Were of the Drakon

by B Cameron Lee

  Curse Serkahn.

  With Zirca in the lead they flew straight and hard for the hive. No more gaining height and gliding, this was urgent and they needed to be there before the Spawn. He felt Zirca forming a plan and realised what she intended. Drakons always knew where the moons were and tonight one of them was full and the other three quarters full. It would be bright enough for them to fly at night and that was what she intended. Serkahn would probably rest his Spawn during darkness and stay on the ground himself. This way they would reduce the danger of actually meeting him and maybe get ahead of him and his Spawn.

  Zirca had originally planned their flight from Boronia to be flown at an easy pace. Although Traginal was still growing, he didn’t have Zirca’s size yet. Some day in the future he would be far larger than she but at the moment he tired far more easily. Now, however, speed counted and when they eventually stopped, just on dark, to rest and wait for moonrise, Traginal felt the strain in his flight muscles. It was bearable though and he had an hour or so to rest and recoup before they had to leave again when the first moon rose. As soon as it was light enough, they took off. Now they flew east, toward the rising moon, aiming toward the wild country well to the south of Conurbal where the hive was located in a series of caverns. Zirca had warned Traginal not to connect minds with her at all and try to keep his mind blank, as their thoughts may be picked up by Serkahn if he was anywhere beneath them.

  Traginal flew, trying to be as economical as possible in his flight. He was glad it was only Vistala he carried, as the escape from Balfour’s Keep with two girls on his back had almost done for him. The second moon rose and Traginal realised he’d been flying for quite a while but shut the thought down and grimly followed Zirca. Soon after he felt a prickle in his consciousness then Zirca’s thoughts filled him as she conversed with Zaldara. The hive! They’d reached the hive. Zirca descended in tight spirals and Traginal followed as drakons rose to meet them, bronzes all, workers guarding the hive. Zaldara called them off and Zirca and Traginal landed safely. Zirca led him into the main cavern through an avenue of bronzes. They were not huge, Traginal was of a size with them but there were a lot of them present. At the end of the avenue the bronzes parted ranks and there she was.

  Zaldara. Queen of Queens. A huge, golden she-drakon, dwarfing Zirca with her immense bulk. Traginal was awed and following Zirca’s lead bowed deeply, almost tipping Vistala of his neck. He felt Zaldara in his mind, her voice liquid honey, laden with kindness.

  “So you are Traginal. A fine young male drakon you are too. Zirca did well. Zirca, why the haste and what hour is this to arrive.”

  “Mother, take it from my mind, all of it. It will be quicker.”

  Traginal felt something he didn’t know was possible. Zaldara and Zirca merged their minds, information flowing instantly from one to the other. Traginal felt the mental gasp as Zaldara immediately understood about the Spawn and Serkahn’s intent.

  “So. He comes. You chose better than I Zirca. At a time of need, the only choice I had available to turn into my mate was an ambitious prince. Now I pay the price. That ungrateful drakon shall not rule the hive. What say you daughter?”

  “Mother. On the way here I gave thought to the Spawn. If we could take them from Serkahn, I might be able to use them to help establish my hive. They could do all of the menial tasks involved in running a hive which would free me to just lay eggs instead of having to care for the hatchling workers too.”

  Zaldara gave thought to this idea and with her sending, Traginal felt approval radiate from the huge Queen.

  “I may not have chosen my mate well but I did choose well when I made you, Zirca. I’ll send out watchers to patrol while we think on it. Introduce the bearded Man and that slip of a girl.”

  So it was that Septican and Vistala were introduced to Zaldara, the Queen of a drakon hive. Traginal could almost see Vistala’s thoughts and the excitement that bubbled in her mind. Soon they took up their packs and were led away by a bronze to a quiet place where they could sleep away the remainder of the night on warm sands.

  Traginal was invited to join the two queens in their discussion on what to do and he thought their plans clever and sensible. Unfortunately he was so tired from his prolonged flight that he fell asleep half way through the talks.

  It was the alarm cry which woke him, trumpeted from bronzes relaying the call from above. His eyes snapped open immediately and he realised he’d slept and it was daylight he was seeing by, not moonlight. What slight embarrassment there was in having done so evaporated as the two queens walked sedately to the entrance of the cavern. Were all Queens like that? Outside there were bronzes circling everywhere like angry bees and off in the distance, a huge black drakon circled, no longer welcome in the hive. Traginal turned to the Queens.

  “Can I fly high and scout for you both?” He asked.

  The response was affirmative and both Queens spoke into his mind at once.

  “Take care Traginal and if Serkahn comes at you, get out of the sky. He is far too large for you to fight.”

  Traginal took off and flew ever higher until all was laid out below him. He was looking for something in particular which he soon caught sight of. A flowing green wave, running through the trees, bound for the hive. Traginal reported.

  “The Swarm are closing in. I don’t know how you’re going to defend the hive but you’ll need to do it soon.”

  All he received back was the equivalent of a mental smile.

  His short communication with the queens had made Serkahn aware of him and suddenly Traginal felt himself the subject of the great black’s attention. While Traginal had been occupied with his scouting, Serkahn had gained height and now closed on him from above. For the first time Traginal became aware of his immense size. Serkahn was huge, and fast. Immediately Traginal sensed there was to be no reasoning with the rogue and decided on evasive manoeuvres. As he was ducking and diving this way and that, he saw bronzes boil out of the hive and head toward the wave of Spawn, who were still closing on their objective. Cursing with the sudden pain as a claw raked his tail, Traginal realised he could not take his awareness off Serkahn for a second or his life would be forfeit.

  Their one sided contest continued for a few minutes more until Traginal was unable to keep his speed up. Serkahn stooped and grabbed his neck with a taloned fore foot, opening his mouth to strike. Traginal’s last thought was regret that he was about to die right then but something gold flashed in the early morning sun and two Queens dropped out of the heavens and slammed into Serkahn. Traginal fell as the great black released him to confront the greater threat. He only just managed to right himself and extend his wings before he hit the ground, soaring back up into the heavens in time to hear Serkahn’s screams of outrage as the two Queens, supported by numerous bronzes, ganged up on him, coming at the vast black drakon from all sides. It couldn’t last and Serkahn, beaten back, turned and fled north, probably returning to Conurbal.

  “Are you alright Traginal?” Zirca asked, her concern carrying across the mental link. He sent his reply back with thanks to both Queens who had rescued him from certain death. Then he remembered. The Spawn! Reassurance came through the bond with the Queens.

  When the three of them circled down to the hive, it was to find the Spawn prostrate and immobile, lying scattered everywhere on the ground.

  “Are they dead?” Traginal enquired.

  He heard a mental chuckle and Zaldara was in his head.

  “No young Traginal, merely sleeping. Zirca and I experimented on Vistala, who gave us her permission to try a special venom on her. Don’t worry, she’s well and quite comfortable but fast asleep at the moment. We gave a taste of that mix to dozens of the bronzes and instructed them to fill their venom sacs with it. They overflew the Spawn and sprayed them from the air with a mist of it. Now they sleep.”

  Zaldara became more serious. Traginal felt it across the link.

  “We are hoping we can enlist the Spawn to become Zirca’s and save
you much work young Traginal.”

  He saw the pictures in his mind of what was intended and his relief was palpable.

  “What will happen to the Spawn for now?”

  “They will be guarded in a blind cavern by bronzes with full venom sacs ready to spray them with the sleeping mix at a moments notice. We need time to work out the hold Serkahn has on them and break it. We have that, as the bronzes will be able to defend the hive if Serkahn returns.”

  Time. The army! They needed to know the hive was safe and that drakons would not be a problem to them. Someone had to go and tell them.

  “Zirca, one of us needs to inform King Georgio that everything has been taken care of here. You need to stay to work on the Spawn. I’ll go and take Vistala with me, we should make good time. I can remember the way.”

  Traginal turned to Septican who was listening intently to the exchange.

  “Do you mind staying here for a while Septican?”

  The white-bearded, old wizard smiled broadly.

  “Mind, of course not. What a wonderful opportunity for study. I bet no one else has ever seen the inner workings of a drakon hive. Or examined Spawn closely. Go with my blessing Traginal.”

  Zirca was considering Traginal’s words carefully and the plans that were in the air. Her own hive would be in Boronia and she needed Georgio to be king there. Yes, Boronia’s army had to know.

  “Very well. I’ll give Vistala a light spray of the antidote to the sleeping venom and when she’s got herself ready, you can leave. Now go and clean the blood off your neck. We may heal quickly but it looks unsightly.”

  Traginal went to comply. In the excitement of it all, he hadn’t even realised he’d been wounded by Serkahn’s claws. He certainly had a bone to pick with that drakon.

  After saying their goodbyes, Traginal and Vistala set off. It was late afternoon but Traginal planned on flying by moonlight for some of the night to give him less to do on the morrow. He backtracked the way they’d come, his drakon sense allowing him to find the route with ease. It was only when they neared the caverns that a thought struck him and he expanded his awareness. He sensed no other drakon presence, only the strange minds of the few Spawn left there, Bethanty among them. He circled down and landed by moonlight. Vistala slipped from his back but this time accompanied him into the caverns.

  Bethanty was standing waiting. Traginal linked with her mind and spoke to her.

  “Serkahn has been beaten and the Spawn dealt with. They’re going to come and work for Zirca and myself when we set up another hive, although they don’t know that yet.”

  Bethanty was pleased and replied in her strange manner.

  “You and your friend are welcome to stay and have something to eat. You must be tired with all that has gone on.”

  In fact, Traginal realised, he was pretty exhausted and gratefully accepted Bethanty’s generous offer, first feeding on the remains of a deer carcass and then curling up to sleep while Vistala talked with the strange being who was once Bethanty.

  A bellowing roar shook the cavern and Traginal came instantly awake to the light of day with Vistala curled up in the crook of his forearm. She’d woken immediately and stared in horror at the giant black drakon blocking the entrance to the cavern. Serkahn. Wrathful. Traginal moved Vistala away quickly and leapt to his feet. There was no way out, Serkahn’s vast bulk ensured that.

  “So you little worm, you think to take over my cavern too. I see no queens to protect you here. What are you going to do now?”

  Serkahn advanced, step by step while Vistala went deeper into the cavern behind Traginal, who coiled himself ready to strike. Think, think. It came to him and he flexed mental muscles to use his magic. Drakons were immune to magic but not to rocks. He sent one from the cavern floor toward Serkahn. It hit the big black in the chest as yet other lumps of stone followed. They seemed but a minor inconvenience for Serkahn, who shrugged off the impacts. Traginal, seeing his magic wasn’t working, changed tactics and advanced slowly toward Serkahn, puffing himself up to appear larger. Serkahn laughed then, so sure of his abilities. When there was but a little distance between them, Traginal opened his mouth and sprayed a mist at Serkahn’s head. He had little idea what he’d sprayed only that he’d thought ‘burning’ when he’d made the venom. He must have done something right as Serkahn roared in pain and blinked rapidly but the venom’s effect didn’t stop him striking like lightening and suddenly he had Trag by the neck, lifting him off the ground and toppling him backward to stand with his front feet on Trag’s wings, pinning them to the ground. Serkahn gloated as he looked down his nose at Trag, the young drakon’s neck held between his teeth. All it would take would be one crunch and no more Traginal. The giant black was savouring that moment as he observed the realisation and fear in Traginal’s eyes.

  There was a scream and as Serkahn looked up, a figure ran up the back of Traginal’s head and leapt onto Serkahn’s nose, digging clawed feet into the scales there and grasping one of the spines above the great drakon’s brow ridge. Before Serkahn could dislodge it, the figure rose up and plunged a stabbing spear into Serkahn’s left eye. The huge drakon immediately let Traginal go and furiously shook his head but as he tried to dislodge the green scaled figure it pushed the spear right to its hilt. The point must have slid up the optic nerve and entered the brain because suddenly, Serkahn staggered.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Traginal saw Vistala run past his head and toss another spear up to the scaly form standing on Serkahn’s nose. As he looked up he saw the Spawn perched there thrust the spear deep into Serkahn’s other eye and bury it to the hilt. Vistala ran back to safety as the mighty form of Serkahn wobbled before collapsing, motionless. Unfortunately, right on top of Trag.

  The victorious Spawn jumped down from Serkahn’s nose and Traginal realised it was Bethanty.

  “Are you harmed? she asked him breathlessly.

  He looked up into her strange and misshapen features and spoke into her mind.

  “You just have to keep looking out for me don’t you. I thought you said you couldn’t fight.”

  The face before him split into what he took to be a smile and she called out. The few other Spawn left behind to look after the cavern came out from hiding and between them and his own struggles, Traginal managed to start working himself free from under the vast bulk of the dead drakon. It took a little while but eventually Traginal discovered that besides some swelling and puncture wounds on his neck, he’d come through the episode relatively unscathed. He made a decision right then and there and called out for Bethanty. She came with Vistala, the two of them unlikely companions, able to converse with each other like Traginal communicated with them.

  “I’ve made a decision. Probably the first as the male of a hive yet to begin. I’ve decided, Bethanty, that you’re going to be the one in charge over all the Spawn in the new hive. That is if you want to be.”

  Bethanty bowed and he heard her reply in his head.

  “It would be fitting. You still need looking out for Traginal.”

  “Excellent. There’s a task I would like you to perform for me. It would be most helpful.”

  Bethanty’s strange countenance twisted into what Traginal assumed was a smile.

  “You’re so serious Trag. Just tell me what you want.”

  “I need you to go to Zaldara’s hive and inform them of Serkahn’s death. Follow the trail of the Spawn who’ve already gone there. Tell Zirca I said you were to be in charge of all of the Spawn because you saved my life and killed Serkahn. Oh, and you might like to say hello to Septican.”

  Bethanty’s eyes lit up.

  “Your Grandfather’s there? Everyone missed him so when you both left but if you don’t mind me asking. Where are you going if not back to the hive?”

  “I have to fly north and report to the King of Boronia who is on his way south to depose Duke Erkhart and install Prince Lermond on the throne of Melintana.”

  Traginal felt the glow of approval emanate from
Bethanty. She had plenty of reason to want Duke Erkhart gone.

  So. It was settled. Traginal would return for her after he’d travelled north to give the good news to the forces of Boronia.

  21. Prelude to War

  Cringle was worried. No one had the slightest idea where Yletta was and he cared deeply about the mother he’d only recently found. It gnawed at him, that worry but he had to put it to one side. An army was depending on him. Since the drakons had left twelve days ago, the soldiers had marched rapidly south through Boronia and were now camped near the border with Melintana. King Georgio had halted them there and asked Cringle to scout ahead, for as soon as one of his soldiers stepped into Melintana, it could be construed as an act of war and give Duke Erkhart the excuse he needed to invade Boronia and who knew what resources the Duke had at his disposal. They weren’t equipped to battle drakons.

  Cringle pulled the Darkwood cloak tighter around himself, ever thankful for the thoughtfulness of Vehrin’del, the M’Herindar Queen. For that and many other things, he owed her a large debt. The cold at this height seeped up through the carpet he sat on, his magic constantly thickening the air and providing updraft to keep him aloft. He could see a long way as the winter air was clear as well as cold. Ahead was a smallish village, Bardton he believed. He’d heard Septican mention it once or twice. There was not a drakon in sight in any direction. It was now they had to decide whether to advance into Melintana or stay put. It was not an easy decision to make and he didn’t envy King Georgio.