Sensing his wife just dismissed him, he nods and moves to the other chamber to eat. Ozo lies on a cushion in one corner, chewing on a bone. On the table, beneath a towel, he finds a platter filled with yarin-rolls. He peels the edge back from one rolled tube to find a paste of ground, roasted pine nuts, cinnamon, and honey. In another rolled tube, he finds a creamy spread of mashed stone fruit. He settles in front of his own food and raises his mug to the dog. “I hope you enjoy your day with my family, mutt.” He takes a sip of the tea. Once again, he thinks he needs to take time off for his family. Even living here, with the work load of the possible Healer recruits added, he has little time for his mate and children. He takes a deep sigh and then digs into the breakfast Sheina prepared for him. He chews a yarin-cake.
His mind turns to the constant threat from the Volastoque. Shaking his head, he flings a morsel to the begging Ozo. It does no good to dwell on that topic. He firmly keeps his mind on the positives of his day. He goes to begin the classes to prepare new Healers. A good thing.
Chapter 22
Aura glides in behind Kilita as the convoy lands around the town Miramax. She and the green dragon settle near a pond in a small meadow adjacent to the town.
“Feed, and rest well. We shall start at first light nextday.” Phocaea’s Mindspeak is clear to all as she makes a pass over the town and lands in a large courtyard at its center. “Who among ye speaks for the town of Miramax?”
Aura tunes the convoy leader out as she continues to converse with the human leaders, arranging details for their escort. The meadow she and Kilita settled in is adjacent to an orchard of yarin trees; their twisted branches reach naked into the azure-blue sky. Here and there, long, orange seed pods cling to the branches. Seed pods missed in the harvest or perhaps left to be gathered to sow for seedlings in the spring.
Aura turns her eyes away; she doubts the humans will return to gather them, which ever was the case. The trip from Kitloch took two days. Shaman transported the covey in groups of six to the town of Yadmir, where they are evacuating the young and infirm. That is two days’ flight west of here. She understands the return trip will take over a drama.
Aura watches with tired eyes as Kilita enters the pond and bathes. The younger dragon shows no fatigue and Aura is a bit disgruntled to find herself as worn out as she is. Not exhausted, but well in need of a good night’s rest. However, she does need to feed first. “Kilita, I am going to hunt in those low hills we passed on the way in.”
The emerald-green dragon glances over her shoulder at Aura. “Although thou still needs to recover some weight, do not take more than one deer. If we encounter Volastoque nextday, thou does not need to be heavily laden from thy feeding.”
“Good advice, my thanks.” Aura lifts from the small meadow with quick wing strokes, a bit irritated she had not thought of that herself. Indeed, most of the afternoon she used the lure of two nice, fat deer when they arrived to keep her flagging efforts strong. There is so much she has to learn about battle.
She already sees she is not going to be much of an asset to the convoy. Between her lack of knowledge and low endurance, she only barely escapes being a liability. Aura arrows toward the hills, her attention focusing on hunting, forcing away her frustration. She will learn. She has never failed to accomplish a goal once she takes it to heart.
Her gaze rakes the hills, seeking game. The countryside surrounding Miramax is more open and flatter than what she is accustomed to. The gentle hills are a faint echo of the mountains near her lair. Rather, where her lair used to be. She corrects herself, then veers away from that line of thought.
She swoops lower. It will not do to dwell on thoughts in that direction; it does not allow her freshly scabbed-over grief to heal.
A few deer appear as she crests a hill, grazing in the shadow of the eastern slope. The wind of her downward plunge rakes across her scales and her talons sink into the spine of a plump buck. Swooping into a circle she lands near where she grabbed the deer. Snapping its neck, she feeds.
It does not take her long to demolish the one deer and she heeds, with regret, Kilita’s advice to limit her intake. Rising from the hillside, she turns her wings to swing around the perimeter of the town.
Miramax sprawls across rolling hills to a plain bisected by the Maxzide, a wide, slow flowing river. Vast orchards of yarin trees feed the multitude of mills perched upon the Maxzide River’s banks, their wheels moving steadily in the current. Wagons bearing the yarin flour line up row upon row in fields west of the town, ready to join tomorrow’s convoy. Vast herds of cattle and goats swell the pastures nearby, their keepers trying to settle them for the night. The barks of herding dogs and the clamor of people rise to fill the air.
By the Lady, this convoy will spread for miles.
Aura turns her flight back to the small meadow where she left Kilita. It will be best if she is well rested at sunrise when they start.
~!~
Trella completes her bath and tries to relax in the warm water. It does no good; every part of her body aches with tension. Her gaze keeps darting to the entrance, sure Prava will arrive at any moment.
Finally, she can bear the wait no longer and she rises from the warm water to pace the chamber.
“Nora Trella.”
She jerks around to see a black dragon standing in sharp relief at the arch entrance. She swallows hard then forces herself to respond. “Nor Prava, greetings.”
“May I enter?”
“Yes, of course.” Flustered, Trella moves awkwardly and forces herself to sit a short distance from the pool. Prava eases into the chamber, flowing like molten tar across the stone floor. Each movement gives evidence to the coiled power within his body. He is immense, towering over her as he moves near.
“Thou has never been with a male, they told me?” He settles on his thorax a few strides away, curling his tail around himself. Long slashes, most healed, but some still seeping blood, trail across his glistening ebony torso.
Trella shakes her head and tries to still the trembling in her limbs. “I planned to wait until it was safe, so that my clutch would have a future.”
Prava nods, his deep red eyes whirling slowly in compassion. “I agreed to this, for the same reasons I assume thou has. Personal feelings aside, our species must survive.”
“Yes.” Her Mindspeak is no more than a whisper.
Prava rises, his neck arching upward as his nostrils flare. “Come to me, little one. I shall make this as gentle as possible.”
He legs barely strong enough to hold her, Trella rises to her feet and steps beside the male.
~!~
Geramn leans over the shoulder of the young man and adjusts the way the bandage lies. “There, you see? You want it to apply even pressure, however not so much so as to constrict blood flow.”
“Yes, Healer.” The young man continues to wrap the other lad’s leg.
“Much better.” Geramn pats his shoulder, then moves down the row of paired students, each with one limb extended for the other to wrap. The breeze in the meadow is chilly and he gathers his cloak closer about himself. Autumn is reaching its end; they shall need to find a location in the caverns to continue these studies.
Healer Derness sits a short distance away; her hands glow with a soft sheen of amber as she holds her crystal up for a young woman to grasp. Derness’ face takes on the inward look of one accessing their powers. Her delicate shoulders sag and the tight lines around her eyes tell Geramn she tires. The testing usually proves to be more taxing than actually using the crystals to Heal.
Geramn watches for a moment, hoping this young woman will prove to have an affinity to the Healing magic. Of the forty-two Derness has already tested, only five have shown a strong aptitude and another three with a weak ability to attune to the amber crystal. Luckily, six of those without capability for the amber crystal have proven to have affinity with the green.
He glances to the center of the field. Shaman Jadrun and Shaman Tera continue to test other
s, but he can see that at least a score are waiting in the area they designated for those who can attune to the transportation crystal.
His attention turns back to Derness and he sees her give the young woman a wan smile and say something. The young woman’s face splits in a huge grin and she jumps up to excitedly join the others who have shown ability to attune to the amber crystal. Nine, that makes nine with some level of Healer power.
Healer Derness rubs her hands together, then cups them to blow upon. Geramn heads her direction, picking his way past the clusters of those practicing bandaging.
“Nora.” Geramn smiles as Healer Derness turns her gaze to him. “Let me do the testing for a while, you appear chilled to the bone. Taking a rest from using your powers will help you to warm up.”
She nods. “Yes, the drain from using the Healing wave is leaving me unable to fight off this chill breeze. I would appreciate you taking over for a spell.”
“I will get the next few, then we shall break for midday meal, or perhaps for the rest of the day. I think it would be best if we resume in the cavern nextday.”
Derness gives him a wry grin. “Sounds like a great plan to me. My fingers are stiff and I am sure it makes it hard for the ones I test when they are trying to concentrate and keep their minds off the chill.” She rises and walks toward the groups of those practicing.
Geramn motions for the next youth to take a seat on the brown grass of the meadow and lowers himself to sit cross-legged in front of the young man. He smiles to put him at ease.
“What is your name?”
“I am Kaleen, Nor Geramn.
“Kaleen, let me explain what we are going to do.”
The young man nods, his brown eyes a bit anxious.
“You have seen the amber glow when a Healer uses their powers?”
“Yes, Nor.”
“That is the Healer accessing the Healing wave within the crystal. The Lady gave us the different color crystals to aid the Palmir People.” Geramn pulls the cord from around his neck and holds his crystal out to show the youth. “The amber crystal, if you can attune to it, allows you to aid the body in repair.” He allows the youth to take the crystal into his hand. “You will not feel anything, at least not until we focus upon it.”
The young man thrusts the crystal back at Geramn. “What does it feel like?”
“You know the tingle you will get in your foot, when it has fallen asleep and is awakening?”
The youth nods, his black hair falling into his eyes. He impatiently thrusts his hair back and holds the crystal toward Geramn.
Geramn lifts his hand, indicating the youth should keep the crystal. “The sensation is similar, with a flush of warmth accompanying it. Nothing to fear, I assure you.” Geramn grins. “After all it is a Healing crystal, it cannot cause you any harm.”
The young man gives a bashful grin. “What do I do?”
“Hold the crystal up between us.” The youth does so and Geramn continues. “Yes, that is right, I will place my hands upon yours.” He clasps Kaleen’s hands, his fingers making light contact with the crystal as well. “I am going to focus on the crystal’s powers; close your eyes and relax. Try to clear your mind of any distractions and center your attention on any sensations you feel in your hands.”
Geramn slips into the initial stages of a Healer’s trance with little effort. However, before he reaches the stage where he sends the pulsing power out, as he would with a Healing, he reflects a small portion of the harnessed wave back into the crystal.
Kaleen gasps, his brown eyes flying wide.
Geramn gazes steadily into the youth’s eyes. “Steady, lad. Keep your attention focused and describe to me what you feel.”
“A current, a stream of warmth flows up my hands, down my arms and through my entire body,” Kaleen stammers out.
Geramn allows himself a smile. “Close your eyes again, Kaleen, concentrate on seeing that flow.”
His eyes snap closed again. “I can see it! It looks like honey pouring in rivulets within my arms.”
Geramn adjusts the harnessed energy, pulling some back. “And now?”
“It slowed.”
“Fine, lad, now reach for the flow and see if you can increase it again.” Geramn closes his own eyes and monitors the steady ebb of energy. Kaleen did it! The young man increases the flow from the crystal without Geramn’s aid.
“I think I got it.”
Geramn harnesses the energy again and causes it to dissipate. His hand drops from the crystal to Kaleen’s shoulder. “Indeed you did, lad. Fine job.”
Kaleen hands Geramn the crystal and, his eyes bright with wonder, asks, “What just happened?”
“You controlled the crystal’s energy. That degree, without training, shows that you will indeed be a strong Healer.”
“But, I do not even understand what I did.”
Geramn chuckles. “It is enough that you were able to do it. The training to apply the Healing energy and focus it into the Healing wave takes guidance and much practice.” He gestures to the small group of others who have shown ability to attune to the amber crystal. “Take your place with those who will receive the training, and congratulations, lad.”
~!~
Montello braces against the blast of cold wind, wiping tears of pride from his eyes. Beneath him, Falcop soars across the small meadow at the rear of Kitloch Caverns. One try. His hatchling achieves flight with his first effort.
The green dragonet tilts his wings, sending ripples from the early winter sun across their tops as he eases into a glide. “I did good?”
“You did fantastic!” Montello shouts. “I could not be prouder.”
Falcop flaps his wings again, gaining altitude. Montello moves back from the ledge as his hatchling swoops toward him for a landing.
Falcop braces his wings and lands, a bit of a scramble to stop somewhat spoiling a perfect landing, but arriving safely beside Montello.
He rushes across the stone ledge and leaps to wrap his arms about the dragonet’s neck. “That was wonderful! You are so handsome in flight.”
Falcop’s head bends as he wraps Montello with his neck, pressing him close. “Next time I hunt.”
“Yes, of course, you may begin hunting nextday.” He pats the long expanse of neck and gestures to the cavern entrance. “Let us get in out of this cold, and I will get your feeding for this nightfall.”
Falcop moves with haste to comply as the first snowflakes of the season drift down around them. Montello scrambles behind his dragonet, still grinning from ear to ear from Falcop’s achievement.
Dragonhome teems with activity as numerous bonding mates care for their charges. Soon, he and Falcop will move from this cavern; only those younglings who do not hunt are housed here. Montello chuckles as he notices the slight swagger in Falcop’s step. Yes, it will be better once they have moved the dragonet to his own chamber. His maturing will only lead to more confrontation with the other males; reducing close contact will limit the opportunities for problems.
Falcop climbs upon his nest, circles three times, and lowers himself to lie down.
“Good fella; you lie and rest until I get your meal.”
Chapter 23
Jadrun pulls his cloak closer as he lurches to the bottom of the gulch. He could swear he heard a response to his call. “Blanche! Blanche, can you hear me?” He tilts his head. Yes. That was a muffled response from farther up the gully. He rushes that direction and as he rounds a bend in the narrow gully he staggers to a stop. A rock slide completely blocks the gully. “Blanche. Blanche, it is Jadrun, can you hear me?”
A response, muffled but definitely a response. Jadrun scrambles to the top of the piled stones. The gully stretches before him, toward the top of the hill, empty. “Blanche!” He looks down as the barely audible answer comes from beneath his feet and toward the right side of the gully. By the Lady, she, or whoever answers him, is under the rock slide.
“I am coming, give me a moment to sort out how to remov
e these rocks.” Rocks, damn it, many are boulders. He studies the pile and it soon becomes apparent that he will have to work from the top to keep additional boulders from rolling into the pile. Placing his water skin and satchel out of the way, he decides on his plan of action.
Jadrun moves to the location he thinks it is best to start, and, laying his hand upon two large boulders, he transports them away. Popping back to the pile, he continues to transport the rocks and boulders to the bottom of the gully a safe distance away.
A couple of hours pass as he transports rocks; he is tiring, and knows he must soon rest. The acrid taste in his mouth is almost overbearing. Then, he removes a boulder to find a gap in the gully side. “Blanche!”
“Jadrun!” A sob drifts from the small opening. “I cannot believe you found us.”
The wave of relief which strikes him causes him to sag to his knees. Leaning down to peer into the dark opening, Jadrun cannot see anything. “Us?”
“There are five of us in here, my love.”
Jadrun snatches a couple of the smaller rocks from the edge of the opening, then wedges his head in. He still cannot see a thing.
“Are you or anyone injured, Blanche?”
“Only minor physical injuries, though we are weak from lack of food and water.”
Jadrun withdraws his head and slumps at the opening. “I must rest for a moment, then I will transport away enough rock for you to climb out. I have water, and a small amount of food. I will be right back.” Picking his way carefully down the slide he goes to his water skin and takes a swallow. Hefting it in his hand, he judges it to be two-thirds full. Opening his pack, he counts the fruit bars within. Nine. He takes two and consumes them; he needs to supplement his sagging energy to remove the remaining boulders.
He makes his way back to the top, carrying the water skin and pack. “Give me a few moments, Blanche, and I will have you out of there.” He lies flat against the rocks, closes his eyes, and tries to slow his breathing. “How did you end up trapped in there?”
“We were fleeing one of those beasts.” The voice that responds is male.