Wings of Tavea

Chapter NINE

Tracking Trackers


LOMAY OPENED THE DOOR and poked his head in. Kiora jumped. She had been so caught up in the moment with Alcander she had stopped reading threads without realizing it.

“I am sorry to interrupt, but we have a problem,” Lomay announced. “Your run-in with the Illusionist has piqued somebody’s interest. They are on the hunt.” He motioned for them to follow him outside where Kiora could feel Emane and Drustan waiting.

“Who’s coming after us?” Emane asked as Kiora stepped down.

“I would expect the Illusionist and a horde of unpleasant creatures,” Lomay said as if he were planning a lovely stroll on the beach. “Alcander, you will need to get ready.”

Alcander strode across the camp as Drustan stepped forward. Bending at the waist, he clasped his hands together in front of him in a shallow bow. “I am at your service, my lady. What will we be flying on today?”

Kiora’s hands sweated profusely and her stomach rolled, remembering the last battle she had been in. Taking a breath, she wiped her hands on her pants. “Perhaps a dragon,” she said respectfully to Drustan, “if it’s not too taxing.”

“Of course not,” Drustan responded. “Does my lady have a request in color?”

Lomay looked back and forth between Kiora and Drustan.

“Please, Drustan, I am begging you.” Emane dragged his fingers though his hair. “Just a normal color.”

“My lady?” Drustan repeated.

“I think a subtle brown dragon will do nicely,” she said, winking at Drustan.

He sighed and shook his head. “Such a diplomat. Very well, brown it is.” Drustan moved off a ways to shift without crushing them.

As he was growing, Lomay hobbled closer to Kiora. “What color does he normally choose?”

Emane answered, “Anything he thinks might bother me. That usually means pink or purple.”

“A pink dragon,” Lomay said thoughtfully. “I think I would like to see that.”

“What was that?” the fully formed dragon asked.

“Nothing!” Emane said quickly.

“Dragons have excellent hearing, you know.”

“Yes, I know,” Emane grumbled. “I know.”

Kiora had summoned Emane’s weapons, and both she and Emane had secured themselves to Drustan’s scaly back when Alcander came flying over on the most interesting creature she had ever seen. He rode on a saddle strapped to a long, furry body that looked liked someone had washed it and then stretched it out before it could dry. The face was that of a petite fox with oversized ears pointing straight up. It had four stubby legs, a long tail, and two large wings of bat-like skin lined with the same tan fur that covered the rest of him. The two white circles around his eyes made them look even larger.

“Ah, isn’t that just the cutest thing?” Emane mocked.

The cute little thing suddenly became a lot less cute. Opening its mouth it hissed, revealing needle sharp teeth. The teeth were stacked in three rows, all angling backwards just enough to allow the fox to close its mouth. Green drool slid down its lip and fell to the ground below. The drool was acidic, sizzling and burning where it dropped.

“Isn’t he though?” Alcander almost smiled, patting his ride.

“No. No, he’s not,” Emane retracted with a gulp. “Does it spit?” he asked warily.

“Only at people he doesn’t like.” Alcander tilted his head to the side. “I would be careful if I were you.”

“How many of us are going?” Kiora asked, trying to change the direction of the conversation.

“Us,” Alcander said shortly.

“Just us?” Emane repeated.

“If she is as powerful as she appears to be,” Alcander shoved a finger towards Kiora, “she should make up for you. Let’s go.” He turned the flying fox and shot up to the main cave entrance.

Drustan turned and followed.

“I really hate him,” Emane said. “How many times do I have to save his life before he treats me like a human?”

Drustan laughed. “He is treating you like a human. That’s the problem.”

Kiora laughed out loud. “He’s right, Emane. Maybe you should ask Alcander to treat you like a Tavean. That might be more what you’re looking for.”

The dragon barely fit through the cave’s exit. Drustan’s wings scraped against the sides with a horrible grating sound. Emane and Kiora had to pull their legs up to prevent them from getting pinned between rock and dragon. Kiora threw a bubble over the group before they left the magical barrier.

“We have to be careful,” Alcander shouted back to them, although Kiora was sure it was directed only at Emane. “They are sure to have trackers with them.”

“What’s a tracker?” Kiora asked Drustan.

“Dangerous,” Drustan said in his booming dragon voice. “Once they get a trail they will track it until they find you. Even if it takes a lifetime, they will not give up your scent.”

“And does it usually take a lifetime?” Emane asked.

“No.”

“We thought the hounds were bad,” Emane grumbled.

“The hounds are play toys compared to the trackers,” Drustan said. “The hounds have a better sense of smell, but bore easily. The trackers become obsessed.”

The flying fox and the dragon flew over the dry riverbeds and out into the country. This was the farthest Kiora had traveled into this new land, and it reminded her of her home. The pines were thick, covering the ground. She looked down, reminiscing about the happy times. Flying into the Hollow on Arturo. The trees snapping like toothpicks behind Morcant when she first met him. Unconsciously, her fingers moved to the dragon scale beneath her shirt.

The group flew on until the pines began to thin and they came to rolling hills peppered with a few lone trees. They were not as straight as the pines in the forest. Being unprotected from the wind had left them bent and twisted. Although not as twisted as the threads Kiora was receiving from the oncoming army. Alcander motioned them down, landing on top of the largest hill looking down over the oncoming force.

It wasn’t a large group by any means, maybe fifty. But they were an interesting sight. The ranks had formed a tight circle, stepping together. The ones in the front marched forward, the ones on the flanks sidestepped, and the ones in the back marched backwards. At random intervals the soldiers on the outside reached out their hands in sync, sending out fireballs of magic. A dragon, chained with magical bonds, moved in the middle. The inner circle of soldiers would poke the dragon periodically, forcing him to spray his fire straight up.

Kiora evaluated the unusual tactics. “They’re trying to pop bubbles, aren’t they? In case we sneak up on them.”

“Exactly,” Alcander said.

Kiora could see an Illusionist as well, slithering along inside the circle in its natural, hideous form. Three black creatures she had never seen lobbed along the outside of the group like apes. They were hairless with large snouts, leaning on their knuckles, sniffing the ground as they went.

“Are those the trackers?” Emane asked.

“Yes,” Alcander replied.

Emane looked sideways at Alcander and then out to their surroundings. “So, we just march in there and let them pick up our scents?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of plan is that?”

Alcander turned stiffly, his eyes cold and calculating. “Just make sure they are all dead before we leave, and we won’t have a problem.”

“Great,” Emane nodded in frustration, “absolutely great plan.”

Kiora still hadn’t pulled her eyes off the army. “Why aren’t they bubbled?” she asked.

Slowly detaching his eyes from Emane, Alcander followed Kiora’s gaze. “They have been traveling for some time. Besides, they don’t mind being found. You forget, they are the majority.”

“Are those Taveans on the outside of the ring?” Kiora asked, pointing at the fair-skinned people whose black hair whipped in the breeze.

“Yes.” Alcander sighed. Kiora glanced sideways at the sadness in his voice. “When they followed the Shadow, they changed.”

Kiora knew exactly what he was talking about. Just like the Fallen Ones, their appearance had changed to match their choices.

The small army moved closer, the trackers’ noses close to the ground.

Emane fingered the sword at his side, his eyes darting around. “You still haven’t taught us how to mask our threads. Isn’t this going to make things worse? Us being out in the open again?”

“Something will feel your threads again. But as I said, the goal is to make sure anything that feels your thread doesn’t leave,” Alcander answered matter of factly, crossing his arms.

Kiora’s stomach knotted as her fingers clenched the sides of her pants. She had been desperately trying to prepare herself for the idea of causing death. She knew it would be a part of her life. But annihilating an entire group was impossible to prepare for. Even as she searched for another solution, she knew there was none.

“All right, what’s your plan ,Alcander?” Emane said. “There are fifty of them and four of us.”

“No, there are three of us and one Solus.” He raised his eyebrows at Kiora as if confirming her status again. “Kiora will act as a distraction and break the ranks. Drustan, you take out the dragon. I will deal with the trackers.”

“And what about me?” Emane asked.

Kiora jumped in before Alcander could say something like Hide behind a tree. “He’s an excellent shot,” she said. “He can help wherever we need extra fire power.”

Alcander’s annoyance showed in the sideways purse of his lips. “Fine, you cover us from here. Keep your eyes peeled.”

Emane face grew red, but he agreed.

Kiora moved down the hill and positioned herself in front of the group. She could see the Taveans’ blood-red eyes under their helmets. It was such a clear picture of how they had turned. Kiora hoped it would make it a little easier to fight them.

Alcander and his flying fox were on their way to the back of the group. Drustan was using the little amount of bubbling ability he had to position himself high enough above the dragon to avoid a fire burst shot. This left Emane unbubbled on the back of the hill. Kiora had wanted to make him a magical boundary, but the trees were too far apart and there was nothing to anchor the magic to. They were all counting on the fact that it would take the army a while to notice Emane’s faint thread.

Unfortunately, they had all overlooked the trackers’ sense of smell. The wind shifted directions, picking up Emane’s scent and blowing it right to the trackers. Their noses sniffed the air furiously, and Kiora’s stomach dropped as shouts and growls filled the air.

The trackers pushed forward, taking off at a dead run. Kiora had no choice—she dropped her bubble. The trackers skidded to a stop, their dark heads turning in her direction. A battle cry went up from the Taveans as they dropped formation and attacked. Kiora leaned down, opening up her magic. Fire erupted from her hands, racing along the ground and creating a massive firewall between her and the enemy. Drustan’s thread reappeared as he dropped out of the sky, spewing fire ahead of him.

The Taveans were chanting on the other side of the fire line, trying to counteract the magic she had used. Kiora cursed under her breath when the firewall started losing height. She could probably bring it back up, but how many times? Taking a step back, Kiora got ready to release the wind.

Then a tracker exploded though the diminishing firewall, teeth bared. Facing the tracker, she threw a shield. The first tracker had not even crossed the distance when she heard another snarl behind her. She whirled and saw a second tracker flying through the fire. A shield only protected one side and she felt the first tracker slam into it. She waited for impact—but instead of feeling teeth sinking into her neck, she heard a yelp and the thump of a body crashing to the ground as the first tracker crashed into the shield in front of her. One of Emane’s arrows was sticking out of her attacker’s black hairless neck.

A second later an arrow tore through the other tracker’s side, who fell without a sound, its thread instantly silenced. Trying not to look at the dead, Kiora dropped her shield and gathered as much wind as she could before unleashing it at the line of Taveans who had almost managed to get her firewall under control. The wind slammed into them, knocking them off their feet and rolling them helplessly backwards. She still didn’t want to use attack magic. She had only used it once before, against Dralazar.

Arrows were flying overhead as Alcander dove in. Coming over the top of the bowled-over Taveans, the flying fox opened its mouth and sprayed acid over everything below. The Taveans screamed in pain, thrashing as the acid ate through their skin. One struggled to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. Screaming, the Tavean shot a bolt of bright blue magic through the sky. Alcander put up a shield and the magic bounced off. The fox went straight for the attacker, grabbing him around the waist and puncturing him with hundreds of acid-tipped teeth. The scream was so much worse than the first one. The fox dropped the Tavean, smacking its mouth as if he had tasted bad. The Tavean hit the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop, his body twitching helplessly. Kiora’s knees started to go weak.

A familiar voice entered her head: Kiora, you will get them all killed. I am coming.

“Arturo?”

“Shield, Kiora!” Arturo demanded.

Kiora didn’t look to see why—she obeyed. A loud crash startled her when another bolt of blue magic deflected off her shield. The white Pegasus swooping out of the sky distracted the group for a minute. The battle slowed to a stop as everyone, including Alcander, stared with wide eyes.

Arturo was almost on the ground. Get ready, Kiora, their shock will wear off soon enough. He landed and Kiora threw herself on top of him, clutching his mane as he pushed himself back into the sky. Emane took advantage of the distraction and shot another couple of arrows, taking out some Taveans.

Arturo flew her high, steering away from the battle.

“What are you doing?” Kiora yelled, flipping around to watch the battle growing small behind her. “I can’t leave them.”

Why not? You aren’t helping them, Arturo thought as calmly as if they were having a normal conversation.

“Of course I am—I just—” Kiora stuttered, clenching his mane in her fists.

No, Arturo said sharply, you are doing tricks. These people are not playing for fun, Kiora. They are after your blood. I know how you feel. I hear your thoughts. I feel your pain. But it does not change the situation. Arturo waited for a response, then added, I hear their thoughts too.

Kiora didn’t ask what those thoughts were. She could guess close enough to garner Arturo’s meaning.

You are the Solus. You are fighting for the greater good. You understand people will die. But what you have refused to understand is that people will be killed at your hand. It is the way it must be.

“But, I—”

No. There are no buts. You must make a choice. Either fight or I am taking you somewhere safe.”

“Take me down,” she said through clenched teeth. “I will fight.”

You cannot hold back.

“I know.”

Arturo turned, pulled his wings in, and shot towards the ground. Blue magic was flying as the surviving Taveans tried to knock Alcander out of the sky. Drustan was bleeding but had his jaw wrapped around the neck of the opposing dragon. And Emane was nocking another arrow, unaware of the Illusionist sneaking up behind him.

“Arturo,” Kiora yelled. “Go to Emane!”

Arturo tilted in the direction of the Illusionist as Kiora sent a bolt of white-hot magic straight at the hideous creature. The magic slammed into it, nearly taking its arm off. The creature howled in pain and immediately began creating Illusions in an attempt to defend itself. Emane disappeared into its growing fog and another Emane emerged, broken and bloody.

Kiora closed her eyes. “It’s an Illusion. Take us in.”

The Illusionist changed form and a dragon uncoiled itself from the fog, snapping its jaws. The snick of its teeth rang in Kiora’s ears.

Narrowing her eyes, Kiora demanded, “Straight into the mouth.”

Arturo shot into the gaping hole, passing harmlessly through the giant yellow teeth. The dragon vanished before them like the illusion it was. In the middle of the swirling fog, she finally saw it, the black Illusionist. Reaching out her hand she hit it again with magic and it collapsed, the illusion dying with it.

“Emane,” she shouted as Arturo turned. “Cover me.”

Alcander had been joined by Drustan. The Taveans were still throwing magic but having a hard time while avoiding dragon fire and fox spit. Kiora and Arturo joined the fight. Kiora threw bolts of white attack magic, mentally retreating deep within her head where she could shut herself off from what she was doing. Alcander swooped past them, throwing green magic.

The field was spattered with colored magic bolts as they flew from side to side. The Taveans were falling quickly, and despite her attempted mental seclusion, Kiora felt the pain of each lost life. One by one lives were being extinguished, some by her own hand, and Kiora struggled to keep herself above the sorrow.

Alcander gave a shout of alarm. Kiora looked up to see that a tracker had removed itself from the group and was running over the opposite hill. Alcander summoned a bow, shooting arrow after arrow, but none made their mark.

Kiora turned and shouted, “Emane!”

Emane stood on the hill and pulled back his last arrow, taking aim. The arrow flew faster and farther than should have been possible and pierced the tracker through the heart. The tracker fell midstride and rolled down the hill where it lay motionless. Turning slowly, Alcander looked at Emane, who looked back with a smug expression. Alcander gave him a small nod of what could only have been approval.

Kiora felt one more thread on the field. A Tavean was lifting his hand behind Alcander. She shot a bolt of magic at him. The Tavean fell and the field was empty of all threads, except those she had come with.

“Take me out of here, Arturo.”

Where?

“Anywhere but here.”

Arturo obediently soared away. She heard voices calling after her but ignored them. She had to get away from the blood. She had managed to hold herself together, but her facade was crumbling and the pain was exquisite.