Embers at Galdrilene

by Audra Trosper

  Cold moisture pressed against Kirynn’s cheek. Her eyes fluttered open. Dim light filtered through a heavy fog. She stretched, long and slow, her eyes searching the campsite. Around her most of the others still slept. The mounds of their slumbering forms were barely visible and their soft snores muted by the blanket of fine mist. She counted the mounds. Where was Emallya?

  The shadowed form of Maleena rose quietly. She stirred the coals in the fire pit and added a couple of small logs. Warmth spread out as bright flames licked up their sides. Kirynn pushed her damp sleeping roll away. Her clothes felt cold and clammy against her skin. She moved closer to the fire, feeding a trickle of power into it to increase the heat. A cup of hot tea sounded delicious.

  Maleena took the tea pot to the tiny spring a few feet from the campsite. The others woke while Maleena started the tea. Mckale and Vaddoc pulled up their sleeping rolls and Serena set out a simple morning meal.

  Kellinar rubbed his eyes and yawned widely before looking around. “We never got fog this thick in the Mallay. I guess the buildings are so close there’s no place for it to settle.” Serena nodded in quiet agreement.

  Loki sat up as Serena handed him tea and food.

  Vaddoc shifted, his eyes uneasy. “It can hide too many things.”

  “At least it hides that dragon-blasted lake,” grumbled Kellinar.

  “It can hide more than the lake,” Vaddoc said.

  Kirynn, reclining against her saddle, shrugged and cast an indifferent glance at the thick, white blanket that reduced the morning sunlight to dim murkiness. “Of course it could hide things or the landscape could be empty for miles. No sense worrying about what you can’t change and you can’t change the fog. Might as well relax and enjoy breakfast. If something is going to jump out of the morning and kill me at least I will die with a belly full of food and hot tea.”

  She gratefully accepted the tea from Maleena and sipped it before eating, amused by Kellinar’s unsuccessful attempt to yawn and chew at the same time. Mckale and Vaddoc both offered thanks to Serena for the meal though neither ate. They stood alert and ready should the heavy white clouds be concealing unwelcome visitors.

  Emallya walked into the campsite and sat close to the fire. She barely flicked her eyes at the two bordermen before saying, “We are surrounded by nothing but empty grasslands. You can relax and eat.” Vaddoc immediately sat and began to eat, visibly relaxing. After a moment, Mckale followed his example.

  As they finished their meal the fog began to lift. Slowly at first, then faster as the sun rose higher in the sky and burned the wraithlike tendrils away. Kellinar kept looking at Kirynn’s zarhi all through breakfast. How many times had she seen him staring at the weapon? He always watched intently when she sparred with it. “Do you have an interest in my zahri?”

  He nodded. “What do you do when you meet someone you wish to injure, but not kill? If say, a servant burst from a room with a knife, how would you go about defending yourself without killing them? Unlike the quarterstaff, your weapon sports a blade at either end. I see no way to thump someone into submission.”

  “You know the use of a quarterstaff?” Kirynn asked. “Why didn’t you ever mention it?”

  “Those who reside in the Mallay aren’t allowed blades, whether they be swords or anything more than a small cooking knife. A quarterstaff, however, isn’t a blade. As to why I never mentioned it, what was the point?” he shrugged. “We have no quarterstaffs and it’s time I learned to use a sword now that I can.”

  Kirynn smiled. Kellinar actually paid attention to a law? “But you have throwing knives.”

  “Of course I do. I have little use for the laws of kings. Throwing knives are much easier to conceal than a sword. Highly sought after though I might be for my skills, possession of a sword would still place me on the guillotine,” Kellinar replied. “So, what is the answer to my question?”

  She looked him in the eye. “I never engage in a fight with the intention of causing injury. If someone comes at me with a weapon then they’d better be prepared to defeat me or die.”

  Kellinar nodded. Before he could say anything else Mckale asked, “You are from the Mallay District of Trilene?”

  He nodded and Mckale said, “Cursing aside, you are remarkably well spoken. I traveled to Trilene once with my father. I don’t believe there are many in the Mallay who speak as you do.”

  Kellinar shrugged. “I’ve read a lot of books.”

  Emallya chuckled. “Books are illegal in the Mallay, as is learning to read them.”

  He smiled. “Of course, why do you think I learned?”

  “What of you, young Loki, can you read?” Emallya asked.

  Loki finished chewing the large bite of food crammed in his mouth. He swallowed several times and took a large drink before he was able to answer. “Not yet. Kellinar says he’s gonna teach me, though.”

  Emallya searched their faces. “Can anyone else among you read?”

  Serena nodded. “I can. I was born into the Dellar District. My family is wealthy enough; they permitted me to learn once I became a healer’s apprentice. After I ended up in the Mallay, Kellinar often brought me books. I kept them well hidden, though.”

  “I can read a small amount,” said Mckale.

  Vaddoc nodded. “Most Border Guards are taught the basics of reading in training, but we are not offered books. Mastering the ability to read is not considered a vital part of our training.”

  Maleena shook her head. “I never learned to read at all. As far as I know, there are no books in my village and not even the members of the village council know how to read.”

  Kirynn often saw books from a distance. “I’ve never laid eyes on the pages of a book. Then again there’s never been a need for me to read or write anything.”

  Emallya shook her head, disgust clear on her face. “The world without dragons is appalling. At one time everyone knew how to read and not only books, but maps and the stars. A time when writing, calculations, and basic rights under dragon law were standard teachings. I do not think the leaders of this world are going to be happy when your dragons are hatched and mature.”

  Vaddoc pulled a small jar of oil from his packs. He dipped a square of cloth in the oil and began rubbing it into the leather of his saddle. “Why is that?”

  Emallya’s eyebrows came together in an angry furrow. “The leaders of the nations have made it so people are ignorant and controllable. They are sheep to be herded at the bidding of their king, nothing more. The dragons will not permit it. No man can be trod on by another under Dragon Law.”

  Kirynn tried to understand what Emallya meant. How would everyone knowing how to read change the way kings ruled? It didn’t make sense. Unsure of how to respond to the older woman, she shook her head and turned her attention back to Kellinar instead. “Would you like to learn the zahri?”

  Kellinar drained his cup and set it aside. “Very much so.”

  “Then come, I will show you,” Kirynn said as she stood.

  Serena sipped her tea as she watched them walk out into the tall grass with the wooden practice swords and the zahri. She’d wondered how long it would take him to try out the tall redhead’s weapon. They moved with slow, fluid grace as Kirynn took him through the movements with the zahri. It looked just like using a quarterstaff.

  Kellinar continued to work with the zahri while Kirynn took her turn learning how to use the twin scimitars the border men used. Vaddoc and Mckale helped her while they discussed the differences in training between the border nations and Boromar. Already proficient with a single sword, Kirynn worked on fighting with a blade in each hand.

  Serena shook her head. She only wanted to use one sword at a time. She’d likely tangle herself up with two blades and end up killing herself or someone else. So Emallya took charge of her training as well as Maleena’s. Maleena reminded Serena of herself in the beginning. The tiny woman had never laid hands on a sword and her movements were awkward and slow.

  Serena made no
comment on it, however. Even after weeks of practice she was only marginally improved. The use of weapons felt so unnatural. She was made to heal not inflict injury. She tried to learn anyway. Serena didn’t want to put any of her companions in danger because she couldn’t stand and fight for herself or them.

  The sun rose high overhead and washed the deep blue sky with rich golden light. Grateful to set the practice sword down, Serena worked her sore shoulder and went with Maleena to make tea and put together the mid-day meal. The others broke off into sparring with the wooden swords. After a short time, Mckale turned to the older woman who sat looking at the scroll. “Why don’t you spar with us? You have many more years of experience than we could hope to have, surely we could learn from you.”

  Emallya looked up. “It is one thing for me to walk Maleena and Serena through the rudimentary moves and give basic instruction on how to properly use a weapon. However, it would be unfair of me to spar with you. There are many things that come with sharing a bond with a dragon most of which is retained even if the dragon dies. I will be happy to spar with you once we have reached Galdrilene and your dragons have hatched.”

  Kirynn flipped her long red braid over her shoulder. “No matter what you have from the bond, it’s still three against one.” She looked apologetically at Kellinar. “I would’ve included you, but you aren’t used to fighting with a group yet.”

  Kellinar shrugged. “No worry, I know I’m not up to taking her on. I’m not even up to taking on one of you in serious battle. You still have to move rather slowly for me. Now with a zahri, I could do some damage. But not with this sword, not yet.”

  Vaddoc spoke up in support of his companions, “Join us, Emallya. Three against one, it will be fair enough.”

  Emallya stared at the three of them for a long moment before carefully rolling up the scroll and setting it aside. She stood in a graceful, fluid movement and picked up a practice sword. “If you insist. However, I will not be easy on you. If you get one hit on me then you will have won. I, on the other hand, will have to hit each of you until you stop coming.”

  She waited just long enough for her warning to sink in then leaped among them so fast they barely had time to bring their weapons up to defend themselves.

  Emallya’s speed took Serena’s breath away. The older woman moved like a blur among her younger opponents, who could only use defensive maneuvers against her lighting quick attacks. None of the three managed to make a single hit on her. In a few short minutes only Emallya still stood. Her challengers sat on the ground groaning. Each sported a large lump and a spreading bruise on the sides of their heads.

  Emallya smiled down at them. “I told you it would not be fair. If Serena is nice she might heal those bruises for you, or she might just leave them there as a reminder of your foolishness.” She walked back to her packs, settled into the grass and resumed looking at the scroll.

  Despite what Emallya said about them being fools, Serena healed each of them before they sat down for their meal. Even with the aches and bruises gone, Serena didn’t think they would forget the lesson any time soon.

  The sky showed only a pale hint of gray on the eastern horizon as they stood next to their horses waiting for Emallya. Maleena felt a twinge of anxiety when she looked at the lake, its shore only a few short feet from where she stood.

  They’d spent three days next to the little spring while Emallya prepared her for her part in entering the lake. Though the days had passed quickly, taken up by working with Emallya, sparring, and conversation, the nights were different. The whisperings of the lake disturbed her dreams and the young dragon in her mind. She hadn’t slept well since arriving at the lake.

  She wanted to rub her temples and ease the growing ache in her head. So much tension emanated from the people around her the effort to keep their emotions at bay made her head throb. Mckale moved to stand closer to her. The pressure in her head lessened, as if he somehow blocked the emotions of the others. She didn’t understand it, but she was grateful for it.

  She watched as Emallya knelt on the shore of the lake, reached her hand out and touched a single fingertip to the water’s surface. Something silver pooled under her fingertip and with it, she traced the lines of several symbols on the surface of the lake. Silver spread rapidly across the water until the entire surface appeared to glitter with it, while underneath, the indigo of the water deepened.

  Emallya stood. “Now we may enter. Maleena, go ahead and take control of the minds of the horses. They will not willingly walk any closer than they are now and certainly not into the water. I cannot help you with this. All my effort will be devoted to keeping us from being swept away and on course. If I fail and my spirit is taken all of you will be unshielded and unprotected from the pull of the lake and the future of this world will be left in the hands of the Benduiren.”

  Maleena reached out to each of the horses, firmly taking hold of their minds. She nodded to let the other woman know she was ready. Emallya looked at the group, took a deep breath and started into the lake, her horse following her as if in a trance.

  Maleena entered the water next. It wasn’t cold or hot. It didn’t feel wet, it didn’t feel like water at all. She glanced down. The hem of her dress wasn’t floating. It hung as if she stood on dry ground. Not a ripple disturbed the glass like surface. She continued farther into the lake. The water rose around her chest. She stopped next to Emallya. They stood at the edge where the shallows ended and the bottom dropped off to unknown depths.

  The others came to stand in a line on either side of them. Mckale stood to her right, Emallya to the left. For a moment it was all she could do to hold the minds of the horses. They knew this was a doorway to death and their every instinct fought her. When she felt sure none could break past her mental control she looked at Emallya and asked, “What now?”

  When the older woman spoke her voice sounded strained. “We step forward. You must wait, Maleena, until everyone else has gone or you will lose the horses.”

  Serena looked out at the silver-blue water. “Are we supposed to swim?”

  Emallya shook her head. “You cannot swim in these waters. When you step forward, you will sink.”

  Vaddoc glanced at her, a wary expression on his face. “How far do we sink?”

  “Until we reach the other side,” she answered.

  Kellinar held the reins to his horse in a white knuckled grip, fear plain on his face. “What are we supposed to do about breathing?”

  “There is nothing to do about it,” Emallya said and stepped forward. She and her horse both immediately sank without creating a single ripple on the surface of the water.

  Kirynn eyed the spot where Emallya disappeared. She took several deep breaths “Might as well get it over with.” She sucked in another deep breath and holding it, stepped forward.

  Kellinar cursed and surged after them with Loki on his heels. Vaddoc and Serena both moved at the same time. When they sank out of sight, Maleena took a deep breath and looked at Mckale. “You should go.”

  Mckale looked down at her, his silver eyes steady on hers. “We will go together.”

  “If you are even a step behind me, I will lose the hold I have on your horse.”

  “Then I better stay right with you.”

  She sensed the resolve in him and sighed. “Fine, but if you lose Blain, don’t blame me.” They stepped forward together and the water rushed over her head.

  A void enveloped her, blinding her senses. She existed in a world with no sound, no sight, no feeling. She couldn’t feel her hand to know if she still held the reins of her horse. She tried to take a breath. Nothing moved in or out of her lungs.

  Terror spread through her. Again she tried to breathe. Nothing happened. Her lungs burned with the need to expel the stale air and take in fresh. She reached for Mckale and found nothing. She cast her mind out to Emallya and found the same emptiness. Her head swam. Terror turned to blind panic. She was going to die here in this place of nothing.

&nbs
p; She fell out of the water and landed hard. The air rushed out of her and she lay on the ground, sucking deep ragged breaths into her tortured lungs.

  She pushed herself into a sitting position and looked around. Mckale, breathing heavily, climbed to his feet. Serena wiped vomit from her chin as she coughed and sputtered. Loki kneeled behind her, his small body heaving as he lost his morning meal. Kirynn, her face ashen, stood off to one side, her mouth clamped shut as if she too might vomit. Vaddoc looked unsteady on his feet.

  Kellinar sat with a hand on his chest as he breathed in and out. Maleena glanced at the horses. They stood bunched together, shaking and sweating, their eyes rolling so the whites showed. Only Emallya seemed unaffected.

  Maleena looked beyond her companions and her stomach lurched. A heavy mist, full of shifting shadows, blanketed the landscape. Only the area around them remained clear as if something held the fog back. She almost wished she couldn’t see what was visible in the cleared space. Everything looked strange and distorted and slid unnervingly when she tried to look around. A thread of silver as wide as her hand ran along the ground and disappeared into the mist. It was the only thing that didn’t shift or slide.

  A slight shimmer caught the edge of her vision and she looked to her left. Her eyes widened as she took in the lake. It stood by itself in the grass a small distance from them, balanced on its edge like a big blue disk. She swallowed hard. “It almost looks like you could walk right around it.”

  Emallya followed her gaze. “You could though it would do you no good to try to cross back through. For us it is a one way door.”

  Kirynn walked over to the disk, moving slowly, carefully, as if afraid she might lose her balance, the contents of her stomach, or both. She reached out and touched it, then pulled her hand back. “It feels like glass.”