“Of course he did,” said Sky. “You’re Wren. You’re extremely lovable.” He cast her a sly sideways look. “Of course, you would be more lovable in a little hat …”
“You’re the one who’s going to wake up in a little hat one day!” Wren yelped, climbing onto his outstretched talon. “Just you wait; I’ll make you one shaped like a snail and then you won’t be able to resist it.”
“Like a SNAIL!” he breathed, his eyes shining.
Wren settled onto his back and looked up at the comet, still faintly visible as the sunlight spread toward it. Leaf was kind of like that comet, hurtling into her life like a new extra moon out of nowhere.
“Wren,” Sky said before he lifted off. “I’m very glad you have found some humans who are almost as marvelous as you.”
“Me too,” Wren answered, surprising herself. “Me too.”
Ivy met Wren and Sky in the ruins of the ancient temple, in a forest glittering with raindrops from the storm the night before, and her first thought was, This is going to change my life, and everybody’s lives, forever.
Sky was a mountain dragon; she could see that immediately from his bone structure and the size of his wings, even though his scales were much closer to peach than red or orange, and his eyes were a tranquil pale blue. He was lying in the grass at the foot of the temple steps, his wings folded gently behind him, watching a caterpillar as it climbed a dandelion.
On the steps, Daffodil was sitting with a teenage girl with wild dark curls and freckles all across her nose and arms. They were both laughing as Ivy, Leaf, and Stone rode out of the woods.
“IVY!” Daffodil shrieked, making Sky’s wings flare up with alarm. She leaped down and pelted over to Ivy’s horse, catching Ivy in a hug as Ivy slid off. “Guess what?” she cried before Ivy could say anything. “I rode a dragon! ME! Remember how Violet said I never ever would? WELL, HA, I TOTALLY DID! This is him, the very best dragon in the world, isn’t he handsome?” She flourished her arms at Sky, who rolled onto his back and beamed at them both.
“And this is Wren,” Leaf said, smiling at his sister.
“Ah, yes,” Stone said. “The other lunatic who befriends dragons. Nice to meet you.” He tipped his head, gathered the reins of the thirsty horses, and walked them off to the nearest stream.
Sky watched them go with a delighted expression — half “horses! look at their amazing manes! they’re so cool!” and half “I traveled the same distance and I’m not tired, you silly animals.”
“Hi, Wren,” Ivy said. I hope she likes me! “Leaf talks about you all the time.”
“Hi,” Wren said. “You must be the magical Ivy.”
“I never said magical,” Leaf objected, looking embarrassed.
“Well, I thought that would be less embarrassing for everyone than all the things you did say about her,” Wren offered.
“WREN,” he yelped.
“Oh, wow,” Daffodil said, giving Wren an awestruck look. “You’ve missed out on so many years of being a little sister, but you’re a natural! Stick with me and I will teach you all my terrorizing ways.”
“So, you’re doomed,” Ivy said to Leaf with a grin. He clutched his head in mock despair.
Ivy’s grin faded as she turned back to Daffodil. “Has there been any news from Valor?” she asked. “Has my father … done anything else terrible?” She was scared that they’d been away too long, and she felt horribly guilty that they’d had an amazing dragon-riding adventure without bringing anything back that would help their friends.
Rose was probably right about my dad, she admitted to herself. And she understood why Rose would want to stay where she was, probably more than anyone but Wren would understand.
But now how was Ivy going to save Violet and Foxglove and the rest of Valor?
She had one idea … but it involved asking an awful lot of someone she didn’t even know.
Daffodil shook her head and crouched beside Sky to scratch his chin. “Forest came by yesterday. He said things are still mostly the same, except more people are getting restless and upset with the Dragonslayer the longer he spends searching for Leaf. The Wingwatchers have been protectors of the village since before Heath was even born, back before we were underground … it’s hard for everyone to see them as the enemy, Forest said. But he also said that means your dad might not wait much longer. If he thinks he’s losing control of Valor, he might start executing people, even if he doesn’t have the ‘assassin from the Indestructible City’ to hold up as proof.”
“So we have to do something soon,” Ivy said.
“Wren told me Rose said no,” Daffodil said.
“Right.” Ivy sighed. “It was maybe not the most well-thought-out plan.”
“Rather like giving all the treasure to a strange dragon because you thought she was adorable,” Leaf suggested.
“I’m going to find her one day,” Ivy said, “and it’ll turn out that it was really useful and important for us to give her the treasure, I bet you anything. You wait and see.”
“So what you need,” Wren said suddenly, “is some way to stop the Dragonslayer. Right?”
“Right,” Ivy said. “We want him to free everyone he arrested and ideally step down from power, so someone else can run Valor. It’s hard to imagine anything that would convince him to do that, though.”
“Well, I’m no fan of humans who stab dragons for treasure,” Wren said. “And the Dragonslayer has caused problems all over this continent. If there’s anything I can do to help take him down, sign me up.”
Ivy twisted her hair around her finger and glanced at Daffodil. “I did think of one possibility,” she said slowly. “But it’s kind of risky.”
Wren looked over at Leaf and took his hand. “I trust anyone Leaf trusts,” she said. “Tell me your idea.”
* * *
“WHAT is this plan?” Sky asked as the three of them hiked toward Valor: Ivy, Wren, and the dragon. He nearly ran into another low branch and made a hilarious grumpy face at it. Ivy couldn’t stop watching him. She had this constant impulse to babble at him about how perfect he was, and she was repressing it with great difficulty. “Explain it to me again.”
“We’re going to terrorize a town!” Wren said. “We’re going to strike fear in the hearts of all the puny villagers! Just like every little dragon dreams of doing!”
“Do they?” Sky asked. “We? Dragons? Did you say terrorize? Really? Us?”
“Mostly you,” she said, whacking aside a large fern with a stick. “Mwa ha ha! Cower in terror, all you cowards who send your enemies into the jaws of dragons!”
“Mostly me?” Sky said. “Have you met me? I don’t think I should try to scare anyone.”
“No, no, definitely don’t try,” Wren said. “Just stand there and frown a little bit. Yes, like that, but let’s try a bit more angry, a bit less confused. All you have to do is look terrifying.”
“I’ll do all the talking,” Ivy promised.
“I’m confused.” Sky spread his wings and tipped them from side to side to catch the sun on his scales.
“The main thing to remember,” Wren said, “is don’t speak Human in front of them. Only Dragon. I’ll translate for Ivy if you need to say anything. And do NOT smile at anyone. No picking up snails or cooing at kittens.”
“There will be kittens there?!” Sky cried, his face lighting up.
“No, no, NOT that face!” Wren protested. She batted at his wings as they got in her way. “The opposite of that face!”
Sky mustered a small frown and Wren sighed. “I hope this works,” she said to Ivy. “We’re working with exactly the worst dragon for the job, I’m afraid.”
“I’m RIGHT HERE,” Sky said indignantly.
“Yes, but you know this about yourself,” Wren pointed out.
“The people of Valor won’t know any different,” Ivy said. “All dragons are scary to them.” She led the way to the biggest entrance to Valor, the one built for horses, hidden by a net of branches.
“We’ll have to make this bigger,” Wren said, studying it. It was still not quite big enough for a dragon, even a small one.
“I know. I feel guilty about this,” Ivy said. “People worked hard on these tunnels. But we need to get you in there, so … whatever you have to do.”
Sky stepped forward and clawed at the top of the tunnel opening. Dirt and earthworms and beetles rained down as he made the entrance bigger and bigger, until finally there was a gaping hole in the side of the mountain. Inside, the tunnels widened enough for him to wiggle in if he folded his wings in close.
Ivy led the way, with Wren walking behind Sky’s tail.
I’m home, she thought, but after flying on the golden dragon and creeping through the desert palace and living in the forest temple, somehow nothing about Valor felt like home anymore. All the familiar tunnels and caves seemed like uncomfortable tunics that no longer fit her; as she walked deeper and deeper, it felt like climbing back into a box after finally escaping from it.
The first people who saw them screamed, dropped their baskets, and ran. That brought other people out of their caves, setting off a chain reaction of commotion and panic.
“Into the main hall!” Ivy shouted. “This dragon has a message for us! If we listen, he may leave peacefully!”
She nearly crashed into Forest, who was standing frozen in the middle of the tunnel, gaping up at Sky. Sky blinked pleasantly down at him, then seemed to remember his instructions and plastered a weird scowl on his face.
“Ivy, what are you doing?” Forest said in a hoarse voice.
“Saving everyone,” she said. “I hope. It’s complicated. Get everyone to come to the main hall.” He turned and ran, and she beckoned Sky forward.
The tunnel ended at the central gathering hall, a huge natural cave studded with rock formations and laced with crystals, white and pomegranate pink and lime green melting into one another. The ceiling was high enough for Sky to stand on his hind legs and stretch his wings. Ivy saw Wren hop onto his tail and balance along his spine until she was standing on his shoulder.
About three-quarters of the people in Valor were packed into the farthest corner of the cave, huddled together in fear, staring up at the dragon.
Sky let out a pleasant growl. All of them screamed and fell over one another trying to get farther away.
“Don’t worry,” one of the men at the front shouted. “The Dragonslayer is coming! He’ll save us!”
“Tell him to hurry,” Ivy said, grabbing the man and pushing him out into the tunnels. “Tell him the dragon is holding me hostage and the citizens of Valor need him.” She thought for a moment. “If that doesn’t work, tell him the dragon is holding an enormous ruby.”
“But — there’s no —” the man sputtered, looking at Sky’s empty talons.
“Just tell him,” Ivy said. He bolted away, shouting, “Heath! Heath! Dragonslayer! Help!”
“There’s a person on top of that dragon,” one of the women murmured, and they all looked up at Wren. Ivy knew Wren must hate the feeling of everyone staring at her, but the other girl just folded her arms and leaned against Sky’s neck like she could wait all day.
Finally they heard scuffling in the corridor, and after a long moment, a whole group of the armed mercenaries came in, pushing Ivy’s dad in front of them.
Did he get smaller? Ivy thought. She was so mad at him, but she also felt a stab of pity. He looked terrified. Heath was holding the sword he always carried around, but it was shaking like a branch in a hurricane, and his feet didn’t seem to be working entirely properly. The guy behind him was nearly propping him up.
Ivy glanced back at Wren and pointed to her dad. Wren nodded and nudged the dragon.
That’s your cue, Sky.
“RAAAAAAAAWWWWR!” Sky bellowed. The roar echoed off every corner of the small space and several people clapped their hands to their ears. Even Ivy, who’d been expecting it, and who knew Sky would never hurt any of them, felt a wave of terror along her spine. It was a perfect roar.
The Dragonslayer shrieked, dropped his sword, and crumpled to the ground.
“I’m sorry!” he shouted. “I’m sorry!”
The other men with swords stared at him, then up at Sky’s stern face. Or, to be more accurate, his “trying to be stern” face. But this was the closest these men had ever come to a dragon, and they had no practice reading dragon expressions.
“RAAAAARRRWRWR!” Sky hollered again. He gave Wren a “how was that?” look and she patted his neck reassuringly.
Ivy raised her voice so everyone could hear her. “Citizens of Valor! This dragon has come to seek the man who murdered his queen!” She knew only Wingwatchers would notice that Sky wasn’t a sand dragon, and all the good ones were locked up.
“But it wasn’t me!” Heath wailed. “I’m not the real Dragonslayer! It was Stone! Stone is the one who killed her! He’s the one you want!”
A gasp ran through the crowd, followed by ripples of shocked murmurs. The men around Heath drew away from him, some of them with disgusted expressions.
That’s it, Ivy thought. He burned his own throne down. They’ll never follow him again. But she had to make sure.
“His tribe demands justice!” Ivy shouted. “His tribe demands vengeance!”
“Take him!” cried one of the guards, throwing down his sword and pointing at Ivy’s father. “He’s right there! You can have him, just please spare the rest of us!”
“Yes!” shouted several others, also flinging down their weapons.
Ivy had expected and hoped for this, but she still wasn’t impressed with their loyalty. Then again, her father had lied about killing a dragon, stolen treasure, banished subjects to the dangerous wilderness, and locked up anyone he thought might be a threat. He didn’t exactly deserve any loyalty.
Don’t feel sorry for him, Ivy reminded herself. Not now. Stay focused.
“That is not enough,” Ivy said. “The dragons who captured me made their demands clear. They will destroy all of Valor unless …”
“What?” someone shouted.
“Anything!” called the woman who’d first noticed Wren.
“Unless we return the treasure he stole,” Ivy said, pointing at her father. The Dragonslayer groaned with despair. “And choose a new lord for our city.”
Everyone started talking at once.
“Where is the treasure, Heath?” the men around him demanded.
“No, no,” Heath wailed. “It’s mine, it’s mine.”
“I know where it is.” Ivy’s mother stepped between Heath and the angry guards. She rested one hand on Heath’s shoulder for a moment, then looked up and met Ivy’s gaze. “I can get the treasure.”
“Lark, no,” Heath cried. He started to stand up, but Sky growled lightly, and he curled into a ball again.
“Then run!” the guard said to her. “Go get it!”
“Only if you free the Wingwatchers,” Ivy said to him. “Bring them all here.”
The guard nodded at two other men, who ran into the tunnels. Ivy cupped her hands around her mouth and called up to Sky, “They’re getting the treasure now! Please don’t eat anyone!”
Wren nudged Sky and he roared again, although with a bit less gusto; he was clearly feeling sorry for the little worried humans.
Very soon, Lark was back, carrying a large mysterious sack. Ivy took it from her and checked inside. Her mother had filled it with all of the knickknacks Heath had gathered over the years, particularly the ones Lark disliked, including a particularly dreadful set of garishly painted plates. But from the outside, it looked like a believable sack of dragon treasure.
“Here is the treasure,” Ivy called up to Sky, dropping the bag carefully at his feet.
Sky made an ooh noise, peeked inside, and looked disappointed. Luckily the crowd was distracted by the arrival of the guards with several blinking prisoners in green uniforms behind them.
“I knew you’d do something,” Violet said to Ivy as Ivy hugged her fiercely. “Didn’t I say Ivy would do something?” she said to Foxglove.
“Yes, but you didn’t say she’d bring a dragon into Valor,” Foxglove whispered. “Ivy, what is happening?”
“Tell you later, I promise,” Ivy whispered back. She stepped around Violet and took Commander Brook’s hand, pulling her out to stand in front of everyone. The commander’s shoulders were tense, and her eyes were flicking rapidly between the dragon’s claws and teeth. “Trust me, Commander,” Ivy said, squeezing her hand. She held it high and turned to face the rest of Valor.
“And here is our new lord!” she called.
“What, me? Shouldn’t we have a vote?” Commander Brook said to Ivy, but her voice was drowned out by Violet shouting, “Yes! Commander Brook!” and then the rest of the Wingwatchers, and then what sounded like the entire cavern: “Commander Brook! Commander Brook!”
Sky gave an approving nod, picked up the sack of treasure, and awkwardly twisted himself around to head back into the tunnels with Wren.
The crowd let out a cheer and surged toward the commander. Brook raised her hands with a giant grin, trying to calm them down so she could speak.
Ivy quietly stepped back from the celebrating townspeople. Her dad was huddled near the exit, his face buried in his hands. She edged through the crowd and knelt beside him.
“It’s going to be all right,” she said. “It’s going to be much better, actually.”
“I’m nothing now,” he said in a broken voice. “I’m nobody.”
“You’re still my dad,” she said. “If you want to be.”
He reached out blindly and she took his hand. She felt her mom come up behind her and hug her.
“Thank you for helping,” Ivy whispered to her.
“You were extraordinary,” Lark whispered back. “Heath, don’t overreact. You’ll be happier this way. Being the lord of Valor was never right for you.”
Dragonslayer Page 35