Valeskas

By Myrica Moss

A dark priestess, intent on escaping through an enchanted door into another world, invokes a dragon from his prison, The Void, into the human body of a pirate so he can locate and capture a young but powerful light goddess to assist her in gaining her freedom.

However, the longer the dragon stays in the pirate’s body, the more human he becomes, and as he frantically searches for the young goddess, she is also searching for him to break the priestess’s enchantment and send him back to The Void, and free the pirate.

This fourth and final book in the Dragon’s Tear Chronicles follows the stories of Kaida and Meelay as they attempt to break Hariah’s enchantment and return the Blood Dragon, Valeskas, to The Void.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Myrica Moss
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215217030

Myrica Moss

Born in England, then relocated to Florida, USA. Myrica is a Registered Nurse with a BSc in Information Systems. She is an avid reader of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, and among her favorite authors are Brian Aldis, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King. When she isn’t writing, she is playing RPG games.Website: https://myricamoss.comFacebook: myrica.moss.5If you enjoyed this book, then please make me happy and take the time to write a review for me. It will make my day.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

SAYGAN HEARD A woman's voice chanting and male voices mumbling along with her in a melodic, droning way as he struggled desperately against his bonds. The fingers of his captors dug painfully deeper into his arms to hold him still in response.

He had been celebrating with his men in the tavern when a monk approached him with a job request. The monk had offered Saygan a large sum of coin if he met with his priestess, who had a task for him and his pirate ship. How could he refuse? That was how he made a living for himself and his men. As a pirate, Saygan had not found anything about the monk's proposal unusual or dangerous. So, he willingly accompanied the monk alone to meet with the priestess.

Saygan feared nothing, and his 6-foot, lean, muscular stature was impressive as he strode alongside the monk. In contrast with the bald monk escorting him, Saygan had long dark hair, braided and held back from his dark olive face with a swatch of bright red cloth. His shirt was of fine white material, and his black leather pants tucked into black leather knee-length boots spoke of wealth. Saygan's features were handsome, and he knew it. He broke ladies' hearts in every port his ship, the Scoyl, sailed into. His brown eyes scanned the footpath as he walked, but nothing lay in the shadows to concern him.

When the monk suddenly threw back his cloak and drew a sword on him, Saygan had been initially too surprised to react. Although he attempted to recall how the monk overpowered him so swiftly, Saygan could not remember. Before knowing what was happening, Saygan found himself bound by his wrists and blindfolded.

The next thing Saygan remembered was when his captors dragged him in front of a chanting woman, who ignored his demands to release him.

The woman, who he now realized must be the priestess the monk had spoken of, suddenly stopped chanting. Saygan felt his arms thrust out in front of his body and the unmistakable sense of a knife slicing his wrists. He knew the cuts were deep enough to bleed profusely because he could feel his blood running from the wounds. Saygan fought against his attackers once again, but blood loss began to impact him. The smell of his blood made him suddenly nauseous, and a wave of dizziness rushed through him. 

I am going to die, Saygan decided, and this was not how I had envisioned my death. I expected to die bravely in battle, not bled to death by some crazed priestess unable to defend myself. Saygan's knees began to buckle as he grew weaker, and the support of his captors on either side tightened their grip on him in response.

Saygan felt someone wrapping his wrists tightly and heard the priestess's voice chanting again just as he lost consciousness.

Saygan swirled his new vast smoke body around in restless circles within the prison where he had found himself after being kidnapped by the priestess. When he first regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes, Saygan had no idea where he was. His surroundings did not help him to determine that either because smoke surrounded him everywhere he moved. The fact that he no longer had a human body was the subsequent realization that came to Saygan, initially driving him into a crazed frenzy of panic.

After the first few days in this foggy prison, Saygan realized that no one could hear his pleas nor was coming to rescue him. He surprised himself at his ability to stay calm through all this madness and continued to hope his men would find him somehow. 

The next thing Saygan became aware of was that something else seemed to be there with him. He had discovered a small pile of red shards that Saygan felt must be important, but if nothing else, it broke up the monotony of the gray fog. His monstrous new head bent low to inspect the red shards closely, but nothing had changed since he found them.

The most alarming thing Saygan had discovered since finding himself in this strange place was that he was no longer human. He now appeared to be some monstrous beast whose body barely fit inside this tiny prison. His now red eyes blazed in anger as he irritably peered at the shards fluttering around in response to his movements. Saygan knew that his eyes were the only color amongst the gray smoke flesh of this body because he had seen his reflection in the glittering shards.

Saygan now had rows of sharp teeth, clearly visible inside his wide, dark mouth. He towered above the red shards, and despite his body holding no substance within the smoke, the many scales that had adorned it in a flesh body were evident. Saygan had heard stories of dragons and felt sure he had somehow changed into one. His new wings flexed irritably, suddenly tired of waiting for something to happen, freeing him from this place or explaining it all. The monotonous silence would slowly drive him insane. Saygan was sure of it.

Surprisingly, the movement from his wings created another disturbance in the fog that momentarily stirred the glittering fragments, causing them to rise and float back down again in lazy circles. Saygan poked at one of the shards with a long, sharp talon on one of his front claws to see if he could elicit some response, but nothing happened. In a sudden fit of anger, Saygan turned away from the bright red shining pieces. His long, muscular tail accidentally swiped at them, and they dispersed all over him. Then they fluttered down again in a sparkling red shower. I am going to go mad, Saygan thought with conviction, because this silence is slowly destroying me.

Saygan had lost track of time in this silent, mist-filled prison, and to keep himself sane, he held long conversations with the red shards. He also attempted to make out shapes amongst the fog surrounding him. Saygan also imagined himself back on his pirate ship, sailing the seas and traveling between continents and worlds. The crystal he had acquired during a raid years ago, Saygan had it secured to the Scoyl's rudder, and how he longed for those days of adventure to be returned to him now.

While he imagined himself back on his ship, a surprising event suddenly occurred in his prison. The red shards that were now a part of his life suddenly burst into tiny flames and turned into specks of ash that disappeared into the fog. Saygan watched in fascination and horror when the little flames floated around him. Oddly enough, he felt even more alone when the last of the shards disappeared in a puff of smoke. Now, there was nothing in this fog to break up the monotony of his prison.

Although Saygan expected another day of gray silence, suddenly, he heard voices echoing around his prison. Hope suddenly rushed through him. Had his men found him? He listened intently to the now-raised voice of a woman and a man arguing. Saygan didn't care and immediately called out, begging them to help him. Their voices still raised, apparently did not hear his pleas, but Saygan continued to yell at them.

Suddenly, the gray fog started to swirl madly around him, and it grew dark as if a storm approached. Saygan grew alarmed and stood rigidly, waiting to see what would happen next.

What happened next was the last thing Saygan expected. Suddenly, a man walked out of the now-dark mist before him. Who are you? Asked Saygan, a mixture of fear and hope in his voice.

My name is Amani, the man said quietly, and I assume you are the pirate Saygan.

THE REALIZATION

            MEELAY AND KAIDA continued holding hands as they stepped through the door and found themselves back in Vesta. She turned and touched her Vesta crystal key against the dragon symbol at the top of the door, and the entrance closed and vanished. Now, all that remained were the dragon symbols carved into the smooth marble of the towering pillar.

Now let's find Radon and explain what happened to Amani, Kaida said miserably.

We will find a way to release him, responded Meelay as they continued to walk hand in hand. 

The hallway was so long that it was difficult to see where it ended. On either side of Kaida and Meelay were the massive carved marble pillars that went upwards into oblivion. It was impossible to see what it was if they supported anything above them. The carvings on the pillars were intricate and detailed, each depicting a different dragon. The dragons, wrapped around their columns, were all unique. Some even opened their mouths wide, spewing marble flames at unseen foes. Others looked down on them with frozen expressions of curiosity or perhaps surprise that they had dared disturb them. Many wrought iron braziers placed in between the pillars lit the hallway. The glowing red coals flickered like millions of eyes watching them. The floor was made up of huge slabs of slate, all uniform and perfectly level. Everything about Vesta was amazing, but Kaida and Meelay thought deeply about the previous events, resulting in Amani becoming trapped in the Void. 

Kaida, the daughter of Saressa, a goddess of light, and Dra, a dark god, blamed herself for being unable to release Amani. Discovering who she really was had been a recent event, and already, Kaida had been instrumental in defeating a warlord and a commander of the Dark Ones. None of that mattered now, though, as she miserably walked with Meelay, Amani's twin brother, to see Radon. Kaida was a pretty young woman with long blonde hair that curled even when tied back. Her deep brown eyes, always filled with kindness and concern for everyone, and everything was bright with unshed tears.  She was small in height, petite, and a quick learner at every task. That was unless someone triggered her anger.  Kaida preferred wearing tunics and pants instead of skirts but carried no weapons. Her weapons were both powerful light and dark magic inherited from her parents. 

Don't blame yourself for what happened to Amani, Meelay said gently, his calm voice echoing eerily in the hallway. Elder Doamas should have been truthful and told us that he guarded the entrance to the Void. 

Kaida glanced up at Meelay, knowing he spoke the truth but still not feeling better about what had happened. Meelay was tall, lean, and appeared to be in his mid-twenties, but in reality, he was much older than that. He had long, black, curly hair and wore it loose. His dark brown eyes were bright with intelligence but currently filled with concern for his new friend. Meelay wore his white shirt loose over his brown pants tucked into knee-high leather boots. Meelay also carried no weapons, but he had some light magic. His skills also included shape-shifting and traveling to anywhere he had once visited using a crystal.

You had searched for your twin brother for so long, Meelay, Kaida said, her eyes bright with tears again, and now he is stuck in the Void with Valeskas."

As Doamas said, if you had followed him through that door, you would have been trapped like Amani. Then neither of you could have freed the pirate Saygan and destroyed Valeskas.

Kaida stopped walking for a moment and looked up again at Meelay. You're right, Meelay, she said. I need to find Valeskas, who's inhabiting the pirate's body, return him to the Void, and free Saygan. Then I can release Amani and destroy Valeskas.

Meelay nodded in agreement, and they continued walking towards Radon's lair again. The hallway finally ended at a pair of enormous oak doors. Another carved dragon, created from golden metal, lounged comfortably across the top of the door's frame. Large red crystals depicted the dragon's eyes. As they drew closer to the doors, they slowly opened invitingly. 

The room they entered on the other side of the open doors was immense. More pillars edged the circular shape of the room, fashioned from the same gold metal as the dragon above the entrance. Each of the columns had carvings but not of dragons. These carvings were of different animals. The ones closest to the door depicted wolves.   The next ones were giant bears. The animals were in twosomes, wolves positioned on the left and right, followed by the next pairs, bears and then birds. 

Torches lit the room from ornate holders attached to the walls in between the pillars. Above them, stars filled every available space in formations unknown to them, and an occasional shooting star flashed by. At first glance, it appeared to be a mural, but it was real.

In the center of the room was a massive dragon statue, again carved from a golden metal. The dragon stood on its hind legs, the muscles and tendons clearly defined. One scaled foot with long claws supported the rest of the body, and the other raised with curled toes. The dragon's wings spread wide, ready for flight. The mouth was open, showing rows of golden teeth. The eyes were looking upwards towards the stars, its nostrils flared. One of the dragon's front legs reached imploringly upwards. The other held a large globe securely in its curved clawed foot. 

Kaida and Meelay stopped walking when Radon appeared from the shadows at the room's rear.

Welcome back, Radon said as he approached the two of them. His deep, resounding voice rumbled around the room. Come sit by me and tell me how your journey went. Radon lowered his large head until it was level with theirs. I sense sadness, my friends, he said gently. 

They both felt a soft rush of warm air wash over them as the dragon spoke, and an acrid smell of burnt wood stung their eyes. Kaida managed to smile weakly in response to Radon's words and, letting go of Meelay's hand, rushed forward to hug the dragon's massive front leg. She burst into tears, and Radon stayed perfectly still until Kaida regained control. He glanced at Meelay and gave him a slight nod to encourage him forward to comfort Kaida.

Come sit on the pillows, Kaida, Meelay said gently, guiding her to the room's rear. We need to tell Radon what happened so he can guide us on our next steps.  

Radon followed them and sat down on the floor gracefully, causing a large cloud of dust to rise in response to his weight, and he curled his huge tail around him. The way Radon positioned himself reminded Meelay of an enormous dog settled in front of a fireplace. Radon was covered from head to tip of his tail in varying-sized scales, the largest of which covered his back and wings. The tips of the veins on his wings ended in long curved scales, and at the end of the tail was a plate-sized razor-sharp protrusion. Radon was a silvery green in color. The larger scales were a dark silvery green, and the smaller scales were varying shades of green and silver depending on how the light from the many torches fell upon them. 

Meelay always found the dragon's head fascinating, and when he spoke, many rows of teeth flashed in the light. Sharp scales stood upright, ran between his flared nostrils, and continued down his back to the tip of his tail. Two large horns loomed dangerously from the top of his head. His eyes were startling. They were golden in color and glowed with an almost disturbing intelligence. 

Mugs of the delicious wine appeared on tables by the pillows, and when Kaida had gained control of her emotions, she gratefully drank some before trusting herself to speak. Slowly, Kaida related all the events that had happened to them after arriving in Lunaria. She explained how they had met Amani, Twila, and Devon in Rostairn on the Outer Core and the discovery of a sickness impacting some Lunarians.

So, you finally found your brother, Meelay, Radon said warmly.

And unfortunately, lost him again, Meelay replied. Kaida's eyes grew bright again, and he grabbed her hand. 

Kaida took another drink of her wine and continued to relate to Radon, how they had found Danior and a group of Dark Ones unaffected by the darkness. Twila was delighted to be reunited with him, she added.

Ah yes, Radon said, Amani consulted with me on that group and how to cure them from the blood hunger, as I had cured Twila. Did he succeed?

Yes, Meelay responded, Amani saved them from being destroyed.

So, you successfully defeated Stefan? Radon asked.

Yes, replied Kaida, and all the Dark Ones with him, except one. He must have been turned by Valeskas or even my father because he did not die with all the rest. Kaida paused momentarily as the painful memory of the attack on Sylvian washed over her. We were leading the feeders and their attendants out of Erebus when a Dark One attacked Sylvian at the party's rear. I successfully destroyed him, but Sylvian was already bitten and bleeding badly. Unfortunately, my power evaporated both before I could control myself. Kaida stopped again and took another drink of the magically bottomless mug of wine.

If a Dark One bit Sylvian as you described, Kaida, Radon said gently, sensing the emotion in her voice, he was lost already. Destroying him, too, was the best thing for him.

Kaida took a deep breath and continued to relate how Danior and his group survived. Your soul brother's blood gift cured all of them, except one, who had not wanted to survive, she said, glancing at the globe held by the golden dragon statue, which pulsed in response. "Danior and Twila planned on traveling around Lunaria to locate lost cities. The rest of the group decided to stay in Freedom Lake. Meelay brought papers from a Lunarian elder who deeded the town to them.

Then we used transporters to return to the cave on the Light Side, where we initially arrived on Lunaria. I planned to check with Elder Doamas that the freed Draics had safely found their way back to Ashaton, then return here. However, Amani sensed something in the temple when he invoked your soul brothers to donate their blood for the cure. He asked Meelay to transport him back to the temple and bring Elder Doamas. Kaida stopped for a moment and glanced over at Meelay sadly.

When we arrived in the room where Saressa's statue stood, Amani greeted us and asked Doamas what the carving was at the base, continued Kaida. He reached out to touch the symbol, and he disappeared into it. I attempted to follow him, but Elder Doamas grabbed me and pulled me back. He told me that Amani had slipped through the entrance to the Void that imprisoned Valeskas and could not return. Elder Doamas said if I followed him, I would be trapped too. I could have assisted Amani in destroying Valeskas, but as you know, he still resides in Saygan's body. We can't defeat him until I figure out how to return Valeskas to his own body first. Kaida stopped talking and looked up at Radon's massive but concerned face. What do I do?" She asked.

You do exactly that, replied Radon, his voice rumbling around the room where they sat. You go back to Darma, find the pirate Saygan, and dispel Valeskas back into his own body. Now you know where the entrance to the Void is on Lunaria. You can then return there, free Amani, and destroy Valeskas.

That sounds so simple, said Kaida slowly, but there is also Hariah. We are still not sure what she seeks on Lunaria.

I can only surmise that she seeks access to the Void to release Valeskas, replied Radon thoughtfully. "If she also expected to free the Dark Ones to use for her designs, then you have solved that problem already. It also appears that destroying Valeskas now wouldn’t impact anyone except the pirate.

Rest here tonight and leave for Darma tomorrow, said Radon, waving a claw in their direction. Platters filled with food appeared beside them, and everything smelled delicious. Tell me how Devon and his reunion with his father went.

Oh no, groaned Commander Rosco inwardly when he spotted Saygan, the pirate, heading into the compound. He had returned every day since the defeat of Commander Bensin to ask about Kaida, Saressa's child. Had he seen the pirate's approach, Rosco would have disappeared inside his home to avoid detection, but it was too late. Saygan spotted him.

Hey there, Valeskas, in Saygan's body, called cheerfully, striding purposely towards Rosco.

Commander Rosco was a heavy-set man in his mid-thirties. He wore a dark blue top with a bright red stripe on the sleeves, denoting his rank. The shirt, tucked into his black leather pants, was secured with a red sash. His black knee-length boots looked well-worn but still serviceable. His long black hair was loose and hung on either side of his round, cheerful face. He grimaced on hearing Saygan's voice but responded politely.

Any word on the return of Kaida? Asked Valeskas, hopefully. I will be leaving on the Scoyl in a few days to bring the goods you have requested and, of course, my other customers, he explained. I hoped Kaida could join us on this trip as she requested.

I have not heard anything about Kaida since she left here, Rosco replied in a not-too-patient tone. I am sure she will seek you out on her return.

Are her horses still boarded here? Asked Valeskas. Attempting to make sure he had not missed Kaida's return.

Yes, Rosco said, bored with this daily conversation now.

Valeskas stood there at a loss for what to say next, and after a few awkward moments of silence, Rosco excused himself and went inside his home. Realizing the conversation was over, Valeskas turned on his heel and headed out of the compound. I grow tired of this nonsense, he thought. When is Kaida planning on returning here? My time is growing short because I am becoming more human each day I spend in this body.

Valeskas had refused to sacrifice himself, like the rest of his dragon brothers, to create The Dragon's Tear at the end of the Great War and instead joined forces with Dra. He became a powerful ally to the dark god and turned Stefan, who became one of his most trusted commanders. Now stuck in this human body, thanks to Hariah invoking him, Valeskas was powerless. He would like nothing better than to close his talons around Commander Rosco's fat neck and demand he bring Kaida to him. The only good thing about this human body was the food and ale that this pirate apparently enjoyed. Valeskas decided he would miss that when he returned to his own body.

He climbed into the wagon driven by one of the pirates, Ranno, waiting for him just outside the compound. Ranno hadn't reached his twentieth year yet, which showed in his clean-shaven, olive-skinned face. His brown eyes watched Valeskas approach the wagon, and a sigh of relief escaped his clenched teeth when he climbed into the wagon. He hated this daily ritual of bringing his captain to the compound looking for a girl who appeared to have vanished off the face of the earth. Ranno snapped the horse's reins and guided it skillfully back to the port town of Largay. His long black hair, braided on either side of his face, the rest left loose to hang down his back, flapped behind him as the horse picked up speed. His slim but muscular frame also betrayed his youth because the rich food and ale hadn't had the chance to develop the heavy-set girth like some older pirates.

Ranno had joined the pirates not by choice but by his uncle after the death of his parents, selling him to Captain Saygan for two gold coins. At first, he worked as a cabin boy to the Scoyl's First Mate, Darrow, then worked as a deckhand. During a particularly nasty storm, Ranno discovered his talent for climbing the ship's rigging. Darrow also noticed how agile and quick he was, climbing a line or swinging to another sail to secure it. Ranno found himself assigned to work with the Sails Master, a pirate named Yurad. Yurad had quickly trained an eager-to-learn Ranno to fasten the lines, drop or raise the sails, and he now studied with Yurad on when to make those changes. Ranno knew that one day he would be a Sails Master like Yurad. There was no better feeling than being high up in the rigging, guiding how the ship responded to the winds. Ranno respected Yurad, too, because he rarely joined the rest of the pirates on drinking binges when they were in port. Ranno could understand that. Climbing high in the rigging on a fast-moving ship, you needed your wits about you. The few times he had drank too much ale, Ranno quickly realized his mistake. He could barely get out of his bed the following day, never mind climbing up the mast of the ship.

The girl hasn't returned yet, then?  Ranno asked the silent Valeskas.

No, replied Valeskas abruptly, I will return tomorrow to see if there is any news of her.

Ranno glanced over at his captain, who, in response, smiled an alarmingly toothy smile. In the past few weeks, his captain did not behave the same as he had when Ranno first joined the ship. Saygan no longer seemed to spend time with his men and sometimes didn't even look the same as usual. The alarming smile he had just flashed to Ranno was another example of the strange recent changes in Captain Saygan. Ranno returned his attention to the horse and decided to see if the cabin boy, Peb, could drive the captain to the compound tomorrow. They set sail in another week, and Yurad had promised to teach Ranno how to manage the rigging when they used the Scoyl's crystal rudder. Traveling to different worlds brought diverse challenges in setting the sails to handle the winds safely, and Ranno planned to learn everything he could about it.

Ranno brought the horse to a halt in front of the Portside Inn, where the captain had a room. The horse and wagon belonged to the inn, and the stable lad ran forward as Ranno jumped down. Valeskas also jumped down from the wagon, but awkwardly, because he still struggled at times to control this human body. He dismissed Ranno because that was what he had to do when one of the pirates had a task for him. Ranno nodded quickly and headed back towards the Scoyl to meet with Yurad for his first lesson on the crystal rudder.

Valeskas was about to go inside the inn when movement off to his left caught his eye. He turned and saw a tall bald man waving to him to attract his attention. Valeskas silently groaned when he recognized Vade, one of the dark priestess Hariah's monks. Valeskas walked with a sinking feeling of dread towards Vade, who towered above him. Hariah's followers wore the same gray robes of woven cloth secured at the waist with black and red braided fabric swatches. They all had shaved heads and wore rope-woven sandals on their feet.

My mistress wishes to see you, Vade robotically said as Valeskas reached him. Follow me into the forest's edge so I can transport us to Draic without being observed from the inn. Valeskas nodded and followed glumly behind Vade. 

Once Vade appeared satisfied that they were unobserved by patrons of the inn, he stopped and gripped Valeskas firmly by the shoulder. Knowing what to expect, Valeskas closed his eyes as the floor shifted beneath him and instantly solidified again. Valeskas opened his eyes slowly as the sudden change in temperature from a pleasant sunny day to an oppressive heat washed over him. The sound of screeching birds and the hum of early morning insects filled the air as he opened his eyes. 

Vade immediately walked purposely towards the ruined entrance of Saressa's temple with Valeskas trailing behind him. They descended the stone steps leading to the Courtyard of Welcome. Vade led the way through the overgrown and unkempt tropical garden that lined the Courtyard of Welcome. The walls of stone pillars surrounding the courtyard towered high above them. Vines had grown in and amongst the stones of the once-white columns. Some vines had a variety of brightly colored flowers. Others dropped strands of dried grass that gathered unnoticed in piles on the floor.

A wave of nostalgia washed over Valeskas as he remembered how grand this Welcome Courtyard had been before the Great War. Back then, the gardens were well kept, and although only one or two dragons could fit in the courtyard simultaneously, others landed on the top of the pillars and watched the festivities from above.   That had been the original purpose of the columns. Each one had a platform fashioned on the top, fully capable of supporting the massive weight of a dragon. Draics, the people who inhabited this world alongside the dragons, had built this place. The dragons had assisted them by bringing the large slabs of rock from the mountains used to create the building. 

Valeskas stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. I need to get out of this body soon, he thought. These human emotions are getting stronger, and it is becoming harder to suppress them.   He waited while Vade pulled open one of the enormous wooden doors leading into the central portion of the temple. The doors were the only things in the Welcome Courtyard that looked well-kept. Someone had replaced all the broken pieces of wood, evident by the differences in color. Once pushed into place on the inside, the door’s bolts provided a strong barrier against intruders.

Vade led the way inside the building, and signs of the same neglect in the Welcome Courtyard were absent. An impeccably maintained large circular room had an ornate golden-colored statue of Dra monopolizing its center. Before the war, this monument had been one of Saressa.  Hariah had changed that once she had taken up residence here. Dra's statue faced the doors that Vade and Valeskas had just entered. They stopped and bowed their heads before it. Valeskas had been in the presence of Dra several times during the Great War, and the effigy before them was an unnervingly accurate representation of him. 

Dra was the height of the tallest dragon, but Valeskas knew he could vary that height at will. He had seen him appear the same height as the Draics as well. The artist had accurately depicted the long-braided hair that Dra wore loose and his cold, piercing eyes that were black in color in the flesh. The sharp contours of Dra's nose and chin complimented his full lips. He was a handsome god as a statue, and even more so in the flesh. Well portrayed in the figure, Dra's impressive muscular shoulders, biceps, and calves dominated the hall. The clothing on the statue matched what Dra wore every time Valeskas had seen him. He wore a short-sleeved shirt tucked into knee-length pants and a thick leather belt secured at the waist with a carved metal clasp. The statue depicted ankle-height boots, but Valeskas had also seen him wear knee-length ones. 

A stone altar lay before Dra's statue, used for worshiping purposes. When he had first arrived here, and the monks had taught him how to walk like a human, Valeskas had not noticed this place so much. The sight of it hadn't triggered memories of how it had been before the invasion of Dra and his army of Dark Ones. Being inside this human pirate had changed all that for some reason. Valeskas was not looking forward to this meeting with Hariah, and his eyes scanned around the many arches leading off this room, expecting her to appear. The archways led to areas used as bed quarters for the monks, Hariah's living areas, and other spaces used for cooking and eating. 

Valeskas discovered that over twenty monks supported Hariah during his first few days here. He also learned they were immortal as she was, and Hariah could not leave Draic. Just as effectively as Valeskas was in the Void on Lunaria, Hariah was imprisoned here. Valeskas did not remember seeing Hariah by Dra's side during the invasion. Even after agreeing to join Dra and abandon Saressa and his dragon brothers, Valeskas did not know about Hariah. It was chaos back then, though, he thought in his defense. I led invasions on Saressa's other worlds to satisfy my blood hunger and build Dra's empire.

Valeskas had begun to suspect that although Hariah had planned to use Dra's child to release him from Lunaria, she also intended to free herself from Draic.  Hariah has no idea who she is dealing with, Valeskas thought cunningly. 

Ah, there you are, said a voice from the shadows of one of the arches before him. What news of Dra's child, Hariah asked, walking purposefully towards him. Her long black hair wore loose and fell down her back in coils of curls. She had braided the hair on either side of her face to keep it out of the way. A deep frown filled her pale face as she studied Valeskas standing before Dra's statue. Her full-length, deep red robe brushed the floor as she walked. A black belt fashioned from leather wrapped around her slender waist and adorned with magical symbols burned into the material. 

Hariah looked in her twenties, but Valeskas knew a much older and dark soul lay within her. Her face looked severe, but he could see the beauty there. Even the three small tattoos on the right side of her face beneath the corner of her eye did not spoil her beauty. The tattoos were a half-moon surrounded by two stars.

The girl hasn't returned yet, Valeskas said, slightly startled by Hariah's sudden appearance. I have confirmed, however, that her horse remains at the compound of the defeated Lord Benson. I have been checking with Commander Rosco daily.

So, did you find out where she went after that battle? Hariah snapped.

No, snapped back Valeskas.  If I knew that, I would be on my way to find her as we speak.

Have you asked the crows to find her? Hariah said sharply, her impatience very obvious.

They have found nothing, lied Valeskas, who hated the crows and had not even asked them to find Kaida. 

When do you leave Largay Bay? She asked.

The pirates are planning to leave next week, Valeskas replied, Kaida told me that she planned on joining us. 

Send out more crow messengers then to locate the girl while you wait for her to show back up, Hariah ordered. You might be sitting there waiting, and she heads somewhere else. You do realize how important it is to find her, don't you? She said threateningly. The longer you stay in that body, the more it becomes you.

Yes, I know all about that? Valeskas replied wearily.

Also, the longer you stay in that body, the more difficult you will be to extract when we have the girl, Hariah reminded curtly. Remember, we need the girl's power to do that. If she doesn't return soon, you will become the human pirate you inhabit, and he will inherit your immortality, she finished indifferently. I suggest you urgently locate Dra's child and bring her to me, she said, turning her back on Valeskas and heading back to the archway leading to her private quarters.

Valeskas, once again in his very long life, was speechless as he watched Hariah leave. He was fuming, and his thoughts reeled over how Hariah always spoke to him. Had she forgotten that he had been Dra's right hand in the war and, as such, extremely powerful? Valeskas shook his head to clear the anger exploding inside of him. He took a deep breath and vowed to destroy Hariah with the assistance of Dra's child. I will friend the girl, he thought determinedly. I can be very charming when I want to be, as a toothy smile crossed his mouth. I just need to find her, and soon.

He headed back towards the temple's exit, and as he reached the door, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, causing him to grab Vade, who escorted him. Vade looked down at him in surprise and watched as Valeskas crumpled to his knees at his feet.

Are you sick, sire? Asked Vade. Valeskas couldn't speak for a moment and clutched his chest, struggling to breathe. Darkness swallowed him as he lost consciousness and slumped to the floor.

Vade sprinted after Hariah to alert her that something was wrong with Valeskas.  Although she wasn't convinced something was wrong, she trusted that Vade spoke the truth. As they returned to where Valeskas lay unconscious, another monk knelt beside him.

He is breathing, my lady, the monk said as Hariah approached them, but not responding to me.

Hariah pushed her foot against Valeskas's leg to see if he responded, but there was no response. Take him to one of the cots, and I will prepare a potion, she ordered. What happened before he collapsed? Hariah asked Vade.

Nothing that I saw, replied Vade, he grabbed my arm and then slumped to the floor clutching his chest.

Hariah nodded and left the monks to handle Valeskas while she created a potion. This turn of events is inconvenient, she thought. If he dies, then that wouldn't help me to find the girl at all.  

Valeskas, disorientated when he opened his eyes, looked up at the anxious faces of monks peering down at him, which made it worse. What happened? He thought, alarmed, struggling to sit up. Why am I still in the temple?

What happened? Demanded Hariah when she saw that Valeskas had gained consciousness. Vade said that you just collapsed at the door.

Valeskas shoved his legs over the side of the cot and bent his head to stop another wave of dizziness that washed over him. I suddenly felt like I was on fire, he said slowly. A sudden horror of realization hit him like a rock. The girl has done it, Valeskas declared with conviction, she has destroyed Stefan and everyone he turned.

How do you know that? Hariah snapped, anger rising within her.

I turned Stefan, and I feel his loss here, Valeskas replied, placing his hand on his heart. I felt the heat and now the emptiness.

And the Dark Ones, what of their fate? Hariah asked, realizing the truth of Valeskas's words.

Destroyed as Stefan was, replied Valeskas, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. I have no doubt she now seeks to destroy me.

Then it is fortunate that you are in the pirate's body, replied Hariah, I doubt the girl will risk his life.

Valeskas looked up at Hariah and realized the truth of her words. I need to find her quickly, he said.

Yes, and bring the girl to me, Hariah said firmly, We need to stop her.

An hour later, Vade again escorted Valeskas out of the temple, but this time uneventfully. Since the Mantle Dweller prisoner escaped from the deeper levels, Hariah had cast protection spells on every entrance to the temple. Only the monks and Hariah could cross the barriers, so Vade had to be with Valeskas if he entered or left. When they reached the fallen pillars that had once guarded the entrance to the temple, Vade allowed Valeskas to return to Darma alone.

Valeskas was glad to see Vade leave, and he walked to the edge of the tropical foliage surrounding the temple entrance. The heat and humidity