The Rise of Varantico

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. That thought echoed through Tathura’s head, pounding like a hammer.

One of the Elders around the fire sniffed in disdain. “They’re watching.”

Tathura’s heart rate picked up violently. Her body pressed up against the boulder that hid her from sight. Did they know she was there?

“They may be watching, but no one has been taken since the Connolly boy.”

She nearly sighed with relief--they weren’t referring to her as the ‘watcher’. Then her breath caught. The Connolly boy?

Tathura remembered Marcus, the quiet boy who lived on the outskirts. One morning, without notice, he'd neglected to bring milk for her younger sister. He was never heard from again.

The Elders had known he was ‘taken’? Why set us aimlessly searching for him then? Tathura could barely hear the quiet speech, the pounding in her head was so loud.

“They will arrive soon. We all knew this day would come. Especially now they’ve discovered what the girl possesses.”

A subtle wind arose, changing the direction of the green flames. Tathura shivered. She could no longer hear the Elders’ conversation, and she couldn’t decipher the meanings of the images in the fire. It was best she left before she was discovered.

She counted to three to get her nerve, then hastily scrambled up the bank of trees from her hiding spot. There was never any need for wardings during meetings, of course. After all, who would dare spy on the council?

The crackle of the fire, sound of trickling water, and music from the village below muted Tathura’s ascent. The rhythmic pounding in her head was increasing. She stopped by a tree, staring back down at the green glow. The shadows danced like demons, mocking her in the firelight.

Further below, the warm glow from the village reflected off the small lake. As the pressure on her skull began to lessen, she started muttering under her breath. “It’s all Shawn’s fault.” If he hadn’t cooked up the beaver-brained idea, her thoughts wouldn’t have been flipped upside down. She continued venturing away from the Elders’ campsite. Soon the trail wound around and down. Eventually she emerged, to the east of the village.

She skirted the edge of the lake, and planned to fill up one of the smaller buckets left on the dock. That way she could give the appearance of normalcy as she walked back to the village. Just out getting some water, that’s all. She leaned over the dock precariously, and deftly maneuvered the bucket.

“Bit late in the evening for that, don’t you think?”

Her scream was muffled by her splash, and all she could see was black.

#

“Tathura! Tathi! Stop fighting, you ninny!” Between dunks underwater, she could hear a male voice laugh behind her.

But she was struggling to breathe, due to her unexpected nose-dive. She was being boosted onto the dock, but her skirts and boots were weighing her down. So, she lay there half-dazed, barely able to breathe, her lower half still in the water.

“Get. Up. There.” With each word her assailant-rescuer gave her a bigger push, until she was completely out of the water. She heard him drag himself out of the water and scrape across the wood.

She was becoming light-headed from the lack of air, and couldn’t tell if it was the sky that was black, the water, or…?

“Tathi? You okay? Tathi? Oh, damn!”

He quickly flipped her onto her side so the pressure was off her chest, and slapped her on her back. She began to cough and wheeze. Once she could breathe properly again, her teeth started chattering.

Suddenly, she felt the ground being whisked from beneath her, and she was flying. Or being carried. It was more likely the latter.

“Put. Me. Down! Shawn!” But even as she was struggling, she knew she was safe and secure in those strong, familiar arms.

“Hush, Tathi. I will.”

She sighed in frustration and gave in. But not without crossing her arms in protest. As she looked up at his chin, she could see a smirk grow on his face, and felt even more agitated.

Shawn carefully set her down on a log in front of a firepit, dug out the tinder box kept inside the recess for emergencies, and proceeded to start a fire with the striker and flint. If her teeth hadn’t been chattering so hard, she would have been pouting.

“Get those clothes off, before you catch cold.”

The nerve of him—telling her what to do!

She heard him chuckle. “I can feel your murderous eyes boring into my back.”

Behind him, Tathura’s hands were shaking, and she was having difficulty undoing the tiny buttons on her dress. Shawn blew on the nest of shavings, and cultivated the bundle in his hand. Before long he had a fire crackling, and kept feeding it until it gave off a good amount of heat.

Once her dress was finally off, Tathura was dismayed to see its condition. Between the dirt on the hillside and then being dunked in the water…and yes, she was convinced he’d scared her so she would tumble in—on purpose! Between those two escapades, her pastel green dress was now covered with rivulets of mud. She should rinse it out, but was too cold to move.

The two of them sat there on the log, she in her shift, he in his underclothes, while they made tea from the stash box. It shouldn’t have felt any different than any other time—their mothers used to bathe them together as infants. While swimming in their underclothes together many a summer, modesty had never been an issue. However, Tathura had suddenly become very aware of Shawn’s tall, lean form, sitting so close to her.

For some reason, Tathura could feel her cheeks flushing. It must just be the fire. But she had a strange feeling of nervousness and exhilaration wash over her. Maybe she was becoming ill?

As Shawn looked over at her, his glances lingering a bit longer each time, she turned away, feeling embarrassed.

“You know, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She gave him a ‘look’.

“Okay, maybe a little bit, but not so you’d go head-over-heels into the lake.”

“The freezing...lake.”

“Well, yes, the freezing lake. I mean to say…I’m sorry.” He took her hand in his and she felt a jolt like lightening. She began feeling that strange sensation again and casually removed her hand from his.

They sat together for a few minutes, soaking up the warmth. Then she saw the beginning of his quirky smile.

“So what were you doing out here all alone, anyway? Lots of music and fun tonight. Couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Tathura squirmed in her seat. “I, uh, went to spy on the Elders’ Fire.”

Shawn’s eyes widened. “You did what? You didn’t…” He groaned and rubbed his face. “I was joking when I said that yesterday.”

“A dare’s a dare.” She stuck her tongue out. “You can pay up later.”

Shawn sighed and shook his head. “I can’t believe you went through with it.”

“But the dare's beside the point. We need to talk.”

“About what?” His quirky smile was back and he wiggled his eyebrows upward twice.

“This is serious, okay?”

“Alright.” Shawn put on a mock serious look. They both burst out laughing.

“Stop it.” She gave him a fake punch on his arm.

“Ohh, I’m wounded!” He began tipping over. She was tempted for a second to push him all the way over.

He righted himself before her urge to attack him became too great. “Ahem. Okay, I’m ready to be serious now.” He threw a twig on the fire. “What’s up?”

“The Elders mentioned the dragons didn’t arrive in the Valley until after the Burning of the Havens.”

“That’s odd. You’re sure that’s what you heard?”

“Absolutely. The Elders were reminiscing—about living in the Valley.”

“What? That’s not possible. Our people were nomads until we were granted the Grace of Shendiah. 'It was the dragons’ good will that freed us from a life of wandering,' as they say.”

Tathura shook her head. “Apparently, that’s not the case. They were recalling real memories. The Elders called the dragons ‘deceitful’.”

Shawn speculated. “But our parents?” He shook his head. “No, I could never see Da lying to me like that.”

“Maybe they don’t know. All our parents were wanderers. They would all have arrived much later, and may have no idea of the true history. The Elders were talking about how the dragons have taken people.” Tathura paused for a breath. “Remember Marcus?”

Shawn's eyes glowed in the firelight. “Marcus was taken by the dragons? But why? That doesn’t make sense. None of it does.”

Tathura could sense Shawn’s doubt, and felt indignant. “I’m surprised this seems hard for you to believe. This isn’t based on some elusive rumor. I overheard them. You’re the one who’s always challenged the Elders…and every other adult in the village over just about everything.”

“I just don’t get it. Why would they lie to us? It means both the Elders and the dragons are in cahoots, regardless of their distrust. That makes it thoroughly confusing.”

“They said something about a girl who has something the dragons want. Maybe Marcus had something they wanted?”

“But why hide the truth from the village?”

“Well, why do people lie? Some do it to protect others—”

Shawn cut her off. “But others do it to gain or maintain control.” He threw another twig on the fire. “If something’s going on, you know me, I’ll find out.”

Tathura rolled her eyes. “You mean I’ll find out and tell you. Isn’t that the way it usually goes?”

“Hey, the fact I’m always the scapegoat means I’m a good distraction. I stand out. No one suspects you of anything.”

Tathura wasn't about to relent so easily. “It still means I end up doing all the difficult work.”

“Yeah…” Shawn leaned back and stretched. “But whenever we go anywhere, I carry more stuff than you.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Tathura pushed him lightly.

Shawn laughed. “Here, I’ll even take your dress to the dock and rinse out the dirt for you.”

Tathura lowered her voice to a mutter. “Let's see if someone pushes you in.”

“I can hear what you're saying, you know.” Shawn chuckled, picked up the dress, and walked back to the dock.

#

The two of them snuck back to the edge of the village with some difficulty, since people were milling around, enjoying the night’s festivities. Well, that and the fact the two of them were sneaking around in their underclothes. Shawn started laughing.

“Shush! We’ll get caught! Then who knows what people will say.”

Shawn stopped laughing. A light rumbling sound seemed to emerge from his throat.

“Wait, are you giggling?” Tathura whispered. She gently slapped his arm, half-amused. In all honesty, she was having difficulty staying serious.

Shawn’s rumbling grew more persistent and emerged like a snort. They both started giggling.

Shawn smirked. “Doesn’t this remind you of something?”

“Yes—but we’re not eight years old anymore. There’s a difference between hiding because you stole apples and this.”

Tathura could tell Shawn was thinking. “There’s no way we’re going to get to one of our houses unseen. Everyone’s out celebrating.”

Suddenly, she saw him grin in the moonlight. “C’mon!” Before she could protest, he’d grabbed her wrist, and they were flying in the opposite direction, through Old Man Jethro’s cornfield.

“What are you doing?” Tathura had no choice than to let herself be pulled along, her shift flapping behind her.

Shawn just laughed. When Tathura realized where he was headed, she groaned. “Oh, not this again. Last time we got into so much trouble.”

“You mean I got into so much trouble. I’ll take the blame again.”

The dark shadow of a man appeared in front of them, but they didn’t change their course. They slowed down and stopped.

Tathura was gulping for breath. “So. We're going to strip…the scarecrow…again?”

“Nope. We’re going to strip two scarecrows.”

She rolled her eyes and muttered, “This would have been so much easier if it had been washing day when the lines were out. Why couldn’t you have pushed me into the lake on laundry day?”

“Hey, I never pushed you in!”

“May as well have,” she retorted.

Soon after they reached the second scarecrow, they were both dressed like farmers. Tathura’s clothes were so baggy, Shawn started stuffing them with straw.

“Don’t! That’s so itchy!” Tathura protested.

Shawn laughed while she pulled the straw back out and rolled up the sleeves and legs numerous times.

“You look like a roly-poly farmer.”

“Well, you look like…a bean pole!”

It was true. They were the odd couple—he was too tall, and she was swimming in layers of clothes, her shift bunched up underneath, giving her a wide girth.

They started back through the cornfield. Regardless of the faint music coming from the village, there was an eerie uneasiness to the night. Strangely, the light of the moon started flashing on and off. Shadows swiftly moved over the ground. The two of them looked up.

“Dragons!” Shawn pulled Tathura into a crouch beside a row of corn. “What do they want? Never seen them out this way before.”

Tathura felt alarmed, especially after hearing the Elders earlier. Neither of them had time to speculate, though, as one of the dragons broke off from the main group. Before they knew it, the corn field bordering the village grounds had been set alight by its fiery breath.

#

“This way!” Shawn grabbed Tathura’s hand and they maneuvered through the cornrows, north toward the village and west. The wind was blowing fairly strongly to the east where the fire was focused, but they had to be quick if they were to make it out. Thankfully, there had been enough rain lately to stop the cornfield from going up like dry kindling.

The smoke was blowing in the other direction, but Tathura felt the heat as the fire spread. She knew Shawn was taking them to the village and the western end of the lake, the village meeting place during emergencies. Tathura hoped she would see her family gathered there with the other villagers. However, once they arrived, they were the only ones there.

“Where is everybody?” Tathura suddenly became scared for her family. “And why would the dragons scorch a cornfield?”

“Maybe to corral the villagers?”

As they ran toward the central village, the two of them heard booming voices echoing, but couldn’t make out any words. They could also hear shouts and screaming. Tathura’s blood chilled, and she became rooted to the spot. Shawn grabbed her wrist and he gently maneuvered her to the closest merchant stall.

Tathura’s legs felt wobbly. There was a disconnect between her brain and her body. Shawn looked at her with concern.

As they crept closer to the deep, rumbling voices, the screams died down. After a few minutes of stealthily making their way around the stalls, they could make out the villagers on the green. Tathura held her breath. Their families must be in the crowd.

She was still fraught with worry, but less so than she had been a few minutes before when they just heard frightful screams and seen no villagers. She scanned the crowd and her eyes settled on her mother, father, and little sister. It didn’t look like the dragons had caused them any harm.

The fire burned brightly, several hundred feet behind the dragons. Their silhouettes from the fire backdrop gave them an ominous, powerful presence. Tathura counted eight shadowy forms.

The largest dragons stood between the villagers and the flaming cornfield, and the smaller ones were at their flanks. Once in a while they would extend and flap their wings. Tathura realized it was what was keeping the smoke away from the villagers.

The largest dragon’s stature, in addition to its red color, made it stand out from the other dragons. It was speaking in a booming voice that echoed across the green. “The time has come for payment.”

The villagers looked at each other confusedly. After a minute, a man stepped forward, wringing his hands. It was Tathura’s teacher, Den Gaian.

“I’m sorry, Lord Dragon, we’re not sure what you mean. Our Elders aren’t here at the moment—"

Suddenly, the dragon burst out laughing. “No, they aren’t, are they?”

Tathura heard the other dragons chuckle with disdain, almost contempt. She heard, “Cowards,” muttered by a smaller purple dragon. That’s when she realized a small blue dragon had discovered the two of them. Its eyes stayed on her and Shawn, as though trying to decipher something.

Tathura realized the council must still be at the Elders’ Fire. She turned toward the north, and could see a pinpoint of green light. They’re just sitting there, watching! Letting the townspeople fend for themselves!

“What is it you want, Lord Dragon?”

“Fetch your other villagers, the ones hiding in their houses, and cowering in the shadows.” There was hesitation.

The large green dragon beside it sneered, then spoke for the first time. “If you don’t bring all the other villagers and now, we might just eat your children.”

Several of the adults ran off and started searching for anyone who may be missing.

Den asked, “What about the Elders? They aren’t here.”

“Forget about your Elders. They’ve abandoned you.”

The villagers looked shaken.

“Line up in front of us.”

The remaining villagers were brought out. They were divided into groups, the young men and women being separated and taken to the left, whereas the rest of the villagers were moved to the right. Tathura and Shawn watched all this from their hiding place.

The red dragon looked to the group on the left. “Come forward.”

The group reluctantly walked forward.

“Turn around.” They faced away from the dragons. Some were trembling, others visibly shaking. One girl was sobbing.

“Check them.” The smaller dragons moved from the flanks and the purple one yanked down the back of one of the boy’s shirts. Tathura couldn’t tell what they were looking for.

Once all of their backs had been checked, they were moved to the group on the right. The dragons grouped closely and Tathura heard the red one speaking quietly. It sounded like the low rumbling of a cart on the Fallum Bridge.

Tathura was able to make out a few words. “It’s here. I can feel it.”

The green one snarled. “Should I eat a few of them to motivate them?”

The red one turned and addressed Den.

“Is this everyone?”

“Apart from the Elders and a few of my students, everyone is here.”

The red dragon became more alert.

“Where are these students?”

“They could be anywhere in the region.”

“You’d better hope they haven’t gone far,” sneered the green one. Den blanched.

Four of the dragons spread their wings and flew off, each headed in a different direction, scouring the countryside.

The blue dragon who had spotted Tathura earlier spoke. “Perhaps your mice haven’t gone far.” It was eyeing Tathura as if with a dare. A dare to come out from her hiding spot. “Perhaps proper motivation is needed.”

The green dragon snarled. “I can eat a few of them. That should start motivating them to come out of hiding.”

“You and your eating.” An orange dragon snorted.

“We don’t have time for this. I’m going to start eating the children.” The green dragon moved forward and the crowd grew alarmed.

Tathura and Shawn immediately ran onto the Green. “Wait!” Shawn’s strong voice carried.

The villagers looked at them oddly, without recognition at first. Then Tathura remembered how they were dressed. Her face turned crimson.

In the middle of her embarrassment, she saw the red dragon, the one she considered the leader, was looking at her with a somber expression. Its eyes locked on hers, hypnotizing her with its gaze.

“Check her.” Because her overalls couldn’t be just pulled down at the back, the orange dragon ran a claw down the back of her outfit, roughly peeling back the back of Tathura’s overalls and shirt, splitting it into pieces. Shreds of clothing fell onto the ground. Tathura stood there in her shift, still mesmerized by the gaze of the red dragon.

The orange dragon pulled on Tathura's shift and checked her mid back. As the red dragon drew closer, a fiery glow deep inside Tathura spread a visible web throughout the skin on her back. Shawn gasped at the sight.

“It’s her.” The orange dragon spun her around so the red dragon could see the glowing web, and Tathura's trance was broken.

Not realizing how close the red dragon was to her back, she jumped at its murmur. “I almost didn’t recognize you, Anurakti. Your clothes were very…” The dragon looked as though it was smirking, “distracting.” The dragon’s head moved around her as if inhaling her scent. It’s body moved in a coiling motion, caressing her.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else, Lord Dragon. My name isn’t Anurakti. It’s Tathura.”

The dragon mildly chuckled. “Well, Tathura. You’ll be coming with me.”

Tathura spun around to face the red dragon, her mouth open. Immediately, Shawn stepped in front of her. “No, she will not.” Shawn locked eyes with the dragon, staring it down.

The green dragon’s face contorted. “The girl, or we eat the children.”

Shawn tried to put himself in front of both Tathura and the children, and faced off against the dragons.

“Fearless, hmm? You’ve earned my respect.” The red beast cleared its throat. “The girl will not be harmed when we take her. You have my word. The children—we give no such guarantee if you refuse to release her to us.”

Tathura was shaking. She gently placed her hand on Shawn’s arm, then stepped forward. “I will go with you. Only if you leave the villagers unharmed and the village untouched.”

She looked at Shawn, and saw something in his pleading eyes. “I will find you, Tathi. That’s a promise.”

“No…please. Don't.” She didn’t trust the dragons with her own safety, even with their promise not to hurt her. She remembered the term the Elders had used. 'Deceitful'. Shawn would be in mortal danger for sure.

The leader of the dragons stood tall. It announced, “Payment has been made. The Deal is set. We will trouble you no more.”

While the other dragons put out the flames in the cornfield with their fire-proof wings, the leader of the dragons directed Tathura to climb onto its back. She obediently did so. The villagers gasped at the realization of what ‘payment’ had just occurred. However, Tathura knew there was no other choice, but to go with this terrifying beast. If she could give herself up for the safety of her village, it was a worthwhile sacrifice.

As she sat on the dragon’s back, she looked down at Shawn, and saw determination in his face, his hands balled up in fists. She knew he would try to find her, no matter how far or dangerous the route. A part of her wanted that, but the other part was more worried for his life than for her own safety.

As the dragon rose from the ground with the flap of its powerful wings, Tathura could hear her little sister’s cries before they became muffled. She knew her father would have taken Junia into his arms to comfort her. Tathura avoided looking at her parents or at Shawn, because she had to hold things together. Even with that thought, a solitary tear dripped down her face.

Tathura had given up her future for a life in captivity. The dragons were ruthless when it came to their dealings with humans, so she’d heard for the first time at the Elders’ Fire. The meeting on the Green only supported what she’d heard.

She gripped as tightly as she could to the dragon with her knees and arms, while keeping her upper body parallel with its back. She wasn’t about to risk a fall. From her vantage point, she watched as they exited the Narrows that formed the entrance to the lands of Shendiah.

Tathura had rarely been beyond that point, as most people avoided going into the Wilderness. On those few occasions she had ventured out, she had been with her father and other skilled woodsmen. More significantly, she had been on the ground during those excursions.

Clouds blocked the light of the moon, and she was unable to see anything, except the dark shadow she was riding on. She shivered. The dragon’s scales were surprisingly cool. She had always imagined dragons’ scales to be warm.

Suddenly, Tathura jerked awake. A dream, she thought as she opened her eyes. But it had been no dream. Her body was still in the cramped position, clinging to the dragon’s back. But it was now daylight, early morning. They must have travelled all night.

She realized the reason for her waking as they circled around one last time before landing in the Valley. Her jaw dropped at the mystical atmosphere—like a fairy book come to life. So this is the Valley. No wonder the Elders were so contentious about being driven out.

The dragons were in conversation with another group, telling of their surveillance of the outside world. Tathura’s back spasmed, and she tried to sit up to stretch out the ache. All eyes turned to her, glaring. She froze.

“Who’s that? Arienne!” The voice boomed, shaking even large boulders nearby. It was a brown dragon, even larger than the dragon Tathura had ridden on.

“I’ve found Anurakti. She will be staying with me.”

“She will not! She will be given to the crazed Swarthback like every human unfortunate enough to wander into our lands.”

Arienne drew himself up tall. “No, she will not! She will be staying with me!”

She was confused by the dynamics between them, and the reaction to Arienne’s request. She knew she must understand the undercurrents in order to survive this place. That is, if she wasn’t about to face her demise.

“You dare defy me?” Tathura held her hands over her ears to mute the roar, without success. “Goliath!” The green dragon stepped forward with its trademark sneer on its face. “Take her to the den.”

Before Arienne or Tathura could react, Goliath dragged her off the red dragon’s back, nearly dislocating her shoulder in the process.

“No!” Arienne took a step toward Goliath, but two large dragons blocked his way. He looked as if he beheld something once lost, only just found, about to be lost once more. There was desperation in his gaze. “Not to him!”

Tathura looked backward as the brown dragon berated Arienne and he was restrained by the two large dragons. He struggled to get free with a wild countenance, looking in her direction. Tathura could see fear on his face, and suddenly felt faint.

Tathura cried out in pain as Goliath gave her an especially hard yank. He pulled her into a dark cave, something that felt completely out of place in the Valley. They were walking over some type of shells. Tathura’s mind wandered as a type of defence mechanism to mute the fear, helping her to keep going. Was the Valley once a massive river with shellfish lining its bottom?

Goliath stopped, breathed on what turned out to be torches, and the cave was set aglow. The dancing flames revealed some type of etching on the stone walls. He gave her a hard push toward the back of the cave.

“Don’t fall, now,” he cackled.

But Tathura was already on her knees, and had already discovered that the shells were in fact not shells. They were bones. Human bones.

She could hear deep breathing and feel heat rising from further down the slope of the cave. She heard a growl and a snort and with it saw a flash of fire. Behind the fire she saw a pair of feral eyes. She was not alone.

As she stood up, she saw Goliath through the corner of her eye. Blocking the way back with his body, he drew back his arm and thrust it toward Tathura’s back.

She was about to be thrown into the dragons’ den and be faced with all its fury.

#