by Bri Sailor
The priests gathered closely and held their arms up and touched hands, completing their circle. A pale greenish-white orb began to form. Bolts of lightning shot out from the palpable darkness of the nearby cave opening. The orb grew in size and gave off a blinding light.
“Find the vessel!” commanded the High Priest. “Fill her with his power. Help her to bring about the coming of our Lord!”
The orb flew straight up in the air and disappeared through the ceiling. At the foot of the mountains an elderly priest was walking through the moonlit garden of the Temple of Dragons. In the distance he saw a bright light escape from the peak of the tallest mountain and fly high into the heavens. His heart beat faster.
“By the Goddess.” He whispered.
He hobbled as fast as he could back into the temple and rang the warning bell. Within minutes the rest of the temple was awake. They all came running into the main hall and saw the old priest standing under the statue of the Goddess and dragons. His arms were outstretched.
“Goddess! Save us all! He is risen!” the priest shouted to the statue. “Tell your servant Cora of the events that transpired this night! Warn her! Help her!”
“What is happening?” shouted one of the younger priests.
The old man turned around, fear evident on his face.
“I saw a beacon sent up from the mountains! It was pale and I could feel the evil chill my bones. I know it was him. The witch has somehow brought him back! We must pray that the Goddess warns Cora! They must know what is coming for them! For all of us!”
A middle-aged priestess stepped up. “Everyone form a circle now! We must send what strength we have to the Priestess! This is beyond anything we could have ever imagined. Quickly now! Quickly!”
The priests gathered in a circle and began chanting. Their hands began to glow and a golden light began to form around them. Elsewhere around the kingdoms, other priests had felt the trembling of the earth and a great gathering of great power emanating from the Aznurro kingdom. Priests everywhere began offering what they could to the Goddess and to the High Priestess.
Chapter 24
Atreyis fought and kicked for the surface as hard as she could. Cora’s conjured orbs had disappeared. All of them fought against the rapid current that dragged them blindly through the darkness. They smashed into rocks and were dragged undertow. Each fearing that they would drown. Their yells and screams were drowned out by the rushing water. Their lungs burned and their muscles ached. Just as they feared death, light suddenly blinded their eyes as they were forcibly ejected out into the world. They fell what felt like hundreds of feet into churning green waters below. One by one they kicked for shore and collapsed into exhausted half-drowned heaps. Kova was still clutching her found chest closely. They lay in the warm sand catching their breath, and resting their burning muscles. Kova stumbled to her feet and let out a roar mixed with frustration and relief.
Ky staggered to her feet. “What in the hell. Was that?”
Kova pointed to a waterfall high up into a small mountain. Water spewed out of the small cave-like opening.
“I accidently discovered it as a child.” She panted. “After the palace was attacked. I went further into the catacombs without a torch or light. In the darkness I prayed for the Goddess to just take me. I fell into the water and then went over the edge. Just when I thought death was near—’’
She motioned to the surrounding area.
“I found myself very much alive.”
Atreyis groaned to her feet. “Does that hellish ordeal have a name?”
“Demon’s Asshole.” Kova squinted against the sun.
“I believe it.” Said Ehren as he helped Cora to her feet.
Kova shrugged. “The ancients probably called it something else. But young me decided that I was rightfully allowed to name it. So. That’s what I chose. All these years and it still has a kick to it.”
The rebel grabbed her trunk and dumped the water out of it, wringing out the dress and stuffed toys. As she wrung out her stuffed bear she suddenly stopped. Something hard and rectangular was inside it. She checked their surroundings.
“We follow the river another mile and then turn northwest.” She said. “It will take about a day, day and a half. Better fill up your skins now. It’s about to get very hot.”
The resourceful woman had taken one of her belts and linked it with the other, tightening it around her ribs and making the small chest into a pack of sorts on her back. Everyone wrung the water out of their clothes and emptied their boots of the rest before setting off into the deep jungle.
A few hours into their journey and their stomachs were growling loud enough for the Black Army to hear. Kova kept her eyes peeled and eventually climbed up a tree. Large purple and red fruits began falling from the tree tops. She climbed back down and sliced open the fragrant fruit and passed it around. They quickly devoured the sweet flesh and felt a measure of strength return.
“So how long have you lived out here?” asked Atreyis as she munched on a piece of fruit.
“About twenty years, give or take.” Replied Kova. “I spent roughly two years out here by myself. Eventually I stumbled upon a tribe called the Firancas. They were descendent of the first peoples of this land. They took me in. In my youth, I led small-war parties back to the city to cause trouble and take what we could. After a few years of it I was stopped by a hoard of people leaving the city. They said that they wanted to join us and be rid of Ultrek’s men. They wanted us to help reclaim the land. A peace accord was struck and by the hundreds every year more and more came to live in the jungle. I’m not sure how many there are now. But we have our own hidden city that none know about. Not even Lusha, I’m sure.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t” remarked Ky. “I didn’t even know such a place existed. Based off of our limited intelligence we believed that you had small pockets of villages at the most. It’s still a mystery as to how you were able to keep our forces at bay. I still can’t figure it out.”
“You won’t.” chuckled Kova. “At least not yet.”
“I think I may have an idea.” Chimed Cora.
“I bet you do, priestess.” replied the rebel with a smug grin.
Night quickly fell and Kova guided them into the trees, showing them how to safely sleep on the large branches without falling off. In the morning they were off again. The heat and humidity were finally starting to get to them and they had stripped down as much as possible. Atreyis was lost in the mystery of their surroundings while Ehren and Ky listened to the strange animals and birds in the trees. None of them had experienced anything quite like it before. Eventually, they came to a stop.
“We’re here.” Said Kova proudly.
Nothing could be seen but more jungle. Cora took a tentative step forward, peering into something she could only just perceive.
“There’s something familiar about this.” She mumbled.
Kova responded by reaching into a large tree stump and fishing around for something. Her eyes lit up as she found what she was looking for. What sounded like two stones clanked together. A rift opened up in front of them like a curtain being pulled back. On the other side was a bright and bustling city built upon ancient ruins.
“Welcome to Dragonhearth.” She said proudly.
They stepped through the veil in awe. A few of the citizens passing by waved and acknowledged them. As soon as Kova stepped through the cheers began.
“She’s alive!”
“Our Queen has returned!”
“Someone get Drax!”
“Let them know she’s alive!”
The crowds surrounded Kova and her new friends. Drums began beating rhythmically throughout the city. The queen tried to push through the crowds to get to her royal dwelling. Suddenly, a large man covered in exotic furs and a bushy beard burst through the crowd and picked her up in a giant hug.
“My Queen! Thank the Goddess you’re alive” he cried.
“Yes! Yes! I’m alive. Thanks to my fri
ends here.” She hugged him back. “You can put me down Drax!”
The large man put her down and bowed deeply. Kova put a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay, Drax. We need to get to my quarters. We are going to war.”
The simple man stood up and nodded. He proceeded to make a path for them. The queen’s palace was a large dwelling built out of sturdy logs. Multi-colored banners hung from the roof and over the arched doorway. The wooden doors were wide open and welcoming. The moment Kova stepped through the doors she was immediately tackled by the largest bear anyone had ever seen. Ky drew her sword but Kova simply laughed. The bear was voraciously licking her face and smelling her all over.
“I missed you too buddy!” said Kova as she buried her face in his dark brown fur.
She pushed him off and stood up to give him a hug.
“Everyone this is Usariel, the second. Urs, this is everyone.”
The bear turned his curiosity to the new strangers and began sniffing and licking them as well.
“Urs here saved me a few years ago from a lion attack. He was only just a baby, but he scared away the lion. He has been my loyal protector ever since.” Said Kova proudly.
The bear gave a small roar in agreement, revealing a missing tooth on one side and a rather large one on the other.
“Fang would be a more appropriate name I think.” Said Ehren.
Kova kissed the bear on the nose and waved everyone in.
“This way. I will see to it that you get new clothes and that your weapons are repaired. Get some rest. There will be a huge feast tonight. A few hours can be spared to forget what is coming, even if only for a moment.”
Cora wandered through the city. While the others were sleeping soundly in their comfortable beds, she found herself only needing a few minutes. Something was calling her to investigate their new surroundings. It would seem that Kova had helped create a sort of utopia in the middle of the Wilds. People walked around as if they had nothing to fear. As if they had no idea what was out in the world and that so many desperately wanted in. She wondered if the younger ones even knew about the war raging in the world. Had they been told? Or were their elders simply wanting to spare them? She sighed and hugged her thin shawl around her shoulders. The priestess was grateful for the new clothes. Her old ones had been tattered and torn from their ordeal. She stopped a moment to indulge herself in the small comfort they brought. Her pants were a swirl of oranges and pinks and blues and her simple wrap was the brightest green she had ever seen. She had wandered through the markets enjoying the exotic wares that were being sold. Eventually, she found herself walking through the remains of what seemed to be an ancient temple. A familiar tingling sensation appeared between her eyes and she felt like she was being pulled towards a large stone staircase. She followed the feeling up the stairs. The entire top floor of the temple had been stripped away over the years and nothing remained but the stone underneath. A large, colorful cloth canopy had been stretched above to protect from the rain. Cora held her breath. There, in the middle of the floor, surrounded by people in white robes was the largest cluster of crystals she had ever seen. It radiated every color. She could feel its power even at this distance.
“The Tear.” She gasped.
The crystal shard on her necklace began to glow with energy and she could feel the heat. It was as if it had come alive and was responding to the Tear. Cora blinked and she was standing in front of the massive crystal. It was taller than any man and could fit three stretched arm to arm around it. She could feel all of her anxiety, fear and exhaustion melt away.
“Quite extraordinary isn’t it?”
Cora turned towards the familiar voice. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Standing before her in white was Oldrin.
“Oldrin!” she ran over and gave him a hug. “I can’t believe you are here! How did you get here? How did you know about this place? Have you been here before? How are Joslette and Iyara?”
The old priest laughed softly. “I missed you too, Cora!”
He took a step back. “I have known about this place for many years. Since I was a young man. The Vvárríó have known for centuries about the true location of the Tear. And they have been the ones hiding its presence and burying the truth and turning it into legend. If people knew that such a thing existed…”
Cora looked back at the crystal. “I understand now.”
She played with the crystal around her neck. “It’s like it knows it’s here.”
Oldrin nodded. “Though they are separate, I have had a theory that those crystals are related. Amongst my order there is a legend about the first priests using its sister to create the Seal in the Temple of Ages.
Cora’s eyes grew wide. “Does that mean?”
Oldrin’s eyes were downcast. “No. Many years ago I tried.”
He cleared his throat. “Over the years I have made a pilgrimage of sorts to this place. To sit and meditate before this awesome power, praying that I would be granted some insight, some wisdom. But now its mighty power is being harnessed to keep the city hidden and to keep Lusha from knowing its existence.”
“What would happen if she found it?” Cora dared to ask.
Oldrin’s grew grave. “I don’t dare think about it. But I believe it would render even the White Dragon powerless to stop her.”
Fear gripped Cora’s heart. She couldn’t even imagine such a thing. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
“Come young one. We have much to discuss.” Oldrin smiled.
#
After three days of feasting and celebrating an air of seriousness fell on Dragonhearth. Kova had sent out scouts to report on Lusha’s army. Every few days one would return to tell them that her armies were drawing closer. Nothing was known or heard about Toran or Joslette. More and more it was looking as if they were going to have to fight this alone. The days were spent churning out weapons and training warriors. One day Kova showed them how they trained their animal fighters.
“This is a piece of the crystal known as the Sun’s Tear.” She showed them a piece that was smaller than a coin.
“For centuries the Firancas have known how to imbue these with spells that allow for us to control the animals. However, over the years they have figured out that it actually isn’t a control system, rather, a way for us to communicate with them. Of sorts. We fix these to collars that we put on them.”
She walked over to a cage where a newly caught wild ape was raging. The men pulled hard on his chains and pinned the creature down. Kova quickly reached in and put the collar on the thrashing beast. The men let go of the chains and the creature continued to try and break the cage.
“Easy. Easy.” Said Kova gently. “We aren’t going to hurt you.”
The crystal around its neck lit up and the beast began to calm down some.
“There. You see? You’re fine. We aren’t going to hurt you. Everything is okay.”
The animal was still breathing hard but its eyes softened. Kova opened the cage. The massive ape slowly walked out of the cage following Kova. She walked backwards slowly and motioned for the animal to sit down. The ape cautiously sat down. The queen smiled and went over to a wagon and brought back what looked like a small tree of yellow fruit.
“Here.” She offered the fruit. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”
The animal sniffed at the offered food for a moment before deciding it was safe to eat. Kova smiled and walked back to the group while the now docile animal ate its lunch. Other trainers sat down and ate alongside him, talking quietly.
“Amazing.” Said Ehren in awe.
“You can do this with any animal?” asked Atreyis.
“Yes.” Said Kova.
“So how do you get them to fight for you?” asked Ky.
“It’s simple.” Said the queen. “We tell them that their home and our home is being threatened. They have families just like we do. They care for their home just like us. It’s not as if they fight for us as much as they fight for their own
alongside us.”
“Hm. I can’t believe it.” Mused the warrior. “All these years. All the stories that I had heard. All that I had seen during my battles against you. The men said that there were possessed spirits of beasts that attacked them as soon as they entered the Wilds. I had merely dismissed it as guerilla fighters dressed as beasts. I can see now why you have had the upper hand all these years. It’s quite humbling indeed.”
#
After weeks of training and waiting Ky and Atreyis found themselves wandering around the city, taking a small break to allow themselves a moment’s peace. The warrior had traded in her hallmark black attire for bright purple pants and a red and white wrap that showed off her tattooed shoulder. She let her long hair down for once, letting it blow in the warm breeze. The princess sported similar look but was all different hues of yellow, her bare mid drift and back showing off her tattooed wings, she let her hair fall in tumbling tresses over her shoulders, the white section of hair tucked behind her ear. Before leaving the queen’s dwelling, Atreyis had packed a lunch for them. Ky led them around exploring the city.