That did not end the urge to scream though. That just made him want to scream more. He wanted to shout out his agony, his loss, his need. He had appeared as calm as he could to Raziel and Caden. He was glad of that. Because if he had let any of this show before they had left-
Raziel left me!
RAZIEL LEFT!
No, no, Raziel is still with me. There is no hole in my soul. There is no...
“What is the matter, Valerius?” Illarion cried, dropping to his haunches, eyes wide.
He grasped Valerius’ shoulders and shook him when Valerius didn’t respond right away. In truth, Valerius couldn’t have responded. The scream would have left him. But somehow he managed to control himself.
“Shhhhh, she’ll hear you,” Valerius gritted out and tipped his head towards the mouth of the tunnel and the pool beyond.
He swallowed hard. The scream would not leak out. In comparison to Illarion’s loud words, his would be like the clanging of a bell in comparison. Vozyth would know they were there.
“She? This Dragon has a gender?” Illarion actually brightened at the thought of a female Dragon, which Valerius found ridiculous, but he didn’t say that.
“Evidently. Caden called her the Mistress of Plasma, but that hardly matters if she’s male, female, both or neither when she blasts us because you’re talking too loud,” Valerius growled.
“All right, all right, it’s just you’re on your knees and there’s a lady Dragon waiting to kill us,” Illarion said, lifting his hands up in surrender. “It’s all very exciting.”
Valerius’ eyes widened but then he left out a huff of laughter. “Clearly, you need to get out more if the idea of getting killed excites you. But I’m the only one who could really die here, Illarion.”
The lair still held the humans who were poking around at the “mirror”, but the two people he wanted there--needed there--were not. Caden and Raziel were on their way to face the Behemoth. There was another stab of pain, but this time it was not generalized in his chest, but directly in his heart. He had never hurt this much in a long time. It was just getting used to a body that had no superior healing abilities, among other things.
“What do you mean?” Illarion asked, acting as if the whole previous conversation had not taken place. “I know you can’t shift but--”
“I wasn’t exaggerating about my helplessness, Illarion. Raziel had to leave its lair to go after the Behemoth with Caden. Without Raziel there I am human for all intents and purposes,” Valerius told him.
Illarion blinked. “You’re serious!”
“Of course, I am--”
“I thought you were doing another of those bonding things where you complimented me and then took care of things mostly yourself,” Illarion admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. “Not that I mind. I get all the reflected glory and you do the work.”
Valerius’ eyebrows rose. “Ah, no, Illarion, I meant those things before and I truly mean them now. Caden and I are counting on you and Mephous. You are our only hope.”
Illarion stared at him. “Save me, Illarion Kenobi, you are--”
Valerius hit his chest, but then grimaced as his hand hurt. “Don’t be an idiot. I’m serious.”
Illarion stared down at Valerius’ hand. “That was like a kitten bat. You’re really weak!”
“Keep it down, and yes, how many times do I have to tell you that?” Valerius’ temper was threatening to unwind. He hated having to repeat himself and he really hated having to repeat himself when the topic was how weak and useless he was without Raziel.
Old friend, please bring Caden, Iolaire and yourself safely home, Valerius found himself praying.
Illarion’s brow furrowed deeply. “Let me get this straight, if our Dragon Spirits leave their lairs we lose our powers?”
“Evidently.” Valerius slowly rose to his feet, putting one hand against the wall to help him keep upright.
“So Mephous is trapped in a cave unless I shift and let him out here?” Illarion asked.
Valerius was going to remark about Illarion now making Mephous “male”. But he was struck more by the rest of what Illarion had said and how he had said it and the word he’d used. Trapped.
Raziel cannot leave the lair.
Raziel has been there for centuries.
