Kaleb continued. “I feel strongly that Minx and I were brought together for a special purpose—to heal the rift between our kinds, and to stave off a monstrous power that threatens not only the territories of the Fae, but our own. Several days ago, an army of Wuff, along with other agitators, stormed Pandling Grounds and made off with several high-profile hostages in a fragrant breach of the law. In exchange for the lives of these hostages, a dragon's hide was demanded.”
Here, sounds of outrage rose up from the listeners.
Kaleb urged them to quieten. “Yes, the hide of a dragon. It is barbaric. Minx here, desperate to save her own mother and the other hostages—and to afford protection for the territory of her people—could have taken mine. She had ample opportunity to capitalize on my weakness, to finish me off when a terrible enemy nearly cut me down. But she did not. Despite the friction between our races, she chose to heal me, to care for me until I had recovered. It is only because of her courage that I stand here today, and that I now see the errors our ancestors made in pressing this dysfunctional relationship between our kinds. What's more, in my time with Minx, I have encountered a diabolical enemy—an enemy that has recently joined the Wuff army. His name is Torrent.”
Hushed whispers erupted at the mention of that name.
“This dark army threatens to topple the Fae. They are defenseless, having abandoned their search for a dragon's hide, and though they may fight, they will surely fall against this army led by such a formidable force as Torrent. I owe her a great debt; but we, as dragons, too, owe the Fae a debt—for they have chosen the way of peace with our people.
“The army that threatens the Fae will not stop after it has conquered them. It will continue to sweep across the land, and will surely wind up at the base of this mountain given time. Our chances of success are far greater if we pool our strength, if we join forces with these old foes of ours to stamp out this incredible threat. It is for this reason that I appeal to you today. I ask for a force to accompany us back to Pandling Grounds. An alliance between the dragons and Fae.
“The Fae, guardians of Heilo Lake and Gloirs Mountain, are not so different from us. I have found them a good and trustworthy people. We, too, know the struggle of defending sites of such immense importance. We have similar goals, and have been presented with a chance for peace in striking down this foe. Torrent's forces will only become more powerful as time goes by. His ranks will swell, and as one who has faced him personally... I can tell you that he is a force to be reckoned with. It is only through cooperation that we will crush this army. And so, I ask you all, please, to take the first step toward peace this day. Please grant my request!”
The chamber erupted into chaos the moment Kaleb's speech ended.
“Risk ourselves for the Fae?” spat one, laughing heartily. “I think not!”
“Torrent? We will crush him ourselves. No need to involve the Fae in such a thing!” barked another.
Kaleb's father drew near to his son. “You've made your case. Leave the chamber and let them debate the cause.” He waved to Minx and Mau. “Take them, rest awhile. I will inform you of their decision. It may be some time...”
Kaleb obeyed, leading the Fae huntress and Mau from the forum. One of the guards unsealed the door, allowing them passage, and they left the rabble of the War Chamber. Slipping into a narrow side-hall, Kaleb allowed his shoulders to droop and loosed a long-held sigh. “Well, I gave it my best shot. We'll see what they say...”
Minx reached out and touched his arm, offering him a warm smile. “You did a good job. Thanks.”
The dragon shifter laughed nervously. “Dragons are stubborn, Minx. It's very possible they'll debate all day and night, only to flat-out refuse to help. Now that they know the stakes, it's hard to say whether they'll formally authorize an offensive. I got my hopes up when the messenger said they'd be willing to help; I should have known it would be more complicated when they had all of the details. It always is.”
Minx looked back to the dense doors of the War Chamber, the voices of arguing dragons still booming behind it. “We've done all we can. Let's hope for the best.” She put on another smile, admiring one of the gilt skylights above, but her heart skipped a beat as she considered the potential for disappointment in the hours ahead. If they say no... If they refuse to help, then we're doomed.
Hope was the only thing she had to hold onto at that moment.
She'd put her trust in Kaleb many times, but had she been wise to put trust in his people during such a critical moment?
Only time would tell.
“Wanna have a look around?” asked Kaleb, noticing her wonder as she canvassed the ornate stonework. He nudged her arm and stepped away from the chamber. “Come on, I'll give you the tour.”
For more than an hour, the trio wandered through the mountain, taking in a succession of breathtaking sights. They exited the structure through a narrow tunnel and found themselves on an earthy slab many hundreds of feet above ground, which had been cultivated to grow flowers of the most striking colors and sizes. They wandered through open-air paths, making the rounds of manicured gardens nourished by small mountain streams. They descended stone stairs cut directly into the sides of the mountain and passed through a charming bazaar where artisans peddled their crafts and luxury goods. Now and then, as they delved into the darker passages, they ran into more of those curious Kurgs—creatures, she was told, that could not venture into the daylight, and who dwelt always in the gloom.
The trio picked up food from one of the vendors at the bazaar and enjoyed it in a cobbled alcove on the outer edge of the mountain, basking in the sunlight. Minx ate contentedly enough, but even as she enjoyed the food and the scenery, she couldn't escape the guilt. I'm sitting here, relaxing. Meanwhile, things are about to go to pieces back home. I shouldn't be relaxing like this. I should be getting ready to go into battle.
Rest is important, offered Mau. This is going to be your last chance at anything like relaxation for a long time, whether the dragons agree to help us or not. Eat, rest and make sure you're in top form for the battle to come. The Faelyr rolled over, sunning her belly with a purr.
Kaleb finished his food and reclined against the side of the mountain. “We should head back soon, see if they've made their decision. If not, it might help to pressure them. They might be more amenable to helping if the Fae would agree to revise the treaty. I know your people may not wish to budge on that, but if they're hesitant to assist we'll come at them from that angle.”
Minx nodded, the guilt wrenching her expression into a dour frown. “This was supposed to be easy. My people entrusted me with a simple job. All I needed was a dragon's hide.”
Kaleb smirked. “Yeah, and then you ran into the wrong dragon, eh?” He chuckled. “This hide, what was it for, exactly? How does this shield spell work?”
“The warding spell that protects our territories—Heilo Lake, especially—requires one. It's an ancient form of magic, carried out by the Fae elders. It's only passed on between the elders, and the methods are a closely-kept secret. And when all of this started, need I remind you that I'd never met a dragon before?” She sighed. “To be honest, I wanted more than anything to help my people, and to do it efficiently. I just wanted to give them what they wanted, Kaleb. They call me Dragon Hunter. It's my role, you know? The Lake has been reaching out to me in dreams, and I know that time is running out. I have to do what I was sent out to do. But somewhere along the line, I lost the will to kill a dragon. If I had the opportunity right now, I don't think I could bring myself to do it, even with everything that's at stake. I'm a lousy Dragon Hunter—a lousy Fae, in fact.”
Kaleb stood, running a hand through his hair. “Thankfully, you won't have to. Someone in this mountain will help us—even if I have to drag them all the way to Pandling Grounds in my talons. Got it?” He started back into the mountain. “Let's see what the Generals have to say, shall we? Hopefully they've come to a decision. They love to bicker, but perhaps today they'll be
reasonable and get on board.”
Minx gulped. If this falls through... then what's left?
Chapter 19
The trio made their stealthy return to the War Chamber, and were surprised to find the room still sealed by guards. Voices thundered within, showing no signs of peace or agreement. Kaleb paced outside the chamber for a time, listening in and shaking his head.
“What's happening in there?” asked Minx. “Are they still arguing?”
He nodded with a contemptuous grimace. “Seems that way. I knew this might happen, but... I was hoping they'd get their acts together. This isn't some minor request, it's life or death. Whether they like it or not, their opinions on the Fae don't figure into it. Once Torrent and the Wuffs are done with your people, they'll surely lash out at mine. This is our only opportunity to fight Torrent as a united front, and they're going to argue until the clock runs down.”
“W-Well, maybe if we give them a little more time...” Minx tried to retain her grasp on hope, but her grip was steadily slipping.
“I'm sorry, Minx. I wanted to prove to you that dragons are better than this, that they're more reasonable than the Fae stereotypes might have you believe, but they're making us all look bad. This shouldn't be a hard call to make, but old biases are hard for them to overcome...”
She didn't know what to say. Frustration and despair mounted within her, and she sank against one of the smooth walls outside the chamber, arms crossed. She'd pinned everything on this plan, had placed all of her hopes in Kaleb's promise. The rest of his kind didn't seem too interested in helping, though. I should have killed that dragon... I should have taken his hide while Kaleb was recovering. Then I could have given it to the elders and avoided all of this. Now, it's too late... Her stomach turned at the mere thought of killing a dragon; her fondness for Kaleb prohibited her from looking at such a hunt as anything but cold-blooded and evil. Her disgust couldn't hide the obvious necessity of such a killing, however. The simplest route, that of hunting a dragon, had always been the best one.
I hate to say it, but... I told you as much, said Mau. It was very noble of you to spare that dragon, to attempt a deal with Kaleb's clan. But now that it's fallen through, we're in an even worse position than before. It was a mistake to come here, to trust the dragons.
Don't rub it in, replied Minx, her shoulders quaking as a fresh wave of panic crashed down upon her. I feel plenty guilty already. I blew it, OK? I've not only disgraced my father, but my entire people. I'm not worthy of the title of Dragon Hunter—or Royal Fae, even. I feel like I've betrayed them all...
Kaleb approached one of the guards. “Stay put, Minx. I'm going to talk some sense into these brutes. Wait here, OK?” The door was opened, and he was admitted into the chamber, where the assembled dragon leaders were still shouting over each other. Fists were being shaken, curses were flying and heated disagreements appeared on the verge of becoming an all-out brawl.
Minx wandered several paces from the guarded doors and settled in a shaded corner of the outer chamber, on a stone bench, with Mau at her side. Do you think he'll be able to convince them? she pondered.
Don't count on it, was the Faelyr's reply.
Minx closed her eyes, recalling her last conversation with her father. Though she'd failed to bring him a dragon's hide, she'd promised to come through on this front—to return to Pandling Grounds with a winged army. The thought of these negotiations falling through and of her having to return home empty-handed again pained her so greatly she could hardly breathe. She had set aside her earlier mission out of weakness—a weakness for Kaleb—and had doomed her people in the process.
Struggling to hold it together, head in her hands, Minx grit her teeth.
That was when she heard it.
A voice.
She startled violently. This was not a voice she'd ever expected to hear in waking life. She opened her bleary eyes and looked about the vast chamber, searching for its source, but was not at all surprised when she was unable to find it. Am I hallucinating? she thought.
The voice, she was certain, had been that of the Lake. The light will be extinguished... The Silence...
Heilo Lake had reached out to her numerous times in recent dreams, but never before had she heard it call to her while conscious. She wondered if she was dreaming, tried to think of some other explanation for the disembodied voice that had reached her ear only moments ago.
No, you're not dreaming, she thought. It's real. The Lake is calling out to you even now. She tensed as she realized what this meant. Things must have taken a turn for the worse. We're out of time—the battle is going to begin. She held in a gasp. The army is soon to be upon them...
The flight back to Pandling Grounds would take a considerable amount of time. Despite his confidence, Kaleb still hadn't recovered completely from his serious injuries. The return journey, even if he taxed himself to the breaking point, would take a while—and every minute they weren't there was another minute that Valry and Torrent would lay waste to her homeland.
The Lake called out to her a second time, its voice faint but audible all the same over the din of the passersby. The light will be extinguished... The time has come... The Silence...
Minx massaged her brow with the heel of her palm. I'm trying my best. I can't get a dragon's hide. I just can't do it! That's why I'm here—to find another way. A more peaceful way. Her heart swelled with frustration and it was all she could do to avoid weeping as she sat in the shadowed corner.
Another noise intruded upon her brooding, this one every bit as unexpected as the first.
It was Mau's growl. Minx, we've got company.
The Fae huntress took a deep, steadying breath and looked up. What? Where?
That dragon over there, explained the Faelyr. He's been watching you for a bit now. I thought he was just giving us a dirty look, but it seems he's actually making his way over here.
Minx scanned the room. For a time, she wasn't able to locate the individual Mau was referring to—but a glance to her right, into the mouth of a narrow tunnel, brought him into sight. A hooded figure stood at the threshold to the passage, his slender face almost completely obscured by his cowl. Taking a few steps out of the opening, he extended a hand. Between his fingers was pinched a slip of parchment.
Minx stood, keeping her bow in hand as she approached the stranger. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“A message,” the hooded dragon replied curtly.
She reached out, accepted the slip of paper, and then watched as the messenger promptly retreated into the tunnel. He was gone before Minx even had a chance to examine the contents.
I have to say, while the buildings are beautiful, the dragons could stand to hire new couriers. That guy seemed way too shady, if you ask me... Mau sniffed the parchment and returned to the bench as Minx sat back down.
Minx was almost nervous to read the message. Nothing good, she figured, could possibly come from a delivery as shifty as that one had been. Nonetheless, she leaned forward and unfolded the parchment, reading the scrawled message within it under her breath.
And by the time she reached the final syllable, her breath failed her.
Only two sentences had been jotted on the paper the mysterious messenger had handed over, but those two sentences had been sufficient to inspire in her a fury of horror and rage.
The note had contained merely this:
There never was a deadline. Valry's hostages were killed the very night they were taken.
Chapter 20
Kaleb emerged from the chamber, ears ringing with the shouts of his fellow dragons. He found Minx seated on a bench a short distance away, staring with wide eyes at a slip of paper. Her expression was contorted, shoulders quaking. He approached with a wave, trying to get a look at the paper as he advanced. “Hey, sorry, that took me awhile. How are things—”
Without warning, Minx crumpled the paper in her fist and shot up from her seat. She rushed at Kaleb, taking hold of his shoulders and shaking him a
s forcefully as she could. Tears in her eyes, she looked up at him and shuddered with rage. “They're... they're dead,” she spat. “They're all dead.” She buried her face against his chest plate, her tears staining the black metal, and then peppered it with several punches as she wept.
“I don't understand...” Kaleb looked to Mau, who whimpered before the bench. “What's happened?”
With a trembling hand, Minx handed over the balled-up message. “T-This note,” she stammered, “it came from a messenger.” She pointed to the nearby passage where, only moments ago, the mysterious courier had emerged. “I don't know who he was, or how he got this information. But look at it yourself—it says that Valry never intended to give me a deadline, and that the hostages were killed the very night they were taken.” She gnashed her teeth, lowering her head. “My mother was among them, Kaleb...”
With great care, Kaleb led Minx back to the bench and helped her take a seat. Then, unfolding the paper, he had a look at the message for himself. “There never was a deadline. Valry's hostages were killed the very night they were taken...” He read the words softly, scrutinizing the penmanship. “What did the messenger look like? How could he have known you would be here?” He folded the paper carefully and tucked it away. “We don't know if this is true, Minx.”
“Why would they lie?” she asked. “I don't know who the messenger was—he was a dragon, I think. He wore a hood, but I couldn't see much of his face. He hardly spoke a word to me, and he was gone before I even had a chance to read it.”
Kaleb nodded. “I suppose he's long-gone, then. Even if we took off through that passage now, I doubt we'd catch him. But... don't panic. Not yet. There's no telling where this message came from. It may have been sent to discourage you, to make you despair. If the enemy is somehow aware of what we're up to here, they'll try anything to rob you of your fight.”
Minx socked him in the arm with an angry growl. “Rob me of my fight?” She shook her head violently. “No... that's all I want to do now. I'll destroy them, tear them apart. I won't rest until they're all dead.” She stamped her foot on the stone floor. “This is my fault. I wasted so much time coming here, trying to find some other way to do what I should have done from the very beginning.”
How to Kill a Dragon (Heir of Dragons Book 1) Page 17
