Song of the Dragon

“I do not recall. I may have been too young to remember-and my memories are still disjointed, especially of my youth. But I believe that my family came from one of the clans near here.”

“The white clans were hunted to near extinction,” spoke the gray-haired man.

“It was obviously many years ago,” Drakis replied, “but I recall my. . my mother. . I believe it was my true mother. . telling me about our family to the north. She always spoke of going north and family at the same time.”

“And your father?”

“I do not recall my father, my lord.”

“Any other family?” the balding man asked.

“I. . I had a brother,” Drakis paused, looking away briefly and then, blowing out a quick breath, continued. “I had a brother whom I recall as being quite close to me. He, uh, he died-beaten to death by one of our masters. I may have had a sister. . but I cannot say with certainty whether she was my actual sister or some relationship our masters concocted for us.”

The bearded one spoke next with impatience. “What caused you to rebel in your master’s House?”

“I. . I don’t know what you. .”

“Where did it start?” the balding man urged. “What brought you to the point of breaking the bonds of the Devotions?”

“Well,” Drakis thought. “I guess it all started with the song.”

The bearded man’s eyebrows arched up. “What song?”

“Well, it’s not really a song, I suppose. . I’m sorry, my lords, let me answer your question. I suppose in a way it started with the dwarf. .”

“Wait,” the balding man said, holding up his hand. “Tell us about this song.”

Drakis looked puzzled. “Well, it’s something that seems to be running in my head all the time. It wasn’t always there, but the dwarf calls it. .”

“The Song of the Dragon,” the bearded man finished.

“Well, the Dragon Song actually, but. .”

“Enough. Drakis. . come with me.” Shasa stood up from his chair and stepped in front of Drakis, crossing to the right side of the room. He took a torch from the wall and then stepped down to the corner of the lodge, beckoning Drakis to follow.

“Look here,” Shasa said, pushing the torch closer to the wall.

Drakis leaned forward, gazing at the relief carved into the wood planks. It was crude by elven standards- almost primitive-but the figures were unmistakably human.

“This is our story of what will be,” Shasa said, as he moved slowly down the wall with the torch. “The other walls tell of our past and our present but this wall. . here. . tells us the story that is yet to come. It is the story of the man who will be a slave but will break his own bonds. It is the story of the man who will come out of the south and journey across the waters to the ancient home of our people now lost to us, hidden beyond the clouds. It is the story of the man who will bring back the glory of humanity that was lost and destroy the oppressors of the land. Look here!”

Drakis drew himself closer to the carvings, following Shasa’s pointing finger.

“Here is this warrior-prophet being called home.”

“What are those creatures calling him?” Drakis asked.

“Dragons, brother. They are dragons calling to the souls of the chosen to come to them and find their destiny. Many have heard the dragon song, but none before you have followed the path of the story.”

“Are you a god?” the dwarf’s words echoed in his mind.

Drakis looked into the face of the Elder.

“Are you this Drakis, son,” the Elder asked. “Are you this warrior-prophet who will free us all?”

Drakis drew in several breaths before he responded.

“Elder Shasa. . I truly do not know.”

CHAPTER 39

Something of my Own

“Well, Drakis, what are you thinking?”

Drakis smiled. “I was just thinking how beautiful this place is, Elder Shasa.”

Drakis walked side by side with the large, balding Elder down the wide path on the right-hand side of the village square. Small children ran about their feet, chasing one another with concentration in their delight that was oblivious to the adults around them. The square itself was lined with stalls filled with a dizzying variety of goods- fruits and vegetables from the farms that terraced the hillsides surrounding the village as well as pottery, tools, weapons, shields, and any number of other crafts. Many of the goods were obviously made by the Sondau, while many others had quite obviously been looted during previous raids. Everywhere Drakis looked there were dark- skinned men and women, young and old, all freely engaged with one another. Three huge and powerful men stood together at the corner of the green speaking to each other in quiet tones but with large gestures, their eyes filled with the passion of their argument. Ahead of them, two women walked past, their arms filled with large fruits. They both turned to look at Drakis as they passed, then broke into giggling laughter as they walked on.

“Yes, son,” Shasa said as he stopped at a stall filled with a sweet-smelling, long yellow fruit and turned to face a woman with high, delicate cheekbones tending it. “There is no place more beautiful than Nothree. . wouldn’t you agree, Khesai?”

“Far be disagreement from my door,” the woman replied with a wide smile. “May the gods grant you a fair wind, Elder Shasa.”

“Where is Durian today?” Shasa asked. “I would have thought he would be here on market day. . especially with such a fine crop.”

“He is helping Moda repair a ship at the beach,” Khesai replied. “Moda has offered to help us add a room to our home in exchange.”

Shasa raised his eyebrows. “Another room? Then have the gods blessed your family, Khesai?”

“Soon enough,” the woman smiled even more.

Shasa nodded. “Have you met our traveler, Drakis?”

“Fate smiles,” Khesai bowed slightly with the traditional greeting.

“Fate smiles,” Drakis bowed back.

“Your family shall be in our hearts, Khesai,” Shasa said. “Forgive us our leaving. I must speak with Drakis.”

Shasa turned and continued down the path with Drakis falling into step at his side.

“Elder,” Drakis said, “I have only been here a week, and yet I feel more at home here than any other place I have ever been.”

“This was not always so, Drakis,” Shasa laughed deeply.

Drakis grinned. “No, Elder Shasa. . that is true. When we first arrived. . well, I had never seen any humans with skin nearly so dark as the Sondau.”

“And this worried you?” Shasa asked.

“Well, no. . I just felt terribly conspicuous. . as though everyone was looking at me.”

Shasa laughed again; warm and filled with humor. “Everyone was looking at you. It is easy to pick you out in a crowd. . your white face could be seen from two leagues in the darkest part of a cloud-covered night. Finding you is not a problem. . hiding you is.”

Drakis nodded.

They passed the great house at the end of the square. The path under their feet now moved under the canopy of the tall, palm trees and the huts of the village families. The sounds of a mother yelling from inside the home for one of her children drifted past them as the path soon started to climb a winding trail up the steep slopes surrounding the village and its bay.