After a moment, the threesome began to laugh. Ahead of them, it appeared that Naoko and her people had set up camp beside one of the ancient fortresses the Isles north of Eali were famed for. Blasted by a war between the Ancient Dragons, it was said, the jagged, cracked slivers of Islands had long been a favourite haunt of bandits, scoundrels and freedom fighters, depending on one’s point of view. They were a natural stronghold, the only place in which Naoko and her people might conceivably survive a combined assault by Dragons, giants, Dragonships and ground troops. A hundred leagues to the north lay the border of the Kingdom of Kaolili, Prince Qilong’s country, famed for its lush, garden-like Islands and copious production of mohili wheat.
Lia squinted, magnifying her sight as Grandion had taught her. Aye. Near the fortress, the ruddy evening suns-shine picked out perhaps three dozen of the Eastern Dragons Mizuki and Elki had promised to recruit. They looked as nervy as Dragon hatchlings who had stumbled over an Elder’s tail-spikes, lumped together shoulder to shoulder as though confronting a fearsome enemy. Opposite, the Human force huddled in a state of anxiety evident from a league off. Mizuki and Elki stood squarely between the two forces, clearly nonplussed.
Evidently, the Humans and Dragons trusted each other implicitly. Great.
Hualiama had a spine-tingling premonition as she surveyed the scene.
What I wouldn’t do to be Akemi when she sees you, Yukari.
The Aquamarine Dragoness’ response was a keyed-up shiver. Fire leaked between her fangs.
Do you think she’ll remember me, Hualiama?
She wanted to cry. Lia said,
She has dreamed of nothing else, all these years. But–go gently with her, Yukari. She’s no youngling, and this will be a great surprise …
“I’m no youngling either,” said the Dragoness, squirting a playful gout of fire in her direction. “Can you see her?”
“Not yet,” said the Human.
“I had hoped for more Dragons to oppose Razzior,” Grandion remarked.
“Aye, Dragon. Let’s go land plumb in the middle.”
“Making a royal entrance fit for a Princess of Fra’anior?” he suggested
.
“A disgraced royal pain in the armpit of destiny,” said Lia, mangling a Dragonish saying. Her Dragon companions grinned toothily in appreciation. “Come on, Yukari, lift a wing. I know all Dragons secretly love to show off.”
“I’m not too tired to swat you to the next Isle, youngling!” Yukari warned.
Smugly, Lia said, “Then I shall have to provide the encouragement you require.”
Choosing a stanza from one of her favourite ballads,
Saggaz Thunderdoom,
Hualiama raised her voice in the ringing chorus, usually performed by a baritone soloist:
When that mighty Dragon-lord voiced his roar,
He shook the Dragons to their core,
He fired the mountains, burned the plains,
Until the ashes fell like rains …
Crying–
The pair of Dragons surged through the air in spontaneous delight, roaring along with her:
Thunderdoom! THUNDERDOOM
. Their Storm-powered challenges rolled over the Island in a low reverberation of real thunder, causing the faraway Dragons to flare their wings and bugle the alarm. Hualiama could not have heard their response, but Grandion did, for it communicated to her across their mental link. The figure of fire touching her mind seemed to shimmer with pleasure.
Aye,
he said.
If I can use your senses, you can use mine. Be at liberty, Dragonfriend.
Liberty? If only. This Dragonfriend struggled in the grip of titanic tides coursing through her life. Nevertheless, she let Grandion hear the smile in her voice.
With a roar like that, you could be the Thunderdoom himself.
You honour me.
Pride lent an extra bounce to his wingbeats.
Lia decided her Dragon would not recognise sarcasm if it slapped him ralti-stupid.
The Blue Dragons swept down on the congregation at an eye-watering speed. As Grandion’s wings beat the air to bring him to a spectacular, sharp landing between the assembled Dragons and Mizuki’s position, glad cries rose to her ears. When Yukari landed, the Dragons genuflected as one toward the ancient Dragoness. Not even Sapphurion earned such grave respect, Hualiama thought, shaking off a shiver as she impetuously swung off Grandion’s paw and somersaulted into a lithe crouch upon the barren, black volcanic stone. Where was Akemi?
The Dragonfriend,
whispered some of the Dragons, jostling each other for a view. They were mostly young adults and a few smaller fledglings. Only a handful were larger and older than Grandion.
Sulphurous greetings, mighty Mizuki.
She inclined her head.
The Copper Dragoness, with an awed glance at the flanking bulk of Yukari, stretching her wings and spine in the warm evening suns-shine, said,
These were all who did not fly against Razzior, or ignore our invitation. These are Dragons willing to deal with Humans.
Lia glanced over at the Human congregation. Naoko and her people stood near the fortress, all tall, dark-haired female warriors in battle array. The men and children must be hidden inside.
She grinned at her brother as he sauntered around Mizuki’s left wingtip, holding hands with Saori. “Islands’ greetings, Dragon Riders. Nice work.”
Elka’anor honoured her with a courtly bow. “Princess.” And perhaps conscious of all the attention, he bent to peck her check. “Mighty Dragonfriend. Is this Yukari? Wow. Flying mountain.”
Lia said, “Yukari, the Aquamarine Dragoness, may I present Prince Elka’anor of Fra’anior, my noble brother and fellow Dragon Rider?”
Elki managed to not quite pop with pleasure.
“Greetings, Prince of Fra’anior,” rumbled Yukari, inclining her muzzle. For Mizuki, she added,
Sulphurous greetings, my noble kin.
“Listen,” said Elki. “Mizuki’s been teaching me Dragonish.”
Sulphurous grittings to thee, nibble Yucky.
Hualiama blenched.
Mizuki’s fires raged in embarrassment, but Yukari only said graciously, “Well spoken, youngling. You’ll become a master of Dragonish yet.”
Raising her voice, Lia called, “Noble Dragons, welcome! At a time of great peril for both Dragonkind and Humankind, you have made a flight of great courage. I believe your decision honours the Spirits of the Ancient Dragons. I am Hualiama, adopted into the Human royal family of Fra’anior. I was raised by Dragons.”
The sleek, beautiful Eastern Dragons raised a brief clamour of shock. Raised by Dragons? How could this be? A peculiar Fra’aniorian customs, another claimed. But the girl was so tiny, a Green Dragoness wondered. How come she sensed so much magic?
Right, Lia decided. If she meant to impress these Dragons, then she had better produce a properly draconic display of shock and awe. She said, “Sapphurion the Dragon Elder and his mate Qualiana raised me for three years in their own roost. I call them shell-father and shell-mother–unashamedly. I love them as my own parents!”
Grandion’s bugle stilled their restless murmuring, while several of the Dragons hurriedly bit back the bonfires that roared out of their throats. Arching his neck arrogantly, he rumbled, “This Human and I are bound by oath and life-debt. Much can be sung of our story, my Dragon-kin, but know this. I am Grandion, shell-son of Sapphurion and Qualiana. I bear Hualiama of Fra’anior upon my back with the most fiery dignity and pride of our kind. She brightens my soul-fires. Twice, this girl has plucked my life from the pit of darkness, and once from the snap of a Dragon’s jaws. I can think of no greater honour than to know the Dragonfriend. She has earned her name as a creature not only of blood and bone, but of fire and magic, and it is the hope of a new magic that I believe has brought us together today, to this place. Here, we will sing a new Dragonsong, working and fighting alongside Humans.”
Suddenly, dozens of Dragons’ orbs burned upon her, and Lia became aware of the weight of expectation that attended her arrival. This was what they had come for. These younger, more adventurous Dragons scented a different future–one not hidebound to draconic tradition. They wanted to reach beyond the rigid societal structures of their kind. They did not rush to battle. These Dragons embraced–what? Could the Dragonfriend offer them a future, when she did not even know what it meant for herself? She must sate the cravings of these flaming hearts. Soothe and woo, fire and inspire …
The combined power of their emotions made Lia falter as she turned to beckon Naoko and her warriors. Instantly, Grandion was at her side.
A torrent of white-fire poured over her vision. Magic, unbidden, rising–so much! How could Human flesh contain it? She had a vision of Amaryllion Fireborn burning up outside the Natal Cave, his fire-soul finally blazing through his hide, consuming until not even ash was left to clothe his bones. When she looked up, Naoko stood nearby, and she realised that the two groups had drawn close, as though compelled by the forces that raged within her now.
Her breathing failed. Someone patted her back as she wheezed. Lia shook her head. “I can’t. It’s too much. Grandion, help …”
The Dragon rumbled, “How? Instruct me, Lia.”
She was lost in a sea of fire, drowning. Grandion’s paw clasped her, but Lia sensed that even he feared to hold one who burned as intensely as she did, with such purity that the colour white came to represent excruciation, the refining heart of a blast-furnace in which metal must turn to slag, creating new alloys from the pure ores that remained.
Screaming! Blue-white lightning jolted her Dragon!
“Fight it, Lia!” he thundered.
“I can’t. Grandion …”
One at a time,
ordered another voice. Yukari.
Choose one; focus there.
With a mental flailing, Lia reached for the Dragoness’ voice. Grandion’s mental touch steadied her, a desperately beautiful coolness that gave her, momentarily, respite from the fire. She homed in on Yukari, shutting out the others. Lia saw tantalising hints of magic reaching all the way into the fortress, yearning for completion …
“Akemi.” Lia rounded upon Saori. An Enchantress’ voice commanded, “Fetch Akemi. Now.”
“She’s amputating a gangrenous leg,” Saori began to protest.
“Now!”
The Eastern Isles warrior sprinted back to the fortress as though blown by the storm winds of Lia’s fury. Such power! Such evocative Dragonsong, falling upon her soul like the torrential rain of lava blasted out of a volcano. Hualiama tried to swallow it back. She wished someone would say something, rather than this endless madness of waiting, braving the billows of magic that no Dragon seemed able to see.
Akemi emerged from the fortress, grumbling, “This had better be important, Saori!”
Saori simply pointed.
“Aye, there are Dragons and–what?” The old woman staggered.
“I came,” said the Dragoness.
Akemi gasped, “You said you’d never …”
In a flash of scales, the elderly Dragoness moved as though she had been teleported to her friend’s side. “Akemi. Beloved Akemi. My hearts were blind, until the Dragonfriend came.”
Desperate hope creased Akemi’s face. “Girl, how … what did you do? What is this magic?”
“The power to abolish taboos,” Grandion averred.
“To sculpt hearts,” Yukari added.
“To entwine souls with bonds of immaculate fire,” the Tourmaline sighed.
The Dragoness grinned happily. “To bring Dragon and Human together in the heavens, in glorious newness.”
Reaching out for Akemi’s hand, Lia raised her to her feet. A little testily, given the near-blinding pain sheeting like white rain across her vision, she growled, “All I know is that you two belong together. You’ve tarried far too long. Now arise, and make your promises.”
And she gave of herself to unite them.
D
Escending from their
training flight with nineteen new Dragon and Rider teams, Grandion sensed fatigue in his Rider’s posture.
You gave too much,
he accused.
How could I refuse?
The Tourmaline stilled his wings, letting the breeze buoy them as his mental voice deepened in concern.
I will ask Yukari–
I just need to recoup. I had no idea magic could empty me like a gourd.
Magic has limits, which some people gaily trample over.
This comment earned an irritable snort.
By my mother’s egg, Lia, what’s riled those Dragons?
Through her eyes, Grandion examined the Dragons which had remained grounded while those who had found Riders practised formation flying and shooting arrows at aerial targets, mostly empty sacks held by Dragons. Naoko’s warriors were capable, the Tourmaline Dragon thought with satisfaction. Only two had fallen out of their improvised seats during sharp manoeuvres. Their Dragons quickly snaffled them up. Perhaps Lia was right. A saddle strapped to a Dragon’s spine-spikes would prevent those types of accidents. What Dragon would wear a saddle? Those were for domesticated beasts.
Dragons aren’t tame,
said the Princess, reading his unshielded thoughts. Excellent progress. He clicked his fangs together in approval.
There’s much I don’t understand in you, Grandion–potentials and senses I have no words for, which no scroll could possibly describe. But I am learning.
Grandion back-winged powerfully, bringing them to a landing. Hualiama walked down his back, checking her weapons, especially the powerful Haozi hunting bow.
She said,
A Dragon who could carry three or four archers would enjoy a huge advantage in combat.
Aye.
Dragonfriend!
Vinzuki, a fiery Orange Dragoness, stumped over to them, displeasure writ in every aspect of her body language.
What about us?
What about you?
Lia spoke crisply, but she stumbled upon alighting from Grandion’s hind leg, and picked herself up with annoyed slaps at her knees.
Explain yourself, mighty Dragoness.
Glancing left and right as her fellow Dragons moved closer, Vinzuki growled belligerently,
I want a Rider too. Why are we left out? Are we not worthy?
Lia stiffened physically, emotionally and mentally at her sharp accusation.
Look. We are twelve. Four say they want no Rider, but will fly with us. That leaves eight. What makes us different? Why do you refuse to work your magic for us?
I don’t refuse–I’m just tired. And, it doesn’t work like that.
Like what?
Hideki, a hulking Green, growled.
Like you choose–
Pushing back her hair from her eyes, Hualiama snapped,
I don’t choose! I don’t manufacture relationships, Hideki.
Vinzuki smoked liberally as she ground out,
You’re deliberately excluding us.
Grandion noted the khaki green swirls half-hidden by her eye-fires, and the clenched position of her right forepaw. Aye, she was jealous. And why not? What Dragon enjoyed another being honoured above them? Especially one as forthright of wing and mien as Vinzuki?
It’s not a right.
Hualiama sighed.
Humans are not for bartering or picking from a shop window.
Well spoken, Lia.
The Tourmaline found himself nodding, and taking a protective stance above his Rider, his bulk unsubtly threatening any Dragon who would dare to breathe fire at her. His triple heartbeat picked up pace, readying his body for possible battle. But when the Princess suggested they try on the morrow, the Dragons raised a chorus of snarling discontent. Others landed about them now, kicking up a brief storm of dust and grit. Lia shaded her eyes with one hand, and brushed her long hair back from her face. Vinzuki’s mate, Raiden, a Blue only slightly smaller than Grandion himself, pushed between the others to rub necks with her.
Looming above Hualiama, Raiden said,
Dragonfriend. Let your heartsong be Dragonsong.
I–don’t understand,
she said.
He means, you fail to grasp Vinzuki’s meaning,
Grandion thought to her, privately.
Is there nothing to be done? Truly? A path we haven’t considered …
I don’t mean for anyone to be left out!
She’s just jealous.
Of course, Lia left her thoughts unshielded.
A hundred fangs snapped toward Lia’s face, but the girl did not flinch, not even when Raiden’s paw intervened to head off his mate’s shadow-charge. Grandion felt his hearts swell with pride. By the First Egg of all Dragons, when they saw her courage and ardour, what Dragon could fail to recognise the fires within her? Now, those same fires spoke.
Vinzuki, I will not be bullied! I have done my utmost.
Hualiama’s voice was flat and confident, and Grandion’s sixth sense of intuition confirmed his assessment that she commanded respect from the listening Dragons as a result.
Nineteen Dragons have Riders! Toss it in a Cloudlands volcano, of course it isn’t enough for you that I’m on the point of collapse. It’s never enough for a Dragon. You’re like a bunch of covetous hatchlings, anxious to possess the pretty jewel another has picked up, squabbling, unable to exercise a second’s patience–
And then she tossed her good work off the proverbial Island cliff. Grandion knew he had to intervene. The fury building in Vinzuki would find no good outlet. Behind the Dragoness, muttering between the Dragons reached a different, dangerous pitch.
Lia,
he warned.
We want Hualiama’s Way for all of us,
said Raiden.
What by the volcanic hells is Hualiama’s Way?
Lia shouted, losing her cool. Grandion felt his own dark-fires rise, resentful.
Raiden, clearly aiming to be the voice of reason, said,
We Dragons call this magic Hualiama’s Way, or Grandion’s Gift.
He bowed slightly to the Tourmaline, who voiced a low rumble of endorsement.
Vinzuki’s voice is our voice. We enter this partnership with Humans willingly, but charily. Mistreatment and favouritism warm no Dragon’s roost.
As he spoke, darkness closed around her vision. Distinctly, Grandion sensed his Rider giving in, a moment of weakness. She sought oblivion, to simply shut these Dragons out.
No!
Faster than a draconic heartbeat, his pride switched to scorn. Not like this! He snatched Lia up in his paw, growling,
You won’t faint.
Hualiama struggled weakly.
Mercy, Grandion. They ask too much. How can I give what isn’t mine to give? Help me. I need space to think it through … tomorrow. Make them understand.
Raising his Rider to the level of the Dragons’ eyes, twenty feet off the ground, Grandion said,
Allow me to instruct you, my Dragon-kin, in how this Dragon-Human relationship works. What you call Hualiama’s Way, is a state of being between a Dragon and his Human–
Tyrant!
Lia hit his fisted paw.
Release me this instant. I can’t–
Shut the chattering monkey-mouth,
Grandion growled. Lia hissed furiously, but he ignored her.
Attend my words, noble Dragons. Lia, ‘I can’t’ is unacceptable. Listen–
I will not listen until you release me, you fire-breathing fiend!
He breathed,
Thou.
What?
Lia tried to kick his nose, but could not reach.
Despotic Dragon! Don’t teach them your overweening ways.
Thou,
Grandion said softly, putting his hearts into it.
Her pulse skipped a beat.
Grandion … n-no. You’re embarrassing m-me.
Through the connection between them, he sensed the heat rising in her face. Now she understood. The Tourmaline knew he had won, but his third heart dictated the gentle pulse of his response.
Thou–
he wafted the invisible magic of his soul-fire into her face–
art mine, and I, thine.
* * * *
With the fire came understanding. On the wings of the Dragon’s magic, Lia felt revitalising strength infuse her being. There was no need to struggle. Grandion was right. It was a way of being between Humans and Dragons. The Dragon was asking her if she was alright, but Hualiama was already five steps ahead. She wanted to chuckle. Males and females were so different, no matter the creature-kind they represented.
The watching Dragonkind seemed torn between laughter and outrage. Right. Time to work.
Thank you, Grandion.
Turning to Raiden, she said,
Raiden, do you third-heart-love Vinzuki?
Aye!
His eye-fires blazed.
Does the flow of this Dragoness’ wingbeat not conjure visions of hot lava racing down a mountainside?
AYE!
The Blue Dragon thundered. He lowered his muzzle with a toothy Dragon smile.
Why these poetic words, Dragonfriend?
I seek what is hidden,
she replied.
Vizuki, do you truly love this breathtaking Blue beast?
Somewhere below her, Elki said to Saori, “What’s she doing?”
Grandion whispered, “Finding connections.”
Vinzuki’s eye fires blazed.
Of course I do. What truths are these idiotic questions meant to divulge?
How can you be certain?
Lia inquired.
You insult me!
But the Orange Dragoness glanced at Raiden.
He …
The Blue Dragon flexed his massive shoulders and wafted fire playfully against his mate’s flank.
Tell me, how do I soulfully-love thee, o fearless sky-warrior?
Vinzuki blurted out,
Every morning at dawn, he sings to me.
Her belly-fires roared in a Dragon’s blush, but Lia was motionless in Grandion’s paw, wholly focussed on the soft effulgence she began to detect between them. Could a Dragon’s fire-soul be seen, even as she had seen Amaryllion’s inner essence?
Raiden warms our roost, and his eye-fires incite … Dragonfriend, you aren’t listening.
Hualiama waved a hand dreamily.
Tell me more. Tell me–
she
switched languages abruptly–“Elki. I understand now. Go fetch everyone from inside the fortress. Every Human.”
Saori protested, “But that’s the men and children. It’s not our way–”
“It’s a family’s way!” Lia threw back her head, laughing merrily, and the more so at the stir of draconic and Human confusion that greeted her eruption of mirth. “Dragon Riders are not only warriors.”
“They are warriors first and foremost,” said Elki, doubtfully.
Lia smiled down at her brother. “In your circle, brother–” she indicated Saori, Mizuki and Elki “–who are the warriors?”
“My women–my Dragoness and my Human love,” he said. “Me–well, not so much. Warrior in training. Slaying the enemy with perfect comedic timing … oh. Now I get it, sister.”
“What I get is the stink of fresh windroc eggs,” snorted Vinzuki.
“Aye, my third heart?” Raiden nuzzled her neck fondly. The Orange Dragoness nipped his shoulder.
“Saori, please fetch them.” Lia aimed another futile kick in Grandion’s direction. “I’m rather held up, presently.”
Elki groaned, “Terrible joke. Right. Back in two shakes of a dragonet’s tail.”
Shortly, people began filing out of the fortress–a surprising number–the men and youngsters dressed in soft animal skins against the underground cold, the female warriors wearing light, loose cotton-weave clothing beneath hard leather armour. Naoko folded her muscular arms across her chest and took her stance, legs akimbo, signalling her displeasure with the Fra’aniorian who flagrantly disrupted her arrangements. Never mind that. Lia was about to usurp their entire social structure. For Dragons, while fierce and noble masters of the sky, were not all the warring beasts Humans imagined them to be. There were scientists and doctors, engineers and explorers, and Dragons who kept the nursery and trained hatchlings. She had been too narrow-minded in her conception of who Dragon Riders might be.
Dragons, listen with your fire-souls.
To Raiden, she said,
I’ll need your help, Blue. Would you sing your love for Vinzuki? Dragoness, while he sings, we shall seek out your Rider, should he or she stand among the people.
Hualiama drew a deep breath, but Grandion interrupted, pitching his booming voice to carry across the Human congregation, “The Dragonfriend seeks more Riders! Listen to Raiden’s Dragonsong and search your hearts, Humans. Hearken to magic’s call.”
As Raiden’s Dragonsong rose to salute the gathering evening, Lia turned to survey the watching faces. So many lives. What hid behind the dark, slanted eyes–what stories, what grief, what capabilities or fears, she could not possibly know. They looked to her as a visionary, yet Hualiama knew her own failings and lack of understanding. How could she inflict this fate upon others? Yet here they had gathered, Dragons and Humans alike, seeking a greater future, or simply one different to what had been before. Bridgers of the divide. Brave souls, all.