Tears of War (12 page)

Maleena’s memories drifted to that first morning with Emallya next to the lake. Emallya’s voice rang in her memory,
“Galdivan took the wild beasts known as Kojen and he twisted and changed them as he had the eggs.”
How had Emallya failed to see what Ke’han were?

Nydara’s gentle sending interrupted her thoughts.
“You must remember, Emallya was not even born when the War of Fire began. All she knew were Kojen. Those before her probably called the Ke’han by the name Kojen as well. If they kept to themselves as much as Pamuya says, it is no wonder both sides have misunderstood each other.”

“You are right, of course. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I know; that is why you have me.”

Maleena laughed softly. Avendala looked at her. “Why do you laugh?”

“Nydara was just being smug. She loves it when she is right, which is most of the time.”

A knowing smile crossed Angeni’s face. “Would you like to meet Amara? She is very curious and has remained hidden only because I asked.”

“I would love to.”

Nydara stood up and walked down into the canyon end, careful not to crowd the men or step on any children. Adsila, Avendala’s daughter, woke from her nap on her father’s lap and gazed up at the massive silver as she passed.

Angeni turned to one of the dark cave openings. “Amara, come here, good one.”

Maleena stared at the dark opening as the Nagi slid from it. Low-slung, she was still as tall as Mckale’s horse and several times longer. Her body was covered in a multitude of dark burgundy scales that faded to emerald green on her throat and underbelly. A yellow dorsal ridge ran down her back and five large, yellow talons adorned each of her four feet. A short, dark blue mane surrounded her blocky head. A golden horn swept back then curled at the tip on either side of her head.

Amara looked as different from Nydara as Maleena did from the Ke’han. Yet, just like with the Ke’han, Maleena found similarities as she gazed into the yellow, cat-like eyes of the Nagi.

Nydara stood perfectly still, staring at the strange, smaller dragon. Maleena sensed a combination of shock and wonder in the silver. She glanced at the dragon.
“What is it?”

Nydara didn’t look away from the burgundy beauty that moved with quick grace across the ground to Angeni’s side.
“I have memory of this type of dragon! So distant, so faded, so alien. Another time, another world, a dying world…the world my kind came from so long ago. They lived in that world with us, a distant relation. I find no memories of what happened to them, or how they came to be here. Their differences must be what allowed them to tether their souls to this world without the need for an anchor.”

Nydara lowered her head until her long, tapering snout nearly touched Amara’s square, blocky one. Maleena heard her sending to the Nagi.
“Hello, my cousin, it is good to see your kind escaped our failing world so many years ago.”

A
nevay stood next to Paki on the inner terrace, her heart heavy as she fastened the straps. She glanced over at Taela, who secured the packs behind the saddle of her horse. Tears stung Anevay’s eyes. Her bondmates would be leaving in a few short minutes. She couldn’t imagine days and nights without them. Serena, one of her greatest friends, was going with them. The only comfort she found in their leaving was they would have the healer with them.

Farther out in the caldera, Latia stood next to Mernoth and watched with sadness in her large dark eyes. She would miss the older dragons and their riders too.
“We will have each other still,”
she sent to the yellow dragon.

“I know. I still wish I could Slide well enough that we could go with them.”

Anevay laughed quietly.
“You and me both.”
Her eyes traveled over the younger riders and their dragons. They weren’t much younger than Latia. It wouldn’t be long before all of them were able to Slide.
“We have plenty of dragon and rider company.”

Latia snorted in agreement. Old friends were leaving, but newer friends remained, the ties of friendship cemented by the bond of dragons.
“At least Loki and Merru seem to actually be trying to show up for lessons.”

Out the corner of her eye she saw Loki approach Kellinar as her bondmate turned from fastening the last strap on Shryden’s saddle. Loki held out his hand. Kellinar looked at the hand for a moment, then pulled the half-grown boy into a fierce hug.

Loki hugged him back tightly. “Be careful, Kellinar.”

Kellinar stepped back and smiled. “With Taela and Serena along, I won’t have much choice. You try to be good.”

Loki grinned at him, his sandy-blond hair falling in his bright blue eyes. “I always try. I don’t always succeed, but you know what they say about that.”

Kellinar’s full and rich laughter filled the air. “Try, try again.”

Loki’s grin faded. “Don’t take too long.”

“I’ll do my best.”

As Loki walked away, Kellinar walked over to where Anevay stood. She smiled at him when he stopped in front of her. “He’s going to miss you.”

He glanced back at the departing boy. “I’ll miss him too.” He turned back to her, his blue eyes intense. “I’m going to miss you more.”

Her throat tightened as tears burned her eyes again. She cleared her throat and blinked them back; she would cry later. “I will miss you more than you know,” she whispered.

Kellinar traced his thumb lightly across her cheek. “I’ll know.”

She couldn’t help the tear that tracked its way down her face. He was right; their bond ensured it. Distance wouldn’t make the bond weaker. He would know every moment of her misery.

He drew her to him, bending to press his lips against hers. She rose to meet him, letting the kiss deepen, knowing this would be the last time she felt his touch for possibly months. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him, savoring every passing second. When he finally released her, he kept his eyes on hers. “I love you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Taela moved to his side as he took a step back. The shorter woman made no attempt to hide the tears coursing down her face. “I am going to miss you so much.” She threw her arms around Anevay.

Anevay hugged her back with the same intensity. “How will I live each day without you, bondsister?”

Taela stepped back, her dark blue eyes serious. “Remember, I am but a mental call away. I will be able to hear you no matter where we go. If you need us for anything, we can Slide back.”

Anevay wiped away another tear before it fell and smiled at her bondmate and bondsister. “I will be fine. After all, I have Latia. And there are all of the other new riders. Bardeck is here and sometimes Emallya. And my family, I have them. Dhovara can’t decide if she’s relieved Latia is too young to Slide or upset for me that I can’t go.”

Kellinar chuckled. “Your aunt is a good woman.”

“Yes, she is.” She glanced behind him. The Defenders who would lead the horses through had arrived on the terrace. “Looks like everyone is about ready. I wish you would let Latia walk through like the horses.”

Kellinar took her hand, and kissed her palm lightly before letting go. “You know I would if it was safe. If something happened and we had to Slide home fast, Latia would be trapped where ever we were or she would try to Slide without enough experience and end up who knows where. It isn’t safe for her or you. What the rest of us had to do when we went to the Kormai for Maleena was dangerous, and we were lucky we didn’t lose anyone with the way we had to force the learning of Sliding. It’s better to take it slower and give your dragon time to learn it properly. I won’t take the chance of losing either of you. Once she learns to Slide when she wants to and where she is intending to go, you are more than welcome to join us.”

A haunted look crept into his eyes and Taela laid her hand on his arm. Anevay knew he was remembering Maleena’s and Nydara’s accidental Slide to the Kormai a year and a half ago. He didn’t want to take the chance of something like that happening to her or Latia. She understood. She didn’t like it, but she understood.

Anevay knew he would keep Taela from going if he could. But Paki was old enough and had been Sliding for months. His one attempt to persuade Taela from going had nearly resulted in her harming him. Anevay was glad she’d been there as a restraining force for her bondsister. Taela was strong and stubborn, with a temper that sometimes burned quick and hot. Although she usually kept it under control, when something really upset her, she didn’t always think before she unleashed it.

In her mind, Anevay heard Shryden’s voice. Full of humor, the sending came only to her.
“It serves him right for trying to force Taela to stay. If she really had stabbed him, he would have deserved it. I could have handled the shared pain. He is a good man, but too often worried about losing those he loves. I think it is because he had no one to love and no one to love him back for so long.”

She looked up at the massive blue.
“I think you are right. Still, Taela should have understood that instead of letting her temper get the better of her.”

“If Latia was old enough and he had tried that with you, how would you have taken it?”

“I see your point.”

A heavy rumble issued from Shryden, the dragon equivalent of a laugh. Kellinar looked back at his dragon. “What is so funny?”

Anevay laughed softly. “We were just discussing you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “A private conversation between you and my dragon, that can’t be a good thing.” He put an arm around Taela and steered her toward Paki. “It is time to go. Let’s get out of here before Anevay corrupts my dragon.”

“He is already corrupted; a reflection of his rider.” She laughed at the way he tried to stop smiling long enough to frown.

It didn’t take much time for them to climb in the saddles and fasten the safety straps. Serena, a bag slung across her shoulders, dashed across the terrace. She paused to give Anevay a brief hug before running to Miya. She settled in the saddle and fastened the safety straps, then signaled to the others that she was ready.

Kellinar flashed Anevay a quick smile just as Shryden launched into the air with Paki and Miya right behind him. The wind from their wings buffeted her as they moved down the crater. A whirlpool of heat waves spun open in front of Shryden, growing bigger until it reached the ground.

The dragons slowly moved into it. Below them the Defenders led the horses through. Within minutes, Shryden reappeared as the Defenders, now empty-handed came back. With a last dip of his wings, Shryden turned and flew back into the Slide. The whirlpool in the sky disappeared and silence cloaked the terrace.

Anevay felt a bump on her arm and turned to see Latia next to her. She leaned her head on the dragon’s neck and let her tears run down the yellow scales. She would miss them so much.