Brian Rathbone - The Dawning of Power

"We need to find a way get him out of there."

"The walls are really thick, Cat. It would take days to chip him out even if we had the right tools, which we don't."

"We're getting him out," she said in her most commanding tone, but then she remembered the others. "Where are Strom and Osbourne and Brother Vaughn?"

"I sent them back to the ship after the Gholgi attacked. Osbourne hurt his knee, and Brother Vaughn broke a few ribs, I think. Strom went with them so they would not be helpless in a fight. I came looking for you."

"I knew you would," Catrin said with tears in her eyes as she hugged him. "Thank you. You've always protected me."

"Who knows what kind of trouble you'd get yourself into if I wasn't around? I'm just saving myself the hassle. So how are we going to get this dragon out?"

There is water nearby, and I have a bucket, and this might be of use to you.

Prios approached, holding Belegra's dragon ore, and he handed it to Catrin. Even before it touched her skin, she could feel its power, far greater than anything she'd ever experienced before, as if the greater size allowed it to contain exponentially more energy. Even after the massive amount Belegra had drawn from the stone, it still held an enormous charge. Yet there seemed to be flaws. Something was simply not as it should be, and she was hesitant to use the stone.

Desperate for a way to free Kyrien, her mind reeled with possibilities, but then she remembered what Prios had said: There is water nearby. "Fill everything you can with water and bring it back here," Catrin said.

"What?" Chase asked. "What good is water going to do? We need tools, Cat."

"The water will be all we need. Please help Prios," Catrin said as Prios was already moving to obey her command. In that moment she made a vow to talk to Prios, to help him understand that he had to do what she asked only if he believed it was the right thing to do. He was free.

Chase looked smug when he and Prios returned, each with a large container of water. "Are we going to scrub the stone away?"

"Stand back and be ready to throw the water at the rock on my command," Catrin said. Chase still looked unconvinced. Using the same technique she had used against Belegra, she heated the rock until it glowed like a hot ember. "Now!"

Chase and Prios moved in unison, and a wall of water rushed toward the rock. It struck with a hiss and a series of loud cracks, and several chunks of rock fell away. "We need more water," Catrin said, and Chase did not hesitate. Kyrien huddled at the back of his cell, but Catrin sensed he knew what she was doing, and he occasionally bugled in what sounded like an expectant call.

Chase and Prios returned just as the rock began to glow almost white. "Again," Catrin said. More chunks erupted this time as the structural integrity of the wall began to break down. With each successive time they threw water on the glowing rocks, more of the wall fell, but the process took time.

Kyrien lost patience and roared as he charged from the back his prison and threw himself against the wall with percussive force. Brittle stone fell before his desperate need, and the chamber walls exploded. Catrin, Chase, and Prios fled before the dragon as he charged to the entranceway, seeing the sunlit sky for the first time in his life. Before Catrin could even say good-bye, he gave a triumphant roar, leaped over the edge, and disappeared from view.

Running to the ledge, Catrin looked down to see Kyrien falling like a stone. He struggled to fully extend his wings, and even when he did, he still fell at tremendous speed. Suddenly, the air below was filled with activity. Other dragons, most larger than Kyrien, flocked around him. One of the largest, who Catrin thought she recognized as the one she had slept against, positioned himself directly beneath Kyrien, straining his wings to hold his own weight and that of Kyrien. Perilously close to the treetops below, the dragons halted their fall and began to gain altitude.

Crying out to his brethren, Kyrien wobbled in the air as they left him to soar the winds on his own. Twice other dragons kept him from crashing to the ground, but he seemed to be gaining confidence as he got the feel for flight. Flexing his wings, he soared high into the sky. He gave one last cry before disappearing into the clouds.

Procrastination robs the world of countless treasures. -Massimo Arturo, scribe

For a moment, Catrin simply stood, motionless. So much had happened in such a short time that she found herself in a state of shock. Only when Chase moved to her side and took her by the arm did she return to her senses.

"Come over here and sit down," he said, and she let him lead her. On a huge chunk of what had once been part of Kyrien's prison, she sat. "How bad is your leg?" Chase asked, looking over her wound. "I don't understand. You took this wound yesterday, yet it looks like it happened weeks ago."

"I'm not sure," Catrin said, not wanting to admit what she had done, and very much wanting to keep the struggle with her subconscious a secret. No matter how ashamed she was of healing herself, despite the potential consequences, she was alive. Her heart broke a little when she silently vowed to bear no children, but she would not repeat the mistakes made by Enoch Giest. If she had no children, then there was no way Catrin could pass along any deadly traits. Still, tears slid down her face.

"Whatever the reason," Chase finally said, "it's a blessing. Are you in pain?"

"Only a little, but I'll be fine."

"Is Prios hurt?"

I am uninjured, but I need to rest.

His voice was timid in Catrin's mind, and he approached her slowly, his eyes downcast. When he reached the chunk of rock, he climbed up next to Catrin, curled into a ball, and slept.

Chase finished his inspection of Catrin's wounds. "Looks like you'll live. I think we should stay up here for the night. I'm going to try and find some wood for a fire and some food."

Prios did not move or even open his eyes, but his voice whispered in Catrin's mind: Both can be found in the chambers at the back of the hall.

"There is food and wood back there," Catrin said, pointing.

"How do you know that?" Chase asked.

"Prios told me."

"I thought he was asleep."

"Not quite yet."

Chase left to explore the back of the hall but not before casting a suspicious glance at Prios, who still appeared to be asleep. When Chase returned, his arms were laden with wood, and he placed it within the existing fire ring. With plenty of kindling, he soon had a small fire going. On his next trip, he returned with salted fish and some hard cheese.

"Not much left after this," Chase said as he and Catrin ate. "Not sure how Belegra expected to survive up here."

In a moment of panic, both Chase and Catrin realized that there might still be Zjhon soldiers about. They could be out hunting and could return at any time. Chase quickly stood, and Catrin drew a sharp intake of breath.

They are all dead. I, alone, survived.

"I thought you were sleeping," Catrin said.

I would, if you would stop flooding me with anxiety. When you worry, your thoughts boom in my head like thunder.

"I'm sorry," she said, embarrassed.

"You have to tell me what he's saying," Chase said, "or this is going to make me crazy."

"He says the rest of the Zjhon soldiers are dead. He's all that's left. I'll tell you the rest, Chase. I promise. But first I need rest."

"You two sleep. I'll keep watch."

Standing at the gunwales, Strom tried to relax, but his hands seemed to constantly clench into fists of their own volition. Osbourne and Brother Vaughn were recovering from their wounds and Strom was torn.