Quest Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 1) (8 page)

She paused and bowed her head. A few in the crowd murmured about the horror of her story. Ramie felt ill. When Ista looked back up there were tears on her cheeks.

“I formed the Collective in the hopes of preparing you for this day. Prophecy warned me I would have to emerge to fight an evil in the Lands. Ren Razon is that evil. Everyone here knows Ren has battled the Collective’s influence, shunned our prophecies of magic and rebelled against the voice of the people. He cherishes the old religion that glorifies prostrating ourselves before an unknowable Maker, one who cares little about our dreams or ambitions. Ren opposes change and progress, and abhors everyone who has answered the Collective’s call.

“Wyrick worried about Ren’s unyielding attitude and planned to renounce him as heir. That is the very reason Ren took Wyrick’s life. But now, my children, we have the power to stop the evil one. When I saw Ren might escape I called upon the power in you all to fight him. I rebirthed the Quy.”

A few surprised exclamations echoed across the courtyard, and this time there was an underlying current of excitement. Fraul muttered under his breath as Ramie uttered a curse. Only they knew Ren had unleashed the power, but they couldn’t prove it. Everyone had seen the battle, and they had seen Ren flee.

Ista scanned the crowd again. “There’s more grave news, I’m afraid. Valor’s children, Manda and Chris Kahn, were the first to suspect Ren. They disappeared days ago. We fear the worst.”

Ramie drew in a breath and glanced at Fraul. His captain was red-faced and visibly fuming.

“Ren would kill himself before he would harm Manda and Chris,” Fraul mumbled.

Ramie knew Fraul spoke the truth. Ren and the Kahn siblings were fast friends, despite Valor’s influence. Ramie had always suspected Ren would one day ask for Manda’s hand in marriage. Now it may be too late.

“Unfortunately, when I rebirthed the Quy, Ren attained the power as well. He’s strong and prophecy has warned me he will use his power to try to regain the throne, stifle the order of the Collective, and deny your rights to use magic.

“I’ve come to believe the fates spared me for a purpose, but I hadn’t known that purpose until today. My children, fate has selected me to be your guide. We must join together to stop the crown prince of Zier, and we must work together so the Lands can discover the wondrous gift of magic.

“Children of the Lands, will you head my voice? Will you allow me to teach you how wonderful magic can be?”

People shouted their assent. Ramie scanned the crowd. None were in Zier’s black and gold.

Valor stepped forward, taking Ista’s hand. “We will welcome her, won’t we, Newlan!” There were more cheers. Ramie gritted his teeth. If Ista had conquered Zier herself many would question her motives. But she hadn’t; Valor had. Ista offered her services, nothing more. That alone would prove her innocence to many.

“How did you survive all these years?” someone yelled below the balcony.

Ista looked down at him and smiled like a patient mother. Her long hair fluttered sensuously in the breeze. “Sorceresses don’t give their secrets, my child.”

A ripple of laughter careened through the crowd. Ramie turned to Fraul and raised an eyebrow. Fraul scowled.

“I urge those who felt the Quy reconnecting inside them to stay and begin training. Those who did not, go home and spread the word that a New Alcazar will be built in Zier for all to learn.”

“What about the Druids?” someone shouted. “They could close us from the power.”

“Yes, they could, my friends,” Ista replied, face twisting with severity, “but they won’t. If they do they will have to answer to me.” There were whispers of approval and thanks. Ramie was stunned. These people were trusting Ista to save them from the Druids?

“There’s something you should know about the Druids,” Ista continued, voice softening. “The Druids were warned of this day by one with the sight years ago. When they closed people from the calling power they were trying to stop this destruction. The Druids aren’t evil. Although they were too zealous in their closings, they did so out of fear.”

Ramie’s face darkened. Nothing about the Druids was good.

“Now that the power has been reborn the Druids will be fearful. We must make them unafraid. I’ll send a messenger to them. If we are to defeat Ren, the Druids may be needed. But I assure you the Druids won’t harm us. I’ll see to that.”

Ramie thought about his brother’s fate. He could see the same happening to Ren. By the Fates, he couldn’t let that happen.

“Ramie, you must leave. The faster you go the better.”

Ramie noted Fraul’s singular reference. He looked at his captain, knowing Fraul would remain behind until he knew Ren was safe.

“You must leave. Now, my lord.”

Ramie opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. Fraul was right. He had to leave before Ista discovered he had the Quy. Fraul ushered him to the gates of the castle. No guards were anywhere to be seen. Ramie was glad his troops had camped outside Stardom’s walls. It would allow a much easier escape. When he reached the gate Ramie paused to look back, but his captain was already sprinting in the opposite direction.

- - -

“She’s still asleep?” Sim whispered in his mind.

“Yes,” his inner companion thought in reply.

“She hurt less than you did.”

“She doesn’t have magic. She’s more easily merged with you,” the other voice answered with fatherly patience.

“Will she live?”

“It appears that way.”

“Good.”

“Have we become sentimental, my friend?”

“Don’t call me friend, bane of my existence. You’re not my friend. As soon as I’m rid of you, I’ve decided to kill you. You’ve awoken the wrath of Sim.”

“Now, Similian,” the Bane chastised with good humor.

“Roasted bane will be my most treasured memory.”

The Bane was silent, but Similian could feel him retreat, doing whatever it was the Bane did when he was silent. Sim felt the other inside him, the woman. She would be different from the Bane. She would care. The Bane didn’t care. The Bane had never befriended him. That was all Sim had wanted, the only reason he had allowed the Bane inside. Sim yearned for knowledge, unlike others of his kind. He wanted to understand, to find a purpose. The Bane had promised Sim those things if Sim would allow him inside. Sim had thought the Bane would teach him what he knew and become a companion, but the Bane taught less and slept more. Similian was lonelier with someone than he had ever been without someone. He wished he hadn’t let the Bane inside. Although he wouldn’t have the answers he searched for, at least he would have lived.

“I like her. I don’t like you.”

“I like you, Similian.” The Bane’s thought was pleasant, but it didn’t fool Similian.

“You lied to me.”

The Bane heaved an inner sigh. “I didn’t lie to you. We’ve been through this before.”

“You lied to me.”

“I told you we were going on one flight, and we went on one flight. I didn’t lie about that.”

Sim grunted and veered east, away from Stardom. “The flight lasted nine centuries, and you were asleep the entire time.”

“I told you I would sleep.”

“Not the entire time.” Similian growled in frustration.

“But you didn’t ask, Similian. You must learn you can’t interpret someone else’s replies without confirming them with your own words. All creatures believe what they want to believe. You believed what you wanted to believe. But it’s of no consequence. I’m awake now.”

Sim almost roared his reply. “You wake as soon as the door opens, when I’m finally happy again. You didn’t wake in nine hundred years of flying through nothingness. I think that’s rather rude. I don’t want you anymore. I want you out.”

“There’s only one way I can get out, Similian. You know that,”the Bane thought. “If you are patient, I’ll be out of you soon enough.”

“Or so you say. I’m beginning to believe you just want to be Similian the Silver and this saving the Lands affair is another of your lies.”

“Believe what you will, Similian. Your belief won’t matter. You’ll be there when the opportunity arises.”

“Why did I let you in?” Similian silently roared. “I didn’t like you then either. Similian should have known better. Similian is smarter than that.”

“I discussed this with you when we first met. I told you I could make you the most famous dragon in history if you would let me inside you.”

“I’m not famous. I’m just a popular home.”

“But you will be, Similian. You will be.”

Chapter 5

Manda fell off her horse and kicked it in the flank. The horse bolted. Evann cursed and pulled back his mount before Manda was crushed beneath its hooves. When Vos and Yov turned, Evann motioned for them to reclaim Manda’s horse. Evann watched the twins disappear over the horizon. If he wanted to talk to Manda, now was his chance.

He was living a nightmare. He felt like he was betraying everything he was; but when the twins refused to yield he had insisted on accompanying them, no matter how much he disagreed.

Manda looked past Evann in stark desperation. Evann turned and cursed the fates for his stupidity. He was so involved in trying to think of a way to free the heirs of Crape he had failed to notice Chris’ spasms. Evann quickly cut Chris’ restraints and pulled him off the saddle.

Then Manda was beside him, broken ropes dangling from her ankles and wrists. The rage in her soft green eyes, more so than the dagger in her hand, forced Evann back a step. Even though he knew he would feel the tip of her blade at any time, he was consumed by an overwhelming pride. Manda had escaped without his help. Nothing could stand in the way of something she wanted. But instead of turning his way, Manda collapsed beside Chris and placed the dagger in his mouth, forcing him to bite down on its leather casing.

Chris stilled, as if Manda’s touch had cured him.

“Please, Evann, bring me some water.”

Evann nodded and went to his horse, glad she had given him something to do. He felt helpless, both in body and in spirit. He unhooked the leather water bag and watched Manda dab Chris’ feverish forehead. Chris moaned painfully. Manda’s soft whispers of encouragement floated to Evann, emptying any doubts he still held of her innocence.

Evann’s heart broke anew. He loved Manda, always had. Although he was ten years her senior she had such vibrancy he had become enamored with her years ago. He knew it was foolish. Manda was an heir. He was just a swordsman in her father’s army. But the fact remained he loved her, and he had been in turmoil since leaving Stardom.

The sound of galloping horses tore him from his thoughts. Vos and Yov topped the ridge, leading Manda’s mount. Evann raised his hands, indicating he could explain. The twins needed to hear what Manda had to say.

“Evann, Manda has to be tied –”

Before Evann could react, Manda’s dagger sailed past his right ear, missing him by a hair, and impaled Yov in the neck. Vos released a yelp as he plunged off his horse to catch his brother, but Yov was dead before he hit the ground. Vos’s eyes darted to each side as the Mar immediately began to take hold. Evann watched in revulsion as Vos rocked back and forth in the grass with his brother in his arms, the rest of them forgotten.

Evann spun, expecting a knife aimed at his own back, but Manda’s biting green eyes only flashed a warning.

“I’m not going to harm you, Evann. We are, or were, friends.” Her words stung, but he deserved them. “I know more than you do about the twins. They were under orders to kill us. I really don’t care if you believe me. I just want to save my brother.”

Manda’s eyes were fire. Evann glanced back at Vos. The twin’s body quivered as the Mar continued to tighten its grip. Evann repressed a shudder. Although twins were respected throughout the Lands, he wouldn’t ever dream that horror on himself. Twins never married, never had a life of their own. If one twin ventured into a room without the other the Mar would claim them. Vos would die, not because of any hurt to himself but because Yov’s death had opened a black void inside him, drawing Vos to it, claiming him for its own. A twin couldn’t survive without his other half, as if he was connected in body and not in mind. Vos would die a gruesome, yet unexplainable death.

Manda watched Vos with both regret and acceptance. It was either her life or theirs, but her eyes betrayed her sorrow. Although Evann knew he should kill Vos and put the second twin out of his misery, he had never taken a life before. He didn’t even know if he could.

Manda’s knife still protruded from Yov’s throat, shaming Evann even more. Not many soldiers could have made that throw. He wouldn’t have been able to make that throw. But Manda had studied under her cousin Jolin. Unlike most women, she had learned how to wield most weapons from the back of a horse, knives included.

Evann suddenly recalled the soldier from Fest who had read Valor’s order. He hadn’t sensed anything unusual at the time, but the soldier must have given Manda the knife. Evann’s shame grew. He should have been the one to save her, not a passing stranger.

When Evann turned back to Manda her green eyes cut through his soul.

“I believed in you, Evann,” Manda said. “How could you think ill of me?”

Evann knelt and busied himself with a twig. “Manda, believe me when I say I’ve been trying to find a way to release you, to hear your side, but with the twins… ” He glanced behind his shoulder at Vos. “I was trying to find a way to free you. Believe that.”

Manda studied him with penetrating eyes before taking a deep breath and pulling Chris closer. “There are secret passages around Stardom. Ren told us about them a few years ago. He reasoned if there was ever trouble and he was taken or killed we might be able to save the Zier people by sending soldiers through the tunnels. When we arrived at Stardom we overheard our father plotting to frame Ren for Wyrick’s death.” Manda paused to glance back at Stardom, a fearful look on her face. “We went through the tunnels to try to warn Ren but we weren’t fast enough. Valor found us in Ren’s chambers.

“Ista’s a sorceress, Evann. She was able to move past the guards unseen well after Ren left Wyrick’s chambers.” Manda closed her eyes and shivered. Evann’s hackles stood on end, but he was unsure if it was due to Manda’s words or Vos’s haunting moan.