He was riding a dragon.
Sandorin kept a tight hold on the long, white fur that ran along the crest of Hakuu's spine, and Gokur kept an equally tight hold on him while they straddled the dragon's back just below the shoulder joint of his wings. Hakkien and Gojen were perched on the other side of Hakuu's shoulders, and Sandorin watched, mesmerized, as the massive wings rose and fell on either side of them.
He glanced down at the land below, and was struck by how small everything seemed. The Confluence and its rivers looked like a snarl of tangled blue yarn, and the buildings of the town of Confluence looked like tiny toys. He looked ahead, and in between the beats of Hakuu's wings Sandorin caught a glimpse of the brown, ragged cliffs of the Western Wastes.
"My people's land seems so small," Gokur murmured in his ear. "See that one mountain over there, that stands apart from the others? That was my home, until my father cast me out. And there is the Great Chasm my father made in his wroth against the Elves."
Sandorin craned his neck to peer at the great gash in the earth, separating the gray mountains of the Giants from the green land of the Elves. Part of him was disappointed that he couldn't see Kinza'an, although he could just make out some of the tips of the taller limestone spires that stood at the very edge of the valley where he lived. "My home is just beyond those tall stones; we call them the Sentinels," he said.
"I hope I can see your home someday," Gokur said, and he pressed his lips against the nape of Sandorin's neck.
"You will see it, for you will return there with me," Sandorin replied, and he gasped for breath when Gokur's arms squeezed him in a tight embrace. "Stop that," he said. "If you break my body you will get no more pleasure from it."
"I'm sorry!" Gokur immediately loosened his hold, and he scooted forward to whisper into Sandorin's ear. "I will be very careful," he said, "because your body gave mine much pleasure yesterday. And last night." He kissed the pointed tip of Sandorin's ear. "And this morning."
"Hush," Sandorin said.
Soon all the earth beneath them was the dull brown of the Wastes, and as Sandorin gazed at the barren land below, he could understand why Prince Kougaa wanted his people released from their exile. It was a harsh, lifeless place, and if what Hakkien had said was true, many of the Demons who had been banished here were victims of their king's greed, just as Gokur and other Giants had been at the mercy of their king's temper.
A shallow valley with a cluster of settlements came within their view, two stone citadels rising on each end, the larger one bastioned with the jagged rocks that littered the surrounding land. Hakuu lifted one wing and banked to the right, heading toward the smaller of the two. As they drew closer Sandorin could see a series of terraces on the side of the structure, and Hakuu brought them down to land on the top-most terrace. They dismounted, and then with a flash of white light, Hakuu transformed back to his smaller size and flew off into the citadel.
Moments later, a young Demon rushed out onto the terrace, buttoning his tunic, his long, red hair hastily tied back with a ribbon. "Hakkien! Are you mad, coming here?" His eyes, the same color as Gojen's, widened when he saw Sandorin and the others.
"Foolish, perhaps, but I hope that I am not mad," Hakkien replied. "Kougaa, this is Prince Sandorin, who wishes to retrieve the Jewel that was stolen from his father. I told him about your hopes for your people, and it occurred to me that helping him could help you."
The Demon prince bowed to Sandorin. "My sorrows for your loss, Sandorin, and I am ashamed that my father's whore caused your father's death. I have disowned the kinsmen who have flocked to her, and I will gladly help you get your Jewel back." He turned back toward Hakkien. "But Hakkien, how can I be helped now? That woman has ruined everything; not only did she order all those attacks, but she has imprisoned us here and enspelled this place to keep us from using our powers against her. it's only thanks to Hakuu that I was able to communicate with you at all."
"You could have ridden Hakuu and escaped," Sandorin said.
Kougaa lifted his chin. "I would not leave my people here, at her mercy," he said. He caught a glimpse of Gojen, who stood just behind Hakkien. "Hakkien? How did you come across one of my kinsmen?"
"Gojen is a half-blood," Hakkien said, "who has just learned of his Demon parentage. He brought Sandorin to me, and he saw the fire runes that I had left for you."
Kougaa clasped Gojen's hand. "Your father must have been one of the more powerful members of our clan, if you are able to see fire runes," he said, pressing his cheek against Gojen's. "Welcome, little brother."
Hakkien laid a hand on Gokur's shoulder. "Kougaa, this is Gokur Shiningbrow, and I think he will be the key to our success."
Gokur exchanged greetings with Kougaa, and then he looked at Hakkien, bewildered. "Me? How can I help? I'm strong, but I'm small."
"Perhaps not for long," Hakkien said, and from a pocket in his robes he withdrew a small bottle filled with a clear, bright yellow liquid. "I studied that shaman's text last night, as well as a few other Giant writings that I have collected, and it seems that while they all tried separate cures on you, none of them thought to combine their efforts."
"He's a Giant?" Kougaa asked, gazing at Gokur with renewed hope in his eyes.
Hakkien nodded and held up the bottle. "One herb won't work properly without the presence of the other, and both achieve maximum efficacy when combined with a third. I am confident this elixir will help you, Gokur. It may take a number of doses to make the cure a permanent one, but I'm almost certain that if you drink this, you will be able to achieve your true height."
Gokur took the bottle with shaking hands, and Hakkien reached down and covered Gokur's hands with his.
"Would you be willing to lend your height and strength to help free Kougaa's clansmen?" Hakkien asked.
Gokur nodded, his gazed fixed on the liquid with a mixture of hope and fear. Hakkien murmured something in a strange tongue, and he ran his hands over Gokur's arms and legs.
"Hakkien," Kougaa said, his voice trembling, "with his help we can defeat her and her misguided followers. We can return what was stolen." He looked over at Sandorin. "We can have a chance at true peace, and maybe, just maybe, be able to go home."
Hakkien was right, Sandorin realized. The Demon prince cared more for his people than for his own ambition. "I will help you defeat her," he said, "and help bring your people back to your homeland."
Thank you," Kougaa said, bowing once more.
"You have my steel as well," Gojen said.
Kougaa laughed, and clapped Gojen on the back. "Once I am free of this citadel, little brother, I will confer your birthright upon you. I think your blood is strong enough to handle it." He turned to Hakkien. "What do we need to do, Wizard?"
"Get everyone to the bottom of this citadel," Hakkien said promptly. "When Gokur breaks it—"
"Me?" Gokur squeaked. "Break the citadel?"
"Yes!" Hakkien said. He gave his attention back to Kougaa. "When this building breaks, the spells will break with it. Be ready to attack Gyokuu's stronghold, we will meet you there."
"I will, and I thank you all," Kougaa said, and he ran back inside.
"This is proceeding well," Hakkien said. "Now, Gokur, drink up; I apologize if the taste is unpleasant."
Gokur briefly met Sandorin's gaze, and then he unstopped the bottle, lifted it to his lips, and drank its contents. "Ugh," he said, "it tastes awful." He frowned, rubbing his eyes, squeezing his fingers on the bridge of his nose, and then a few moments later he pressed his hand against the side of his head. "My head hurts," he said, and then he cried out and fell to the stone floor of the terrace. His body shook uncontrollably, his arms and legs flailing as screams of pain burst from his lips.
Sandorin tried to run over to help him, but Hakkien stopped him. "Stay back," he said, "I'm not sure when it will take full effect."
"What in the seven hells!" Gojen exclaimed.
Sandorin rounded on the mage. "What did you do to him?" he shouted over Gokur's screams.
"That's what it was," Hakkien murmured, "a blockage in his pituitary."
Gokur stopped screaming, and he struggled up onto his hands and knees. He stayed that way for a few moments, harsh, panting breaths escaping his throat, and then he pushed himself to his feet and raised his hands toward the sky.
And he began to grow.
Hakkien turned to Gojen and Sandorin. "We need to get away from this citadel," he said, and he pointed to Hakuu, who had transformed into his larger form. "Now!"
