The Dragon Savior of Tone: World of Tone: Book 2 (17 page)

Fienna helped Rammy down and then jumped to the ground. One of the nymphs handed Fienna a greenish colored baby, which laughed and cuddled in her arms.

“This is my child, Cardana,” Fienna said to Rammy. The child looked at Rammy and smiled. It was such a beautiful and happy little thing.

Rammy heard the sea nymphs talking to Fienna. They used her language, well, enough of her language that she could understand about half of what was said. This surprised her, but then she remembered that the sea nymphs and the humans had the same language, all those seasons ago. The sea nymphs' language had changed considerably, but it was still close enough that she was able to understand most of what was said. She had yet to hear the dragons talk, but she did know they bugled when they flew over the land.

“We need to talk to the dragons before you can help. You will stay here with us until we arrange a place near the dragons for you,” Fienna said as Terra changed back to his human form. She had seen it happen several times, but it still amazed her.

“Thank you,” she responded.

Rammy was introduced to Terra's mother, Reicka, and the sea nymph Setilan. She was apparently the daughter of the sea nymph king. A dragon landed and Terra made a series of trilling sounds. It then took off and flew out of sight.

“I have sent for Fienna's mother, Dawra, and her father Hectise. They are in command of the dragons and will be here shortly. There will be nearly ten thousand dragons to train and we will need it done quickly.”

“Ten-thousand dragons? Incredible. How will I talk to them?” Rammy asked.

“The dragon language is very complex and difficult to learn. Dawra and Hectise understand the human tongue and can speak it when they wish. So you will help them train the dragons.”

This was a considerable amount to deal with. It had been a long time since she had slept and she was very tired, both physically and mentally. Reicka walked up to the young woman and put her arm around her shoulder.

“You look tired. Let me take you to where you will be sleeping. We will prepare your bed. I think you will need to meet Dawra and Hectise before you can sleep, but your bed will be ready.” Rammy seemed to feel better as they walked to a cave opening.

As they walked in, she was awestruck by the glistening crystals throughout the cave. Everything to do with Terra seemed to be beyond understanding, even his home. Riecka took her to a private shelf in the cave. She then brought over a green, silky, dried plant that they arranged into a nice soft bed. Riecka told her it was waterweed that the sea nymphs had prepared for Terra and Fienna to sleep on. The sound of flapping wings came from outside as they sat there.

“Fienna's parents are here,” Reicka said.

They walked out of the cave and saw a huge green dragon with an even larger blue one. The two dragons lay down and placed their heads on the ground, so their eyes were even with Terra's sight line. He spoke to them in the human language. Rammy thought it was for her sake.

“I have brought a human to help train the dragons. They have been training fighters for generations. They have been preparing to reclaim their lands from the dark one, since they were driven from them. I know it will be difficult for you to take advice from a human, but we need her help. I want as few dragons to die in this fighting as possible and I will take advice from anyone who can help me with this,” Terra said in an odd tone.

“We understand, we have no experience in this type of fighting. Any single dragon can kill any other creature on Tone. To fight in groups is not normal. Where is this human?” the great blue dragon asked Terra. Terra waved Rammy over.

“Dawra, Hectise, this is Rammy. She is a human that has the knowledge on how to train our friends.”

“Nice to meet you,” Dawra said with a deep trill in her voice. Rammy had to concentrate to understand her words.

“Thank you. It will be a great honor to work with the great dragons of Tone,” Rammy responded, as she bowed to the two.

“How would you suggest we train numerous independent dragons to fight in groups?” Hectise asked in a deeper voice, but with the same trilling.

“I have trained groups with no experience in fighting as a team. I usually start by training in pairs, then I combine two pairs together, then two groups of four and so on. I suggest that you have thirty two dragons in a group and one leader, making thirty three.” The two dragons looked at each other and lifted their heads to nod in agreement.

“Can you come now?” Hectise asked.

“She needs to rest, it’s been a long sun-rising. Come and get her at sunrise,” Fienna said with Cardana in her arms. Dawra took her tongue and caressed the baby girl's cheek. She responded by laughing and smiling with joy. Rammy had never seen such a happy baby.

The next morning Rammy awoke to the smell of something wonderful cooking. She got up and walked outside, where she saw Setilan by a fire burning on a flat rock. Setilan waved her over.

“Hungry?”

“Oh yes, very,” Rammy said.

“Here, try one of these swimmer cakes. Terra and Fienna love them.” Setilan handed her a cake on a large green leaf. She was famished and ate the cake quickly. Setilan smiled at her and handed over another cake.

Dawra landed and Terra and Fienna came out to meet her. They talked for a bit, then walked over to Rammy.

“Dawra is going to have to carry you in her hands. She does not have the magic to hold you in place on her back. You'll be safe, both Fienna and I have carried each other in the same way and Dawra used to carry me around in her grasp,” Terra told Rammy.

“I am up for it. When can we leave?”

“Dawra's ready now. Please stand with your back to her.” She did as instructed. Dawra picked her up gently and took off. It was actually a pleasant ride to where the dragons were practicing. Once Dawra landed, she put Rammy down and they got started.

Chapter 26 - Terra Plans, Fienna Makes Arrangements

(Planning the death of thousands is a horrific task.)

- The Time of the Draman -

Terra sat on the edge of the cliff looking out onto the seemingly endless water. He had been planning the attacks on the dwarfs, as he had learned to call them. He now had a four prong attack planned. Terra knew the dwarfs in front of the great gorge would be the most difficult. The great interior lightning storms would force him and his fighters through the gorge. It was a fight that could not be avoided.

He knew that if he were the dwarfs, as soon as the attack started, he would take everyone into the gorge. The other two dwarf villages did not have that option. If they were allowed to flee into the gorge, it would take forever to fight their way through, and cost an untold number of lives.

He contemplated all those who would die just as their friend Lowlack had. Those who helped him seemed to die all too often; it always caused him to lose a bit of himself. Terra could not really explain these feelings to either himself or Fienna. All he knew was that any death was a loss to all on Tone. He had considered just flying over the mountains alone and heading to the Black Mountain several times. At least that would only put him in danger. He had not ruled out going alone, but he knew this world was more than just himself. All those who lived upon Tone had to fight for her and themselves.

Fienna was with Setilan and Cardana. She had asked Setilan to come to their sleeping cave. She wanted to talk to her.

“Setilan, I plan to go with Terra when he leaves and I would like to leave my daughter and Terra's mother under your care. I need to know if you would act as both protector and a second mother to Cardana.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll take care of them. I love Cardana as if she was my daughter. I can't say how much your trust means to me.” Setilan would have cried if she could.

“There is something else I want you to consider before you agree,” Fienna said, with the most serious facial expression Setilan had ever seen.

“What?” she asked.

“If Terra does not come back, I will also not return. I cannot live without him and I don't believe he could live without me. No one can live with half a heart. So when you take on the responsibility for Cardana, it may be for both of your lifetimes,” Fienna said in a voice that was incredibly sad and serious.

“I will always be her protector, no matter what happens. You will return and you will find her safe and happy. Terra is the most powerful being on Tone. No one can stop him. Nothing will prevent him from returning with you,” Setilan said in the strongest, most forceful voice she could command.

Setilan left Fienna with her daughter and returned to the water. She went to her father. She was disturbed by what Fienna had said. When her father saw her, he could see how upset she was.

“What's wrong, my little one?” the king asked. She told him what Fienna had said. Setilan had never loved a male and Fienna’s total love was beyond her knowledge. He smiled at her and put his arms around his daughter.

“Fienna and Terra have a connection beyond any I have ever come across. I have known several couples that literally could not live without the other, but their love goes beyond even that. They are one. You have yet to find your love, but when you do, you may understand some of what they feel. I cannot explain it, but it is as real as anything in the world,” the king told his daughter.

“You don't think she will come back without Terra?”

“She will not return without him. I also believe she is correct about Terra. He would not return without her. Terra and Fienna understand what this fight may mean to them and our world,” The king said sadly.

Setilan suddenly realized this fight was not something to be excited or happy about, but it should be feared and avoided if possible. However, she now knew it could not be stopped and she understood that many would not return. She had always wondered why Terra resisted this fight and had to be convinced to go forward with it. Her talk with Fienna had made Terra's resistance understandable.

Chapter 27 - Meeting the Land Nymphs

(An unknown ally must be met, considered and evaluated.)

- The Time of the Draman -

Terra decided it was time to meet the land nymphs. The flight would take two sun-risings and they had decided Fienna would come. Ten guard dragons would come with them. They would first put Cardana in her new home.

Fienna had stopped feeding Cardana for the last two days and allowed sea nymphs to feed her. She accepted the change without complaint. She seemed to somehow understand what was happening, even at her young age. Reicka wished to go with them, although she was afraid of going under the water.

The sea nymphs had come up with a method to move humans to and from Lampo Mountain. There was a sea creature that could be seen through. Its skin was tough and nearly impossible to cut through, and it was about twice the size of a human. It was an odd animal; it looked like a globe and simply drifted about. It breathed through its skin and appeared like a large bubble. The sea nymphs killed one of the creatures and put a structure in the skin, making a functional air-filled bubble that could be used to move a human underwater.

Terra chose to take his mother himself, but he did allow them to test the bubble with him and it worked well. Fienna held Cardana close to her body and Terra took them both to Cardana's new home. He returned and took his mother next. She was afraid, but she trusted Terra and the journey went smoothly. She was amazed at the magic Terra used to allow them to breathe underwater. It was as if they were in the air. She and Cardana were as safe as possible and the cave was large, quite beautiful, and comfortable.

Terra and Fienna began their flight to the land nymphs’ protected valley, accompanied by the ten guard dragons. They had been handpicked by Lowlack before his death. They both missed the old dragon; he was their second father. Terra wished he had his advice now that this great fight was about to start.

At the first sunset, they stopped just before the mountain crossing and the dragons fed on a herd of prey beasts. Terra killed one beast, which he always disliked doing. He and Fienna fed on the animal. She still ate the raw meat like she had done as a dragon.

The next morning, they flew above the mountains until they saw a long green valley. The Old Sinut had told Terra the land nymphs were expecting him. He was to land at a small hut just inside the great rock wall. As they flew up the valley, Terra could see thousands of dark skinned creatures waving at them. They finally came to the wall. It was five dragon lengths high and half a dragon length thick. Terra spiraled down followed by five of the guard dragons. The other five landed on various ledges on the valley walls.

He landed just in front of a small nymph-made cave. A very old land nymph walked out of the cave, supporting himself with a long stick. A bluish stone topped the stick. Terra changed into his human form after Fienna climbed down from his back. He stood naked in front of the old nymph. The nymph saw the embedded amulet and the eight lit stones. He also thought he glimpsed the image of an amulet on the woman's chest.