The Dragons of Sara Sara (4 page)

“Well man,” called the innkeeper to the Trader. “Will your company be showing their faces or no. If no then neither you nor they will abide in this village this night.”

So saying, he folded his huge arms across his chest. Antonin stood by the stairs, curious now as to the outcome of this exchange. Then he noticed the gather of Maidens strolling in at their ease to the edge of the square. Seemingly taking no notice of the exchange they appeared to be discussing something of interest to do with Antonin. Some pointing his way and conversing with flickering fingers and soft words. Some outright chuckles carried to Antonin. Only a fool would think that they there by accident – and the Trader was no fool.

With a shrug of his shoulders he dropped the reins he still held to the wagon boards and tapped on the wooden front panel of the wagon bed covering.

“It seems we rest here for a while my lady.” He said.

Both Master Domain and Antonin stared. The Trader had addressed his hidden passenger as “My Lady”. Nobility. People of importance never came to Xu Gui. Antonin doubted that anyone over the horizon even knew of the existence of Xu Gui. The back gate of the wagon dropped to the ground with a crash bringing men spilling out of the inn onto the porch. The Maidens were suddenly like coiled serpents ready to strike. There was no sign of the mirth of moments before.

The innkeeper held up his hands for calm. There was an audible intake of breath from all who could see the woman who carefully stepped down the boards to the lower edge of the wagon tailgate.

No one like this had ever appeared in Xu Gui in a thousand years. “No,” thought Antonin. “In ten thousand years!”

“Aye lad,” added Master Domain. “In an age.” Antonin realized he must have breathed the words aloud.

The woman had slippers of soft material on her feet. They showed beneath the hem of a long skirt of plain cut, made of a material so fine it could not have been made by ordinary weaver's hands. Grey in colour with small white flowers picked out all the way along the sleeve seams up to the shoulders, and in a swooping line down across the bodice and up to the shoulders again. A belt of silver sparkled at her waist. Her hair fell free down her back but was held clear of her face on either side by thin white ribbons pulling it back and tied behind her neck so that her hair fell down over the tie.

Across her forehead sparkled a thin silver chain with a small brilliant cut ruby suspended in its centre. She looked as though she had just stepped from a royal audience rather than from the back of a dusty and hard driven wagon. Calmly she surveyed the scene around her.

"So finally I reach Xu Gui.” She said.

The people waiting on the porch of the inn realized they were still holding their breath and a gasp went up as men and women alike released their breath. There was some choking from those holding a mouth full of the innkeeper's fine ale.

The Maidens stayed as they were. Ready to strike in an instant.

Antonin goggled. How could she possibly know of Xu Gui? Why was she here?

Even more surprising was the reaction from the Maidens as the beautiful woman on the wagon boards flickered quick hand talk to them. Their eyes went as round as saucers in surprise then as one, they dropped to one knee. Their spears clutched in their left hand, and the right hand clenched into a fist resting knuckles on the ground they looked directly at the woman as though awaiting orders.

Antonin was dumbfounded. Even more so when with a further flicker of finger talk the Maidens rose and trotted back to their own courtyard, completely unconcerned now over the newcomers.

No one else in the village could believe their eyes. The Spear Maidens bowed to no one. No one! This was a strange day indeed.

The Trader looked like he wished he was elsewhere when a man stepped from beneath the wagon covers and walked down the ramp to the ground. He stood in front of his companion. His dark coloured coat swirled around him. The sword at his hip seemed a part of him and his right hand was never far from its hilt. He swept the village in one quick glance, his face expressionless. This man was the tallest Antonin had ever seen – and the hardest. He was broad across the shoulders, and his arms were long and muscular. Brown skin that had a natural colour as well as a deep tan told of many hours in the open. His stance reminded Antonin of a mountain cat waiting motionless for its prey to move. Antonin doubted the man had ever smiled in his life. His face held no expression, other than a slight narrowing of the dark deep set eyes. His lips compressed in a thin line beneath a large nose. He could have been Alduran except for his height. Antonin could not place his origins, and felt disinclined to ask him. Apart from his travelling cape his cloths were those of a fighting man. Cut in the lines of a man used to quick action and not wanting to be hindered by billowing sleeves and wide trousers. His boots of black hide were not riding boot Antonin noticed, and they were worked with silver scrolls, as was a wide black belt around his waist.

His sword drew all eyes as he stood expressionless and unmoving before the woman on the wagon boards. It was a single handed sword with a long curving blade and a large worked ball on the hilt for balance. The intricate black steel guard was meant for protection as well as decoration. The eagle worked in gold into its scabbard told that the wearer was a Blade Master. There were very few Blade Masters left in the world and they were all in the service of Wind Readers. Antonin knew this from the tales of travelling minstrels. He found his mouth hanging open and snapped it shut with a loud click. He realized he was looking at a Wind Reader and her Guard Companion.

Without seeming to move visibly the man relaxed slightly. The tension seemed to leave him but Antonin would have been hard pressed to explain how he knew it.

“Luan, please discuss our needs with the good innkeeper Master Domain, who stands there wringing his hands.” Said the woman calmly. “Assure him that we will afford his best rooms.”

“Yes My Lady.” Replied the man. With a last quick glance around the square he strode across to the steps of the inn.

Addressing Daga Domain he said. “Mistress Mei'An requires rooms for herself, and a room for myself,” he paused. “Her companion.”

The innkeeper's eyebrows rose almost to his hairline and that was already far back across his glistening scalp. He heard the emphasis on the word companion. The man was indeed the Guard Companion of a Wind Reader. No one could believe their ears. Men and women alike started to ease back away where they could, trying to distance themselves without making it seem obvious. No one knew quite what to do. Nobility had never come to Xu Gui in anyone's lifetime, and no one had ever seen a Wind Reader face to face let alone her Guard Companion. To most, such people belonged in the tales of Story Tellers and Traders. Myths and Legends. They belonged in stories told to children at bed time. “Go to sleep before the Wind Reader hears you.” It was believed that a Wind Reader could hear someone's thoughts across the other side of the world. Perhaps it was true. Had she not just called the innkeeper by his name? Everyone knew that Daga Domain knew a lot about the world outside the village, but it was also known that he had travelled to the city of Nan Hai by the Ocean of Storms only once in all his life. Certainly no Wind Reader had ever visited this remote place before in anyone's memory. The only known visitors had been the Queens Guards in past years.

Master Domain was beside himself with solicitude.

“Of course of course. The best rooms. On the top level. At the front.” He wrung his hands and wiped at his already shining forehead with a hand cloth. The stables were at the back of course and he would not dream of putting such important guests above the stables. He began shouting into the dark interior of the inn for his wife and assistants. “Fix up the finest rooms. The first two for – for –for .” He stuttered to a halt. The Guard Companion came to his rescue.

“For the Lady Mei'An, Innkeeper.” He said.

“For the Lady Mei'An.” The Innkeeper bellowed. “And adjoining rooms for her Guard Companion.” He continued. He swelled out his chest in pride. He had noticed the emphasis the dark stranger had placed on Innkeeper. He had pronounced it like a title.

People were now trying to get out of the doorway. Pushing and shouting from those behind as those in front tried to clear a path for the new arrivals.

Daga Domain turned back to the Companion.

“Please My Lord, My Lady, please enter my humble inn. Away from the dusty square. You must be tired after such a journey. You will be safe here within my walls.” He swallowed when he realized what he had said. Safe! Of course they would be safe. They made their own safety. No one would dare take on a Guard Companion, let alone his Wind Reader.

“My pardon, Companion. I meant no offence.” He stammered. “This is a very strange day, and not a little confusion reigns.”

It had already come to the innkeeper that the woman still standing calmly on the wagon gate had known his name. He didn't want to know how she knew.

As if summoned by his thoughts, the Wind Reader stepped across from the wagon to join her Companion on the inn's porch.

“Be at ease Master Domain.” She said. “I know your name because I looked it up in the records of the Queens Guards, whom I know have been this way before.”

Master Domain looked at her and blinked. It seemed a likely explanation and he was happy to accept it. No doubt there were a lot of details kept by the Queen's Guard.

Master Domain's heart almost stood still when he overheard the Wind Reader. She turned to her Companion and said quietly.

"See that the young man Antonin and the Maiden Catharina are brought to my rooms after supper.”

The only way she could have known their names – even of their very existence – was if all the stories were true. They could pick your thoughts out of the wind. At any distance they knew where people were and who they were. They could cause the very wind itself to blow it was said. It was also said that they could do other things when they had a need. Their one aim in life was the defeat and utter destruction of the forces of the Dark Lord and his followers. Any who had declared themselves for the Darkness were dealt with without mercy – without hesitation. The Wind Readers abilities were well known on this point. They could pick out a Dark Companion in a crowd of thousands it was said. There was no hiding from them. The same ability was given to the Guard Companions when the bonding was done with their Wind Reader.

Daga Domain dry washed his large hands and hurried toward the stairs to the next floor. All this and more tumbled through his mind.

“I see no sign of Dark Companions here this day.” Said the Wind Read aloud. She knew the request to see Antonin and Catharina could be taken the wrong way. Especially on a day such as this.

“Come Master Domain,” said Mei'An. “We must talk to your council on what has happened this day.” She stepped toward the common room. Even so, her Companion entered before her. He moved with the speed and quietness of a cat. Antonin watched in awe from the doorway.

Hand on his sword, the Guard Companion entered the common room. He appeared perfectly relaxed but it was obvious from his look that he could move like an uncoiling spring if need be. He guarded his Wind Reader with his life, and only those who declared against the Light need fear him.

Men tried to back out of the way, tumbling chairs and stepping on toes amid loud shouts and muffled curses. The room was crowded with half the villages and most of the farmers.

 

 

Antonin had meantime not moved far from the innkeeper. He wanted to hear all that was said. Normally he would not be welcome at a council meeting. The village senior men and those from the farms, like his father belonged to the council. Meetings were held regularly and usually consisted of little more than minor dispute resolution. There was often lots of drinking of ales and wines to accompany the deliberations. This meeting was going to be different. There were still people trickling into the village from outlying farms. Riders had been dispatched to them as soon as the alarm had been raised.

Horses were being unsaddled, wagons unhitched and the animals led to the common. People milled about the front of the inn still, unsure of what to do.

The common room was jammed to the rafters with people. Yet, a small circle was left around Mei'An and Luan. Master Domain stood uneasily in the circle. Raising his hands, he attempted to quiet the people in the room. The hub hub of voices only grew louder as people tried to get answers to unanswerable questions – and still more people tried to crowd into the inn. Even the goodwives from the farms now pressed into the throng causing some consternation to those whom they bumped. Men muttered quick apologies when they realized that it was someone's wife who had bumped them or stepped on their toes. There were many wide eyes at the sight of the women inside the common room.

All had heard of the arrival of Mei'An and her Guard Companion by now, and those still in the square when she had stepped out of the wagon were first to follow her into the inn. Everyone wanted to see these people from their childhood stories for themselves. Not least the women who naturally had a great attraction to such a one of their own.

Suddenly the room went as quiet as a still foggy morning by the ponds. Mei'An was standing calmly with her hands clasped in a relaxed grip in front of her and a small smile on her lips. A pale blue haze surrounded her. It shimmered like the afterglow of a lightning strike. The aura surrounding her also created a faint smell of ozone in the common room. People goggled and tried to push back further into the crowd. Those in the back who couldn't see were trying to push forward, and the crowd flowed and moved like the water in a stream. No one made a sound. Antonin snapped his mouth shut when he realized he was standing there with it hanging open.

Satisfied that all would remain quiet, Mei'An let the hazy blue aura fade. It had had the desired effect. The room was now quiet and still. Into the silence Daga Domain spoke. His voice seemed louder than it should be. He was very nervous.

“My friends,” began the innkeeper. “We have witnessed strange events this day and I have no explanation. Are there any here who have suffered injury or misfortune? We must first assess damage I believe.” Master Domain let his hands fall to his sides.

Voices called from the crowd.

“My child fell from the wagon. The Women's Circle attend to her now.” Called one man.

“I was bitten by a dog.” Called another. This caused a ripple of mirth in the room.

“My barn fell down!” Called one from the doorway. There were others of a similar nature. Structural damage to farm buildings, minor hurts to people but nothing really serious it seemed.

“My wagon is damaged badly.” Said the Trader into the lull. The tone of his voice caused some shifting of feet by those near to him.

“You will be well rewarded for your troubles.” Said Mei'An to the Trader. “Your wagon will be repaired by the local wagon builder, and your horses tended in the stables by Master Domain's assistants. Those concerned shall come to me regarding payment.”

The Trader nodded, well satisfied. He had expected no less. He was surprised however when Mei'An added. “And you shall put up here in the inn while we await repairs and conduct our business.”

The Trader made to protest. They rarely stayed under a roof and never asked more in payment than their due. One glance at Luan though told him that on this occasion he would sleep in the comfort of the inn.

The innkeeper turned to Mei'An, his hands outspread in a gesture that clearly said he was at a loss as to what came next. Equally clearly the gathered people expected someone to tell them what had happened. Already there had been mutterings heard about this being the work of the Dark One. Perhaps even the beginning of a New Age. The end of an Old. Such upheaval of the earth itself was unknown and must hold serious portent.

“People of the village,” began Mei'An. “You all know that the Oath Breaker, the Father of Lies, the Dark Lord remains imprisoned in the Great Wheel of Sara Sara, along with twelve of his closest servants.”

With the mention of the Dark Lord a sigh went out from the crowd. A falling pin could have been heard clearly. It seemed even the boards of the inn itself had stopped creaking the better to listen.

Antonin's head spun. The floor seemed to lurch up at him and he reeled backward as he looked suddenly into a mask like face as black as the blackest night. It's eye sockets were windows into a furnace that blazed with a horrible red fire. A careless laugh roared from its throat in belching flames. Antonin let out a roar of fright as the men behind tried to push him forward off their toes. As suddenly as it had appeared to Antonin it was gone. He looked about in surprise and consternation. Everyone in the room was looking at him.

“What ails you boy?” Master Domain shook a finger at him. Antonin was obviously the only one to have seen the ghastly vision. He shook his head to clear it and mumbled apologies to those around him.

“It's nothing Master Domain, I'm sorry. I er .. stubbed my toe. I think.”

The innkeeper shook his head and dismissed the interruption. Everyone's attention was back on the innkeeper. Except Mei'An and Luan. Mei'An was looking directly at Antonin with an unwavering, unblinking gaze. Her clear dark eyes like bottomless river pools. If Antonin had not been so on edge now, he would have missed the fleeting look of surprise that had crossed her face. He didn't miss the sight of Luan's long fingers curled around the hilt of his sword, some inches of steel showing above the scabbard. Nor did he miss the slight shake of the Wind Reader's head that had the Companion slide the sword back home.

“Oh no,” thought Antonin. "Surely she didn't see it as well. She will think I'm a Dark Companion as surely as I stand here.”

Antonin was very shaken by the strange and terrible vision that had just assailed him, and Mei'An's next words only served to make him worse.

“The Dark Lord seeks to escape his prison.” A woman nearby wailed in anguish making the skin on Antonin's forearms prickle.

“There is more,” Mei'An continued into the silence. “The Wheel of Sara Sara is moving again. One of his servants has already escaped and taken the Key to The Wheel. It is this key that has held the Great Wheel from turning in all these ages. Unless the key can be found and replaced in time… then once again the Father of Lies, the Lord of Darkness will be loosened upon the world.” Mei'An paused to gauge the effect of her words. She would need to control any panic, and looked for signs of it in the crowd. These folk were of solid stock, and now that the initial panic had passed were again in control of themselves. There was some muttering to be heard, but no raised voices.

Mei'An continued. “The upheaval across the country side was caused by the Great Wheel once again lurching into motion. It will not happen again I hope. However, be assured. The wheel turns again.”

“Then what should we do?” Cried a farmer.

“Who will help us if this evil is to escape?” Cried another from back in the crowd.

Everyone know the legends of course. They were bedside stories. More, they were the stories of the travelling minstrels. All the stories spoke of an age past when great evil had stalked the earth. Of tales of heroism by those aligned with the Light as they battled seemingly hopelessly with those aligned with the Dark. They were age old tales and made good stories. No one had really believed them of course. The few unexplained things that survived from past ages were put down to mystery, and left alone. There were prophesies too. They spoke of an age to come when the Evil One would again rule the world, unless a young maiden found the Key and locked the wheel until the Creator saw fit to deal with the Dark One.

It was partly this that created the traditions of the Spear Maiden clans. All who took up the life secretly hoped that it would be she who sealed up the Evil One forever and assured herself a place in the stories.

“It will suffice,” Mei'An thought as she calmly surveyed the crowd. “They are strong people. The old ways run deep here.”

Mei'An spoke out. “Those who would return the Key live in the district. One is in this room.”

The quiet spell was broken as people turned to look at each other and question. “One of us, and in this room?” It hardly seemed possible.

Antonin began to get a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Somehow he knew he was involved, and he knew also that he didn't want to be.

He had been raised on the tales surrounding the prophesies and he knew that if they were to come true by his hand, his life of peace on the Star Field Plain would be exchanged for one of danger and difficulty beyond knowing. War and turbulence would follow him across the world.

He wanted no part of it.

Coming back to the present from his inward speculation, he realized that something outside was attracting everyone's attention.

One of the serving girls pushed into the common room. “The entire clan of Maidens is assembling on the common.” She said.

Mei'An moved to the common room door. Indeed, every member of every clan in the village was assembled in the square. There were thousands, of all ages and levels. Even the village and farm people were impressed. It was not often all the warriors were seen gathered in one place.

Without preamble Mei'An spoke in a voice seemingly quiet to those who stood near to her, yet carrying clearly to the most distant Maiden on the edge of the common.

“To you comes the honour.” She spoke and her voice boomed across the square and out across the common. She seemed to grow in size as she continued to speak. As the villagers watched in awe, Mei'An seemed to fill the space between the floor and the overhanging roof, so tall had she seemed to become. “The Maidens of the Stone Lion sept have among them one who will be remembered for ever if she succeeds. It will be she who will seek the Great Key to the Wheel. Already she knows who she is, for she has faced the Dark Lord this day. He knows of her also.”

The villagers eyed each other apprehensively. The gathered Mare Altan stood unconcerned. They had believed all along that they were the ones and that of all the groups of Mare Altan scattered across the Star Field Plain, that it would be from their ranks that the one chosen to seal up the Dark Lord for ever would come.

That Mei'An had now seemed to assume the proportions of a person twice that of a normal human being left everyone speechless. No one could believe their eyes. All of course had heard that the Wind Readers had very powerful talents. Face to face with them the simple living villagers and farmers were sure that if they moved a hair at this point the Wind Reader would surely turn on them as mere humans to be swept aside in the great battle they were sure was now upon them. The leaders of the Mare Altan stepped forward as a group. Some twelve women, hardly distinguishable from the others about them except perhaps for age and the streaks of grey in the hair. Each had an intricate tattoo in a circle like a bracelet around their upper right arm. They showed no sign of fear or apprehension at the sight of Mei'An towering above them.

One stepped forward from the group.

“I am called Riadia. I speak for all.” She casually waved in an all encompassing sweep of her arm at those behind her.

“If there be one amongst us who is called to this duty…,” she hesitated just a fraction. There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Disbelieve maybe. She went on, the hesitation barely lasting an eye blink. “..She is not called alone. Know it now Wind Reader that we are bound to serve by the ancient prophesies and if one is so called then as are we all. Will you name the one?”

Riadia stood waiting. She knew the show of power by Mei'An was just that. To calm the villages and farmers, she needed to demonstrate to them that there was a powerful force on their side. One strong enough to bring down Dark Companions and their like at a single stroke. Riadia, of all present, had lived long and knew the ways of the Wind Readers. She knew as well that Mei'An had not finished with her demonstration. This towering person before her had not actually changed her physical shape. She was using the True Power to modify what others saw. The True Power was well understood by the leaders of the Mare Altan. They were only able to summon the millionth part of it, but it was enough to set them apart and for this reason they were able to assume leadership. The True Power, or the Breath of Life as it was known to the Mare Altan was drawn from the very life force of the world. Every living thing, every inanimate thing, even the rocks and the oceans and the very air they breathed could not be without the True Power. The Wind Readers were those who were able to fully harness it fully. With it they could move mountains it was said. Wind Readers were always women and it had been so since the dawn of time. Once men had been able to touch the power, but the last had been long dead. The Lord of the Dragon Armies had been the last. It had been he who had finally imprisoned the Dark Lord in his wheel in Sara Sara. When he had died, the ability in men had died with him. The legends spoke of a son and a daughter who had survived the great upheavals that had wrecked the world as the Dark Lord had raged in his prison, but there was no record of them and no tales told of their lives. The last resting place of the Lord of the Dragon Armies had never been located. He had been pursued by the terrible armies raised to defend the Dark Lord, and had, it was said, died in a place far from his lands.