by A. D. Adams
“This will work fine. There are two guard posts on the way to the cave, and the cave itself is large and the air is fresh,” Terra said to the group.
“We will be leaving our daughter in your care. Can you protect her?” Fienna asked.
“We will bring a thousand to protect her. She will be the most guarded child on Tone. No one, no thing, will harm her. I will stay here myself,” the Old Sinut said.
“I speak for my father, the king, and we both will guarantee her safety. You will not have to worry about Cardana. She will be cared for with all the love we can give,” Setilan said.
“Thank you. We need her to be safe. It will make what we're about to do a bit easier,” Fienna said in a sad and concerned voice.
The sea nymphs left to look over the entrance tunnel and the two locations they would use as guard positions. As Terra and Fienna looked around one more time, an image began to form in a small enclave. It was the image Tone had used to talk to them.
“She will be safe here. I will prevent any harm that could come to her. I have created all of this and even the dark one cannot penetrate what I have created. You have much to do. Don’t worry about your daughter, I will watch over her. She will want for nothing and know nothing but love,” the image said in an odd voice that seemed to come from the vibrating crystalline walls.
“Thank you,” Fienna said in a relieved voice.
Chapter 23 - The Human Meeting
(Joining forces for the benefit of all is at best difficult.)
- The Time of the Draman -
The world for the humans was about to change. They waited for the Draman at the meeting place he had specified. Naron had brought Rammy, Rubbo, and Nolla with him. They watched the sky until Rammy finally saw a glint of light in the distance. Slowly, a white dragon came into view with a rider on its back. It appeared to be a woman. The great beast circled down and gently landed a few dragon lengths in front of the group. The dragon was enormous and seemed to be all muscle. The woman on its back was even more striking. She had multicolored blue-green skin and hair, which flowed down her back and was as long as her body. She wore odd, dark green, glistening clothes that looked as if they were fashioned from the water greens.
The woman climbed down from the great beast with the ease of long practice. She carried a small bag and stood back from the dragon. As they watched, the dragon began to shimmer, and then appeared to be getting smaller. Before their amazed eyes, the great beast began to change. The wings became smaller and the neck seemed to pull back into the body. The great snout on the head pulled back into the skull, the legs straightened, and the arms contracted. Soon the dragon became a powerfully built naked man. The woman walked to the man and handed him clothing, which he quickly put on. None of them had ever seen such powerful magic; it truly was the time of the Draman.
They turned and walked toward the human group awaiting them. As they came closer, Naron could see that the woman's skin was marked as if she had dragon scales. He realized he was looking at the Wogan. As they approached, Naron was unsure what to say. He and the others were overwhelmed by what they had just seen.
“We have come as agreed. This is my mate, Fienna. And I am Terra, as you know.”
“Forgive us, but we have never seen such magic. Shape changing is beyond anything we have ever imagined,” Naron said with amazement in his voice.
“My changing is not magic. It is what I am.”
“I-I see,” Naron responded.
“Have you made your decision?” Terra asked.
“Yes, we will fight.”
“Good, we must discuss how to add you to our other fighters.”
“There are others?” Rammy asked.
“There will be more than ten thousand dragons, sea and land nymphs, and, of course, you now.”
“You can get dragons to fight with us and not eat us?” Rammy questioned.
“The dragons will not eat you, they don't like the taste of humans,” Terra said, laughing a bit.
“We did not know the land nymphs still existed. We thought they were destroyed during the last great battle,” Naron explained.
“They still live in a valley protected by a great wall. They are weakening and will soon be overrun by the squat creatures that attack them constantly.”
“You mean the dwarfs?” Rammy asked.
“Yes.”
“How do you know these things?”
“I have friends.”
“We have a cave where we can talk, if that is what you wish.”
“Lead on and we will follow.”
The group went into the opening that led to the massive cave complex the humans had built over the generations. Only a few knew of the true extent of the caves and the number of Guards that inhabited them. They were led to a large cave with a large flat rock in the center and smaller rocks arranged around it. The humans sat on the smaller rocks; Fienna and Terra did the same.
“We are preparing. We need to know when you wish to move and what your plans are,” Naron said.
“Well, that is the difficulty. I have a plan, but I don’t know yet how we can get you across the mountains. How many fighters can you offer?” Terra asked.
Rammy looked at her father oddly. Terra still did not fully understand human facial movements, but he had a feeling that they were holding something back.
“We have nearly one hundred thousand fighters and five thousand to support them. How do you plan to combine all these different groups into a fighting force?” Naron replied.
“It depends on whether or not we can get the humans to the other side of the mountains. I will need to get you to the entrance of the mountain paths that were closed by the Solans. Those paths are now impassable lakes. How to get you beyond those lakes is the question.” Naron looked as if he were trying to decide something as Terra finished his explanation.
“I have the answer to that problem. You see, our ancestors were miners before they became fighters. They dug into the earth for metals and salt. For generations, we have done the same, creating these tunnels and our homes. The first one to hold my command position was the last commander of the human fighters. He wanted to know what was happening on the other side of the mountains. He left writings where he explained that without this knowledge we would never be able to regain our homelands. So, he started two tunnels through the mountains. The entrances were hidden and protected. A tunnel on each side of the Lake of Solan was painstakingly dug. For many generations, we worked to cut the tunnels.
Each tunnel splits into two paths. One path ends in caves near the top of two mountains. The caves have small view slots that overlook the large village that the dwarfs built. The other paths lead to the base of the two mountains and end thirty human-lengths before they break through to the dead lands beyond. The tunnels have been maintained and improved, and through them we can put fighters on both sides of the dwarfs’ village,” Naron explained.
“That does seem to take care of the problem. I can now complete my plans.”
“Would you like to visit the tunnels? We can show you the dwarfs’ village,” Rammy asked.
“I have already seen what's on the other side of the mountains. There are four locations the dwarfs now inhabit. I have been told all four must be destroyed.” The four humans were surprised.
“Did you fly over the mountains?” Naron asked.
“Not physically. In my mind, I can see far from where I am.” They all looked at each other.
“You have far sight?” Rammy asked.
“If that's what you call it. I can see where I wish to see.”
“I told you before that the two lake cities were about to attack each other on the water,” Naron said.
“Yes, what happened?”
“The ships sank as we planned and they were all killed, including the so-called king of Southlake. We will be taking over Southlake within three sun-risings. Rubbo will be leaving after our meeting to take control of the city. We have the people in place to de
al with those left behind. Solana is a problem; the three sisters have magic powerful enough to stop us,” Naron explained.
“You wish for me to help you?”
“Yes, if you could stop their magic it would prevent many from being killed.”
“I will help, if you help me. I need someone to assist me in the training of my dragon friends. They have never fought as a group, only as individuals. They must learn how to fly and fight together. Do you have anyone that could do this?”
“Rammy is the best we have in the organization and training of fighters. I think she would be willing to help,” Naron said as Rammy nodded her head in agreement.
“What will you do with the sisters?” Nolla asked.
“I will cure them of their magic.”
“Will you do it now?” Nolla inquired.
“When we leave here I will go to Solana. Do you wish to come?” Terra asked Nolla.
“Yes, please. If you give me just half a sun-rising, I will prepare our fighters to take over the village. We will move as soon as you deal with the sisters,” Nolla said, as she thought of what was needed to be done in Solana.
“Now, getting back to the tunnels. I don't think I need both of them. I need your fighters to be on the left side as you face the Barrier Mountains from the coast.” Terra told the group.
“On that side, the tunnel comes out in a box valley that can’t be seen by the dwarfs. We can set up there, it is big enough for twice the number of fighters that we have,” Naron responded.
“I need to know how many fighters you will be able get through that tunnel, and when you will be ready. I want to move as soon as possible.”
“Well, that depends on how long you expect this fight will last,” Naron said.
“Do you have a drawing of the lands beyond the mountains?” Terra asked.
“Yes, we have a copy of the original map of Tone. Rammy, could you please get it?” her father asked.
“I'll be back in a few moments.” She left and quickly went to her father's cave. She knew exactly where the map was kept. She remembered copying it as a child; she knew every line and letter upon its surface.
She returned and laid the map upon the central flat rock. The map approximated what Terra had viewed in his mind flight. It did not have the three dwarf villages or the land nymph's valley.
“Do you have something I can use to mark on this, you called it a map?”
“Yes, it is called a map. Let me get you a piece of charcoal from the fire,” Rammy said.
Terra marked the locations of the dwarf villages and the land nymphs' valley.
“This is where things stand now. I must reach the black mountain in the end. We must first take out these dwarf villages. I will need you for both of the villages—the one beyond the lake and the one at the entrance of this great gorge. We then need to move up the curve of the mountains. I will fly from where the mountains end to the dark mountain. The lightning is too great for anyone to follow me.”
“Can you give us a detailed plan of what you wish us to do?” Naron asked.
“Not quite yet, you need to get yourselves and the tunnel ready for heavy fighting and a long march along the curve of the mountains.”
“We will begin our planning immediately. We will have to have both food and water to walk this distance. We will need at least a thousand pack beasts. We will begin putting the supplies together. When should we be ready?”
“I will need you to be ready to break through the mountain in sixty sun-risings. Can you do this?”
“We have been preparing for this fight for generations. We will be ready!” Naron said with complete confidence.
Chapter 24 - The Sisters
(A time of change is always difficult and often requires violence.)
- The Time of the Draman -
As they all watched, Terra changed back into the great white dragon. Fienna walked to him with Rammy and Nolla. They planned to stop at Solana before returning home with Rammy. Fienna grabbed Nolla around her waist and picked her up like a feather. She quickly climbed up Terra’s front leg and up his massive shoulder. She sat Nolla between two of Terra's neck ridges. She climbed back down and walked toward Rammy.
“Hold on, I can climb up there myself,” She told Fienna as she held her hand up to stop her from picking her up. Fienna shrugged her shoulders, climbed back up, and sat two ridges behind Nolla.
“You sit here.” Fienna pointed to the spot between the two women.
Rammy with her bag tied to her back reached up and managed to pull herself up to Terra's forearm. His scales felt harder than any metal she had ever touched. They were cool and smooth to the touch, but not cold like a water swimmer. She was able to stand on his arm and reach to his shoulder. Fienna bent down, grasped her hand, and pulled her up the rest of the way. It was as if she weighed nothing to this powerful and beautiful woman.
The two women felt something warm on their legs. When they looked down the white dragon's scales had started to glow a light orange color. It was as if their legs were stuck tight with tree sap to the scales. Terra looked back to see if they were all ready. He then extended his great wings. He jumped into the air and then pushed his wings down, boosting them to twenty human-heights above the ground. Rammy felt massive muscles flex as the wings pumped down. As they rose into the sky, Nolla looked down and became dizzy and sick to her stomach. She closed her eyes and held on tight to the crystalline ridge. She then felt a pleasant warmth travel up her body, settling her stomach, but she still kept her eyes closed.
Rammy saw how Nolla grabbed the ridge in front of her. At first, she was concerned until she looked down and immediately understood her problem. She had never been this high, and, on top of that, they were moving. She felt her stomach begin to sicken, but she was able to keep herself somewhat under control. She also felt a warmth move up her body. When she looked, the orange glow was creeping up her hips. She thought she should be afraid of it, but instead it took the sickness away and caused her to trust Terra. This must have been what her father had felt when he was healed.
Rammy looked down as they started to move forward. The distance they were covering was amazing. They would be at Solana by mid high sun. The wind was blocked by the dragon's neck and it made the flight much easier for the three women. When they came close to Solana, the dragon began to spiral down toward a wooded area, about three thousand human-lengths from the village. Terra landed in a small clearing near a stream. He touched down so lightly that the women barely knew that they were on the ground.
Rammy was the first to get off Terra's back with Fienna's help. Fienna again carried Nolla to the ground. Terra then changed back to his human form. The two women needed a short time to regain their footing. Their legs were a bit stiff from being stuck to Terra's scales.
“We will go to the village and prepare our people to take over. I will come back when we're ready,” Rammy told the two.
“Fine, we'll wait here,” Terra responded.
The two women trotted to the village and entered through a tunnel that started within the wooded area and ended in Nolla's home. Nolla's daughter was sent to get the group leaders. Within a short time, Nolla's little hut was filled with six humans. All the Guard members had prepared to take over the village. When Nolla told them the sisters would be dealt with by sunset, they became quiet and thoughtful. She told the leaders to get their groups in position and to move when they saw a great white dragon land in the village. They were surprised by the existence of a white dragon, let alone one landing in the village. Most had seen dragons high in the sky, but they never came near the village.
Rammy told them the dragon was on their side and was not to be attacked. That in fact, they were to protect this dragon. The group that was to take the circle would act as soon as they saw the dragon spiral down to the center of the village. They were told the dragon would land in the circle and all the Defenders should be taken out by the time it touched the ground. The Guards that were to act as the
Defenders looked up at the dragon. Only ten Defenders guarded the circle. Nolla assigned two Guards to take out each Defender. The Guard was made up of both women and men trained from birth to fight for the humans of the coastal valleys.
The other areas of the village had about two hundred more Defenders, all of whom would be easily handled by the four hundred guards. Rammy left Nolla to finalize the plans as she returned to Terra.
Terra and Fienna relaxed by the stream. Fienna was not concerned about the sisters; she knew they were no match for Terra. She was concerned about the final battle between Terra and whatever controlled the lands beyond the mountains. She hid her fears, but as they slowly came closer to actually taking action, they grew.
“You were very quiet during the meeting. Is something wrong, my love?” Terra thought to her.
“No, Things are moving very fast. Are you sure that you can handle this whole thing?”
“Yes, I have everything planned out now. Many will die and their blood will be on my hands. I'm afraid it will change me. All that death because of one dark being. It's, I don't know, so useless. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I understand, but the blood will not be on your hands, it will be on the hands of the one that started this all those seasons ago.”
“In my mind I know you are right, but in my heart it's still wrong somehow. Will you still love me after all this?” Terra thought to her with a bit of fear. She had never felt fear within him.
“Nothing, not even death, will stop my love for you,” Fienna thought to him. Terra smiled and hugged her. They made love in the green glow of the woods and the world seemed to grow just a bit stronger that sun-rising.
As Rammy came close to the place where Terra had landed, she sensed a change. The plants seemed greener and the scent was fresher— brighter somehow. She came to the clearing and saw the two laying against a tree, with Fienna asleep in Terra's arms. She almost didn't want to interrupt.