“Ikan! I have to speak to Polandra. It’s very important!”
With a tilt of his enormous head, Ikan chirped.
Stoltz set the end of the yoke on the flagstones. If he guessed the dragon’s reaction correctly, Polandra was on her way.
While waiting for her, he went over everything he’d observed or heard about Fala in an effort to glean something about her intentions. There wasn’t very much she’d given away before today. She’d not even mentioned another plan since the trips to those caves started, trips she always made alone. About the only hint of anything was what she’d said earlier.
Fala wanted Kwatoko to go with her instead of Jaci or himself. That could mean a few things. The possibility of an altercation was expected, or heavy physical labor, or both, or perhaps Fala would use the simple man as a distraction while she carried out whatever was actually intended. Something he still had no inkling of.
Stoltz growled in frustration. “Damn that woman!”
“Who? Fala?” Polandra walked from behind Ikan.
He turned to her. “Yes. Today I found the distilling cave cleaned and empty, and when I ran back to the hut, I saw that she now carries the skin with her. She said that she’s going on a long walk in the morning and asked Kwatoko to accompany her. I don’t think she asked him only because Jaci wasn’t there, I think she has some specific use for him. What worries me is that it looks like whatever plan she has will start in the morning.”
“Shit.” Polandra crossed her arms. “And we still have no idea what that plan is.”
Stoltz shook his head. “No, we don’t.”
He explained his thinking about Kwatoko.
Polandra grimaced. “Or she wants him for something we can’t even think of. Was there anything else? Did she do or say anything else out of the ordinary at all?”
“Not really. Although, there was a long coil of rope and a leather harness in the cave that are now gone. Do you suppose those are for Kwatoko’s use?”
“It’s difficult to say with no clue as to what she intends.”
Stoltz grunted.
“I’ll tell the others about this,” Polandra said. “I’d like you to return immediately in case she lied about tomorrow being when she will start.”
He put his hand to his forehead. “Barbs and blades, I never thought of that. What if she sent me for water just to get me away so she and Kwatoko could then leave?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just head back for now. And don’t forget to take water.” She glanced at Ikan and her gaze went flat for a moment. “Ikan will follow you high in the sky. If Fala has already left, you can tell him and he’ll search them out. If she hasn’t, then tomorrow you can trail them and Ikan can do the same from high in the sky.”
That all sounded perfect. But— “If Fala is gone, how do I tell Ikan?”
Just talk to me. I will hear you.
Polandra smiled. “By your expression, I take it he spoke to you.”
He raised a hand to his temple. “H–He talks in my head?” Stoltz turned to Ikan, whose eyes glittered in the afternoon sun. “He sounds so . . . regal.”
Ikan made a stuttering rumble that sounded too much like laughter to be anything else.
Stoltz swallowed and wondered whether he could do it. So, you can hear me?
Of course.
He laughed, almost giggled. “Amazing!”
“Head back to the hut. I’ll let the others know that she’s starting her plan, and I’ll have Ikan update you with anything we think of.” Polandra turned for the archway leading inside.
Right. Ikan’s amazing voice in his head had made him forget about Fala.
Stoltz hurried back to the main concourse, just to the east. There was a large fountain there where he could fill the containers. He’d get looks, might even be approached by guards, but he didn’t want to spend time going elsewhere. He wanted to get back as soon as possible.
The sound of wings made him glance back.
Ikan beat his massive limbs over and over. I will watch from above.
Okay. Stoltz had to shake himself, tear his gaze from the powerful dragon rising into the sky. He continued to the fountain.
Keeping track of Fala and Kwatoko would be much easier with Ikan’s help. Still, what did the woman intend with the poison? And why so much of it?
Chapter 18
Duviday, Diamy 15, 1875.
Predawn.
Someone shook Millinith’s shoulder.
“Just a few minutes more,” she mumbled.
A quiet chuckle sounded familiar. “I could spend hours watching you sleep, but didn’t you want to be in Bataan-Mok for whatever Fala plans?”
Eyes still closed, she smiled. Doronal. He must have shut off the chrono-alarm when it woke him.
After a groan, she blinked open her eyes and yawned. It was much too early. “Yes, I do.”
He leaned down and gave her a not-so-quick peck on the lips. “Get your cute posterior out of bed, then, so you can get ready.”
She tasted cinnamon. Not only had he gotten mostly dressed, he’d also brushed his teeth. Being careful not to face him directly yet—her breath must be horrible—she rose from the bed. “Your butt isn’t half-bad either, you know.”
She stepped onto the floor and stretched.
Doronal raised a brow and watched.
What was it about smallclothes that men liked so much? Whatever the reason, the look in his eyes pleased her. She raised a brow herself and quirked her lips in a half-smile in response.
With a wolfish grin, he said, “You’d best hurry. I am tempted to suggest something that will make you late.”
She chuckled. “As fun as that would surely be, I do want to be in Bataan-Mok.”
He made a disappointed sound and pouted.
She patted his cheek in passing and made her way to the water closet and her toothbrush. A small dab of paste and she got to it. Around an increasing amount of toothpaste foam, she said, “Would you like to go to the desert with me?”
“I’ve got to visit the sett-makers, remember? That’s why I was able to spend the night. Lord Baronel wants to know why production is down.”
She grunted and spit. Staring again at her reflection, she continued brushing.
“Huemac and I could head there after my meeting, if you still need assistance.” He poked his head in the doorway. “When will the ’writer for Bataan-Mok arrive, anyway? Without one, communication with the guild branch is very inefficient.”
“Another two months or so.” She rinsed the brush and her mouth. “The guild didn’t contract for one until we received confirmation that we would be allowed to purchase the Order’s assets.”
As she left the water closet, she gave him a somewhat longer kiss, but kept it shorter than she would have liked. Bataan-Mok time was two hours ahead of them, and the sun would rise there, soon. Whatever nefarious plan that crazy woman had would no doubt begin shortly after.
She opened the gear wardrobe. “Actually, your meeting isn’t for almost two hours, is it? After breakfast here? You could spend some time before the meeting down there with me, if you’d like.”
“That’s a good point. I doubt I’ll be able to fall back asleep and I don’t relish the idea of sitting around doing nothing until then.” He grabbed his riding jacket from the side table and turned for the den passage. “I’ll start getting them saddled.”
As Millinith slipped on her riding gear, she thought on Fala.
Polandra had come to the Guildhall last evening to report that the former umeron was apparently starting on her plan. There were a lot of ideas as to what Fala might intend, but no one knew for certain how she was going to use the poison. And because dragons had to be fairly close to someone in order to do so, neither Mia nor Ikan could have read the woman’s mind without giving away the fact that they knew where she was. Carrying around a skin of Yrdra's Blood wasn’t illegal, so they had to either discern her plans or follow her and try to stop them.
&n
bsp; Millinith took a breath and let it out. Ah, well. She and Doronal were going over there now, and Liara had returned to Bataan-Mok with Polandra last night, so whatever it was that Fala intended, there would be a number people ready to stop her.
Grabbing the last of her riding gear, the gloves, Millinith made for the den.
Itzel stood ready and Doronal was looking over the straps and belts on Huemac’s saddle. He glanced at her with a smile when she walked in before returning to his examination.
Millinith did her own inspection of Itzel’s saddle.
He did well.
I’m sure he did, love, but I’m going to look it over anyway.
All seemed fine. Millinith climbed up and started on the safety straps.
“It occurs to me,” Doronal said, “that we should query Yiska as to what he knows of Fala. Something in her background might lend insight into her intentions. She worked with him prior to the Order’s dissolution, yes?”
“She did, but the poor man’s already been wracking his brains, trying to understand why Fala is doing these things.”
Itzel and Huemac both rumbled and turned toward the northwest.
Millinith drew her brows together. There was no strange, almost tingling sensation that would mean a nahual was near, so— “What is it?”
A lone dragon approaches. We do not know him.
“What?”
“Go ahead.” Doronal yanked on belts and straps, hurrying his inspection. “I’ll follow as soon as I can.”
Let’s go, love. She gripped the handholds.
Itzel barked and padded out to the dark ledge, where she lowered slightly, then sprang into the star-filled sky, wings pounding. Surprisingly for the early hour, two other dragons lifted from another ledge below and followed moments later. Veering a bit west of northwest, Itzel flew for perhaps two minutes before she pulled up, hovering.
A dragon-shaped silhouette, with wings beating, blocked out stars ahead of them.
Y–Your watchers never sleep, it seems, unlike another.
Millinith drew her brows together. What had he meant by that? I am Millinith, leader of the Dragon Craft Guild. Itzel is my bond-mate. To what do we owe the pleasure of your acquaintance?
I–I would speak with Highest Mother Ana—that is, Queen Anaya.
Millinith’s brows rose. Highest Mother? Queen?
She is nearly here.
After a glance down at Itzel, Millinith looked back up at the unknown dragon. He had not approached closer. Anaya is on her way. Shall we wait for her in that grassy clearing to the east?
The dragon hovered a moment, then began a glide down to the lighter area between the dark trees beyond the line of hills.
Itzel and the other dragons who’d come along followed. She landed, and the others set down behind her.
Now that they were closer, Millinith saw that it was Renata and Xochi and Jessip and Zolin. Even though Hemet was nearly full, she couldn’t quite make out their expressions. They did seem . . . expectant. Or maybe that was just her transferring her own feelings onto them.
Another dragon arrived, then, Huemac. He landed to the left. He and Doronal stared at the unknown dragon.
Millinith turned to their visitor and unstrapped. Anaya will be here shortly. In the meantime, I will create some light that we might see each other clearly. Do not be frightened.
She waited a moment then wove the enchantments for four large glows in a ten foot square surrounding them, twenty feet off the ground.
At their appearance, the large dragon twitched and looked up at them. His coloration was nice—a dark, blueish-green, like an agate she’d once found.
Millinith hopped to the ground. We do not get many male dragon visitors.
He looked at her. I–I know. I, we, have been watching.
We? What House are you from? Yaot?
Beating wings interrupted. Anaya and Balam had arrived with their bond-mates. Anaya landed next to Itzel, and Balam set down to Anaya’s right. Aeron hopped off and walked up to place his hand on Anaya’s foreleg. Willem dismounted, but she couldn’t see what he did after, her view blocked as it was by Anaya.
Doronal dismounted then, too, and walked over.
“It seems other dragons also hold Anaya in high regard,” she whispered. “He called Anaya Highest Mother and Queen. This should prove enlightening.”
Doronal nodded. “Indeed.”
The meeting seemed to be more between dragons, so Millinith decided to stay out of it, for the most part, and just listen. She leaned against Itzel. Our visitor doesn’t have any bad intentions, does he?
Not that I can sense. He is nervous, curious, excited, and awed.
It seemed the others had come to the same decision as Millinith. Doronal, Aeron, Willem, Renata, and Jessip all stood silently, watching.
The blue-green dragon eyed them all, wings shifting.
Anaya chirped. I am Anaya. You wished to speak with me?
Q–Queen Anaya! The unknown dragon prostrated himself before her, belly and chin on the ground, wings spread to his sides.
Anaya’s large eyes blinked. You need not bow before me. Please, stand.
I–I cannot. We of the Departed have not the right.
A grunt came from Aeron.
Millinith recalled hearing about the Departed, dragons who, for one reason or another, had either been exiled from their House or had left of their own accord.
I grant you the right, then. Certainly when you are before me. Anaya took a step toward him. You are a dragon, not a slug to crawl upon the ground. Stand.
The dragon looked up at her, briefly. A–As you wish, Queen Anaya. He rose to all fours and furled his wings on his back. His wings twitched slightly now and again and he kept his gaze lowered.
Anaya tilted her head. May I ask your name?
Of course, Queen Anaya, please forgive my oversight. I am called Matlal. If the Departed can be said to have a–a leader, it would be me.
Millinith drew her brows together. Did you know the Departed had a male leader? It seems they are different in many ways.
Itzel turned to her. Leader is perhaps too strong a word. From his thoughts, it seems the Departed look up to him because he is the least nervous of them all.
He’s the least nervous?
Matlal. Anaya’s eyes changed. Her pupils expanded to almost fill the entirety of her eyes. After a moment, she blinked and they were normal again. I remember. It was not right to exile you just because you questioned Queen Ixtab’s reasons for lowering your blood-mother’s rank. Acts that cannot suffer questions and scrutiny are acts that perhaps should not be performed.
Matlal took a step back. H–How . . . how do you know that? He looked Anaya over. You cannot even have been born then.
She is my bond-mate. Aeron stepped forward. When a dragon bonds with a human, memories of their mother and their mother’s mother and beyond are unlocked. That is one of the gifts of the Bond.
The Bond. Matlal stared at Aeron a moment, then turned his gaze on Anaya. We have watched from afar as more and more dragons have come to live with you, Queen Anaya. Dragons both young . . . and old. It made some of us wonder. We approached the few dragons who will yet speak with us while they were out hunting. We asked about you. The answers of those from House Yaot made us watch even more.
Millinith frowned. Being under surveillance bothered her, but not knowing about it bothered her even more.
Anaya chirped. Watch? For what?
Matlal rocked from one paw to the other. There are some Departed who wonder. He stopped rocking and hunched down a bit, staring at the ground. W–Who wonder if it would be p–possible to join your House, Queen Anaya.
Stunned, Millinith glanced from Matlal to Anaya.
To the left, Doronal grunted.
Anaya looked at Aeron, at her, and then looked back at Matlal. I am honored that some wish to live with us. Would it be acceptable if I took some time to think on it?
I–I understand if you think the idea ab
horrent. W–We are the Departed, after all. It is just that some have asked over and over if I thought you would agree to letting us—
Anaya took a step forward. It is not abhorrent. That is not what we need to think about. It is a matter of space and timing and other things of that nature.
O–Of course, Queen Anaya. He stared at the ground a moment, then his head snapped up. Y–You mean you will seriously consider it?
I will. Anaya turned to Millinith. We will.
With a grunt, Millinith nodded. She got the distinct impression that her opinion in the matter wouldn’t hold more weight than Anaya’s. A smile curved her lips. She couldn’t recall off the top of her head if any guilds had co-leaders.
Any dragon who wishes to visit us, Departed or not, is welcome to. Anaya sat on her haunches. There are certain considerations that need to be taken into account, however, so a visitor should first speak to myself, or, she nodded at each dragon in turn, Balam, or Itzel, or Huemac for initial introductions, but we would welcome any dragons who are interested in learning more about us. Those who wish to watch us need not do so while hiding.
She takes the lead effortlessly.
Millinith glanced at Itzel. She does, doesn’t she?
I–I will let the others know, Queen Anaya. Matlal tilted his head. But we are not the only ones who watch.
Brows drawn together, Millinith stepped forward. You mentioned something about ‘another’ and implied they might be asleep. Is another dragon watching us? One not of the Departed?
W–We believe he is from House Yaot. We do not know why he watches, only that he does. We have kept ourselves hidden from him and I only approached you during this part of the night because he is asleep.
“Why would someone from House Yaot be watching us?” Aeron asked.
“And why a male?” Willem’s voice came from beyond Anaya.
“It would seem that mothers with or who will soon have children aren’t the only ones interested in us,” Doronal said.
“Huemac and Ikan were proof of that,” Millinith noted. “Even so, I’d feel more comfortable knowing exactly why he’s watching us.”
Of Gods, Trees, and a Sapling: Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 4 Page 56
