A Dragon Born by Jordan Baker Page B

Lady, or perhaps you would know me by a different name, for I am also called Ayra."
    Carly took a step back from Ehlena and stared back at her with a hint of sadness in her eyes. At the mention of the name she had spoken, something awoke deep within Carly's thoughts and she found that she was suddenly very uncomfortable around the girl.
    "I am hungry," Carly said abruptly. "You do whatever you think you can do and I'll be down in the tavern finding something to eat."
    "As you wish," Ehlena told her. Stavros and Zachary traded a look as Carly left the room.
    "I will leave you to this task, Lady Ayra," Stavros said.
    "See to her," Ehlena told him. "There is much trouble with her. I am named Ehlena. My other names are true, but they are not who I am now."
    "Ehlena it is, then," Stavros agreed and bowed his head before turning and following after Carly.
    "I'll stay if you don't mind," Zachary said.
    "Of course." Ehlena smiled at the mage then she sat down on the bed next to Aaron and placed her hand on his cheek.
    "Can you help him?" Ehlena asked.
    "You can help him."
    "How can I help him?"
    "You are me, and I am you."
    "Okay," Ehlena said. "I don't understand everything you just told those people, but it's true, isn't it? Everything you just said?"
    "Yes, but I did not tell them. You did. You are me, and I am you."
    "I'm confused. You keep saying that, but I know I am me. You're the Lady, which means you're you. If that weren't true, then we could not talk like this."
    "We are the same. You need only decide it and it will be so. I have given myself to you."
    "But what if you do things and I can't be me anymore?"
    "I would not do such a thing. You already know that."
    "I know. I just don't understand."
    "You will."
    "All right. What do we...I mean, what do I do?"
    "Call to him. And listen to him."
    "That's all?"
    "There is more, but first you must call to him. Use my voice that is within you, for it is now your voice. Talk to him, the way you talk to me, the way you talk to yourself, within your thoughts."
    Ehlena was not sure she understood what the Lady was trying to say, but she felt like it made sense. The times when the goddess had spoken, she had felt an overwhelming sense of purpose flow through her and the knowledge of many things flooded her mind, but it was something that just happened, rather than something she intended. She breathed in deeply and thought about Aaron and she thought about the power that flooded through her when the Lady did things and within moments the power was hers and she could feel Aaron next to her, his body flowing with energy, quiet on the surface, but beneath a raging torrent. His energy was different from hers, it felt hot like fire, but also warm like the sun. She tried to call to him.
    The fire burned white hot. People were shouting. A woman screamed. A child cried. The dark eyes spread shadows but the fire burned them away. The cold steel glowed hot and melted. A man screamed. The shadows fled. The fire turned to red.
    "Aaron."
    The flames reached higher, burning the sky. The shouting grew louder. A woman appeared. She reached out and bled as cold steel cut her. A man with a sword appeared and steel met steel. The shadows choked him by the neck and he fell. The shadows turned. Eyes like coal, coming closer.
    "Aaron, wake up."
    Tarnath walked into the bedroom.
    "I've got something for you, lad. Follow me."
    He followed him outside. His head pounded but the cool, night air was soothing. A gentle breeze whispered in his ear.
    "Aaron."
    A star glowed red in the sky. It grew brighter, closer, streaking toward him. Tarnath reached out and picked it out of the darkness.
    "It is yours, my boy. Master the blade."
    He held out a sword with a red stone set into its pommel.
    "Aaron. Wake up."
    He was on his back, staring up at the dark night sky. Stars glittered overhead. Eyes like shadows appeared. A man, holding a knife sneered at him. The stars faded and the darkness surrounded him. He tried to move