Dusk Falling (Book 1) (30 page)

“Follower?” Serrtin looked around concerned. “I haven’t seen anyone. Agemeer?”

“No, I am sorry to say, I have sensed nothing.”

“Hopeless.” Genlo said, glancing to the sky. “To find this follower should fall into the hands of a mage.”

“Why me?” Aya asked, round eyed. She was no tracker. She had little experience, only what she’d picked up from her companions.

“I goaded you into fighting those Verca soldiers for one single reason- to see what you were capable of should I ever have the need to rely on you.” The Jrahda-trethen said stonily. “I’ve learned that I really don’t want to have to do that- especially with you not knowing how to control your own strength. This proves it.”

Aya made a face. “I had to use the fire spell. That Necromancer was using his own pain to gain more energy. The fire spell is my most powerful.”

“So you
weren’t
aiming for me?”

“Of course not! That spell is just… hard to control…”

“You know mages can be useful for other things, not just for attack spells and shields. A
talented
mage can use their trained senses to seek out lifeforces…”

His innuendo stung but before Aya’s reeling mind could think of a retort Agemeer interjected. “I hate to interrupt but this following individual…?”

“Whoever it is, he’s hanging back.” Genlo went on. “He’s keeping up with us by following our energy trail so he doesn’t need to get too close- close enough to where our eyes will find him. Every hour or so, he checks our position. I can feel it.” He eyed the Bren. “So should you.”

Aya did not respond, at a loss for words or excuses. She dropped his gaze, cheeks burning. Again, another failing of her supposed skills.

“You can feel that sort of thing? How?” Serrtin questioned, not liking the fact at all that they were being watched without her knowing it. That Genlo knew it and did not say anything earlier was polish on the sword.

Genlo gave a half-hearted shrug. “It’s what
most
mages know how to do. Mental barriers can be sensitized to any slight touch so if another mage-trained tried something, you’d know. The drawbacks are that if you leave your barriers open and sensitized like that for a long period of time, it can be draining and be harder to close them… whatever.” He said, not liking the fact he just said a potential weakness. “Our follower is obviously of some skill but isn’t trying too hard to hide. It’s like he’s waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” Serrtin asked.

“How the hell would I know?” Genlo responded in acerbity. “The opportune moment to incinerate us with an ill-prepared fire spell?”

“You’re not going to let that go, are you?!” Aya spouted, growing angry.

Genlo eyed the girl under lowered lids before moving off. His back turned so no one saw his expression when he all of a sudden darted off, agilely leaping between large groups of stone.

“Where does he think he’s going?” Serrtin said out loud, dashing after. Scrabbling with her claws, she pulled herself up out of the ravine. She saw the half-Elf’s white mane flash in between the stark gray of the stone. “Does he think he can just run away?”

“No.” Aya said. “I can feel it now- what Genlo spoke of. Someone
is
looking for us.” At a decidedly less graceful pace, they made to catch up. He was found standing over a particularly deep scar that stretched twenty feet in length. It was flanked on either side by spikes of stone that rose like knives from out of the soil. Across the scar stood the one who had been following them. Genlo had never been fond of Yierhna Elves.

As Yierhna were, the Elf was beautiful. He was tall and lean, dressed in simple neutral colors. The unextravagent nature of his clothing did little to affect the inherent grace in him. His eyes were honey-brown, touched by an underlying sadness that softened the planes of his sculpted face. The Elf’s hair was a golden hue, reflecting the Spherelight as brightly as a coin.

He studied them each in turn before settling his gaze on Genlo. There was a strange calmness to him as if he did not feel in the least threatened. He toyed with a bracer that encircled his wrist. “You seem lost.”

“Who are you? Why are you following us?” Genlo shouted, ignoring the Elf’s statement.

“My name is SkyRift.” He replied, lowering his head. “I came to offer my assistance.”

“Assistance? We don’t need help- especially from
your
kind.”

“Aye, yes.” The Yierhna commented. “There is no love loss between the Yierhnafae and the Zierhlu…” It was an odd admission and Genlo gave pause. “It is good then that I do not claim to truly be one.”

SkyRift smiled slightly and began to glow like he was possessed of an inner light that sought escape through his skin. The glow became painfully bright before expanding, growing large. When the light dissipated, the handsome sad-eyed Elf was gone. In his place stood a dragon.

The Kiyomouri was sleek, scales golden with white running from neck under body and tail. Between fan-like ears was a golden crest reminiscent of a bird’s crest of feathers. Leathery wings stretched up to the sky and settled, folding close to his slim frame. Kiyomouri were not the largest breed of dragon but they rivaled the largest of horses.

When a dragon follows you, appearing suddenly and offers his assistance, one should at least hear him out…

~ ~ ~

Regardless of any Jrahda-misgivings, they sat down with the dragon. SkyRift took his Elven shiftshape once more, inviting the hungry team to share in the knapsack of foodstuffs he had with him. The first instinct to turn down the potentially poisoned meal passed for if a dragon wished your death, he wouldn’t be putting strychnine in your luncheon, he would simply carve out your organs with the very lethal set of talons on his feet.

“So what exactly do you want with us? Do you normally lurk in the Mirskarr looking for starving travelers?” Serrtin asked, downing the last bite of bread in a single bite. Agemeer and Aya both shot the Yarcka a look but the ever straight-forward warrior paid them no mind.

The Kiyomouri did not take affront. He sat at a distance from the team, his boots hanging into the precipice of a scar. He had waited patiently for them to finish their meal. “Hardly. I was waiting here specifically for you.”

“You knew we were coming?”

“Yes.”

“How?” Genlo asked quickly, the sharp tone to his voice causing his companions to regard him carefully like they were expecting him to lunge like a mad dog on a chain. That did little to settle his temper.

“It is of no concern.” SkyRift replied, gaze lingering on Genlo before drifting off into the scar below him. “If it matters to you, I know of the Verca cas Nemun Uralsk and of their plan. Thus I am offering you my help.”

“Simple as that, huh?” Serrtin questioned, sensing deception.

SkyRift gave a nod but continued to regard the precipice at his feet. “You’ve no reason to trust me but please accept my word that I do not wish any of you harm.”

“No offense but saying things like that doesn’t really inspire me to trust you.” Serrtin said.

“You honestly wish to accompany us? The path will be fraught with danger. We have yet to choose a course of action that will not lead us into the hands of the enemies we have acquired…” Agemeer said, with a humble lowering of his snout.

“I am aware of the danger.”

“I am apt to take him for his word when he states he would like to journey with us.” Agemeer mindspoke to his friends. “He seems to be telling the truth, at least, in regards to that, though there may be ulterior motives.”

SkyRift gave a small cough behind a hand. “I can hear you.”

If a Wulf could look mortified, Agemeer would have. “I- I am so sorry! I didn’t think…”

“Dragons are sensitive to different types of energies and since my normal mode of speech is mindspeech, I can pick up on it even if it is not directed at me.”

“Fascinating! My mindspeech is quite limited though I am still learning.” Agemeer responded, over his humiliation instantaneously.

“This is all well and good.” Genlo said, rising to his feet. “But I have one question: who are you working for? You cannot tell me you are just a passing altruist here to help the needy and expect me to choke it down. I know when someone is trying to lie to me or isn’t telling all the truth- you’re doing a little of both. Why?”

SkyRift looked momentarily shocked before he masked it behind the sad smile he was accustomed to wearing. “The Jrahda is perceptive, which is most likely why he has managed to stay alive for as long as he has. That can be a little troublesome for my part but nothing can be done about that.” He thought, then outloud said, “I can only tell you what I am permitted to say. Rest assured though I do not work for either sect that seeks your ultimate demise. Nor can I state I work only for myself.”

“Riddles? Don’t toy with me.” The Jrahda-trethen said angrily.

“I am sorry but I can not say.”

“Then how can we trust you?” Aya asked.

“I did not lie when I said I want to join you for your own protection. For what reason your continued health has for me, I cannot say. To be a guide and a guardian is all I ask. In return from you, I expect nothing.”

“Protection from the Verca or the Niredes Votalo?”

“Either. Both. Anything.”

“Someone put you up to this task.” Serrtin stated, taking a drink from one of the two waterskins. “So what happens if we refuse your help?”

The Elf peered at her for several breaths, thinking whether it would be acceptable to reply or not. “My life is forfeit.” He then responded with a gesture of his hand.

“This person will kill you if we do not accept your offer? What kind of insane deal is that?” The saurian said, incredulous.

“One that was made for me. Please, do not ask any more such questions. You will be informed when the time comes. Any more said by me could be construed as… inappropriate.”

The team glanced at each other, Genlo included, for no one knew what to think. Genlo responded first, with his usual pessimism. “So basically you are a spy.”

SkyRift gave a small laugh, shaking his golden mane. “Oh no. He doesn’t need spies.” He then gasped, realizing his disclosure and tried to mask it while dusting off his pants. “The Verca and the Niredes Votalo are to be guarded against as well as any outside influences- such as the Circuit. You will need as many allies in this matter as possible”

Aya’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of her former employer. “A shady ally is barely an ally at all, I’m afraid to say…”

“Then I will try hard to prove myself un-shady.” SkyRift said cheerfully, gathering his feet under him and standing up. “My insight might be useful and until I prove my intent is only to keep you safe, you may keep as close an eye on me as you like.”

“I already gotta keep a close eye on this one.” Serrtin said, jerking a thumb toward Genlo. “A dragon could snap our heads off while we sleep, if he was so inclined…”

“I wouldn’t do that.” The Yierhna said with a look that said he found the mere idea distasteful. “Very well.” He approached and bowed over his right arm. “I give you my unbroken Word that I will do my utmost to protect and aid you. Harm will not befall you as long as I am with you, less death take me. This is the Word of a Kiyomouri and I hereby Bind myself by it. The Gods Above and Below be my witness.” SkyRift straightened and opened his eyes. The sadness that was always apparent in the back of those eyes was gone, at least for the time being.

In truth, it was hard to not like the comely dragon- at least for Aya and Agemeer. Serrtin, who did not judge by pretty appearances or gentle words, could only worry for the source behind SkyRift- there was a motive and it was not a good one, she was sure of it. This one person SkyRift accidentally slipped up and revealed could coerce a dragon into servitude and that was not something to be taken lightly. The promise he had made did not seem based on anything other than the Kiyo’s own choice on the matter. That, Serrtin felt she could trust. And the strength of a dragon could come in handy.

Genlo had an opinion but he needn’t say it. His expression spoke volumes.

“I’ll hold you to that word.” Serrtin stated, clasping the Elf’s forearm in agreement. “My name is Serrtin. This is Aya and Agemeer. We’ve taken to calling him Genlo since he won’t offer up anything else”

“It is a pleasure.” SkyRift replied politely, his eyes suggesting that he may have not known their individual names but he
did
know them. “Let us continue on. Remaining for too long in one place can have adverse influences.”

“Pardon me but if you have wings, wouldn’t it be faster for us to escape here by flight?” Agemeer questioned.

“It would but I am but a single Kiyomouri. Should I deign to carry someone, I could carry no more than two. The Divinari alone have wings strong enough.” SkyRift did not express his irk in regards to being thought of as possible transportation though he might have under other circumstances. Many non-dragonkind often came to those sorts of conclusions on the basis of them having two- whereas he had four- legs. “But my wings could be useful. I will go now and spy what I can then return to you.”

At Serrtin’s permissive nod, the Elf reverted to his true form and took to the sky in a powerful flap of his wings.

~ ~ ~

“He could be telling our location to whomever he is working for. How you can trust such a creature…”

“He indeed could be doing just that.” Serrtin said. “But he could’ve done so without pledging his assistance.” Shading her eyes, Serrtin gauged their direction and set off north. Genlo eyed her, then the sky where SkyRift had disappeared into.

The landscape changed little the more north they went- remaining stony and full of treacherous footing. Day turned into afternoon. Genlo kept near but was aloof, staying on the higher formations and using his shadowclaws for traction when the need arose. His amber eyes watched for the return of the dragon that he was dead-set on mistrusting.

Passage by way of the Mirskarr was no easy trek, a good reason whilst many travelers (especially those with horses or other mounts) opted to head through Zarhethe. The Provinces had thieves, brigands and crooked Magnates, the Mirskarr had but broken lands but it still seemed enough to prevent traffic. A mile across the Mirskarr took two to three times as long as it normally would.