Tears of War Read online

  She glanced around the dark, empty prairie. “I forgot how open it is in the east.”

  Vaddoc took a deep breath and moved through the night with easy familiarity. “I never really thought about it. This was home.”

  “Where are we?”

  “On the Ash Plains, half a day’s ride to the northern Shaderian border.”

  “I thought you were raised in Marden, isn’t that quite a ways south?”

  He smiled at her. “We lived close to the border when I was a small boy. My brother and I used to ride out here on the Ash Plains and pretend we were fighting Kojen. My father would come back from his patrols on the eastern border and find out we had been out there and have a fit.” A look of sadness crept into his eyes. “That was before my brother and I knew what Kojen really were.”

  Kirynn swung into her saddle and settled her zahri across her thighs as Vaddoc climbed onto his own horse. “Where are your father and brother now? You’ve never spoke of them before.”

  He gazed out at the night for a long moment before answering. “They were both killed in a Kojen raid. About five years ago. I do not care to remember that time.”

  Kirynn let it drop; he would talk if he wanted to. They rode for several hours while the stars passed overhead. The land remained quiet around them save for the sound of the wind in the grass. Syrakynn and Namir flew high in the sky above them, watching for danger.

  They would reach the northern border of Shadereen the next day. The dragons would have to keep out of sight. They didn’t want to scare everyone before they had a chance to explain.

  Maleena watched the Slide spin open and reach all the way to the ground. She tried not to think about the friends they were leaving behind, or what it would be like meeting the people of Calladar. People who wouldn’t welcome their magic; people who would look at her with suspicion and dislike.

  Ahead, Tellnox and Mckale entered the Slide. Nydara flew through right behind them. The swirl of colors turned into cold dark sky. Mountains ranged to the north and the west. Beneath them, the mountains gave way to canyons and broad plateaus. They were about three weeks ride north of Calladar. The deep chill in the air surprised her. They weren’t that much further north than Galdrilene, but the air had held the warmth of late spring there.

  Nydara settled on a plateau while the Defenders led Arella and Blain through. She’d worried about bringing the aged mare, but a thorough examination by Serena assured her the old mare could handle it.

  She undid the safety straps and jumped down from the saddle. Arella greeted her with a soft whinny as she took the reins. Blain gave a soft snort and nudged her arm. She gave the massive black horse an affectionate pat.

  Within minutes, Mckale had slid the Defenders back and returned. He jumped off Tellnox and came to stand next her. Blain shoved him with his head as he took the reins. Mckale laughed and scratched the horse around his ears. “I’ve missed you too, Blain.”

  Maleena smiled at the two of them. Although they had ridden a couple of times a week in Galdrilene, the horses didn’t see as much of them there. She stroked the dished face on the old gray mare.

  “I won’t let anything happen to her,” came Nydara’s sending.

  Maleena turned her smile on the silver dragon. “I know you won’t.”

  Mckale reached out and took her hand. “Come on, there is a path off this plateau. In the canyons we will find enough small trees and brush to have a fire to take the chill off.”

  “You aren’t worried about someone seeing it?” she asked. She remembered his refusal to have a fire during their journey to Galdrilene over two years ago.

  He shook his head. “Tellnox and Nydara will see anyone approaching long before they can see the fire.”

  She followed him down the narrow path and into the canyon. Stubby trees and scraggly bushes lined both sides of the canyon and a narrow river ran through its center. Tellnox and Nydara pulled up several of the trees, clearing a place by the wall.

  Maleena and Mckale pulled the packs from the horses and stacked them against the wall. While the dragons made a competition out of breaking the trees into smaller pieces, Maleena took each horse’s head between her hands. When she released them, they began to graze on the newly formed buds on the trees and bushes.

  Mckale piled the wood together and stepped back. “Tellnox, do you mind starting the fire?”

  The dragon lowered his head and shot a thin band of flame at the pile.

  When the fire was burning well, Mckale glanced at the horses. “You aren’t going to tether them?”

  “I don’t need to. They won’t go far, I made sure of it.”

  He shook his head and walked over and put his arms around her. “You always amaze me.”

  She pulled his mouth down to hers. After a moment, he broke away. “Perhaps we should get the sleeping rolls laid out.”

  Maleena watched Mckale untie the sleeping rolls from the packs. The firelight played across his bronzed skin and gathered in his silver eyes. A brief tingle of energy interrupted the happy mood filling her.

  She glanced out at the night, her eyes scanning up and down the wide canyon. What had she felt? She sent her mind out searching. The tingle felt foreign and familiar at the same time. Her confusion was reflected in Nydara.

  “What was that? I feel as if I should know, but the answer is out of reach,” the silver sent.

  Maleena maintained her concentration, her mind searching farther into the night. “It did feel familiar, like a long forgotten memory or dream,” she sent back. “Tellnox, did you feel it?”

  The massive green lifted his long nose, taking in the smells on the breeze. “I felt it, but I don’t know what it is.” He turned his silver eyes to her. “Like you, it seems as if I should know it.”

  Mckale touched her arm. She glanced at him; he stood with his eyes on the canyon. “You might as well come back. If you haven’t found it yet, you probably aren’t going to. What I sensed through Tellnox didn’t feel that far.”

  She sighed and brought her searching mind back. “I suppose you are right. If there is someone…something out there that can use magic, I should be able to find it.”

  He turned away from the canyon and put his arms around her. “You can’t find Loki a lot of the time.”

  “This was not Loki. This was different. It worries me that I can’t find the source. It’s gone now anyway.”

  “Tellnox and I are going to hunt. We will search for anything in the canyon and the surrounding area.Perhaps we can locate the source. We won’t go far in case you need us,” Nydara sent.

  “Good hunting, my love. We will be fine,” Maleena sent back. Nothing would sneak up on them with the dragons in the air.

  She tipped her head back and smiled up at Mckale. “The dragons go to search. Nothing will slip past them.”

  A smile danced in his eyes as he lowered his lips to hers and his fingers began slipping the tiny buttons on her shirt loose. She set aside her worries and lost herself in his arms and his touch.

  Early the next morning they rode through the canyon, the rock sides rising high above them. The river flowed narrow and deep to their right. A light, cold breeze drifted down the canyon and the horses’ breath made small clouds in the crisp air. The crunch of last year’s leaves under the horses’ hooves mingled with the sound of the river’s slow, deep rush.

  Maleena didn’t pay much attention to the morning or the stark beauty of the canyon. Her mind was focused on what lay ahead. Whoever or whatever had used magic the night before was just ahead of them. Tellnox and Nydara soared high overhead, ready to aid if need be. The dragons saw nothing when they searched the canyon, but Maleena felt them.

  She turned that over in her mind. Them. There was only one who used magic, but there were others there too. The aura felt familiar. She should know what it belonged to. Maleena suppressed the growing frustration. Emallya and Amariel had counseled often enough that frustration hampered the ability to ‘see.’

  As the
y rounded the bend in the canyon, the mouth of another canyon opened up to their left. She reached out for Nydara. “Where does this other canyon lead?”

  “It leads nowhere,” the silver sent back. “It goes several hundred paces and ends in a large rounded space.”

  “I can feel a gathering of beings in it. Do you see anything?”

  “Beings?” Overhead, Nydara and Tellnox banked and made another pass over the canyon.

  “I don’t think they are human.”

  “We see nothing. You are certain they are in this dead end canyon?”

  “Yes.”

  Maleena reined Arella to a stop directly in front of the opening to the dead end. It had a slight bend and she couldn’t see to the end of it, but she knew they were down there.

  “Maleena?” Mckale looked from her back to the canyon.

  “They are there, around the bend.”

  “Tellnox and Nydara see nothing.” His eyes studied her face.

  She nodded. “I know. But they are there. I feel them.” A sudden understanding ran through her. “The magic is keeping the dragons from seeing them. They are hiding.”

  Mckale sighed. “You have every intention of going down that canyon, don’t you?”

  In answer, she nudged Arella into a walk and started into it with Mckale close beside her.

  They came around the bend and stopped.

  Ahead, as Nydara had said, the canyon ended. Kojen filled the large, rounded space. Fully two paces taller than Mckale, their massive horns curled around their heads like a ram’s. Their deep purple skin was shaded almost black in the shadows cast by the high rock walls. They stood, weapons in hand, staring at her and Mckale.

  Beside her, Mckale drew a sharp breath and pulled his twin blades from their sheaths. Blaine pinned his ears back and snorted. But though the war trained stallion was ready to follow his rider’s commands, Maleena felt confusion rolling off the animal. Something wasn’t right.

  Tension mounted among the Kojen. It radiated from them and Maleena searched frantically among them. What was she missing? Something was different. She had to find it before the situation exploded. Then it struck her. She felt the Kojen. Not a mental attack but emotions. Readiness, determination, sadness, and even fear from some of those hidden by those in front.

  Kojen didn’t feel normal emotions…did they? These were not Kojen. They looked like them, but they were different and one among them used magic. Mckale started to move forward. Maleena touched his arm lightly and he stopped. “Mckale, wait,” she said softly, her eyes on the largest Kojen. His horns were heavier and he stood out in front of the others. She sensed leadership in him. A need to defend those hidden in the back and sadness that a fight was likely inevitable.

  She slid off Arella and slowly walked forward.

  “Maleena?” Mckale’s voice was strained. Sudden fear rolled off him in a wave and Blaine plunged forward, blocking her path. “What are you doing?”

  She looked up at him. His silver eyes were dulled to iron-gray. She laid her hand on his leg. “Trust me, my heart.”

  Maleena felt his internal struggle as he stared at her, his face a blank mask. Finally, he backed Blaine out of the way. He didn’t like it, but he did trust her. She walked forward again, her eyes locked with the black eyes of the big male in front. She’d seen the empty blackness of a Kojen’s eyes before. These were not empty. A mixture of distrust and curiosity filled these intelligent eyes.

  She stopped when she was only a few paces from him. He towered over her. She felt Mckale directly behind her. His fear had turned to terror, though she knew without looking that none of it would show on his face. Maleena gazed up at the broad face. The Kojen stared back as if he didn’t know what to make of her. They stood there, studying each other for several long moments, the morning still and quiet around them. Maleena broke the silence. “You are not like the Kojen I’ve encountered before.”

  A startled look flashed across his face followed by anger. Behind her, Mckale shifted slightly and Blaine pawed the ground. Maleena felt no fear of the anger that flashed through the non-Kojen’s eyes. It was anger born of pride, not rage.

  “We are not Kojen.” The deep, thick voice surprised her, as did the way he spat the word Kojen. She’d never heard a Kojen speak before and wondered how she knew this one could or would respond.

  “You look like them though.”

  A low growl ran through the gathering. The big male drew himself up taller and glared at her. “We are not filthy Kojen.” His voice was harsh this time.

  Maleena nodded. “Alright, not...Kojen. What are you then?”

  Surprise flickered in the deep black eyes. “We are Ke’han, and you are very brave human.”

  Mckale rode Blaine up beside her. Sitting atop of the massive stallion, he was tall enough to look the male in the eye. “What are Ke’han?

  “We are warriors. We are what the Kojen were before Galdivan the Traitor.”

  Maleena felt her own flush of surprise. “You know of Galdivan?”

  He looked down. “Of course. He is the one that tore my people apart and scattered us. He and his kind are the ones that captured our warriors, our women, our young, and twisted them with his magic until they became beasts.” He stared at her for a long moment. “You are not like Galdivan and his ilk. Our Shama told us you were not, but I did not believe her until now. Who are you? Why do dragons take to the skies once more?”

  “I am Maleena, and this is my bondmate, Mckale.”

  The black eyes flicked between her and Mckale. “There are bondmates again? You are Guardians. We have seen the Shadows in the dawn; we know the black dragons fly again. We saw dragons last night and again today, but they were too high to see what color. They are your dragons?”

  Maleena smiled. “Yes, would you like to meet them?”

  The big Ke’han inclined his head slightly. “I am Hakan, headman of this camp of Ke’han. I would like to meet your dragons.”

  “Nydara, would you and Tellnox please come down here?”

  Nydara didn’t need to answer; Maleena felt her shift direction and dive for the ground. The dragons landed in the canyon behind them. They furled their wings and walked forward until they stood right behind Maleena and Mckale. A collective gasp went up from the group of Ke’han. Both dragons lowered their long, wedge-shaped heads to look at the group. Like the Kojen, the Ke’han were huge compared to humans, but the dragons’ heads were bigger than the Ke’han.

  Nydara fixed Hakan with her large violet eyes. “This is not a Kojen. I have distant, ancestral memories of these beings.”

  Maleena looked up at Hakan. “This is my silver, Nydara. She says she has ancestral memories of your kind. The green is Tellnox. He is Mckale’s dragon.”

  Hakan put his fist over his heart. “I am Hakan. I am honored to meet you. I am also glad to see you. We were fearful after we saw black dragons flying again. It is good you are here.”

  Mckale dismounted from Blaine and moved to stand by Maleena. “Where have you seen the black dragons?”

  “They have been seen flying over many places in the desert. We have also seen them above the Ash Plains, Calladar, and Shadereen. If they have flown further west, I do not know. We go no further west than the Blood River.” He paused. “Come, we have much to talk about it would seem. Welcome to our camp.”

  At his words, the front line of warriors gave way. Maleena’s eyes swept the camp as they followed Hakan to the center of the circular area. She estimated there were less than fifty all told, women and children included. How strange to see women and children. She never really thought about it, but she supposed even Kojen must reproduce.

  The women weren’t as tall as the men, though they were still taller than Mckale. The horns that curled around their heads were much thinner, almost dainty compared to the males. Their skin was a lighter shade of purple and their long, flowing black hair made a sharp contrast to the bald heads of the males. Short skirts made of leather wrapped their lower bod
ies, but many of them wore little else.

  One woman, with several beaded necklaces resting above bare breasts, came to stand in front of them. “I am Avendala, headwoman of the camp and mate to Hakan.” She reached out a hand, making the numerous bone bracelets on her wrist rattle. She held her hand flat, palm up. Maleena looked at her, uncertain what the gesture meant. Avendala smiled, exposing perfect white teeth and two small, pointed canines. “It is customary to place your palm on mine and introduce yourself back.”

  Maleena hesitated. Would it be uncomfortable to touch the Ke’han? She took a deep breath and placed her palm on Avendala’s. “I’m Maleena. The Silver dragon is Nydara.” Though she sensed Avendala’s basic emotions, there was no overflow from the woman, no discomfort.

  The headwoman’s eyes traveled over the Silver before she turned her attention back to Maleena. “Come, our Shama would like to speak with you.”

  Maleena glanced at Mckale. He was in the middle of introductions with men. Avendala tugged at her hand. “Come, we leave the men to talk. It is custom.”

  “Be careful, Maleena,” Nydara sent. “There is something else here. Something that feels familiar and yet very different.”

  “What?” Maleena’s eyes swept the camp and the rock walls pocketed with small caves, some mere depressions in the rock, others dark openings to who knew where.

  “I don’t know. Whatever it is, it hides in one of the caves. I don’t think they wish to harm you, but be watchful anyway.”

  Maleena hesitated, trying to decide if it might be better to stay close to Nydara. She didn’t want to go against their customs; there was too much to talk about and learn from them. She sensed disregarding their ways would be a grave insult so she followed Avendala to the group of women waiting. One woman watched her come toward them with more interest than the others. Her eyes were a startling cornflower blue.