Lydria and Kimi quickly began moving into the trees as Hokra waited for an answer that didn’t come. Lydria was talking, telling the group of her visit to Dragaven with Grettune. She named the two reds who would be in Nethyngal as Klamanx and her mate, Sryngax. “The reds are the largest of the three, but I believe Klamanx and Sryngax are the youngest. We did not hear all of their story while we were in Dragaven, but Burvig says of the thirteen, these two have most readily adapted to their new life and they do not look back toward their old existence.”
As Lydria’s words died, she wondered if the others thought as she did, that all their lives had changed. For Relin, he was removed from his people of the west, perhaps never to return; for Haustis, the closing of the spirit world was upon her, and everything she had ever known was gone, while the temptation of a new beginning had been offered; for Hokra, Kimi, and Lydria, life with the stone collar marked a stark contrast between their old lives and new.
As the light continued to fade and the world became lit by the moon and stars, a blue glow lit the sky in front of them, as if a beacon had been turned on to guide their path. And as the first bits of stone path and road appeared in the forest, Lydria saw the dragons had been working their own magic on the town so long owned and neglected by the Qorghal. The avenue leading to the great building on the southern edge of town, was cleared of debris, and the dirt and grime had been washed by flame and magic. A series of small floating blue spheres of light lined the road, and the forest that had once been creeping in upon Nethyngal was pushed back, leaving clean, bare stone and showing the true majesty of the city, carved from the forest and built by generations of dedicated Chag Ca’Grae so long ago.
Hokra breathed deeply as he rode down the center of the avenue. His dual-lidded eyes unable to hide the tears that rolled over his face and across his collar. “Even as a ruin, it is spectacular,” he said to no one. “Would that we could come back to this place and remake it, surely it would be a wonder among cities.”
Kimi walked next to Lydria’s horse, his back above the knees of the animal. Kimi’s presence no longer spooked the horses, but his size still caused them to hesitate slightly when he appeared from the forest.
At the end of the lane, Klamanx and Sryngax waited opposite a large fire, where an entire buffalo slowly spun on a blue-magic spit.
“Welcome to Nethyngal dragon-friend, wielder prince, Kimi the forest cat, Haustis, and Relin of the Eifen. Please sit and make yourselves comfortable, we have stories to tell.”
** *** **
Klamanx and her mate were far more talkative than the other dragons. “We joined Kelmenth for a bit of fun really,” she began. “Sryn and I were youngsters in love and our parents didn’t think we were each good enough for the other, and we heard about the people moving north so we ran from home and joined a group of travelers. On the way, Kelmenth approached us about doing some easy work for the king. At first, we just relayed messages but by the time we were called to move Wynter’s home to the rise, we were well known for being part of Kelmenth’s group.”
Not knowing if everyone had heard of how they had been created as part of Solwyn, Sryngax told the story. His voice was slightly deeper but not as measured as Klamanx’s and it gave the impression that he was always slightly excited and in a hurry. “We thought it odd that he asked us to stand in specific places. Kelmenth started to speak out, but all our mouths were clamped shut by ice and we moved to our places against our will – as if our bodies would not obey the commands of our own minds. It was powerful magic for a wielder such as Wynter, but his skill was not his own alone. He spoke to someone we could not see, and we believe it was she who gave him the power to build Solwyn.
“When our feet stopped, they were clamped in ice and Wynter moved off the hill to speak to the townsfolk who had gathered. I thought we were going to be punished for spying on him, but when he came back, and the ice started to grow around us, we understood. Inside the ice pillars we could see everything that went on. What’s more, because the magic linked us so closely to the castle, we were able to hear everything. Wynter did not hold his plans in his head. It was Burvig who contacted us. We know now, that he was receptive to the magic and he helped us remain calm as we watched the lords walk through the halls, as Wynter spoke to himself and to the Eifen Nethyal.”
Klamanx looked to her mate and picked up the story again, as Sryngax looked at the buffalo still turning slowly in the air and blew a gentle flame along its carcass.
“By the time Keldon arrived, it was obvious Nethyal needed assistance, and when we learned Keldon was of the same mind as the Eifen, Burvig set about trying to influence them to speak their minds to each other. He was never sure if he succeeded or if it was just a coincidence that the two finally came to an agreement.”
“What of Kelmenth during all this?” Lydria asked. “He was the first, and the leader of your group; what did he think of this?”
The two red dragons shared a discrete look before Klamanx responded. “Kelmenth was lost to madness very quickly. Burvig couldn’t reach him in time, or Kelmenth wouldn’t accept what was happening. By the time Wynter performed his final incantation and Kelmenth appeared in his dragon form, he was no longer human at all. When Keldon cut him down, Burvig told us all to remain still until we could make good our escape. He knew Keldon would have killed each of us in turn, so we flew away to the top of the Frostspines where none could reach us, and there, we learned what we could while we survived. Some of us took new names while several others, including Burvig, kept their human names.”
“What will your people do now?” Haustis’ question was gentle and concerned.
“We will continue to survive,” Klamanx said. “But we realize dragons are not meant to be in large colonies. We should be away from others. Burvig suggests we disperse and learn what we can about magic, and Eigrae. We will meet each year on the winter solstice while humans, Eifen, Chag Ca’Grae and other creatures are buried in their homes, their fires raised against the cold, and we will share what we’ve learned.”
“What have you learned so far?” Again, Haustis’ voice was thin, almost apologetic for asking such a question, but in her look Lydria saw that she wanted answers, answers to specific questions she didn’t dare ask.
“Haustis, for you the changes magic has brought to Eigrae may be the most severe. Already the doors to your ancestors are closing, but Sryn and I have visited The Melting Grae and there is more to that place than you may know.”
“The Melting Grae?” Relin looked to the dragons, confused by their choice of words for the spirit world, and Klamanx, understanding his confusion, nodded toward the buffalo indicating they should eat, while she responded.
“The Melting Grae, is the non-Eigrae, it is a place where the dead gather before moving on and out of our existence all together.”
Haustis told the dragons of their own recent visit to the spirit world and confessed to having never heard the name before.
“The name is what it was named to us from those we met there. They said that our coming was an omen, a harbinger of change, where others would come who would make it possible for the living to enter their domain in body as well as spirit – and thus the Melting Grae – where the living and the dead are together.
“It is a vast place and our wings carried us for many days across mountain, ocean, desert, and forest. As you also know by now, for every light there is a darkness, and the Melting Grae is no exception. There is an island where it is said a doorway exists to the Nethyn Plains, the Plains of Darkness. It is said to be a cold, unloving place where those who sowed mischief and pain on Eigrae wait for their second death among their own kind. While the Plains are a part of the Melting Grae, there are magics that surround it that keep the lands separate. None may enter the Nethyn Plains and hope to leave. Even we, when we tried to pass the giant sea that separates the Melting Grae from the island, were turned away. I do not know how to cross to that place.”
“What about the Sword
of Wilmamen?” Lydria asked the question impulsively, quickly following up with an explanation of what they had learned of the Farn’Nethyn blade.
Sryngax almost spoke aloud, quickly lowering his head from surprise at Lydria’s question. “There are tales within the Melting Grae of a key that could open the Nethyn Plains. But the key is only to be found here on Eigrae, and so none in the Melting Grae may possess it. They key, we were told, can open the path to the Nethyn Plains, and possibly allow those trapped there to travel that path back to the Melting Grae…or perhaps to Eigrae itself.”
As Sryngax stopped speaking, even the fire felt cold, and the darkness around them tightened around their chests. “Thank you, Klamanx, Sryngax, for your hospitality and speaking with us.” Lydria stood and bowed politely to the dragons and they nodded in return.
“Dragon friend understand that if Wynter unlocks the Nethyn Plains and if he can command the creatures there as easily as he influenced the men of the north, then we all stand to lose much more than our humanity.”
Lydria nodded. “If he already has the sword, what else does he need? Why does he not do it now?”
“To that, we do not have the answer,” Klamanx replied in a near whisper. “We are not sure Wynter is even aware of what the sword might do.”
“Did all the dragons go to the Melting Grae?”
“Yes, the thirteen of us made this trip together.”
“Would the two dragons who accompany Wynter…, would they tell him?”
“If they believe he can make them human again, they may. I do not know.”
32 - Allies
The next morning Klamanx sent Lydria and her friends on their way suggesting they head east and then south, following the low line of hills that separated the desert kingdom of Dar’Ahlmon with the forests of the west. “Be warned wielder, Sryn has been out this morning and says there are many men on the move from the desert city heading south. Wynter has not been idle and his gathering of the Qorghal is attracting much attention. A group such as yours may be mistaken in such gathering of warriors.”
Heeding the dragon’s advice, Lydria and her friends moved from Nethyngal and made their way south, at first following the path of ruin left by the Qorghal as they deserted the city. The small creatures maintained a single path though they did it with no skill. The way was strewn with refuse and waste and where they camped, the Qorghal left ruin. Bones, excrement, pieces of clothing, armor, or weapons, and occasionally bodies. It was obvious the Qorghal fought amongst themselves on their journey, and the losers were left on the side of the trail, their corpses poor recompense for the devastation they inflicted. Two corpses in particular caused Lydria to pull back and feel some measure of pity toward the creatures. Their bodies were just off the trail, their feet still held together by strands of what looked like thin white rope, and their skin collapsed onto their bones as if all the liquid in their bodies had been removed. The spiders were following the marauders.
Everyone was relieved as they turned off the trail and into the woods toward the east. As they moved further from the Qorghal trail, they realized that aside from the devastation on the ground, the Qorghal had also left a lingering odor on the trail, a burnt mold smell that followed them south. Kimi especially was happy to be away from it and found that the small animals he ate tasted better for being away from the path.
As they continued east, the trees began to thin. “Kimi, can you get to the top of one of these trees?” The cat seemed insulted by the question, but still only managed to make it halfway up a large pine tree before needing the help of Hokra who gently lifted him to the forest roof. Looking through the cat’s eyes, Lydria could see the line of low, flat hills that marked the border of the forests and the desert, and she could see a tan cloud drifting to the south. It could be the weather, she thought, or the movement of a large group of people. Confident they were on the correct course, Hokra lowered Kimi to the sturdy branches and allowed the cat to climb down on his own.
“It’s much easier to climb like that, but I don’t like the feeling of not having something under my feet.” Kimi rubbed his shoulders against Hokra’s chest and let the man’s large hands massage his head, enjoying the strength of fingers that could crush stone as they gently scratched behind his ears.
“How much longer until we make the border of the desert?” Haustis asked. “The words of Klamanx do not sit easy with me. My connection to the Melting Grae is fleeting. I see glimpses only, and even Drae Ghern is hesitant to speak with me.”
“Have you seen him, then?” Lydria was surprised Haustis had seen her grandfather as she had not mentioned it before now.
“Briefly. He confirms the dragon’s tale of the Nethyn Plains but knows little else. He will see if there is help to be had within the Melting Grae and he said he will look for me.” Haustis hesitated for a moment before looking at each member of the group. “He says that if Wynter finds his way to the Melting Grae, the only way to stop him will be to enter that world ourselves.”
“But is not the only way into that place to die?” Hokra asked.
“That is a sure way to get there,” Relin replied. “But not the only way. We have been there before; can we not take that journey again?” He looked at Haustis, hoping he was correct. She shook her head slowly, confirming their previous journey to the Melting Grae was their last.
With little choice, they marched on. Two days later they left the cover of the trees and found their way into a quickly changing landscape. The wall-like hills running north to south acted as a barrier, keeping the desert at bay, but the forest edge was sharp, and walking out of the trees, the landscape almost at once became a series of low-lying plants, and then, brown-green brush, and finally, near the hills, tan dirt and sand mingled together.
Since leaving the trees, Kimi had spotted a trail that would bring them to the top of the hills and they had turned south east toward this scratch in the rocks. Lydria’s plan was simple, to climb the rock and see what lay on the other side and then move south on whichever side promised the quickest route to their destination.
Lydria and Haustis took the narrow path up the side of the hills with Kimi. The cat, even as large as he was, nimbly scampered up the path ahead of them, stopping short of the lip to the top, his ears bent, and his back end arched up. “There are people here. Several at least and they smell of fear, caution, and hope all at once.”
Lydria relayed the information to Haustis behind her, and Hokra on the floor of the plains below. “We’ve come too far to turn back now because other people use this hill as a look out,” Lydria told them all. “Hokra, you and Relin make haste to join us. We will go ahead and see who sits at the top of the hill. It is likely they don’t realize we are here.”
Walking carefully past Kimi, Lydria looked over the top of the path and could see four people kneeling on the ground looking east. The afternoon sun gave Lydria some advantage as it would be in the eyes of anyone who turned to see her approach. Still, she raised a shield on the chance there was an archer nearby hidden from her view and walked openly to the top of the hill.
“Get down, wielder!”
Lydria dropped to a knee without thinking and looked around to see who had spoken. To the north, behind a small group of rocks she made out the form of a woman holding a short bow in her left hand and waving with her right hand, directing Lydria to the four kneeling on the eastern edge of the hill several hundred yards away.
“Who are you?” Lydria asked. Not moving from her spot but watching the archer who kept her right hand visible and away from her bow.
“We are the Dar’Duz, friends of Grettune, Perryn, and Krieger. You and your friends are invited to follow me.”
At the sound of her friends’ names, Lydria sent Kimi back to bring the others. While she waited, she carefully surveyed the top of the plateau. The archer who stopped her was one of three she could see. When Kimi arrived, she surveyed the area again using his senses and found two others, both upwind. Except for several pi
les of loose rock, the area was mostly flat with little for cover and when Lydria did spot a sentry it was only movement that gave the person away.
When everyone arrived on the hilltop, they crept behind Lydria who followed the archer across the mostly flat rock surface. Hokra walked bent slightly at the waist but his refusal to get lower was of no matter to the archer who saw that in a low bow he was barely taller than the rest. Eddies of sand filtered through the cracks in the stone and were blown by a light wind from the south, and Kimi sniffed at the air as they approached the four figures who turned as a unit when they approached.
“Wielder, welcome to Duzmet. We have the great honor to know your friends, who some weeks ago left for the city of Dar’Ahlmon. But we can speak more of that later. I am Ilyadra, leader of the Dar’Duz. Please turn with me to watch events unfold to the near east.”
Without waiting for a reply Ilyadra and those with her turned their attention again to the great tan desert spread out before them. A cloud of dust moved slowly across the desert, the fading sun catching the reflection of something toward the back of the train where the dust was thin, and carts could barely be seen lumbering after the mounted troops and soldiers who must certainly be at the head of the train.
Lydria moved to Ilyadra’s right, and Haustis to the her left. Kimi lay in front of Lydria catching the attention of the Dar’Duz who eyed the over-sized cat skeptically. “Ilyadra, this is Haustis, and may I also present Relin, of the Eifen tribes of the east and west. The other wielder is Hokra of the Chag Ca’Grae.” Lydria was going to introduce Hokra as the crown prince of Safarngal but felt that was a card best left un-played until they knew more about their hosts.
Magic's Genesis- Sword of Wilmamen Page 24