Perhaps it was Tonio’s grim frown, or perhaps it was Handel’s rage, but there were no more responses.
§
“Wake up, Lars!” Lars jerked awake as Singlar mind-melded again. “Linaia’s back.”
Lars thrust on his breeches and boots and rushed out to Singlar’s den. He tugged his jerkin around him. Shards, it was cold. A bitter wind drove flurries of snow in from the ledge, whipping his hair across his forehead.
Linaia was huddled near the rock face under Singlar’s wing.
Lars placed his hand on her head to mind-meld. “Linaia, I’m glad you’re home, but where is Adelina?”
“She’s been caught,” the dragon whimpered, her blue scales fading to an icy hue. “I don’t know where Ezaara or Roberto are. The Queen’s Rider may be captive too.”
Adelina had been foolish, going off like that, but still, worry gnawed at Lars’ mind. So young, so full of life … “Tomaaz, Kierion and two wizards are on their way to Death Valley on Riona and Maazini. Did you see them or Zaarusha?”
“No.” Linaia’s head sank to the floor.
“The Master of Prophecy told me they’re the best team to rescue the others. Hopefully, we’ll have them all back soon.” He removed his hand and melded with Singlar. “Take care of her. For now, there’s nothing else we can do. Their fate lies in Kierion and Tomaaz’s hands.”
Homeward Bound
A blur of green trees rushed at Ezaara as Maazini lowered her toward the ground. “Now, Ezaara.” He opened his talons, and she dropped, rolling as she hit the snow. Ezaara lay, staring at the drab desolate sky.
Maazini landed, then Tomaaz rushed over. “Ezaara, are you all right?” He helped her up and hugged her, not letting her go for a long while. At last, he pulled back, asking gently, “Did you find Roberto? Is he alive?”
She grimaced. “Alive. Hurt.” Her chest ached. She hadn’t saved him. Might have made things worse. She had no idea where Zaarusha was. And now Adelina was hurt, too. Her throat tightening with grief, hot tears slid down her cheeks.
“We’ll come back for him, I promise,” Tomaaz said with a ferocity that surprised her. “Gods, Ezaara, I thought we’d lost you.”
“Roberto was limplocked. I gave him the remedy, but what if Zens gives him more?”
“We’re taking you and Adelina home first. That’s our priority.” Tomaaz’s voice was firm. “I’ll come back with a ring and get him out.”
Riona deposited Adelina on the grass. Kierion came over, with his arm around Adelina’s shoulders, two men trailing him. “My honored Queen’s Rider, you’ve already met Fenni. This is Jael.” He gestured at the blond wizard and a Naobian—who looked so much like Roberto that her eyes pricked all over again.
They nodded at her as Kierion continued. “Tharuks are everywhere. With three of us riding each dragon, we can’t risk them finding us. We’re only stopping here for a bite to eat, then we’ll press on to get some distance between us and Death Valley.”
And Roberto.
The Naobian, Jael, passed them strips of dried beef and dried apples. “As soon as the dragons have fed, we’ll be leaving.” He motioned to the bushes. “I’d recommend a quick privy stop, but stay close to avoid tharuks.”
The snow-tipped Terramites loomed above them, their shadows reaching deep into the forest. Ezaara shivered. It was no use mentioning Anakisha’s ring. It worked for the rider wearing it and everyone their dragon was carrying, not for another dragon nearby. She couldn’t disappear to Dragons’ Hold, leaving three people on one dragon in the wilderness alone. The risk of being captured or hurt was too high. But it was four days’ flight to the hold. Even with a ring on the return trip, that was at least four days until they returned.
Would Roberto still be alive?
§
When Roberto crested the peak, no one was manning the lookout towers. He couldn’t figure it out—not a single tharuk was around. Something was up, but he was too exhausted and sore to care. He slid and tumbled down the slushy hillside, leaving streaks of soot and blood in the snow. Anyone could track him.
He pressed on. They’d be after him soon enough.
Emptiness gnawed in his gut. Was he walking away from Ezaara or toward her? He cast his mind out, trying to meld with her or Erob. Nothing. But he wouldn’t give up.
Late in the morning, he entered Great Spanglewood Forest. Weaving between the trees, he came to a stream, scooping up a drink. His limbs throbbed, his back ached and his body was screaming, but if he rested, he’d never get up again. So he staggered on, the day wearing into afternoon.
One step. Another. And another …
Shards, he had to get to … where was he going? Why was his head throbbing and his back searing?
Left, right. Keep going. Another step. Through that puddle … over that log …
Roberto tripped, landing in a snow drift. He groaned and tried to push himself up, but his hands sunk into the snow. He tried to roll, but his stubborn body wouldn’t budge. With one last desperate attempt, he sent out a mental cry for help before he collapsed.
§
Marlies poured Tonio a cup of tea. This would be tricky, but she had to try.
“Thank you, Marlies.” Tonio eyed the brew warily.
“It’s just soppleberry, nothing sinister.” Marlies chuckled. “Come on, Tonio, I’m not about to poison my old spymaster.”
He sniffed it, then took a sip. “Tasty, thank you.” He flashed a wan smile—a tatty remnant of their former friendship—and had another sip. “What did you want to see me about?”
Marlies took a deep breath. “I don’t think anyone else has the courage to tell you, so I will. You’ve changed, Tonio, and it’s not for the better.”
He bristled. “It’s my job to be mistrustful. Whoever heard of a trusting, gullible spymaster?” Toni snorted. “Huh!”
“That’s always been your job, Tonio,” she said gently. “Even when I knew you before. Remember how we checked every fact and rumor, and hunted down treachery? There wasn’t a truth we didn’t examine. Or a lie. Remember that Naobian merchant?”
“The one we caught smuggling dragonets?”
Marlies smiled. “That was a tricky situation, but we handled it impeccably.”
Now, Tonio’s grin was genuine. “You were brilliant. I never even knew you could play the gittern until that moment.”
“And I didn’t know you could juggle. Although I still think we should’ve left the merchant his gold.”
“He wasn’t much the poorer for losing that purse. Besides, that was justice for him trading in dragons.”
“Yes,” said Marlies. “You always were one for justice, weren’t you?”
Tonio’s brow drew into a thunderous scowl. “So that’s what this is about,” he snapped. “You want me to be lenient on Roberto for your daughter’s sake.” He stood, shoving his chair back.
“No, Tonio, that’s not it.” Marlies sipped, locking her eyes on his.
“Then what?” Tonio perched on the edge of his chair. “Don’t fool with me, Marlies. I’m too shrewd for that.”
He was. “No, this is about you, Tonio. You’ve become a bitter man, chasing vendettas. When I knew you, you were tough, ruthless when getting a job done, but you were fair.”
“When my wife, Rosita—”
“She was already dead when I met you, so that’s no excuse.” Marlies cradled her tea in both hands, leaning over the table. “What happened, Tonio?” she asked softly.
His face crumpled. “You did,” he whispered hoarsely.
She gasped, gut-smacked. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” He tapped his nails on the table in woodpecker staccato. “Murdering that dragonet and forsaking us all. My best spy, my closest friend, gone.”
Was that moisture glinting in his eyes? She’d missed them all, of course, but she’d had no choice. “I couldn’t really come back to say hello.”
“Why did you kill that dragonet?”
“I didn’t,” Marlies whisp
ered—once again, seeing the fragile purple dragonet writhing in its translucent golden shell. “He gave his life to bless me with fertility. That’s how I had the twins. For years, I felt guilty, until Maazini told me that the dragonet had seen a vision that I would give birth to an heir who would be Queen’s Rider. He sensed I wasn’t fertile and wanted to help.”
Tonio’s eyes flew wide, shock rippling over his face. “So, you didn’t murder one of the last royal dragonets?”
“I thought I had, so I fled.”
“I searched for you for years, attending every incident further afield than Montanara.” Elbows on the table, Tonio put his head in his hands. “I’d sealed my heart after my Rosita’s death, but I trusted you. My only friend. And you betrayed me, sabotaging the realm and slaughtering the Queen’s royal progeny.”
Marlies gripped his hand—harder than she’d intended. “I’m sorry, Tonio,” she murmured. They’d been close, the best of friends—as spies had to be, to work well together. Her leaving had destroyed his trust in people—the last thing she’d wanted.
“These crystals, Marlies. I’ve been thinking …” His gaze was frank. “Is it possible that Zens used one on Amato?”
“Yes, it’s possible.” Marlies nodded. “So, Zens could’ve been driving Amato’s behavior all along.”
Tonio’s shoulders slumped. “Oh gods, what have I done to Roberto?”
Marlies’ heart tugged, as she’d known it would when he finally saw sense, but she had to drive the lesson home. “If we’re going to win this war, we should be fighting with mages. We need to heal rifts, not create them.”
A mask snapped over his face. “Lucky we have healers, then, isn’t it?” He stood without a smile and walked to the door.
That stubborn fool. She’d hoped to win him over, had been so close, but Tonio’s ugly pride had reared its head. Never mind, she had other nukils in this game. If she couldn’t get Tonio to heal the rift, she’d bring the rift to him.
Marlies melded, “Liesar, it’s time to pay a visit to Mage Gate.”
The Rift
Marlies turned to Master Giddi and Giant John, behind her in the saddle. “You know Hans says this is our only chance?”
“That’s why we’re coming,” said Giddi gruffly. “Now, get on with it.”
“Ready, Liesar? Back to Dragons’ Hold.” Marlies rubbed Hans’ ring. Mage Gate disappeared with a pop.
Behind Anakisha, there were dark rifts in the golden clouds. “I’m pleased to see wizards, warriors and riders working together again,” Anakisha said.
“Don’t get too excited yet,” Master Giddi muttered in Marlies’ ear. Behind him, Giant John chuckled.
“Greetings, Anakisha.” Marlies’ throat tightened, remembering Anakisha’s fall in battle. “If possible, we’d like to appear in the den outside the infirmary, please.” No one must see her bringing the dragon mage into Dragons’ Hold or there’d be an uproar—the only reason she’d risked using the ring.
Before they could utter thank you, Liesar was landing on the infirmary ledge.
Marlies, Giddi and Giant John dismounted and rushed through the infirmary into Marlies and Hans’ sleeping quarters.
“It’s been so long.” Hans embraced Giddi. “I’m sorry, you’ve lost so muc—”
“You’ve made sacrifices for the Realm yourselves,” replied Giddi gruffly, cutting him off.
That short exchange made Marlies’ throat tight again. So many losses. So much pain. So many years since they’d all worked together.
“Marlies,” Hans said, “war council has started. I don’t know how we’re going to convince the council to work with mages again, but my visions have shown me that it’s our only chance of success.”
“Believe me, said Giddi, “if we pull this off, I’m going to have the same battle with the Wizard Council.”
“Right, Hans,” she replied. “I’ll mind-meld when we’re ready for you.”
Once she was in the council chambers, Marlies took her seat, belly fluttering. “Master Lars, Hans is a little late, because he’s meeting with visitors who could help shape our battle strategy.” That should pique Aidan’s interest, but would Lars buy into it?
“Excellent,” said Lars. “They can speak after the master craftsman outlines his weapon-making plans.”
“Thank you, that would be good.”
“You hope,” quipped Liesar.
“Hope’s about all we’ve got,” Marlies replied grimly, keeping her smile intact.
Tonio’s curious gaze burrowed into her.
When the discussion about the allocation of resources for weapons was winding down, she melded, “Hans, now’s about right.”
“Good, we’ll be there soon.” A short while later, there was the thump of Handel landing, and a knock at the chamber doors.
“Let them in,” Tonio called.
A blue guard opened the double doors. Hans and Giant John walked in. Master Giddi swept through between them, cloak swirling and sparks dripping from his fingers.
Lars’ face froze.
Tonio’s face blackened. He leapt to his feet, pointing to the door with a trembling finger. “Get out!”
Giddi’s gaze grew hard. “I told you it was no use, Marlies,” he said bitterly.
“I’ve invited Master Giddi to speak to us.” Marlies inhaled deeply. “If you won’t listen, Dragons’ Hold can get another master healer.” She stalked from her seat to stand with Master Giddi. Giant John and Hans closed ranks on either side of them. Talons scraped on stone behind her. The huff of Handel’s breath warmed her neck. Judging from the expressions around the table, they looked formidable. The doors thudded shut.
“You’ve made a grave error in judgment, Marlies,” Lars snapped, glaring at her with icy eyes.
“I say we vote on it,” said Hendrick, master craftsman.
“Vote?” Tonio spat.
“A vote will be binding,” Lars pointed out. “Are we voting on dismissing Marlies as master healer? Or about casting this traitor out of our midst?”
“Traitor?” Giddi muttered, bristling.
Marlies straightened her shoulders. “Without Giddi and the Wizard Council, we won’t win this war. We’ll all be slaughtered, so there’ll be no point in having healers.”
“Or a Master of Prophecy,” Hans said. “I’ve seen a vision of the slaughter. This is our only chance.”
“You’re bluffing. You’ve pledged to serve Zaarusha.”
“We don’t want our riders to fight a losing battle,” said Marlies. “We must work together to oust Zens.”
“Wizards admitted Zens in the first place,” Toni snarled. “Now you want us to trust them? Next you’ll be asking us to work with spangles.”
“If we must, Tonio.” Marlies stared him straight in the eye.
“No one’s seen sight of them for years,” Lars burst out.
“If I may—” started Giddi.
“No, you may not,” snapped Lars, face flushed. “You definitely may not. We’ll put it to a vote. Raise your hand if you’re prepared to listen to the wizard. Hans and Marlies may not vote, because their tenure is on the line. Marlies, Hans, if you don’t like our decision, you’ll have to step down.”
Nodding curtly, Marlies pursed her lips. Her threat would be worth it, if it swayed them. But would it?
Hans melded with her, “Shards, Marlies, we’ve only been back a moon or two and you’re risking everything.”
“I had no other nukils to throw on the table.” He’d stand beside her, no matter what.
Lars’ eyes were fierce. “This vote is binding. Raise your hand if you want to hear Marlies’ proposal.”
With Ezaara and Roberto absent, two masters dead, and Hans and Marlies excluded, only six could vote. Master Shari’s replacement was absent.
The battle master’s hand shot up. “Think of the strategic advantage,” Aidan muttered, “if they don’t betray us.”
Derek, master of instruction, raised his arm, mumbling, “I’ve al
ways liked magically-enhanced weapons.”
Alyssa, master of flight, spoke directly to Marlies. “I don’t like it, but I don’t want to lose our healer.”
“I ignored the evidence against Bruno and Fleur. I won’t be closed-minded again.” Hendrik put his hand up too.
“I will side with Lars and Tonio.” Master Archer Jerrick left his hands on the table. “Even though one of my dear friends is on the Wizard Council, my loyalty lies here.”
Tonio sat with his arms crossed in front of him, jaw clenched.
“I said the vote was binding. I hope I won’t regret this,” Lars said. “Mages got us into this. Without Mazyka’s headlong quest for power, we wouldn’t have Zens or those bloodthirsty tharuks destroying our realm. Our people would not be enslaved, dying by the hundreds, tortured and without hope, in the dreary hell he’s created. Such was the blessing bestowed by an errant wizard and her foolhardy master.”
A buzz of power emanated from Giddi.
Lars came around to the front of the table, face to face with Giddi. “You were our friends and we fought together, but I’m not at liberty to put the past behind me on a whim at the Wizard Council’s request. The damage has been too great.”
Head high, Giddi’s eyes flashed. “The Wizard Council do not wish to treat with you. They’re bigger fools than you are. I’m here because my friend Marlies, and Kierion, a young dragon rider, thought the realm could be saved. They’re right—the only way we’ll triumph is to fight together—but I’m not begging for your allegiance.” Giddi’s cloak swished as he strode to the door. Halfway, he spun, jabbing his finger at Tonio. “Never belittle the spangles again. You may have need of them yet.”
Raised voices sounded outside the doors, and Lovina burst inside, face flushed. “Excuse me, Masters, but I’ve seen a vision. Tharuks will kill all the wizards in the Spanglewood by nightfall, unless we stop them.” She held up a painting, showing a bloody massacre.
A shiver rippled down Marlies’ spine.
Giddi barked at Hans, “You’re still Master of Prophecy. How reliable is she?”
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