Fate Rides Wicked: Volume I of the Lerilon Trilogy (54 page)

Come with me, Tych. There is an event you must attend
in order for your friendship with the gold dragons to grow
stronger,
answered the king of dragons.

Where’s Doleof?

He is dying on the bottom of The Great Lake. You must
come now.

Tych turned to the squad. “Andel, take the squad back
to camp. I will return before nightfall.”

A striped armband marked Andel, who came to the
front. “Yes, Commander.” He turned to the men. “Green
Stars, about face. March.”

Buhlaht closed his eyes and Tych found himself riding
the platinum dragon. “What is the event, Buhlaht?”

“A couple of hours ago, Doleof entered into a battle
with an ancient foe, a red dragon named Arfelimon. He
also died.”

“I once fought Arfelimon in Unlo just before we
entered the Passage of Death. He helped me discover the
dragon side of me. Why do we fly north?”

“We are going to the naming ceremony of a newborn
gold dragon. Doleof died saving her from Arfelimon. Her
future will include you, if I see it correctly.” The Andarin
mountains rose in the distance. Buhlaht had teleported over
some of the distance to get Tych on his back. As they
approached Mont Andar, the demigod said, “It is customary
for only gold dragons to be present at this, and all living
ones will be here. I will be your ticket in. Don’t speak
unless spoken to.”

A gold dragon seemed to appear out of nowhere and
rose to meet them. “My Lord, endarils are not permitted to
attend this.” To Tych he said, “I mean no disrespect.”

They hovered facing each other. “Only the endarils
have been here as long as you, My Child. It is their right to
have audience to all that is part of Li’s future. Also, he is
no ordinary endaril. He is Tych di Corl.”

“It is not my place to let him pass. I will get Fleld, the
father.” As they hovered, the guard dove towards the
mountain. Tych watched him vanish into thin air and knew
he had teleported the few feet possible for most dragons, passing
into the mountains. In a few minutes, a second dragon
appeared with the first right behind.

Buhlaht greeted them. “Fleld, this is Tych di Corl,
friend of Doleof. He saved Doleof’s life and Doleof has
saved your daughter.” Buhlaht told of Doleof’s battle, for
he had watched it. If the battle was even, dragons didn’t
interfere as a matter of honor. “Now I request that, as the
eldest gold dragon, you take him into your race as an equal
member and allow him to attend the ceremony.”

“How can an endaril be called a member of the gold
dragon race?”

“Because he, and he is hearing this for the first time, is
half gold dragon. The form he takes now is only because
his parents are endaril. He is as naturally gold dragon.”

“He may join us if he takes our form,” said Fleld, as he
looked at Tych with apparent curiosity.

The prince dove off Buhlaht’s back and swooped back
up from the mountains as the largest gold dragon Fleld had
ever seen. “I would be honored if you would allow me to
attend your daughter’s naming.”

“Could you perhaps take a smaller size? You’ll be the
biggest dragon in there besides Buhlaht.” Tych
concentrated and visibly shrank to a size smaller than Fleld.
“That’s better. You will hear many words in there that
have power over us. You must not repeat any of them.”

“It will not be repeated by me until the next naming I
attend.” Tych followed Fleld, Buhlaht and the guard,
Dendel, toward the mountain. Fleld and Dendel
disappeared but Buhlaht slowed up. He reached out with
his wing and touched Tych. The endaril appeared in a huge
cavern, easily as large as the valley of Seftrelak, which held
a lake and a city.

Buhlaht appeared next to the prince and all the dragons
laid their heads on the ground in supplication. Tych
followed their example. Forty-six gold dragons formed a
circle around a baby dragon, as big as a pony, asleep on her
mother’s coils. The white color of the baby’s scales
surprised Tych. Buhlaht and the prince made the count of
dragons forty-eight as they joined the circle.

Dendel stepped forward into the middle of the circle
near the mother. “We are here in the home of Fleld and
Molif to name the first female gold dragon born in a
thousand years. She will bring the number to ten and give
new life to our race. Honoring us are Buhlaht, Our Lord,
and Prince Tych di Corl of the endarils, a gold dragon.”

A loud uproar came from the assembled dragons. One
stepped into the circle. “An endaril here!” He looked
around the circle. “Who allowed it?!?”

Fleld stepped out to meet the challenger. “I did.”

“Of all here you have the most authority to do so, but
you are endangering us. Why did you let him in? We have
never done so before.”

“Tell him Tych’s story, Buhlaht.” Fleld resumed his
place at the ‘top’ of the circle.

Buhlaht came forward. “In the beginning of Li, two
races were formed: dragons and endarils. The dragons
came in many shapes and colors, and coexisted in tense
dependence. The dragons were made from the forces of
space and time, which gave us control over such things. As
you all know, we can travel at will in any dimension, but it
is limited by our mind.

“The endarils were created simultaneously by the forces
of thought. The source of their life is the source for magic
and all other life on Li. They only control space and time
by the power of magic, which they use best with their
superior minds. You come from different cosmic forces,
but you share the claim of being here first.

“I am about to repeat something to Tych that he heard
briefly before we came in here, and that must not leave this
room. Tych may only tell his mate. Tych is the product of
two forces, space and time, and mental energy. He is an
original creation, caused by the power of one of his
grandfather’s spells. It so ripped time and space that he
became infused with energy from it. From his parents and
the magic itself he gained the nature of the endarils,
thought. Therefore, he is half dragon and half endaril, and
the combination gives him powers neither race possesses.
He can teleport over great distances at will, use telekinesis,
and never forget a spell. This makes him even more
powerful than me!” A disquieting murmur ran through the
assembled guests. The challenger returned to the circle.

Buhlaht continued. “Because of our source, we are
immune to certain things. Tych must discover these for
himself. But for now, let us give him his right, to be a
member of both races. All dissenters speak now for to do
so later against the order of the body would be treachery.”

A single female dragon, identifiable by the soft fur atop
her head where the males had scales, came into the circle.
“I have one requirement. The endaril must give a gift to
the newborn dragon which would help the entire race.”

Buhlaht turned to Tych. The prince nodded and knew
what to give. He startled the assembly by pulling energy
from each of them except for the mother and child in
visible blue streams. They flowed into him and he glowed
faintly. He began to concentrate and several minutes later a
huge blue ball emerged. It floated across the cavern
towards the baby and engulfed her. The newborn lifted off
her mother so that she slept in the center of the sphere. The
globe began to shrink, until it disappeared into the dragon
altogether.

Molif raised her head and gave a confused look at
Tych. “What have you given her?”

“I have never used as much concentration on any spell
in my life. I have magnified her reproductive energy to the
point that she will have the fertility of a human. She will
give birth to many dragons, most of them female, with
higher fertility rates, but less than hers.”

The challenging female said, “You have given the
greatest gift we could have asked for. I feel compelled to
welcome you to our race.” She backed into her spot in the
circle.

“I have paid attention to the needs of my friends. You
all express the same concern for the survival of your race. I
have provided for that survival.”

Buhlaht retreated into the circle and Dendel came
forward. “In honor of her champion, I, the namer of
dragons, desire to name her Doleofa. Today he died to
save her. Do I have the agreement of Fleld and Molif?”
Both dragons nodded deeply in approval. “Let the
ceremony begin!”

Dendel took up his place again. “We are here to name
this baby gold dragon. We will begin with the Chant of
Attachment.” Each dragon draped his right wing over the
dragon next to him. Then the chant began:

Doleofa Cladledelentofin
(Doleofa be named)
Yiudai Endel Felentar
(into the family of gold dragons)
Doleofa Cladledelentofin
E Kelef Zol Buhlaht
(and blessed by Buhlaht)
Doleofa Cladledelentofin
Yuidai Mir Li
(into the world of Li)
Doleofa Cladledelentofin
Doleofa Cladledelentofin

They repeated this four times. Color leaped from each
dragon except Tych, forming a rainbow colored tent above
the baby and her mother. As far as Tych could tell, each
dragon knew the color they should contribute. Silence fell
and Buhlaht began to chant.

Kelef E Kelef Endel
(Blessed and Blessed the family)
Doleofa Kelefentofin
(Doleofa be blessed)
Yiudai Mili Endel,
(Into my family,)
Endel Felentar, Endel Li
(family of gold dragons, family of Li)

For over an hour this phrase filled the cavern. With
each repetition, the apex of the ‘tent’ came closer and
closer to the baby. As it approached, gold became the
dominant color, pushing out all others. The last other color
vanished, they repeated it one more time, and the apex
touched the baby’s head. Golden light filled the cavern,
and then funneled into Doleofa.

She stirred and raised her head for the first time as
scales formed on her body, head, neck and tail. Two wings
sprouted magically from her back. Molif chanted one more
welcome.

Doleofa launched into the air and flew around the
circle. Dendel spoke. “Doleofa will now choose her
favorite. Her choice will be responsible for choosing her
nest and teaching her all there is to know about Li, past and
present.”

The baby dragon circled twice more. Finally, to the
horror of everyone, she glided to the ground in front of
Tych. Molif roared and launched into the air. “I won’t
have it!”

Buhlaht leaped up to intercept her. “He is part dragon.
His power is enormous beyond mine. Let it stand, Molif. I
beseech you”

Fleld joined them, hovering above the circle. “Buhlaht
would not fail us, my love. Trust him. Tych is as worthy
as any of us and we have made him part of our race.”

“Since you have been good to us Buhlaht, and because
of the gift Tych has given, I will allow it, if the endaril
accepts.” Molif landed. Buhlaht looped back around next
to Tych.

“What do I do to accept?” The whole affair had
stunned Tych.

“You say the blessing I said, replacing ‘Felentar’ with
our word for endaril, ‘Gladef.’ Then you tell her your
whole name, including the one only your parents know.”

“I can’t repeat that here!”

Fleld came halfway across the circle. “We have trusted
you with many secret words, endaril,” he shouted, “and we
must teach you more if you accept! You must trust us!”

Tych nodded his huge dragon head. “You’re right. I
have reacted rashly. I will do it.

Kelef E Kelef Endel
Doleofa Kelefentofin
Yiudai Mili Endel,
Endel Gladef, Endel Li.

I am Prince Tych di Corl, Selenticorfon, and heir to the
throne of Morg di Corl behind Cort di Corl. I accept your
request Doleofa in honor of your namesake.”

Buhlaht said, “Repeat the blessing but add your name
after a fifth ‘Endel.’”

The endaril-dragon complied

Kelef E Kelef Endel
Doleofa Kelefentofin
Yiudai Mili Endel,
Endel Gladef, Endel Li,
Endel Selenticorfon.

Kelef E Kelef Endel

Doleofa Kelefentofin

Yiudai Endel Gladef

Endel Li, Endel Selenticorfon.

Baluf Mili Endel

(Welcome into my family)
Cladledelentofin Yiudai
Selenticorfon, Selenticorfon
Yiudai Cladledelentofin
Kelef Zalen
(Bless Us)

Kelef Felentar
Kelef Gladef
Kelef Buhlaht

“Now Tych, reveal your natural state and repeat what
she said. I would, however, say Lendela instead of
Buhlaht.”

Tych returned to his endarilan shape. Doleofa squealed
in fear and backed away. Tension fell on the gathered
celebrants like thick honey. Tych repeated her welcome
but finished with the god of the daril races, Lendela. As the
dragon continued to move slowly backward, Tych reached
out to her with his mind. He knew that as a dragon she
should be a natural.
I am a friend. I saved the life of
Doleof, the dragon that saved your life and is your
namesake.

Who brought you here
, she answered in kind. She
stopped retreating.

Buhlaht did. I have all the powers of your race,
Doleofa. My race is as old as yours. Will you accept our
team, the one that Doleof started?

Out loud she said, “Yes, Tych di Corl.” None of the
others except Buhlaht knew what had transpired between
the two, but a sigh of relief came out of all of them when
the baby dragon gave Tych a playful nudge. She spoke
again. “I will be honored to have an endaril for favorite.”

Fleld beat Molif to Tych and his daughter. “You will
be like her best friend. You will teach her and help her
choose her mate. Your relationship will be like that of a
brother and sister. We will train her for a year, and then
you will take over her guardianship, jointly with us. In one
hundred years, she will be all yours to parent.”