Relam scowled, knowing he could not.
“I thought so,” Hadere said confidently. “Besides, you have bigger problems to worry about. I hear the South is in trouble again. Vertaga on the move and a rogue dragon? To go with the five who attacked the palace the other day?”
“What do you want from me?” Relam asked through gritted teeth. “I don’t have all day to waste on a stalemate, commander.”
“No, you don’t,” Hadere agreed. “So let me offer a course of action: you will leave here, tell no one of what you have discovered, and Cevet and your other friends will live.”
“You’ll use him as a hostage,” Relam said flatly.
“Well, yes. It’s the only way to ensure your continued good behavior.”
Relam gnashed his teeth together, knowing he had been outplayed. There was no solution to this that he could see, not right now. “Fine,” he snapped. “I accept your offer. But only because you are a problem that can wait. The South is a problem I can’t ignore at the moment. But the moment I return, I will deal with you and the entire council.”
“Bold words,” Hadere replied with a patronizing smile. “Go, play your little war games. I will wait for your return. Assuming, of course, that you do return,” he added.
The young king scowled at the commander. “You can count on it,” he replied curtly.
Relam turned and stormed out the door, motioning curtly for the others to follow. “Not a word to anyone,” he muttered. “It could mean Cevet’s life.”
“But, your majesty!”
“We can’t risk it, Galen. Not until we have a better plan. So, start thinking of a way we can work through this mess.”
“Yes, sir,” Eric replied quietly.
“In the meantime,” Relam continued, “Ready the royal navy. We leave at once. The sooner I’m gone, the sooner I can be back to purge every one of these traitors from Etares.”
“That,” Wil said grimly, “Is a plan I approve of heartily, sir. I’m getting rather tired of finding out our trusted friends have been working against us all along.”
“Me too,” Relam muttered. “We’ve let the council dictate things for far too long. The moment I return, we’re going on the attack.”
“Sir – ”
“Galen, my word on this is final! We can’t put Cevet at risk!”
“That’s not what I’m arguing about!” Galen replied heatedly. “Sir, did you notice that Hadere mentioned vertaga on the move when he was taunting you just now?”
“No,” Relam admitted. “What of it?”
“How would he know there are vertaga on the move? We have told no one of our suspicions.”
Relam stopped in the middle of the road, looking back at the guardsman. “This was their plan,” he murmured. “You think they’ve been prodding the vertaga towards another war? To lure me south and put me in a fight I can’t win, one that might get me killed?”
“It’s possible.”
“Then the Masks miscalculated,” Relam grunted. “Because I’m not planning to lose this war.”
“Sir, our armies – ”
“Are insufficient,” Relam agreed. “But, there is only one rogue dragon. If I can persuade the Keepers, we’ll have five.”
“That’s a big if,” Eric observed. “Last time you met with them, you all ended up trying to kill each other.”
“I know,” Relam agreed wearily. “But the Keepers are our only chance now. For our armies in the South, for us, for the Sthan people. For Cevet. I will do whatever it takes to make sure they join us one more time.” He made eye contact with each of his guards. “Whatever it takes.”
Chapter 42:
A Second Chance
Khollo prodded at the roaring fire moodily, shifting the burning logs with a thick stick he had found in the firewood pile. For the moment, he was alone in the small camp with Kanin, though he might as well have been by himself. The emerald dragon stirred to wakefulness rarely, and even now was in a deep, healing sleep, his massive body rising and falling rhythmically, punctuated by the occasional growl. His wounds were healing, but slowly. Too slowly, in Khollo’s opinion.
He knew Relam would not let the Keepers roam free forever without them being hunted down. Sooner or later, soldiers would come. Kanin needed to be able to fly, able to escape, able to carry both of them far, far away where they could not be reached by the Sthan.
The young Keeper prodded at another log, producing a shower of glittering sparks that rose on the wood smoke in a swirling blizzard of light and heat. As the sparks faded, he sensed a familiar presence approaching and glanced up in time to see Ayrmi swoop over the small camp, circle once, and land, setting a slain dear in front of Kanin. Aralye slid down from the purple dragon’s back and joined Khollo at the fire.
“How is he?”
Khollo shrugged. “More of the same. The good news is, he’s not getting any worse.”
Aralye nodded. “Well, at least he’ll have something to eat next time he wakes.”
“That will help,” Khollo agreed, smiling at her. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least we can do.”
“There was no sign of the others?”
Aralye shook her head. “They only checked in two days ago, Khollo. That’s barely enough time to fly to the Fells and back, isn’t it?”
“You’re right,” Khollo admitted reluctantly. “I just don’t like waiting in hostile territory.”
“I’ve noticed,” the huntress replied. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m not enjoying it all that much either.”
Khollo fell silent, gazing into the fire, watching the patterns in the writhing flames. Even if the other Keepers did find the silver dragon or a vertaga army, what would happen then? Five dragons, one badly wounded, was not enough to defeat an army. And would they be able to kill the silver dragon? There were so few of the creatures in the world, it seemed a terrible waste.
Someone approaches.
Khollo’s head snapped up and he wheeled around to face Ayrmi. “Where? Who?”
From the sea, the purple dragon replied worriedly. I see ships, many ships, sailing south.
“Douse the fire,” Khollo said immediately, throwing snow onto the flames. He halted his efforts a moment later, as Ayrmi used her tail to throw an entire drift over the fire, and over Aralye and Khollo too.
Oops, the dragon said apologetically. Sorry. I guess I don’t know my own strength.
Control is important too, Khollo reminded her, brushing snow from his cloak as best he could. Now, where are these ships you have seen, Ayrmi? Are they coming this way?
They are not.
Khollo frowned and got to his feet, moving to the edge of the Furnier to peer off into the distance. It took him a moment to find them, but eventually he was able to pick out several dark shapes on the horizon, moving in a tight group.
“That is one impressive fleet,” he murmured.
“Boats,” Aralye swore disgustedly. “You’ll never get me on another one of those.”
“You handled the raft well enough.”
“The raft was different. It only went on a river, and a fairly slow-moving one at that.”
“Hmm. Anyway, what are so many ships doing in the area? And heading straight south?”
“Traders bound for Ardia?”
“There’s too many of them, far too many of them,” Khollo replied, shaking his head.
And the people on the deck are soldiers, Ayrmi added.
You can see that far? Aralye asked incredulously.
Of course.
“Dragon eyes really are much better than human eyes,” Aralye murmured. “I thought I had keen sight, but I can only make out the shape of the hulls and masts.”
“The people on the deck are soldiers?” Khollo repeated. “Every one of them?”
That I can see.
“They’re going south,” Khollo mused. “Hunting for us? Or hunting the silver dragon?”
“We could ask them,” Aralye suggested wr
yly. “I’m sure they’d be happy to help.”
“Maybe not,” Khollo muttered, nodding. “For now, we stay hidden and hope they pass us by.”
That might not work, Ayrmi warned. Another ship approaches, a little apart from the others. This one has a flag on the mast.
A flag?
Its course is different too. If it continues as it is, it will reach land not far from where we are standing now.
And they’ll find Kanin.
Khollo moved away from the shore and back to the camp, packing up the few things that were not already stored properly.
“What are you doing?” Aralye asked.
“We may have to make a run for it,” Khollo grunted. “I’m hoping Kanin will wake up before the ship gets here.”
“That’s a fool’s hope,” Aralye called. “He’s so asleep there could be an avalanche next to him and he wouldn’t wake.”
“We have to try!”
We could let this ship see us and lead it away from Kanin, Ayrmi suggested.
Khollo frowned. But then they’ll be following you. That doesn’t help us much.
No puny boat can follow a dragon for any length of time, Ayrmi replied indignantly.
“She’s right,” Aralye agreed. “This is our best chance, let’s go.”
“And leave Kanin by himself? What if there are soldiers in the woods also closing in?”
“Ayrmi and I didn’t see any while we were hunting,” Aralye assured him, glancing at the purple dragon for confirmation.
“Doesn’t mean they weren’t there.”
I will pretend I did not hear that, Ayrmi growled pointedly, beating her wings at him.
Sorry, Khollo said quickly. Ayrmi, can you tell what the flag on that ship looks like?
Better. I can show you.
A moment later, a fuzzy, indistinct image wavered across their connection. Khollo frowned, trying to decipher it, then the image grew a little clearer and he was able to make the banner out.
“It’s Relam himself,” the young Keeper said finally. “But . . . he’s flying his flag upside down.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Usually it’s a distress signal,” Khollo explained. “But his ship seems to be fine, as far as I can tell.”
“Maybe whoever hoisted the flag is an idiot.”
“And maybe it’s another trap.”
“Next move?”
Khollo shrugged. “Investigate, from a distance of course. They will see us, and we can lead them away from Kanin.”
“Are you sure?”
Khollo nodded. “I’m curious now. What would bring Relam out this far, away from his fleet which is very obviously racing south, and cause him to fly his personal standard upside down?”
“I still think it’s a trap.”
“Which is why we will be observing the trap, not springing it,” Khollo assured her. “Can Ayrmi carry two?”
For a little while, the purple dragon replied. Long enough to lead this ship on a grand hunt if need be.
“That will do,” Khollo agreed. “Although, I’m guessing you still only have flying straps for one?”
“Yes,” Aralye admitted. “You’ll have to just hold on tight.”
Khollo nodded. “All right. Just don’t get too fancy with the flying or you’ll have to pull me out of the sea.”
I’ll be careful, Ayrmi assured him. But we should get going, or they will be here before we have lured them away. Another few minutes and they will likely be able to see Kanin. Big, sleeping dragons with shiny scales are hard to miss.
Khollo and Aralye ran to the purple dragon’s side and climbed aboard, Aralye in front, Khollo behind. While Aralye tightened the flying straps around her own legs, Khollo worked on finding reasonably secure hand and footholds he could use for himself. When they were both ready, Ayrmi took off, rising into the frigid winter sky.
Relam’s ship came into sight almost immediately, just a little ways north and west of their camp. Khollo squinted at the flag one more time, and confirmed what Ayrmi had shown him earlier. The banner was Relam’s and it was flying upside down. As Ayrmi swooped over the ship, circling a few times to give Khollo a better look, the deck turned to a sea of upturned faces. Then, a sailor high up on the mast began jerking the flag up and down on its line, so that it rose and fell a few feet at a time, some sort of signal.
“Do they want us to land?” Aralye wondered.
I would sink their boat, Ayrmi warned. But that might be what we want to do anyway.
As they were discussing their options, a new banner appeared, a massive white flag flapping in the hands of several sailors. A man whose head was circled by a glittering ring of light held one end of the white flag, his upturned face following the Keepers’ every movement.
“Relam,” Khollo muttered. “He’s requesting an audience.”
“It’s a trap,” Aralye said immediately. “Don’t trust him. Last time he tried to kill you and Kanin.”
“I know,” Khollo replied. “But look at his ship. There aren’t many soldiers aboard, or at least not that I can see. There are a few guards, but most of the people aboard have the look of sailors, not fighters, and I don’t see any drawn weapons.”
There is a big bow in the front of the ship, Ayrmi added. But no one is using it. There is not even an arrow loaded.
Khollo glanced quickly at the unmanned ballistae, his confusion mounting. “Could it be that this isn’t a trap?” he wondered aloud. “Has something changed?”
“He’s certainly going out of his way to make this boat look like it’s not a threat,” Aralye agreed uncertainly. “It’s your call, Khollo, I’m too confused to know what’s going on.”
“Me too,” Khollo muttered. “Ayrmi, fly directly to shore and land in the Durman woods. Let’s see if they follow us.”
The purple dragon veered away from the ship, towards land, then made a show of settling right at the edge of the water and folding her wings. A moment later, Relam’s ship changed course as well, the bow swinging around to point towards the purple dragon. Oars sprouted from the sides of the ship in twin banks of oak wood, thrashing the water relentlessly as they drove the ship forward.
“Well, here they come,” Aralye observed.
“Let’s wait it out,” Khollo muttered. “See what happens. Ayrmi, be ready to fly.”
I’m always ready to fly. You two need to be ready to hang on.
The three Keepers waited in silence from that point on, watching the approaching ship with a mixture of curiosity and dread. The wind had faltered on this new course and the sails had been furled. But the oars continued on, beating the surface of the sea.
Within fifteen minutes, the ship was close enough for Khollo to make out individual figures. Relam stood in the bow now, his hands held up and out in a gesture of peace. Beside him, the ballistae remained unmanned, and someone had lashed a tarpaulin over it for good measure. Behind Relam, several sailors were still waving the white flag, which appeared to be a spare sail. Beyond them, a few guards stood at attention, but their weapons were not drawn.
“So far so good,” Khollo murmured.
“I still don’t like it,” Aralye replied. “It feels like a trap.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re entirely too trusting.”
“Probably.”
The prow of the ship grated against the shore, throwing the ship’s occupants off balance for a moment. They were within shouting distance now, but not close enough that Ayrmi could attack them with her fire.
“Keepers!” Relam shouted. “Permission to come ashore?”
Khollo exchanged a look with Aralye. “What do you think?”
“Only the king may come.”
Khollo nodded. “My thoughts exactly.” He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted back. “Just you, Relam. Leave the others on your ship.”
The young king took a half step back, hesitating. “You will not attack?” he called.
“You have my word,�
�� Khollo grunted.
The young Keeper watched as Relam moved slowly to the side of the ship, where a section of the railing had been removed and a ramp had been placed leading down to the shore. One of the guards approached the young king, but Relam waved him off curtly and descended the plank alone. Khollo watched as Relam approached along the shore, trudging slowly towards their position. The king had a sword at his hip, but he carried no weapons in his gloved hands.
“That’s far enough,” Khollo called when Relam was within ten meters of Ayrmi.
The young king halted, clasping his hands in front of him, where Khollo could see them. “Khollo, we need to talk.”
“We already are.”
Relam frowned, mulling this over. “I know you’re angry. And you have every reason to be. The ambush at Etares . . . that was a mistake. We acted without full knowledge of the situation.”
“That does not change what happened.”
Relam sighed heavily. “No, it does not. And I realize that. Is Kanin all right? I heard he was wounded.”
“He will live,” Khollo replied evenly.
Relam relaxed visibly, his shoulders coming down a little and his posture becoming looser. “That’s good,” he said. “Very good. Better than I had hoped for, actually.”
“Why are you here?” Khollo asked finally. “You sought us out, despite what you did. For what purpose?”
“We acted without full knowledge before,” Relam repeated. “We have new information now, and what we’re up against is worse than just a rogue dragon.”
“So you want my help.”
Relam nodded. “Hear me out, Khollo. Give me that at least. After that, do what you want. Take revenge on us, burn me, my ships, whatever. But I hope you will be able to forgive us for our actions, and join with us instead. That is the only way I think any of us will achieve victory in the coming battle.”
“What battle?” Khollo asked.
“I’ll start at the beginning,” Relam decided. “There’s a lot that’s been going on that you don’t know about, and it’s all relevant to our current predicament. It’s a long tale, so bear with me.”
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