“Look,” Jason said, sliding his sword back into its sheath. “I don’t trust Arxad or any other dragon, but he did help us escape. I don’t think he would let us get this far if he meant for us to die along the way.”
Uriel pointed at Jason. “That’s it! He meant for you to die along the way. And even if you reach the bitter climes of the Northlands, the white dragon will imprison you forever. It was only by sheer cunning and years of planning that I managed to escape. Perhaps Arxad has sent you north to get you out of his way, knowing you will either be captured or killed.”
“I don’t believe it,” Koren said. “If you had heard Arxad’s defense of my friend Natalla during her trial, you would know. He helped Natalla and me escape, and before that I lived in his home for over a year. He gets grouchy, but he is never cruel.”
“And he stood by while we were getting executed,” Jason added. “He’s not exactly consistent.”
Uriel shook a finger. “He does what is best for himself, as all dragons do.”
Koren crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Uriel, muttering, “You don’t know the hearts of all dragons.”
“Come with me,” Uriel said, pulling on Jason’s arm. “We will trust only humankind and rescue every soul from this land of lies and brutality.”
“How will you open the portal?” Koren asked. “We don’t know when Tibalt will return.”
Uriel released Jason and drew something in the air with his finger. “From this side, the portal is controlled by a row of crystalline pegs, and I hid one of them. All we have to do is retrieve it, and we’ll have easy passage. Since you’re from my world, maybe together we can convince the slaves to join us. They wouldn’t believe one man, but maybe they’ll believe two additional eyewitnesses.”
“You’ll never get past the wall,” Koren said, nodding toward the south.
Uriel squinted at her. “Past what wall?”
Koren imitated Uriel’s air art and drew with her finger. “The dragons’ domain is enclosed almost all the way around by a high wall, and it’s guarded constantly. No one can get in or out.”
“Is that so?” Uriel gazed toward the south, though it was too dark to see beyond the meadow. “No such wall existed when I was last there.”
“It’s there now,” Koren said, “and it’s the best reason to keep heading north.”
“But the white dragon—”
“We’ll stay out of sight and watch for the white dragon. Even if he finds us, I know what to do.” Koren’s voice altered to a beseeching tone. “Please. Don’t worry. We’ll be safe.”
Uriel hitched up his trousers. “Very well. I will go with you. I am familiar with the castle, and …” He looked southward again, a forlorn expression sagging his wrinkled face. “I have waited many years to return. I can wait a little while longer.”
Jason patted Uriel on the back. “Then let’s go. It will be good to have another set of eyes. We can take turns sleeping.”
As they marched alongside the edge of the chasm, Jason had to raise his voice to compete with the waterfall’s constant roar. “You seem to be in excellent condition for a man of your age. You must be at least a hundred and twenty, but you look younger than your son.”
“Something in the castle, I think. The air crackled with energy, and I hardly needed any sleep. I know I worked on projects of some sort, though I cannot remember what they were. Now that I am away from the energy, my mind feels dull, and memories have fled, but I suppose those projects made the time pass quicker. Whatever the reason, it seems that I never aged a day.”
“Very strange.” Jason looked up. Clouds again covered the moon. Misty rain swept in with the wind, dampening his cheeks. “This is strange, too. Koren tells me it never rains here, only in the mountains.”
“Really? Then much has changed since I departed. In my days here, every time Trisarian rose, we would get a deluge, with lightning, high winds, and hail.”
Thunder rumbled from the east, and wind began to whip their clothes. “Let’s go,” Koren said as she marched forward. “When the moon peeked out, I got a picture of the landscape … I think.”
“You think?” Jason waved for Uriel to follow. “The moon wasn’t out for very long.”
“I have a great memory,” she called back through the strengthening drizzle. “And, besides, if I fall into a hole, you’ll have some warning.”
Holding his scabbard against his hip, Jason caught up and ran at her right. Lightning flashed in the east, illuminating her face every few seconds. She glanced at him and smiled. Her hair, its redness muted in the chaotic light, flapped against her back, and her green eyes shone. As before, they seemed to speak to him, like tiny oracles that communicated from mind to mind. Thank you for running at my side. I want to be your partner, not your leader or your follower.
The drizzle became a heavy downpour, and the turf transformed into a squishy blend of grass and mud. Ahead, the edge of the chasm bent to the left, leaving a wide-open field to the north. From that direction, another stream poured into the chasm, a second waterfall to join the northbound one in the depths. An empty raft sat on the nearer bank. As he passed by, Jason studied the raft for a moment, but in the darkness only logs and tie-vines were evident, no other details. Apparently someone had journeyed from the north and disembarked to keep from tumbling into the waterfall. In any case, a raft wouldn’t do them any good on a southbound river.
On the western side of the river, trees came into view — shelter, at last. His father had told him that taking cover under trees wasn’t safe in a thunderstorm, but standing out in an open field didn’t seem safe, either. And if it started hailing, he would choose a forest covering over getting pelted by falling stones. Still, in order to get to the trees, they had to cross what might already be a rain-swollen torrent. Every option seemed filled with obstacles.
When they reached the edge, Jason studied the south-running current in the midst of pouring rain. Constant lightning flashes lit up the stream. Although it flowed swiftly, the water tumbled over rocks from one edge to the other. It couldn’t be very deep.
He stood between Koren and Uriel and held out a hand to each of them. “It looks safe enough. We’ll go together.”
Holding hands, they stepped in. Jason cringed at the icy water but kept his body calm. No use risking that a shiver might communicate fear of this little creek. They had to keep moving.
The stream’s bed proved to be uneven, forcing them to help each other out of an occasional knee-deep hole. With the thunder and the tumult of rushing water, they didn’t bother to say anything more than “Up you go!” or “Watch out for that stone.”
When they came within ten paces of the western bank, Koren halted. “Do you hear that?” she shouted.
“Besides the obvious?” Jason asked.
Koren’s eyes grew wide and her voice almost too quiet to hear. “A roar. An enemy’s fury. She has sent the waters to devour us.”
“Enemy?” Jason said. “What are you talking about?”
Koren turned upstream and pointed. A long streak of lightning lit up the sky, revealing a dark wall of water rushing their way.
“Run!” Jason pulled Uriel and Koren and splashed through the stream. A deafening roar overwhelmed all other sounds. Lightning flashed again. The wall of water thundered closer. The shore lay five leaps ahead, too far to avoid the rampage. Even there, the flood would wash them away.
Jason grabbed Koren around the waist with one arm and thrashed through the stream until he found a secure boulder. “Hold on to me!” he shouted, as he wrapped his arms around the boulder as far as he could reach.
Koren held him from behind, her wrists locked at his waist. Uriel latched on to the boulder from the other side and clutched Jason’s arms. Jason took a deep breath and held it.
The water crashed over them. Like a battering ram, the impact slammed Jason against the boulder, knocking his breath away. As the surge ripped at his ears and repeatedly beat his body against the rock, K
oren’s arms squeezed his ribs. Uriel’s fingers felt like vises clamping down on his wrists.
As the flood continued to sweep by, Jason’s fingers began to slip. One of Koren’s hands loosened and pulled free. She held on to his arm and dug her nails into his skin.
Jason’s lungs begged for air. He couldn’t let go and ride the wave. They would tumble into the chasm. He had to hang on. It would slow down soon, wouldn’t it?
Koren slipped away. Jason lunged and caught her wrist. Uriel grabbed his ankle, keeping him in place.
Holding on to Koren, Jason paddled in place to keep from smacking against the riverbed. He thrust his head upward. His face broke through the surface, but he couldn’t take a breath. The surge eased, but not enough to keep them from being raked into the waterfall. With Uriel’s grasp slipping, they would be swept away in seconds. Only one chance remained—a direct assault.
Pulling with all his might, he drew Koren closer until he could wrap his arms around her. He squeezed her body close, set one foot at the pebbly riverbed, and jerked free from Uriel. The river threw him forward, but he planted his other foot and halted the momentum, his back against the current. Now standing with his body angled, he pushed his head into the air and sucked in a breath. Koren, her face pressing against Jason’s, breathed in. Water splashed into her mouth, forcing her to hack and spit.
As they both coughed, their heads knocked and their cheeks slid together. Jason strained against the flow and took a step backwards. Lightning flashed once more, revealing the waterfall, now only two steps ahead. One stumble, one slip, and they would both be dead.
He took another backwards step. The water level eased down to his shoulders. Still, with the violent surge ramming his back with frigid water, and Koren’s saturated body weighing him down, his muscles ached. If they cramped, his legs would give way.
As he labored, Koren shouted into his ear. “Creator, help us! You can do it, Jason! Push! … Good! … Again! … Come on! … Yes!”
The water level dropped to the middle of his back, making the effort easier. When it fell to his waist, he lowered Koren and, taking her by the hand, turned to face upstream. They trudged against the flow, one slow step at a time. Rain poured. Wind slung their wet hair. Lightning flashed every few seconds, framing the silhouette of Uriel sitting on a boulder with his arm outstretched.
“You can make it!” he shouted from atop the boulder. “Just a few more steps!”
Jason leaned forward and pushed. Koren did the same. The current swirled through her long cape and dragged her back, but Jason pulled her steadily along. He reached for Uriel’s shaking hand, grabbed hold, and rode his strong pull to the boulder.
With Uriel’s help, Jason and Koren climbed to the top. They sat down heavily, their heads drooping as they gasped for breath. After coughing several times, Jason tried to speak over the sound of rushing water and pounding rain. “This isn’t … the same boulder.”
Uriel shook his head. “I chased after you two and slammed into this one. Since it was too late to catch you, I climbed aboard and prayed for a miracle.”
“Good thing. That waterfall nearly swallowed us. I’m sure we had some divine help.”
Uriel looked at the horizon, blinking as water dripped from his nose. “If this storm keeps up, we might get another big wave. No way to tell.”
Koren hooked her arm around Jason’s and drew close, whispering. “If Zena is behind this storm, we can probably count on another wave, or else she’ll send something worse.”
“What could be worse?” Jason asked.
Koren held out her hand. “Hail?” Tiny ice pellets bounced in her palm and down to the boulder.
“Okay,” Jason said as he struggled to his feet. “We’d better get to the woods.”
The trio climbed back into the stream and plowed through the water, now at Jason’s thighs. When they reached the western bank, they hustled up a short, sandy incline and into a forest. As they moved deeper in, the lightning flashes no longer illuminated their surroundings, and the thunder seemed muted. Hailstones, larger now, fell through the branches along with huge raindrops, making cracking noises as they crunched leafy debris.
Jason spied a big manna tree with hefty limbs and guided his company that way. After settling with their backs against the trunk, Jason in the middle, they listened to the cacophony. Hailstones as big as fists crashed through the smaller branches and smacked the ground. Lightning struck a nearby tree and knifed out in tongues of sizzling white. With every pop and crackle, Uriel flinched but kept his eyes wide.
As wide-eyed as Uriel, Koren moved her head back and forth as she took in the scene. She seemed to be memorizing every element, as if storing it for a future Starlighter tale.
When his breathing returned to normal, Jason forced a tone of confidence. “So if this is the worst Zena can throw at us, we’ll be fine. It can’t rain forever.”
“Zena?” Uriel stared at Jason, his voice quavering. “Do you mean a slender raven-haired woman with black eyes?”
Jason nodded. “Have you met her?”
“Met her?” Uriel laughed under his breath. “Let’s just say that our acquaintance ended in a manner that caused us both great consternation. In a word, it was a catastrophe. She is a devil in a dress.”
“Did she know who you are?” Koren asked. “I mean, that you’re the man who escaped from the original group of slaves?”
“Oh, yes, indeed. That’s why she was obsessed with killing me.” Uriel heaved a sigh and rested his head against the trunk. “It’s a long story, and it ends with Zena orchestrating the death of a lovely young lady named Cassabrie. Fortunately, I escaped in a way that prevented any pursuit.”
Koren leaned forward to look at Uriel. “That’s interesting. If Zena was so obsessed, why would she not pursue you?”
“As I said, it’s a long story.” Uriel leaned forward as well. “Koren, you resemble Cassabrie in many ways, especially your red hair and green eyes. Do you happen to be gifted at storytelling?”
She dragged a toe along the ground, her head low. “I suppose some would say that.”
“If you’re wondering about her being a Starlighter,” Jason said, “you’re right. She is one.”
Uriel clapped his hands. “Excellent!”
“What’s so excellent?” Koren asked.
“That you’re here and not there.”
When Koren and Jason exchanged puzzled looks, Uriel went on. “Well, it’s rather complicated. You see, Zena is a sorceress with great skill, but her ability is limited in a strange way. She requires the power of another energy source. A Starlighter has such energy, but the girl must be bent to Zena’s will in order for her to corrupt that power for her own use. Since you are on our side, you can use your abilities to free the slaves.”
“What abilities? All I can do is tell stories that seem to come to life.”
“Is that so?” Uriel stroked his chin. “Cassabrie had the ability to manipulate the environment around her, such as light, water, and the air. I had even seen her raise the dirt from the ground and make it swirl like a tornado as she guided it with her hands. Her images seemed to have substance. They bent when you touched them, fell when you pushed them, though they were no more physical than a dream.”
Koren looked at her hands. “I guess I have a lot to learn.”
“It’s your potential that Zena craves.” Uriel pointed at her. “You are a storehouse of spiritual power.”
Wrinkling his brow, Jason glanced between Koren and Uriel. “If Zena needs a power source, how did she create that wave? Or this storm?”
“The prince,” Koren said, cupping her hands as if holding something. “The prince from the black egg probably has power. That’s why she could make this storm.”
Uriel firmed his lips. “So the prophesied king has been born. When did that happen?”
“He was still in the egg when we left, but I think he hatched recently. I felt his presence, and he’s trying to call me back.”
> “Your theory is likely correct. Zena is using him, but at his age, how powerful can he be? Certainly not as powerful as a Starlighter, otherwise why would he call for your return?” Uriel looked up at the dripping branches. “If only Cassabrie were here to teach you how to use your gifts fully, but wishing for ghosts is a deadly game. Seeing one likely means you have become one yourself.”
“Do you have a suggestion?” Jason asked.
“Well, now that I know the circumstances, I am in hearty agreement with going to the Northlands to meet this helper Arxad mentioned. Returning to the dragon realm and risking Koren’s capture could be a drastic mistake.”
Jason cocked his head and listened. The competing noises had subsided, and only an occasional lightning bolt lit up the sky. “Sounds like the storm is passing. Should we keep going?”
Koren laid a hand on his arm. “No. You need rest. Sleep a while.”
“I am quite handy with a sword,” Uriel said, “or at least I used to be. If you trust me, I will watch over you and the young lady while you rest.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Jason unbuckled his sword belt and handed it to Uriel. “Wake me up if Zena sends another attack.”
“I don’t think she will,” Koren said. “I haven’t heard from Taushin in quite a while. Maybe he can’t find me here.”
The rain ceased, but the hefty breeze continued, a warm wind that kept them from shivering. Jason leaned his head against the trunk and half closed his eyes, stealthily watching Koren. “Will you sleep, too?” he asked.
She rose to her feet and fanned out her cape. “I was thinking that since Uriel is here, we can tell his story about Zena and Cassabrie together. That way, we’ll all know what happened.” She curtsied toward Uriel. “Will you join me and play your part?”
Uriel stood and bowed. “It would be an honor. I did this once before with Cassabrie, and it was a thrilling experience, indeed.”
He took Koren’s hand, and the two walked into a clearing. They stood among leaves, twigs, and small branches torn down and scattered by the storm.