The Rise of the Wrym Lord

by Wayne Thomas Batson

  Earlier, she had scouted the castle and discovered the pens for the white dragons on the lower level. Their pens are really set up like an airport, Antoinette had thought. The dragons step to the edge of the platform and, whoosh, they are gone. Just like that. The pens had been busy too. Dragons were coming and going the whole time Antoinette watched, but she hoped that it would be quieter now in the wee hours of the morning. She wondered if there was a guard assigned to the pens all night long. She hoped not. There were other worries as well. For one, Antoinette had never ridden on the back of a dragon. She had no idea what she would do if they did not respond to the leg commands and reins like horses and unicorns. And supposing she did get a dragon off the ground and escape into the night, she wasn’t altogether sure how to get to Baen-Edge. It was east of Yewland, and the Forest Road led to it more or less directly. If she could eyeball the road from the air, she reasoned, then she could find Baen-Edge. Easy, she thought. Yeah, right.

  She trotted quickly down a spiral staircase and became a little disoriented for a moment. The door to the pens was supposed to be right at the bottom of the stairs. But no pens. Just a long hallway. She stared back up the steps and wondered how she could have gotten lost. At last, she realized what must have happened. She had missed the central stair in the upstairs hallway and wound up taking the stair at the end of the hall. She figured the door to the pens must be just farther up. And as she walked, the unmistakable scent of dragon pens made its presence known.

  Antoinette found the pens and entered. No guards—so far, so good. She sat on a bench and started to double-check her satchel when—

  “I thought I might find you here,” came a voice from behind.

  Antoinette jumped up, her hand going to the hilt of her sword. A tall, cloaked figure came out of the shadows. The figure lowered a dark burgundy hood, revealing long silver hair that rested upon her shoulders like layers of silk.

  “Lady Merewen!” Antoinette gasped. “How did you—”

  “How did I know you would come to the dragon pens in the middle of the night? Is that what you want to know?” Lady Merewen laughed.

  Antoinette nodded. “Aelic didn’t tell you, did he?”

  “Nay,” Lady Merewen replied. “He did not need to, for you gave yourself away. What else was I to think when you kept staring at that strange little picture—the one you pulled from the book—during our most recent visit with Queen Illaria? And the look in your eyes screamed of disappointment when Kaliam told you we would not go to Baen-Edge. Instead of enjoying the feast like the rest of us, you were out exploring the castle—at least I thought that was you I saw. But the decisive clue was that you wore your armor to bed! You have much to learn about being stealthy.”

  Antoinette sighed heavily. “So what will you do now? Turn me in?”

  “That depends upon your reasons for wanting to go to Baen-Edge,” Lady Merewen replied. She sat on the bench and motioned for Antoinette to sit next to her. A white dragon in the nearest pen woke up and peered with sleepy eyes over the gate at the late-night visitors. “Tell me now,” said Lady Merewen, “what is so pressing in Baen-Edge that it cannot wait until we can return with the King’s full armies?”

  Antoinette reached into a leather satchel and removed the photo of Robby. She handed it to Lady Merewen. Then she explained everything about Robby’s Glimpse and her promise to Aidan to help if she could. Lady Merewen nodded when Antoinette was finished.

  “And so you fear any delay could have dire consequences for Aidan’s friend?”

  Antoinette nodded. “I have to do this,” she said.

  “Well, now that I have heard your tale,” Lady Merewen said, “I will not stand in your way. But I will tell you what I think. In spite of your noble motives, I believe it is still a rash thing that you do. You will be flying into deadly peril, for Baen-Edge is a foul place, one of Paragor’s chief trading partners. It is full of ruthless brigands. Villains from all over The Realm buy and sell illegal wares there. And Baen-Edge is notorious for its slave trade—I can only imagine what price you might bring since you are not Glimpse-kind.”

  Antoinette shuddered.

  “If this Kearn is as close to Paragor as you say he is,” Lady Merewen continued, “you will find it nearly impossible to gain an audience with him. And even if you do, he will not change allegiances easily. For he will not want to give up the power.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Glimpses serve Paragor for many reasons,” Lady Merewen explained. “But chief among them are fear and power. Those who join the enemy out of fear can be turned. Fear of harm, fear of pain, fear of loss, fear of loneliness—all fade in the radiance of King Eliam’s enduring love. They need only to learn that servants of Alleble are never alone!”

  “Is that why you renounced Paragor and came to Alleble?”

  Lady Merewen nodded. “It is, and I will never look back. But for those who crave power, the transition is far more difficult. If Kearn is one of these, he lives to control others—to rule over them. He finds meaning only if he is superior. And if he needs to enslave, torture, or kill Glimpses to establish his power, then he will do it. Powermongers of this kind have never been loved, and so love means nothing to them. If Kearn is one of these, then he feeds upon the fear of others.”

  “How can I reach him then?” Antoinette asked.

  “You may not be able to,” Lady Merewen answered. “That is why I urge you to reconsider your course of action. Do not go, Antoinette. Trust that King Eliam’s plan for you is the right one. And wait to see what is in store.”

  “I’m going,” she said.

  “Very well,” Lady Merewen replied. She handed a bundle to Antoinette. “Take this then. It is a fine hooded cloak, the finest from Alleble’s market. It is light in weight, but sturdy against the wind—and prying eyes that would wonder about the color of your skin.”

  Antoinette stowed the bundle in her satchel and took a very deep breath.

  Lady Merewen smiled sadly at Antoinette. “You are resolved, I see,” she said. “I say this to you then. Seek a notch in Kearn’s prideful armor. Find a way to make him trust you—even if that means you have to cut off one of his arms! Often those who use force will respect only force.”

  Antoinette nodded. “I will try,” she said. “But, uh, there’s one more thing. Do you know how to ride a dragon?”

  Lady Merewen laughed. “Of course, and so do you! They will respond to your commands just like the unicorn. But remember to squeeze with your knees and feet. Do not kick.”

  “Why?”

  “A sharp kick to a well-trained dragon means to loose a stream of fire!”

  “Oh,” Antoinette replied. “Good to know that.”

  32

  BAEN-EDGE

  Antoinette sat upon the white dragon at the very edge of the platform. She leaned over, stared into the seemingly bottomless depths, and wondered how her choice might come back to haunt her.

  “Well, dragon,” Antoinette said, bending forward in the saddle and whispering, “do you have a name?” The beast emitted a timid growl that ended in something like a honk, and then it craned its long neck to look at Antoinette. Its eyes were large and golden-yellow. They were predator’s eyes, keen and intelligent. They reminded Antoinette of owl eyes.

  “Well, there’s no way to know what your real name is, but I can’t just call you dragon. You are truly beautiful and white. Maybe Snowflake or . . . Blizzard?”

  The dragon honked again and shook its head. “No?” Antoinette asked. “Okay, how about something more fierce, like Raptor or Snowfire?”

  The creature exhaled a puff of dark smoke. Honk!

  “Oh,” Antoinette said. “Okay, then. I’ll call you Honk!” The creature nodded and flapped its wings. “Well, Honk, it’s time to go!” She gave a slight flick to the reins and held her breath. The dragon folded back its wings, straightened its neck, stepped off the platform, and plunged at a terrifying speed. Antoinette felt light in the saddle, as if at an
y moment she might lift free. She pulled back on the reins, but still they gathered speed.

  “Honk!” Antoinette screamed. “Pull up! Fly! Do something!”

  And at last the white wings spread, and the dragon soared back up into the sky with one very relieved rider on its back. They sailed quietly over the treetops. Behind her, Antoinette could see Yewland’s green castle outlined softly by torchlights. She aimed to get to the Forest Road, so she nudged Honk to go back the way she thought the twelve had arrived. It was hard to tell, for the trees were gray and featureless in the night.

  The trees suddenly spread, revealing a great clearing. And there were pale lights shimmering in the foliage. Antoinette urged Honk down and saw that there were huge flowers there, glowing faintly in the fading moonlight.

  Moonblossoms! Antoinette thought, and she knew it was the glade where Baldergrim had met them. It was not long after that she came to the Forest Road. Honk seemed to recognize the road, too, for the dragon began to follow its dark line from high above. Antoinette nibbled at dried meat and let her mind wander. The hours went by quickly. The sun rose red in the eastern sky, and the forest gave way at last to plains clothed in tall grasses and short, windswept trees. Harsh knees of stone poked up and then sparse foothills with cavelike crags. Here and there a river, like a ribbon, wound below, and the terrain began to change. The land rose up in folds and bulges. The river widened and cut a swath through the rolling hills. And Antoinette finally saw what she had been searching for. There was smoke far ahead in the gray sky. It was a dark shroud of smoke fed from many fires.

  “That must be Baen-Edge,” Antoinette said, patting Honk on the neck. “Good job getting me here in one piece!”

  The land below became filled with irregular cottages, and twisted fences cordoned off the many plots of land that ran along the southern edge of the river. She knew the city of Baen-Edge was actually two towns, divided by the river, but she wasn’t sure which side was Baen and which was Edge. A few Glimpses saw Antoinette as she flew overhead. They pointed and some waved. Doesn’t seem so bad of a place, Antoinette thought. Then an arrow whizzed by her ear.

  Okay, I spoke a little too soon! Antoinette steered quickly away, and whoever had shot at her gave no pursuit. Honk flew toward a hill crowned with a patch of trees. The dragon circled it once and then floated down. Antoinette dismounted and said, “I’ll need to leave you someplace safe for a bit.”

  She rummaged around in the supplies she had packed around the creature’s saddle, grabbed the cloak from her satchel, and put it on. Then she withdrew a half wheel of cheese and put it in the pouch that hung from her belt. She patted Honk on the head and said, “Stay here . . . and don’t eat anyone unless you absolutely have to!”

  The dragon rolled its eyes and crawled into a patch of feathery ferns. Antoinette tightened her sword belt, drew the hood close to her face, and set off on foot. She followed a dry and dusty road that snaked through patches of trees and stretched beyond the hills ahead. Around one bend, she came upon three Glimpse children who were gathering branches for firewood near the edge of the road. The littlest one, a girl, Antoinette thought, dropped her stack of wood and pointed. The three stared at Antoinette as she approached. Antoinette stared back. These children were filthy, dressed in soiled rags, and dangerously thin. Their eyes twinkled green.

  “Excuse me,” Antoinette said, and they backed away. “No, it’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

  “Yer not from around ’ere, are you?” asked one of the boys. He was sandy-haired and looked maybe six or seven years old. “Look at ’er skin!”

  “Is it weel?” asked the girl, enunciating poorly.

  Antoinette laughed. “Yes, it is. And you’re right. I am from a very faraway place.”

  “Where is yer master?” asked the other boy, the tallest of the three.

  “My master?” Antoinette stared.

  “You know,” said the first boy. “The one who brings you ’round the market.”

  “Everyone ’as a master. My da tole me so,” said the girl, nodding continuously.

  “Well,” Antoinette replied, kneeling to look at the girl, “I don’t have the kind of master you are talking about. But I do serve a very great King. He lives in the land of Alleble.”

  “Alleble?” The tall boy scrunched his face and looked at Antoinette. “I ’ave never ’eard a such a place. No masters, really?”

  “It’s true,” Antoinette said. “Now, I need some help. I am following a group of soldiers in dark armor. Have you seen them?”

  “I daresay we ’ave,” said the sandy-haired boy. “Couple days ago, they came through ’ere. A whole bunch of knights, far as the eye could see!”

  “Fousands and fousands,” agreed the girl.

  “But they went to the other side of the river,” he said. “To the marketplace on Edge-side.”

  Antoinette smiled. “No, this would have been yesterday late in the afternoon. And there were probably only about fifty.”

  “Oh, them,” replied the tall boy as he wiped his nose with his entire arm. “I saw ’em. They ’re still ’ere I think. Down Whitchap Lane. Ferries come there, you know.”

  “Do you think you could tell me how to get there?” Antoinette asked.

  “What is in it fer me?” he replied.

  Antoinette looked into her pouch and realized with dismay that Kaliam had never replaced the coins she had lost in the Blackwood. Of course, Kaliam hadn’t expected Antoinette to leave Yewland in the middle of the night either. “I, uh, don’t have any gold,” she said.

  “Who does? . . . Well, I guess the masters do,” said the boy.

  “What else ya’ got in there?” the girl asked, and the three of them stretched their necks to look into Antoinette’s pouch.

  “How about . . .” Antoinette fished around. “How about I give you each a wedge of cheese?”

  “CHEESE?!!” the little girl screamed. “You mean real cheese like they ’ave in Edge?”

  “Shhhh, yes, I suppose,” said Antoinette. “I’ll give you each a wedge if you’ll tell me how to get to Whitchap.”

  “Done!” said the boy. And after he had given the directions, Antoinette drew her dagger and cut her half wheel into thirds. It left her only half the wheel, and she’d have to go back to the dragon to get it, but she knew they needed it more.

  “Oh, fank you!” cried the little girl, holding up the hunk of cheese and spinning in happy circles. The boys greedily tore at their hunks. Antoinette donned her hood and started to leave, but the tall boy put a grimy hand out.

  “Lady?” he said. “Careful at Whitchap. Bad folk, there are. It is no place fer a lady like you.”

  Antoinette followed the boy’s directions. But the trip was cheerless, for everywhere she looked there was squalor. Glimpses lived in roofless homes and toiled away at fields where very little seemed to be growing. Rubbish fires burned at every corner. And a foul stench was in the air. In an hour she came to a post on the side of the road. It leaned and the sign upon it was cracked. Antoinette brushed the grime away and read the sign. Whitchap.

  Homes gave way to taverns and wretched shops where discolored meats hung from thatched rafters. Slovenly, weather-beaten Glimpses stood in shadowed doorways and stared at Antoinette as she passed. One of them, a crooked-looking fellow with wrinkled slits for eyes and a mustache that reached down to his belt, fingered the edge of a dagger and spat on the ground. He shifted a bit and leered at Antoinette. Uncomfortable, Antoinette walked with one hand always on the hilt of her sword, and kept her cloak and hood drawn close to conceal that she was not Glimpse-kind.

  The sun, which had been high in the sky, disappeared behind low gray clouds. Rain, Antoinette thought. And soon.

  She followed the curving road until it came to a river. Long, shallow craft moved back and forth across it, bearing passengers. The ferries! Antoinette thought.

  The ground sloped gradually, and as Antoinette looked toward the bottom of the hill, she noticed that some of the
shops and dwellings there were built on stilts. The river, it seemed, would swell and flood, and the Glimpses of Baen had learned to build with that in mind. A long blockhouse sat at the edge of a wide apron of boardwalk, and a tall turret stood guard beside it. Gathered at the base of the tower, like swarming insects, were soldiers in black armor. They had already begun boarding the ferries. Having no idea what she would do when she caught up to them, Antoinette dashed down the hill.

  Just fifty yards from the dock, Antoinette suddenly tripped. When she looked up, the crooked Glimpse with the long mustache was there. He grinned at her and held his dagger in one hand, a notched sword in the other. “Where you goin’, pretty thing?” he asked, his voice phlegmy and coarse. He stared all the more now that her hood had fallen.

  Antoinette stood up, brushed herself off, and looked over at the dock. The last of the Paragor Knights were boarding the ferry! If she didn’t hurry, they would be gone. She turned back to the crooked man. “Leave me alone,” she said.

  “Oh, deary me,” he replied, shuffling closer. “I hope I haven’t gone an scared ye’. Don’t ye be worried ’bout ole Paddock. I mean ye’ no harm.”

  Antoinette drew the Daughter of Light from its sheath. Thunder rumbled, echoing from across the river, and rain began to fall. Antoinette turned away from Paddock and saw a heavy, bearded man closing a gate on the ferry. She sensed Paddock moving at her side. She slashed her sword in a vertical arc toward him. He stepped back, easily avoiding the stroke. “Do not come any closer!” Antoinette warned. “You’ll regret it if you do.”

  Paddock spat on the ground. “Oh, so a sword in your hand and some plate armor are to scare me, now, are they? Nay, strange, dark skinned beauty with hair aflame, you don’t frighten me. Let us have a bit of fun, eh?” He lunged at her with the notched sword. Antoinette batted it away, but his dagger clipped her shoulder and dragged across the mail. He was faster than he looked. Antoinette needed to be more careful, but she could not wait. If the ferry left and Kearn met up with the other four legions of Paragor’s soldiers, all hope of reaching him would be lost.