Chapter 8
A new terror shot through me, so sharp and painful that I couldn’t breathe. The shaking slowed as creatures dragged themselves out from under the surface, hissing and snarling. Squat, round bodies covered with dirt-matted fur. Flat heads barely higher than my waist. Short legs. Long arms. Impossibly long hands.
I spun for an escape route. I was surrounded. The road, the forest, even the front edges of the village filled with the creatures. Images flashed through my mind, muddling my thinking. My parents. My brother. Flashing swords. Blood everywhere. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. I had to run. Had to get away.
Nowhere to run.
The creatures hissed again and surged forward.
I was screaming and wasn’t sure when I’d started. My arms flew without conscious direction, slapping away the hands that grasped at me or catching wrists and sending the owners flying. My legs finally chose to act, kicking and staggering forward in a desperate attempt to find a path, a way to break free and get away from these things. I had to. Tears blurred my vision but couldn’t blot out the images of blood and death and pain that filled my mind. Other voices shouted in alarm. I dimly saw villagers spilling from the inn, the smithy, the village center into the mass, struggling to fight their way toward me.
Hands caught the back of my tunic and yanked backwards. I staggered, struggling to keep my balance, and managed to knock a couple of them aside. But there was too many. They caught my legs, my arms, my tunic, even my hair. My throat burned from screaming as I tumbled backwards, landing hard on the ground. The tearing hands yanked my arm away from my side. Clawed at my hand.
My fingers instinctively curled into a tight fist even as I fought to twist free. Sharp claws raked across my hand, dug into my wrist. Teeth sank into my arm. My ring bit into my flesh as I squeezed my fist tighter and tighter, hardly noticing the hands tearing at the rest of my body, all my focus centered on the ring. Had to keep it safe.
Rik caught one of the creatures and threw it aside. Reached to pull me to my feet. A dozen creatures leapt on him, knocking him backwards. The trees moved above me as the creatures dragged me toward the forest. I kicked and twisted with all my might. Too many. I couldn’t break free.
The shouts were distant now. The creatures kept my rescuers from reaching me. More teeth sank into my wrist, squeezing tendons and almost forcing my hand open. I clenched my fist harder, tighter. Couldn’t let go. No matter what else happened, I couldn’t let go.
A large tree loomed above, followed by roots and dirt and darkness. A hole. They were dragging me into a hole. I screamed anew, panic giving me new strength to fight. The grips on my other arm loosened, and I grabbed at one of the roots, caught hold. They jumped onto my arm, clawing and biting and tearing until my grip slid free and I plunged into darkness.
A roar shook the tunnel. Axen’s tail wrapped around my waist and yanked me free. I flew through the air and slammed into her side. The last few creatures that had managed to cling to me lost hold and tumbled shrieking to the ground below.
I caught her scale ridges. Adrenaline fueled me onward to scramble up to her head as fast as I could, where I clung to the back of her neck and trembled violently. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
I remained still for a long time, crying and shaking as the wind whipped around me. As the tears subsided, I finally pulled myself back together. We have to go back.
She didn’t answer, just kept flying onward at full speed.
I squeezed her tighter. Axen, we have to go back. We can’t abandon Emsha to those… I shuddered. We can’t leave them to fight alone. We don’t even have to land. Just torch them all from the air.
She still didn’t answer.
I reached out to her mind, trying to make her see why we couldn’t just leave those people in the hands of those monsters. Instead, I saw glimpses of memories, knowledge long lost hidden in the corners of her mind and mine.
The creatures. The rumbling ground that preceded them. Why I’d always stayed on the move. Why it felt so wrong and unnatural to stay in one place for too long.
My knuckles tightened on Axen’s scales.
Dear Maker, they found us.
When I finally managed to get my hands to stop shaking again, I tried again with Axen. We need to go back. At least to make sure the people are okay. We can blast those dungheaps back into the ground they came from.
I could feel her reluctance, but we were both a bit calmer now, calm enough that she could see reason. She snorted with displeasure a few times, but banked to the right and turned back the way we’d come.
My grip on her tightened the closer we got. Would the creatures still be there? What had they done to the villagers? Would the village still be standing at this point? Heavy guilt weighed on my chest for fleeing. It was good and right that Axen pulled me out of there, but we should have stayed and helped the battle from the air. If anyone was hurt, it would be my fault, first for drawing the creatures there and then for abandoning the village at the first chance I got.
Emsha was just ahead. My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t see any signs of creatures filling the roads. Had they been fought off? Had they killed everyone and left? Were they lurking in the forest and buildings, just out of sight, waiting to ambush me as soon as I returned?
Axen flapped her wings hard, gaining a bit more height. We aren’t landing.
No. We’re just looking.
It took conscious effort to slow my breathing and lean forward enough to see. A few people stood in the road now, pointing toward Axen and waving off to the side, apparently beckoning more people out of the buildings. They were still alive. And not under attack. The creatures had left?
Axen circled the village as more people spilled into the road, staring up at us, gesturing, talking amongst themselves. I spotted Thone near the inn entrance. He waved wildly for our attention, then gestured for us to land.
We aren’t landing, Axen repeated.
My heart thudded against the base of my throat, making it hard to breathe. I squinted at the fields, the buildings, the forest. No signs of the attackers.
Give the forest a steam bath. Not enough to kill things, just enough to make it uncomfortable. If the creatures were hiding, they wouldn’t be for long.
Axen was happy to comply with my suggestion, and she dipped to skim just above the treetops, blasting jets of steam from her nose as we passed. I only heard a couple of squawks in protest—most of the forest animals hadn’t yet returned after all the activity in the edge of the forest earlier. No signs of the creatures.
Others had joined Thone in gesturing and calling for us to land.
They were safe. The creatures were gone. And with me gone, the creatures wouldn’t return. Maybe it would be for the best if I just left.
I like that plan. Let’s do that.
I sighed. And then what will happen with Krenish? If we leave, Jennik will lead his men against Emsha. They’ll be slaughtered.
Their problem, not ours.
Axen, I scolded.
Fine. We torch Krenish, then we leave.
No. I exhaled. I couldn’t really explain, couldn’t make her understand the dangers of such choices. Or my responsibility to her. No, we have to try to solve it peacefully first.
She snorted with annoyance.
More people waved. Still no signs of creatures, of rumbling earth. There weren’t even signs of the holes in the dirt any longer. The villagers must have filled them in.
And if they’d had time to fill in those holes, then the attack must have been over for a long time. The creatures had either been defeated or left on their own. Either way, the immediate threat was gone.
I closed my eyes. I wouldn’t let myself be a coward again. Land.
No.
Much of our memories were still jumbled, but there was one truth that stood out loud and clear. They won’t come if you’re too close, I pointed out. They don’t dare.
Her displeasure shot th
rough my mind like an arrow, but she knew I was right. Fine. But I’m staying right on the ground with you the whole time.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
She landed in the middle of the road, taking it slow enough for the villagers to clear the way. She lowered her head to the ground. It might look to anyone else like she was resting, but her muscles remained tense, ready to snatch me up and take to the air in an eyeblink if necessary.
I slid down from her neck and took a few steps toward the inn, stopping before I was out of her arm’s reach. I had to take a slow breath so my voice wouldn’t shake. “Is everyone okay?”
The villagers hung back, keeping their distance from Axen. When it was clear Axen staying put, Thone, Rik, and Jec finally approached.
“We’re fine. What about you? Are you all right?” Thone looked me over with concern in his eyes.
My cheeks warmed. “I’m not hurt. I apologize for leaving like I did. I should have stayed and helped fight those creatures off.” I looked at each one, then glanced at the villagers behind them. No one seemed much worse for the wear. “No one was hurt in the battle?”
The men looked at each other. “As soon as Axen rescued you and left, so did the creatures,” Jec said. “Just crawled back into those holes and disappeared. We watched and waited for a few minutes, but when nothing happened, we filled the holes in. There’s been no sign of them since.”
Rik was staring at me, worried. “Alita, they were after you. Just you. Why? What were those things?”
Ice raced down my back, triggering a shiver. How could I explain this to them?
“What is she doing here?” Erret’s voice boomed with barely controlled rage. He started forward, but paused when he saw how close he would have to get to Axen to reach me. His face screwed up, and he stormed to Thone’s side regardless of the dragon.
Let me bite him.
No, Axen.
Erret jabbed a finger at my face. “Haven’t you done enough damage here? It’s not enough to bring the wrath of Krenish on our heads, now you’re bringing attacks from the very ground!”
“That’s enough.” Thone’s voice was firm.
Erret spat at my feet. “You still want us to believe you have nothing to do with evil magics? And yet demons rise up from the depths to drag you back to their master!”
My fists tightened. I’d never wanted to hit someone more in my life. But I’d made a habit of restraining myself, and I wasn’t willing to break that now. Besides, in a way, he was right. It was my fault the creatures had come to Emsha. I’d brought this danger to them.
Rik was starting to speak, his face red with anger, but I spoke first.
“You’re right.”
They all gaped at me.
“Not about the magic,” I amended. “But you’re right that it’s my fault this danger came to you. And I’m sorry for that. That’s why it’s so crucial that Thone and I make peace with Jennik quickly. Because I can’t stay here. If I stay, those things…” My voice caught. “They’ll just keep coming.”
A smug smile rested on Erret’s lips.
Rik stammered for a moment. “Raisa, no! I mean, you aren’t to blame.”
“How do you know that? She confesses to it herself,” Erret retorted.
Thone put up a hand, silencing them both. He met my eyes with the same look of kindness as when he’d encouraged the woman to speak in the meeting by the river. “We are not honorless cowards who would enjoy the protection and aid of you and your dragon, and then turn around and cast you out at the first sign that we might have to face some danger to protect you in your time of need.” He cast a sidelong glance at Erret. “Not all of us, anyway.”
Erret squawked in protest.
Thone continued, speaking over the other man’s outrage. “Of course we respect your freedom to leave or stay as you prefer. But do not leave for our sake, to protect us. We are not afraid to take arms against an enemy, whether it is our enemy or yours. The choice is yours, raisa. But if you do choose to go, then at the very least I hope you will offer some form of explanation.” His eyes remained gentle, his tone soft. “What were those creatures? Why are they after you?”
The shards of memories flooded my system and choked me for a moment. My hands curled tight. My thumb rubbed over the edge of my ring. “They murdered my family.”
The silence thickened around me. Thone finally broke it, his voice still just as kind. “Why? And why are they after you now?”
The edges of the ring bit into my skin.
“I told you, the dark magic draws them,” Erret grunted.
“Shut up,” Rik snapped.
I looked down. “I was young when it happened. Just a child. Too young to understand what the creatures wanted. In fact, the pain of the loss had blocked the memories from my mind. I didn’t remember these creatures, or that they were the reason I never stayed in one place for long, until today.” I took a deep breath. “To my understanding, it is the bond with the dragon that draws these creatures, first to my family, and now to me.” The words came out sterile, calm, belying the tempest still lurking inside.
Erret scowled and looked about to say something.
Tarvia brushed past him with what might not have been an accidental bump and wrapped a cloak around my shoulders, drawing me tightly into her maternal arms. “Come inside, child. Have some tea. You’re safe here.”
“She’s not going anywhere until we get some real answers!” Erret snapped.
Fire blazed behind Tarvia’s eyes. “Stand aside, Erret. She is one of us, and we take care of our own.”
He sputtered, but others were already pushing him aside, reaching out to me, offering words of comfort and promises of protection.
A strange sense of warmth quieted the tempest. I glanced back at Axen.
She snorted. Go. I’m staying here on the road so those foul meat specks don’t come back.
It briefly occurred to me that it would be an interesting welcoming committee to any travelers on the road. But it seemed to be a quiet day, and I felt infinitely safer with Axen’s proximity, knowing the creatures wouldn’t dare come close with her here.
Tarvia led me into the inn, and within moments I was seated with the cloak nestled tight around me, a steaming mug of tea in front of me. Magra nestled at my side, softly crooning as she mended the scratches and bites on my skin. The other villagers surrounding me, still making their declarations. We’ll protect you, no matter what comes. We’ll fight those things off if they dare show their faces above ground again. They aren’t that strong, we just weren’t prepared for them last time. If they try it again, they won’t get within a housespan of you.
By the time my cup was empty, I felt calm, composed. “Thank you. I am overwhelmed by your kindness and grateful for your acceptance and protection.” I faced Thone across the table. “However, it is still best for everyone involved, myself and Axen included, if we can quickly establish peace with Krenish so Axen and I can move on.”
Was that disappointment I saw in so many faces? I must have been imagining things.
Thone nodded sagely. “If that is how you feel, we will respect that. You and I can go speak with Jennik now, if you wish.”
I nodded and stood, returning the cloak to Tarvia. She pulled me into a warm embrace, and I felt oddly unwilling to break it before she did. “Thank you,” I murmured quietly.
Rik put a hand on my shoulder as I moved away from the table. “I’ll come as well. We’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe.”
The back door flew open and slammed into the wall. Startled, I turned to see who it was—likely Erret—but couldn’t see anyone.
Then I saw the long arms and heard the people shouting. Adrenaline blasted my system in a torrent. I spun for the other door, but the creatures had surprise on their side. They had already cut off my exit.
Axen roared from outside, and hot steam buffeted the back of the building. She’d spotted the attackers and sent t
he rest of them running, but there were still too many inside. Where I was trapped.
Rik pushed me behind him, his sword already in hand. More people shoved in at his side, forming a solid protective ring around me. I saw Thone leading the charge forward, slicing his way through the creatures, working to clear a path to the door.
Creatures scrambled over the tables, leaping at me. Rik swatted one out of the air with the flat of his sword. Jaska beside him caught one by the legs and swung it around over his head, knocking others aside.
The panic began to subside. I was safe. They were keeping me safe.
Metal clanged on metal as the creatures skittered through the kitchen, drawing shrieks from the children. Tarvia swung a hefty pan and knocked two of the attackers silly, forcing the others to backpedal and reconsider their route.
“Go!” Thone shouted from the door.
The path was clear. Rik immediately took charge, leading the group in escorting me swiftly out to the road, out to Axen. She promptly snatched me from the middle of the group and tossed me onto her back, ready to spring into the air.
No. Stay put. Let’s clear the rest of these creeps out.
Her response was a mixture of displeasure at the thought of staying so close to the creature and delight at the thought of crisping them.
Steam only. We don’t want to hurt any people or buildings. I shouted to the people below. “Get to cover!”
They didn’t need to be told twice, scurrying away. The creatures that had chased us out of the building now stood fully exposed to Axen’s wrath.
She blasted jets of steam at them, barely restraining herself enough to keep the temperature within control. Her claws sent a mass of them sailing back toward the forest.
The remaining creatures scattered into the forest, encouraged along their way with several more bursts of steam until they were all gone.
The villagers emerged from cover, cheering and congratulating each other.
My fingers lightly stroked Axen’s scales. I was okay. We’d fought them off before anything bad could happen. My thumb rubbed against the ring’s edge. I was okay.
And the villagers had protected me. None of the creatures had even gotten close, for that matter. It was foreign, the thought of others stepping to my defense. Not that it had never happened before, but that was different—any decent being who saw someone attacked on the road would jump in to help. These people wanted to protect me, not just as some random stranger in need of help on the road, but as someone they knew and cared about.
The thought sent a strange, uncomfortable feeling through my system. I shook it off. Focus. Get Thone and go to Krenish. Get this deal settled. And move on. Then everything would be as it should be.
Axen lowered her head so I could climb down.
Rik jogged to my side, his face bright with exertion and the exhilaration of victory. “We did it! I told you we’d keep you safe.” He grinned. “Those things don’t stand a chance with us around.”
His delight was contagious. I couldn’t help but smile. “You did, indeed. Thank you.”
Thone joined us. “Do you need a moment to recover?”
“I’m fine,” I replied. “If you’re ready, I’d like to go to Krenish now.”
He nodded, called out some directions to Jaska and Jec, then climbed up Axen’s neck without another word.
Rik balked, looking up at Axen. “Um…”
“It’s okay if you’d rather stay here,” I said, starting my own climb.
“Uh…” He glanced back, then squared his shoulders. “No. It’s fine.” He climbed gingerly behind me.
Axen had the decency to wait for me to help him get settled in a secure position with a firm grip before she took to the air.
Rik yelped and clutched her scale ridges tighter. Thone, for his part, was grinning.
We circled Krenish a couple of times before landing in the open field. Jennik and a group of his men emerged from buildings. Leaving his men behind, Jennik walked straight to the point where he’d spoken alone with Thone before.
“I think he’s ready to talk,” Thone mused, looking pleased. He gave me a nod. “I’ll be back.”
“We’ll be watching,” I promised. I still didn’t trust Jennik to be too concerned with matters of peace.
Thone climbed down and crossed to greet Jennik. The other Krenish men eyed Axen, then watched with bored expressions as the two leaders met.
Rik didn’t move, knuckles pale on his grip. “Should we… should we climb down?”
“If you want, you can. I’m going to stay here.” As comforting as it had been to be protected by the people of Emsha, it felt more comfortable, more familiar to have Axen’s bulk parked beneath me. There had been far too much oddness in my life the last several days. It was a relief to be back to something I knew.
“Oh. Okay.” He shifted his weight, but his hands remained tightly secured in place. “It’s quite, um, different. Flying.”
It was the best feeling in the world to me, but somehow I got the impression he didn’t have the same reaction. “I imagine it wasn’t like anything you’re used to.”
“That’s for sure.” He seemed to catch himself. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
I almost laughed. “It’s okay if you didn’t like it.” My thumb traced the edge of the ring. “I suppose I’m used to it. I’ve been around it most my life.”
A moment passed before he spoke. “I’m sorry about your family. I can see why it was so terrifying for you to see those creatures again.”
My fingers tightened. “It was…” I exhaled. “I wasn’t prepared for it.”
Axen snorted, and I looked up to see Thone approaching.
I frowned. “Something’s wrong.” There’s no way they could have negotiated peace terms that quickly. Could they?
Rik straightened, finally releasing one hand to reach for his sword.
But Thone only climbed back to his position on Axen’s neck. “He won’t talk to me today.”
“Why not?” Maybe I needed to go down and have a few choice words with Jennik again.
“They’re still repairing from the earthquake. And apparently there’s a rumor amongst his people about creatures coming up from underground.” Thone shook his head. “I tried to explain matters, but he insisted that he and his people would conduct their own investigation. He did say he would meet with me tomorrow at midday to discuss terms, though. He’s still willing to talk. Just not right this moment.”
Tomorrow? Midday? My eyes strayed to the horizon, full of longing. I wanted to be out of here. On my way. Back on the proper course. No more of this staying put nonsense.
“To be honest, I doubt matters would have been resolved in a single day even if he had been willing to speak today,” Thone said softly. “If you feel that you need to leave, then you must do what you feel is best. We will deal with Krenish, regardless of what may come.”
Axen’s heart joined mine in mutual desire for the road, to be on our way.
“What you may not know is that things have been escalating with Krenish for some time now,” Thone continued. “It was only a matter of time before we would no longer be able to accept their treatment of us and be forced to take a stand. In a way, you did us a favor by bringing us to that inevitability. I might have tried to delay dealing with it for as long as I could, but it’s not right for them to get away with treating us how they have. We needed that encouragement to take a stand for ourselves.”
“Not to say we wouldn’t like it if you stay,” Rik added. “Not just because of the protection your dragon provides. And we’ll keep you safe.”
I looked down at the ground. I really didn’t want to abandon Emsha, especially not when Jennik was willing to try to establish peace. And this afternoon’s events had proven clearly enough that these people could keep me safe from the creatures.
Axen…
She snorted in irritation. Fine. We’ll stay. But just until tomorro
w.
I rubbed the back of her ear. “We’ll stay. At least until tomorrow’s meeting, when we can see how the negotiations are going.”
Axen repeated her irritated snort.
Thone nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“That’s great.” Rik grinned. “I’m glad you’re staying. I mean, we’re all glad you’re staying. All of us. When they hear about it, that is. Back in the village. They’ll be glad.” He cleared his throat and looked embarrassed.
Thone seemed to be hiding a chuckle. “Let’s be on our way.”
The road was buzzing with activity when we returned. Axen landed at the far end of the village, where there were fewer people.
I stared, unsure what I was seeing. The remaining planks had been collected and spread out over the road, and men were hard at work securing the planks together.
Jec waved as he approached. “Hope you don’t mind, tabe-ro,” he called up to Thone. “The way I see it, we can’t have things making holes in our main road for travelers to twist their ankles in. And those things came to the inn through the door, not the floorboards. I figure they have a mite trouble getting through solid wood.” He shot a wink my direction. “Don’t see any reason to make life easier for those nasty little brutes.”
Rik, Thone, and I climbed down. Axen inspected the road work, then snorted her approval before taking off. She landed in the middle of the forest not too far away, hungry for a meal but unwilling to put too much distance between us.
Jec turned to me. “I gather you’re staying a bit longer?”
“Jennick’s willing to meet tomorrow at midday.”
“Good. Then we can discuss those signs you were telling us about.”
I spent the rest of the day in the inn. Men and women wandered in and out to listen as I talked with Thone and Jec about what businesses looked like in other settlements along the main road, what travelers expected, what signs indicated the services, and the typical value for services rendered. It seemed that just about every villager in Emsha took a few minutes away from their work to listen, though I noticed Erret never stopped by. Probably sulking. Better than getting in my face and telling me how evil I am.
The evening passed quietly with no further signs of the creatures, to my relief. Still, I slid my sword under my mattress once more as I went to bed. If they decided to take advantage of the night to try something, I would be ready.
Axen’s impatience woke me early the next morning. Is it midday yet? Can we go?
I flopped an arm over my eyes and groaned. Midday is when the sun’s at the highest in the sky. You know that.
I know. But I’m bored.
That’s your problem.
It’s your problem now.
If we’d been curled up in a cave together, I’d have thrown the nearest rock at her. Go find some breakfast. I’ll call you when it’s time.
Too awake to fall back asleep now, I rolled out of bed and took a minute to restore my appearance to order once more. All the high-speed flying hadn’t done my hair any favors, but the braid had helped keep it from growing too wild.
Breakfast was ready by the time I left my room and was finished entirely too soon, leaving me with too much time before midday. Normally I’d be running to the forest to find Axen and go for a morning flight, but I found myself meandering through the village instead. The thought of this being my last few hours with these people left a bittersweet note in my heart. As eager as I was to be on my way and back to the normalcy of my nomadic life, part of me almost felt sad about leaving.
I made up my mind to spend some time helping Jec in the smithy. Of everyone in the village, he’s the one I most wished I could’ve spent more time with.
As I went through the main entrance along the road, I was pleased to see a new sign hanging near the door, sticking out for travelers to clearly see. The inn and Magra’s home boasted new signs, as well. They weren’t quite as polished and flashy as most, but that was the Traditional way: subtle and demure is always better than gaudy. And the symbols were clear enough. No question, this would bring more attention and business to the humble little village.
Jec hardly glanced up as I walked in. “Morning.”
“Good morning, tabe-da.” I headed for the pile of molds.
The door behind me opened, and I turned to find Erret filling the frame. Every muscle in my body tightened, ready to bolt or defend myself.
He shuffled his feet, looking away from me. “Good morning, tabe-da. Good morning, raisa.”
I blinked. He actually sounded polite. Not the strained politeness of maintaining appearances in front of Jec, either. Something was different.
“Morning,” Jec replied cheerily.
I dipped my head, cautious but polite. “Good morning, tabe. If you need to speak with Jec, I can come back later.”
Erret shook his head. Scratched the back of his scalp. Looked up, over, everywhere but at me. “I, um, I actually was hoping to speak with you.”
Right. So he could start in with the wild accusations again without any witnesses. I folded my arms. “Go ahead.”
He glanced at Jec, then the floor, then finally at me. “Excuse me, raisa. I meant, I wish to speak with you in private.”