Whisperings of Magic (21 page)

“In return, you will destroy the King of Taun and his Seer.”

“I will do as you command,” Caulda replied. “It will be a small matter. I have but toyed with them before.”

“Not so small as you might wish, Caulda!” Dahl cried. “I challenge you, dragon beast!”

Caulda swung her head around at the sound of Dahl’s voice. Launan and Bruhn looked over, as well. Catryn thought she saw Bruhn flinch at the sight of them.

“First the child,” Caulda replied, looking back to Launan. “Throw him down to me.”

“No!” Catryn screamed, but Launan had already caught up the boy. He raised him high, ready to cast him into the abyss.

Catryn was astride the horse in one bound. The animal needed no orders—he surged into the air toward Launan, just as Launan threw Norl down.
The horse swerved, folded his wings and plummeted earthward. Catryn stretched out. Norl was falling toward her—just out of reach. The horse swerved yet again, and Catryn reached with her mind as well as her arms. Norl fell into them with a jolt that nearly unseated her. At the same moment, a blast of fire shot up from below. Catryn shielded them just in time. Even so, the fire singed and burned.

The dragon shrieked. With a noise as of thunder, she unfurled her wings and rose toward Catryn, leaving her nest unguarded. Now! Catryn dropped the shielding and concentrated instead on the moving darkness below her.

Take your freedom! she commanded. Escape!

Slowly, then more and more quickly, the darkness began to rise. It shredded and separated into shards. Each shard gathered speed, then sped upward, toward the opening so far above. There was no time to watch, however; the dragon was almost upon her. Again, Catryn threw her mind out toward the beast.

“Back! Away!” she cried to the horse and it whirled, climbing and circling to escape the beast.

“I challenge you! Do you fear me, Caulda?” Dahl’s voice rang out again. The dragon paused, hovered in the air. Dahl stood poised on the brink of the abyss, sword drawn.

Catryn felt her heart seize with terror. She had left him unprotected! In that very instant she saw Launan appear behind him.

“Dahl!” she screamed the warning, but it was too
late. Launan stretched out both hands. Light streamed from his fingertips. It flashed out toward Dahl but, before it could reach him, a form threw itself in between. Bruhn! Dahl whipped around in time to see the full force of the light strike Bruhn instead of him. Bruhn’s body lifted into the air as if thrown by an invisible giant’s hand. He hung suspended for a moment, then plummeted into the depths.

A cry of anguish issued forth from Dahl’s throat. He raised his sword high and struck. Launan, taken by surprise, reeled with the force of the blow and staggered. He took a step backward—into space. One great, despairing scream arose from him as he fell, twisting and turning. Then there was silence.

Catryn stared. Two bodies sprawled on the ground far beneath. Neither moved. Then she came to herself. The dragon!

“Back to Dahl,” she cried to the horse. They dove down to land beside him and, dragging Norl behind her, she leaped off its back to face Caulda.

A sheet of flame raced out to meet her. Catryn countered it, but weakly. Her power was almost exhausted. The dragon seemed to sense it.

You cannot hold out against me.
Words meant this time for Catryn alone.

Give me the boy and you can both go.

You would give up Dahl’s kingdom? Catryn shot back.

I care not for kingdoms, came the answer. I but obeyed a power greater than my own and that is gone
now. I will give you your lives. But I must have the boy. You stole my treasure—I will have the boy in exchange. And I will have my revenge.

The words of the Elders reverberated in Catryn’s mind. She must not give him up.
No,
she answered.
You will not have him.

“What is happening, Catryn?”

Dahl’s question jolted her into an awareness of him. She looked at him and could not recognize him. His face was drawn tightly over the skull beneath. His eyes flamed and the dragon scar on his cheek burned blood red.

“She wants Norl,” Catryn replied. “I will not give him to her.”

“Never,” Dahl said, the single word filled with hate. He turned to face the dragon again, sword at the ready.

“Are you so afraid of me that you will not take up my challenge?” he cried.

Paugh! Does this puny human truly believe he can defeat me? The dragon’s wings beat more rapidly. She hovered closer.

“He defeated your child,” Catryn shot back, aloud. She could feel Dahl’s hatred invading her, taking her over as well. Together they could destroy this beast. They
would
destroy her!

Caulda spread her wings. Her mouth gaped wide, and curved, needle-pointed teeth glistened as a tongue of flame whipped out to scorch the ground at their feet.

“Yessss! So he did!” Her voice hissed out, filling the cavern with its sound.

“I did!” Dahl cried, “and I will slay you as well!”

Catryn gathered every fragment of power remaining to her and prepared to hurl it at the dragon.

“Wait!” The cry rang out. “Spare them! I will come back to you if you spare them!”

Catryn whipped around to see Norl standing on the very edge of the precipice, almost leaning into Caulda’s fire.

“What are you saying, Norl?” she cried. “What are you doing?” She reached for him, but he eluded her grasp.

“Get out of the way, Norl!” Dahl shouted. He grabbed Norl and thrust the boy behind him, then braced himself against the fury of the dragon.

Desperately, Catryn reached to regain her power. She must shield them!

Caulda checked her attack.

“You would return of your own volition?” The words blew hotly over them.

“I will. When the time is right.”

“Norl!” Again Catryn reached for him but again he eluded her. He slid out from behind Dahl to face Caulda.

“I give you my word,” he said. He stood rock still and stored straight into the fiery depths of the dragon’s eyes.

Slowly, the fire dimmed in those great eyes. Slowly, she hooded them.

“So,” she replied, “this is how it is meant to be?”

“It is,” Norl said.

“No!” Catryn cried. “You cannot do this, Norl!”

“I can,” Norl replied. He seemed strangely calm. “I must.”

“I cannot let you,” Catryn cried again. “I
will
not let you, Norl. You know not what you do.”

“But I do! I know it with every fiber of my being. Trust me, Catryn. This is the way.”

Trust! Again! But how could she? Surely this child could not be allowed to make such a promise?

Let me do this, Catryn.

Norl’s thought came clearly through to her. And just as clearly came the knowledge that in this she, Catryn, Seer of Taun, must give way. She
must
trust. This was not for her to decide.

With an effort greater than any effort she had ever made in her life, Catryn turned from Norl and faced Caulda.

“The decision is his to make,” she said.

Dahl reached out yet again for Norl, but Catryn stayed his hands.

Caulda hung in the air, slit-eyed.

“Will you accept my pledge?” Norl called.

“Yesss,” she hissed finally. “I will.” She swung her massive head up high and stared now, wide-eyed, at the three figures standing before her. Flame surged briefly from her throat but stopped short of them. “Go, then, all of you,” she commanded. She lowered her head until her eyes were on a level with Norl.
They flared briefly. He did not flinch.

I will await you, boy. When it is time.
She did not speak the words aloud. They were meant for Norl alone. Norl and Catryn.

The dragon gave two thunderous flaps of her wings, then rose up and disappeared into the blueness of the sky beyond.

Catryn turned to Dahl. He stood, sword dangling from his hand, staring after the dragon. As she watched, the fire left his eyes as well. The dragon scar flared once, then began to fade. The flesh seemed to return to his bones.

“So we have won,” he said.

“We have,” Catryn answered.

“And Taun is safe.”

“It is.”

“I cannot believe it is over.” He rubbed his eyes with one hand.

“But it is,” Catryn said. “For us.” She reached to put an arm around Norl.

Then Dahl lowered his gaze and stared down at the broken bodies below.

“My friend,” he whispered. His eyes were bright again, but with tears, not anger this time.

Only then did Catryn notice the horse. The dragonfire had not spared him. He stood, trembling, head low. His forelegs were burned black and blistered.

Catryn gave a cry. She would have gone to him, but Norl was there first. The boy put out his hands, caressed the horse’s legs tenderly. As she watched,
the skin healed, the gray hair grew back. The horse raised his head. He snuffled softly and pushed his broad forehead into Norl’s hands.

“How …?” Catryn began.

Norl looked up at her. His eyes were wide with wonder.

“He was in pain,” he said.

Despite their victory, the journey back to the cave of the Elders was a somber one. Dahl spoke not at all. Deep lines etched his face; he seemed to have aged by years. He rode the horse, while Catryn padded beside him in lioness form. Only Norl was ebullient and happy, a young boy once more, seemingly forgetful of all that had happened. He rode on Catryn’s back with familiar ease. But, upon reaching the cave, the appearance of the Elders themselves and the Protector subdued him.

“You have done well, Dahl and Catryn,” Ygrauld said. As usual, they were seated in the brilliant cavern.

As Catryn was about to answer, she was surprised to see Sele the Plump appear out of one of the openings.

“You left Daunus?” Dahl asked. They were the first words he had spoken since leaving the dragon’s lair.

“We sent for the Sele,” Ronauld said. “As soon as it was known that the people of Daunus were no longer in danger and it was not needed there. The Sele have done their part to save Taun, as well. They must be acknowledged.”

“That they must,” Dahl agreed. “We have much to thank you for, friend Sele.”

“And you, Dahl, you have done well,” the Sele said. “Launan is dead and Taun is safe once more.” It paused. “But the force that gave him power exists still. We must not forget that.”

There was silence for a moment, then Ygrauld spoke.

“As there is goodness in the world, so must there be evil. It is a never-ending battle.”

The Sele nodded. “It is so,” it said. Then it turned once more to Dahl. “I sorrow with you over the death of your friend.”

“He betrayed me,” Dahl said.

“He did,” Catryn broke in. “Nothing can change that. But in the end he gave his life for you, Dahl.”

“Catryn speaks the truth.” Tauna rose. “Whatever Bruhn did, he redeemed himself. He saved you, Dahl, and he saved Taun.”

“And now,” Catryn said, “I have a question.”

“I thought you might,” the Elder woman replied.

“This boy, Norl, who is he?” Catryn pulled him forward. He blushed, but drew himself up to stand as tall as he could beside her. “He is no ordinary boy, that I have discovered.”

“No, he is not,” the woman answered. She came forward, leaned down and took both of Norl’s hands in her own. “Look at me, Norl,” she commanded.

Norl did as he was bade.

“From time to time we scour your old world, Catryn, seeking for babes such as yourself and this boy. Babes who are born with gifts your world would deny—would persecute you for. We did not find you but, fortunately, you found us. Norl, however, we did find. Abandoned, unloved and feared from the moment of his birth. The folk who raised him knew not what made him different, but they sensed enough to be afraid of him. We rescued him from an early death and brought him here. He was given to Mavahn to care for until he became old enough to learn what he will need to learn.”

“Mavahn is not my mother?” Norl’s voice came out in a gasp.

“She
is
your mother. In every way that is important, Norl, Mavahn is your mother. She has cared for you and loved you since we gave you to her. She has never thought of you as anything but her own.”

“Then it was no accident that we found him,” Catryn said.

“No, it was not an accident.”

Catryn paused. “He … he made a vow. To the dragon. To Caulda…” She felt Norl stiffen beside her.

“To return to her?”

“Yes.”

“I thought as much,” Tauna said. “I know Caulda from of old.”

“But what should he do?” Catryn asked. “What will happen to him?”

“That is his fate, Catryn. Did I not tell you, you must have trust?”

“You did,” Catryn answered slowly.

“You will do your part, never fear,” Tauna said.

“You will take him home to Mavahn, Catryn.” It was the Protector who spoke now, his voice stronger than it had been. “He will stay with her until his thirteenth birthday. At that time you will fetch him and bring him back to us. Then it will be you, Catryn, who will be the teacher, and he will be your pupil.”

Norl cast a quick look at Catryn. “Will you show me how to become a cat?” he asked, eyes shining now. “Will you teach me how to purr?”