Embers at Galdrilene

by Audra Trosper

  Arden wasn’t laid out as nicely as Galdrilene and its streets weren’t as wide nor were so many paved. But like Arden, there was no poor district in Galdrilene, at least not one that she could find and she had walked most of the city.

  Wandering out of the market, she turned and followed the wider street that ran next to the wall. She paid little mind to where she went, only absently noticing a tower around which flowers that looked something like herbs were tended to by several yellow robed figures in a myriad of organized beds.

  Her thoughts lingered on Syrakynn. The young dragon stayed busy learning things from Mernoth when she wasn’t eating or sleeping. And growing, Kirynn thought fondly. The stunning red draclet’s increase in size over the last three days astounded her. Bardeck said most of their growth would be in the first few months.

  A flurry of activity caught her attention as she approached another tower and she stopped to watch.

  Flames engulfed the tower door and smoke billowed from within. Next to the path leading to the door, a young woman in scorched, pale red robes sobbed on the shoulder of an older woman wearing robes of bright red.

  “I’m so sorry. I only meant to light a candle,” the young woman said over and over between sobs.

  Within seconds the flames were out and only faint wisps of smoke showed there had actually been a fire. A large man, both in height and in girth stepped from the ruined doorway. He would exceed even Vaddoc and Mckale in height. Soot smudged his robes, their bright red color darkened by smoke. His red-brown hair was in disarray. A large smudge of ash smeared across his forehead, but the face behind the full, gray streaked, bushy beard looked kind.

  He walked over to the young woman and she immediately turned her apologies on him. A wasted effort. The big man didn’t want any apologies. In fact, Kirynn didn’t think he was upset at all. He proved her right a moment later when he threw his head back and let loose a hearty laugh.

  His blue eyes twinkled as he patted the young woman on the shoulder and said with a strong Kantherian accent, “Tis alright lass, we expect this sort o’ thing. If ye didn’t set the tower afire at least once ‘fore ye reached the level o’ Junior mage, why we woulda thought somethin’ was a wrong with ye. Everyone sets it afire. Tis almost a right o’ passage. It’s all fixable and thanks to the students o’ the Tower o’ Fire we keep many a tradesman busy.”

  The young woman sniffed a few times and looked up at the bear of a man with gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you, Mage Councilor Draven.”

  “Nothin’ to thank me for lass. Fire magic is one o’ the hardest to control because fire itself is so temperamental. Every student sets somethin’ afire, usually the tower. Look, even the livestock isn’t upset by it. They’re so used to it that even with the tower door in flames and smoke waftin’ at them, they don’t get scared.”

  Kirynn looked. Chickens scratched in their pen as if the affairs of humans were no matter to them and the goats looked on with curiosity while they lay chewing their cud. How often would things have to get set on fire to make the animals so accustomed to it?

  The bear of a man turned to her as she walked up the path. “Ah, if it isn’t the young Fire Di’shan. Welcome lass! Mage Councilor Draven Darnek at yer service.” He made an elaborate bow.

  Kirynn smiled. “Thank you for your welcome.” She looked at the doorway. Tendrils of smoke still trailed out. “So this setting the tower on fire really happens a lot?”

  He laughed again, the deep richness of it inviting others to laugh as well. “Aye lass, it does.”

  “So I guess this tower is where people come to learn how to handle Fire magic.”

  “Aye.” He nodded. “Tis where ye will be learnin’ too or some o’ it at any rate. For the most part I, or one of the senior mages, will come to the hold to teach ye. It’ll be easier to teach the bulk o’ it there.”

  Kirynn couldn’t help smiling. “You seem like a very relaxed teacher.”

  “Well, fire is serious business lass. Usin’ Fire magic is serious business, and learnin’ to use Fire magic is serious business. With all o’ that seriousness, we can’t take ourselves too seriously or we’d be a very boring lot.” His blue eyes sparkled with humor. “With Fire magic comes humor and humility. If ye don’t have any humor or humility, Fire magic will teach it to ye quickly.”

  “When do I get to try setting the tower on fire?”

  Draven threw back his head and roared with laughter. “The sooner the better lass. I like yer spirit.” He paused and looked down at his singed and smoke stained robes and chuckled. “Let me wash up and set myself to rights lass, then we will talk o’ learning.”

  Kirynn hesitated. “It doesn’t bother you that I am Boromari?”

  “No lass, should it?” he gave her a puzzled look.

  “Well, the Kantherians and the Boromari have been warring for over two years now.”

  “Well tha’s between them isn’t it?” he said and smiled down at her. “I’m no longer a Kantherian. I’m a citizen of Galdrilene and my loyalties lie here. Ye wear the long braid o’ a Boromari soldier; does it bother ye that I came from Kanther?”

  Kirynn smiled back at him. “No, it doesn’t. I fought them for two years on the battlefields. But now, I no longer have any loyalties to Boromar. They would have killed me because of magic use. Galdrilene gave me a future. Galdrilene gave me Syrakynn,” her voice softened as she said the last and Draven’s smile broadened.

  “Yes, Galdrilene brings somethin’ special to everyone, but ye got the greatest gift o’ all lass. Now come, let us leave off this talk o’ war and speak o’ Fire instead.”

  Maleena stood on the inner terrace soaking in the warm sunshine. The bright scales of Nydara and the other draclets shimmered like a moving rainbow when Mernoth called them to him. Nydara said he had dragon things to teach them. Maleena glanced back at the Great Hall. Through the doors at the far end lay the city. She smoothed the skirt of her new dress, the material soft beneath her damp palms. Mckale and the others were already out there exploring. She looked back at the gathered dragons. When Mernoth finished, the draclets would eat again and then sleep. Nydara didn’t need her right now. Maleena had no reason to stay.

  She took a deep breath, walked through the Great Hall and out onto the outer terrace and gazed at the streets full of people going about their day. Roses blanketed the outer slope of the rim and filled the spring air with their heady perfume. Bees flew amongst the blooms, moving from one to the next. A soft breeze carried the sounds of the city below.

  The people here were not like the villagers of Lowden. They welcomed her magic and honored it. But there were so many of them. Anxiety knotted her stomach. Her life in Lowden and her magic made staying away from crowds second nature. She took a deep breath. These people wanted her.

  Maleena stared at the rooftops. So many buildings. She didn’t know where to go or what to do. What if she got lost? Maleena shook her head and berated herself, the Dragon Hold would be visible from anywhere in the city.

  This is what she left Lowden for. To explore...to see new places and the cities she’d only heard about from merchants when they passed through her little village. Excitement and fear warred with each other.

  She still stood there, hesitating, when the old man she’d danced with the night before came to stand next to her. She couldn’t remember his name, but she did remember he’d been a lively dancer.

  “His name is Davin Po,” Nydara sent.

  Maleena felt a flush of surprise. “You are remembering the names of other humans now?”

  “Mernoth says he is important to the humans here in Galdrilene.”

  Nydara broke contact and returned her attention to Mernoth.

  Maleena glanced at the man standing next to her. His mind and emotions felt peaceful.

  “It’s really a pleasant city to look upon, isn’t it? I find it the most beautiful of cities,” Po said, still looking out over the streets and buildings.

  Maleena considered a moment. “
I guess it is, however, I fear I’m not the best to judge it compared to other cities.”

  “Why is that Di’shan?”

  “I’ve seen no other cities to compare it to. Until I left to travel here, I never traveled more than a mile beyond my village.”

  “Didn’t you come across any cities on your journey here?”

  She shook her head. “No. We traveled across open, empty land until we passed through the lake and arrived here.”

  Po smiled and offered his arm to her. “Well then, my dear, do give me the pleasure of showing you around.”

  Maleena smiled back. “Thank you, I would love that.” She glanced at his offered arm and hesitated, unsure of how to refuse it without offending. One day when the bond grew stronger, Mckale would shield her from the discomfort of physical touch if he was in her general proximity. But for now, he needed to be within a few feet. As peaceful as Po’s mind felt, it would still cause discomfort to accept his kind gesture.

  Po gave her a puzzled look. “Are you alright? I assure you, I don’t bite and neither does Galdrilene.”

  Maleena chewed her lower lip. If she told him the truth, would he shy away?

  She drew herself up and faced him, lifting her chin slightly; let him think what he would. If he didn’t like it and walked away, she would explore the city on her own. And if they didn’t like her either, it didn’t matter. She had Nydara.

  “I’m alright and I’m sorry. I would love for you to show me the city, but I can’t take your arm. Physical touch is uncomfortable for me.”

  Po’s eyes widened. “You are the Silver.” He offered her a short bow. “I beg your forgiveness Di’shan. Please don’t take offense. I should have recognized which rider you are, but sometimes this old mind of mine forgets things.”

  Confusion swirled through her mind. “Why do you ask my forgiveness?”

  “No one touches a Silver Di’shan. I should have noticed the chain holding your pendant is silver. Again, I ask your forgiveness.”

  Maleena reached up and touched the chain of her necklace. “You’ve done nothing that requires forgiveness, Master Po. Why should you notice the color of my chain?”

  The breeze whipped Po’s wispy hair around as he said, “Didn’t you notice the chains your companions received are gold. The riders of silver dragons receive the silver chain to identify them, so people know not to touch them. Emallya also wears the silver chain. Everyone in Galdrilene knows what it means. At one time, everyone everywhere knew what it meant. I should have paid more attention.”

  Maleena vaguely remembered Emallya saying something about the silver chain that first morning together by the lake. So much had happened since then. “So you aren’t upset I didn’t accept your arm?”

  He smiled and his sharp, blue eyes sparkled. “Goodness no, I have no reason to be upset. Do you still wish to tour the city with me?”

  Relief washed through her and she returned his smile. “Oh yes, very much so. I’m a little nervous about going down into such a big city; it will be nice to have someone with me.”

  “I shall enjoy showing you around. Now, before we go any further,” he ran a hand over his fringe of hair in an attempt to smooth it, “you know my name, but I’m afraid your name is not something my mind retained last night.”

  She smiled at him. “Maleena Wyndam.”

  He inclined his head briefly. “Well met Di’shan Maleena. Come now and see the great city of Galdrilene. If you like, I can take you to the Tower of Spirit where the Spirit mages are. I know Mage Councilor Amariel would like to meet you.”

  “I would love to,” she said and followed him down the steps.

  Vaddoc took in the shops, homes and people of Galdrilene as he walked the wide streets. A Guardian of Galdrilene. That was what Emallya had called him. He wanted to know what he guarded.

  He was no longer a Border Guard; his Watch ended the night he left his home. What could he do for the people of Shadereen, with Namir at his side as a grown dragon? How many Kojen could they stop? With a touch of sadness, Vaddoc knew their help wouldn’t likely be welcomed. No matter how many lives he and Namir might save.

  Vaddoc wished he could dismiss his old duties as easily as Mckale. But then, it seemed his ties to the Watch were cut the minute he met Maleena. Things more powerful than duty pulled at the other borderman.

  A hollow ache filled his chest. The people of Shadereen, his people, had sentenced him to death. They would turn their backs on him. He owed them nothing. Why couldn’t he severe the lingering loyalty he felt toward them? His old life was over. Like Mckale, he needed to move forward. Vaddoc took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh.

  A sense of betrayal burned in his breast. Magic didn’t drive people insane. Those who used it weren’t a danger to anyone. The leaders of Shadereen had arrested his entire unit, ready to find and kill him for antiquated beliefs born out of the ashes of a war that ended five hundred years before.

  Vaddoc glanced up at the shops as he passed them. Printed words adorned every sign. The people here were educated. Emallya had said they were, but until now he didn’t quite believe it.

  Why did other nations smother learning? Emallya must be right. They kept their populations ignorant to better control them. Emallya had said something about the rights of the people under Dragon Law. What was Dragon Law? Did that have something to do with the stories and laws against magic use? Resentment welled up in him. So many people unjustly put to death for no reason.

  If magic could be used openly, then maybe the Kojen that attacked that day in Basc wouldn’t have made it as far into the town as they had. Maybe Lenyi would still be alive. How many had died along the border because those that could’ve protected them had been put to death?

  Anger at the lies and injustice ran hot in his veins. He walked blindly, his eyes no longer seeing the peaceful and industrious city around him.

  Namir’s voice, soothing and concerned, filled his mind, “Are you alright Vaddoc? I can feel your distress. Do you need me? I will come.”

  “No!” Vaddoc’s stomach lurched at the thought of the young draclet with his soft scales leaving the protection of the hold. “It is not safe for you to leave the hold until your scales have hardened.”

  “Do you really think that anyone in the city would harm me?”

  “No, I do not. But I am still unwilling to take the chance. Besides, there is nothing for you to protect me from unless you can protect me from my own thoughts,” he sent back.

  “Your thoughts are valid. You have a right to be angry at the injustices in your old home,” the young dragon replied.

  “You are awful wise for such a young dragon.”

  “I have the benefit of imprint memories and they say you are right to feel the way you do. Once Dragon Law rules the land once more, one man will not be able to squash another.”

  “How do you know about the laws and circumstances that exist now? How can those be in your memories?” Vaddoc asked.

  “They are not in my memories, they are in yours. Our minds are one. We are one. I know what you know, and if you wish to search, you can know what I know. We are one.”

  He smiled, grateful Namir chose him. “I can tell you are worried because Mernoth is waiting for your mind to come back to him. Go learn what you need to learn. I will be fine.”

  “Yes Mernoth waits for me, but I will not leave while you need me.”

  “I am fine now, Namir. You have helped me immensely and I thank you.”

  “If you are sure…”

  “I am sure. Go learn to be a dragon.”

  Namir broke contact. Vaddoc realized he hadn’t paid attention to where he was going while talking to Namir. Surprised at how far he’d walked during the short conversation, he stopped to look around. He stood directly in front of one of the soaring towers on the extra wide road along the inside of the city wall. On the path leading to the large wooden door at its base stood a Shaderian, in white robes trimmed with gold fabric.

  Va
ddoc recognized him. Sketches of this man were in every barrack hall in Shadereen. Hadar Talor. He’d walked away from his post one night twenty years ago. Like every Border Guard, Vaddoc learned about Hadar and the others on the Wall of Traitors the first day he entered training in Marden.

  “Welcome, Di’shan Vaddoc. I knew you would eventually find your way to the Tower of Light. I am Mage Councilor–”

  “I know who you are.” Vaddoc ran his eyes over Hadar’s face, seeing the lines gathered at the corners of his golden eyes. “You are older now, but I know your face. You are Hadar Talor, the traitor who abandoned his Watch.”

  “As you will now be labeled in Shadereen, young Vaddoc. Like you, I was unwilling to die for the crime of using magic.”

  Vaddoc flinched. Hearing another Shaderian call him a traitor felt like a knife in his gut. He was a traitor. Just like Hadar. He could use magic, just like…he frowned at the older man. “But you were never accused of magic use. It was never mentioned when they told of your crime.”

  Hadar smiled. “I left before there were any witnesses to it. At the time, I thought myself a coward and for leaving and hated myself for it. Then in Markene, I crossed the path of the Mage Councilor of the Tower of Earth. She knew me for what I was. A senior mage can always sense another mage, even a budding one. It was not my destiny to hatch a dragon egg.” He spread his hands. “I never heard the song. But within a few days of arriving here, I knew the laws and tales against magic were lies and my destiny was not to die for those lies.”

  He folded his hands together and took a step toward Vaddoc. “I no longer feel shame and no longer hate myself. I only hate that so many continue to be in danger and so many continue to die because of the lies. Senior mages take turns quietly and unobtrusively traveling among the nations downland, searching for budding mages. Those already experiencing the first flows of power and those balanced on the threshold. Even with that, we save so few.” He shook his head, sadness shadowing his face. “So many turn themselves in or are caught and executed before we can reach them.”