“Vanika?” she asked.
“Yeah.” I scratched the back of my neck. Why did it itch like that when I was uncomfortable? It wasn’t the new cloak. Even if it was, I wasn’t giving up this cloak for anything.
“Hubric took me from there. He said I was supposed to find Zyla and that she would know where to go next. He didn’t say anything about a sister.”
“I think it should be obvious where we go next,” Bataar said. In the moonlight, his chiseled features stood out starkly. I didn’t like that he seemed so in control of the situation. Confidence was my thing. “We go further than this. Even taking the hills into account, those Magikas will be here before morning. Anywhere is better than sitting here.”
“If they’re following us,” I said. Best to remind him who was boss here. “We don’t know that they are.”
You’re boss now?
“They are following us,” the musical voice of one of the sisters said again. There was a deep burr to her voice like she was always slightly growling. I could really get to like that...
Mind on the task!
“How do you know?” I asked.
“They ... want ... things from Zin and me.” She looked down, her lower lip quivering.
Compassion. Remember?
“Look, ummm ... are you two okay?” That was my very best compassion. Saboraak should be proud.
That is your best? Skies and stars, Tor! We have soooo far to go with you. Courage in physical danger is a great asset – and one you possess – but courage in emotional danger is another essential for a life of bravery.
The girls both looked away. I ran a hand through my hair awkwardly. How did you even talk about this stuff?
By talking about it!
“Ummm ...” I looked to Bataar for support, but he was suddenly very interested in the leather satchels at his feet. The girls must have grabbed those two satchels I’d been delivering to Sabren the Violet as part of my cover. “Are you physically hurt? Do you need bandages or hot water or something?”
I drew in a deep breath. Eggs and bacon, how did you ask a girl if she had been tortured?
“No,” Zyla said quickly. “The things they wanted weren’t physical.”
I shuddered. Why did her voice make it sound like that was somehow worse?
“So, umm, Hubric didn’t say anything about your sister,” I said, crouching down in front of the girls. Maybe if I was closer, I could do a better job at connecting. I felt so clumsy, like I was too tall – though I was only average height, too bulky – though I was slight in build, too full of thumbs – though I had the normal number of thumbs. Girls. They made you feel weird.
“He didn’t know she was there. Neither did I. I thought Zin was dead,” Zyla said. “I thought she died with my parents. I didn’t know that she was captured by Magikas.”
Zin’s eyes were far away, not even acknowledging that we were talking about her.
I nodded, trying to look like someone you could talk to. Serious. Reliable.
You look like you have stomach problems.
What did Saboraak know? She’d only known humans for nine days.
Eleven days, now.
“And does she talk for herself?” I asked looking at Zin who wouldn’t look at me.
Zyla made an exasperated sound in her throat. “Just leave her alone, okay? Talk to me.”
“Okay, well, Hubric and I went to the House looking for you but there were a bunch of Magikas there with weird magical rods and stuff.”
“Items with magic in them?” Bataar interrupted, suddenly interested in us again.
Zyla frowned, looking between us like we were discussing something we shouldn’t. When her eyes caught mine, they looked intent, like she was trying to say something with them.
“Anyways, he sent me to find you. He had an important message for the Dominar so he had to go south.”
“To Dominion City?” she asked. Those eyes looked so intelligent, like she was thinking a thousand things at once. I nodded, distracted by the way her lips made a perfect archer’s bow at the top. “Then he won’t be back here for two weeks at the very least. Maybe more. That means we need to make our own decision about what to do.”
“And it needs to be fast,” Bataar said, offering us torn pieces of bread from the loaf he was holding. I snatched the one he offered me quickly, gulping it down as he raised an eyebrow.
“What?” I challenged. Couldn’t a guy eat without being judged?
He shook his head. From the corner of my eye, I saw Zyla gently offering a piece of bread to her sister. Zin took it with a faraway look in her eye.
“We have a little while to decide,” I objected.
Bataar shook his head. “Look south.”
I stood and followed his pointing finger. I had no idea which way south was without his help.
In the distance, an eerie green light bobbed along the ground – like a lantern being carried by men hurrying.
“I think they want these girls back. Unless these bags have something more valuable in them than Kav’ai clothing and bread.”
“They’ll do anything to get us back,” Zyla agreed.
I watched the bobbing green lights for a moment more. There were more popping into existence by the minute. Far too many to fight. I swallowed and looked at Zyla.
“Why do they want you so badly?”
Chapter Two
“IT’S NOT ME,” SHE SAID, rising to her feet to join us. Bataar’s smoldering fire popped suddenly and we all jumped. “It’s Zin. We can’t let them get her. Please!”
I scrubbed my hand through my hair again, thinking. We were north of the camp, which meant we were already in Ko’Torenth, a foreign country. There were four of us, poorly supplied for winter. Saboraak couldn’t fly four people very far.
It’s possible that I can take you in short flights, hopping along the ground little at a time like a chicken flying, but proper, eagle-like all-day-soaring is out of the question. I may even manage a few hours in the air – if I truly must – but I can’t fly all day.
“Where would we go if you were just following Hubric’s plans and not trying to outrun and outwit Magikas?” I asked Zyla.
“Ko’Loska. A smaller mountain city north of here. It’s a single day’s journey by dragon. From there we were to make our way to the capital.”
In continuous flight it would be a day’s journey, but not the way we are doing it.
“Okay. Then let’s go to Ko’Loska. We can hide in the city.”
Bataar barked a laugh. “Four foreigners on a dragon? Hiding? I think not. We’ll stick out like sore thumbs.”
He was going to challenge me? As if he had a better idea? I didn’t like that scornful look he was giving me or the way he was looking at Zyla as if he could bring her in on the ‘mocking Tor’ festival.
I frowned.
“Didn’t you say you had Kav’ai clothing in that satchel? Is there enough for four?”
Now it was his turn to frown thoughtfully. “Maybe.”
“And do dragons sometimes visit Ko’Loska?”
“Often,” Zyla said. “It’s a hub for trade to the south. There will be people of the Dominion there with dragon riders. Not many, but some. Or, we could try to disguise this dragon as an oosquer. One of the flying creatures of the Kav’ai. They’re smaller. Grey. A bit ... ratty looking.”
No, thank you! I am not ratty looking!
“That’s a possibility,” I said.
No. It is not.
If I needed to learn compassion, Saboraak was going to have to learn a little humility.
“Then we will travel to Ko’Loska. Where is it, exactly?” I kept my voice firm and even. No need to show them how uncertain I felt about all of this. If I was being honest with myself, I still thought turning back to Vanika would be best.
Not an option.
But I preferred lying to myself, anyway. It was usually easier than being honest with myself.
I could pretend to be a hero – a
t least for as long as it took to bring Zyla and Zin somewhere safe. Bataar could take care of himself, but I didn’t like the way Zin’s eyes seemed too large for her face. She didn’t blink enough. It was like she’d seen something that she couldn’t stop seeing even though it wasn’t there anymore.
Zyla didn’t quite roll her eyes but she looked like she was barely holding it back.
“Ko’Loska is northwest of here – in The Devil’s Ribcage – a mountain range that rivals anything you’ve ever seen. The high deserts of Ko’Torenth start just north of that range.”
I nodded as if I had any idea what ‘high deserts’ or mountain ranges looked like up close.
“Are you two about done?” Bataar asked. I didn’t like the gleam in his eyes.
It might just be the firelight.
“We’re just making plans.”
Bataar stood up and started to kick out the fire. “If you’re just about done making plans, then we need to hurry.”
“Don’t kick out the fire!” Zyla protested.
“The Magikas are a lot cleverer than you two,” Bataar said. “I don’t think those green lanterns are at the front of the group pursuing us. I think they’re at the back.”
A snap of a stick in the trees propelled me into action. I grabbed the items strewn over the ground - saddlebags, flint and striker, blankets – ignoring my pounding head, and began to stuff them into Saboraak’s saddlebags. Why was my head pounding so much?
Do you remember being knocked unconscious by the pain when they tortured you?
I was trying very hard to forget.
Head injuries don’t just go away.
“Come on,” I said, turning to find Zyla right behind me. My turn brought us nose to nose. If I moved an inch forward, I could kiss her.
“Don’t even think about it,” she hissed, shoving her sister into my surprised arms. “Help Zin up. She rides in the front.”
“That’s my seat!” I protested as I helped Zin climb up the stirrups onto the front of Saboraak’s saddle.
“Where are the reins?” Zyla demanded.
“Nowhere you can find them,” I said. She grabbed my shoulder and began to scramble up into the saddle, her whole weight on my shoulder as if I was nothing more than a rock to climb all over. “Oof!”
That’s exactly how I feel! Four is too many.
And Saboraak called me a whiner.
“Hurry!” Bataar demanded, following Zyla up into the saddle. He sat pressed tightly against her so that his legs wrapped right around Zyla’s hips and still there wasn’t room for me on the saddle.
With a sigh, I scrambled up awkwardly onto the saddlebags and sat between them. It was lumpy here and difficult to find anywhere that didn’t hurt my tailbone.
“Everyone try to strap in,” I said irritably. “They make these saddles with so many extra straps that there should be enough for three people to secure themselves.”
“What about you?” Zyla asked in a sudden burst of consideration.
“There are baggage straps for him,” Bataar said.
Oh yeah. Thanks, guy. I’ll just strap in like a spare blanket, shall I?
I saw a glimmer of movement in the trees and then everything went green. My eyes widened at the fireball sailing right for my head. Even though I ducked, I knew it was too late.
So long, fair life. It was nice to live you.
Chapter Three
DON’T BE SO DRAMATIC!
Saboraak dodged the fireball and then scrambled over the rock. Her tail swung back and forth, and it felt as if we were almost out of control as we slid on her belly down the hillside, swiping trees as we went. Each jostle to her backside sent us all reeling back and forth like we were being shaken by a big dog.
You’re too heavy!
I looked back to where the Magikas stood in the moonlight, my view careening wildly with our flight. I only saw snatches - one of them was standing on the log Zyla and Zin had been sitting on. He raised a hand and it bloomed with light. Others were racing in from the trees, shouting and gesturing.
We needed to get into the air and fast!
My heart was racing as I reached forward to brace myself.
“Keep your hands to yourself!” Bataar sure was jumpy!
Saboraak’s powerful wings gave a flap and we jumped into the air a few feet before falling again. My teeth smashed together as the landing jarred me, triggering that awful headache. Pain and light ricocheted through my skull. Ugh! How could a man stay upright with so much pain in his head? I gripped the saddlebags with all my might, hoping Saboraak could launch in the next flap.
There was a yell from the Magikas. “On my count! Three ...”
Saboraak tried to lift again, her wings beating at the muddy ground as she fought for lift. We slid further down the hill, but her belly never left the earth. She was panting so loudly that I could hear it and now I was starting to worry ...
“Two ... “
Come on Saboraak, you can do this! Come on, you old girl!
“One!”
Five fireballs launched toward us at once. Magenta, green, and fuchsia, searing through the night sky like a celebration of Spring.
Saboraak twisted jarringly and just when I thought my spine might have snapped from the sudden movement, we were tumbling forward again. Has she lost her grip on the hill?
A fireball splashed on the ground behind us – a little faster than the others. One of the larger sparks hit Saboraak’s tail and she hissed so loudly, it sounded like opening up a furnace.
Her mighty wings flapped and her tail seemed to push off on the rocks and then we were bobbing into the air, the fireballs splashing uselessly in the ground where we had been.
Got it! There’s a trick to taking off with four people!
Our flight was erratic, up and down, left then right, as if Saboraak was struggling to gain enough height to get over the trees. And then we were up! Her feet scraped the top of a spindly pine, but a moment later we were bobbing above the forest.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
I’m not old, by the way. I’m not your ‘old girl.’
Of course not. She was anything she wanted to be – especially if that thing could fly just a little faster.
I do appreciate your confidence in my ability to do the impossible.
Just keep doing the impossible, Saboraak. That’s all I ask.
Trying. You guys really are heavy. Are you sure you need all that bread?
I rolled my eyes, but I felt warmth rising up in my chest. Saboraak had just risked her life to save us – and I kind of felt that she probably would have done that for just me.
You’re my human as much as I’m your dragon.
Well, stick with me and we’ll keep pulling ourselves out of impossible situations.
Is that a promise?
Sure. I was getting good at surviving deadly situations. Maybe that could rub off on her. I felt heady and confident up here in the air with the wind in my hair.
That’s called an updraft.
And Magika fireballs falling uselessly beneath us made me feel even better. For people with magical fire ability, they sure were useless in a fight.
You only say that because we escaped. If they’d hit you with one and burned you alive with that sticky fire, you wouldn’t be so confident. The others are scared out of their wits. I can hear their hearts pounding and their breathing coming way too quick.
I wasn’t scared.
You should be. This is scary stuff. Look! They lit the forest on fire. They’re like hatchlings who haven’t been fire-trained!
She was right. Below us, orange flames licked up along the edges of the pine forest where we had been a moment before. It was only a few trees, but a fire like that could spread fast.
The wind is not in our favor. It blows west and we are headed northwest. It speeds our journey, but the fire could easily spread northwest and follow us.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
“Tor?”
Zyla asked from the front of the dragon.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think they can follow us?”
“They don’t have dragons,” Bataar said arrogantly. “Not like us. We are in a superior position.”
I wasn’t so sure. They didn’t have dragons, but Saboraak couldn’t keep this up for long, and now there was a forest fire to worry about. I didn’t like fires. They still filled my nightmares almost every night.
I know.
How did she know?
I heard them the last time you slept.
She could hear my nightmares? Ugh.
Don’t be so bashful. We have a special kind of relationship. With it comes a predictable intimacy.
Intimacy? She was making my skin crawl. Why couldn’t I have had a boy dragon like everyone else? I bet he wouldn’t use a word like ‘intimacy.’
Most certainly not. But he also wouldn’t have my kind of patience for your shenanigans.
Zyla spoke again, her voice raised to be heard over the wind. “I’m just wondering, how far can the dragon take us?”
“Her name is Saboraak,” I responded. They should call her by name. She deserved that.
Thank you.
“How far can Saboraak take us before she needs to rest?”
I didn’t even want to think about that. Not yet.
At most, I can fly like this for a few hours. I see the foothills of the Devil’s ribcage up ahead. I might be able to make it that far.
I couldn’t see anything in this dark except the people I was traveling with.
Trust me.
“A few hours, maybe,” I said.
“And when we land, can we sleep? I’m not asking for myself,” she said hurriedly. “But it’s been a while since Zin had a rest and she needs it.”
I looked anxiously at the fire behind us. I could see the glow of that still. It wasn’t that big. Maybe it would just burn out.
“Of course,” I said absently. After all, who cared what I said? I wasn’t in charge of their lives.
But I watched the glow behind us anxiously as we flew. It wasn’t getting bigger ... was it?
Chapter Four
SABORAAK FLEW FOR AS long as she could – about three hours by my guess. I watched that forest fire swell through the entire night. With every passing moment, I felt my own anxiety rising, bubbling up like boiling tar and occasionally bursting in a quick-breathing fear before I brought it under control. I kept seeing visions of Saboraak tiring and of setting down only to be unable to rise again and then of the flames coming and swallowing us up.
Dragon Chameleon: Episodes 1-4 Page 9