Invasion and Dragons

by Jekka Jones

  Landon didn’t know how long he held Myra, weeping and hushing her whenever she tried to speak, but the scrape of dirt caught his ears. He froze, praying it wasn’t a Seer’s minion coming to rip him away from his fiancé.

  Myra’s eyes slid to Landon’s right and widened. “Deon?”

  A tiny coal of hope flared in his heart. Of all the Borikans that were in the clearing, the one who secretly rebelled against the Twin’s Revenge was among them. It was because of Deon that Landon was still alive. He had done his best to relieve Landon’s suffering and had orchestrated his rescue. Landon had always wanted to thank the man but couldn’t. If the Menrians found out Deon had been involved with Angen’s murder, he was as good as dead.

  Landon began to turn, but Deon Paxellan’s quick command stopped him.

  “Don’t turn around,” Deon said, soft enough for just Landon and Myra to hear. “Act as if you haven’t noticed me or they will suspect. I told them I am bringing you water on Sayre’s orders. Myra, I am sorry, but I cannot let you have a drink. However, I can buy you time. Landon, when I offer you a drink, I will drop a pouch between your knees. It has herbs that will stop the bleeding and help with the infection. Put them directly on the wound as best you can.”

  “Thank you,” Myra breathed, and then louder asked for help. As Deon ignored her requests, Landon bent over Myra and resumed his grieving figure. A canteen appeared in front of him. He made a show of recoiling from it, even pushing it aside with his hands. After a few minutes, Deon stopped.

  “Be that way, Dayn.” Deon snapped harshly.

  Landon shook his head, his eyes focused on the small pouch between his knees. He quickly snatched it and held it to his chest. “Thank you,” he said, putting as much gratitude as he could into those two words.

  He didn’t know if Deon heard him. The Borikan was already walking away. It took all of Landon’s willpower to not turn and look at the man who had once again rekindled his hope. Myra watched Deon leave, hope and longing on her face.

  Landon did as Deon said, making a show of trying to readjust the pathetic bandage, and pushed the herbs as best he could onto the wounds. It was hard since he didn’t want anyone to notice him loosening the ropes and slipping the herbs from the pouch. His fingers became bloody from his efforts.

  “It is time, Landon.”

  Landon looked up, the last of Deon’s herbs pinched between his bloodied fingers, and stared at Darrin and the three samurai towering over him. One fingered a set of iron cuffs in his hand.

  Terror clashed with his grief. “No! I want to take her with us,” Landon begged, wrapping his arms around Myra. She quaked in his arms, her breath hissing between her clenched teeth. “I’ll carry her myself, but let me take her. Please!”

  The three samurai smirked, and Darrin shook his head. “That would break the truce that I have formed with Sayre, Landon, and I will not compromise that. Myra must stay behind.”

  Landon’s terror at those words was blinding. He clung to Myra as though she were an anchor. Words poured from his mouth, but he didn’t know what he was saying. All he knew was that if he could take Myra with him, then Deon would save her as he had saved Landon.

  He begged, made promises he wouldn’t remember, but it was in vain. Myra was to be left behind, and Landon would be their slave.

  Darrin’s expression was devoid of mercy. “Take a good look, men,” the Seer said, cutting off Landon’s pleas. He spoke loud enough to draw the Drakshus’ attention. “Love can be more effective than the sharpest blade. This,” he gestured to Myra, “is how you break a man’s spirit.”

  A sharp spike of anger shot through Landon. It was so sudden that his vision swirled with the force of it. He blinked his eyesight clear, trying to focus on Darrin’s face. He opened his mouth to beg again, but a deep, booming voice echoed off the rocks and stirred the leaves.

  “Love can also turn a soul into a dangerous weapon, Seer. I know that far better than you.”

  Metal rang through the air as swords were drawn. Men shouted at one another, showing fear for the first time. Landon’s heart leaped into his throat as another shiver went down his spine. He looked up and saw Sri’Lanca sitting on a ledge halfway up the waterfall. His reddish-brown color stood out among the dark gray rocks. His wings were folded, and his forefeet were crossed in front of him. He had his hind legs tucked beneath his body, and the tip of his tail twitched on the rocks, just like a cat’s when it’s annoyed. He looked like a predator waiting to strike.

  This same thought was on everyone else’s mind. A hand clapped on Landon’s shoulder and Darrin said, “Niklas! The Seal!”

  “How did it get there?” cried Niklas, frantically untying the pouch from his belt. He ripped it free and threw it to Darrin.

  As the pouch sailed towards the samurai Seer, Landon’s back convulsed. Determination shot through him as Sri’Lanca launched himself from the ledge. He swooped towards the pouch, flaring his wings to kick up a gust of wind. Darrin’s hand seized on Landon’s shoulder and dragged him backwards. Fearing harm to Myra, Landon released her, his heart breaking as she parted from his arms. He fell hard to the ground, Darrin beside him.

  Sri’Lanca laughed, the sound ringing in Landon’s ears. Triumph coursed through the bond, clashing with Landon’s grief and terror. Sayre screamed in rage, her voice almost lost in the gale from the dragon’s wings. Landon twisted himself free and dove back to Myra. Her face was contorted in pain, but she appeared none the worse. He gathered her in his arms and looked around for Sri’Lanca.

  Sri’Lanca was perched on the ledge, a dragon smile spread across his features. Pinched between two claws of a front foot was the pouch.

  “Ha ha!” he crowed. “That was easier than taking a fish from a dragonet.” Sri’Lanca wiggled the pouch enticingly before enfolding it in his foot. He leered at the Seers and warriors. “I have your precious Wizard’s Seal, and you have my tamer. What shall we do now?”

  “What do you mean ‘my tamer?’” Darrin cried. He scrambled to his feet, his face red and twisted with fury. The Seer drew his sword and pointed it at the dragon. “Your tamer is dead, killed by our prisoner.”

  “What are you talking about? My tamer . . .” Astonishment flickered in the bond and Sri’Lanca looked at Landon. “You didn’t tell them?”

  Every pair of Borikan and samurai eyes fell on Landon. Darrin’s eyes bored into him, promising a lifetime of pain. Landon quailed from his gaze. He had never seen the Samurai Master this furious before. He swallowed and said with more confidence than he felt, “I was hoping you would show up, Sri’Lanca.”

  “Landon Dayn,” growled Darrin. “Explain yourself. Right. Now!” He strode forward and placed the tip of his katana on Myra’s throat.

  Landon stared wide-eyed at the blade and then Darrin. “I tamed him. Sri’Lanca found me on the edge of the grassland two weeks ago. We fought, and I used the Wizard’s Seal to stop him. A-a-apparently,” he went on as Darrin’s face paled, “fighting a dragon is part of the taming process. If you win then the dragon will create a powerful bond with you. I defeated Sri’Lanca and he bonded to me for life. If you kill Sri’Lanca then you kill me, and vice versa.”

  “How do you die?” Darrin demanded.

  “I go mad and kill myself,” Landon answered. “Like Sri’Lanca did when I killed Judan.”

  “Lies!” Sayre cried, shoving her way forward. Strands of her blonde hair had come loose from her bun. “You are just desperate to save the girl, and you!” she whirled on Sri’Lanca. “You want to kill Landon and avenge Judan. We will not let you take his life, dragon!”

  Sri’Lanca bared his teeth at her. “Landon and I speak the truth, Seer! Landon tamed me, and therefore we are bonded in life and in death. If you kill me then Landon dies, and he and his woman will be joined forever in death. Quite inconvenient, don’t you think?”

  “Inconvenient, but salvagable,” Sayre said dangerously. She took a deep breath. “What do you want, dragon?”

  “I
want Landon,” Sri’Lanca replied, amused. “Is that not obvious?”

  The Seeress’ jaw clenched. “I understand that, but he is our prisoner and I will not let him slip through my fingers again. Can we not reach a compromise? He killed your true tamer, Judan Tan’Loraen. Surely you wish to avenge his death.” She spread her hands and smiled sweetly at Sri’Lanca. “Allow us to slake your grief. You can help us defeat Nircana and we can help you put Vizier Tan’Loraen’s soul, and yours, to peace.”

  Landon’s heart quickened, and he gazed at the dragon in fear. Was that why Sri’Lanca had returned? For revenge? He had felt Landon’s terror, and came back to watch more? Landon had started to hope Sri’Lanca was going to save them, not sit and watch as Myra died in his arms. Already her breaths had grown shallow and harsh in her chest.

  Sri’Lanca’s triumph flipped to cold resentment, and he frowned at Sayre in annoyance. “Be silent, woman. You sound pathetic assuming you know my thoughts and feelings. I will, however, consider your offer for a truce. Kindly get that strip of metal out of that poor girl’s face, samurai, and rejoin your men.”

  Darrin stiffened. “I will stay right here.” He moved the katana from Myra’s neck to Landon’s. Landon bit his lip, trembling at the metal’s cold kiss on his skin.

  Anger and a touch of fear laced the bond, but those feelings didn’t show on Sri’Lanca’s features. “Darrin Foran, you will sheath your weapon and rejoin your men. Do it, or I will see what I can do with this.” He opened his foot to reveal the small pouch.

  His words were met with a shocked silence.

  “You can use the Seal?” Niklas asked, his voice barely audible over the falls.

  “I don’t know.” Sri’Lanca replied, prodding the bag with a claw. “Landon and his parents fear that I can because of our bond. They have been keeping the Seal from me for that very reason. Shall I find out?”

  No one answered. The Seers and Kennin eyed the pouch and the dragon, their expressions melting into the beginning signs of fear. The samurai and Borikans remained immobile, their faces set to fight to the death. Landon choked back on a sob. The tiny ember of hope that the dragon would save him and Myra was gone. Just like the Seers, Sri’Lanca had come for the Wizard’s Seal. It always came back to the Wizard’s Seal.

  Darrin was the first to move. He sheathed his sword and grabbed Landon’s shoulder, bending close to his ear. “Do not think you are both saved, Landon, because you are not,” he growled. “You may have tamed a dragon, but I know it hates you.”

  “Yes, it does,” Landon replied, his grief receding a bit to allow some anger, “and I hate it. We’re perfect for each other.”

  Darrin released him and strode to join his men. He and the samurai retreated into the treeline. After a signal from Kennin, the Borikans, Niklas, and Sayre followed suit.

  “Landon . . .” Myra whispered, her pale face taunt with pain. “Go. Go while they’re distracted. . . .”

  Landon shook his head and kissed her forehead. “Not without you,” he whispered in return. “If you die, I want to die too.” He looked up at Sri’Lanca, his eyes locking with the dragon’s. He allowed his grief to consume him, to push against the mixture of triumph and cold indignation that was Sri’Lanca.

  “Save us,” he begged softly. “Save me. Please. . . .”

  Sri’Lanca said nothing.

  “We met your terms, dragon,” called Darrin. “What do you want?”

  “Is it the Seal?” Sayre said, desperation lacing her tone. “Do you wish to use its power against the boy? Make him suffer? Help us defeat Nircana, capture Diego and Sierra, and we will give you Landon to do with as you please. We will not touch the boy,” her eyes flicked to Landon, “without your permission. If you can use the Seal, we will share it with you. We will not use the power through you.” She looked at Darrin and Niklas for confirmation, and they both nodded.

  Sri’Lanca tore his eyes from Landon and surveyed the Seers. He regarded them with boredom, but the bond told a different story. The dragon’s annoyance morphed into something that took a few seconds for Landon to identify: Resolve.

  “That is what you want, correct? Revenge?” Sayre demanded furiously.

  “If only it were that simple,” Sri’Lanca said with a soft growl.

  Before anyone could ask for clarification, Landon’s arms, legs, and back muscles suddenly tensed. He gasped and Sri’Lanca sprung. The dragon breathed fire at the Seers and landed in front of the two Nircanians. He flicked the small pouch towards Landon and it landed beside Myra.

  “Landon, the Seal!” Sri’Lanca cried.

  Landon snatched up the pouch and cowered over Myra. Sayre, Kennin, and Darrin screamed as one for the men to attack. Sri’Lanca backed a few steps until he stood above the two Nircanians.

  The samurai and Borikans recovered from the shock of a dragon dropping on top of them and ran at Sri’Lanca. The dragon spun in a tight circle, throwing out his wings and tail. The Borikans and samurai dodged to the side, but a few were too slow. Sri’Lanca’s wings and tail caught them and sent them flying, some into trees and rocks and others over the ledge and into the lower pools. Landon hoped Deon wasn’t among them.

  Sri’Lanca stayed his ground above Landon and Myra, shielding them with his wings and body.

  The samurai and Borikans massed together on one side, putting themselves between the camp and dragon. They dodged and weaved, trying to get to Landon. Although the way downstream was clear, Sri’Lanca was hard-pressed to keep the men at bay. He stayed his ground above Landon and Myra, shielding them with his wings and body. The scabbed wounds on his body reopened from the swords, but they didn’t bleed as badly or inhibit his speed.

  Landon crouched over Myra, holding her close and praying for deliverance. He could feel the Seal burning through the pouch in his hand. He knew he should do something, but he was frozen with terror. He couldn’t have wielded the Seal anymore than he could have saved Eli.

  Sri’Lanca began bellowing at the top of his lungs. “Seers! Seers at the falls! Nircana to me! Nircana to me!” He threw back his head and breathed a long stream of fire into the air. It swelled out like a mushroom, sizzling as it collided with the waterfall. Steam billowed and rose into the sky, far better than any smoke signal. Sri’Lanca roared, and Landon clapped his hands over Myra’s ears, his teeth rattling in his skull.

  Another dragon roared in response, and Ti’Luthin was in the chaos with Liliana and Morgan on his back. Sri’Lanca moved and Ti’Luthin landed beside him, head to tail. The two dragons worked in tandem, their bodies a wall of muscle and sinew that the Borikans and samurai couldn’t penetrate. Liliana and Morgan slid down Ti’Luthin’s side and raced to Landon.

  “Landon! Myra!” Morgan cried, his face white with terror. “Are you okay?”

  “She’s been stabbed,” said Landon. “I need to get her to Sam. Deon’s here, and he gave me some medicine but it’s not enough. She needs more help!”

  “Everyone’s on their way,” said Liliana, touching Myra’s forehead.

  “They’re going to have to fight through that lot though,” said Morgan, jerking a thumb at the crowd of samurai and Borikans beyond the fighting dragons. “What happened? Lan, there’s blood everywhere.”

  Landon glanced at his reddened fingertips. “The Seers,” he said. “They snuck up on us. Sayre and Darrin had been having visions of the waterfall, and Niklas had one about Sri’Lanca and me. They found their way here and ambushed us while we were washing the bandages. The Seers . . .”

  Any color that was left in Morgan’s face vanished. “How did Myra get stabbed?”

  Landon’s eyes burned. “I did it.” His grief returned full force, and he buried his face in his hands. “I stabbed her. I couldn’t stop it. The power . . . it was controlling my body and Niklas and Sayre were controlling me. I tried to stop it. I tried.” He raised his head, shaking. “Morgan, I swear before Jeshua and His angels that I tried.”

  Morgan stared at him for a moment and then grabbed h
im. “I know you did, mate. You would never hurt your opal of everlasting love.”

  “What did you call me?” Myra demanded, straining her voice to be heard.

  “Don’t talk, Myra!” Morgan snapped. “Where’s the Seal?”

  Landon held up the pouch with a trembling hand.

  “Good. Keep that.” Morgan got to his feet and yelled, “Sri’Lanca! I got a job for you!”

  “I’m a little busy right now,” Sri’Lanca snarled back. His neck snapped forward, and a painful scream followed. The dragon spat something from his mouth, and there was a red splatter along his teeth.

  “You need to get Landon out of here,” Morgan bellowed, cupping his hands to make himself heard. “You need to take him and Myra and go somewhere safe.”

  “And where would that be?” Sri’Lanca asked. His tail whipped around, and Sayre let out a furious scream. Sri’Lanca chuckled. “Try that again Seer and I’ll knock out more than just your weapon.”

  “The safest place you can think of, of course! Stop this fighting and get your tamer and his girl to safety, now!”

  Cold fear suffused Landon. He grabbed Morgan’s arm. “No! Myra needs a doctor not a flight out of the valley!” he yelled. “She’ll die!”

  Morgan turned and grasped Landon’s shoulder. “I know, mate, but it’s not going to be much longer before the Lythrans try another run at our valley, and this time they might have the Maisans backing them. You have to get out of here.” He looked around at Sri’Lanca and let out an angry squawk. “You’re still fighting? I told you to get your peoples and go!”

  “In case you haven’t noticed,” Sri’Lanca roared back, “I am a little busy!” He spat another fireball, and several men screamed.

  “I have your tail, wingmate,” said Ti’Luthin. “On three. One. . . .”

  Morgan bent down and kissed Myra’s forehead. “Hold on, Myra. If Lan can cheat death, so can you.”

  “Two. . . .”