He looked around him, like he was searching for a way out.
“There’s nowhere for you to go, Findar. We have taken your allies captive and they are under guard, you have no weapons, and Ahlskibi will flame you if you bother him. He’s feeling irritable right now, so maybe you should sit down and talk to me.”
“Do you have things covered over there?” Leng asked from where he was laying out driftwood for a fire. He was watching us tensely, like he wanted to step in and take over and was holding himself back. I swallowed. I wanted him to be proud of how I handled things and respect me as a fellow Dragon Rider.
“Findar doesn’t worry me,” I said. “He’s the kind of person who hits old men from behind.”
“We’ll just make some caf and set up the tent, then,” Leng said, feigning disinterest.
That’s the nice thing about Leng. He lets people be independent even when he might want otherwise. You should try reading minds sometime. It would help you understand people better.
“And you’re going to explain why you stole those messages and why you brought them here,” I told Findar.
“I won’t.” He crossed his arms over his chest. His face was still swollen from his fight at Casaban, and there was a crusted lump on his head, probably from where he fell during the battle.
“You knew what was happening here. You brought these messages here in hopes that you could prevent them reaching their recipients and benefit the people you serve – the Dusk Covenant. Am I right?”
His eyes told me I was, though his lips narrowed as he pressed them firmly together.
“Did you expect to see the Rock Eaters here?”
“What do you think?”
“I think that it would be wise to answer me.”
“Or what? You’re a girl and a cripple! You won’t torture me, and you won’t let the dragon flame me. There’s nothing you can do to me that would make me talk.”
I wouldn’t let his insults injure me. “You fought against us at Casaban, didn’t you? You’re a traitor.”
“I told you I’m not talking. Why even ask questions if you can’t back up your demands?”
“He did,” Savette said from behind me. I glanced back at her, but she wasn’t even looking at us. She was setting up the tent. I knew one thing Findar didn’t. Savette could feel the truth.
“And you stole the messages to deliver them to the Dusk Covenant,” I said.
He just shook his head in disbelief.
“He did,” Savette said.
“You know what’s in these messages?”
He stared past me, statue still.
“He knows. I think he read them,” Savette said.
“Then I guess I’ll need to read them, too.”
“You can’t.” His answer was too quick. “It’s against the law.”
“Lie,” Savette said. She was done with the tent and she was helping Leng brew the tea. When I glanced back at them, Leng’s eyes shot me a warning look. He didn’t want me to open those messages, but Findar had read them already. Was it really so bad if I read them, too?
I started to pull them from my waistband, one by one. I set them on the ground before me and noticed something I hadn’t when I’d tucked them in. One of the cylinders was slightly different than the others. It bore a sign on it of a spiral with a line through it – the sign of the Dusk Covenant. I picked it up and examined it.
“I think I’ll start with this one.”
Chapter Seven
Findar crouched like he might attack me, but Ahlskibi coughed beside him, letting a gust of flame burst past. When the cough was past, Leng was suddenly at my side, a long knife in his hand, he favored his side, like his injury was finally tiring him out.
“I think you should stay put while the Dragon Rider reads your message, don’t you, Findar?” Leng’s eyes narrowed as he spoke.
I cracked open the seal on the end and slid the paper out of the cylinder. I moved to the small fire and held the slip of paper so I could make out the words.
I read it aloud. “We planted a snake with the crown. Finish capturing the coastal cities. Then send the sign of the boar to Lieutenant Iskaris of the Dominar’s Dragoons. He will know what to do.”
“All the Coastal cities are under threat?” Leng asked.
At the same time, I said, “Who is the snake in the Dominar’s court?”
We looked at each other. I chewed my lip. Tension filled Leng’s eyes. We thought we had a big decision ahead of us before when we thought all we had to do was figure out how to deal with these prisoners and deliver the messages. Now, we had twice the problem. The Dominar was in danger, and so was every city along the coast. I felt a stab of fear rip through me. What should we do?
Findar began to laugh, looking from one face to the next. “And you thought I was the one in trouble. You’re on a losing side. Both of you.”
“We could keep trying to question him,” Leng said quietly to me, “but I don’t think that’s the best use of our time, not with this news. It’s unlikely that someone like him knows any specifics.”
I nodded and tucked away the other messages.
Leng strode forward, seized Findar by the back of the neck and pushed him ahead of him. The limp from his broken ribs was barely noticeable. “If you can’t shed light on things here, you can join your Rock Eater allies under dragon guard.”
I watched him escort Findar down the river bank to where dozens of dragons still swirled around the prisoners, occasionally using their flames to remind the prisoners where the boundaries of their imprisonment were.
I sank down on a rock next to the fire, staring into the flames. “What should we do.”
“We’ll need to split up,” Savette said quietly.
I stole a glance at her. Her bright eyes looked forlorn without Rakturan’s matching pair nearby. I noticed that she still had the gold loop in her ear, even though the chain was gone. She had to come with me no matter what. She needed protection and she had no dragon of her own.
I’m working on that, Raolcan said.
Really? That was what he was working on? I wouldn’t have guessed that. It still didn’t change our dilemma. Savette laid out cups and brewed the caf while I stared at the flames. I should read the other messages. That’s what I should do. I arranged them in front of me on the rock. Savette handed me a cup of caf and I thanked her. Taking me first sip just as Leng stepped out of the shadows and joined us. H took Savette’s offered caf with a murmur of thanks and sat down awkwardly, cradling his ribs.
“We have decisions to make,” he said grimly. If only Hubric was here. He would know what to do. “These are the top priorities in my mind - Savette’s protection, warning the Dominar, warning the coastal cities, dealing with these prisoners. We have one dragon fit to ride – Raolcan.” Ahlskibi snarled, his flames lighting up the night and Leng turned to him. “Don’t grumble. I’m trying to look out for you. That’s called love. Deal with it.” He turned back to us. “We are going to have to choose.”
Wait for me. I’m almost there.
“But every option is important,” I said, sipping my caf slowly and staring into the fire. What if we made the wrong choice? What if it led to calamity.
“Life is all choices, Amel. The worst of it is that the things you want most are usually pushed aside by things more urgent ... but not nearly as important.”
I met the burning intensity of his eyes by firelight. Beside me, Savette’s tears slipped down her face, shining in the firelight. Was she thinking about Rakturan and his choices?
And here we are.
Raolcan landed beside the fire, flirting his wing dramatically at the last moment. As he drew his wings in, a second dragon stepped forward, a red dragon whose sleek scales were now covered in scars.
Eeamdor.
Chapter Eight
Savette gasped, dropping her caf with a clatter and leaping up to embrace her fierce dragon like he was a missing puppy returned to her.
I’ve been work
ing on this for a while, Raolcan said proudly. They were keeping him captive on the Ruby Isles. We arranged to break him out. I had hoped he’d join us sooner, but this is good timing.
He was amazing! He’d been fighting for Eeamdor’s freedom all this time? Who was this ‘we’ who helped him?
Dragons. We do have our own goals and plans, you know. Someone has to take care of Savette. She chose well with Eeamdor. He’s boring, but noble.
Boring?
He can’t take a joke.
Is he why you flew off so suddenly?
Among other things.
And are you going to tell me about those things?
Not all of them.
Of course. I didn’t have any secrets left with him in my mind all the time, but he held on to his.
I’m a dragon of mystery.
“I’m not sure if this helps things or complicates them.” The lines on Leng’s forehead grew deeper. He pulled a map out from his pocket. “Do you know where Hubric is?”
“Oh!” I took the tiny cylinder from around my neck and pulled out the slip of paper within. I read it aloud. “The view is great from here. I can see the Grey Sea and Leedris Castel. Join me at dawn.”
That made no sense to me at all. He said I could figure it out, but he seemed to forget that I wasn’t as educated as I should me.
“Hmmm,” Leng said. “Somewhere that can see Leedris Castel and the Eastern Sea – it usually looks grey - at the same time. You’d have to be on a mountain to do that...” His voice trailed off, but then he snapped his fingers. “Here, look.” I moved in closer and he traced a line on the map. “’Join me at Dawn’ he means the Peak of the Morning. It’s one of the mountains in the nearby range. “
On the map, it was close to Leedris Castel, and also on the way toward Vanika where we’d last seen the Dominar.
“If I go that route, I can bring the messages to the Dominar and also bring Savette to Leedris Castel.”
He nodded. “It won’t be easy to bring these prisoners with you, though. Not only is it a long way to go without food, they will slow things down by being on foot without supplies.”
“But where else can we take them?”
He pointed to Saldrin. “Here. Even if they walk it will not take long. If I load them on ships, I can sail them there in a day.”
“Or they could seize control of the ships and try to escape.”
“They could, but I’m hoping the dragons will come, too. Then I could warn a coastal city and take the prisoners somewhere safe.”
“How will you sail three ships?”
“I’ll make the crews sail them or risk being flamed by Ahlskibi and the other dragons.”
I bit my lip. “That means splitting up again, doesn’t it?”
I have reason to seek the Dominar. This would suit my plans perfectly.
“I would bring the prisoners to Saldrin and warn them of coming attacks. You would go to join Hubric again and together you could keep Savette safe and also deliver messages to the Dominar.”
“What about Ahlskibi? You said he wasn’t fit to carry someone.”
“He can rest on one of the ships when he needs a break. I’ll be careful with him.”
I bit my lip. I wasn’t happy with us splitting up. I’d only just found him again and every time I lost track of him, something terrible happened.
He tucked the map back in his pocket and took my hands in his. “Listen, it’s only for a while. It’s the only way that makes sense.”
I nodded. But his dragon was wounded. He was recovering from a trauma. Who was to say that Raolcan’s dragons would listen to Leng and keep the prisoners together as the sailed to the city?
They will.
What if the prisoners overtook him and killed him?
“You wear my davari,” Leng said, touching the ring on my finger. “It’s as true now as when I first gave it to you. I will find a way to be yours. Until that time, you hold my heart in your palms.” He kissed me. “But we both have responsibilities. We can’t risk our Dominion just to keep close to each other. Wear my davari, and remember that I will return to you as quickly as I can.”
I nodded, but I felt the tears tracing trails down my face. I hated that everyone I loved always had to go. I hated that it always meant risk and danger. If I had my way, there would be no more risks ever again.
And no more fun.
If that was what it took, then yes.
“Let’s get some sleep. We’ll need to leave as soon as dawn comes.”
I found a place to sleep beside Raolcan, but I woke often through the night and glanced over at Leng sleeping against Ahlskibi. I felt safer just seeing him across the fire from me, but I would have liked it better if he were closer.
Seriously, can I just get some sleep? I’m starting to dream about bald-headed humans with all your pining going on in the back of my head - and that’s something I’ve never wanted.
I closed my eyes and fell back asleep.
Chapter Nine
“Are you sure these dragons will work with Leng when you are gone?” I asked Raolcan the next morning. I was saddling him as we chatted and adjusting his load just right to keep him comfortable. Savette would have to fly without a saddle.
They are dragons just like me, Amel. Free, but not without an understanding of our shared responsibilities. They’ll help him bring the prisoners to Saldrin.
I was just nervous about leaving. I didn’t want to go.
You don’t want to leave Leng, but what alternative is there?
I didn’t want to be rational. I wanted to be irrational and get what I wanted.
Don’t cinch those so tight. It’s not my fault that you’re in this situation.
Oops. I hadn’t meant to hurt him. Savette was already on Eeamdor’s back – saddleless, but content. I gave her Raolcan’s reins - it wasn’t like he actually needed them – but I kept the saddle. I needed a place to store my crutch while we flew. We’d have to be careful not to fly too dangerously. Savette’s perch was tenuous, though Leng had rigged safety straps for her.
He walked around our dragons, looking nervous. “You know where you’re going?”
“Raolcan does, and you drew me a map in the back of my book of Ibrenicus Prophecies.”
He nodded, but he didn’t step back so I could mount Raolcan. “Be careful, Amel. Take care who you trust and please keep yourself safe.”
“I’ll be okay, Leng. I’m worried about you with all the prisoners.”
He shook his head, making a shooing motion with his hand. “They won’t be a problem.”
We were either both very confident or both trying to keep the other from worrying. Eventually, he gathered me up in his arms for a fierce hug and gave me a gentle kiss before helping me up on Raolcan.
“I’ll be safe,” I promised.
He stepped back, leaning against Ahlskibi to give us room to launch. I hated that I was going to leave. I didn’t want to go. There must be something more I could say or do. I waved, then tapped the davari on my finger and he smiled.
Oh, for the love of the wind and sky...
Raolcan leapt into the air and I scrambled to hold on, waving as Leng grew smaller and smaller. The smaller he grew, the larger the ache in my heart.
Cheer up. He isn’t dead or hurt, he’s just taking care of his responsibilities, the same as you.
I twisted in the saddle to see Savette following behind us on Eeamdor. It was so strange to think that he’d been alive all this time and on his way to her and I hadn’t even known. Which reminded me, Raolcan had a lot of explaining to do.
You can’t possibly be angry with me. You know Savette is happy to see Eeamdor again. And he’s happy to see her.
Well, I wasn’t angry about that. I guess he didn’t know for sure when they would be reunited, so he probably didn’t want to get our hopes up.
Life is uncertain these days. I had no way of knowing that they’d ever really be reunited.
But he had kept that whole
Prince of Dragons thing from me. And he still hadn’t explained what he was really doing there or where he had been called off to.
I waited, but he didn’t fill in the blanks. Irritated, I clenched my jaw. Well, I was done with people keeping secrets from me. The minute we stopped for a break, I was going to crack open those other messages and read them.
I thought you were only going to read them to keep them safe.
That was the original plan, but I felt like I was flying in the dark. I wanted them both to keep them safe and to start to shed some light on things.
I advise against it.
But as the hours passed, the messages seemed to grow heavier. I counted each cylinder where it dug into my midsection and the thought of opening them and reading them filled me with speculation. There were fourteen messages. Fourteen secrets waiting to be read.
Seriously, they are secret for a reason.
Like his secrets? Like whatever he was keeping from me? Why were you called away, Raolcan? Where did you go?
We flew northwest in silence, following the road, but staying far enough away to avoid sight and then moving north of it toward the Dragon Snout Mountains. They stood purple and foreboding ahead of us. Eventually, we stopped to take a break, eat some food and stretch our legs. I’d left half our food with Leng, so we had very little left. Hopefully, we’d find something to eat soon. I didn’t have more than a few coins. It wouldn’t take us far.
Savette and I got down from our dragons and ate our cold lunch in silence. The cylinders were a constant itch, drawing my mind to their presence. After a few minutes, Savette looked at me, her face crinkling in worried lines before she spoke.
“When we get to Leedris, we’ll split up.”
“What?” I almost dropped my waterskin.
“You have messages to deliver, and I have my own path to walk. I need to talk to my father, the High Castelan, and convince him to side with me in the coming conflict.”
Dragon School: Prince of Dragons Page 3