by LeRoy Clary
However, the dragon had responded, even if it was about as simple as a child might respond. As their relationship grew he would understand more, and so would the dragon.
Raymer glanced at the last drawing long enough to lock the image to his mind and ensuring it was something he could describe to the dragon. It was. The drawing was simple, straightforward, and distinct details leaped from the paper. Castle Warrington sat high up on a solid wall built over a steep cliff, and a river flowing below. The sea lay beyond. Five turrets, all with banners and flags flying.
He nodded to himself and then closed his eyes again, feeling he could concentrate better with the dragon when no other distractions were present. Removing sight helped. If he could close his ears, it would be even better, but as he fought to understand and learn the mind of the dragon he heard little in the room.
The feeling of satisfaction again filled him, relayed from the dragon. A vague flash of an image of a river with trees on both banks leading onto the distance also found a road beside it.
“Henry, I think it is beyond the two mountains and above the river. How much farther?”
The old man paused and did some calculation of his own. Finally, he said, “It takes most of a day of hard riding to reach the pass between those two mountains. Two more to reach Fairwinds Province and Castle Warrington.”
Fleet said, “How do you know where the dragon is?”
“I don’t know for sure. But twice I’ve had mental images similar to the drawings Henry made.” He then made a mental note of how long it had taken for the dragon to fly to the pass. He doubled that time for an indication of when it might be approaching the castle.
“Maybe your imagination?” Fleet asked, without and sense of criticism in his tone.
“I thought so too, but that was the reason for asking about those two mountains. The sketch shows them looking the same, but when I asked because the mental picture the dragon sent to me showed one larger and the tip flat, Henry confirmed it.” Raymer peeked through slits and found Fleet standing, a wide grin on his face.
Fleet said, “The dragon is really doing what you tell it?”
“We’ll find out, I guess.”
“Do you think that someday I can bond with a dragon?” Fleet asked.
“Your father said it’s rare. In fact, I still find it hard to believe.” Raymer explained, closing his eyes again and trying to learn how to best contact the mind of the dragon.
Ander, who had been quiet for some time said, “I think I understand why people hate and fear the Dragon Clan. It’s not always because they think you’re going to send dragons to kill them.”
Fleet said, his voice sharp and demanding. “Tell me. That’s one thing I have never understood. We do no harm to people. We just want to live in peace.”
“Slow down, son,” Ander said. “I was talking to Raymer, but I guess it also includes you, but this is simply an observation. While the two of you discuss bonding and communicating with dragons that are far off, I can only watch and wish.”
A quiet filled the room. Raymer tried thinking with the front of his mind, the part right above his eyes. It didn’t seem to work. He tried speaking words under his breath. That seemed to have an effect. He received another image of the river, not the same he had seen earlier.
Fleet said to Ander, “If you could fly and I could not, I suppose I would be upset and maybe jealous.”
Ander chuckled. “That’s about the best explanation I have ever heard. Imagine that my people can fly. You can never fly and never experience it, and you have no idea of how we do it. We hide in the forests and mountains and keep to ourselves, but others tell tales about where we fly to and what we do. You think we have other powers we don’t talk about.”
“I’m beginning to believe you are a very smart man,” Fleet said.
“This was all your idea.” Ander reminded him.
Fleet shrugged off the compliment. “But I believe people fear us because they don’t know us or what we can do. That generates fear. Perhaps my people should educate others. Then the problems will be solved.”
Ander said, “Then we’ll never agree. I think people are scared of the unknown, and you are the unknown. You can talk all you want, but the average person is still going to distrust and hate you.”
“Hate?” Fleet asked.
“Because you are somehow superior, and yes, hate is the word I’d use.” Ander sat and turned his head as if to end the conversation.”
Raymer mumbled to the dragon in what he hoped sounded like a reassuring tone. He wanted to know if it had veered off course. An image appeared in his mind, fuzzy and indistinct as if looking across a fog-shrouded lake and trying to determine the details on the far side. However, what he could discern was a river and trees on both banks.
He relaxed. Fleet went for a mug of cold water, some cheese, and bread. Raymer didn’t dare move from the bed or allow his attention to wander. He ate and quenched his thirst without speaking, and the other three in the room remained silent.
A glance to his side reassured him the last drawing was waiting. He only had to wait and make sure that when the dragon drew close, it knew to attack. That was the critical part of the plan.
Arriving at the castle under the direction of Raymer was only the beginning. It seemed the easy part. How was he going to make the dragon attack and make the Fairwinds Provence army mass to protect the castle?
Even more to the point, Raymer didn’t want to kill or injure the wrong people, or any people for that matter. He checked the ground below the dragon one more time. It still followed.
Raymer felt Ander place his hand on his shoulder and say, “You can do this.”
“If the dragon was attacking King Ember’s Summer Palace would you feel the same?”
“If I knew what I do, the answer is yes.”
Fleet asked, “Can you see in your mind what the dragon does?”
“No. Sometimes I get ‘impressions’ or just feelings.”
“If you get feelings, will you have to get angry at the castle so the dragon attacks?” Fleet asked.
Raymer opened his left eye long enough to wink at Fleet. Yes, that was how to make the dragon attack. Raymer had to convince the dragon he was either scared, in danger, or angry.
The suggestion from the boy arrived just in time because as he touched minds again, the dragon screamed and flew faster. The west wall of Castle Warrington lined a gray cliff. Bright Flags and streaming banners waved in the breeze. The image in Raymer’s mind was no longer dull, indistinct, or unclear.
It had turned as clear as his own vision. He was looking through the eyes of the dragon.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The dragon relayed its anger by announcing its presence with another screech that must have alerted the tower guards. Uniformed men ran or shouted. Others appeared, many holding weapons. As the dragon swept low over the west wall, the streets and squares of the castle were locations of chaos. The entire castle had erupted like an ant pile kicked by a child.
The dragon reared its head back and prepared to spit at the running figures.
Raymer shouted out loud, “No!”
He must also have ‘shouted’ in his mind. Confused, the dragon flew higher and passed completely over the castle without killing anyone. Farms and fields spread below, but even there he saw men running for shelter from the beast overhead. The dragon screamed again, a long piercing sound that drew the attention of all.
The river. Fly back to the river. Raymer fought to regain some control of the situation. He wanted to attack the castle and draw in the army, but he didn’t want to kill innocent people. The dragon ignored his first requests, but as they turned to demands, he started a high, wide turn. Raymer complimented the dragon for it, trying to calm it.
The dragon flew to the river, and Raymer managed to get it flying in the direction of the castle again. The west wall was almost an extension of the cliff. Bare walls rose, and there were few windows. He told the dragon, Attac
k the wall. Spit at it.
The dragon unleashed, flew at the wall and Raymer heard five of the hollow pock noises dragons made when they spit. Black splattered on the tan colored walls, but nothing happened other than a hazy smoke drifting upwards. It would leave a stain, but that was all. The dragon flew past the rampart again, and fewer people were in sight. Those few he saw were either hiding and peeking from cover or attempting to hide.
Raymer watched through the eyes of the dragon as if he watched through his own. He didn’t take the time to think about how odd it was, or a hundred other questions. Instead, he watched for an open flame, one without people too near. One touch to the dragon spit, and it’d turn into a ball of fire.
He couldn’t find a flame that fit his needs, a place where nobody would get hurt. However, since a dragon had pushed in the wall of the dungeon, he searched where a wall might be weak. Against one inside wall surrounding the castle, Raymer saw it rise three stories high. A wall that high was probably weaker than others.
There. He pointed the dragon at the inside of the wall and to his surprise felt no hesitation. The dragon turned and flew where he looked. Only a few people were on the rampart near there, and they fled in panic as the dragon dropped from the sky.
Raymer felt it land with a solid thud. Without pausing, the dragon threw itself against the stone wall, chest first. The wall shook, and a few massive blocks toppled. The dragon rammed it again, and an entire section of wall collapsed. A torch lay in the rubble, the flame flickering then catching fire to a piece of nearby wood that may have been the leg of a chair.
At the same time, a pain sharp and fierce struck. Raymer wailed as the dragon wailed. The dragon spun, finding a spear sticking out of a leg. The thrower of the spear was a frightened soldier only ten paces away, with nowhere to go. He was trapped in a corner.
The dragon drew its head back, ready to snap him in half with a mouthful of jagged teeth. The man stood no chance. But instead of cowering, he attacked by charging the dragon with his fists. He was frightened, but brave.
Do not spit on him or bite him. Raymer glanced beyond the soldier and saw others wielding spears heading in their direction. Fly away. Go now.
The dragon took a few steps at the weaponless soldier and leaped over his head, wings flapping. Raymer looked at the torch and told the dragon, Spit at that.
The dragon turned its head and emitted one pock sound. A flash of black entered, and vanished from his vision in an instant. The torch ignited in an orange ball of flame.
Raymer found himself sitting up in bed, the men in the room asking a dozen questions at once. Ander held onto his upper arm and shaking him.
“You screamed,” Fleet said.
Ander looked scared. “What’s happening?”
Raymer shouted, “We’re attacking the castle. Let me lay down and leave me alone. I’m fine.”
Raymer touched the dragon’s mind again. He saw that the dragon had in a very short time, flown away from the castle, across the river, where there were fields of corn and grain. A small farm lay directly below, a cabin with smoke rising from a chimney.
Fly low over that house. Scream when we get close.
The dragon spun, losing altitude in the process and flying right at the farmhouse. It screeched, and a man and woman appeared in the doorway. They ran back inside. Raymer cursed himself for what he was about to do. Fly low and rip off the roof.
The dragon made another pass, colliding with the roof so hard part of the house collapsed. A man and woman emerged screaming in terror, racing for the shelter of the barn. When they were clear, Raymer ordered Spit on it. Spit on the house.
The house ignited and balls of flames erupted, the rising dark and evil smoke. Raymer felt regret but locked his mind on attracting the army to massacre he wanted to prevent. He also promised to repay the farmer for the house. It would be taken care of as soon as he met with Quint.
Fly back to the castle. Raymer waited for the dragon to turn. The spears were a threat when the dragon was on the ground, and arrows when it flew too low. His next attack needed to protect the dragon more than he had.
His mind flashed red. Pain shot through Raymer so hard he felt dizzy. He realized it was not his pain, but the dragon’s. He’d forgotten about the spear. The dragon turned its head and looked at its front shoulder where the haft of a spear hung.
Land anywhere it looks safe, Raymer ordered. The dragon immediately slowed and circled a pasture containing a dozen cows and a few horses. The animals fled to the far reaches near the fence and watched with terrified eyes.
The dragon landed on all four feet. However, the front left nearly collapsed in pain. The dragon reached down with an angry snap and found the spear. The dragon grabbed it with its teeth and yanked the spear free, then screamed in pain, again. Blood ran freely, but already the wound felt better. The dragon twisted its head, and a long tongue flicked out and licked.
Look around. Make sure we’re alone.
The dragon lifted its head and carefully examined the area beyond the pasture. All looked well. The dragon went back to licking its wound.
Raymer released the mental grip on the dragon and looked through his own eyes. He saw the ceiling of the room at the inn. The old man Henry, Ander, and Fleet were all standing beside the bed, a worried expression on their faces. He smiled.
“The dragon took a spear in the leg, but it’ll be fine. We attacked the castle and drew attention. We started one fire there and then we burned a small house down between the castle and King Ember’s men. I have to go back, soon.”
Fleet said, “Have you done enough damage to draw the entire army to the castle?”
“No. The only thing I can think of is to keep attacking and hope that the army responds.”
“The dragon attack will only need the palace forces to defend against you. It will not draw in the army, will it?” Fleet asked. “You may have to kill and hurt many people to draw the armies in from their assignments.”
Ander said, “You once told me that word travels the backroads faster than we could move so we had to stay hidden. What if you locate the invading army and begin attacking it? Won’t people between the army and castle flee to the castle for protection?”
Raymer sat up and touched Ander’s arm. “That’s it!”
“Drink this,” the old man placed a mug of ale in his hands.
Once the mug was empty, Raymer closed his eyes and laid back down. The mental touch of the dragon came easier each time. He found the creature still cleaning the wound, but in good spirits—as much as he could determine for a dragon.
The flight had been long, and the dragon was hungry. Cows stood in frozen fear in the far corner of the pasture. Take one, Raymer ordered.
The barn and farmhouse further away had not shown any sign of people, although they were probably huddled inside. It would be another debt Quint would have to pay.
The dragon became alert at his suggestion. It spotted one closer than the others. The cow stood at twenty steps away, by the way, Raymer measured distance. He expected the dragon to ease closer and spring.
It did not. Raymer felt the dragon muscles tense. The dragon shot across the pasture to the cow in a single movement, its head far out in front of its body on the long neck, teeth slashing. The cow was down.
Raymer pulled himself away from the sickening tearing of the first bite.
He opened his eyes at the inn. “The dragon is eating a cow. Quint will have to repay people for the damage we’re doing to innocent bystanders.”
Ander said, “I do not believe that will be a problem. His father, the Earl, will not only pay the costs, but I’m sure he will reward you as well. If the situation were reversed, my father would gladly do those things.”
“When I reach the mind of the dragon again we are going to search for King Ember’s army. Any ideas?”
Of all people, it was Henry who nodded. “I used to be in the army long ago, but things don’t change much, I’m thinking. Ander told me how
they’re sneaking up on the castle and taking prisoners, all spread out to remain hidden. That works well to a point, but there’s a place where they have agreed to meet. A place and a time.”
“I don’t understand,” Raymer said.
“They‘re all spread out, man. If they attack without massing and timing, the attack will take place over two or three days, with small groups fighting as they arrive on the scene. No coordination. The Earl’s Palace forces will easily turn them back.”
Raymer said, “You think they will meet somewhere, join into one large army, and then attack?”
“The officers know the place. It has to be recognizable for them to see from a distance, and yet be close to the castle. And water. It has to have water for the men. They can only carry so much, and it’s probably gone by now.” Henry abruptly stopped talking, as if he realized he’d said too much when he was not part of the group. He was only an old man who had been drinking ale in the same inn.
Ander put an arm around his shoulder and winked at Raymer. “That's what you needed?”
“Quint has another debt to repay,” Raymer said while looking at a beaming Henry. “I have a landmark to look for.”
“I’ve been thinking about that, son. I’ve been to Castle Warrington a dozen times. Look for a needle. A needle of rock standing near as high as the castle walls. It can be seen from far off. Find it along a smaller river to the east of the castle. There're trees filling the narrow valley that’ll help hide the men. That’s where you’ll find them unless I’m way off my thinking, which I may be.”
Raymer touched minds again. The dragon had finished most of the cow and picked a few strips of muscle from a bone. Other bones, part of the skin, and blood lay at the dragon’s feet. But the dragon felt full and the wound on the leg no longer hurt.
We fly now, Raymer said.
With a shock, he realized his choice of words. He’d said, we. Not you. We.
