Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (good non fiction books to read txt) 📕

Dragons of all sizes covered the mountainside. Many turned to gawk back at him. Nervous, Kai sat on the rock beside his grandfather. Speechless, he watched the dragons mingle, old and young, large and small. They eyed him at first. Some came close and cocked their eyes at him, then at Benmar, only to bound away after a few good sniffs of Kai’s head.

“Where do dragons come from?” Kai asked softly.

“The first dragons came from the imagination of two lovers,” Benmar answered.

“It is said that creating the new creatures took all their energy, and they were lost in the change. From them, baby dragons were born into this world. With their offspring, other Katori shifted into their form. More and more people chose to remain dragons. Over the centuries, their numbers grew.”

Listening to his grandfather, Kai watched their nature. Dragons coiled on rocks to bathe in the sunshine. Young dragons popped their heads out of dens within the rocks. Others took flight and disappeared over the trees. He wanted to get closer, but he dared not move from his grandfather’s side. “Why do Beastmasters no longer become dragons?”

“The dragons fought for our desire to be free from the rest of the world. They died for us. In retaliation, men everywhere hunted them until we Katori intervened.”

“How could anyone get the upper hand over a dragon?”

“Like any creature, they have weaknesses, points where they can be killed with the right weapon—giant spears catapulted into the air. Their young were hunted most aggressively. Men entered dens and slaughtered babies in the hundreds. Dragons everywhere retreated to Katori, begging for our help. Four of the fourteen Mystic Islands solely belong to them.”

“What did the Katori do to stop them? And who is them?”

“They—were warriors from Bangloo. They took Milnos first and aimed to take over the world. We crafted the Zabranen Forest into a wild and unsafe border. Our guardians dominated the grounds. The hunters became the hunted. I hate to say we killed all who entered. But in the end, we created our mountains. The earthquake that shook the world created the Katori Mountains, which suited both our desire for seclusion and the dragons’ desire for safety. It also cut us off from the world.”

“But the dragons fought for Diu in the next war against Milnos. Why?”

“Because Gianfranca Galloway asked for our help to save Diu. She was Katori. At the time, Milnos was getting too strong. All of Katori felt it worth the risk to push them back. The elders felt we would be next, and it would start the great war all over again. But after, the dragon’s retreated even more.”

With one eye on their surroundings, Kai followed his grandfather. “That still doesn’t explain why Beastmasters don’t select dragons. Simone is a dragon.”

“She is a brave woman. Her parents made the trip to Alenga’s crystal mountain. She saw me fly away one night. It took her several months to find me, but she kept stalking me until I agreed to teach her. Then she begged to see the dragons for herself. So, I brought her here. She was captivated. I introduced her to the dragons. The rest was up to her.”

“If I were here alone, would I be safe?” Kai’s voice wavered in the asking.

“Without our constant interactions, dragons became aggressive. Honestly, they fear being manipulated for a cause that's not their own, and most Katori now fear them. To answer your question, I believe you would be fine. Your humble nature and respectful posture are the only things keeping you alive now. It is not out of respect for me.”

Kai started to ask another question, but Benmar stood. “Enough questions for today. We can come back tomorrow.”

Chapter 18

Fighting Dragons

Over the following weeks, they continued to visit the dragon’s meadow. Kai studied their habits, watched them nurture and play with their young. He noticed their individual personalities. Today he and his grandfather walked through the center of their lair. Young dragons hid within their dens, while the adults were curious yet hesitant. They ranged in shades of black and red, some dark and intense while others were more vibrant and bright.

Following his grandfather’s lead, he strolled through their rocky warren.

“Why would Liam, a Stoneking, choose to learn from a Beastmaster?” Kai wondered as they walked. “How could you possibly help him learn his gifts?”

“The lessons are the same, Kai. All young Katori must learn to access their gift. The only difference is the manipulation of power into the desired outcome. That, each person must discover for themselves.”

“But why you? It can’t just be a coincidence you became Liam’s teacher.”

His grandfather contemplated his response. Kai could see him struggling as he decided how to respond. “I am Liam's teacher because I needed him here. In truth, I needed someone willing to break the rules. Or at least bend them. Liam was that young man. I heard about a young Stoneking meeting a boy who traveled with wolves. When I asked him about meeting you, I felt it gave him insight into the person you were. I knew a day would come when you would try to come for your Conhaspriga. I needed a Stoneking for that day and I hoped Liam would be willing to help you when all the older elders refused.”

“But Stonekings and Weathervanes are so different than Beastmasters,” Kai insisted.

Benmar chuckled. “Stop trying to force logic into every situation. Stonekings are more than brute force or physical strength. They see the finished product in their mind, feel it in their bones, then move it out through their hands. Weathervanes are the same. As I understand it, they feel a current running through their veins as they draw in energy. Their magic turns what they’ve created to alter elements of weather. At least that is what I’ve been told. Yulia told me how you helped her on the ship. You and Rayna pulled energy from the sky.”

Kai