A Star is Born: The Coming Dawn: Book I (31 page)

Cobaaron hopped from rock to rock. Like a four-legged animal, he kept his hands and feet together. With every bound he gained several feet. He was fast, much faster than the men around him. Ky held onto Cobaaron tightly as his movements jerked her around. She was never fond of heights, but sitting on a rope about to travel a mile up wasn’t a thrill.

Minutes later, they were far above the ships. They looked like small, elaborate toy boats, from her vantage point. More ships continued to anchor and warriors spilled out of the vessels. Men carried women as Cobaaron had, but they were slower, and once again Ky was reminded just how powerful Cobaaron was.

Some of the men were only beginning their ascent when Cobaaron leapt up and landed on two feet on top of the cliff’s edge. He untied the knots to her harness. “That wasn’t bad, was it?” He smiled.

“I’m not thrilled if I have to go down that way.” Ky laughed in all seriousness. Cobaaron grinned in response, but his silence said it all. Of course they were taking the boats.

As Cobaaron untied her, Ky noticed they stood among enormous abandoned nests. There were more than she could count. They stretched out along the entire length of the plateau. The nests had feathers stuck between large branches as thick as logs. There were bones everywhere on the ground. Some she recognized as human remains. He didn’t seem concerned at all; none of the warriors paid attention to them.

“They’ve migrated,” Cobaaron stated when he saw Ky looking at them with concern. He untied the last knot that was secured around her waist.

“What kinds of birds use these nests?” she asked in wonderment. They had to be huge.

“Bird? What makes you think these are bird nests?” Cobaaron asked.

“The feathers.”

“These are not bird nests. They’re dragons’ nests. There are only two nesting sites for dragons in the world, and this is one. We have to pass by them to get to Elder. Luckily, they’re not here or we would have had to take different route, a much longer route.”

“Oh. And this Elder…is this a city? A person?”

“Neither. It’s an archival library, for prophecies.” When she asked if it was far, he replied, “Not at all. We’ll be at the gates when we pass these nests. You can see the top of it there.” He pointed out tall, narrow towers. It resembled a gothic cathedral with dark gray stone. Some towers were leaning, a few had fallen against those nearby, while the weak teetered in the wind, tilting so far over that a strong gust would surely knock them down. The castle, with its dark windows, looked cold and sinister. An eerie wind blew, growing louder as they approached; Ky was certain she didn’t want to enter the place.

They arrived within minutes. They trespassed the grounds, entering through a dilapidated iron-barred gate. Wild vines grew over the metal bars, and as they passed, the flowers followed their movement.

Cobaaron grasped her arm. “We’ll stop here. My men need to check the castle first.” Warriors spilled in through the gate and advanced. The well-rehearsed body of men marched onward without instruction, or Cobaaron was commanding them by thought.

“The women wait here,” Brute announced, several yards ahead, standing under a dark tree with knobby branches and no leaves. Two disenchanted looking women were with him. The creepy castle gave Ky chills. Maybe it was the spooky atmosphere that gave Ky the feeling they were being watched.

“Cobaaron, I just remembered…” Ky began to say, but Cobaaron held up a hand. He watched his warriors enter the castle. His eyes combed the gothic architecture, as he scented the air. When he put his hand down, Ky took it as an invite. “When I was in the boat. I saw the shipwreck before it happened. It tore in two in the exact same way.” He walked to the gate and wrenched out a loose wrought iron spear, acting as if he heard nothing as his eyes continued to scan the castle. “Is something wrong?” she asked. He held up a hand again, silencing her.

“Go stand with the women, and after that no matter what you do,
don’t move
. Don’t question, love. I know what is best,” he stressed in such urgency that it troubled her. “Go,
now
!”

As she went toward the small group of women, warriors pulled their weapons, and met Cobaaron in the middle of the grounds. Warriors encircled Ky. She hadn’t been able to reach the other women. Now that she was surrounded so tightly, she stopped.

One of the women pointed and screamed. Ky stared in the direction the woman pointed and saw big red eyes. The creature had the appearance of a giant rat without its tail, and the teeth were serrated and plentiful with several rows. The thing was black, furry, and the size of a grizzly bear. It cackled like a hyena. The sound of its call was bone chilling.

The woman who saw it screamed again when it cackled. More creatures opened their red eyes, and dropped from their hiding places. They crawled along the walls, with jerking, unnatural progress. Soon there were more than thirty, and all were staring at the woman who trembled with fear.

“Nobody move!” Cobaaron bellowed, but he and his warriors formed several lines, purposely drawing their attention with motion.

Several creatures pounced. Ky screamed. One sprung at Cobaaron. He pierced the beast’s heart, as they met in the air. She watched its weight force the spear through its body as it dropped. When the beast fell to the ground, dead, Cobaaron yanked the spear from its lifeless carcass. Then spun toward a second beast and rammed the spear into its brain, thrusting the iron up under its open, cackling mouth.

“That one is staring at me!” the woman screamed.

When the creature saw her lips move, it leaped. The creature hurdled over the warriors. The massive head thrashed, throwing the warriors surrounding the woman out of the way. In a second the monster clamped its jaws around the woman. Her bones snapped as the creature threw her up into the air with a jerk of its neck. The wide mouth opened, and swallowed her whole. The moment the woman disappeared; a warrior thrust a long sword through its exposed neck.

“Over here, you filthy beast,” Ly yelled to another monster that charged for the unprotected, trembling women. Ly ran after the beast with bow in hand, sprung to its back, and then drew back an arrow, driving it into the creature’s skull. The beast crumbled to the ground, as Ly leapt off. Just then a beast attacked Ly. Before he could react, the jagged teeth chomped down, tearing into him, and then the beast shook him violently.

The unforgiving animal didn’t eat him, but left him for dead. It thrashed into another warrior and then another in the same fashion. Like a serial killer, the beast stalked the men with vengeance.

To Ky’s horror she saw Huntra running toward the fight, as he grew as big as a house. Huntra’s eyes were locked onto the rampaging beast, thirsty for blood. She wanted to tell him no, but she knew she would die if she moved or spoke.

Huntra was soon with the warriors, and they were surrounded by cackling and spitting beasts. Without warning the pack attacked. Ky couldn’t see any of the warriors. She couldn’t see Cobaaron. There was a constant echo of grinding bones.

When the rest of the warriors saw the men being overwhelmed with beasts tearing into the line, they abandoned the women. They ran for the creatures, unsheathing their weapons as they roared a battle cry. More warriors hurdled the fence, coming to their aid.

She watched a bloody battle unfold. She was so afraid for Cobaaron she was shaking. She couldn’t see him under the pile of beasts. The small group of women who were left alone huddled together, and Ky wished she had made it to them. She felt vulnerable, standing alone, as all the men tried to rescue comrades.

Meanwhile, Huntra battled the vicious beast that was undeniably taking pleasure in killing. The creature sprung onto Huntra and crept sideways along Huntra’s body, heading toward his neck. The beast clamped down on Huntra’s jugular. Huntra grew, and he clawed enormous gashes into the wild killer. Blood covered them both.

Huntra grew and grew, and right when Huntra seemed to take control, more creatures attacked. Huntra’s legs were gushing blood as the beasts bit to the bone and ripped flesh. Huntra continued to thrash at the killer beast until it fell to the ground dead.

Ky watched in horror as all the creatures ganged up on Huntra. The beasts left the fight with the warriors to attack her blood-red snow tiger. The warriors chased after the monsters.

Then Ky saw it. The largest beast crept along the side of the castle. She swore it was looking directly
at her
. It cackled and screeched as its red eyes pierced her. Ky couldn’t understand how it could be looking at her. She had fought so hard not to move or talk, to call Huntra away. But then she realized what the predator was seeing. Ky was glowing pink from high emotions, twinkling brightly.

She didn’t have time to think. It jumped off the castle, and advanced. Ky spun and sprinted as fast as she could. She leapt over the fence and collapsed to the ground, as a bar of the fence caught her dress. She spun around, frantically trying to free herself. But the moment she spun around she saw the beast’s open mouth inches from her. Blood trickled down its teeth.

The beast hung, pierced with several bars. Ky tugged at her dress, and scampered backward. She saw an axe in its back, and a sword in its head. Then she froze not daring to move.

The blood smelled like rotten eggs, but Ky didn’t move away from the monster. She stared at the grotesque beast, as the battle raged. She heard crackling laughter from in the courtyard. It wasn’t over.

Warriors swarmed the last few beasts. There weren’t many. Noxis killed the last beast as he thrust a blade into its neck, severing its spine.

When the last beast fell, Ky ran to the grounds. She still couldn’t see Cobaaron. The warriors removed their weapons from the creatures. She frantically searched for her husband. “Cobaaron!” she yelled.

She saw several men trying to heave a large beast off a warrior. It was Cobaaron. He was pinned under two dead creatures. She gasped and ran for him. He was covered in blood. Several men wrenched the animal by its feet and dragged it while others pushed.

Ky rushed to his side. When she got close, she was relieved to see he was alive and well. He helped lift the beast. The moment he could, he pulled his legs out, backed away, and then got to his feet. “Cobaaron, you’re covered in blood.”

“It’s not mine,” he said. “Ridiculous really, the stupid thing fell on me just after they all attacked.”

“Yeah, maybe next time you can help us,” Noxis joked, taking pleasure teasing his younger brother.

Cobaaron laughed. He then spoke to Ky as if nothing happened and inquired, “So, what were you saying a minute ago?”

“What?” She looked at him like he was crazy. Nothing mattered to her at the moment, except that he was fine.

“Something about shipwrecks. Right?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just said…” she began to say but then she saw Huntra lying on the ground. He was the size of a young cub, shrinking, and was bleeding around his legs and throat. “
Huntra
!” Ky ran and fell on the ground next to him. She picked up his lifeless body, and wept. No! He couldn’t be dead! “
No
!”

She frantically petted him knowing it would help him heal; it had to help him mend. “Good boy, Huntra,” she cooed soothingly, but really she was angry. He should have never gotten in the middle of the fight. There were plenty of warriors, and the battle was theirs to fight. “Good boy,” she cried.

“Leave him, Ky. It not safe out here. He’s dead, love.” Cobaaron tried to pull her off the ground. His bloody hands left prints when she yanked her arm from his grasp. She continued to pet Huntra, and cried. “Get up, Ky. Death is natural. He died with honor.”

“Help me! Do something! There must be something!” she screeched. Cobaaron blinked; surprised she was distraught over Huntra.

“Bring him inside if you must. You can mourn indoors.”

Cobaaron helped her up off the ground, this time with added force, and practically carried her inside as she continued to pet Huntra. The warriors and women filed into the castle. Inside was dark from the dusty drapes. Ky petted Huntra as the warriors lit torches.

“What are our orders?” a warrior asked when he strode to Cobaaron. He too was covered in blood, and had a fresh chunk taken out of his nose.

“There you are, young Laxis,” Cobaaron said. “I was wondering if you saw Ondor fall. You take his place now.”

“Thank you, Chief,” Laxis bowed respectfully.

“I want everyone to bathe,” Cobaaron instructed. “Groupie blood is riddled with disease. I don’t want the women sick, so see to it there is no blood on anyone or in the castle. Then we’ll get the women food, and you can eat and rest.”

“I’ll make sure it is done,” Laxis said.

Ky petted Huntra as everyone else left. The longer she petted him, the more lifeless he seemed. He was limp, and his eyes were closed. “No.” Ky lamented. She only had two friends in the world, and now one was dead.

He wasn’t responding, even when she gently shook him. She held him to her chest trying to show affection while hugging him. “No, don’t be dead.” She blinked and tears fell. Cobaaron watched her; he was taken aback by her reaction to death, not used to seeing tears of loss. “Can you do something?” Ky sobbed. Her light flickered from sorrow.

“Get the witch,” Cobaaron immediately said to Laxis.

“I should have told him not to fight,” Ky bawled. “I saw him run up. I thought even then to make him stop. But look at him. He’s...he’s gone. It’s my fault he’s dead. I could have done something.” Cobaaron put an arm on her shoulder, and helped Ky pet him. There was no use. They knew he was gone, and affection wouldn’t bring him back.

“You don’t have to hold him. Let me take him, Ky. This is clearly difficult.”

“No.” She shook her head. “He’s my cat. You’ve never liked him.”

“That isn’t entirely true, love. Surely you know I liked him for your sake. Let me make this easier. Please let me hold him.”

His limp body stretched across her arms, his head flopped over to the side. Cobaaron gently took Huntra from her, not waiting for Ky’s consent. Oella came running with Laxis. Oella took one look at Huntra and then faced Cobaaron. “Fix this,” he demanded.