“Wait!” Vighon pleaded, drawing her back. “I… I just need to…” The northman tripped over his words, though Inara could guess at some of what he intended to say.
“I know,” she replied, her tone speaking volumes. “We will see each other soon.” The Guardian offered him a warm smile that told him to hold on.
When next Inara opened her eyes, she was in a place almost as dark as the ethereal world her mind had inhabited. Drakanan’s ancient halls loomed around her, supported by pillars thicker than any tree.
Almost any tree.
There was no escaping the images left imprinted on her mind after crossing over to the realm of magic. That tree, with its bark as white as snow, was gargantuan, its size mirroring its importance. It required their attention in The Moonlit Plains, where Alijah and Malliath had set plans in motion to open a doorway. That was where her real duty lay.
Namdhor is our destination, Athis spoke into her mind. There can be no other path. We must protect the king and your parents.
Your life is tied to that of the tree, Inara pointed out. Undoing whatever Alijah has done in The Moonlit Plains could save you and every dragon in the realm.
Alijah’s presence in the north would suggest there is still time. We must protect that which lies in our heart, whatever the cost.
Inara placed one hand to the cold stone of the eastern wall, wishing there was nothing between her and Athis.
Set to action, she made her way back to the entrance to the bonding chamber, easily found by the warm light spilling into the antechamber. When she had left the first time, Gideon had been lying on the ground while Adan’Karth saw to his wounds, inflicted by The Red Guards’ inquisitor. Now, her old mentor was on his feet with one hand resting against his ribs while Adan, seated on the lip of a step, inspected one of the exquisite eggs.
Inara glanced at the darkness behind her. “How long have I been gone?” she enquired, sure that it must have been quite some time given Gideon’s appearance.
“Not as long as you think,” the old master replied, wincing as he stretched his back. “It would appear Adan’s abilities know no bounds,” he remarked.
The Drake lazily waved a hand. “Appearances can be deceiving,” he said, a phrase he had no doubt learned from Asher. “I would sit here a while and recover.”
Gideon reached out and placed a comforting hand on Adan’s shoulder. “I am most grateful for your efforts. That’s twice you have put me on my feet.”
Inara scrutinised the Drake, seeing the physical consequences of that effort. “After all you’ve done for us, Adan, I would have you rest in a palace, but we must leave this place right now.”
Gideon turned to her with a frown creasing his brow. “You have spoken with Vighon,” he stated, easily detecting her distress.
“Yes,” she answered gravely. “He has taken Namdhor, and with a small force no less.”
“Alijah,” Gideon interjected, his mind always a step ahead. “He won’t stand for the capital, of all places, to fall into the hands of his enemies; it shows weakness.”
Inara agreed wholeheartedly with the assessment of her brother. “He’s likely travelling there as we speak.”
Gideon took in the hundreds of dragon eggs, obviously reluctant to abandon them. “Then we should be there to greet him,” he still declared boldly.
Inara hesitated as she imagined confronting her brother. They hadn’t come face to face since that fateful day in the throne room of The Dragon Keep. Since then, she had come to see Alijah’s true face after experiencing, first-hand, his malevolence. He was powerful, ruthless, and unwavering in his vision of domination. But he was also her twin brother.
There was no running from the inevitable clash. A part of her even craved it. He was her blood, her kin. Alijah needed stopping at all costs and who else but the Guardian of the Realm could face him? Athis poured his conviction into their bond and she soaked it up until her jaw was firm.
“To Namdhor,” she concluded.
Adan’Karth sighed with the effort required to stand. “I would not hold you back. And I would never give up the opportunity to fly with a dragon,” he added with half a smile. “Though I would not leave without Asher.”
Inara scanned the elevated tiers that rose up within the cavern. “He hasn’t returned?”
Gideon shook his head. “We thought he was out there with you.”
The Guardian experienced a sinking feeling in her stomach. “He talked of food and water,” she said, making for the antechamber.
“There might still be Red Guards lurking in this place,” Gideon warned, pausing to avoid one of the floating shards that passed in front of him.
Leading the way, Inara lifted her palm to the ceiling and called forth an orb of pure light to accompany them. Gideon looked tempted to do the same but, instead, used his limited magic for another purpose.
“Wait,” he commanded, halting the companions in the antechamber. “I would not leave them to harm.”
In the stark shadows of the orb, he raised both of his hands and slotted the four heavy columns of stone back into place, securing the bonding chamber behind them. The entrance blocked, it once again looked like nothing more than a large wall that boasted an intricate mural.
The eggs safe and Adan protected between them, they took cautious steps back into the maze of Drakanan. At every turn its ancient history jumped out at them, be it in the murals and statues or the signs of battles long forgotten.
With a destructive spell at the forefront of her mind and Firefly in hand, Inara felt confident calling out the ranger’s name.
