The realm of the Cyclops bordered the lands of the ogre kingdom. The two races had been at war over disputed territory along the border for so long that this land was known as the Bloodlands by both races. No one could remember a time when ogres and Cyclops had not been killing each other over it.
“You get accustomed to these mortal bodies,” said the godlord. “You start to feel what they feel.”
“And you have no right to talk,” said the shaman, eyeing the Cyclops. “Once you took that body, you have not left it.”
The godlord was not, in truth, an ogre godlord. He was not even an ogre. Neither was the ogre shaman. The Cyclops was not really a Cyclops. Manta had spoken the truth when she claimed to have seen the ogres lying dead on the bottom of the ocean floor. The two had fallen into the water when the kraken attacked their ship and had almost immediately drowned.
The three were gods, the Gods of Raj.
The Cyclops grinned, her teeth white against her dark complexion. She sank down with easy grace onto the sand. She wore earrings of gold and her head was decorated with beads and feathers that sparkled in the sunlight.
“You went down beneath the sea to meet these mortals who so terrify the mad god, Sund,” the Cyclops said. “Did you succeed?”
“We did not find the woman,” said the shaman. “But we spoke to the male. I forget his name.”
“Skylan Ivorson,” the godlord reminded him.
“What do you think of him?” asked the Cyclops.
“A dangerous man. He is loyal and brave, however, a man of honor,” said the godlord.
“He is a young hothead,” said the shaman.
“Who rescued us when he could have left us,” the godlord pointed out.
The shaman shrugged and plucked a black feather off his arm.
“Sounds like a mortal Torval would like.” The Cyclops gave a sardonic smile. “The question is: can this Skylan do what Sund fears he will do? Can he succeed in finding the Five spiritbones of the Vektia? And what do we do if he does? We might well be forced to leave this pretty world we found.”
“As I have pointed out before now,” said the shaman dryly, “we never missed the power of creation until we found out we didn’t have it.”
“That is true,” conceded the godlord. “We have succeeded in eradicating many of the bloodthirsty practices that were destroying the ogres. Our followers are now thriving. Work continues, of course, but overall I am pleased with our progress.”
“My mortals have accepted us and are adapting to our worship,” said the Cyclops. “As you say, however, our work among them continues.” She sighed deeply. “We are fighting against centuries of hatred and blood feuds and mistrust. The power of creation might prove useful.”
“Our main goal should be to keep the power out of Aelon’s grasping little hands,” the shaman said grimly. “A thousand pities our attack on Sinaria failed. I fear the ogres will start to lose faith in us.”
“We must prepare our shamans to deal with the outcry,” said the godlord, and he heaved a sigh.
“And I fear once the Cyclops hear of the defeat they will take advantage of what they perceive to be the ogres’ weakness to raid across the border,” said the Cyclops.
The three sat in gloomy silence, broken only by the sounds of the waves lapping on the shore.
“Much work lies ahead of us,” said the shaman. Slapping his bony knees, he rose to his feet. “I suggest we go about our business and let be what will be-for the moment at least.”
“What of this Skylan?” asked the godlord. “He could be a threat to us.”
The Cyclops brushed the sand from her tunic. Her golden earrings jangled as she laughed and tapped her forehead.
“Do not worry, friends. I will keep my ‘eye’ upon Skylan Ivorson.”
CHAPTER 36
Aylaen had not been back to the Venjekar since the attack by the kraken. How many days had that been? She had no idea. She had lost track of time because in this world, time seemed brief as a heartbeat and long as forever. She wondered if the Dragon Kahg had remained with the ship and she was relieved to see the familiar sight of the red glint in the dragon’s eye.
Queen Magali, with Commander Neda and her guards, accompanied Aylaen to the dragonship. The queen made a graceful salute to the Dragon Kahg, who seemed pleased by the attention. The red in the eyes warmed.
Commander Neda did not seem that enamored of the dragon, for she posted warriors armed with spears and tridents at the prow with apparent orders to keep an eye on Kahg. The warriors attached themselves with tethers wrapped around the dragon’s neck to keep from floating off. Aylaen had the impression Kahg found this more amusing than offensive.
Acronis was also with them. He followed the directions of one of the guards and tied himself to the dragon’s neck. He drifted about on this tether, studying one of the Aquin lanterns, which he found fascinating. He peered into it, tapping on it to cause the glowing organisms inside to float around.
Queen Magali was not wearing a breathing mask. She indicated to Aylaen that they should swim to the surface, where they could speak. Commander Neda was going to accompany them, but the Queen, through clicking sounds, ordered the commander to remain with the Venjekar. Commander Neda was not pleased, but she had no choice except to obey.
Acronis looked at Aylaen, who made a gesture and nodded her head in the direction of Commander Neda, asking him to keep an eye on her. Acronis gave a small nod.
Aylaen broke through into the fresh air and sunlight. She took the breathing tube from her mouth, blinked her eyes at the brilliance and waited for them to adjust. Queen Magali swam up beside her.
The Queen glanced around to make certain they were alone. She reached down to a pouch she had been carrying with her and brought forth a bracelet made of twelve brass rings attached to a bar in the center and studded with emeralds and sapphires and pearls. The bracelet was meant to fit over the lower part of the arm, extending from the wrist to the elbow. Every ring was etched with various sea creatures: dolphins and whales and all manner of fish.
A bone was mounted on the bar in the center of the bracelet. A dragon made of brass twined around the bone, holding it firmly to the bracelet with wings and tail. Jewels sparkled in the sunlight. Pearls shone with a lustrous radiance. Aylaen was so taken by the beauty she did not realize immediately that she was looking at the third Vektia dragonbone.
When she understood, she raised her eyes in wonder to meet the Queen’s. Queen Magali took hold of Aylaen’s hand to slide the bracelet onto her arm.
“May the Sea Goddess Akaria bless you,” said Queen Magali.
“I will keep it safe aboard the Venjekar, Your Majesty,” said Aylaen, removing the breathing tube to speak. “The Dragon Kahg will protect it. I thank you and the Sea Goddess for your trust in me. I will not fail you.”
“I have something else for you,” said Queen Magali. “I have been given permission to tell you where to find the fourth Vektia spiritbone. If I tell you, you must set sail immediately to find it.”
“But … we were going home,” said Aylaen, dismayed.
“And so you may, my dear,” said Queen Magali. “No one would blame you.”
“We could sail home and gather our forces and then go find the fourth spiritbone,” Aylaen offered.
Queen Magali shook her head. “It would be too late. Sund seeks the fourth spiritbone, as do the forces of Aelon.”
Aylaen let her thoughts linger on her homeland for just a moment, then let them slip away, like the seawater through her fingers. “Tell me where to find the fourth.”
* * *
Queen Magali and Aylaen returned to the Venjekar. Aylaen carried the pouch, the bracelet safely tucked inside. Commander Neda and her guards were extremely relieved to see their queen return. The Dragon Kahg fixed his eyes intently on Aylaen.
She had been wondering where to hide the bracelet. When Wulfe returned and they were once again sailing in the sunlight, she would have him conceal the br
acelet in his hidey-hole. Until then, she decided the best place to hide it would be in the hold.
The Venjekar was still underwater. Sunlight filtered down from above, but that would not light the darkness in the hold. Aylaen peered down into the black hole and feared she could not do it. She could not swim into the darkness. She might be trapped down there alone, unable to escape. She told herself that was ridiculous, the Aquins were here, Acronis was here. No one would leave her to die. Still, she had to take a few moments to bolster her courage before gesturing to Acronis to bring her the lantern.
Once down in the hold, she searched swiftly for a hiding place for the bracelet. She rejected the wooden sea chests that had been upended and overturned during the sinking of the ship, thinking that might be the first place someone would search. She hid the bracelet and the Vektan Torque, which she had been wearing, in one of the stone jars that had once held wine, sealing the jar with the lid.
Aylaen frowned at the jar, which seemed a very inadequate hiding place. The Aquins had brought Aylaen’s possessions with them. One of the warriors had placed her things in the hold by her direction. Among these were her clothes and her sword. Not knowing what else to do, Aylaen picked up the blessed sword of Vindrash in its leather sheath and laid the sword in front of the jar.
Aylaen swam out of the hold, glad to be in the open once more. Commander Neda and the Queen conferred, their clicks and squeals resonating through the water. Aylaen swam over to where the spiritbone of the Dragon Kahg hung in its customary place on the prow. Aylaen placed her hand over the spiritbone, letting her heart speak to the dragon, telling him about the precious cargo they had taken aboard. She had no need to ask him to protect it. He would do so with his life.
The Venjekar had become the keeper of three of the Five Bones of the Vektia. And she knew where to find the fourth.
A warrior offered to tether Aylaen. She shook her head. She preferred to be free to swim about. She kept hold of the dragon, finding comfort in his nearness. Aylaen thought of Skylan and wished he would return. She was uneasy about this rescue attempt. She told herself she was being silly. She had confidence in Skylan. But he was in an unusual situation, quite literally out of his element, and the more she considered the abduction of young Farinn, the less sense it made. Something was not right.
Queen Magali made a sign to Aylean and then swam away, her guards and Commander Neda accompanying her. Aylaen and Acronis were alone. She was trying to take her mind off her worries by admiring the beauty of her surrounding, the red and orange coral, like branches of trees; fish as blue as the sapphires in the bracelet. A quiver ran through the dragon.
Startled, Aylaen looked up at Kahg. The red eyes were hooded, the fire banked. Aylaen searched swiftly for some hint of danger, but she could see nothing. She glanced at Acronis and her feeling of unease deepened. He was peering intently into the water that was unusually dark beyond the light of the lanterns.
Acronis turned to face Aylaen. He gestured frantically, pointing behind her, and began swimming toward her. Aylaen started to turn. She caught a glimpse of someone moving up rapidly through the water and then strong hands had hold of her, pinning her arms behind her.
Male warriors seized Acronis. Serpent tattoos on their bald heads glistened in the eerie lantern light. Aylaen guessed that if she turned, she would see the same on her captor. A Warrior-Priest yanked the breathing tube from Acronis’s mask. Bubbles rose from his mouth. He tried frantically to grab hold of the mask. The warrior held it just out of his reach.
And then Commander Neda floated into view. Aylaen was relieved to see her, thinking the commander had come to free her. Aylaen’s relief changed quickly to bewilderment and confusion. Commander Neda clicked commands. The Warrior-Priest holding Aylaen tethered her to the ship, tying a line around the dragon’s neck. Aylaen yanked on the rope, trying to free herself. Commander Neda swam close to Aylaen. The commander pointed to Acronis, whose eyes were rolling back in his head, his movements starting to grow feeble. The commander touched the breathing tube in Aylaen’s mouth and made a motion as of yanking it out. Her meaning clear.
Stop fighting or his fate will be yours.
Aylaen watched in dread as Commander Neda clicked and squealed more commands. The Warrior-Priests holding Acronis thrust the breathing tube back into his mouth. Acronis gasped for air and began to revive. The commander gestured to the hold and the Warrior-Priests swam that direction, dragging Acronis with them. Aylaen wondered why, for a moment, then realized they were going to search for the Vektia spiritbones. Either Commander Neda thought Acronis had seen where Aylaen had hidden them or they assumed he would have some idea of where to look.
Aylaen was sick with fear, not for herself, but that Aelon’s priests would find the spiritbones. She had not had time to hide them that well. She trusted Acronis. He would never help the priests of Aelon, but even without his help, they would find them. She cast a frantic glance at the Dragon Kahg, but his eyes revealed only a faint glimmer of life. The dragon could not help her anyway. Magic or no magic, if he tried, Commander Neda would simply remove Aylaen’s breathing tube and let her drown.
Her only hope now was Skylan, who was supposed to meet her at the Venjekar. He had been gone a long time. He should be back any moment now.
Commander Neda looked at Aylaen and smiled an unpleasant smile. The commander grabbed hold of Aylaen’s hand and wrenched off her wedding ring. Commander Neda held it in front of Aylaen’s eyes and then made a motion as of a knife gliding across her throat.
Your Skylan is dead.
Neda tossed the wedding ring away. The white ivory floated down through the water and landed on the deck. Aylaen watched it fall. They had bound her to the dragon, but they had not bound her hands.
Go to hell.
Aylaen grabbed hold of Commander Neda by her long braid and pulled hard, nearly yanking the hair out by the roots. The pain must have been excruciating. Commander Neda gave an involuntary gasp that expelled the air from her lungs, and lashed out at Aylaen, who hung on to the woman’s hair with a deathlike grip. Warrior-Priests had to swim to Commander Neda’s rescue, wrenching Aylaen’s hands loose. The commander was forced to surface for air.
Loud clicks caused the Warrior-Priests to swiftly shift their attention away from Aylaen. Queen Magali appeared, swimming into view. The Queen’s face was pale with fury. Commander Neda returned, diving back down to the Venjekar. She was startled to see the Queen, who was obviously astonished to see the commander. Queen Magali looked from Neda to the Warrior-Priests to Aylaen, bound to the dragon. Queen Magali swam close to the commander, propelling herself with angry strokes.
Although Aylaen could not understand the communication, she knew without doubt what the Queen was saying. Queen Magali demanded to know what was going on, demanded that the captives be freed and told the commander to send these followers of Aelon back to their own city.
Commander Neda did not immediately respond. The Queen’s unexpected return had disrupted her plans. She was sullen at first, acting like a child caught in some mischief. Then Commander Neda made a sound, cold and harsh. She pointed at the Warrior-Priests who had hold of Aylaen and to more Warrior-Priests who swam out from behind the coral reef where they had been waiting. Queen Magali was alone, surrounded by her foes.
The Queen gave Commander Neda a look of contempt and swam to Aylaen. The Queen fixed the Warrior-Priests guarding Aylaen with a glittery gaze, daring them to cross her. The men glanced at each other, uncertain. Queen Magali took advantage of their confusion to swiftly start to untie the tether that bound Aylaen to the dragon.
Commander Neda seized a spear from one of the Warrior-Priests. Queen Magali had her back to the commander. Aylaen shook her head frantically, desperate to make the Queen understand the danger. Aylaen even went so far as to start to take the breathing tube from her mouth. Queen Magali understood. She turned around to the woman who had been the commander of her guards for many years. The Queen did not speak. She did not ha
ve to. Her unspoken words burned in Aylaen’s heart.
You were more than the commander of my guards. I counted you a friend. Will you now betray me?
Commander Neda hesitated, then she pressed her lips tightly together and lunged, driving the spear into the Queen’s breast.
The breath rushed from the Queen’s mouth. She held fast to the spear for a moment, staring at the commander in sorrow. Blood billowed from the terrible wound. The Queen went limp in the water.
Aylaen broke free of her captors and took hold of the dying Queen. She yanked the spear from the Queen’s body and flung it away, then held the Queen in her arms. The Queen gazed at her. Her lips moved, but only blood and a faint trail of bubbles rose from her mouth, staining the sea.
The bubbles ceased. Her blood darkened the water.
Commander Neda stared down, white-faced, at the woman she had murdered. She seemed overwhelmed by the enormity of her action. The Warrior-Priests were dazed, shocked, with no idea what to do. With no thought of what she was doing, Aylaen yanked the breathing tube from her mouth to shout words that no one could hear.
See this! See what you have done in the name of Aelon! See and remember!
Commander Neda came to her senses. The water was filled with blood. Next, the water would be filled with sharks. She grabbed Aylaen and thrust the breathing tube into her mouth, slapping her when Aylaen tried to drag it out again. Neda handed her over to the Warrior-Priests. This time they bound her hands and her arms and then dropped a net over her. Whistling to dolphins, the Warrior-Priests swam away, dragging Aylaen with them.
Aylaen looked back to the Venjekar. The dragon’s red eyes blazed, bathing the Queen’s body in lurid light. Acronis, swimming out of the hold alone, the blessed sword of Vindrash in his hand, saw the body and stared in horror and shock, then searched frantically for Aylaen.
She whispered a prayer, many prayers. A prayer to Vindrash, who had protected the Vektia spiritbone. A prayer to Torval that Skylan was not dead. A prayer to the Sea Goddess to say she was sorry, so very sorry.
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