SINGED
Chapter 24

I could not sleep that night. The wings that usually melted away when I relaxed, persisted and I could not get comfortable. If I laid on my side I had to remember to hold my wings tight or I pinched the membrane painfully and lying on my back was no longer an option with the sharp tines along my tail.

Too upset to sleep anyway, I rose and exited the inner chamber granted me by Gribnor. I startled the guards posted outside, setting them to hooting and prostrating themselves as I passed.

Then I flew up into the darkness. There was a storm brewing in the south. I could smell it on the wind, but it would not arrive until late the following day. I soared silently over the town. It was engulfed in the night except for a handful of torches that marked the location of patrols. The villagers closed their shutters to ward off the chill of the night and from above only faint flickering escapes through their closeted windows.

Wolves howled to the twin moons which appeared between the thickening clouds. They sounded somehow like they were flying too, and I wondered at the possibility until I realized they were coming from the passes in the towering mountains above. The light from the moons played spectacularly off the rocky peaks as well, causing stark definition of some summits while others remained hidden in shadows. The wind whistled in the fur trees causing a whispering as if from a multitude. The night was full of life, but I felt empty inside.

When dawn crept over the horizon, it was not welcome. I had come to prefer the night. The merciless sun seemed to reveal my monstrous purpose.

I watched as Rue and a small escort left Far Reach on horseback and followed them, hidden in the tree line, plotting murder. Somehow this new form, being a monster anyway, made such thoughts easier. I had nothing to hide. I only yearned to finish the transformation, then I would be whole, and I could leave all my heartache behind.

“I must be patient,” I told myself. “It must be just the right moment.”

For I had foreseen how my transcendence to Dragon would be fulfilled. It had been her purpose to go before me all along, to prepare the way for my coming. Then when the time was right, I would sacrifice her, take her power into me, and Dragon would be reborn. I had to stifle a manic giggle andremind myself I might still be undone.

“Patience,” I told myself. “Patience.”

Rue and the others had come to an old abandoned guard tower, high up on a ridge that led through a pass into the towering mountains behind Far Reach. Except it wasn’t quite abandoned. An ancient husk of a man answered the door and let her in, along with Jubal Lampwick. Remember Jubal Lampwick from the dock? She had adopted him. Jubal was like her Sal. They left two of the motley crew outside to guard the door.

I could kill them both easily. Then I could enter the tower and take Rue by surprise. I crept through the shadowy branches of the fur trees until I was within a few horns of the unsuspecting sentries. Then something rustled in the foliage off to my right and something else off to my left. Menacing growls came from behind me.

I turned in amazement to see a huge black timberwolf with hackles raised and teeth barred. Its yellow eyes were hard like chips of amber. I had never fought a wolf before. I was sure it would not be difficult but this one was not alone. I heard another low growl and then another. They had flanked me, while I was distracted with the first.

“Patients,” I reminded myself.

I snarled back as the pack continued to materialize out of the woods all around me, then I retreated into the forest. The wolves did not follow, so I lingered at a distance. I did not want Rue to know I had followed her. I needed the element of surprise to make sure I overcame her when the moment came. The wolves continued to be a hindrance, keeping me from getting close but I could eavesdrop mentally on Rue’s companions even though her thoughts remained hidden to me.

However, I was able to identify a new companion who arrived with the wolves. Lupa was a wolvin and the wolves were her guardians. Inopportune, but novel. I got too close at one point as I followed them back down the mountain, and the wolves let out a chorusof howls. The wolf girl was almost upon me before I knew it, but I was able to avoid her, climbing up into a tree and hiding in its soft coat of needles. I climbed down thoughtfully after she’d gone.

I decided it was time. Tonight, I would seize control of Far Reach and take my sister. I flew in a fury, low over the treetops and back to my nethergrim warriors.

“Not ready,” Gribnor said.

“Why not?” I stormed.

“Too many warriors not yet here,” he replied.

He was baiting me yet again because I was obviously upset but he was also telling the truth. I was glad that I could read his thoughts, unlike Rue’s. I sighed, taking control of myself.

“Okay,” I said, “but we are sending a raiding party to give them a fright anyway.

He snorted, amused.

“Okay.”

As night fell I returned to Far Reach. A plan was forming. I would use my human cult to take the gates and then my nethergrim raiders would be more effective. We would plunder, take Rue, and depart.

The storm which had been brewing all day commenced its assault on the town shortly before dusk. Thunder boomed like distant drums and then proceeded to grow in volume. The rain began as a soft mist like ocean spray but soon became a torrent. It would hide my preparations. I was pleased.

It was easy to take the gate. There were only two guards huddled in the alcove by the guardhouse. I should’ve dispatched them myself but instead I sent Clarence with a clutter of cultists who scouted out Rue’s location. She was not at the inn among her sailor scum.

To my chagrin, she was missing. It was from the worried thoughts of Jubal as he hurried out into the rain that I learned the truth. She was in the woods with Lupa and her wolves. Camping?

Jubal spotted my men at once as they secured the gate. His shouts brought more guards and he and his companion charged out among my attackers to aid Rue. My men surrounded them outside the gate.

I was pleased by how quickly Rue and her allies appeared, rushing to Jubal’s aid, though puzzled. Why did she throw herself in harm’s way for a servant? Then I remembered how Sal had been for me and I growled irritably. I watched from the shadows of the stockade gate. Even the child charged out until she called him back to safety. Was he really my other sibling? Why so young? Rue quickly cut a swath through my cultists, joining with Jubal. She was attempting to retake the half open gate behind which I waited. She was taunting my men and I finally responded.

“Oh, we already have,” I replied. “Reinforcements are on the way!”

As if on cue, a chorus of mournful howls from Lupa’s wolves announced the arrival of the nethergrim, but I was distracted by Rue. How fierce she fought and with such confidence. I steeled my heart. She was the sacrifice that would complete my change. Just like Clarence, I could not afford to grow attached. I stared out at the fallen cultist, sprawled in the mud. He seemed so peaceful, lying there in death.

I sighed. At least I did not need to do it. At least he had not suffered. Jubal’s blade had been swift.

I would try to make Rue’s death as quick. Shaking myself out of my reverie, I realized she was right before me. I had no more time to deliberate. I stepped out into the torchlight, barring the way. Rue came to a halt, recognition shining in her eyes.

More bravado. She was magnificent, unperturbed, defiant. I snarled something appropriate back, trying to work myself into a proper rage. She called me names, I acted insulted. Mercifully she was starting to get under my scales. Yes, good. Insult me, make this easier. Then she did it.

“Wait you want to change but you can’t, another failure!”

“Thank you,” I thought. “Thank you, thank you.”

I was flying at her. Striking wildly. I needed to end this quickly, but she was too fast for an easy victory. However, I had the advantage of surprise this time. Her eyes opened wide with shock at my speed. My ruse from the previous evening was paying off. She was off balance and I pressed my advantage.

Distantly I could hear the arrival of the nethergrim. I had to make an example of her. I had to end this painful transition to my true self, to put it behind me. Finally, she stumbled, and I struck, sending her sliding in the mud. In an instant I had her by the throat.

Yet I hesitated. I don’t remember what I said. Something to delay. I was losing my resolve. I don’t know what I would have done next. I honestly don’t know, because at that moment I was struck from the side so hard I flew across the clearing, slamming into a tree. It blinded me for a flicker of a flame, but I staggered to my feet regardless, blinking until spots cleared from my eyes.

There, standing between Rue and I, was our other sibling. I had completely forgotten the boy. His human disguise had fooled me into thinking he was too immature to even be a threat. Here he stood, his transformation complete, defending our sister from me.

“Impossible!” I screamed.

This could not be! I was meant to change now, not him. How had he done it? I had almost forgotten Rue. She no longer seemed like a threat. It was the newcomer who had my attention and ire. It was he who had taken what I most wanted in the end. I flew at him, using all my energy and frustration, but he was a true dragon, his power and strength whole and hail, while I remained a half breed.

He deflected each attack. Even if I landed a blow, his scales were hard as diamonds. My frustration was complete. With tears in my eyes I fled. Total failure. My worst nightmare. The one that I didn’t even know that I needed to have. Not only was I still trapped in this twilight form, neither human nor dragon, but I had been beaten and shamed before my followers.

Fleeing into the mountains, I found a shallow recess amid the razor-sharp spires. There I remained throughout the night. I considered abandoning everything, flying out into the darkness, as high as I could, over the mountains, until my strength failed, and I fell hopefully into oblivion.

In the morning though as often happens, hope returned. The sun woke me with its warm caress. I crawled down out the cold peaks and found my way to an overlook above the briny, green sea. There I was greeted with the distant, sorrowful song of sea drakes out in the mist. I remained there listening.

How my perception had changed since my last encounter with my sea serpent kin. Then I was repelled by the relationship to them with their simple minds. Now I envied them. I wanted nothing more than to be at peace with myself, unaware of myself even. Just existing to sing. When night came again I returned to the nethergrim warrens.

I was as close to peace as I was able, having decided what I must do. The Dragonking was my only hope. I must seek him out even at the risk of my life, for did I really have anything to lose? This half-life was not living. I was empty, even wishing for death. Only he could show me how to become what I had always been meant to be. Only he could teach me to be a dragon.

“She-dragon sneak into warrens,” Gribnor reported.

The nethergrim were agitated. They did not like being the ones to get invaded. Many were not as in love with death as Gribnor. He ignored their shrieks of dismay. They had forgotten my defeat. They had been defeated as well. I shouted orders in relief.

Then the crimson diamond was brought to me, I thought at the time, by destiny. Something was wrong though. I felt as if my mind was not my own, my actions forced as if I was being tugged about on marionette strings.

The diamond was cursed. The dark spirits inside the gem would serve me, I found. They could not subdue the fiery spirit of a dragon, but they possessed others. I used them, making fiends of my strongest nethergrim, Gribnor included.

When the emissary of the Dragonking came to take me to his master, I was ready. Eagerly I entered the chamber of Cyndr, greatest of Great Wurms, Dragonlord of Lindor, the incarnation of Dragon Itself.