The Witches of Eileanan (17 page)

And dost thou know who Khan'gharad was?
the dragon asked, and Meghan heard anger in her voice. She shook her head, raising her head again and voluntarily looking the dragon in her massive golden eye. This time she seemed to fly, the earth dropping behind her and the wind rushing past her, hair billowing. She swooped and spun and soared, and the dragon's eye was the sun, drawing her ever higher.

Khan'gharad was the First Warrior of the Fire-Dragon Pride and so precious to his people. He was also the Dragon-Lord, the only man permitted to cross his leg over our backs since Aedan himself. Dost thou know why he was so favored? He saved the life of my daughter, the only female left of my line and heiress to the Circle of Seven.

Meghan's head swam and she felt faint. Her vision spun. She felt herself falling.
Then why did ye leave his daughter in my care? In the care o' the one who killed him?
she called into the sun-blazing void.

Khan'gharad is not dead, Meghan of the Beasts, Sorceress of the Earth. He still lives, though not in the form in which thou knewst him. Thou mayst rest easy in thy conscience if the thought of his death troubled thee. Besides, what care I? He was only a man, after all.

Somehow Meghan's head had cleared again, and she no longer felt time buckling around her or saw visions of terror and beauty. She reoriented herself, clutching the solid stone beneath her crouched body, and stared steadily into the dragon's blazing eye.
Wise One,
she said,
I do no' understand. Ye say Khan'gharad Dragon-laird is alive, though I saw him swallowed by the earth at my very feet. I now ken that Ishbel is no' dead either, though I thought she must be. Ye have confirmed that Isabeau is their daughter. Will ye tell me: did ye bring her to me?

Yes, I instructed my seventh son to take the baby between his claws and fly to the valley where thou wast living. I have often observed thee there over the years and knew Isabeau would be safe with thee.

Great One, I braved the journey to your land in order to understand what role it is that Isabeau is meant to play. I have taught her and protected her as best as I could but now my hand is forced. I have been driven from my valley, the beasts o' the forest slaughtered, my own life threatened. Why did ye give me Isabeau?

There was a long silence and Meghan was aware of the other dragons still lying behind her, listening intently, though she sensed their presence rather than saw them. Her eyes were still fixed on the eye of the greatest dragon of them all, the mother-dragon, Queen of the Circle.

At last the queen-dragon answered, though reluctantly.

It is simple, sorceress. He saved my daughter, I thought I would save his. I do not interest myself in the petty squabbling of thy kind. So many wars, so many lives and deaths, what are they to me ?

Then, Wise One, why have ye broken the Pact o' Aedan Whitelock and killed men and beasts in Eileanan ?

Meghan was conscious of the dragons lashing their tails behind her, and the great bulk of the mother-dragon shifted, her breath hissing, so that Meghan scurried backward in instinctive terror.

For four hundred years we have not dabbled our claws in the blood of thy land, beast or human,
the mother-dragon said, and her mind-voice was resonant with an ancient anger.
We honored thine forebear, the great MacCuinn, who brought us many lordly gifts. But the skies are ours and shall always be ours. Four of our kith have been killed in the last sixteen years. Four!

All the dragons rose on their hind legs and began to bugle, a high haunting sound that echoed round and round the vast hall and must have been heard many miles away. Meghan fell to the floor, her hands covering her ears, but the sound penetrated deep into her brain, almost bursting her eardrums. At last the keening stopped, and cautiously Meghan lowered her hands. The great topaz eye regarded her sternly.

Meghan of the Beasts, Keybearer of the Coven of Witches, I know thou art not party to the hunting of dragons that seems to have become a national sport for thy people. The first dragon to die was but a kitten, and foolish to boot. He flew close to a herd and caused it to run. So when the lord of the castle rode out with his men and thy red-robed witches and shot him down, we grieved but understood it may be thy barbaric justice. Indeed, by running the herd to its death, the kitten had broken the finer points of Aedan's Pact. However, the other dragons were killed in their own land, in our traditional hunting grounds in the Sithiche and Whitelock ranges. They had done nothing to court the ire of thy people.

Dost thou understand? Humans rode into their land and hunted them down, using trickery, guile, and deceit. One of those dragons was a female, and with child! The Circle of Seven has been reduced to six! Never before have the dragons not had the full seven in the Great Circle, and to have a queen die without female issue is the worst of tragedies for us. We did not retaliate after the murder of our sons, in memory of thy ancestor, Meghan of the Beasts, but the butchering of our daughter and her unborn kitten, that we will not forgive!

The other dragons roared in approval, and Meghan felt the five other queen dragons rustle their wings, their sinuous necks bending and rubbing together. The mother-dragon continued.
It was then I called in the Circle of Seven to debate this cowardice and injustice, and a course of action decided upon. From all over the island, dragons have flown in, and the anger against thy people has been great. Still I advised caution. There are many omens surrounding us and I wished to wait until their message became clearer. Now, though, the forces of thy Rìgh are climbing the Stairway and gathering at our gate, and I cannot think they mean us well. They must know all the dragons of the land are now here, in this one place. They shot down our daughter with a poisoned spear! If they come against us in force, I fear more of my children will be killed.

Again the keening filled the hall, rising and falling so that Meghan thought her head and heart would burst. She was horrified by what the mother-dragon had told her, and knew the dragons would lay waste to Eileanan in revenge for the death of the she-dragon. For dragons were slow to breed, and females rare among the offspring, so that the loss of a pregnant she-dragon could mean the dying out of the entire race. Meghan tried to express her shame and consternation, but the dragons were lashing their tails and twisting back and forth, so that waves of dragon-fear washed over her, choking her throat.
We shall have restitution! We shall have revenge!
the dragons began to chant, and suddenly Meghan realized there were eighteen dragons in the room with her now, some almost as big as the mother-dragon, their skins dark with age.

These are all the dragons left in the land,
the mother-dragon said sadly.
Once our hordes darkened the sky, once the sound of our wings was like the beating of a god's gong. Now there are only six left of the sacred Circle of Seven, and nothing to succeed us but children.

The keening and wailing went on for a very long time, and Meghan bowed her head and thought furiously as she waited. At last the grieving dragons quietened, and Meghan spoke again.
Great Mother, I grieve with ye that the great and honorable dragons should be hunted and destroyed in this way. It is dark times indeed that have fallen upon us, and I swear by Eà, mother and father o' us all, that I shall seek out the black-hearted witch who set her servants against ye. I think I understand now. The sorceress Maya who calls herself Banrìgh has long been jealous o' other magics. She knows the dragons have long been friends and allies o' the great Clan o' MacCuinn
—. Meghan heard hissing behind her and felt rather than heard the protest of the younger dragons, who had not known Aedan, direct descendant of Cuinn himself, the greatest sorcerer in the history of Eileanan.

Quickly she went on,
Indeed, the Clan o' MacCuinn has had many occasions to bless the goodwill o' the dragons, who have so generously and indulgently allowed us to run our herds and build our villages on the land o' Eileanan. I beg the kindness and mercy o' the Great Dragons once more . . .
Again she had to wait for the dragons to calm down, and felt deep sorrow that the dragons' distrust of humans was now running so high.

When she could, she continued.
All I beg is that ye do no' punish the good people o' Eileanan, who rightfully fear and respect ye. I ken your grief and rage consumes ye, and rightly so. So too does mine, who has always revered the wisdom and greatness o' the dragons. I ken ye could lay the land to waste, killing the stock who are our livelihood and the men who herd them, destroying our cities and towns, and fouling our rivers and lochan. I know this is within your rights under the Pact o' Aedan. It is no' the good people of Eileanan who are your enemy, though. It is the evil-hearted unknown, who has ensorcelled our Rìgh, the descendant o' the great Aedan Whitelock who was your friend and ally. I will ride out against her myself, and swear to ye I will waste my lifeblood to avenge the death o' your brothers and sister!

This time there was a roar of approval from the dragons, though Meghan was conscious the great queen was regarding her closely. She forced herself to meet her eye again, that great golden eye slitted like a cat's and bigger than Meghan's entire body. This close to the dragon she could see how rough was the texture, and how deep the blackness of the slitted pupil, and fear was tight in her throat.

And why, Meghan of the Beasts, wouldst thou take on the dragons' debt of honor?

Because it is mine also,
Meghan answered honestly.
For sixteen years I have scrabbled around like a mouse in the dark, trying to fight Maya the Ensorcellor from my valley. Slowly I have made contact with the witches who survived and they have been my eyes and ears; slowly I have helped build a resistance movement that shall be my sword; at last things are stirring! I hear reports that Maya's hold on the Rìgh is weakening, and I know he must hear the song o' the Lodestar in his ears, for I too hear it. Every day I hear it more strongly, and it sings o' battle and blood! And I too, Great One, see the omens written in the sky and in the waters, though unlike ye I canna tell all that they mean. All I ken is that the Spinners are weaving the cloth o' our lives and a new thread has been strung.

I see. So thou dost not ride against the Banrìgh of your land because of the great evil she has done my sons and daughters, but because she does evil to yours?

Aye, Great One,
Meghan admitted, though she feared the dragon's anger at her truthfulness.

Strangely, however, the mother-dragon seemed pleased, and Meghan realized her oath of truth-telling had just been tested.
So in all these schemes of thine, thou must have some plan for the dragons?

Meghan was conscious of the dragons behind her stiffening, and again chose her words carefully.
No' at all, Great One. Who am I to make plans for the dragons who are the lords o' the sky and the smoking mountain, and the greatest o' all magical beasts ? I merely beg your clemency toward the people o' Eileanan, at least until I have tried and failed in my endeavor against the Banrìgh. That way ye have still honored the Pact o' Aedan, and it is only that foul murdering witch who has broken it!
Meghan's voice broke as she spoke, years of grief and anger roughening her voice, and she could tell she had moved the queen-dragon.

Suddenly another dragon spoke, and Meghan recognized the mind-voice of the big bronze, whom she had meet on the mountainside.
And what of our anger and rightful thirst for revenge?

Meghan took a breath and said casually,
There is still a legion o' Red Guards camping on your doorstep and dreaming o' the glory o' butchering dragons. What are they but the sword o' the so-called Banrìgh?

There was a rustle of wings and a collective hiss as the dragons grouped in the hall moved about eagerly. The mother-dragon fixed her great eye on the wood witch and stared her down till Meghan thought her knees would buckle beneath her.
Enough,
the mother-dragon said.
I
have sent my seventh son to speak with the soldiers who have dared to cross under the Arches of Dragons without permission. We will deal with the soldiers as we see fit. Leave us now. I am tired of thy meddling.

Meghan bowed, though her heart sank in her. There were still questions she wanted to ask, but she dared not risk the dragons' anger. Suddenly a thought came to her, so crystal clear and perfect that she had to take the risk.
Certainly, oh wisest and greatest o' all creatures. May I visit with my friend Ishbel afore I leave ye?

There was a long, deadly silence, and Meghan's head sank lower and lower until it was again resting on the floor before the dragon, her back curved. Suddenly, though, the old mother-dragon began to laugh, and the sound of the deep, rich chuckle resonated around the hall. For a long time the echoes lasted, then the great green-bronze dragon lowered her head to the floor and closed her eyes.

I
have indeed underestimated thee, old witch,
her mind-voice said.
Visit with the scrawny little witch if thou so desirest. It is another four or five days' journey for a witch with little legs and no wings, maybe more.
Suddenly the mother-dragon laughed again, a terrifying sound, and said,
I
will call someone to fetch thee. I think thou shall have several surprises, Meghan of the Beasts, whom dares to make demands of dragons.