Damon inclined his head. Blond hair shot through with ashen gray fell to either side of the crown he wore, passed the sharp cheekbones, and revealed the scar beginning over his left eyebrow and carving down to his chin. The old wound struck at Tyrrick’s memories, and after a long beat he realized that it was a mirror to Old Lumas’ own scar, only here, the gaze remained whole.
Those sunset yellow eyes turned from Aldrus to him, and it felt as if a hot brand had been directed against his skin. There was a weight behind the Draconian’s stare that Tyrrick had never felt before, and he flinched, taking an uncertain step backwards. The straps around his waist drew taut and broke his gaze.
After a moment, those eyes returned to Aldrus, and in a slow, baritone voice, the Draconian spoke. “I had begun to doubt the Order of Corina Dracaena would return. And yet I find myself puzzled, however, at the sheer bravado in sending one Deiman and an untrained drakin to invade. Surely your Grand Lord would have deployed several more soldiers, yet no sign of further disruption has come from the other towers to east and west. Only here, along the same route that Lord Kendrell brought one of your own three months ago.”
Aldrus was silent for several moments. “We only just learned of the truth behind her silence for all of these weeks,” he admitted. “I rushed ahead without thinking, and now we’re at your mercy.” He shot a look to Tyrrick to make sure his apprentice did not say anything.
“That would explain much. As for mercy, consider yourselves fortunate this night, for I have need of Deimen not yet turned if I am to resolve the matter of the dispersion.”
Confusion spread over Aldrus’ expression, and despite the hunger of the bond and the weakness he felt, he lifted his head higher. “You would allow for a truce?”
“So long as you obey my commands and hold to peace while you are here. There is much I would discuss, and have you carry back to your Grand Lord, when the time is right.” Damon unfolded his arms and directed his gray nexagon forward, a simmering growl passing between the beast and the red dragon. “Yes, the resemblance is unmistakable. You must be the brother that she spoke of, Aldrus Harmon.”
Hope dared shine through the uncertainty in Aldrus’ eyes. “You give your word that my sister is safe, and that you promise equal safety towards myself and my apprentice?”
“In the name of our living god, Saturna Nexus, I swear.”
“Every account in history warns me not to trust you,” Aldrus began. “But my hubris put us in this position, and I would be a fool to challenge you. We will abide by your terms, Lord Reeves.”
Damon drew up next to Aldrus and extended his right hand. They clasped forearms and shook once.
Then Damon was leading his gray around to the north. “Come. The citadel awaits.”
Tyrrick sought out his master’s gaze again, having held his tongue for as long as he reasonably could. Yet Aldrus only spared him another look, and shook his head, before bowing in exhaustion.
Are we guests of the enemy, now? He sent to Agmentha.
So it would seem, she answered. If Embrys Harkon was to be believed about the truce three months ago, and now this Lord Reeves extends the same, then so too has Serena been a guest for all of this time, rather than a captive audience. We will have to find out for ourselves shortly.
Tyrrick simmered on that, glancing around at the Draconians surrounding them as they flew north behind the leader. He missed the comforting weight of their Coronacrux, the simplicity of knowing that they were fighting for a just cause in rescuing Serena. Uncertainty played over his face and in his thoughts as the following hours elapsed, until at last weariness replaced all.
The fires have gone out, Agmentha sent to him two hours into their renewed flight. He stirred and looked around. Sure enough, in the faint light from the night sky, the tumultuous surface had slowly shifted to hard, dark soil. And the air had softened, such that he could breathe more easily.
What happened? He wondered.
Something has changed. Look at the rising slope before us? Tyrrick looked ahead, and sure enough the land began to rise at a sharp incline. For long minutes they ascended the front of the vast mountain, and then at last they were over the edge and inside of a great circular valley.
Tyrrick blinked. He panned his head around, taking in the domain before them slowly. That same dark soil was replaced with verdant growth. Great towers rose out of the foliage, connected together by long bridges of stone. Smaller fortresses wove a pattern in between the trees, leading toward the immense circular dome at the center and lowest point of the valley. A natural laket formed around the lower half of the dome, and at its center there awaited another thinner tower with bridges spanning outward.
To the north-west a shelf of cleared land offered the nesting grounds of the nexagons. Dozens of the misshapen beasts were huddled up together, and near the back, as far removed from them as could be, waited a single amethyst dragon.
The sight of Beliax-rin filled Tyrrick with a momentary excitement, and renewed confusion that their enemy was indeed proving truthful. What is this place? It's like nothing we have seen since entering the infernal lands. It's more like the natural growth we have defended for centuries.
If this place is indeed where our greatest enemy dwells, then it is likely also the site of the confrontation between Saturna Nexus and Corina Dei out of ancient history. Perhaps her touch lingers here, Agmentha answered.
But why haven't we heard of this before?
I do not know. Perhaps had we attained the full rank of Deiman as Aldrus himself has, we would have been told, or perhaps only a select few who have been on rescue missions knew and kept it quiet. Until Aldrus is well enough to speak more or we return to Mount Dracaena, we will have to wait for answers.
Tyrrick looked around further as they were guided toward that shelf, and the bridge that ran from it toward a tall gray tower. The nexagons landed first, then Kaikha-rin and finally Agmentha. Tyrrick loosened the straps holding him in place and slid down to land roughly, then he was up and making his way over to assist Aldrus down as the weary Deiman practically fell from his sitting position.
Damon approached them and his eyes fell upon the glowing bracelet around Tyrrick’s wrist. “Tell me, young drakin, what is your name?”
“Tyrrick Kand,” he said slowly.
“Very well. I shall have food prepared to sate your hungers, and rooms prepared. Do not stray from them on your own. This place is dangerous even to those familiar with it.” Damon gestured, and two of the other Draconians came around to take the exhausted Deiman into their arms and assist him.
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“What about our dragons?” Tyrrick asked.
“They shall be fed in the morning. I trust your bonds will suffice until then.”
“Kaikha-rin is still injured, and I need to get these straps off of Agmentha,” Tyrrick said.
Damon stilled, looking them over. “Allain, see to the red’s wounds.” The third Draconian shuffled forward while Kaikha-rin released a low and steady growl in warning. The nexagons around all shied away with their own deep shrieks of discomfort, and from further away, Beliax-rin gave a louder roar. Damon exhaled. “If the dragon refuses assistance, young rider, there is nothing to be done. Attend to your own and Allain shall bring you to the dining chambers.”
“And my master will be safe?”
Damon turned that heavy stare upon him again. “I swore your safety upon our living god's name, Tyrrick Kand. Regardless of the history lessons you have attended, I am a man of honor.”
Tyrrick managed not to step back, but he still flinched, and nodded.
Seeing that their discourse was done, Damon led the others ahead and across the narrow bridge.
Are you well? The straps are not so uncomfortable that I would need them off immediately, Tyrrick, Agmentha sent him.
It will take some time to endure his gaze. But what of your own bruising and injuries? Has the bond healed you so quickly? Tyrrick sent back.
I am as healed as I can be, she answered. Tyrrick nodded and looked to the remaining Draconian. “How are we supposed to get past the nexagons?”
“Follow me, then.” Allain marched around the dragons and straight into the blind beasts ahead. With shouts of direction they gradually parted, allowing a path toward the back of the shelf, where straw had been laid down.
Agmentha emerged from the hoard first, and loped over toward the now wide awake amethyst. Kaikha limped forward slower. Yet they all gave a roar of greeting, further unsettling the shuffled nexagons, and a cacophony of shrieks lit the night air too. Allain looked at them all and shook his head. “Hurry up with the leathers, child. This night has grown long enough.”
Tyrrick spared him a dour look, yet he complied, and Agmentha shifted around as he loosened knots and buckles. After perhaps ten minutes he had the entire contraption on the ground beside her. She gave a deep huff of relief and stretched her wings fully, arching her back, and then found a cozy spot to curl up between the other two.
Thank you, Tyrrick, she sent. That does feel much better.
You’re welcome, lazy lizard, he sent her, the little comforts of teasing providing a sense of normalcy to the uncertainty still present, and she huffed again at him in laughter before closing her eyes. Beliax-rin held Tyrrick’s gaze for a few moments before nodding toward him and turning his attention to Kaikha-rin, where the two began to quietly growl.
Tyrrick turned to the Draconian. “Now what?”
“Now you follow me again and hopefully quiet down before dawn.”
----------------------------------------
The interior of the tower led downward, and then opened to a circular room with branching paths in each direction. Allain guided them to the south-east, past a handful of doorways every now and again, and then up another shorter stairwell. They emerged to a wide hall filled with three tables, and a small serving of fish and vegetables awaited across each tabletop. Aldrus was already eating, and his eyes found Tyrrick’s with relief and not a little heat.
Allain gestured for Tyrrick to take a seat wherever he liked, and then said, “Once you have finished I’ll see you to Kendrell's quarters.”
The younger rider nodded and approached the table across from his master. Only then did Aldrus say, “Kand, how pleasant to see you again. Have a seat.”
“Master.”
Ire filled Aldrus voice. “I was half unconscious as we landed, and came to after they sat me down-- alone-- to eat. Why were you absent?”
“No one else was available to see to Agmentha and Kaikha-rin like we would at home,” Tyrrick said. “And I wanted to see Beliax-rin to be sure he was well.” He sat down and gathered a full plate, using the opportunity to eat to avoid the judgment in Aldrus gaze.
“Kand, don’t let your usual haste get the better of you here. My mistakes have led us to this point, and I've been thinking about that since the hunger returned to normal. Whether this worked out in our favor or not, we are essentially relying on faith that Damon Reeves will abide by his word.”
“Do you think that Serena has been turned?”
“Until we see her face to face, I have no idea. Never have the Draconians acted this way. We don't know what he expects us to accomplish, and we have several centuries of conflict standing between us.” Aldrus spared the man near the doorway a bemused look. “Whatever this dispersion is, he has had my sister for three months to assist him, and he is no closer to resolving the matter.”
Tyrrick nodded and set his plate aside. “So be on guard, but otherwise keep my head down while we are here,” he summed up the situation.
“Yes.” Aldrus glanced at the remaining food and back with a frown. “Are you done already?”
“I’m full. The bond hasn't bothered me since I woke up, actually, and it was very weak at first. But it feels…” he closed his eyes to concentrate, reaching toward both Agmentha and deeper, and felt that warmth wash over his awareness. “It feels like Lord Odhran is with us, ever since we recovered.”
“Kand, open your eyes and look at me.” Tyrrick did so, and Aldrus’ expression sharpened. “Your natural light is glowing with yellow.”
“Like Lord Odhran’s?”
“No, this is… it's like that cursed shade is surrounding and washing out their natural color. Let go of the bond.”
Tyrrick did so, feeling Agmentha’s brush of curiosity, and he sent her a brief response about the discussion.
“That is better. Your gaze is normal again. Now tell me what you mean about feeling like he is here?”
“It just feels like there is someone else in the bond with us. And since this bracelet keeps glowing when I reach deeper into the bond, we assumed he found a way to replicate Corina Dei’s presence only using his own instead.”
The disturbed look upon Aldrus’ face only deepened. “That would be a monstrous invasion,” he stated.
“I felt that way at first too, but if he is taking on the burden while leaving us more connected, isn't that a good thing while we are here?” Tyrrick asked.
“I cannot say. But I would caution you against grasping more of the bond than you have to, just as with enlightening.” Aldrus set aside his own plate and climbed to his feet.
“Draconian. We are finished here.”
Allain bared his teeth in a crooked smile. “Then follow me, Deiman.”
He led them down the stairwell again, and then north-east through more long passageways and past open stairs.
Eventually the path ascended and they entered a low and wide room filled with bookcases, sword displays, and with windows on the left and right overlooking the forest and ring-lake respectively.
A large and well-worn chair sat before a sagging table covered in more books nearest them.
“The former Castle Kendrell,” Allain said. “Now yours for the time being. The bed and bath are somewhere in the back of all of this, I would assume.”
Aldrus walked in and had to duck his head or risk his crown scraping the ceiling. He took to the chair at once, giving the low ceiling an aggrieved look. Tyrrick had inches to spare, but even he ducked as he stepped inside. It gave a very uncomfortable sense of compression.
“This is horrible,” Tyrrick stated.
“Get used to it. And do not wander off, or else you will get lost, and I do not look forward to having to hunt you down throughout the entire citadel.” The Draconian watched them for a few more moments, then turned and descended.
It was a far cry from the comfort of Mount Dracaena and the apartments there. Tyrrick made his way over to the first window and swung it open, leaning out to look over the vast foliage.
“Did you know about this, master?”
“No, and I can only wonder why no mention has been recorded in the history of our conflicts.” Aldrus reached up and pulled off his crown, setting it atop the table, and followed with his armor and cape, until he was down to just his leather shirt and trousers. “All of this information makes as little sense to me as anything else this evening has posed.”
Tyrrick shook his head and leaned inside again. He noticed the weariness still present in Aldrus, and said, “You should take the bed, if there is one in here. I’ll be up for a while yet.”
“I doubt I’ll get any more rest than you, until my body forces me to.” Yet Aldrus made his way across the cool stone floor, eyes scanning the bookshelves and numerable Coronacruxes hanging on the walls. A hard look filled his gaze, and almost to himself he murmured, “How many of our kindred did he defeat in his time, to carry four blades and have this armory awaiting him?”
Tyrrick glanced over and felt the same pang of emptiness without the sanctified sword he had forged from Agmentha’s scales not long ago. He approached one blade and lifted it loosely from the wall. It was pale green. For a beat, he expected to feel some connection to the blade, yet there was nothing, no sudden awareness of the bond, no sense of the creator. It was just another sword. He returned it to the wall and took a seat before the window, letting his mind wander.