Dragons and Destiny

by Candy Rae

  “But which one of the other four is it?” asked Niaill, unable to stop himself.

  “As I said, we do not know,” answered Haru, “nor do we know how they have survived for so long. They could be moving from planet to planet, taking what they need then moving on, still searching but you and Taraya, Niaill, could perhaps by describing the Boton you found, tell us more.”

  “If we can,” answered Niaill.

  “Under the part of it that was glowing, did you see any signs?”

  “What kind of signs?”

  “Glyphs I think you would call them.”

  “Like little pictures you mean? Well, there was one, very faint, I didn’t think it was important.”

  “Describe it to me.”

  “It was a little circle with a sort of wedge cut out of it.”

  Haru drew in his breath. “It is as we feared. It is a Boton of the Dglai.”

  “The rtath who wanted to invade Earth? That doesn’t sound good.”

  Haru said nothing. He looked troubled.

  “Are they coming here, these Dglai? When? What will happen?”

  “They might pass by,” answered Haru in a voice devoid of emotion, “though I fear they will not. The Dglai were always the most warlike of us Daiglon and it is that knowledge that frightens me the most.”

  “Will they come?” pressed Niaill.

  “That is the question which is at the forefront of my mind and the minds of every other Lai. We must accept the fact that they might and make plans in case they do.”

  “Will there be any warning?”

  “When the Nahoko come,” Haru answered.

  “And then?”

  “If the Nahoko come the Dglai will invade. They would not waste five Nahoko on a planet they were not interested in. Always warlike they were.”

  “We have to stop them,” declared Niaill. “How do we stop them?”

  “We Lai no longer have the means,” answered Haru. “What weapons we once had are long gone to dust, together with the space-ship we came in. We had no need of them.”

  “But you can make more. Surely you can make more?”

  “That knowledge is lost. Were you not listening?” Haru sounded exasperated. “What has survived is in the Gtrathlin’s cave.”

  “I saw some strange objects. Are any of them weapons?”

  “There is still hope. That is why we are here.”

  “Hope? How can that protect us?” expostulated Niaill. “You’ve just told me these Dglai will land on our planet, conquer it and destroy everything unless we can find a way to stop them, that is what you are saying, isn’t it? Like the Larg. Their aim has always been to rule over all.”

  “The Dglai do not wish to rule, they wish to take and the Larg do not wield weapons that fire flame nor do they have light that kills. They fight with tooth and claw. Your swords will not stop the Dglai,” said Haru.

  “They’re all we’ve got,” answered Niaill in a dry voice. “If they’re not enough then there is no hope, none at all.”

  “You humans knew of other weapons once,” Chizu reminded them as he edged closer towards Niaill, Taraya and Haru. “Before you came your kind used them but such knowledge has also disappeared. We hoped that the writings of Tara would tell us of them.”

  “Disappeared?” queried a confused Niaill, “how disappeared?”

  “That is not precisely true,” interrupted Haru with a glance at Chizu. “Forgotten but not vanished. The knowledge is hidden.”

  “Where?” asked Niaill.

  “I am not sure,” old Haru admitted, “but Tara and Kolyei knew.”

  “Tara and Kolyei? They’ve been dead for centuries.”

  “But perhaps the knowledge did not die with them,” suggested Haru. “There is still the writings that you have read.”

  “What makes you think that? I saw nothing that mentioned any kind of weapon.”

  “They told me,” was Haru’s simple answer. “They spent their last years with us. Tara said that she wrote down a lot that Susyc Jim and his Larya told her. It had to be recorded, in case it was needed. It is needed now.”

  But Niaill was staring at Haru in disbelief.

  “You knew Tara and Kolyei?” he spluttered.

  “I did, we Lai live a long time. I was very young when I knew them.” He sighed, “many long years have passed.”

  “Ok,” said Niaill, “I can cope with that, now you say we had knowledge once to make weapons that we could use to defend ourselves? But why has no one thought of making these weapons again? Our world isn’t what you could call exactly peaceful.”

  “Any that did think of them were persuaded to cease their enquiries and to stop thinking about it.”

  “Persuaded?” Niall’s question was sharp and Haru responded to the sharpness with an irritated flick of his crest.

  “It was for the best to keep the peace.”

  “To keep the peace!”

  “The Avuzdel,” explained Haru. “They have known for long about the danger that lurks within the human mind and over the years have taken steps. You humans are inventive. It was feared that you would use such inventiveness to make weapons that might destroy us.”

  “I think you’d better explain,” ordered Niaill, beginning to feel that he was standing on his head.

  “They would if necessary kill to stop you humans doing this,” continued Haru. “Strong minded Lind can take over the human mind, in much the same way as a mother will control her young to keep them out of danger. It would be preferred if this did not become the knowledge of all, it might start panic. The Larg are the same.”

  “The Larg?”

  “Them too. It was not in their interest either to have such weapons in the hands of humans. In fact, they are past masters at forcing their will on others.”

  “So for the last six hundred years the Lind and the Larg have been controlling us?”

  “No. They have been stopping you from making weapons that would turn our planet into a bloodbath of killings. It was to keep the peace, no more. There have been battles and fighting, yes, but the deaths and killings were only a fraction of what would have happened if you humans had had access to the weapons you could have built when you arrived on our planet.”

  “We have technology, electric power, looms and other machinery.”

  “You have no ballistic weapons but somewhere, hidden, the knowledge is there to create them again.”

  “How long will it take us to find the information, to make the weapons? How much time do we have?”

  “That I do not know but you Niaill have read the writings left by Tara and Kolyei. The knowledge is there, my sire told me this. He was not thinking only of the Dglai but he knew that enemies might in the future arrive from the stars. As you know, I was young when I knew Tara and Kolyei but my sire was a great friend for the short time they were with us. He told me that in the writings is written how the Dglai or any other invader can be defeated.”

  “I have read the books, but I don’t know that what I read will be of much use.”

  “Tell me all about the writings.”

  Niaill talked until he was hoarse and Haru and the other two Lai listened. The former got very interested when Niaill got to the bit about Peter Howard’s journal and the paragraphs about the burying of the power-core.

  “At last,” he breathed with satisfaction.

  “So this core is dangerous?”

  “In the wrong hands. Yes it is. It is very powerful. That is why Captain Peter Howard removed it from his ship and buried it.”

  “You knew he had buried it?”

  “But not where. There was no need to know and we did not realise at the time how important it would become.”

  “We need to know now and this gridref highlights the location.”

  “Yes, it is important that we find it. If we can find the core and there is no reason to doubt that the gridref is wrong, it will be the means of our salvation.”

  “Might he not have destroyed it or a
t least made it unable to be used?”

  “If your forefathers had done that, then there would have been no need to hide it,” was his logical answer. “It could have sat in their abandoned space-ship. They did the next best thing, they hid it. We have watched for signs that it had been found and it never has. When Tara and Kolyei, during their time with us told us that the core was well hidden in the desert, we were relieved.”

  “If the Electra had a core, what about the other ship?”

  “The Argyll?”

  “Yes.”

  “The Argyll began to sink into the marsh shortly after landing. There was no time to remove the core nor was there any need. It was not known then that the Electra had landed nor that they would be fighting for their survival before the year was up.”

  “Do you know how to use the core against the Dglai?” asked Niaill

  “It uses a technology different than what was ours. Under the Guildhouse, what did you say, print-outs? Technical information. The Technicians Guild is where we must go. There will be the information about how to destabilise the core.”

  “Peter Howard writes that the vehicle they were travelling in broke down and that they left the drill close by to where the core is buried. Find the vehicle and the drill and we will find the gridref.”

  “Six hundred of your years have passed.”

  “But we have Peter Howard’s map, oh I know it is rough and ready. It seems our ancestors used a system of squares to map out the land. At Vada there is such a map, much faded, on the wall of our Susa’s office. The squares can be seen. Now, if Peter Howard used the same system and there is no reason to say that he did not, then we can use his little map to work it out, as long as his miles and the miles shown on the Susa’s map are the same. Our ancestors on the Argyll and the Electra - it is logical that they would use the same unit of measurement.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “Well, on the Susa’s map each little square is the equivalent of around ten miles. If we assume that the Electra landed at point zero then the core would be buried ninety-six and a half miles east and twenty-seven miles south of where the ship is. Could you fly us to the gridref?”

  “No, we cannot. It must be assumed that the Dglai will be watching and if we Lai were to be seen then all hope of surprise would be lost. Someone must look for the print-outs in Stewarton. The information is there, Tara promised that it would be. It was Tara said, downloaded before the computers failed.”

  “You said our ancestors used advanced weapons?”

  “There would not be time to make enough to be of any use in time. You humans lack both knowledge and means now. It would also warn the Dglai that we suspect they come. They must believe we have primitive weapons only, therein lies our chance. We can destabilise the core, fly over the mother ship and drop it on it.”

  “What will happen then?

  “It will blow up.”

  “Like blast powder?”

  “Much bigger. It will create a swathe of destruction for miles around.”

  “So where do you think they will land?”

  “The southern continent is the most likely,” said Haru.

  “We must warn the Larg. It is time to put our differences aside to face this threat,” said Inalei.

  It was Haru who stopped the way the conversation was heading. His wings he opened until he had their full attention.

  “The Lind and the Larg were as one once but that was a long time ago. You are more alike than you realise but I fear they will not listen. They yearn for power over all. They will think it is a trick to weaken them.”

  “But we should try.”

  “Leave it for now,” Haru advised, “they can do little to help.”

  Two days later Inalei reported that the light on the Boton had stopped.

  “The Nahoko come,” announced Haru with a heavy heart.

  Orders went forth to find the five Nahoko.

  “Drop all assignments and leave no stone unturned,” commanded Haru, “hunt in the rivers, the mountains, the lian. Find them.”

  Of the Avuzdel who were commanded to search, only Danal and Asya were told to stay where they were.

  Days and nights passed.

  When the Nahoko arrived, the Lai would be able to calculate how long they had. If the Nahoko did not come then everyone could breathe a deep sigh of deliverance as then the Dglai would pass their planet by.

  Niaill, Haru at his side, read through every single word Tara had left for them hoping to find more clues about both the print-outs and the location of the power-core. They then turned to Peter Howard’s journal again.

  “Word has gone to Danal?” asked Niaill of Inalei during one of his infrequent breaks.

  “Soon,” Inalei told him.

  Everyone at the Gtratha was on edge.

  “There will be time,” Haru soothed, “the Ammokko, the ship of the Dglai, the mother ship you might call it, is still far away.”

  “You believe it is coming though, else you would not have come back to us,” observed Niaill.

  “You are correct Niaill of Vadath,” Haru admitted. “First the Nahoko come. It is true that the Dglai will not send them unless they believe our planet is suitable for their purpose. Following the Nahoko will be the Quorko, a small ship but dangerous. We must watch out for this also. It will circle our planet, observing and reporting back to the Ammokko. This is why we Lai cannot fly. The Quorko would see us and all chance of surprise would be lost.”

  “How long do we have once the Nahoko come?” asked Niaill.

  “Two hundred of your days, perhaps more. The maximum would be four hundred or so. We cannot say for sure.”

  It was during the last days of the month when the first report from the searching Avuzdel came in. They had found two of the Nahoko.

  Then nothing.

  On the very last day of Santhed word arrived from Susa Gsendei in Argyll. He had received a strange report from one of his Lind based near Port Lutterell.

  A bright glowing object had been seen bobbing in the Great Eastern Sea by a passing merchantman. The sailors had tried to net it but had lost it in the heavy swell.

  “Number three,” said Haru.

  “You sure?”

  “Sure as I can be,” he answered, “the description fits, vague as it is.”

  Inalei had a theory which he broached to Haru.

  “That’s three in the northern hemisphere,” he said, “the other two will be in the south.”

  “Probably,” said Haru. “ Susa Zaoaldavdr is looking.”

  Inalei was right.

  Two days later Susa Zaoaldavdr sent in an urgent report.

  Another Nahoko had been found to the far west of his continent, beyond the areas where the Larg lived and inhabited only by wild herds of shaggy southern kura.

  Zaoaldavdr also told of a strange of excitement amongst his fellow Larg, only in one area and that in almost the exact centre of Largdom. He would try and find out more.

  “The fifth Nahoko, you’ll see,” prognosticated a gloomy Inalei.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 11

  AL607 - Fifth Month of Winter (Rakthed)

  Niaill

  The conference was over for the day, not that Niaill and Taraya got much sleep. He sat in a borrowed daga and by candlelight read and reread the records in case he had missed something important. Taraya listened in and asked many questions, some of which Niaill was even able to answer.

  By the time Niaill was ready to call it a day he was exhausted and just made it to his sleep-bag before he collapsed.

  * * * * *

  Danal and Elliot

  The Vada kept a permanent supply station on the outskirts of Stewarton.

  Niaill’s brother Danal and his Lind Asya had been staying there during Elliot’s protracted visit.

  From there, Danal, helped by Asya when she could, had been keeping an unobtrusive eye on the young prince with Philip and Robain’s connivance. Elliot was unaware of their presen
ce.

  As Robain had said when they had discussed it, the lad had enough on his plate already with the news about the attacks on his family.

  He was also enjoying himself and to Robain’s relief appeared to have ‘got over’ his infatuation with Zilla Talansdochter, not that the prince spoke of it, shying away from Robain’s gentle enquiries.

  Matt and Zala Urquhart repeatedly told their guests that they were welcome to stay for as long as they liked. Winter weather being what it was, it was indeed a miserable time to travel and Philip had been glad to agree.

  Robain also had been granted his wish. He stayed at Stewarton, periodically attending to the General. The old man was not the most active soldier in the Garda, much preferring social gatherings than military manoeuvres. Much to Robain’s delight this left him with plenty of time to spend with his friends.

  The social scene at Stewarton was very busy during the winter season with travel so difficult as the well-to-do filled their days. There were parties and dinners in abundance and as members of the southern nobility and as the guests of Matt and Zala they were invited to them all. James was in his element, he loved to dance, was a master of witty conversation and soon became a firm favourite amongst the Stewarton elite, especially the unmarried girls.

  Elliot and Derek made far less of an impression although they did enjoy the evenings, Elliot especially. They were so unalike the stilted and formal affairs at Court.

  Philip went as protection for Elliot.

  * * * * *

  It was very late when Asya was woken by the insistent ‘rapping’ in her head that heralded an incoming message.

  She raised her head and looked at Danal. No need to wake him unless it was urgent.

  She knew the Lind who was establishing contact. She had recognised Taraya’s mental signature. Taraya wasn’t broadcasting, the message was coming through on a tight and shielded mental beam. This was a private call.