A Quick Sun Rises (10 page)

The guard stationed in the alcove was slightly alarmed to see them suddenly dashing out of the castle at a dead run but all were passed him before he could even raise a call of inquiry. A large roar from above, like an exploding cannon, heightened his surprise which turned swiftly to terror as a great shadow filled the courtyard followed by the dragon’s massive body as it dropped from the sky in quick pursuit. True to Jack’s instructions, everyone scattered as they exited the palace, which more than likely saved their lives as the dragon paused as if uncertain who it should take down first. Roaring in anger it released its decaying breath at the first group it saw as they ducked behind an oversized statue of King Dagan slaying a troll. Teek, Domis, and Tryg dropped behind the base just as the liquid completely wasted away the king from the knees up. The overspray splattered the ground creating large divots in the marble walkway and came dangerously close to Tryg’s wounded leg.

Tryg jumped up immediately, cursing the dragon as it passed while promising retribution. Teek grabbed the boy’s arm and pulled him down, his face flushed. “What are you doing?”

“Come on,” Domis said, before Tryg could answer. “We can make it to those trees before it returns.” Not waiting for the other two to answer, he shot out from their hiding place quickly followed by Teek and Tryg who shouted another curse to the skies.

The dragon twisted, raising itself into the air and then banked for another pass but by this time everyone was secreted in various locations out of direct sight making an aerial assault impractical. After swinging around for another pass the dragon dropped its colossal body into the courtyard and let out a deafening roar of challenge. For a brief moment, all was still as no one dared move and give away their position. Thane watched from his hiding place behind another of the many statues of the dead king as the dragon moved its great body away from him directly to the spot where Colonel Braxton lay beneath a wide bench by a large fountain. He knew that if the dragon continued on its current route, it would easily catch sight of him. Closing his eyes Thane reached for the wind and found it immediately answered his call. Gathering it in strength above him, he twisted it into a rushing tornado that sucked at the grass beside him threatening to lift him from the ground with its increasing strength.

The howls from the air currents caught the dragon’s attention and jerking its head back it immediately caught sight of Thane who was concentrating too hard on what he was doing to notice. Thane continued to gather more force oblivious to the imminent danger now approaching. Jne, crouched nearby, reacted instantly by darting from her place of hiding and swinging her blade in a wide arc landing it hard against the dragon’s flank. The dragon roared, but more in anger than pain since the blade was like a reed against a piece of steel sliding without effect to the side. Jne jumped back, barely escaping being crushed by the dragon’s rear leg. But now she was exposed. The dragon whipped its head around and opened its jaws, its head pulling back to release its deadly breath. Jne stood frozen, not from fear but from a certain knowledge that her time had finally come. She faced it with courage and honor, knowing she was about to lose her life to a foe worthy enough to take it.

Bringing its head forward, the dragon released its breath just as Thane’s twisted winds connected with the side of its head sending it hurtling against the castle. Its putrid breath jet passed Jne, its force blowing her hair back. Seeing that her opportunity at a worthy death had passed, Jne quickly sprinted to the tree line surrounding the courtyard while Thane did the same.

Somewhat dazed, the dragon bellowed in anger and then spread its wings, lifting its great mass from the courtyard to once again direct its attack from the skies. By now all had made it to the trees and were tracking the dragon’s movements as it lifted high above the castle and then swung out wide, dropping down to attack from the east. This time, it did not search out its prey, but instead leveled itself over the tree line, raining down a storm of decay that covered the first row of trees where everyone hid. None of the liquid made it through the foliage but as the trees quickly deteriorated, huge branches and great limbs showered down from above covering the ground in composted vegetation.

In an effort to escape one such falling branch, Jack was forced back into the courtyard where he tripped on a molding branch and fell hard onto the marble pavers just as the dragon banked for another run. Trying to regain his feet, Jack watched the dragon press forward with remarkable speed, bearing down on him with talons outstretched prepared to tear him from the ground. Jack dove to the side just as three large forms rocketed over the castle and right into the dragon sending it crashing into the tree tops where it floundered before falling to the ground in front of Teek, Domis and Tryg. Tryg again jumped at the dragon, cursing it before grabbed from behind by Domis and Teek who pulled him back behind a tree.

Though uncertain as to what brought the dragon down, Thane understood that this was possibly the only chance he would get to dispatch it using his Tane. Determined in his resolve, he raced headlong toward the giant serpent using his skills as a Chufa to make his passing more silent then a gentle wind. The dragon, though obviously stunned and possibly hurt, was able to regain its footing and was attempting to spread its great wings so it could escape the ground just as Thane reached its tail. Reaching out his hand, he pressed it against one of the brown scales and endeavored to concentrate his mind enough to connect with the fluid running through the great beast’s veins. Unaware of Thane’s presence, the dragon continued its attempt to clear itself enough to gain sufficient uplift to raise its girth from the forest floor.

Reaching deep, Thane searched for the door that would unlock the dragon’s physiology to his will and answer his call for its fluids. A tremendous gust of wind pressed against his face causing him to lose concentration as the dragon began to beat its massive wings. Time was running out. If the dragon took to the skies again his opportunity would flee with it. Struggling to settle his mind, he pressed, delving for the connection, willing it to come to him as it had once before.

The dragon’s tail was now lifting as its wings were finally able to create the force needed to free it from the confines of the earth. Thane’s hand rose with it clutching the edge of the scale as if he would allow himself to be lifted skyward attached to the dragon’s tail. His arm was fully stretched now and he knew that in mere seconds he would lose touch. And then, it was there. The door opened to him, the connection was made. He felt the water that flooded the dragon’s body and knew it would answer his call. Smiling with satisfaction he began to form his will and send it out to be obeyed when, to his dismay, the connection was suddenly cut off, the door slammed shut. The dragon’s tail slipped from his fingertips as it broke through the trees, once again rising into the sky.

Thane sank to the ground, a tear falling from his eye. He was there. He had been connected. A mere second longer and the dragon would have been his. His opportunity had passed and with it the very real possibility of hundreds, even thousands, of lost lives. A thunderous cry from overhead shook him from his misery as three large shadows passed over his position. Could it be more dragons? He jumped to his feet forcing with effort the ghosts that tried to haunt his failed attempt. The thought of more dragons loose made his stomach turn. They could not fight a foe in such numbers. Even if they could get the arrow from TaqSagn, it would mean very little against such a threat as five dragons.

Thane hurried ahead, thinking to still lend a hand to save his friends when a thunderous cry broke out above the dragon as it rose up over the trees. He paused, uncertain, but watched as Teek suddenly broke from cover to search the sky. He new that sound well, but where there had previously been only one, now there were three.

EEEEERRRRROOOCCCC! Three giant birds attacked with vicious precision as the dragon continued to labor against its colossal size and weight to free itself from the trees and escape the barrage of beaks and talons that continually pounded it overhead. The rocs worked in unison as if firmly planted in each other’s minds, knowing what each would do and working it to their advantage. The dragon tried to take them down with its decaying breath but the rocs were too quick and agile to be caught in an open position.

Darting in and out of the trees and keeping to the rear and above the dragon, they were able to harass it until it finally turned northward pumping its powerful wings as fast as it could to get away. The three large birds followed after until the dragon cleared the city before turning back to the castle and settling into the courtyard where the nine companions now gathered and hurriedly checked each other for wounds.

Teek ran up to Tchee as she set down near a statue of Dagan posing with a sword. Chirping happily, she bobbed her head back and forth, singing like a child that had just done something particularly well and was awaiting the praise it was due. Teek wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled his head into the soft feathers on her chest. “Tchee!” he cried, his voice muffled against her. Pulling back he pointed to Tryg. “Look, this is my new friend, Tryg. I am not the only one to survive.” The emotion Teek felt was obvious, but was overshadowed by Tchee’s sudden change in demeanor. Gone was the happy chirping, replaced by a low grumble in her throat. Tryg stepped back, the concern on his face obvious. Teek regarded his large friend with shock. “It’s all right, Tchee. He’s our friend. He’s one of us.”

Tchee was not so easily convinced though with her feathers laid back and the rumblings in her chest continuing. Tryg’s demeanor also changed to one that was almost raptor like as he glared at the bird, almost challenging it but, at the same moment, taking two steps backward. All eyes wandered back and forth between the two, shocked into silence by the exchange.

Finally, Thane stepped forward, sending one last sidelong glance at Tryg. Smiling, he patted Teek on the shoulder. “It would appear that your friend has kept her word,” he said, looking up at Tchee who watched him with her deep blue eyes. Thane wasted no time, turning his own gaze toward her and willing himself forward and quickly making contact. Almost immediately he found himself staring back at his body, his mind filled with the roc’s thoughts and concerns. He found himself glancing once again at Tryg with feelings of distrust and danger. He wanted to discover why her reaction was so harsh toward the boy but his own press for time weighed heavy bringing their thoughts back to the issue at hand.
You are welcome, friend Tchee
, he thought, though not with words but something more pure in its communication.

I come with others who have agreed to carry you to your destination
.
It is against our ways to offer love where it is not returned but the sacrifice is needed
.

Thane tried to grasp the significance of what she had just communicated but was uncertain he fully understood it.
What do you mean by offering love
?

Tchee let out a mournful sound that Thane felt came from his own throat. It was something so heartrending in its resonance that all present suddenly felt enveloped in sorrow and pain.
These are life given
.
They are beholden to one another
.
To carry you will destroy their bond to never again be rewelded
.
They will be lost to each other and to my kind
.

Thane almost pulled back from the connection. Suddenly he understood what had been offered with a keenness that threatened to rend his heart at the mere thought of it. The rocs with Tchee were mates and would lose their bond forever by giving flight to him and his friends. Neither would they ever be able to return to their own kind. He didn’t understand the reasons completely, but he knew that it was true and that what was being offered him was of the greatest sacrifice. He pulled back, letting go the connection between them and once again in his own body, felt the crushing weight of what he would be taking away from these innocent creatures by his need to return with speed to his homeland. Tears fell unchecked down his face as his friends stared unknowing at him. “We cannot do this,” he whispered.

Jne stepped forward. “We must, Thane. We need the arrow your people hold.”

He shook his head. “There has to be another way.”

“Unless you have the power to carry us with speed over the mountains,” Jne pressed, “then there is no other way.”

He turned away. “No. You don’t understand. You don’t understand the cost, the sacrifice that will be made to do this.” Turning to her, he gripped her arm. “We don’t even know that he will give us the arrow.”

Jne’s face was hard and unyielding. “You dishonor me anew,” she said, her voice low and steady. “I do know what is required. I fully understand the sacrifice. I am well learned in the ways of the roc. These two are life partners. They are joined, and by offering flight to us, they break the bond forever never to reforge it in this life or the one beyond.”

Tam gasped audibly at Jne’s explanation bringing her hand to her mouth while the others looked to the two giant birds standing resolutely by. Thane’s eyes widened slightly. “You know, and you would still ask me to do this?”

Jne’s eyes hardened briefly but then suddenly softened, her shoulders drooping slightly. Gone was the Tjal warrior he was so accustomed to when he needed to borrow strength. Gone was the rough exterior that deflected emotion. Gone was the proud woman that had only moments before stood with her face gladly looking to death with a smile of welcome. Left was the beautiful woman that had stayed by him. Left was a person who cared deeply for the lives of others ignoring what cost it might require at her own hands. Left was an open heart that warmed his own with the honesty that made Jne what she was to the core of her being.