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Chapter Eight

Part Nine

Lydia leapt from Aratt’s back as soon as he landed and  ran over to Hreid. Her stomach lurched when she she saw the huge fire at the other end of the cave. It looked like a funeral pyre and she could see a figure lying at its heart. What if it was Karen?

“Did Karen arrive? Is she okay?” she asked frantically.

“Queen Valeria got her here in time,” he reassured her. “Ambassador Alaryia is tending to her. She’s very sick, but the Ambassador seems confident she’ll survive.”

Lydia sighed in relief and felt the tension drain from her shoulders as Andrew joined her.

“Can we see her?” she asked and then looked over at the fire. “Did somebody die?”

Hreid shook his head. “No, not yet. Hopefully she won’t, but it isn’t looking positive.” He pointed to the figure. “The dragon who nearly killed Karen drained that fire nymph to the point where she can’t recover her own energy.”

“So the fire’s to replenish her lost energy?” Lydia asked.

“Yes, but I think she’s too far gone. She’s been in the fire for a couple of hours and isn’t warming up.” He shuddered violently. “Essence drain is a terrible, slow way to die. Dragons are horrible creatures, but at least most of them will finish off their prey rather than leave them in this state.”

“And you’ve no way to transfuse energy into her?” Lydia asked.

“Tranfuse energy into her?” Hreid looked confused for a moment before shaking his head. “Oh, no. We can’t transfer energy that wa-” He broke off and hit his forehead with the heel of his hand. “But goblins can.” He swore angrily. “We can’t do it, so it just never occured to us to ask. I don’t think they’ve even been told.”

“I see.” Lydia shrugged off her rucksack and handed it to Andrew. “Look after this.” She started towards the fire. Andrew grabbed her elbow and pulled her back.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m going to help, of course,” Lydia replied calmly. “If we wait to talk to the goblins it might be too late.” She pulled her arm loose and stepped forward into the flames before he could protest.

It felt for all the world like stepping into a bath of warm milk. Her shield came up without her thinking about it and deflected the burning logs which tried to fall on her and she clambered up to the nymph. She took the nymph’s icy hand in her own and began to imagine her fire travelling through her hand into the nymph.

She jerked in response and mumbled something unintelligible.

Lydia chose to take that as a good sign. “Come on,” Lydia whispered. “You can do this.” She looked towards Hreid. “What’s her name?”

“I think Queen Valeria said it was Ignifer,” he replied.

“Thanks!” She summoned a globe of silver fire from within her. “Come on, Ignifer.” She pushed the fireball into Ignifer’s chest and saw it spread out under her skin.

Ignifer jerked again, her eyelids fluttered and her hand warmed a little in Lydia’s.

Lydia waited until she was sure the nymph really was starting to warm up and then climbed back down. Only then did she realise just how much energy she’d given to Ignifer. The cave spun a little and she sank to the floor wearily. “That should help, I hope.” In spite of the fire at her back she was shivering and she pulled her cloak around her more firmly.

“Yes, I think it will,” Hreid said. “Look.”

Lydia looked back at the fire. It was swirling around Ignifer as the nymph drew it into herself. “Ah!”

“I think you’ve saved her life,” Hreid said. “I just hope she appreciates it when she wakes up. Are you okay?”

“I will be,” Lydia said. “I just need a moment.”

“Let me help you.” He offered her his hand.

“Thanks!” She took it gratefully and he pulled her to her feet.

“Come on then, I’ll take you to your sister.”

Hreid continued to support Lydia as he led them through the corridors. Which was good, because her legs felt like jelly.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Andrew asked. “You don’t look okay.”

“I’m fine,” Lydia replied. “But she needed a lot of energy to kickstart her recovery system.”

“Yes, she would have,” Hreid said. “You need something to eat and a sleep after that I imagine.” He paused. “One more thing before I forget. “Queen Valeria is there with Prince Alban as well. He knows that it will be hard given her attempts to kill you, but King Dariad asks that you at least try to treat her civilly.”

Lydia nodded but Andrew ground to a halt.

“What!” he exploded. His face flushed and he looked like he wanted to say more, but couldn’t articulate it. Lydia sighed to herself and let go of Hreid long enough to slap her brother sharply across the face. Hreid had to grab her again as even that efford made her dizzy. It wasn’t as bad as the unnatural fatigue she’d felt before she found her bracelet, but it was bad enough.

“Calm down, Drew! Getting worked up won’t help anyone.”

“B-but she hates us for no reason,” he spluttered. “It’s not fair.”

“Oh I suspect she has reasons. Just not reasons that relate to us personally,” Lydia said. “If you explode at her you’ll just reinforce her prejudices.” She turned back to Hreid. “We’ll be polite as long as she is, won’t we, Drew?” When her brother didn’t agree immediately she summoned up the energy to kick his ankle. “Won’t we, Drew?”

“Well, I’ll try,” he allowed finally. “But I really do want to knock some sense into her.”

“I know.” Lydia sagged against the tunnel wall. “Can we hurry up and get there? I want to sit down.”

“Of course!” Hreid led them through a few more corridors to a carved wooden door and knocked on it.

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Chapter Eight

Part Eight

Mela looked up at Rilletta defiantly. “He has a funny way of showing it then. He nearly killed Shadavar and then he stuck a knife to my throat.”

“You’re right.” She turned to Shadavar and bowed. “My apologies. Darya did not mean to hurt you so badly. He was merely trying to stop you, but he misjudges his strength sometimes.” She turned back to Mela and smiled down at her. “He really is worried about you, Melusine. You’re in a great deal of danger, you know.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Daniel snarled at her. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Eight
Part Seven

Shadavar had insisted on being allowed down to the Great Hall, in spite of the dryads’ protests that he was not yet healed enough. His insistence that the entire council should be present to meet the delegation had won out and a small army of Waldhafen residents had been involved in the operation to move him down to the Hall without him having to stand, let alone walk.

“Are you sure that it’s safe to let them in here?” Daniel asked. He was sitting with Mela and Ebona in a shadowed alcove which Saeaera had created for them. He doubted it would conceal them from the approaching group, though.

Saeaera just shrugged and smiled at him. “Of course. They’ve bound themselves to a truce, so they can’t attack us unless we attack them first.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Eight
Part Six

Salia was too scared to take in her surroundings until they landed outside the huge building. As the dragon changed form, instinct took over and she used her moment of freedom from his grasp to bolt. She didn’t get  two steps before he grabbed her arm  and jerked her back. She yelled in pain, twisted around and sank her sharp teeth into his arm. He made a hissing noise but only tightened his grip on her arm until she let go. Then he gave a rumbling laugh and started dragging her towards the shining crystal edifice.

“Welcome to your new home, little princess. I think you’ll like it here.”

Salia shook her head and set her legs, refusing to walk. “This isn’t my home.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Eight
Part Five

Lydia sat crosslegged on the floor of the cave. Her eyes were closed and a handful of small silver flames were dancing around her head.

Andrew watched enviously. She was so much better at this than him. With Kimi’s help, Aratts had taught him how to freeze water that was already present in the air and even how to maintain it so it didn’t melt or shatter. But he couldn’t summon it out of thin air the way Lydia could her fire. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Eight
Part Four

“Ah! You’re well!” Saeaera said as Daniel and the others emerged into the great hall of Waldhafen. “Core’s guardians, Dark Warrior, you know how to scare people.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I had no intention of attracting the Dragon Lord’s attention to you when I came here.”

“That’s not what I mean, silly. We were worried by how badly hurt you were.” She gave him a crooked smile. “And you never stood a chance of sneaking around behind his back, you know. Anyway, Shadavar would be crippled but for him. He sent aid.” She snorted briefly.  “That’s going to ruin the reputation he’s been cultivating, especially with the stories coming out of Caerdu.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Eight
Part Three

They were about halfway to Caerdu when Rai gave a horrified cry.  Valeria reached down and stroked his feathers as she looked down to see what had disturbed him so.  Her hands closed convulsively on his plumage and she gave  a sob when she saw the brightly coloured feathers and scarlet blood scattered across the snow and rocks below. Valeria had no doubt it  belonged to the thunderbird who’d  been trying to take Salia to safety.

“Salia!” She scanned  the gore-strewn scenery for any sign of her daughter, but found none.

“Ignifer!” Alban’s shout reached Valeria’s ears in spite of  the distance. He was kneeling on the back of his mount, supporting Karen, and they were both staring at the ground. She followed his gaze and spotted a figure lying face-down in the snow. The fire nymph was stirring weakly, but the cold couldn’t be doing her good. The fact the she wasn’t thawing the ice just by lying there was a very bad sign. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Eight
Part Two

Daniel’s father was waiting for them when they went into the garden to collect Ebona and gate back to the other world. Daniel’s mother was with him, carrying a small bag. Daniel winced when he saw her. She’d lost weight, looked even more pale and tired than usual, and she was staring at the sky with an abstracted fashion. When his father had said she’d got worse, he hadn’t imagined it was this bad. She always been hazy and easily tired but now she she seemed totally out of it. His father shook her gently by the shoulder and she looked at him. He whispered something in her ear and hugged her gently before he turned to Mela.

“I’ve sent Halia back to Elapyron; I don’t want her near you. Do you have any idea what she did?”

Mela shook her head. “No.”

“I thought as much. She claims she doesn’t either – and she can’t lie to me. I guess we’ll have to wait until it triggers.” He looked uncomfortable about that. Daniel didn’t blame him. He wasn’t happy about it either.

“What’s happening with the dragons who came through?” Daniel asked.

“Mine have engaged the intelopers over Shropshire. It’s a good job it’s so cloudy. They’ll stop them-” He broke off suddenly and went white. “Karen’s in danger!”

“What?”

His father didn’t answer immediately,  holding up a hand for quiet. Focusing in  on what had happened no doubt. After a moment he swallowed noticibly and opened his eyes. “She got into a fight with a dragon – one that was too strong for her. She’s alive but it used its venom on her.”

Daniel swore loudly. “Will she be okay? Are you going-”

“God, I want to!” He closed his eyes and clenched his fists. “Halia’s an expert at making antidote, but where she is I’d have to fight to get to her. That won’t help. They’re taking her to Caerdu. There’s some goblins there right now. They should be able to help.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

“Goblins are good with antidotes, Ma-” his mother began. Daniel saw his father tap her foot with his and she hesitated slightly then continued. “Mike. You know that.”

“I do, Sonia,” he agreed. “It’s the distance.”

Daniel stared at his mother, partly because she obviously knew about the other world and partly because she seemed so calm about it.

“She’ll be okay.” His mother went back to staring at the sky.

Daniel gulped and looked as his father. “She doesn’t remember us?”

“It’s not that…” His father frowned. “It’s more like she can’t connect with it. That’s why I want you to take her to Waldhafen. Speakers are more prone to essence burn than humans, so they’ve developed treatments for it.”

“She’s been burned?” Mela shuddered. “I didn’t think that happened to humans.”

“It doesn’t usually,” his father replied grimly. “Someone did it to her on purpose. She’s been stable for years and suddenly she’s got worse. Someone is aggravating it, which is disturbing. No one who could do that should even know she’s alive.”

“What?” Daniel stared at his father.

“Don’t ask. I’ll explain one day, but that’s the other reason I want her in the other world. The healers at Waldhafen will care for her and whoever attacked her won’t be able to reach her.”

“That makes sense,” Daniel admitted. He walked over and put his arm round his mother. “Come on, mum. We’d better get going.”

“Of course, dear.” She gave him a vague smile and then looked back at her husband with a haunted expression. “Last night I dreamt the sky was torn from horizon to horizon and people were screaming. Then I saw a damaged heart made of pure energy hidden in the petals of a silver rose. I don’t think it was a dream. I think it was  reaching for me. Trying to warn me. Something is coming if we don’t stop it. Something terrible.”

“Do you know what?”

She shook her head. “My dreams don’t work that way, especially when something deliberately triggers them. You know that. And with this… ugh… I can’t even focus in and try and clarify. It hurts too much.”

“I’ll talk to Sal, see if she’s sensed anything.” He squeezed her hands. “I’m sure the dryads can fix you if anyone can.” He obviously saw Daniel’s confusion because he gave a slightly strained smile. “Your mother has precognitive dreams, but they tend to be – well like that. Hard to interpret. Sal’s tend to be clearer. Now go on.” He pushed them gently to where Mela and Ebona stood waiting. He made a cutting gesture with his hand and the air glowed and tore open, creating a gate into Waldhafen. “Be well, Daniel. And give Elaranor my respects when you see her.”

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Chapter Eight
Part One

“You summoned me, my Mirian?” Kyle dropped to one knee just inside the throne room door.

Ystelyan was seated on the edge of his scrying pool, and Rilletta sat in his lap with her head on his shoulder. They were both watching whatever the pool was showing intently. Ystelyan glanced up and waved a hand at him.

“Join us, my Alran.” He frowned and looked past him. “Is Darya not with you?”

“He took Talira swimming.” Kyle rose and walked over to them. “I didn’t want to disturb them. She needs more friends.”

“She does. Her transformation was hard on her.” Ystelyan sighed. “But I’m afraid we’ll have to. Both of you need to see this. I’ll call her.” His deep blue eyes glowed.

A moment later, Talira and Darya appeared in a flash of blue light. The dragon girl was hand  in hand with Darya. Talira looked happier than Kyle had ever seen her as she summoned robes for the two of them.

“It looks like you had a good swim, Talira-alra.” Rilletta smiled at the dripping pair.

“We did.” She shrugged on the robe and then knelt before Ystelyan. “My Mirian.”

“Come and look at this.” Ystelyan gestured to the pool.

The water rippled and reflected the image of three red dragons in flight. Kyle sat down and studied the image, then gasped when he saw where they were.

“That’s Earth!”

“Yes, Gerian tore a gateway and sent them through.”

“He’s after Melusine?” Darya dropped Talira’s hand and hurried over.

Ystelyan nodded. “I doubt he expects to catch her there. This is aimed at forcing the dragon lord to send her back here, where he can hunt her down at leisure.” He rose to his feet. “We’ll let the dragon lord deal with  this incursion, I want you to get to Melusine before Gerian’s Alrari do.”

Rilletta shifted in Ystelyan’s lap and looked up at him. “They’ll probably gate back into Waldhafen, love. I don’t think another raid there would be wise right now. Estara-miria was too surprised to respond last time, but she wouldn’t stand for another raid into territory she claims.”

“Hmm, and it would be bad for the city as well.” He gave her a thoughtful look. “You have a thought, Ril?”

“I do, but it’s risky.”

***

Dariad had been reading in  his chambers when the highly agitated lightning imp flew through the wall and hovered between him and the book. He frowned at it. Imps had no mind of their own, so its darting movements betrayed its sender’s distress. That would be Valeria, of course, which did not bode well.

“Come on then.” He held his hand out and the Imp landed on it. The scene he saw when he absorbed it sent the book tumbling to floor and him running for the door. Hreid was on guard in the antechamber and looked up in surprise as Dariad jerked the door open and rushed in.

“Your majesty?” he asked.

“Wake Brita. Tell her to get rooms ready for Valeria, Alban and the Light Warrior. They’ll be here within hours. Possibly little Salia as well though  I don’t hold out much hope. I’m going to talk to Alaryia.”

“Your majesty?” Hried asked again.

“I’ll explain later! I need to talk to Alaryia first.” He rushed out gesturing to the two young guards in the corridor to attend him. Both looked baffled but fell into step behind him without complaint.

While day and night had little meaning underground, especially underground in a dark zone, Caerdu’s people did follow a schedule of sorts. The tunnels and passages were quiet at this time and they reached the door of the goblins’ chambers quickly.

His knocking brought a young male goblin to the door. The boy betrayed the speaker half of his ancestry only by the few feathers that grew mixed in with his hair. He blinked up at Dariad blearily and wiped the sleep from his eyes. “Your majesty?”

“I’m sorry to wake you, but I need to speak with Ambassador Alaryia urgently,” he said.

“Dariad?” Alaryia appeared from one of the rooms. She was shrugging on a robe. “Is there a problem?”

“No, yes.” He took a breath and then plunged ahead. “Can you make the antidote to dragon venom?”

Her eyes widened slightly. “I can, but I’ll need some information to create the right one. You’d  better come in and tell me what’s happened.  Ekrian, fetch my case.” She ruffled the young goblin’s hair and gently pushed him towards the door she’d just entered through. She looked back at Dariad. “Please, your majesty, come in.”

She led him into one of the rooms which had been turned into a sitting room of sorts and placed a kettle on the fire..

“We’ll have better accommodation for you again soon.” He told her. “We’ve got some space, now that we’ve banished the people behind the riot.”

“Don’t worry about it.” She took the large red leather case that Ekrian had just brought back with him and opened it to reveal rows of glass tubes. Some were filled with herbs, others with powdered minerals, while still more contained different coloured fluids he suspected were goblin, or possibly even dragon, blood. “So tell me what’s happened.” She selected one of  the tubes and measured some herbs from it into the kettle. They gave off a strange warm smell.

“I received an imp from Valeria just before I came here,” he began, then told her what the imp had shown him.

“Red eyes?” she said softly. Her expression was determinedly neutral but  she couldn’t quite hide the slight tightening of her lips and eyes.

“Yes, I thought dragons always had green eyes, but definitely red.”

“Most do. There are exactly twelve dragons who don’t.”

Dariad felt his mouth fall open and snapped it shut.  “He was one of the first twelve?”

She nodded but didn’t elaborate. Instead, she selected a tube of yellow powder and upended it into the kettle, which responded by making a strange whining noise and releasing a cloud of yellow vapour. Then she picked up one of the tubes of liquid and swirled it about before tutting at it. “There’s not quite enough. Ekrian, go wake Iryia. Tell her I need some of her blood.” She looked Dariad. “This is  going to be close. I can make the antidote with no problem, but it’ll only help if they get her here in time.”

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Chapter Seven
Part Twelve

Valeria’s mouth went dry as the dragon lunged at Karen. The girl barely dodged out of the way in time. She quickly spun around behind him and struck at his back with her axes while Alban fired off a pair of arrows in quick succession.

The dragon’s long, red-tipped, white hair whipped around him as he whirled out of the way. He flipped his hand negligently and deflected one of the arrows, but his casualness betrayed him and the other grazed his upper arm. The wound, however, just made his red eyes sparkle with anticipatory amusement. Read the rest of this entry »