he situated himself before the dim mouth of the tunnel on the far left and crossed his arms. “Come out of there, Alla. I know it's you.”
Minx seized her bow and haphazardly drew a mess of arrows from her quiver, nocking them angrily. “Alla? Alla's here?”
Unhurried steps echoed from within the passage Kaleb had singled out. Emerging into the low storm-light was none other than the half-Fae, her silvery hair knotted and her pale face dirty. He milky eyes were downcast and she appeared completely unarmed. “Please,” she said, raising her hands feebly, “I don't want any trouble.”
It had been some time since Minx had last seen Alla. When last they'd met, it had been in battle; the half-Fae had mounted one of the walls of the Pandling Grounds Trading Center and had confronted Minx about an allegedly magical amulet she'd taken from a powerful hunter in Torrent's employ. It had been sold to Minx as a powerful artifact, a means of controlling the various races that served the Dark Mage. In fact, that amulet had turned out to be nothing but a dud. Shocked at this realization and seemingly terrified, the half-Fae had fled.
No, realized Minx, lowering her bow. You ran into Alla once after that, too.
Prior to the terrible battle that had toppled the Trading Center, Minx, Mau and Kaleb had been ensnared by a binding spell set up by the hunter and his Zuscha henchmen. The dark Fae had very nearly incapacitated the three of them when Alla, hiding in the wilderness nearby, had somehow interrupted the spell. A tremendous explosion had taken place, knocking the hunter and his men to the ground, unconscious. It had only been thanks to Alla that the three of them had escaped.
For this reason, Minx took a deep breath and loosened her grip on the bow. She didn't trust Alla—not fully, anyway—but she couldn't find it in herself to attack her on the spot. “What are you doing here, Alla?” she asked icily.
The half-Fae, unwashed and frail, shook her head. “I've been in hiding here for many days. I... I don't want to be Torrent's plaything anymore.” She gazed up at the three of them tearfully. “I don't want to fight for him.”
Kaleb offered a sympathetic nod, though he remained a bit skeptical about Alla's change of heart. “I'm glad you're safe, and that you got away from Torrent, but...” He gave a slight grin. “Our track record with you is, uh... not great, you know what I mean? How do we know that we can trust you, Alla? You've gotten us into several binds lately, after all...”
“She did help us recently,” added Minx. “When the hunter had trapped us outside of the Trading Center, she stepped in and interrupted the binding spell the Zuscha had set up.” She shrugged. “That counts for something—though I'm not sure we can trust her, either.”
Alla leaned against the stony walls of the cavern. “I've been a loner for much of my life. Being alone doesn't bother me; it's all I've known, really. But I never wanted to hurt anyone, and I've never enjoyed working with Torrent. I felt, for the longest time, that I didn't have a choice. He's simply too powerful... But now that I've gotten away from him, I don't intend to go back. I consider him my enemy—an enemy to all of Aleio. I don't expect you to trust me after all I've done, but I promise you that I don't mean you three any harm. You've done more for me than anyone else—and I owe you my thanks.”
“All right,” said Minx, tucking her arrows back into her quiver. “Suppose we believe you—suppose we don't hold the past against you... What's in it for us? I don't know if you've noticed, but the world is in crisis. Your old friend Torrent is getting to be quite the nuisance. You've been close to him for a long time, working alongside him and his men. Do you have any information that could help us? We're running low on time.”
The half-Fae nodded. She took a seat and placed her scaly green hands in her lap, watching the storm for a few moments. “Yes, I think I can help. I know him better than most anyone.”
Thunder set the mountain shuddering. “All right,” said Kaleb, sitting down near the mouth of the cavern. “Let's hear it.”
Chapter 8
“In the same way that Torrent feels drawn to Heilo Lake, I've felt increasingly drawn to this mountain,” began Alla. “He took me in, used me for his ends when I was abandoned by the dragons, but we were never friends, the two of us. I'm not sure that someone like Torrent is actually capable of making friends, of relating to other people.
“For the longest time, he kept a low profile. I watched his powers grow, watched his strength grow by leaps and bounds. It was astounding. And in time, I came to truly fear him. For whatever reason, he kept me close-by, however. I know my way around a sword, but I can hardly claim to have been his strongest subordinate. Nonetheless, I wound up spending a lot of time near him, and I think it's because the two of us are the same in many ways.
“No, I don't want to make it sound like our personalities are similar. Rather, our similarities are deeper than that—mo
re primal. You see, I'm half dragon and half-Fae. Torrent, too, is a half-breed—part Fae. Though...” Here, Alla's cloudy eyes narrowed with intensity. “I don't know what else he is. I could only ever parse out half of the equation. Half-Fae like us are a rarity, I suppose, so maybe that's why he kept me around for so long—maybe he felt a sort of kinship with me.
“He was never one to share detailed plans. Perhaps his trust had its limits. But I had the opportunity to watch him work and study many times, and when he sets his mind on a particular goal he follows through with terrifying focus. His will is incredibly strong, and it's this determination that saw him hone his spell-craft to the level you've seen. He's now set his sights on Heilo Lake, and unless we can foil his plans, he'll make it his own. I have no doubts.”
“So, Torrent is a half-breed, eh?” uttered Minx. “What is he? Fae and Kurg? Fae and Krah?” She rolled her eyes. “I don't see what difference it makes. Whatever he is, we have to stop him. I'm not going to let him take over Heilo Lake without a fight.” The Fae huntress continued, jabbing a finger at Alla. “And what are you doing here, anyway? Why come all the way to Gloirs Mountain? If you were trying to get away from Torrent, why not go elsewhere? You're pretty close to the action here.”
Alla nodded. “It's true, I might have chosen to hide elsewhere. But the mountain... I felt it was calling me. Here, I feel safer somehow. I feel like I belong.” She shrugged. “I can't really put it into words, Minx. I just feel a connection to Gloirs Mountain. Maybe it's similar to the pull that Torrent feels toward the lake.”
“Where is he, then?” asked Kaleb. “Does Torrent have a center of operations?”
How to Bond a Mage (Heir of Dragons Book 3) Page 4