“Are there any Domitus you suspect of harbouring resentment towards the Society?” I ask, picking up on Orgev’s changing expression.
“Two who roam without purpose,” Orgev adds, pausing on our tour as we approach an enormous illustrated window, decorating the west wall of the mountain hollow. “You may have seen them in The Shallows recently.”
Orgev already knows about Odin and Neve Blin, making me wonder if he’s been expecting our visit.
“We saw them on our arrival here,” Conrad adds, seemingly irritated whenever he thinks of them.
“Yes, Conrad. They are rarely at ease here, meaning their future path is unclear.”
“What’s their problem?”
Orgev looks at Conrad and me before adding, “You.”
It turns out Odin and Neve Blin lost a lot of relatives in the last war, and they blame us for their deaths. Whoever the Blin members were who lost their lives, they chose the side of darkness: malevs aligning themselves with evil. Their dead relatives did their best to kill us, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Feeling more at ease in Drandok now, we stand by the large illustrated window at the west end of the illuminated space. Illustrated windows are designed to show multiple scenes, usually from different faculties or magical realms. All the scenes on this window are from the realm we’re currently in: visions of taming and healing.
The image I’m looking at shows another taming range … triangular in shape … a Silverback crashing into the mountain face as it attempts flight. Orgev runs his hand along the steel frame of the window, causing each pane to blend into a single image of an outside space, and a familiar roar.
I recognise Odin and Neve Blin straight away, hovering in the sky on the back of their Silverbacks — as emotionless as ever. They’re overseeing the release of other Silverbacks into the sky, ready to recondition the weakened beasts in the air. Conrad steps closer to me, studying every move the two Domitus make, searching for a clue to their true intentions. Are they damaged beyond repair or troubled soldiers trying to recover from battle?
Every move they make is marked with frustration, jerking their Silverbacks into position as they track the released Riadek: the official name for Silverbacks. They use a collection of charms and curses to control their flight path — two silent wizards with vengeance in their eyes.
“Still want that duel, Conrad?” Noah says, offering his best friend a half-smile.
Conrad doesn’t reply, more interested in the process of taming in the skies: a sky rider who understands the human-creature bond. “They’re not at one with them,” Conrad states, placing his right hand on the window. “Everything’s forced … as if they’re taking their anger out on the Silverbacks.”
“An interesting observation, Conrad,” comes Orgev’s reply. “You have a legendary connection to your Williynx.”
“You should feel aligned to your creature,” Conrad continues as his eyes narrow: a suspicion returning. “They’re completely disconnected from their Silverbacks, and look at how they release the Niavak curse … in a wave not a whisper. It’s all too crude: too forced.”
“Your friend mentions a duel?” came the voice of the eldest of our guides.
“Conrad thinks Odin and Neve were trying to draw us into something,” Lucy explains, throwing me a concerned glance.
We both know what’s coming next.
“As if they were drawing you here,” Orgev adds, rubbing his beard as he studies the black smoke filling the air: cursed smoke tracking weakened, disoriented creatures through the sky.
“Exactly,” Conrad replies, stepping back from the window, “and what better way than a duel to find out their true intentions?”
17
Subtle Sorcery
We leave the illustrated window and enter the mountain crevice to our left, leading us to another taming range where our silent foes await. Olin and Neve lead the taming in the sky: a procedure to condition weakened Silverbacks to comply to their new masters. I still don’t like the methods the Domitus use, but the Riadek are fierce creatures, able to rip a human to shreds with one swipe of their wings.
At the end of the day, it’s not my decision and if taming dangerous creatures is what we do now, it’s not for me to argue. I’m more interested in the setup of Drandok — almost like a halfway house between normality and criminality.
I accept that it’s a big improvement on ignoring problems until they spiral out of control. It’s better to know your potential enemies than believe they’ll never pose a genuine threat. As we make our way along the narrow crevice, the walls glowing with light, I touch Conrad’s hand to get his attention. We’re on the way to watch Olin and Neve in action, waiting to see their response when we appear on the mountainside.
If Conrad’s right and they appeared in Poridian Parlour to draw us here, he’ll get the duel he’s seeking. I’m just worried the two emotionless figures have got more than a friendly duel in mind, meaning our first trip to Drandok could be a memorable one.
Our Williynx stay close by, maintaining their tiny forms, as light appears at the far end of the narrow crevice: a sign we’ve almost reached our vantage point.
“Let’s take it easy until we know more,” I suggest, brushing my hand against Conrad’s, getting his full attention.
He buttons his grey coat as if he’s preparing for milder temperatures outside, ready to enter the taming range on the back of his trusted turquoise Williynx. “I’ll only react to what I’m faced with.”
“We don’t want a battle on our first visit here,” Lucy adds, adjusting the scarf around her neck.
We’re all skilled Night Rangers, equally comfortable in the sky or on land, which doesn’t mean the Silverbacks don’t pose a problem. You normally encounter Silverbacks in battle, firing out a volley of defensive charms as your Williynx spins and shoots out blasts of ice.
As this isn’t a battle, it’s not going to be a straightforward case of storming
