Song of the Dragon

CHAPTER 7

Drakis tugged self-consciously at his tunic as he stepped from the command tent of Tribune Se’Djinka in one final, hopeless attempt to straighten it into a presentable state. He had managed to leave most of his badly mismatched armor with Thuri in the encampment, but three weeks of campaigning had left him looking very much the worse for wear. He also suspected that his smell had been increasingly offensive to the elven Tribune with each passing minute of his report-though after the numerous campaigns Drakis had fought down the years of his service he scarcely noticed it himself.

Still, when dealing with the elves it was best to remember such things-and to have a sense about when one’s masters were pleased. Though nothing in the elven Tribune’s words or countenance gave any sign of trouble, their orders were extraordinary.

It all felt wrong.

Now he stood once more outside the field tent of the Tribune, glowering at the cold, wet wind blowing from the west. A miserable storm had moved in earlier in the day. The Tribunes of the Imperial Legions made their encampment outside the enclosure of the common slave herd that made up their Legions, finding a location that was both dominant and secure, looking on the battle from afar and remaining untouched by it. For this last of the Dwarven Campaigns, they had found a place from which they could lord over their warriors from a comfortable distance. Each Tribune, for that matter, considered the placement of his personal command tent just another part of the strategy of war-a strategy that extended not only to the enemy but to the combative politics of the elves among their own kind. Se’Djinka, Tribune of House Timuran, had outmaneuvered the two hundred and forty-three other Tribunes, placing his great tent so that it sat at the crest of the rise on the Hyperian Plain, its entrance commanding a view that overlooked the seven league wide valley to the north that ended in the abrupt and spectacular rise of the Aerian Range-granite peaks that stabbed the sky eight thousand feet above their base in some places. It was an advantageous position, putting the other Tribunes-not to mention a great number of the tents of the various Guilds and Orders of the Imperium-at a disadvantage.

That a Tribune in charge of a single Centurai in such an obscure House as Timuran should be able to place his tent in such a position was just another of the numerous mysteries about Se’Djinka. It was best, Drakis thought, to not think too long on questions to which the answers might be both painful and dangerous.

He had trouble enough of his own without inviting more.

Standing beneath the leaden sky, Drakis watched as the dark clouds hid the tops of the distant mountains and spat chill, intermittent rain and mist at him. He had to admit that he preferred it to the oppressive opulence of Se’Djinka’s tent. Perhaps it was something within the elves, he pondered, that caused them to always go beyond what was needed. Anything worth doing was worth overdoing was a creed that the elves followed with pride. They always seemed to press beyond all boundaries, he thought, whether those of good taste or those of their conquered territories.

Drakis preferred an honest, chill rain.

He looked down from his Tribune’s tent onto the enclosure of the Legion. The rambling clusters of warriors huddled together against the constant cold drizzle or crowded into the few lean-tos they had hastily erected for themselves out of scavenged supply crates. Their misery extended well into the valley below, a panorama of spent fury, their fitful fires continuing to struggle against the drizzle.

All around the perimeter stood the encircling totems of the Iblisi-the crystalline Sentinels of the Imperial Legions.

Perhaps that is why I am uneasy, Drakis thought to himself. I’m out where I don’t belong.

Nine notes. . Seven notes. .

The Dark Prize in sight. . the Dark Prize is light. .

Five notes. . Five notes. .

Drakis took a few gingerly placed paces down the slope, as much in an attempt to leave the song behind him as to bring himself to with a few steps of the twelve-foot-tall Sentinel. It was one thing to let loose the warrior horde on the enemy, but otherwise the herd must be controlled. The Sentinels were the totems that defined the boundaries of each slave’s world. The face details were obscured by the soft, violet glow emanating from within the crystal, and there was something about each of them that grew more repellent and loathsome the closer one approached.

They marked the rightful limits of a slave’s world, and each knew that to pass between Sentinels unbidden was to die.

Drakis took in a deep breath. “Drakis Sha-Timuran.”

There passed an uncertain moment, and then the light within the Sentinel flashed from violet to pale yellow.

Drakis started breathing again and stepped quickly across the line between the Sentinels and continued down the slope.

It would take him half an hour just to make his way through the soaked army to his own Centurai. He knew he needed to get moving faster, but his audience with Se’Djinka made him uncertain and hesitant.

He shook with sudden violence in the rain.

It wasn’t just that he had been outside the Sentinel’s protection and control.

It was Se’Djinka’s news that he and his Octian were being afforded a great honor.

Drakis shook again.

There was definitely something wrong.

“Hey, Drakis!” Thuri shouted, standing up slowly from where he squatted next to the sputtering fire. “How is life among members of the higher estates?”

“Better than it is down here,” Drakis shot back as he slogged toward them through the ankle-deep mud between the tents, “but when was that ever any different?”

“Why the summons, Drakis?” Belag was sullen and testy. The lost of his brother weighed heavily on the towering manticore.

Drakis stopped and took a deep breath. His eye was caught by the wet flapping of the Centurai’s battle flag from atop a tall pole planted angrily into the ground nearby; elven symbols intertwined around a pair of crossed swords. What had once seemed so bright and inspiring now looked tarnished and old.

He glanced around at the milling warriors all about him, then motioned Belag and the two chimera closer to him.

“We’re going home,” he said factually, keeping his voice low. “Se’Djinka has ordered us back to House Timuran. We have an hour to secure our gear, resupply the packs if you can, and get the dwarf ready for accounting at Hyperian Fold number four.”

“An hour?” Thuri scoffed.

“Drakis,” Ethis shrugged, “we can’t possibly get the entire Centurai ready to leave that soon. We’re still missing three Octia. We have heard that they came back from the dwarven halls, but they haven’t reported. .”

“They aren’t coming with us,” Drakis cut him off.

“What?”

“Only our Octian is going back right now,” Drakis said, his eyes blinking.

“But what about our loot?” Ethis said. “It has to be accounted and credited. . prepared for transport. .”

“Already done, it seems,” Drakis said

“Already? What about the crown. . did Jerakh get away with it?”

“I don’t know. All I was told is that all the prizes looted by every Octian of our Centurai have already been accounted, credited, and sent on to House Timuran.”

“Well. . well that’s more like it!” Thuri said, the semblance of a smile forming on the featureless face of the chimerian. “A great honor! Perhaps that throwing the Dwarven Crown from the throne did connect with Jerakh after all!”

“Whatever the reason,” Drakis said, clearing his throat, “we’re leaving right away. . and there will be no time for Devotions either. .”

“Not even at the Field Altar?” Thuri groaned. “I’m getting headaches. . I need Devotions!”

“There’s not enough time,” Drakis said emphatically. “Listen to me: We’ll get our Devotions soon enough and not from some weak Field Altar but straight from the House Altar itself.” He turned to the manticore standing next to him. “Belag, I need you to find Jerakh-he’s the Second Octian leader-and the two of you to round up the other Cohort leaders of the Centurai. Bring them here in the next half hour.”

Belag straightened, lifting his snout into the air. “Why should I?”

“Because I was third behind ChuKang and KriChan,” Drakis hung his thumbs from his belt. “They’re both dead, which now makes me the Centurai captain. That was true in battle, and it’s still true here. You are welcome to argue the point with Se’Djinka. I’m sure it would give him great pleasure to explain it to you.”

Belag’s lips curled, but by the slow slump of the manticore’s shoulders, Drakis knew he was still in charge. “Jerakh will be in charge of the Centurai after we’ve left; it will be his job to get them organized for transport over the next week-maybe twelve days depending on how crowded the Imperial Folds get. Every Cohort on the front is going to want to get home at the same time.”

“Except for the four of us?” Thuri’s voice was uncertain.

“I guess Lord Timuran must have really missed your face, Thuri,” Drakis spoke as lightly as he could manage. “He arranged for our immediate passage, and, from what I gather, the Myrdin-dai who are mastering the folds are none too happy about it. So get moving and you may be back in time for House Devotions tonight!”

Belag nodded once in deference to Drakis before turning to run between the throngs of warriors milling about, his large feet kicking clumps of mud up behind him. Ethis quickly began to douse the already nearly dead fire as Thuri collected several weapons from where they lay wrapped in an oilskin tarpaulin.

Drakis stood for a moment, uncertain as to what to do next. The damnable song had returned again. He tried to push it out of his mind with thoughts of returning to his beloved Mala.

“What about him?” Thuri said, nodding in the direction of the House Standard.

A waterlogged dwarf in outlandish costume sat with his back to the pole, his hands tied around it behind him. Water drizzled down from the leaden Timuran battle standard and directly onto Jugar’s once glorious hat. Now the dwarf’s entire outfit seemed to sag right along with him. The soaked brim flopped down over the creature’s eyes, making it impossible for him to see anything.

“Helloooo!” called the damp dwarf from under his badly sagging hat. “May I help you? I’d be delighted to direct you to the valuables, but there aren’t any here. They took them all this morning-only this sorry dwarf remains!”

Drakis huffed with irritation and strode over to where the dwarf sat in the mud. He reached down to yank the hat off the dwarf’s head, but a pool of water had gathered in its crown. As a result, the hat only came away after sending a sizable body of water splashing down on the miserable dwarf’s head.

“Sorry,” Drakis said.

The dwarf vigorously shook his head, spraying water about, which, given the conditions in the drenched field, made little difference. He blinked the water out of his eyes and then looked up. “Ah, Drakis! Splendid! As you can see, I’ve been working on a particularly remarkable escape trick for my new act. It’s not quite finished yet, but I’m hoping to have the little problems worked out before my next engagement. So, please tell me, my victorious friend, where have you put all that glorious treasure to which I so generously led you?”

Drakis shook his head then squatted down, wet dwarven hat still in hand. “You dwarves; I’ll never understand you! Here you are, tied up and sitting in the mud-a conquered slave of the Imperial Will-and all you want to know about is where we put some treasure that’s no longer yours?”

“Yes,” said the dwarf, a strange intensity behind his smile. “Exactly. So, tell me!”

Drakis leaned back casually but his eyes were fixed on the dwarf. “It’s gone, as you already pointed out. Spoils of war are the first to be sent back through the Imperial Folds.”

“I see,” Jugar said quietly, his smile becoming more affected by the moment. “Slaves no doubt are not as valuable as dwarven plunder, eh?”

Drakis chuckled darkly. “The value of each House’s slaves is already counted to them; but the spoils of war have to be tallied and accounted to the honor of each House. It’s the elven way of power-this counting of honors. Your precious jeweled armor and Heart-stone. .”

“Heart of Aer,” Jugar corrected with quiet politeness.

“Whatever it is called,” Drakis shrugged, “it all belongs to the Greater Glory of House Timuran now.”

“But it is actually being sent to this House Timuran of yours, isn’t it?” The dwarf’s voice was urging-a strange pleading quality somewhere under all the words. “I understand that this has long been the elven way of it. This same House of your elven lord to which we all shall be going?”

“Of course,” Drakis said evenly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Why?”

“Oh, just a dwarf’s curiosity,” Jugar smiled back, his white beard sagging under the weight of the water it carried and what remained of his hair flat against his head. “I thought I might be able to work it somewhere into my act, you know, when you present your lord-pardon me, our lord-with all the glorious trophies you have secured in your battles. After all, I am one of those trophies, and I want to make a good impression-right there along with all the other treasures. Of course, it’s going to be difficult making myself presentable tied as I am to this pole. I’m curious as to why you feel the need to bind me?”

“You’re the one treasure we’re bringing back with quick legs and a quicker tongue. I just want to make sure you stay with me.”

The dwarf smiled again. “But where would I go? Your Iblisi totems keep you and me both safely confined to this damp and overcrowded field along with the rest of the slaves.”

Drakis’ eyes narrowed. “You know about the totems?”

“But of course.” The dwarf shifted slightly around the pole so that he could better face the warrior. “We dwarves have something very like them, which we use to pen our livestock and hogs. I’ve often wondered why the slaves of the elves never escape their captivity. . but as a vaunted warrior, such thoughts may never have come to you. Still, you should untie me; you see I don’t want to escape. I just want to be a part of the glory of House Timuran and my. . rather, its treasures.”

“Uh-huh,” Drakis was unconvinced. “Jugoo. .”

“Jugar,” the dwarf corrected helpfully.

“Jugar, then,” Drakis continued, “I don’t know what you think is going to happen, but there are two conditions for slaves of the Elven Empire. . obedient and dead.”

“Oh, I’m not worried,” the dwarf grinned, showing wide-spaced teeth that were perfectly even. “Heroes die, kings die, monsters and villains. . they all die. No one ever kills the fool!”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Drakis said quietly. “I watch fools die every day. For as long as I can remember. .”

“Now that is an interesting point!” Jugar interrupted.

Drakis shook his head and tried again. “What I was saying-for as long as I can remember. .”

“Exactly!” Jugar shouted enthusiastically. “You’ve been on this campaign for, what, one or two weeks?”

“Three, but that’s not. .”

“Three weeks? That’s a long time without House Devotions,” the dwarf sounded impressed. “And how long since Field Devotions at that portable altar of your most noble Tribune?”

“Four days,” Drakis replied, squinting at the dwarf. “What is your point?”

“The point is that I can tell you a great secret that, I’m sure, is entirely new to your experience.”

“There’s nothing you can tell me, dwarf.”

“Oh, but I can,” smiled Jugar. “I can tell you about that song you have whirling about in your head. Better still, I can tell you with absolute certainty that everything you remember-every kiss, every hurt, every victory and every failure that happened to you prior to four days ago-is a lie.”

“My entire life-a lie,” Drakis scoffed.

“Up until four days ago,” the dwarf said in a husky whisper, “none of it was real.”

Drakis leaned down, his face so close that his breath shook the large drip forming at the end of the dwarf’s nose. “The only lie here is your foolish stories-but you’re about to learn how real your own life has become, Fool.”