He clung to the iron dragon’s back.
As he did, he stared down at the ground.
The whole purpose of coming here had been to find other hatch mates. They had found one, but how many others would be like this? Would there be any way of finding them before the Dragon Souls?
Perhaps that wasn’t the right question.
Jason frowned, swiveling on the dragon’s back, looking toward the cave they had come from. “I think we need to go back.” He patted the side of the iron dragon. They moved forward a little faster, and when they got within range of the ice dragon, he shouted out, “We need to speak to the Dragon Soul.”
“What would you say to him?” the ice dragon asked.
“I would ask where the other Dragon Souls are searching.”
The ice dragon regarded him with those blue eyes for a moment before rumbling. The sound filled the sky like thunder, and with a swish of his tail, the ice dragon spun.
The iron dragon did not change direction nearly as easily. It was a sign of his discomfort flying that it took him several more moments to turn, but when he did, he quickly kept pace with the ice dragon, and they flew alongside him.
The edge of the cliff loomed in view and Jason held himself down, pressing his body up against the dragon, waiting for the inevitable collision.
The ice dragon slithered into the opening, and there was a certain grace to the way he did so. Jason could imagine the ice forming, his body gliding along the surface.
When the iron dragon struck, there was a loud gong, the metallic sound of the dragon colliding with the stone, his wings folding in, his legs tucked up, and then he slithered forward.
Jason kept himself low, clinging to the iron dragon’s back, until they came to a stop.
They reached the small clearing where they’d left the living Dragon Soul. He was unclothed, and in the time they had left him, he’d barely moved. Anytime he had threatened to wake up, Jason would strike him with another attack through the ice dragon, and yet, now that he was traveling with the iron dragon, he wondered if the ice dragon would even allow him to borrow his power again. It was almost as if the ice dragon were angry with Jason.
He had to be careful. The dragon might be temperamental if he ignored him.
As he approached the Dragon Soul, the ice dragon crawled alongside him. He was able to roll himself up within the tunnel, sliding alongside Jason, tilting so that he fit within the cave more easily.
“What do you think to find from him?”
“They knew about this dragon,” Jason said.
He glanced back, looking at the iron dragon. He sat on his legs, his head practically filling the entirety of the tunnel. He was a large dragon, and it might be Jason’s imagination, but it seemed almost as if the dragon were getting even larger the longer they traveled together.
How much more time did they have before he was too large to fit even in a tunnel like this? How would they ever hope to hide him?
That seemed to Jason to be the greatest challenge. If they couldn’t hide him, then it would be far too easy for the Dragon Souls to find him. And already the Dragon Souls had proven they had the ability to use whatever their call was to summon the dragon, to control him. It wasn’t hard to believe that they would be able to continue to do so, and eventually overwhelm the dragon’s ability to prevent them from using him.
So far, Jason had protected him, but what would happen if he weren’t there?
Perhaps that was why they needed to get to Dragon Haven. If they could reach it, and if they could get the people there to help, then they wouldn’t have to fear what might happen to the dragon.
He crouched down next to the fallen Dragon Soul.
“We keep attacking him, but I wonder if we can wake him up.”
“You can,” the ice dragon said.
“How?”
“Do you think my power is only destructive?”
“I know it’s not.”
“Use it,” the ice dragon said.
Jason focused on the cold, on what he could feel as it flowed through him, thinking of that chill. As it usually was when he was so close to the iron dragon, finding that chill was difficult, and yet, as he was closer to the ice dragon as well, it was a little bit easier. The proximity made it so that he could feel the cold. He called upon that, drawing on it, and let it fill him.
He pushed it out, using the dragon pearl, summoning that magic. It flowed through him, through the dragon pearl, and out and into the Dragon Soul.
He had no idea how to use the power, but he found that he didn’t need to.
It seemed almost as if that power were directed, and when he looked up at the ice dragon, he realized that it was. The ice dragon controlled it. He guided Jason, controlling how the power flowed from him, into the Dragon Soul.
The other man gasped.
He blinked open his eyes, looking up at Jason, beyond him, and then something changed.
“Don’t try to harm the dragons,” Jason said.
He had no idea whether the Dragon Soul would even be able to do so without a dragon pearl, but he didn’t want to risk it.
“Who are you? Are you with the rebels?”
“Rebels?” Jason smiled to himself. “I think you’ve got it wrong.”
“Where did you find this dragon?”
“How did you know about this dragon?” Jason said, nodding to the iron dragon.
The Dragon Soul turned his head slowly, and when he saw the iron dragon, his eyes widened.
The iron dragon glowed softly, the heat undulating along the surface of his scales, radiating along his body, the metal seeming to flow as it often did when he used his heat.
“He lives.”
“He does, and he will live free.”
“There is no free, not when it comes to these creatures. You don’t understand how dangerous they are.”
“I think he’s dangerous, but I also don’t think he deserves to be controlled by you. Now, where are the other Dragon Souls going?”
“You wouldn’t even begin to understand.”
“I understand better than you think. I met Therin.”
Jason watched the other man as he said Therin’s name, curious whether that would elicit much of a response. There was a part of him that wondered whether Therin lived and if he did, then perhaps this Dragon Soul would know; but the man didn’t show any emotion, so it was possible that Therin had truly disappeared.
It would be best if he had. That meant that the village would be left alone.
“Therin is but a part of something much greater,” the Dragon Soul said.
“And by that, you mean placing dragon eggs where they can take on characteristics of their environment?” When the Dragon Soul’s eyes twitched, Jason realized he was right. “How many others are there?”
“There have been many attempts.”
“And yet, you knew that this one had succeeded. How?”
“We were sent word.”
“There isn’t a Dragon Soul presence here. There would’ve been no reason for them to get word.”
Jason hadn’t visited Varmin very often, but there had been no Dragon Souls, so for them to be here, and for them to have someone they could count on to get word to them, suggested they had more influence than he realized.
Would it be like that in other places?
“As I’ve said, you can’t begin to understand.”
Jason sat back on his heels, staring at the man.
They needed answers, and he had no way of finding them short of tormenting him, but that wasn’t something he thought he could do.
“I guess we leave him here,” Jason said.
He got up and the ice dragon shifted, twisting in the cave, and they started away.
A sharp cry told Jason when the Dragon Soul was trying to move.
He swallowed back the nausea rolling through him. He couldn’t imagine trying to move with a broken leg like that, and couldn’t imagine how much pain the other man experien
ced when he did so, but with everything the Dragon Soul was willing to do, he thought the man deserved it.
“You will find you won’t get very far with that leg,” Jason said. He had a sense that the ice dragon could have healed even that, and yet leaving the man broken made it easier for them to walk away. “If you would like to live, then perhaps you could share with us where the other Dragon Souls are heading.”
“I’m prepared to die,” the Dragon Soul said.
“I am sure you are.”
Jason continued through the tunnel, resisting the urge to glance back. As he reached the iron dragon, he pushed on the creature. He moved forward, slithering ahead, and the ice dragon pulled up the rear.
“Wait!”
Jason tensed.
“Bring me with you and I will share what I might know.”
“I thought you were ready to die,” Jason said.
“I would like to see these creatures.”
“You can see them now.”
“I would like to understand them better.”
“Why?”
“Because there have been none like them before.”
Jason frowned, and yet he understood. It was the same thing Therin had said. They were accustomed to a specific kind of dragon, the typical ones, and that was part of the reason they’d brought the eggs out here, to a different part of the world. And Jason doubted this was the only place where they had brought dragon eggs.
As he looked at the man, he debated what he was going to do. He wanted information, and he thought the only way he could acquire what he wanted was to bring the man with him.
The idea of having one of the Dragon Souls traveling with him troubled him. Jason didn’t care to allow that, but at the same time, he didn’t know that he could do anything differently. He needed the Dragon Soul in order to find what he wanted.
“You aren’t going to do anything to harm the dragons.”
“You fear for them?”
“I’m determined to keep them safe.”
The Dragon Soul stared at him, and there was a strange look in his eye, but Jason continued to watch him carefully. He held on to the power of the dragon pearl, pushing outward with that cold energy, ready for an attack were it necessary.
The broken man lay there, watching, and finally, he took a deep breath. “You have my word I will not harm the dragons.”
Jason smiled. “That’s not going to be good enough for me.”
“Then what will be good enough for you?”
“I need you to make a vow.”
“Is that not what I did?”
There had to be some way to have the man commit to not harming the dragons. Would there be any way to use his connection to the dragon pearl?
“You are going to promise not to harm them. You’re going to promise not to attempt to use them. And you will help us in any way that we need in order to succeed.”
The man watched him, and for a moment, Jason thought that he might refuse, but then the silver-eyed Dragon Soul pressed his fingers together and brought his arms up to his chest. He bowed his head slightly. He touched his lips to his fingers and said, “I, David Arnson, speak the words of the flame to you. I will make no attempt to harm the dragons. I will make no attempt to train the dragons. I will make no attempt to abuse them in any way. I offer you my help, at the price of my life.”
A surge of energy washed away from David at the words, and Jason frowned. He had never experienced anything like that before, but he had to believe that whatever David had done was powerful. And it was a vow, the kind Jason had asked of him.
“Will that be sufficient for you?”
Jason stared at him for a moment. “We will see.”
David regarded him with a frown. “You don’t understand what I just did.”
“I don’t, but that doesn’t matter. What I do understand is that I want to make sure you won’t do anything to harm the dragons.”
“The rebels would have… no matter. I have given you the promise you asked for and much more.”
He glanced over at the ice dragon. There was something to his blue eyes that was difficult for Jason to read, but he thought that the dragon could discern something.
Turning toward the dragon, Jason frowned. “What is it?”
“When he spoke those words, I felt… something.”
“He called them words of the flame.”
What was it about the words of the flame that was significant to the Dragon Soul? Was there anything that would be useful in understanding that?
“We can’t bring him with us like that,” Jason said, nodding to the nearly naked man.
“We cannot.”
“Do you think we should let him have his dragonskin back?” Jason asked.
The ice dragon rumbled softly, and Jason understood.
Grabbing the folded pack off the ice dragon’s back, he handed over his bearskin clothing. “Put it on.”
“What is this?”
“Put it on,” Jason said.
The Dragon Soul stared at it, and then nodded to his leg. “I’m going to find it difficult to do anything in this shape. You can change that, though.”
Jason muttered under his breath. He might be able to change it, but he didn’t know if he wanted to. It involved healing the Dragon Soul, but if he didn’t, then bringing David with him wouldn’t be all that useful. They needed to have him in good enough shape so he could travel. Unless they did something to help him, they wouldn’t be able to use his knowledge. He would slow them down.
Clutching the dragon pearl close, Jason pulled on power from the ice dragon, funneling it through the pearl. He pushed it out, letting the power wash over the Dragon Soul. As before, the energy seemed guided by the ice dragon, and it flowed out from him and into David.
David gasped, and when the power rolled through him, he sat upright, holding his leg. He looked around and gradually, the leg began to straighten.
Jason released his hold on the energy within the dragon pearl and the ice dragon turned away from him, heading down the tunnel. It left him and David alone.
The Dragon Soul got to his feet, testing his once broken leg.
“That was… interesting,” the Dragon Soul said.
“You aren’t going to attack now.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said.
“Why was it interesting?”
“The nature of the healing was different than what I’m accustomed to.”
“How is that?”
“Typically, there is a warmth, but then with that dragon, I can understand there would be no warmth.”
“The warmth comes from the type of dragon or from the dragon pearl?”
The Dragon Soul stared at him. “The power comes from the dragon, but it comes through the Dragon Soul. When you begin to understand the nature of your power, you will be better equipped to funnel it. Then again, I thought that’s what you were doing there.”
Jason said nothing.
The Dragon Soul smiled. “You aren’t controlling it. The dragon was guiding it. Interesting. That indicates the dragon has far more knowledge than what one would expect of it.” The Dragon Soul pushed past Jason, staring toward the distant sight of the ice dragon. “I hadn’t expected to find one so powerful here.”
“Why would it have to be powerful?”
Despite himself, Jason found he could learn something from this Dragon Soul. And if the man was going to answer, then perhaps that was a reason to continue to speak to him. He had no idea how much David would share, and yet, he wanted to know the answers to these questions. He wanted to learn how much the Dragon Soul would know about his abilities, and if there was any way to gain an increased control over them.
For what they might be facing, Jason understood that he might need that knowledge.
“Not all dragons have the ability to heal. We treat those that do with a different measure of respect.”
Jason laughed bitterly. “Respect? You abuse the dragons.”
&
nbsp; “You will find none of my dragons are abused. They are trained. Taught. And kept from violence. All that is true. But none of them are abused.”
Jason shook his head, glancing down the hallway. He held on to the dragon pearl, holding a hint of power through it. If the Dragon Soul attempted to attack, he was ready to respond. “You don’t understand anything about the dragon. You think you do, but everything that you believe you know is wrong.”
“I doubt it,” David said. He glanced down at the pile of bearskin clothing. “I don’t think I can wear that.”
“You will wear it.”
“It’s unlikely to fit.”
Jason shrugged. “It fit me just fine.”
The Dragon Soul looked up at him, regarding him for a long moment. “You? The rebellion wouldn’t…” He turned his attention back down to the pile of clothing. After a moment, he leaned down, grabbed the clothing, and lifted the bearskin pants. He shook them, and then tentatively slipped them on. There was a part of Jason that didn’t want David to wear his clothing, but he thought it was beneficial for him to continue to wear the dragonskin. At least with dragonskin, Jason would be able to withstand the warmth of the iron dragon much better than he had while wearing the bearskin.
“Where is your home?” the Dragon Soul asked as he was slipping on the jacket. He tested it, ensuring that it fit, and when he had it all the way on, he shook his head. He muttered something softly, but Jason wasn’t able to hear what he said.
“No place that matters,” Jason said.
The Dragon Soul looked up. “I believe it matters quite a bit. You have the look of… well, you have the look. And yet, here you are, dressed like this,” he said, sweeping his hand across the bearskin, “and with dragons like those. I am quite curious as to where you are from and how you came to be here.”
“You’re going to have to remain curious,” Jason said.
“And you speak of Therin.”
“I did,” Jason said.
“Therin has not been seen for many months.”
“He’s either frozen and dead or he’s hiding from you.”
At least that answered something. Jason hadn’t been sure what Therin might’ve been doing. It was possible that he had managed to survive, and if so, he could have returned to Lorach, though Jason had expected if that were the case, he would have marshaled the dragons and brought Dragon Souls to bear on the village. That they hadn’t seen anyone left him with the sliver of hope that Therin hadn’t survived the fall.
Iron Dragon: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Dragon Misfits Book 2) Page 14