Rodar opened the door. He held a shirt in his hand. “Soren,” he said, his tone dismissive. He turned and shoved the shirt in a bag on his bed. “What do you want?”
“Still going?”
“Yes.”
Soren entered the room. He rubbed the palms of hands on his pants as he paced. “I owe you an apology, Rodar.” He stopped, swinging around to look at the man. “I’m sorry I blamed you for tampering with Dex’s harness.”
Rodar stared at him. Soren fought the urge to fidget as he held the man’s gaze. Finally, Rodar nodded. He indicated Soren should sit. The older man joined him on the edge of the bed.
“This happened before?”
Soren told him about the time in Ballinger and what Vaughn said about the differences in the two attempts. He voiced his speculation about his father. Rodar rose, and paced the length of the room.
“Your father? I can’t…” He shook his head. “I don’t know him well at all, but I can’t imagine Joran doing that.”
“You didn’t see him yesterday. He was angry. I have only seen him that angry once before.”
“And the incident in Ballinger?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t know yet I was a dragon rider, so it couldn’t have been him. It would have to have been someone else. All I can say is after two attempts, I will be keeping the harness locked up.” He rose. “I am sorry for thinking it was you.”
“You don’t know me, Soren. I wish it was different. I meant what I said, I owe it to your mother to keep you safe.” He pulled something from the bag on the bed. “Here.”
It was a leather-bound book. Soren opened it, flipping through the pages. There were sketches of dragons, a harness, views that could only be drawn by someone who had seen them from the back of a dragon. And there were notes written in ink by each. His grandfather’s journal.
“How?”
Rodar smiled. “Let’s just say I found it.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Soren sat astride Dex as he adjusted the harness. Even though he knew it was fine as the harness had been on Dex ever since Vaughn repaired it, he ran his hands over the leather and tested the fastener. It held strong. He double checked that his pack was attached properly.
“Hey, Soren,” Bevin called.
He turned, catching the bag the man tossed to him. He quickly secured it to the harness. He slid to the ground to find Bevin staring at the leather straps.
“Is it safe?” He reached out and fingered the leather.
“You heard?”
“Yes. I ran into Rodar. He told me what happened. That explains your attitude earlier.”
“It’s been inspected…multiple times, including right now. We are good to go.”
“And it appears Emery and Rodar are too.”
Soren saw they were already on Agnot. He gestured to Bevin, allowing the man to climb onto Dex’s back first.
“You know where to go, Dex?”
“We have been over this. Yes, both Agnot and I know where we are going.”
Soren sighed. “I wish I understood how you can know where to Blink to when you have never been to either city.”
Of course, the term city was a far cry from where they were headed. Halo was a small village of a hundred people. It sat about a league from the Ayden Sea off the Western coast of Sholar. It was the closest village to where Cane believed Drachen’s fortress had been built. And the wizard couldn’t even guarantee the building still stood after all these years. Hopefully someone there knew more.
“Try not to think about it.” Dex leapt into the air, followed by Agnot.
“But…”
“Soren, I can’t explain it but trust me. I will get us to Halo.”
Soren watched as Agnot Blinked. Without warning, Dex followed. The blackness surrounded them. It pushed at him. He tightened his grip on the leather strap. He kept expecting to see the blue sky but all that surrounded him was darkness. His stomach tightened. He called to Dex. Nothing. No response. A feeling of dread filled him. It was taking too long. Could they be lost in the void?
The blue sky returned and with it the bright sun. Soren blinked. The air felt heavy and smelled of the sea. Below he could see the brown ribbon of a road meandering through the green grass. Dex flew lower, following the road toward what Soren assumed was Halo.
“Your color is faded more than normal.”
“It was a longer jump. I should have warned you.”
“Will it take you longer to recover?”
“Yes. I am exhausted. I will need to hunt later,” Dex said as he circled over the village. “Where do you want me to land?”
“No use scaring the locals. Land on the road outside the village.”
Dex did as he asked. As he climbed down, Soren could feel the dragon’s weariness. His color was more pink than red.
“It is probably best you stay out of sight.” He patted Dex’s side as Bevin dismounted.
Dex didn’t bother to answer as he leapt into the air, flying low. Soren watched until the dragon landed on the other side of the trees.
“Is he okay?”
Soren nodded. “It was a long distance. It took a lot out of him.”
“I hate to admit it,” Bevin said, “but it scared me. The last time wasn’t nearly as long. I feared we wouldn’t come out.”
“I know. I was worried too.”
They walked toward the village. With luck, someone there would know where the fortress was located. There were a few businesses lining the main street, but the doors were closed, and the shutters drawn. A few people hurried down the street. And hurried was the best word Soren could think to describe it. A man looked their way before rushing inside the nearest building and slamming the door behind him. Further along, a mother called to her children, ushering them inside as Soren and Bevin approached. They exchanged glances.
“I think they saw us on Dex,” Soren said.
“Looks like it.” Bevin gestured to the nearest store that didn’t have the door closed.
They entered to find bolts of fabric lining the tables. Here were not the colorful fabrics that one might find in Ballinger. Instead, most of the fabrics appeared to be a sturdier blend in the colors of white, grey, brown and black. Soren ran his fingers across one, figuring the tougher material might be necessary for the coastal environment.
A tall man came out of the back room, jolting when he saw Bevin and Soren. The man ran his hand over his thick beard as his eyes slid to the door as if judging whether he could make it before they could reach him.
“Hey there,” Soren said. “We need directions. We are looking for a fortress rumored to be near here. It belonged to a wizard named Drachen. Have you heard of it?”
The man paled.
“I think he has,” Bevin murmured.
“I’m sorry. I can’t help you.” The man’s eyes darted again to the door.
“You seem awfully nervous,” Bevin said. “Why is that?”
The man swallowed hard. “You came on the dragon. We…we are afraid. We have heard of the happenings across Sholar. We don’t want our village destroyed.”
Soren shook his head. “We aren’t with that army. We are here from Walencroft.” He gestured to the emblem on Bevin’s shirt. “See, he is with the Walencroft guard. We aren’t here to hurt anyone. We only want to find the fortress of Drachen.”
The man shook at the mention of the wizard. “You won’t find help here. No one will be willing to go near his fortress. Now please, leave. Leave this village. We don’t want any trouble.”
Soren opened his mouth to reassure the man. Before he could say anything, Bevin laid his hand on Soren’s shoulder. He gestured with his chin toward the door. Soren considered arguing. Instead, he followed Bevin outside.
“Why you do that? I had more questions.”
Bevin shook his head. “Didn’t you see the fear? We won’t get anything else from him.” He glanced up and down the deserted street. “I am not sure we will learn much here.”
/> Soren noted the drawn shutters on the nearest building. He thought he saw someone peering out, but they pulled away as soon as they saw him looking. He and Bevin walked down to the crossroads. He went to the closest door and tried it. Locked. A door further down opened. A man stuck his head out. When he saw them, he quickly closed the door again.
“Wait,” Soren called as he rushed toward the closed door. He turned the handle. Locked. He pounded on the door. “Wait, we have a few questions. We need directions.”
“I don’t think it will do any good,” Bevin said. “They fear us.”
Soren sighed. He noticed a man dressed in dark cloak standing on the street some distance behind Bevin. The man motioned to him.
“Maybe not all of them.”
Bevin turned. “One brave soul.”
They walked down the street as the man entered the nearest building. The wooden sign above it creaked as they approached. The paint was faded, but Soren had no problem making out the word tavern. Inside, the room was dark and smelled of stale ale. A few patrons standing at the bar turned to stare at them. He spotted the cloaked man sitting at a table in the corner. He had pulled back his hood to reveal his thin face. A dark scar ran across one pale cheek. They walked over to him. He appeared older than Soren initial thought.
“Sit,” the man said, his voice thick and deep.
The barkeep, a large man with thinning hair, ambled over with three mugs of ale. He placed them on the table. With a quick glance at the seated man, he hurried away. Soren and Bevin exchanged glances as they sat.
Soren eyed the mug in front of him. His hand itched to take it. He could almost taste the warm liquid. His hand shook as he reached for it. Before he could pick it up, Bevin grabbed the mug, placing it on the other side of the table. The small man across from them raised his eyebrows as he took a gulp from his own mug.
“You shall not find anyone to assist you,” he said, his words heavy with an accent Soren didn't recognize. “They fear your dragon.”
“And you don’t.” Soren eyed the man’s mug, longing to reach past Bevin for his own mug and a taste of the ale.
The man’s eyes traveled from Soren to Bevin, lingering on the insignia on Bevin’s cloak. “You will not destroy our village. If it was your plan, the village would lay in ruin even as I speak. Besides, he is with the Walencroft guard. They are not who attacked the other cities in Sholar.” He paused to sip his ale. “I see by your expression you wonder at my words. We may be isolated, but we do get travelers as they journey to the sea. We know what has befallen the rest of Sholar, and we worry. The people will not rest until you leave.”
“We are looking for Drachen’s fortress,” Soren said. The man flinched at the ancient wizard’s name. “You have heard of it?”
“Of course, course I have. Everyone here has. It is to the north, through the Balen forest. Many other adventures have sought it. But know this, no one, not a soul, who seeks it returns.” The man leaned back in his chair. “I can assist you. I can take you close to it. What you do after that is on you.”
Bevin sat down his mug. “And why would do that?”
“To rid the village of you and the dragon. No one will rest until you take your leave.”
Bevin shook his head. “And you would do this for the people after telling us no one comes back from the fortress?”
The man smiled. “Who said I was doing this for free? Plus I’m no simpleton; I will not enter. I will get you close as I promised, but I will not venture too close. If we are to travel together, I should introduce myself. Ivar Murray.”
Soren eyed the man’s shabby clothes as Bevin gave him their names. “How much do you want?” he asked.
“First pay for our drinks,” the man said, picking up the Soren’s mug and guzzling it. “Then we shall discuss it. You must realize it is at least a five-day journey. My time is valuable.”
“It may be five days walking, but we won’t be traveling that way.” Soren smiled as the man paled.
***
The next morning, Soren, Bevin and Dex waited outside the village. Dex had slept most of yesterday, waking only to hunt in the evening. His color was still washed out but not nearly as pale as before. Soren could feel the dragon’s exhaustion even as Dex claimed to be fine. The last jump obviously took a lot out of him. It was something to consider when they arrived back in Camden. If they arrived too close to the battle, Dex would be too weak to participate or Blink during the battle if he need be. Soren shook his head. He still couldn’t believe he was involved in this. He had no place in the upcoming battle. He wasn’t even sure he belonged here on this latest mission. What did he know of magic boxes?
He pushed those thoughts away as he glanced at the rising sun. Where was Ivar? Bevin had been against paying the man half his fee in advance, but Ivar insisted. Soren feared upsetting the man as he was the only one they had met willing to guide them. Now he wondered if Bevin had been right. Then he saw the short, thin man walking down the road. His skin was incredibly pale, and as he did yesterday, he wore shabby clothes that Soren considered out of style, almost old-fashioned. He had not seen anyone else in the village wearing the same style clothes.
Ivar seemed to slow down with each step. His eyes were not on Soren or Bevin. Instead, he stared at Dex. Ivar stopped a few paces away, shuffling his feet.
“I cannot do this,” he said, his eye darting from Dex to Soren and back. He wrung his hands as he spoke. “The dragon…”
“It’s okay,” Soren said. He had to pay close attention to the man’s words to understand them through his thick accent. “You will be safe on the dragon.” He gestured to the harness, glad he had not undone the rigging for three that he had done when both Bevin and Tevor had traveled with him. “You will sit between us. You’ll be fine.”
“No. The dragon cannot come.” Ivar shook his head. “It is not a good idea. The forest is dense near the fortress. There will not be a place to land.”
“We will have to deal with that when or if it arises.” Soren stepped forward and took Ivar’s bag. “I’ll attach this to Dex, and we can be on our way.”
“I will not know the way,” Ivar said, his words coarse. “There are many landmarks, and the trail splits several times. I will not be able to see them from the air.”
“We can land periodically so you can get your bearings. Trust me. We will make it work. And this will be faster. The faster we are done, the sooner you can get your money.”
Ivar cast a glance at the village behind him. “This is not a good idea.”
“Afraid of heights?” Bevin said, walking over to the man. He put a hand on his shoulder, guiding him toward Dex. “You should have thought about that before you agreed to help us.”
“I thought we would be riding…horses,” Ivar grumbled. “I like horses.”
Soren climbed on Dex’s back and tied Ivar’s bag to the harness. He looked down at the man. “Ivar, this is Dex. Climb up and I’ll attach the safety strap.”
If there was any color left in Ivar’s face, Soren was sure it would have faded. The man slowly reached out with a shaking hand to touch the dragon. He swallowed hard as Dex regarded him. His whole body shaking, he scrambled up to Soren.
“This is not a good idea,” Ivar muttered.
“You’ll be fine,” Soren said as he hooked a safety strap to Ivar.
He connected his own as Bevin climbed up. Once he was settled, Soren told Dex to leave. Ivar gasped as the red dragon leapt into the air. The man’s behavior amused Soren, though he understood where it was coming from. Dex’s sheer size would intimate anyone. And the height still bothered him though it was no way near as bad as before.
“You have been quiet this morning,” Soren said to Dex.
“Sorry, still tired.”
“Is that all?”
Dex didn’t reply.
“Dex?”
“Our guide…I sense something off about him.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact he do
esn’t like you?”
“No.”
Soren stifled a laugh at Dex’s sullen reply. “Ok. What is it?”
“I don’t know. I wish I could give you more. We should keep our eyes on him.”
“And so, we will.”
The rest of the morning dragged on. When they stopped for a noon meal, Soren watched Ivar but didn’t see anything unusual. The man just appeared nervous. He stayed as far away from the dragon as possible as they ate. He once more brought up the suggestion they walk so he could better guide them and grew agitated when Soren refused to consider the idea. Bevin had to drag him to Dex when it was time to go.
That evening it was more of the same. Ivar set out his bedroll as far from Dex as he could. Soren chose to sit close to the man and asked him some questions about Halo and his life. The man twitched as he answered, obviously uncomfortable. His answers were vague. The only time he showed any emotion was when Soren asked him about his family. A look of anguish filled his eyes even as he shook his head, refusing to say anything. He left the man sitting on his bedroll, rocking slightly as he stared at his hands. He was still in the same position when Soren fell asleep.
Hours later, Soren woke up with a start. He lay against Dex trying to decide what woke him. His fingers touched the handle of his dagger as he saw a figure across the way. But it wasn’t moving.
“He watches us.”
Dex’s voice startled him. He took a deep breath to calm his rapidly beating heart. “For how long?”
“It has been about fifteen minutes. I woke to see him standing by Bevin. He glanced our way then returned to where he is now.”
“Do you think he knows you watch him?”
“I don’t know. I do know he fears coming near me. Are you sure we need him?”
“Yes. He was the only one willing to help.”
“So be it. Go back to sleep, Soren. I will watch him.”
“You need your sleep too, Dex. You’re still pale.”
“I am fine. Go to sleep.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Soren woke to find Bevin tending the fire. His eyes immediately searched out Ivar. The man sat in the same spot as he had last night. His bedroll was rolled up, and his pack was beside him. Soren rose and went to relieve his bladder. As he returned to the camp, he stopped by Ivar. The man scrambled to his feet.
Blood Bond Page 18
