Dragonhunters

by Sabrina Chase

  Ardhuin sighed. “More importantly, we need to rest. It would take a great deal of magic to escape Kungam and his men, possibly more than we used in the fight.”

  Gutrune turned her head to Bové. “Then we need to delay. Can you do this?”

  He snorted. “Oh, I can manage. The fire spirit is angry, et cetera.”

  “Then we will find you when we are ready to meet with Kungam.”

  Dominic stared at her in surprise. “What, are you willing to talk to him?”

  “I would rather not have two sets of enemies chasing me all the way, and with us on foot,” Ardhuin snapped. “If we can’t make him see reason, we’ll…‌oh, I don’t know, take him hostage.”

  Bové left, looking gloomy. Ardhuin used one last bit of magic to illusion the slit in the tent so it appeared to be unbroken fabric, and then she curled up on a rank–‌smelling camel rug and tried to sleep.

  She must have slept at some point, for reddish afternoon light was now filtering through and the heat was unpleasant. She summoned power—‌it felt strong, but she knew her reserves were not fully restored. She would just have to be careful. To that end, Ardhuin did not plan for full illusions for the meeting. She left her hair down completely, only casting a combination of the gloire base with aversion to make it hard for anyone to look at her. Sonam was sent to find Bové.

  As she had requested, the area around the wood building was deserted. According to Markus, when the chryselectrum had struck her, her real face had only been visible for a short time and few people had been in a position to see it. Her hair, though…‌that might be enough. Someone was looking for a woman with red hair. Still, the fewer that saw her, the better it would be.

  Inside the building Ardhuin stopped to let her eyes adjust to the gloom. Two people stood in the main room, Bové and Kungam. Kungam…‌she blinked. Instead of dusty boots and worn, heavy tunic coat spattered with blood, he was wearing a yellow robe with stylized eagles in applique—‌and his hair, drawn back tightly in a smooth, folded queue, was wet.

  To one side was a low carved wooden table with several small boxes, a covered woven basket that was leaking dark liquid from its base, and a colorful pile of what looked like embroidered silk. A small brass pot gave off a tendril of smoke that smelled rich and heavy. She took a step and felt something crunch under her feet. At first she thought it was coarse sand, and then she feared it was the magical salts.

  “It is the custom to purify a place contaminated by evil spirits with salt,” Bové said, seeing her hesitate. “I am afraid he did not take kindly to that shaman’s behavior. In a rather permanent, beheading kind of way.”

  Ardhuin had a sudden suspicion what was in the covered, leaking basket. “I see.” The others had come in behind her, and she felt a little braver knowing they were there. “What does he want to discuss?”

  Bové struggled to speak. She stared at him, concerned, and realized his face was turning red. “I believe I mentioned an alliance earlier?” Ardhuin nodded. “Well, it appears he has a particular kind of alliance in mind.”

  It clicked into place. A table of gifts, a freshly cleaned–‌up Kungam…‌

  “He can’t be serious,” she said, just as Dominic stated forcefully, “She already has a husband!”

  Markus Asgaya suddenly appeared to have a slight choking problem, and even Gutrune widened her eyes in shock.

  “I told him that. Several times.” Bové looked harried. “The people here…‌please forgive me, Madame Kermarec, but I must speak of things not suited for a lady’s ears. Besides a…‌highly elastic definition of chastity, they also practice on occasion the custom of…‌multiple husbands. For very high–‌ranking women,” he added in a strained voice.

  Of all the possibilities they had discussed, this had not been one of them. She was at a loss as to how to proceed. Then she looked at Kungam. He had not said a word, had not even shifted his position, but was returning her gaze intently, determination in his eyes. Aha.

  “Sonam. Why would a man want to marry a fire spirit?”

  “It would give him prestige. Only a very brave man would attempt it. There are stories…‌but it does not end well for the men, if they forget the danger.”

  “What are you thinking?” Dominic was standing at her shoulder, speaking quietly in her ear.

  “Kungam has no real interest in me,” she whispered back. “He wants some proof he can call on a fire spirit for help. You’ve seen him in action—‌he is always quick to seize an advantage. We need something that will give the impression of that proof, yet let us leave freely.”

  “And reason to think that keeping your secrets helps him, as well,” Gutrune murmured. “He has no difficulty enforcing discipline among his men. If he wishes to please you, we can use that.”

  “I have no interest in pleasing him,” Dominic said through gritted teeth.

  Gutrune inclined her head. “Only to the extent of making him useful. Perhaps we should make clear we cannot stay. That we…‌have important obligations to attend to.”

  Ardhuin waved Bové closer. “Tell him that I am here hunting a powerful enemy, just as he hunted the general, and I must go and defeat him. I have sworn an oath.”

  Bové translated, and to Ardhuin it seemed Kungam’s intent gaze only sharpened. He spoke a few words.

  “He asks if you will return when this enemy is dead.”

  Dominic put a hand on her arm before she could answer. “I think I have an idea. A plausible story, an excuse, might serve him just as well as your presence would.”

  “Ah, a very long engagement, then?” Markus grinned. His grin disappeared with a grunt and he put one hand to his side, giving Gutrune a pained expression. She just glared at him.

  Dominic scowled. “Yes, something like that. You know, like the tale of the diamond mountain in La Travaille de Fayre? Where the fayre prince had to wear down the diamond mountain using the single tailfeather of a phoenix that only regrew once every hundred years?”

  Gutrune’s eyes brightened in understanding. “So, the Mage Guardian will return…‌once the evil that Denais has caused is completely destroyed?”

  “That should take a long time,” Markus agreed. “Many years, in fact, if you include the fact that he nearly wiped out the Mage Guardians. You’ll need to train and work with them until they are up to snuff, in addition.”

  Kungam took the news with unimpaired calm, further convincing Ardhuin they were on the right path.

  “He offers to help you fight.”

  “The enemy is a powerful magician and has other magicians helping him. Soldiers would be of little use,” Gutrune said fluidly, after Ardhuin gave her a worried look. “In addition, he must not know we are attacking him. We must travel in secret, leaving no trace.”

  This did not go over well, but eventually it was agreed that Kungam would provide guides to cross the desert to the high mountains, and also allow Bové to hire guards from his bandits.

  “So I will get my last expedition after all.” Bové looked stunned. “Are you quite sure you must cross the desert? That is not an easy route—‌and if you did not have local guides, almost certain death. You are aware these guides will be loyal to Kungam, rather than you?”

  “And your so–‌called guards will not?” Dominic asked.

  Bové waved his hand. “They will get paid when I get the samples to Ghot. Kungam knows I have no money here; I don’t mind having them along to make sure I keep my end of the bargain. And they won’t be a threat until I do get money. One last thing. He wants some sort of proof of this promise. Something, I suspect, impressive.”

  “That would mean magical, I believe,” Dominic said.

  Gutrune frowned slightly. “Magical, but also personal.”

  Markus lifted his head. “I know the very thing! And your imager even has a beautiful subject ready to display. A thoughtful gift indeed, and a reminder of an absent love…‌oh, very well, I’ll stop.”

  Chapter 16

  The dusty, rut
ted road was a distant memory. Now they rode on a bare plain with scrubby grass and low brush and outcroppings of crumbling rock. There was no sign of civilization anywhere in sight, just distant mountains ahead. Even the bandit camp was three days behind them.

  Dominic wished he could ride so Kungam’s men were not in view, but since they were the guides that was difficult to accomplish. He supposed it was worth putting up with them to get as far away from Kungam himself as fast as possible. He heard the sound of approaching hoof–‌falls and sighed inwardly. Would he never stop?

  “I do not understand why you cherish your black mood so,” Markus remarked. “Really, we got off remarkably lightly. No real harm done, and indeed significant benefits, all for allowing one blood–‌soaked bandit a harmless fiction.”

  “It was not harmless for that shaman,” Dominic said, his teeth clenched. They had managed to dispose of the severed head without the guides noticing, but it had taken some magic to accomplish.

  “From what Bové was saying, it merely hastened his inevitable death. Kungam had no intention of letting any of that lot enjoy a quiet retirement. You do not fear he will attempt any attack on Madame Kermarec, I trust? He is not such a fool, and she is more than capable of defending herself against the entire bandit camp.” Markus tilted his head, giving Dominic a speculative glance. “Or is it another kind of threat you fear? Kungam is a fine specimen, agreed, but I find it hard to believe you would doubt your lady’s affection.”

  Anger surged through him. “It pleases you to jest,” Dominic snapped. “Do you have no other way to beguile the tedium of the journey save tormenting me? Of course I do not doubt Ardhuin. And you—‌your recent particular attentions are a complete novelty. How can you possibly understand my sentiments? I never loved any woman before Ardhuin. It is completely incomprehensible to me to think of not loving her, or loving another. If she had not…‌if it had not been my very good fortune…‌” He could not continue speaking.

  It did not help that he still did not feel completely worthy of her—‌and this most recent incident had only heightened his sense of relative uselessness. So he could see magic. What good was that in a fight? What was he truly contributing to the success of their endeavor?

  “Do you mean to say…‌not even one mild amorous adventure? Did the university you attended have a strict religious rule?” Markus seemed genuinely taken aback and a trifle shocked.

  “No such thing. Or my friend Phillipe would have been expelled his first year.” Dominic stared straight ahead, hoping to be left alone again.

  “I…‌see. I did, in fact, misread the situation. If it is any consolation, I truly believe the bandit king was merely trying to gain his own local advantage by association, and nothing…‌nothing more. Which is why I thought it humorous. Now that I understand your sentiments, I can understand your black looks and will say nothing further on the subject. Ah, here is Sonam coming back from his scouting.”

  Dominic was very glad for the change of subject and greeted Sonam, coming over the grassy dune toward the rest of the riders, with enthusiasm. “When do we reach the Taklamakan Desert?” he called.

  “This is the Taklamakan,” Sonam replied, bobbing his head with a small smile. “There—‌they mix with the clouds, but the Sky–‌Holding Mountains are visible, with snow on their tops. We are very close now.”

  Dominic squinted, but all he saw were distant white clouds on the horizon. “I had thought there would be sand dunes and such in the desert, like in Geapt.”

  Sonam smiled wider. “Perhaps a few, but the wind does not leave them long.”

  “Bové did mention the windstorms as being powerful.” Ardhuin rode closer, and he smiled at her. As infuriating as Kungam’s behavior had been, he did owe him one favor. She had no further need of her illusion magic, and while she still wore the clothes of her male disguise for convenience, it was a relief to see her face clearly again.

  “Is wind alone truly dangerous?” Gutrune was behind them, but her hearing was good.

  Ardhuin nodded vigorously. “In Atlantea, in the interior, the wind–‌funnels can be devastating. There is one town that built entirely underground after the second time it was destroyed.”

  Dominic was intrigued. “Truly? I think the Family Museum had an article that mentioned them, but I have never seen one.”

  “Neither have I—‌I’ve never heard of them outside Atlantea, at least not the big sort. They look a bit like the dust–‌travelers, but much bigger, and they hang down from the clouds.” Ardhuin pointed to the side. “Oh look, there goes one now.”

  The dust–‌traveler drifted across the ground ahead of them, a narrow, spinning cloud of airborne sand and leaves, prompting muttering and warding gestures to avert evil from their guides. Kungam had been true to his word and provided camels, horses, provisions, and guides for their travels. Dominic was sure the guides considered themselves Kungam’s representatives as well as protection, but besides keeping an eye on them there was not much to be done. None of them knew how to cross the Taklamakan desert, and he was not sure how the bandits could know which way to go. Besides, they always kept a considerable distance between Ardhuin and themselves, so after the first few days his concerns subsided.

  “You have been quiet since we left the bandits. I hope that you are not still unhappy about what happened there.” Ardhuin spoke in a low tone meant only for his ears.

  Dominic sighed. “Since we are away, I suppose not—‌I have been thinking about Bové. From what I had read I had thought of him as supremely competent, able to handle any eventuality on an expedition—‌but then it’s a rare hero that survives a meeting in real life. Editors can do so much,” he added, grinning.

  “Or perhaps you learned so much from his example, and also from your own experiences that he did not have, and you are just as much an adventurer as he is.” Ardhuin smiled back, clearly proud of him.

  He gave a surprised laugh. “What? I can barely stay on a horse, I cannot make myself understood to any of the people in Asea, and in any fight I am of most use by staying out of the way.”

  “You do not give yourself credit. He knows virtually nothing of magic, and you are a mage–‌level thaumatic scryer. Besides, this is your first trip outside Aerope; do you really think Bové reached his familiarity with Asean customs and languages so easily? He has been traveling here many years, has he not?”

  “True, but…‌” It was a startling thought. Was he really being an adventurer, right now?

  “I am glad Kungam didn’t bother you too much.” She leaned forward in the saddle, almost whispering. “But do you know of anything troubling Markus? He’s been nearly as silent as you.”

  Dominic spared a quick glance at Markus, riding ahead with Sonam and one of the guides. “No, but it makes a refreshing change. I only hope it continues.” He gave Ardhuin a quick kiss. It was, he considered, what an adventurer would do, and her answering smile and flush of color rewarded him.

  Something was coming into view ahead that was not a feature of the landscape but clearly man–‌made. Sonam looked back at the others and pointed, indicating they would go around it to the right. As they got closer, Dominic saw it was made of stone. A round tower with a curved top ending in a segmented spire, the whole perhaps fifteen feet in height. There may have been carving on the base long ago, but the wind and sand had scoured it almost completely away. Tied to the spire were long scarves with ragged ends, in various shades of faded blue.

  “What is it?” he called out to Sonam.

  “It is an obo. They are a kind of shrine,” Sonam said. “People leave the scarves as gifts for the spirits, to make them happy to live in the shrine.”

  As they went around, Dominic suddenly felt a sudden twitch inside, a familiar but disturbing sensation. It was very brief, and he puzzled over why it had felt familiar. When had he ever felt something like that before? And why did he feel surprised to feel it here?

  The rest of the day’s ride was uneventful. They stop
ped early to set up camp and allow Gutrune to go hunting, and she returned with two small gazelle–‌like creatures. The fresh meat was supplemented by dried fruit and tough, leathery cheese curds with a tart aftertaste.

  “Do we have any idea what we will encounter once we get to Bhuta?” Markus asked after staring into the fire. “We are getting close enough to begin our planning.”

  Sonam spread his hands. “I can say how I left the valley, but it has been many months. I only hope we can reach it before the protections my teacher set have faded.” He looked off to the horizon. The impossibly high mountains were visible now, backlit by the setting sun. Sonam started to describe the valley, scratching in the dirt with a rib bone, interspersed with questions from Markus and Gutrune. Ardhuin was listening, but they had already determined neither Sonam nor MacCrimmon were certain of the source or extent of the magical attacks. A powerful magician had been seen there, however.

  It was, Dominic reflected, understandable to worry about the dangers they faced, which were considerable. But it was also true that the night sky blazed with stars overhead, that he was thousands of leagues from Bretagne in a place where he never thought he would be, with someone he never thought he would ever meet. Dominic decided he was enjoying himself.

  Ardhuin woke feeling achy and sore. Sleeping on the ground was not comfortable, but she’d thought she had become accustomed. The sky was a strange color, a dull, gunmetal blue with thin threads of red clouds near the rising sun, and the air humid. Simply standing up made her break out in a sweat. She was very reluctant to start traveling again, and from what she could see the others were in a similar mood. Even the guides were irritable, kicking and swearing at the camels, who were refusing to rise to their feet.

  One of the men eventually came to Sonam and delivered an emphatic speech, complete with sharp, chopping hand gestures. Sonam looked frightened.

  “They say there is a storm coming,” he translated. “A zhur–‌i–‌khnat. Very bad. They want to head for a place with deep ravines that will be safer, but we must go fast to get there in time.”