“Minx—”
“No, Kaleb,” shot back the Fae huntress, rising to her feet. “I had a job—a job to do for my people. And I failed them. I failed my mother. I failed everyone. I shouldn't have gone off into the forest looking for a dragon that day. I should have taken on Valry right then and there. Maybe my mother and the rest would have survived then. At the very least, I would have gone out with a fight! Instead...” She sucked in a deep breath. “Instead, Pandling Grounds is about to be crushed by Torrent and the Wuffs. And here I am, about to come home empty-handed again.”
Kaleb shook his head. “No, not empty-handed.” He gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. “The Generals were unable to come to an agreement, but I convinced a handful of warriors to join us. They're coming of their own volition to help us in the fight. It's a smaller army than we anticipated, but we'll still find a way to win.” He gazed into her eyes, the powdery light from above rendering them a glowing yellow. “If this message is true... if they really did kill your mother, then I'll show them no mercy. I promise you that.”
Minx drew away from him, hastily wiping her tears. “They've agreed to help, then? How many?”
“I've got seven. Seven dragons.” Kaleb motioned back to the chamber. “And they're willing to leave immediately. I told them to meet us on the platform outside. We can leave within minutes. It'll be difficult, but we'll fly back to Pandling Grounds as fast as we can. If the wind conditions are favorable, perhaps we'll shave some time off the journey. Are you ready to go?”
Minx adjusted her quiver and slung her bow over one shoulder. Mau rose, standing firm beside her. “Yes. Let's go.”
In grim silence, the three of them pushed through the mountain, arriving once again at the vast outer platform where they had earlier touched down. Already waiting there were the seven dragons, a ragtag bunch of shifters on the younger side. These warriors, she was told, had been moved by Kaleb's appeal. The younger set lacked many of the ingrained prejudices against the Fae that their elders still clung to, and had been more willing to participate. Kaleb shared a few encouraging words with them before they took off, priming them for battle like a general on the front lines. Minx thought to thank them, to ask them their names, but could not find her voice. White-hot rage boiled up within her; there was no room for pleasantries.
Kaleb shifted, and the others followed suit in quick succession. The platform, which had seemed so immense and empty only moments ago, was now filled with eight tremendous dragons, their scales glimmering in the warm sun. Minx and Mau climbed onto Kaleb's back, and with a great stirring of wings, the army set off from the mountaintop.
Minx looked down at the peaks of the stony fortress, at the clearing below.
The ride to Pandling Grounds would be long, and she knew that the fight awaiting them would be the greatest of her life. The prospect of facing Torrent a second time, of taking on the Wuff army, had previously inspired great fear in her.
But fear was the furthest thing from her mind as they took flight.
Her anger was incandescent.
She couldn't wait to let the arrows fly.
Chapter 21
They had been flying at full-speed for hours when Minx uttered the order.
“You want to go where?” growled Kaleb. His great yellow eye shifted as if in appraisal of the Fae riding on his back. The other dragons soared behind them, beating their mighty wings and weaving between the clouds.
“Heilo Lake,” she repeated. “I don't know what state we'll find things in, but it's possible the enemy has made it there. I want to start there and ensure the Lake's safety, if I can.” The Lake's insistent calls to her, even in waking life, had weighed heavily on her mind. “The elders will be there, too. I want to know how the warding spell is holding up... if it hasn't collapsed completely by now. Perhaps they'll have some other ideas.”
You can't let the dragons access the Lake! exclaimed Mau. Are you crazy? It would be a crime—a clear breach of the treaty! The elders would never allow it. They'll have your head if you even think about—
“We'll go to Heilo Lake,” she reiterated. “If the Lake is safe, we'll check on Pan and the Trading Center. But the Lake comes first. Do you understand?”
Kaleb proved reticent. “You know what they'll do to us if we land there, right? I wouldn't mind visiting the Lake, but your people are going to go ballistic. Are you sure it's a good idea?”
“Positive,” replied Minx. “The stakes are too great. The elders can either deal with your presence, or they can risk the Lake's total destruction at Torrent's hands.”
“Fair enough.” Kaleb adjusted his course slightly. “Next stop... Heilo Lake... If you're really, really sure, that is...
“There's a beach there,” continued Minx. “We can land on it, and I'm sure the elders will come out to meet us. The sight of several dragons standing at the water's edge is sure to get their attention.”
Oh, it'll get their attention, added Mau. And they might drop dead of heart attacks, too. Did you ever stop to consider that?
These dragons are risking their lives to help us, Mau. If they're good enough to die in service of the Fae, then they're good enough to help us protect the Lake. The sooner we ensure the Lake's safety, the better. Am I wrong?
The Faelyr had no reply to this and resumed her terrified crouch on Kaleb's back.
Kaleb took the strain of the flight in stride; he slowed when the pace became too taxing, and glided a great distance. When the winds were right and he felt strong enough to gain speed, he would marshal his strength and set his wings to work, barreling forth like a bullet. Minx studied the scenery below, trying to get a good idea for where they were at any given moment. They seemed to be making decent time, though she failed to pinpoint any landmark she could ground herself with.
“How long?” she asked when her aimless figuring’s failed to produce a good estimation. “How long till we arrive?”
Kaleb stared into the distance, grunting. “Well, I've never been to Heilo Lake before, but I think we're getting close. The wind is right. We're cruising today. Still, this is going to take us deep into Fae territory, so bear with me.”
Minx herself hadn't been to Heilo Lake in some time, though recalling her recent dreams of it, she felt as though she had been. The only bright spot ahead of her was the hope of seeing its crystal-clear waters, its peaceful shores. If they arrived to find the beautiful Lake defiled by Torrent and Valry, she would never recover from the loss. Heilo Lake was a special place for the Fae, a site they were to solemnly defend—with their lives, if necessary. Today, she would make good on that promise. No matter what happens, I'll never let them take the Lake. I may have failed my mother and the other captives, but I won't fail Heilo Lake. So long as I live, I'll protect it.
Another hour passed. Minx meditated on the battle to come, attempting to calm her thoughts and rest her body. Over the past several days, she'd been put through the ringer—and even though she hadn't suffered as grievous an injury as Kaleb, she was still riddled with aches and pains. This long period of inactivity on Kaleb's back brought each little pain into focus, and she did her best to stretch and massage her bruised limbs in anticipation of war. Rest while you can, because the enemy isn't going to take it easy on you. They don't care what you've been through.
Mau, though terrified, peered over the dragon's side as they glided along. Hey! she remarked, I think we're coming up on the Lake! This has to be a new record—we've only been in the air for a few hours. We made excellent time, for once.
Minx scoured the distant ground for herself. “Really? We're here?” The trip had burned away the better part of the day, but the sun still toiled above them. The winds had helped the dragons maintain a solid speed, and had helped Kaleb, in particular, avoid the lengthy slowdowns that had marred their initial flight to Talon Range. She looked into the distance, as far as her tired eyes would allow, in search of destruction. It was hard to say what they would find on the ground, as the mists and fore
sts surrounding Heilo Lake enveloped much of the nearby land. “Great job, Kaleb. We made it.”
The dragon chuckled. “Let's hope I still have enough energy to fight when the time comes. I didn't hold anything back on the trip over here.”
The other dragons kept pace with their leader, invigorated by the prospect of battle. Their shadows blended together on the ground below, turning into something amorphous and terrifying. Any moment now, as they loomed over the edge of the shore, the Fae elders would surely take notice of these shadows and declare a state of emergency.
“Well, not to push you too hard, but please hurry. We need to touch down as quickly as possible so that we can meet with the elders. They're going to be mighty upset about this...” she warned.
Below, the ridge of Heilo Lake's beautiful shores entered into sight. Her heart swelled at glimpsing its pale sands and brilliant waters. Kaleb began a smooth descent, and with every dip she was able to make out more of the precious site. There were no Wuffs crawling upon its shores, no cries of battle disturbing its peaceful air.
We made it in time. They haven't gotten to the Lake after all. declared Mau.
I'm so thankful! Having received that latest message from the Lake, Minx had feared the worst. This is a good sign. The army may be pressing in, but they haven't infiltrated the Lake yet. We'll find out what's happening from the elders and then engage from a more advantageous position. This is our turf, after all—the Wuff are at a massive disadvantage.
One by one, the dragons reached the pristine sands below. Landing softly, they shifted into their human forms, uniformly panting for the hours of breakneck flight. “Oh, I feel like I'm going to be sick,” muttered one of them, pacing awkwardly about the shore. “I pushed too hard...”
“Don't you dare,” snapped Minx, jostling him. “This is Heilo Lake. You find somewhere else to get sick, understand?”
Kaleb was exhausted, and sat upon the sand to catch his breath. No sooner did he plop down onto the shore and look out across the crystalline surface of the water did he take on a sudden and profound look of calm. “Oh, wow...”
The dense, broad-leafed trees all around them stirred in a sweet breeze. Birdsong flooded in from every direction, and the gentle lapping of the waters had an almost hypnotic effect on all who paused to listen. Minx, despite having heard it many times in her life, was soothed by the Lake's ebb and flow as well.
But it was not to last. From a squat building nestled behind the rightmost cluster of trees, there emerged two stern-faced ancients. These rigid and venerable Fae dressed in ceremonial robes came from their outpost with staves in hand, and motioned with them in tandem toward Minx. The clean-shaven elders, brows knitted in obvious concern, fell into a fury of shouts. “You!” called out one of them. “What have you done? Why have you brought these creatures here?” Meanwhile, a third elder came forth from the forest, dropping the bundle of herbs in his grasp as he noticed the unwelcome guests gathered upon the shore.
“I'm sorry, elder,” said Minx, taking a few steps away from the dragons. “These dragons are friends of mine, trustworthy folk. They've come to help us fight against the Wuffs—to defend Heilo Lake.” She put on a smile, seeking to put the elders at ease.
And it back-fired completely. “Young miss, you have tainted this place by their presence!” shouted another of the elders, jabbing his staff into the ground. “This is an outrage! A breach of the treaty! You will be charged, miss—all of you will be charged!”
Kaleb, stunned at this reception, joined Minx—but before he could offer a word, the elders shut him down.
“Don't say a word, dragon! Your kind isn't welcome in this place! Begone, at once!” The elderly spell-caster looked ready to swing at the whole lot of them as he raged. “You have done the unforgivable! You have brought the outsiders into this precious place!”
There wasn't enough time for reasoned discussion. Minx marched toward the armed elders with a firm bearing and intercepted one of the staves as it came swinging toward her. Pulling it from the ancients' grasp, she tossed it aside. “I am aware of the rules, elder. But there's an army marching on our territories, is there not? Those rules no longer apply. I have no dragon's hide for you, no means to reinforce the warding spell that protects these lands. For this reason, I have brought outside aid. The alternative... is to hand the Lake over to our enemies.” She sighed, eying the elders in turn. “Is that what you would prefer?”
The old Fae, settled in their ways and still coping with their outrage, fell into uncomfortable silence.
“This is Kaleb, a trusted ally. The others are friends of his—dragons who have learned about the threat we face, and who have offered their strength in the hopes of repelling it. I know the customs of our people, the rules we have in place... but I ask you, during these desperate times, to make an exception.”
“There can be no exceptions to—” began one of the elders.
Another interrupted him, however. “This is outrageous... but...” He looked to the water, then to the sky, tracking the movement of the clouds overhead. “There is something afoot, yes. It draws near.” He jabbed a gnarled finger at the dragons loitering on shore. “You have come as defenders, eh? Come to the aid of the Fae?” He snorted dismissively, but did not put up any further resistance. “You would do well to stay put. You, miss, should come with us.”
“Where are we going?” asked Minx, taking a tentative step in their direction.
“To the outpost,” said the elder, still studying the dragons with disgust. “There is one who anticipated your arrival; you have much to discuss with him, Dragon Hunter.” There was something mocking, sarcastic to his tone as he so addressed her.
Minx fell into step behind the pair of elders, reaching out to Mau as she did so. Stay with the dragons, will you? Keep an eye on them and make sure the elders don't get too uppity.
Will do... though I'm still not convinced this was a great idea, replied the Faelyr.
The austere compound used by the elders on the edge of Heilo Lake was a single story and filled out by a succession of small rooms arranged in circular fashion around a large parlor. These small rooms were the private quarters of the individual Fae elders, who lived simple and quiet lives in relative seclusion from the rest of her people. The parlor was used for important meetings, and as Minx entered, she found it was not empty. A handful of other elders awaited her, their expressions ranging between shock and disdain.
But there was another Fae among them, this one a bit younger and clad in a white cloak that stood out from the earthy robes of the elders, whose role she couldn't guess. He wasn't one of the elders, and appeared quite calm as he waited on the other side of the large table at room's center. He smiled at her narrowly, thin face framed in locks of long, black hair.
Minx was led to a seat, and without warning the elders stealthily shuffled out of the building, leaving her alone at the table with the smiling stranger. She watched as the elders exited, taking their places around the exterior of the compound and muttering amongst themselves. “I... I don't believe we've met,” began Minx. “Who are you? And what am I doing here?”
The man settled softly into a seat of his own and crossed his legs, white robes rustling. “Tell me, miss... have you been having any strange dreams recently? Visions, perhaps?”
She leaned forward. “Strange dreams? What is this about?”
He smiled enigmatically. “I think you know what I mean.” He thrust his chin toward the exit door—and, presumably, the Lake.
He knows I've been dreaming about the Lake? He knows that... the Lake has been reaching out to me? Minx hesitated, not sure she could trust the man. “How... how do you know that I—”
“How do I know that Heilo Lake has been visiting you in dreams, relaying an important message?” He gave a playful shrug of his shoulders. “It's simple; the Lake told me as much.”
She startled. “T-The Lake speaks to you, too?”
He nodded. “I am a priest affiliated with the Si
lence.” Studying her expression very closely, he went on. “You've heard of us, I know, but surely you have many questions... We shall cover those in time. At present, we have more pressing matters to discuss.”
“Hold on,” insisted Minx, “how do you know me? What is the Silence? My father, he mentioned it... and the Lake, too...”
The priest produced a slip of paper from his pocket and slid it across the table toward her. It was a small thing, featuring only the shape of a crescent moon on its face. “The Silence protects, no matter the cost,” he said with a cryptic smile. “We are guardians—and your parents, Minx, are servants of the Silence. As I said, we can discuss the specifics later. We are a secretive lot, as the name would suggest, but our chief interest is in the protection of precious resources. Now...” He tented his fingers. “You, I understand, were tasked with collecting a dragon's hide, were you not?”
Minx blanched. “W-Well, yes... my father asked me to hunt a dragon and bring one home. Valry, leader of the Wuffs, asked for one as well. But I... I wasn't able to claim one. The dragon, you see...” Her cheeks flushed as she admitted to her failures. “I'm sorry, but... it just isn't possible. I can't bring you what you ask for.”
The priest met her with a knowing smile. “It is difficult to defeat a dragon, yes. All the more so when you have forged bonds of friendship with one.” He rapped a few fingers against the table as he continued. “But the trouble is this, Minx. Whatever your feelings, we still require a hide. The shielding spell around this very Lake is weakening—rapidly. Our existence is contingent on your success. And I see that you've brought many dragons with you this day. Why not part one of them from their hide and save your people?”
How to Kill a Dragon (Heir of Dragons Book 1) Page 18
