Chapter 10 Sunlight #2
“Yes,” he admitted. “I see. And I intend to do things differently from now on. No Dragon is on their own. We are together. United. We will figure out…”
She was nodding and smiling. She no longer had her tablet and his heart seized in his chest. They were no longer in the throne room, but a golden field of wheat and was that--was that the Nile behind her?
“You’re going to be fine--no, you’re going to be better than that--with or without me,” she said.
“You’re wrong. I--”
But she was shaking her head. He saw a boat slowly floating down the Nile. He caught glimpses of people reaping wheat. The pyramids rose, beautiful and new, in the far distance. It was peaceful here.
“Chione,” he whispered.
She had turned her head to look at the boat. She was farther away from him.
“Chione,” he repeated.
She turned back, her head cocked to the side.
“Chione, please stay and be a part of this. See it through with me. Please,” he begged.
There was a sudden jerk and Valerius was jostled out of his imagination. He was almost glad of it. That had been painful. Too painful. And it hadn’t been real, of course. Chione was going to live. That was it.
But what had caused him to be so violently jostled?
They’d dropped. By about ten feet as if Iolaire’s flying had been interrupted.
He quickly glanced around, but everything seemed all right.
Without Raziel in the lair, he could not hear either Caden or Iolaire’s thoughts, but he had seen them looking down at him with concern every half hour or so.
He’d smiled up at them, giving a thumb’s up sign, because the wind whipped away his voice and he didn’t want to distract them from flying.
They had never flown so far or fast before.
Valerius didn’t know how much strength Iolaire had built up in the Spirit Realm, if any, to fly like this.
But every time they had opened their hand to look at him, he noticed they had been flying more slowly and strain had shown up in Iolaire’s sweet face.
He could tell now that the swift, sleek movements Iolaire usually made were now ragged and jerky.
They’re tired. At the end of their strength. And I do not think we are at the sun yet.
He managed to lift his head and peek out between two of the claws to see ahead of them.
The sky appeared as velvety dark as when they had left Reach.
Maybe there was a slight lightening in the east, but that just might be his imagination.
But they were definitely going much slower and gliding a lot more. They were flying ever lower too.
It had been his and Raziel’s intention to strengthen Iolaire and Caden’s flying skills.
To have them go for longer and longer flights to increase their stamina.
If he were honest, he and Raziel had not been too worried about it, because they would be there.
They would carry Iolaire and Caden if they had to.
But now, the littlest--if fiercest--Dragon had to do everything on its own.
Valerius was merely a burden, not a help.
Caden, can you hear me?
Nothing.
Caden, you’re doing so well. Being so brave. I am so very proud of you. I will tell you this again and again when I am able, Valerius sent.
There was another jolt and Iolaire’s wings faltered. Valerius’ heart was in his throat as he clutched at the weakening claws around him. He caught sight of not forests or fields, but single family homes below them. They had entered a town or city or suburb. There was no place to safely land.
Iolaire let out a desperate cry as its wings gave out again and they started to fall like a stone.
They were going to crash into the homes below.
They would crush the people sleeping in those houses!
Unless Caden shifted back into human form.
But if he did that… Valerius and Chione would die.
Caden wouldn’t be able to brace them from the impact of such a fall.
Kill helpless people in their beds or kill Valerius and Chione.
That was the choice right now if they didn’t find somewhere to land.
He saw Iolaire straining those wings, but it just couldn’t keep on.
It was looking frantically for landing space.
A wide enough road, a big enough lawn, an empty lot…
but there was nothing! Iolaire let out a thin cry of anguish.
Valerius opened his mouth to call out to Iolaire.
He wasn’t sure what he was going to tell the White Dragon. But the thought was lost.
Because that was when he realized his teeth were no longer chattering.
He wasn’t cold at all.
And it wasn’t because fear had stolen that sense from him.
It was because…
VALERIUS! Raziel roared in delight.
RAZIEL! Valerius cried back.
There were no words--nothing could truly represent his feelings--about hearing that beloved voice and feeling that having his Spirit back brought. Such joy, such happiness, was so piercing that he was weeping and laughing and screaming all at once.
Valerius saw Raziel in his chest. Warmth and strength and immortality flowed through him to the very tips of his fingers and toes.
The strength of the Black Dragon was his again!
Actually, there was more strength than before though he didn’t have time to really contemplate why that was or how it could be possible.
There were more important things going on right now.
Iolaire and Caden are exhausted! They are failing! Valerius sent Raziel that and all the information about Chione, the town below them and what they needed to do.
Shift! I will carry all of us to the sunlight! We will not lose our beloved Councillor! Raziel promised him and Valerius had never felt such gratitude.
Thank you, Raziel.
Thanking me?! There is no need! You are everything to me, Raziel told him.
Valerius teared up. And you are the same to me.
Bah, no more tears or thanks! Shift! I am here for you! Raziel proclaimed.
Iolaire dropped precipitously at that moment. Valerius easily crawled out of the closed fist, moving Iolaire’s claws out of the way with draconid strength. Iolaire looked down at him in confusion even as its wings flapped erratically.
We are here, Iolaire! Let us go! Raziel will carry you and Chione! Valerius said.
Valerius? Raziel? Oh, thank the gods! We’re out of--oh! We’re out of strength! Caden cried.
And they dropped like a stone, but Valerius leaped out of his hand and shifted directly underneath them. The White Dragon landed on top of Raziel’s broad back. There was only a little impact and Raziel lost about five feet of air, but the mighty Black Dragon could hold them all perfectly well.
Caden shifted then as he was able to keep a hold of Chione on Raziel’s back now. Valerius felt Caden press his body over Chione’s and dig his knees into Raziel’s spine with seeming ease.
Have you ridden on Raziel’s back before Caden? Valerius asked suspiciously.
Oh, I--
NO! NO ONE HAS EVER RIDDEN ON MY BACK! Raziel stormed, but Valerius thought he heard a smile in the Black Dragon’s voice.
You heard Raziel, Valerius, Caden chuckled. We’re not even on Raziel’s back now! There was a pause as Caden was shifting Chione and then he said in a very different voice, We’re… oh… guys, we need--we need to get to the sun. I don’t think… I don’t think…
Valerius imagined he saw Chione standing by the Nile’s edge, about to board that boat.
Raziel, get us to the sun! NOW! Valerius cried.
YES! Raziel answered his command.
The Black Dragon had never flown so fast. Later, people would claim that a meteor, brimming with fire, had screamed over their towns and villages and cities.
That their windows had cracked and crockery had fallen from shelves as it had passed above them.
That their homes had seemed to jump from their foundations and then settle back down again once it was gone.
People woke up in confusion thinking that an earthquake had occurred.
The horizon was no longer black, but a line of red and gold. Raziel aimed for that rip in the night to the day. And in seemingly seconds they passed from dark to gray to bright sunlight.
That sunlight flowed over Raziel’s head and rolled over its broad back. It covered Caden and then Chione. Valerius felt as much as heard Caden praying over the Sphinx Shifter.
C’mon, Chione! We’re in the sunlight now! We’re here! We made it! Caden begged. Please come back. Please come back! Please…
Caden ripped the metallic blanket off her and it flew away. He was trying to make sure that every inch of her was exposed to the life-giving sunlight.
Valerius… I don’t think… I don’t think… Caden’s voice was clogged with tears.
Valerius let out a sob inside of Raziel. He felt the Black Dragon curl around him.
Please, Chione, come back to us, Caden continued. We weren’t fast enough, Raziel. Iolaire and I weren’t strong enough--
No, Little Dragon, you did all that could be done, Raziel assured Caden with a tenderness that Valerius would not have thought the Black Dragon capable of before.
Iolaire twittered softly and slumped in the lair. It thought that they had failed too.
Chione, Valerius said quietly and he thought he saw her pause on the deck of the boat. Chione, we will love you always. I will make you proud. I promise.
We weren’t enough, Caden sobbed. But then Caden let out a cry. What the Hell?! Oh, my god! She’s on fire! She’s on fire!
Caden?! Valerius cried.
What was happening to his mate? Raziel craned their head around but it could not see what was happening on its back. It felt no warmth from this supposed fire. Not that the Black Dragon would, but--
She’s--she’s burned up! Valerius… She's gone! All of her… ashes are floating away, Caden gasped. I don’t understand. The fire wasn’t hot at all. But she’s totally gone.
In front of them, a slender, dark-skinned figure appeared in mid air. Her long hair flowed around her head. Her eyes were closed. Her arms were stretched to her sides. She only opened her eyes as she started to fall.
CHIONE! Valerius cried.
Raziel plunged and grabbed her in mid-air. She gasped and blinked rapidly up at them.
“Oh, that was--was quite something. I haven’t reincarnated like that in ages!” she said.
Chione? Valerius asked, uncertain if it was her though it looked, sounded and smelled like her.
“Why are you smelling me, Raziel? Stop that!” Chione pushed the dragon snout away.
Is that Chione, Valerius? Caden asked.
“You thought you lost me, did you?” Chione cocked her head to the side and smiled. “I considered moving on. I really did. But then… Well, you did promise me a wedding, didn’t you? A big Dragon wedding! I couldn’t miss out on that.”
It is her, Caden, Valerius laughed, filled with more joy than he could handle. We’re all safe.
And having a wedding? Caden goggled.
I did promise her. You don’t mind, do you? Valerius asked. We did talk about it in Valinor.
We did and I… I don’t mind at all, Caden laughed, thrilled and ecstatic. My parents are going to love this. Not to mention Tilly! Oh, you’ve got to ask Illarion to be your best man and--
Yes, anything you want. Valerius smiled.
I just want you, Caden sighed. We did it, Valerius. We did it. All of us.
Yes, we did.
Raziel banked towards home.