They talked about an informant, someone who walked through the villages and passed on information. It frightened her, since she basically posed a risk to all of Godan and had never thought of it that way. Even if he wanted to get out of there and take the danger away, he could not do it before the Fire Dragon had recovered to the point of being able to face a trip of a mammoth.
Since she had erased after the treatment on her head and slept during the afternoon, she was there, on the village square, in front of Garo-nan's house, unable to close her eyes at the thought of everything. Using a small, rustic glass cup, which could not even be compared to a real flame-holder, she did something she had wanted to do since Routes, but had not had time: to read the book she had won.
Even though she could not concentrate right on the words and the moonlit night did not contribute to the brightness, she tried to look through the pages for some reference to the Dark Stones. If this was something as fearsome as the Lightning Dragon's reaction suggested, there should be some mention of them. I was sure that I had read all the History books of the Bookkeeper of the Institute and had never known that one could simply annul an almaki power. If there was such a thing in the world, was not everyone supposed to know to prevent it? According to Zawhart, the Fire Dragon might have died if Garo-nan did not have the good sense to take that chain off him before it was too late.
— What are you doing there in the dark, vilashi?
Garo-lin almost had the almaki plucked from the body with fright.
— You can not get up! – She said, as soon as she saw the Fire Dragon coming stubbornly to her. – Your bones will...
— They're going to stay where they should be – the dragon replied, in his absolute tone of command, even in his own bones. – What are you doing here in the dark? Waiting to be kidnapped again?! – and sat down with difficulty on the stage, unable even to hide that he knew perfectly well that he was not in a position to have walked there.
Thinking of ways to persuade him to go back inside, Garo-lin would say something when he realized why he was there and asked,
— Are you worried?
He only looked at an indefinite point from the floor, demonstrating all his bad mood with the fact that she had discovered so easily:
— How could I not stay, when you should be inside trying to make that head better, idiot!
— As if my head were more bruised than yours!
For a moment, she thought how unlikely that situation was, and could not help but find it amusing.
— Why are you laughing now, vilashi? – He inquired.
— Because you're the Fire Dragon, and I'm a vilashi, and we're both with their heads bandaged.
He stared at her for a moment, reaching her reasoning, and followed him:
— Then add that to the fact that we're in the Inland Valley.
— In one of the most insignificant villages.
— In the middle of the night, on this rough platform you use strangely for everything.
— After we faced pirates with almaki.
— After I almost died to save you.
Garo-lin stared at him, with all the other phrases he had thought fleeing from his mind. It was exactly what had happened. But he himself had made a much greater impact on everything.
— Vilashi! – the dragon called since she was lost with the words.
— Yes? – She replied, in his automatic reaction to obey his mentor.
— From now on, always stay where I can see – he decreed.
— KRISSION! – The furious scream of the Lightning Dragon that came from inside Garo-nan's house was not only loud enough to make her jump once more, as if to wake the whole village.
Complaining, when he was obviously to blame for disobeying the orders of his healer friend, Dul'Maojin got up and crawled into the house, where the roaring of the doors meant that Zawhart was searching for him without bothering to disturb the sleep of his hosts.
— Come back to inside – he said, still ordering her to the warder when he reached the stairs, then shouted inside. – I'm here, Vin! It will destroy the house of the vilashis like this!
Still with the book in his hands and the flaming candleholder at his side, a mute Garo-lin stared forward, not knowing what to do his world being completely disturbed by the Fire Dragon.
***
The morning still threatened to dawn when Garo-lin heard Kidari telling her mentor that Kandara Dul'Maojin had arrived in the village. And it was almost instantly that she heard the door of the room in front of her run violently and the heiress practically cried:
— KRIIIIIIS!
— LEAVE ME! – He demanded, in a choked voice, which gave the vilashi the certainty that the dragon was being smothered by a hug.
— HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT YOU ALMOST DIED, IDIOT?!
— But I did not die! AIIII! DO NOT SLAP ON A SICK PERSON, YOUR CRAZY!
— You'd better not do that, Kandara – the Lightning Dragon warned, but not looking like someone who was really keeping her from beating her brother.
In a jump, Garo-lin got to his feet, put on a coat, and slipped on something in the icy air. Quickly he rounded the wooden corridor around the small courtyard of the Godan and reached the Dragon room, stopping at the door in time to see the scene: Kandara holding her brother in the same way he had done with her that night in Fort Dul'Maojin, with Zawhart and Kidari standing by, watching and waiting for the fraternal moment to end. But as she passed the door, noticed that there was someone else there, and it was with astonishment that she received the compliments of the one who seemed to have noticed her presence:
— Hello, Garo – said the Royal Dragon.
— Nu'lian! – She exclaimed, smiling in surprise, and then she was embarrassed. – How did you come here?
Upon realizing what was happening, the Fire Dragon skillfully got rid of his sister's claws and got up as fast as he could, staying between his friend and her, ordering:
— Go to sleep, vilashi!
— I've slept – she replied, losing all the smile she wore to the Water Dragon.
— Never mind, get out of here!
She narrowed her eyes, staring at him, ready to say well-spoken words to her mentor, but stopped when she remembered that she was being watched by all, forcing herself to return to the place that should have stood before the illustrious presences of the Dragons, the heiress Dul 'Maojin and the Kodo Princess.
— Huuuum – said the heiress, as if to the conclusion of something, smiling with satisfaction.
— You must have traveled all night! – Exclaimed Garo-lin suddenly, looking for something that would break that situation. – I'll get you something to eat.
— They are not hungry – the Fire Dragon created its own reality, in which to feed after a night of travel was something disposable.
— Yes we are. Come on, Garo-lin – the heiress has freed her.
— But...
— Kris! With a single threatening gesture, she shut up her brother, who was annoyed and limped back to his blankets, sitting with them in his arms.
— Kidari, go with her – said the Lightning Dragon, realizing that this would be the perfect time for them to discuss what had happened.
Before Kodorin said anything, Garo-Lin pulled her by the arm and they ran out the door.
***
Your mother and Juri-lin were early in the job of cooking together with other women, in an improvised place for this task. With the warning of the Lightning Dragon, the people of the village sought to keep within the inhabited limits, always accompanied, and thus they put into practice the measures that they adopted in strict seasons, where all united to face difficulties. Rounds were also assigned in shifts, to check if all was well within the confined boundaries.
Those who came from outside the village were warned to return, and this attitude would be taken while the Dragons were there, even with those who were already known.
One of the main characteristics of the vilashis was to tell
interesting stories of what they had heard or done. According to Garo-nan, it was probably in this way that virtually the entire Inland Valley had learned of the colored explosions and of who had provoked them, regardless of whether that informant had been in the village or not. Faced with this fact, it would not be difficult to do something like this again and so all care was taken to prevent gossipers from entering. Seeing from this side, having Kandara Dul'Maojin there was a relief.
It was only now that Garo-lin had realized something: the heiress had an atmosphere of protection. She did not know if this was because she was the eldest sister of the Fire Dragon, the one that might have been the Fire Dragon itself, which in itself already gave her an air of unimaginable power. What was certain was that, being with her there, it seemed that everything would be solved and that, somehow, no one would dare to come near them with any bad intention.
Wisely, Garo-lin did not rush to prepare anything, and in the meantime she patiently answered all his mother's questions. What had happened, if she was well, how the Fire Dragon was, who those people were... despite not giving complete answers, what little she told was enough to cause a chatter between the assembled vilashis, each giving their opinion on the fact and bringing their suspicions. When the attentions were no longer entirely about her, but rather about the subject, Kidari found an opportunity to talk with her friend as she had not done for a long time:
— Garo, I was very worried. A bird came, with a letter, hair with blood, Krission called another Garo and they left. When I asked Vinshu if he was dangerous, he would not answer. Vinshu also worried. He said we should not have come, it was his fault for letting Krission go.
— It was not anyone's fault, Kidari. It was a series of events that sadly ended in this.
— Is Garo better? – She asked with her unmistakable smile. – Did Kidari help you?
— It helped a lot! – Garo-lin showed his wrists, where there were no more marks of injury. – Kidari is a great healer... – and then she realized something and asked, dazed: – Did you learn to handle your almaki to heal? How? When? How did Zawhart allow this?
— Reading books is very annoying – she said, unnecessarily gesturing lightning gestures to illustrate – Kidari learn by looking. Vinshu could not do anything when he found out. He was very angry, but he thought it best to show the right way for Kidari not to do the wrong thing.
— But it's a Secret! – She sighed.
She could not complain about the situation between her and her mentor, since her own was something like that. So she tried to get on the good side of it and find something that deserved praise:
— You've learned to speak better.
— Vinshu reads to me. – She remembered not repeating her name, and added contentedly. – I like to hear Vinshu read.
— Do you like it?
— Really like.
— Why do you like to hear if you do not like to read?
The question seemed to tinker with the answers Kodorin had in his head and found none adequate. Then she said simply:
— Like.
For a moment, Garo-lin realized how easy it was for her friend to find something good in anything minimal and to be purely happy about it.
— Garo?
— Hum?
— Can I say what I like?
— Why not say so?
Kidari was silent for a while, thinking, and then concluded, reassuring with a tone of pride:
— I like!
— That's enough? – Juri-lin asked, setting before them a platter full of the best beans and roasted tomatoes she could make, along with a jug of orange juice.
— There's no vinegar? – Kidari asked hopefully, and just received a confused look from the girl.
— That's great, Juri-lin. – Garo-lin handed one of the platters to his friend and took the other, signaling her sister to ignore it. – Thanks.
— Good luck. – Her sister summed up everything she thought.
***
— Do you think we can talk about it with them? – Asked the Lightning Dragon, suspiciously. – We never talked to anyone outside.
— They're already involved – said the Royal Dragon. – More than they should.
— Now is not the time to dwell on prejudiced matters, Vin. I know it's harder for you to accept than for others, maybe even more so than for Kris, but... if we don’t start by ourselves, it will never stop. The unforeseen with these pirates revealed more than we discovered in a great time. They have Dark Stone, but by the way they do just a general idea of what they are involved with and who they are dealing with.
— And what are you involved with, Kandara? Who are they dealing with? – The Fire Dragon appeared, in a tone of impatience, which said clearly that for some time now he had been asking the same question without a satisfactory answer.
— Someone who wants to go against the Royal State, Kris. We have already talked about this: a conspiracy.
— No, we never really talked. In fact, this conspiracy was never clear.
Zawhart and Gillion cast a significant glance at the heiress, leaving her to deal with that problem.
— Kris, I...
— Kandara! – He interrupted, using his authoritative tone of the Institute. – I do not want any excuses! Why do all the other Dragons know, except me? Why can not I know? You think I'm going out telling everyone? I almost died yesterday and maybe I should not have stayed in this state! I could have prevented this from happening if I knew what was happening!
She looked at her brother, unable to say anything against it, since that was really true. But at the same time, he knew it was not so simple to say.
— The time will come when you will know, Kris. Do not worry. Yes, you suffered yesterday and this could be avoided, but... maybe, if you knew, that would have happened much earlier.
The dragon stared at his sister, dissatisfied, but he knew her that he would not be able to do anything, no matter how hard he insisted. However, not everything could be let go and there was something that he considered the most important:
— What about vilashi? She has nothing to do with it and look what happened.
— Are you sure of that, Krission? – Kandara asked in a loaded manner.
In turn, the dragon seemed unable to respond and remained in an uneasy silence of who was arguing with himself.
The others looked at the brothers, hoping something was explained, but Kandara just smiled.
— Kandara – called the Royal Dragon and signaled the door.
— So... – The heiress used a louder voice – If they want to stop listening in front of the door and come in, you can feel free to join us.
Garo-lin, outside the room, pulled back and looked at Kidari's grimace that clearly said what was going through her mind at that moment: how did she know?
Somewhat ashamed, and not thinking of using the excuse that she was expecting the best moment to announce that she had brought the food, she ran the door and entered, followed by Kodorin. They placed the trays in the center within reach of everyone and then sat down on the floor, closing a wheel.
— First, we have to know exactly what happened. Garo-lin, can you tell us?
Faced with the serious atmosphere she had found there, she knew she could not hide details and that this could only disrupt or cause them to come to the wrong conclusions. Then, trying to remember everything as it happened, while the contents of the trays were emptied, she told what had happened in the quarry from the moment she had awakened even when they had fled with the mombelula.
— That explains a lot – the heiress sighed, who seemed to finally understand something that had long ago made her think.
— So now that you understand, do us a favor and explain – said the Fire Dragon.
Not only was he looking at her expectantly but also Garo-lin and Kidari, she agreed:
— Yes, we can not just leave it as if nothing had happened. But we have to start from the beginning, and I think Nu'lian may be a better na
rrator than I am -she said, turning to the Royal Dragon – Is anyone around? – She asked, directly to the Water Dragon:
— They're far apart, and each in his job, no attention turned on here – he reported clearly and without hesitation.
— Great. Take her with you.
— I'm going with...
— No! – The heiress pulled his brother up by his injured arm and made him fall to his side, twisting in pain. – You stay! And the princess and Vinshu stay here. I need to talk to you.
Even though he did not understand why She should be separated from them, Garo-lin stood up as soon as the Royal Dragon got up and ran the door to go out with her. She still cast one last glance at the group that would be standing there and found the Fire Dragon staring at her with a serious expression that made the words he said that dawn run through his mind: always stay where I can see. Not enduring or even thinking about it, ran to accompany Gillion.
Chapter 18 – The one who will dictate the course of Almakia
There was no need for Garo-lin to say where the Royal Dragon should go. As if he knew his village perfectly, he walked ahead, leading her. Oddly enough, she saw in that attitude a sense for the title of Water Dragon: as the natural representative of her almaki, he seemed to know where to go without needing anyone's help. So they went to one end of the village, opposite the path of their house, where the orchards stood, now with all the trees already preparing for the Nanfan Storm season.
Underneath a hose, there was a platform exactly the same as the center, but in a much smaller proportion, more like the ones in the houses.
— This is where the kids get together to learn on hot days – she explained, running up and up on the wooden floor, sitting in the middle, in a specific place. – I always stayed here when my mother taught us. Mira-lin, my sister, is who stays with the children now. In the fruit season, we pick some so we can eat while we listen.
Almakia_The vilashi and the Dragons Page 23