The Soul Sphere: Book 01 - The Shattered Sphere (42 page)

“Valya!” a bronze dragon called from above. It flapped its great wings and hovered over the clearing. “A dragon host approaches from the south.”

“And Belthros?”

“He leads them.”

“Sound the call.” Valya turned to the copper dragon. “You may escort our guests to the edge of the woods by the sea, but keep them out of sight.”

The copper dragon gave a nod of understanding and watched as Valya launched himself into the sky, the air stirred by his wings swirling like a small tornado. Once Valya was out of sight, the dragon said, “Follow me, and be silent.”

There was more urgency in the dragon’s step now, and it moved with surprising speed and grace through the trees. After traveling nearly a half-mile, the dragon and its charges reached the edge of the woods, the tree line stopping abruptly at a small cliff that overlooked a narrow, white-sand beach.

Four bronze dragons made what appeared to be lazy circles in the sky, seeing and being seen. In the distance was a familiar sight to the survivors of the doomed ship—dragons approaching with a purpose. As the beasts neared, Demetrius tried to count them, but gave up as they continually dove into and out of formation. He estimated there were fifty of them. The question that burned to pass his lips—how many dragons were with Valya—he had to swallow unasked.

As the dragons drew closer, all but one broke off, but the one that continued on would cause any man or beast to tremble. It was jet black from head to tail and claw to wing, its features difficult to distinguish except for its white teeth and blazing red eyes. He passed before the sun, blotting it out like a great storm cloud. If Valya was huge, Belthros was gigantic.

“Valya!” he called in challenge, his voice thunder. “You have something I want.”

Valya, who had been waiting on the beach, launched himself skyward, arcing around Belthros. “And you something I want.”

Belthros allowed Valya to circle behind him without turning his head, as if the golden dragon was a mere insect, not worth the effort to watch. “I won’t waste your time trying to convince you to join us, although in the end you will all do that or die. But we might both agree dragon-kind need not engage in battle over the trifles of men.”

“If the Sphere shard is a ‘trifle,’ yield it to me.”

“Solek desires it.”

“You answer to him?”

The black dragon’s eyes flared. “I answer when it serves my purpose. Solek is a shell for one who holds unimaginable power. By his side will I rule.”

“So he has told you. I serve one who is greater still.”

Belthros laughed, the sound cruel and sharp. “Of course. I’m sure this god of yours will return any day now to save you and Arkania. Maybe I should just wipe you and your mutated metallic brethren out for good, to show just how limited his power is.”

“You do not see us fleeing, do you? If it is battle you want, we stand prepared to give it.”

Belthros watched Valya out of the corner of his eye while he turned another lazy circle in the sky. “That you do. Dragons we all are, in heart if not in mind. But let us end this quickly, and leave our kin out of it.”

“Single combat?”

From Alexis’ left she heard a quick “No!” escaping from a dragon in a low hiss. A silver head was barely visible in the trees some thirty yards away. If Valya heard the comment, he did feel the need to answer it.

“Come now,” said Belthros. “A chance to redeem yourself. To take a part of the Sphere back from the one who took it from you. Surely you know if we go to war many will die, and sooner or later you and I will meet. Let us end it now.”

Valya rose up higher with two strong flaps of his wings. “I accept, of course. You have the shard?”

Belthros yanked a small crystal orb from the chain around his neck. He tossed it to Valya as they passed.

Valya crushed the container in his mighty claw, removed the shard inside, then drew the Sphere from the cloaking bag. Even from a distance all could see the magic glow as the pieces melded together.

As Valya put the Sphere back in the bag, Belthros said, “Funny how I can show trust where such ability is lacking in you.”

“Trust is earned.”

“So is death.”

Belthros shot upward, then turned in a slow, graceful arc. Valya did the same. Although the dragons were always moving, there came an instant where they seemed to hang motionless, the calm before the storm. Then with lightning quickness, the battle was joined.

The dragons raced toward one another, a suicidal charge. Just before contact, they both spewed forth their special attacks, golden flame jetting from Valya’s mouth, a vile black liquid from Belthros’. Each fired and dodged at the same time, throwing off their aim. The flame flashed through the empty air and dissipated, the fluid fell into the ocean below. The two beasts, unharmed, wheeled about for another pass like jousting knights.

The other dragons watched the battle unfold at a respectful distance. Rowan stood by Alexis, and felt her shoulder brush his. He glanced at her, saw she was enraptured in the battle, and turned his gaze skyward once more. He said a quick prayer, all he could do at the moment, hoping it might aid Valya. It did nothing to loosen the knot in his stomach. He knew there was a great deal more to their quest if Valya won, but if Belthros was victorious he felt certain that Arkania’s doom was sealed.

The second pass started much the same as the first, but as the dragons approached one another Valya slowed slightly. Belthros spit the black fluid again, the stream much smaller and weaker than the first time. Valya spun aside to avoid it, then twirled further and passed upside-down under Belthros, raking the black dragon’s underside with his claws. Belthros let out a roar of surprise and pain as they separated.

The bigger dragon cut short his turn, racing back at Valya while the golden dragon took the same slow arc as before. Belthros was detected before they collided, but not soon enough for Valya to avoid him. The two grappled together, holding, clawing, and snapping at one another. For a moment they hung weightless, then together they plummeted toward the sea. Neither would release the other as they fell, and as one they plunged into the water, continuing their battle for a time unseen, under the surface.

Belthros emerged first , water and blood trailing off him. His right foreleg he held protectively against his chest. Valya followed, wounded as well, trying to catch his younger foe from behind. Belthros skimmed along the surface of the water, heading toward shore. Valya gained on him, then swooped down, claws extended toward the black dragon’s back.

For a split-second all believed Belthros was unaware of Valya’s approach. Perhaps even Valya believed it, extending further than he should, giving up some balance to strike more quickly. But when Belthros changed direction, it was obvious he knew just were Valya was.

The black dragon jerked left at the last instant, then shot up and back down, slamming into Valya from above. His claws tore into Valya’s left wing as he drove the golden dragon back into the water.

The sea flashed black and gold as the dragons wrestled. But Belthros had the advantage, and stayed on the offensive. When they parted Belthros flew like an arrow skyward, bellowing a triumphant roar, while Valya dragged himself onto the beach. His left wing was a wreck, and blood from his wounds stained the white sand a dark rust color. His trembling legs gave way and he slumped to the ground. He struggled to keep his eyes open. Finally he laid his head down, as if to sleep.

Belthros alighted on the beach fifty feet from his fallen foe, then stalked forward.

Lucien could bear it no longer. He started forward as if he planned to leap off the cliff and onto the beach, but was held back by the tail of their escort. “You must not interfere,” the dragon said firmly.

“But if Valya dies…”

Tala took his arm and gently pulled him back. “We must let this play out as it will.”

Lucien turned away, yielding against his will.

On the beach Belthros reached Valya’s prostrate form. Drops of blood dripped from the black dragon’s fresh wounds, but these did not hinder the erect, strutting way in which he moved, except for a slight limp caused by an injury to his right foreleg. Even so, he used his injured limb to beat playfully at the bag of cloaking around Valya’s neck. “Such a small thing to die for. You should have yielded it to me.”

Valya did not respond.

Belthros drew his head back and opened his mouth. His neck muscles tightened and then his head darted forward, spitting the black liquid toward Valya’s exposed midsection.

Just as the fluid was exiting Belthros’ mouth, Valya’s eyes snapped open and his head jerked upward. Golden flame shot from his mouth and engulfed Belthros’ head, entering his open mouth and eyes. The black dragon tried to scream but found no voice in his ruined throat. In a blind rage he tried to lift off, to fly away from his pain and his tormentor, but Valya had latched onto him and held him close, even as the black liquid slid across his scales like a living, thinking thing, finding open wounds and slipping inside his body.

The two monstrous beasts thrashed as one again, but now one was lost in a haze of unspeakable agony. Valya waited for the right moment, simply clinging to his younger but stronger opponent as Belthros flailed in a desperate attempt to escape. As the black dragon’s neck arched and thrashed, his scales flexed at times to expose open wounds, and into one of these Valya drove his teeth, striking like a snake. He worked his jaws, driving his teeth deeper, ignoring the pain from the black fluid and Belthros’ scrabbling claws.

Finally Belthros convulsed twice and the fight went out of him as his spirit fled. Valya released him and he slumped to the ground, dead.

A cacophony of voices sounded, howls of triumph and anger, of hope and despair. Belthros’ host turned and departed, leaving their leader alone where he fell. Valya himself let out a scream of mingled joy and pain, but did not have the energy to sustain it. He dragged himself away from his defeated enemy, then lay down on the sand.

Several dragons raced to Valya. Some arrived more swiftly than the silver one, but when she moved near they withdrew. She looked at Valya for a moment with silent longing, then knelt beside him.

“I had to,” he said.

“I know,” she replied.

“Have the strangers brought to me. Quickly. There is not much time.”

At a swift gesture from the silver dragon a bronze beast lifted off and flew to the visitors’ guardian. “Bring them to Valya immediately.”

They followed their guide to a narrow path—one he pointed out from the air since he was too large to walk upon it—which wormed its way to the beach. They moved toward the fallen dragon with slow, reverent steps.

“Come closer, my friends,” Valya said. His gaze rested on Tala. “Take the bag.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but Valya hushed her. Tala knelt and with a delicate touch loosened the cord that held the bag fast, and then held the prize tight to her breast.

“Galway, have a squad of dragons saddled and take our guests back to the mainland.”

“Saddled?” the silver asked, glancing from Valya to Galway and back again. “Man has not ridden on dragon since before our fathers and mothers were hatchlings.”

“Our worlds have grown apart. But time is short and Arkania still needs saving. Our need is dire.”

The silver bowed in obedience.

Valya eyed Galway, a large bronze dragon, who hesitated to follow the order. “Don’t be filled with pride. There is no shame in being ridden at one’s own choosing. Would you rather we build them a boat?”

“You misunderstand my concern, Valya. I will carry them myself if need be.”

“Well…?”

Galway looked once at the strangers and decided to speak despite the fact they could hear. “We do not know the hearts of men so well that we should trust these with the Sphere. Or I should say we know their hearts too well. They are easily corrupted.”