Liberator Read online

  Cassabrie, who now dwells within the star, will slowly die. Before we left the village, I planted a rumor that the humans’ only hope is for Cassabrie to come, so I expect that the dome will open to welcome her arrival. When she becomes ensnared, I will rescue her in exchange for her loyalty to me.”

  “And if she refuses? I hear she is not easily influenced.”

  “Then she will die, but that would be only a minor loss. There is another Starlighter who has already proven vulnerable to my influence. She is not as powerful as Cassabrie, but she would serve my purposes if necessary. Without one of the Starlighters, we cannot prevail.”

  “Such nonsense!” Mallerin said. “Even without a Starlighter, we could conquer a thousand healthy soldiers. Why are we hiding from diseased humans?”

  “We are not hiding from humans. We are in this refuge to keep us safe from another enemy.” Taushin extended his neck, pushing Mallerin’s wing away. “I sense that the hour has arrived. I will explain the situation to all my subjects at the same time.”

  He thumped his tail on the boulder. When the dragons rose and turned their attention to him, he spoke in a formal tone. “Hear me, those who are faithful to our race. As we learned earlier, Magnar and Arxad have allied themselves with humans in order to remove me from my rightful place as king over you. They have proven that their allegiances are with forces foreign to ours, so we must defend our place and position against their betrayal. You have heard that men are coming with weapons, but that is not why we are taking refuge. The humans are a pathetic lot who might perish in piles of rotting flesh before they ever arrive. We have a different enemy.”

  A flapping sound arose toward the forest wilderness. The other dragons’ heads swayed as they searched for the source. “Mother,” Taushin said, “please look to the northern skies.”

  Over the treetops to the northwest, three white dragons flew toward the mesa mines. No larger than normal dragons, they flew haphazardly, dipping and weaving in the gusts.

  Taushin resisted the urge to shudder. The Benefile. Their appearance was expected, but not this soon. Rising to his full height, Taushin growled as he spoke. “Behold our enemy.”

  Berkah turned to him. “Why are we hiding from these weaklings? We could overwhelm them in mere minutes.”

  “Their flight difficulty is due to the length of time they spent in captivity, so do not underestimate their power. They will soon become the extraordinary flyers they once were. And they have no fear of any dragon. In fact, they are likely flying straight to our village in search of us. They mean to destroy us all.”

  “Why?” Mallerin asked. “What have we done to them?”

  “They are the Benefile, the enforcers, misguided keepers of the Code. Like Alaph, king of the Northlands, they think the dragons of the Southlands have brutalized humans, so they have come to deliver punishment. Yet, if we position ourselves and time events perfectly, they will conquer the humans for us, and we will have a Starlighter who will, in turn, conquer them.”

  When the white dragons flew out of sight, Taushin straightened and held his head high. “It is time to set our bait for Koren.”

  “What bait might that be?” Berkah asked.

  “Suffering children.”

  “But the children are all in the village or the grottoes. The patriarchs moved them there when they saw us leave. If the Benefile are as dangerous as you claim, the children will not be accessible to us.”

  “Not so, Berkah. The cattle children are in a wilderness refuge. As the most pitiful of all children, they will be the best bait possible. We need only to guide them safely to the village and see to it that they suffer along the way. Koren will see it, and she will come.”

  Berkah nodded. “We have searched the wilderness for that refuge before, but it has not been a high priority. Perhaps if we all search again—”

  “No need, and too dangerous. If we all fly over the entire wilderness, the Benefile will certainly see us.”

  “Then how do you propose that we find them?”

  “I will send someone on a hunting expedition.” Taushin pointed a wing at a drone. “You will go.”

  The drone lowered his head in submission. “What must I do?”

  “Since you are small, you will be able to fly with stealth. If you locate the escaped cattle children, return and report their whereabouts. Kill any adults you find. While you are hunting, we will watch from here. Even if you locate nothing, I expect that one of the traitor dragons will eventually lead us to the refuge, so watch for any member of Arxad’s family.”

  Koren groaned. Pain in her shoulders streaked down her spine and ripped across her limbs. With every flap of his wings, the dragon’s claws dug in deeper, then eased back, a rhythm of agony that gouged her senses. If only she could find the strength to speak to him, maybe he would come under her control, at least long enough to set her down and ease the pain.

  As the setting Solarus bobbed in her darkening vision, cold air swept through her thin clothing. Her cloak, now dry, trailed behind, too far to reach with pain-stiffened arms. Clenching her teeth, she refused to shiver. Any movement would make the torture even worse.

  Ahead, the white caps of the Northlands had come into view. Although the trees now carried far less snow than before, the mountain peaks were still buried in it. Dark clouds loomed on the northern horizon, like a gray hat sitting on an old man’s hoary head.

  She closed her eyes. Maybe gathering Cassabrie’s messages from Exodus would bring new energy, especially if the tales carried good news.

  As she concentrated, images flashed in her mind — soldiers gathering in the midst of slush and mud, then marching into fields of green grass and multicolored flowers. Farther back, a dragon flew, too distant to identify, and far enough away that the soldiers might not even know that he lurked behind them.

  After a few seconds of contemplating the confusing scene, she opened her eyes. A line of men dressed in dark uniforms appeared against a backdrop of color. As in her vision, they had just passed the Northlands border and were entering the flowered meadow, but the dragon stalking them was nowhere in sight.

  Koren tried to take in a deep breath, but the pain kept her respiration shallow. Only a pathetic “Beware” escaped her lips, probably not loud enough for even her carrier dragon to hear.

  Soon the men began to shout. Some lifted spears and swords as well as shields, but at a command from their leader, they held back. Perhaps he was fearful they would hit the wrong target.

  “This will be easier than I thought,” the dragon said. “All I have to do is drop you from a height beyond the reach of their weapons and then fly away. If the fall kills you, it will be no matter. You will be freshly dead, so the contagion will be delivered.”

  The dragon flew higher, providing a wider view of the surrounding area. From the north, another dragon approached, beating its wings furiously. Reddish brown and snorting sparks, his powerful lines drew a familiar form.

  “Magnar,” Koren whispered. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she summoned every bit of energy remaining and called out, “Dragon … I appeal to you …. Put me down … safely away from the humans … and summon Magnar…. He must hear from me.”

  The dragon circled overtop the soldiers but stayed quiet, as if unsure what to do. Below, the men spread out under the dragon, but whether to present a less concentrated target or to be ready to catch her should it decide to drop her, Koren couldn’t be sure.

  Magnar closed in, shouting in the dragon tongue, “Why are you transporting this Starlighter?”

  “At Taushin’s bidding. She carries a disease that we wish to spread among the invading humans. Considering your disdain for the vermin, I assume that you approve.”

  “I do not approve,” Magnar said as he joined the carrier dragon in his orbit. “Put her on my back. I have need of the human army.” He lowered his voice to a quiet growl. “We can dispose of them later.”

  “Taushin is king now,” the carrier dragon said. �
�Since you left our world, his coronation was legal. We must repel this attack. The vermin must die.”

  Magnar eyed him for a moment before replying. “You are Braynor.”

  “Yes.”

  “You are one of the Zodiac priests.”

  “I am.”

  “You heard the human’s appeal. By law, you must at least listen to what she has to say. If we land well away from the humans, there will be no danger.”

  “Very well. I see no harm in it.” Braynor flew southward, then swooped low and released his grip. Koren tumbled into a somersault, then skidded on her stomach across a stretch of flowers and feathery grass. When her momentum stopped, her cloak wafted over her, covering her head.

  Groaning again, she turned and threw the cloak to the side. The dragon sat on its haunches beside her, its neck extended upward while it waited for Magnar to land. With Solarus now behind the trees to the west, twilight was nearing.

  Her shoulders throbbing, Koren rose to a sitting position and looked at Braynor. Even in her blurry vision, his nervousness was obvious as his ears twitched and his body shifted from side to side.

  Magnar dove toward the ground and landed in a graceful slide. When he settled, he extended his neck toward Koren. “Speak, human. Make your appeal.”

  Her arms shaking, Koren pulled her hood up over her head and glanced to the north. Perhaps five hundred paces away, the soldiers marched toward her at a rapid pace. She had to do this before they arrived, or they would be exposed to the disease. After taking another deep breath, she whispered, “I … I need to … tell you … a tale.”

  “What?” Braynor’s ears perked. “I cannot hear you!”

  Magnar growled. “I hope you have not damaged her beyond her ability to speak.”

  Braynor backed up, nearly stepping on Koren’s foot before halting. “If she cannot appeal, then my vow is fulfilled.”

  Pushing against the grass with her feet, Koren slid away. If a fight erupted, the first casualty might be a vulnerable Starlighter. She glanced again at the men. The sound of the tromping boots drew closer, maybe three hundred paces away now.

  “You are a poor excuse for a priest,” Magnar said. “I will take her to safety myself.”

  Trembling, Braynor backed away another step. “I … I cannot allow it. Taushin is king, not you.”

  “Beware, Braynor!” Magnar’s growl strengthened. “I am larger than you and more powerful by far.”

  “Then I will have to rely on quickness and agility.”

  Koren slid farther away. A battle meant a delay in flying her out before the soldiers arrived. “Magnar,” she said, her voice rasping. “Warn the men!”

  Magnar raised his head high. “Soldiers from Darksphere! Heed my warning! If you come closer, you will be infected by a fatal disease.”

  “No!” Braynor leaped at Magnar, his jaws snapping at the bigger dragon’s neck. Within seconds, their beating wings blocked Koren’s view of the soldiers. Their tails shredded the ground as they fought, edging closer and closer to her.

  Koren rolled away. A cacophony pierced her senses— the thumps of whipping tails and the grunts and growls of cursing dragons. Pushing with aching arms, she climbed to her feet, then looked back. The men had stopped within a hundred paces, perhaps worried about the disease. Yet, one man leaped toward her and ran.

  Koren waved him back and staggered westward toward the river. The waist-high grass felt like whips against her aching legs, and every pounding step brought new throbs to her perforated shoulders. Blood trickled down her back, biting into lesions along the way. The consuming disease gnawed at her gut, worse than ever.

  As the sounds of battle subsided, the rush of water took over. The river came into view, maybe ten paces away. She stumbled over a stone and fell to her knees. Her palms slapped the turf and sent new shock waves through her shoulders.

  Koren crawled. So dizzy! Walking was impossible now. With her vision darkening by the second, the sound of water remained the only guide. Maybe the chilly current would provide a cooling wake up, at least long enough to get to the safety of the forest on the other side. With night approaching, she could blend in with the darkening shadows.

  When she reached the bank, she continued a painstaking crawl into the flow. The icy water knifed through her clothes. Forearms and biceps stiffened into rigid rods. The shock sent a rush of blood to her head, snapping her awake and clearing her mind, though it also ignited a blazing headache that felt like a red-hot hammer pounding her skull.

  Moving stiffly, she made her way to the center of the twenty-foot-wide river. The water buoyed her body, allowing her to stand erect and walk in the shoulder-high current. New claws, these made of icy water, dug into her skin. She gritted her teeth and drove herself onward. Now swimming, she drifted southward with the flow until her feet struck bottom again.

  She pushed against the riverbed and trudged toward shore. Shivers took over. Her entire body shook violently, and her teeth chattered, making the hammer pound more furiously. With every step, her clothes and cloak grew heavier, weighing her down. But the weight didn’t matter. She had to keep away from the soldiers. Maybe the man who ran after her gave up for fear of the disease, or maybe one of the dragons had stopped him.

  Finally, she climbed up to the bank and continued walking, now in a weaving, stumbling stagger. When she reached the forest tree line, the desire to collapse and hide felt like a crushing boulder. She shook her head fiercely. Deeper was better, far away from the dragons and the soldiers. Someone would eventually search for her. She had to get away, hide in darkness, shiver alone where the chattering of her teeth couldn’t reach dragon or human ears.

  After two dozen more steps, her foot caught on her cloak. She collapsed, more like crumbling pottery than a falling tree. Forcing herself to crawl again, she scooted between two bushes, lay on her stomach, and buried her face in her arms. Spasmodic sobs shook her body. Biting her lip, she steeled herself. Crying would reveal her hiding place. She had to stay still … quiet.

  She held her breath and peeked over her arms. The ground-level view provided little more than a glimpse of the forest floor—a gathering of sparsely packed tree trunks, leaves, and needles. Soon night would be her ally. She waited, allowing only shallow, silent breaths.

  A minute or so later, a man skulked into the waning light, a sword in his grip. With his head high and turning from side to side, he sniffed the air every few seconds. “Koren?” he called. “Where are you?”

  Koren held her breath. The man, his gray hair askew, stopped only five paces away and sniffed again. Blood dripped from his forehead down to his cheek, and a bruise painted his jaw purple. “I have excellent tracking skills, Koren. Even in the dark, I will eventually find you. Every minute we lose is another minute closer to death.”

  Koren risked another peek. The man was walking at an angle that would miss her hiding place, but not by much. He would probably sniff her out soon.

  “I am Edison Masters, Jason’s father.” He slid the sword into a hip scabbard. “Come out of hiding, and I will help you find healing.”

  She cringed. Not Jason’s father! He has to stay away!

  “I will arrange for transport to the Northlands,” Edison continued. “Uriel is trying to find a cure.”

  Koren swallowed. Trying? That wasn’t good enough. It was too much of a risk.

  Staring in spite of the pounding headache, she concentrated on the space in front of Edison. She had to find the energy, even if it sapped her last shred of strength.

  Seconds later, an image of herself appeared at the spot, a thin vapor, barely visible in the twilight. She projected her thoughts and forced its lips to move as the thoughts transformed into spoken words.

  “Edison …” The voice was weak and frail, but it would have to do. “Please go back and let me die alone. I don’t want you to get the disease.”

  Staring, Edison backed away a step. His eyes darted around for a moment before settling on Koren’s phantom. “Dear girl
, I have already been exposed. You need not fear endangering me.”

  Could his words be true? She shook her head, and her image did the same. Edison had just come from the Northlands with the army. He couldn’t have been exposed, whatever he may want her to believe.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “You’re just telling me that so I’ll come out.”

  “Koren, how well do you know Jason?”

  She made her image cock its head. The question was a surprising one. “For the short amount of time we have shared together, quite well, I think.”

  “Would he leave you to suffer and die alone?”

  Koren’s lips trembled, and those on her image did the same. “No. He wouldn’t.”

  “Would he lie to you?”

  “No.”

  Edison reached out and caressed her misty cheek. “Then do you expect anything less from me?”

  Koren rolled up to a sitting position to better maneuver her image. Now that Edison was distracted and perhaps partially hypnotized, he wouldn’t notice.

  The image covered his hand with her own. “Jason has told you about me?”

  “He has.”

  “Do you think I would accept your offer and willingly sentence you to a horrible death?”

  He lowered his head and gave it a slow shake. “No, you wouldn’t. But I speak the truth. I’ve already been exposed.”

  “I can’t take that chance. You must leave me. If you get the disease, the other soldiers probably will as well, and then you all would either spread it to your loved ones at home or become stranded here until you die. We shouldn’t imperil so many just to save one who will die anyway.”

  “Koren, this is the very reason we came. Every man out there is ready to sacrifice his life to break the bonds of the slaves.”

  “But if you and your men contract the disease, you will have no hope in defeating Taushin’s forces. I saw your army. Even healthy, your numbers are small. You are no match for the dragons.”