Wings of Arian (32 page)

Drustan stood across the room in a glittering green jacket, which seemed to be the color of the evening, and bade Kiora and Emane come and sit.

Emane helped maneuver Kiora through the spinning and dancing Shapeshifters until they reached the head table.

Drustan bowed his head slightly, keeping his eyes on them, “Welcome my lady, my Prince. He stood looking as awkward as he had the day Emane awoke. “It was never my intent, had I realized...” he halted, his eyes glazing over Emane’s shoulder. “My zeal sometimes does more harm than good. I do hope that my apology was understood as heartfelt.”

Emane bowed at the waist, “It was.”

“Excellent,” he said straightening his jacket before rolling his hand towards their seats with a flourish. “Please, sit and enjoy the festivities.”

Kiora and Emane sat and watched the crowd shift and change before their eyes. The sea of color was beyond the imagination. Animals flew by in shades she had never seen. Guardians had glittering wings of silver and gold. A mini dragon made its way around the room, trailing wings of fire. A butterfly the size of a cat flew by, its wings changing with every flap. It was a wonderful kaleidoscope of color and shapes that tickled every inch of Kiora’s imagination. There was so much to see, she could have watched for hours and still felt as though she could have missed something.

“Never,” Emane said loudly in Kiora’s ear, “did I ever imagine that I would be sitting here, witnessing this.”

“I know.” Kiora laughed as fireworks flew skyward dragged by two more butterflies, exploding against the roof of the cavern.

Drustan leaned over, “What do you think of our celebration?” He smiled broadly.

“It’s amazing!”

Drustan stood up and clapped his hands three times. The activity in the hall stilled and all eyes in the room turned their attention to them. One of the Shifters paused mid-shift, leaving his head as a tiny guardian while the rest of his body was ballooning out in what was most likely a lion. Kiora had to look away to hide her laughter.

“Thank you all for your hard work!” he announced, his voice reverberating around the hall. “You have made this a great success. I am, as I know we all are, pleased with the two we have sitting before us, the Solus and her Protector. I know we have all been repeatedly impressed with both their skill and character. We have chosen to fight against Dralazar and I believe with them at our side we will finally defeat him!”

The crowd roared their approval.

“Many of us have suffered at Dralazar’s hand and have witnessed his cruelty. This day is to celebrate not only our decision to fight against him, but more importantly the gifting of Prince Emane with magic. The mountain has deemed him worthy and so do we. May he use it in honor.”

A cheer again bellowed through the room.

“The war will begin soon enough, but tonight, we celebrate!”

Drustan sat down grinning amongst the cheers of his people. “Please, eat and enjoy!” he told Kiora and Emane. “My people have worked hard preparing this.”

Plates of food were set in front of them and their goblets were filled with a frothy red substance. Kiora and Emane sampled the buffet before them. The frothy drink tasted of apple and peach with just a hint of sour. Kiora tried some of everything, reveling in the flavors.

“Normal food is never going to taste as good as it did before!” Kiora said.

Emane nodded in agreement. “Even palace food doesn’t compare to this. The entertainment is better too,” he said as a dog jumped in front of them and exploded into a bird, midair.

“It gets better!” Drustan said, pointing to the middle of the room.

A Shifter stood alone in the center of the floor waiting for the crowd to clear. Once he had the attention of the room he began to change his features until Emane stood before them. The real Emane shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“Don’t worry, just watch,” Drustan said, patting him on the back.

The Shifter threw his arms into the air, arching his back while his body shifted again, this time turning green and elongating. He changed himself into a giant green glittering snake twisting itself through the air. Even the Shifters were impressed— a few ahs and oohs escaped from the crowd.

The snake eyed the occupants of the room with its glittering black eyes, flicking its tongue out, tasting the air. With the sudden beat of a drum, a handful of Shifters stepped out and into the center of the room as well, each one changing into something on evils side. There was a dragon, a Hound, and a Fallen One. Two more drum beats thundered and a fifth Shifter, a woman, walked out to the middle, standing just in front of the snake. Turning around, it was a girl who looked exactly like Kiora.

Kiora now found herself squirming in her chair, understanding exactly how Emane felt. It was very disconcerting to watch a perfect copy of yourself standing in front of you, without being in control of what that copy does.

The snake reared up behind her as the drums began to beat faster and faster. The three circled the Solus and her Protector, hissing and growling at each other. The drums were rising to a near frantic pace and with one final beat of the drums the Solus threw her arms out, flames and sparks flying from her fingers. The dragon roared shooting flames across the room, the Fallen One darted around as it threw sparks in response and the Hound began to stalk. As though in protection of her, the snake struck over the top of the Solus, swallowing up each enemy in turn as it swept around the circle.

The crowd cheered at evil’s defeat. The performers gave a bow, then raised their arms up to where Kiora and Emane sat, giving them recognition as well.

Drustan stood, clapping. Kiora and Emane rose to their feet as well with a standing ovation for the performers.

Drustan waited until the clapping had died down before announcing, “Let the dancing begin!”

The musicians started playing a song with a lively beat. Kiora found herself bouncing in time to the music.

Drustan turned to Kiora, “If I may, My Lady.” He held out his hand.

“What?” Kiora looked frantically around. “I don’t dance.”

“Don’t be silly, you are amongst the Shapeshifters. We dance however suits us, you cannot get it wrong.”

Two mice went scampering down the table, dancing to the music. One tripped and skidded face first into her dinner plate. He shook himself, bowed, and scampered off, moving to the music.

“As I was saying…” Drustan smiled.

“It appears you will be just fine, Kiora, go on.” Emane prodded her. “Just don’t crash into anyone’s dinner plate.”

She leaned into his ear as she was getting out of her seat, “I hate you!”

“No you don’t.” He grinned at her.

She took Drustan’s hand and he led her to the dance floor. The music was contagious and Kiora found herself moving to it.

“The colony is quite enamored with you,” Drustan said as they danced.

“With me? Why?”

“They all saw your test when you first came, and they speak of your kindness as well.”

“I have been so grateful for all the kindness your people have shown to me. You are all wonderful, and this dress is magnificent.”

“We do pride ourselves on our craftsmanship. Everything you find here has been handcrafted by at least one of us,” he said, pulling her arm above her head and turning her around.

“My quarters have some of the most amazing workmanship that I have ever seen. You are a very gifted people.”

“Thank you, My Lady,” he said, inclining his head.

“And
that
was quite the performance.”

He smiled. “They were quite proud of that, especially the part where the snake swallowed them all. It was a bit tricky.”

She hadn’t thought about that. “How did they do that?”

“My understanding was that they changed into gnats, before flying out his nose to escape unnoticed,” he said, clearly amused.

Kiora crinkled up her nose. “I would not want to fly through anybody’s nose!”

“Nor I, but they would have done about anything to impress you, I think.”

She laughed. “You can tell them I was already impressed with them, they needn’t fly through anyone’s nose’s on my account.”

He smirked, his eyes glittering with a joy she had not seen there before, “I will do that my lady.”

The music changed to a slower, more melodic piece and Emane was at her shoulder.

“Drustan, do you mind if I dance with the lady?”

“Not at all, my Prince.” He bowed and moved off the dance floor.

Emane turned her around once before slipping his arm around her waist and pulling Kiora closer.

“I really, really do not know how to dance,” she insisted.

“I do. Follow my lead.”

She took his hand trying to relax. Before too long, she realized that they were all alone on the dance floor.

“They are all watching us,” she whispered.

“No,” he murmured, “they are watching you Kiora. I told you, you are breathtaking.”

She blushed.

“Have I told you how adorable you are when you blush?”

“No you haven’t.” She felt her face flush even more. Before she could say anything else the dark began pulling her within herself. She squeezed Emane’s hand. “A vision!” She wobbled as she tried to keep herself from blacking out.

“Quick, step on my feet,” Emane pulled her up and squeezed her tightly around her waist. “I will dance for the both of us. Just see what you need to see.”

She pushed the vision out, projecting it into the room. Kiora then watched the beginning of the end.

Chapter Nineteen

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

SHE SAW TWO SQUIRRELS scampering around in the trees. A multitude of feelings and thoughts rushed through her. The squirrels were Shifters and they were lookouts.

It was a knowledge that she couldn’t explain. She also couldn’t explain how she knew that something was watching them, but she did. The Shifters were blissfully unaware of the spy’s presence.

The one squirrel was giggling, a high pitched joyous sound. “We are supposed to be watching, Orrin.”

The other squirrel pounced on her, laughing. “Relax, they are not going to find us. This is a waste of time. We have been out here since she got here, and there hasn’t been a hint of movement.”

“Don’t underestimate Dralazar, Orrin. Remember last time,” she said, taking on a sudden air of seriousness, “He will be very angry when he finds we have aligned with the Solus.”

“He can’t expect that we would align with him again. Not after what he did.”

Kiora jolted. The Shifters were on Dralazar’s side last time?

“Whether he expects it or not, he will be angry.”

Kiora could feel that whatever was coming, it was very close. She looked frantically around wanting to scream at the Shifters to run, that something was there, watching them. But it would do no good. They could not hear her.

The squirrel called Orrin pounced on the other again, “I hope he is angry! When I see him I am going to...”

“Going to what?” a female voice asked. Kiora watched in horror as two dozen Fallen Ones suddenly dropped their bubbles, revealing not only themselves but also the growling, salivating Hounds.

“Vitraya,” Orrin hissed. The other squirrel cowered behind him.

“Hello Orrin, nice to see you again as well. Who is your friend here?”

“She is not you concern,” he said, placing his body firmly in front of his friend.

“Well, if I don’t need her,” Vitraya waved her hand and the second squirrel went flying into the air.

“NO!” yelled Orrin.

Vitraya left the squirrel dangling in mid air. She eyed Orrin. “I can feel you have chosen your side, Orrin.”

“Let her go!”

“Very well.” She dropped the squirrel. Orrin and Kiora watched as the Shifter fell from the tree and were snapped up by a Hound.

Kiora whimpered and Emane pulled her tighter. “You are doing great Kiora,” he whispered in her ear. It sounded like he was underwater.

Orrin turned around to face Vitraya. “What do you want?” He choked on the words.

“Oh Orrin, you know what we want.” She oozed evil. “We want to speak with Drustan.” She flew down and stood right next to him.

“I could eat you right now,” Orrin threatened looking down over the top of her.

“You could try, but my friends here will feed you to the Hounds before you get your little squirrel mouth open all the way,” she mocked. “And really, Orrin, threatening me in that form. You could have at least picked something a little more fearsome.”

“I will never show you the way, Vitraya.”

“Oh Orrin,” she turned her head to the side, “I thought we were friends.”

“We were never friends.”

“But we made such good allies, Orrin.” She made a pouty face and Kiora wished she could reach into the vision and smack the sarcasm right out of her.

“We were allies until we figured out what you really were!”

“Oh well,” she sighed, “That’s in the past. And now we are here, at a rather interesting crossroads. You can either lead us to Drustan or…” she motioned to the forest floor where the Hounds circled the tree, “we will feed you to the Hounds.”

“You know I won’t show you our home, Vitraya. We wouldn’t a thousand years ago when we were allies, why would we do it now?”

“Hmm, that’s what I was afraid of.” As she turned around to give the order, Orrin took advantage of the moment, exploding into a bird before he was gone, disappearing within a bubble.

“No! No! NOOOO!” Vitraya screamed. “Find him! Find him, you fools! Dralazar will have our heads. Go, all of you, fan out. You know he can’t hold a bubble for long. ORRIINNN!” she screamed into the wind. “When I find you, I will kill you myself! And it will not be as quick as the Hounds would have done it.” She yelled back to the others, “Find something, anything!” She took to the skies scanning for the reappearance of a small brown sparrow.