Before the Sky Breaks, page 15
Allakoi chewed the inside of his cheek and tasted blood. His chest felt tight.
“May I speak with my mother? I...she deserves to know what’s happening.”
Zafia smiled. “Of course. I’ll send her in.”
True to her word, Zafia left and a few moments later his mother was entering. She looked afraid, but relieved when she saw him, sitting in the chair Zafia had vacated as the door closed behind her. She reached forward. Took his hand. Gave a gentle smile.
Her fingers were cold.
“Are you alright?” he quietly asked. “Did they hurt you?”
“No. No, they were perfectly civil.” She chewed her lip. “Are you...”
“I’m fine.”
She nodded. Seeing her so uncomfortable made him nervous in a way he couldn’t explain.
“Hamon...Hamon said the dragons were likely looking for you. That Zafia was offering protection. That you were in danger, because of your Aura.”
“She did.”
She ran her thumb over the back of his hand, over the death-mark.
“What will you do?”
He felt his jaw tighten. His eyes hurt.
“The tsura would take you. You know they would. And after what happened, I’m certain that the Minister wouldn’t argue against you leaving for Marastel immediately, if you so choose.”
“Zafia said the dragons would follow me if I left. That they wouldn’t stop hunting.”
“Marastel can protect you.”
“And how many would die in the process? How many would the dragons kill? What if...what if the dragons somehow find...”
“Al...”
“I can’t. I can’t let you all get hurt. I can’t do it.”
“Zafia could be wrong.”
Allakoi grimaced. Squeezed her hand.
“I can’t take that risk.”
Zafia waited, trying to not keep glancing at the door to the private room, where Allakoi and his mother were still talking.
“Taking on a half-tsura, half-Rehvani is a risk,” her Aura said. Zafia chewed her lip, tapping her fingers on the table.
It doesn’t matter. We could use the Storm Wielder on our side in this fight.
“And if Yulori learns of him?”
I’ll handle it.
“Master Stramill isn’t going to like this,” Hamon quietly said. Zafia looked up at him. He was sitting across from her at one of the tables, Pyrya silently sitting next to her. He looked nervous. She could hear the quiet creak of his chair as he bounced his knee, and wondered if he even noticed he was doing it.
“Does it matter?” she asked. Hamon frowned.
“You know how he gets.”
“I’ll handle it.”
The door to the private room opened, and she watched as Allakoi and Kellianna walked out.
His mother’s expression was placid, but her Aura, weak as it was, thrashed around her in what looked like anger. Allakoi simply looked defeated.
“Alright,” he said. “I’ll go with you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Cajayo
The trip to Cajayo took until well after nightfall.
They stayed on the ground rather than taking flight. Between Vortex’s barely-healed injuries being exacerbated by his fight with the dragon and Allakoi’s lack of both gear and experience, it was the safer option. Besides, with dragons possibly hunting his scent from River Cross it was better to lay a trail that led straight to Cajayo, showing the dragons that he was protected by the Camarre.
Or so Zafia said.
Allakoi had never been to Cajayo before. The city lay in the shadow of the temple that was its namesake, the natural stone pillars that housed the temple complex towering over the city. Allakoi remembered hearing stories that Marastel had been involved in making the pillars, around the same time he had made the Wall, but he wasn’t sure about how accurate that was.
Against the darkness of the night sky, the pillars looked like black voids, only the dimmest sparkles of lantern light giving them any sign of life.
He shuddered, and let his eyes drift to his hands, clutching Vortex’s feathers.
“Are you alright?” Vortex asked. Allakoi stiffly nodded, forcing his breath to slow.
I’m fine.
He felt Vortex’s wing press against his leg, the touch comforting.
“I’m here with you. I won’t let them do anything to you.”
He nodded again. His eyes glanced Zafia’s way. It was just him and Zafia, now. Pyrya and Hamon had gone ahead to prepare things at the temple—or, as Hamon had put it, prepare Master Stramill for the news of his arrival.
Zafia moved to ride next to Allakoi. A few small orbs of light floated around her, lighting the way. He could see her Aura gently pulsating.
“There may be some trouble with Master Stramill when we arrive. If he approaches, stay quiet unless asked a direct question. I imagine he should leave you alone for the most part, but I would advise avoiding him whenever possible.”
“May I ask why?”
“Cajayo—and, particularly, Master Stramill—has a troubled history with Grand Aura Wielders. There was an incident many years ago, and it’s a wound that I doubt will be healed anytime soon.”
“What happened?”
He noticed the way she paused, something about her seeming to be uncomfortable.
“It’s not important,” she replied. “All you need to know is that he’s wary of Wielders, and it’s best to keep out of his way.”
Allakoi frowned but didn’t press. Better to stay quiet and unnoticed in general, it seemed.
“You don’t need to be nervous,” she said. “Even though he can be hard to deal with, I’ll be protecting you. Don’t worry.”
He didn’t say anything to that, his fear making him feel as though he couldn’t speak. He glanced up at the temple again. They were closer, approaching the city walls from one of the smaller side gates to keep out of the main roads. The temple pillars were too high, making him feel small and vulnerable.
He found himself feeling at the charm from Kaylynn, hanging around his neck and tucked under his shirt. It brought him a strange sort of comfort; a quiet piece of home.
Once they were in the city, they dismounted, Zafia telling the griffons to go to the roost. It was easier and less conspicuous to get through the city on foot. Vortex gave Allakoi an apologetic glance before following Dusk.
She led the way through the tangled streets, the dark buildings rising on either side making Allakoi uneasy, even the orbs that Zafia used to light the way unable to stop his mind from envisioning every evil thing that could lurk in the shadows. Eventually, they came to the bases of the pillars, which seemed to be near the east side of the city, the bases surrounded by tall stone walls, the city garrison and several official buildings set among them. She was immediately let in by the guards posted there and led him to one of the pillars, this one with an apparatus built up the entire side of it, a small building that looked like a house at the base.
“There was a lift built here for the use of those who need to go up to the temple without having a griffon available. It was based off of Rehvani technology, I believe. Similar to the trade lift used to get over the Wall,” she explained. Allakoi nodded, and she started toward the lift house, only to stop when she realized he hadn’t followed her. She paused. Looked back at him.
“Allakoi, it’s going to be okay. I need you to trust me.”
Another mute nod, and he followed her into the solid wood box that acted as the lift. The grate that served for a door clattered closed, and the attendant got the mechanism working. The chains and gears made grinding sounds as the lift went up, and though there was ample room for it, he resisted the urge to pace.
They reached the top. Allakoi felt like his heart stopped as the door clattered back open, and he was led into the temple complex.
He wanted to get back into the lift and go back down, but it was already moving on without him, the upper attendant letting it return to the base. Hamon was waiting outside the lift house, an orb of moonlight hovering next to him, similar to the ones Zafia had made, but weaker. He gave a gentle smile.
“Hey. Zafia, Master Stramill wants to speak with you in his office. I think you know what it’s about. Allakoi, I’ll take you to the barracks. Get you settled in.”
“Thanks, Hamon.” Zafia looked back to Allakoi. Gave him an encouraging look. “Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning, Allakoi. Don’t worry; we’ll get this all sorted out soon.”
He didn’t think he could speak. Settled for yet another nod.
He felt cold as he followed Hamon, crossing stone bridges from one pillar to the next, heading toward a large domed building on one of the bigger pillars. The night air was colder than expected, Allakoi instinctively walking with his arms wrapped around his middle. When he glanced down or around himself, all he could see was the endless dark of night, lightly touched by stars and lanterns.
So close to the sky...
“I had a room prepared for you. Tomorrow, we’ll send for the tailor to get a couple uniforms made. Best if you look the part. Besides, uniforms are a whole lot warmer than street clothes, especially as we head into late autumn and winter,” Hamon explained. “My room isn’t too far from yours—I’ll show you when we get there—so if you need anything, I’ll be close by.”
“When will I learn to fly?” he quietly asked.
Hamon’s silence made him nervous.
“We’ll see,” he replied. “This is new for us, too, and it will depend on how long it takes him to fully recover from his injuries. Fighting that dragon did nothing to help him.”
Allakoi didn’t say anything to that, hoping it was the only reason. Without the ability to fly, the only way for him to leave would be to either take the lift or jump, from the look of it.
It had only been a few minutes, and Cajayo was already feeling like a prison.
He glanced down again, not close enough to the edge to look straight to the bottom, greeted with a view of darkness as far as he could see.
How far up are we? How long would the drop take?
His knees were feeling weak.
“Shall we?”
Allakoi returned his attention to Hamon, and realized that they were at the doors of the barracks, made of some variety of dark and heavy wood. They creaked quietly when they opened, Hamon leading the way inside.
The inside of the building seemed as round as the outside, the doors opening into a small foyer with halls leading to the left and the right, curving out of sight. Judging by the height of the ceiling and how tall the building had looked from the outside, Allakoi had a hunch there was at least a second floor, if not more above it. Dimmed lanterns sat in sconces along stone walls, giving off flickering shadows. Hamon turned right, and they passed several doors before stopping at one that seemed close to the back of the building, the door a similar dark wood to the one that had led into the barracks themselves.
“Here we are,” Hamon quietly said, opening the door and gesturing inside. Allakoi reluctantly entered.
The room was surprisingly large, larger than the one he had shared with his siblings back home, generously furnished with a bed, washstand, mirror, table, chair, and a clothes-chest at the foot of the bed. A lantern was on the table, giving a similar dim glow to the ones that had lined the hallways. A window was set in one wall, thick glass showing the night sky beyond.
“It’s not much, but make yourself at home. I’ll give you the full tour of the grounds tomorrow,” Hamon said. When Allakoi didn’t reply, he felt a hand on his arm, drawing his attention back to Hamon again. “I’m sorry it went this way. I really am. Being ripped away from everything so suddenly...I know that it’s rough, and it will take some time to adjust to everything. But I want you to know that we’re going to do everything we can to get this over with as quickly as possible so you can get back to your life, alright? We truly want you and your family to be safe, and will do everything we can to ensure that.”
Allakoi nodded. The knot in his chest that had been present since River Cross didn’t leave.
“Thanks.”
Hamon smiled, seeming relieved.
“Good. I’m two doors down on the right—the door has some extra-gaudy carvings on it, so you can’t miss it. Try to get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning. Sleep well, Allakoi.”
With that, Hamon left, closing the door behind him.
For a long moment, Allakoi stared after him, feeling numb. His throat was tight. With slow steps he wandered to the bed and sat down, the mattress soft. The room was bigger than any he had slept in before, but felt small to him, the walls seeming to close in. He got back to his feet and went to the window. It looked like it could open, one of the panels appearing to have a hinge, and he managed to get it open a crack, fighting against old grime. Once fresh air was getting in, he leaned close to the crack, breathing deep.
Better. Not much, but better.
He slowly undressed and found a washcloth, using the lukewarm water in the stand to get cleaned up before blowing out the lantern and making his way back to the bed, lying flat on his back. The bed was too short, his feet hanging off the end and heels touching the clothes chest. His hand wandered up to his chest, fingers wrapping around the charm, tracing the carvings of the beads.
What have I done?
His eyes hurt. His throat was tight. He held the emotions back. Forced in a long breath.
How long will I be here?
He clenched his jaw and rolled onto his side, staring at the wall and pulling the blankets over himself, still holding the charm.
He didn’t know how long it took before his eyes drifted closed, exhaustion finally taking over.
*
He was on the black stone mountain again, the dark clouds surrounding him. Lightning flickered in the blackened sky. The air was colder than before.
“It isn’t right. It isn’t right. I should...I accessed...why can’t I remember?”
Allakoi turned in a circle, looking for the voice, but it came from everywhere and nowhere all at once, reverberating around him like thunder. He glimpsed the shadow in the clouds, the man slightly more defined than before, though it was still barely more than a blur.
“I touched the power. The sky bent to us. The Storm gave itself over to us. Why can’t I remember my name?” He looked like he was grabbing at his head, shaking, flickering in and out of visibility. “Why can’t I remember?”
Thunder growled, making Allakoi cringe. The shadow turned to look at him, and he saw lightning flickering like eyes.
“We are the Storm. That is all I know. It is not enough—the rage of the Storm is not enough to bring control of the Storm—it is but a weapon to be unleashed. We are nothing. We are worthless without our name! I am more than this!” He flickered out of vision again, and reappeared in the clouds to Allakoi’s right, making him turn to keep watching him. He looked upward. “Death to the abominations! Death to the Devourers! But we are more! What am I? Who am I? What is my name?” He screamed in rage and anguish, and thunder cracked right above Allakoi’s head, making him startle in fear, hands clamping over his ears. The air was freezing cold, the shadow’s wrath making ice crawl along the stone beneath Allakoi’s feet.
“Why can’t I remember? What is my name? I need my name!”
The thunder continued, and Allakoi went to his knees, doubled over and trembling, hands over his ears in a desperate attempt to drown out the noise. He felt rain beating his back, his breath turning to fog.
“Please...” he whimpered. “Please stop.”
“What is my name?”
“I don’t know. Please, I don’t know.”
The storm stopped. He was freezing.
“Forgive me,” the shadow said. “I did not intend to frighten you.”
“Why is your name so important? You accessed your power. Isn’t that enough?”
“An identity is a powerful thing, Wielder. A name holds power. All I have done is call on the smallest piece of untamed power available to us. We saw the dragon; we had to kill it. It is our nature. We cannot abide their kind to breathe. But that kind of act is fleeting at best. Until I know my name...until I know who I am...the Storm will not bow before us. It will not bend to our will. No. Until we know who we are, it will not respect our authority. I need my name.”
Allakoi shakily nodded, finally looking back up. The shadow was standing in front of him, still veiled by clouds, watching him with those lightning eyes.
“Then...then how do we learn your name? What do we need to do?”
The shadow looked away, staring up at the sky again.
“We need the sky. We need it to embrace us, remember us. In remembering us, we will remember ourselves.”
“And how do we do that?”
He paused. His body seemed stiff.
“I do not know.”
Chapter Eighteen
Silent Treatment
Nearly two weeks passed since Allakoi had gone with Zafia to Cajayo temple, and in that time, Allakoi came to the terrible conclusion that he had just made one of the worst decisions of his life.
Not only had it been made painfully clear that he was not welcome by the Camarre and that Zafia seemed to have overstepped herself in taking him to the temple, but he was beginning to doubt that she had even the slightest idea of how to help him learn how to use his Aura.
“Keep focusing, Allakoi. Feel the Pulse, hear its call.”
Allakoi bit back the urge to snap at her. He was sitting on the ground on one of the Cajayan pillars, as he had been for what felt like just about every hour of every day since leaving with Zafia, attempting with no success to do what she wanted him to: sense Relus’s Aura.
According to Zafia, Grand Auras could sense one another. And, since him leaving the Camarre hinged on getting the Monarch dragon handled, teaching him to sense where Relus was seemed like the best option for everyone involved. It helped the Camarre find their dragon and helped speed up Allakoi’s way out all at once.
