Pryllan nodded. “The third Zweigelan.”
“Exactly. If we can find him then we can make him talk and find out what we have to do to break the curse.”
“And if the renegade does not cooperate?”
Steve gave her a speculative stare. “I assume you dragons have ways to make other dragons talk?”
Saying nothing, Pryllan nodded. She was well aware of Rinbok Intherer’s methods of coercion, and while she didn’t approve of most of them, she was willing to look the other way if the welfare of her species was at stake.
Thinking of her nest back in the safety of the mountains, she decided to check in to see how Kahvel was faring. Making certain she wasn’t sharing her thoughts with Steve; she mentally sought out her mate’s mind and initiated contact.
WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG? Kahvel’s irritated thought bombarded her the moment she felt his presence. I MUST BE OFF. I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED BY THE DRAGON LORD.
Again? Why does he need to speak with you so often?
I AM SURE HE HAS HIS REASONS.
If you must go then take Pravara with you, Pryllan gently suggested. I know he doesn’t care for young dragonlets in his presence, but if he wants to see you that badly then he’ll have to tolerate her for a little while.
I CANNOT. I WILL NOT TAKE HER THERE.
Pryllan hesitated. Where is ‘there’?
THE CAVERNS.
Pryllan growled. She had no desire to let her offspring anywhere near that foreboding place.
You are not taking her there.
I AGREE, WHICH IS WHY I AM STALLING FOR TIME, AWAITING YOUR RETURN.
Steve rose to his feet.
“You’re growling an awful lot. Is everything okay? What’s the matter?”
“A moment, if you please,” she gently told her rider. She returned her attention to her distant mate.
Why does the Dragon Lord wish to meet with you in the caverns?
I DO NOT KNOW.
You’re hiding something, Pryllan thought crossly to him. I can feel it. You’re trying to conceal something.
She felt her mate grow uneasy.
Kahvel sighed. YOU ARE CORRECT. THERE IS A REASON I’M BEING SUMMONED THERE BUT I HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN FROM DISCLOSING THE DETAILS.
Will you ever be able to tell me?
IF THINGS PROGRESS AS QUICKLY AS THEY APPEAR TO BE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WITHIN THE WEEK. MAYBE EVEN IN A DAY OR TWO. SO HAVE YOU MET WITH SCIATHAN YET? WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
We are dealing with a curse, more than likely brought on by one of the Zweigelans.
Pryllan’s eyes widened with shock and disbelief as Kahvel’s angry profanity-laced tirade echoed loudly in her mind. She decided to let Kahvel vent his frustration in private.
I’ll be in touch, my love. Fear not. We will put an end to this.
Not wanting to wait for her mate to calm down, she broke contact and sighed.
“Were you just talking with Kahvel?” Steve asked.
Pryllan nodded. She sighed again.
“I thought Kahvel couldn’t use the Collective? How is it you’re still able to talk to him?”
“The Collective is a joining of multiple minds,” Pryllan explained. “If you choose to be mated with another then a bond is created that allows mental contact regardless of distance.”
“So two acquaintances would be unable to converse mentally?”
Pryllan nodded. “A private conversation would be impossible. On the Collective it would be. A wyverian can only speak privately with its mate. We dragons mate for life.”
“Humans do, too,” Steve told the dragon. “Well, most do. So is all not well on the home front?”
Confused, Pryllan looked down at the human.
“By that do you mean is all well between Kahvel and myself? Aye. I just informed him of our suspicions.”
“And?”
“I had to break contact. He was a little angry.”
“I’ll bet. Something startled you. What was it?”
Before Pryllan could respond Sarah appeared a few feet away. The stern look on her face wasn’t encouraging. She walked over to her husband and embraced him. Pryllan saw that Steve was instantly worried and tried to console Sarah, a trait she loved about her own mate.
Steve finally broke their embrace and looked into her eyes. “What is it? What happened? Better yet, what took so long?”
Sarah turned to look up at Pryllan. “Let me start by saying I didn’t tell the king anything about the curse.”
Pryllan nodded.
“I told him what we had agreed upon, namely that Steve and I are helping you and Kahvel out with a delicate situation. The king instantly guessed that I wasn’t telling the whole truth, but to his credit, he didn’t press for details. What he did do, though, was to promise his help if we were to ever ask for anything. No questions asked.”
“Your king is very trusting,” Pryllan observed quietly. “He has my thanks.”
“So is there another wizard that Shardwyn hasn’t told us about?” Steve asked, hoping that there was. At least then they’d have a clear idea what to do next.
Sarah shook her head no. “He’s not aware of any others. He says he has his ways to tell, but he made the mistake of saying that in the presence of the king. The king took one look at Shardwyn, then back at me, and then ordered him to do a scan of the kingdom. Apparently it’s something they do once every ten years, like a census for us. He told him to be as thorough as possible. Kri’Entu didn’t like the possibility of another wizard hiding somewhere in Lentari that was free to do as he wanted.”
“I can believe that. How long will that take?”
“I asked that, too. He said that it could be anywhere from a few days to as long as three months. The only thing the king could tell me is that he’d let us know once Shardwyn had finished and had reported the final tally to him. Let’s just say Shardwyn was less than thrilled.”
Steve eyed Pryllan. “So option one is out. We won’t know anything definitive about the existence of another wizard for a while. We should just assume, until we’re told otherwise, that there’s another one hiding around here somewhere. Since we don’t know where to find him, we go to option two.”
“What’s option two?” Sarah wanted to know. She looked up at Pryllan, who had just looked down at her in anticipation of this very question.
“We find a Zweigelan,” the dragon answered. “But first, however, we must return to the nest.”
“Is everything alright?” Sarah asked.
“I have reason to be concerned,” Pryllan told her. She watched Sarah look questioningly at Steve, who held up his hands in an ‘I don’t know’ gesture.
“Have we heard from Mikal yet?” Steve asked as he took Sarah’s hand and started walking towards Pryllan. “He’s gotta be around here somewhere.”
“I actually asked the king that,” Sarah told him. “He went out camping with several of his friends. I’m told he’ll be back in a few days.”
Steve climbed back into Pryllan’s open claw and pulled Sarah up beside him. Thirty seconds later they were hundreds of feet up and flying through the clouds.
Pryllan came within sight of her nest just as the sun was preparing to set for the night. Pravara, ignoring the indignant outburst from her sire, flew up to meet them and entertained them with some aerial acrobatics as Pryllan beat her powerful wings to slow their descent. She lowered her right foreleg to the ground and waited for the two humans to scurry off her open palm. Once they had moved safely aside, she touched down next to Kahvel and nuzzled her long neck with his.
BELOVED.
Pryllan closed her eyes and rested her head against Kahvel’s golden neck. My love. Do you have time or must you leave this instant?
Kahvel growled. I AM SORRY, BELOVED. I MUST GO. A FOURTH MESSENGER DEPARTED JUST BEFORE YOU ARRIVED. SEVERAL OTHER DRAGONS HAVE ALSO BEEN SUMMONED. SOMETHING IS AMISS. I DON’T THINK HE WANTS TO SEE ME FOR THE SAME REASONS I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
Go then.
Do what you must. Include me when you can.
I WILL.
Once Kahvel had departed, Pryllan left Pravara in the care of the two humans and went hunting. After she had returned with several kills, Steve informed her that he and Sarah were teleporting to their domicile in R’Tal and would return tomorrow morning. Pryllan bid the two humans farewell and returned her attention to her own family. Kahvel’s situation worried her. She was due to fly south to the Selekai Mountains tomorrow. What if Rinbok Intherer’s business with Kahvel wasn’t concluded by tomorrow morning? How could she travel that far away without anyone to look after Pravara? What was she supposed to do?
There was only one thing she could do. Pravara would have to come along with them. There was no way she would typically fly that great of a distance with such a young dragon, but since the alternative was to leave her only offspring in the care of another dragon, exceptions would have to be made. Therefore the young dragonlet would have to accompany them.
The following morning, once Steve and Sarah had returned to the nest, Pryllan broke the news to Pravara. The young dragon’s bright golden eyes sparkled with wonder as she listened to her mother give her the wonderful news.
“I’m accompanying you? Now? Today? With the humans?”
“Yes, young one. It’s a long flight. Eat. You’ll need your strength.”
“So does anyone know where we can find this Zweigelan?” Steve asked. Pravara had locked her gaze on him the moment he had arrived and she continued to follow him around their nest. Steve smiled at the dragonlet.
“I asked Kahvel that question last night,” Pryllan informed them.
“And”? Steve prompted.
“The lair of this Zweigelan, provided he hasn’t relocated his nest, is in the southeastern part of the kingdom.”
“Do we have something more tangible than that?”
“I have been checking the Collective but no one has answered me yet.”
“We can at least get going in the right direction,” Sarah pointed out. “Hopefully someone will answer you soon. However, I just thought of a question. What if we do get directions to its nest and it has since relocated. What then?”
Pryllan shook her head.
“Unlikely. I’m told its nest is quite extensive and would be too cumbersome to effectively move. He should still be there.”
“What can you tell us about this Zweigelan?” Steve asked as he tightened Mythrin’s strap along his chest for the third time. “What were your opinions about this two-headed dragon? Better yet, did you ever meet it?”
Pryllan shook her head.. “I did not. Kahvel did, as he was part of the team that assimilated him into the Collective.”
“What was his impression?” Sarah asked. “Did he say?”
“Arrogance,” Pryllan answered. “Defiance. The Zweigelan had no desire to join the Collective and acted as though it would prefer death. He gave it that option, but it was immediately rejected, leading me to believe it has a strong desire to live. As you can imagine, it was not an easy assimilation.”
“How does a dragon become assimilated and join your Collective?”
“By swearing allegiance to Rinbok Intherer.”
“That’s it?”
Pryllan nodded. “Once allegiance has been sworn then there is no further need for hostility. We become his brethren just as he becomes ours.”
Sarah frowned. “So it’s the wyverian way or the highway?”
Pryllan blinked her eyes a few times in rapid succession. “I do not understand.”
“Essentially you give the Zweigelan one choice if he wants to live? Join the Collective?”
“You may think it harsh, Sarah, but it is our way.
“Don’t you think that maybe this is why the Zweigelans targeted you dragons? No wonder they’re so angry.”
“Your objection is duly noted, Sarah,” Pryllan patiently told her. “I cannot say that I fully agree with everything the Dragon Lord does. Nevertheless, it is our way.”
Filing her annoyance into a growing pile of arguments she wished to have with Rinbok Intherer, Sarah plastered a smile on her face and let the matter drop.
Recognizing the ire growing in his spouse, Steve wisely changed the subject.
“So, umm, who do we know that would know where to find this Zweigelan?”
What was that?
Steve looked at his wife. “What was what?”
Sarah stared back at him. “Hmm?”
“Someone just said, ‘what was that’. I thought it might have been you.”
“Did it sound like me?”
“Umm, well, no.”
“You’re hearing voices now?”
Steve pointed at Pryllan. “With dragons in the area? Yes. Maybe one of them said it.”
“Was it a male or female voice?”
“Ummm, it was male.”
“That rules out both Pryllan and me.”
“Then who the heck said that?”
I did.
That was when Steve noticed Mythrin, his special broadsword strapped across his back, had grown heavier.
Breslin?
Obviously. Good to hear from you, Sir Steve.
“What’s going on?” Sarah asked.
Steve hooked a thumb at the large sword on his back.
“The voice I heard in my head was Breslin’s. Let me see what he wants.”
You, too, Breslin. Is there something I can do for you?
You contacted me, my friend, not the other way around.
Oh. Sorry. I was working on a problem with Sarah. I didn’t realize I had contacted you. We were trying to figure out where to find some special dragon. The only thing we know is it’s down south somewhere.
He felt Breslin’s hesitation. A special dragon, you say? You wouldn’t be looking for a Zweigelan now, would you? Two headed? Fond of riddles? Will rob you blind if you answer incorrectly or turn you into lunch if you don’t answer?
Steve was shocked. Yeah, I am. Do you know where it is?
I should say so, lad. I was a member of the team who found it. What do you need to find it for?
We just need to ask it a few questions.
Oh. No worries, then. Now, here’s what you do. Get yourself a map of the Selekais and I will tell you exactly where to look.
An hour later they were ready. Pryllan had stalled long enough, hoping against hope that Kahvel would return. He hadn’t. Sarah had returned to R’Tal for a map which included detailed sketches of the Selekai Mountains, which the king gave her. True to his word, he hadn’t asked any questions. Once Breslin had told Steve where to find the Zweigelan’s peak, Steve had located the nest on the supplied map. Pryllan committed the map to memory and was ready to depart. Pravara was more than ready.
Pryllan had to practically hold Pravara down on the ground as she was very eager to get started on their journey. She listened with the patience only a mother could possess as her offspring prattled on and on about their upcoming adventure. What were they going to see? Who were they going to meet? Why were they going to the Selekais? Why were there bad dragons in the world? Were they going to try and talk some sense into it?
“All in good time, young one. Are you ready?”
Pravara vehemently nodded her head yes.
Promise me you will stay safe, Pryllan thought to her mate, knowing full well he wouldn’t answer while occupied with whatever he was doing for the Dragon Lord. Surprisingly, a response came back.
I WILL, BELOVED. BE SAFE.
And you.
Cradling the two humans within her talons, she leapt straight up and snapped her wings open. Pravara mimicked her as much as she was able. Pryllan turned to look at her offspring as she rose higher into the air.
“This will be the longest flight you have ever been on, Pravara. If you tire, do not hesitate to tell me.”
“I will be fine,” the young dragon assured her. “You won’t need to worry about me. You’ll see!”
Chapter 5 – Cantankerous Companion
For miles the two dragons, both large and small, soared high above the ground, passing over leagues of forests, mountains, and prairies. Barely flapping her wings, as she was using several of the prolific air currents found only at altitudes a dragon could fly, the much larger green dragon led the way, with the smaller dark green dragon trailing behind. Winged wyverians were capable of speeds much greater than that which they were flying at the moment. However, any non-wyverian observer would be able to easily tell that the much smaller dragon was, at times, having difficulty keeping up.
Noting that Pravara had started to fall behind her once more, Pryllan decreased her speed and turned her head to look behind her. There was her offspring, flapping her wings much harder than she should have had to in order to stay aloft.
“The currents up here are much stronger than what you are used to down below,” Pryllan told her. “Don’t fight them. Use them to your advantage. Raise your head and angle your wings so that instead of the wind pushing your wings down, allow the air to support them.”
“Support them how?” Pravara’s small body was buffeted by the merciless winds and was almost tipped over in the process. Righting herself, she flapped harder to return to her mother’s side. “The winds push from above, not below.”
“The wind is already blowing to the north,” Pryllan explained, decreasing her speed even more so that she was flying side-by-side with the young dragonlet. “Our velocity already provides added lift provided your body is not angled down. Elevate your head. Don’t look down all the time. And most importantly, keep those wing tips up. If you lean forward, or if your wings droop too low, then the rushing wind will drive you to the ground.”
Pravara’s small, sleek form struggled with the buffeting winds for a few more minutes before she finally was able to lift her head and angle the tips of her wings up so that the rushing wind was pushing her up and not down.
Something Wyverian This Way Comes Page 8
