“Who’s Faso?”
Sukina hesitated. “He’s someone very important to us, dear. Charth's bringing him to us, now” She held Artua close to him. “He'll be here soon.”
“Ooh goodie,” Artua said. “Are Charth and Francoiso coming with us too. Charth's been telling us about our adventure to the Southlands. Am I really going to meet a dragon queen?”
“You will dear. As soon as Faso gets here.”
Then she telepathed out in the collective unconscious, keeping the channel open so Francoiso and I could also hear. What's holding you Charth?
But there was no response, or at least not in the collective unconscious. Instead, another voice floated across to us from the direction of the north staircase.
“My, my, I thought I smelled treason in the air,” King Cini stepped out from the stairway, eight guards flanking in afterwards. “After Alsie had informed me that everything would go so smoothly tonight.”
The guards kept their rifles trained on us. I could tell from the faint green glow from their skin that they were augmented, which probably would also have knocked away any effects of the alcohol.
“I guess this will look great in the magazines,” Cini continued. “Turns out that dragonseers could never be trusted after all and my father did the perfectly right thing by executing as many as he could find. So, tell me. How, my dear dragonseers, are you going to get out of this one now?”
I noticed that three of the guards, wisely, had their rifles pointed at Francoiso. Even if he attacked one of them, I didn't think he'd stand a good chance at taking the other two down. Hence, he stayed put.
Suddenly, two of the guards turned their rifles towards the back of the stairway. I hazarded a look over my shoulder to see Faso coming up the stairs with Ratter on his shoulder. Surprisingly, Charth was nowhere to be seen.
“Mr Gordoni,” King Cini said. “Who ever thought that you'd come to join the party. Why don't you go to stand with your friends there? Oh, and Francoiso, where's your brother. I'm sure he has more of a play in this game than you. I've never trusted that man… Or should I say, woman…”
Francoiso's jaw tightened. “I've always thought you talk too much, Cini…”
“And I've always thought you show off your teeth too much. You never seemed to realise that your job within this court is not to sell toothpaste.”
“And your job, is not to sell face whitening powder.”
Cini scowled. He turned to one of his guards. “Enough of this tomfoolery,” he said. “Seize them.”
The guard nodded then took a step forward.
“Wait,” Sukina said. Her face now looked blanched. “I stand for all my friends here. And by the laws passed down through the kingdom, you must be able to best me in a duel, if challenged.”
“Sukina, no—” I said.
“We don't have a choice,” Sukina said. And I can take him, she added in the collective unconscious.
“No!” Francoiso said out loud. He stepped forwards. “I should be doing this.”
King Cini laughed from the bottom of his belly. “I think the law states that I have to duel another human. But I shall not lose face to a woman. You do realise, Miss Sako, that the king's secicao is the best in the land. And only Alsie and I know the formula.” He displayed his hip flask.
“I realise all,” Sukina said and raised her hip flask. “And you shall not win.”
“Oh, but I'm the king,” Cini said. “Which means I shall.”
He took a swig from his hip flask. His skin turned a deep luminous green and cracks traced the length of his skin, hardening it like tree bark. Sukina also took a swig from her hip flask, drew her two daggers from her garters, and lurched forward. I was glad to see Charth had thought to return them to her. Simultaneously, King Cini drew his broadsword from his shoulder and readied himself in a defensive stance.
Sukina's daggers met the king's sword and an impressive display of flashing steel began. Sukina was quick with her lurches and feints, and her daggers did meet Cini's skin a few times. But, due to the effects of secicao, the blows glanced off, leaving not even a scratch. Cini retorted with huge swings of his broadsword, but Sukina was agile and ducked out of the way.
Yet she couldn't keep this up forever. The king would tire her out eventually then he'd take her life. “Can't you do something, Francoiso?” I said.
“She's got this,” Francoiso said. “Just you watch.”
Cini had Sukina back up against an airship now. She leaned right against the propeller and if the king wanted to play dirty, he could order one of her guards to turn on the engine and mash her into pieces. His mouth displayed a rictus of ecstasy as he swung in such broad and low sweeps that Sukina had nowhere to go.
But Sukina looked calm, as if waiting for something. She just needed that moment, the king to make one mistake. And he did as he swept his sword a little too low. Sukina cartwheeled over the sword, then in a beautiful dance-like movement sprang back on her legs and cut up her arms so her knife was around Cini's throat.
There, the skin would be softest, I realised, and she could slice through that thick bark-like skin and the cartilage beneath. But before she could do sw, a shrill scream echoed through the collective unconscious. It was much louder than Taka's had been and sent every one of us reeling.
In a flash of scales and wings, Alsie landed in dragon form in front of Cini. She sucked in her scales and immediately became human. “You fool, Cini. You thought you could best a dragonseer.”
In her hand, as if out of nowhere, she produced a dart and lurched it at Sukina. The dart buried itself in Sukina's throat and she dropped her daggers, stumbled, then collapsed on to her knees.
“Mamo!” Artua shouted. He made towards to Sukina, but I held him back.
“It's not safe Artua,” I said.
Alsie's eyes turned upon me and I could see death within them. Clearly, I was next. Her face contorted towards dragon form and she lurched forwards. I waited for the blow, but another black form leapt towards her.
Francoiso’s form was contorting from human into dragon. Together, Alsie and he tumbled over the ground. Francoiso ended up on top, scales and shards ripping out of him. Alsie had completely transformed at this point and a battle of growls and anger ensued as both black dragons bit at each other's necks.
Faso had also placed Ratter on the floor and the automaton had scurried forwards to release a green gas that had the guard's clutching at their eyes and coughing. Cini took one look around him and then turned and fled through the cloud. Ratter turned upon him and hissed as he went, but neither Ratter nor the gas could stop Cini from launching himself off the platform. He hit the ground below with a heavy thud then ran towards the palace.
“Get out of here,” Sukina said in the collective unconscious. “Pontopa, go.”
“Sukina, no!”
“You must protect my daughter. That's your mission, you hear me? Now go.”
“Sukina—”
“Dragonheats, do as I say Sukina. You have no time to save me.”
Alsie's dragon form was slightly browner than Francoiso's and so I could distinguish the two easily. Alsie now was on top of Francoiso and had him pinned to the ground.
“Sukina, I'll come back for you.” I took hold of Artua's hand. “Come on, little one. We'll pick your mother up in a moment.”
I pushed him up the ladder into Sukina's chair and then I ran up Velos' neck to take my position at the front.
“Wait for me,” Faso shouted, and he scrambled up the ladder towards Velos' back. He whistled through his fingers and Ratter darted up Velos' neck with unbecoming speed for his size. “You need someone to look after the armour, don't you?” Faso said.
For the first time, I appreciated the fact that Faso was there. Velos lifted his head and roared to the sky, then without me having to will him onwards, he launched himself into the air. “Damn it,” Faso shouted. “They leaked the armour dry. We must get more fuel for the guns to work.”
“
No time,” I shouted back, and I circled the air to see if there was a chance to pick up Sukina. But the clouds had subsided, and the guards already had their rifles primed.
“Get out of here,” Faso shouted. “Fast!”
I sighed then turned Velos to the south. I looked over my shoulder then, at Sukina lying there and Francoiso who was now pinned underneath Alsie. Francoiso's scales were a little greyer than Alsie's, and Alsie had the much larger form. She had reared back her head and then I saw her maw shoot forwards and close around Francoiso's long neck. The collective unconscious shook, and I felt a part of my mind torn away.
Just like that, Francoiso was gone…
But Sukina was still there, I could feel her faintly, though she wasn't conscious. I had to save her… I readied Velos to turn around and pick her up. We had to risk going in.
But I didn't have to. Another dragon form shot out of the sky, swooped down and picked up Sukina in its talons. Alsie roared and launched herself up towards him. But Charth was fast enough to catch up with us and deposit Sukina on Velos' back, just in front of Artua. He draped her there and I passed back the straps of my harness so Artua could strap her in.
Charth turned around in the air and charged at Alsie to confront her head on. Alsie ducked out of the way, but she'd lost momentum. She could either choose to chase us or confront Charth. She turned around.
I'll deal with Alsie, Charth said in the collective unconscious. Find a doctor for Sukina.
But Francoiso, I said…
My brother is dead. There's nothing you can do for him now. His voice sounded bereft of emotion, as always. Now flee.
He was right, but maybe we could save Sukina. The blood was leeching out of her face and she looked pale.
Hurry Velos, I willed in the collective unconscious. We've not got much time.
“Will she be okay?” Artua asked me.
“I think so,” I said.
“Where are we going?” Faso shouted.
“To Doctor Forsolano's,” I said. I could think of no one who had a better chance of saving Sukina's life.
CHAPTER 29
We arrived at Doctor Forsolano's just as the sun was rising. I touched Velos down on the ground. Forsolano, Mamo and Papo were waiting there, alongside the two nurses, with their foldable stretcher ready. It was lucky really that they'd been looking out at the time to see us arrive.
Mamo ran up to us as soon as Velos' feet touched the ground. Velos lowered his neck and I vaulted over his steering fin then slid down to the floor.
“Oh, Pontopa dear,” she said. “I was so worried. A royal wedding, what on earth? What did the king do to you both? You looked so strange in the photos and you had that silver glow in your eyes.”
“Mamo, there's no time,” I said. I gestured towards Sukina lying on Velos' back. There was absolutely no colour left in her face.
“Oh my,” Mamo said. “What happened?”
I was already around the back of Velos. I patted his rump to get him to lower his back. Faso had moved there to assist this time. He looked pretty worried about her too. From up top, Artua unstrapped Sukina and then he pushed her legs while I pulled Sukina at the shoulders and Faso provided support at her back. Together, we lowered her onto the stretcher.
The nurses rushed Sukina towards the house, while Papo stepped forward and I gave him a quick hug. He still had the sling around his shoulder, but he looked much better for the wear and the way he was moving his torso, I suspected he could probably take it off by now. Hopefully, Forsolano, who was also rushing ahead of us, could work miracles with Sukina as well.
We followed Forsolano into the bedroom as the two nurses lowered her onto the bed that Papo had been sleeping in. It looked made now and ready for the next patient. Forsolano knocked off one of the pillows so there was only one to support Sukina's head, then he took her pulse and opened her mouth to reveal a hideously green tongue.
“What's this,” Forsolano said. “Poison? What happened?” He examined the dart hole at Sukina's neck where a large bruise had now welled up around it.
“A dart,” I said. “I don't know what was in it.”
Doctor Forsolano fumbled around in the draws and removed a needle. He used this to draw out from her wrist black, coagulated blood.
“This stuff, it's inhuman. What did they do to her?”
“Alsie Fioreletta did it… She's murderous,” I said. “And so's the king…”
Doctor Forsolano took a syringe and gave Sukina an injection in the upper arm. Sukina opened her eyes then and jerked up in bed. She looked around and her eyes met mine, then Artua, then looked back at me again. “Easy,” the doctor said. “You need to rest, Sukina.”
Sukina sunk back into the pillow then turned her head to me. “Pontopa. We made it out alive…” Her voice was weak and hoarse.
“Charth saved you,” I said.
“Did he make it?”
I shook my head. “I don't know. But Francoiso… He didn't.” I hadn't had time to process what I felt about that. Somehow, I guess I had felt a connection to him after all, even though the marriage had been wrong.
I could hear Sukina muttering in the collective unconscious, as if her subconscious and conscious thoughts were merging into one. Sukina looked at Taka.
“Taka, come here.”
The boy didn't object that his name was actually Artua. Instead he shuffled over to his mother and took hold of her hand.
“Mamo—” he said. “You were always in my dreams.”
“As you were in mine, dear,” Sukina said. “Listen. You must take good care of Pontopa Wells. Both of you are going to make fine dragonseers one day.”
“Why?” Artua said. “Where are you going?”
“Nowhere,” Sukina said. “I'll always be with you… In… your…”
“Sukina, I—.” I said. I could see she was fading. “No, Sukina you must fight this.”
But her gaze fell on me and she spoke ever so faintly. “It's time, dragonseer. Tell Gerhaun…”
And then, that was it. Once again, like I had with Francoiso, I felt a soul tear out of the collective unconscious. I reeled. I wanted to be sick. But I swallowed it down. “Sukina?” I said. But she didn't reply.
Sukina, I said again in the collective unconscious. You can't leave us.
There was not a trace of her anywhere. Whatever poison Alsie had given her, it had been effective. Dragonheats, I'd kill that woman. I'd hunt her down and tear out her life with my own hands.
“Mamo,” Artua sobbed. “Mamo?”
I walked over to the boy, took his hand. “Artua, I'm sorry.”
“My name is Taka,” he said, and he stormed out the door.
Papo walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. His right arm was working again, I could feel some strength there. “Darling,” he said. “I'm sorry. Whatever happened in there must have been terrible. I'm so sorry about everything.”
I looked at my father. That argument we'd had so many weeks ago now seemed so irrelevant and I was just glad to feel loved. “Thank you Papo,” I said.
“Just tell me one thing,” Papo said. “Was that the king's nephew?”
“Yes,” I said. I glanced over at Faso whose hands were now shaking as he bent over crying at Sukina's feet. Sukina, I realized had not even given him a glance on her deathbed.
I guess she'd always been a dragonseer first, lover second. But sometime, I'd have to break the news to Faso that he was Artua's — I mean Taka's — father. But first I needed to check Taka was safe. I walked outside to check that the boy hadn't ventured into the woods alone.
✽✽✽
Taka wasn't outside the house, but fortunately I knew where to find him. I walked across to the forest clearing where Velos had landed. Taka was crouched down besides his feet, singing a soft dragonsong that I'd never yet heard before. Velos crooned from the very base of his neck.
That friendship would last, I realized. The boy now could be around real dragons.
But then anothe
r thought dawned on me. Taka would need a mother, as well as a father. I'd have to help him look after the boy.
And there would be no more new Sukina Sako novels to read. No more listening to her in the collective unconscious teach me the trials and tribulations of being a dragonseer. No more conversations about how sometimes Faso's not all that bad.
No, I would have to do this all without her. And not just that, I had a responsibility to teach to Taka what Sukina had taught me. Hopefully Gerhaun would be able to help me. I was sure there was so much about being a dragonseer that I still had to learn myself.
One thing was for sure, we had to go south as soon as possible and get back to the fortress. No matter how much out of the way Doctor Forsolano's lodge was, Alsie would track us down eventually.
We had to leave, then we had to find a way to get my parents out of here, so everyone would be safe. Faso’s plan to pass through Sanjiornio under cover of night worked last time, so I had no doubt it would work again.
But I just didn't feel like moving.
Papo and Mamo had followed me into the clearing. Mamo went over to whisper something quietly to Taka, but I had no idea what it was. Then she walked over to me, took me into her arms. I broke down and wept into her shoulder.
“Why did she have to leave us?” I said. “Why now? And why does the king and Alsie and everyone in Slaro have to be so cruel?”
“I know, dear,” she said patting my back. “I know.”
I pulled myself back from my mother and looked at her with as much sincerity as I could muster through my blurry eyes. “Mamo. You know we're not safe here. Not now… Things are going to get a lot worse.”
“They're after you?”
“It's not just the king,” I said. “Wellies, how can I explain. There's a woman who can turn into a dragon, and she's dangerous. You have to believe me Mamo, I wouldn't make any of this up.”
“Don't worry,” Mamo said. “I believe you. I heard some of the stories your blood mother told. Just remember, you're not alone. Your Papo and I, we're here for you.”
“I know Mamo,” I said. “And thank you.”
I once again buried myself into her shoulder and she embraced me with a warm and familiar hug. After a couple of minutes, she spoke again. “I know it's never a good time to ask this, but you can't be taking Sukina's body south with you. Do you want to bury her, or…”
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