The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series]

by Barbara M. Hodges

  "But will you get us there in time?"

  Peter gazed over her head. “I do not know, but I do know we are wasting time standing here.” He reined Skylar around them and started down the mountain trail.

  She hesitated, looking back toward Zara's cave, then at Peter's retreating back. She sighed and reined Gilda to follow the stallion. The mare sidestepped and shook her mane. “I haven't given up,” Regan sent sharply. The mare flicked her ears back and trailed after Skylar.

  The trail widened and became a small flat ledge. Peter halted Skylar in front of what looked like a jagged slit of black in the mountainside. “This cave used to have a spring at the rear. I am going to check it out.” Peter slid from Skylar's back and guided the horse through the rift, the stallion's sides grazing its edges.

  Regan dismounted and led Gilda to the dark opening.

  "Do not try to bring Gilda in. It is only big enough for one rider and horse at a time,” Peter called back to her.

  "Lady, you wait here."

  Regan entered the crack. She pressed her back against the cold stone and was just able to slide by Skylar. Peter stood at the horse's head before a small stream that trickled from the mountain wall. He cupped his hands, held them under the stream, and offered the water to Skylar. Gilda whinnied from outside and Regan squeezed back by Skylar and joined her. She patted the mare's head.

  "Your turn is coming up.” Regan glanced up at the sun that rode only halfway up the horizon, then down at the steeply descending trail. Zara would make it so much easier and faster, she thought. She closed her eyes. “Zara, Thea commands you.” Regan's summons met a solid wall of silence. Her lips tightened. “I know you can hear me. You did earlier.” Continued silence, but this time with an undercurrent of annoyance. “You will answer me. It is as the Goddess wishes!"

  The dragon roared at the mention of the Goddess and a psychic wave of irritation picked Regan up and tossed her against the mountain's side. Cloth ripped and pain seared her thigh as she slid along the mountainside to the ground. Tears of pain sprang into her eyes. Blinking them away, she took a deep breath. “You will speak to me."

  "What do you want?” a petulant voice mind-questioned.

  "Raya is in danger. I must get there.” Zara roared again and Regan winced, bracing herself for another onslaught.

  "You disturb me for the death of mere humans?"

  "My sister is among them..."

  "I care not."

  Anger flared hot in Regan. “You will obey me. The Goddess willed it so."

  Scornful rebellion blasted Regan's mind.

  "I am the Goddess’ avatar and you will do my will as before,” Regan ordered.

  "I have obeyed none in a century,” Zara said, then her mind voice changed to sly cajoling. “Prove to me that you are she."

  Regan's anger blazed. She pushed herself from the mountain side, scrambled to her feet, and raised her arms toward the sky. She saw a blue aura encase, then shimmer around her. “You know I am Thea. You recognized my soul when we touched on The Mountain of the Devil. Come to me now."

  "I come,” Zara replied in a surly tone before severing the connection.

  The blue aura surrounding Regan evaporated. She lowered her arms and slid down along the mountainside's rough granite until her legs were splayed out before her.

  "Were you mind-speaking Zara?” Peter asked.

  She looked up and saw him standing just outside the fissure, Skylar at his back. She scowled, then looked down at her ripped pants and raw scraped skin. “Yes, but at first she wasn't in the mood to cooperate."

  He smiled slightly. “You forced your will on a dragon?"

  She returned the smile. “Not my will ... Thea's."

  She stood and walked to where he leaned against Skylar's side. “Is your strength returning?"

  He shrugged. “I am better. When will Zara arrive?"

  "Soon."

  "Then we will no longer need Skylar and Gilda."

  He turned and tied Skylar's reins around the saddle horn.

  Regan's forehead wrinkled. “I didn't think about them. Will they be safe?"

  He scratched between the stallion's ears. “Of course they will."

  Still frowning, she turned and walked to where Gilda stood. She laid her hand on the mare's forelock, then looked into her brown eyes and watched as the yellow that circled them glowed.

  "We will be fine. I will watch over Skylar."

  From behind her, Regan heard Skylar snort with derision and she smiled.

  "What did Gilda say?” Peter asked.

  "She said she would watch over Skylar,” Regan said, looping Gilda's bridle around the saddle horn.

  Peter laughed, then backed a few paces from Skylar. “Ride like the wind,” he said to the stallion. “I will see you in Raya with a large bag of grain."

  Gilda sauntered to Skylar's side, then the two horses shook their manes and raced away.

  "Be careful,” Regan called to their retreating rumps.

  Peter walked to Regan's side. “Now we wait."

  "But not for long, I hope,” Regan said, then licked dry lips. “I need a drink.” Then she froze and a stricken look crossed her face. “I didn't give Gilda a drink."

  He circled her shoulders with his arm. “It is all right. I gave her one while you talked with Zara."

  "But ... I didn't see..."

  "You were a little busy.” He grinned down at her. “Do not worry. Gilda was totally saturated before she left."

  She smiled and touched his cheek. “Thank you. Now I need a little of that water myself.” She turned to walk away and felt his hand pat her backside. Startled, she paused, then smiled. Well, he must be feeling better.

  She was on her third cupped palm of water when she heard Peter call. “Zara comes.” She slurped the last of the wetness and, wiping her palms against her pants, ran to Peter's side. She looked skyward. A dark shape hovered between them and the waning sun. It cast a premature twilight on the open area where they stood. As they watched, a wing dipped and the form circled closer. Regan saw Peter glance around the open area. “She cannot land. Just how are we to accomplish this?"

  Regan's lips twisted wryly. “I didn't think about that. I guess I'd better ask her."

  "Zara, how do you wish to do this?” she sent.

  "I do as you command,” came the dragon's waspish answer.

  Regan frowned.

  "What is the problem?” Peter asked as the dragon circled closer.

  "She will only do as I command.” She felt her hair stir in the breeze created by Zara's approach.

  "Then command her."

  Regan's shirt plastered against her body as the wind stiffened.

  "What is your command, Thea?"

  The dust rose around Regan and Peter in a miniature cyclone. Small stones and sticks bit into Regan's skin.

  "Ouch,” Peter yelped.

  Regan looked up and saw Zara back wing, then reach into the whirling maelstrom, grab a rock with her right talon and disdainfully toss it toward Peter. The rock crashed to the ground within inches of Peter's toes. He jumped three feet backward, then raised his head and glared at the dragon.

  "Your talons ... use your talons to pick us up,” Regan mind-sent.

  "My talons?” Regan caught a flash of surprise, then smug satisfaction. “If that is your wish."

  "With care,” Regan quickly added and received a flicker of irritation.

  "Stand on the cliff edge. I will make only one pass."

  Regan grabbed Peter's arm. “Stand at the edge of the cliff. Zara will scoop us from the ground."

  He ran with her to the edge of the cliff. “If she misses we will fall to our deaths."

  "It's our only option and she's refused to try more than once."

  The wind whipped Regan's hair into her eyes. She raked it away and glanced up. Her vision became limited to descending blackness and two extended legs ending in reaching claws. Frozen in place, she watched the three talons open and a childhood memory s
urfaced of the arcade and tri-fingered claws dropping into a Plexiglas enclosed nest of stuffed animals.

  "Raise your arms, Regan,” Peter yelled.

  She snapped her eyes shut in sudden terror and flung her arms high. Something closed around her middle, then slid downward toward her knees. She's going to dangle me by my heels, Regan had time to think before the talons rose once more to fasten around her waist. “That wasn't fun...” Regan started to send, then she was jerked upward.

  Her eyes flew open. She was out over the cliff, her feet dangling in mid-air. She looked down, then squealed and wrapped her arms around Zara's scaled skin. The ground fell away further with each sweep of Zara's wings. Around her middle, she felt Zara's talons press tight until they pinched her skin. “You're gripping too tight."

  "I don't wish to drop you.” Zara replied.

  Regan turned her head and saw Peter pulling at the claws that circled his waist. She called to him, but the roaring wind forced the words back into her mouth.

  "Loosen them,” Regan sent.

  The talons released their skin-piercing grip. Then Regan heard a dry mind-chuckle as they opened fully and she found herself twisting in the wind, kept from plummeting only by her arms that hugged the slick scaled skin. She slipped an inch and tasted bitter panic. “Close them,” she mind-blasted Zara.

  "As you command.” The talons closed once more around Regan's waist. They pressed tight, pricking her skin, then eased. Regan twisted to look at Peter. From his ashen face and death-like grip on Zara's legs she knew he had been subjected to the same hair-raising experience. “Zara, that was uncalled for.” Regan's anger was white-hot.

  "That is exactly what you called for,” Zara replied smugly.

  Regan seethed. “You will get us to Raya safely. Do you understand?” Zara's answer was a dip of her wings and a stomach-wrenching dive.

  "What are you doing?” Regan yelled.

  "The town is below,” Zara answered innocently. “That is where you wished to go, wasn't it?” Regan sent the dragon a mental glare, then looked down. In the merchants’ area, the doors to the shops were closed tight. In the marketplace, wagon seats sat empty, while beneath them bodies lay motionless on the ground, heads cradled on arms. Chicken and geese nested with their heads tucked beneath their wings, while goats and cows lay in shaded corners. Why is everything asleep?

  Zara circled the castle. The bailey was empty; no fires burned in the communal pits. The doors to the stable and laundry were ajar, but no one moved about. They skimmed over the guard towers unchallenged and a chill raced up Regan's spine.

  Zara winged over the fields and, among the vines and planted rows, Regan saw that shapes crouched and waited—Ru'taha and vipers. She twisted in Zara's grip and sought Peter's eyes. On his face was a sick look of rage and horror.

  "There, between the grape vines and the mountains. Put us down right there,” Regan commanded as the dragon circled nearer to the ground.

  "I will have to drop you. There isn't enough room for me to land."

  "I know. Just do it."

  "As you wish, Thea."

  The talons opened and Regan dropped. She landed with a bone-jarring thud, then tumbled head over heels before coming to rest, face first, in a mound of dirt. Sitting back on her heels and spitting dirt, she glared skyward at Zara.

  A lilting laugh entered her mind. “Until we meet again,” Zara sent, then winged away.

  Regan looked around for Peter. He sprawled a few feet from her. She crawled on her hands and knees to where he lay. “Peter, what has happened? How did they get beyond the wards?"

  "The wards are down. The valley is spelled. We..."

  A loud wailing howl cut through the air, cutting his words off in mid-sentence.

  "That's Maggie,” Regan cried.

  "It must be the bespelled bells around her neck. The sleep spell did not affect her,” Peter said. “Let's hope that her cry rouses them in time."

  "God help us. Peter, look."

  As one, the Ru'taha and Black Vipers rose and charged through Raya's wide-open gate.

  "Maggie's cry should have awakened the gatekeeper. Why didn't he close it?” Regan said.

  "There was probably no one there to close it. We have got to keep them from reaching the castle."

  Chapter 23

  REGAN AND PETER stopped before Raya's towering gate. Through the gray-black arch flowed a bedlam of panicked animals, a fitting background for the human screams of pain and rage.

  Pressing a hand against the stitch in her side, Regan panted. “Why are we standing here?"

  Peter turned to stare over her head at the high, distant line of mountains. “Dirkk waits back there, not inside the city."

  Regan stepped around him. “Can't you hear what's going on beyond these walls?"

  Peter continued to stare at the mountains. “I am not deaf, but the mind who guides the slaughter is not inside."

  Regan stiffened. “You do as you wish; I'm going to find my sister."

  She turned toward the gate, then froze as a movement to her left caught her eye. She turned slowly to face them. Black Vipers, their outstretched bodies undulating across the tilled furrows, were coming straight toward them.

  She whipped around and faced Peter. He stood, silent and stiff, his gaze upon the vipers.

  "If we run we can get inside the gate before they attack,” she said.

  He looked into her face, shaking his head. “They will only follow us and more of my people will die.” Peter stepped around her. “I choose to stop them here.” He glanced to his right. “Move out of range of the fire."

  She reached out to grab his hand. “I'll help."

  He stepped away. “You go to Kelsey."

  Regan turned to look at the vipers. They had stopped six feet away from Peter and were coiling for attack. Strangling on fear she turned toward the gate, then stopped and looked back.

  Peter stared down into his palms. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. Regan's stomach tightened as she waited for the burning to begin in its center.

  In his hands she saw a tiny blue ember form and her stomach warmed. The blue dot pulsed, flickered ... then faded.

  She glanced at the coiled Black Vipers. “Peter?"

  He lifted his drawn face to hers, and then stared back down into his hands. She waited, but felt nothing but a lump of icy fear in the pit of her stomach.

  Suddenly Peter groaned, then shuddered and collapsed against the gate. “Run, Regan, save yourself."

  She held Peter's haggard gaze. “No, you find Kelsey,” she ordered with a grim smile.

  He pushed away from the gate. “I am staying."

  "And do what?” she demanded.

  His face flushed.

  "Damn it! Go!"

  He glared at her, then turned and stumbled through the gate.

  Regan whirled and faced the vipers. She called to the Power and felt it melt the cold lump of fear in her stomach. “Wait, Regan,” she whispered. Inside her the power pulsed and grew. I've never let it build this much before. What will it do to me when I release it?

  Then the vipers sprang and she thrust her hand upwards, fingers splayed, aimed into their midst. Power raced down her arm and erupted from each fingertip; white bluish bolts caught five of the six vipers in mid-spring. The burning force hurled them to the ground. The blue glow raced their length, engulfing their twisting bodies in azure flames.

  Regan jerked her gaze from the burning vipers and fastened it on the remaining one who had already recoiled. Her eyes narrowed, her lips curving mirthlessly as she pointed her hand in its direction. Streams of electric blue arced from her fingers and the coiled viper leapt back. The ground where it had stood exploded upwards.

  A red cloud of powdery dust showered Regan, blurring her vision. Blinking her stinging eyes, she looked around. Where was it? A mocking hiss came from behind her and she spun. The snake had recoiled. Their gazes locked for the count of three heartbeats, and then it struck.

  She do
dged to the right, then dropped to the ground and rolled, feeling its breeze as the viper's spring carried it skimming over her head. She scrambled to her hands and knees and pivoted to meet the viper again.

  It was five feet from her in the shadow of a low, trailing grapevine. As she watched, it rose on its black tail until its eyes were level with hers. It swayed slowly as its mouth opened, and then Dirkk's voice spoke. “Well done, Regan."

  She stumbled back. “You've no control over me now. I've broken your spell."

  The viper's tongue flicked in her direction. “You fear me. I taste it."

  Her chin came up and she jerked her head toward the still smoking mass of charred vipers. “I've already killed five; you're but one more."

  The viper stretched higher, its tongue flicking in and out. “They are of no importance. There are always more where they came from."

  She took a step forward. “What would happen to you if I killed this viper while you're in it?"

  The snake's mouth gaped wide and Dirkk's laugh rolled over her. The skin on the back of her neck rose in response. “You have courage, Regan, courage that is wasted on Peter. Join with me and I will make you my queen."

  "Your queen? The thought makes me sick.” She spat on the ground in front of the viper. Its red eyes glared at her.

  She felt inside for the Power.

  Dirkk laughed again. “Good-bye for now, but perhaps your answer will be different when next we meet. That is, if my pet doesn't destroy you first."

  Regan screamed in rage and thrust her hand toward the viper. Her shot was wide, and she saw it tense to spring. Cold resignation froze her blood and she closed her eyes, then snapped them open as an “A-r-r-r-o-o-o-o-o...” filled her ears. The howl changed pitch, becoming a rage-filled growl.

  To the right of the swaying viper, Regan saw Maggie running toward her at full speed. The dog's chest slammed into the viper's side and the snake toppled. Maggie whipped around, buried her teeth in the viper's tail and shook it back and forth.

  Regan circled them, looking for a chance to strike without hurting Maggie. Suddenly, the black viper's body folded back on itself, the black triangular head rising and twisting.

  "No,” she screamed, plowing her shoulder into the back of the viper's head. The viper's upper body toppled forward and landed within inches of Maggie's nose. The hound yelped and back-pedaled.