A Quick Sun Rises (3 page)

He watched in horror as it swooped down over the front and then turned about to face them. It paused, as if enjoying the moment, before drawing in a great breath and then releasing its foul blood red liquid over the front lines of people and reducing them almost instantly into puddles. Those escaping the initial blast turned back in a frenzy of terror at seeing their friends and loved ones dissolved to nothing before their eyes while the dragon fear wrapped a vice grip around their hearts.

Thane thought he was going to be sick. He needed to help them but what more could he do? It was obvious that his wind powers were useless against the corporeal world while he remained in spirit form. He needed his body but it was still far away, and without it he knew he could not affectively attack the dragon. He watched as it turned about and then dropped in closer maneuvering to make sure none of the chaotic mass got away but instead reversed their direction.

“It’s herding them back to the army. They’ll all be massacred.” He could not save them. The thought was a lead ball in his gut. With all the powers he possessed, he was powerless to save these people. The only thing left was to get back to camp and warn the others. At least he could help the remaining people of Haykon escape. At least that is what he wrapped his mind and emotions around so as not to give into despair. Turning away he raced back to Jne with as much speed as he could gather.

Jne didn’t flinch in the least as his head suddenly lifted; she’d become accustomed to his popping in and out of his body in the past few days. “What news?” she asked, catching the look on his face as he quickly rose and turned for his horse. “They come, don’t they?”

“Yes,” he replied, grabbing Chtey’s mane and jumping onto his back. “The dragon has moved out ahead of the people escaping on the road and is now herding them back to the army that has just left Haykon on its way to overtake them.”

Jne jumped onto her own horse and turned it south toward their camp. She knew just as well that there was no hope for the others.

“We must make speed if we are to help the rest,” he shouted and then pushed his horse into a dead run. Jne didn’t answer but urged her mount after him.

Chapter Two 

Thane and Jne entered the camp amidst chaos. At first glance it might appear that everyone had gone mad as they seemed to run about without purpose, but they knew better. The camp was preparing to move. At Jack’s command, everyone was picking up what tents, bedding, and cooking utensils they had and were preparing for a final push towards Calandra and the relative safety it provided—for the moment.

The pace had been slow and wearisome even in the face of the danger that lurked behind them as a constant threat to their existence. Still, moving such numbers of untrained and disorganized people unaccustomed to such exertions was a challenge in the best of circumstances. The people were tired and hungry and many had let the icy hand of despair find place around their hearts where it slowly robbed them of hope. All that most of them had known was left behind in ruin to the enemy that had destroyed their city and killed so many of their friends and family members. The feeling of despair was a thick cloud over the camp that fell as a choking mist snuffing out on any spark of optimism.

Dismounting so as not to trample any in the crowded mass, Thane and Jne lead their horses as quickly as possible through the throng seeking any who would know Jack’s or Ranse’s whereabouts. Their going was slow and hampered due to the masses having huddled together like frightened chicks who were now trying to gather their few belongings and move out. Gone was the stigma and fear that was generally associated with the Tjal-Dihn and would have normally opened a large swath before them. That fear had been replaced with the apathy of those who have given themselves over to the inevitability of death.

Thane tried to avoid the eyes of the people on every side as he passed them, feeling stifled by their looks of defeat. He would not give up and he knew Jne would not either. As long as he had one breath still within him he would fight to protect as many of these people as he possibly could. The irony of it all was lost on him now. The very people who had tried to annihilate his own race years ago were now left at his mercy and protection. But that didn’t matter to him. Saving them from their enemy was all that occupied his mind now. That and the twinge of guilt that, though unwarranted, was nevertheless always present and pressing that he could have done more. But there was so much that was out of his immediate control. He did not rule or lead except for that that had been given him by those in authority. Still, the disease of failure and doubt was a constant threat to his own strength of will; one he knew could easily consume him if given enough place in his heart and mind.

He caught the blank stare of a small child hoisted onto its mother’s back as she busied herself with the task of packing what little they had. It held him briefly in place as he searched for the light that seemed to shine in every child’s eyes but found none. Snuffed out by seeing too much that no one in a lifetime should have to witness. He felt despair’s cold sickness coming to life within him hungrily feeding on his emotions and trying to gain sway over his heart. Unbidden thoughts raged within his mind gaining strength as his eyes remained locked on the child’s empty, blank stare.
You can’t beat them
.
You will never win
.
You are all doomed
.
All of these people will die
.
That child is fodder to feed the belly of a hungry young troll
. He felt his eyes blur as the hopelessness threatened to overwhelm him.

“Why do you wait, Ghar of the Chufa?” Jne asked, touching his arm and suddenly pulling him back from the brink of despair.

He looked at her as if he didn’t know her, his thoughts still slightly clouded.

“Thane!” another voiced called drawing their attention. It was Tam pushing her way through the crowd. Thane’s look of loss quickly melted into a half smile as he raised his hand in recognition. Jne scowled slightly. “What news?” she asked when she reached them.

Thane glanced back to where the child had been but its mother had already gathered their things and had moved on and disappeared into the crowd. “They move,” he finally said, keeping his voice low so that only Tam could hear. “They have left Calandra and are pushing on toward us.”

Tam’s face darkened. “Will we make it to Calandra in time?”

Thane looked away to where he and Jne had come and slowly nodded. “Yes. The dragons do not come for us but have been unleashed on the others. We will make the city gates, but none of the others will follow us.”

Tam’s eyes watered at the implications in his words. There was too much death and suffering. Too many were paying for the mistakes and arrogance of the few.

“Where is Jack,” he asked before she could control her emotions enough to speak further. She could only point behind her. Thane nodded, understanding her inability to speak and started to move in the direction she had indicated. But Tam grabbed his arm and pulled him in close so that their eyes met. A tear suddenly let loose from her lid and made a track down her dirty face.

“We must speak, you and I, soon, before we reach the city. I will seek you out at the end of the column.”

Thane let out a sigh and nodded slightly. He knew what this was about. He had been avoiding it for as long as he could but realized that sooner or later he would have to confront her and lie about his feelings for her. He could not have her no matter what their hearts told them. He had hoped to save her this added grief and even now would flee and not add to her sorrow, but it was time. Better to make the wound a clean swift cut that it might heal than to allow it to fester further. It was for the best. She should not be left to hope for him.

Turning away, he pressed into the crowd followed closely by Tam and Jne whose scowling face was enough to break through the dark infesting the hearts of those around them and move them away at their approach. They quickly found Jack in discussion with Colonel Myles Braxton who had been Haykon’s leader when it fell. He also recognized the young Waseeni boy, Teek, who, with his giant bird, had saved his life only days before. He was somewhat surprised to find Domis nowhere in sight.

Domis, a young HuMan, had been a stable boy and sometimes runner for Colonel Braxton in Haykon. Since the city’s fall, he seemed never to leave Jack’s side finding, he supposed, comfort in the man who had been instrumental in saving his life. Thane had also been a part of his rescue but he didn’t blame the boy for avoiding one who claimed to be Tjal-Dihn.

“We should be there by sunset tomorrow,” Jack was saying when they finally reached him. Seeing the young Chufa he turned and asked, “What news?”

“They come,” he replied without embellishment.

“We should have time,” Braxton quickly added as if to pacify the fears of those nearby and listening.

“We have time,” Thane confirmed. “They sent the dragon out first to herd back those who were on the road.” A thick silence fell over the group at the revelation. Everyone knew who ‘those’ were and they also knew that herded was the proper word. They were to be used to feed Zadok’s army, strengthening it for the attack on Calandra. “We also passed a group of men headed toward Haykon. We attempted to warn them but they refused to even acknowledge us.”

“Prissley,” Jack spat. “No, you would not have been viewed as worthy to hear his voice.” Thane cocked an eye in question but Jack waved him off. “No matter, he of all people deserves what awaits him there.”

Thane just nodded. “Though we have time, the sooner we move the better. No one is truly safe with dragons still flying about.”

“But we have you, Master Thane,” a small voice broke in from behind him. Thane turned and found Domis had joined the group. “You can stop the dragons, can’t you Master Thane? You can kill them with your powerful touch.”

Thane’s expression fell. If only that were true. Yes, he had killed two dragons so far. The first one had almost caused his own death twice; first from the use of his Tane and second when he woke up with amnesia in a Tjal camp and became desperate enough to ask for the Tjal adoption ceremony. Luckily, where his Tane had almost killed him the first time, the second time it saved his life. The other dragon he killed had also been thanks to his Tane but he had been touching it when he killed it. By all rights he should have died from that experience as well.

“It is not that simple friend Domis,” he said, the strain heavy in his voice. “One does not just walk up to a dragon and ask to touch it.”

“Can they not be pierced by arrows?” Teek asked timidly, still unsure of himself around such men of valor as he saw them.

Thane shook his head. “You might as well try and pierce a blade of steel my young…” but he didn’t finish his sentence. “Pierce a blade of steel,” he repeated in a half whisper. “That’s it!”

“What?” Jack asked, somewhat encouraged by Thane’s sudden change in attitude.

“Dax,” A voice said, drawing all eyes to Dor who had come up unnoticed and was now standing next to Tam.

Thane nodded. “Dax!”

“What is a dax?” the colonel asked.

“DaxSagn,” Thane corrected. “DaxSagn is one of our people.”

“Can he kill the dragons from far?” Domis asked.

“No,” Thane shook his head. “But he has an arrow that can.”

“What fool talk is this?” Jack asked, his demeanor one of irritation but his voice revealing a glimmer of hope. Zadok’s army was still larger than they could possibly hold off alone, but it was certain death with his dragons flying around. If they could defeat the dragons, it might just give them the edge they needed to defeat the rest of the army.

“DaxSagn,” Dor answered, “or Dax, as we call him, has an arrow that can pierce steel.”

“That’s impossible,” Braxton chided. “You would have to be right on top of the beast to even have a chance at penetrating its skin, and that not likely.”

“I agree,” Dor continued, “with a normal arrow. But Dax has no normal arrow. His it is rumored comes from the heart of a YeiyeiloBaneesh tree.”

“A yeilo what?”

“They were the sacred trees of our people that were destroyed when…” Dor paused for a brief moment before continuing, “…they are no more. Dax has the only known surviving arrow, and it can pierce steel from a distance. Thane and I have seen it.”

“Then we must have this arrow,” Braxton said.

Thane looked at Jack whose face had suddenly become unreadable. He knew they needed Dax’s arrow but he also knew what it would mean to try and get it. Was he ready to return and face his people? A people who never trusted him and who, in the case of some, plotted his death? Asking for their most treasured possession to use in a war to save HuMans was not going to bide well with the Chufa—that is, if they believed him at all. It was an impossible chance, but he also knew that they were without any other viable options. He couldn’t count on luck to drop him on top of another dragon again, and without an anchor tree to lend its power, he could not attempt another kill using his QenChe Tane.

All eyes had fallen to him waiting for a response. It was madness, but there were no other options. He felt the weight of the entire HuMan race suddenly pressing down on him. “I’ll go,” he finally said.

“You know he won’t give it up,” Dor pressed.

Thane stared at his friend. He knew Dor was right, but he still had to try.

“But how will you get there and back in time?” Jack asked.

He turned to Teek. “Master Teek, do you think your bird friend might offer me a ride once more?”

Teek shuffled nervously under the gaze of all those around. “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “She does as she pleases mostly.”

“Then I will just have to ask her,” he smiled slightly.

Braxton chuckled at the notion but was alone in his doubt. All the others knew that there was more to Thane and his abilities than even he possibly knew. “Best ask her for two,” Jne interjected.

“Three,” Dor and Tam added in unison.

“Now wait,” he said turning to his friends. “Even if she can hold that many, there is no reason for you all to go. Dax will either give me the arrow or he won’t. Having the rest of you along will not change that, especially you, Jne.” Jne’s face turned red but Thane kept talking. “Our people would shoot you full of arrows before you could even speak because you are a HuMan.”

Jne spat. “Do not place me with the dung of the field, Ghar of the Chufa. Being
Jinghar
does not mean I will be insulted by you.”

“What does she mean dung?” Braxton asked, his face clouding over.

Jack placed a hand on his friend’s arm. “Let it go.”

“It is not that,” Thane said. “I do not call you HuMan, but my people will not know the difference. All they will see is a person that is not like them, that fits the description of what they think HuMans are and they will kill you without question.

“It doesn’t matter,” she argued. “I go where you go.
That
is what
Jinghar
means.”

Sighing heavily, he gave up. He knew that it would be easier to talk Zadok into taking his army away than convince her to stay behind. But Dor and Tam were something else entirely. “Fine,” he said to Jne and then focused on his two friends. “You two may go but only if you agree to stay there.”