THE YOUNG WOMEN ASSEMBLED on the parade ground, dressed in their favourite rider outfits. Mostly this consisted of leather leggings snugged into thigh-high boots (the thigh protection was essential when riding a dragon despite the saddle) and a warm woven sweater that fell to the top of their boots. The sweater was covered in light armour which blocked the wind and allowed for ease of movement. The armour was designed more for protecting them against hazards of the air, such as birds or bugs, which at high speed had the ability to bruise or break bones. Over this armour was a cloak the colour of their dragon’s eyes and under scales. The deep hood was trimmed in rabbit fur, and the cloak was held in place by a golden clasp in the shape of an eye with a bright jewel centered on the iris. The third eye was thought to bring luck to the bearer in Djinn culture.
Stamping dragons ruffled wings and stretched their necks to sniff at the air, anxious to take to the skies in flight now that the time had come. Ten dragons, Djinn, and daughters of men stood at attention in the lush meadow, shifting nervously as Madame Cherise mounted the natural rock podium to address her charges. Overhead, patrolling dragons and Djinn circled the skies, drifting on the warm currents of air, guarding against the possibility of attack.
As she settled into place, silence descended. Even the birds quieted, sensing the tension in the air.
Clearing her throat, Cherise allowed her gaze to drift over the young women before her, then said, “Daughters. Dragonmergers. Honoured dragons. You are the hope for the world. Not just for Jintessa, but for Gaia, too. Not just for humanity, but for the Djinn. Long ago, before either nation knew of each other’s existence, a brave few ventured across the lethal waters by the only means available, on the back of a willing dragon. These early Djinn explorers sought only to increase their knowledge and explore beyond Jintessa. Thrilled to discover the lovely land of Gaia, they eagerly sought interaction and merger with the humans, believing that both lands would benefit from the combination.
“Unfortunately for them, humanity was not ready for such an enlightened joining and their advances were met with distrust and open hostility. Only among those with magic was it even possible to merge. This isolated those with magic, casting a pall of suspicion over the magical community. At the urging of Emperor Pius the Third, the Great Purge swept the land, driving all magic underground. Those with magic that were captured during the Great Purge disappeared. Dragon, Djinn, Dragonmerger, witch, wizard, they were never seen again.”
The silence was absolute.
“Today stand before me the last of the gifted, those with the ability to join in the triad merger discovered by Madam Marion. Chryso, here,” she gestured to Chryso who stood beside her and slightly behind, “was the first and is still bonded to Marion to this day. Chryso, how old are you?”
Chryso stepped forward and said to the Dragonmergers below, “I am one thousand, two hundred and eighty-three seasons.” The girls gasped, and whispers broke out as they looked at their Djinn partners with questioning eyes. “A Dragonmerger is not of age to merge until they are at least three hundred seasons old.” He stepped back.
“With this merger, you will find that your lifespan will be significantly increased.” Cherise’s eyes drifted to her daughter Shikara, who had grown to be a tall, willowy young woman with white gold hair. “This is both a blessing and a curse, for you will find that those around you, whom you have known all your lives, speed toward death while you barely age. It is a difficult thing to bear, to watch those you love age so. I tell you this to forewarn you. Nothing back home is as you remember it, if you can remember it at all. Time has moved faster there than here. When you return, should you meet up with the male heart bearers, they will be middle-aged men. They would need the merger with a dragon to inhibit their aging.” Heads nodded.
“So we come to this. Until now, I have not told you what your mission is. Why were you brought here? What is the purpose of all of this?” She waved her hand at the training ground and the school perched on the mountain side. “Why is any of this important?
“It is for this reason that you have been merged. Your task is to free the provinces of your birth from the control of the Citadel. With the formation of the wall between the provinces during the Great Purge, the enslavement of our peoples was enacted. A tithe was required of every province to pay for the creation and maintenance of the magical wall that separates the provinces. Fear, suspicion and greed, fueled by the teachings of the Citadel and the church have pitted province against province and slowly solidified all power in the Citadel. This tithe initially was based on a percentage of the profits of the people within any given province. At first it was a welcome relief and stabilizing factor for the provinces, erasing their fear of invasions and conflicts across borders. All parties were forced to go to the central neutral zone of the Citadel for peaceful bartering and trade. But of recent date, the demands on the people of all provinces have been increased. The tithe has now been doubled, and it is no longer a percentage based on the wealth or gain of the province, but is now a set amount regardless of the economics of the land. Not only do the poorest provinces struggle to pay it, but they cannot even plead for leniency. The emperor is now sending out tax collectors who are reaping the land. If they cannot produce the required tribute, then the soldiers are charged with harvesting a person from each family to serve the Citadel until the debt is repaid. Of course, it is never repaid. “
“Why is the emperor doing this?” The words burst from Niloo’s lips, her poker-straight hair swinging as she tossed her head in anger.
“We believe he is building an army with the forced enslavement. Most that are taken are in their prime. We believe that he intends to seize control of the provinces and become emperor in truth. The role of emperor has always been one empowered by the provinces, a figurehead set up to act as a lightning rod for disputes. But as you know, the provinces have always been self-ruling. We believe he intends to change that and bring everyone in every province under his yoke. To do this, he needs a massive army and has created the perfect excuse to recruit without repercussion. By the time that the provinces realize what the plan is, they will be too far under the Citadel’s physical control. This is where you all come in. It is your task to disrupt his plans. It is your calling and your destiny to be the ultimate barrier to his plans.” Madame Cherise’s eyes swept the faces turned up to her.
“You are tasked with destroying the source of his power in the Citadel. But first you must free your provinces, for buried deep within each province is a key that will aid you. You must seek out the Keeper of the Heart in each province. This person’s identity, man or woman, has been hidden from the world, even my eyes, to protect them from the emperor. You must find the Keeper and recover the key. When all keys are recovered, you will be ready to face the emperor directly but not before. Fail to do this and the world is doomed.”
Worried looks were exchanged and muttering. Seraphina said with a tremor in her voice, “But where do we start? How will we find this person?”
“I am not sending you out with any guidance. I have a parting gift for each of you.” Madam Cherise climbed down the steps and walked over to the triads. She opened a satchel at her waist, pulling out a scroll sealed with red wax and tied with a ribbon. On each ribbon was a tag with a name. She handed a scroll to each daughter and stepped back. “The Keeper left instructions on how to find him or her when the time came. Do not open these scrolls here, for the ink will fade once it has been exposed to the light. When you reach your shores, open the scroll and commit the words to memory. You have the power of three sets of intelligence to aid you. Do not waste it.” The young women tucked the scrolls into the saddle bags on their dragons and turned back. Chryso had followed Cherise and was now handing over a larger sack to each of the women. “These are critical supplies, healing ointments and medicines for your dragons. Do not lose them and do not waste them. Once you gain the shores of your homeland, finding the elements necessary to replenish these will be difficult. The brewing instructions are enclosed, but you will need to find a healer with magic to have the medicines made correctly.” To his Djinn counterparts, he handed a second pack. “I have also packed supplies unique to your physical requirements. Enhancers to help maintain your bonds over long distances, should you be physically separated. Dehydrated food supplies for the unique nutritional requirements of shapeshifters. Remember, if you shift too often or for too long, you will deplete your reserves of magic needed to maintain the illusion. Do not shift unless there is great need.” They nodded, accepting their parcels.
“I cannot impress on you how critical your task is. Each of you will have a unique journey, but the goal is the same. Stop the emperor before he enslaves the world. Go, daughters of L’Ordre du Coeur Sacré.”
Chryso touched Madame Cherise’s arm and squeezed it gently, sharing an understanding with her, then went to join Shikara and Beryl. Madame Cherise watched with apprehension as Shikara climbed onto Beryl’s back.
It is time to break the bond, Marion. We are about to leave. I will look you up when we arrive in Gaia, he thought to his former bonder.
I will miss you, she sent back, and he could feel her sadness. He felt a snap, and then Shikara’s consciousness replaced Marion’s in his mind.
Hello, little one! Our bond is now complete. Shikara’s mind fulfilled with of wonder and excitement.
Hi there, she thought back. Uh oh, why are you sad? She sorted through the bundle of sensations for the first time.
“I will miss Marion. She was a great witch,” he said.
“We will find her and make sure she is safe,” promised Shikara.
The daughters of hope mounted their dragons, their Djinn shifting into birds to sit on their shoulders. The dragons stretched their wings and one by one bounded down the grassy slope and launched themselves out over the cliff. With powerful strokes of their wings, they pulled themselves skyward and turned in the direction of Gaia.
Cherise watched until the last triad shrunk to a pinprick then faded from view.
“Farewell!” she prayed in a whisper, “and may luck be your constant companion.” With a sad, final glance, she left the platform to return to the silent halls of the school, the other teachers trailing in her wake.