Chapter 2 #2
“It seems a shame though to lose our advantage with the Behemoth,” Caden said. “But I suppose we can fight again another day?”
Raziel looked after the Behemoth again with a grunt.
We are losing a great advantage, Raziel said.
Iolaire twittered loudly and lightly touched Raziel’s still wounded wings.
“Iolaire has a point. We’re in no shape to really fight. And Valerius could be in real trouble. He and Illarion were going after the horde who had my body…” Caden’s voice dropped off and he put a hand against his chest.
Did the horde still have his body? Would going through the “mirror” in the lair simply have him and Iolaire among the horde? And what about Valerius and Illarion? Had they gotten hurt?
These wounds will keep us where we are! Raziel flapped those ragged wings and let out a wounded sound.
Iolaire twittered and curled its head against Raziel’s chest. Raziel folded those wings around Iolaire. Caden again thought, “cute.” Who knew that two beings as big as buildings could be adorable? As adorable as kittens.
Very large kittens with claws and teeth and wings...
I cannot fly back to the lair yet, Raziel said almost wearily. You two should go. Caden, you need to go back to the material realm. You and Iolaire are bound fully again. It will join you.
“We’re not leaving you,” Caden said.
Iolaire gave a squeak of agreement.
“What about the others? Landry and her brothers? And… Jasper…” He grimaced as he said that.
Their bodies are still controlled by the Behemoth. It is unlikely if they return that they will be able to take back their forms. They will simply be cast adrift, Raziel answered.
“So until the Behemoth is destroyed, they can’t leave here?” Caden asked.
It is worse than that, Raziel said with a dip of its head.
“Worse?” Caden’s eyebrows lifted.
Iolaire twittered softly and sadly. It already knew what Raziel was going to say.
There will come a time when they will not be able to return even if the Behemoth is defeated. Their souls will not recognize their bodies, Raziel said.
Caden blinked. “They’ll… die then?”
And they will not be able to go on to where they belong as they will be trapped here, Raziel explained. This is not where human souls go to return to the Wheel.
“The Wheel? Reincarnation?” Caden’s eyebrows lifted.
Yes, I have seen the same souls again and again, but these people will be stuck forever here, unable to make the journey they should, and hunted unless they stay in our lairs, Raziel said.
Caden felt stunned. That was worse than death.
Now that he knew they went on. Humans were reborn!
That was amazing. Wonderful really. So no one was actually ever lost. If one stayed around long enough--an eternity--they would find those who had left them before on another turn of the Wheel.
But Landry wouldn’t return. Her brothers wouldn’t.
Maybe he wouldn’t be that upset if Jasper didn’t, but what about all those others?
Some of them were clearly misguided but not malicious like he was.
To sentence them to this terrible eternity… No, that would be awful.
“How… how long before that’s the case?” Caden asked.
Raziel would not meet his eyes. Iolaire’s wings drooped
Not long, Raziel said.
“So if we don’t defeat the Behemoth now--which we can’t do--it’s over for them, isn’t it?” Caden realized.
Raziel nodded. I am sorry.
“No, no, you have nothing to be sorry about,” Caden said and passed a hand over his eyes. “They made choices. We did our best.” He stared down at his hands. “If only we could reach the other Dragons, but they’re too far away.”
They would not come. It would leave their bonded ones at risk. It was one thing to leave my Valerius in Mephous’ charge, but for them all to come… Raziel shook its head.
“Ironic, because killing the Behemoth here will stop the explosion from hurting anyone in the material realm,” Caden pointed out.
Yes, it would be, but it is unsafe. The horde could destroy our bonded ones and that is worse than anything, Raziel muttered.
Iolaire nuzzled the Black Dragon tenderly. Raziel was missing Valerius as much as he was. Caden flew gently down to them and stroked their noses. Raziel let out a snort at his touch, but its eyes half-closed in pleasure. Iolaire pressed the side of its snout against Caden’s chest.
“I love you both,” Caden told them.
We love you, Raziel said.
Love, Iolaire sent.
Caden smiled so broadly that his eyes nearly shut.
But then Raziel and Iolaire’s head snapped up to look towards the mountain that housed Raziel’s lair, and he supposed, Iolaire’s lair now, too.
Caden spun around. At first, all he saw was the mountain as clouds passed over it, but then shapes--draconid shapes--started emerging from the mountain and clouds.
Caden began to count, “One… two… three… four… five… six… seven! That’s all of them! All of the Dragons! Holy cow! Mephous is in the lead!”
Caden couldn’t help the raucous laughter that left him.
He was still flying so when he curled into a ball, he spun head over feet.
Iolaire nosed him to stop his rolling. Caden wiped the tears of amazement from his eyes.
It was the third or fourth time he’d cried in such a short space of time, but he didn’t care.
This all warranted it. Even as he dried his eyes, the seven shapes were not only still in the air, but they were larger. The Dragons were really there!
“But how? How are they here?” Caden wondered.
The fools yet… Raziel shook its huge head, red eyes wide with wonder.
All seven Dragons hovered above them before landing heavily all around. Mephous was nearest. Caden flew right over to the Green Dragon and reached to embrace its snout. Its eyes widened and Caden lifted his eyebrows.
“No hug? Just a little one?” Caden wiggled his fingers.
Mephous reached with one huge clawed finger and gently rubbed Caden’s cheek while chuckling low.
I am here for battle, not hugs, little dragon, Mephous said.
“You know about that nickname, huh? Cool!” Caden hugged the huge finger.
His gaze swept over to Scylla next. The glittering blue of its scales was like water condensed to a solid. Scylla smiled at him even as its tail swept majestically. He flew to Scylla. Esme’s Spirit allowed the hug.
“Scylla! You’re here! You’ve no idea… thank you!” Caden said.
We heard the call of King Valerius and came, Scylla said.
“Valerius! Is he all right? Is he--”
He is well, but weak. He needs Raziel back as do all our bonded ones, Scylla explained.
Caden let out a whoosh of breath knowing that Valerius was okay. Weak, but still okay. That was something. He saw Eldoron’s glittering golden head rising up over Scylla’s shoulder.
“Eldoron! Oh, I couldn’t forget you! Look at how magnificent you are!” Caden enthused.
Battles are always messy, but I agreed to come. The others can’t do this without me, Eldoron told him.
Caden flew over to the massive Golden Dragon who posed and preened for him. Caden admired Eldoron and clapped at which Eldoron bowed. Then Caden kissed its snout, which had Eldoron blushing. Caden couldn’t help laughing.
Then it was Lana’s turn. As playful as Kaila, Lana snuck under Eldoron’s wing then muscled the Golden Dragon out of the way to get Caden’s attention.
“Lana! How are you? Wow! Look at the sun on those scales! So gorgeous. But you deserve a sparkling ocean, not this crater,” Caden said as he caressed Lana’s head.
Lana nodded. This place is suffering, but we will end that by ending the Behemoth.
It was Evren who spoke next, It seems like the battle already began. I see much blood and it is not yours, Raziel’s or Iolaire’s.
“No, both Raziel and Iolaire fought like demons,” Caden said.
Fought like Dragons, Zephyra countered. Jahara’s magnificent Dragon Spirit smiled at him. And I see that you played quite the role, little dragon.
“I couldn’t really do anything except distract the Behemoth,” Caden admitted, his throat getting tight as he remembered his helplessness.
Zephyra and Evren nuzzled him gently.
You were brave as always and led the way, Zephyra said.
Besides, the Behemoth’s destruction is our duty, Xipil said.
The Red Dragon had kept its distance. Caden slowly approached it.
It was Mei who figured out that using the mirror in the throne room would get us here fast enough, Evren said, shaking its silver scaled body.
Caden stopped before Xipil. Like Mephous, the Red Dragon was the most unapproachable, but Mephous seemed to have warmed to him. Xipil regarded him steadily.
“You agreed to come,” Caden said, “thank you.”
Xipil inclined its red head. We are stronger together than apart. This is the only way.
“So you know…” Caden swallowed, “that you’re not alone?”
Xipil went very still and a faint look of amusement crossed that draconid face after a brief moment. You would have us all do a group hug.
“Uhm, are you down for that?” Caden lifted his shoulders.
Xipil tipped its head back and laughed, which was a dark, throaty sound.
Then Xipil inclined its head so that he could give it a brief kiss before retreating back to Raziel and Iolaire.
Raziel was regarding all the other Dragons with something akin to shock.
Iolaire twittered and cuddled against the large black chest. All the Dragons regarded them.
We have come to have you lead us into battle again, Raziel, Zephyra intoned and bowed its head.
The others slowly followed suit with Xipil and Mephous bowing last, but definitely bowing. Iolaire twittered in awe. There was this exchange of power. Caden felt the blast of it from all of the dragons to Raziel. Raziel’s wings suddenly spread to the sides and Caden gasped as they were healed.
First among equals, Caden thought.
The Black Dragon rose up. Let us end this.