Realm Of Blood And Fire (Book 3) (33 page)

“Not long to go. Hang in there.” Devorum stomped ahead.

What if the portal’s already closed?
Blayke asked.

Devorum didn’t answer. The dragon jumped
clear of a falling chunk of ceiling and turned left.

Bronwyn relaxed when she saw the myriad of colors reflecting off the cavern up ahead—it was still open! But was Sinjenasta there?

Devorum shouted over the mountain’s painful moans. “Arie, Aimee, when we get there, just take a deep breath and jump into the lake. You can’t hesitate—it could close at any time. You’ll be sucked under, but don’t panic—Drakon will keep you safe.”

Wait. S
top!
Bronwyn screamed.
Are they the missing dragon eggs?
In a disorganized clump next to the wall on the right sat large oval shapes.

They are. Drakon have mercy
. Devorum stopped and picked up four—it was all he could carry without dropping them, and they would be too heavy for the humans to lift.

“What are you doing?” Arie bent at the waist, put his hands on his thighs and gulped air.

“We’re saving some dragon eggs.” Another crash signaled a cluster of stalactites exploding onto the floor. “We have to keep going.” Devorum took off again, the humans pushing themselves to sprint with drained legs.

The soothing shades of pastel
blue, orange, red, green, yellow and mauve swirled about the room. But it was the black that stood out to Bronwyn. “Sinjenasta!”

The panther sat w
aiting calmly beside the lake, Fang on his shoulder grooming the dust from his nose. The panther lolled his tongue out in a smile.
What took you so long? We were beginning to worry.

The dragon ignored the panther’s question, not stopping when he reached the edge of the water. Bronwyn took a final look at Sinjenasta before Devorum
dove into the Sacred Lake. The colors disappeared, and the water bubbled as the mountain gave one final scream. Blackness enveloped them.

Chapter 26

It took a week to cremate their dead, but, finally, Vellonia had said
good-bye to its loved ones. The dragons had made the eastern mountains a bit more comfortable and would stay there until Arcese’s egg was hatched. Either they would develop the eastern side of Vellonia, or they would find a new place to call home—their old home had been reduced to half its size, and now the humans could, with some effort, gain access to Vellonia.

Warrimonious had told his fellow dragons how enchanting Zamahl had been. Their unchartered mountains could become a perfect home for the dragons or a
dragon colony. High Chancellor Calinsar was only too happy to accommodate them, as any valuable minerals the dragons dug out in the process of creating their residences would go to the Zamahlan people.

Zim, Arcese, Warrimonious and Pandellen hugged each of their friends.

Edmund, with Gabrielle, Verity and Karin next to him, smiled. “Thank you for everything. We couldn’t have won this war without you.”

“And we couldn’t have won it without you.” Zim inclined his head. “I’m planning to come see you, maybe bring my nephew when he’s ready to fly. Although, I’ll have to ask Queen Arcese if that’s okay.” Zim winked.

Arcese and Warrimonious smiled and looked at her tummy. It had been painful to assume the title that her parents had so recently held, but it was the way of Talia, the way of nature. And after the recent banishment and closing of the corridors between realms, it was unlikely they would ever face such a dire threat again. She envisaged her and Warrimonious’s time on the throne as a peaceful one.

Queen Gabrielle turned sympathetic eyes on Agmunsten. “With the Second Realm closed, what are the realmists going to do? We’d be happy to have you reside at Bayerlon.”

Agmunsten sighed. “Thank you for the kind offer, but now that The Circle is no more, and realmistry has vanished, I think I might explore Zamahl with our new friend here.” He patted Calinsar on the back. “They know a bit about Talian power, and while I’ll probably never need it, I have to do something. I think I’ll keep the academy going but switch its focus. Zella is going to run it while I’m away. Everyone has a lot of new things to learn.”

“Good luck with it,
Zella. We need more women running things.” Queen Alaine smiled. “Well, I’m heading back home to see if the gormons did any damage, and Toran’s decided to join us. I’m thinking he would make the perfect lecturer at our history facility, and he’s offered to write his account of the Last Gormon War. And, Karin, I hear you’re assuming all royal duties for Inkra.”

Karin nodded, feeling something between confidence and terror. “Yes.
Arcese, and all of you, have pardoned my people for their part in the war, and they’re only too happy to follow me. When I explained the changes I was going to make, I don’t think they believed it. The week they’ve been here and seen how other countries treat their people seems to have made them realize a better life exists. It won’t be easy. Chisholm and Edmund are going to help with the structure of things, so we’ll get there.”

Astra stepped in and hugged Agmunsten. “I’m going to be sad to go. I hope Arie is okay, that fool boy.”

Agmunsten blinked back tears. “He always did love an adventure.”

“Okay, Zim, ready for carrying one last human?” Astra looked at the black dragon.

“Of course. I hear your brother is waiting for you on the other side of that mountain.” Zim nodded at the southern slopes of Vellonia. “You can climb on too, Chancellor.” They sat astride Zim and held on while the dragon took off and gained altitude. When they leveled out, they waved to those below.

“Come on, Agmunsten. Someone has to take you, and I’d like that honor.” Warrimonious bent slightly, making it easier for Agmunsten to get on.

“See you all soon.” He waved once before the dragon launched into the air. The dragons had to use Talian power now, instead of Second-Realm power, to aid their takeoffs. They could have run, but that was too undignified.

Edmund, his family, Pernus, and Fendill mounted their horses and led what was left of the Veresian troops to the damaged side of Vellonia. It would take them two or three days to scale the
newly-shrunk mountain, and then they would have an easy ride to Bayerlon—not that they were looking forward to what they would find. It would be many years before the scars from their defeat had healed.

Zella
, Bernard, Dorge and their creaturas followed the Veresian party. They would travel for a while with Alaine, until they branched off to the academy. King Fernis and his troops had the least distance to cover, his castle being in the same country.

***

In the commotion of emotional
good-byes, no one had given a thought to Flux and Phantom, forgotten casualties of the war. Phantom had flown away before Arcon’s body had been cremated. He had finally reached the mountains they had left all those months ago, when the gormon war was only a looming threat and they’d had hope. The white owl no longer had the capacity for hope or the will to live. Perched on a frozen rock above the secret door Arcon had opened for him all that time ago, he sat and waited for the snow and freezing weather to transport him to his best friend’s side.

***

With the ash from Avruellen’s body still floating in the night sky, Flux had quietly climbed the half-mountain of rocks on the western side of the valley and had departed Vellonia. He travelled a day to the north and found a sunny dell alive with insects, butterflies and flowers—a spot he knew Avruellen would have insisted they stop at and admire. He lay in the warm sun and fell asleep thinking of his lifelong companion. He never woke again.

***

Light. Bronwyn and Blayke were simultaneously aware of
being
. They opened their eyes. Grass cushioned their bodies, not stone, and the air was devoid of dust and noise. Blayke smiled when he saw his arms and legs, and Bronwyn near him. “Yay! We’ve got our bodies back.”

“And Devorum has managed to dress us too.” Bronwyn laughed as she remembered her first naked foray into the Sacred Realm. “Is everyone here?” Bronwyn stood and looked around. Arie and Aimee were stirring, and they looked unharmed. She thought that was great, but
they weren’t who she was looking for. Adrenaline flooded her stomach at the thought that maybe Sinjenasta . . . Sander, had not made it. He had been the last to jump in.

Calm down and close your eyes. You know you can feel if I’m alive. Have you learn
ed nothing the last few months?
Sander stepped out from behind the familiar tree near the lake, Devorum and Fang with him.

“Fang, you’re still a rat.” Blayke walked to them and hugged his creatura to his face.

Of course I’m still a rat; I was always a rat, but Sinje was Sander before.

“Is this the Sacred Realm?” Arie asked, joining them, although still in a daze.

“Yes, Arie. Welcome to your new home.” The black dragon smiled.

“Did the eggs make it?” Bronwyn glanced around the clearing.

“Yes. I’ve found a good place for them in the sun, for now. Later, I’ll move them to my mountain where they’ll be looked after until they hatch.”

Blayke noticed Aimee shyly standing next to the lake
and he motioned her over. “Are you sorry you came?”

“Uh, no, it will just take some getting used to.” She smiled. “Where are we going to live? And we don’t have any money. Can we find work?”

Sander laughed. “We’ll walk to the nearest town, and I’ll get a message to Korden. Devorum has spoken with the other dragons, and the whirlpool has disappeared, although the island didn’t return. When they know it was because of us, we’ll be well looked after.”

“But it wasn’t just us.” Bronwyn frowned.

“Yes, but they don’t have to know that, plus we did our fair share. Haven’t we been through enough?” Sander wrapped his arms around Bronwyn and pulled her close.

She recalled what they’d just been through, tears flooding her eyes and sliding down her face. “Avruellen, Arcon. I’m never going to see them again.” She hiccupped as her pain finally closed in on her. Sander held her while she shook with sobs.

Blayke shed tears of his own and walked away from the group to spend some time alone. Arcon had raised him as if he were his own son, and while he had feelings for his newfound parents, who he would also never see again, he had fierce love for his uncle—the man who didn’t think twice about giving his life for others. He would never forget him.

Devorum gave them some time to mourn and adjust to their new world before he urged them to get going. They didn’t reach the nearest town until three hours after nightfall.

Time moved differently in the Sacred Realm from the First Realm. That night, Bronwyn, exhausted from her grief, fell straight to sleep, Sander holding her in his arms. She dreamt she was back on Talia. She was at a camp not far from Vellonia—the snow-capped mountains of the dragon city a shadow in the distance. Her mother lay between Edmund and her sister. “Mother?”

Gabrielle sat up with a start. When she saw Bronwyn standing there, her mouth fell open, and tears coursed down her cheeks. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to visit. We’re in the Sacred Realm now, and it’s really nice. Blayke is here, and Aimee and Arie made it too. I'm sorry we had to go.”

“I’m sorry too. I miss you already.”

Bronwyn tried to answer, but she was fading away. Her mother, and the campsite, disappeared like morning mist on a sunny day. When she woke the next morning, she smiled, knowing that the gods had left them a small gift.

Realizing there was a warm body next to her, she turned and remembered Sander bringing her to bed the night before. Looking on his serene face, she knew she had made the right decision.

Sander stirred, opened his eyes and smiled. “Good morning. How do you feel?”

“Sad, but okay. I can’t believe we won: we saved Talia.”

“And the Sacred Realm. The gormons would have found their way here, eventually.”

Bronwyn looked surprised, not having considered they wouldn’t have stopped at Talia. “Well then, looks like we’ve done exceptionally well.”

Sander ran his fingers along her cheek. “So, what do you want to do today? Would you like to see more of your new world?”

“
My “new world”.” The concept was almost surreal to her. “That would be wonderful.” She took his hand and kissed his palm. “Do you think one day we could try to find a way to return to Talia?”

“I don’t think Drakon
or the other gods will ever allow that.”

“But there’s always a chance, isn’t there?”

Sander tried not to lose himself in her gray eyes. “Yes, my love. There’s always a chance.”

Bronwyn nodded. “
That’s all I need to know.”