Book of One 04: A Child of Fire (23 page)

"I see he is in need of the healers again," Dakar commented, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Not at all," Cerric replied. "Elric is perfectly capable of healing himself, well mostly. He simply needs a little encouragement."

Cerric walked across the room and opened a heavy, wooden door. From the light of the torches that spilled into it, Dakar could see a large table with what looked like the body of a large deer on it. Cerric picked up a knife and in a few quick cuts, he sliced a chunk of meat from the carcass then walked back into the room, kicking the door closed behind him. The thud of the door against its frame awakened Elric, who began to sniff the air in a way that reminded Dakar of an animal.

"You are awake," Cerric said with a smile."You must be very hungry."

Elric kept sniffing the air, straining at the chains that bound him to the heavy wooden block, but he did not answer. Cerric held the piece of meat in front of the Kandaran's nose, dripping the dark blood of the deer onto his chest. Elric opened his mouth but no words came out, only a weak, gutteral, gurgling sound.

"Why does he not speak?" Dakar asked.

"He has no tongue," Cerric told him. "It's there on the table."

Dakar turned to where Cerric had pointed and saw a large basin with what looked like scraps of meat in it. Among various pieces that he could not identify, he saw what looked like a tongue that had been roughly sliced off at its root. Cerric waved the meat closer to Elric's face then pulled it away as he snapped at it.

"How can he answer your questions when you have cut out his tongue?" Dakar asked.

"What questions?" Cerric lauged. "The Akandra knows nothing that is of use to me."

"Then why not kill him and be done with it?"

"For two reasons," Cerric said. "First, I find his suffering to be most amusing, especially since no matter how much damage I do to him, his body will regenerate."

"If he heals himself, as you say, then why have the mage priests been asked to heal him?"

"His healing ability only just awakened," Cerric said. "Unfortunately, it does not seem to work on his eyes."

"So what is the second reason?"

"His power, Dakar," Cerric told him then he held the piece of meat still in front of Elric's face. "Observe."

Cerric slowly moved the meat closer to Elric, who sniffed at it more intensely and Dakar was startled when the Kandaran snapped at the meat, his mouth opening wider than it should have and revealing a row of pointed teeth and short fangs. Cerric pulled the meat away just out of reach and started moving it closer once more and Elric's body began to shift and change, his neck growing thicker and longer and his skin becoming darker and leathery. The cuts on his shoulders and arms healed and hard scales began to form and his face began to change as well, his jaw elongating and his teeth growing as well. Elric snapped at the meat again and this time Cerric let him take it from him then turned away the reptilian Kandaran's sharp teeth chomped at it a few times then gulped it down.

"His dragon form is awakening," Cerric said. "I hope he takes after his father rather than his uncle. It would be a waste if he does not posess the true power of the Akandra."

"And if he turns into a dragon, will those chains hold him?" Dakar asked. "I would think that a dragon loose in the palace, even in the dungeons, would cause a lot of damage."

"It matters not," Cerric said. "The palace is old, but this section is part of the original castle that was built of much stronger stuff, and this room is big enough to contain a dragon, though I would imagine it would not be very comfortable for such a creature."

A growl came from Elric's mouth, deeper than his voice had been before, but only slightly.

"Cerric," he rasped. "Who is it you have brought with you? Someone to watch your sick games?"

"Elric," Cerric said, turning back to the chained Kandaran. "I am glad you have regained the use of your tongue. I was beginning to miss our conversations."

"You are a liar and a fiend," Elric growled, spitting blood toward him. Cerric dodged it easily and laughed.

"You are entitled to your opinion," he said. "What will you do about it? Will you just lay there and moan like a weakling or will you show me how powerful you Kandaran lords truly are."

"Unchain me and we will see," Elric said.

"Unchain yourself," Cerric replied with obvious scorn.

Elric yelled and strained at the chains that bound him, his arms and legs growing thicker, with more armored scales forming down their length. His voice became deeper, his yells becoming growls as he transformed a little more, but the change stopped and he fell back against the heavy board, breathing heavily from the exhaustion.

"That is all you have?" Cerric was disappointed. He had hoped that Elric might transform completely, with Dakar there to witness what he would do once the Kandaran took his true form.

"I will not give you what you want," Elric said.

"And what is it that I want?" Cerric asked.

"You want me to become an animal, like my father."

"Is that what you think?" Cerric tutted. "I merely wish for you to be at your most powerful so you might prove a challenge. Your little brother was not afraid to fight me, though he did not last long and ran away. You are stronger than your baby brother, are you not?"

"I do not know," Elric said. "I do not know what is anymore, only that I do not want to be a beast."

"But you are a beast," Cerric said. "That is exactly what you are."

Borrican followed Vale through the clouds of smoke, ducking through the rocky crags. The young female dragon had grudgingly agreed with her mother to take him to the flows, and to teach him the ways of dragons. Her mother, Vana, had spoken to the elder dragons, to request that Borrican be excluded from challenges by other dragons, since, in dragon terms, he was little more than a hatchling and could barely defend himself. After much debate and only after Vana had threatened to accompany Borrican everywhere to ensure his safety, a threat that put the elders on edge, had they grudgingly agreed that Borrican should be given a chance to learn their ways. Still they refused to grant him any more than five days to learn what he must.

Vale and her mother had spent the first four of those days teaching Borrican how to protect his thoughts, and to direct them only to those with whom he wished to speak. Borrican found it difficult, especially when he was frustrated and his emotions were piqued, but he managed to learn how to control the flow of his thoughts, even if his emotions still raged underneath them. Since he no longer sent his every thought out into every direction, it meant they could venture out of the safety of the valley, and Vale had suggested that they might visit the flows to enjoy his last day of being a hatchling, a term she had taken to using even when she was not irritated with him, which was almost never.

"Why did the elders not want your mother to accompany us?" Borrican asked as they flew through the low mountains toward the black clouds of smoke and ash that lay ahead.

"The elders do not go to the flows because they no longer compete for vassals."

"But mother isn't an elder," Borrican said.

"She was an elder," she told him. "And she has bonded many dragons, even some of the elders. If she were attacked, then every dragon she has bonded would defend her."

"How many dragons has she bonded?" Borrican asked.

"Many," Vale said. "It is not important."

"But bonding means mating," Borrican said. "How is it that she only has you?"

"I am not the only dragon to be hatched from my mother," Vale told him. "But I am the only wyvern."

"So you have brothers," Borrican commented, trying to get his head around how things worked among the dragons.

"Not in the way you are thinking, but yes," she said. "I have as many brothers as I do teeth. They are all older and have been bonded so they will not bother us."

"Well that's good," Borrican said. "I'd hate to have to deal with a bunch of older brothers."

"Older dragons will not bother you. Only females such as myself, who are looking for vassals and young drakes, who are always looking to fight."

"Why do they want to fight all the time?"

"It is just the way they are," Vale said. "Drakes are wild and stupid. They fight all the time and make all kinds of trouble, but they will never attack a wyvern of their line, and they will attack anyone who tries, so they can be helpful."

"It sounds as if no one attacks wyverns," Borrican commented.

"They do," Vale said. "Drakes from other lines might attack, mostly because they attack everything, but they usually lose and get bonded. Other wyverns are more dangerous."

"Why would one wyvern attack another?"

"To take your vassals," she said. "If a wyvern defeats another wyvern, she gets all the vassals."

"Does that happen a lot?" Borrican asked.

"Long ago, it was common," Vale told him. "Once there were many wyverns, but now there are very few, so such a thing does not happen."

"Why are there so few wyverns?"

"Once a new wyvern is born the mother will no longer bond."

"Why not?"

"It does not happen."

"So there is only one female dragon for each line?"

"Yes," Vale replied. "Only one that can bond."

"And what if something happens to her?" Borrican asked.

"Then the line dies, along with all of the wisdom of the line."

"The wisdom of the line?"

"Yes," Vale said. "All the wisdom of every wyvern since the beginning is passed down. Once you are bonded, you will understand."

"So, do we have to worry about these drakes?" Borrican asked.

"No," Vale said. "Most of them are small and weak, though there are some who are mature enough to cause trouble, and there are a few among them who I would consider making my vassals."

"And what should we do if we run into them?"

"You are my vassal," Vale said. "You do what I tell you and if we are attacked, then you will defend me. That is what vassals do."

"But I'm not bonded," Borrican said.

"I could give you a beating if you like," she said, glancing over her shoulder at him.

"I think I will pass on that idea," Borrican replied.

"Your wisdom is astounding," Vale said then they topped a ridge and flew out over a wide valley that was choked with smoke and ash under which red rivers of molten rock flowed and bubbled below. "We are here."

Borrican followed her down to a large mass of solid black rock at the center of the lava flows that was solid enough to land on. He knew the rock was hot enough to cook a piece of meat, but it only felt warm under the tough, leathery pads of his feet.

"So, what are we doing here?" he asked.

"I thought you we might go swimming," she said, leaning over the thick, hot lava and taking a deep breath as though it was a pot of stew.

"Where? In that?" Borrican asked.

"Of course," Vale replied. "The flows are important if you want to become powerful."

"You're not trying to trick me into doing something stupid are you? "

"Don't be silly." She snorted and squinted her eyes at him, a look of irritation that Borrican was getting to know all too well. "Fine, if you're too afraid, I'll go first."

Vale leapt from the rock and dove into the dark, red, churning lava, disappearing beneath it, and leaving Borrican astonished at the edge of the flow. She surfaced a moment later with lava dripping down her face and sliding harmlessly off her dragon scales.

"The flows here are rich," she said with a toothy grin. "It feels so good."

"I think I will take your word for it," Borrican said. "I can relax here."

"No, Borrican," she said. "It is part of being a proper dragon."

"Maybe I don't want to be a proper dragon," Borrican said. "I'm staring to think I would rather go back to being a proper person."

"Why you Akandra live in such a form is very strange," she said as she lay back and floated in the lava. "You are a dragon and you are my vassal, so you will come swimming and you will learn why the flows are so very good."

Borrican ventured a little closer to the lava and, carefully stuck his toe in then pulled it back out. It was hot, but it did not feel as hot as he imagined it should. The molten rock slipped off the leathery skin of his foot and dripped down the claw at the end of his toe then fell back into the flow.

"Do you just close your eyes and hold your breath, like normal swimming?"

"Normal swimming?"

"I mean swimming in water," he said.

"Why would you ever swim in water?"

"I don't know," Borrican said. "To get clean, because you are going somewhere and there is a lake in the way, or if your boat sinks."

"The flows are cleansing, and dragons don't ride in boats."

"I guess they don't," Borrican said. "You didn't answer my question. What if it gets in my eyes? Should I hold my breath?"

"Of course you should hold your breath," she said. "You can't breathe the flows, but if you close your eyes you will not see the flows."

"I can already see the flows," Borrican told her. "I mean, what happens if I go under like you just did?"

"Just get in," she said, then she rolled back and dove under the surface again, disappearing from view.

Borrican stood at the edge as the thick wave of her dive settled and bubbled. He tried focusing his dragon sight to see where she might have gone, but the lava was too hot and too thick, though he noticed that what had appeared to be red, molten rock also had swirls of different colors in it. As he leaned closer to get a look at the different textures the lava bubbled in front of him and Vale emerged from the surface right in front of him. She reached up and grabbed him by the shoulder with her sharp, clawed hand and she pulled him in.

Panicking and still convinced he would be burned alive, Borrican shut his eyes and mouth tight as he splashed into the molten river, and felt the intense heat surround him. A moment later, he realized that he was floating, almost as though he were swimming in a lake or river of water and he found it strangely refreshing. He could sense the surface above him so he kicked and pushed, moving toward it and he felt the air again as his head slid out of the lava. He took a deep breath as the lava slipped off the scales and tough leather of his face and then he opened his eyes to find that he was floating easily, with the rest of his body submerged. Borrican was surprised at how natural it felt, and how the heat of the lava was both calming and rejuvenating.

"So?" Vale asked with an expectant look. "Is it not glorious?"

Borrican leaned back into the flows.

"I admit it, you were right," he said.

"I usually am," she replied and Borrican snorted skeptically. She dropped low into the lava and stared at him. "You are a strange dragon."

"Why do you say that?"

"You don't accept the things I say," she said.

"I don't disagree," Borrican replied. "I just don't believe everything I am told."

"I would not expect such wisdom from a drake," Vale told him.

"I'm not a drake, and I am not a hatchling." Borrican rolled over and swam around to face her. "I am the prince of Kandara, and I have seen enough betrayal to warrant being just a little bit skeptical."

"Is that why you hide your fear?"

"What?"

"Your fear," she repeated. "You forget that all of your thoughts were spilling from your mind until we taught you to master them. Any dragon who came near you would hear everything, especially those thoughts borne of your emotions, your anger, your fear."

"Like what?" Borrican asked, running through his thoughts over these past days since his arrival in the dragon lands, trying to remember what he might have thought about. "What things do I fear?"

"Many things," she said. "Most of all, you fear that you will lose yourself and become a wildling."

Even though that thought had receded from his mind somewhat, especially when he was near Vale, whose presence calmed him, it still weighed heavily upon him. The few times he had been left alone, when Vale had gone off on her own, his sense of self would drift and he would struggle against the beastial thoughts that threatened to take over. Some of his conversations with Vale's mother, Vana, had been almost incoherent and Borrican was starting to have a difficult time remembering things from before, the places he had been and the faces of people he knew. Those things came back into focus when Vale was near, but he knew they were still less clear than they should be.

"I have an obligation to my people," Borrican told her. "I cannot afford to lose myself, to become a wildling. I left Kandara so I could find a way to keep my thoughts and to figure out a way to stop Cerric from destroying everything and everyone that I care about."

"I know," Vale said. "We all know that this is your reason, and though the affairs of the other races are of little interest to dragonkind, it is a noble and honorable reason. It is why you have not been killed for being a wildling."

"But I am not a wildling," Borrican said. "Not yet, anyway."

"That is true," she said. "But you are more powerful than a drake and you have no queen, which makes you very dangerous. If you are not bonded soon, then you will become wild."

"And what if you bond me?" Borrican asked.

"The elders will not yet permit it, and I do not know if I would want to be bound by the oath of Akandar."

"Your mother was willing, was she not?"

"Yes," Vale said. "And she lost her place among the elders for it."

*****

Vana stared up at the high wall inside the cavern as the dragon elders looked down upon her. She had been to see them almost every day since the arrival of the young Akandran and her discussions with them had been difficult at best. Many of the dragons wanted Borrican captured and confined, so he could be observed and prevented from causing trouble, but Vana hard argued that doing so would likely enrage him, which would only cause him to become wild more quickly. Thankfully, Vale's Akandra blood was having a calming effect on him, which gave the elders pause, though none of them were particularly supportive of the idea of a bonding. It was the fifth and final day of the reprieve they had granted to Borrican and Vana hoped that the elders would see the wisdom in what she had proposed.

"Vana," said one of the dragons from the shadows above a ledge, half way up the rock face. "You have made many arguments on behalf of the Akandra. Some of us wonder about your loyalty to this line that is not your own."