Story 2. After the flash (in unknown land).
The moment the boat with Sun disappeared in a cluster of sparks Ashka opened her eyes and saw the powersuit on the ground. The infant barbarian must have thrown it out when the guards led her away. Feeling a slight relief, the woman rushed to her find and then… She didn't really understand what the sound that filled the surroundings was. Loud, low. Dangerous. Whatever it was – that thing was alive, it didn't sound as something mechanical. And apparently it was very big…
A moment later the sound repeated, from the same side. Putting on her powersuit in familiar accurate movements, Ashka tried to look around and orientate herself. Suddenly she felt scared. Very-very scared. Were there any people in this land? Was there electricity or how could they name that power she was interested in? What creature was roaring from there, where rocks were located? And the most important thing – what should she do?
It was obvious that Sun wouldn't return for her. Ashka embraced herself by shoulders. Apparently, she was to start everything from scratch, immediately, that very evening. As soon as possible. The chance for living under open sky didn't scare the former Spellbinder – in the land where she lived before all the Apprentices were taught to orient themselves. They got used to find food in the forest and sleep on the ground. Camp life wasn't a problem for her. But a chance to face the origin of that sound seemed really scary.
"Easy, just calm down, - the woman said herself, - you were able to survive in bigger trouble. Just think of something".
Of course, she was cunning, saying so. She had never had any trouble of such a scale. Even when she was left alone in Sydney, it wasn't a disaster. What was that word the locals used to define their world? "Civilization"? Very good word. Scooping some river water into her hands, Ashka tried it slowly. Cold, clear. Tasty. There were no signs of civilization yet, but at least water was safe to drink.
It was useless to stay where she was. Looking back at the rocks one more time, the woman went to the opposite side, where a forest was seen. A forest was a forest, anyway, it seemed safer than an open area…
Oh that little, nasty, naughty, spoiled… How dared he do this to her? To leave her alone in a world nobody knew about? Ashka kicked a rock on her way angrily. Not fair. Though… What was she expecting? She had also left him alone not so long ago, promising much chocolate.
"But it was Sydney, - the woman said aloud, - anyone can survive in Sydney. And here…"
She went further, not going to develop the idea. Really, save the spineless emperor sisters after it, if they had to think of people. Here it was – great mercy of great Dragon Lord. Indeed, Kathy was right telling him everything she thought about him! She had to send him not to Sydney, but straight to the Spellbinder land, where he could get a really "chocolate-warm" welcome!
She was walking about for about three hours, straying in the thicket for a while, and then suddenly noticed a wide track. It looked very life-affirming, as well as the narrow line of stunted plants in the middle. Her lips curled into a smile. That wasn't just a track. That was a road. No matter what could happen next – people were living there. And more than that, they were having a kind of vehicle, and she wasn't bothered with what it was – a cart or a car.
She felt a little calmer. Deciding to walk along the road, Ashka moved forward. Either the fortune was smiling to her today, or she was able to choose really right worlds. Though the world of Sun could be hardly considered right, well, she didn't chose it – it just happened this way. Her hands checked the powerstones fastening. Alright, she charged them this morning, there should be enough power. She remembered the rules of care of a powersuit she had read within the duel theory once. Among the other things it stated that a pair of powerstones might be enough for a month if used economically. Ashka, who was recently using the powersuit less than economically, doubted it was possible for her. Anyway, she had to wait and find out what was behind that forest. The sun was going down, if there had been a settlement ahead – she would see the lights. Thinking so, the woman took another step forward and that moment a shadow flied above her head. A huge black shadow coming out of the blue. The survival instinct prevailed over her panic – Ashka hid behind the nearest tree, clinging to its trunk and looking at the evening sky. But the shadow had already disappeared, somewhere southeastward. Waiting a little, the former Spellbinder went out from behind the tree. The first thought was her inappropriate memory about flying ships, which was no good at all. But that was absurd, it couldn't be her land. There hadn't been anything bigger than a hare for ages, there was no one to roar like she heard. So either roars, or Spellbinders, they couldn't coexist.
Fingers of her left hand touched the powerstones once again. Just in case. She shouldn't have thought of the Spellbinder world. Because the thought about a ship trying to trace her was followed by a smooth and natural thought about Gryvon. And she wasn't going to succumb to these thoughts. All the previous days were too eventful, even for Ashka. At first, appearing in the land of the Dragon Lord, she didn't even feel happy. The only thing that mattered was the fact that she entered a different world. She wasn't a prisoner there, nobody knew her there. And she didn't need to think about the land left behind – about her native world, about people that treated her like nothingness. About Correon, who apologized on behalf of the Council and himself out of time. Apologized, hah! And of course, there she didn't need to think about Gryvon…
And so she wasn't, trying to compensate her failure in one land with a triumph in another. Were all these people around guilty towards her? She tried not to ask such questions, as if the darkness like the one that hid the sun from her world was clouding her clarity of mind, leaving only blind instincts. She struggled forward, angrily, desperately. But she was stopped once again, thrown away, pushed back like a little chilled forgetting herself. Perhaps, this time she was thrown away further than she wanted to be…
…There were no more shadows in the sky, and she saw the end of the forest. Ashka almost ran to it, noticing there were new grey rocks behind the trees. The heavy powersuit was fettering her movements, but she didn't care. The sun had nearly went to horizon, and despite all her skills it wasn't very preferable to stay in the forest for too long. She didn't even notice, just felt some movement from the left, and before she understood what was happening, a short horizontal flame came from behind the rocks, flashing among in the surroundings. Then another one. And another. Frozen half way from the forest, the woman rushed under the branchy tree, happy she didn't walk out too far and bewildered at the same time. What was happening here? Where were the flames coming from? As if answering her question, there was a noise behind the rock, that one where the flames were appearing. And then a strange horse-sized creature appeared. Grey-green, scaled, long-tailed and winged. Ashka felt there were a shock and a real astonishment besides her bewilderment. That was a dragon.
Fragments of her knowledge of history flashed in her head, mixed with impressions and memories about the worlds she'd seen. As far as she knew, before the Darkness there had been dragons in the Spellbinder land. At first they had lived near Northrock borders, where the ground had more stones and the settlement appeared rather late. After that, when people had stopped fighting the creatures, part of the dragons had lived in present day Clayhill. They had been considered as some sort of talismans or keepers. However, during the Darkness, when the sun had extinguished and the air had become too cold, all the dragons had died out. And the information of them was contained only in books and the memory of those who read the books. In Sydney the dragons were considered as a myth, apparently. And the land of the Dragon Lord probably knew them not by hearsay…
Meanwhile, the fiery breathing owner spreaded its small wings lazily and then folded them, craning its neck. Looking from behind the tree, the woman felt she was smiling. The first shock was over. Though she wasn't going to leave her shelter, all emotions were followed by curiosity.
"Alright, you're like a little child indeed!" – Somebody exclaimed in the distance. Ashka was surprised. Of course, if there were roads and dragons, people were expected sooner or later. But she was surprised not by people's presence, but by the fact it was a child's voice.
Almost immediately a first human appeared. A blonde girl aged about ten, with two braids, carried a bucket of water almost skipping and not spilling a drop. She was wearing more than modern clothes, reminding Ashka of Paul's world: a light long-sleeved shirt, an overall made of dense fabric, and short boots. And the most important – the presence of a dragon was absolutely normal for her.
"I can't leave you even for a minute! – The girl scolded, putting the bucket in front of the dragon and folding her arms on the chest. - Drink and don't sneeze anymore, we have to go home".
Only then Ashka noticed the dragon was wearing a massive metal collar with two long chains. From all she heard and saw several useful conclusions could be made: apparently, here dragons were coexisting with people. And, what mattered more, somewhere here their common house was located…
A branch crunched under her feet. The girl flinched and turned around.
"Who's there? Come out!" – She shouted, squeezing one of the collar chains. Then she saw a woman near the tree. It seemed the dragon noticed her too, because suddenly it stopped drinking, compressing somehow and unclenching its jaws. Ashka put the plates on her wrists together, ready to attack if necessary.
"No, stop, don't hurt her! – The girl exclaimed, standing in front of the creature much bigger than she was. - Don't hurt her!"
Belatedly Ashka realized the words were addressed not to the dragon, but to her. She lowered her hands in astonishment.
"Are you… defending it? – She asked looking offended. - It could burn me!"
"Firstly, not it but her, - the girl corrected imperturbably, not confused with her blaming, - secondly, Spark won't exhale flame after drinking water. Thirdly, yes, I am defending. Don't you defend your dragon?"
"My dragon? Wait, stop, let's go back to it later", - Ashka decided, not going to stop at something still beyond her comprehension. So she asked:
"Who are you? What is this place?"
"Strange question, - the girl smirked, - it is Moriol, it always has been. And I'm Sam. And this is Spark", - she nodded to her dragon, sitting at the same place and watching Ashka suspiciously.
"Moriol?" – The woman asked again.
"Mo-ri-ol, - Sam repeated in syllables, looking at her companion with bewilderment, - and who are you, actually? You're weird…"
"Doesn't matter, - Ashka interrupted, waving in the forest direction, - my name is Ashka, I'm from far away. Look, can you show me the way to your camp? Or where do people live here?"
Asking this question she hoped to get the easy success and immediate support. However, Sam wasn't rushing with her support.
"No-no, wait, - the girl said reasonably like an adult, - as far as I know there are no people at that side of the forest. They have never been there, only if for walking. Interesting, how could you appear from there?"
Ashka swore mentally.
"I walked for a while".
"Right, but initially how did you get there?" – Sam looked at her skeptically.
"Who cares?! – The woman exclaimed but seeing the girl frowned she changed her tactics. - Listen, - she started trustingly, - I'm telling the truth, I am really from far away. Look at my suit if you don't believe, - Ashka pointed out to her powersuit, - I hardly think you've seen such things before. I was walking here for long, I'm very tired and I really need a help".
Sam bit her lip thoughtfully, looking at the woman and the forest line.
"Please", - the former Spellbinder said activating all her natural charm. There was no one to be able resist this trick. And young local wasn't an exception.
"Would you tell me about yourself later?" – She asked playing with one of her braids.
"If you help me", - Ashka nodded, clinging to this short "later" with delight. Well, perhaps when she had some rest Sam would already forget about her request?
"Deal, - the girl said happily, - listen, help me with watering Spark. And then I'll lead you to the farm".
"Sorry, at first I thought you're a dragon thief, - Sam said peacefully to defend herself, - of course, they haven't gone here for ages, but I had to make sure. Especially knowing that my will bite my head off if I miss Spark".
As the girl said they were walking towards the farm, but before they finished watering the dragon. Taking a big rag out of her pocket, Sam asked Ashka to wet the neck and the back of the creature, she started from its head. Putting off her powersuit, the woman did as it was asked. The rag smelled terribly, her new acquaintance said it was water mucus – an excellent protection against burns. Everybody who treated fire-spitting dragons had to use it.
"If you want to stay with us you have to get used to this smell, - Sam made a helpless gesture, - for example, I'm not bothered with it. And you'll have to please my mum, which is much more difficult".
And so they were walking to the farm, on both sides of Spark, holding the chains. While there was time the girl started speaking and that let Ashka have more information.
"Are dragons really so precious and important here?" – The woman asked.
Sam giggled.
"Seems like you're not a local, you're from extremely far away. Because all the citizens of Moriol know our story. Even those who live in other sectors. Where are you from actually?" – She asked, stopping and looking at her companion over the dragon's back.
Ashka sighed.
"I'm afraid you won't believe me if I tell you".
"What if I do? – Sam's eyes flashed with curiosity. - About five hundred years ago no one here believed we would live side by side with dragons. So?"
The woman glanced at the curious local.
"I'm from another world. Are you happy?"
Sam was silent for a minute, watching Ashka suspiciously between the dragon's bone excrescences.
"Aren't you lying?"
"Oh, Holly Regents! – The former Spellbinder exclaimed, striking a powerbolt at once and firing it into the nearest boulder. - So, now you believe?"
For another minute Sam was staring at the crashed boulder, with her eyes wide open and the chain forgotten. It's fair to say, the dragon behaved well, even despite some sort of freedom, it wasn't attacking people or making sharp movements.
"Wow…, - the girl whispered finally, - now this is something… Listen, it's my duty to take you to our house!"
Ashka smirked. This reaction of Sam reminded her of herself in the same age. If the story with parallel worlds happened when she'd been a child – she probably would accept it faster. It was probably the advantage of childhood.
They spent the rest of their way in mutual questions and answers, following one another almost without pauses. Sam told about the world where her new acquaintance had appeared. She told that the whole land was actually one big farm divided into sectors held by their owners. The citizens of farm had peaceful level life, engaged in agriculture, having occasional celebrations and holidays. They lived exchanging their production and crop. And so it had been until the governor of the land wanted to seek adventure five centuries ago. And he went seeking. One could hardly say how it was with adventures, but he found a real treasure. In the south, deep under the mountain he found something that was looking like chicken eggs. He took then out and brought to Moriol, announcing he found a mysterious unknown treasure. With all their respect to the governor, people watched the find skeptically, having no idea of why it was so precious. And only twenty years later, when cracks appeared on three of seven eggs and then strange scaled creatures hatched out, people realized the governor had been right. During those five centuries fore original breeds were crossed several times. So the new ones appeared – Flamy drop, Mountain spike, Moriolian water and Sky longwing. The governor, who happened to be a kind of a pioneer, took care of mysterious creatures being treated properly. He made a will for his descendants to do the same. Ashka supposed he had also been a scientist, while listening how several Moriolian sectors had been chosen for dragons breeding and a simple farm had become an incredible place. Dragons were usually fed, watered, walked, suitable breeds were also trained. According to the fact that those creatures had initially been wild and unpredictable, the governor's children thought about it for a while and invented some sort of a protective system in the chosen sectors. It consisted of a long metal fence, producing electric lightning into the sky. After these words of Sam Ashka imbued with true respect for the governor's family. Indeed, fortune was smiling to her tonight – besides the fact that people were living here, having carts, they were also having electricity! Sun hardly thought of such a progress.
Citizens of other sectors could swap a dragon for some production, though it wasn't easy, a dragon was a very expensive and significant creature in the land. A family owning a dragon or dragons was getting something like prestige or honor along with it. Stealing or harming a dragon was a serious crime immediately followed by confiscation of property and correctional labor. However, as far as Sam could remember, in Moriol there had been no dragon thieves for a while. One would be found and punished anyway, and the criminal was losing a chance to get a dragon legally forever.
After Sam's story it was her turn to tell. Calling all the credibility she had for help, Ashka gave her the basic facts, omitting the details nobody needed here. She was a traveling Spellbinder from a parallel world. In her land – the Spellbinder land – she lived in a very beautiful castle. Once a boy named Paul went to their world… This was how her traveling began, finishing in the land of the Dragon Lord.
"Cool! – Sam exclaimed clapping her hands. - So there are dragons too? How many? Did you see them?"
"I'm afraid there is none, - Ashka said coldly, - at least, the dragons like this one. Though there was one boy and his sister…"
"Wait, - her companion interrupted in confusion, - a boy is a dragon? How is it?"
Ashka sighed.
"Apparently they use this word to define their emperor. Their dragon is like your governor. I helped his sister and they sent me to this world "in gratitude" and left here".
"Oh, shame on them! – Sam reacted at once. - if I could get to this boy I would win in a stand-up fight for sure!"
"Have no doubts", - Ashka laughed, remembering how Sun's fighting lesson had finished.
"By the way, - Sam started again, - we're almost here".
Indeed, they were reaching a high fence made of glowing metal posts and bars between them. At first, observing the invention Ashka doubted if it was strong enough to hold a capricious dragon. Even in theory Ashka understood perfectly what these creatures were like. However, Sam reassured her everything was working with no failures.
"Just watch", - the girl said taking a bunch of keys out of her pocket. The longest one looking like a thin hollow tubule was inserted into the gates keyhole. In several moments the posts and the bars stopped glowing. Then was the big wheel under the keyhole; Sam turned it a couple of times putting her bucket on the ground. After that the two final keys were used, those were the most ordinary ones, made for standard locks.
"That was the first part presented for dragon thieves, - Sam smiled triumphantly, chasing Spark through the opened gates, - the second part is for the dragons".
Inside the process of keys and wheel usage was repeated in reverse order.
"Here comes a show!" – The girl exclaimed, inserting the tubule key at last. The next moment the whole fence was glowing again and white electric lightnings sprang out of the posts into the dark sky, crossing and separating. Ashka took a step back. Some seconds later the energy madness subsided and faded. Sam turned to her happily.
"Now you see, we have nothing to be afraid of with this thing! – She said, satisfied with the effect. - After the sun is down you'd better be careful with the fence. Let's go, we should think of what to say to mum and the others".
The farm territory was not right behind the fence, but a little further. Ashka almost got used to her company and the need to lead a dragon by chain. She was looking around, assessing and memorizing, as usual. The houses were not big here; one or two floors mostly, stone ones with wooden roofs. For now everything she saw wasn't too different from Spellbinders' lifestyle. Farmers like peasants, sectors like villages, their owners – Summoners, and it was obvious with governors. Although she didn't ask her companion about governor life details, it could be left for later. There was no light in streets, and inside, according to the trembling flashes, candles were used. It seemed the most outstanding thing here was sectors protective system. There were low stone buildings behind most of the houses – dragon sheds, as Sam told her. Other animals – cows, pigs, horses and chicken – were kept separately, of course. Many people had wooden carts in order to bring food to the other sectors. Within their ones everybody was walking or riding horses.
"You said something about dragons being trained", - Ashka reminded, looking at Sam.
"Oh yes, they do it too, - the girl nodded, - but only those who are trusted and able. Do you ride a horse well?"
"Of course!" – The woman exclaimed, feeling a little offended someone doubted that skill of hers.
Sam smiled.
"Then perhaps mum will allow you to ride a dragon, if she's in a good mood, - she stopped near one of the houses, - so we're finally here".
The phrase "mum and the others" meant a short middle-aged stoutish woman named Rita and three more children of hers – elder Tom and Evie and younger Lenny, to whom Sam introduced the guest. As soon as the girl left Spark in a small shed behind the house and stepped inside together with Ashka, the four at the table turned their heads to them.
"At last, young lady! – Her mother threw up her hands. - Where are you walking your familiar if it takes you so long to go home?"
"Maybe she tries to run away riding a dragon?" – The younger one asked, eating his pie. And he immediately got a slight slap on his head from the elder brother and a friendly advice to chew silently.
"Very funny, Lenny, - the housewife said, displeased, - Spark isn't suitable for riding and flying if you forgot. Sam who's this woman with you?"
"Ma, this is Ashka, - embarrassed and happy, the girl took a step forward, ignoring her brother's words, - she looks for a job in our sector, wanted to come during the day, but her horse ran away. She strayed in the forest and met me…"
"Were you walking towards the forest again?" – The girl in the corner spoke.
Sam rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Evie, I was walking towards the forest. There's the clearest water there, by the way! – The girl exclaimed and addressed to her mother again. - Ma, may Ashka stay here? Please?"
The woman froze slicing the pie.
"What?"
"Ma, please! – Sam flapped her eyelashes. - She's very tired, she's nowhere to go, it's inhumanely to refuse to help her".
"You're too little to speak of inhumanity, - the housewife scolded her, then looked at the guest, - so where are you from, Ashka?"
"From the fifteenth sector", - The Spellbinder told as Sam had offered earlier.
Everyone was silent.
"Oh well, that's far from here, - the mother of the family replied, - so I felt your accent isn't local".
Pause again. Children were busy with their food, looking at those entered quickly. Ashka was patiently waiting for an answer, standing as humble as possible.
"Ma, anyway, Elsie ran away, - Sam gave her one more argument, - and you're always saying we're too lazy and you need help with the house".
"Who's lazy?" – The elder ones asked in bewilderment, but the woman banged her palm on the table.
"Quiet! Don't interfere, - then she observed the guest thoughtfully, - I really don't know, Sam… You're right, actually… But I don't know…"
Dusting off the invisible crumbs from the table, she sighed decisively.
"You start with feeding the pigs and clean up, Ashka. You'll live in the back room, it's next to Sam's one. You need to work properly, or else you can go wherever you want. You may have meals with us, if you want, or in your room. By the way, where will you have supper?"
"In the room!" – Ashka and Sam replied almost synchronically, afraid that supper with the others could lead to too many questions that were still having no answers.
"Alright, - the housewife concluded, - in this case show Ashka her new room and take care of the supper. And have it too!"
"I can't believe it! In the morning I woke up in some charnel, in the evening I married Sharak and became an emperor's wife by law, and at night new world informs me I am to take care of pigs! That's life and many forms of it!" – Ashka thought sarcastically, observing her new accommodation. Of course, it wasn't her room in the castle, but at least it wasn't an Orchard hut either. A small room on the first floor, with one dusty window hidden behind the dusty curtains. A bed and a narrow wardrobe, a small table in the corner, where a lit up candle was placed, and also two chairs. Everything was small and narrow here, made for a temporary servant that wouldn't be capricious.
Putting off her powersuit with delight, the woman straightened her shoulders and sat down on the bed. The bed was also narrow. Though the pillow was big and soft. Touching it carefully, Ashka jerked her hand away, as if afraid of something. "And now this is my room, and my pillow", - a strange thought came. Strange in its uncertainty. She had no idea of what to expect from this world, how to behave, what people lived here. Well, she met one family, but what about the others? What were the laws here? What rules? What reception she was to get?
These questions were followed by a weird ironic realization that Paul must have felt the same, entering her world. Of course, she wasn't going to dash aside from every human, though at least she could understand now what it was like for the ever-present boy. He had also been rather uncertain among the Spellbinders.
Spellbinders… Ashka realized that during this evening she used the familiar word only a couple of times, telling Sam about her land. Though some day ago she was emphasizing her status and high position at every opportunity. What was it? An unfavorable effect of the new circumstances? Or was she shocked by new impressions so much that didn't even put herself above the others?
"May I? – Sam entered the room, holding some clothes and a pair of boots in one hand and a tray with food in the other hand. - I've got many useful things".
Putting the clothes and boots on a chair, the girl sat down on the other one and placed the tray on the table.
"Ooh, that was close", - she looked at the door emphatically. Ashka smirked.
"Thanks, your lie sounded very professionally, - the woman said taking a piece of wonderfully smelling berry pie and a mug of berry drink, - mmm, so tasty!"
"It's nothing, - Sam waved off, taking another piece from the second plate, - Moriol life makes you learn to lie, if necessary, and fly a dragon too. By the way, - she felt all her pockets, - I nearly forgot! Here. It's a key for the bottom drawer in your wardrobe. You'd better leave the powersuit there and lock it up".
"It seemed your family wasn't surprised by it", - Ashka said taking the key.
"That's true, - Sam admitted, - but you have to hide it anyway. For they don't know what this thing can do. And so you'll have less questions and more safety. Evie or Tom will hardly go in here, but Lenny can, he's little yet. And yes, - the girl nodded at the other chair, - working at the farm… You see, it can't be clean. I brought you the clothes of Elsie, our previous housemaid. She lived here before you came, and then she ran away with her boyfriend. Mum said you have similar sizes, though she said it when you were in your suit…"
Ashka smiled, looking at herself. Oh yes, that's right, without Spellbinder powersuit she was a couple of sizes smaller. Watching her reaction, Sam laughed. Suddenly the tension of the last hours faded.
"Suppose, everything can be fixed with this belt, - she pointed out at Ashka's trousers, - and there's an old hat of Tom in the shed. He doesn't wear it just because it's old. And these are the boots of our father, they won't be small anyway".
Finishing with her piece quickly, she stood up, ready to leave.
"Hey, Sam, - Ashka's voice stopped her halfway, - thanks again".
"Ah? – The girl turned around, her braids waved. - Oh, not at all!"
The door was closed. Ashka was left along with her pie, somebody's clothes, an empty narrow room and the thought that she had to get used to all of this somehow. And that was not for discussions. She wasn't sure if Sam felt it or not, but with this "thanks" the woman meant much more than a shelter and food with clothes. She had never been fond of gratitude and the need to be grateful to someone. But strange, now she felt grateful and it didn't seem inappropriate. She was to spend a night in an absolutely new world, a night followed by another, new life, but for the first time, perhaps, she didn't need to be ready to attack and expect something bad. Here she was not a Spellbinder, not the advisor of the Dragon Lord, and not even Anna Harley. Here she was just Ashka, the housemaid of the most incredible farm. The farm that was to become her new home from now on.
"You survived before, - the woman reminded herself, unbuttoning the shirt, - so you will survive here…"
