Cord stopped, studied the ground for a moment, and started pacing an arc. “Unless I can pick up the trail, this is it.”
Shasta eyed the distance between them and the woods. They’d only gone about a quarter mile. There was wide-open ground all around Cord, and whoever had driven the car could’ve gone anywhere, even back to town. With a sigh she turned to the tracks. To her eyes, they were faint ripples, not tracks that had come from a vehicle. For being half elf, she’d never been much of a tracker. Her dad liked to say it was because she’d grown up in modern society, but that was mostly teasing.
“I lost them,” Cord said with disgust.
“I’m not sure I would’ve seen them at all without you. I went the other way around the trees last time.” Shasta patted him lightly on the shoulder, and for a moment it felt like old times.
Cord shrugged and kept walking back to the trees with Shasta pacing alongside him. “Your tracking skills are fine, maybe not as phenomenal as mine, but fine. The real problem is you don’t care enough.”
“I care,” Shasta protested. “It just always seemed rather silly to try to track creatures rather than sense where they were.”
“Yeah, I know. I went through all those drills with you.” He didn’t ask for directions but walked directly into the thicket.
She made a face at his back and let the conversation go. She wasn’t gonna win this one, and at this point it really didn’t matter. He was better with plants and tracking while she was better with animals and had some magic. Those were the facts in their partnership.
A moment later he found the shelter. She stood back and watched as he examined it before turning his attention to the surrounding area. She knew by the swift intake of breath when he spotted the skeleton, and she circled the former clearing around the lean-to to reach his side.
“I take it this is the part you really wanted my thoughts on.” Cord continued to study the skeleton.
“I couldn’t decide what it was.” She knelt down next to him. Last time she’d been here, something bothered her about it, and now looking over it again, she knew what the problem was. “There aren’t any wing bones.”
“True.” Cord pointed at the spine and shoulders. “But those joints were meant to connect to wings.”
“So it was a dragon.” Shasta sighed. She really didn’t want to be the one to tell the dragons that there was a skeleton out here that could belong to them, but it wasn’t right to leave it. “How long do you think it’s been here?”
Cord leaned back. “What do you think?”
Shasta took a deep breath. Those were the words he used when he was gonna turn something into a “teachable moment.” He’d answer a question, but only after she’d done her best to answer without his help. When she’d been a child, it had felt like a game. Now it was habit, though hopefully as they worked together he’d spend less time teaching and simply be a partner. She leaned forward, looking over the bones. Overall, the skeleton was in good shape. With the damage to the skull, there were a few options for what had killed the dragon.
However, the lack of tooth marks was odd. Some scavenger should’ve gnawed on the bones, perhaps carrying away a few. With the exception of the wings, the skeleton didn’t appear to be missing any parts, though with the damage to the skull it was hard to say for sure. The bones were completely devoid of tissue and dark from the elements.
“At least a few months but as much as years. Though if we’re assuming it’s a dragon, I’m not entirely sure how quickly they decompose.”
“And?” he prompted.
“I admit to being perplexed. I’d think scavengers of various types would’ve carried off the bones, not left a mostly complete skeleton, one without any signs that scavengers even knew it was here. Last night I opened myself to what the bones were willing to share.” She shivered, and goose bumps rose on her arms. “While I was unable to determine if the death was natural, it wasn’t pleasant.”
“That is the impression I got.” Cord sighed. “However, I don’t have any useful information.”
“Spells could tell us more.” Shasta stood up and backed away from the bones. “But my magic isn’t that strong. I have to know what I’m looking for to search for it, and I’m not good at picking up subtle traces.”
“Then we tell the dragons. They should be able to determine if it’s one of their own.” He straightened and came to stand next to Shasta.
“Let me think about who to tell. They may know about these bones and be upset that we’re here, so it’s worth giving it some thought.” She’d have lots of time on the drive back and during training tomorrow to consider whom to approach. “What do you think of the shelter?”
“It’s well constructed, and it’s been here for some time, though I can’t tell how frequently it’s used since very little effort has gone into maintaining it. I couldn’t get a sense of who inhabited it or how recently.” He frowned. “I’m not sure how much more either of us can learn from this area.”
“Fair enough. Though I was hoping for more.” Shasta sighed heavily and let her gaze sweep across the brush hiding the bones and the lean-to, then turned and headed back to the car.
Cord trailed behind her. “The earth is oddly reluctant, as if it’s hiding something.”
“I got that feeling too.” As much as Shasta wished the earth had been willing to share more, that was the nature of elven abilities. They relied heavily on what nature was willing to tell them, and oftentimes the earth wasn’t going to give them all the answers they desired.
The silence continued as they settled into the car, this time with Cord driving, and headed back to town. As they bumped across the uneven ground, Shasta dug around in the back for her lunch. She unwrapped a mozzarella, zucchini, and pesto sandwich and cheerfully bit in. She ate her lunch, content to watch the unending sky, with dragons casting down long shadows on the earth and the stout grass that flowed over the rolls and turns of the land. The silence between her and Cord was at least a comfortable one.
As soon as the empty sandwich wrapper was tucked back in the cooler, Cord glanced in her direction. “Anything you want to chat about? It’s a long drive back.”
Shasta chewed on her lip. There had to be something she could offer up to fill the silence. “Oh, a brownie told me a dragon is missing.”
That got his attention. The car slowed, and he gave her a long look. “One of our students?”
“No, this is an adult dragon.”
His relieved sigh filled the car.
“This dragon’s name is Ophelia. She’s sunset orange.”
“Huh.” He grunted. “I was under the impression that it was odd for a mature dragon to go missing.”
Shasta shrugged, then realized he couldn’t see it. “The brownie simply told me to keep an eye out for her.”
“What makes them think she’s missing? There isn’t much that can hurt a dragon.” Cord pressed the gas pedal, and the car surged up the incline.
“They really didn’t say much. I got the feeling some of the dragons were worried but not overly concerned, as if Ophelia is known for vanishing from time to time.” Some of that evaluation was guesswork, but not much. She’d been on the periphery of a couple of welcome-home dinners for various dragons who’d gone off on their own and had only just returned.
“Well, my class and I don’t leave town much, but when we do, I’ll look for her.” Cord steered them around a rock half the size of the car. “Do dragons go missing often?”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of it, but you’d have to ask them for a better answer.”
He hummed as if casting around for another topic. “Any news from the dragon meet?”
“Not that I’ve heard.” Shasta thought back to when they’d first arrived. The brownies and dragons had talked about it more, though most of it had been grumblings about having both President Ederin and Aldebrand out of the country at the same time. “I got the feeling it’s mostly dragon matters, not statecraft.”
&n
bsp; “We’re not the only country ruled by a dragon. I can think of at least three others.”
“That may be, but if this was a head-of-state meeting, they would’ve invited some of the other leaders, not just dragons.” Shasta leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes.
“Hey!” Cord poked her in the arm. “That’s not fair. If I can’t sleep, you can’t sleep.”
Shasta cracked one eye open enough to peer at Cord. “Not only did I drive all the way out here, but I woke up early to set up the obstacle course and then had to rescue several dragons from danger. I’ve earned a nap.”
“Only until we get home.” His voice was teasing, and he was smiling gently.
Her eyes started feeling too heavy to open. “Deal.”
Night had taken over the sky, much like a copper-colored dragon had taken over the roof of her house. Even out here in the field, its snores drowned out the chirp of crickets. A roll of blanket provided a pillow, and she looked up into a night sky so full of stars it looked like a living thing.
“May I join you?”
Shasta shrieked and jerked herself off the ground. Cord stood a few feet away, a slight smile on his face. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. “Why do you do that?”
He settled onto the grass next her. “You know you’re the only elf I’ve ever been able to sneak up on.”
“Half elf,” she said sourly. “Besides, how am I supposed to sense you coming with that in the background?” As if on cue, a great rumble of a snore emanated from the dragon.
“I always know when you’re nearby.” He was very purposefully looking anywhere but at her.
She smothered an exasperated sigh. “Did you need something, or did you just want to needle me?”
He turned to her, all hints of joking and teasing gone. “I looked over the training course. I didn’t find anything.”
“Nothing?” She’d hoped he would be able to see what she had not.
He shook his head.
“Damn.” She couldn’t let the dragons back on the course until she had a better idea what had happened, and right now that didn’t seem to be working out.
“Silas”—he named a previous graduate of their classes—“has volunteered to run the course tomorrow both by himself and with me aboard.”
“When? I’d like to be there, but I’m taking my group out for a long flight tomorrow.” Hopefully an incident-free flight.
“Late afternoon. If you’re back, that would be nice, but Silas and I will carry on.” He lay down on the grass, hands folded behind his head.
“I don’t know.” She chewed on the inside of her lip. “It was all I could do to keep some of the dragons in the air. I worry about the two of you.”
He turned his head far enough to look at her with one eye. “I’ve abilities of my own, and Silas is more experienced and mature than your lot.”
“I’d still feel better if I were there.” He was her partner; it was her job to look out for him.
“Elves are hard to kill. You should know that.” He went back to gazing at the stars, as if that’s all there was to the conversation.
Shasta kept the rest of her thoughts to herself. Elves were hard to kill, but it was hardly impossible. “You better be healthy when I get back.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’re gonna have to do better than that. You better be in one healthy piece when I return. I don’t want to be explaining your death to either of our parents.”
He chuckled.
Shasta lay back down and looked up at the stars. Now she saw something different up there, not wonder and beauty but a knowledge that life, even for a long-lived race, could be fleeting. That sensation stuck with her all night, making her toss and turn as a worry she couldn’t quite name colored her dreams, preventing her from resting. Predawn was turning the sky a light blue when she got out of bed, trudged into the kitchen, and made herself breakfast.
Cord hadn’t come out of his room by the time she finished eating, so she dressed for the day, picked up a light backpack, and headed over to the kitchens. Cornelia quickly gave her enough food for the day and one packet that she was firmly told only to open in case of emergency. Having had emergency rations in the past, Shasta was in no particular hurry to taste this variety. She tucked all that in her backpack, added a couple more canteens of water, and then walked over to the open portion of the kitchen complex.
All six of her dragons were demolishing platters of food delivered by bright-eyed brownies. Matilda paused between bites of beef to slurp down a vat of coffee. Dawn’s light was peeking over the horizon when Randolph licked his platter clean, gulped down a healthy portion of water, and joined the line forming up in front of Shasta. At least here on the ground they looked rested. No one was favoring any limbs or wings, but there could still be sore muscles that would affect their performance in the air.
“How’s everyone feeling today?”
Natalia was the first answer. “My wings are sore.”
Tracy bobbed her head. “Mine are as well, though I believe they will loosen up in flight.”
Romeo and Matilda also had sore wings. Randolph and Tracy were fine.
“You will not be running the obstacle course today. Until we have a better idea what occurred, none of you are allowed on it.” Shasta waited until all of them nodded their agreement before continuing. “Today we’re doing an endurance run, with the added idea that you’re traveling with some cargo. You’ll be doing aerial handoffs and hauling it for long distances.”
“What will we be carrying?” Tracy asked timidly.
Shasta grinned. “I’m glad you asked. You’ll get to transport it for the first leg. Randolph, you’ll be my ride. If you let me mount up, we’ll go pick up our cargo from the valley east of town and head out.”
Randolph knelt down, and Shasta picked up a thin piece of leather with a handle on the front, stirrups dangling from each side and long strips of leather poking off from the main body at various points. It didn’t look like a saddle, but that was because it wasn’t all that easy to design saddles for dragons. Instead, it had been infused with magic and would conform to the shape of the dragon it was on as well as remain in place until removed. Since it was going to be a long flight, using the saddle would be far more comfortable for both Randolph and Shasta.
As Romeo passed her on his way to a clear area to take off, he whispered, “You dazzle me like the most beautiful sunrise.”
“Romeo will get the second leg with the cargo.” She didn’t break her stride as the dragon gawked but continued over to Randolph.
She settled the leather far enough back from his wings so he could move freely, but not so far back that she was over his rump. Unlike Glimmer, Randolph did not have spinal ridges. As soon as she got the saddle in the right spot, she touched a small piece of tooled leather at the back of the saddle. Shasta watched the magic twist through the saddle. It settled heavily against Randolph’s scales, and the leather lowered and conformed to his sides. She set her foot in the stirrup and mounted.
Once she had a good grip on the pommel, she leaned forward. “Let’s go pick up the cargo. Ready when you are.”
He bounded forward, then thrust them both into the air. Shasta glanced back. The rest of the dragons followed them. Randolph leveled out into a low, fast flight that quickly carried them across town and to the small valley. He banked and landed smoothly, hardly jostling Shasta. When all four of his feet were safely on the ground, he pivoted and locked his eyes on the only unique feature of this valley: a boulder. It was solid granite but oblong and sitting up on one end with deep grooves near the top that were the right size for dragon forepaws to hold.
Shasta hopped off Randolph’s back but stayed next to him until the rest of the dragons had landed. Once they were all lined up, Shasta strode over to the rock, casually setting her hand on top of it. “I’ve been told this rock weighs a few hundred pounds. I’ve also been told that this rock is something
you should be able to carry all day. Don’t worry, none of you will have to carry it for more than a few hours at a time. Tracy can pick it up for the first leg, and we’ll land when it’s time for her to hand it off. We’ll also rotate who’s carrying me. By the end of today, all of you will have had at least one chance at both. Whoever is carrying me will be in the lead with the rock carrier behind us. Everyone else will be keeping an eye on those two dragons. We’ll make a long stop for lunch. Any questions?”
“Where are we going?” Byron asked.
“First west, then north. Whoever is carrying me will guide the group.” Shasta surveyed the dragons. She couldn’t say they looked eager, more resigned to their fate and prepared to accept it. “And remember, this is training for flying over a human area where there aren’t always places to land and you may need to hand off large items to another dragon without creating difficulties for anyone living below. You drop it and we repeat this lesson tomorrow.”
Now they looked downright grim, but she was here to teach them, not be their friend. “Tracy, get ready to grab that rock. We’ll be taking off as soon as I mount up.”
Shasta climbed back into her saddle, grabbed the handhold, and leaned forward. “Let’s go.”
That was all the encouragement Randolph needed to launch them into the sky. He rose high into the air, and they circled as the rest of the dragons lifted off. Tracy managed to take off, the rock in her grasp, on the first try. However, it was a lumbering effort with heavy thrusts of her wings and pants of exertion. Once Tracy got in the air, the force of her wings reduced to a more normal level and her breathing slowly relaxed.
Satisfied that her students were as ready as they were going to be, Shasta spoke to Randolph. “Due west at an easy cruising speed.”
He bobbed his head, pointed his nose west, and started flying in that direction. Tracy quickly fell in behind them, and one by one the other dragons settled into their preferred spot. Shasta twisted around. The dragons were arranged in a loose vee, much the way geese migrated. Byron, Romeo, Matilda, and Natalia’s movements were easy and unstrained. They looked as if they could fly like this for days. There was more force going into each thrust of Tracy’s wings, but she didn’t look to be straining too much.
Earth Born (The Earth Born Cycle Book 1) Page 6