Anilyia

Map of Nulanea

Map of The Willden Forest

Chapter 1

Year 1390, Fifth Age

Being a week or so after the events of Rojuun

Tathan made no sound as he walked toward the northern wall of the city, a place he liked to go to look at reflections of the moons in Trohiin Lake. He brushed a strand of hair out of his steel-grey eyes. The curly, black mop was getting long and needed to be cut soon. He debated buckling his dark leather jacket, but instead left it open in an attempt to relax.

It was a warm, clear night with both moons half full, their mixed light casting a lavender glow that made it easy to see. A gentle breeze flowed down from the mountains, bringing the pleasant fragrance of nightflowers. In the distance, a baby cried. It seemed as though there was a baby crying at night in every city Tathan had ever roamed.

The street led into a plaza where Rojuun artists had placed odd and varying statues with no regard to organization. Many were of animals or flowers, while others were just abstract shapes put together in strange ways.

The Rojuun were an exotic new race on the world of Ryallon, having appeared from the depths of the Caaldith Mountains about eight hundred years ago. Their arms and hands were much like a human’s with the exception that there were four instead of two. A graceful people, they averaged seven feet tall as adults. When they wore robes, it looked as though they were gliding rather than walking.

The most striking feature was their eyes, which were like upside-down teardrops containing pupils similar to a cat. They could be any color of the rainbow, making each individual stand out from the rest.

Then there were the multiple voices each Rojuun had. Two main airways with vocal cords created dual voices while a third, residual airway, became active when their emotions were high with anger or fear. Many Rojuun used their voices to sing, usually accompanied by lutes or other instruments they played.

For the most part, humans throughout the world weren’t aware of their existence. Ryallon was a vast world with numerous continents. Extensive systems of caves littered the continents and nobody knew how deep or wide-ranging they were. The caverns Rojuun called home were in the Caaldith Mountain Range, a vast stretch of nearly impassible peaks.

The Rojuun originally came to the surface east of the mountains, where they discovered the Iynath Empire. The desert nation was weak at the time, so its emperor decided to forge an alliance. With Rojuun resources, Iynath grew stronger and began to invade its nearest neighbors, picking on weak countries first. Captured prisoners were sent to the Rojuun to work as servants with the ability to ply trades and earn income.

On the western side of the mountains was the Willden Forest, where Rojuun discovered Druids. When the Druids refused to become servants or allies, the Rojuun slaughtered everyone in a Druid village to set an example. At that point, the Druids retaliated, following the Rojuun into the caverns to kill as many as they could until the Rojuun blocked off all entrances leading to the Willden in order to protect themselves.

A century later, human servants came through the tunnels, reopening them. They began building Puujan on the southern bank of Trohiin Lake. The walls were the first thing built to protect against further Druid attacks. Upon seeing the plain buildings of the city, the Rojuun attached gossamer wings to them that fluttered in the breeze and glistened in the light.

Tathan looked at the ones around the plaza as he leaned against a light post. There were a lot of blues and oranges, although a few had other colors. Sometimes, when a gust caught, it looked like the entire city was going to fly up into the air. In a strong breeze or wind, the city hummed.

A movement at the other end of the plaza caught his eye. Tathan didn’t give any indication that he had seen something so as not to spook whoever it was. Then another movement, this time behind one of the statues, caught his attention.

A quick scan of the area showed only one meju, a male Rojuun, out for a stroll. The meju was staring into the sky and didn’t appear to notice anything other than the moons above. Tathan began walking across the plaza at an angle from where the movement had come from.

Upon reaching the next street, he flattened his back against the wall to wait for whoever might be coming. Minutes passed before Tathan grew restless and looked back. He stared for a moment, trying to make out details in the various shadows. There was nothing there.

Tathan leaned against the wall and thought for a moment. He had been jumpy for quite a while now. It had subsided in the Willden Forest and again in the Rojuun caverns, but the feeling had returned now that he was back in a city. Perhaps the movement was just his imagination.

He shook his head to clear it and then looked back again. Nothing moved except for the fluttering wings of the buildings and the Rojuun who had been looking at the moons. The meju was moving out of the plaza with his head down, talking to himself. Tathan considered for a moment that the meju might have been scheming against him. With a sigh, he realized he was grasping at straws.

A movement up the street caught his attention. This time he dashed toward it instead of waiting. He stopped at the intersection. It was empty to the left and right and there was nothing further up the street. Tathan wasn’t convinced he was seeing things. Whoever was following him must have gone to the rooftops. It was the only explanation.

He ran to the side of the building on his left and scrambled up two stories of rough stone to the slate roof. Tathan was sure-footed and had no trouble on the slate. He climbed to the top of a nearby chimney and looked down at each side to make sure no one was hiding.

When he was certain that the immediate area around the chimney was clear, Tathan scanned the surrounding buildings. The one he was on had yellow wings, which were too bright for his taste. The flittering wings on all the buildings made it difficult to separate movement. No matter how hard he looked, he didn’t see anyone or anything out of the ordinary.

Tathan came off the chimney, slid down the slate tiles, grabbed the edge of the roof, swung down and back toward the building, hit the wall with his feet, somersaulted back to the ground and landed in a crouch. There was still no one in sight.

He walked back to the plaza. Upon reaching it, he saw the movement again, more of a blur than anything. Tathan drew his sword and followed.

The weapon was magnificent, but dark and sinister. Runes were etched the length of the curved, black metal. Whenever it was out of its sheath, it hungrily ate nearby light. It also warned Tathan about things that wanted to harm him.

Another blur flashed at the next intersection. Whoever or whatever was leading him could just deal with him taking his sweet time by that point. Tathan maintained a light grip on his sword as he scanned the intersection with hawk-like eyes. He had never concerned himself with whether or not he was handsome, so didn’t realize the stance he was in would have left most women weak-kneed. The blur moved up another street, going north.

He turned onto the street, and then the next, keeping his sword ready. The part of the city he was in was mostly uninhabited and nobody saw him. After passing more empty intersections and a small, plain plaza, Tathan was at the northern wall. Each of the city’s walls had a road separating it from buildings and simple chains blocking off stairs to the top.

Tathan saw the blur turn into an alley to his left. Reaching the alley, he saw a door shut. The sense of danger was strong. He cautiously moved forward, looking everywhere for signs of an ambush. The door was locked when he tried it. Tathan looked around the alley some more.

Then Tathan did something many people wouldn’t be able to. He walked away.

***

The woman crouched on the roof, staring as Tathan left the alley and turned to the west. Her teeth clenched in anger at his refusal to fall into her perfect trap. She slid down the slate, much as Tathan had done earlier. At the bottom of the roof, she flipped into an open, second-floor window. Once inside, the woman opened the cloak that had been keeping her invisible.

Steve glowered with eyes the exact same dark-green as hers. His whiskered nose twitched in irritation and his claws were out, ready to kill the human who distressed his mistress.

She took a deep breath and calmed her emotions. It wouldn’t do to have her protector try to kill Tathan of the Shadows. Steve was deadly, but no match for the one she hunted. She would just have to try again later.

Chapter 2

The sun had not yet risen, but Liselle was awake. Early morning air drifted through the open window. She yawned and stretched in the comfortable bed before turning to look at her lover. Vevin was still asleep. Liselle ran fingers through his metallic purple hair, watching him breathe. Sharp teeth showed in his slightly open mouth. They looked a bit odd when he was in human form, but she liked them. It made kissing a bit challenging. She giggled as she remembered how terrible Vevin had felt the first time Liselle cut her lip on them.

Her fingers traced the scar trailing the left side of his face from above the ear to the center of his chin.

He whimpered in his sleep.

Liselle leaned down to kiss him.

Vevin’s lips turned to a light smile at the kiss and his breathing came easier.

The battles in the caverns had taken a lot out of him. She knew Vevin was regaining energy, but he was sleeping a lot. For that matter, she was too. The amount of magic she expended in the caverns had drained her. The ordeal she had gone through was even worse.

In her mind, Liselle could still see the disfigured face of the hhorrj named Krraa. At the time, all she had known was that Krraa wanted her ‘glow’. Every night since then, she had woken up crying from nightmares about it. Each time she did, Vevin would wake up and hold her tight, kissing her cheek until she was able to stop.

Liselle had literally died in that horrible place. She had never told anyone that the flower in her hair wasn’t actually a pin, but a living entity that had been with her ever since she could remember. When Krraa had begun torturing her, the flower told her to how to die. Liselle followed the instructions and her soul traveled inside a ruby set in a magical ring on her finger. While keeping her safe, the ring used a purifying fire to destroy Krraa and the room where he held Liselle.

She looked at the ring while running her hand along Vevin’s muscular arm. One of the two original rubies remained, as did the diamond in the center. Liselle believed it meant she could die one more time. She intended to avoid doing so.

Vevin stretched in his sleep and she knew he would wake up soon. Liselle ran her hand down his side, admiring the creamy, purple-tinted tone. She loved the color of his skin, both in his human and in his scaly, dragon form.

Vevin stretched again, his eyes opening. Upon seeing her watching him, he smiled. His sharp, white teeth would intimidate just about anyone if he were baring them in anger. Liselle wasn’t even a little intimidated and she kissed the warm lips. Vevin responded enthusiastically, pulling her on top of him. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

They paused for a moment as she looked into the molten eyes that swirled in pleasure. They were like pools of liquid silver that Liselle could swim in for the rest of her life.

Hello, my darling Liselle, he said with a happy smile. I’m so glad you’re still here.

She traced the edge of his ear with a finger. And where else would I be, my ferocious lover?

He frowned. I don’t know. I worry about it in my dreams and when I’m away from you.

Liselle rose and fell with each breath Vevin took. She touched a finger to his nose. We haven’t been apart since you rescued me, my toothy carnivore. So how could you know that you worry when you’re away from me?

I don’t know. I just know that I would hate it if we were apart. His eyes swirled sadly at the thought.

Liselle rolled on her back and stared at the ceiling. I would too, dearest. In fact, I’ve been giving that a lot of thought.

Oh? Vevin turned toward her and propped his head on his right hand. His left hand caressed her stomach. You don’t want to leave me, do you?

Liselle loved the way it felt when he touched her. "No, but we can’t stay next to each other all the time you know."

Why not? He frowned. I think it’d be wonderful for us to be together all the time.

She closed her eyes in pleasure as he caressed her. Mmm . . . Liselle opened her eyes and re-focused. It’s just not possible. We can live together and be together, but two people don’t spend every moment of every day together.

Why not? I’ll stay by your side every moment of every day and night.

She looked at him firmly. No, you won’t. Everyone needs a moment away now and then. Right now, I want to be with you all the time too. She traced her fingers along his jaw. I want to spend my life with you. However, I told you that you mustn’t try to keep me as treasure.

Oh . . . I remember that. He gazed into her eyes. I’ll do whatever you wish of me even if it means I must part from you for a time. I only ask that . . .

I know. Blue flames of passion ghosted behind the whites of Liselle’s eyes. Neither of them wished to be alone. I love you, Vevin.

I love you too, Liselle. Vevin leaned down to kiss her.

She pulled him close and their bodies entwined in passion.

***

They dozed until first light broke the sky. Vevin always kept the window open so he could see the light of the dawn. It was important to him for reasons he hadn’t explained to her yet, but promised he would someday. Liselle had always gotten up at first light as well, so it didn’t bother her. Being in the Rojuun caverns had been difficult for them both because they couldn’t see the sky. Most mornings, they had woken up when first light would have shown anyway.

Vevin got out of bed and moved to the window. Liselle watched him with a smile, admiring the muscles moving in his thin frame. Vevin was skinny for a dragon and it showed in his human form as well. He was over five hundred years old in reality, but that was young for a dragon. In human years, he would have been about eighteen, the same age as Liselle.

Liselle slipped on a robe made for her by a Rojuun girl. It was white with black and grey highlights that matched her hair and eyes. She loved the clean smell and softness of the fresh-laundered material.

While unweaving the flower from her hair, Liselle watched Vevin do his morning dance. Vevin had a dance for everything. Usually he did a happy dance or some variation of it, but there were many others as well. He moved his dance back into the room while washing up and getting dressed.

After brushing her hair and reweaving the flower in, Liselle walked over to the window. The sky was clear and the chirping of birds mixed with sounds of people getting ready for the day. It looks like it’ll be a beautiful day. Vevin wrapped his arms around her waist.

It’ll be hot, I think. She turned around to look him over. He also wore a robe made by the Rojuun. His was green with silver threads and patterns that highlighted his eyes. The robe went well with his purple hair. You look nice, dearest, she told him with a smile.

Thank you. He smiled back. You look lovely as always and I don’t mind warm days. They feel good against the scales.

Yes, but you aren’t wearing your scales. You’re wearing skin, Liselle pointed out.

He grinned. True, but it still feels good. He leaned her over for a deep kiss.

She gasped, but returned the kiss, giggling when they straightened. Then she rested her head against his shoulder. The two of them swayed together for a bit.

What do we do now, Liselle? Vevin asked quietly. I mean you and me. What are we going to do together with our lives?

Liselle took a step back to look at him thoughtfully. I don’t know. What do you want to do?

"I don’t know. What do you want to do?" Vevin was doing a new, slow dance, probably a ‘what do you want to do?’ dance.

I don’t think we’re getting anywhere, dearest. Liselle stepped toward the window and looked at the teal wings of the building across from the inn. She contemplated the question for a moment. When she turned around, Vevin was still doing his dance. All right. I know what I want to do.

Vevin’s dance picked up a bit. Go ahead.

I want to spend our lives together running naked through green fields while slapping the sky and giggling wildly.

The dance stopped while Vevin’s face twisted in thought. He took a deep breath and nodded decisively. Then that’s what we’ll do.

Liselle’s mouth twisted in a restrained grin before she burst into laughter.

Vevin stared at her in confusion.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. Oh, my dearest Vevin, I’ve fallen madly in love with you.

I love you too, he said with hurt in his voice. I don’t understand why you’re laughing at me. I agreed to do what you wanted.

She stepped back, keeping her hands on his shoulders.

His eyes swirled and his shoulders slumped.

I’m so sorry, Vevin. I wasn’t laughing at you. That wasn’t entirely true. She had been laughing at him. I’m really sorry. Tears welled in her eyes.

I just don’t understand, dearest. Vevin spread his arms out. First you laugh at me and then I make you cry. What did I do wrong?

Oh, Vevin. You didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Liselle said tearfully. I was just playing around and making a joke. Then when I saw that I hurt your feelings, I was afraid you wouldn’t . . .

Wouldn’t what? he asked in confusion.

I . . . I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me or love me anymore. I know it’s silly, but . . . I . . . Liselle had never in her life wanted someone to love and like her so much. She didn’t understand why she felt so weak or why her knees were shaking.

I still love you and I . . . He stopped with a frown. What am I forgiving you for?

For being silly and making a joke and making you feel bad and hurting your feelings and . . . and . . . I don’t know! she wailed, breaking into tears and hiding her face in her hands.

Vevin wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her without understanding why she was crying. He opened his mouth a few times, but didn’t know what to say to comfort her. After a while, the sobs stopped.

Mmssrr, she mumbled.

He didn’t understand that. Umm . . . huh?

Liselle straightened. I’m sorry. She looked up at him with timid eyes and sniffled.

I forgive you, Vevin said immediately. He caressed her back. I love you.

I love you too. I don’t know what came over me or why I started crying. Liselle took the handkerchief he offered her. He made it appear out of thin air with a shake of his hand, but she hadn’t been paying attention. Everything is just so different since . . . Fresh sobs wracked her body.

Something was upsetting her. Since . . . the tunnels? he guessed.

No. Since mommy and daddy died. Liselle cried harder than she had ever done before. Vevin held her and ran fingers through her hair because he knew she liked that.

Liselle didn’t remember how long it had been since the attack. Tathan had come home one morning and everyone was happy to see him. The next day, desert warriors of the Iynath Empire attacked, killing her parents and uncle as well as Tathan’s mother.

Now that Liselle stood crying in her lover’s arms, she realized that she had never fully dealt with the loss. Her heart ached as she remembered the terrible way in which they died. Tathan had tried to save them, but he wasn’t fast enough to fend off the thirty warriors.

She couldn’t help but think that if Vevin had been there instead of Tathan, her family wouldn’t have died. At the same time, if the event hadn’t happened, Liselle never would have traveled and met Vevin. The conflicting feelings confused her.

It’s terrible that you suffered the loss of your parents, darling. Vevin’s eyes swirled with concern as he wiped away her tears with another handkerchief. And it’s perfectly natural to mourn them. Let the grief wash through you and flow into the universe to be dealt with there.

Vevin cared for her and loved her. As long as he was around, Liselle didn’t care where the two of them traveled or what they did with their lives.

So . . . Vevin began. "Does this mean you don’t want to spend our lives running naked through green fields while slapping the sky and giggling wildly?"

Laughter burst forth from Liselle once more. Just as abruptly as it started, it stopped. No, my dearest Vevin. I don’t want to giggle through green fields or anything like that.

The mood changes were confusing the poor dragon. Oh . . . all right. So . . . what do you want to do? It seemed very important for him to have clarity on the matter.

I don’t know. Liselle walked over to splash water on her face and refresh herself after all the crying. I haven’t thought about it a great deal. So far I’ve traveled with Tathan, letting him lead.

Vevin watched as she dried her face with a towel. Oh yes, Tathan’s a good leader. Shall we keep following him?

He does seem to be a good leader, Liselle agreed cautiously. But there are things in his past that haunt him, and I worry.

Yes. He jumps at shadows, Vevin agreed. He attacks the air around him a lot as well. I’ve never seen anyone hold such a terrible grudge against air.

Liselle giggled. "He is hostile toward air. I wonder sometimes what terrible thing happened to him. She stretched all the way to her tiptoes, loosening the muscles in her body while Vevin watched appreciatively. I think our plan for now should be to travel with Tathan. I’m sure he’ll find plenty of adventure and trouble for us. When we’re ready, we can settle down in your home in Aaltdiin."

Oh yes! Vevin did his happy dance. That would be wonderful. There’s always treasure at the end of adventure and trouble. We can put it in the vault and live happily ever after.

Liselle laughed as he danced her around the room. They danced their way out the door and down to their usual table in the common room, ignoring disapproving looks from the few patrons having breakfast.

Chapter 3

Tathan saw Sir Danth talking to a merchant opening a stall for the day’s business. The knight was effortlessly carrying a heavy crate out for the man while they talked.

Sir Danth was from Morhain, an ancient country now in ruins. An event called ‘The Great Disappearing’ wiped out his people sixteen hundred years earlier. At the time, had been charged with guarding the Crown of Morhain.

When Tathan, Liselle and Vevin arrived at the vault in Aaltdiin, Sir Danth begged to go with them and even broke his vow to guard the crown, not knowing someone had dug a hole to the back of the vault and stolen everything within. His body had decayed and dissolved long ago. Now only his spiritual awareness occupied the powerful magic armor he wore.

Ho there, Master Tathan, Sir Danth called out. How goes your roaming? Did you find anything exciting?

Tathan decided not to discuss his fruitless chase of a nameless blur. Nope. Just more buildings with wings and plazas with statues. He grabbed a box to help.

The merchant was a dark skinned man, most likely from a desert tribe. He listened to the exchange and then spoke in a rasping voice, Aye, that’s mostly what there is around town: buildings, wings and statues. Sometimes I wish something exciting would happen, like that princess being kidnapped.

The statement piqued Tathan’s curiosity. A kidnapped princess you say?

Sir Danth carried out another crate. Franklin here was telling me the story before you came by. It seems a princess has been kidnapped from the Kingdom of Mayncal.

The merchant nodded as he set up an awning over his goods. Yeah. It’s a rumor I heard from a couple of travelers arriving from the east last week. They told me the princess was to marry a prince from the Kingdom of Brindlyn in order to forge an alliance between the two countries.

Haven’t those kingdoms been hostile toward each other for centuries? Tathan asked.

That they have. The merchant wiped sweat off his forehead. I don’t know the whole story of why they’re fighting. I believe there was something about a river and a dog attacking each other centuries ago or something like that.

I thought it was a dove and a mountain that attacked each other. Tathan had heard too many different versions about why kingdoms went to war.

Could’ve been. It’s hard to tell sometimes. Kingdoms fight each other for the silliest reasons. The merchant began putting various leather goods from the east out on his tables. In any case, the princess was supposed to marry the prince soon.

I do love a good wedding, Sir Danth said. There is always laughter and dancing. The knight took Tathan by the arms and began dancing in circles outside of the merchant’s stall. Franklin and a few nearby merchants laughed. Tathan rolled his eyes as Sir Danth twirled him in a circle. Then the knight bowed to him and Tathan bowed back. The merchants applauded, cheering heartily.

Do they know who kidnapped the princess? Tathan asked the merchant.

Some suspect Emperor Kravka is behind it, Franklin said. If the two kingdoms unite, it’ll be much more difficult for Iynath to conquer them.

A typical strategy to weaken kingdoms, Sir Danth agreed. I’d rather have a wedding with dancing. He attempted to grab Tathan again, but this time the rogue was ready and tumbled out of the way, causing the merchant to snicker.

Weddings are fun, Franklin agreed. Anyway, I don’t know what’ll happen or if the rumors are even true. He shrugged. "That’s about