Dragon Speaker

by Mugdan Elana A.

  Keriya had known she would have to explain herself sooner or later, but she had hoped it would be later.

  “Crazy day, huh?” she tried, forcing a smile.

  Fletcher crossed his arms and gave her a flat look. “We should talk.”

  The smile faded. “You know, I wanted to talk in Aeria.”

  “Could you let that go?” he asked, his voice tired. “I’m sorry about the witch thing, but despite everything that happened, I stayed loyal to you. Besides, it’s not like you’ve offered any apologies.”

  “Me? What did I do?”

  “You kept a dangerous truth from me, you got me roped into a deadly quest—”

  “You didn’t want to hear the truth,” she reminded him. “And you volunteered for the quest.”

  “Yes, because I want to make sure you don’t get killed!”

  Keriya bit back a sharp retort. She did not need coddling; she did not need protecting; she did not need pity.

  “You had a rough time in Aeria,” he continued. “But you know what? So did I. I was bullied, just like you. I was an outcast. People knew I was different, and they hated me for it.”

  “Not as much as they hated me,” she muttered. She said it a little too loudly, and Fletcher heard.

  “This isn’t a competition. I’m trying to make a point. Bad things happen, but you can’t let that turn you into a bad person.”

  When Keriya opened her mouth, Fletcher raised a hand to stay her words. “I’m not saying you’re a bad person, because I know you. I’m sorry your experiences have led you to believe that you can’t trust anyone. But I wish you would trust me again. We’re in this together, aren’t we?”

  Keriya pursed her lips to keep them from trembling. She hadn’t realized how much it had hurt when Fletcher, who’d been her only ally for so long, had doubted her. Then again, he made some valid points.

  “Fine,” she said. “You’re right. Let’s forget this dumb argument.”

  “Why don’t we agree to forgive each other?”

  “Fine,” she said again. “I’m sorry. You’re sorry. All better.”

  Fletcher sighed. “Good enough, I guess.”

  Keriya felt like she should say something more, but she couldn’t for the life of her come up with the right words. Social interaction had never been her specialty.

  It had once been easy and freeing to speak with Fletcher; now she was on edge with him. She didn’t know how their friendship had curdled so quickly, and she wasn’t sure how to fix it.

  “I’ll let you get some sleep,” she said at last. “The Allentrians want us to leave early tomorrow. So, uh . . . have a good night.”

  Keriya went to the third bedroom, which was identical to Fletcher’s. She flopped on the mattress and stared at the ceiling.

  They might have agreed to forgive and forget, but from what Fletcher had said, it was clear he wouldn’t forget everything that had happened since they’d left Aeria.

  And as for Keriya . . . well, she had never been good at forgiving.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Your fate may be made or broken by your friends.”

  ~ The Oracle, Second Age

  A slender sunbeam drifted through the divide in Keriya’s curtains, waking her. She sat up in her palace bed, which was lavish and comfy—though not as soft as the springy moss in Shivnath’s cave.

  Keriya dressed and retrieved her bag of supplies from where she’d dumped it the previous night. Something was brimming inside her, pressing against her lungs and making her short of breath. For better or for worse, this was the first day of the rest of her life.

  A muffled knock sounded outside. Keriya dragged her fingers through her knotted hair, straightened her dirty dress, and hurried into the common room.

  “Wake up,” she sang to her friends as she bounded to the entry foyer. A stifled, tired groan answered from behind Fletcher’s door.

  Keriya threw the main door open wide, revealing Max. He’d traded his fine tunic for a plain travel outfit and a hooded cloak.

  “Good to see you’re awake,” he said, offering her a bow. “If we hurry, we can get breakfast before we leave.”

  Now that the time had come, Keriya was eager to go. She gathered Fletcher and Roxanne and they left for the banquet hall.

  The Aerians froze when they entered the magnificent room. Curved bay windows, as tall as the room was high, caught the light of the dawn. Dining tables nestled in the bays, set with porcelain dishes and gold utensils. Crystal chandeliers hung from the domed ceiling, illuminating long tables laden with the most food Keriya had ever seen in her life. The aroma rising from the steaming platters was rich and heady.

  “Dig in,” said Max. “Whatever you can eat is yours—as long as you eat quickly. We need to be on the road soon.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Fletcher, his eyes bulging.

  “I’d like to leave the city before the streets get too busy.”

  “Not that.” Fletcher pointed at the food tables. “You mean we can just . . . eat as much as we want?”

  Max laughed. “Palace guests are welcome to eat whatever, whenever. Attendees of the upcoming meeting for the Union of the States have arrived, so the breakfast spreads have been particularly delicious of late.”

  Keriya and Fletcher grinned at each other and raced for the nearest table. Their quarrel was forgotten in the face of the extravagant feast, as was any concern about what the future might bring.

  “I could get used to this,” Fletcher sighed as a white-clad server heaped mounds of sausages onto his platter. He plucked strawberries and flaky bread rolls from their trays, stuffing them into his mouth. “Wish we could stay here.”

  “Maybe one day we can,” said Keriya. “After the quest is complete, who knows where we’ll end up?”

  “Maybe if we do a good job, the empress will give us permanent employment,” Roxanne said from behind them, smiling as another server ladled a blended fruit drink into a goblet for her.

  “Maybe,” said Keriya, daring to offer a small smile in return. “You’re in a good mood today.”

  “This is what I’ve always wanted. I’m going to become a Hunter. I never thought I’d be hunting a dragon, but it’s more than I could ever have hoped for back home.”

  “I wouldn’t talk about that here,” Max warned in an undertone. Keriya noted he’d put his hood up. “I meant what I said last night. Even in the highest circles of the government, there are people who can’t be trusted.”

  A flutter of worry gnawed at Keriya’s pleasure. She glanced around, but the only people within earshot were some servers and a hooded figure across from them, sampling a tray of smoked salmon. The figure, who had a dark scarf wrapped around his face, wasn’t paying her any attention, so she figured there was no harm done.

  The meal was delicious. Max made the Aerians feel at ease, despite them being so obviously out-of-place amidst the palace finery. He asked Roxanne about her fighting experience and encouraged Fletcher to return for seconds and thirds.

  Every so often Keriya would look up to find his eyes flicking away as if he’d just been gazing at her. Far from making her self-conscious, it caused her to smile again.

  All too soon, Max ushered them out of the banquet hall and through the colonnaded entryway. They descended flagstone steps to a waiting carriage. Keriya pressed her nose against the spotless window as they trundled out of the courtyard, getting her final views of the city.

  The carriage brought them to the northern gates of Noryk, which led to the Galantasa, one of the four kingdoms in the Allentrian Empire. Max tipped the driver a gold coin and turned to the gates, which were creaking open to admit a group of traders.

  Keriya took a deep breath as a warm wind slipped past her from the plains beyond, carrying the fresh scent of morning dew and the promise of adventure.

  “Re
ady?” she asked, looking at Fletcher.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be,” he said, squaring his shoulders.

  They passed through and descended a long stone bridge. A paved road snaked from the base of it, winding through the wetlands beyond.

  “So,” said Keriya, stopping when they reached level ground. “What now?”

  Behind her, Roxanne slapped a hand to her forehead.

  “That’s up to you,” said the prince. “You’re the only one who can sense the dragon.”

  “Ah, there is a dragon,” said a new, unfamiliar voice.

  Keriya spun around. A tall figure was sliding out from behind the tollhouse. He shook off his hood, revealing himself to be a lanky, dark-skinned boy with a shock of messy hair. He had a carefree spring in his step and his brown eyes gleamed with mischief as he nodded to Keriya.

  At once, everyone was on guard. Max stepped in front of Keriya, and Roxanne raised her fists in a fighting stance.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” the newcomer said easily. “Effrax Emberwill, at your service.”

  “Nameless,” Max growled. “What are you doing here?”

  Nameless? Keriya narrowed her eyes at the boy; did that epithet refer to the same thing in Allentria as it did in Aeria?

  “I should think that’s obvious,” said Effrax, inspecting his fingernails as he advanced on them. “I’m spying on you. I do have a nasty habit of that, you know.”

  “This time you’ve crossed the line. That dragon is an Imperial-level secret.”

  “Then poor show for chatting up your lady-friend last night where any fool could overhear you,” Effrax quipped. “And bad job gossiping about it at breakfast this morning.”

  “Take another step and I’ll be forced to hurt you,” said Max.

  “Oh, relax,” Effrax said with a long-suffering sigh. “You think I’m going to blackmail you? I wouldn’t do something like that. Well, I would—but not to you.”

  “Then why are you here?” Roxanne demanded.

  “Because my kingdom is in trouble,” he said. “And I’d like to strike a bargain with you.”

  “Sorry, we don’t bargain with spies,” said Roxanne. The ground rumbled and a thin wall of earth burst up between Effrax and the group, blocking his path.

  Effrax took a half-step back. He turned his full attention to Roxanne, peering at her over the top of the barrier.

  “That was a warning,” she told him.

  He chortled. “Oh, I like this one. She has the fighting spirit of a tigress.”

  “You can leave on your own or I can have you arrested,” said Max.

  “Wait,” said Keriya. She glared at Effrax, who didn’t flinch away from her eyes as people usually did. “I want to know why he’s interested in the dragon.”

  “I mean no harm. My interests are as pure and self-serving as they come. My kingdom, the Fironem, has been suffering for over a decade. Our crops are failing, our animals are sickening, our people are disappearing. My proposition is simple: I help you find the dragon, you use its power to help the Fironem.”

  Max shook his head. “The dragon won’t have time to—”

  “To what, Maxton? To save a quarter of the Allentrian Empire?” Effrax tutted and sidestepped Roxanne’s wall. “I’m disappointed by your shortsightedness. Besides, you could use someone with my talents on your journey. I’m a good spy, an even better shot with a longbow, and I can do this.” He raised his hand and a tongue of fire flared above his palm, crackling with vibrancy.

  Keriya stifled a gasp. Fire magic.

  “It’ll come in handy, Dragoneyes,” said Effrax, noticing her admiration of the dancing flames. “Wouldn’t you like to have the luxury of a nice, warm fire every night in this god-awful swamp?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the Galantasa.

  “Even if we don’t have you thrown in the dungeons for treason, you wouldn’t be allowed to come with us,” said Max. “Your prince will have need of your services.”

  “Zivan has twenty guards surrounding him day and night—he’ll survive without me. Plus, it could be said that I’m doing much more good for the Fironem here, with you.” Effrax turned to Keriya. “We all want the same thing. You would be the savior of my people if you did this.”

  Something surfaced in Keriya’s imagination at his words, a vision of her walking through a crowd of cheering people. Once she had thought of it, she found she couldn’t let it go.

  She glanced at her friends. “It wouldn’t hurt to have another person helping us look for the dragon, would it?” she asked.

  Especially since I won’t be able to summon it, added the tiny voice in her head.

  “Sounds like that’s settled,” said Effrax, smiling smugly.

  “Far from it,” said Roxanne. “You’re not coming.”

  Effrax pulled an insincere pout. “Come now, don’t be like that. Is it because I wasn’t frightened by your little show?” He patted her earthen wall. “Very impressive dirt wielding.”

  “It’s because I was appointed as one of the guards on this mission,” she returned, clenching her fists. “And I don’t trust you.”

  “He wants to help his kingdom. I think he means well,” Fletcher mumbled from Keriya’s other side, scuffing his feet on the dusty road.

  “You thought Cezon meant well, too,” Roxanne snapped. “And look how that turned out for us.”

  “Cezon did mean well,” Fletcher shot back. “He fed and housed us, he kept us safe, he brought us to Noryk, he just—“

  “Just what? Accidentally turned us over to the Imperial Guards, the people he claimed he was helping us hide from?” Roxanne snorted. “Yeah, he was really great.”

  Effrax raised his eyebrows. “Ooh, had a disagreement with the Imperials, did we?”

  “Enough with the spying, Nameless,” said Max.

  “Spying implies I’m secretly collecting information. It’s almost as if you four want me to know everything about you.”

  “Get out of here,” Max growled. “And if you tell anyone what you’ve overheard, Empress Aldelphia will—”

  “Not so fast,” Effrax interrupted. “I count two votes to let me stay. But one of those votes was the Dragon Speaker’s, which counts for at least three. The majority has spoken. I can come.”

  “Absolutely not,” said Roxanne.

  “Relax, Roxanne,” said Keriya.

  Roxanne rounded on her. “Why are you trusting someone who’s admitted he’s a criminal? It’s Cezon all over again!”

  “‘Criminal’ is a bit harsh, coming from someone who’s on the run from the Imperials,” Effrax put in blithely.

  “For the record, I don’t trust him.” Keriya fixed Effrax with a calculating look. “I agree to help your kingdom—not as part of our bargain, but because that’s the right thing for a hero to do. The only reason I’m letting you come is because you’re more dangerous to us out there than you are here, where we can watch you.”

  Max considered this and nodded his approval. “Fine. Nameless, you’re in. I expect you to pull your weight, and if we so much as suspect you’re scheming something . . .” He left the threat unspoken.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, Your Grace,” said Effrax, offering Max a theatrical bow.

  Roxanne looked ready to chew knives, but she made no further complaints. The dirt wall receded into the road, leaving the path open before them.

  Effrax turned to Keriya with an expression of polite interest. “Well Dragoneyes, what are your orders?”

  Keriya supposed she could try calling the dragon, but she didn’t want to flaunt her inadequacy again so soon after what had happened in the Vale Room.

  She lifted her chin and straightened her spine. She had no idea what to do or where to go, but she knew one thing for certain: heroes weren’t indecisive.

  “We head north.”


  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Wicked though the weasel be, he kills the cockatrice for free.”

  ~ Smarlindian Folk Saying

  “You bloody tronkin’ rotter! You fungus-brained son of a trollop!”

  Cezon knew that berating Iako for the umpteenth time wouldn’t do him any good, but it made him feel marginally better about things.

  “It en’t my fault,” Iako insisted again, straining against the shackles that bound him to the wall of the Imperial dungeon. “I done everything you said. I gave the papers to all the right people—”

  “Obviously you didn’t, otherwise we wouldn’t be locked up.”

  “Huh.” This seemed to stump Iako. He stared into the dreary haze of their jail cell and the two of them lapsed into silence.

  Cezon resumed the only activity available to him, apart from screaming at Iako: planning his escape. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure there was a way out. He and Iako had records bad enough to condemn them for life, but he was no fool. The Imperials didn’t keep condemned prisoners alive for long.

  He shifted his weight around on the dank stone floor, trying to find a comfortable position. His wrists were sore from straining against his manacles, and the iron collar around his neck was unbearable. There was a thin needle within the contraption that dug into his spine, delivering poison into his bloodstream to prevent him from wielding. Every time he moved his head, pain radiated across his body.

  “I really hate you, Iako. I really do. Before we die in here, I want to be sure you understand that.”

  “We en’t gonna die. Endred’ll save us when we don’t come back with the reward money.”

  “When we don’t come back, Endred will realize we’ve been captured and get as far from Noryk as he can. He don’t want to get thrown in here with us. Same goes for Miff and the others.”

  “You think?”

  “What would you do, if you was them?”

  “Oh. Yeah, that makes sense. Guess we are gonna die in here.”