Warrior (21 page)

Koren flinched. “I wasn’t sure if it was important. When I saw you, I guess I got excited.”

“No matter. I heard enough. This is exactly the information I required, and now I will be able to accomplish my goal. Dragons will live without fear of extinction, and I will set every human slave free.”

“I don’t understand. What is Exodus? And what did Arxad mean by resurrecting it?”

“Exodus is a star that hibernates in the Northlands, and I will awaken it from slumber.”

Koren imagined a huge ball of fire rising from a polar cap, melting the snow and ice as it lifted into the air. “If Arxad and Magnar haven’t been able to do it, how will you?”

“They are not the ones the Creator has chosen. Only you and I together are able to accomplish this. We will be a symbiosis—human and dragon as one. If you help me, I will help you. If you allow me to see through your eyes and give me your allegiance, I will liberate your people. Together, no one can stop us.”

Koren slid back a step.
Symbiosis.
The word sounded like a death knell, a prison sentence that would never end. Since she was supposed to be his eyes, wouldn’t he need her for the rest of her life?

An image of herself—gray, bent, and wrinkled—appeared in her mind, the only living human remaining on Starlight, led by a leash, the other end clutched by an adult dragon. She shuddered hard. The chains she wore while speaking to Taushin through the egg’s black shell no longer chafed only her wrists; they clamped around her mind and scraped her soul.

Taushin extended his neck, closing the gap between them. “Are you ready to make the final connection? When it is complete, we will be able to accomplish what no one else could.”

Koren slid her foot back again but kept her body in place. What choice did she have? Run and hide? Where? And if she did, what would become of the chance of freedom for all the other slaves? If Taushin’s words began proving false, could she stop serving him then? Or might the connection be unbreakable?

“You are hesitating,” Taushin said. “Is it not your desire to set your fellow humans free?”

“Yes, but …” She didn’t know how to finish.

“To demonstrate my good will, I will allow you to select one slave to be with you. Adult or child, male or female, that slave will be yours to direct in whatever way you wish.”

“Petra.” The name flew out before she could stop to think. The mute girl’s face came to mind, sad and lonely. It was a good choice. Petra deserved to have an easier life. Koren took a deep breath and repeated the name with more conviction. “Petra. She is a girl who serves Arxad with Madam Orley.”

“Very well.” He aimed his head toward the railing that overlooked the theater. “Zena, bring Petra to us at once.”

“I will, my prince.”

Koren looked up and caught sight of Zena’s distinctive black dress as she hurried away.

“And now …” His voice softened to a seductive purr. “Lower your hood and expose your face.”

A sudden burst of fear broke through. This was wrong. It was all so wrong. Trembling, Koren backed away. “No … No, I can’t.”

“Do not sour my good will, Starlighter. We will soon have Petra, and I know you would not want anything unfortunate to happen to her.”

“Unfortunate?” Straining every muscle in her face, she spat out, “You monster!”

“No, Koren,” he said in a calm, smooth voice. “I am not a monster. I am merely forcing my will upon you. Your obedience is for the good of all, and Petra is the first beneficiary.”

Koren’s cheeks burned. What could she do? She had to either submit or risk harm coming to Petra.

Taushin’s eyes shone brighter than ever, and his tone firmed. “Now, Koren … Is your hood up?”

Her throat constricted so tightly her voice squeaked. “Yes.”

“Then lower it.”

Shaking, she pinched the trim near her ear and pushed the hood back. As the material cascaded down her hair, it felt like she had stripped away a shell of protection.

His beams again poured into her eyes. “Just as you lowered your hood, now you must lower your defenses. Allow my mind to enter yours, but not just on the surface. I must be at the center, for only then may I fully use your eyes and cognitive abilities. Until now I have seen only bare images, glimpses of light and the glory of this miracle you call vision. I was meant to be born blind, but only so that I can show the Creator’s power through you, a humble girl who willingly serves me so that her loved ones can find freedom.”

Koren blinked, but only once. The dragon’s push was so soft and gentle, her eyes had already grown accustomed to the light. But should she continue to allow it? Was he really telling the truth? Setting her people free was the ultimate goal, the only goal, so it made sense to sacrifice whatever was necessary to bring it about. If she didn’t give in, she would never know what might have happened. No one else could be the sacrifice. She, a Starlighter, had to do it. Her sacrifice was their only hope.

Taushin exhaled, sending a warm caress across her cheek. The breeze seemed to penetrate and enter her mind. A strange feeling crawled into her senses—an emotional cage, bars made of mental iron encircling her thoughts, a prison of the soul.

A competing sensation grew in response. Starting as an inkling of attraction, more of a mood than a conscious thought, the feeling grew into fervor. She wanted something. But what? Not food. Not comfort. Not companionship. Something deeper, stronger. Something that suddenly seemed impossible to live without.

Her chest tightened, allowing her to take in only the shallowest of breaths. Tears streamed. It seemed that flames licked her body. Battling the crazed obsession, she focused on Taushin’s face and spoke through gritting teeth. “What are you doing to me?”

“Giving you what you need. Fear not. The embracing force that envelops you is holy.”

Koren swallowed. This yearning to be set free from his grasp seemed as horrible as the embrace itself. It was wild, bestial, like an animal lunging at the bars of its cage. She tried to slide her feet back, but they wouldn’t budge. She had to run, hide, get away from this violation of her senses as well as the unquenchable craving to escape.

As his voice continued to croon, his scaly head swayed, though his eyebeams never shifted. “Tell me a tale, Starlighter. What do you see?”

She licked her parched lips. “A tale? I have no tale.”

“Look around. You will see.”

Koren turned her head to the left. The logs erupted into a trembling column of flames, and a human female took shape in its midst. As the image sharpened, her identity became clear. With striking red hair and piercing green eyes, Koren’s likeness appeared more sharply than it ever had in the reflection pond near her home.

As the replica stood in the flames, her eyes morphed from green to blue. Manacles clamped around her wrists, and chains weighed down her arms. Wearing a contented smile, the girl lifted her arms, dragging the chains higher, as if showing her pleasure at being bound.

“She’s …” Koren swallowed a lump. “She’s happy.”

“Of course. Did I not tell you that chains are necessary for love to be born? For the hatred in your heart had to be removed.”

She forced out her words. “But I don’t love you. I
won’t
love you.”

“You don’t love me, to be sure. But you will. The chains you see in the flames are the ones you will wear—invisible but every bit as real. You are now mine, and you could not leave me if you tried. You would always come back … always. And when you learn to love me, the chains will become self-imposed, for you will not ever want to leave.”

Koren stared at the poor girl. Her smile made her look like a fool, a prisoner who felt no chains. Showing them to her would do no good. Her ignorant bliss had blinded her to the reality of her slavery.

As she looked down, her real chains fell away and clanked to the floor. She rubbed her wrists—bare skin, still wearing the marks of the manacles. The bleeding and pain had ceased, but the shame of imprisonment remained.

Giving in to the dragon had exposed her. She was vulnerable, unable to defend herself against his penetrating presence. And now, chained to his will, the sensation set her conscience aflame. This was the burning desire, to be set free from his crushing embrace, to escape the shame of allowing herself to be overpowered.

She was again in chains, a prison of her own choosing — shame, utter shame. As the girl in the flames continued holding her chains aloft, the real Koren thrust her arms outward.
Break free, you fool! The chains aren’t real!
As if her actions would help the imagined girl, Koren shifted her body in an attempt to move her own legs.
Run from this place! Escape this monster!

But she couldn’t. And the girl in the flames kept smiling that stupid smile. The real Koren’s legs stayed put. The dragon who had stripped away every façade continued drilling his blue stare into her eyes.

She clenched her fists. Oh, to be free of this dragon’s influence! To go back to Madam Orley and just be Koren, a simple slave girl who hauled olive oil and honeycombs for Arxad. She was happier then—as ignorant as a prancing lamb in the hills, but happier.

Taushin’s voice returned, still calm, still soothing. “The battle is over, Koren, and you are mine. Fret not. As you exercise your gifts, you will grow stronger and more confident. I will have need of no one else.”

The blue light faded. The drilling force drew back. As the flames subsided, her passion did, as well.

Koren took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. That was better. The awful feelings had gone away, at least for now. Yet was this quick sense of relief more of a curse than a blessing? Had she become so much of a slave that her shame of captivity was too easily lost?

Finally able to move, she took a step closer to him. Her legs wobbled, but not too badly. “So … is the attachment complete?”

Taushin hesitated for a moment. “Complete enough for my purposes at this time.”

“You said you won’t need anyone else. What about Zena?”

“Do you think she is absent for no reason?” He laughed gently. “No, my Starlighter. You will take her place at my side. She has served our interests for a very long time, but she is old and nearly blind. She is no longer of use to us.”

“But —”

“You need not worry about her. Her allegiance will triumph, and she will bow out with grace and honor. You will see.”

“Speaking of seeing …” Koren cast her gaze upon the doorway. “Can you see through me now?”

“It is a glorious sense, my Starlighter. I see the room’s exit, but it is rather dark in comparison to the fire you were looking at moments ago.”

Koren nodded. “You are learning about lighting differences quickly. It must be difficult taking in all this new information.”

“Difficult? No. Delightful. And I will be able to see through your eyes no matter where you go. This is a union that I will never want to dissolve.”

His words tightened her throat.
Never want to dissolve.
At first it sounded awful. But why? So far, being the new king’s eyes wasn’t too bad. Maybe they could set the slaves free after all. It wouldn’t be the worst situation—to rule a free world alongside the king of the dragons, assuming he was as good and noble as he claimed to be.

As her own thoughts sank in, the chained girl flamed again in her mind. Koren shook her head hard.
No! Stop thinking like that! He’s a monster! Evil! Hang on to what you know to be true! Don’t let his mind influence you!

“We are here.” Above, at the railing, Zena looked on with Petra at her side. Although the fourteen-year-old slave stood almost as tall as Zena’s shoulder, Zena fawned over her as she might a little girl or a cat, petting her hair with long strokes.

“Excellent,” Taushin said. “Will you be able to fit her for a cloak?”

“I can have one ready soon.”

Forcing herself to smile, Koren waved at Petra. With both arms pressed against her sides, Petra lifted a hand and offered a weak wave in return, but her face contorted with terror. Wearing her long work smock and tunic, she trembled and flinched with every touch of Zena’s hand.

“Take Koren and prepare them both for the invocation,” Taushin said. “I want them to be clean, groomed, and cloaked in Starlighter splendor.”

“Will you have Koren climb the bell rope?” Zena asked. “Or are you strong enough to fly her up here?”

“Take her through the legacy passage.”

Zena stared openmouthed for a brief moment. “The legacy passage?”

“She is one of us now. There is no need to hide anything from her.”

“I will be down in a moment.” Zena and Petra walked away from the railing and out of sight.

Koren looked at Taushin. With his neck extended as he returned her gaze, he seemed to be more mature now, even handsome as dragons go. His scales reflected the firelight, making the black surfaces shimmer like obsidian crystals. His snout displayed smooth lines without a hint of imperfection, giving him an air of nobility. Was he growing at a faster rate than other young dragons? Could that be part of the prophecy?

A door opened at the back of the theater’s stage area. Zena appeared, hand in hand with Petra. “Come,” Zena called. “There is a stairway here.”

Petra broke free and ran toward Koren.

“Stop!” Zena ordered.

Petra halted at the center of the stage, wavering back and forth between Koren and Zena. Her face twisted into a mournful expression.

“Let her come,” Taushin said. “She is under Koren’s authority now.”

Petra dashed ahead and ran into Koren’s arms. As the younger girl wept, Koren—nearly nose to nose with her—ran her fingers through her hair. “Shhh. It’s okay. You’re with me now.” She took Petra’s hand. “Taushin has given you to me. You’re no longer a slave. You have been set free.”

Clutching Koren’s hand tightly, Petra’s lips moved from a smile to a frown, then back to a smile. Her blend of disbelief and joy was clear. How could a dragon, a member of the same species that had cut out her tongue, be the one who would set her free?

They walked together and met Zena at the door, a panel without a knob or visible hinges. Oddly enough, it was too small for any dragon, except maybe a youngling like Taushin. Why would they have such a passage in the Basilica?