Authors: Adolfo Garza Jr.
After tumbling to the ground, it sprang to its feet and spun to face them. Breathing heavily, the beast pulled lips back from its hideous maw and hissed.
Balam, lowered in a crouch, legs tensed and ready to attack, let out an answering roar that was frightening.
Willem stared at the beast, sure it would try something again. What could they do to stop it?
It leapt for Balam!
Instinctively, Willem wove Francisco’s Barrier just as it jumped, modifying the spell at the last moment. The nahual hit the unseen wall in front of the dragon, causing the invisible to become visible and quiver with light.
The beast reacted instantly. It used the barrier to leap back, away from them. But it hit a second wall, which Willem had erected for that reason. The creature fell to the ground, panting.
Now, Balam!
Willem removed the barriers as flame shot forth from his bond-mate’s mouth.
A nerve-shattering screech came from the beast. The sound seemed to crawl under Willem’s skin and made his muscles shiver. The shriek rose above the storm, drowning out the wind and even the distant thunder.
Trying to ignore the assault on his ears, Willem bound the nahual in place again, hoping the thing was now too distracted to remove the spell.
The beast’s screams rose in pitch as it burned. Balam adjusted his flame, intensified it, focused it even more on the nahual. It writhed in a cloak of fire, twitching spasmodically and more violently than Willem thought possible.
Its shriek was almost above hearing, now, though incredibly painful to the ear. Unable to bear it anymore, Willem removed the beast’s head as he had intended to before, ending the terrible screams.
A flash of lightning lit the area with harsh illumination, creating deep shadows that lived only moments. Willem rose from the muck to his hands and knees, shaking.
He’d been so close to death.
Heavy rain returned, throwing up splashes and pelting his head and back. Dirty water dribbled down his face and fell to the ground below as rain washed mud from his head. It couldn’t remove the stench of nahual, however. The foul odor was made even more disgusting with the additional acrid smell of burnt hair and flesh.
Turning his head, Willem watched the nahual burn.
Balam moved closer to the body of the beast, held the fire on it a few more seconds, then ended the flame with a satisfied rumble. He lifted his enormous head, mouth open to the rain.
After shaking out the rainwater and spitting, Balam turned to him.
We have done well.
Willem got to his feet, walked to his bond-mate, and threw his arms around the big dragon’s neck. Closing his eyes, he hugged Balam tightly.
Distant thunder rumbled, and wind moved in the nearby trees. Raindrops plopped and splashed in the muddy water below, made deep, hollow sounds as they hit Balam’s wings, and trickled down the back of Willem’s neck like cold fingers.
Another flash of lightning shone red through his eyelids before Willem released his beloved dragon and stood, staring at the dead nahual.
Yes, love. We have done well.
After he mounted, they lifted into the stormy sky, leaving the charred head and body behind.
The sporadic rain stopped again before they reached the last mail station for the day.
“
Good gods, boy, what happened to you?” The postmaster turned to the door of the office. “Jen! Get the medical chest!” He looked at Willem. “Come on, then, let’s get you fixed up.”
Willem, still reeling from the fight, wasn’t sure what the man was talking about, but followed him inside.
A girl, it must be Jen, sucked in her breath when she saw him.
“
What have you been doing, playing catch-a-knife with your face?”
“
What?”
She held out a very shiny metal tin to him, indicating its bottom. Using it as a mirror, he saw that there was a gashes running at an angle from near his left ear down toward his chin. One was about three inches long, though it didn’t look very deep. The blood running down his face made him feel light-headed, though.
“Hey, now, let’s not pass out, okay?” She took the tin from him. “They’re shallow, so all I’ll need do is clean them and bandage you up. I know a little healing craft, too, so I’ll use a cleansing spell against infection.”
Willem nodded. Apparently the nahual had landed a claw on him after all.
“Will your dragon mind if we start unloading the packages?” The postmaster stood staring out the door.
“
No, not at all.”
They’re going to unpack the vaccine while I get this cut cleaned up.
You were injured?
Worry and shock came through the link, along with a spike of guilt.
It’s merely a scratch. I guess when the nahual jumped over me it must have clawed me. They are taking care of it. Don’t worry, or you’ll scare the people who will be taking the vaccine.
I—Well, as long as you are okay.
I am, love. You’ll see when we get home.
“So, what happened?” Jen washed his cheek.
“
We found a nahual about ten miles back and killed it.”
She looked at him. “A nahual? Ten miles from here?”
“Yeah. It’s dead now, though. We killed it.”
“
Hmm, the one is hardly more than a scratch. Won’t even leave a scar. But this one will need some cleaning.”
She rubbed his cheek with a washcloth. It felt like something was fizzing or bubbling. “So, you happened to run across a nahual and decided to kill it? Do you have a death wish?”
He frowned. Death wish? Hardly.
Wiping his face dry, she said, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful. Those things put a worm up my spine. I just don’t understand why you’d do that.”
He flinched as she treated the cuts with a cloth soaked in something that stung and was cold. “We didn’t just run across it, truth be told. Dragonlinked and their dragons, we can sense nahual nearby. We sensed it, flew off to kill it, then resumed our delivery.”
She looked upset.
“You don’t approve?”
“
It’s not that I don’t approve. But, you’re so young. Shouldn’t you leave that kind of work to others?”
“
Nahual can’t be allowed this close to people. Besides, it’s our purpose.”
She stared at him a moment, then placed her hand on his cheek and murmured something. He felt a pulse of power and saw lines spiral around him briefly before they disappeared.
“Your purpose, huh?” She rummaged around the small chest and then frowned
“
Yes,” Willem said. He watched her walk over to a cabinet and open it. “We fight nahual to keep people safe. It’s one of the things we do to help.”
Bending over, she searched for something on a lower shelf. “Along with saving our butts by delivering vaccine?”
Willem couldn’t help himself. It was her fault she said that while bent over. In those trousers, he couldn’t help but notice that hers was actually pretty nice.
She stood then and turned to face him, a stack of gauze strips in her hands.
His cheeks warmed as he wondered if she’d caught him staring.
“
You don’t have to be shy. You’re all doing a good thing. You really are saving us with this vaccine.” She placed all but one of the strips in the small chest.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, we couldn’t stand idly by when we had the ability to help.”
She stared at him again. “That’s charmingly noble.”
He didn’t know what to say to that.
She chuckled. “No need to squirm. Though you are kind of cute when you do.” She taped the gauze over the cut.
Willem reached up and touched it. “Thanks.”
“For saying you’re cute, or for taking care of the cut?” Her eyes shone with mischief.
“
Uh, I, ah—”
Laughing, she stood. “You really are too much fun. I should stop by Caer Baronel more often.”
“I can introduce you to my boyfriend when you do.”
“
Taken, are you?”
“
I am. Though you won’t convince me that you’re wanting for suitors.”
She smiled. “Who said I was? Let’s see how they’re coming along with the vaccine.”
Riders were already heading off to deliver ampules.
“
My thanks to you and your friend.” The postmaster eyed Balam. “Your efforts will save many horses.”
“
And jobs,” Willem added.
“
There is that,” Jen said.
The postmaster turned to him. “Many don’t understand how dependent we are on horses.”
“I know exactly how dependent a person can be on another, be they human or not.” He walked to Balam and patted his neck. The dragon let out a happy rumble.
Willem turned back to them. “It is late, however, and I want to get back to”—a certain tousle-haired boy came to mind—“Caer Baronel.”
Willem watched the gateway fade away, leaving only stars in the sky. While landing, Balam informed him that they were the last to return.
Please don’t tell anyone of the nahual until I do.
As you wish.
They walked together into Anaya’s den. As expected, the others were all in the investigation office.
“Look who’s finally here.” Fillion grinned.
Willem returned a weak smile. “Well, we did run into a little snag on the way.”
Aeron stood and walked over. “Hey. What happened to your face?”
“
Now three of us have killed a nahual.”
“
What?” Aeron’s eyes grew large.
Everyone started asking questions at once.
Willem’s legs suddenly felt weak. He sat and said, “Can I get a hot drink?” The wet riding gear felt unaccountably cold.
“
Alright!” Aeron looked around and everyone stopped talking. “He can tell us what happened
after
I get him some hot cider.” He ran off to his study.
Willem was grateful when Aeron returned a short time later with a large, steaming mug and a coat.
“Here.” Aeron handed him the mug. “And use this until you can change.” The coat was placed over his shoulders.
“
Thank you.” After a swallow, Willem recounted what happened.
Telling everyone about it brought the fight back in alarming detail. The remembered fear and desperation made his hands shake. He tried to hide it by holding the mug tightly between them.
“If anyone ever complains about having to practice countering spells,” he said to Master Millinith, “please remind them that those drills may have saved my life tonight.”
“
Indeed,” she said. “I think we will also focus a bit more on combat spell drills, to ensure that they can be cast quickly.”
He nodded.
“I’m sure she did a good job,” Gregor said, “Jen, I think you said her name was? But I’d like to check the wound.”
“
Of course.”
As Gregor examined the cut, Aeron watched over his shoulder.
“Hmm. She did do a very good job.” Gregor nodded, apparently impressed, and re-applied the bandage.
“
Well, we’re certainly glad you came through with merely a scratch,” Master Millinith said. “Your training served you well.” She turned to everyone. “Though it is unlikely you will run across a nahual during the day, bear his experience in mind tomorrow.” She stood. “Do not to stay up too late, we’re getting an early start in the morning.” With that, she left.
“
This feels right.” Jessip nodded. “This is what we should be.”
“
It does feel good to do good.” Fillion quirked his lips into a wry smile.
“
Here’s hoping the guild is approved.” Cheddar raised his mug of cider.
“
Hoping?” Sharrah shook her head and smiled. “No. I don’t like the idea of leaving the guild’s fate to chance. We’re going to have to work for this.”
“
Agreed,” Aeron said. “But for now,” he turned to Willem, “you need to get out of that wet riding gear.”
Willem changed into warm, dry clothing, and they all spent a few hours talking about the mysterious enemy, the guild, and what more they could do to to help with its approval. Eventually, people headed off for the night, though Willem was sure the excitement everyone felt would keep them awake for a while.
Aeron was already in his bed by the time Willem finished in the water closet. Trying to be quiet, he changed into nightclothes and then sat on the edge of the cot.
The fight still had him shaken. If any number of things had gone differently, he very well might not be here right now. What would have happened to Balam? Who would have taken care of him? And who would have taken care of Aeron? Leaning over, he placed his face in his hands.
It had been so close.