The Sword and The Mountain (Kathardra book 1)

The next few days passed in this same manner. They traveled all day, stopping only at night to eat and sleep and then starting over again the next day.

Lessa spent most of the day in the air on Storm’s back, she spoke little to Zar, but she found that it was for the best. He was way too good looking and Lessa wanted to sort things out without that influence.

She felt as if she was perpetually trying to sort through the madness the last couple of days had brought into her life. It was the third day that Storm seemed to get sick of Lessa’s thoughts.

Enough of this. She snapped. Do not be so arrogant as to think that something cannot happen to you, just because it is beyond your understanding. Accept it and move on. And then she was done.

For a moment Lessa was shocked at what Storm had just said. But she thought about her words. She was right, it was arrogant to think something couldn’t happen to her because she didn’t understand it. She took a deep breath.

This is happening. She said to herself.

Finally. Storm inserted irritated.

Lessa threw her a dirty look even though she did not see it. The important thing was that Storm knew about it.

“This is happening.” She said out loud this time, though no one could hear her but Storm anyway. “I am riding on a dragon.” For some reason as she said the thing it made them even more true. “Magic is real.” That was a big one, but as she said it, she felt better. When she let herself believe she felt her inner turmoil passing.

Lessa had to take a breath. “I am in a country called Kathardra, which is possibly on another planet, maybe even another dimension. But I am here and I am here to... Well. I am here.”

Close enough right? Lessa asked Storm who just grunted in response.

It was liberating to finally believe the things that were happening to her. Every moment of every day was not going to be filled with constantly questioning her sanity. She could just enjoy the new life she had suddenly been thrown into.

“Tomorrow afternoon we will reach Haven,” Zar said when they were sitting by their fire later that night. “It would probably be best if you didn’t fly. I don’t want them to panic at the sight of a dragon.” He said casting Storm an uncertain look.

“We can stay on the ground,” Lessa said after Storm grunted in agreement. “What is it like there? Will they all be okay with… A dragon suddenly showing up?” Lessa asked feeling a knot of alarm forming in her stomach. How would a group of people waiting for her to come to save them react to her presence?

“I am not sure,” Zar said slowly and carefully. Great. Lessa’s insides were twisting painfully. “Don’t get the wrong impression.” He corrected quickly. “They will be happy. You are the best news they have had in a long while. But they may be slightly afraid of Storm. And you.”

“Ha afraid of me?” Lessa laughed. “Why?”

Zar shrugged. “You will ride in on dragon back. That is rather intimidating.”

Lessa frowned. I don’t want to do this. She told Storm.

Storm didn’t think that Lessa was complaining about anything important enough to comment on.

Calm down! Storm commanded, Lessa’s anxiety starting to affect her.

“I can’t help it!” She looked down at Storm as she practically stood on her back.

“Can’t help what?” Zar looked up with a confused face.

“Oh, sorry, not you, I was talking to Storm.” Lessa felt her cheeks turn slightly red. And now I sound crazy too!

If you don’t stop that I am going to throw you off my back. Storm said, only half teasing.

You never have thrown me, Storm, nothing is going to change that. Lessa’s tone became dark and challenging.

Lessa could feel Storm debating and she gripped her legs tighter, of course, Storm could easily throw her but that didn’t mean she was just going to let Storm dump her onto the ground.

Storm decided to drop it and her eyes returned to the horizon. “Storm sees a tree line far ahead.”

“That is our destination.” Zar said, “Haven isn’t far into the forest.”

His words did nothing but make Lessa more nervous. It seemed an eternity before the trees came into her own eyes, which only seemed to elongate every moment. Heart pounding in her chest Lessa started glancing down from the trees to Zar, and back.

“You will be fine.” Zar noticed Lessa’s angst.

“I’m not so sure,” Lessa mumbled, wringing her hands together.

Just as they walked into the trees, Lessa’s eyes darted around, searching. “When will we find the town?” She asked her words trailing off.

I smell men. Storm said, sticking her nose in the air.

“Soon…” Zar said, pulling his horse to a halt as he looked around.

Lessa’s eyes narrowed and she caught a glimpse of movement, then another.

“It’s alright. Come out.” Zar called ahead of them.

It took a moment of hesitation but eventually, a face popped out behind a tree. “Come out, Bail,” Zar called out again. Slowly a man slinked out completely into view.

“Well done, Zar!” The man said walking forward, eyes locked on Storm.

“She won’t hurt you,” Lessa said, pleased with herself that she didn’t sound as hysterical as she felt. She realized her mistake as soon as it happened, she had drawn attention to herself. The man’s eyes moved from Storm’s fangs to Lessa’s face. She felt like a creature on exhibit. He stared shamelessly as if Lessa couldn’t see him.

“With my own eyes…” The man said dumbfounded. Lessa looked up as a second man followed his companion from behind the trees.

“Eh-hum.” Zar broke the trance that Lessa had cast,“Faloran, Bail, return to Haven, announce our arrival.”

“Yes, Sir.” The men said, giving Lessa and Storm one more long look before they ran ahead into the trees.

“Sir?” Lessa cocked an eyebrow...

Zar glanced over his shoulder. Lessa did not know him well but it was easy to see that his expression covered something.

Eyes narrowed, Lessa stared at Zar’s back. Men easily twice his senior just called him “Sir”.

What is he hiding? The girl mused to Storm, trying to distract herself from her looming debut into Haven society.

Storm even managed some passing interest. He has authority. She commented.

The dragon was right. He had only spoken a few words to the men, but his tone had been full of authority. Hardly the tone of a teen talking to his elders. It was the tone of a man expecting to be listened to.

The sinking suspicion in Lessa suddenly snapped into a certainty.

“Zar,” He looked up at her, his expression a mask concealing emotions Lessa had not seen him wear before. “You said there was a legend… What exactly is the legend?”

He frowned. “I don’t know it word for word. But it is said that a sword maiden would ride from the south riding a dragon. That sword maiden would restore the royal family to the Mountain Seat.”

“You…” She breathed out the accusation.

He sighed audibly. “At your service.” He performed a mock mounted bow, sounding rather bitter.

“But…” Lessa didn’t know how to process this news now that Zar had confirmed it.

“Albeit only by name.” He continued reluctantly. “My great grandfather was King, he was killed and my grandfather and my father had never even laid eyes on the throne.”

Lessa didn’t know what possessed her to say it. Maybe it was because she liked Zar a little too much. Maybe it was because she had just discovered that the boy she had been harboring a slight crush on was royalty and she wanted to firmly grind that in her thoughts but as soon as Lessa spoke she wished that she hadn’t. “But you will.” It was quiet, but it was obvious that Zar heard her.

He whipped his head around and his eyes locked on Lessa’s. For a split second, Lessa saw so many emotions billowing in Zar’s intense stare. There was determination, and passion but more than anything Lessa saw the fear and pain of an enormous burden.

In that slight moment, Lessa felt bonded to Zar. If eyes were a window into the soul then Lessa knew that she had glimpsed into Zar’s. It was a small moment in time but Lessa understood Zar, she wondered if he had seen the same in her. She didn’t have long to wonder though.

“We’ve arrived,” Zar announced almost as soon as he turned his head back.

Each beat of Lessa’s heart pounded loudly in her ears. The trees stopped quite suddenly and they walked onto a road that led through fields of crops and grains. There were a couple of small wooden houses dotting the fields. Lessa froze up as she noticed people were gawking from their front porches or pastures.

She tried to ignore the far-off stares and realized that there were tents instead of wooden structures dotting some of the fields. And it seemed more than a couple of half-built houses were being raised into existence.

In the back of Lessa’s mind, she noticed that the fields these people planted seemed to be the only successful ones she had seen in her few days of traveling. She didn’t have time to think about it though. Up ahead she just noticed that there was a concentration of structures.

As they drew nearer Lessa was able to discern that there was a ring of tall tents surrounding small houses and buildings. The two circles meshed with more houses along the various stages of being built.

I think my heart is going to come out of my mouth.

Storm snorted in amusement at Lessa’s distress.

It seemed as if Zar had stalled long enough for the two men they had encountered earlier to spread the word far and wide of their arrival. Even though they had just entered the outer tents crowds were lining the roads.

Children darted across the dusty street, laughing and shrieking. Women in embroidered dresses stood with their heads together, whispering as Zar, Storm, and Lessa rode past. Some of them went so far as to point to her. Hard-looking men tipped their hats, some stood completely slack-jawed at the sight of the dragon.

Lessa didn’t know what to do or how to respond as wide-eyed people looked at her. There was so much excitement and hesitation in the air that Lessa had no clue how to process it.

As Storm continued along the road the throng pushed back and gave the dragon a wide berth.

Maybe they are so distracted by you that they won’t notice I have no idea what I am doing here. Lessa thought to Storm.

Storm basked in the attention, even though some of it was less than positive. Some people looked absolutely terrified. Although in Storm’s opinion that was almost better.

Looking deeper, past the excitement the dragon had caused, Lessa could see the mark loss and desperation had left on the masses. There were too many who looked on her with a wariness that only tragedy and assault could produce.

Their numbers surprised Lessa, she had been expecting a hundred people tops. But there were so many that Lessa could not count them. They poured out from their tents, shacks, and houses.

I swear we have gone back in time. She mused looking at the patched dresses and bodices the woman wore. Along with the trousers, vests, and jackets of the men. And why is everyone so short?

She did not exaggerate. The average height of the men was on a level with Lessa, and most of the women looked to be several inches shorter than her.

I always wanted to be a bit taller. I supposed everyone else being shorter works just as well.

Finally, they reached their destination. Through the ring of tents and through the ring of houses there was a large clearing. In the middle of the grassy field stood a tall red tent. Zar marched his horse right up to the tent where a woman and a girl were waiting. Lessa hung back on Storm, wishing there was a way for her to disappear, away from hundreds of eager eyes.

The woman had tan skin and dark hair pulled into a tight bun on her head. Her cheekbones were proud and she held her head like a queen despite her humble skirt and her dirty hands.

The girl must have been in her early teens and was the image of her mother but with braided hair and dark blue eyes. Eyes just like Zar’s.

This is his family. Lessa said to Storm.

Zar dismounted his horse and embraced his mother. His little sister threw her arms eagerly around her brother. He then turned and looked up toward Lessa. She knew this was her cue.

Suddenly Lessa was very aware that all eyes were on her. All of them. Storm lay down and Lessa planted shaking hands directly in front of her, preparing to dismount.

Even though Storm was lying down she was far taller than any horse. Lessa flipped her leg over Storm’s back and tried with all of her might to land her dismount. If she fell on her butt everyone would know. Everyone would see.

Lessa slid down Storm’s side hoping that her toes would find a huge scaly leg to stand on. From there she jumped lightly to the ground, hands still shaking and heart pounding furiously. The entirety of the people still had their eyes on her. She carefully walked toward Zar and his family.

He held his hand out welcoming Lessa closer, “Mother, this is Lessa.” He said quietly. “Lessa, this is my mother, Rina. And my sister Shakara.” The duo curtsied in unison. Lessa, never having curtsied in her life, bowed rather awkwardly.

Looking for a clue as to what to do next Lessa caught Zar’s eye. His expression seemed like he was warning her.

“The time that we have been waiting for has come.” He turned and announced loudly. Lessa’s gut sank, she hoped he didn’t expect her to make a speech or something. If he did she was going to jump on Storm and fly away. There was no way she was going to say anything in front of this kind of crowd. “Soon we will reclaim our homes and our land. My people, this is Lessa.” Lessa felt blood rush to her face, turning her cheeks bright red when she turned and looked at everyone. The clapping, cheering, and shouting made her sick.

No…. She moaned to Storm. All of these people think I’m some kind of hero and I can’t save anybody. I couldn’t save my own brother. Zar did.

With that Zar turned on his heel and held the flap of the big red tent open. Rina entered at once, Shakara grinned at Lessa before she followed her mother. Lessa only debated for a moment if she should follow. Inside the tent was better than out here with all of these people.