Dragon Racers: The Complete Trilogy, page 33
Kin challenged her to a race on the practice course, but to everyone’s surprise and disappointment, she declined. She and Azure had gotten better at making the offhanded turn and she absolutely didn’t want Kin learning their methods or seeing the posture and tricks they’d been working on. It was hard, though. After feeling so much for him, and then feeling less than enough to hold his heart, she wanted nothing more than to show him what it was to win a real race. Just because he could best the competition on a tiny wild wing course, didn’t mean he could win when it mattered. But she would show him when the time was right.
For now, she was more concerned with visiting the Otherworld with Meifeng and the rugged but handsome protector Queen Vydak assigned them for the trip. His name was Tinkton, but he graciously asked that they all just call him Tink. Sharrah didn’t think he saw her in any sort of romantic light, for he was twice her age, but he was so easy on the eyes, confident, and comfortable around her and Meifeng, it was hard not to at least think about it. Especially when he used perfect manners, probably learned from serving a royal house for most of his life.
Sharrah wasn’t sure how she felt about her father going with them in Kin’s stead, but it was clear he’d created some sort of situation in Piktalla to keep the lavender haired boy distracted. Probably with a house full of willing hoppers, or a few well-chosen ones that would satisfy his every desire.
It all irked Sharrah to no end.
Queen Vydak was going to attend the Sky Island race as well, but separately. And now, with news of King Travvingto II’s arrival at port, the rumor was the young, newly crowned creep would be her guest. Luumin said it was to keep him under thumb, not to be cordial, but more men arrived to guard their estate, and two women, who looked as trained and fit as Tink, were now going with their group into the Otherworld.
Sharrah wasn’t sure how King Hotei would take it when she showed up with a group numbering half a dozen, but she knew the protection might be necessary. Her father seemed to know the mantai king, but she didn’t know how well. He could just know of him, or maybe they’d met? It was hard to read Master Luumin. Just thinking about him as adventurous Captain Alexxar Skyborn, or even as Callaver DeVein was hard to do. Currently, he seemed like anything thing but an adventurous treasure seeking sea captain.
Sharrah decided to ask him how Callaver’s tale turned out. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get the words of his story to retake their place in her book. Not that she wanted to lose the spells, but because she had a sense that the ending of his tale might have some great bearing on the present.
Kin Kuul had the gall to kiss her cheek before he and one of Queen Vydak’s guards returned to Piktalla. Kin was so caught up in himself that he didn’t seem to care that they were going to the Otherworld without him. Maybe he didn’t know? Once, so concerned with Queen Komandra’s cause, and now so unmoved by the news of her death, Sharrah didn’t know what to think of him. It was clear she didn’t know him very well, at least not as well as she’d thought.
In the end, she decided her father and his irritating methods of motivation probably saved her from far greater heartache than she was feeling. She’d believed Kin when he’d said he loved her. The truth, as much as she hated to admit it, was she loved him too. She wasn’t in love with him, but she couldn’t help but care deeply. They’d been through so much, and no doubt her father had twisted his mind. Still, she wanted nothing more than to put him in his place in the chalice race. She was so disappointed in him it didn’t immediately register that when he left only one of Queen Vydak’s men went with him.
When it dawned on her that he might be in Piktalla unprotected, where King Travvingto II was a guest, it was too late for her to do anything.
Standing with Meifeng, and the three royal guardians, while her father gathered the fastest way to King Hotei from little Tam, she had the grim thought that Kin was in terrible danger. She started to voice her concern, but found herself being led through the portal by Meifeng and Tink. Even still, she made to tell Master Luumin, but she was awed still when they appeared before the mantai king on the Otherworld hilltop. His great oval blimp was hovering behind him. Above it Sky Island was alive with celebration.
She was so struck by it all the words were snatched right out of her mouth.
Chapter Thirty – One
“Welcome to Emperia Radosta,” said King Hotei. His small mouth and giant eyeballs combined with his thin body and long limbs to give him an utterly alien appearance. Over the same worn dragon racer garb he’d had on before, a multi-colored robe hung loosely. If he had a favorite racer, it wasn’t revealed by his choice of attire.
Sharrah gave him a deep bow, even though she knew it wasn’t necessary. She imagined her smile was wider than her face as she introduced Meifeng and then her father. She was glad she couldn’t see the undead guardian who was following her before. She thought by the lack of reaction on King Hotei’s strange face, he didn’t see it either.
Master Luumin surprised her when he stepped forward and bowed. He made a wide, open armed flourish as he did. She decided he was mimicking a spread winged racing dragon. She was even more shocked when King Hotei returned the gesture.
“You have been turbulating,” the mantai king said to him. “A wake of chaos seems to follow you wherever you go, Master Wizard.”
“It’s true,” her father nodded and straightened the plain brown attendant’s robe he was wearing. “There is a method to my madness though, I can assure.”
“Let’s hope,” King Hotei scratched his tiny bearded chin. “With Komandra gone, the Dregs have become, dare I say, worse.”
For appearances, Sharrah was playing the daughter of Meifeng and Tink, who were dressed like a wealthy merchant couple. Queen Vydak’s two fighting women looked like Meifeng’s attendants and were wearing robes very similar to Master Luumin’s. Master Luumin was posing as Tink’s attendant, and since his eyes were no longer orange and terrifying, he played well into the role, at least when his hood was up and covering the wild tattoos on his bald pate.
King Hotei had a few uniformed gnomish women waiting at the doors of the closed riding compartment. He ushered them all to the hilltop where a crew of strange looking things, a little bigger than men, were holding the blimp down with ropes. There were half a dozen of them. They were wearing uniformed pants of some thin wispy material. Thick chests and arms were barely restrained under tight sleeveless shirts, and their faces were so plain and featurelessly similar, it was unnerving.
It was the middle of the day, but already Sky Island was alive in celebration of the upcoming race. Several callers were speaking in languages Sharrah had never heard. Thousands upon thousands of beings were gathered on the outward facing balconies. The colors and sparkles and flashes of excitement outshone the plain light of the Otherworld. There was music, and what she could hear was intriguing, but the strange voices speaking over it all made any one sound hard to pick out.
The blimp was smaller than she expected, and the ropes and straps slung around the great gas filled body of it seemed worn and frayed. She understood how the gas would keep them aloft, but she’d never seen the propellers that made a blimp go forward and back, or the fins that allowed one to turn in the sky. These propellers, two on each side of the polished wood, brass trimmed box they were about to get in, were powered by one of the plain looking crewmen. He was strapped to a seat on the outside of the craft before some pedals. There was a set of sprockets and long chains attached to them. She could only see one of the peddlers well, but the one on the other side of the compartment had his legs hanging down. He was no doubt, strapped in just like the one on this side.
Mindless muscle, Sharrah thought, shaking her head in disappointment.
Do not underestimate any of them, her father responded into her mind. The Golemites are more than they seem.
Wise words, King Hotei chimed into the mental conversation. Even wiser, do not underestimate anyone, or anything, ever.
Well said. Master Luumin smiled at King Hotei, and held the door for he, Tink, and Meifeng. Sharrah followed them into the blimp’s riding compartment and the two female guardians came last.
It was bigger than it seemed from outside. There were several dining booths along each side, all done in red velvet. There was a bar with savory looking food piled into silver serving platters, crystal pitchers, and corked bottles of drink. There were round portals to look out of along the polished wood walls. Everything was trimmed in brass and there were even globed gas lamps cleverly ensconced in each corner in front of a mirror that reflected the light three fold or more.
A shout came from outside, and everything shifted under Sharrah’s feet.
“Hold something until they stabilize,” King Hotei warned, but it was unnecessary.
Already the blimp was moving at a smooth steady rate that was easy to compensate for.
What shocked and amazed Sharrah most was seeing the hill fade away from beneath them. The floor was grated metal, and she could pretty much see right through it. There were round metal lids here and there, that opened head sized holes. She figured they could look through them and see unobstructed during the actual race, but then King Hotei threw back a curtain, and she saw a whole other section with a larger hole in the floor. This one had an ornate brass handrail around it, and it was big enough for four or five people to watch down from at the same time.
“Is it true? Are the stomachs of the great Tsolies rock wyrms used to make the bladders that keep these things aloft?” Meifeng asked. Sharrah was curious now. She’d never heard such a thing. Nor had she ever heard of place called Tsolies.
“It is,” King Hotei motioned for one his gnomish subjects to start pouring them drinks. Sharrah watched her do her duty without any show of emotion, while she listened to the king and Meifeng discuss the process of tanning such a huge creature’s organ, and how it was a task best left to the giants.
I’m worried about Kin Kuul, father, Sharrah eventually voiced. She wanted to get it off her chest before they were over Sky Island.
“He is under Queen Vydak’s protection Sharrah.” Luumin responded in a whisper from beside her. He led her to the rail around the large viewing hole. “There is nothing more we can do for him. Enjoy the moment. Take it in and gather all you can.”
Sharrah saw a flash of dark feathers pass by between they and the lake below. Her heart fluttered as she remembered the little mogwai and his poisoned dart launching blow tube. Then another bird went by. Then a whole flock. It was just a bunch of displaced swallows, or turns, maybe. Taking her father’s advice she drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
When she looked back down she saw the edge of Sky Island coming into view and it was far closer that she’d expected. Thousands of humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes were carousing on the outward facing balconies, with even more inside. Then they passed over a carrier balloon docked atop a building. It was so close Sharrah could have reached down and touched the top of it.
“We will be landing soon,” King Hotei announced. “We will take in the Parade of Contenders then return to the sky. From my box you will be able to place wagers with the honorable Dwarven of Gowrensti. They are one of the more reputable houses available and if we pick the winner, they will fly our winnings right to the blimp.”
Chapter Thirty – Two
“Who do you favor?” Meifeng asked the mantai king. “Is it true Gax Grayscon is racing his frost wyrm after all these years?”
“We can only assume,” King Hotei nodded. “The only two who might have actually bested him are dead. And as much as I hate to say it, if he races he will win.”
“There is no one who has a chance to beat him?” Sharrah couldn’t help but ask. “What about the new chalice winners?”
“I suppose there is a chance,” King Hotei scratched his beard again. “We will see the competitors at the parade. It is mandatory that a racer show themselves and their mount before they can compete.”
“Even Gax Grayscon?” Meifeng’s words sounded a little frightful, as if just seeing the tyrant king might cause them harm.
“Even him,” King Hotei answered.
The landed on the roof of one of the taller structures built along the outer edge of the floating island. Sharrah watched in amazement as the painted oval on the platform came up to meet her feet. Then they were out, and being ushered through a hall formed by heavily armed dwarves with their axes held in a peak just high enough that Tink didn’t have to duck to pass under.
Once inside the building Sharrah felt sort of like she was back in the blimp. Everything was polished wood, trimmed in brass, and covered in soft velvety red cloth. The hall was wider than most, and a bit taller, too. When they passed a group of towering men similar to those on the blimp crew, she understood why. This place wasn’t built just for humans. It was built to accommodate all the species of fae.
King Hotei’s viewing box opened not far from the starting pyre. Sharrah saw the procession of racers moving toward them from the distance. The dragons had to hover while moving at a terribly slow pace. Sharrah decided she and Azure should work on that in the future. The dragon in front, a smaller green, looked to be tiring from the exertion of the parade. Sharrah knew she wouldn’t be wagering on him and she ignored the announcer when his name was called out in a language she could understand.
Before the next group was near she studied what she could. Leaning out, she looked around and saw balconies full of people as far as she could see, in every direction. There were gnomes everywhere, but they were clearly serving others, at least most of them. A section of other mantai, and some regal looking dwarves were directly below and beside them respectively. Whatever was on the balcony above had heavy footfalls, a deep voice, and spoke in a clipped language she didn’t understand. There were elves, too. She knew they were elves because only her father’s light elbow into her shoulder snapped her out of the charm their elegant grace and beauty put her under.
Her blood went chill when she saw the next racer. It was Gax Grayscon and his frost wyrm Glacia. There were dozens of fairies and a few winged Icari hovering along each side of the white scaled dragon he rode. The groups nearest the spectators were throwing what looked like copper coins into the boxes. Only when one of them tossed a few coins right into King Hotei’s balcony, did she see they were actually gold.
“All hail and bear witness to the righteous kindness of Mighty King Grayscon, uncontested ruler of the Spoils.” The fluttering fairies and Icari repeated the mantra in unison. “Long live the king!”
Sharrah saw that many around the box had gone silent and were bowing. She didn’t join them.
Gax was wearing a frightening looking helmet with sharp twisting horns on each side. His white enameled armor matched the protective plates sewn onto his saddle. The head covering was skullish, with eye slots sharply angled under angry brows. Fanged teeth jutted past his white bearded chin. Sharrah could see flickering blue energy where his pupils should have been. As his mount smoothly eased past, he turned and looked directly at them. After his glowing eyes flared her way, he nodded.
Sharrah felt a wave of energy slide over her. She knew magic was just used on her and she wanted to cast her detection spell to see if she should be alarmed because of it. She couldn’t though. For a few long moments it felt like she was suffocating, and then the feeling passed.
“I think he knows who you are,” King Hotei said.
He might know you finished in Prydonia upside down, or that you intend to race Piktalla for a chalice, but he doesn’t know who you are. Luumin voiced into her mind.
Sharrah knew King Hotei could hear her father when they spoke with their minds. She figured it was why Master Luumin refrained from saying she was King Grayscon’s granddaughter.
Feeling vulnerable now, Sharrah found Meifeng’s side, partly because Tink was near her, and partly because she wanted to see the rest of the racers. She still wanted to know what a chalice winner looked like.
There were five other’s beside the two that already passed, a total of seven racers in all. Two of the others, and the dragon leading the procession were chalice winners and two taking up the rear were veteran kings who’d raced and won before.
“I thought there were four chalice winners each year?” Sharrah asked. “Where is the fourth?”
“Good question,” King Hotei shook his head. “The fourth would have been Lambert Nis. He won the spring chalice race by three lengths. He washed out most of his competition in the process. His dragon, a frost dragon if I remember correctly, killed at least one other rider in the race.” King Hotei scratched his chin in thought, “I would say Grayscon probably killed him, especially since he rode a frost wyrm. But I think he won his chalice in such a way that retaliation might have gotten him before the tyrant had a chance.”
“It is a shame it isn’t just about racing,” Sharrah sighed. “I don’t guess I have a wager. What about you Meifeng?”
“I’ll not wager on that evil man, so I too will save my coins for another chance.”
“Understood,” their mantai host then asked Master Luumin if he had a favorite.
Sharrah didn’t hear what the two discussed, but she was pretty certain her father placed a sizable bet on King Grayscon.
The only racer that intrigued her was a woman who must have won a chalice. Her yellowy bronze scaled dragon was Azure’s size, which was large for bronze dragons, or so she’d been taught. To her it looked like this one might have been bred with a pure yellow dragon. She looked afraid and unsure, but her plain unmade face was serious, her lips held in a tight line under her slightly mohawked helm. It was doubtful she had even half a chance.
An idea struck Sharrah then.
“Can I wager on a racer to not finish?” She asked.
“Of course,” King Hotei answered with a nod. “Though the odds might not be that high.”
Sharrah reached down and picked up the two gold coins King Grayscon’s Icari had thrown into the box.
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