by Martha Carr
“When you are finished, we will talk.”
“You got it, Po. I will uphold my end of this bargain.” She bit into the meat again and moved to sit on the rocky ledge and cross her legs as she chewed slowly. At least I have his attention now. I’m sure I can talk my way out of this. Or at least talk myself out of being ripped apart before help gets here.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
With a full belly and feeling strangely energized, Raven followed Po through the tunnel into the cavern and told him everything she knew about mages and their familiars, specifically of the dragon variety. She was careful to make a point of saying that most familiars couldn’t go very far from their mages and that communicating with images took considerable time and practice. He didn’t ask if she’d reached that point with Leander so she fortunately didn’t have to lie.
“What else?” he asked once she’d stopped talking.
“Um…that’s it, really. Unless you have any questions.” She tried not to cringe as he stared at her. Why did I open that door?
“I will think on this, tiny mage. And I will return when I am ready to proceed.”
“By all means.” She spread her arms and gave him a flippant bow, but the black beast didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. He’s definitely not like the dragon I know.
“I still owe you one of your demands.” The huge dragon headed toward the very back of the sealed-in cave, opened the immense claws that had snatched her from the sky, and drew them down the back of the wall. The sound grated so harshly, she clapped her hands over her ears and grimaced. Sparks exploded at the back of the cave, followed by chunks of wall that crumbled away as if the beast had clawed at cheese instead. “The mountain bleeds here, little mage. Now you have everything you need to fulfill your promise.”
With a final intense stare that lasted five seconds—she counted—Po snorted and turned to leave the cavern in a burst of echoing screeches on stone and flurried sparks. The chamber filled with the roaring grumble of the ancient dragon sealing her in with what she assumed was a giant rock before everything fell silent.
Raven sighed wearily and wiped a sheen of sweat from her forehead. I didn’t promise anything. But I didn’t not promise anything, either.
Licking her lips, she peered at the back of the cave and frowned. “The mountain bleeds?”
When the sound of trickling, dripping water reached her, she leapt forward. “Oh!”
Sure enough, the trenches the great dragon had carve into the cavern wall now glistened with thin streams of water. Quickly, she cupped her hands beneath the section of wall that released a tiny stream of cool water, and when that wasn’t fast enough, she knelt and opened her mouth beneath it.
She knelt there beneath the stream for a long time before she finally stood, her knees damp, and wiped her mouth. “Po dug me my own drinking fountain. How nice.”
Turning, she surveyed the cavern and the crevasse in the ceiling. In the mountains, in some kind of stone valley, near a river. Keep narrowing it down.
With her thirst assuaged, she stretched the crick in her neck out and returned to her satchel. Crossing her legs beneath her on the stone, she settled her hands on her thighs and closed her eyes. We all thought Alessandra’s meditations were a waste of time. It might be the only thing that saves me now.
Pulling up the memory of the stone valley outside and all the ancient dragons staring at her from their perches, she focused intently and reached out with her mind and her heart for Leander. A mage can communicate to her familiar. I simply gotta find the sweet spot.
The sun passed over the cave as Raven sat and meditated and tried to send Leander an image of where she was. She got up twice for more water and went right back to work. By the time the light falling through the crevasse in the ceiling faded into the muted gold of sunset, her growling stomach was too loud and painful to ignore.
She opened her eyes and sighed. “This isn’t gonna work. He’s too far away. Not even an all-day meditation session is enough to—”
An image entered her mind in a flash—a bird’s-eye view of the Mountains of Jared’s southern range and a feeling of urgency.
“No way.” She froze and broke into a huge grin. “I did it! He saw my thoughts. Or at least I connected with him somehow.”
Raven closed her eyes again and tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach. One more time to make sure he sees it all.
Two minutes later, Leander sent her another image. In her mind, she saw a fleet of dragons of every color streaking through the sky with their riders. William and Teo were among them, but she didn’t recognize the others. Leander had, however, made sure to include what he saw when he turned his head on his long neck to look behind him.
Headmaster Flynn sat astride her dragon familiar, his fingers loose around the harness where they rested on the pommel of his black saddle from his days as a dragon rider.
“Ha!” Her voice cracked through the cavern and echoed to her. She clamped both hands over her mouth and stared at the far side of the cave. They did it! They’re coming! And he actually let Flynn—
She blinked away the tears forming in her eyes and focused on steadying her breathing. Don’t freak out, mage. There’s still too much to do before you’re out of here.
Despite her impatience, she waited until nightfall, when the stars came out and filled the crevasse in the ceiling with twinkling lights. She summoned all her energy and raised her hands. I seriously hope he knows this one.
“Loquimi magus.” The light of the Full Appearance bloomed between her hands and the strong magic tingled up her fingertips and into her arms. She held steady and waited for the image to focus.
Headmaster Flynn looked up from the table in his room at the inn and the quill dropped from his fingers onto the wood. “Raven.”
“Headmaster.” She grinned. “I have to say I’m very glad you know this spell.”
He cleared his throat and focused on her. “So am I. How did you—”
“You can thank Alessandra’s master training techniques for this one.” He didn’t echo her joking smile and she glanced quickly at the tunnel out of the cave. “I don’t know how much time I have, but I wanted you to know that I—”
“Managed to get through to Leander. Yes, I am aware. He told us the second we landed outside Morningstar City.”
“Oh. Good. That’s…really far north.”
“So is Windroot Pass. Based on what Leander and your friends have told us, that’s where we think you are. We should reach you at some point tomorrow.”
She sighed with relief and couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Thank you.”
“There’s no need.”
“Did he tell you about the dragons?”
Flynn frowned. “He tried. I imagine it’s difficult to accurately describe an image in one’s mind, no matter how clear. He said they were huge.”
“That’s something of an understatement. Listen, I couldn’t send Leander information beyond what I could see, so that’s why I connected with you. The five dragons keeping me here are—”
“From across the sea. Your friends explained a fair amount yesterday before we left. They believe they were awakened from some form of slumber because magic has been misused and they have convinced themselves it is their duty to free the dragons of Lomberdoon from apparent mistreatment. Focusing on the dragon ranches first.”
“Wow, they really did tell you everything.”
“We put a few of the pieces together ourselves as well. Mostly, that was your friend William Moss.”
“Leander showed me he was with you.” Raven’s heart fluttered in her chest. “I found out a few more things today. They feel like the most important.”
“I’m listening.”
“I have running water here, so wherever I am, there’s water close by. A river or a lake or something. And the black dragon here—I think he’s their leader— was very interested in what I had to say about mages and dragons working together. Especially as familiars
.”
Headmaster Flynn’s eyes widened. “Go on.”
“The others don’t want to hear any of it but this one does. He thinks I can commune with magic to discover why they were…called across the sea, I guess but he wanted to know more about the connection Leander and I have. I don’t know why, but when you and the others reach the valley here, don’t send riders. You probably shouldn’t come either, Headmaster. No offense.”
“None taken, Miss Alby.”
“But send a few dragons. I think we can talk our way out of this. The black dragon is curious enough to hear us out. Leander and Teo will know what to do. Teo and William have a great relationship. That might be a plus for defending the dragon trainers and their ranches, at least, and Leander and I can show these other dragons what we can do together. That way, they’ll see I’m not his master, only his friend.”
The man nodded. “I will talk to them all in the morning and we will form a plan to incorporate what you’ve told me.”
“Okay. I—” Raven gritted her teeth and glanced at her shaking hands.
“End the spell, Miss Alby.” The headmaster lowered his head. “It’s all right. You’ve done very well.”
She smiled weakly at him. “See you soon.”
As soon as she disconnected the Full Appearance, she slumped over her crossed legs, completely exhausted. Once she regained enough strength to move, she lowered herself slowly to the cold stone floor and curled around her satchel. We did it. They’re coming. I gotta be extra careful from here on out.
The young mage closed her eyes and let her exhaustion pull her into sleep.
In the secret, dusty room of the king’s fortress in Havendom, Connor Alby leaned forward over the table and widened his eyes at the woman seated across the table. “What have you heard from the other kingdoms?”
War Mage Kyree Athena took a deep breath. He’ll like what I have to say as much as he did the last time we met. “Only rumors. An overturned cart or a split tree, none of which are exactly unnatural occurrences.”
He thumped back in his chair and grunted. “That can’t be all, Kyree. I refuse to believe Lomberdoon is the only kingdom on the continent with visible changes.”
“Visible only to people looking for them.” She shook her head. “We’re leaving no stone unturned, Connor. I assure you. But the process to find this kind of information isn’t exactly something that’s been tested and laid out for us. There’s no precedent for this.”
“We’re creating the precedent!” The man thumped his fist onto the table with a puff of layered dust. “That’s why we have to do this right. We must build the foundation now so that when the time comes, this kingdom doesn’t descend into terror and chaos. Because it will be terrifying. Believe me. I’ve seen what happens when those with magic can’t control it.”
She waited for his outburst to end and stared solemnly at the man who’d put more effort into this search than she’d expected of him in the beginning. We’re both full of surprises, aren’t we? “Are you finished?”
Connor cleared his throat. “Yes. I apologize.”
“I’ll accept your apology on the condition that you don’t raise your voice to me again.”
“That’s a fair request.” The man swallowed and sighed heavily. “I’m tired, Kyree. I put my entire life aside—the life I built for myself and my granddaughter—to follow this wild goose chase. Although I know it’s not only a chase.”
“I agree. There is an answer.”
“And I intend to find it. With your help, I really do believe we can do this.”
She inclined her head toward him and her blonde bob framed her face. “So do I. These things take time and patience.”
“I’m very much aware of that, thank you.”
Kyree smirked as the veteran dragon rider folded his arms and scowled at the table. “I do have something that may interest you very much. The Consortium won’t take this as proof, I’m sure, but it’s proof enough for me.”
He looked impatiently at her. “What is it?”
“You said your magic returned to you years after you believed you were spent.”
“I did.”
Kyree raised one hand over the table, her fingers pointed at the ceiling. “Do you know why I wear these gloves?”
The man’s lips twitched into the ghost of a smile. “There was hardly enough information to find on your background or your status with the Consortium. It didn’t include your wardrobe choices.”
She chuckled wryly and grasped the fingertips of her black leather glove with the other hand. “I was badly injured during the Great War. I was sixteen at the time, the same age as your granddaughter, I believe. So of course, I didn’t fight in the true battles. But when the Swarm attacked Sethvarin, the people there turned to using what weapons we did have. Burning pitch was one of them. The city panicked. I panicked and I paid a high price for it. I started wearing these gloves halfway through my first year of school at Mandrose Academy, mainly to keep the other young mages from staring.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said softly. “And I’m glad to know it didn’t stop you from becoming what you are today. But I don’t see how that—”
Kyree stared at him and slipped her hand out of the long leather glove that reached all the way to her elbow. Then, she thumped that elbow on the table and twisted her hand and wrist under the low light in the dusty abandoned room so he could get a better look.
“No…” He frowned and leaned forward to stare at the smooth, unmarred skin of the woman’s forearm, wrist, and hand. “Is it—”
“Not an illusion.” She extended her hand so he could take it, he ran his fingers quickly along her smooth skin before he leaned back in his chair with wide eyes. “For almost two-thirds of my life I’ve worn gloves like these. I’d given up trying to find a spell that would rid me of the scars and the phantom pain. A month ago, they were no longer necessary and I can’t tell you why.”
Connor rubbed his mouth and met her gaze again. “But you suspect.”
“I suspect my scars were healed in the same way that magic returned to a spent wizard living out the rest of his days as a reclusive goat-rancher with his granddaughter.”
“Who have you told?”
“No one. And I don’t plan to until we’ve made a strong enough case to take to the Consortium. We’ll reveal everything we’ve found at that time, including this.” She raised her hand before she slid it back into the black leather glove. “This is about timing as much as it is about proof.”
“I know that.” He tapped a finger against his lips and stared at her gloved hands again. She rested them in her lap. “I’ve arranged a visit with—”
He frowned and leaned back when a shimmering circle of light wavered into existence in front of him and hovered over the table.
“It looks like someone’s trying to reach you.”
The man licked his lips. “I haven’t seen this in quite some time.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then. Wait for my next message. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to meet again.” Kyree stood and her chair scooted back with a muffled sound across the dust-layered floor.
“Connor.” The man’s voice that came from the other side of the Full Appearance spell sounded urgent and slightly unsure.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Kyree slipped through the door and into the dark hall but not before she caught a glimpse of the man who’d cast the spell to speak to Connor Alby. It looks like the past is catching up with all of us.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Raven was jerked awake the next morning by the sound of the massive boulder outside the cave being rolled aside once more. The screech of Po’s claws and spines scraping against the walls preceded him before his gargantuan head appeared at the end of the tunnel.
“Outside, tiny mage. You may take your meal and then, we will speak.”
She pushed off the stone and rubbed the back of her neck with a grimace. “I’m coming.”
A short stop at the trickling water for a drink and to splash her face woke her fully. She slung her satchel over her shoulder and headed toward the bright light that spilled through the mouth of the tunnel.
Po sat in his usual place to her right and shielded her from the buffeting wind that howled through the stone valley below them. He’d already prepared her breakfast which fortunately, hadn’t been rolled in dust and pebbles this time.
Raven picked it up and almost dropped it again in surprise. It’s still warm. She looked at the black dragon and smiled politely. “Thank you.”
“Eat. We have much to discuss.”
She glanced around the desolate landscape and gnawed on whatever part of whatever animal the beast had cooked for her. “Where are the others?”
“They do not wish to be seen. But they are here.”
Great. I seriously hope these aren’t giant, ancient dragons who can also make themselves invisible. That might be more than we can handle.
At Sunrush Dragon Ranch outside Morningstar City, Headmaster Flynn and William Moss gathered with the fleet of riders and dragon trainers to discuss the slight change in plans. Flynn relayed what Raven had told him the night before and more than a few options were discussed as to how they could succeed with this rescue.
When the details of the final plan were set, the headmaster of Fowler Academy turned toward Leander and Teo and inclined his head. “Is this something you two are willing to do?”
“You know where I stand, mage,” Leander replied.
“Indeed. Teo?”
The green dragon studied the veteran dragon rider and narrowed his silver eyes. “I am willing. For Raven.”
“Excellent. I want to thank you both, although I know you’re not doing it for me.”
The dragons lowered their heads in solemn bows. Flynn walked away to approach a handful of other riders who thought their dragons could handle what was being asked of them.
With a gentle tug on Teo’s harness, William led his dragon away from the fleet for a private conversation. “Flynn asked you before I even had the chance. I know you’re willing, Teo. And I know I don’t have to question your loyalty to me. But I can’t help but wonder—”