Covering the land by air was not only quick, but it felt even faster. The ground was little more than a blur below them, and animals and monsters seemed like little dots. They weren't very high in the air, only a few hundred feet, but it was an awe-inspiring sight to those not used to it.
They stopped only for a break around noon so that they could eat. Squint was very hungry because she wasn't used to being in her natural shape and burned much more energy in it. Quite used to traveling with a Dragon, Ryu had brought plenty of food.
Once refueled, they got on their way again. Celestial kept to Squint's left so that she didn't worry about something approaching from that direction. There was no concern for monsters or enemy attacks, but something as innocuous as a bird might startle her and throw her off balance.
Evening had begun to fall as they flew over the top of the trees that encircled the lake. They found a safe place to land, and the riders slid down to ground level. Tamari, grinning, had to hold Dylan up since his legs were shaky. "Amateur," she teased. "That's why Ryu and I were always shifting our weight. Keeps from cutting off the blood to our legs."
"Now she tells me," the taller male groused. Not that he complained about getting to lean on her though, and if the flirty way she kept looking up at him was any clue, she was not complaining either. He would definitely have to ask her to date him—if she didn't ask him first.
Tyrian and Cassie were only slightly unbalanced since both had seen what Ryu and Tamari did and had guessed why. Celestial changed into her Human shape, and Squint cautiously reached for her magic to do the same. It took two tries, but she did manage to go back into Human form. Unfortunately, her legs gave out and she sat down hard on the ground. "I'm dizzy."
"You're exhausted." Dylan knelt beside her. "I'll carry you, okay?" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he stood with her perched on his back. It fascinated him that someone who could be such a large creature would feel that small in this form. He almost couldn't believe she was a Dragon at all.
Cassie was the best tracker of the lot, and she began to scout out the area for anything unusual. She wanted to find signs of civilized life since it was not an area normally frequented by people. She finally found it in the shape of a bed of leaves and moss. It had been too precisely placed to have been made by nature, and as she pushed it aside, she realized why. It was a carefully constructed cover that went over the top of a set of stairs leading down into the land. "Here we go. This looks promising."
She went first, followed by Tamari. The others went down after them with Ryu bringing up the rear after putting the covering back in place. The tunnel was obviously well used since it was lit nicely with a series of Light Relics imbedded in the walls. At the end of the tunnel was what looked like a larger light leading into what might have been a hidden city.
A guard stood at the end of the tunnel and she straightened as she saw the group approaching. Her eyes went directly to Tyrian and she brightened visibly. "You're Lord Tyrian!" She turned and hurried into the city beyond. "Lord Tyrian is here!" she called happily. "Everyone, come out!"
All manner of people began to emerge from the catacomb-like rooms as Tyrian and the others walked into the area. It was a very tiny village and boasted a population of less than fifty. The entire 'city' could have fit into the courtyard of Aon Castle. Every manner of age and race was represented, as well as a blend of civilian and combatant alike. To Tyrian's utter shock, he found himself looking at more than one face that struck that familiar chord inside. Though Draco had not formally joined, he counted as found, so there had been only six Destined Stars left.
All six stood before him.
One was a female Grimalkin who was more feline than Human in appearance, and she clapped her hands together happily. Though she had distinct fingers, they were short enough that they almost looked like paws. Her hair, tail, and soft fur were orange with white tabby stripes. At her feet sat two tame Dire Wolves, evidence that she was a Beastmaster. "You made it!" she said happily. "I'm Solei!" She scampered forward and clasped Tyrian's hand. "Shadi said if we waited, you'd find us when you needed us! You can count on me and Van to tame any monsters we meet!"
Tyrian found himself smiling at her. He glanced over her head to where a male Human stood with a winged monster perched on his shoulder. Both Beastmasters wore similar sturdy traveling clothes and leather bracers around their arms for taloned creatures to land without harm. "Since I lack any methods of dealing with monsters other than killing them, I'm grateful for you both."
Van grinned. "Solei can be a bit of a handful, but I'm fairly good at taming her too."
She stuck her tongue out at him and made everyone laugh. An Elf with golden hair stepped forward with a smile. She wore lightweight chain armor with casual elegance. On each hip was a scimitar. "I'm Honey," she said. "I'm normally at home on the seas, so if you need me to do any sea battles, just let me know."
"So far we haven't needed any, but that might as yet change," Tyrian told her. The river ran close enough past Trinan that it would certainly allow for an unexpected angle to attack from. He and Matthias had discussed it more than once.
"Well," another Human girl said, "I'm not a fighter, but I make some darned pretty stained glass. My name is Sierra!" She looked barely older than Yumi, and her green eyes were just as lively. Her hands showed the soot stains and abrasions from her art. "I don't know if you need any stained glass windows, but that's my specialty."
Tyrian thought of the dull and boring windows that Amos kept clean and decided, "Considering the lack of color around the castle, you are certainly needed! In fact, if you want to go after my balcony doors first and foremost, I'd be grateful. I leave the art in your hands. I have no taste."
"Liar," Tamari said with a snort.
Sierra grinned. She knew he was lying too, but she appreciated that he did it to make her know that he trusted her completely. She actually had several pieces in mind that she really wanted to give him. She had seen him in her dreams for a long time, and she had been making things with him in mind for months.
A Human woman in her mid-thirties stepped forward and said, "Alright, everyone, start the packing process again. Let me talk to Lord Tyrian." She smiled as most everyone scampered off. "My name is Shadi. I'm a Healer by choice and a doctor by trade."
Ryu caught his breath. "Wait, can you cure curses?" When she nodded, he began to breathe again. "We need you," he said urgently. "The Dragonists have been cursed and our Dragons are dying!"
"Please," Tyrian said. "I know you're the only one who can do this."
She smiled at the others in bemusement. "Is it always like that?"
As one, the others said, "Yes."
She shook her head. "Well, obviously I'm not about to say no. When I was gathering survivors, I was deliberately looking for those who shared the same destiny as me. We settled here knowing that when you needed us, you would find us. We come from nearly all the cities in the Empire. Ceredine is a survivor of T'que."
Tyrian's head swung to where the slender redheaded Mongra stood nearby; unusually for her race, the fur of her ears and tail was an orange color different to her red hair. She wore no armor or relic, and her flowing clothing marked her as a dancer or bard of some type. The dance shoes on her feet showed long use. In age, she was probably only slightly older than he was, and her eyes had been haunted by a familiar look. "I'm glad," he told her softly. "You'll have to teach me how to dance so I don't embarrass my fiancée at our wedding."
Ceredine's black eyes brightened. "I would be honored," she said. "And I will be glad to dance at the celebration party as well, to renew the strength and spirit of our soldiers. Do you have any bards?" At the nod, she smiled. "I used to be one, so I'll be able to dance with them properly. Leave it to us to keep morale high."
Myr and Café Latte had already been doing a spectacular job of that very thing, and he knew Ceredine would be the perfect addition. Such a simple thing as providing music and dance shouldn't have been able to soothe soldiers who had seen too much trauma, but it really did help lift spirits. Tyrian always felt better when he could simply sit and watch them perform. For just a while, the world could be normal.
After a bit of thought, he gave Dylan the Echo Mirror to take everyone to Aon Castle. It initially didn't want to be used by him, but after a stern scolding from Tyrian, the mirror began to glow. Once Dylan had taken everyone there, he could have Miranda send him and the mirror back to the stronghold to pick the others up.
Squint found herself back on her own feet again, but she was much more alert than she had been. She felt even better when Solei gave her cup of amber colored liquid to drink. "Syrup!" She drank the whole thing in a single gulp.
Solei grinned. "Dragons and their sweet teeth. I've never known such bottomless pits."
"This from the cat who chews on sugar cubes," her partner countered politely.
With Squint happily refueled, Shadi grabbed the things she would need and joined the party to head up to ground level where the Dragons could transform and they could all be on their way. There was no time to wait and rest, not when that many lives hung in the balance. They could get back to the stronghold by dawn if they hurried, and that might just make the difference for at least a few people.
Dawn was indeed creeping over the horizon as they climbed the mountains at last, but it brought with it more than just a stunning sunrise. It brought the sight of smoke and the smell of fire. It also brought to Cassie's sensitive ears the sound of vicious fighting. "Hurry!" she shouted. "The stronghold is under attack!"
The closer they got, the more visible the fighting became. Mounted Dragonists struggled to drive back aerial beasts and monsters, while others still fought on the ground against the Imperial soldiers swarming the area. There was no rhyme or reason to the battle, no sense that there were even any laws to engagements at all. It was a bloody horror show.
Celestial flew down close to the ground and Tamari and Shadi jumped down. The white Dragon promptly turned and flew into the air with Ryu as he drew his lance. Their communication was seamless and absolute to the point that Ryu only had to use his hands for battle. Celestial focused on magic as well as keeping him secure on her back.
Squint landed to let Tyrian and Cassie down, and they promptly went rushing into battle. For the first time, Tyrian actually used his relic in combat, unhesitatingly unleashing Hell on the enemies foolish enough to get too close. When you broke the laws, you were not protected by them any longer, and there was no guilt in his heart. He wasn't passing judgment. He was simply sending the offenders on to a higher power who would.
Tamari stayed close by Squint, and her axe cut through monsters and soldiers alike. A brassy taste of fear lingered in her mouth. She had never been in large-scale combat, but she knew that this was worse than a real battlefield. Squint blew fire and used her tail like a whip before realizing how silly she was being. She focused as hard as she could, dropped back into Human form, and slammed her fist into a soldier's jaw hard enough that he went flying. "That's more like it!" she decided.
Tyrian had a very specific destination in mind. He was looking for the person controlling the monsters. When he spotted the vile Beastmaster at the top of the living area, he immediately changed course and began fighting his way through. He lost Cassie in the crush but didn't pay it any mind. He not only trusted her to defend herself, he also trusted that she would find him if he needed her.
When he reached the rooftop where the Beastmaster stood, he spun his staff one handed and aimed the end at the other male. He recognized him from his life in Trinan and knew that he was one of the better Beastmasters that the Imperial Army had. It saddened him to realize the corruption had spread this far. "This is your last chance to end this," he said icily. "Unless you wish to visit Purgatory sooner rather than later." The Devourer glowed briefly even as he spoke.
The Beastmaster threw his arms wide on a maniacal laugh. "Go ahead! Kill me in cold blood, Southerwind!" The color abruptly left his face as the mark of the Devourer appeared in the air and flames began to whip around Tyrian's body. "You would do it."
Tyrian's green eyes were as hard as stone and glittered as fiercely as the stars only then sinking from sight in the skies. "What is coldblooded about removing someone who fights only for devastation? You deliberately attacked a cursed people just to make them suffer more. I have no reason to show you mercy."
With no options for escape that would not end in death anyway, the Beastmaster's hand filled with fire magic. "Let's see the Liberation Army survive without its precious Kaiten Star!" he snarled. He hurled the magic into the middle of the rooftop and it exploded with such force that it not only killed the Beastmaster instantly, it also sent Tyrian flying backwards off the top of the roof.
A collective shout lifted as everyone realized what had happened, and Cassie felt her heart stop. A blue streak shot through the air overhead and underneath Tyrian when he was only feet from hitting the ground. The landing knocked the breath out of him, and as his sight cleared, he realized he had landed on the back of a Dragon.
"Nice of you to drop in," Draco muttered. "Damn it, Tyrian, you scared the shit out of all of us with that stunt. You're damned lucky that Peyn's so fast!"
The Dragon muttered equally, "I'm too old for this." He flew down to ground level and landed gracefully beside other Dragons that were coming in. He angled his wing to help Tyrian down and then offered a claw to Draco. With the Beastmaster gone, the monsters had instantly retreated, and the soldiers, then outnumbered, had done so as well.
"You idiot!" Cassie shouted at Tyrian as she seemed to appear from out of nowhere.
He somehow dodged the punch she aimed for his face but stumbled a step as she threw herself into his arms. Her entire body trembled violently and he held her fiercely close. He couldn't apologize for what he had done. Even if he had known the Beastmaster would attempt a suicide bomb, he would have still gone up there to take him out. Every minute counted when lives were on the line. He looked over her head to where Tamari and Squint stood. Both looked slightly ragged, though otherwise fit. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.
"Dragon monks are scarier than Dragonists," Tamari said. Her legs felt shaky, but she kept that a secret. "Squint was actually knocking those guys back twenty feet! It's horrible of me, but I found it very funny and very satisfying."
"That's not horrible," Cassie assured her. "I've seen her do it too, and I also find it very funny. Especially because she's very small in this shape." She ran her hand down Squint's hair gently. "Well done. I'm very proud of you."
Draco stepped closer and said, "Did you return just to help us, or did you find the doctor you were seeking?"
"I'm right here," Shadi said as she came back down to the ground from the second level. "I was trying to get out of the way when C.J. and Tyler grabbed me and made me hide with them and the kids. Take me to one of the cursed Dragons. I need to see exactly what I'm dealing with."
The others dispersed to tend to wounds, and Draco led the way toward the hospital. Tyrian, Cassie, and Shadi went with him while the others helped with the beginning of the cleanup. Dylan had arrived just as the fight was ending, and he was very glad to see everyone intact. He joined Ryu in transporting the wounded to a more sheltered location.
There were no unoccupied beds in the hospital, and Shadi went immediately to where the first person rested. The young woman seemed unconscious but stirred while Shadi examined the lesions along her arms. Her lashes lifted and she said in a slurred voice, "They appear last."
"She's correct." Draco's arms were tightly crossed, his knuckles white with his effort to control himself. He hated seeing his people in this condition. "It begins with a regular fatigue but swiftly drains all lifeforce from the ill. The last stage before death is the appearance of those red marks."
Tyrian's lashes flinched slightly yet his voice remained neutral. "Is it possible that Blaine is collecting the lifeforce as it is drained?"
"It's no doubt a certainty." Shadi straightened and said in satisfaction, "But she obviously didn't put too much effort into this curse. I can actually read the spell in the lesions. The trick to curses is to learn the spell and then cast it backwards."
The Medicine Relic on her right hand began to glow as did the Resurrection Relic on her left. Slowly, carefully, she began to recite the spell backwards. It sounded like utter gobbledygook to everyone present but the effects were apparent. The lesions instantly disappeared from the woman's skin and she took a sudden deep breath. "I can breathe!" she said. Strength poured back in rapidly, evidenced as she sat up cautiously. "It's like the last few days didn't happen."
"Give it another one or two and you'll be just as good as new." Shadi looked at Draco. "I need every Healer you have. In fact, even mages with Medicine or Resurrection Relics will do. I'll teach them the reversal and we'll get everyone before the hour is done. No one dies on my watch!"
True to her word, in less than an hour, every person who had been cursed was no longer in that condition. Those in the earliest stages were as good as new almost instantly, but those who had been suffering longer wouldn't be better without at least a day or two of rest. It seemed to lift the cloud that had hovered over the stronghold. People began to smile again, and the doors opened once more.
Draco stood with Tyrian inside the inn and looked out at the city as it began to bustle with activity. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I know you'll say Shadi did the work, but you're the one who took a leap of faith to find her. We would never have found her on our own."
"You couldn't expect me to walk away," Tyrian noted. "It's just not in me. How do you think I got caught up in all this anyway? I joined the Rebellion before I knew anything about being the Kaiten Star. Even before Ophelia died. As soon as I understood what was happening, I couldn't stand by."
"I suppose that's one of the reasons all of us love you." Draco turned from the window, and his silvery eyes burned intently. "Tyrian, please accept my dedication as a Destined Star. I and Peyn will join you in battle, and so will every able-bodied Dragonist. We fight for those who are being oppressed. My alliance is yours until the day I die. Perhaps beyond. I am honored to share the skies with you."
Tyrian let out a long breath as he felt the sudden wellspring of magic inside. He had done it. He had finally done it. He had gathered all one hundred and eight of his companions. The one hundred and nine Destined Stars were joined at last.
Cassie wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly. "You did it," she said softly.
Draco lightly squeezed Tyrian's shoulder. "I'm sure others feel the same, but I am sorry I couldn't be there for longer."
"It's what I told Ryu." Tyrian took a deep breath. "Being here now is what matters. Everyone has something to give, and I fully believe I found my Stars at the moment when I needed them. Some came to me, knowing I needed them. As long as we can share the land as we share the skies, then everything is okay."
They went to help the others with whatever packing and gathering they had left to do, and then Tyrian used the mirror to take them all back to the castle. While he and Draco had been talking, a unit from the Liberation Army had arrived to help the Dragonists regroup, and they returned to the castle not long after Tyrian did. The half unit of Dragonists would blend into a half unit of Special Forces with Divan and Draco in charge.
Matthias waited for Tyrian in the hall of the second floor. "We begin our assault on Trinan tomorrow," he said. "The strongest of the Dragons are preparing the spell that they can use to bring the barrier down. While they are doing that, we will launch our attack via the river and land from two directions while our Dragonist unit comes in from the skies."
Tyrian nodded and followed him down the hall, toward the balcony at the end that had once been used by a monarch for royal speeches. He had never been out on it since he had never felt a need to give a speech. "What about evacuations of the people?" he asked.
"Yhalenia and Master Kotan are preparing to take one of our monk units into the city under stealth and get everyone out. Grace got one last message into the city before it was locked down, and the people will know to be ready to escape. We can't waste any more time, Lord Tyrian. Tomorrow is the final battle." He opened the balcony doors. "I asked for everyone to gather so you can speak to them."
Tyrian glanced over his shoulder but somehow wasn't surprised to realize that Cassie had disappeared. He had sensed the instant she was no longer in the vicinity. She couldn't hide from him in any fashion anymore. They had relic bonded, made love with their magic, and fragments existed inside each of them of the other's power. With a breath, he stepped onto the balcony and looked out at the field that had once been used as the barracks.
It was a sea of faces. Every soldier and every citizen had gathered. He saw all one hundred and eight of his Destined Stars, and the smaller ones sat on the shoulders of the taller. Dragons hovered in the air with as many people as they could carry on their backs. Several people held the flag of the Liberation Army and waved it happily when they saw Tyrian. It was a dizzying sight for Tyrian. He could never have imagined such a sight even among all the other amazing things he had seen so far.
"Tomorrow," he said clearly, "we fight against evil. When the barrier is brought down by our Dragon allies, we will attack from the land, water, and sky. The people will be evacuated. All of you will have your orders; all of you will have something important to do. Even those who are civilian, who are not going to be there on the field, will be fighting as well. You give us someone to fight for, someone to come home to. Too many lives have been lost for the freedom we all crave. What started as a struggle for rights against tyranny has become something bigger than we imagined. We've come too far to stop now. We will win tomorrow."
The cheer that filled the air was deafening. It rang off the rooftops and bounced off the beautiful stained glass that had begun to be installed in windows. Tyrian sensed her power before she appeared and turned as the lavender colored light swirled into appearance and brought Tanelia. "What say you, Great Sage?"
She smiled as pride shined in her eyes. "I am very proud of you, Tyrian. You have fulfilled your destiny. The one hundred and nine Destined Stars are together at last. Inside you, the final spell of your relic has unlocked. It possesses a power the likes of which no other has ever controlled. It will serve its place in the battle tomorrow and will bring you victory."
Tyrian felt the stirring of power inside and firmly grabbed control in the way only a fully powered Kaiten Star could. His iron will, that great thing that had saved his sanity and kept him from being devoured by his relic, was a palpable force around him, intense and forceful. The Devourer sensed it and turned docile. No longer would it seek to claim its owner. To claim so great a lifeforce would be instant destruction for even a Pure Relic that powerful.
"Celebrate," Tyrian told the gathered people. "Tonight, celebrate. Cherish your lives and your loved ones. Tomorrow night, we will celebrate again. But tomorrow, we will be celebrating victory!" The cheers lifted once more and he closed his eyes. "Thank you," he said softly to Tanelia.
"No," she countered just as soft. "Thank you, Tyrian." With a swirl of light and spark of lightning, she disappeared from the balcony.
He looked out over the crowd and then walked off the balcony. He had some important things to do that night as well. He would not enter the battle with regrets or loose threads. One loose thread could ruin the entire tapestry. He had spent too damn long unraveling them to begin with!
©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.
Chapter 43->
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