Darkness: A Guardians of Orana Novel

by Nancy E. Dunne

  “There, now I don’t have to talk to you in the bond—gracious, little one, are you all right? You seem—well, it’s hard to know if you are pale, but in the bond, I sense that you are a bit lightheaded.” Ellie had expected a booming voice, but in actual fact, it was just a bit louder than anything she had heard before. “Ah, I’ve surprised you, have I?” Kaerinth laughed, and had her razor-sharp teeth not been so close to Ellie’s face she might have joined in—the sound was almost pleasant. “I have heard that you were asking after me, Elspethe Turlach.”

  “Why have you brought me here?”

  “You mean Taeben didn’t tell you? I warned Taanyth not to place so much of his trust in a lesser creature—no offense intended, little one.”

  “None taken, I suppose. And no, Taeben did not tell me that I would be coming to you, exactly.” She swallowed hard. Clearly, she had not been as successful at hiding her communication with the dragons as she had thought. “I am to find the All-Mother and retrieve the orb that holds the power of Ikara.”

  “OH, well, that’s easy enough then, isn’t it?” Kaerinth laughed again, a hearty sound this time, but one that still put Ellie a bit on edge. “Your Taeben is a fool to think that you could track down a goddess and steal from her all on your own. No, you will need my help to get that orb, and I have just the way to do it.” The massive dragon circled around a time or two and then sat down on the soft rugs. “Well, have a seat, little one, or would you prefer a cushion?”

  “No—ma’am, thank you.” Ellie dropped to the floor in a seated position. She was still troubled by one detail and decided to ask because she was sure the Mother Dragon could read it in her mind anyway. “May I just ask—why do you want to help Taeben? Didn’t he assist the Nature Walker in causing your mate’s death?”

  Kaerinth lowered her massive neck until she was at eye level with Ellie. “Aye, he was there. Without his magic, that pathetic wood elf would have been no match for my Taanyth. But let me ask you a question, little one. Whoever said that I was going to do this to help your A’chrya? And don’t look so panic-stricken. He cannot hear us now. I have blocked him out of our conversation.” Ellie relaxed a bit. “He is truly gifted to have so many of you so afraid of him. Perhaps after my Taanyth is restored, we will have to retrieve this wizard. His mind would be a good addition to my brood, I think. But first things first. With the magic of Ikara in my possession, I can end that miserable Nature Walker and then convince Ikara to free my Taanyth from the Void. Once we are together again and my beloved’s mind is restored, we will raise up our kind and rule Orana as we were destined to do.”

  “So, I will steal the orb for you, then—but when I return home, I will have to face my A’chrya and -” Ellies swallowed hard. “With respect, Mother Dragon, how do I know you will not just take the orb from me and then end me? What will my place be in your new world?”

  “You will have a reward, Elspethe Turlach. Your House will be restored. But we will worry about that when the time comes. What I need to know now is whether or not you will help me get the orb?”

  Ellie chuckled, more out of fear than amusement. “With all respect, Mother Dragon, I do not think I have a choice, do I?” Kaerinth smiled at her, and again, she felt faint.

  “No, I suppose you do not. But remember, you are doing a great deal toward mending a great wrong committed against my kind by an ancestor of yours. I have kept my eye on your family since leaving the other side of Orana, my girl, and in you, I see the perfect ally. When I heard that you and I were of similar purpose, I commanded Taeben to bring you to me, as he did the Nature Walker and the Rajah of Qatu’anari. So, shall we get started?” Ellie nodded—and sent silent apologies to Taeben through the bond, though she was reasonably sure he could no longer hear her. Warmth surged through Ellie’s body, and she felt more energetic than she had in months.

  A’chrya?

  I am here. Kaerinth has blocked me, but I am always here, in the back of your mind.

  I will not disappoint you, A’chrya. I swear.

  I know, dark flower. I am here, and I will help you as much as I can. Now, do as Kaerinth commands. Find the orb and bring it to me so that I may take my rightful place with you at my side.

  Yes, A’chrya.

  And Elspethe? Please, call me Taeben.

  Twenty-Six

  Of all the Taverns in all of La’al Drygyr…

  Sath’s eyes opened, and he came fully awake at the sound of movement in the next room. He and Gin had traveled along the path as far as they could manage before fatigue forced them to look for a place to stay for the night. While there were no formal establishments, there were a few alehouses and taverns run by dragonkind. One that welcomed them in for a pint of ale and a meal was run by a kindly dragonkind male—high elf hybrid by the look of him—who offered them a small cottage he owned for the night. In truth, there had not been much sleep, but finally, Sath and Gin had been able to doze a bit. He was wide awake now, though.

  A quick glance at Gin told him she was still asleep, so he carefully unwound himself from her and slid from the bed, pulling on his trousers and tunic as quietly as he could. She had given him a pair of greaves from her own armor—after he got over the embarrassment of wearing something of hers, he found them much more comfortable than his own currently oversized gear. Another noise—this time, he thought from the kitchen—set the hair on the back of his neck on end. He barely took a moment to notice it before he crept to the door and opened it a tiny crack.

  The moon hung full and bright in the sky. Sath could see with the light that was streaming in the round windows. A figure moved about frantically in the kitchen, plunging gloved hands in and out of their belongings. The orb! Sath saw it come out of the bag when its bluish glow filled the room. The figure muttered something in a language he didn’t understand—D’leesh, perhaps—and chuckled as it shoved the orb into its own pack. Sath froze. He had never mastered the language of the so-called dark elves, but he was sure that Gin probably spoke it. Unsure of his next move, Sath held his breath as the intruder headed for the door. He knew he had to pounce, or the orb would be lost, but the intruder looked to be the same size as he—how effective would that be? How did Gin live like this?

  “Sath?” Gin called out. Sath cursed inwardly as the figure stopped by the door, standing still as a statue. Sath pushed the door shut and waved at Gin to stop talking, finally putting a finger over his lips. He then took a deep breath and flung open the bedroom door to see the outer door to the dwelling wide open and empty.

  “Ikara’s TEETH!” he swore as he ran out of the dwelling. Gin was behind him, pulling on her tunic and hopping into her trousers as she ran, barefooted, across the floor. Sath’s eye was on the burglar and he thought he was gaining ground until he failed to notice a root from one of the massive trees and went sprawling forward. He looked up in time to see Gin surge past him, the sparkling air left in her wake proof that she had cast a movement spell to increase her speed. With the added burst, she closed on the intruder and flung herself into the air, landing with a sickening crunch on the burglar’s back as both of them hit the ground. Sath got to his feet and ran to where Gin was wrestling with the still shrouded assailant.

  “Give us back the orb,” he bellowed, trying to roar. Instead of the bone-shaking sound that reduced his enemies to sobbing children, the best he could do was a sort of a growl that actually sounded like a belch. Shaking his head in frustration, he reached into the wiggling mass of arms and legs and pulled out the burglar, giving the cloaked figure a shake to knock the hood back. He was holding a vaguely familiar-looking dark elf female by the neck and was dismayed to find that his arms were not long enough to keep her from assaulting his face and shoulders with painful blows from her indigo fists. How did he know her?

  “I’ve got it, Sath!” Gin called out from beneath the flying blur of blue, still battering Sath. “I’ve got the orb.” Sath shoved the Ikedrian to the ground and took a defensive stance in front of Gin. “Who are y
ou?” Gin said, stepping out from behind Sath and elbowing him in the ribs. “Why did you take this from me?”

  “I do as commanded, Nature Walker, filthy wood elf abomination!” the Ikedrian snarled in D’leesh at Gin.

  “You serve Ikara,” Gin responded in kind, her voice tight and pinched. “I serve the Mother of Us All, Sephine, and in her name, I am granting you mercy. Get out of here before I change my mind.” The Ikedrian stared at her, almost curiously, but warily. Flames began to coalesce around Gin’s hands as she spoke, and the dark elf winced away from her. “NOW! GO NOW!” Gin leaned in, and the dark elf sprang to her feet and ran back the way Gin and Sath had traveled the day before.

  “What the…Gin? Why did you let her go?” Sath stared at her in disbelief. “She almost stole Sephine’s orb!”

  “Druids do not learn the ways of violence for no reason,” Gin said, and Sath could almost hear the goddess’s voice again in his head, underscoring Gin’s words. “We learn the ways of mercy and peace. She will face enough violence when she returns to whoever sent her empty-handed.”

  “Okay, next question,” he said, frowning slightly. “Where did you learn the Ikedrian language? I thought you might be at least familiar since they live under the Great Forest, but -”

  “Well, the wizard wanted me to learn all the languages I could, but I already learned some of it because my brother knew…” Gin paused a moment, the memory of Cursik’s death opening a wound in her heart she had forgotten was there. “My brother was mated to an Ikedrian,” she replied softly. “He lost her in the wilds on a hunt. When he came back to Aynamaede, he stayed with me. He spoke almost exclusively in D’leesh to keep her memory alive. After I lost him, I studied D’leesh as a way to honor him. It is not an easy language, and he was not a good student outside of history, so I don’t know how he managed.” She chuckled, but it was a hollow sound. “I guess love for your mate is a strong motivator.”

  “I had no idea,” Sath said softly. He touched her face gently and smiled when she didn’t pull away. “So, what did you two say?”

  “She is a servant of Ikara, just like they all are,” Gin said, her face suddenly void of emotion, “and I told her that I served the All-Mother, and to leave before I forgot my mercy.”

  Sath stared at Gin, unblinking for a few moments. “You really said that?” he asked, smiling.

  “Yes, why? Didn’t think that I had it in me?”

  “Gin, you never, ever cease to amaze me,” Sath said, kissing her on the forehead. “I love you.”

  “And I love you, Sath. I just hope all these heroics haven’t awakened the entire inn and worn out our welcome. It’s been nice to have a real bed for a change. This cottage is beautiful.” Gin shook her head and picked up the orb, cradling it in her arms until she got back to the house. Once there, she placed it in her haversack—after putting the bag on the table, she returned to the bedroom to get dressed. Sath had followed her in, checked through the windows to make sure they were safe, and then put on his own armor. “We need to get moving, Sath,” Gin called to him. “I doubt that whoever sent her will stop with merely just one failed attempt.”

  “You’re right,” Sath replied. “But Gin, don’t you wonder how they knew we had it? How did they know where we were? And she looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t place where I had seen her before.”

  Gin’s head appeared in the doorway. “What are you saying, Sath? Do you think that—”

  “Nothing,” he said quickly. “Just wondering, is all.” Just wondering if your goddess set us up, he thought, making sure she couldn’t hear him through the bond. “Let’s hit the trail.”

  As she left without the orb, Ellie called out to the Mother Dragon in her mind, just as she’d been told to do. She felt ancient magic wrap around her like an inky blanket, and the next thing she knew, she was in the presence of the primeval dragon. “I have failed you, Mother,” Ellie said as she crumpled to her knees, face pressed into the ground in front of her. This would be the end of her, for sure—Taeben was terrifying but nothing compared to being in the presence of this being of myth and legend. “Sephine is using the Nature Walker to transport the orb somewhere. I was unable to secure the weapon, but I do know where they are.”

  “Interesting that Sephine has tried to tip the scales, so to speak. They are on their way to see my son, I am certain of it. Sephine means to enlist my son to keep my Taanyth in the Void. Omerith will turn them away or become my enemy. I will remember his choice.” She looked down at Ellie, now trembling at her feet. “Oh, get up, stop the groveling. You will continue to follow the wood elf couple that Sephine thinks she can use to foil my plans, and I will watch through our bond. I will have them both back here to answer for what they did to my Taanyth as well as have the orb.” Ellie looked up into that terrifying smile once again and shuddered. “Off you go, then!” The darkness surrounded her again—when it cleared, Ellie was back in the dirt to the side of the path. Had she even gone anywhere? Had she seen the Mother Dragon in her mind? Even Taeben did not have that ability -

  GO, ELSPETHE!

  The Mother Dragon’s voice reverberated through her mind, and she thought she felt Taeben stirring as well. After casting invisibility and increased speed magic, she wasted no time in following their trail.

  Several hours into their travels, Gin came to an abrupt halt and quickly found Sath in the bond.

  Sath, listen to me, we’re being followed. Don’t let on that you know, just keep acting natural. I don’t know who or what yet, but there is someone close by us.

  Sath scanned the area. They had come to a crossroads, and from what little he gleaned from the signposts along the way, they were not far at all from La’al Drygyr—home of the red dragon Guardian, Omerith. A cool breeze lifted the fringe of hair off Gin’s forehead, and Sath pulled his tunic up around his neck.

  How do you manage without fur?

  Gin giggled a bit but stopped abruptly and started off toward the north.

  Gin?

  Na’hina, Sath! Just keep your mouth shut and follow me. I’m the one with the tracking ability, remember?

  Sath grinned, both at her bravado and her mastery of his language. It seemed like only yesterday that they were out hunting with the other Fabled Ones, sitting around the fire listening to Gin trying to perfect the sounds of the Qatunari language. Now she was swearing.

  They followed the path as quietly they could, Sath following a step or two behind Gin as she led the way. She moved gracefully, and Sath was ashamed that he had never noticed it before. Maybe he understood better how nimble their bodies were because he was one now? He chuckled to himself, thinking of other ways in which Gin was quite agile.

  What?

  Gin turned her upper body to glare at him as she froze in her tracks. She stopped so suddenly that Sath almost crashed into her, cursing his lack of feline grace as he stumbled to resume his balance.

  Nothing. Sorry. I’m just a little distracted. Sorry.

  She continued on, annoyance apparent on her face, past what appeared to be several large brew barrels that contained enough ale to keep the citizens of La’al Drygyr drunk for days…if dragonkind were as fond of libation as the dwarves. Sath’s heart twinged a bit at the thought of Teeand and Nerhys and all their young ones. He quickened his pace to make sure he kept up with Gin. He knew that she was taking them in a circular path to the citadel ahead when he noticed the brew barrel go by a second time. Why were they circling around?

  Gin is someone still—

  Wait. Let me concentrate.

  Gin raised a finger that she held up behind her back at him. Sath followed in silence, a scowl deepening his elven features. After the third trip around, Gin stopped suddenly. She spoke ancient Elvish words, and Sath felt the familiar cloak of invisibility wrap around him. Instead of the fear he usually felt at being unable to see her, somehow, he was calm, knowing that he could just reach out in front of himself, and she would be there. Being the same size as Gin really made more
of a difference than Sath ever would have imagined. They both stood still where they were, and soon a hooded figure came creeping out from behind a nearby tree. She pushed her hood back, and Gin nearly gasped when she recognized the dark elf that had tried to rob them earlier.

  She’s following us. I told you there would be another attempt. Come on, Sath. We’re putting an end to this.

  Sath reached out and found Gin’s hand, squeezing it to show her he understood. He was glad he had because as soon as she felt his hand surround hers, Gin took off running in the direction the dark elf had taken when she thought she’d lost them.

  Gin, She may lead us to whoever sent her. What if it is the Mother Dragon? We do not want to go over and say how-do-you-do to Lady Kaerinth herself.

  Sath skidded to a halt, tightening his grip on Gin’s hand. He was not pleased to discover that she was pulling him along still. He’d forgotten somehow that they were the same size, and that he couldn’t stop her by just coming to a halt himself.

  Gin!

  Just come on. We need to find out why this Ikedrian is following us. I don’t think she just wants the orb, or she would have already made a play for it again.

  She continued running, and Sath had to quicken his pace to keep up with her. They caught up with the dark elf, and before Sath could stop Gin, she pounced, wrestling the other female to the ground. “Why are you following us?” she demanded, switching back to the common tongue. “Answer me!”

  “I will not tell you anything, Nature Walker!!” the female spat back, struggling against Gin’s hold on her arms. Gin straddled her, holding her down in the dirt of the path.

  “Whoever sent you will kill you for letting us catch you. It’s the Mother Dragon, isn’t it? Why don’t you let us help you?” Gin said, changing her tactic and speaking in D’leesh. She could hear Sath trying to growl behind her, his elven throat pinching off the sound to a mere clearing noise, so she made sure to translate for him through the bond.