Broken of Fire (The Cloud Warrior Saga Book 9) by D.K. Holmberg Page B

of land. Far below, Tan saw a few other islands, some larger than others, and many with signs of life. He would need to find a map, or ask Roine about how many of these islands belonged to the kingdoms. Maybe none, or Roine would likely have needed help to protect them when Par-shon had attacked, but if they did not belong to the kingdoms, then were they independent lands, like the Xsa Isles, or ancient Vathansa?
    Asgar turned and moved east. The air turned colder, biting through Tan’s cloak, but had nothing on the heat radiating from the draasin’s back or the fire that burned within Tan through the fire bond.
    Where do we go? Tan asked.
    You wanted to learn about these lands. You know only a portion of the land, Maelen. There are many places you have not seen. Many places man has not seen.
    Tan settled in, enjoying the flight. Riding with the draasin was a peaceful experience. He enjoyed the heat from the draasin’s body, the wind playing off his wings, and even the mist that sprayed off him. All of it reminded Tan of Asboel, only different. With Asboel, there was the bond, the connection between them that had given both a greater understanding. With Asgar, he had no direct bond, but the connection to the fire bond joined them in some ways.
    Would you choose to bond? Tan asked after a while.
    Eventually. Father believed the bond beneficial for both bonded.
    Tan smiled. There had been a time when Asboel had believed the bond only benefited the shaper. It had taken time for him to understand the benefits that he gained from it as well.
    What of you, Maelen?
    I have bonded fire differently.
    The fire bond is not the same. You are connected to earth, yet bound to the hound. You share a connection to water, but bond the nymid. And wind, though much has changed with that one.
    Thinking of Honl sent Tan questing for the connection. Where had Honl gone? He had no limitations on where he could travel, and took whatever form he chose, and now that he had solidified his strange connection to spirit, he spoke as if he were no different than any other man. In some ways, Tan had lost that bond as well, though he still could sense Honl deep within his mind. Honl could still grant strength, but at what cost? Tan would not ask that of him, not when he suspected that Honl still searched to understand himself. Tan only wished that Honl would be around to help him understand what he needed to do.
    Fire is different for me, he said to Asgar.
    Only because you choose it to be. Each of the elements can be the same. I do not connect to water, but how can the bond not be the same? Water is life, much as fire is life, and air, and earth.
    Tan laughed. Do you know that you’re the first elemental to acknowledge that the other elementals might also be important for life?
    Maybe it is the time I spend with you. Sashari thinks I should hunt more. Sister isn’t curious enough for me, not with what she has been through. But I find you intriguing, Maelen. They continued making their way north, Asgar flying as fast as Tan had ever traveled with one of the draasin. Besides, how can I deny what the Mother has made clear through you? I was there when each of the elementals joined together, when the bond of your lands surged, creating a connection to the Mother. There can be no questioning after such an experience.
    The bond of each land had been the only way that he’d been able to defeat the Utu Tonah. When he thought about what they had done, and how they had stopped him, Tan sometimes couldn’t believe that they had succeeded. The Utu Tonah had possessed so many bonds, and connected to so many elementals, that he should have been able to draw as much power as Tan had managed to secure, but there was something about the freedom in the bond, in the choice, that he had overlooked.
    There can be no questioning, Tan agreed. The only questions that remained for him were about what he needed to do now that he’d stopped the Utu Tonah. And now that he had