Rainbow Dragon

Chapter 1

Water, air, fire, and earth dragons danced in the sky, weaving their colors into a tapestry that shivered in the frost-laced winds of autumn. The earth dragons, many of whom hadn’t flown for centuries, were beginning to drift down to the ground when the approach of an airplane accelerated their descent. As soon as their paws hit the earth, they hurried to the safety of the forest at a faster speed than most earth dragons ever achieved.

Druid called after them. The human and cats from Oasis are leaving. Don’t you want to say good-bye?

One by one, they returned from their shelter, moving much more slowly than they had before. We weren’t afraid, Earthlight, their new leader, said. We wanted a better view of this flying piece of metal. Distance lends perspective.

Druid hoped that distance would lend him a more favorable perspective on the dark and troubled land of Tamaras. If not, he’d settle for distance.

He tried to dream up some friendly and flattering words. I will remember the earth dragons with fondness. Please visit our land whenever you wish. Now that the four species of dragons have joined forces, our future looks bright.

And your mating with Desert Rose also brings the four species together, Earthlight said. Let the prophecy be fulfilled. May the Rainbow Dragon be born.

The Rainbow Dragon! The deafening cry made the silence of some dragons who stood a little distance from the rest very noticeable. Whatever they knew about the Rainbow Dragon wasn’t giving them joy.

He knew he was looking at trouble. Dread cold as ice-tipped waves chilled him.

He hated Tamaras.

* * *

Serazina ran to the plane, carrying a small knapsack. While she was boarding, gossamer-fine wings brushed her cheek. I go, too, said Arielle, Queen of Faery.

And I, Phelaine, a younger fairy, said.

And I! A small, trunk-like shape ran towards the plane. His stubby legs climbed the steps to the door with difficulty.

I hope you’re not coming because you don’t trust us, Serazina said.

We trust you totally, Phelaine said. We’ve decided that we can pave the way for the future migration of our kind. The dwarf must speak for himself.

The dwarf has no trouble doing so. While we trust you, my comrades believed that a physical reminder of your promise would do no harm.

Just don’t show yourself until we’re ready for that, Tara hissed, her tail flickering. You may think the whole world belongs to you, but we’ve marked Oasis as our turf.

And very beautiful turf it was, Serazina thought as the plane flew over the mountain range that separated Tamaras from Oasis. Tamaras was lush and green, but autumn painted it more brightly than it did Oasis. She hadn’t realized how she missed the sight of palm trees, rainforests, and cultivated fields.

The field workers would have gathered most of the harvest by now. Her father, superintendent of the northern fields, would be enjoying a well-deserved rest. She could hardly wait to see him—and her mother, of course.

Arielle fluttered above Serazina’s shoulder. Already love has gone into this earth. Do you think so, Phelaine?

I hear its song. Perhaps the land knows we are coming and greets us.

The fairies sighed in silvery harmony.

Tara, sitting on Serazina’s lap, also sighed with an undertone of purring. Do you remember when we returned from Etrenzia and swore we’d never leave Oasis again?

So well that I’m afraid to repeat that statement.

I just whispered it to myself as a trial, and I didn’t hear a single objection from You-Know-Who. Apparently, She Who Guides Us is content to allow us to stay in our own land, at least for now.

I don’t like that ‘for now’ part, Serazina said. "Never has our work been so clear. We have to make the elementals welcome in our land. Our land. Right here."

The other thing that may keep us here will be making babies.

You are a very wicked cat.

Who feels about motherhood exactly as you do.

Serazina glanced at her husband, Phileas, who’d left his seat beside her to stretch his legs.

You mean confused, undecided, eager, fearful, and under intense pressure from a male who gets to sit on the sidelines during the main event?

Tara tucked her head into the curve of Serazina’s elbow. Exactly so. Wake me when we get home.

They were circling over the airport when Dal’Rish, Commander of the security forces, came to Phileas. I’ve received a message from the Governor of Tamaras. They’ve captured the last two leaders of the Austeres, Loriana and Aillenn. Loriana has begged that the authorities send her to Oasis for rehabilitation.

No, Serazina said. We’ll keep our promise to send healers to Tamaras to teach their people effective methods, but that country can take care of its own troublemakers.

Phileas took her hand after Dal’Rish left. I’m proud of you.

Maybe I don’t deserve praise. She reminds me of my stupidity in trusting her. By the time I realized that she wasn’t the innocent, persecuted psychic she claimed to be, I was her prisoner, and you had to crawl through the sewers of Tamtown to rescue me.

I appreciated the humbling nature of the experience.

You still smell a little, Tara said.

And I, Serazina thought, should appreciate my humbling and remember that it taught me not to take myself so seriously. If I’d learned to laugh at myself, I would have been able to laugh at Loriana’s pretense of being a poor tortured soul—like me. I have to remember not to sink into seriousness again.

But babies are serious business.

She Who Tormented Serazina for Her Own Good interrupted this first step in the descent to gloom.

Babies laugh. They play. They think life is an adventure. Maybe you’re not ready for that. Maybe having one would make you far too light-hearted.

She was right.

Prepare yourself. PLAY!

Sometimes she hated the being she called the Green Lady.

Fortunately, no one had announced their return, and no crowd awaited the Oasans at the airport. Serazina didn’t have to hear the cries of Heroine of Oasis (a very serious job title). Only Phileas’s mother, Janzi, greeted them in the terminal. She hugged Phileas and Serazina.

My dear children, I can’t describe how relieved I am to see you.

Serazina whispered into Janzi’s ear. A few elementals came with us.

How exciting. I hope to meet them soon. Only the Council knows that you’re arriving today, and I’ve insisted that you be allowed a few days to recuperate before you report to them. I assumed you’d want to stay at the beach, and you’ll find a tent and supplies already there.

She smiled at Tara and Cinnamon. And I’ve arranged a car to take you to your home meadow.

We’ll come with you, the elementals chorused.

You can come, Tara said, and in time I’ll introduce you to my parents, but right now I need some serious grooming and mother love.

* * *

Tara dashed up the hill that opened up into the meadow, Cinnamon close behind her. Don’t worry; I won’t intrude on your private time with your mother.

Did he have to be so faultlessly polite, so perfect? Tara thought she’d abandoned all resistance to him when he’d twice risked his life to save hers. However, the mating issue pushed its way to the forefront of her mind now that the familiar grass of the meadow tickled her paws.

The slight hint of frost in the air reminded her that this was not the ideal baby-making season. Though kittens were sometimes born during winter, their parents were usually city cats so out of attunement with natural harmonies that they didn’t know better than to subject their newborns to such unpromising conditions. Tara would insist on waiting for the kinder months of spring and summer.

Emerald greeted Tara with a loud purr and rubbed against her. This was the first time I didn’t accompany you on a quest, and never before did you get into such trouble.

How about when I was lost on the frozen tundra of Dolocairn?

Yes, that was bad, but this was worse. Janzi visited a few times to update us, but her information didn’t exactly reassure me—for example: ‘They all got caught in an earthquake, and Tara was showered with broken glass, but she’s fine now.’ I’m supposed to believe that? I didn’t relax until I heard you were coming home.

I never missed you as much as I did then, Tara said. But Cinnamon stood by me every minute.

Her mother studied her with wise green eyes. You say his name in a different way now.

I have so much to discuss with you. Oh, I’m so glad to be home. When I thought I was dying—

Emerald growled and pressed her haunch against Tara. One thing I never understood. Who caused that earthquake?

Dwarves, but they were sorry.

Sorry? They’ll be sorrier if I ever meet one.

Could I finish the story before you plan your vengeance?

I can plan it while you talk.

The thought of dying made me so sorry I’d never mated with Cinnamon and, more important, never opened my heart completely to him. I knew how much I loved him. I promised myself to stop being so judgmental about some of his ways.

I had to do that with a certain big windbag. They say that letting go of irritation builds character.

Does it?

It must because I haven’t killed him yet. Now what is it about Cinnamon that’s ruffling your fur?

Tara leaned against her mother, inhaling the freshness of grass and flowers and a recently eaten mouse. She felt brave enough to look inside.

Faultless Cinnamon, always there for her, always ready to protect and defend her, always willing to proclaim his eternal devotion. She needed and wanted that kind of love, but . . .

I want to know that he needs me, she said. I want him to act once or twice like a frightened kitten who knows that I’m there to defend and protect him, too. He says he knows I’m brave, but I’m sure he wants to be even braver.

Ah, Emerald said. The usual male problem. I wouldn’t still be with Orion if he hadn’t learned to admit his occasional feelings of helplessness and turn to me for support. The irritations shrink when you know you can take turns letting down your guard and get comfort.

And that’s what’s missing for me.

You’ll need to kick him in the butt about it, but you’ve been watching an expert do that ever since you were born. I have full confidence in you.

Tara leaned against Emerald again and purred.

When evening fell, Orion returned to the meadow. Cinnamon is hunting for dinner, he said.

She gave Cinnamon credit for knowing that she needed to spend this undisturbed time with both her parents. She stretched and rubbed against Orion’s flanks.

He licked the top of her head. I’m so happy to have you back safely. We were grateful that Janzi kept us updated, but she found it impossible to convey the nature of the beings you met.

Even if she had seen them, it might have been impossible, Tara said. It would be better if you could see them.

Arielle and Phelaine, who must have been waiting for those words, immediately appeared. Orion gasped.

No, words wouldn’t work at all. How lovely you are. How dreamlike.

In our own way we are as real as you are, Arielle said.

Emellan appeared. Tara noticed that no one called him lovely or dreamlike, but Orion greeted him with courtesy.

Emerald did not. "Is that a dwarf?

He is, Tara said.

Emerald’s paw whipped out and smacked Emellan in what might have been his stomach. He whuffed and rolled, log-like, for several feet.

Orion, carefully moving out of paw range, asked, Why did you do that?

Tara told me dwarves caused the earthquake that nearly killed her. So I smacked the little stump. I might only be warming up. It depends on what he has to say for himself.

Emellan turned as white as a birch tree. I didn’t know her then; I didn’t know any of them. And I wasn’t the only one involved.

Bring the rest of them here, and I’ll whip their butts, too. I may not be able to do earthquakes, but I can cause some upheavals. Tara, did he do anything else to you?

Don’t tell her, the dwarf cried.

Tell me, Emerald said.

When I was still seriously wounded, he carried me off to the tunnels—filthy tunnels— below the earth to meet the Earth Dragon Queen.

Emerald growled.

Emellan, sensitive to all subterranean rumbles, shivered. At my Queen’s command! Besides, I got hurt, too. That russet cat took more than one savage nip out of me.

I’ll thank Cinnamon when he returns, Emerald said. As for your Queen, don’t think dragons frighten me. I’m faster, and my claws are sharper, and so are my teeth. Maybe you’d like a demonstration.

Orion, who’d been cautiously listening to their exchange, now looked directly at the dwarf. If Emerald doesn’t mind, I’d like to join in.

Two against one! Emellan shrieked and rolled up into bristling tumbleweed.

He mostly kills with his words, Emerald said. Brace yourself.

Listen well, dwarf, Orion said. First, be aware that even though I haven’t pummeled you, your treatment of my beloved daughter enrages me. However, you’ve committed a much greater violation. I’ve been listening for a tone of remorse. I’m not hearing it. Did you intend to cause my precious daughter harm?

Never.

So you were only stupid and careless. Did you intend to cause probable harm and death to other creatures?

Only humans.

Emerald, whose haunches had been quivering, leapt at the dwarf and treated him to the two-paws battery. He cried, Mercy!

Like the mercy you intended? Orion asked. Emerald gets enthusiastic about punishment, but I applaud every blow. Your behavior will not do in Oasis. If you and your kind want to live here, you’d better think twice about your so-called rights. They don’t include wholesale destruction as payback for some kind of grievance. Dear fairies, do you think we’re unjust?

Arielle and Phelaine fluttered their wings. The dwarf has a bad attitude, Arielle said, and in this land that welcomes us with every breeze, I notice it much more.

Emellan’s bark rustled, and it took him a few minutes to recover his ability to speak. When he did, his voice was low and perhaps remorseful.

I did everything possible to redeem myself. I risked my life to guide the human leader, Phileas, through the tunnels and sewers to find the female, Serazina.

Orion, easily, if temporarily, seduced by a promising story, allowed the savagery to drain from his eyes, but Emerald still looked as if she were prepared to take a nip or two out of the dwarf. By the time Emellan finished, though, her eyes had softened slightly.

We’re very fond of Phileas, and we love Serazina. Even if these dirty tunnels are your natural habitat, you did well to guide the Guardian and to help save Serazina.

No more beatings, then?

Not for the past. There’s always the future.

And I think we need to discuss the future, Orion said. I see exciting challenges and much possibility of failure.

At that moment, Cinnamon returned with an acorn-fattened squirrel and gave Tara a haunch. She’s still recovering, he told the others.

Yes, she got far too thin, Emerald said.

And we deeply appreciate your loyalty to Tara during your dangerous adventures, Orion said. We’re up-to-date on them now, and we’re trying to impress the dwarf with the importance of cooperation.

Good luck with that.

Emellan, it’s not entirely up to us, Tara said. We’ll need to have discussions with all the forest animals. Druid will be in charge of the swamp. We haven’t yet met the beings who may come to live there.

The dwarf, who had apparently forgotten Orion’s warning, said, We have the right to be here.

Attitude, Tara said. A very cooperative collection of animals live here, but they consider this place theirs. Sharing doesn’t mean surrender.

Arielle gave Emellan a stern look. We’ll take care of the dwarf.

And, if needed, we’ll ask for the help of the lovely Emerald, Phelaine said.

You’ve got it.

Then we’ll let the forest animals know that we need to have a meeting, Orion said. Shall we use the traditional messenger?

Tara covered her ears with her paws. We met the nicest hawks in Tamaras. Let Gris know, but not until tomorrow, please. I need more rest.

* * *

As they walked down the beach, Phileas remembered the sweeping curve of Tamaras Bay. How he’d wanted to make love with Serazina there, but they’d had no privacy.

They would have no lack of privacy today, but the water had a distinctly frosty tinge. Even Druid, the great water lover, who stood further down the shore, was shrieking faintly whenever a wave nipped at his paws.

I’m afraid not, Serazina said, taking his arm. You’ll have to settle for the tent tonight.

Sleep sounded better and better the closer they got to the tent. When they arrived, Phileas saw that the thoughtful animals had piled some driftwood next to freshly caught fish and a heap of seaweed.

It’s good to be home, he said.

She fell asleep immediately after their lovemaking, but he lay next to her for a while, reflecting on the last tumultuous days in Tamaras. He deliberately summoned an image of his father, imagining the man yelling at him, calling him a failure and worse, and the harsh words that had tormented him before had no more effect than the hissing ocean foam.

Is it possible that I’m truly free of him at last? he wondered. If so, am I ready to have a child?

I recommend that you replace I with We, a silent voice corrected him.

Once Phileas had cursed his inability to open up to the Green Lady. The release of the tangled and dark emotions around his father had ended that problem. Now he was learning that once you became receptive to hearing the Green Lady, you also had to hear Her often-sarcastic advice—which was usually right.

We was the most important word of the child-making formula. Three months earlier, on this beach, he’d tried, with what now seemed like shocking ill-grace, to force the notion of childbearing on Serazina. She’d rebuffed him just as forcefully. Wisdom dictated that the next suggestion to make a baby come from her.

But was he wise enough? Patient enough?

Another challenge.

It never ends.

He groaned softly, rolled over, and fell asleep.

Chapter 2

Druid and Desert Rose rested in the comfort of their cave. Never have I been so content to be back home, he said.

And content with the dragon who shares your cave with you?

Need you ask? I’m hardly a mysterious being.

She stroked his face. Not at all. You’re as transparent as the sea, and that’s what I love most about you. I know your heart and mind are joined, and that means that we must begin to talk about dragonlings.

He knew he had to tell her what he’d observed. She was silent for a long time after he described the displeasure on the faces of some dragons at the mention of the Rainbow Dragon.

Delphine told us so little, she finally said. And there will always be creatures who fear change. It’s clear that we take a risk in having children, but don’t think that’s going to stop me. If our dragonling is threatened, we can go into hiding in Dolocairn or Etrenzia. We can call on all dragons to defend us. Druid, we have so many friends.

He tried to find reassurance in her words. And he longed for dragonlings. And he knew he was brave, but, somehow, it seemed much easier when only his life was at stake.

The next morning Monti and Howling Moon, the cougar and wolf who had led the swamp community since Druid had retired from that role, came to Druid’s cave.

Welcome back, Monti said. I would have stopped over last night, but I was sure you’d be exhausted.

Druid smiled. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and I’m glad you’re here today. I was hoping to speak to Seafoam, as well.

The huge sea turtle crawled up onto the beach. I heard that you’d returned, and I set off on my journey to see you last night. You never could keep a secret, Druid, and I suspect that you have more than a travelogue to share with us.

Yes, urgent news.

Desert Rose placed a pink paw on his green one. It might make matters go faster if I told the basic story.

Druid looked at her with gratitude. Yes, I do have a tendency to wander down murky and muddy byways—and Tamaras had an abundance of them.

The three animals settled down to hear Desert Rose’s concise account of earth dragons who refused to walk on the earth and hated humans, humans swamped in depression, dwarves who helped to orchestrate earthquakes, and lovely fairies skilled in the art of negotiation.

The three animals listened with silent eagerness. If anyone but you told this story, I would find it hard to believe, Monti finally said.

Imagine being able to disrupt the earth with concentrated energy. Howling Wolf flicked his tail. "I wouldn’t want such creatures living here."

Druid steamed slightly. It happens that this is exactly what they want.

Impossible, Monti said, if only for the reason that I would never share our sacred ground with some little tree trunk who both caused Tara life-threatening injuries and also abducted her.

Howling Wolf growled. You’d never be able to trust him.

But Phileas did, Druid said, all the way to the bottom of the earth—or so it sounded.

Monti scratched his ear. The Guardian doesn’t come easily to trust. I’d have to meet this rotten piece of bark, and I’d also like to hear directly from Phileas why he trusts him. In comparison, the fairies sound far more attractive.

Emellan is an acquired taste, Desert Rose said, and I admit that I haven’t truly acquired it.

Seafoam crawled a little closer. Monti, Howling Wolf, you may have missed the point. Tactful as Desert Rose was about it, the message is clear. We can’t prevent these beings from coming here. Moreover, even though none of us, in fact, no animals, were responsible for their eviction from the world they claim they helped to create, humans were. We know how humans behave when it comes to land. Has anyone forgotten that they tried to take away our swamp? We have strong reasons to listen to the claims of these strange beings.

Though Druid was about four hundred years older than Seafoam, he often felt that the turtle greatly surpassed him in wisdom. That’s the line we need to take. Our fellow swamp residents are not only reasonable but compassionate.

And it helps that the dwarfs will live mostly underground, Desert Rose said.

Very helpful, Monti said, his eyes still narrowed. Will the elementals be much of a drain on our resources?

Druid realized that he didn’t know. Ah, I believe the fairies like nectar and that sort of things. Since they say they can make the humans’ crops more abundant, it seems that they could do the same for our wildflowers. As for the dwarfs, they look like they eat dirt. Plenty of that here.

We’ll set up a meeting, then, Howling Wolf said. I assume the forest animals will have one, too. Monti and I will need to be at both, so we’ll coordinate.

Or use Gris? Druid suggested.

That carrion eater is sure to get involved, but I’d rather handle this myself.

* * *

Serazina and Phileas returned from the beach and to the work of the Oasan National Council. Their first job was to prepare a report on Tamaras for the other members of that body. This required a preliminary meeting with Dal’Rish and his assistant, Artain, which took place in the suite the couple still maintained in the administrative building.

Serazina was glad to be reunited with the two men with whom they’d shared major adventures and ordeals, but she hated the purpose of the meeting, which involved the most plausible presentation of a bunch of lies.

Obviously, we can’t tell them everything, Phileas said.

I’d say not. Dal’Rish shuddered. Stones that speak? Dwarves who kidnap cats? Gauzy little fairies? We have a great deal of editing to do.

Artain frowned. Yet how can we explain the source of the mass depression in Tamaras without these details?

We can blame the Austeres, Phileas said. Their widespread message confused and depressed the Tamarans. No one had ever told them before that living self-indulgently and with a maximum of waste was wrong. And the Austere philosophy offered no viable alternative. Now that the Governor and his lady are instituting sensible changes that respect the environment, the people have become more cheerful.

Dal’Rish also looked more cheerful. I think that could work, Guardian. We have the advantage that Janzi knows the truth. She’ll back up our truncated story, and everyone believes her.

You look distressed, Serazina, Phileas said.

Because I am. Maybe I worry more that they’ll believe us than that they won’t. The other Councilors trust us to deliver an honest account. Not only are we violating that trust, but we’ll also be introducing a foreign element into the country without telling them. I fear that we’re becoming tyrants.

But to tell the full truth could jeopardize the future of the elementals in this land, Phileas said. That would violate the trust they’ve given us.

Serazina couldn’t find a flaw in that argument. Although no fanatical fringe seemed active in the country at the moment, knowledge that an alien species was about to settle there might produce one as quickly as excessive rain sprouted mushrooms.

And the simple truth is that it’s a matter of national security. Dal’Rish sat up very straight, as he always did when he talked about national security. Both we and the elementals knew we could do nothing to stop them from coming here. We were fortunate that they were willing to negotiate terms. The greater good took precedence over full disclosure.

I know, Serazina said. Maybe I’m worried that the Councilors won’t forgive us for keeping this from them.

Phileas fixed her with a steady eye. If we believe we’re doing the right thing—and I do—so will they when it’s time to tell them.

She caught his unspoken thought. If you had as much experience in dealing with the Council as I have had, you’d understand.

The subtext was equally clear: You’re young and ignorant.

You’re not. For once, the Green Lady was taking her side.

You believe that the others haven’t adequately looked at the dangers of concealing the presence of the elementals. You’re thinking about the damage to the integrity of the Council. You contemplate the unfairness of having the people blame the entire Council for facts a few people left out. And, finally, you don’t want to be blamed. These are all wise thoughts.

She spoke to you? Phileas asked.

Dal’Rish and Artain’s attentiveness to Serazina’s delivery of the Green Lady’s message proved how deeply the experiences in Tamaras had changed them.

Any good commander knows the importance of having an exit strategy, Dal’Rish said. And it’s unfortunately true that holding back puts our allies on the Council in undeserved jeopardy. Poor planning all around. Guardian, we need to rethink this.

A year ago, Phileas might have fallen back on his ultimate supremacy as ruler, but now he looked thoughtful. This is a muckier business than crawling through the sewers of Tamaras. Suppose we were to put out that we’re involved in delicate negotiations with certain indigenous peoples of Tamaras?

Dal’Rish’s face lit up. Tell them the truth? What a brilliant tactic.

Part of the truth, Artain said, and quite enough. I recommend communicating to the Governor and his lady that we are pursuing this strategy. I believe we can trust them.

Although the solution Phileas had proposed was technically both true and elegant, Serazina’s sense of unease persisted. You realize that the people are still going to be shocked and may rightly accuse us of concealment. We’re also still left with the question of how they’ll feel about gnomes living in their gardens and dwarves burrowing beneath their lawns.

No worries about the fairies? Artain asked.

I think they can charm their way out of any tense situation, Serazina said.