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Daughter Of The Wind: Northern Wind
Daughter Of The Wind: Northern Wind
Daughter Of The Wind: Northern Wind
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Daughter Of The Wind: Northern Wind

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Dragons discover the island of Ousta and the fairies flee to Cadara to regroup and plan for war. Unicorns await them in Waela.

Lorn travels with Alavan to Caladel to convince the elves their help is needed in the upcoming war and they have plenty to lose if the residents of the Abacan plane fail to win the day.

Alavan discovers the gods expect more from him than he's willing to give. The shalamon trails him around trying to nudge him and his sister in the right direction.

Bellana and Conall take their newborn son to Ronan to lkive with Tara, Johann and the royalty of Ronan who have an interest in his life. On the way they battle goblins and rescue the remnants of the once thriving town of Trell from goblins and the now insane merchant Garec, who fell under the sway of the nexus.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherSandra Elsa
Release dateDec 8, 2012
ISBN9781301456536
Daughter Of The Wind: Northern Wind

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    Daughter Of The Wind - Sandra Elsa

    Northern Wind

    By

    Sandra Elsa

    Book 4 -- Daughter Of The Wind

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright 2012 by Sandra Panicucci

    Smashwords Edition, License Notes

    This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    Chapter 1

    Bellana woke before daylight. The spasms cascading through her abdomen caused pain and delight. Urgently she woke Conall and sent a mindcall for the midwives.

    The midwives arrived before Conall finished shaking off the stupor of sleep. When the first one entered the room, he sat upright, wide-awake. He looked at Bellana, eyes wide. As pain twisted her features he joined his mind to hers soothing her. He felt her relax as the wave of pain passed. The midwives took over. They tried to force him to leave but they could not. He stayed out of their way but he clung to her hand offering what small comfort he could, physically and mentally.

    The midwives forbid her to use magic to make this birth easier. They had declared that using magic could damage the energies of either the mother or the baby. Both would be vulnerable at this time. She would have to do this the hard way.

    Sweat beaded on her forehead as another spasm swept through her.

    The midwives insisted her body was not yet ready to deliver her child and they coached her through the pain putting every effort into convincing her not to try to push Connor out, until she was physically ready.

    The pain grew more intense and more frequent. She pushed Conall from her mind. Blaming him for causing this, irrational in her agony. He held firmly to her hand in spite of the pain she caused him. With every contraction his fingers felt more like freshly pulped fruit. Hours later the midwives finally told her to bear down and push. Screaming her pain, she pushed with what little strength remained to her.

    The midwives clustered together and after four more pushes she saw them concentrate and felt the energy of magic being used. Connor slid from her body and floated on a cushion of air into his mother’s weary arms. She smiled at him and handed him to Conall. Conall looked at him in dismay. Still covered in slick goo from years of growing in the fluid of his mother’s womb he was not pretty. Quickly the midwives claimed him again. The cushion of air lifted him from his father’s arms and carried him to a table where blankets and towels had appeared.

    They cleaned him and checked him to make sure he was all right then wrapped him warmly in a blanket and he again went airborne to return to his mother’s arms. As Connor began nursing she reopened the connection to Conall and apologized for shutting him out.

    With a smile he thought to her, No need to apologize. I was there long enough to know what you were going through. I’m glad a male cannot bear children.

    The door opened and Arianna walked in. She smiled at her daughter and moved the blanket back from Connor’s face to gaze upon her grandson. With a touch of sarcasm aimed at everybody in the room she declared, It was nice of everybody to let me know my grandson was being born.

    The midwives shuddered at their forgetfulness, but a glance at the clear sky told Bellana, Arianna was not seriously upset. Bellana said, It’s not like we weren’t preoccupied. Besides I rather figured Bartol’s Silver would relay the news. I expected you long ago. The midwives heads bobbed in eager agreement with this statement.

    Correct as usual, Daughter. I knew the second you called for the midwives. Unfortunately I was up most of the night with Bartol and the Silvers reporting from the Rortags. I decided to get some sleep before my grandson arrived.

    Noting Bellana’s questioning look she said, Not today. The rest of the world will continue to function while you enjoy the first day of your son’s life.

    Can you read what she’s hiding? Bellana asked Conall.

    She’s shielded, he returned, Even if I could read her I would not. She is right. You must relax and enjoy our son.

    Bellana turned to her son and smiled at him. She handed him to his delighted grandmother. Considering how little stock the fairy race put in family she seemed amazingly delighted to hold her grandson.

    Angel paced anxiously outside the door and he called her. Can I come in Bellana. I wish to see my godson.

    Laughing, she invited him in. He walked over to Arianna and nuzzled the babe in her arms. Connor cooed joyfully.

    Angel walked over to Bellana and touched her. Her magical energies were not depleted. Only time could replenish her physical strength but she rubbed his nose and asked him, So who appointed you as the Godfather?

    Indignantly he thought back to her, Who is better suited for the position?

    Nobody, she soothed him. Absolutely nobody.

    #

    Nearly a week passed in blissful isolation before anybody would tell Bellana what was going on in Swadan. Bartol visited her several times during the week. Under orders from Arianna and Conall he too refused to tell her what was happening in the world.

    At the end of the week he came to her with a grim look on his face. He told her, The Silvers report seeing more Dragons searching the mountains. One of them was seen. Fortunately he was one of the few powerful enough to go Twixt. He was near a grove so just possibly the Dragon will not be positive what he saw.

    He? Bellana questioned.

    We cannot be sure. It was blue. We’ve just been calling the blues him, and the yellows her. Who is to know if we are right or wrong.

    Bellana said nothing. She contemplated his words and let her instincts guide her as Jora had told her to. Searching within basic instincts she had rarely accessed, she knew that Bartol and his Silvers were wrong. It was a good thing a blue had seen the Silver. Blues were nothing more than spies but they were female. Yellows were lower caste warriors and male. A yellow may have flamed the Silver before he had time to go Twixt.

    Alavan returned from a visit with Torel and reported the same happening in the Swa Caran. Torel sent for more wizards to reinforce the shields that hid his encampment from spying eyes. It was not easy to hide a camp the size of the one he now commanded, especially from airborne spies. Beldan and the others currently assigned to the post were nearing exhaustion just keeping the shields strong. The new wizards were expected to arrive shortly.

    Bellana knew before she gave birth that the number of flights by dragons into the mountain ranges were becoming more frequent. This could hardly be what they were concealing from her. Nobody would tell her any differently though.

    At the end of the second week she awoke in the middle of the night, intensely alert. She was aware of a presence in or above Ousta she had never felt before. She knew by the strength of the energy, she was feeling a dragon.

    She awoke Conall and together they found Bartol and confronted him.

    They’ve been getting closer for the last two weeks, Bartol admitted. We knew once they started ranging through the mountains regularly it would only be a matter of time until they started searching for us themselves instead of leaving it to their humans and crossbreeds. We have strengthened the shields to cover us from above as well, but we have been forced to add many from Cadara to sustain the energy of the spell. The Great Tree requires twice the number of dancers.

    Bellana absorbed this information, pacing from one end of the room to the next. She spun back to Bartol and said, Tonight's visitor was directly overhead. They may not yet be able to find us here, but they are closing the net. It is only a matter of time. It would be wise to withdraw all who can cross, to Cadara.

    "Arianna has already considered that. Many with insufficient magic to aid in sustaining the shields have already been assisted across. We cannot abandon the Great Tree altogether but the non-essential folk are moving.

    What color are the dragons that search here over the sea? Bellana asked.

    Bartol looked at her oddly and said, They are golden, Lady Bellana. Does that make a difference?

    Sadly she said, Yes it does. The Golden will be able to defeat your shields. They are capable of seeing through magic.

    How could you know that lady? Bartol asked.

    A relative of mine told me to trust my instincts. They would lead me to the correct answers where dragons are concerned. I think it may be time to withdraw altogether and perhaps leave only illusion to guard the tree. If that was a Golden who flew overhead this morning others will be here shortly.

    Bartol turned on his heel, stalking out the door. Over his shoulder he said, I question the means of your knowledge, but you have not yet been proven wrong. I will alert Arianna.

    Conall and Bellana returned to their room. Connor lay sleeping peacefully, in the room next to theirs, watched over by pale yellow fairies whose specialty was child care. They could not manage picking him up. But their magic was enough to change him when he soiled himself and feed him from the golden nectar of flowers that sustained the fairies if he became hungry in Bellana’s brief absences.

    Bellana looked at her son and realized their time with the fairies had ended. Connor could not travel to Cadara and the fairies needed to leave. Across from her, Conall looked up, reading the thought from her mind.

    We will need to leave. Now. We cannot wait for Arianna to give her blessing. I am unable to go Twixt. I don’t know if you could possibly carry Connor strapped to you and take him Twixt. You arrive clothed, it’s possible that anything on your body would arrive with you. Then again, it‘s possible he wouldn't I don‘t think the circumstance is dire enough to merit the risk.

    Bellana soothed Conall’s fears. Do not worry, we will all leave together. I don’t know about another sea voyage…

    Conall shook his head, I would not subject you to that. You’re stronger now than when we arrived. Another voyage may kill you.

    I do not want to separate from you and Connor as long as the voyage would be. What would he eat? He cannot live on nectar for the length of a sea voyage. It’s also possible he has enough magic to become ill traveling over the water. She caught a brief touch of anxiety in Conall’s mind. He did not want to be apart for that long either.

    Conall sat on the bed. No matter what they did, their family was going to be separated. Bellana could not travel by boat. Conall could not go Twixt. Perhaps we do need your mother’s blessing on our departure. She may know something we don’t.

    They looked in on Connor and walked down the branch of the great tree to the hall where Arianna lived. She was coming down the hallway with Bartol at her heels and the Silver, Conall and Bellana had come to think of as theirs, since he was assigned to spy on them. Arianna brushed passed them, an imperious hand, curtly waving for them to follow.

    They walked inside the conference hall and Arianna rounded on them. Soli reports you planned to leave without telling me.

    There is no time mother. We must go. The dragons are searching for Fairies. They are specifically searching for me. Bellana flung back at Arianna. You cannot keep us here. I would like to help you move the people of Ousta to Cadara but I must think of my family.

    I assume you are here in my hallway because you remembered the difficulty of making the passage by ship?

    Bellana hung her head, biting her tongue. Anxiety making her harsher than Arianna deserved. She had not said anything to deserve the tantrum Bellana felt approaching.

    Conall was in her mind. Soothing her. You are right, she does not deserve your anger. She has supported us since we have been here.

    Only because I required her to. She would gladly have sent you off and kept me for her own interpretation of the prophecy, if I had not forced her to see beyond herself and her people. She has supported us, but always it took force. Bellana looked at Conall and leaned on his arm. Still she has not tried to bend me to her mold, much as she may have liked to. And seeing beyond herself, she did on her own after visiting Ronan and realizing the rest of our lands truly were going to be affected as much as the fairies. I did not force her to see that. I must get a hold of myself. I do not know why I am on temper’s edge. She does not deserve it.

    Bellana kept her eyes focused down while they spoke. When she looked up, she forced a smile on her face and said, Yes, Mother. We have realized that transportation presents difficulties.

    I may be able to help. Arianna was gracious and benevolent. For once her daughter needed her. You can travel through Cadara. The dragons will not find you there and with all the magic in the air you will be able to travel by ship.

    Bellana and Conall’s expressions changed at the same time. Conall growled as Bellana asked, And what is my son to do? You said I could not travel to Cadara because the magic would be overwhelming.

    Arianna’s lips twitched into a small grim smile. After all this time you still do not trust me. I will send a cloud of fairies with you. You will have to shield him for the entire trip but he should be able to withstand that much at least. If you insist on going together, it is the only way.

    Conall gave Arianna a soul-searching stare. At one time she had not thought twice about allowing Bellana to shed her child through ignorance while he was still growing within. But Arianna had been happy at his birth, and had held him for at least a brief time every day since. Will you trust her?

    I do not think we have much choice.

    Turning from where she and Conall silently consulted each other. She noted Bartol’s grim face and had doubts, but she said, Very well Mother. If you tell me it is possible, we will try this.

    Arianna nodded. Very well. If you are traveling through Cadara you do not need to depart immediately. We would be grateful for your assistance, preparing a spell to protect the Great tree.

    Doubt reared its head again. Would her mother put her son’s life at risk to obtain assistance in this final spell? I must learn to trust her, she berated herself, pushing the doubts firmly down.

    With brisk efficiency Arianna turned to Bartol. I have already started the Coppers collecting everyone on the isle. We will all leave. Many will be needed on the mainland. The battle will not come to Ousta if we are gone. Once all are in Cadara you may take your Maroons Twixt. I will send most of the Silvers and Tans with Bellana. That should be a large enough collection of energy that even if she needs to perform other magic, she will be able to sustain her son’s shield.

    Bartol acknowledged the wisdom in that, but requested to take with him the few Silvers with enough strength to travel Twixt. And where exactly will we be traveling to, Majesty?

    You will go to Welaran to await Bellana’s arrival.

    And then?

    We will deal with that as it happens. My priority right now is to get my people safely away from here. If Bellana is correct and our shield has been compromised we must make haste.

    After Arianna granted him permission, he bowed and left to gather his caste and issue orders to those subservient to the Maroons.

    Bellana turned to Arianna as the door closed behind Bartol. What spell is it you wish to perform on the Great Tree?

    Grief flooded Arianna’s face. Tears glistened in her eyes, jaw clenched. After several moments she said, We must close off Peridon. Release the Great Tree from the spell Father and I placed on her and she will stand against any invasion. Her power is sufficient that even your golden dragons will not be able to see through her illusions. She will be safe, waiting for the end of what is to come. There will be no sanctuary in this plane for the Folk once this is done. Peridon was the final spell I worked with father. The Tree has provided me with a home for the past twenty-five years. If her power does not remain strong, the Folk will not return to this plane, no matter the outcome of the war.

    Bellana stared at her mother, considering her words. Thinking carefully she asked, If this is true, what makes you so sure the Nacorians will not come here if the fairies are no longer here?

    The tear trickled down Arianna’s cheek. I cannot be sure. I only know that if they do, I cannot ask her to waste her energy on protecting the Folk, when she has the power to defend herself.

    Outside the Great Tree the storm clouds that had been gathering all morning opened up in a soft, dreary rain, accurately reflecting Arianna’s mood. Looking upward through the invisible ceiling Bellana smiled at her mother. Try to find the bright side mother. It will be difficult enough to get all the Folk to Cadara without having their wings get soaked. We will come through this, and one day we will return to reopen Peridon.

    Arianna smiled gently, and outside, the sun peeked around the edges of the cloud. Just promise me that at the end of this if we are both able, you will do as you just said. If I know it is not all lost irretrievably I can abandon Peridon with a lighter heart.

    You have my word on it, Mother. For now we must get everybody out of here before the Golden returns to report her findings.

    Arianna burst into action and the storm clouds outside swept away.

    Bellana and Conall returned to their room, stopping long enough to tell Annelon and Alavan to pack. Conall tacked up Dragon and Angel. He explained to Angel what was going on, then went to assist Bellana in packing up their belongings and preparing their son to travel.

    Connor was not happy about traveling. Bellana carried him bound to her chest in a sack. They traveled amidst many brilliantly fluttering wings. Angel followed her outside the Great Tree. Conall led Dragon out. Alavan and Annelon followed closely, staying just out of the reach of Dragon’s lethal tail.

    Unhappy with the fairies fluttering past her, Conall had to reprimand Dragon more than once as she reached out to try to snatch one out of the air. Her tail lashed angrily, the elongated bone, snapping like a whip. Conall held out a piece of venison jerky and she calmed. The end of her tail still twitched.

    Once outside the Great Tree they stood to one side, watching the exodus. Fairies flew through the archway. Many remained with their caste but enough merged with others that the diaphanous wings glittering in the sunlight, looked like a rainbow. Bellana watched those flitting past and noticed that none belonged to the Maroon or Silver Castes.

    Occasionally some of the Tan’s flitted by. Arianna probably sent them on ahead to scout the situation in Cadara. The Folk would need to find new living quarters.

    The majority of the Folk lived in Cadara, but there were thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands who had resided here in Peridon and Ousta proper. Bellana hoped the Tans would be able to keep order. She was much relieved when she saw flashes of Copper amidst the rainbow of Folk. Somebody with authority and wisdom would be awaiting the refugees.

    The rainbow began to thin until only the occasional fairy appeared, shepherded before the Silvers. When the Silvers were outside they flitted to the side, gathering about Bellana and Conall. The remaining Tans exited as well and joined the cloud above the Princess and her Consort. And finally, the Maroons arrived, pushing before them the final stragglers. At the rear of the Maroons, Arianna and Bartol walked outside. They alone remained human sized.

    With the addition of the Maroons, the cloud above Bellana and Conall swelled to nearly three thousand. The only time she had ever seen this many together had been when she had arrived here more than a year ago, and that had been a mixture of many different castes. Bellana hadn’t realized there were so many of each, within Peridon.

    Most of the cloud fluttered at head level. They swept back behind the four humans and their Queen and Commander as they turned to face the Great Tree.

    Bellana opened her mind to the presence of the Tree and she heard weeping. Tentatively she questioned the presence. Will you be all right?

    The whispery sigh of wind through branches answered her, I will be fine. I will miss the Folk. It will be lonely.

    Can you not speak with your daughter in Ronan? Bellana asked. Can she not keep you company?

    I can communicate with her and she will keep me apprised of the situation within the world but it is not the same. The Folk are so joyous in their lives. The people of the unicorn are not so exuberant. How will she lighten my days with reports of war?

    I thought you sent her there to enable the Folk to treat with Ronan.

    I did, for all the good it’s done.

    It did much good, Bellana thought to her. It made Arianna realize the problem was much greater than just her own cares and concerns. It also may provide a home for some of those who are displaced with this exodus.

    The Great Tree had no face but Bellana believed if she had, she would be smiling. That is a most wonderful suggestion. The grove she lives in is protected from the general populace of Ronan. She could shield them even further. And through her I would still be able to experience their joy. Bless you daughter of Arianna and Matthu.

    Chapter 2

    Bellana snuck a sidelong look at Arianna, wondering if she was hearing the conversation. If she was, she gave no reaction to Bellana’s sire’s name. A further thought struck Bellana and she asked the Great Tree, Can you not communicate with your counterpart in Cadara?

    Though she is my sister, I unfortunately cannot. We nearly have the same roots, just as at the Elven Lodges, she can see me. I cannot see her.

    But the elves can make the people in the Lodges hear them while they remain in Cadara, Bellana argued.

    Were I to go dormant, I could hear her. Just as the elves communicate with their Lodgers when they are sleeping. But I will not be able to go dormant and still remain alert for signs of trouble here on Ousta.

    Bellana thought back to her trip through the Rortags to Telgar. Two years ago, they communicated with both myself and my brother in the Rortag Mountains, and we were not asleep.

    The Great Tree did not answer. She seemed to be considering this statement. Finally in a slow and ponderous whisper she said, You have only just met your brother, how is it he traveled with you two years ago?

    Bellana stifled a smile. She had imagined the Great Tree to be as omnipotent as a Goddess. I do not speak of Astar. I speak of Trace, my human, adopted brother.

    And is he of pure human stock?

    Bellana had never considered the thought before. Johann was a very powerful wizard. And her observations in the past two years told her no pure humans had as much magical energy as he possessed. She had never stopped to think where his power may have come from. He did not possess the blue of water energy, as so many of the unicorn crossbred wizards of Ronan did. Nor was it the standard green of the living earth, many of the elves possessed. There were exceptions to all the races. Alavan for instance was Elven but was a very powerful fire master. She did not know what cross Johann, therefore his grandson, Trace, could possess. She responded to the Tree with that information.

    The Great Tree fell silent again. When she spoke, her words surprised Bellana. Most common of those bearing the energy of the bones of the earth are the crossbreeds of the dwarves and the gryphons. I see the images in your mind of this wizard and his grandson. Unless it was many generations back, I do not see how he could be related to dwarves. He is far too lean. But age can do that. But the grandson, his features are very sharp and birdlike and he does not have age to make him appear so. I think perhaps he is descended of gryphons. She paused and Bellana felt the surge of pressure as the tree dug through her mind, ferreting out what she knew of Johann and Trace, before continuing. I cannot say for certain without meeting him. Be that as it may, some with the power of the earth can communicate across the planes. You have this power within you. If the caretakers communicated with your brother as well, then perhaps he too has this strength though you believe him to be without magic.

    Bellana turned to Conall. He nodded to her. He was listening to this conversation, though he chose not to interfere.

    The energy in his aura is brown as is his grandfather’s, but he does not have the brilliance of one able to use it.

    That was when the Great Tree asked her a question that totally stopped her own questions with a fact she could not dispute. And when you first came to view your own aura what colors were in it?

    She thought back, Mostly, green, brown, and blue.

    But yet you could view other colors that seemed not to be of any importance because they were so weak they were barely discernible and did not glow of magical energy?

    Yesss... Bellana stopped. She saw where this was going. In recent months her aura had added the blood red shades of the dragon and the blue of water now twined with a more brilliant sapphire, similar to the color she saw within Angel. The golden yellow of the energy of air was perhaps the brightest within her aura now, eclipsing even the green of the living earth. If she could change, why not others with the proper power within their aura?

    The Great Tree confirmed her thought. It is a matter of training. If the elves spoke to this adopted brother of yours while he was awake, perhaps you should reevaluate his abilities, or lack thereof.

    Bellana hung her head in thought. When she looked up again, she said, I will do that when next I see him. His grandfather told me he had no magic. As much as Johann disliked his own magic at times, perhaps he repressed Trace’s abilities. I did not even think to question this before.

    You would be wise to check. For now, Arianna grows impatient. I have not included her as I have your Consort. She awaits the spell and even now is gathering the energy needed. I have told her to wait while we talked. She does not like being excluded.

    Bellana smiled at that, No I imagine she wouldn’t. Farewell then, Lady. Until we meet again. Bellana felt an underlying, unexplained sadness emanating from the Great Tree. She had thought she had belayed the sadness, but with Bellana’s final words the sadness permeated the air around them.

    Bellana glanced to where Arianna stood, blazing with the power she pulled from the land that was her demesne. It was all hers to use. Why does she need my help? Bellana thought to herself. Aloud she asked Arianna, What is it you wish me to do?

    I want you to cast the spell. I will draw in the energy from the island. You seem to have a much better rapport with Her than I ever did. I want you to drain the energies I collect and feed them back to her while repeating ‘From air to earth we grant you strength.’

    Bellana looked at her incredulously, wavering in uncertainty. That cannot be all. Anybody could have done that. Astar for one.

    Arianna shook her head. The spell is a simple one but very few can handle this amount of energy. When he ascends the throne, then Astar will be able to do so, now he would burn out trying to channel so much.

    With no further questions Bellana did as she was asked. She stood beside Arianna and joined hands with her. Repeating the spell, she concentrated on offering the energy to the Great Tree. Incredibly as she drew it from Arianna she was able to feel where the energy came from.

    The living earth twined round her thoughts, the water was a cool energy, and the bones of the earth was solid and heavy. A small amount of fire energy sent a thrill up Bellana’s spine. She had never felt this energy before, except as she’d received the punishing end of it from Alavan in their practice combats. As this energy pulsed through her it tingled and she became aware of a new channel in her mind. She did not have the leisure to investigate what that sensation might mean. Finally she felt a ponderous amount of energy move through her widest channels and she knew that Arianna had just pulled the foundations of Peridon down. The Great Tree greeted the energy of air enthusiastically.

    When Peridon was closed, the archway into the Great Tree closed and the silver and gold leaves that had always been visible, disappeared, replaced by the spring buds, common throughout the rest of the forest. When it was done, Arianna and Bellana sank to the ground, drained. Angel anxiously nuzzled Bellana and replenished her magic but he became insistent that they leave. With the tree containing all the energy, Ousta was no longer healthy for beings of magic to remain there.

    Tentatively, Angel turned to Arianna. He reached out, expecting to be shooed away. Arianna made no secret of her dislike of unicorns. Whether she was too weak, or whether it was a sign of the times, and the need for cooperation, she did not chase him away and he sent energy coursing through her weakened frame. She looked up at him in amazement as she stumbled to her feet still physically weakened but strong enough in her magic to convince her slight frame to move.

    Bartol came up beside her and offered a supporting arm, even as Conall did to Bellana.

    Bellana, with Conall’s assistance, shakily climbed into Angel’s saddle. Arianna used the energy Angel had given her to change size. She glowed lime green and shrank. Too weary to fly, she did not argue when Bartol placed her on his shoulder and the small group traveled toward the grove.

    The Grove was empty when they arrived, all the others had gone ahead. Angel turned to the north and neighed a command. A shrill whinny responded. Jewel and Opal, Angel’s yearling daughter, arrived in the grove as Conall and Annelon combined their energy to create their sapphire and emerald tunnel to Cadara.

    Angel bent around and touched Bellana’s toes, sending one more flicker of power through her and told her, Shield your son. Then he ordered Jewel through the tunnel and stepped through behind her. Alavan strode through beside her with Arianna and Bartol immediately behind. Finally, Annelon stepped through and then Conall tugged the less than eager Dragon, along, collapsing the tunnel once they were all safely in Cadara.

    Bellana gazed about her in amazement, Conall had told her of the flamboyance of Cadara. Her mind’s picture had not come close to reality. Here, the rainbow swirl of the refugees from Ousta was lost against the vivid background. Unlike Ousta, the grove here was surrounded by open land with a golden tint to it. She recognized the color from Johann’s aura, the rich golden brown of the earth was the dullest color around. Across the meadow that surrounded the grove stood the Cadaran counterpart to the Great Tree. Resplendent in its silver and gold leaves, gleaming in the sunlight.

    Beyond the Tree, the forest started. Flitting throughout the branches were the jewel like Tattletales and many, winged beauties Bellana had never seen before. There were no dancers on this Tree as there had been in Abaca, but from what she understood, there was no need for a Peridon here. To the northern end of the island she saw the village of elves and to the east, through the forest path the tall sail of

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