Faith Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 2) (15 page)

“Kyra,” he whispered, “My beautiful Kyra, how can you ask such a thing of me?”

Aaron heaved a weary sigh as his eyelids sunk. The first thing he saw was Kyra’s heart-shaped face. Although Fate had blessed her with beauty, her beauty had taken her away. Kyra’s beauty was blinding. Her outer vision was perfection and her inner was a mirror of that perfection, but no one else had been able to see her inner beauty because of the carnality of man.

A loud chortle from Fraul caused Aaron to start. Manda was pulling Fraul to his feet, handing Lazo the flute. Fraul wore a crooked grin. He bowed and kissed Manda’s hand. Aaron watched in envy as Fraul began to dance in a sultry style, causing Manda’s laughter to ring through the night once again.

Manda didn’t have an external beauty that blinded men like Kyra, but she had a subtleness that snuck up and took your heart just as quickly. It was her spirit, her smile, her laughter and her openness that made her love and give herself freely. Kyra had always been reserved because of her external beauty, but her very presence had lit up the room. Manda had the same effect on people, except it filtered first from her inner self and shone through her external self, brightening her attractive features into something spectacular. When she was present there was just an aura of light, an electric current of elation. Yes, Manda’s beauty equaled Kyra’s own.

Aaron rested his head in his hands. If there was ever a time he could do as Kyra asked he wished it could be now. He found himself liking Fraul’s wit and skepticism, Lazo’s intelligence and conversation, and Manda …

No. Even if he agreed to give Kyra what she requested he could never love another as much as he loved Kyra. It would be unfair to ask another to love him if he couldn’t match that love.

Someone put a hand on the back of his neck. He knew it was Manda because the scent of lilac tickled his nose. She always put lilac in the water before she washed her hair.

He looked up at her. She smiled and held out her hand.

“Come on, goof, don’t you hear the music? I’m asking you to dance with me.”

Aaron took Manda’s hand and slowly rose to his feet, feeling awkward. He hadn’t danced in ages, centuries even. He forced his legs to move, and soon he was dancing as he had with Kyra. It was an age-old dance, sure to be out of style. At first Manda was unsure, but soon she treaded around the fire as if she had known it since birth. Her long hair whirled around her, sending out the scent of lilacs. Aaron began to feel lightheaded, not knowing if it was the lilac, the dance, or the exhilaration. But he felt wonderful.

Fraul picked up the pace of the song and Lazo began to clap. Aaron found himself laughing and spinning and twirling and dipping.

When the dissonant song had came to a screeching halt, he turned to see Fraul doubled over in laughter and Lazo snickering at their show. Surprisingly, Aaron could still hear his own deep laugh echoing though the night’s air. If felt good to laugh. He hadn’t laughed in earnest for a long time.

Manda’s slender hand slipped into his own. He looked down into her beautiful green eyes, full of life and energy. Standing on tiptoe, Manda drew his head down and kissed his cheek.

“You’re beautiful when you’re happy, Aaron. Please open your heart to feel happiness. I assure you, we’ll help you find it.”

The sincerity in her eyes tugged at his soul. His heart ached to hold her. Despite his fear, he pulled her to him.

Fresh lilac tickled his nose. “You make me beautiful, Manda. You make everything beautiful.”

Aaron woke as the air stirred around him. A breathy sigh enveloped him. He closed his eyes, remaining still to drink in the sensation for all he could.

She was forming.

A lump caught in his throat. The love he held burgeoned within him like flint to flame, cleansing his age-old anguish, purifying his soul and once again stealing his heart.

The air filled with tingling effervescence – with her – his Kyra. Aaron smiled, unable to be saddened by his ultimate end or her final goodbye, because for a few heartbeats he would once again be with the most glorious thing in all the Lands.

The air around him formed hands and wrapped him in a celestial embrace, touching his face, his hair, his hands, and finally pulling him to his feet.

Aaron relished the anticipation before he turned to face the glowing figure silhouetted beneath the light of the twin moons. Even in shadow his Kyra was glorious. Long, wavy hair careened down her sides and sparks of power twirled around her frame.

As he approached, her face became clear. He drew in a breath, surprised he had once again been unable to remember her beauty. It was as if he couldn’t comprehend her radiance and disregarded his memories as surreal. He knew part of his reflection was how Kyra had been in life, and now she was far more glorious. At first it had saddened him, but after a time he had decided it was only appropriate: he avenging their love by avenging others, forcing people to fear him and their actions; her sustaining their love by gracing all with wonder, filling people with reverence and splendor.

Kyra was far too magnificent to love only him. He had always known that. Although their love had been unprecedented, he knew the day would come when she would be taken in some form or fashion. That wasn’t to say he ever thought she would love another over him. It was to say he knew the Maker had some greater purpose for her. He just hadn’t realized the extent of those plans.

He trembled with love when he reached her. For a time all he could do was look into her eyes, but when his tremors escalated he bowed to one knee, hung his head, and whispered the words he had uttered for centuries.

“Kyra, my heart and my soul, my love and my pain, my future and my past, I give to you all that I have and all that I am. But I beg you, don’t ask me to release you. If I do I’m no more, we’re no more, and you’ll be nothing to me but a name in the stars.”

“I must ask it, Aaron.” The air quivered with a song that hadn’t yet been sung. “Give me your emotions. Give me your pain and your love. I beseech you. The time is at hand.”

After all the times she had asked, a dagger still tore his chest at her words.

He looked up into her solid silver eyes, full of power and love, and choked on his next words. “Kyra, if I grant your request I’ll never see you again. I would live a life without remembering our love, without remembering you. How could you ask me to do such a thing? Have you forgotten our love?”

When her face twisted in anguish he quickly regretted his words, but they were the truth. This time he didn’t want her to leave him without knowing why he chose to refuse.

“If I die so be it. At least I’ll die with you as part of me. What you ask of me is living an eternity without you, an eternity, Kyra.”

A lone, silver tear trickled down her cheek. Aaron reached up and gently wiped it away. When his fingers touched her, her power coursed through him with frightening speed.

“I have never, nor will I ever forget our love,” she said, turning her heart-shaped face from him, staring at memories he could almost feel, memories she wanted him to betray.

“But that’s what you ask of me.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “And I know how hard it must be for you, but you must, my love, or all will be betrayed.”

Aaron blinked. It was the first time she had ever referred to the song sung about him. “How can the Avenger betray all? I fight betrayal. I take on its pain. I am its pain.”

“Oh, Aaron, my love.” She knelt, taking his face in her hands. “I can’t … ” Her silver eyes filled with tears. “You just must.”

The way she held his face brought back sacred memories. She had always taken his face when he came home, tantalizing him before she allowed him a kiss. Before she died she had done the same thing, but with her touch she had charged him to avenge their love.

With the touch of her hands her power seeped through him, but it couldn’t distill his past horror: Kyra being skinned before his eyes, Kyra being raped and beaten, and he unable to reach her.

She was the Quy now, not his Kyra Goodenspy. Their love had made the power possible. Their love had made him the Avenger.

“Oh Kyra, my Kyra, stop being the Quy.”

Her eyes saddened. “I can’t, Aaron. The world needs me. I am what that Maker wants me to be. I am no more or no less, but I am more powerful because of your love.”

“And if I give it away?”

“Then I’ll still be as I am. I’ll still know.”

“But I won’t.”

Her brow furrowed. “No.”

Aaron sighed and leaned into her, wrapping his arms around her, shuddering as her current surged through him. “I’m not that strong, my love.”

“You can love another,” the Quy said softly.

“No.”

Kyra turned and looked toward camp. Aaron’s chest constricted. She would use his friends to make her point, so this time he wouldn’t fail.

“She’s beautiful, Aaron. Let her help you.”

“Please, Kyra, don’t.”

She ran her delicate hands through his hair. He felt his tears falling, sizzling off her body like steam. He didn’t want to give up his pain, his love. That was all he knew, that was all he was. Who would he be without them? Who would he be without Kyra?

“I would be empty, Kyra. Your love is all that helps the pain. All I know is pain. Where would I be without either?”

“You would be a man. You would live again. That’s your reward for bearing the pain all these years. You would be free.”

“Free without you.”

“You’ll always have me, my love.”

“But I won’t remember.”

“No.” Her voice was sad, mournful. “There’s a girl over there who needs you. Although she’s strong, without you she won’t be. If you don’t give me what I ask you’ll die, and it will shatter both her heart and her spirit. Unlike you, she can’t take any more pain.”

Aaron slowly raised his head and turned toward camp. Manda and Fraul were watching. Manda blushed and turned away. Aaron’s heart split in two. Kyra was right. If he didn’t do as she asked he would die and he would be unable to help Manda save her brother. Could he do that to Manda?

But could he release his love for Kyra?

- - -

Fraul woke with a start, sensing something. The air wasn’t right. It was too … shimmery.

Leaping from his bedroll, he landed on his feet, but before his hand he could reach his sword his eyes locked on the two figures in the distance. He froze, mouth agape, and immediately knew Aaron Goodenspy and Ari Goodspeed were one in the same man.

The fact Fraul had been right in his query didn’t send him any pleasure.

“Holy Maker of fates,” he whispered. He felt like an intruder, but he couldn’t look away. His legs moved on their own accord. He stepped toward the woman who seemed to be wearing a gown of stars. She bent toward Aaron and took his face in her hands.

The pain etched on Aaron’s features was far greater than any Fraul had ever seen. He had already seen anguish enough to move mountains in Aaron’s eyes. What Aaron was now feeling would have killed another in a heartbeat.

Then he remembered Aaron’s words.

“I can’t betray the one I love.”

Whatever Aaron had to do to live again was happening. Fraul’s breath caught as he closed his eyes. He had grown fond of Aaron and held hopes he could help the Avenger overcome what he had to overcome, but this was something far out of Fraul’s reach.

Aaron and Kyra, pain and love, bound together by past love and created out of pain. There was nothing anyone could do to help Aaron. No one aware of his story would ask Aaron to betray her. Why she was asking was beyond Fraul’s grasp.

Manda stepped beside him, eyes wide with wonder. Fraul put his arm around her shoulders. They watched in silence as Aaron shook his head. The Quy lost her smile and saddened. The air shivered. She turned their way.

Fraul’s heart hammered, but not because they had been discovered. It was Kyra’s eyes. They seemed to enwrap him with love, draw out his fears and leave a purified soul. Manda drew a sharp breath beside him. She felt it too: the love of the Quy for the Maker’s children.

Aaron turned their direction. His pain amplified even further and his face twisted with worry. His eyes locked on Manda. She released a whimper and turned away.

Fraul stood, dumbfounded. The Quy was using Manda to convince Aaron to yield his love and pain. Manda knew it too. Fraul opened his mouth to try to say something comforting but nothing would come. Then, in stark amazement, he watched Aaron nod in acceptance.

The air around them stirred, moving with frenetic ardor. Aaron collapsed on the ground as Kyra released him and stepped away.

“No,” Manda whispered.

Fraul didn’t know what to do. Aaron was giving up his love for them. Blessed Fates! He had helped the Avenger betray his love. It tore Fraul’s heart.

The Quy raised her arms. Her lips parted and she began to chant. At first her voice was so high Fraul mistook it for the wind whistling through the treetops, bending and swaying until it whirled to the heavens. But as he listened, he heard her words:

Black as night the hate it thrives

Cold as hollow bones

Take my love’s hate from him

And form the fated stone

White as light the love it grows

Fervid as molten flame

Take my child’s love from him

And mold the choosing stone

Clear as glass the pain it lives

Cutting as the blade

Take my guard’s pain from him

And cast the chancing stone
.

As her voice ebbed and flowed her silver light began to intensify, lighting the woodlands like noonday. When the verse was through she bent her head to Aaron’s still form.

“Aaron, draw you sword and take my hand.”

Aaron did as the Quy asked. The Quy’s silver glow surged into Aaron. His jaw tightened; his chest heaved; he began to shake and tremble. He threw his head back and screamed.

Fraul stumbled backwards. The air oscillated over him, crashing with madness and sorrow and passion. The emotions tore through him, sending him sprawling over the crackling remains of the fire. Ash and debris whirled around him. Aaron’s sword began to glow, but not with a white light. It glowed with a darkness so profound it seemed to swallow the night.