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Chapter 3

Sor'Ryn's flight home

The heat was tolerable, the lack of food was bearable, even the flight to the small island was manageable, though it almost killed him; but what he could not stand any longer was those damnable screaming monkey's. Everywhere he walked those ear-piercing screams followed him as he searched for food; a large troop jumping from tree to tree, some even running around him.

 Compelling his damaged body to move by sheer force of will he headed inward, followed by the ever present group. "Leave me!" he roared. The chatter only intensified as a few gathered their courage and began to attack. They would make passing runs and hit him, kick around dirt and leaves or they would throw things. When a rock caught him on the side of the face he had enough and let out a small burst of energy. It was enough to sending the massive group scampering off. 

Finally he was alone. 

He collapsed against a large tree too tired to move, some of his wounds still not healed although his body was getting better. Glancing up through the tree's branches he watched the sun drift lazily through the sky.

'How many months had he been in the dungeon?' he thought. They had wanted information about the Kuvans; who the leaders were, how many warriors each Kuvan supported, and how many Syl'narin's each Kuvan had in its legion. He had to quickly get back to his Kuvan and warn the others about this rogue group from the island so that they had time to prepare. He had to protect his people at all cost.

His eyes drifted closed as the sunlight warmed his body. 'It has been so long since I felt warm.' His body relaxed for the first time since he was taken. 'Who was that woman?'

~~~

The atmosphere in the war room was suffocating as five Kuvan leaders argued about the missing King. The large cavern was tucked away inside one of the mountains that made up Daj'Netir, the home of the Three Kings. It was made out of the mountain itself and has been a stronghold for generations.

"How could one of the strongest leaders get taken? And worse, no one knows about it! Huh?" Saewine bellowed, a loud man from Oreb'nor, a large city that made its livelihood by the sea.

"Who said he was taken?" A lone woman quietly said from her seated position. "Yes, the boy is strong, that there is no doubt, so what if he just left? It is a lot of responsibility to be Kuvan leader. Perhaps he..."

"The King would not leave his people!"  A'Xon banged his hands on the table, knocking his cup over, spilling the wine. "Ever."

"Do not yell at me, pup, or I will put you down." Asa was a small woman especially next to any of the male Kuvan leaders, however, she was fierce and feared. She was known as being a ruthless warrior and would fight by any means necessary if it meant she were to be victorious. Not many people would disrespect her, even in her old age. She kept her seat but her eyes held A'Xon's until she received a small head bow in acknowledgment over his outburst.

 "Radhi'tsin."(I forgot my place/my apologies)

 "I know he is your friend..."

 "Brother." A'Xon interrupted, crossing his arms.

 Asa raised an eyebrow, and with a head bow of her own, continue, "brother, and no, I do not believe that Sor'Ryn would just leave," she paused when she saw A'Xon relax, "however, we must consider all the possibilities."

 "It is strange." Everyone turned to a tall man pouring himself cup of wine. "I have put out to all the merchants and brothels that if they have heard anything from any travelers or customers to contact me or one of you but no such luck." Da'zik calm voice injected, "Sor'Ryn is more than capable of handling himself or anyone, so for him to be missing and for this long is extremely disturbing."

 "Why aren't the other leaders here? We should have everyone here." Saewine went to stand behind his helpmate Asa, his voice showing his irritation. "Why are we the only ones to come?"

 Ry'Den stepped forward, away from the wall that he was leaning against. As A'Xon's twin, they made an intimidating pair but there was something more menacing about the silent giant than his more brash counterpart. "Our brother is gone and yes, it would have been wise to call all the leaders here but..." He stood next to his twin at the head of the table, slightly tall, more muscular, but it was still difficult to tell them a part. Both had the same bronze sun-kissed skin, same long dark brown hair but Ry'Den's eyes were more golden than brown even so it was a challenge. Perhaps it was for that reason, they had tattoo's placed on their hands; A'Xon with a sun on his right and Ry'Den with a moon on his left - a complete pair.

"But, we wanted our Teu'Kaviana (family by choice/honored members) and only our Teu'Kaviana to know. Da'Zik, you are also our brother; Saewine and Asa, you have guided us and supported us since we were children. Sor'Ryn is gone and we do not want any other Kuvan to know lest they try to attack."

The room stilled at his words. To use such a sacred word was meant to bind those through eternity. 

Da'Zik walked over and embraced both Ry'Den and A'Xon. "Teu'Kaviana." 

Saewine stood tall, placed his fisted hand to his chest and bowed low. "Teu'Kaviana." His mate got up from her seat and walked over to the three men standing at the head of the table. "You boys have been my light. I have watched you grow and become fine leaders. If I had my own sons, they would not have been better than any of you, my Lomoyo(heart), my Vie'Ainana(life)." She hugged each of the young men, forcing them to bend down. "My Teu'Kaviana."

 "What about Sor'Ryn's Syl'nari'n? Can he tell us anything?" Da'Zik asked. "I thought that Sory'Ryn was bonded to his Syl and they could communicate, was I mistaken?"

"They are bonded but it seems that he is blocking his Syl somehow. Dra'Kain is not pleased with Sor'Ryn. We have been staying out of his way." A'Xon rubbed his hand over his face exasperated.

"Can a person actually block a bond? I have never heard of that." Saewine looked at his mate then to the three men standing. "A bond is ...."

"Magic perhaps?" Asa glanced up at her husband through the confines of his arms around her. "Someone could have used magic."

 "No one has used magic like that in hundreds of years, not since the Great War for Na'Syl'nar. Magic like that has been lost to the ages." A'Xon looked to his brother for confirmation but found none.

"I don't know. Things like magic has been passed down from generation to generation like Asa's healing power, there are scrolls and stones with unheard of magic written on it that has been maintained, and some of us have figured it out on our own. Found our own way. Things are different now."

"I agree with Ry'Den," Da'Zik spoke up. "There are things that we do not know nor understand and making assumptions will get us nowhere. So for now, we must focus on what needs to be done. I will send out a few of my hezar(light cavalry) to scout in different regions."

"Yes, we will do the same. You two should send out a few that you trust as well."

"No." Ry'Den's deep voice caught everyone by surprise, especially Asa. Few people ever tell her no. "We can not send out anyone. No one knows that Sor'Ryn is missing and we do not want to cause a panic. That is why we asked you to come. We need you to be our eyes and ears. The people look to Sor'Ryn for safety and if they..."

"Alright," Asa clapped her hands signaling the end to all discussions "we will do everything we can. Let us take our leave and get ourselves organized."

Four large men fell behind one small woman as she lead them out to the opened field where several Syl'nari'ns gathered. The younger ones played in the field with the adults looking on, every once in a while a little one would jump on an adult trying to get them to play but with no luck.

 Saewine gave the three men a slap on the back, hard enough to have each man take a step forward. "Alright boys, we will get the wayward brat back and he will be bothering us all in no time." He gave a loud whistle, calling for his Syl'Nari'n to come. Both his and his helpmate's came running; large animals that could carry a person easily and looked like wolves. It had wings that would fold back onto its back, large horns protruded from the top of its head, some would have two; others four. ***add more***

 As Saewine and Asa climbed onto their beasts, Da'Zik's Syl'Nari'n came loping over. His seemed larger than the others, a beast in its prime.

 "I will head to Kal'Kad'dem and see if they have heard anything. From there I will call out the hezar to scout the far end of my territory all the way to Oreb'Nor. We will cover as much as we can." Da'Zik effortlessly jumped onto the back of his Syl. 

 A'Xon and Ry'Den watched them fly off to the west. 

 "Come brother, let us prepare." Ry'Den turned to head back.

 "Prepare for what?"

 "When we find him, I have a feeling there will be no calming him down." Ry'Den looked to where Sor'Ryn's Syl was fighting a group of other Syl'Nari'ns. "If his Syl, is anything to go by, Sor'Ryn will be out for blood."

 They both walked away as Dra'Kain threw another Syl to the ground and howled his victory.

~~~
It took Sor'Ryn three days to reach the other side of Vib'Belii once he got to the main continent. Crossing the desert during the day was impossible so he flew during the night, landing half day short before he reached Oreb'nor. He found a small creek to rest after his relentless journey and before he fell asleep he tried once again to reach his Syl. It was difficult not being able to communicate with his Syl, a creature that he bonded with and has been with since childhood.
He did not know what caused the block but the closer he got to Daj'Netir the easier it felt to grasp the link between them. Searching within his mind, he was able to see the faint light that was Dra'Kain and sent out his message. 'I am on the Main, nearly to Oreb'nor. Can you hear me?' Holding onto the light, he waited for a response of any kind.
He smiled to himself when the small light exploded into blinding radiance. That was Dra'Kain's light; an overwhelming presence that was both annoying as it was comforting.

He fell asleep to the sound of his Syl'Nari'n's roar.

  End of Ch. 3