Something Wyverian This Way Comes

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  Steve started to pace. “I don’t know, how about under her tongue?”

  Dirgath answered him this time.

  “Too risky. She wouldn’t risk accidentally swallowing it and then passing it out.”

  Steve stopped pacing and stared at Dirgath.

  “Ew. I was joking.”

  Dirgath stared at him, unblinking. “That wasn’t funny.”

  “You need to lighten up.”

  Sarah turned to Pryllan. “Where would you hide something?”

  The green dragon considered.

  “And you didn’t want it to be stolen?” Steve added.

  Pryllan considered some more.

  “Provided this talisman is small enough, I would find a way to attach it to the underside of a loose scale, or perhaps find a missing scale and have the talisman made to resemble that scale.”

  Steve sighed. “That means it would look like any other scale and you’d never know what you were looking at even if you happened to be looking straight at it.”

  Sarah turned to him.

  “What? That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Let’s just agree that it makes our lives more difficult.”

  Sarah shook her head. “That’s just one plausible scenario. We don’t know if that’s what she ended up doing. We need to find out what she did with it, whether she hid it…”

  “She wouldn’t have,” Tirgath interjected.

  “…or disguised it as something else and is hiding it in plain sight.”

  “How do we find out?” Steve asked.

  Pryllan growled low and deep.

  “We must find her. As soon as possible. I will lose my ability to fly at any time now.”

  “Where is she?” Steve asked as he turned to Dirgath and Tirgath. “Where can we find her?”

  “She never told us,” Dirgath answered.

  “We’ll find her,” Sarah vowed. “Even if I have to teleport all over this kingdom, we’ll find her.”

  Tirgath shook his head.

  “Impossible. She is way too cunning and clever. An expert at staying hidden, she is.”

  “She’s been practicing for many centuries,” Dirgath added.

  “If she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be,” Tirgath assured them.

  Sarah suddenly turned to face the second Zweigelan and smiled. “Then we must make her come to us.”

  Everyone looked over at her. Steve cleared his throat.

  “Umm, how?”

  “We’re going to set a trap.”

  “Dare I ask what we’re going to use for bait?”

  Sarah smiled. “I have an idea. We’re going to need a little help on this one.”

  Chapter 12 – The Game is Afoot

  Pryllan dozed lightly, resting comfortably in the cool shade of the warm summer day. She and Pravara had followed Steve, Sarah, and the two Zweigelans from Dirgath and Tirgath’s lair back to the valley floor and were now at the southern tip of the valley that was bordering Anakash forest. While the humans and Zweigelans conversed, mother and daughter decided to get some rest.

  It had taken a little longer than she had liked, as everyone had to wait while the second Zweigelan carefully climbed down from their cave. They could have made arrangements to meet later in the day but Sarah had discreetly suggested that they all travel as a group and therefore just travel on foot. The silver Zweiglen hadn’t said anything, but Pryllan could tell it had been the appropriate thing to do as she could see Dirgath and Tirgath appreciated being included in the group.

  The tall majestic pine trees that she and Pravara were sitting beneath cast plenty of shade, which the two dragons were taking full advantage of. Rustling leaves and a slight disturbance in the wind attracted her attention. Pryllan gently sniffed the air. A myriad of scents assailed her senses.

  Pryllan cracked an eye open. A human had just appeared out of thin air. That would be Sarah. Ever since she had announced she had a plan to lure the female Zweigelan out of hiding, she had been mostly absent. Pryllan watched her rider approach the human female. They embraced. Sarah then started gesturing towards the trees, then off to the east at more trees, and finally, straight at her.

  Both of Pryllan’s eyes opened. Yes, she saw that correctly. Both humans now appeared to be talking about her as even Steve had looked her way a few times. She activated her heightened senses but unfortunately she had tuned in at the tail end of their conversation and hadn’t been able to hear anything.

  Pravara, who had been napping next to her, stirred and stretched. The dragonlet noticed Steve nearby and gamboled over to him. Sarah vanished just as Steve turned to see Pravara approach. He generated three fireballs and juggled them, much to Pravara’s delight.

  Several minutes later Sarah reappeared next to Steve. She looked over at Pryllan and vanished once more, only to appear directly in front of her. Sarah looked up at her, expectantly.

  “Yes?” the large dragon inquired.

  “I’m going to need your help, too, Pryllan.”

  “I fathomed as much. What would you like me to do?”

  “I need you to bring Rinbok Intherer here.”

  Pryllan’s full and undivided attention fell upon Sarah.

  “You want the Dragon Lord here? Why?”

  “His role is crucial to this,” Sarah explained. “We need him here. Better yet, get him here just as fast as you can. Get him riled up. We need him to leave Nevir in a complete huff. The louder and angrier you can get him, the better.”

  Pryllan paled.

  “Is there anything else I can do that would be considered useful? Angering the Dragon Lord is not generally considered a wise course of action.”

  “I know that, Pryllan, but we need the female Zweigelan to see him all agitated and anxious.”

  “You believe she’s in the area?”

  Sarah nodded. “Yes, I do.”

  “Why?”

  “To keep an eye on Rinbok. Where I come from, there is a saying: keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.”

  “Why would you want your enemies closer?” Pryllan asked, confused.

  “It’s because… never mind. It’s not important. If you can get Rinbok to go rushing out of his lair then the third Zweigelan’s interest should be piqued. She will follow.”

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  “We have a backup plan that’s also in the works. If one plan fails then the other is sure to lure her here.”

  “What is the backup plan?” Pryllan asked.

  “I need to keep that one secret,” Sarah told her in hushed tones.

  “You think she may be listening,” Pryllan guessed.

  “It’s a possibility,” Sarah confessed. “If she can hear us half as well as you do then we need to make sure we don’t disclose anything that would give our plans away.”

  Pryllan looked over at Pravara before letting her gaze drop back down on Sarah. “What could I possibly tell the Dragon Lord that would make him leave his nest in that state of mind?”

  Sarah shrugged. “Couldn’t you make something up?”

  Pryllan stared incredulously down at the human. “Like what?”

  Sarah smiled and held out her hands. “I’m sure you can come up with something, Pryllan. You are a dragon. He’s a dragon. There must be something you can say that will get him to follow you.”

  “You want him to follow me? To where?”

  “Right here will do.”

  “I am confused.”

  “Trust me, Pryllan. This will draw her out into the open.”

  Pryllan looked at the young dragonlet sitting complacently by Steve’s side.

  “What about Pravara?”

  Sarah waved off her concerns. She turned to look back at Steve.

  “Look at them. Pravara will be fine. Steve will keep an eye on her for you.”

  Her list of objections exhausted, Pryllan reluctantly took to the air and headed northeast. What type of story could she possibly fabricate that would not only fool th
e Dragon Lord but incite him enough to warrant following her out of his cave? Could she lie convincingly enough to deceive the leader of all dragons? Just then she felt another presence in her mind.

  WHAT TROUBLES YOU, MY LOVE?

  Kahvel! I face a dilemma.

  PLEASE ELABORATE. ARE YOU IN DANGER?

  Not yet, but I will be if things do not go as planned.

  WHAT IS GOING ON?

  I need to convince the Dragon Lord to not only follow me from Nevir but in such a way that he appears completely agitated and reckless.

  YOU’RE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHY?

  I can tell you what I personally know, but you will find the explanation severely lacking.

  VERY WELL. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE?

  What about reporting a false invasion?

  She felt her mate chuckle.

  THAT IS UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED.

  What about telling him we are being besieged by malwerns? They are despised. It could work.

  MALWERNS ARE DESPISED, AYE, BUT THEY ARE QUITE DELECTABLE. THEY ARE ALSO WINGED. HE CANNOT FLY. YOU’D ANGER HIM, BUT IT WOULDN’T INCITE A DESIRE TO LEAVE THE CAVERNS.

  Perhaps a new development for those stricken with the curse?

  SUCH AS?

  I have no idea, Pryllan confessed.

  HMM. WHAT ELSE?

  What about telling him more wyverians have become bewitched by the renegade human wizard?

  BEWITCHED TO DO WHAT?

  Er, well, to do his bidding?

  YOU MUST HAVE YOUR STORY THOUGHT OUT IF YOUR DELIVERY IS TO BE BELIEVED. ANY TYPE OF HESITATION WOULD AROUSE SUSPICION.

  What do you suggest?

  I BELIEVE I CAN HELP.

  A sense of gratitude towards her mate and his unquestioning desire to help overwhelmed her.

  I appreciate your willingness to help, beloved, but unless you can think of a better story, I do not believe you can help me this time.

  I KNOW WHAT WILL GET HIM MOVING. WHAT I AM ABOUT TO IMPART MUST BE KEPT SECRET FROM ALL OTHERS, IS THAT UNDERSTOOD? THAT INCLUDES STEVE.

  Surprised, confused, and insanely curious, Pryllan agreed.

  VERY WELL, MY LOVE. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO TELL YOU…

  ****

  Pryllan burst into Rinbok Intherer’s treasure cave deliberately out of breath. She scanned the immense piles of gold coins, jewels, open chests, and everything else one would expect to find in a cavern-sized treasure chamber. However, there were no massive green dragons with black striped wings in the immediate vicinity. She eyed the two largest mounds of treasure that were farthest from her up against the cavern’s back wall. Each was large enough to conceal the Dragon Lord.

  “My Lord! Are you in there?”

  The deep rumbling voice of the wyverian leader echoed loudly around the cavern.

  “What is it?”

  Pryllan flinched. Rinbok Intherer had appeared right behind her.

  “I have news, my Lord.”

  “Unless you can tell me the curse has been broken then I am not interested.”

  Pryllan swallowed nervously. She never should have agreed to do this.

  “I believe you will want to hear this, my Lord.”

  “I have been listening to a myriad of complaints against the Zweigelans and their involvement with this curse for hours. Unless you have something pertinent to contribute then don’t bother me with trivial matters.”

  Rinbok Intherer turned to look longingly at his golden horde. His gaze lingered on one of the large piles of gold. Pryllan held her breath. It looked as though the Dragon Lord wanted to hide inside his treasure again. Rinbok took a few tentative steps away from her, towards the far wall. Pryllan steeled herself and said precisely what her mate had instructed her to say.

  “Valkira is in danger, my Lord.”

  She didn’t know who Valkira was. Kahvel obviously did but had refused to tell her. She glanced nervously at the huge dragon that dwarfed all others. Rinbok had frozen in midstep. When the Dragon Lord turned to face her she realized right then that Kahvel had been right. This bit of news, whatever it was, was not something Rinbok had wanted to hear. A look of sheer incredulity had come over his features.

  “How do you know that name?”

  Rinbok Intherer’s body resembled a tightly coiled spring and looked as though it would snap under the strain at any moment. Pryllan slowly backed away.

  “No one knows that name,” Rinbok continued. He stepped forward and deliberately stamped on the ground with each step. Whatever semblance of order the Dragon Lord had restored to his horde collapsed under the vibrations that were running throughout the cavern. “I haven’t ever spoken that name aloud. To anyone!”

  At last the rage boiled over and Rinbok roared his anger. Pryllan was properly cowed. She dropped her head and refused to make eye contact.

  “How could she be in danger? No one even knows she exists!”

  Pryllan’s curiosity got the better of her.

  “My Lord, I offer my sincerest apologies for asking this, but who is Valkira?”

  Rinbok stopped pounding the ground in anger. Pryllan looked up. He was towering directly over her, fangs bared. It looked as though he was going to attack her!

  “Valkira is my offspring,” Rinbok told her in a frighteningly calm voice. “My one and only offspring. Her existence has been kept a secret ever since she hatched. No one knows she is even alive. So I ask you, how could she be in danger?”

  Pryllan was ready with her answer.

  “I’m told it was the trolls. They –”

  “Trolls? How did those detestable walking dung heaps find her?”

  Pryllan couldn’t help it. She panicked.

  “Kahvel told me, my Lord. He is unable to use the Collective, as I am. He knows I still retain flight so he asked if I would deliver the message. He didn’t tell me who Valkira was. I will admit I was curious and asked. He refused to say.”

  “How did Kahvel learn of her existence?” Rinbok demanded. He scoffed loudly. “I will determine that later. Where is Valkira now?”

  Pryllan, intent on trying to contact Kahvel to warn him things weren’t going as planned, missed the question. Rinbok smashed the ground before her with both forelegs.

  “I said, where is Valkira now? Has she been driven away from the nest?”

  Thinking quickly, Pryllan nodded.

  “Do you know where she was taken?”

  Pryllan nodded again.

  “Then we must go to her. Now!”

  “Of course, my Lord. Follow me!”

  Pryllan turned tail and fled the cavern. Rinbok Intherer’s thunderous steps sounded directly behind her. He was so close that he was practically stepping on her tail. She hastened forward, but the much larger dragon easily paced her. He was following!

  Pryllan swallowed nervously. The humans had better know what they were doing.

  ****

  “Why are you so angry?”

  “We do not like the dragons.”

  “Why?”

  Dirgath sighed. “They force us to do things their way. Always their way. Tired of it, we are.”

  Pravara looked up at the shiny silver dragon with jagged black stripes running across its chest. She had become fascinated by the strange two-headed dragons ever since she had met Syrreth and Ferreth and wanted to learn all about them. This Zweigelan, however, was just as grumpy as the first one.

  Had been, Pravara corrected. Syrreth and Ferreth were much more pleasant to be around now. Hopefully this one would become nicer as time went on, too. Determined to be friends, Pravara followed the second Zweigelan wherever it went, even if it appeared to reverse direction to try and evade her.

  “Do you think all dragons are bad?”

  Tirgath ignored the question but Dirgath gave an affirmative shake of his head.

  “I’m not bad,” Pravara insisted.

  “You’re young,” Dirgath told her. “You’ll get there.”

  “Why?”

  Tirgath growled.
“It’s considered rude to ask too many questions.”

  “It is?”

  Tirgath nodded. “Aye.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am positive.”

  “My father says only fools are positive,” Pravara helpfully informed him.

  Dirgath eyed the young dragonlet. For the first time, he smiled.

  “Are you sure, young one?”

  Pravara nodded. “I’m positive. Oh. That’s not fair! You tricked me!”

  Amazed she had fallen for Dirgath’s clever ploy Pravara was silent as she considered how to best the Zweigelan at his own game. The human male she was fond of wandered close. Steve winked at her.

  “Is everything alright over here?”

  Pravara nodded. She met Dirgath’s eyes and silently vowed to win the next battle of wits she had with him. Steve looked up at Dirgath and Tirgath.

  “Remember, you wanted to tag along. We let you. Play nice or go home.”

  Dirgath and Tirgath lifted their noses high in the air. In unison. Steve looked over at Syrreth.

  “Are you sure you’re not related? I’ve seen you do that move a few times.”

  Syrreth gave him a scornful look. “Hmmmph.”

  “My parents,” Pravara continued, “always tell me what to do, too. They constantly order me around.”

  Tirgath gave the young dragon a sidelong glance.

  “Does that not irritate you? Do you not wish they would leave you alone?”

  Pravara nodded. “Aye, I do.”

  “Then tell them, you should.”

  “I have.”

  “And?”

  “They laugh at me. They tell me I’m young and wouldn’t survive on my own.”

  “You wouldn’t,” Dirgath assured her.

  The young dragon frowned. “Are you siding with my parents?”

  “If you feel you can survive on your own then what’s stopping you?” Dirgath asked as he looked down his nose at the young wyverian.

  “I couldn’t leave my home. I’d miss my parents. They just want what’s best for me. Just like your parents do for you.”

  Both heads scoffed loudly. Pravara looked at them with sadness.

  “I’m sorry. Were your parents called to Nevir? As long as you’re part of the Collective you’re never alone. I wish I was old enough to join.”