alone. She was always alone. No one loved her. The thoughts hammered her consciousness, and she barely found the strength to dip her fingers into the viewing well. Wind rushed into the Black Spike through every orifice, threatening to implode the towering architecture. Sand and debris pummeled Mael as wind rushed into the small space, creating immense pressure.
"Do you want to die under a pile of rock?" the dryad asked, her voice betraying no fear. She had prepared for this. She'd known the ancient sorcerer might be more than she could handle, and she had but a single failsafe.
"You're not the first to try," Mael sneered. "But there is no need. I can smell the truth. Who has taken that which is mine?"
Larissarelatarenfall tried not to think of Kyrien and Pelivor, but the image leaped into her mind unbidden--at least unbidden by her will.
Thank you.
Exaggerated sweetness made the dryad's skin crawl.
Tell me one more thing, and I'll truly leave you in peace. Somehow covering the space between them in less time than she would have thought possible, Mael reared back and towered above her. Do you think I don't remember?
Larissarelatarenfall tried not to faint.
I helped make the great magics of the last age, you fool. And they will likely be the greatest magics of this age as well. Who is there to match my skill? No one not currently trapped within one of those magics.
"I don't want any trouble."
That made the dragon laugh, and Larissarelatarenfall thrust her fist into the viewing well. The waters at the seaport rushed higher, forcing Mael physically away from the well.
You think to use my creation against me? The dragon chuckled, a deep drumming sound, but then his eyes narrowed. Enough of this!
Fire seared the air and left the dryad smoking. Sap bubbled and hissed, leaves smoldered. Again he attacked, and leaves caught fire. Screaming, Larissarelatarenfall plunged both hands into the well and used the device itself as a weapon, contrary to its design and nature. It was like grabbing a red hot log from the center of a campfire, as likely to injure the wielder as the target.
"No!" Mael shrieked but it was too late. Charged liquid rushed out and pinned the ancient dragon. Struggling against its caustic grip, Mael screamed his anger and sent bluish orange flames from his nostrils. Again Larissarelatarenfall and her tree were seared, her defenses useless. Debilitating pain ended her attack. Involuntarily she relented.
Mael sank down against the far cavern wall. "You've made this far more difficult and painful than needed, but I don't suppose I blame you." The dragon moved to the well, looking into metallic waters that so clearly showed the world outside. "I just need to see a couple things."
Behind her tree, the dryad cowered, letting the dragon do as he would. She had failed Catrin. She had failed herself. Surely the world would pay for her mistakes.
Dipping his claw into the metallic water, Mael controlled the well with familiar skill, but the dryad felt he desecrated the place before her eyes. Still, she watched to see what was so important. When the Jaga came into view, she recoiled from such perversion of nature.
They thought it necessary. They said this was a small price to contain those who could rend the world.
She knew what was there. Catrin had watched the place, forcing the dryad to see things she wished she'd never seen. That would not make them exist any less. The well showed the skies above the Noonspire, a thick knot of comets coming in for a close pass. Someday those comets would come too close, but this was not the day. They would come just close enough. If he knew his colleagues, they would take advantage of the first opportunity. His thoughts rang through the cavern as if he shouted, but his jaws never moved. The true scale and majesty of the Noonspire and the massive construction surrounding it were soon apparent. Isn't she beautiful?
Larissarelatarenfall could not have disagreed more. It was cold
"Do you want to die under a pile of rock?" the dryad asked, her voice betraying no fear. She had prepared for this. She'd known the ancient sorcerer might be more than she could handle, and she had but a single failsafe.
"You're not the first to try," Mael sneered. "But there is no need. I can smell the truth. Who has taken that which is mine?"
Larissarelatarenfall tried not to think of Kyrien and Pelivor, but the image leaped into her mind unbidden--at least unbidden by her will.
Thank you.
Exaggerated sweetness made the dryad's skin crawl.
Tell me one more thing, and I'll truly leave you in peace. Somehow covering the space between them in less time than she would have thought possible, Mael reared back and towered above her. Do you think I don't remember?
Larissarelatarenfall tried not to faint.
I helped make the great magics of the last age, you fool. And they will likely be the greatest magics of this age as well. Who is there to match my skill? No one not currently trapped within one of those magics.
"I don't want any trouble."
That made the dragon laugh, and Larissarelatarenfall thrust her fist into the viewing well. The waters at the seaport rushed higher, forcing Mael physically away from the well.
You think to use my creation against me? The dragon chuckled, a deep drumming sound, but then his eyes narrowed. Enough of this!
Fire seared the air and left the dryad smoking. Sap bubbled and hissed, leaves smoldered. Again he attacked, and leaves caught fire. Screaming, Larissarelatarenfall plunged both hands into the well and used the device itself as a weapon, contrary to its design and nature. It was like grabbing a red hot log from the center of a campfire, as likely to injure the wielder as the target.
"No!" Mael shrieked but it was too late. Charged liquid rushed out and pinned the ancient dragon. Struggling against its caustic grip, Mael screamed his anger and sent bluish orange flames from his nostrils. Again Larissarelatarenfall and her tree were seared, her defenses useless. Debilitating pain ended her attack. Involuntarily she relented.
Mael sank down against the far cavern wall. "You've made this far more difficult and painful than needed, but I don't suppose I blame you." The dragon moved to the well, looking into metallic waters that so clearly showed the world outside. "I just need to see a couple things."
Behind her tree, the dryad cowered, letting the dragon do as he would. She had failed Catrin. She had failed herself. Surely the world would pay for her mistakes.
Dipping his claw into the metallic water, Mael controlled the well with familiar skill, but the dryad felt he desecrated the place before her eyes. Still, she watched to see what was so important. When the Jaga came into view, she recoiled from such perversion of nature.
They thought it necessary. They said this was a small price to contain those who could rend the world.
She knew what was there. Catrin had watched the place, forcing the dryad to see things she wished she'd never seen. That would not make them exist any less. The well showed the skies above the Noonspire, a thick knot of comets coming in for a close pass. Someday those comets would come too close, but this was not the day. They would come just close enough. If he knew his colleagues, they would take advantage of the first opportunity. His thoughts rang through the cavern as if he shouted, but his jaws never moved. The true scale and majesty of the Noonspire and the massive construction surrounding it were soon apparent. Isn't she beautiful?
Larissarelatarenfall could not have disagreed more. It was cold
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