Realitys plaything 2 nea.., p.22
Reality's Plaything 2: Neath Odin's Eye, page 22
She nodded to him. He saw the King briefing mercenaries on using the knee saddles for riding the winged horses, and advising them of the sharpness of the wing pinions. He went to where Sarai appeared to having problems with Tymoril. Initially, the dragon bonded with Sarai at Idun’s citadel, and they’d been close before this. Now, Tymoril refused to let her near.
“Tymoril!” he yelled.
The dragon’s massive head snapped around. Gold eyes focusing on him.
“We have to GO. Let her create the saddle. She has to do it in place.”
The reptile shook her head.
Bannor closed his eyes and clenched his fists. They were all petulant children—the gods, the elves, and the dragons. He drew a breath. “Damn it, Tymoril, what do you want?”
She snaked her head down and butted up against him. Gads, the creature was acting like an infatuated teenager!
Red-faced and toe tapping Sarai stared at him. He scrubbed behind Tymoril’s brow ridges. Gesturing Sarai to finish creating the saddle on the creature’s back. Scowling, his mate went to the task. Her eyes flashed and tracers of blue and green light shot out from her fingertips, forming the outline of the dual saddle, then slowly becoming solid materials of leather and steel.
Finished, she came around Tymoril to him. Violet eyes hard, arms folded, she frowned at him. “What did you do to these two?”
“Sarai, I don’t have that much control over my powers. I found magic to heal them. I didn’t know it would do this. I wouldn’t do that on purpose.”
She frowned at him. After a moment, her expression melted and she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Damn it, yes, I do know that. It’s just—”
Tymoril’s eye opened, the big lid blinked, then narrowed. Bannor looked up to the sky. At first, he thought it was an illusion, but then he realized it really was two black dots against the brilliant blue sky. “Have to go.” He pointed. “They’re coming. Kylie said I should take Jhord with me.”
Sarai looked where he pointed and nodded. She turned and ran toward where her father was checking the straps on the pegasai. Some mercenaries were already mounted, experimentally reining the huge animals around on the ground. “Father, get everyone mounted. They’re coming!”
Bannor looked to Tymoril. “I have to ride you. That’s the deal isn’t it?”
The creature’s brow ridges rose, fins lying back on her head.
He frowned at Tymoril, then punched her with all his strength. The impact rocked her head back. She reared back and snarled at him. He knew even his hardest punch couldn’t do much more than startle this giant beast. The creature’s scales shimmered blue, reflecting the turbulent sky above.
“Don’t mistake me,” he pointed at the dragon. “You hurt Sarai, or let something happen to her, I am going to be very very unpleasant. Understand? You want my favor. You be nice to her.”
Tymoril lowered her head and made a rumbling deep in her throat.
“I’m not playing.”
He turned his back. As he did, the creature’s massive jaws snapped closed right behind him. His clothes fluttered in a steamy gust of dragon breath. His heart jumped and his lungs locked in his chest. Bannor kept himself still. He turned back to the dragon. She glared at him, scales red with anger.
He punched her snout, making her head lurch back. “Tymoril, do that again and we’re both going to be sorry. If you’re done, the spies are coming.” He pointed. While the dragon was looking up, he turned and ran to the two Valkyries.
Kylie thumped Jhord’s helmet back on her head, and stood the groggy red-haired air-maiden on her feet. Bannor put Jhord’s arm around his neck and assisted her toward the dragons. Sarai had already mounted Kegari and was gesturing them to hurry.
“I’ve got her,” he told Kylie. “Go with Sarai.”
The older Valkyrie broke into a jog. Two of the pegasai were launching into the air, the mercenaries on their backs hooting in excitement. The King’s horse pumped its way into the air and circled around the group. The other pegasai rose in the air to follow him.
Bannor finished dragging Jhord over to Tymoril. The reptile didn’t fuss or make any trouble, she simply crouched to make it easier for him to lever the heavy air maiden up into the back seat and strap her in.
He saw Kylie climb onto Kegari’s back and strap in. Sarai yelled to Kegari and the dragon unfurled her wings and sprang into the air.
Sliding his legs into the holsters and hooking his feet, he took the reins. “Go!” He called.
Tymoril spread her wings with a roar, took a few running steps and thrust away from the ground. As they climbed into the sky, he saw the two huge black birds Huginn and Munnin wheeling in the sky above them. They’d been seen.
There was nothing they could do except to fly south at best speed hoping that Odin couldn’t stop them.
Jhord’s arms slipped around him from behind. He felt the air maiden’s face against his back. He heard her snoring. At least someone could sleep. He didn’t see much rest in his future.
* * *
Bannor? Yeah, he’s scary powerful. The most frightening thing is that he’s never been taught. He does it all by instinct. That’s the part that amazes me. When I first started using my savant powers it was instinct, but then due to an unfortunate incident I ended up living in a house full of elders, mages, and warriors. I did nothing but train and read for seasons. After returning to my family in Cosmodarus, that’s still just about all I do. I’m good with my powers because of that discipline, but Bannor … damn, I have no idea how he does it … I can only shake my head…
—Liandra “Wren” Idundaughter Kergatha
Chapter 23
Odin’s Storm and Sarai’s Secret
« ^ »
Bannor flinched as bolts of fiery blue tore across the inky blackness of the sky, illuminating iron-gray clouds as they raced across the arch of the heavens. Rain stung his face and gusts yanked at his hair as he hugged Tymoril’s back. A blast of wind slammed them sideways. His air rushed out as strong arms clamped around his stomach and a face pressed hard between his shoulder blades as the dragon lurched like a leaf caught in a dust devil.
“I do’na be liking this!” Jhord yelled over the storm. “This be the fury o’ Odin for sure!”
“Fury or not, we’ll have to go down!” he hollered back.
Another blast of wind staggered Tymoril. Storm hurled slush cut his face, and his insides lurched as the dragon plummeted. He threw a loop of the reins around his fists and braced with his legs.
“Hold on!”
“Och!” Jhord gasped behind him.
Tymoril struggled, wings whipping against the gale. As they spun he caught a glimpse of Kegari also warring the storm with two figures clinging to her back. Further off, the rest of the mercenaries were spiraling toward the pitted wasteland of ridges and valleys below.
Lightning licked through the sky, blue and white tendrils lacing the thunderheads and igniting the darkness. A bone jarring reverberation followed, the sound so loud that Bannor’s ears rang.
The dragon pivoted her body, pulled out of the fall, and nosed up into the gusts with a lurch.
The storm’s intensity was growing. Tymoril could barely stay aloft now. They’d made good time the last few days. Niflheim lay only a hundred leagues away, but they’d get no closer today.
“Tymoril! Follow them down!” he yelled.
The dragon dipped her head in response, folded her wings and dove through the pounding maelstrom.
“Glory!” Jhord let out, clamping hard around his waist. “I want me wings baaack!”
Right now, Bannor wished for wings himself. He didn’t like the idea of flying, much less actually doing it. In the last few tendays, circumstances ensured he spent enough time aloft that he no longer became sick every time they went up. Plummeting at hurricane speed through storm turbulence was no maneuver he ever imagined taking part in. Now, he hoped never to do it again.
Less than a hundred paces above the jagged terrain, Tymoril flicked out her pinions and skimmed the tops of the highest outcrops. The creature probably possessed some other way of seeing, because near the surface, visibility through the freezing rain and mist couldn’t be over twenty paces. The dragon flashed over the surface so fast the details of ground blurred together into streaks.
Jhord let out noises and jerked behind him as Tymoril threaded her way through the obstacles, missing rocks and trees by hairs. Within moments, Bannor caught a glimpse of several white glows that must be the pegasai on the ground.
Tymoril curved her pinions, her tail becoming flat and wide as she used it to slow herself. They dipped up over a spur of rock and banked around barely missing the face of a cliff as they turned into the wind to flare for a landing.
Lightning creased the sky as the dragon back-angled her wings and stalled to a gentle touchdown.
Bannor let out the breath he was holding. When it came to the business of flying, there was no question in his mind, Tymoril was a master of flight.
“Creature is daffed,” Jhord complained behind him. “Going ta get us killed she is!”
“I don’t think she or Kegari know how to fly slow,” he said back to her, wiping the rain from his eyes. Looking over, he saw that the mercenaries and King T’Evagduran had indeed landed here.
A movement caught his attention. Kegari whipped over head, sweeping around on the same flight path that Tymoril had taken. Dodging through the narrow valley to wheel into the wind, flare her wings, and stall to a ground-shaking landing.
He gazed up into torrent and pushed the soaked hair away from his face. He unstrapped and swung out of the saddle. Glancing back at the young Valkyrie, he said, “What I don’t understand is why it scares you. A fall, even from that high, probably wouldn’t kill you.”
“Aye, perhaps,” Jhord answered, freckled cheeks visibly coloring even in the stormy darkness. “Twould hurt a great deal though. Tis reason enough ta be riled just the same!” She undid her restraints and leaped out to the muddy ground.
Tymoril glared at them water running in rivulets across her green scales. Her golden eyes glowed. She made a rumbling low in her throat and some clicking sounds with her teeth.
“If you don’t like her flying,” Bannor translated. “You can walk next time.” He thumped Tymoril’s thick neck. “They hate rain; makes them grouchy.”
“Aye. Can’na say I be caring for it much me-self.” She pulled off her helmet and pushed strands of rain-soaked red hair back from her face.
He walked along the length of Tymoril’s neck, and scratched behind her head fins. The giant creature murmured and rubbed against him. He saw Sarai heading toward him from Kegari and went to meet her.
Bannor gave his love a soggy hug and kissed her. She squeezed him hard. Her body trembled against his.
“Pretty scary up there, huh?”
She nodded.
“We need to find a place to hole up and get out of this rain. Let’s find your father.” He put an arm around her waist and led her toward the circle of pegasai.
He looked back and saw Jhord and Kylie join up, the older Valkyrie put her arm around the younger, apparently saying something to her. The dragons also paired off.
King T’Evagduran stood at the center of a circle of eight of the giant mercenaries, his slender frame dwarfed by their hulking masses.
“Everyone okay?” Bannor asked, raising his voice to be heard over the hissing downpour and the groaning of the wind.
“All accounted for,” T’Evagduran assured in a clear voice. “I ordered everyone to land. Neither the horses nor the riders are experienced fliers. The storm is getting worse. Better to find a secure hiding spot and get some rest.”
Bannor looked to Sarai. She raised her chin to meet his gaze.
“Agreed,” he said. “Now, if we can find some shelter…” Arm still around her, he headed toward the cliff face. He gestured to the two air maidens who had begun trudging toward them.
Everyone including the dragons gathered at the base of the massif. “Guess we break up and look for anything that might provide us cover for the night.”
Tymoril grunted behind him and gave him a nudge with her snout.
He looked back. “I’m open if you have a better idea.”
She snorted and nudged him aside with her head. Her golden eyes glowed red, then turned a brilliant white. She drew a sharp intake of breath, her long neck swelling. The scales down the length of her body took on a dark hue. The dragon’s eyes flashed. She drew her head back and blew out a hissing breath. What issued forth wasn’t fire, but a bright yellow substance that struck the cliff-side and clung. From the point of impact and spreading out, the rock turned incandescent.
Steam billowed up. The heat made Bannor and the others back away. For long moments the stone hissed and popped as water struck and boiled away. With the rain coming down, the area cooled rapidly. Tymoril made a clicking sound that Bannor interpreted to mean that everyone should back up.
When they stood far enough away, the giant reptile spun around and slammed her tail against the rock. Like a piece of fragile glass, the granite struck by the dragon’s breath shattered into gravel and poured out of the opening. In a matter of instants, the dragon had created a cave four paces across and twice as deep. Kegari moved up to help and in a short time the two behemoths had cleared out a sizeable cave big enough for everyone.
“You two won’t fit in there. How will…?” Bannor stopped in mid-sentence. Both dragons were already dwindling in size, their huge forms shimmering in a rainbow of colors as their tails and wings grew shorter, their bodies straightening to take upright positions. Draconian flesh bubbled, bones and scales making groaning sounds as they compressed down into the two reptile women Bannor remembered from the village.
Bannor noticed they looked different this time. Their scales appeared less pronounced, and the fins that decorated their skulls before had been replaced by dark bluish hair that resembled the thick ruff of a horse’s mane.
The mercenaries murmured to one another. Everyone was too soaked and miserable to be impressed for more than a few moments though.
“Get the horses,” Sarai said. “I’ll enlarge the cave a bit more and make it less visible to the outside.”
A few of the mercenaries forged off toward the pegasai. Sarai stepped to the opening and made digging gestures. With a gurgling and slurping sound, the granite shone with a faint golden color then flowed around her feet like thick mud. Each stroke of her hand scooped out a ton of rock as she forged into the shallow opening, making it deeper and wider to accommodate both the people and the animals. Mastery of the stone remained Sarai’s greatest power, and she demonstrated it as she transformed raw broken rock into smooth finished floors and walls. The mass that she scooped out of the cliff, she reformed into a pile of boulders that she used to disguise the chamber opening.
When she’d finished, she staggered to the threshold just out of the rain. Bannor moved quickly to provide her with support.
“Some goddess I’d make,” she mumbled. “Get tired moving a little stone around.”
He kissed her and pulled her to him.
King T’Evagduran followed him inside, wiping the water from his eyes and shaking it from his cloak. “Mi’Ika, I don’t know if you’re trying to impress me, but you are doing a fine job.” He put a hand on her shoulder, amber eyes searching her face. “Are you well? You seem a bit stricken.”
Hands gripping Bannor’s shoulders for support, she gave the King a wan smile. “A little fatigued is all, Father.”
The two Valkyrie swayed into the opening and looked around. Kylie drew the sword from her side which burst into flames with a crackle and lit the area like a torch. The air maiden nodded and pressed deeper into the alcove, Jhord following.
Bannor drew a breath watching the older of the two Valkyrie as she looked around the chamber. “I’m glad they’re on our side,” he said in low voice.
The King turned to observe the tall blonde immortal and nodded. “Yes.”
Bannor noticed that Tymoril and Kegari still hadn’t come in yet. They hated the rain, and by his reckoning would have been two of the first inside. Instead they’d hung back, involved in some discussion out of earshot. What could be so important that they would linger in the rain to talk about it privately? He frowned, doubting it would be anything good.
Maac and the two lieutenants stomped in out of the wet. “Whoa, Lady, you make great digs!” He peered around, rubbing his bald head. “See that, Grimes? She even made a flue for a fire.” He pointed up.
The other mercenary frowned up at the ceiling. “Damned if she didn’t,” the man rumbled in response. “Just like those Dykreeni bolt holes we took over in East Kingdom.”
Maac nodded to the King. “Yer daughter does fine work.”
T’Evagduran folded his arms. “Of course.”
The mercenary grinned with huge white teeth and shook his head. He thumped Grimes on the shoulder. “Have Tooley and Morehouse tie up the beasties over where she made a spot fer ‘em. I’ll stand watch with Maxin while you get things settled.”
Grimes nodded and ducked back out into the deluge.
The dragons finished their meeting and headed inside. Water glistened on their slick skin, reflecting the flames from Kylie’s sword. As they walked in, the King and Maac froze. The two Draconian’s moved with a predator’s confidence, muscles rippling under a shiny mesh of scales. Tymoril stopped inside the threshold out of the rain, gold eyes taking in the surroundings. Her gaze stopped on Bannor. She raised her chin and continued inside with folded arms. Behind her Kegari grinned with pronounced incisors.
Sarai watched them with narrowed eyes. “They’re up to something,” she mumbled. “I—ooh,” She winced and put an arm across her stomach.
“Star?” Bannor asked, concerned.
She thumped his shoulder with her palm. “Just feel a little sick.”
