But at the rate we are spiraling it will take us several more minutes to get down there.
I think you weren’t the only one to nap. Tell Yesenia you want to drop, but hold on tight if she does.
Yesenia?
Kara is right. Hold on tight. Here I go.
We fell like a flaming arrow, shooting down through the cold air. I held on for dear life. We were going to crash into the green grasses and shrubs, I could see Kara looking up at me now, a look of horror on her face… and then, suddenly Yesenia opened her wings part way and we zoomed around the field in three short spirals. She opened her wings large then, beat them twice, and landed softly on the ground.
I let myself fall to the ground. My legs felt weak and numb, and I almost stumbled with my first few steps. Then Kara was running up to meet me, and I ran to her. Before I knew it she was in my arms, hugging me.
“Anders, I was so worried about you.” She smiled at me. “From so far away all we could scry a great battle raging, but we couldn’t tell who was winning…”
“Gerard… He escaped again.”
“I have a feeling he won’t commit himself until the final battle, and even then, I fear he will find a way to escape.”
“Will it come to that, you think? A final battle?”
Kara stared at me for a moment. Behind me, I could hear dragons landing. It was suddenly too loud to talk.
What do you think?
I don’t know or I wouldn’t have asked.
I mean, what do you feel, in your blood?
I stopped for a moment to ponder that question. How could I ask my blood a question? Feel it, came the answer, unbidden. I filled my body and mind with war, felt it course through my blood; yes, there would be a final battle. I was sure of it.
There will be a final battle. Not now, though. This is just our first test.
Kara stared at me another moment. Almost the same exact thoughts are written in the book of Id. I think you have your own book of Id, in your blood. That is why the dark lord wants you, and our book. Your blood and the book contain all the secrets and prophecies of this era that is ending.
I turned around to see all the dragons had landed.
Kara smiled, and made a big gesture. Follow Yusef, he will lead the way.
It was then that I realized that Kara had not come alone. Her dragon stood waiting, standing on his short strong legs. Yusef’s eyes twinkled in the sunlight.
I dismounted and stood beside Kara, and watched Yesenia move over to Yusef. Whatever had made me think they were solitary creatures? How little I knew about dragons, even if my mind and aura had melded with one. The pleasure visible in their eyes to see each other again filled me with a strange warmth. Could Yusef have as strong feelings for Yesenia as I had for Ulrike, and for Kara? I felt like asking Yesenia, but not here. Not now. Still I could feel the waves of pleasure emanating from her; she was happy to see him, that much was clear.
One by one the dragons followed Yusef into the forest, weaving between the trees. The other riders gathered behind me and Kara, rubbing their legs.
“Will they be safe?” I asked.
The dragons will be fine. Yusef has picked a meeting place for us Kriek that accommodates their needs, and they have escape routes, as well, should we be attacked. We have temporary roosts so they may rest, water to drink — and tomorrow they will hunt.
We walked behind the dragons now. It felt strange and painful to walk after so much time on dragonback. I could see the others stopping to rub their legs as well. Kara smiled at us. I was sore for several hours, but the pain goes away, eventually. My people are at work already making harnesses which should make our lives on dragonback easier.
Woltan looked weak still, but he smiled. I would rather be sore than dead. These dragons have saved my life twice over.
What happened?
Demons, Kara. Demons of a level I thought could no longer be called by humankind. One of them bit me, and only the art of the tree mother and the power of the dragons kept me from passing on to the next world. I felt myself fading and saw demon spawn everywhere around me. We need all the art and wisdom of the Kriek to counter this new threat.
How did you get rid
of them?