Child of Time (50 page)

“I suppose I owe you a rematch.” Kiyan felt like he
had cheated destiny somehow.

“No you don't. In fact I owe you my life. I saw how
you fought.” There was an awed look on Singing Wave's face. “After
I passed out, you killed who knows how many of those things. If you
unleashed that much power on me, I don't think I could have lasted
more than a minute max. To have bent water with you is an honor I
will tell my descendants of for the rest of my life.” The wide
leaves that covered the doorway rustled and interrupted further
discussion as Sapphire entered.

“You are awake!” The look of relief on Sapphire's
face told volumes. “You were so cold I couldn't touch you and Luke
wasn't even awake for the first day.” Sapphire caught herself and a
red color crept over her face before she changed the topic. “I
brought some food.” Kiyan only then noticed the brilliantly colored
fruit and clusters of nuts that Sapphire was holding. Come to think
of it, Kiyan felt an empty pit where his stomach should have been.
The delicious food restored the last of Kiyan's strength as the
four of them talked and joked about the past few days.

“It turns out that I may be able to exist separately
from you but I'm on a leash of a sort.” Luke was relating how he
had scared Sapphire half to death on a walk. Singing Waves had been
watching Kiyan so they had felt it was safe for a short food
excursion. When they had reached about a couple miles or so away
Luke had dissolved into a small pile of silver dust. Apparently
Luke couldn't maintain a connection over that long of a distance.
Sapphire was terrified that somehow Kiyan had died suddenly taking
Luke with him. Gathering up the silver dust she had rushed back to
the shelter only to have Luke reform when she was less than half a
mile away. It had taken a little while but Sapphire was able to
laugh about it now.

“I must return to my family.” Singing Waves grasped
Kiyan's hand after they had finished eating. “May you always swim
in pure waters.”

“And may the stormy skies never harm protect you.”
Kiyan finished the traditional water elf farewell. “It has been an
honor.”

“The honor is mine.” With that Singing Waves slipped
from the shelter and walked into the crashing surf. Kiyan watched
the elf disappear from view. He wasn't sure he would have been so
willing to go swimming as images of the demon fish flashed through
his head.

Kiyan shook his head to clear the haunting memories
and turned to Luke and Sapphire. “So? Do we go find the mountain
tribe?” Up until now he had felt that the prophecy was merely a
hindrance but now he saw it under a different light. It seemed as
if it was guiding his footsteps to prevent disasters as they
unfolded on the planet. The fight with Sapphire had freed her from
the influence of the darkness. If she had lost control in another
time and place, she could have been lost in her own mind and caused
untold destruction in the process. His battle with Singing Waves
had attracted the attention of the demon fish. If he hasn't been
there, Kiyan had no doubt that Singing Waves would have engaged
them by himself and most assuredly died. When Kiyan killed the
massive school of demon fish, he quite possibly had saved the water
elf race as a whole. Even if there were more demon fish out there
at least the water elves were prepared for them now.

“You think you are ready for another fight?” Sapphire
looked surprised that Kiyan didn't want to rest some more after his
last battle. “You just woke up from a coma!”

“Na that was just a power nap.” A flicker of a smile
played on the corners of Kiyan's mouth. “I've been known to sleep a
lot longer.”

“I still think you should rest some more.” Sapphire
tried to hide a flash of worry that betrayed her concern. Kiyan was
confused for a moment until he understood the worry wasn't for him
but was directed towards Luke. They must have spent a fair amount
of time together as Kiyan had slept. The thought made him feel
uncomfortable as his own thoughts turned towards Terra. It had only
been a couple days since he had talked with her but it felt longer.
He caught himself being watched by Luke and colored as he realized
he had been caught.

“If you are OK I would rather be going. Every minute
we wait is a minute lost as the dark lord implements his plans.”
Kiyan was eager to get back in the action.

Sapphire grimaced as she thought. “It’s a long boring
trip.” She got up and stepped out of the shelter so Kiyan and Luke
followed. “It would take days to cross even if we were moving as
fast as your boat.” Sapphire gazed out at the unbroken horizon with
a resigned look. “We would need food for at least a couple weeks
and water.” At the last part she glanced at Kiyan with a raised
eyebrow.

“Water isn't a problem.” Kiyan was sure that he could
purify the water by carefully freezing it or by simply drawing it
out of the air. He grew silent as an idea formed in the back of his
head.

“You just stay put here. I'm going to go get some
more seeds and supplies. We will need them for the trip.” Without
another word Sapphire was off at a sprint that ate up the ground
and soon she was lost to their sight.

“Are you thinking what I sense you are?” Luke had a
grin on his face.” It would be a lot faster.”

“It would but I don't know if I can fly that long
with a passenger.” Kiyan was still thinking.

“I felt how much energy you can absorb from the
water.” Luke scoffed at Kiyan's objections. “You could fly
indefinitely with ten elves on board. Don't make me show you the
math.”

Kiyan rolled his eyes at the threat. “Time is of the
essence.” Kiyan conceded that Luke had a point. “It can't be that
bad so I may as well as try.” Kiyan stretched and cracked his neck
in preparation. Releasing his grip on his human form he
effortlessly shifted into his ice form. From there it was only a
second of focus before he had achieved his draconic form. Kiyan
looked out over the landscape from his new prospective. Luke was
looking up at him and Kiyan began to get an idea of his true size
as he towered over the AI. The last worries slipped away as he
stretched his wings and gave a couple flaps. Dust and grass flew in
all directions from the force of the gale that he stirred up.
Kiyan's forelimbs were similar to his hind legs only slightly
longer and with more dexterity. Kiyan was bigger than the shelter
that had housed them all only a short while ago. Kiyan laid down
behind the shelter and wrapped his tail around him as he waited for
Sapphire's return.

“We think we might have found a faster way to get
across the ocean.” Luke began to explain the new plan to Sapphire
but was interrupted.

“You really don't know how far it is. If you make the
boat move as fast as it was coming down the river day and night it
will still take days at the.. Ahhh!” Fruit, nuts and various plant
seeds scattered across the ground as Sapphire rounded the corner
and found herself staring into Kiyan's glowing blue eyes.

“This is what I was trying to tell you about.” Luke
tried to ignore Sapphire's shocked expression. “Kiyan here can fly
us over much faster.”

Sapphire staggered back as Kiyan stood to his full
height. “That's Kiyan?!”

“Of course it is Kiyan. I haven't seen any other
draconic shifters around here.” Luke acted puzzled as he tried to
distract Sapphire from her surprise.

“So that was you! I thought I was seeing things in
the dark.” Sapphire looked mad now rather than surprised. “Why
didn't you tell me earlier?” She was now looking at Luke. “I
thought I was losing my mind.” She realized now that all the food
she had gathered was scattered around her feet. “I wouldn't have
had to gather so much if I had known.” She looked back at Kiyan and
scowled as she examined him. “You have spikes, I would be cut to
ribbons.”

Kiyan realized this now and felt the rows of spines
on his back. He felt somehow less clothed as he lowered and
retracted the sharp defensive spikes that lined his spine. When he
was done they were little more than a slightly raised ridge along
his back. Luke smiled at Sapphire after the change.

“See? Nothing to worry about.” Luke tried to convince
Sapphire.

“Won't he get cold? It looks like he is made of ice.”
Sapphire still wasn't convinced. She walked cautiously up to the
dragon and opened her eyes wide as she touched Kiyan's scaly side.
When Kiyan was a dragon, he may have been composed of ice but the
properties of ice shifted to obey his will. Large scales the size
of Sapphire's hand covered Kiyan's side and should have shattered
with a move but flexed with the properties of a solid and liquid at
the same time. As for temperature, energy neither left nor entered
Sapphire's hand making Kiyan’s scales feel no cooler than her hand.
The light seemed to refract and lose itself as it passed through
the translucent scales fading into a pale blue glow.

“I suppose I could ride if you are really careful and
don't drop me.” Sapphire stepped back and collected herself.

“I promise.” Kiyan was still startled at how deep his
voice was in this form. Luke sprang into action quickly gathering
up the scattered food and Sapphire began weaving a bag to store it
in. Soon Kiyan had the bag secured on his back and a mat thrown
over his shoulders. Sapphire cautiously climbed up and hooked her
legs around Kiyan's wings.

“What about Luke?” Sapphire saw there was only room
for one passenger and the food.

“What about me?” Luke's eye twinkled as he placed a
hand on Kiyan's side. His features melted and a small rivulet of
silver nanites flowed up Kiyan's side. Luke was comprised of
surprisingly few nanites and in a moment they had reached Kiyan's
head where they attached to Kiyan's icy horns. The translucent
spikes looked like they had elaborate engravings inlaid with silver
when Luke was done. Kiyan rolled his eyes and glanced back over his
shoulder. Sapphire's mouth hung open and she was not unprepared for
Kiyan’s next move. Instead of leaping into the air like normal,
Kiyan simply galloped off the edge of the hill as he extended his
wings. The hillside fell away below and they dropped a bit as
Kiyan's weight settled into his wings. He glided for a moment as he
adjusted for the extra load and gave a couple flaps. Kiyan didn't
feel the least strain as his icy muscles were more than a match for
his load. Surprisingly Sapphire had not made any noise at his take
off. He had sensed waves of fright but she had controlled her
emotions with a strong hand. Now as he gained a comfortable
elevation he heard her for the first time since take off.

“It’s beautiful.” Kiyan looked down and saw what she
was seeing. Sinking into the distance was a view the elf had never
seen from this angle. On one side a lush jungle stretched across a
basin as large as the eye could see. The blue mountains could be
faintly seen fencing the jungle on a couple of the closer sides but
on the other side the sea of green undulated over the terrain and
merged with the horizon. A few rivers of various size flashed
silver in the sun as they divided the green. Below the jungle was
broken by the rocky coast and the white surf as the green sea met
the blue sea. As far as the eye could see deep blue water sparkled
where the swells reflected the light.

A morning breeze was flowing off the land out to sea
and Kiyan only had to give an occasional flap of his wide wings to
maintain elevation. The coast was soon lost to sight behind them as
they sped onward. He bent a soft updraft under him and hardly had
to make an effort to maintain his perch in the sky. Kiyan found
that the lack of effort and concentration was making him sleepy for
some reason. Watching featureless water slide below apparently was
having the same effect on Sapphire as she soon slipped into sleep
as the sun made itself known in the sky. Kiyan was already bored
and he had only just begun. Hours or days still stretched out ahead
of him. Kiyan fought sleep until he felt Luke taking control. Sleep
took over and Kiyan's mind slept while his body continued under
Luke's control.

My experience is that time and with it distance slips
by far faster as one sleeps. This arrangement caused the rest of
the day to slide into oblivion as they woke and slept periodically.
Lunch time afforded Sapphire some excitement as she tried to figure
out how best to feed a flying dragon. The issue was resolved by
throwing the morsel ahead of them and Kiyan snapping it out of the
air with his strong jaws. Not having exerted himself strenuously,
Kiyan was satisfied with far less than one would expect for a
creature of that size. Slipping back to sleep, it was hours later
that Kiyan awoke. He was almost surprised to find the water mere
feet below him. Luke was bending it up across his belly and Kiyan
could feel the energy being extracted. When Luke had finished
replenishing Kiyan's energy they angled back into the air and
pressed onward. By this time the sun had slid low in the horizon
and the few clouds in the sky took on magical colors. Flying
through one of them Kiyan dew the water together into a bubble and
formed a thin layer of ice on it. The chilled water was now
contained and Kiyan bent it back to Sapphire. Kiyan himself
swallowed a couple more with a snap of his jaws. He felt a
refreshing energy surge as it flowed into his stomach.

They settled back for another nap and Kiyan only woke
when he heard Sapphire exclaiming. “I can see it!” Looking for
himself he saw the darker mass of land contrasting with the water
that flickered from the light of the stars. Unlike Sapphire's
continent, this one was rough and had towering mountains thrusting
up as far as they could see in the dark. They flew through the
mountain peaks for a little while. Kiyan was no longer sleepy now
that he had something to see. His enhanced vision allowed him only
slightly diminished sight in the dark. Seeing nothing like
habitations or civilization they continued winding their way
through the silent monoliths.