The Dragons of Sara Sara (36 page)

"So this is how I looked as a child." The clothes flickered to her best festival dress. this was fun. "If only Antonin could see me now." She said. Somewhere the huge bell boomed, more mortar dust drifting into the air. The huge doors in front of Desare swung open on silent hinges. Along with Mei'An, Wind Readers everywhere were almost prostrate with the pain of the bell's echo in their minds. Unnoticed by everyone else, Antonin himself felt as though he was in the middle of a wild electrical storm. The hairs on his arms were standing up straight. He could hear the boom of the bell, but although loud, it wasn't uncomfortable. He could not even begin to imagine what was happening.

Desare connected the bell's sounding with the saying of ... her friends ... name. Could it be? A very intelligent girl, Desare decided to test it one last time to be sure. She didn't want to bring down the whole stone tower accidentally after all.

"Antonin?" She called aloud, the question in her voice. This time she got a real fright. The bell sounded as though it had broken loose from where ever it was secured and was now rolling down a grassy hill. Some muted, some loud enough to shake the foundations of the towers.

"oops." Gulped Desare.

Mei'An was on the floor, chairs and tables scattered as she howled in pain. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but the tears leaked out regardless. Luan cradled her in his arms until her writhing stopped. She was gasping for breath. Panting, she was trying to speak. The common room was in uproar. The look on Luan's face enough to freeze blood in veins. No one knew what was happening though, not even Luan. In other parts of the world it was chaos. Antonin was staggering on his feet, the Wind Reader Sarweio, only moments before calm, though clutching her head for some reason, was now writing on the floor and howling in pain. The Maidens were on their toes, poised to strike in any direction, if only the danger would show itself. The Companion, after a quick appraisal of any likely danger, was cradling Sarweio so she didn't hurt herself.

Desare decided not to do that again. For some reason using her friends name caused that confounded bell to start ringing. Well, she didn't want all this stonework down on her head, so it would be only wise not to repeat the experiment again. She stepped into the gloom of the great hall that opened out from the door. The silvery tinkle of wind chimes could be heard coming from a brightly lit doorway she could see across the chamber. Well, dream of not, Desare wanted to see what was there. She quickly crossed the rather forbidding chamber and went through the door. She found herself in the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. Sitting on a pale blue stone bench was a young woman, at first glance seemingly quite unclothed. Desare blinked in surprise. No, she was wearing some very fine material that was just opaque enough to hid all but the outline of the girl's body. She would never be allowed to wear that in Xu Gui. The young woman was looking at Desare with an amused smile. Desare looked down and went as red as a spring rose. She had dreamed herself into similar clothes. Quickly she dreamed herself back into her festival best.

"Who are you?" Asked Desare in a small voice. The girl had strange almond shaped eyes, almost no nose bridge and was very dark eyed. Her hair was the blackest of blacks, and her skin was a soft golden colour. The woman was of very slight build, indeed there didn't seem to be much to her at all. She seemed to flow to her feet and came toward Desare. There were obviously no men in this tower. Just as well Antonin ... too late ... was not here. Desare had only thought of his name, but the bell boomed again, though not so loud this time.

"Please," said the young woman. "Will you stop doing that. You have frightened away all my pets." She didn't sound angry, just slightly exasperated, as though talking to a child who insisted on being naughty.

Desare regained her composure. It was difficult to feel any fear of a young woman, little more that a girl really, who went about half naked.

"I am Desare, from Xu Gui. This is my dream, and I would ask who you are, and what you are doing in my dream?" Desare realized that it sounded a bit silly, but she was still not sure what sort of a dream this was.

"I am Ellenaria, the Keeper of the Blue Tower, and you are Desare of Xu Gui. You must be very near to the Great Seal of the Creator." She looked questioningly at Desare.

"Um, I think the Trader put it by my bed, on the night stand, to protect me as I sleep." Desare was a little apprehensive now. This was no ordinary person. She had read the stories. They all spoke of the Keeper of the Blue Tower. None describer the Keeper though. Was this really her?

"Of course it's me girl. Why else would I wait here alone through a million years or more. Well, your years at least, short as they are."

Desare thought the young woman must have spoken aloud. She hoped she had.

"Well Desare, come sit with me and we will talk of Antonin who you think so much of." Desare waited for the tolling of the bell, but it never came.

"I have silenced the bell Desare, so that we may speak in peace. Truly, you were giving me a headache. You shouldn't have called his name aloud. I warrant every Wind Reader in the world will have an aching head for a week." She chuckled. Desare couldn't help smiling. Ellenaria had sounded quite mischievous with that small chuckle. Desare decided that she could like this young woman.

Ellenaria added. "You may use his name now without fear, while you are here with me."

As they sat on the stone bench by the pool, Ellenaria took Desare's hands in hers.

"Desare, you are in a real dream. A dream that you can come and go from as you wish. You can only enter when you sleep in the real world. Do not confuse it with your ordinary dreams. This one is different. You are really here. Your body of flesh is in your bed in your room. But you are here. As you wished it. You don't know yet who you really are. Soon though. Would you like to see Antonin? Look here." Ellenaria casually waved her right hand in the form of an arch, and Desare nearly cried out in surprise when she found herself looking at Antonin, almost face to face across an inn table. He was rubbing his arms as though cold. There were two warrior maidens by his side, obviously very agitated, although she could not hear want they said. Suddenly Antonin was looking directly at her, surprise quickly followed by a frown crossing his face. He opened his mouth to speak and the whole scene winked out.

"You were looking through the eyes of a Wind Reader called Sarweio who is right now recovering from a splitting headache." Ellenaria giggled again."For a moment, Antonin saw you sitting there, and not her." She giggled again.

"I should not have done that I suppose, but it has been a long time since I was able to have a little fun, and it hurts no one. Your friend needs to realize that he carries the world on his shoulders. He needs to know that you alone can help him. If he cannot find you. If you cannot reach him." Ellenaria hesitated for long minutes. "If you cannot bring him into this dream, then all is lost, and the Dark One wins."

Desare took it all in. She had grown used to solving problems, and she studied Ellenaria's words carefully. This girl might enjoy a humorous moment, but she was very serious now. By her own words she had waited an age beyond ages for this moment.

Suddenly Desare's eyes went as big as saucers. Her cheeks were crimson in an instant. She would have fled from the dream if Ellenaria had not held her hands a grip that gave no sigh of relaxing. If Antonin was to accompany her into this dream, he would have to be asleep right beside her. In fact, holding her, entwined in each other's arms. Only together could they enter the dream world. He had to come with her. She knew this beyond doubt. Only the Keeper of the Blue Tower could teach him what he needed to know.

"Oh girl," said Ellenaria with a smile. "I didn't mean that. I know what you think. No. You can visit him in his dream, and bring him into your dream, and so lead him here." The look on Ellenaria's face was slightly scandalised. Desare blinked furiously and tried to sputter protestations. Ellenaria held up her hand, silencing Desare's sputtering.

"Come, let us see what is happening. The tolling of the bell has, I'm afraid, alerted every Wind Reader in the world. When they recover that is. Normally, when a Wind Reader is seeking the attention of all others of their calling, they are able to cause the bell to be struck. Even the strongest of them though can only cause it to give one soft chime as though struck with a muffled hammer. This is enough to alert all. None know where the bell is, only that by a certain thought, they can cause it to ring. One thing they will all know now is that someone of great strength has emerged. That someone is you Desare. You are more than an innkeepers daughter. You are more than a Wind Reader. There is only one like you in all the world, and the Dark One would give much to see you dead."

Desare stood frozen at the words. her mouth formed in a silent 'oh', eyes as big as saucers.

"What do you mean?" She whispered. Her dress was flickering through a multitude of styles like a Music Mans lantern show, but she hardly noticed.

"Come with me please," said Ellenaria. "I will show you something." Ellenaria started toward the doorway to the central room.

"Do not worry. You will not be visible to those gathered, any more than I will be. The Wind Readers now gather in the Great Hall, the only part of the tower that they may enter, or even see. Each believes it to be a place of their own creation. To them, there is not 'outside'. Only the Great Hall, drifting in a void." The two girls stepped into the hall. It was brightly lit now, strange lamps blazing from the high arches in huge chandeliers. There were many women already in the hall. Their dress told of the many lands that they came from. More arrived each minute, simply appearing in the midst of the throng.

Desare could hear and see them, but they remained unaware of her. Some would suddenly look directly at her, but be looking right through her, as if having just glimpsed movement in the corner of their eye. It appeared to be as disconcerting for the Wind Readers as it was for Desare. She found herself holding Ellenaria's hand, but didn't let go in any case. The women were all talking about the tolling of the bell. Who had struck it with such force? Some still rubbed at their temples. Some appeared with tears still in their eyes, dabbing at them with lace handkerchiefs. There were even a few being helped to seats along the wall by others. It was clear that most were hurting still, and Desare felt a little guilty, but truly, she had not know what was happening.

"Ellenaria, why does my mention of Antonin's name cause the bell to toll so?"

Desare almost didn't want to hear the answer.

"The blood of the ancients is very strong in your small village. It is to that village that the last ones fled at the end of the last age. The Dark Lord had been imprisoned in the Wheel of Sara Sara, but his hoards still roamed the world, destroying everything in their rage and frustration. You are descended from those of the living world to who I gave power in a past millennium. It is part of your very being. To be rid of it would be as easy as being rid of your own bones. And what was given cannot be taken back. It will pass on from you to your daughter, as it was passed on to you. By the Dragon Lord himself originally. Beware in the real world though. An arrow from the bow of a Dark Follower, or even breaking your pretty neck in a fall from a horse will end it all. I cannot protect you from that." Ellenaria paused.

"The bell, and Antonin. You and he are linked in this place. A link I set in place when the last Malachite King was dying. His lady in waiting gave birth to a daughter. Her husband was the kings last true friend. The boy child of the king had been lost in the flight across the plains. So they thought. He had been found that terrible night, safe in his swaddling by the wagon track. The farmer who found him was the ancestor of Antonin's family. The boy had grown, and continued the line. I knew though. I linked that small boy to the daughter from who you are descended. The link is a bond to me. To my bell. The link was to be activated only when the Great Seal of the Creator came to be close enough to you in the flesh, and it had already been activated by the Traders." Ellenaria continued.

"I was truly amazed when I heard the bell strike so loudly. You had found your way here before using the name of the person who formed the other end of your link. Antonin, the Malachite King reborn. Lord of the Dragon Armies. He cannot fight the last great battle without you."

Ellenaria finally wound down. Desare wondered if the girl had had anyone to talk to in this place. She smiled. It really was too much to take in. All these crying women, angry women, quiet women who now crowding the Great hall seemed to have no purpose. They were just milling about. They had been summoned by the bell. So loud had it been they had not been able to deny the call.

Mei'An was there, Desare recognised her from her village. There was another, Desare thought she recognised her, and pointed her out to Ellenaria.

"Sarweio. You looked at Antonin through her eyes but a moment ago."

 

Antonin was on his feet, the two maidens flanking him. The Wind Reader's companion was carrying her limp body from the room up to their chambers. She seemed to be in a deep sleep. From the look on the face of this Companion it would not be well to cross his path. Antonin was at a loss to understand events. He thought he was having visions himself, and peered suspiciously at his wine. How could he possibly have seen the innkeepers daughter from Xu Gui sitting there? There was obviously no threat. No danger that he or the maidens could see. Slowly he retook his seat

 

Ellenaria lay a hand on Desare's arm. "Desare, let us get a message to Antonin. He must be told of your presence. He cannot hear the bell. No man can, but he must wait where he is until you can reach him on your own. Let us give Sarweio a little surprise."

Saying this, Ellenaria guided Desare through the throng and stood behind Sarweio. She leaned forward and whispered in Sarweio's ear."Sarweio, I need you but a moment. I am the Keeper of the Blue Tower."