Page 9 of Winter Goddess
Agierth nods. "She is waiting for you, along with our Royal Ladies. Follow us."
I assumed we were going to walk or fly, but one of the women - Torsei, perhaps - turns around and waves her hands in the air, moving in a complicated circular pattern. I watch in fascination as magic is drawn from the environment and weaved into a thick rope. I've never seen anything like it, although I know that I could easily replicate it, now that I have my Goddess powers. The woman works on the rope until it's about three times as long as herself, then she flings it into the air, binding the two ends together to form a circle. The magic within the ropes crackles and spreads, merging with itself over and over again until the inside of the circle is covered with a thin layer of magic. I've seen this kind of structure before. It's a Gate!
It won't be stable forever, and it's certainly not permanent, but this woman has managed to create a Gate within a few minutes.
"Is that what I think it is?" Storm mutters from behind me so that the women won't hear.
"Yes," I reply just as quietly. "And I know how to replicate it. Imagine how easily we'll be able to transport our forces from A to B without me having to teleport them."
"Already it seems like a good idea coming here," Frost observes. "Even if we don't manage to get them on board, we'll have learned something to aid us in the future."
"Come," Agierth says in a voice that's almost a command. "It won't stay open for long."
Two of her sisters step through the Gate first, then Agierth. The other two are waiting for us to follow.
"Let's do this," I say confidently and walk towards the Gate. Its magic is calling to me, whispering secrets and memories. The woman who made the Gate must have poured more of herself into it than she realised. I try to block it out, but some of her thoughts make their way into my mind nonetheless. I shudder when one particular memory floods my senses. I push it to one side to examine it later.
"What's wrong?" Storm asks as I sway at the intensity of the images.
"Nothing," I mutter and take the final step through the Gate, knowing that my Guardians will be just behind me.
It's a rough ride, not at all like normal Gates. Not that they're always pleasant to travel through, but they don't make me feel like I'm almost ripped apart. When the Gate finally spits me out, I need a moment to steady myself, before I can look at where we've landed.
It's even hotter here than where we first entered the Realm, and I wish I could be in a bikini rather than a dress. How do people here cope with that heat? Maybe if I hadn't grown up in Scotland I'd be more used to warm weather, but right now, I can't change that. I summon some more cool air to surround me and my Guardians, who've just stepped out of the Gate.
"I dinnae like that," Arc announces. "I'm a wee bit queasy."
"Tell me about it," Frost says, his voice quivering. "I think I'm about to throw up."
I make my magic heal his upset stomach with a single thought and then do the same to the others, just in case. I don't want any of them to throw up in the Dragon Palace.
"Wyn, did you do that?" Frost asks in wonder.
I shrug. "It's easy."
Crispin steps to my side. "It's not. It would have taken me at least a minute to do that for all of us, and I'm an experienced healer. Your magic is incredible, Wyn."
I feel a blush rise in my cheeks. I don't feel like I can be proud of my new powers. I didn't do anything to deserve them. I'm grateful to have them, sure, they helped me save Frost and my father, but they don't feel like they're mine yet.
I shrug it off and finally look around properly. We're in a large open space surrounded by red sandstone walls, as tall as some of the largest tower blocks back in Edinburgh. Perched on top of it are dragons. Giant fricking dragons, so much more imposing than any film or painting on Earth could have ever portrayed them. They're too beautiful to be real. One of them has his wings - or maybe her wings? - unfolded, stretching them high into the sky. Red sunlight is shining through the wing's membranes, making them shimmer and sparkle. There are horns on the dragons' heads, just like the horns on the women's helmets. Maybe they're the same shape as when they're shifted? Or... maybe the horns aren’t on the helmets, but real, growing on the women's heads?
The five women who greeted us are waiting in front, watching us. I can't see their expressions to know if they're impatient, but their auras aren't giving me any negative vibes.
The large walled expanse we're in leads to enormous brass doors at the top of some steps. The palace must lie beyond those doors.
I'm about to tell the women that we're ready to continue on when something darkens the sky. I look up, expecting a large cloud perhaps that's covering the sun, but no, it's a dragon. It's bigger even than the dragons perched on the walls, and its scales seem smoother somehow, reflecting the sunlight and breaking it into a million specks of light. While the other dragons are mostly red and earth colours, this one is bright blue, with shades of sapphire mixing with lapis lazuli. I wouldn't be surprised if the scales were actually made of gemstones.
The dragon flaps its wings, making enough wind for my hair to fly into my face. Oh yes, did I mention? Becoming a Goddess made my hair grow back. It's a lot longer now than before, reaching almost to my hips, and I keep wanting to cut it, but so far, I've not been able to persuade the hairdresser to do it. Maybe I should get some scissors and do it myself.The length just isn’t practical.
It lands in front of us, making the ground tremble. The wings are still extended, showing the muscles and sinews that enable this giant dragon to fly. Two horns grow on either side of its skull, turning several times into delicate spirals. Its snout is large and with its mouth open, I can see big, sharp teeth protruding from its gums. It's beautiful, but also not a being I'd want to mess with. It could swallow me whole before I could fight back with magic.
What's strange though is that I can see it. My new vision allows me to see structures and plants as I did before, but all Gods and Guardians are hidden behind their auras, not letting me see their features. I'd assumed that it would be the same for dragons. Maybe they're too much like animals? Not that I'm complaining, it's amazing to see all the beautiful details of their powerful bodies.
The dragon roars, freezing cold air enveloping us. I instinctively pull some of the hot air from around us and wrap it around the guys and myself. It’s such a strange thing to have ice dragons living in this hot climate.
A strange blue mist is gathering around the dragon, the same colour as its scales. It doesn't seem like magic to my new senses, but what else can it be. You can't tell me mist suddenly appears out of nowhere, especially not blue and concentrated only in that one area.
The fog thickens until the dragon is covered in it, hidden by all the blueness.
