Embers at Galdrilene (62 page)

Kellinar hung tight to Taela in front of him as Shryden burst into the air above Galdrilene. The blue kept a tight but gentle grip on the silver draclet in his claws. In the light of the setting sun he watched Miya land with Tellnox and Nydara right behind her. Shryden flew awkwardly. A massive burn marred one wing and singe marks trailed across the other. The blue set Paki down and landed next to her.

Hands reached up to grab Taela and Kellinar reluctantly let her go. “She’s hurt.”

“So are you,” a man in yellow robes said and helped him down.

Kellinar moved away and staggered over to sit next to Taela, who held the book with a golden star on its cover in her arms. After several minutes, a yellow robed woman reached for him with her hands. He drew away from her. “Heal Shryden first.”

Serena appeared in front of him. There were scorch marks and dried blood on her skin and clothes, but no obvious wounds. “Don’t be foolish, the whole Tower of Healing is here and Shryden is already being looked after.”

Kellinar let the mage lay her hands on him. Heat flowed into his body and concentrated where his wounds were. “Have you already been healed?” he asked Serena when the healer was done and working on Taela.

Serena nodded. “Yes. I was the first. They needed my greater power and strength for Maleena and Emallya.”

Kellinar took in her pale face and strained eyes. “Were you able to heal Emallya or is she…”

“She is healed. Bardeck and I already did some to keep her from dying before we left the Kormai, but it took three of us to do a complete healing on her. She was very close to joining her dragon. She is still very weak and I can’t say for sure she will live. Maleena too is healed. She was almost as bad as Emallya. Binding your and Kirynn’s magic together took the last of her strength. Mckale wanted me to pass along his appreciation to you.”

Kellinar shrugged. “They are my friends, I could do no less. What about the mages? How many did we lose?” Kellinar asked.

Serena sat down next to him and looked at her hands while tears pooled in her eyes. “Only the Weather mage made it back. All of the others were killed.”

Kellinar put an arm around his friend as her tears spilled over and dripped onto the hands in her lap. She leaned her head on his shoulder and let the tears run down her face. On his other side, Taela watched her Paki. He knew her wounds were healed and she no longer hurt. He also knew she was as exhausted as the rest of them. He could feel it. He wasn’t sure why, but he could.

His gazed raked the dragons and people filling the crater. “What about Loki?”

Serena pulled away and wiped at her eyes. “He’s fine. Marda took him to the kitchens. She’s convinced everything can be made right with food.”

Kellinar smiled, relieved Loki would be alright. He glanced at the silver draclet laying not far from them. Curiosity filled her deep blue eyes as she watched the activity. In the fading light, Paki didn’t shine quite as bright a silver as Nydara. It looked as if a thin veil had been pulled over her. “Why do Paki’s scales look dim?” he asked no one in particular.

Taela’s brow furrowed with concern. “I don’t know.”

Serena looked at the draclet. “It’s because she still carries the stain of shadow within her. Although she is the way she is, her egg did come from a black dragon and the stain remains.”

Kellinar looked at her. “How do you know that?”

“I can see the stain. I also think I see how to remove it. It will probably take the combined power of the whole Tower of Healing. I will have to take a day or two to recover and research. It is not harming her at this point and I am too tired to do it right now.”

Taela turned hope filled eyes on Serena. “You can really remove it?”

“I can’t promise anything of course. As far as I know, there hasn’t ever been a dragon like Paki. But I can see the stain and how it’s attached. I’m reasonably certain that with the help of the Tower of Healing, I can remove it.”

Kellinar felt Taela’s pleasure at the prospect. Why could he feel her? It was almost as if they were bound in some way.

He looked again at Paki. When the shadow was removed, she would be just as silver as Nydara. Taela could do Spirit magic. All silvers bondmated because their riders needed a shield. He glanced at Taela and she looked back at him with concern in her rich blue eyes. “Are you okay? The emotions rolling off you are…”

Kellinar turned his eyes back to Paki. “I can
feel
you. I can feel that you are no longer in pain. I can feel you are beyond exhausted from the battle and your time in the Kormai. I can feel your happiness at being here. I can feel your emotions and your state of being.”

Serena looked at Paki for a moment before whipping around to face him, her mouth gaping in shock. “Kellinar! You’re Taela’s shield.” A smile broke across her face. “You’re her bondmate.”

Taela looked from him to Serena and back again, confusion written on her face. Kellinar didn’t blame her. He found it flaming confusing and he knew what they were talking about.

“What do you mean my shield and my bondmate?” Taela asked.

Kellinar looked up to see Davin Po walking toward them, his long fringe of white hair blowing in wisps about his head. Kellinar waved the old man over. “Taela, this is Davin Po, Headmaster of the College of Learning here in Galdrilene and Charge Master of the eternally frustrating Loki…when he can fine him. Po, this is Taela, our new Dragon Rider and apparently, my bondmate.”

Po’s eyes widened. “Your bondmate? Well how delightful!”

Kellinar nodded. “Yes delightful and all of that, except she has no clue what we’re talking about and I am so tired I can’t think straight. Perhaps you could explain it to her. Shryden desperately needs sleep and so do I.”

Po bent in a small bow. “My pleasure Di’shan.” He turned to Taela. “Come my dear, let’s get you something to eat and I shall be happy to explain shields and bondmates and answer any questions you may have about anything here at Galdrilene.”

Kellinar watched Po lead her away. She peaked back at him several times until they were swallowed by the crowd. Then he turned and saw Serena with a smirk on her face. “Who would have guessed last spring, that a year later, you would be a bondmated Dragon Rider?”

Suddenly, Kellinar felt uncomfortable. Serena had always been a good friend to him, nothing more. But what if she had wanted something more? “Um, are you okay with this?”

Serena looked confused for a moment and then understanding bloomed in her face. “Kellinar, I love you dearly. As a friend. Always a friend, but nothing more. I am very happy for you and in fact look forward to seeing you get all mushy and protective like Mckale, even as she protects you. Although, Anevay will likely be disappointed.”

Kellinar rolled his eyes. “Anevay and I are friends. We’ve never been anything more. I’m going to bed, this is all making my head hurts and I need to sleep.”

M
aleena floated on a cloud of warm comfort. Her head and body no longer hurt. She sensed fresh air and light made by the sun, but made no effort to wake. She didn’t want to let go of this dream, didn’t want to wake to the pain or the cold darkness of the cell. In her dream, she felt the physical presence of Nydara, Mckale, and Tellnox close by.

“Maleena?”
came the gentle sending from Nydara.
“You need to wake up.”

“Don’t make me wake up, Nydara. I don’t want to hurt anymore and this dream is so pleasant.”

“It isn’t a dream. You are home and safe. Serena healed you. Mckale and I are here. Tellnox is here. Please wake up. You’ve been asleep for far too long. I’m worried. Please.
”

Maleena couldn’t resist the pleading of her dragon. Her lids drifted open. She lay on her side on the bed in her sleeping quarters. Light filtered in through the doorway to the lair, though Nyadra’s head and the bulk of her body in the lair beyond blocked most of it. She smiled at the dragon, love filling her.

“You’re awake.” Mckale’s deep voice, soft and gentle with concern, filled her ears. She rolled to her back and found him laying propped on his elbow. Her heart soared as she drank in the features of his face. His silver eyes, were so beautiful and full of love.

Tears of happiness stung her eyes. She raised her hand, tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his face toward her own. She didn’t have much strength though she didn’t have to exert a lot of effort. He lowered his head. She savored the taste of his lips as they gently touched hers. The kiss deepened. His arm went around her. Sweet warmth spread through her as he pressed her body against his.

“Alright you two. That’s enough.” Serena’s voice broke them apart. She walked into the room, carrying a tray in her hands. “You aren’t strong enough for that yet, Maleena. And you,” she cast Mckale a stern look, “should know better.”

Mckale sat up and Maleena smiled. “It was my fault. I started it.”

Serena frowned, but Maleena could feel she wasn’t really upset. “Well, you will have to keep control of yourself then. At least until you have more strength back.”

Maleena smiled and nodded. “I promise.”

“That’s better.” Serena smiled. “I have to admit, I’m much happier walking in here to that than I would have been if I had found you still asleep. Mckale has been able to rouse you enough to get nettle tea down you a few times a day. Your lack of waking was really starting to worry me though. I have enough to worry about with Emallya.”

“What happened to Emallya?” Maleena tried to recall how she got back to Galdrilene. She remembered Sadira coming into her cell and the shadows burrowing into her skin. A memory of a dream where Kellinar bound her with broken ribs, floated to the surface. Had it been a dream? Snatches of other dreams flitted through her mind. Kirynn in the center of a firestorm. Kellinar and Taela with glowing threads around them. Had it all been real?

Serena set the tray down on a small table. She picked up a cup and walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Drink this.”

Mckale helped Maleena sit up and she took the cup. She peered into it. A thick, black liquid filled it. “What is it?” It smelled slightly sweet and earthy.

“Nettles infused with a reduced beef broth. It’s mixed with red wine and black molasses. I steeped a blood stone in it to draw out the blood building properties. Up until now, Mckale’s only been able to wake you up enough to drink a simple tea of nettles and red clover. Now that you are awake, I think you will be up to drinking this. You lost a lot of blood and your body is drained of strength. This will help you build both.”

“How did you know to bring this?” Maleena eyed the contents of the cup. It looked like thick syrup. She took an experimental drink. It coated her tongue with a taste somewhere between sweet and salty with an earthy, musty undertone. Despite the mixture of strange flavors, it wasn’t too bad. She took another, larger drink.

Serena nodded in approval. “Nydara told Miya she thought she would be able to wake you today. I came prepared.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“You’ve been asleep for two days.”

Maleena stared at her then looked to Mckale for conformation. “Two days? How did I get home? I dreamt of a firestorm and of Kellinar. Was it real?

“Drink,” Serena reminded her. She obediently took another sip. Serena sighed and glanced at Mckale. “Kellinar and Loki snuck into the Kormai and stole you, the Ka’ti, Taela and her dragon, Paki. The Shadow Riders, of course, were not pleased with this.”