A Person Broken: Book Two of The Greenskin Trilogy

By Sara Mariam TaGalbi and Hedeer El Showk

How do you function normally amongst other people when everything inside of you is falling apart? Sometimes, it's not possible and you spill into the world of others. Read on as Allanas tries to make sense of the things that have happened to her all the while trying to adjust to living within a dragon community. She will be forced to face Ja

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Kastre Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Aug 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9780996472678

Book preview

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Pinnacles Aerie

Allanas woke to a dark stone ceiling above her.  Slowly, she moved her head taking in its curvature and the size of the room.  It was oddly shaped, more natural than man-made and in the back, there was a small brazier glowing red.  It radiated enough warmth to fill the back of the room where she found herself laying on a low bed.

But the light came from the front of the room where there was a large opening.  A team of horses and coach could have fit through it.  She listened for other things around her but all was silent except for the sound of gulls crying in the distance and then there was an odd crashing, watery sound.  She thought it must be the ocean, but it sounded very different from the beach at Tanthanor.  

She moved to get up and found herself a little weak.  There was some stiffness in between her legs, but it wasn’t too bad, she thought, considering what she’d been through.  Memories started to flood her mind: the king of Cessor looking at her with his arrogant smile, her terror at his use of her, and her helplessness.  With a quivering in her gut, she wondered if she could even now be pregnant?  

How would she manage that?  If she couldn’t even keep herself safe from others, how would she ever protect a baby?  Surely, she couldn’t be pregnant…  But what if she was?  The thought took her breath away.  Better not to think on that too closely, Allanas told herself.

And what about that man who rescued her?  Was he connected to the blue dragon in her head somehow?  His expression when he walked in on the King of Cessor had been more frightening than the King himself.  What had he done to the king?  Had the green-skinned man killed him?  She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.  

She was a healer and worked to preserve life.  Did the King deserve to die because he’d raped her?  She wasn’t sure.  She only knew she never wanted to see that King again, or Cessor, for that matter.  

The trembling was growing worse.  It had spread from her gut to her limbs.  Clenching her jaw wouldn’t stop it. Allanas felt her eyes sting with tears.  There was a choking feeling in her chest.  It was hard to breath and her heart raced.  

Was this fear?  She’d never really felt this before.  The woods and wilderness had nothing she didn’t know how to handle.  Being a slave in Tanthanor had not been harsh and she’d not feared anyone who’d held her there.  But in truth, she’d not been held there, except for the time before she’d been sold at the slave market.  

She had always known that she could have left if she’d wished, but had chosen not to.  In her slavery, she’d finally found people who weren’t afraid of her and her green skin.  There had been no superstition in Branthor’s compound, and she’d felt safe for the first time in a long time.  Was that why she didn’t know about fear?  Was she used to being feared herself?

  What was she afraid of?  That King?  Being held against her will?  Being raped again?  Feeling helpless?  Powerless?  Allanas pushed those thoughts away too.  They were too big, too uncomfortable.  What good could come of such thinking?

Looking around, Allanas took in the odd shaped room again.  Empty except for her.  She had no idea where she was or who held her now, and that made this torrent of emotions was dangerous right now.  She felt her earlier thoughts sneaking back in at the corners of her mind.   

Allanas decided with a vicious suddenness to put up a wall.  In her head, she constructed one like she had when she’d wanted to kiss Mahbruk in the slave pens.  Then, it had kept the demanding blue dragon out of her head long enough to express her love to Mahbruk, and now it trapped all those memories she didn’t want to deal with away in a small room in her head.  It left her feeling strangely free.  

She could live with this, Allanas decided and sat up.

Getting up from the bed, she walked stiffly to the opening.  She realized that the room was actually a cave, and that was why it was so oddly shaped.  Stepping out of the cave, she found herself in a fissure that rose at least a hundred feet above her head.  It, too, was very broad at the base, and she could tell it had been widened from its original shape.  There was light here but it was shadowy, so she turned in the direction where light was the closest.

Heading for it, she walked slowly and wondered that she was so alone here.  It was obvious that she was no longer in the concubine’s quarters at the palace.  But where was she now?

Stepping out of the fissure she found herself on a ledge.  The sight before her took her breath away.  They were everywhere and in all colors, floating and swooping in the air.  

She stood at the top of several hundred feet of cliff that dropped away into the ocean and the air was filled with cavorting dragons!

"They were real!" she thought with a deep exhalation of air.

You’re awake finally!

Allanas whirled about to see a pale green girl with hair cropped at her shoulders standing at the opening of the cave she’d just left.  

Yes, Allanas said, not knowing what else to say.

I left you for just a minute and you up and disappeared! the girl spoke rapidly.  I don’t know what Mayar would have said, if I’d lost you.  She already thinks I’m not very good at this.  I know she is just making do with me.  And Varus!  He’d have killed me.  I’m so glad you didn’t wander too far!  Blessed be the Goddess!  

The girl never even paused for breath.  Allanas had to focus very hard to keep track of everything she said, but she forced herself because she had to know where she was and what sort of situation she was in.  What was this place?  And dragons?  Real dragons!  It made her breathless to think about, and she realized, she’d missed part of the girl’s babbling.  

—is great.  Mayar will want to know immediately, but is there anything I can get you first? she asked with enthusiasm.

Can I just sit here in the sun? Allanas asked.

Of course, but the sun is better on the top of the cliff.  Would you like me to take you there?

No, this is fine here, she said, hoping the girl would go soon.  Her prattle was getting to be too much.    

Oh, this is so good.  Varus will be pleased you are recovered.  Perhaps we will take you up to his cave later.  

The girl paused suddenly and looked at Allanas.  I’m sorry, she said, slowing down for the first time.  This must make no sense to you at all.  I know it was very confusing to me when I first came here.  I’m sure Mayar or Varus will explain everything to you, but for right now, I’ll introduce myself.

She stepped forward a dozen steps or so with her hand extended, I’m Min.  I’m one of Mayar’s apprentice healers.  Welcome home.

Home?  Where am I? Allanas asked puzzled.

This is the Pinnacles Aerie.

Pinnacles Aerie?  What is that?

Min laughed.  An aerie is where dragons live, and well… she paused to think about how to explain.  Well, the pinnacles are the shapes of these cliffs.  You will see it better from dragonback out there, she said pointing to the open ocean.

I’ll leave you now.  I have to let Mayar know you are awake, but I’ll be back later, Min said and was then gone back down the fissure, hurrying off as fast as she talked.

Sighing in relief, Allanas sat down on the ledge cross-legged and watched the dragons out above the water.  It was hard to tell exactly how big they were since they were some distance away, but they were quite colorful.  There were even some black ones and she saw one she thought might be white, but was very distant.  

But she could see those more close, and some of them would launch themselves off from the cliff and plummet to the water with astonishing speed only to open their wings at the last minute and letting the snap of their wings pull them up again as their hind-feet grazed the water.  The jerk of it was so hard that she wondered their wing bones didn’t snap from the force, but the efforts of many were rewarded.  They often rose with a large fish in their rear claws, and flew off with their prize.  Those that weren’t so lucky returned to the top of the cliff to sit a while and try again when next they spotted something.  

Allanas thought that the dragons must have tremendous eyesight.  They sat on the top of the cliff, and it was high above her location, and when she looked to the water, it was a torrent of crashing breakers against the cliff up close and a shimmery moving surface further out.  There seemed no way to see into the depths and know where to find fish.  

Then, there were other dragons farther out, lazily floating in circles high above the water.  Every so often one of them would fold its wings and drop to the water.  It never opened its wings plunging into the water, disappearing into the depths.  After long minutes of being submerged, the dragon would reappear with a large fish caught in its maw.  With great splashing, it would heave out of the water and wing its way to the top of the cliffs where it would disappear from view.  

The sight was astounding.  Never in her wildest imagination had she thought such a thing as a colony of dragons existed.  In her mind, it had always been one dragon at a time. She’d never thought so much about Horatio’s questions of how they would live and survive or what that would look.  

The sound of a footstep behind her brought her out of her reverie.  It is hard to believe, isn’t it?  An old woman with graying hair and dark green skin walked toward her.  It was as if she’d been reading Allanas’ mind, but she knew that to be impossible.

Yes, it is beyond words, Allanas said honestly.

I remember when I first came here many years ago, I thought this was the most amazing of the Aeries.  It was where we’d come to get away from our flight work and relax after a battle.  It was only a temporary residence then, but now it is our only home.

After a battle? Allanas asked, puzzled.  But dragons have not been in a battle in over two hundred years.

I know, the woman said with a sad smile.  She sat down and offered a water skin to Allanas, Here, you’ll want water.  You’ve not had any for some time now.

You rode the dragons when they fought? Allanas asked, as she took the water skin.  She wanted to understand this woman’s comment.

Of course.  I was in many battles for the Kingdom, she said and pulled up her skirt.  And taken several wounds as well, she added as she indicated what looked to be scars from an arrow wound on her thigh.

But that cannot be! Allanas exclaimed, forgetting all about the water.

The woman chuckled.  Ah, but it is.  You will learn many interesting things here about yourself and us.  The first thing you should know is that with your green skin comes longevity.  I am three hundred and seven years old.  Granted, I am older than most here, but most of us reach two hundred without much difficulty.

You mean I will live for two hundred years? Allanas screeched in shock.

Most likely unless something untoward happens to you, she said with a shrug.

What else?

What else what?

What else should I know about myself?

Ah, let’s see, she said and began to tick off things on her fingers, saying, You will live longer than a human can, you have extremely sharp senses.  They are better than most predators.  You will mature later.  You are an adult by human standards, but juvenile by our standards.  And you will find that you have magic in you.

Allanas snorted in derision.  Magic!  That is just a farce, she scoffed.

The old woman looked at her sadly and asked, Is that what you really think?  Have you never seen anything remotely unexplainable?  Or magical?

I’ve seen plenty of things that I couldn’t explain, but it has been my experience that the answers for it are out there. We just may not have discovered them yet, Allanas explained.

Well, that explains a lot.

What do you mean?

Well, when you first start turning yellow, your dragon calls to you.  When you answer back with your location, we go and retrieve you and bring you here for training and help you with your changes.  Ja called to you constantly but you would never answer.  That must be why it has been so hard to find you.   It has taken him years longer than it takes most dragons to find their protégé.

I have a dragon? she asked, disbelieving.

No.  You have a dragon who Breathed on you as a newborn, and it is its responsibility to guide us to you and help in your training.  It is a very important thing for a dragon.

Why are you telling me all this? Allanas asked suddenly.  These are secrets that humans would want to know.  Why do you trust me so implicitly?

Because your training began the moment you awoke here, she said.  And in case you haven’t noticed, you have green skin like the rest of us.  And the human world will never be safe for you alone.  This is your sanctuary now, too, so you will guard its secrets to the best of your ability.

It was a stark statement.  Allanas wanted to rebel at being told how she would behave, but finally conceded, if only mentally, that this woman was right.  The old woman might call it their sanctuary, but Allanas thought it could just have easily be a prison for all the acceptance that awaited green-skinned people in the wider world.  Would this just be another form of slavery for her?

They sat there for a long while in silence, both of them clearly thinking.  Allanas liked that the woman did not need to fill the empty space with chatter.  It suited her to have a companion in silence.  They watched the sun sink into the ocean from the ledge, and when it was gone the old woman got up.  She surprised Allanas because she moved like someone much younger than she was.  

By the way, my name is Mayar, she said as she extended her hand down to Allanas.  Allanas was surprised at how awkward it was to get up.  You’ll be sore for a few more days.  I checked you out while you were unconscious and you seem fine.  I even purged your female parts to prevent any diseases that bastard might have given you.  Considering how many women he has in his harem, it seemed likely that he might have something.  And in case you are wondering, you are not pregnant.

Allanas took a moment to absorb all of that sudden information.  Then, she slowly nodded and said, My name is Allanas, and extended her hand.  She did not want to think about Mayar’s information, let alone respond to it.  She wanted to keep that wall firmly in place.  She liked this freedom from those emotional burdens.

No, here you will be Alla.  So, do not be surprised when people call you that.  Come.  Let’s get you a tonic to help with your feminine parts.  It will help them heal faster.

Why am I suddenly Alla? Allanas asked as she hurried after the old woman.  I have a name.  Allanas.

Because that is our way, was all Mayar would say.

Mayar prepared and gave her something to drink to heal her feminine parts, but as soon as Allanas put it to her nose, she smelled the familiar odor of skullcap in the tonic.  She quietly poured it on a rag down the backside of the bed.  

Lay down girl.  Rest tonight and tomorrow we will take you to Ja.  He’s been waiting anxiously to see you, but I’ve made him stay away until you are feeling better.

That’s my dragon’s name?

"He’s not your dragon, she said sharply.  Then, more gently, she said, Well, it is more like you are Ja’s tender, but he’ll explain all of that I’m sure."

Is Ja blue? Does he have gold eyes?

Yes, how did you know?  Have you seen him already? she asked startled.

He’s been living in my head for years now, she replied, slowing her words so it sounded like she was about to fall asleep.

Through her half-lowered eyelids, Allanas saw Mayar look at her sharply but restrain herself.  She slowed and deepened her breathing.  That woman had given her skullcap to make her sleep, and she wanted to know why.  She waited, feigning sleep until she almost was asleep.  

In the corner of her mind, just as she was about to drop off, she heard others enter the cave, and roused her mind to listen.

Mayar, a deep, serious voice intoned a greeting.

Mayar, a second, scratchier voice echoed.

Drey.  Kagan, Mayar returned their greeting.

Is it safe to speak here? the deep voice asked.

Yes, I gave her something to sleep.  She seems to be refusing to think about what happened yet.  It could be a shock still, but sleep seemed the best thing.  We can talk freely.  Min and Ardith will not be back tonight.

Allanas heard the men sit down by the brazier.  One must have been old, she assumed, because she heard someone’s bones creaking as they sat.

Oh, I hate this form, he groaned as he sat.  I am only comfortable these days when sunning on the rocks.

The other man chuckled, Kagan, that’s what you get for living so long.

"Don’t you give me any of that cheek, Drey!  When you’ve fought in as many battles as I have and have wounds all over your body and survived to my age, then you can joke at my expense!" the old man, Kagan, said with an indignant tone.

Stop that you two, Mayar scolded.  What is the council saying about all this?

Naturally, they are very upset with Ja.  He was too young to have done a Breathing when he did, and they think that might be why he has never been able to contact her.  He was not developed enough.  It is the same as it has always been on that front.  He’s never going to get their approval on that count, Drey said.  

I don’t think that is why he could never contact her.  Well, it’s odd really, but it makes sense in a strange way, Mayar started to explain.  

What makes sense? Kagan asked.

Well, I don’t think she heard his attempts to contact her because she doesn’t believe in magic and is very ardent about it.  She truly doesn’t believe.  I never would have thought it possible.

Ahhh, Kagan let his breath out very slowly.  That will make things very difficult for her, I think.

Yes, but what is the odd part? Drey asked.

She asked me about Ja’s coloring just before she went to sleep.

What is so odd about that?

She’s not seen him yet.  She was unconscious the whole time Varus was bringing her here.  She would not have seen Ja.  Varus said he put her to sleep in the palace and kept her sedated the whole way for obvious reasons.

To wake in midair like that might not be the best way to introduce her to flying, Drey chuckled.  

So then, I asked her if she’d seen him, and she said he has always lived in her head, Mayar exclaimed as if this was something shocking.

You think Ja has known of her the whole time and failed to retrieve her? Kagan asked.  That would be a serious charge to lay at his door.

You must be careful before you speak about that, Mayar, Drey warned.  Ja has suffered much recrimination already in trying to contact the girl.  And now that it is known that she’s been a slave and raped, it is going about that he cannot even protect his own.  His pride is pretty battered right now, Drey said.

You know I am very fond of Varus and Ja.  We have done much work together, and I have no intention of spreading this about.  If I hear it about I’ll know who put it out.  There was a pause and Allanas imagined that the woman was giving them a warning look.   Then, she added,  But I think it just adds another layer to this riddle of Alla that we need to look into.  That is all I’m saying, Mayar protested.

You know Varus and Ja better than anyone, Drey, Kagan said.  What do you make of them right now?  How are they holding up?

Well, Varus is much cooler-headed that Ja.  You cannot tell much about Varus, but I look at the boy I trained years ago and the man he has been these last five years, and they are not the same.  I think even Vagan has a hard time meshing with Varus when they train, and those two are closer than most fighting pairs we have.  Perhaps Varus has been set aside by the others for so long that he’s begun to set himself aside.

And Ja?

Varus says that the girl, what’s her name? Drey paused his explanation in search of the name.

Alla.

Well, he says that Alla is more comfortable with Ja than himself.  So, I expect we’ll see much more of Ja for a while and Vagan will ride.  That is what worries me because Ja does not have the control that Varus does.  He still is young.  They were in the class before the last one, Drey ruminated.

And that is another issue.  Drat that Ja! Mayar exclaimed.  His hot-headedness has caused us more problems than we’ve ever had with a young dragon!  But what are we going to do in terms of training Alla?  There is no class for her.

How long ago was the last one?

Eight years ago and we just did the most recent Breathings two years ago.  It will be another twelve years before we have another class in here.  That is too long to make her wait, and the last class has all earned its wings by now.  They are too far advanced for her to catch up, Mayar said, sounding exasperated.

I think we should just give her over to Ja.  To be in charge of her training would be a good way to settle his wildness, Kagan said.

But do you risk damaging her further if he’s erratic or temperamental during her training? Drey asked.  We do not know what damage is done already by starting her out late or the emotional difficulties she will go through as she recovers from this recent trauma.  I think it would be better to have a collective of instructors and maybe involve the recent class as her mentors.  They are still close to her in age that she might relate to them even if they cannot share all they’ve learned just yet.

Well, that is a good point.  Perhaps we should just wait and see how she settles in first.  We don’t have to make this decision just yet, Kagan concluded.  When does she go to be Ja’s tender?

I was thinking tomorrow if she seems as relaxed as she was today.  She seems to have a resilient mind from what I’ve observed already, Mayar said.  

That is good because this will all be very confusing for her until she figures things out, Drey said.  

Well, if that is it, I think I will return to my quarters.  Mayar are you coming? Kagan asked.

No, I want to stay near her tonight in case what she is refusing to face comes to her in the night.  I don’t want her left alone just yet, Mayar said.  Goodnight, dear.

Kagan seemed to grumble to himself and then complained, You know I will never get warm tonight if you are not there.

You will survive one night, she placated.  I will give you my extra blankets from the infirmary.

Come on, I’ll help you carry them back to your quarters, Drey said, amusement spilling from his words.

The next morning, Min and Ardith took Allanas on a tour of the Pinnacles Aerie.  Ardith was the other healer at the Aerie.  She was somewhere between the ages of Min and Mayar, Allanas judged.  Min deferred to her in most circumstances just as the two of them deferred to Mayar.  Ardith’s green was so dark that she was nearly black.  Her hair was black and poked away from her head.  She was the first woman that Allanas had ever seen with such short hair.  It was almost like a man’s.  

Ardith’s other notable feature was her silence.  She seldom spoke unless a decision or information was required of her.  Allanas could see that Min tried hard to curb her excitement on the tour so as to not irritate Ardith.  However, Allanas didn’t think Ardith looked particularly irritated or irritable.  She just didn’t appear to be inclined toward useless conversations.

Thus, Min did most of the explaining as they made their tour.  Ardith merely walked along behind them sedately.  

"The Aerie is one up thrust of rock that has heaved out of the ocean.  There is a shallow basin in the center of it with a lake and some scrubby grass.   That is where we get our fresh water.  You must never bath in the lake.  Dragons have an acute sense of smell and will smell you in the water when they drink it.  It is considered very ignorant and rude to put your smell in someone else’s food or water.  That is why a dragon will always hunt for itself.  A catch brought to you will smell after whoever caught it.  It is not polite.

"There are plenty of fissures that extend from the inner bowl to the outer perimeter ledges.  Most of the caves that the dragons inhabit face the inner bowl to protect them from the wind and weather.  We can get some terrible storms blowing through