Vardaesia

by Lynette Noni

  While searching frantically for a Medoran draekon— any Medoran draekon—Alex’s focus left her immediate surroundings and the single remaining Tia Auran. As far as she was concerned, their interaction—as one-sided as it had been— was over. But apparently, she was the only one who thought so.

  “You want to fly, mortal?” he sneered, seeing her searching gaze. “Allow me to help.”

  Alex turned just in time to see him blur back towards her, nearly faster than her enhanced eyes could follow. His hands slammed painfully into her upper chest, the force of his shove bruising deep into the flesh just beneath her collarbones. But worse than that, she was unable to react quickly enough to defend against his powerful attack that sent her flying backwards…

  … And straight over the edge of the island.

  Screaming as she plummeted through the air, Alex knew her Tia Auran rescuer was too far ahead to know she was falling, let alone to swoop in and save her. There was nothing she could do, nothing to stop her ear-popping descent. She didn’t have access to the Valispath, she couldn’t summon a Library doorway while on the move, and Xira… Xira was gone.

  Just as Alex would soon be, too.

  Down she fell, her lungs shrieking, terrified tears leaking from her eyes. The only small mercy was that, as she dropped low enough to be level with her friends who were carefully climbing the cloud stairs, she was too far away for their human eyes to see, for their human ears to hear. They, at least, wouldn’t have to suffer through their final memory being of her plunging to her death.

  Falling too fast to note anything other than her friends’ slow, cautious ascent, Alex soon lost sight of them. And still she continued plummeting—beyond the point where the Gate had initially dropped them off, and down, down, down into the dimming sky below.

  Light faded to darkness as she dropped further and further, the changing air pressure spearing agony through her eardrums. But she didn’t care about the pain—she knew in a matter of moments, it wouldn’t matter anymore.

  When she was finally surrounded by nothing but blackness with three red moons showing in the star-streaked sky, Alex saw the desert again; the purgatory in which she had first arrived days ago. It was almost poetic that she would meet her end here—not in Freya, not in Medora, not even really in Tia Auras, but rather in the in-between world, the place of infinite night and unending nothingness.

  But she didn’t want the last thing she saw to be darkness. She wanted it to be light. So, knowing she had only seconds remaining, she slid off her concealment ring and released it into the air, allowing the renewed glow of her vaeliana bond to soothe her—something she never would have imagined it doing, since she’d never appreciated the unnatural glimmer to her skin. Now, however, it was a comfort—the last comfort she would ever feel.

  “Forgive me,” she whispered, her voice snatched by the air while she watched the sand dunes become clearer and clearer. She didn’t know who the words were for—her friends, her parents, her world. All that mattered was that she said them; that somewhere, somehow, they all knew how sorry she was. She’d failed them in so many ways, not just by being unable to finish the race. But at least now there would be no one left to mess things up. No one left to provoke Aven, no one to make him hate mortals more than he already did.

  Her friends, both human and Meyarin, were resourceful. They were survivors. And they weren’t without their gifts and skills. She still had hope for them—hope that they would survive, even if she didn’t.

  And her parents… Alex knew her death would devastate them. Maybe the Library would distract them with more ancient habitats, maybe they would venture out into the rest of Medora, maybe they would return to Freya. But whatever they did, she had to believe they would find a way to move on, to live in spite of their loss. She had to believe the same for everyone she cared about—and who cared about her in return.

  Knowing there was nothing she could do but accept her fate, Alex felt peace settle upon her. At least this way she would be with Niyx again. Perhaps with Xira, too, if he had indeed perished as she feared. Lady Mystique, William, King Astophe, even Skyla—Alex wouldn’t be alone. And with that hope, she was ready to embrace what was coming.

  … Ready to embrace her swiftly approaching death.

  Fourteen

  Prepared to meet her end, it was just as Alex dropped close enough for her enhanced sight to see the individual specks of sand on the ground that an inky darkness erupted beneath her, darker than the black of the night surrounding her—darker than any dark she’d ever seen before.

  With two exceptions.

  Because twice before she had witnessed the same impenetrable darkness.

  Her thundering heart stuttered in her chest as she recognised the abrassa—the Void between time, distance, space and worlds. But then her pulse doubled in speed when she saw a mammoth shadow surge out from within the blackness with an ear-piercing roar—a shadow whose talons snatched her from mid-air when she was barely a few feet above the desert floor.

  Too low to the ground, they couldn’t manoeuvre their way back up in time, so her rescuer executed a swift sideways roll, turning upside-down to protect Alex as together they crashed into the nearest sand dune. Their speed was such that they burst straight through it with an explosion of grainy powder, coming out the other side with a skidding halt in the dark, arid valley.

  Silence fell around them, with only Alex’s panting breaths and pounding heart reaching her ears. At least until a low, deep groan sounded, along with a half-moaned yet still wry-sounding, “That hurt more than I anticipated.”

  Alex’s pulse was hammering so hard that she felt it thrum throughout her whole body. If not for that and the bruising she felt everywhere, she would have been certain she was dead. And that was because—

  “Xira?” she whispered, barely a breath of noise.

  An answer came, but it wasn’t spoken aloud.

  Who else do you know crazy enough to have attempted that suicidal move just to keep you alive?

  Shooting up from where she lay cocooned between his thick talons and held close to his heart, Alex took in what she could of his hulking, dark mass, seeing him lying flat on his back with his wings stretched out like black ink across the sand. Brilliant cerulean eyes blinked at her from his curved neck, intelligent beyond comprehension—and bright with affection.

  “It is you!” she cried, scrambling up his chest to wrap her arms around the base of his neck. He was much, much larger than when she’d last seen him—her arm span wasn’t even able to stretch the width of his collar, let alone encircle him.

  “Expecting someone else?” he asked dryly. “Any other draekons you’ve bonded with that I should know about?”

  Pushing up again, Alex pointed an accusing—if trembling— finger towards his amused face. “Why didn’t you answer me when I called out for you? I thought—I thought—” She swallowed the lump in her throat and tried again. “I was afraid you were dead.”

  “I didn’t hear you,” he said, his rumbling voice low, gentle. “I couldn’t feel you either. As of a few days ago, I thought you were dead, Alex.”

  She looked at him in bewilderment.

  “Jump down so I can get up and I’ll explain while we fly,” he told her. “If I understood your panicked thoughts just before I caught you, you still have a race to win.”

  Alex shook her head, despair hitting her anew. “There’s no way we’ll be able to catch up to them. I’ve already lost—already failed.”

  With an unreadable gleam in his incredibly blue gaze, Xira said, “Have a little faith, Alex. The girl I once knew never used to give up so easily. What happened to her?”

  Alex was unable to keep the tears from pooling in her eyes, and Xira, reading her emotions and the thoughts she sent him, thoughts she was unable to say aloud, curled his long neck forward and moved his enormous face closer to hers.

  Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry.

  He nudged her with his muzzle to offer comfort, and while kneeli
ng on top of his chest, she leaned into him, finding strength in his familiar presence.

  I’ve missed you so much, she whispered into his mind.

  You have no idea, he whispered back. And really, she didn’t. It had barely been much more than a month for her, but for him, millennia had passed.

  “Jump down, Alex,” Xira said again, if softly. “You still have a world to save.”

  Knowing it was useless, that the other Tia Aurans had probably long since finished whatever circuit they had to complete, she still followed his quiet order, crawling across his scales and sliding down a significant distance to the desert floor, sand cascading from her body.

  Watching as he heaved his formidable bulk over until he was the right way up once more, Alex couldn’t help pointing out the obvious. “You’re a lot bigger than the last time I saw you.”

  “And thank the stars for that,” he replied, “because that crash landing would have been even more painful if my scales weren’t as strong as they now are.”

  Concerned, Alex asked, “Are you hurt? Badly, I mean?”

  “Nothing a good race won’t fix.” He shook his massive body like a dog, dislodging the sand that had dusted him from their fall. “Now up you get, Alex. The others are beginning to get restless.”

  Unsure of what he meant but sensing his words held significance, Alex moved closer to his side again. His very, very large side. “Uh, like I said—you’re a lot bigger now. Is there an easy way for me to get back up, or do I just climb you like a jungle gym?”

  In answer, Xira stretched out one of his enormous wings. A memory hit her then, something he’d said to her the first day they’d met.

  ‘When I’m a little older, my wings will be strong enough for you to run straight up them.’

  Sharing the memory with Xira, he chuckled and said, “That feels like forever ago.”

  “Are you sure I won’t hurt you? I’m not light, you know.”

  With an almost human roll of his eyes, he said, “Just get up here, Alex.”

  Still hesitant, she did so, fumbling her way up the incline of the thick sinew, marvelling at the strength she felt in the muscles beneath her.

  Once she was on his back and settled into a secure position in front of his wing joints—the familiarity of which left her throat feeling tight all over again—Xira said, “We’re going to have to work on that. I’m sure you were much better at scaling me in the past.”

  “You were about ten times smaller then,” Alex pointed out.

  “More of me to love now,” he responded, before lowering onto his haunches and pushing off from the desert.

  The speed at which he flew was unlike anything Alex had ever experienced. He had so much more power at his disposal now, so much more strength in his ancient, titanic form. The thrill of the flight was indescribable—something Alex had missed beyond words. She closed her eyes as the wind met her face, the nostalgia comforting her soul.

  What did you mean about thinking I was dead? Alex asked, knowing that even with his speed, they still had a journey ahead of them before they reached the upper atmosphere. A seemingly endless amount of darkness remained in the sky above them, no light yet in sight.

  When you and I parted ways, the connection between us was neutralised until my time caught up to your future, since you had yet to exist in those years, Xira answered. By then, I was already here in Tia Auras, but I felt it the moment you bonded with my younger self, just as I felt it when you returned to your real time again. It’s been a faint but steady feeling, an awareness that you were alive, even if I couldn’t pick up on your emotions or anything else due to the distance between us.

  He paused as his wings caught an updraft, tipping them enough for Alex to tighten her grip, before he evened out again and continued, We were too far from each other to communicate across worlds, but while I wanted so badly to return to Medora to be with you, there were… extenuating circumstances that meant I had to remain here until I could figure out the best way for me to leave and return to your side.

  Alex was touched by his declaration, by the idea that he would have left Tia Auras for her, even knowing there were no other draekons now living in Medora. Even so, she was curious about the ‘extenuating circumstances’, but he continued before she could ask.

  And then, four days ago, the connection between us disappeared. Completely. I was inconsolable until I realised that since I remained alive, the same had to be true for you. I had no idea why I could no longer sense our bond; the only comfort I had was knowing that if you truly were dead, I would be too. Until that rational thought kicked in, however, I was certain you were gone from me forever.

  Alex closed her eyes as realisation flooded her. Four days ago—that’s when she’d first put on Athora’s ring.

  She didn’t fill Xira in verbally, since it was much quicker for her to show him how the ring had been used to keep the Tia Aurans from seeing her glowing skin and learning about her vaeliana link. She now realised that it must not have only concealed her bond, but nullified it entirely.

  I took it off as I was falling, wanting to see the glimmer one last time before… Alex trailed off, not needing to finish.

  That’s when I felt you again—when I realised you were here and what was happening, Xira confirmed. I had only a few seconds to travel through the abrassa and arrive before you crashed.

  Alex couldn’t help pointing out, We still crashed.

  Is that your way of saying thank you?

  She softened, moving one of her hands to stroke the smooth scales in front of her. Thank you, Xira. You seem to be always saving my life.

  Xira snorted. Nothing is ever boring with you around, Alex. That’s for sure.

  Tell me something I don’t know.

  How about that we’re going to win this race? he said as they finally burst up through the darkness and into the light, night instantly turning to day as they continued soaring upwards with great, whooshing strokes of Xira’s wings. And that you’re going to pass this Gate, as well as the next three. Then you’re going to defeat Aven once and for all.

  Alex didn’t know how she was going to do any of that. She was certain it was already too late, and as soon as they reached the Sky Kingdom, they would both see that. But rather than arguing, she instead focused on the way Xira had spat Aven’s name, on the emotion behind his words.

  In a gentle tone, she carefully said, Niyx told me about your mother. A shudder rippled across his body underneath her and his wings jerked mid-stroke before continuing to push upwards. I wish I’d been there for you, Xira.

  There was nothing you could have done, he returned quietly as they finally approached the base of the clouded stairs. And then, aware of how desperate she was to know, he clarified, I wasn’t in Draekora when it happened, but from what I was told, he came in the night—no one was expecting it. But that alone wouldn’t have caused the devastation it did. He was one Meyarin, which should have meant nothing against the might of even a single draekon.

  Then how did he…?

  Aven carried with him the Harbinger of Death.

  Alex’s brow furrowed and she loosened her grip with one hand to brush windswept hair off her face. I don’t know what that means.

  You are bound to the Sword of the Stars, Alex, just as Aven is bound to the Sword of the Shadows.

  Her eyes widened. You’re talking about Vae’varka? The black-fire blade?

  It can be used to kill anything—even immortals, as you already know, Xira said in answer, and the memory of Niyx bleeding out in her arms flashed painfully across her mind. Not even draekons can withstand its lethal edge. His mental voice lowered until it was nearly inaudible as he finished, My mother included.

  I’m so sorry, Xira, Alex said, knowing the words were insignificant but also knowing he’d be able to feel the truth of her empathy through their bond.

  It’s been many eons since she passed, Alex. I’ve had a long time to move on from my grief.

  Some hurts stay with u
s forever, she whispered back, knowing as much from her own recent experiences.

  A long pause met her statement, until Xira replied, somewhat wryly, Niyx would have threatened to push you into a volcano for that comment, you know, especially if he knew you were referring to him.

  A startled laugh left Alex’s lips, her melancholy dissolving. Not just threatened, she said. He would have done it.

  He certainly would have tried. And I would have been forced to intervene, if only to save my own hide.

  Alex made an amused hum of agreement. I still think you drew the short straw on the ‘I die, you die’ deal, Xira.

  Tell me something I don’t know.

  His repeat of her earlier words prompted her to laugh again, her mood having lightened significantly. Whether it was from being reunited with someone she loved or simply due to the liberating feeling of the flight and the healing words, it didn’t matter. Either way, Alex’s spirits soared as together she and Xira speared through the air and finally breached the clouds leading to Lendasa Marna.

  She hadn’t thought ahead to what she should expect upon returning to the Sky Kingdom, other than to assume the Tia Aurans would have been announced the clear victors of the race and her friends anxiously wondering where she was.

  She was right about one of those, since her friends were clearly nervous as they searched the skies for any sign of her, for any hope that she was out there somewhere having pulled off the impossible.

  The Tia Aurans, however, had yet to finish their circuit— but not for lack of trying. All six of them were struggling with their agitated draekons, who had halted in the air, their wings flapping enough for them to rise and fall in place as they resisted closing the distance towards the cloud island—and the finish point of the race.