The headman peered through a partially open door. “My lord, what brings you here?”
“A suspicion of treachery and potential danger. The dragons report Bekla has gone to Sea Cliff, and her brothers may have left the pass unguarded. They fear Lagon plans another invasion.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I trust the dragons.”
The older man scowled. “I understand their uncles were traitors, but those men had no hand in raising Bekla or her brothers. I trust the aunt who raised them.”
“This I know. Your village was spared because Lagon’s men were sent on a different trail to the tower. That won’t happen again. Lagon won’t rest until all my kin, near and far, are dead. Bekla will tell him about the village.”
The headman’s mouth formed a thin line. “Return to the tower. Leave the guards and the pass to us.”
Drakon sucked in a breath. He looked around and saw Radlan and several men approaching. They halted. “Drakon, tell these men all you know,” Radlan said.
Drakon repeated his story for the councilmen. “We must visit the pass to make sure of the guards.”
One of the men nodded. “I have something to report that now becomes of importance. Soon after the harvest was stored and before you arrived for the second wagon. A dozen sacks of thorns and the same of berries went missing. Since we had so much I thought nothing about the theft.”
“Sounds like enough to present to Lagon as a dowry,” a second man said. “From the traders we heard how the hedges at the other towers are blighted and the harvest was poor.”
Radlan crossed his arms on his chest. “In the morning Drakon and I are going to the pass. Choose a dozen men to accompany us.”
“Two have always been enough,” the headman said.
Drakon straightened. “Not in these days. I suggest you come with us.”
Several of the council members nodded. “We will make the trip, too.”
“There’s one more thing,” Drakon said. “Tiron and Cerene should pack their belongings. On our return, they will travel to the tower. The dragons have mated. Two eggs will be laid. They must be there to care for the dragonets.”
The headman’s eyes widened. “Surely you are mistaken. The red and blue are barely old enough to fly.”
“There was a need for them to mature so the Old One ordered a pattern of feeding designed for that purpose.” Drakon turned to the men. “Once the eggs have been laid and the pass secured, I will be going to Sea Cliff to face Lagon. As long as he controls four towers, no man, woman, child, or dragon, is safe.”
One of the council members frowned. “Will you set yourself up as a great lord in your tower and ignore the rights of the villagers?”
Drakon met the man’s gaze. “I have worked with you during the planting and the harvest. If there were enough people at the tower to tend our fields, we would feed ourselves and trade for the other goods we need.”
The man nodded. “Fair enough. I’ve spoken to the men from the other towers when they come to trade cloth for furs and hides. Lagon takes what he wants and cares not one whit if they are left with little.”
“I’ve no desire to rule five towers.” Drakon paused. “Do you know if as many people were lost when he took the other towers as the number who died at High Peaks?”
“They suffered little loss of life for the lords of those towers surrendered. Only at High Peaks did he invade with no warning or offers.”
Drakon nodded. “Once he is gone each tower will rule its own lands. No man should have power over so many.” He didn’t mention that High Peaks was the only tower with a green dragon, and that Verde would have the training of the greens that hatched. Thus no lord could accomplish what Lagon had done. He bid the men good night.
We’ll meet at dawn,” Radlan said.
As Drakon entered the headman’s house, he heard the other men’s words of agreement.
In the morning the headman and three of the council members joined the dozen young men who rode with Drakon and Radlan. After a halt for a midday meal they continued to the pass.
The guard house was deserted. The stone-cold ashes in the hearth told the tale. The pair who had guarded the pass were gone.
The headman scowled. “You were right. What should we do?”
Drakon turned to Radlan. “Make a plan. I’ll travel with several of the men toward the end of the pass.”
Sheer cliffs rose on either side of the narrow trail. When they reached the narrowest part, Drakon nodded. “A blockade must be built here.”
One of the men climbed the cliffs on one side. Drakon scrambled up the others. “Sentries placed here.”
“Yes,” called the other man. “There are rocks here we can push over to block the pass until the danger is over.” He leaned over the edge and called to his companions. Soon the others reached the top of the cliffs. By evening the pass was blocked by rocks and stones. Two shelters for watchers were erected above the pass.
Drakon returned to the guard house. He informed the headman and the council members what had been done. In the morning he and Radlan accompanied the headman and council members back to the village.
Chapter Eleven
Arana finished the last bite of the evening meal she shared with Sofona. What was Drakon doing? Had he found the pass well-guarded, or were there other problems? She wished she could speak to him the way she spoke to the dragons. Or better, she wished she had traveled with them. The men had been gone for five days. How much longer would they be gone? She sighed. If Roja didn’t lay the eggs soon, Arana believed she could have gone to the village and been back in time for the event.
Sofona patted Arana’s hand. “I miss them, too. You and Drakon have had such a short time to enjoy the early days of your marriage.”
Arana nodded. “A day spent mostly in dreams.” She shuddered when she recalled the sight of Lagon and Bekla.
“You have years ahead of you.”
“I know. It’s just … just … I want to know what happened in the village and at the pass. I want Roja to lay her eggs. I want to know if Tiron and Cerene will arrive soon.”
“In time you will know all. Since Tiron and Cerene will be the speakers for the new dragonets, they must come to the tower. Until the eggs are laid there is no hurry.” Sofona rose and began to clear the table. “Do you think Bekla will try to sneak into the cavern?”
Arana scraped food from the plates into a pail for the pigs. “She won’t come here. She is at Sea Cliff brewing trouble. I’m sure she’ll encourage Lagon to invade and destroy the dragons. I wonder if she knows he intends to bed me.”
“Why would he if he has her?” Sofona asked.
“Because he’s a man who doesn’t change his plans.”
“You’re married. He cannot touch you.”
Arana coughed. “That won’t stop him. He forced Drakon’s mother into his bed. Before her death she gave him a daughter.”
“She was a widow.” Sofona patted Arana’s hand. “He would have to kill Drakon before he can take you to his bed.”
“I don’t think he would care.”
“He cannot win against Drakon. Drakon has kept fit and when he was a captive he learned many ways of unarmed fighting.”
“Perhaps Drakon can best Lagon.” Arana rubbed her arms. Thoughts of a fight between the two men made her feel chilled. Lagon would cheat.
*Arana, come to the cavern. The Old One and I need you. The eggs will be laid soon. Azure has penned Roja in one of the side caves where there is no sand. He will not let me enter. He will not let her leave. Without sand to cushion them, the eggs will break.*
Arana dashed to the door. “I must go. Roja is ready to lay the eggs and Azure makes trouble.”
“Go. I’ll finish here and join you when I’m done.”
Arana raced across the forecourt and entered the cavern. The scene would have been funny of she hadn’t known how vital the safe delivery of the eggs was to the tower. Hisses and growls filled the air. The
small green dragon and the slightly larger yellow tried to coax Roja into the main area of the cavern. The blue bared his teeth and threatened the smaller pair with his talons.
*Azure, stop,* Arana shouted.
*He will not listen,* Verde said.
Azure roared. *She hurts. She hurts. She will die.*
Roja’s voice filled Arana’s head with her fearful thoughts. *Verde, you and the Old One must return to the sands.* Arana patted the green’s flank. *Azure is afraid.*
A deeper voice sounded. *Verde must attend to Roja and care for the eggs.*
*Until I calm Azure and Roja, Verde is in danger of being hurt. Order him back before Azure attacks.*
*The dragons at Sea Cliff were never mean to me,* Verde said.
*They ignored your presence. There never were eggs there. Azure and Roja must be coaxed onto the warm sands. If you and the Old One send calming thoughts instead of orders to the pair, their fear will lessen and they will listen.*
*Azure gives orders. He is not the controller and has no right to do that. He makes Roja afraid and she cries.*
Arana drew in a deep breath. *I hear her. What did you tell them about their mother?*
*That she laid her eggs and died so they would be safe.*
*I see. Old One, keep Verde away.*
*I am the controller. They must listen.*
*My friend, you have tried. Let me have my chance. Just send calm thoughts.*
*I will try.*
Arana approached the blue dragon. He blocked the entrance to the small cave and hissed. *Enough,* Arana said. *Roja, come to the sands. The heat will soothe the pain.* The blue thumped his tail and refused to move, but his growls ceased. Arana moved closer. *You must let her come with me. If you continue to act in this manner Drakon will be unhappy with you.*
*He went away.*
*He will return. Even now, he could be on the way. Step aside. Roja, come to me.”
The blue edged away from the entrance to the small cave. Roja poked her head out. *I hurt. I am afraid. Azure says I will die like our mother did.*
*You won’t die. Your mother could have lived, but she was afraid the lord of Sea Cliff would find you. She died so you would be safe.*
*Oh.* Inch by inch the red emerged.
Arana touched Roja’s side. *That is good. Come with me to the sand.* She led Roja to her wallow, sat beside the dragon and hummed a calming song.
The Old One spoke. *Azure, lie behind Roja and press against her back. Verde, you must call the eggs. Sound the notes and encourage her to release them. Roja, though there is pain, remember you are keeping the lineage of High Peaks alive. In the days long ago when the dragons flew over the mountains with their wizard helpers they claimed High Peaks as their home. The wizard wed the lady of the tower and created the cavern for the dragons.*
Arana moved away and sat where she could see the dragons. Verde warbled a series of notes. She listened. When she knew the tones she joined her voice to his. She also sent calming thoughts to Roja and Azure. Before long her head ached and she wished Drakon would arrive.
Calming two dragons was hard. Several times Azure stirred and would have goaded Roja into hiding until Arana spoke to him. Verde’s warble was soothing and hypnotic. Arana’s body jerked. She realized she had fallen asleep. She straightened.
*The blue egg comes.* Verde’s announcement brought a sigh from the Old One.
Arana rose and started toward the egg.
*No* The yellow’s shout startled her. *Arana, do not touch the egg lest the blue yearn for you. Verde, lick the egg and Azure must do the same.*
Arana returned to her place and resumed sending calming thoughts. She watched the actions of Azure and Verde with fascination. Their long tongues moved across the surface of the egg.
*The red egg is here.*
As soon as the red egg lay on the sand, Verde used his tongue to lick the egg. He rolled the sphere to Roja. She treated the egg in the same manner. Had the yellow treated the eggs that had produced Roka and Azure?
*I did,* the Old One said. *Until Verde arrived. Then the honor became his.*
*Why?*
*There is a substance carried by our tongues that helps the dragonets mature.*
*Who licked Verde’s egg?*
*The High Peaks red and the blue, but only once before you hid the egg. There was no green to hasten his hatching. I could not go to Sea Cliff. My appearance would have startled the dragons and alerted Lagon.*
Sofona pushed a barrow laden with meat into the cavern. “I’m sure the dragons are hungry.” She tossed chunks of meat into the troughs. “There is more in the cold room.” She looked at the eggs. “Two more dragons. High Peaks Tower will grow strong.”
Arana went to the cold cave and loaded a barrow. By the time she and Sofona finished distributing, four barrows had been emptied. Arana added berries to four feedings and thorns to three. When the last chunk had been swallowed, Arana checked their hides. “No oiling needed.”
“That’s good news.” The older woman walked to the cavern entrance. “All this feeding has given me an appetite. I’ll heat some soup and tea for us.”
Arana shook her head. “Nothing for me. All I want is my bed.” She walked with Sofona to the tower. When she reached the chamber she shared with Drakon she pulled off her boots and sprawled on the bed. Sleep came in a rush.
The next morning she and Sofona fell into their usual routine. They cared for the livestock, the dragons, and the garden. That afternoon, they prepared rooms for Tiron and Cerene.
As she returned from the cavern after checking the eggs she heard voices. She entered the kitchen. Drakon caught her in a hug. “We heard about the eggs.”
“From Sofona.”
“And the Old One.”
“Did he tell you how we nearly lost them and how badly Azure behaved?”
“All he said was you did what needed to be done.”
She rolled her eyes. Quickly she told him about the scene she’d encountered. “For a short time I wasn’t sure any of them would listen. Should we take Cerene and Tiron to see the eggs?”
“Sofona’s showing them their rooms. Then I want to eat. Our morning and midday meals were scanty and eaten in haste.”
Arana began to set places at the table. “What did you find at the pass? Is the village safe?”
He nodded and helped her set the table. “When we reached the pass we discovered the men who should have been on guard were missing. The headman finally listened.” He told her about blocking the pass and of the men left as guards.
Cerene entered the kitchen. “Arana, good to see you again. We’ve heard about the eggs. When do we see them?”
Arana laughed. “Good to see you, too. Once we’ve eaten Drakon and I will take you to the cavern. You’ll see the eggs and meet the dragons.” She went to the warming oven and removed a platter of meat.
Soon they gathered around the table and shared stories of the time they’d been apart. Once the last bite was eaten and the table cleared, they walked to the cavern.
Arana introduced Cerene and Tiron to the four dragons. She watched their eyes fill with wonder when Verde and the Old One spoke to them. Then she led them to the eggs. “You must visit the eggs several times a day. Touch them and speak to the dragons. They will instruct you in the care of the dragonets. Cerene, the red is yours. Don’t touch the blue. Tiron, you can’t touch the red.”
Cerene looked from the egg to the dragons. “The eggs seem too small to produce creatures that big.”
Arana chuckled. “Don’t worry. The dragonets grow rapidly. Rather like the fyrethorn hedges do.”
“Oh,” Cerene said.
Drakon and Radlan arrived with barrows of meat. They began to fill the troughs.
“How will we know when the eggs are ready to hatch?’ Tiron asked.
“Verde will tell you.” She walked to where the green dragon had begun to feed. *This might be a good time to begin the instructions about the eggs and how to care for the dra
gonets.*
*I will. I will. Dragon speakers, welcome.*
*I like your voice.* Tiron said.
Drakon joined them. “You and Cerene must practice speaking and listening to Verde and the Old One.” He paused and gestured for them to follow him. “Here are the sleeping cots. Once the eggs hatch, you’ll have to move here for a month or so.”
“Why?” Cerene asked.
“So you can get some rest. Though it’s hard to believe that small creatures can eat a barrow of meat at a feeding, they do. Sometimes more.”
“Hard work,” Cerene said.
“It is, but when you fly on your dragon’s back the work will be forgotten.” Arana said.
Tiron looked up. “Must we drink the tea?”
“Not one drop,” Arana said.
Drakon pointed to the saddles sitting on rock pillars. “You will sit on ones like these. Once the dragons grow I’ll show you how to make them. Each must be fitted to a dragon.”
Cerene laughed with delight. “When I was told I must come here, even though you said the tea wasn’t needed, I was afraid. During my testing the tea made me ill. Bekla laughed because she drank two cups and had no reaction.”
“Did she ever hear the Old One?” Arana asked.
Tiron scowled. “She said she heard the dragons when she attended a mating flight here. I believe she invented the story to cover her lust. She seduced your brother. He was weak. She really thought she could use her body to become his wife.”
“He was married,” Drakon said.
“And you think that would stop Bekla. Her uncles and her brothers doted on her and gave in to her every demand.” Tiron walked to the blue egg. “If she’s with Lagon she’ll believe she has all she desires.”
The thought of Bekla and Lagon together raised fear bumps on Arana’s skin.
* * *
Dragons of Fyre (Island of Fyre Book 2) Page 17