Page 1 of Stormlost

PROLOGUE

Tears streamed down Erann’s face as he stood, imploringly, gazing at her. Sereh was merely a few steps away from him but looked so indecisive, he knew one false step would doom him. Then, she’d turn her back on him and walk away forever.

Erann couldn’t let that happen. It would destroy him. He understood why she wanted to leave. The things that had happened to him recently made him appear, quite frankly, odd. Today he’d win her trust.

The weak sun lingered on the glacier of Vatna Jokull, reflecting a rainbow of violets and indigos. In the sunlight, the protective shield surrounding him shone an opaque purple. His two new friends stood on either side of the shield. The woman he loved was outside. His huge, golden dragon friend, Skaldi, on the inside.

Erann was torn with self-doubt and indecision. He’d thought this would work. He’d thought, here, Sereh would be able to see Skaldi. It was the only way she’d remain at his side. But she couldn’t see the huge dragon. He didn’t understand why, even though Skaldi had tried to explain it to him. His silent friend was a constant and would stay no matter what happened. The same couldn’t be said for Sereh.

His indecision must have shown on his face because she looked at him and hurt, and then anger, flashed across her beautiful, wind-chapped face before she managed to reassert her studied indifference.

She meant everything to him. She’d been his support through recent traumatic events. He needed her. How to make her understand? Nothing he could say would make any sense. Her loyalty so far was a miracle in itself, tested once unsuccessfully, when she’d abandoned him in the cave. They were lucky to be here, alive, together, to test it again. Her survival from the fall into the crevasse had only been possible thanks to Arrow and Skaldi.

Skaldi had informed Erann that Sereh couldn’t be made to see him. Erann acknowledged that unless she could, she wouldn’t stay. She’d proven that already. The half-truths he’d attempted to foist onto her had eroded the initial faith she’d placed in him. The problem of the sudden arrival of Emma from Skaldi’s home, brought to help him by dragon flight, and even more sudden departure, by dragon flight, had only made the issue more noticeable. Nothing but the truth would keep her here.

He’d manipulated events to bring them to this location. He’d desperately hoped to prove Skaldi wrong. Here, he’d hoped Sereh would witness the gently pulsing shield he’d seen on their last journey this way.

But, he’d been a fool. Skaldi was right. Skaldi was always right. The hurt and anger, which were reasserting themselves, in Sereh’s troubled sapphire eyes was making it impossible to think clearly.

From where Erann stood on the exposed glacier he could see beyond to the dark azure depths of the Eastern Sea. If he looked behind him, he’d be able to see what Sereh saw now – the stark, pristine white of Vatna Jokull and the impressive sight of the huge mountain range, Snaefell. She’d also see the bruised amber of the coming night hanging low on the horizon.

Miraculously, Sereh remained, hesitating and biting her lower lip in confusion. His senses, more attuned now, detected a slight shifting in her weight. She’d made her decision. She’d leave him. Again. Before that heart-stopping moment could be made final, Erann stepped forward, covering the short distance instantaneously. He reached out to her.

Sereh stumbled, her weight unevenly balanced, poised as she was for flight. He gathered her into his arms, holding her, gently, in his firm grip and turning her around and into the swirling lavender shield. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his face to hers. He pressed his lips softly and hesitantly to hers. Perhaps, when all else failed, a kiss would keep her here.

Sereh responded, fervently and desperately. She clung to him, and moved her mouth with his. He could taste her breath. He’d never known anything sweeter.

Erann was unaware how long the kiss lasted, swept up in emotions and feelings he’d never experienced before. He didn’t know if this was their first kiss or the last but knew he’d remember it, forever.

Eventually, Sereh staggered back, a questioning look on her beloved face. He didn’t know what she saw there. She gave a small, contented sigh, and he took it as an opportunity to pull her head close to his shoulder. He cradled it there. She didn’t resist him, melding with him so they stood as if they shared a beating heart.

He looked over her head and saw Snaefell rearing up, unalterable by time and dominating the entire landscape. He felt as timeless as the mountains.

Sereh gulped in astonishment, breaking the magic of the moment. Erann looked down at her in alarm, stepping away to see her more clearly where she ran her free hand through the shield, with sparks running from her fingers, while he held on to her other hand tight.

He felt joyous laughter bubble up within him. She could see the shield. Finally, she’d understand.

And then she gasped. Frantically following her line of sight, he glanced to where Skaldi stood.

Wildly, her eyes flashing with incredulity, he saw comprehension dawning on her face.

‘Sereh, meet Skaldi. Skaldi, meet Sereh.’

‘Hello,’ she stuttered. ‘Hello.’ She coughed away her astonishment, even while Erann allowed the joy of the moment to bubble from him, shaking with relief and laughter. Had he looked like Sereh did now when he’d first seen Skaldi? Surely, he couldn’t have done so.

‘What?’ Sereh gasped, only to add another ‘Hello.’

‘Hello, Skaldi,’ she spoke with more confidence, but he could already see the questions forming in her mind.

‘He says hello, Sereh.’

‘What?’ she stared. ‘Hello,’ she gasped again, and then continued, ‘Hello, Skaldi.’ Then, ‘Tell me everything,’ she demanded fiercely. Erann nodded, aware his face was lit by a broad smile. One he feared might split his face entirely in two.

‘You won’t believe me,’ he murmured. ‘You really won’t.’ And now he laughed, the sound joyful, delighted, and he held her even tighter as her laughter joined his. He’d won her trust. He didn’t know how this had come about. But it had. Together, they could do anything. Together.

‘Tell me again,’ Sereh demanded. Their conversation had been long, filled with interruptions, and had continued even as the daylight began to drain from the sky.

Erann laughed once more. ‘I’ve told you everything I know.’ He grinned. She held his hand. He held her hand and the pair of them stood, sheltered beside Skaldi, in just such a position that the huge dragon could bend his neck to watch them. Erann knew Skaldi listened to their conversation, but more than that, he watched the images in his mind, occasionally sending a nudge of correction, and with a soft demand he rephrased something. Which he was doing.