“They took your mother?” asked Kaleb, approaching her. His fiery eyes, usually so fierce, had softened somewhat. If he was faking concern, he was doing an incredible job. “That's pretty underhanded. And they're demanding a dragon's hide for her life, huh?”
Minx nodded. “I have a week to deliver it, else she and the others will be killed.”
The youth combed a lock of black hair behind his ear and took note of the darkening sky. “Tell you what. If we work together, I'm sure we can find your pal Mau before too long. And when we've found her, we can look for some way to handle these Wuffs. How does that sound?”
She looked up at him with wide eyes, stunned at his willingness to help. “You'll... you'll help me save my mother?”
“Sure,” he offered. Then, grinning, he added, “If Valry gets her way, some poor dragon will lose his hide in the deal, and for all I know, it'll be mine.”
This time, she couldn't deny him words of thanks. It stung her pride to accept this stranger's help, especially after he'd bested her in battle, but she lowered her gaze and uttered a brief, “Thank you, Kaleb”.
“No problem,” said the young dragon, pointing up at the sky. “It's getting dark. We should prepare for the long night ahead. Want to help me set up a simple camp?”
There was nothing to do but work together. “All right,” said Minx, setting down her bow and quiver.
Chapter 7
Night had fallen oppressively over the land, and the unlikely duo of dragon and Fae eyed each other suspiciously in the glow of their modest campfire. They had taken up refuge in the glade where their battle had taken place in the hopes that Mau would wander back there and meet them. The night passed with no sign of the Faelyr, however.
Minx stirred the embers with a long stick, sending sparks swirling through the air. With everything on her plate, she knew there was nothing to be done but to take her ordeals one at a time. First, she would need to find Mau. Then, when they'd been reunited, she could focus completely on the other pressing matters ahead.
“This friend of yours, Mau, doesn't have a habit of running off, I take it?” asked Kaleb, seated by the fire's edge and peering up at the stars. “I wonder where she could have gone to. I'm surprised I didn't find any trace of her when I scouted the area earlier.”
Perhaps it was merely the encroaching shadows of the forest or the way Kaleb's handsome face was lent something of the sinister by the bobbing of the firelight, but as she sat there, eyeing him, she felt a fresh wave of suspicion wash over her. “No, she's always by my side,” said Minx emphatically. “This isn't like her at all. That is, unless, someone hurt her or captured her...” She shot the dragon shifter a narrow glance, then turned away.
“It's possible,” replied Kaleb, stretching his legs. “But who?”
Recalling that Kaleb had picked up the scent of a dragon earlier, Minx was more than happy to throw the blame on his kind. “I don't know, but maybe that's a question you ought to be asking your friends, the dragons. After all, you picked up a strange dragon's scent around here, didn't you?”
“I did...” He hesitated to go on further.
Minx snickered, turning away from him and tucking her hands around her torso. The night was cool, and despite the warmth issuing from the blaze she still shivered. “For all I know, you're in on it. You're just playing along while one of your fellow dragons takes Mau to some far-off place.” She squared him with a steely gaze. “How do I know you're not involved?”
“You don't,” replied Kaleb with a yawn. “I guess you'll just have to trust me.”
“Trust a dragon?” she muttered. “Fat chance.”
At this, he sat up, eyes flaring in annoyance. “I spared your life, Minx. I've helped you look for Mau and I'm sitting here with you now. But you still doubt my word?” He held his hands to the fire, warming them pensively. “I guess what they say is true. You Fae are mighty fickle, aren't you?” He preempted her reply by adding, “Where I come from, the word of an honest man means something. It would appear that's not enough for you.”
Angry and worried though she was, it made little sense for her to antagonize her only ally in this struggle. Minx dropped it, tending once more to the fire. “Well, anyway, we've got a long time before dawn. We should arrange a night-watch so we can both sleep. Do you want to go first, or should I?”
“A night-watch?” asked Kaleb, chuckling. “No need.”
“Of course there's a need,” she spat back. Everything with this dragon shifter was destined to become an argument. “What if someone tries to attack us while we're sleeping? What if Mau comes back and we miss her because no one's keeping watch? Is this your first time camping out, spending time on the road? This is elementary stuff, Kaleb.”
Kaleb withdrew from the fire a few paces and then donned his dragon form, a massive scaly body springing up where only a man had stood moments prior. The tremendous creature settled upon the ground softly and curled into a tight position, his red scales locking tightly into one another and effectively blocking his every vulnerability behind a shield of glistening red. His large yellow eye glared at her smugly for a moment before it, too, was closed.
“Oh, neat trick,” she muttered. “I guess dragons don't need to keep watch at night, huh?” The Fae huntress had no such trick up her sleeves, however. Remaining fireside, she peered down into the flames and did her best to calm her mind. I guess I'll be keeping watch solo. That's not so bad, right? With that loudmouth sleeping, at least things will be quiet.
While staring into the tongues of flame, she reviewed the troubles of the previous day, giving special attention to those last moments she'd spent with Mau. She'd ordered the Faelyr to approach Kaleb and prepare for a sudden attack, and by all appearances, Mau had been prepared to follow through. In the minute or two between Mau's flight from her side and her own battle against the dragon, something had happened, though.
Where did you go, Mau? she wondered, hoping for a telepathic reply. When none came, Minx looked over at the slumbering dragon and grimaced. Does he have something to do with it? He claimed to smell another dragon in the area. Was it a friend of his? A friend intent on capturing Mau—or worse? She didn't have any evidence to prop up this claim, and in all fairness, Kaleb had seemed as honest and forthright as any dragon could be. Even so, she remained skeptical. The timing of Mau's disappearance was simply too suspicious. Mau vanishes just as I'm about to begin my first dragon hunt, and there are signs of another dragon in the area? What are the odds?
The cooing of nested birds broke through the still night, joining the popping of the fire and the hum of far-off bugs. Minx rubbed at her eyes, then stretched out her legs to warm her feet. She'd spent many nights in the field, roughing it without complaint, but had never done it without Mau at her side. She considered her new companion and nearly groaned. Though powerful, the dragon shifter hardly seemed like an upgrade. She wondered how long she'd be stuck hanging around with him, how long it would take for the two of them to find Mau.
Maybe I should kidnap Kaleb, she thought. If I hold him ransom, perhaps this dragon friend of his will return with Mau and we can swap hostages... Eyeing the dragon, she quickly backtracked. Then again... he's kind of huge. There isn't enough rope in all of Pandling Grounds for me to keep him bound up.
No, the only path forward was to trust him. The handsome young dragon had spoken much about honesty and the value of one's word. She had no choice but to take him at his, however bad a taste it left in her mouth.
The night wore on and the surrounding woods echoed with the sounds of insects. Curious luminescent bugs hovered between the trees and from deeper in came the calls of night-birds and frogs. Leaning close to the fire, Minx soaked up the warmth and felt her eyes getting heavy. Kaleb hadn't made a sound since settling down, and was likely to sleep soundly till daybreak. She, on the other hand, needed to stay awake. If Mau came around and she missed her, Minx would never forgive herself. And if someone caught sight of their campfire and came lookin
g for trouble, she'd need to be prepared...
The heaviness in her head became too much for her to bear. She turned away from the fire to keep from falling into it and propped herself up on one arm, stretching out across the warm grass. It felt good to extend her tired limbs, to let the warmth wash over her entire body. Don't get too comfortable, she warned herself, her head lolling as though mounted on a hinge. She caught herself drooping and snapped her eyes open, inhaling sharply. Relax, but not too... too... much...
Before she knew it, the colossal dragon faded from sight completely and she was plunged into peaceful slumber. Sleep had seized her despite her efforts, and as her mind powered down, something aside from mere darkness came to fill it.
The eye of Minx's mind was filled with a faint, bluish light. It was less harsh than the light of the fire, and more like the glow of the insects hovering between the trees. This blue luminescence slowly gave rise to a shape she could recognize—a placid and verdant shore.
It was the shore of Heilo Lake.
Minx dreamt of the crystal clear waters, of the smooth, flat stones along the shore, of the charming green plants that sprouted from the mineral-rich flow, and of the soft cooing of its resident birds. The moon was perfectly reflected across the water, and its light was slowly diffused throughout the whole of the scene, bringing the beautiful lake into ghostly relief.
But no sooner had she grown comfortable with this dream of the treasured lake did something else intrude upon her sleeping mind.
It was a voice.
The voice, very smooth and low, seemed to come from a great distance. It washed over her ears in soft waves like the warmth of the campfire, and seemed to rise up from the still waters stretching out before her. The Silence needs you, came the voice—though her sleeping mind didn't know what to do with the words.
Minx sank deeper into sleep, and as she did so the voice sounded more clearly. The Silence needs you. A foul darkness draws near and threatens to snuff out the light. As if to mirror this predicted dimming, the faint blue light began to retreat, leaving her once again in almost total darkness. The Silence needs you, insisted the voice once more.
And then, all was still.
Suddenly, Minx startled awake. She rolled over, finding herself still on the cool ground. There was no sign of Heilo Lake to be found in her surroundings, but the fire before her had nearly died out and the red dragon continued its peaceful sleep across the way, apparently unbothered by the night's chill.
Minx rose, unnerved by the dream imagery. It was almost as if the lake had reached out to her—had sent her a message. “The Silence...” she whispered. “What does that mean?” Her father had alluded to something called The Silence earlier that day, but she had not understood his meaning. It's just a weird dream. You're stressed out, and you were thinking about what your father said. Don't pay it any mind.
Where usually Minx had no trouble disregarding dreams as little more than fantasies, she had a hard time shaking this one. It had felt like a warning. Something might be coming to blot out the light of the lake, she thought to herself. But what? Is this supposed to be a message about what'll happen if I fail to find a dragon hide? Or is this something else...? I've never received a message in this way before. Is it even possible for the lake to contact me through dreams? She massaged her temples, trying to make sense of the incident. That's impossible, right? That stuff doesn't happen in real life—and certainly not to people like me.
She spent the remainder of the night sitting up by the fire. She added more wood to it and succeeded in keeping it burning till morning, when Kaleb finally rose. He shifted back into his human form, running his hands through his hair and appearing quite rested. “Good morning,” he said as the sun began to peek out from between the trees. “How'd you sleep?”
She met him with heavy eyes and a miserable frown. “Never mind that. Are you ready to get moving?”
“Of course,” replied Kaleb, warming himself briefly by the fire. “How'd that night-watch go? Run into any villains while I was asleep?” he asked with a grin.
She didn't answer him. Instead, taking on her bow and quiver, she nodded eastward. “Well, let's get a move on. Every minute I waste here with you is another minute we could spend looking for Mau.”
Kaleb took the lead, marching through the dense woods and seeking out a reasonable trail into the eastern territories. After walking more than an hour and failing to find one, he took on his dragon form and spent some time soaring above the trees, searching out a path from above. Finally, he discovered a slender road some miles from where Minx was waiting, and he returned to her, leading the way. “Found something—a road. It might take us to where we want to go.” He eyed Minx with an uneasy smile, gaze lingering on her shuffling step and her pained expression. “You all right? You're not looking too good. Want to stop and rest?”
She waved him off, sucking in a deep breath and pushing herself harder than her quivering legs wanted to go. “Enough talk. Let's just move it, OK? I'm fine.”
Kaleb didn't seem to believe her, but said nothing more, leading her to the winding dirt path. As they went, his lead on her steadily increased. She wasn't able to keep up with his long stride, and her own steps appeared weak and confused. She panted terribly, as though out of shape, and could scarcely walk in a straight line. Now and then, the dragon shifter would pause to wait for her, resuming only when she'd closed the gap between them. While he surveyed the distance and got the lay of the land, Minx only seemed able to stare at the ground with dazed eyes.
They kept on in this manner for hours, Kaleb becoming increasingly concerned about the Fae huntress' behavior. He kept his mouth shut for fear of starting a fight, and even slowed his pace to accommodate her. Finally, by midday, they had ceased their aimless wanderings and had found themselves on a proper road with legible markings.
But for Minx, the strain of the night before proved too much.
Shuffling behind Kaleb with a pounding head and heavy eyes, her limbs felt like lead. The young dragon remarked on the road, on the lands ahead, but she couldn't muster the energy to give him more than one or two words in reply.
They had only made it a few miles down the secluded road when she collapsed.
Chapter 8
Kaleb felt the Fae stirring in his grasp. Oh, guess she's finally rested...
He watched as Minx opened her eyes, a delicious breeze teasing her hair. She stretched a bit, her sore limbs having relaxed and her head no longer so heavy. Her entire body seemed filled with that wonderful feeling of floating that sometimes visits those walking the line between sleep and wakefulness.
When the bleariness in her eyes cleared and she took a good look around, she discovered she was floating, high, high up in the sky. Rather than a cloud, she was reclining within Kaleb's massive talons. “W-What am I doing up here? Where are you taking me?” she demanded.
Come on, I didn't drop you! he thought. I guess this is the thanks I get for hauling you across the path, huh? Kaleb glided lower, coasting across a vast plain and eventually touching down in a large field near a wide dirt road. With great care, he released Minx and shifted back into his human form. “I see you're finally awake,” he said.
Minx knelt on the ground. Her legs looked to be shaking too hard for her to stand. “W-What were you thinking? You could have dropped me! I never asked you to do that—to carry me around!” She gulped, raking a hand through her windswept hair. “You could have killed me, you know that?”
“Maybe, but I didn't really feel like it,” he quipped. “If I'd wanted you dead, I wouldn't have waited for you to wake up.”
She dissected him with a sharp gaze, lips pursed.
“Sorry, you looked like you needed the rest,” he said. “You passed out back there—face-planted on the trail. Remember?” He grinned. “For a bit there, you were sleeping like a baby. Have any good dreams?”
She looked like she wanted to spit at him. “As if I'd tell you,” she said, her cheeks flushed with
color.
Try as he might, he couldn't resist the girl's charm. She was a handful, combative and dismissive to a fault, but she wasn't hard on the eyes. She'd been looking rough earlier on the road, but now, with some sleep in the tank, she looked fresh and vital. She hurriedly put her dark hair up into a manageable style, her sharp eyes lowered in embarrassment. He could see how her constant assertiveness might grate, but under the circumstances found her attempts at projecting authority endearing. Still, he tempered his expectations. She's cute, but she's a Fae. You can't trust them. They've been poisoned against your kind from the very start.
“What happened while I was asleep?” she demanded. “Any sign of Mau?” She looked around, took a few steps up the path. “Where are we, anyway?”
“No sign of the Faelyr, unfortunately,” replied Kaleb. “We flew further east. I thought we'd be better off checking out the eastern reaches of the borderland forest. There's a city up ahead, Karn. It's the largest of the human cities. Have you ever heard of it?”
“Of course I've heard of it,” snapped the Fae. Then, more quietly, she added, “Though, I've never been there.”
“For a city built by humankind, it's all right. I thought we might pass through and search for your friend there. Perhaps we'll run into someone who can set us on the right path.” Kaleb led the way. “And maybe we can get a bite to eat, while we're at it.”
Minx fell into step behind him. “So... there's really been no sign of Mau?” she asked, voice lilting as if she secretly hoped he'd withheld information.
Unfortunately, he had nothing to report. Their progress that day had been easygoing and uneventful, and though he'd kept his eyes to the ground he'd neither seen nor heard any sign of the missing Faelyr. Whether the city of Karn would give them fresh leads remained to be seen, but as one of the larger settlements in the region, it seemed as good a place to poke around as any. “No,” he finally admitted, “I really haven't seen any sign of her. But we're going to find her, trust me. It'll just take a bit of doing, that's all. If this Faelyr is as stubborn as you, she's going to play hard to get, though.”
How to Kill a Dragon (Heir of Dragons Book 1) Page 4
