Rage of the Dragon

CHAPTER 32

The Dragon Kahg decided he liked living at the bottom of the ocean. All these years, he had sailed on top of the sea, riding the waves in the Vindrasi ships that carried his spirit with them, viewing with pity and disdain the lowly creatures forced to swim. Kahg could not imagine a life without flight, without the freedom to soar among the clouds, bask in the warmth of the sun.

He could have fled the Venjekar when the kraken attacked it, returning to his own realm. He chose to remain with the ship because the sacred Vektia dragonbone was hidden within the hull and he was determined to protect it. He was also determined to find out what had become of the Vektan Torque that held the second Vektia bone lost during the kraken attack.

The Dragon Kahg had used his magic to prevent the kraken from crushing the Venjekar, giving the ugly beast a powerful jolt when it tried to wrap its tentacles around his ship and biting its tentacles with his fangs. Kahg had chuckled as the kraken sullenly squirted a blast of ink in his direction before turning to find new prey.

The Dragon Kahg had been grateful to the Aquins who had come to the aid of Aylaen and the other humans. Kahg liked Aylaen far better than any other Bone Priestess who had served him over the years. The fact that he remembered her name marked his approbation. The dragon had even come to admire Skylan. Kahg had known so many Vindrasi warriors over the years, they all tended to blend together, but the dragon could remember Skylan’s name most of the time.

As for the fae boy, Kahg was firm in his dislike or at least so he continually told himself, even as he allowed the fae child to live on board the ship. Whenever the dragon found himself growing amused by the boy’s antics or taking too much interest in the gossip from those annoying oceanaids, Kahg would bare his teeth in a snarl that would send the oceanaids fleeing in squealing panic and the boy swimming off to hide in the hold.

The Dragon Kahg kept the Venjekar anchored to the coral reef and found he did not miss the blue sky or the sun or the gray clouds and the rain. He liked the stillness, the sunlit blue of the water, the hypnotic motion of the plants stirred by the movement of the waves. The storms that ravaged the world above had small effect on the world below. He knew such peace would not last long. In the interim, he was glad for the respite.

“Have you forgiven us, Kahg?”

Kahg shifted his gaze to the goddess Vindrash swimming alongside him. The goddess was in her dragon aspect, probably hoping to flatter him, appease him. She moved sinuously among the coral, her wings sleek by her flanks, her tail rippling. Kahg looked away. He gazed sternly straight ahead, pretending to be absorbed in watching a puffer fish.

“Have you forgiven us?” Vindrash repeated.

“Since you ask, no. You gods lied to us,” said Kahg. “Not once, but many times over. First you say the spiritbones of Vektia come from five mighty dragons. The thing that destroyed Sinaria was not a dragon. Then you claim that it was the power of creation-”

“So it is,” said Vindrash.

“But that is not all it is,” said the Dragon Kahg. “Even now, you will not admit the truth.”

Vindrash was silent a moment, studying the dragon. Then she said, “You have found out, haven’t you?”

The dragon gave a shake of his mane that sent the small fish swimming off in panic. He was not willing to commit himself.

Vindrash sighed. “If you know the truth, Kahg, then you must understand why I dare not reveal it.”

The Dragon Kahg considered this. Sighting some curious oceanaids hovering near, he snapped his jaws at them. The oceanaids cursed him roundly and angrily swam away.

Once he and the goddess were alone, Kahg said grudgingly, “Maybe I do understand. You thought that if we dragons knew the truth, we would try to seize these sacred bones for ourselves. Perhaps you were right. Perhaps we would have. But you might have given us the benefit of the doubt.”

“We could not take the chance. We feared-”

“Fear!” The dragon snorted clouds of bubbles from his snout. “You gods are ruled by fear!”

“We acted for the best,” said Vindrash.

“That’s always the excuse,” said Kahg.

Vindrash was quiet a moment, then said, “This, then, is the truth. The power of creation is stored inside the bones of Ilyrion. When the Five Vektia bones are brought together, the great dragon, Ilyrion, will be reborn. She will return to the world. We know this will happen, because Sund saw us all there, at the final battle. The great dragon, Ilyrion, fights at our side, as do you and the other dragons.”

“And what is the outcome of this last battle?” The dragon did not like the sorrow in the goddess’s voice. He swiveled his red eyes uneasily.

Vindrash shook her head. “All we know for certain is that whatever Sund saw drove him to madness.”

“And still you send out your Fish Knife to find the Five? Even though they represent your own destruction?”

“Without Ilyrion, we have no hope of defeating Aelon and the Gods of Raj.”

“Apparently we have no hope of defeating them with Ilyrion,” Kahg growled. “So what do we do now?”

“We find the Five,” said Vindrash, “and we hope.”