Page 46 of Dragonbound

He hoped that the men would steer clear of the steading, but suspected it was only a matter of time before another group – less suspicious, more intent on wreaking havoc – would come, and that he couldn’t protect the steading again. But for now it was safe.

Flapping his wings, he rose into the air again. He spied the Others and the wolf nearly at the basin of the opposite valley. He decided to wing past them so he could see how the Other felt right now.

The day was so still that by the time he reached them, he was finding it hard to maintain altitude. He banked on his mighty golden left wing to hover above his Other. As he did, he felt rather than heard a shimmer in the air. Looking down at the Others in surprise, he was amazed to see his Other looking straight at him. But surely not. The Others outside the wall couldn’t see his kind. He knew that, and yet, the Other’s expression showed that could be a lie.

30

SKALD DREKKI

Skaldi landed with a soft thud on the snow-cleared ledge of his home. Night had fallen as he’d journeyed home. A lamp blazed on the entryway, for the benefit of the Others who served him and to ensure they didn’t accidentally fall from the open ledge onto the glacier far, far below.

He had much to think about. He needed quiet. He suddenly appreciated the solitude his new position gave him. He didn’t understand the bond he felt with the Other. Since he’d met him on the glacier, saved his life and seen into his mind, he’d been distracted and, more than anything, burdened with questions he could get no answers to, for there was no one to ask – except the Other himself, and Skaldi couldn’t fathom how he could ask a man to explain what was going on. Neither could he ask his family, although, briefly, he considered his mother. She was wise. Perhaps she also knew about the Others. A pang of sorrow for his family went through him. They’d know what had happened. They’d know he’d never see them again unless something happened that meant he must inform them about the unexpected development.

Now, there was himself and no other who held the key to drekkikind’s past, present and future. The history of his kind, as it had been passed down to him through Naer-Vera, was disjointed and brief, almost as if certain events had been left out.

He wondered how his predecessors had coped with this sort of gap in their knowledge, until he realised they’d probably never had the freedoms he enjoyed and so didn’t feel the need to question what Naer-Vera had shown him. Their predecessor would have trained former Speakers, and they’d probably not have thought to question their role. Skaldi wondered why he’d felt the desire and why he’d felt the need to interfere in the lives of the Others as well.

A shuffling noise distracted him. He glanced to the left and saw one of the Others disappearing back into the darkness. He heaved a sigh. Perhaps he should start paying more attention to those who lived in proximity to him. Maybe the answers could be found there, after all.

Gently, Skaldi sought out their minds with his own, Please come out. I’d like to talk with you.

He heard the sharp intake of breath and smiled grimly to himself. He’d never thought to speak to the Others. There’d never been any need to in the past. He hadn’t been sure it would work.

For now, he concentrated on the Other in front of him. It was the female Other who’d pulled the body from the water on the day of the rockfall and who’d taken responsibility for the hatchling he’d rescued. Skaldi looked at her more closely.

He couldn’t tell her age but could see she was of a slim build, very much like the one with his Other. Her eyes were a striking aquamarine. Skaldi idly wondered if eye colour meant as much among her kind as it did among his. He’d already noticed his Other shared his eye colour.

She stepped forward boldly, and Skaldi began by asking something he’d never thought to ask before. What’s your name?

He could see her thoughts swirl with indecision and conflict. And yet, somehow, among all her awe he’d chosen to speak to her, she recovered her voice.

‘Should I think my answers, or speak them?’ Her voice was light and carried with it a slight accent his Other didn’t have. Still, Skaldi was amused. This woman had incredible fortitude given the circumstances. He felt somehow he’d been right to speak to her.

You can do whatever you feel most comfortable doing, he thought back.

She smiled briefly. ‘Then I’ll speak if that’s acceptable. And my name is Emma. Is there a problem, Speaker?’

He thought how best to answer. No problems, just unanswered questions about your kind. Would you be willing to help me?

Her thoughts again swirled in confusion and bewilderment. At the same time, a sense of calm emanated from her. A sense of rightness.

‘I’ll answer any and all of your questions. Please ask away.’ Skaldi hadn’t meant to look into her mind as she spoke to him, but the wave of emotions and recollections rolling from her was so intense he couldn’t help himself.

He saw ice-grey seas and a small child looking upwards. He saw a man who turned and smiled. A dwelling and a blazing fire in the hearth. Crops growing and herb beasts grazing. He felt a deep satisfaction. It amazed and silenced him. Here was a woman who’d experienced much of life among her people. He wondered briefly how she’d come to live amongst drekkikind. Surely, her life had been too full to leave it all behind, and yet she appeared to have abandoned all of it.

Naer-Vera had shown him the Others were the children of a select group who’d come to live in the cave when the shield had been erected. But if this Emma’s memories were correct, he had been lied to.

As Skaldi cleared his head of her wave of memories, he realised he was unsure where to start. The silence between them stretched, yet the accepting smile remained on Emma’s face. Skaldi wished he could feel so at peace.

My name is Skald Drekki, Skaldi. Please don’t call me Speaker.

‘Of course, Skaldi. I’m happy to call you by that name,’ she responded quickly. ‘I know you’re new to your position and that it happened in unusual circumstances. You might not realise, but you don’t have to ask permission to speak to me, and you don’t even have to ask me questions. You can use your skills to see anything you want in my mind. You may find it quicker. I know your ancestors made use of their skills.’

He was taken aback by her forthrightness. She was right. It would be quicker. However, after his time with his Other and his frustrations at having the thoughts and emotions of other beings force their way into his mind, he wanted to respect her kind’s privacy. If he entered her mind, it would feel like an intrusion, and he had a terrible feeling his people had already intruded enough on her kind.

So, he thought, How long have you been here? How much do you know about our kind’s past?

He detected a calm acceptance in her mind. Instead of making sense of the cacophony of thoughts that formed in her mind in response to his questions, he waited for her to answer.