Chronicles Of Aronshae (3 Book Omnibus)

by J. K. Barber

  Tomas beat his wings quickly as they alighted on an outcropping of a massive butte, its jagged top just above a cliff that extended far into the distance. He shook sand from his wings, as Katya sat up from where she had taken shelter against the dragon's neck. The tempest raged all around them, yet they were untouched now as if in the calm eye of the storm. Katya slowed her accelerated breathing and attempted to compose herself, the thrill of flight clear on her flushed face and wild hair. The former Administrator motioned with a glance and nod of his giant head for her to dismount. Katya slid down his extended forearm, her soft leather boots struggling for purchase on the smooth scales. Tomas' body started to change as soon as she was on the ground. His wings fused to his sides, and he curled into a fetal position, all the while his size rapidly decreasing. The brilliant purple scales dulled as they changed into human skin. His ridge spines retracted into his back. Tomas, the sandy-haired boy, stood up before her from a prone position on the brown rock. His horns were the last to fade, spiraling back into his forehead. All that was left to hint at his true nature were his deep purple eyes, always vigilant and full of mystery. He had chosen to wear his blue velvet Administrator robes with the golden hemmed mantle, denoting his high position within Aronshae's magical community. Katya shivered in the chill desert air and silently wished she had her own warm Snowhaven robes instead of the now wind-tattered ones in which she was dressed.

  So distracted was she by Tomas' transformation, the sorceress abruptly noticed nine sets of eyes watching their arrival. Immediately, Katya recognized the Shadow Drakes, their spider web-like, black veins distinctive under their translucent scales. Sirus and his three sisters, Misae, Isa, and Niambe were entrapped within the butte itself; large finger-like rock formations serving as the bars of a stony prison. Their eyes showed fear, but they remained perfectly silent. The other five sets of eyes belonged to five women of middle years, their bodies covered only by long white, gauzy loincloths that hung from their hips by delicate silver chains that glittered in the fading moonlight. Each of their forms was lean and exquisite, their skin flawless and free of wrinkles, uncharacteristic of a woman of advanced years. All of them would be considered exotically beautiful in any kingdom. Katya, who was considered by many to be pretty, suddenly felt plain in the presence of these stunning creatures.

  The ladies’ bare breasts were large as if heavy with milk. They stood in a semi-circle, facing the newcomers. Katya felt a bit awkward at the women's nudity but maintained an impartial look, remembering Tomas' words about his taking her to a meeting with "powerful elders."

  The woman on the far left spoke first, her voice strong yet melodious, "Greetings, Guardian Tomas and Master Sorceress Katya, representative of Aronshae." The woman looked similar to Sasha with flaming red hair down to her waist. Her skin was fair though, unlike her sister's tan skin. This woman, also in contrast, had piercing red eyes to match her tresses and razor-like teeth that showed when she spoke. She shifted on her bare feet, her hips sliding sensuously from one side to another.

  "I am the Broodmother of Flame," she inclined her head in greeting. Turning to the woman next to her, a lady with hair the color of the deep blue sea cut to just above her shoulders and eyes to match, Broodmother Flame continued, "This is the Broodmother of Water. To her left is the Broodmother of Earth." The latter matron had short-cropped, black hair with russet brown skin and eyes. Both of the women mentioned also inclined their heads.

  "At Broodmother Earth's side is Broodmother Spirit, followed by Broodmother Life on the end," the red-haired matron said, seemingly finished with introductions. Broodmother Spirit had white hair to her navel and deep purple eyes. Broodmother Life had long, blond spiral curls that stopped midway down her back. Her skin was tan, and she had sparkling green eyes. Life smiled warmly at Katya, revealing her own slightly pointed teeth.

  "We will speak aloud so that you, Master Sorceress Katya, can understand what is being said amongst the dragons,” said the red-haired matron. “You will be evaluated along with Guardian Tomas. Try to relax," Broodmother Flame paused, raising her head high and bringing her hands up, palms forward. "Without further preamble, I am most honored to introduce Elder Diadrum Arack Supra, Earthen Father," the crimson-eyed matron bowed deeply as she turned, along with the rest of the Broodmothers to face the rock outcropping that was at their backs. A single enormous eye opened, its pupil locking Katya in place. She felt paralyzed by the sheer power of his gaze alone. Her breath caught as what the sorceress thought was the top of the butte broke away from the rock, and the Elder lifted his monstrous head from the precipice. As his skull rose, thousands of stone-like, spiked horns lifted as well; no longer flush against his slumbering neck. The hue of his scales matched the rock of the butte perfectly, as if he had chosen to match its color. She also realized that it was within his claws that the Shadow Drakes were imprisoned. Considering the Shadow Drakes were each the size of houses, the immensity of the Earthen Father was staggering. The butte trembled under his weight as he shifted. Katya feared for a moment that the rise would crumble beneath their feet and they would fall to their deaths, entombed in an avalanche of boulders.

  The notion was instantly forgotten, as a new sensation overwhelmed her. She could feel the Elder filtering through her thoughts as if she were an open book to be read. As he viewed her, she also could catch glimpses of his own mind. His knowledge was so profound, yet she hardly recognized anything she saw. The sorceress observed flashes of other worlds and skies foreign to her. Again, his presence was dominating. Katya would have been offended if it didn't feel so... good. She believed herself intoxicated, intensely attracted to some cerebral aroma. Her breath quickened, her heart beat swiftly, and her loins ached. The sorceress fought the urge to cross the distance and press herself against his scales; she could feel the furnace-like warmth of his body through their mental connection, and she wished for nothing more than to be consumed by it.

  As quickly as his presence had entered her, it was gone. When her eyes refocused, she was on her knees, her muscles sore as if she had been doing heavy manual labor. The Elder had his gaze fixed on Tomas now, who whimpered from the ground, fully prostrated. The Earthen Father spoke a single word as he finished his inspection of the former Administrator. Katya stood up, her instinct to help her former Master, but stopped there, not knowing how or if she even could interfere.

  "IM... PRU... DENCE," the Elder spoke slowly, his rough but resounding utterance causing the butte to again tremble. The word seemed hard for him to speak aloud, as if his voice had not been used in centuries. He scowled at Tomas for a few moments more, and then focused on Broodmother Earth. Her chest heaved and her back arched as the Earthen Father made contact with her. Their communication finished quickly, and the Elder closed his eyes, lowering his head and returning to his slumber. His grip on the Shadow Drakes fell away, leaving them stretching sore, too-long-still muscles.

  "What just happened," Katya whispered to Tomas, as she helped him stand.

  "Our memories were read, and the Earthen Father made his judgments. Quiet now. All will be revealed," the boy replied softly.

  Katya bit her tongue, but her thoughts would not be silenced. Judged? I don't care how important he is... he has no right...

  That means your mind too, Katya, Tomas' words formed in her head.

  Oh crap, she thought.

  Shhhhh! This time the unspoken voice belonged to Sirus. Tomas took her hand in his, hoping to reassure her. Katya gripped it tightly, her face betraying her fear. She understood now why the Shadow Drakes were afraid when she had arrived. They still were afraid; Niambe whimpered quietly. Isa, who had been held captive in the same claw as her fearful sister, linked tails with Niambe to lend her strength.

  "If we are done with the mental chatter," Broodmother Earth's sultry voice cut in. Life snickered, genuinely amused. Broodmother Earth shot her fellow matron an icy look that cut the laughter short. Redirecting her dark eyes to Tomas to address him specifically, Earth continu
ed, "Elder Diadrum Arack Supra was called here as soon as we Broodmothers arrived and discovered that nine of the seventy-two hatchlings were dead and there were problems with some of the surviving children. Guardian Tomas has failed in his duty to protect our eggs in his selfish involvements with the inhabitants of this world. Tomas, your duty was to remain hidden, removed from this world's dealings, and protect the eggs. You are hereby stripped of your title as a Guardian. You are further punished with banishment. You made the decision to interact with Aronshae, so this is now your home. Permanently."

  Tomas' usual confidence melted away. He dropped Katya's hand and took a step forward, his hands raised to Broodmother Spirit.

  "Please, I beg of you," the former Administrator bent a knee before the purple-eyed matron. "Mother..." Katya physically jerked at the revelation. She was bearing witness to her teacher in his most fragile state, a child being chastised for bad behavior. Even though Tomas appeared as a simple boy, the sorceress had always viewed him as the most powerful, most wise being she had ever known. She felt sympathy for him; an unexpected maternal instinct perhaps, carried over from Sasha, caused her heart to cry out, wanting to comfort him and to try and make it right. However, Katya knew that her voice did not matter here. There was nothing she could do. A tear slid down her face. Broodmother Water cocked her head in the sorceress' direction, truly fascinated at the gentle display of emotion. All eyes shifted, save for the Earthen Father’s, and focused on the flame matron as her true feelings burst forth.

  "Pearls cast before swine!" Broodmother Flame stepped forward and slapped Tomas across the face. "You were entrusted with our eggs, and our children were murdered! You even taught the woman who did it how to use magic! You are not worthy of mercy."

  "PEACE, sister!" Broodmother Earth reprimanded the impassioned matron and motioned with her hand for her to return to her place in line. Flame reluctantly complied, her breath quick and heavy with emotion, fighting back her tears.

  Broodmother Spirit walked over to her wayward son and put a gentle hand on his red cheek where Flame had struck him, her white hair lightly brushing against his upturned face. Katya was reminded by the gesture of her own mother, Dara, who had often stroked the sorceress' cheek and hair when she was younger. Her heart grew heavy, realizing she had not yet fully grieved her mother's death. The Elder filtering through her mind must have jostled the sentiment loose. The raven-haired sorceress' memories felt jumbled, clouding her thoughts. Her head ached.

  "Child of my womb," his mother named him. "You have brought this verdict on yourself by your own actions. I am saddened, but the judgment is fair. You are lucky to have your life, little one," she spoke in low compassionate tones. Removing her hand, she stepped back in line with the other Broodmothers. Tomas remained on his knee, but lowered his head to hide his tears.

  "Dragons named, Misae, Niambe, and Isa," Broodmother Earth continued. "You are to be cleansed by your mother's milk and returned to your clutch. You will fly with us and return to your homeland." The earth matron turned to Spirit. "You may begin while I finish delivering the Elder's ruling. We will depart when I am done." Broodmother Spirit nodded, waving her hand at the three female Shadow Drakes. They crouched into fetal positions, her sheer will forcing them into their human forms for the first time ever. They were reduced to squalling babes, their black veins still evident under their fair skin.

  Broodmother Spirit traversed the butte outcropping to her children and sat crossed-legged next to them. She pulled one babe into her lap to comfort her while the infant waited her turn. Spirit scooped up the other two, one in each arm, holding them to nurse at her bare breasts. Katya's eyes widened as the angry black veins quickly began to fade away as they suckled at their mother's teats. Even Tomas raised his head, his exile momentarily forgotten, eyes wide in amazement at how easily Salamasca's horrific curse was cured.

  "Sirus," Broodmother Earth's unswervingly strident voice redirected everyone's attention back on her. "That body does not belong to you. You are an abomination. A death sentence seemed appropriate, so that your mind could be released and allowed to find rest as your body has." Sirus' claws trembled, making a small scratching noise against the stone. He looked truly terrified as to what his fate was to be.

  Again, Katya felt sympathy; it wasn't his fault. Surely, the Earthen Father will show mercy, the sorceress thought.

  Earth fixed the sorceress with her brown eyes for a moment, willing her to be silent, before continuing. "We realized, however, that your current situation was not your doing, but a thing done to you," Earth spoke again after the interruption. "You are a victim and will not be held accountable." Sirus let out a long relieved sigh and raised his head to nod his thanks. "We cannot take you with us though. You are to remain here as you are, your fate to be left to your own Great Mother." Sirus bowed his head deeply in acknowledgement and with thanks.

  "Finally, Master Sorceress Katya," Earth addressed the raven-haired human. "You are most fascinating piece to this disfigured puzzle." It was Katya's turn to cock her head inquisitively. "Your connection to your deity is unique and your purpose against the one named Salamasca, who murdered our children, is appreciated. However, you did kill one of our children, corrupted as he may have been..." Katya's palms began to sweat and her breath caught. She released it with a sigh at the matron's next statement. "The Elder has chosen to forgive you for this offense, given the circumstances. While in the past your actions have threatened to set you upon a dark road, you have held your true course. You desire peace in the land and love well your kin. Your heart is good. Return to your task with our blessing and with a gift." Earth nodded to Broodmother Water, who approached Katya and laid a single kiss on the sorceress' forehead. A shiver ran down her spine like a drop of cold water running down the length of her back, but then the sensation was gone. "Should you need it, the seed is there, lying in wait."

  Broodmother Earth said no more. Broodmother Spirit finished nursing the three young drakes. With another wave of her hand, they returned to their dragon forms, their magnificent true appearance restored and their scales now a sparkling purple and holding no sign whatsoever of the Ice Queen's curse. Water and Spirit returned to their positions in the crescent formation in which the matrons stood.

  It was Broodmother Life's turn to speak. "Aronshae and its present inhabitants," she addressed those to be left behind, her calm voice pleasing, "you have our thanks for housing our children for the past millennium. You kept them warm, guarded them, and breathed your magic into their hearts. Peace." As Life spoke the final word, the sandstorm outside their outcropping faded away. The sand spiraled away until the rising sun could be seen clearly on the horizon, its red and yellows peeking over the top of the valley wall, created by the grand, orange-colored stone columns. Katya's breath quickened as the ground trembled so hard, she feared once again that the butte would crumble.

  Elder Diadrum Arack Supra's wings rose from his back, giant sails of hardened sinew that glowed like amber raised to the light of the sun. From beneath his gigantic wings, dozens of young dragons, their scales the colors purple, brown, green, blue, and red, stretched their own wings. The Earthen Father's eyes opened. He fully raised his neck; his body followed and caused a minor earthquake as he stood. Rock and sand slid off his back from where it had settled, giving substantiation to Katya's supposition that he had been sleeping there for several days. As he stood, the sorceress realized the Elder was bigger than Salamasca's Glacial Palace in the Frozen March. His head, a majestic crown of spikes, rose to the sky, and he beat his wings. Katya and Tomas had to crouch behind Sirus, who moved to their sides protectively, sheltering them under an outstretched wing so they were not blown off the outcropping. As the Elder took to the sky, his wing beats resounded like thunder. Behind him, the young dragons took to the air in his wake. Misae and Niambe nodded to Sirus one last time, silently wishing their brother well. He returned the gesture with heartbreaking rigidity. Isa hesitated, sadness in her purple eyes. A tear slidin
g down her snout, she bounded forward and nuzzled Sirus just under the jaw.

  "Sweet clever Isa," Sirus said, tears escaping his own eyes as he returned the tender gesture. "I will miss you, little sister. Stay out of trouble, okay?"

  "Never," the smaller dragon stated with an impish smile on her scaled mouth. Reluctantly, Isa pulled away and returned to her sisters. With one final look, the last of Sirus' clutchmates lifted off after their brethren, their brilliant purple wings carrying them high into the sky.

  With the plateau finally clear, the Broodmothers each stretched gracefully, bending to all fours. Much as Tomas had, they transformed into giant, beautiful leviathans, their scales vibrant with color in the morning light. Peeking over Sirus' wing, Katya's eyes were drawn mostly to Broodmother Life's scales, shaped like bright green maple leaves. It reminded her of the Nhyme's leaf clothing, neatly intertwined to form beautiful garments.

  The matrons took to the sky, following their children into the heavens. The sight was awe-inspiring, the air filled with dragons. Katya watched until they were merely tiny specks on the horizon, and soon even those disappeared. Sirus had been watching too, his wings tucked against his sides and his head turned upward like hers. But as the human woman turned to Tomas, she saw that not only had he not been watching, but his head was downcast. He looked truly defeated, sitting on his knees with his hands hanging loosely at his side as he stared at the dirt. Katya knelt down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  "What will you do now, Teacher?" she asked. Tomas let out a long sigh and looked up at her. He looked very much a boy, his face dirty with tear streaks breaking up the grime. His eyes were now dry though. He stood up, accepting a helping talon from Sirus.