Giljaras...
Rheba was incredibly powerful. Of that I was already certain, Drak knew, and I knew better than to question him. But what was her power? And what sort of pairing was this - Bre'n and Senyas - their bond seemed different yet as strong - if not stronger, even that a dragon pair.
Kirtn did not trust us. But I could hardly blame him. From what I could glean from Rheba's conversations with Drak - they had been through quite a bit - but he and Rheba would be an invaluable asset in our fight... This world - their universe, utilized mechanics and technology just as the invaders on Draconia did. Surely they would understand how to fight against them in ways in which we had failed!
I shook my head - trying to ward off a thought that had been lurking in the shadows of my mind for a while... perhaps Draconia had reached it time. Perhaps it was time for us to abandon our ways and embrace new ones. No civilization lasted forever. No culture endured without change. Perhaps this was the end of our time. But how could I give up on Dragon kind?? I was a traitor to even think it!! And the invaders did not want to change our ways - they wanted to destroy us.
With my resolve strengthened - I determined to approach Kirtn. Let him judge for himself if our world deserved to be slaughtered.
Rheba had managed to convince Kirtn that we weren't more trouble than he and the J'taals could handle. Drak explained to me that the hulking structure behind us was actually a conveyance, a machine - it traveled through the air like a dragon, but without wings. The J'taals had opened up the enormous belly of the metal beast and Drak had adroitly scampered up into it. Rheba thought it best to keep a creature as unusual and obvious as Drak, out of public view. Apparently this place - Onan - was known for theft, malice and treachery. And Drak might be considered valuable as property...
I stiffened my jaw… I did not have time to dawdle and ruminate. I had no options but at to at least try. My world could be crumbling as I breathed.
“You are Giljaras.” The deep voice startled me despite my resolve. It was not a question.
“I am.” I returned firmly. “Honored to make your acquaintance Kirtn.”
His glowing yellow eyes bored into mine, and he afforded me a nod. Before he could take control of the situation again – I hastened. “My world needs your help.”
I had planned on elaborating. Of telling him the virtuous and honorable thing it would be to aid us in our fight – yet suddenly I found that telling Kirtn of virtue and honor seemed like telling a cloud of rain. So I said no more.
“Drak has told us of the invasion – and the terrible losses suffered by your people.” He said sympathetically.
Drak told them??!! I was further startled by this. Could he talk to dragons too? My consternation at this must have shown in my face, for he said.
“I spoke to Fssa and Rheba. They have both taken a liking to Drak.”
This appeased me somewhat, for as childish as it seemed, I was jealous of my Dragon. For once, Drak was holding court. He did not need me for communication. I felt like an appendage to him. From the moment we appeared, Rheba had acted as though Dragons were normal. Even in Draconia, dragons weren’t normal!! Shaking off my momentary envy – I wondered again at the name Fssa. Drak had mentioned him as well, speaking as though he were present. Yet I saw no one else aside from the J’Taals. He even called him brother. Dragons are a proud and rather haughty race. It was unlike Drak to attribute draconic lineage to anyone!
I sighed – I was letting myself be distracted again. It was a good thing that I did not need to fear anything from our new friends (at least I hoped they would be friends) for enemies would have slain me by now.
Perhaps I had traveled to too many worlds, too many destinations. I suddenly felt as though I barely had any strength left to convince others to champion our cause.
“Will you help us?” I managed wearily.
“It isn’t as simple as a yes or a no. But perhaps you don’t need an answer just yet. You seem to be in need of some rest. The Devalon is small, and packed with a myriad assortment of people, but you are welcome to it. The J’Taals will find you a place to rest and make sure you aren’t disturbed.” His tone was flat, but not unfriendly. Besides, I was very tired….
I awoke to find myself in a small enclave. I was on a bed – of sorts. The walls seemed to undulate slightly. It was dim but brightened slowly as I sat up. I reached out to touch the walls, which were barely six inches away from the edge of the bed. A soft voice chimed out from somewhere overhead in a musical but unintelligible language. After a moments pause, it spoke again, this time in Universal – a language that I could somewhat understand.
“Do you wish to retract your privacy screen?” the androgynous voice enquired.
“umm… yes…” I muttered a trifle grumpily – still not feeling completely coherent. The walls vanished and along with it all silence. My head thrummed as voices of every decibel and in every language washed over me. Just a short distance away in the main area milled a colorful conglomerate of people. They all seemed to be arguing enthusiastically.
I turned to find Rheba striding through the melee towards me.
“Devalon said that you were awake.” She said with a smile. “You have been ill. Something you picked up on your travels no doubt. How do you feel now?”
I shook my head in denial. “No. I’m not sick. I don’t feel sick – just tired. And a little slow…” I shook my head again, hoping to dislodge the cotton that it seemed to be wrapped in.
“This may not be any sickness that you have ever had before. So it probably does not feel like an illness at all. You have been to different worlds, been exposed to different things. It is entirely feasible that you would catch an entirely different type of illness.”
I’m sure she meant well. But I could only focus on how much of she already knew about our special abilities. This had always been my ace in the hole. Drak should have known better than to give out our secrets without consulting me!! And he was a dragon! Since when did he turn into a baud? Relaying our tales as though they were of no more consequence then fables!
‘You are being immature dragon rider.’ Said Drak. His thought ringing dryly in my mind. ‘I have trusted you when you chose to place your trust in someone. Do you not have the same faith in me?’
My immediately blush must have been telling, yet Drak was right. He was no mere dragon either. He was a world strider. And just as I had grown beyond my limits since leaving Draconia, so must have Drak. His dragonish chuckle in my mind restored some of my usual humor.
“Will you help us?” I asked suddenly, surprising even myself with my abrupt question. I hurried to add, “I know that it has not been long since we arrived, but I feel as though every moment spent in this world, means less of my own world to return to.”
“Remember Lessa of Pern?” she asked softly. “As long as you have Drak – you can return to your world at the same time as when you left it.”
Her words were true, and perhaps meant to give hope. But just now they meant that Rheba and Kirtn would not help us. I had expected this, but despite that, I felt a wave of despair seep over me.
“We have people on the Devalon who have lost their own homes. They have suffered much pain and degradation at the hands of the Loo-Chim.” Said Rheba softly, her gaze drifting to the floor, “I made a promise to each of them, that I would return them home. The Loo are gone, but these people still need their home…”
“Yet they have decided to help you free yours!”
It was Kirtn’s voice. Rheba gasped in surprise and her hair flew up to wrap around him in delight. A voice from behind Rheba’s ear murmered, “He convinced them easily. No one can withstand Bre’n cajoling!”
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