Anders felt a sense of pride grow in Zahara’s confidence. Alright, Tarron, quit distracting us from our duty. I wouldn’t want a herd of fairnheir to attack the Army because we were discussing what-ifs.
As Tarron backed away from his thoughts, Anders looked over to see Maija and Natalia on Raffa keeping pace with them. He wondered if Raffa felt discomfort from carrying his share of the crystals. At least we have saddlebags designed to carry large loads, he thought, eyeing the trunks strapped to Raffa’s sides.
He doesn’t like carrying them any more than I do, Zahara assured him.
Anders caught Maija’s eye and smiled. If the Prophecy he’d learned about his family and his life was true, then he would be with her at least until the end. He took some comfort in hoping they’d stay together until the final moments or, if they were lucky, long after Merglan was gone. Anders looked down at the small bag hanging by his left thigh. He could still feel Ivan’s presence and knew his father’s soul was there in the sealed box. No matter how hard he wanted to use the crystals’ energy to try to open the cube, Anders knew he wouldn’t have that luxury until the war was over. Zahara was right in that they needed to hang on to all of the energy they had to face Merglan and Killdoor and whatever else had taken up sides with them. His mind reeling with so much to consider, Anders attempted to refocus on scouting the broad reaches of the Plains.
***
Maija looked left and caught Anders staring at her. She could tell he was thinking about the coming days. Every time he worried his brow flattened into an almost-angry expression and his stormy eyes took on a faraway look. She smiled at him. He smiled back weakly, then turned his attention back to the landscape below. I wonder if we’ll ever be able to live normally again?
Don’t think so negatively, Raffa’s voice sounded into her thoughts.
Well it’s kind of hard to avoid it at the moment, she responded. What we’ve been facing are not ordinary relationship struggles. Will he ever feel safe enough to trust others again?
He trusts you, me and Zahara, Raffa said. He puts his trust in everyone come to think of it.
He does trust that people will be good more than most, I think. Maybe you’re right, but we still need to survive to find out.
There you go again. Stay positive, Maija. State of mind can make a world of difference.
It’s hard not to think about the last encounter with Merglan and wonder how much he was holding back? We were inches from death more than a few times in that fight.
I can almost feel that dragon’s claws digging through my scales as if it happened yesterday, Raffa told her. But we can’t let fear overcome us, not now. We must take each day as it comes, and at the end, we’ll see what will be.
Maija shifted in the saddle. Her movement caused her sister to falter slightly. Natalia grunted trying to reposition herself while hanging onto Maija.
“Sorry, I’m not used to flying with two people,” Maija said over her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it,” Natalia replied. “I’m just glad to be in the skies again.”
“I thought you’d like to come along,” Maija said. “When I came back to camp last night and saw the look on your face, well, I’m sorry it took me so long to ask if you wanted to fly with me.”
“What’s that!?” Natalia shouted. “I didn’t hear anything after, ‘camp last night’!”
Maija switched to mindspeak, I keep forgetting you can speak like this, too.
It’s the way to go when you’re flying, that’s for sure, Natalia said. Anyway, what were you saying?
I was just wondering what it’s like for you being back up here again? Maija restated.
I never thought I would have this feeling again. After Vieadore was taken from me...
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry, Maija said.
No, it’s fine, Natalia said with a combination of emotions Maija had never felt before. I haven’t flown since that day.
What was it like, facing Merglan alone? Maija asked.
Horrifying.
I can only imagine.
To most people I would say, no, they couldn’t imagine, but knowing that you have faced Merglan and Killdoor once, I believe you can imagine, Natalia paused and Maija could tell she was searching for the right way to explain her feelings.
I’m sorry, Natalia, to have to ask, but I do need to hear this from you. It could be of help to me when Anders and I are forced to fight him again.
Natalia struggled to force down the pain of her memories, I flew out with Keanu and Ragnadore, the other rider in training from Cedarbridge. We knew where we were going and what we were up against. I was overconfident, thinking that Merglan had gone dormant because of a severe injury when he last faced Ivan and Jazz. Ivan never fully disclosed what happened that day, only that he’d gone against her wishes and she’d died as a result.
Keanu and I were told the Elven Army was moving to strike at Merglan while he was still in the early stages of orchestrating a return to power. Asmond tasked us with guarding the skies. If Merglan showed up, we were to face him. When we found out Zahara was coming with us to be with Anders, we both knew the potential for a bonding was very high, so we made it our chief priority to protect her.
As we watched Merglan and Killdoor approaching in the sky, I could feel the wealth of his power and hesitated. Keanu hadn’t been in a real fight before and was eager to test his skills. He and Ragnadore tried to attack. Realizing how powerful Merglan had become, I knew Keanu was in trouble. I raced after him and we worked to distract Killdoor and Merglan. Even two against one, we were out matched. Keanu continued to attack relentlessly, trying to drive Merglan away from the elves and Zahara. The strategy worked in drawing Merglan’s attention, but my power was draining as I tried to defend Keanu, while Merglan’s power remained too strong to hold off any longer. In an effort to give Keanu space to escape, I attacked. When I had Merglan’s full attention, I withdrew, hoping he would pursue me. Instead, Merglan attacked Keanu and Ragnadore one-on-one. Without any help, Keanu had no chance. He was too inexperienced. They were dead before they hit the ground,” Natalia said coldly. She withdrew from Maija’s mind and they rode in silence for a time.
Raffa was the first to break the silence by saying, I have lost dragons, too. My father was a very aggressive male and could not be trusted when my siblings grew to full size. I watched my father kill my oldest brother when my brother tried to get our mother’s attention. After that I left them to be on my own.
That’s terrible, Maija said. I didn’t mean to pry into old wounds, but I’m sure there’s something I can learn from it before facing Merglan.
Don’t be sorry, Maija. It’s the way things are, and we can’t change the past, Natalia said. I will finish what I've started telling you as best I can.
Take your time, Maija said.
Natalia took several deep breaths and continued to describe what happened after Keanu fell. We tried to go back and help, but it was too late. I saw Killdoor turn his attention on us and felt the full strength of Merglan’s mental assault. Vieadore and I set our walls of defense, retreating into our minds. Just as we’d practiced, I tried holding him off as best I could while she focused on escaping Killdoor. After a hellish flight, I realized we’d successfully led them far enough away from the elves to allow Zahara to escape. I abandoned all hopes of returning to the army; my survival instincts kicked in. No matter what we tried, Merglan stayed on our tail.
I don’t know if Vieadore slowed or if Killdoor sped up, but Killdoor attacked us. I tried to cut him with my sword because my mind was being bombarded by Merglan. Our dragons were locked, intertwined as they flew through the air. I could hear Vieadore screaming as Killdoor’s claws raked her underside. I fought Merglan with sword and magic, trying to get a killing blow on either of them, but he was too quick. I don't think I landed a single strike on either of them. Killdoor released us and Merglan’s blade cut Vieadore deeper than his dragon’s claws had. We fell to the ground, and she pinned me under her body weight. They left us when they could tell my dragon was near death. I used all the energy I had left to try to heal her. The magic drained me and I fell unconscious.
Believe me, Maija, I did everything I could to save her. When I woke up, she was gone and I was left lying in a pool of dragon blood. I wanted to die. Without her, I had no reason to live. I would’ve done it myself if I had had the strength, but I spent the next day slipping in and out of consciousness trying to summon more magic, to end my suffering. Somehow, Anders found me in a dream. He, Ivan and Nadir pulled me out of that living nightmare and brought me to our healers. I'm not sure if you can get anything out of that. Just know that Killdoor and Merglan are relentless and will do everything and anything in their power to destroy you.
How are you able to go on after something like that? Maija asked.
