The Council of Eldor (Ona of Ozmora) by Ash Gray

Author:Ash Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ash Gray
Published: 2022-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

ONA DECIDED THAT THE only way to come to a final decision was to head to Pylia and speak to the human queen directly. She was a princess when Ona knew her, little more than a skinny child lying helpless in her canopied bed.

Now the girl was Queen Emeralle, a warrior queen and admiral of what was once her mother’s vast armada. As Ona flew fast over the ocean, she could see the warships in the distance. Ships that had been retired for more than a decade were now leaving port, preparing to sail across the Siporra Sea for the realm of the lorna. The islands celebrated, releasing fireworks and beating drums to the stars.

Ona seethed: the humans were already setting out to attack Purvara. After that, they would continue cutting a bloody swath across the continent, raiding and pillaging the villages of the eemore, setting fire to the rainforests of the gor’ki. Perhaps they wouldn’t stop until they had reached Ozmora and crumbled its ancient ruins to dust, driving out the last of Ona’s people.

The only people safe from the hungry rage of the humans were the mer under the sea and the skywalkers in the cloud realm. Those on the land were vulnerable to their fire and bloodlust. Those on the land would suffer.

Ona had been flying a night and a day for the archipelago, the salty breeze ruffling her feathers, her wings tired and yet determined. There was simply no time to warn Queen Francesca. Stopping the war rested entirely on Ona and how quickly she could reach Queen Emeralle’s ship.

The armada glided fast across the sea’s smooth surface, comprised of dark ships with dark sails and horrible monsters carved into their prows. Already, Ona could catch the grim laughter of warriors on the wind.

The human men were talking of the spoils of war, of raping and kidnapping women like treasures to be stolen, of stealing livestock and crops, riches and silks. These were commoners who dreamt of exotic treasures, who would never see a fat coin purse unless they took it in a raid, and Queen Emeralle had recruited them because of their hunger. Callimor’s system of poverty and wealth, rich and poor had created them, and now their queen would unleash them on the unsuspecting lorna women across the sea.

And yet, as she swept for the forward-most warship, Ona asked herself what would happen if she simply took Takari’s advice and let the humans behave like violent savages. Perhaps the dragons that slept beneath Lornac would rise up and chase the humans back to Pylia. Or perhaps the lorna would prove formidable and aptly defend their realm. What would happen if Ona let the races of Allaca settle their own disputes, rather than playing peacemaker and nursemaid?

She asked herself if her predicament wasn’t some experiment of the god-race. Were they using Ona to test decisions they themselves might have to make in the future? The very thought infuriated her, but she had to remind herself that she was responsible for her own actions.

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