The Dragons of Sara Sara (39 page)

Rees handed a piece of dried meat to Edina and settled himself back on one elbow. He chewed at his piece of meat, and watched the thin trace of smoke drifting away from the small fire. He had also share the ration with Mei'An, and handed her a piece for Luan.

Slowly it came to Rees that all sound had ceased. Not even the insects moved. It took but a heartbeat and at the same time Edina was crouched like a cat ready to spring, facing out from the fire. Rees was on his feet, his sword in hand. Mei'An was up on her knees, and out of the corner of his eye Rees could see a faint blue haze surrounding her. 'So she had her defences after all.' He thought. His concentration was heightened though. Only something on the prowl in the night would cause such a hush. Rees looked for Edina. She had disappeared. He was not surprised. The Mare Altan were very good. If they did not want to be seen, you could stand on one before you realized it was too late. Mei'An relaxed a little and sat down again. Luan loomed out of the gloom. He was accompanied by two Asha Altan. Their clothes of brown and green, soft leather boots soundless on the plain, and almost trackless.

Rees was not about to relax yet. It took a moment, and a step closer for him to recognise that one of the two was Jardine, the leader of the clans in the district of his home town. The other was unknown to him. Luan stepped over to Mei'An and squatted on his haunches. The two Asha Altan stayed where they were. There was no sign of recognition on the face of either, so Rees was not about to relax. Suddenly the unknown one's face broke into a huge grin. He started laughing openly as if he had suddenly thought of a huge joke. He took a step forward, and Rees then saw that Edina was at arm's length behind him, her short spear with its wicked barbed point planted firmly in the small of his back. The man thought it was a joke! Were they all mad. Rees shook his head. The man with the spear in his back slowly turned his head until he could see Edina. "A fine joke from the Running Dear," he laughed. "I warrant you will spread this tale far and wide among the Mare Altan."

"Not so," smiled Edina. "To catch a man is easy. To be caught by one is much harder." She laughed the words and dropped her spear to her side and stepped forward.

"Welcome my brothers. What brings you here with the man of stone?" She was referring to Luan.

"This Companion came to us. He saw where we were camped, he is very good." A nod to Luan brought a slight inclination of the head in return. "He bid us welcome to speak with the Wind Reader, of events and developments."

Rees sat back down and indicated the others were welcome to do the same.

"You may build up the fire if you wish, there are no others but us, and our camp, on the plains this night." The Asha Altan settled around the small fire with Rees, Edina, Mei'An and Luan, who finally relaxed enough to sit cross legged on the ground.

"The combined clans are reluctant to cross the mountains." Began the Asha Altan. "Without some assurances that the battle will be wholly around Ha Hu."

"It seems that you are right to be cautious. Even now we head south to take ship to Hua Guo. I have discovered that The Lord of the Dragon Armies is waiting for us there." No one asked her how she knew this. She was a Wind Reader. It was enough.

"Should you wish to follow us, you will be welcome. The storm will centre around the Dragon. It will take all we have to win out. The Tharsians have the Keystone, and while they have it, the wheel continues to turn. We do not know what role the Morgoth play in this - nor indeed the Tharsians - only that they both have and want to keep the key. The Dark One will do all possible through his followers to prevent us replacing the key stone in the axle of the Great Wheel."

Tessalan, the man with Jardine, spoke. "For our clan I speak, we will proceed with you to Hua Guo." Jardine glanced at him. "Tessalan is ever ready to rush into battle, but forgets to watch his back." There was no crack of a smile on Jardine's face, but the tiny creases at the corners of his eyes gave away the joke to the watching Tessalan. "Ha. I can see I will never live this night down." Laughed Tessalan. He was a younger version of Jardine, lean and muscular, dark eyes ever watchful. His clothes were much the same. Soft hide, all brown and green. These men could fade into the landscape and be right under an enemies nose without them knowing it. "Jardine," said Tessalan with the ghost of a smile still on his face." What would you suggest? That we all continue to Ha Hu? When the battle is moving away from there."

"Not so," replied Jardine. "I am suggesting that we send one clan only on to Ha Hu, there to make contact with our friends in the city. They can keep the city safe in the event that the Lord of the Dragon Armies returns by the same means by which he left." Jardine looked at Mei'An. "Of course, we take your advice above all Wind Reader."

Mei'An sat tapping her finger against her lips. For long moments she was silent. Finally she shook her head as though coming to a decision. "Where is the oasis that we stopped at on the way here?" She said. "We have ridden all day, and should have seen it by now. It was only a short way from the Great Road, and less than a day's ride from the mountains."

"Our scouts report nothing but featureless plain all the way to the mountains Wind Reader." Said Jardine.

"Then the forces of the Dark Lord himself are trying to thwart us. Only such as he could wipe all trace of an oasis from the face of the earth. Jardine, you should do as you suggest. One clan to secure Ha Hu, the rest accompany us. It seems the dark one knows of our journey, and would stop us if he can. The safety of Antonin, Rees and Gaul are paramount.

Rees sat up straight, a surprised look on his face. "Me!" He exclaimed.

"Yes. You and Gaul both." Said Mei'An.

"Ahh.." Began Tessalan.

"Yes?" Queried Mei'An, one eyebrow raised.

"Even now Gaul is in the village discussing events with the two Traders. There is only a small core of Maidens there to protect the village itself."

Mei'An's indrawn breath hissed through her teeth.

"Then you must send a clan back to the village. They are in great peril. Even though the Seal of the Creator be there, an arrow in the night will kill as surely as a thunderbolt. As well, there is the Inn Keeper's daughter."

Everyone looked at Mei'An in open surprise. She said nothing more. A long pause, then she said softly. "Now Jardine. Tomorrow may be too late."

Jardine leapt to his feet and sped away into the darkness. Tessalan was on his feet. "And I, Wind Reader?"

"Tessalan, go to the clans you have gathered. Jardine is to take the Water Mark clan to Xu Gui. There are enough in the clan? Yes. You will send the Black Hands to Ha Hu. They will stay in the city. Two other clans of your choosing will also go, but they are to continue into the subterranean caverns, and proceed with great caution to clean out the Tharsians encamped there. That will be most dangerous. There is some monstrous engine there that roams unchecked. Your people must stand aside from it when it passes. It cannot be stopped. To try brings death. They will need oil for lamps, and food and water. The caverns are dark and barren."

"The remaining clans Wind Reader? My own clan, the Running Men?"

"Will accompany us to Hua Guo." She finished his sentence.

Tessalan exhaled with a rush, and was grinning from ear to ear.

"Good." Was all he said, but it was plain that he was pleased to be heading toward the centre of the coming storm. Antonin. He turned to go. "We will be back within the hour. The clans will move tonight." Then he was gone into the night.

Luan had said nothing, but now he moved into the flickering light of the fire.

"Mei'An, so many people. Six clans. So many ships needed now to transport everyone at one time. We can't manage it, surely?" He said.

"Fine my Companion. Then we go on foot. We must follow the ancient trade route. So many warriors will give any aggressors pause for thought. Yes, I know it goes directly through the country of the Tharsians now. Perhaps they will not see us?"

Luan grunted. He didn't seem to appreciate the joke. Mei'An glanced at Edina, who seemed like a cat on a hot roof, hopping from one foot to the other.

"No." Said Mei'An firmly to the girl. "You must stay with Rees. You are his protector." Mei'An held up her hand to stop Rees, his mouth already open in protest. "Edina, I tell you now. If you run with your sisters in the clan, both you and Rees will die. Rees must be protected even at the cost of your own life. Will you take this responsibility upon yourself? This honour, for truly it is." Edina glanced away into the night, then looked directly at Rees. "So protecting the life of a village boy brings me much honour does it? Very well. We will see." She sat, looking not well pleased.

Mei'An spoke quietly to her. "Edina, you will be protecting the right hand of the Lord of the Dragon Armies. This village boy is no less than the Marshall of the Hosts. It will be he who stands at the head of the armies destined to follow the Dragon, the King of the Malachites."

Edina's eyes were as big as plates. Rees no less, his mouth hanging open. Luan was looking at Rees with something close to keen interest. Rees was speechless. Even more so when Edina bent her knee in front of Mei'An.

"Beat me without mercy Wind Reader." She cried into the dust. "I doubted your wisdom, and placed my own selfish wishes first. I am unworthy." Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut. Her fists clenched. She fully expected to be beaten for her transgression. Mei'An was a little taken aback. She knew discipline in the warrior septs was harsh, but she didn't expect it was this severe.

"No Edina. You give yourself much honour by accepting your mistake, but I will not beat you," She paused. "But if you let harm come to that village boy... I will assure you that a beating will be the least of your punishments. Get up girl. You are no help down there at my feet."

Edina got to her feet, dusting off her clothes. Her eyes were down cast and even in the weak fire light, the rosy flush of her embarrassment was plain beneath her sun darkened skin. She dared not look at Rees. Suddenly he was there beside her, even with his arm about her shoulders.

"Edina, I don't know what this is all about, but if you will stay with me on this journey as my friend, I would count it as a personal favour to myself. I …," he hesitated a moment "Would miss you if you went your own way." Rees was amazed at himself. He had never been this bold in his life. He had to admit though that he would miss Edina if she left. He had grown to enjoy her company very much. Edina turned to face Rees, his arm still on her shoulder. Their faces were very close, and Rees thought he might become lost in her pool dark eyes. Luan coughed, and they sprang apart like surprised birds.

"Very well Rees. It is good. Let us keep our company, and see what comes to pass." Edina gave Rees a fleeting, very intimate smile, and returned to her blanket.

"We rest an hour or so, and begin the journey at moon rise." Said Luan. The party settled on their blankets. Only Luan standing like a statue, just out of the firelight. the man seemed not to need sleep.

 

 

 

 

Stillness settled over the plain, the only sounds there of the insects and the gentle breeze in the grasses. Slowly Rees drifted into a half sleep. They would be moving soon, so he would not be completely asleep. Strange thoughts of Edina swirled in his mind. Antonin was there as well, in the floating dream, just standing off a little way watching. He was dressed in strange glittering blue robes. A gold band circled his brow. Rees could not understand why his ribs hurt. It was a slight pain only, but it kept coming back. From a great distance he could hear Luan. Luan! His eyes flicked open. Luan towered over him. Not so gently prodding him in the ribs with the toe of his boot. Luan saw that Rees was awake. "We go now. The clans are here." Was all he said, then turned away. The others were already packing their kit onto the horses. Rees looked out into the night. The deeper darkness of the plain resolved into what appeared to be many hundreds of warriors. All stranding quietly. No movement. Tessalan stood by Mei'An, who was talking in a hushed voice to him. There was a long way to go, and none knew the exact trail. Mei'An had a good idea of the location of the start of the main trail though. Some of it was still used by the Traders. Even the Traders did not venture in the depths of the forest though. The Tharsians did not trade, and would attack a Trader as quickly as anyone else.

The moon was rising. A gigantic silver disc on the horizon. A full moon. There would be plenty of light to travel by, and it helped to set the direction.

"We will head directly East Tessalan. In almost a week we should reach the boundaries of the Star Field Plain. We will be at the border of Tharhan. The king of Tharhan will be a little alarmed to find so many warriors streaming into his country. The border is well marked. You must all wait in the hills this side of the border. They are the Hills of Anan. Very distinct in shape. Smooth round hills collected together like bumps on a cold skin, short grasses covering them entirely. Go now Tessalan, and await us there. We will not be far behind you." Mei'An knew that so many warriors would trip over each other if forced to hold back to the pace of those with the horses. The warriors could run a steady pace for endless miles, outdistancing riders easily. Animals had to stop to eat and drink. A warrior only had to stop to snatch a little sleep. It might take Mei'An and her party over a week to reach the border, but the warriors would be there in but a few days. Then there was the distance across Tarhan. Mei'An was not sure, but she thought at least a month. The terrain was unknown, even to Luan. She hoped they could pick up the old trade route, once they passed the city of Tharkan. There were many small villages Mei'An knew. The country was fertile and well watered, the people mostly farmers. The king kept a small army. There were two Wind Readers at his court. There was also a strange mystic who kept the Tharsians out of Tharkan it had been said.

Tessalan walked over to a group of warriors, men and women both and spoke to them. In complete4 silence then one of that group began to trot out and around, in a wide circle to skirt the gathered warrior clans. One clan began moving to follow. Then another then another until finally all were moving eastwards in a wide path. Within what seemed only minutes, although it had taken some little time to get all moving, the warriors were nothing more than a dust cloud moving eastward. Soon they moved out of sight completely.

Mei'An's small group were now alone again. Mei'An swung up into her saddle, settling her divided skirt about her, she looked at the others.

"Shall we go?" She said quietly. "Or would you rather wait for sunrise?"

The spell of the moment was broken and the others were in their saddles in an instant. Luan led the way, the pack horses trailing on a long rope behind him. He set a rapid pace right from the start, half standing in the stirrups to ease the strain on the horse. Mei'An rode just back from him, then Rees and then Edina. The trackless vastness of the plain held no mystery for her. Edina knew exactly where she was. Her village lay to the south many miles. She wondered if she would ever see it again as she rode steadily eastward.

The distance rolled steadily by them as mile after mile was covered. Often they passed small villages, or clusters of farm houses. Dark and silent in the deep night, nothing stirred but the dogs announcing their passing. Near dawn, the moon now well down, the faint light showing on the far horizon as the party rode steadily toward it, Mei'An called a halt. The horses needed resting, and so did the riders. They had covered a lot of ground, but there was still a long way to go. They were now well out of the usual range covered by Edina and Rees. Neither had ever been this far directly East and North of their village. Edina's usual patrols took her West, and Rees had never had reason to travel this way at all. The horses stood puffing and blowing steam in the chilly grey morning. It was some time yet to sunup, and the riders tendered to their horses. Wiping them down with a handful of grass, then giving them water. A handful of oats to keep them going. Rees thought it might be a good idea to stop in the next village. They could rest and eat, and give the horses proper feed and rest. Edina agreed. While Mei'An would have been happy to push on, she none the less agreed. She was interested now to see where Rees's decisions took them. As the sky lightened they could see a road some way off to the north. It appeared to be well used and wide. It went east and west. Rees went to investigate but could not guess where it went. Neither he nor Edina had ever seen it. Wagon trails, trails from shod horses, and the occasional foot print showed in the dust.

"Come," said Rees. "This will be easier going for us all. Rees waved his arm to call his friends over to the road.

"This will be a part of the old trade route." Said Mei'An. "I know of no other roads in Da' Altai. Except of course the Great North Road, and that was always a trade route."

They now continued eastward on the dusty road, the sun easing above the horizon directly ahead. It seemed to be rising out of the very road itself. Everyone rode with their hands shading their eyes. Rees wound a long strip of cloth, packing from the chest, around his head and pulled one edge down over his eyes to shade them.

Finally he halted, and called to the others.

"This is no good Mei'An. We must wait until the sun clears the horizon. I'll be blind if we keep this up."

No one argued. Dismounting in the road, they all stood with their backs more or less toward the rising sun. The horses were steaming in the gathering warmth and the low grasses and small bushes steamed as though afire as the sun evaporated the nights dew and the world welcomed the new day. It was a breathtaking sight, and Rees and Edina never tired of it, even though born to it. They thought they were the luckiest people alive to live in such a beautiful land.

With the sun now half an hour above the horizon they resumed their journey. The landscape began to show signs of change. No longer quite so flat. The road clearly showed undulations in the surface of the plain. Not hills really, but dips and rises spread over many miles like a long swell in a vast ocean. Some way ahead, at the crest of the next rise, a village straddled the road.

Smoke was rising from chimneys of some of the dwellings. It didn't appear to be a large village, but even at some distance Rees could see a couple of wagons in the road, outside a low building that was larger and more solidly built than the others.

"A tavern." He said to no one in particular and pointed. There didn't seem to be many people moving about. It was still early, but there were usually people in any village with tasks that had them up and about early.

Luan eased his sword in its scabbard. His unconscious action alerted Mei'An and Rees. He looked at Edina and saw that she had unslung her bow and nocked an arrow already. Rees eased his sword on his belt, and made sure his axe was in easy reach. They approached the village at a steady walk, and rode into the heart past shuttered shops, and closed up outlying houses. There were a number of children in the yards. Chopping wood, gathering eggs, opening barns and stables. No adults in sight yet though. No girls amongst the children either. Luan, in the lead, reigned his horse. A solid wall of men had come out from between the buildings lining the street. They were armed with the implements of farmers and village folk. Pitch forks, hoes, axes. They were silent and obviously a little afraid, but all stood firm.

"You would greet travellers, and visitors to your village thus?" Grated Luan. His eyes searching for the one who would make the first move. No one replied. Mei'An rode up alongside Luan, and surveyed the crowd calmly. She pointed to one man near the middle of the group.

"You are the leader of this village." It was not a question, it was a statement. "Would you raise arms against a Wind Reader?" She continued after a pause. "… and her Guard Companion." Her eyes flicked to Luan and back.

The man she had singled out was startled to find himself with an ever widening gap around himself, as his companions moved away from him in a reflex action. He quickly regained his composure though and stepped forward, a long handled axe held casually in his hands. Luan stepped his horse forward to a position just in front of Mei'An. "Hold there. Not another step." Said Luan. The villager stopped dead in his tracks. He swallowed, his Adams apple bobbing up and down. Something was putting rods of iron in the spines of normally placid village men. Mei'An could see it. So could Luan and the others. These men might be villagers and farmers, but they were all solid from years of toil, and in this mood very dangerous.

"Luan." Said Mei'An, "I will talk with this man."

The look on Luan's normally rock like face told eloquently what he thought of that idea. None the less, he backed his horse out of the way, and swung out of the saddle. He was dismounted and had his sword in hand before the village leader knew what had happened. Mei'An slowly dismounted, and walked to a point just out of reach of the villager.

"You can put down your axe village man. I wish to talk only." Mei'An waited a moment, but the villager just watched her and continued to heft the axe in his hands. Suddenly he let out a yell and dropped the axe, the flat of the head striking his right foot. The handle was smoking slightly. The man was flapping his hands and hopping, trying to ease his sore foot. "You've broken my toes! Oh, my hands are burnt." He cried. He hopped to a water trough and plunged his hands in. Some of his friends were grinning at his discomfit. None moved to help him. Mei'An waited. The man settled down and hobbled back to face Mei'An.

"What has frightened this village so badly that you would face strangers armed, and one of them a Wind Reader?" She asked him. The man looked at his friends gathered a little way back for support.

"In the night, thousands of warriors ran by us here. We lost a few goats and chickens, but that's no mind. Shortly after they went by, we heard strange cries in the night. It took some hours for all the warriors to pass by there were so many. But the cries belonged to Dahars, the creatures that fly from Sara Sara. Two of our women, the wife of Edmus here," he pointed out a young man in the group. "And the daughter of Istar there." Pointing to a man who had to be the village blacksmith, so was he dressed. The man swallowed then continued. "The Dahar were in the street where you stand now. They had the women. We rushed to help them but the Dahar simply ... broke the women like twigs, and flew off with them." The village spokesman had glistening eyes. The hair on Mei'An's skin was prickling. Dahar. It could not be. Those creatures were evil personified, and truly servants of the Dark Lord. Only six had ever been created by the sorcerers of the Dark Lord. The inner circle of ten, all thought to be imprisoned in the Great Wheel, along with the Lord of Lies himself. It would seem that the Dahar had not been imprisoned or killed all that time ago.

The Dahar had been created out of nightmares. Huge beasts, standing upright like men, vaguely man shaped but grotesque in countenance and form. Skin so black that the eye could not focus on it. Huge wings like those of bats, with talons for hands at the tips. Glinting hooks at the joints that they used both to grip and to rend. They had been created for one purpose only. To destroy the ancient King of the Malachites and his family. In this they had failed though. The great battle of that age ending before they had been unleashed. The circle of ten had been captured and imprisoned. The Dahar had not been seen since, appearing only in legend and kept alive in memory by the tales of the Traders. It seemed that they had returned. No story could describe the true nature of these beasts, nor their reality. There would be little doubt that the women were dead. Mei'An knew of the creatures. More than ordinary people. The touch of a Dahar meant death. They grasped their victims by enfolding them in their massive wings and the victims heart stopped. Man or beast, the Dahar killed whatever was touched. They would then fly off with the persons crushed body grasped in their talons. Later, wherever the Dahar had made their roosts, the bodies would be devoured. The village was lucky it had only lost the two women.

"I can understand your fears," said Mei'An. "But we at least mean you no harm."

"How are we to know that?" Cried a voice from the crowd. Another yelled. "Thousands of warriors. Dahar from our nightmares, and now a Wind Reader and her companions all armed to the teeth."

"What terror do you bring?" Cried another.

The men were all scowling. Feet shuffling, inching forward. Edina and Rees were still on their horses, and a little way back. The low murmur of voices from the crowd sounded ominous. The village leader was still out in front, alternating between inspecting his burnt hands and his aching foot. In truth, his hands were not burnt. Mei'An had only caused an instants heat to flow though the one, and the wood to smoke. Surprise and wounded pride had hurt the man more than anything. Luan still watched him warily.

"Listen to me. For I speak the truth as you well know." Said Mei'An, her voice quiet, yet carrying to the furtherest ear. "We journey to the East to bring back the Lord of the Dragon Armies. He has returned to this age. The battles with the Dark One loom again. You have seen the terror of the Host of Darkness. The Dahar must be found and destroyed for all time. They seek the King, the Dragon Lord himself, as surely as we do." The gathering of men were now unsure of themselves. This was the truth. They could see it. The shock of recent events could not be shrugged off though. One of the young men stepped forward. Luan tensed. "How would you destroy the Dahar, Wind Reader? They cannot be destroyed." Another stepped forward. "Why have they appeared here, in our village, if the King is to the East?"