Invasion and Dragons

by Jekka Jones

  “He didn’t!” Myra cried. Her jaw was hanging open and her eyes bulged in disbelief.

  “He did, and he meant it. He swore by Balaam’s wings that he would willingly sever the bond if I told any dragon what had happened.” Sri’Lanca swallowed, his anger sharpening. “I kept my silence, too afraid of losing my tamer than telling the truth, but I loathed Judan after that. I thought about abandoning him and living with the wild dragons, but we were bonded. I had to make it work or spend the rest of my life feeling him.

  “I didn’t forgive him until we found out that Sierra had hidden her child and the Seal in Nircana. For me, the treaty was a means to my redemption.” He met Landon’s eyes. “By placing you under Dagnor’s charge, Judan and I could be forgiven of Hondel’s death. The day I found you by that shallow pond was the best moment of my life. I felt like I had been forgiven.”

  Landon felt and saw the bitterness the dragon still harbored after all those years. In the days of interacting with the dragon, Landon had been impressed with his ability to control his expression, but now it made sense. Sri’Lanca had to wear a mask or else Judan would end their lives. Anger bubbled in Landon’s heart, furious that Judan would force Sri’Lanca to ruin his integrity for power.

  He tried to suppress it so Sri’Lanca wouldn’t notice, but, as always, the dragon did. Sri’Lanca nervously looked at him, as if he expected Landon to yell at him. Shame simmered in the bond, and that angered Landon more.

  In that moment, Landon knew their bond was meant to be. It was unfortunate how it came about, with Landon killing Judan and Sri’Lanca killing Eli, but he knew it was both Jeshua and Balaam’s will that they were bonded.

  “Sri’Lanca,” he said, “I’m sorry Judan, and the emperor, did that to you. It’s disgusting, and something I would expect from the Seers. I promise I will never sacrifice your soul for power.”

  Sri’Lanca flexed his foreclaws and rustled his wings. “I know you won’t, Landon. That’s why—after you had defeated me on the prairie—I wished I had bonded to you in the first place. You value family over power. For nineteen years, I have been imprisoned in a lie, but now I am free. I feel like a new dragon, washed of all my sins.

  “I know my actions before were disgusting and unholy. I was angry that I would bond to the man who slew my tamer, and I again implore your forgiveness.”

  Sri’Lanca’s yellow eyes held Landon’s. They reflected the love and longing coursing through the bond—the forgiveness and desire to move on to better things. Landon found himself wanting that. Everything that had happened in the past, the deaths and hatred that resulted from their choices was meaningless. A place in his heart would always weep for Eli, ache for Oni, and tremble for Myra, but he had to let it go. It was time to put the past behind and never look back.

  “I forgive you, Sri’Lanca,” said Landon, and he smiled. “You’re my dragon and nothing will change that now.”

  Landon almost collapsed from the surge of joy and love that came from Sri’Lanca. Sri’Lanca shoved his nose into Landon’s chest, knocking him to the ground. He trilled so loud that it echoed off the walls and caused the pool to ripple. Landon placed his hands on his dragon’s nose, giggling like a little boy.

  Myra grinned and wiped the tears from her face. “I hate to break up the tender moment, but we do have a swarm of dragons sniffing at our door. It’d be nice if they didn’t find us. Just saying.”

  “Right, right. So sorry. I should’ve known better,” said Sri’Lanca, ceasing his happy trills. He hunched his wings, embarrassed, but his tail continued to thrash on the floor with joy. “You know what this calls for?”

  “More cheese?” Landon guessed.

  Sri’Lanca’s face split into a wide, toothy smile. “Lots and lots of cheese!”

  Chapter 25

  The Dragon Guard continued to prowl the cliffs. Dragons landed several times on the false wall, but Landon, Myra, and Sri’Lanca were quick to douse any light if a dragon peered into the crack. Luckily, the dragons only searched during the day, allowing Sri’Lanca to hunt at night. Landon expected Sri’Lanca to stay out long enough to get food, but his dragon always returned when the sky lightened, sometimes with another wagon, sometimes with a tired face. When Landon asked what he had been doing, he confessed to taking his routes by Hondel. Landon wasn’t too pleased with this, but Sri’Lanca assured him it was to throw off the dragons.

  “They think we’re hiding in Maisa,” Sri’Lanca said when Landon expressed his fears. “It’s easier for me to lose them. They are not as eager to face a desolated land as I am.”

  It wasn’t until over a month had passed since that terrifying night at the falls that Landon was snapped awake by terror. He sat up and looked around, expecting Darrin, Sayre, or Angen to leap from the dark. His heart pounded in his ears, and his legs shook as if trying to run.

  “Whassup, Lan?” asked Myra, sleepily.

  “I had a . . .” he began but stopped himself. “Not a nightmare. Sri’Lanca. Sri’Lanca’s terrified.” Landon looked to the opening, which was black from the nighttime sky. He couldn’t see Myra, but he sensed her eyes on him.

  He felt her hand on his elbow. She squeezed. “He’ll be okay.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as him. “He’ll be okay.”

  But Landon couldn’t relax. He sat in their bed, flinching at every sound and waiting for his body to tell him when Sri’Lanca was close. After a few minutes, Myra sat up too. They huddled together as the night crawled by, hoping for Sri’Lanca’s safe return.

  Dawn came, and still Sri’Lanca wasn’t back.

  “Landon, is he still scared?” Myra asked around a mouthful of eggs.

  Landon nodded. “As terrified as if all the dragons on earth were after him.” He froze and met Myra’s eyes.

  She swallowed her food. “Do you think every single dragon is after him?”

  Landon didn’t know what to say that would be reassuring, but his face was answer enough. Myra swore and put down her plate. She stood and began to pace around the cave. Landon tried to eat, but the eggs tasted like wood. He had no appetite for it.

  An hour later, his body went into spasms. He clenched his hands as his shoulders, back, and legs twitched like a nervous bird. A body slammed against the door, causing them to jump. Claws scrabbled at the boulder, shoving it aside. A large blur of reddish brown raced into the cave and shoved the boulder back in place. Sri’Lanca flattened himself against the wall, his wings half furled and teeth bared. He held one claw to his mouth, signaling silence, and nodded at the crack.

  Landon and Myra stood still, holding their breaths, as screeching dragons approached.

  “Did you see him?”

  “He went this way!”

  “The cliff! Is that him?”

  He noticed that Sri’Lanca had a sack clenched in his other foot. What did the dragon steal this time? By the deafening sound of the dragons’ screeches, whatever was in that bag must be precious. It sounded as if all the dragons in the world were swarming the cliffs.

  The two humans and dragon cowered in the cave. After almost an hour, the dragons’ screeches faded. Ten minutes later and they were gone, leaving behind the steady crash of waves and pounding hearts.

  “Sri’Lanca,” Landon began, trying to keep his voice from shaking, “what happened?”

  Sri’Lanca eyed Landon, his terror morphing into apprehension. “I stole some special supplies for us.”

  “What sort of supplies?” Landon’s terror was also morphing, but not into anxiety.

  Sri’Lanca flinched. “Ivy leaves—but listen to what I have to say first, Landon, before you yell at me.”

  Myra straightened at this. “Yell? Why would he . . . oh. Right. The bond.”

  “Start talking,” Landon said in a dangerous tone.

  Sri’Lanca took a deep breath. “We need to go to Hondel.”

  Whatever response Landon had expected, it wasn’t that. He frowned, folded his arms, and waited. Myra said nothing e
ither, so Sri’Lanca continued.

  “After what you said about Hondel,” he said in a rush, “I’ve been flying over it, trying to see what was causing the smoke you spoke of. It is indeed burning, and I wanted to see why. Two days ago, I saw the source of the poisonous cloud that covers the country: a bonfire.”

  “So?” asked Landon. “It’s always been that way.”

  Sri’Lanca let out a frustrated growl. “But that is the problem. Dragon fire only burns if there is something to fuel it, be it wood, cloth, rope, or . . . or flesh. The longest blaze I know of burned for two weeks. Yet how long has Hondel been burning? Nineteen years. In all of dragon lore that is impossible. There is nothing left to burn.”

  “Ash,” said Landon, yet he knew that wasn’t right. Ash didn’t burn.

  Sri’Lanca shook his head. “Dragon ash can burn, but only an hour at the most. Therefore, I decided to investigate the bonfire early last night.” The dragon’s wings rustled with nervousness. “I am sorry I didn’t tell you, but I wanted to be sure before I brought it up. I investigated it and found the source: a shack. It looks like a hunter or shepherd’s shack. Not very big, but it’s blazing away like a fire mountain. It is definitely dragon-caused, and all the poison in the air made me feel woozy.”

  Landon’s body grew numb, and Sri’Lanca’s voice became distant. He met Myra’s eyes, his fear and astonishment reflected in hers. Landon felt like he was back in the hollowed trunk, watching Darrin have his vision. A burning shack . . . and there was one in Hondel of all places.

  “Landon, what is it?” asked Sri’Lanca. He flapped one wing, startling Landon and Myra to look at him. “You both look like you’ve seen a specter.”

  Myra licked her lips. “The first time we saw Darrin have a vision, he described a burning shack. He saw Landon standing inside a room that was on fire, but he wasn’t hurt.”

  “And at the falls he said he Sees it every so often,” Landon said. He began to pace around the cave. “So, you found a burning shack. Could you tell what was causing it?”

  “Wizard magic.”

  Landon and Myra stared at him. “Come again?” Landon asked.

  “Think about it,” Sri’Lanca persisted. “What can destroy a wizard’s power? Nothing! Not even my fire could melt the Wizard’s Seal. It’s the only logical explanation!”

  “Yes, but it didn’t keep burning,” Landon countered. “The fire put itself out, remember. I was able to grab the Seal and . . .” He hesitated.

  “Forgiven and in the past, my tamer, but that is exactly my point!”

  “Uh, not really,” said Myra.

  Irritation flooded through the bond, and Sri’Lanca snorted sparks. “You know what I mean! The wizard who imbued his power into that shack must have done it in a way for the shack to constantly burn. He bound it to his blood the same way the Seal was bonded to yours, Landon. That way, the shack would be protected forever. Maybe even from decay.”

  Myra looked at Landon. “Could the power do that? Take whatever attacks it and use it to an advantage?”

  Landon shrugged. “I’d say we could test the theory, but if Sri’Lanca’s hunch is right then we’d have a forever burning object to deal with on top of everything else.”

  Myra nodded and fiddled with a strand of her hair. “Sri’Lanca, are you sure a wizard’s magic is fueling it?”

  “Yes. How do I know? Because my nose hurts as if a swarm of hornets attacked it,” Sri’Lanca replied. That was when Landon noticed his dragon kept licking the tip of his snout with his tongue, and it was discolored. He was surprised he hadn’t noticed until now.

  “You touched the shack, didn’t you?” said Landon, and he couldn’t help but smirk. He remembered how Sri’Lanca had reacted when the Seal had burned him. The moment had been nerve-wracking, but afterwards they’d laughed about it.

  Sri’Lanca glared at him. “It’s not funny! I practically drowned my nose in the ocean and it still hurts!”

  “Welcome to the life of a human,” said Myra, also grinning.

  “If the shack burned you,” Landon said, and resumed his pacing, “then it has to be bonded to someone, like the Wizard’s Seal is bonded to my family.”

  “Exactly,” Sri’Lanca replied. “Which is why we need to go to Hondel. I want to see if you can either stop the blaze, or enter the shack.”

  Landon stopped and whirled on Sri’Lanca, “What? No! I’m not going to let a Seer’s vision come true.”

  “Freeze the Seers! I think there is something in there worth saving,” Sri’Lanca argued. “Why else would a wizard enchant a wayside country shack to burn forever? I strongly think we should go.”

  “And I strongly think it’s a bad idea.” Landon’s voice rose with each word. “I’m not going to risk our safety to find out what some wizard decided to tuck away in a shack.”

  Sri’Lanca snarled, and Landon felt his anger. It had been so long since he had felt that emotion, and it sent his mind reeling. Yet he stayed firm. “We’re not going. It was probably magicked from a stupid wizard goofing around.”

  “You and I know that is not the case!” Sri’Lanca countered, struggling not to yell. “No wizard would allow a mistake like that to be left alone. That wizard who bound the Seal to your ancestor—Christovan, was it?—He realized the Wizard’s Seal was a mistake. He didn’t leave it to chance, and neither would any of the other wizards. No, I think there is something important in that shack and it is worth investigating.”

  “It’s probably a stupid crown that a stupid wizard stole!” Landon cried. “Not even worth our sweat.”

  “What if it’s something else?” Sri’Lanca’s voice dropped conspiratorially, even if anger continued to bombard Landon. “What if there’s something that can tell us about the Wizard’s Seal? Something that explains exactly how it was made, and how it could be unmade.”

  Landon stared, unable to believe what he was hearing. He was about to speak but Myra voiced her thoughts first. “You think there might be a record of how to get rid of the Seal?”

  “I do,” said Sri’Lanca. “Nothing man-made lasts forever. It must be the same for the Seal. I know how much you hate it, Landon. The Seal is responsible for Hondel’s destruction, your parents’ imprisonment, and every nation slaughtering each other without remorse. What if you could get rid of it once and for all?”

  Blood pounded in Landon’s ears. Sri’Lanca had to say it, had to say the one hope that would make him agree. That possibility had been stirring in the back of his mind since Sri’Lanca brought up the burning shack, strengthening as they talked about the wizards, but it was a vain hope. Nothing could destroy the Seal. Diego said many of his ancestors tried with no luck. Even dragon fire, the most destructive force, did nothing.

  Landon shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sri’Lanca, but that isn’t possible. I wish it was, but it isn’t.” He leaned against a bookshelf, his anger dissipating. “The Wizard’s Seal can’t be destroyed. We just have to hope—”

  “Hope what?” snapped Sri’Lanca. “Hope our people frighten off battalions of trained warriors? Hope that the Seers will give up and go home? Hope that the armies will kill each other until no one remains? Those are fool’s hopes, Landon, and you know it. If you want to help your people, then come with me to Hondel. Let’s see what this shack is all about.”

  “What about the poison?” piped Myra. “I’m not siding with anyone,” she said, when two sets of eyes swiveled onto her. “I’m just asking.”

  “That’s what the leaves are for,” Sri’Lanca answered, shaking the sack. “As soon as I was burned, I knew what I needed to do. I flew as fast as I could to Nircana, snuck into the Dagnorian camp, and stole the largest sack of vines I could find. The plants negate the poisons caused by dragon fire. All we need to do is wear them around our mouths and nose like a mask and we’ll be fine.”

  Masks. Landon had a memory of being tied to a chair, and the Dagnorians wearing leaf-like masks surrounding him. He shuddered and shoved that memory back to wher
e it belonged. “So, these masks are supposed to help us against nineteen years’ worth of poison? Didn’t you say it made you feel sick?”

  “That’s why I stole enough for two days. Just in case. Please, Landon,” Sri’Lanca said, his eyes and emotions changing to desperation. “I wouldn’t have proposed it if I didn’t think it was worth it.”

  “I don’t want to make a Seer’s vision come true,” Landon replied, also imploring.

  “I know, but I feel Balaam guiding us,” Sri’Lanca argued. His faith and desperation clashed with Landon’s fear and doubt. “We will not be disappointed. I know it. It is Balaam and Jeshua’s will, and they will guide our flight.”

  Landon wanted to argue. They had to stay hidden. It was the only way to avoid capture. This wasn’t like the days before the samurai showed up, when he and Myra took off for adventures and exploring. One mishap, one encounter with a search party, and it would be all over. The war would be finished, Landon and everyone he loved enslaved, and the Seers would have their precious Wizard’s Seal at last.

  Yet, as always, Sri’Lanca had an excellent point. It was better than sitting around, hoping without acting.

  “Fine,” Landon said, surrendering. “When do you want to leave?”

  Even though relief and joy surged through Landon, Sri’Lanca had the grace to maintain a sober expression. “Tonight. I am going to sleep, but will you gather our supplies? Fill any sack or bag you can find with what you can.”

  “Wait. You want us to pack up everything?” asked Myra. “How long does it take to fly to Hondel?”

  “Four hours, but we are not coming back here,” said Sri’Lanca, gazing around their humble dwelling. “As much as it has become like home, we must move elsewhere. I’ve found a few other caves in the area, some in Maisa too. I want to have as much of our supplies as possible, just in case something goes wrong.”