“Pyro!” Paedyn said aloud. “Don’t be saying such things about me. In fact, how can I be crazy when I’m hearing voices inside of my head?”
He received a mental image of the dragon rolling his eyes. Paedyn laughed. It was pleasant—the humor in his voice, the laughter, and the lighthearted banter—but he wondered how long it would last.
Yes, the dragomen were captured, and yes they were in captivity, as far as captivity could go. There were no cells for them. The resistance never intended to build a prison, and most of them hadn’t thought they would need one. They all shared a common goal: defeat the empire and bring peace throughout the land. There shouldn’t be resistance inside the resistance.
Resistance, resistance, resistance, resistance, Paedyn thought to himself.
He shook his thoughts away before he stepped out of bed. Opening the door, he saw Tynaer standing on the other side. Paedyn tilted his head, looking at the captain.
“Have you been here long?” Paedyn asked.
“Hardly,” Tynaer responded.
“Were you knocking?’ Paedyn asked.
“Not yet,” Tynaer said.
“So what you’re telling me,” Paedyn began, “is I finally have a morning of peace, where I have nothing on the agenda for the day. I get myself a little shut-eye, but had I had another moment of absolute bliss, of absolute peace, you still would have knocked on that door to wake me up?
“Yes.”
“Why?” Paedyn asked, his tone whiny.
“Why not?”
“What do you mean why not?” Paedyn asked. “I’m like the leader person … thing. I’m supposed to be respected and allowed to sleep in until at least midday every single day. Because that is what leadership dictates.”
“No, I don’t believe it does dictate that,” Tynaer said.
“Ah, well, who are you? You’ve only been the captain of the resistance for what? Ten years? Pssht, you don’t know nothing. This is how leadership works … under my leadership,” Paedyn said.
Tynaer kept his face still, not a hint of emotion or humor showing.
Paedyn rolled his eyes. “You know, it’s so hard to pick on you when you’re so serious all the time …”
“It’s hard to take a leader seriously when he’s never serious,” Tynaer rebuked.
“Well, I’m sure you had a point in there somewhere, but I wasn’t paying attention. “What would you like to do today, my dear captain?”
“Well, I figured we could check on the dragomen.”
“Ah, what a fine idea. A nice stroll in the meadow. All I need now is a top hat, a pipe with weed, and I don’t know … some kind of walking stick.”
“Do you have any of those things?” Tynaer asked.
Paedyn raised his eyebrows. “Well, I have the pipe weed. Shall we go?”
Paedyn strolled out of his home, Tynaer at his side. The city was a little quieter today than it had been over the last day or two. There was a lot of tension in the city. A lot of nervous people glanced about, searching the shadows for trouble. It had never been like that before the dragomen got out of control. But that was the cost of addiction and power. It was what Paedyn was tasked to sort out while Devarius was gone.
Paedyn could hardly wait for Devarius to come back. This leadership type of stuff wasn’t for him. And besides, there was hardly a time to set things on fire when you had to set an example for people, and he just didn’t care for that too much.
As he walked through the city, the streets were populated once more, whereas they had been scarce for the last week. Paedyn was happy to see that; he was glad that the edge had worn off. The dragomen were no longer a threat. And Paedyn planned to keep it that way. The real question was what they were going to do with them. The dragomen could hardly be trusted anymore. And while Paedyn thought they might deserve a second chance, the timing was not yet ready for that chance. For now, they would have to remain prisoners, and be guarded as such.
Paedyn left the city and entered the wyvern camp to the west. As much as the men and women had bonded with wyverns, there just wasn’t enough room in the city for them. So, they’d created their own camp outside of the city so they could be close enough to help—and even close enough for mental speech, Paedyn reminded himself as he recalled Pyro talking inside of his head early in the morning.
They entered the wyvern camp, and in many ways it looked similar to a human camp, which Paedyn found a little odd. Sure, these were intelligent animals as well. Mammals. Eh, Paedyn was definitely an animal. But he didn’t expect to see culture. As much as he could recall, the wyverns were wild, intelligent animals, flying about in the mountains, talking amongst themselves. Man, they sure must have been bored before humans came along, Paedyn thought.
He shrugged, looked around, and was still amazed. While not a city, and there were no structures about, there was a fire in the center of camp. In fact, when Paedyn paid attention, he noticed several fires across the camp, and wyverns lingered around the fires, like men did around their campfires. They all just looked to each other. None of them talked aloud. But as Paedyn paid close attention, he noticed the wyverns would look at each other, and then they would turn their heads to look at another wyvern. And Paedyn realized the wyverns were communicating with each other. Not aloud, but mentally, just like the wyverns communicated with the humans. And Paedyn realized that wyverns weren’t too much different from humans. They shared conversations, they chatted, and they—was that a pig on the fire? Where in the bloody ashes had the wyverns found a pig? And why were they cooking it?
Paedyn always imagined they would just eat the creatures live. You know, there would be a pig and he’d be running about and the wyvern would just attack and eat the pig. Kind of like wild cats. Wild wyverns, the cats of the air. Paedyn smiled. Yet, there was a roasting pig on the fire.
“Wha-wha-what?” Paedyn asked.
Pyro chuckled in his head. You have given us many mouths to feed.
“Oh, oh, all right. Because it really looked like you were roasting a hog on the fire for yourselves.”
We are, but the one in front of you is for your human prisoners. The fire at the far north of camp is for us. And there is more than just one pig.
“But, why?” Paedyn asked.
Why indeed? Are you saying we should not be allowed to have cooked food?
“I don’t know about allowed. I just didn’t think wyverns cooked their food.”
Well, normally we don’t. But, as we’re in the midst of the Red Winter, we’d rather have a warm belly than a cold belly, Pyro said.
Paedyn nodded. “I can’t argue with that.”
Paedyn looked around and noticed all the prisoners huddled in a large circle encampment in the center of the camp. While wyverns stood all around them, eating or licking their paws like a stray cat, others chased their tails like rabid dogs. And others just lay by a fire, apparently talking to each other.
“Well,” Paedyn said. “It looks like I’m not needed then. Does that mean I can go back to bed?”
Pyro chuckled.
27
Devarius watched as the red sun gleamed over the eastern sky. They hadn’t yet slept. They hadn’t yet stopped. On the north side of Melonia, there was little for coverage. No trees were in sight, and the only thing that could possibly hide them were the mountains. Dragons flew overhead, and they often had to hide in the sagebrush to escape notice of the dragons. Devarius wondered if the dragons were searching for them, or if they were just random flights or patrols. Either way, they could not be seen.
“Dare we go back into the city?” Zaviana asked.
Devarius shook his head. “We’d better not. They found the bodies shortly after we departed. They’re already searching for us. We haven’t exactly been the most stealthy bunch. Besides …” Devarius shivered.
“What?” she asked.
“Dasyra recognized me.”
“Are you sure?” Zaviana asked.
“She didn’t at first, but I could s
ee the hint of recognition there deep in her eyes. All she needs to do is think, or see me again, and she’ll know. We can’t chance it. There are far too many dragons and riders there anyway.”
“Well, how do you propose we get back to our wyverns without going through the city?” Derkas asked.
“We need to go around the city,” Devarius answered.
“Around the city? You speak as if that is an easy feat. But may I remind you, there is no bloody place to hide around the city. Sagebrush. We’re stuck with sagebrush, and that’s if we’re lucky. It’s desert land here.”
“There’s the mountains to the north,” Zaviana suggested.
“And what do you propose?” Derkas asked. “That we go hide in the mountains to the north, where there are possibly hundreds more dragons, most of them likely still wild if the empire hasn’t already reached their greedy paws that far north? Then what? Wait them out? They have a city and supplies, food, and an army. We have three of us, a few days of provisions, and a baby dragon.”
“A very cute baby dragon,” Zaviana said.
Derkas laughed.
“We have little choice,” Devarius said. “We need to continue southwest around Melonia, and pray we’re not seen.”
“Can you communicate with your wyvern this far?” Derkas asked.
“What?” Devarius asked.
“If you can communicate with your wyvern, you can tell her to fly around and meet us in the mountains. It may be better to head into the cover of the mountains than around the city to the southern forest. It doesn’t look like this sagebrush goes on much farther to the south.”
“I don’t know,” Devarius said. “I’ve never tried to communicate this far before.”
“Try,” Zaviana said, putting her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “I think Derkas is right. I don’t believe there is any sagebrush on the western side of Melonia. Just desert, which means if they’re searching for us, and have any dragons in the sky on the west side of the city, we’re as good as dead.”
“Lovely,” Devarius said. He took a deep breath. “All right. Give me a few minutes.”
Ayla … can you hear me?
He paused for a moment, then tried again. Ayla?
Devarius dipped his head. He sighed then began to shake it from side to side.
Devarius? Is that you? Ayla’s voice sounded distant in his head.
Ayla! Yes, it is me.
Your voice is low, less than a whisper. I can barely hear you.
Devarius frowned.
“Can you reach her?” Zaviana asked.
Devarius reached his hand into the air, trying to silence his sister. It was already hard enough to hear Ayla. He didn’t need the extra distraction while he was trying to listen. Devarius wondered if he could somehow yell to Ayla in his mind.
Ayla! We need you and Chalce to meet us in the mountains to the north of Melonia!
Is everything all right? Ayla asked.
We got the stone, but we’re being hunted, and there is no coverage for us to hide to make it back to the forest. We need you to meet us in the mountains.
What if we’re seen?
Fly high. Climb on Chalce’s back if she’ll let you. If she flies high enough, perhaps no one will notice she’s a blue dragon instead of a red dragon.
We will try.
See you soon, Devarius said in his head.
Devarius opened his eyes.
“Did you reach her?” Zaviana repeated.
Devarius nodded, a smile coming across his tired face. “It was distant, and she said she could hardly hear me, but I got through. They’re going to try and meet us in the mountains.”
Derkas sighed. “That’s a relief.”
“You know, this would have been a lot easier if you had stuck to the plan,” Devarius growled.
“I couldn’t let them take Skylanya’s spirit.”
“Skylanya?” Devarius asked.
Derkas beamed. “She likes it.”
Devarius looked to the little green dragon. It was similar in size to Ayla when she first hatched, but this creature had four little legs instead of two. It was the size of his palm, and it sat on Derkas’ shoulder. Devarius wondered if it grew as fast as a wyvern, or, since it would grow larger than a wyvern, if it would grow slower.
“How fast will that little creature grow?” Devarius asked.
“It’ll be more than a year for it to reach its full size.”
“Is that so?” Devarius asked.
“That’s how long it took Chalce.”
Devarius nodded. “You know, if you’d let its spirit be sucked, or whatever the dragon stone does, you could have given it right back when we stole the stone. And we would have been well on our way back through Melonia right now.”
“Are you sure that’s how it works? Do you think it’ll be that easy?” Derkas asked.
Devarius shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Quit it, you two,” Zaviana said. “We don’t have time for arguing. We need to reach the mountains as fast as we can.”
“How long do you think it will take?” Derkas asked.
“If the maps I studied are accurate, it’ll take us until tonight to reach the mountains.”
“Then we have no time to waste. Come on,” Devarius said.
“Wait,” Derkas interrupted.
“What?” Devarius asked.
“Let’s see if the stone works.”
“Excuse me?” Devarius asked.
“Well, if the stone does give us powers … perhaps they will be useful if we have to fight against the empire.”
Devarius pursed his lips from side to side. “You have a point.” He turned to his sister. “Zavi?”
Zaviana looked to the two of them, then back south to the city of Melonia. Her face showed impatience, but she grabbed the leather satchel and opened it. The stone glimmered a light purple as she held it out for the two of them to see.
Derkas reached to touch the stone first. It crackled as he touched it, and green sparks fluttered all around him. He recoiled, but his hand remained on the stone. After a long minute, he removed his hand.
“Well?” Devarius asked.
“It burned when I touched it.”
“Do you feel any different?” Devarius asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“Can you sense any energy around you?” Zaviana asked, her eyes focused, but showing concern.
Devarius growled inwardly. He didn’t like the affection Zaviana and Derkas showed each other. That was his sister, and Derkas was a traitor. He’d been a fine companion so far on the journey through Melonia and deep into the empire’s territory, but Devarius still didn’t trust him.
“No. I don’t think so. All my senses still seem to be as they were.”
Zaviana frowned.
Devarius shrugged. He reached out to touch the stone. It shimmered from a brilliant green to a deep blue, like the most beautiful ocean. An icy chill ran up his fingertips as he touched the stone. He closed his eyes as he felt the energy transfer through him, but once it was done, he felt no different. Devarius opened his eyes to glance around.
“Anything?” Zaviana asked.
“It was cold as it was surging through me, but now … nothing.”
Zaviana bit her lip, her eyebrows furrowing. “Hmm … I don’t know.”
“Are you sure we’re going to be able to use this stone?” Devarius asked.
“I’m not sure.”
“I don’t like that answer,” Devarius admitted. “We didn’t travel all this way north for this dragon stone if it’s not even going to aid us.”
“No matter what, stealing the stone is a victory,” Zaviana said.
“How so?” Devarius asked.
“Without it, the empire cannot render their new dragons stupid. They won’t be able to steal away the dragons’ intelligence. And, if the emperor had found a way for it to be used, he will no longer have access of it to do so.”
“I wonder if it only works
on those who already possess a gift,” Derkas said.
“Hm?” Devarius asked as he still looked at his sister.
“Well, Zaviana is gifted. And I’m told you have other men and women with gifts, an extra sense or something. Aren’t they the ones able to use the wyvern scales? What if this works the same way?” Derkas asked.
“Interesting theory,” Devarius admitted.
“We’ll have to test it out when we return,” Zaviana said.
“If we return,” Devarius corrected as he pointed south.
“Is that a—” Derkas started.
“Searching party,” Devarius finished. “Run!”
28
Lilianya awoke with a start. She was lying facedown on the ground, atop a pile of wyvern scales. Her eyes widened as she remembered the previous night. She clutched the scales in her hands and her eyes glistened with hope. Her mission, her task into the wilderness, had been completed. Lilianya always prided herself on doing a good job for the resistance, but most of her missions had been more reconnaissance than anything else. She was the one to direct Devarius and Paedyn to the resistance, and that turned out to be a great accomplishment with them finding wyverns and restoring hope to the entire resistance.
Other than that, she was rather unnoticed, with Devarius and Paedyn being the real heroes. She was never really thanked or praised for leading them there. At the time, she’d had her suspicions that they would either be a threat to the resistance, or a great help to the resistance. But now her face broke into a smile as she clutched wyvern scales and raised them to the sunlight that beamed through the mouth of the cavern.
The problem was, she needed to find a way home, and if at all possible, she needed to find the rest of her party. She stashed as many of wyvern scales as she could in her pockets, her sash, her bosom, wherever they would fit. She stuffed as many as she could get, just in case she was unable to find her party to return to the cavern together for more. After yawning and stretching, she observed the sun’s movement for over an hour, cautious not to look directly at it, but careful to see which direction it traveled.
It looked like she had only slept through the night and not through the next day. The sun was still rising from the east. She once again made her way south, keeping the glare of the sun to her left. The road wasn’t easy as it wasn’t much of a road. She weaved through trails, shrubbery, forests, and the crevices of mountains. While most of the mountains were on the western and eastern side of Adeth Peak Isle, many more were scattered throughout the area north of their small city. Lilianya had to weave through those mountains as well. The trek was treacherous. Many times she found herself out of breath and she found herself wanting to give up, to give in, but she refused to. Now more than ever, the resistance stood a chance to defeat the empire. And they were given that chance because of Lilianya, and she would not, could not, turn her back on them. She was going to bring them hope.
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