As glorious pinks spread across the sky heralding the dawn, Ravyn yawned and stretched, spying land in the distance. The breeze died away overnight, leaving the raft to bob aimlessly. She placed some provisions, her cloak, and the scrying bowl into her pack. She glared at the limp sail, while unstrapping the oars with a heavy sigh. Fitting the oars into the channels at the front of the raft, she rowed toward land. Stroke, stroke, stroke. She lost herself in a rhythmic cadence.
Without warning, a gaping maw erupted from the water as sharp teeth snapped an oar in two. Ravyn shrieked falling back, the oars ripped from her grasp. The raft lurched as the shark rammed it, rocking it wildly from side to side. Its heavy tail slapped hard against the logs. It disappeared beneath the sea, and Ravyn staggered to her feet, scanning about for signs of the creature. A menacing fin sliced through the water, gathering speed as it neared the raft. Ravyn lurched to the mast, clutching it for dear life.
The creature slammed into the raft, sending the whole vessel teetering on its side. Ravyn’s feet slipped out from beneath her, and she felt herself dangling like bait on a hook. Supplies flew in all directions, and Ravyn’s pack sailed through the air. Clinging to the mast with one hand, she snapped her other hand out snagging the strap of the pack. The raft hung crazily on its side for an instant before crashing back onto the water.
Ravyn looked into the beast’s blood red eyes as it circled for another attack. It snapped its jaws, sharp teeth glinting in the early morning rays, as if it were savoring her fear. This was a life or death situation, time for magic. She shivered, goose bumps popping up along her arms. Panic gripped her in freezing hands, numbing her ability.
The shark gained momentum as it sped toward the raft once more. She tightened her grip on the mast, knuckles whitening as the shark closed the gap. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from death speeding toward her. She was so mesmerized by those crimson eyes that thoughts of fighting back slipped away before she could grasp them.
Dolphins burst out of the water, slamming repeatedly into the sides of the great beast. The water churned as they attacked in a concerted effort. The shark rammed into the raft, knocking it hard once more. Ravyn’s head slammed into the mast, and stars began dancing before her eyes. She blinked several times, willing her vision to clear.
Ravyn could hear the gnashing of sharp teeth, of wood splintering, and frantic splashing. Slivers of wood flew through the air, stinging her cheek. The raft lurched wildly, and Ravyn turned to the fray. The dolphins hurled their bodies at the horrific creature. The water roiled crimson with the blood of shark and dolphin alike. The creature was losing blood and strength, but it continued its obsessive attack on the raft. Ravyn watched as a bull dolphin arced high out of the air, landing square across the shark’s back with a resounding crack.
The shark slipped beneath the waves. Ravyn cast about, looking for signs of the menacing fin. The dolphin swam beside the raft, turning on their sides to look up at her. The bull dolphin clicked and chirruped at her, before leaping high into the air to perform a somersault. All play once more.
Ravyn examined the raft, surprised it was still afloat. Ropes lay shredded and torn, chunks of Balsa wood bobbed alongside the raft, like so much flotsam and jetsam. All her provisions were floating away, except for the pack still dangling from her arm. She could see land on the horizon, though it seemed impossibly far away.
She unclenched her fingers, wincing as the blood flowed back into the tissue. She sank to her knees, looking about for a paddle. She felt forward movement, and saw the water parting for the raft. She looked over her shoulder to see dolphins nudging the ailing vessel towards shore. Ravyn cried out in joy, tears of happiness wetting her cheeks. A bull dolphin swam to the side of the raft, rolling on his back exposing his belly. Ravyn reached out and caressed him.
“Thank you so much for your help. I’d be lost without you. I know you don’t understand what I’m saying, but thank you so very much.”
The dolphins took turns pushing the boat toward land and coming to the side for her gentle touch. She silently said a prayer of thanks to the Light for the intelligent creatures of the ocean.
The raft glided into a shallow turquoise bay. Ravyn could see colorful fish darting about the coral that dotted the bottom. She unlashed the pole that had somehow survived the attack, and started prodding the craft the last stretch toward land. The dolphins jumped high in the air spinning corkscrews and flipping nose over tail before heading out to sea. Ravyn waved goodbye to her guardians, then finished poling the raft to the sandy shore. She leaped into the water, hauling the battered raft onto the sand. Something bumped her leg, and she looked down to see half an oar bobbing in the surf. She began salvaging lost provisions as the tide bore them to the beach.
A crazed shriek sundered the air in Veris. Castle servants scrambled to find a hiding place. Zelera was very angry. Zelera’s maid scurried to the kitchens to procure some of the herbal tea that seemed to help calm her mistress’ nerves. Perhaps if the tea was ready before it was asked for, there wouldn’t be a punishment. Or at least it wouldn’t be severe.
Zelera had been locked in her cold dark tower the entire morning. She’d been watching Ravyn in her scrying bowl, brimming with glee as her monster closed in on Ravyn. Her nightmares would finally end. Rage and astonishment filled her black soul as the dolphins saved Ravyn from a bloody end. Sharp fingernails raked across the black marble worktable as her scream of frustration erupted. She watched the lifeless shark slip beneath the frothy bloody sea.
She railed wildly around the room, knocking over chairs and vases, flinging everything in her path at the stony walls. She slashed the centuries-old tapestry, shredding the ancient fibers in a frenzied dance of madness.
She slowly gathered her wits, rubbing her temples to ease the throbbing. This was an unfortunate setback. Nothing more. She settled bony fingers on the scrying bowl and looked into the depths of the water. A low growling laugh broke free, building into a wild crescendo that rumbled throughout the room. Ravyn had not landed on the mainland of Aigerach; she was on Draconis Island.
Surveying the remains of the small raft, Ravyn felt lucky to be alive. The ropes lay shredded and tattered, holding the raft together by a miracle. Ravyn ran her hands over a huge bite mark where the shark had gouged through the logs. She got down on her hands and knees in the damp sand, the water licking at her toes, and shoved the raft higher up the sand. She grunted, inching it forward. Gulping great breaths, she pushed with all her might until it wouldn’t budge any further.
She plopped down on the warm sand, drawing her knees to her chest, laying her head on her knees. Thoughts flitted about, each one demanding attention, but she couldn’t focus on any one thing for more than a moment or two.
The rush of adrenaline waned, and fatigue threatened to claim her. Thirst and hunger gnawed at her belly; and though her provisions were only a few feet away, it seemed like hundreds of miles. Turning her head, she surveyed her surroundings closely for the first time.
She sat on a long thin stretch of soft white sand, fully exposed to the mid-day sun. The heat made her head swim, and she blinked trying to focus her eyes. To the fore, the brilliant blue ocean sparkled on forever. Behind her, tropical palms fought each other for dominance, and leafy green plants of various shapes and sizes filled in all the gaps. They beckoned her to their shade. The green canopy of the trees whispered respite from the burning sand. She grasped her salvaged supplies to her chest while stumbling inland. She collapsed against a tall palm tree, dropping her armload of provisions.
Ravyn’s eyes cleared as cool air caressed her hot dry skin. To her delight, ripe bananas and succulent wild guava hung nearby. She picked a guava, taking a bite rind and all. The juices slipped down her parched throat, easing her thirst. She pulled a ripe bunch of bananas from the tree. The bananas smelled sweet, and the juice from the guava was sticky on her fingers. She devoured the bananas, the soft fruit mashing between her fingers. She popped the cork on a gourd, guzzling water and letting it splash down her chin. Sated, her gaze wandered to a sharp peak jutting towards the sky.
Resting in the cool shade of the palms, Ravyn gathered strength. She would need to hike toward the center of the land to the high peak. From there, she could see how to proceed. Then she would contact Connor, so he could send Blade to her. The sun was high overhead and continued its march across the sky. She sighed, gathering her meager belongings in a pile. She tossed a few palm fronds over her small stash. She smiled, Blade would be here soon, and this would all be over.
The dense jungle offered no easy path. She picked her way through the maze of trees and lush tropical plants. She marked her trail with rock markers and bent branches. A careful pace kept exhaustion at bay and footing safe as she left the dense tropical jungle and entered the craggy mountain area.
Picking her way up the crumbly rock, she sighed in relief as she spied the summit. Scrambling over the last few boulders, she reached the peak. A turn full circle showed her everything.
“No, no, no,” she cried in dismay, her fingers locked in her thick black hair. Everywhere she looked water sparkled in the afternoon sun. Frustration threatening to consume her, she nearly fell to her knees. The raft would need repairing. It also needed new oars. Nothing was ever easy.
Looking toward the island’s far side revealed a peak that she hadn’t noticed at first. Caves sprinkled the cliff face. Thoughts of exploration died as quickly as they were born. Past the southern tip of the island, she could just make out another land mass: Aigerach. So close, and yet so far away. It felt as though the weight of the mountains sat on her shoulders as she headed back down. Blade wouldn’t be saving her; she would have to save herself.
As day faded into evening, she trudged into her makeshift camp. She sat on a rock and picked up a long branch. She peeled off the leaves and twigs, sharpening it into a spear. In the waning light she waded into the surf to catch the fish darting about the rocks. Rowan taught her how to fish using a spear. She smiled at memories of her first clumsy attempts and his patient guidance. Thinking of him brought tears to her eyes. She sniffled, brushing away the tears on her dirty sleeve. Time to focus. In the blink of an eye two fat fish wriggled on her spear.
She then gathered fallen branches for kindling and retrieved her flint. She squatted down, striking flint to steel, until small sparks started the twigs to smoldering. She blew gently on the kindling until she felt sure the fire was hungry and alive. She fed it more fuel. After cooking her fish, she added more logs, letting the fire burn wild and hot as the sky deepened into night.
Nibbling at her fish, she leaned back against a large palm tree, listening to the soft rustlings in the dark jungle around her. She had not seen any predatory animals during the day. If any inhabited the island, a fire might keep them at bay. She had seen several small mammals skittering about the jungle, and a variety of multi-colored birds filled the trees, chittering and chattering to each other. Sunning lizards raced away as she approached them during her hike.
As she cataloged the fauna of the island, it became increasingly difficult to watch the dancing flames. Pulling her cloak tight about her shoulders, she lay down on the palm fronds that were her makeshift bed.
Something interrupted her rest, niggling and buzzing about her. She brushed at her face, shooing away the unwanted intrusion. Green gold color flooded her mind. Connor! She sat bolt upright. She’d forgotten to contact him.
‘Blade,’ she blurted, ‘is he with you?’
‘Well, he was. As we speak, he is heading north to meet up with you. I myself am heading further inland. Zelera is getting an inkling of my presence; I couldn’t expect to stay right under her nose the whole time, I suppose. Her power strengthens at an extraordinary rate. Dark times befall Aigerach.’ He paused a moment, ‘And that shark was not natural. What a perversion of nature.’
‘You saw what happened?’
‘Yes, I was scrying to tell you Blade had arrived. I saw that monster speeding toward your raft. I noticed the dolphin pod following you; they’re quite fond of you. I told them the danger you were in, and they were eager to assist.’
‘You talked to them?’ she asked in awe.
‘Of course. I’m a Master of the Light.’
‘Could I do that too?’
‘You are not supposed to be working magic, young lady. But in due time, I’ll teach you how.’
‘Blade can’t meet me, Connor. I’m not on Aigerach. I’m on another island, but surely you already know that.’
‘Unfortunately, I did not make myself clear when speaking with the dolphins. I asked them to get you to land, and now you’re on an island. Zelera was watching as well; I sensed her evil rot polluting the aural field. She is not pleased. My magical intervention drew Zelera’s attention to me. I am relocating shortly.’
‘I can repair the raft to get me to Aigerach. I need to make new oars, and it will take me a few days to make the vessel seaworthy. How is Blade? Is he safe? Where will he meet me? When will he meet me?’
Connor smiled. ‘Blade is perfectly fine. I’ll guide him to you. I’m not sure where you’ll meet, for our plans are fluid and ever changing. First, we must get you off that island. We must assume Zelera knows your location, since she sent that beast. You must still be judicious practicing with the Light. She got a trace off the book you took from the library; your magic left a scent. That’s how she was able to sic that creature on you. I know you want to try your hand at working with the Light, but that would be extremely dangerous right now. Every time you use the arts, you leave a trail to follow, like magical breadcrumbs. If you stop, the trail fades. Then she can scry for your image only, making you a needle in a haystack.
Oh, by the way, be extremely careful right now. You are on Draconis Island.’
Ravyn’s blue eyes closed, distant memories springing to mind. When they were little, she and Blade dreamt of coming to Draconis Island to study the dragons. ‘I’m on the dragons’ homeland? I’ve always dreamed of seeing a dragon.’
Connor scowled, ‘Ravyn, now is not the time to be searching out dragons. They are territorial. They would just as soon tear you to pieces as look at you. Promise me you will not go near them.’
She sighed, ‘I promise. I saw their caves from the mountaintop today; they’re on the other side of the island. I’ll be collecting provisions and repairing the raft. I have no time to go looking for dragons. With luck I’ll be off the island in a day or two. They’ll never know I was here.’
‘Most times in this life, we have to make our own luck. Ravyn, when you cross the channel to the mainland, the area where you will beach your raft is very hot and dry. You need plenty of water to survive Desolation. Desolation runs the entire length of the island on that end, so you cannot skirt its edges. The best solution is to walk straight across. It will be neither easy nor fun.’
‘Where will I be after I cross?’
‘After Desolation you’ll reach the Grasslands. When you hit the road, head west. That should lead you to Land’s End, a little town where you should be able to get a horse. Blade will likely meet you there as well. I have an old acquaintance living near there. You may be able to stay with her for a night or two while you gather supplies. You look tired. I’ll let you get some rest so you can start repairing that raft in the morning.’
‘Take good care of yourself, Connor, and thank you for everything. I don’t feel so alone knowing you are out there watching and sending what help you may,’ she said through a yawn as she lay back once more. Connor gently disengaged his aural thread, scanning the land below as he returned to his meager hut nestled in the woods. After filling his travel satchel, he hurried into the dense woods behind his cottage. He heard wood splintering as Zelera’s men crashed through the little front door. The back door slammed open, and torchlight flooded the yard. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw one of Zelera’s soldiers scanning the trees from the door. A slight flick of the wrist bid the colors of the forest to wrap about him, camouflaging him. Deeper into the darkening woods he trudged, the sounds of shattering pottery and crashing furniture breaking the forest’s calm.
Ravyn lay on her back, watching the stars glittering above her through palm fronds. She was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. She was on the dragons’ island. She couldn’t wait to see the jealousy written on Blade’s face when she told him she had been here. If only she could see one before she drifted away on the sea. Images of the majestic creatures filled her mind as she slipped into slumber.
Night had fallen in Veris. Zelera stood in her chambers talking to the gilt framed mirror again. It had become a habit over the years; she related to Lareina and Bryant all the changes she was enacting. They could not respond to anything she said, they could not hear any of her malicious anecdotes, but she enjoyed imagining their righteous anger. She laughed at their impotence. It always boosted her morale.
“I just had a lovely idea. Would you like me to share it with you?” Zelera questioned the frozen figures staring blankly at her from the polished glass surface. “I am going to steal a dragon’s egg tonight from Draconis Island. I located their dens, and I have garnered enough power to snatch an egg without draining away all my strength. I would never have been able to do this through the Light Arts. There is so much more power in the Darkness.” She paused running a bony finger along Lareina’s image.
“That’s why you are looking at me from inside a glass cage. The power of the Light is just a toy, really.” She giggled like a little girl.
“Oh now, sister, don’t look at me like that. It isn't very loving of you to be angry with me for being stronger than you.” She paused, waiting and put a hand to her ear.
“What’s that you say? What am I going to do with this egg? I am so glad you asked. Originally, I thought to take it to anger the dragons. They find your daughter hiding on their island, and kill her. An angry mother dragon will not stop to ascertain facts; she’ll be looking for blood. I heard dragons have an appetite for virgin princesses.”
She leaned into the mirror, gloating. “Oh pooh, don’t act so shocked. You knew it was only a matter of time before I rid myself and this world of your little brat.” She cackled gleefully, twisting the cording of her robe into a knotted mass. She paced before the mirror, hands still twiddling with the robe’s ties.
Zelera stopped pacing and let the silken rope slip from her fingers. “You know, Lareina, I realized if I set up a room in the dungeons with a fire pit, I can hatch the little lizard myself. I will have the most fearsome pet. Think of it, sister. I will fly over Aigerach on a dragon. The most ferocious and wild of all the beasts. All will look to the skies with fear in their hearts. Too bad, you will never see it,” she sighed, contented. “It is a two-fold win for me: Ravyn will end up in the belly of a beast, and I will rule one.”
She turned her back on the mirror, crossing the room to an ebony altar. She focused on the scrying bowl filled with fresh blood. Her aural self sped out over the land of Veris and across the sea to Draconis Island. She hovered over the sleeping Ravyn, nestled under an elven cloak, still protected by her mother’s energies. She snarled at Ravyn before racing to the peaks where the dragons’ caves laid. She flitted from den to den, noting which dragons had eggs. Curling her aural self up on a ledge, she waited for opportunity to come knocking. After a few moments, a large scarlet dragon poked her head out of her cave. She unfurled her wings, pounding the air and lifting off gracefully. She left her nest unguarded. Zelera released a carefully controlled amount of the Darkness, snatching an egg from the cavern and blanketing it in a warming spell. Scarcely breathing, she mumbled incantations guiding it through space to deposit it in her dungeons. Once safely home, she released the spell.
She cried out as the Darkness exacted its toll on her flesh. Hunger gnawed at her aching belly, and her parched throat burned with need for moisture. The nerves in her body felt afire, every muscle knotting as she doubled over in pain.
As the pain slowly diminished, she was able to stand up once more. The Darkness drained her with every spell, and it seemed food and wine could not replenish her strength. She never slept well, finding it difficult to get the sleep she desperately needed. Self-pity snaked through her withering soul, but she shrugged it off before it found a permanent home. Supreme power required a supreme sacrifice.
She yanked a cord, sounding a deep hollow chime. Within moments her maid skittered into the room. Zelera glared at the nervous wench, “Fetch me a meal. I’m famished. That blasted cook had better do a damn good job. The last meal he served wasn’t fit for pigs!”
“Yes, your highness. I’ll m-m-make sure it’s s-s-satisfactory,” stuttered the maid.
A wicked smile curled Zelera’s lips. “I’m sure you will. Your dear husband is my current cook, is he not? You will both find yourselves in the dungeons if you fail me again,” Zelera purred.
“Y-y-yes, your highness. I’ll make sure it is as you d-d-desire,” she dropped into a low curtsy.
“What are you waiting around here for, you sloth? I said I was starving.” A tendril of Darkness zipped from her fingers, jolting the maid with sharp pain.
The young maid cried out as she scurried out the door. Her mousy brown hair flew out behind her as she rushed down the dark halls. Her soft slippers slapped the cold stone floors, and she stammered a prayer that her husband had a meal ready that would impress Empress Zelera.