"Here." Marrkit threw the branch at Gunther. "Drive it yerself." He returned to his drink.
Gunther dropped Renick's foot. Renick waited until he could hear the thump, thump, thump of Gunther driving the piece of wood into the ground. Not really caring where he was headed, Renick started crawling again. He had not made it very far before a hard boot on his back pressed him to the ground.
"And where do ya think ya're goin'?" Gunther's voice asked.
Renick rolled on to his back, knocking Gunther off balance. With all the strength he could muster, Renick drove his feet toward the man's face. He heard a crunch and Gunther wailed in pain. Renick laughed. The hunter sounded like a little girl.
"What's your problem?" Horrin asked as he approached.
"Da liddle brat brod my dose," Gunther complained.
"Git!" Horrin said. "I'll handle the boy."
Gunther's footsteps shuffled away.
Renick was pulled to his feet and brought face–to–face with Horrin.
The cavity where his second eye should be commanded all of Renick's attention. After a moment, he blinked and refocused. Renick spat in Horrin's good eye. The hunter recoiled and punched Renick in the gut. As he doubled over, Renick caught a glimpse of a small tattoo in the hollow of Horrin's neck. "The seeker's mark?" Renick recognized it from a book his father had shown him once.
Horrin grabbed the hair at the base of Renick's neck and yanked him forward. "I'll say this once. I've been kind thus far. If you dare to defy me again, I'll slit your throat. You're trying to play me for a fool. I know who you are, son of a dragon breeder. I'll not let you thwart me. I'll find and slaughter that dragon, and you'll help me," he promised.
"I'll die first!" Renick said.
"Oh, I'm counting on it."
Chapter 13: Brave to the Rescue
Thane wrapped his arm around the tree branch and leaned forward to get a better view. He watched as the figures of the hunters milled about. As he marked each man's movements, Thane calculated his chances against each one. He could probably take any one of them, but that was it—just one. Stealth was his only option. Thane returned to studying the way station. In the center of the camp, near the fire pit, Renick sat tied to a stake. The boy's head was hanging low. Every once in a while, it would bob up and down or sway back and forth. Renick must be drifting in and out of consciousness. They were not too late.
With a few quick movements, Thane was back on the ground.
"Well?" Lainey asked, her gray eyes searching through the dim light.
"It'll be difficult. The place is crawling with hunters."
"How's Renick doing?"
Thane shook his head. "Not good."
Lainey rolled her hand to ask for more information, an exasperated look on her face.
"He's not fully awake—beyond that, I don't know."
Lainey bit her lip and bounced a little bit. "Okay, I can work with that." She started digging in her healer's pouch, mumbling to herself.
"Help?" the little lizard hissed.
"No, Plyth, you're too small to help. You wait here with me," Lainey told it.
"Help," the dragon insisted. It ran over to Thane and pressed its warm snout against his leg. The baby dragon let out a little puff of air; its heat penetrated Thane's boots and warmed his skin. The world around Thane tilted and the edges of his vision blurred. He had to brace himself against the ground with one hand. When the sensation passed, Thane looked up. Everything seemed to be slightly out of focus and a dull buzz echoed in the back of his head. A quick shake cleared his vision, but the buzz remained.
"Shoo," Thane said and kicked his leg. The little lizard hobbled over to Lainey. Taking a deep breath, Thane crouched down and took a step into the darkness.
He approached the barrier around the way station slowly, taking one careful step at a time. Staying low to the ground, Thane crept to the gap in the thorny wall and peeked around it. A lone man sat the first watch. The watchman's eyes scanned the night, ever alert. The fire had burned down and the camp was shrouded in darkness.
Thane felt around in the dirt until he found a rock the size of his fist. Pulling back his arm, he lobbed the rock over the wall of bushes to the far side of the way station. When the hunter's head turned, Thane started moving. He circled around the camp to approach from the watchman's rear. His eyes stayed fixed on the hunter as Thane made his way closer to Renick.
A sleeping man at Thane's feet coughed, and the watchman spun around to look in his direction. Despite his years of training, Thane froze. His mind told him to reach for his sword, to stand and face the enemy bravely. But something held him fast. The watchman's eyes scanned over the spot where Thane crouched. Thane could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. After seven painfully shallow breaths, the watchman turned away.
Thane had to cover his mouth to keep from vocalizing his astonishment. The watchman had looked right at him, he was sure of it. Thane saw the firelight reflecting off the metal on his sword belt and sheath. Though not as polished as usual, it still glowed yellow against the dark night. If nothing else, that should have given him away.
He took a deep breath and absently rubbed at his leg, which felt unusually hot. What was it Grahm was always saying? Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Taking advantage of his mysterious invisibility, Thane crossed to the center of the camp and knelt beside Renick.
Thane tapped the younger boy's shoulder. Renick groaned and tossed his head a little.
Thane whispered in his ear, "It's me, Thane."
Renick shifted and pulled his head up. Weary, bloodshot eyes looked up from beneath straggly brown hair. "Thane?" he wheezed.
Placing a finger at his lips, Thane reached down and deftly pulled the knife from his boot. He used it to slice through Renick's bonds, then moved his head toward the man on watch. Renick turned his head and nodded in understanding.
"Can you stand?" Thane asked.
Renick shook his head. Thane took hold of Renick's arm and pulled it over his shoulders, wrapping his free hand around Renick's thigh. With the injured boy laying across his back, he pushed himself into a standing position. The extra weight threw him off balance and he took an involuntary step backwards. The heel of Thane's boot collided with a pot that had been resting by the fire, and it clattered softly.
The slight sound was enough. Once again, the watchman turned to look in their direction. Thane felt the breath catch in his chest, and then, with a rush, it came out. Every inch of his body tingled; his hand ached for his sword. Thane closed his eyes and stood as still as he could. To keep himself focused and to mark the passage of time, he counted silently to himself. It was a trick Grahm had taught him on a hunting trip. The idea was to keep your mind occupied without distracting it from the vigil. He reached one hundred and forty–two before the hunter spoke.
"Darn rats," the watchman grumbled. He stood and headed for the storage shed.
Thane plunged forward, moving as quickly as he dared. He had reached the gap in the thorn–laden bushes when the man appeared again, chewing on a bit of dried something. Thane swung himself through the bushes and around the barrier. He dropped to his knees, his shoulders and back aching from supporting Renick's limp form.
When he did not hear any commotion from the way station, Thane stood again and crossed quickly to the stand of trees where Lainey was waiting. She sat with her eyes fixed on the line of tall bushes. Thane laid Renick down as gently as he could. Renick groaned in protest all the same.
Lainey turned to face them and jumped a little as if she had been startled. She opened her delicate mouth to speak, but closed it again when her eyes fell on Renick. Her hands snapped into action. With one, she placed a handful of crushed leaves into Renick's partially open mouth. The other hand pressed a waterskin to Renick's lips.
"Drink," she commanded. Renick took three eager gulps before Lainey withdrew the waterskin.
Renick sat up, looking more awake and alert. "Thanks," he said in a hoarse whisper.
"Get ready to run," Thane warned, reaching down and scooping up the dragon. "And you be quiet!"
Lainey helped Renick get up and they all crouched low next to the bushes.
"Oy, what's this?" the watchman exclaimed.
Thane took off running. Renick, supported by Lainey, followed next to him. Shouts echoed in the night as the hunters in the camp awoke to the watchman's alarm. "He's gone! The runt's gone!"
They had only a slight head start. They would need to find a place to hide quickly. Thane led them toward the mountain peaks that loomed ahead. Thane kept them on course with glimpses of the snowy peaks through the loose canopy. The ground beneath his feet began to slope upwards as they approached the foothills. The baby dragon squirmed a little in his grasp. Thane almost lost his hold, and after that, the dragon lay quietly in his arms. But Thane could still feel the dragon's heart racing, pulsing rapidly against his hand.
As the mountains drew nearer, the trees started to thin and the ground became more rocky. Thane's energy was waning and a quick look told him that Renick and Lainey were falling behind. He scanned the area, looking for a place to hide. Thane thought he saw the image of a cave, but it did not match the terrain around him. He blinked and the image vanished. It would have made the perfect hiding place.
The dragon started wriggling in his hands again, pulling to the right. Thane looked in that direction, and through the widening gaps in the trees, he saw a cave. When he changed directions to head for the dark opening the baby dragon leapt from his hold and bounded forward. Thane hurried to catch up, it did not take long. The dragon was sniffing around at the cave's mouth. Thane slowed to a walk and approached the dragon. It looked up at him and made a sound like a bark.
Renick and Lainey skidded to a halt next to Thane. The dragon barked again, then turned and wandered into the cave.
"Go ahead," Thane said. He motioned to Renick and Lainey that they should follow. "I want to hide our tracks." The other two nodded and disappeared into the dark opening.
Thane moved around the area, rubbing out any signs of their passage. He took the time to lay a false trail leading deeper into the mountains. Carefully he backtracked and joined the others in the cave.
Renick had devised a makeshift torch. He, Lainey, and the dragon stood in the small circle of light it afforded.
"We have to go deeper," Thane told them. "As far back as we can."
Lainey cast a worried glance into the darkness. "I'm afraid," she whispered.
Thane laid a hand on her shoulder, and Renick moved to hold her opposite hand. "It'll be okay. We'll keep you safe."
Together they descended into the darkness.
Chapter 14: The Dark
Renick winced as Lainey pulled his shirt over his head. She gasped and her fingers fell on her lips.
"Oh, Renick."
He shrugged. "It's not so bad." His face betrayed him as he cringed at the pain.
"Where does it hurt … the worst?" Lainey asked.
At first he did not know how to respond—every inch of his body hurt. He rolled his shoulders, and a throbbing pain replied. "My shoulder," he answered.
"Being tied up probably aggravated it." She moved to kneel behind him. Her cold hands kneaded his sore shoulder and after a while, the muscles relaxed. "Better?"
Renick nodded.
"Now to see to the rest of you," she said. Starting from the back and working her way across his torso, Lainey cleaned and applied a thick goo to each cut and scrape. Next, she smeared a dark foul–smelling paste on his bruises. When she was done, Renick felt almost normal again.
"Thanks," he said with a tired sigh.
"Here," Lainey said, handing him a waterskin. "Drink as much as you can, and then you need to rest."
After taking a long drink, Renick settled down next to the fire. He looked across at Lainey; her golden hair glowed softly in the firelight. Her eyes watched the flames, her hands gently petting Plyth, who slept curled up in her lap. Now that she was done fussing over him, Lainey had fallen unusually quiet.
Renick knew he should probably say something. He searched for the right words and at last settled on "It's cold."
She looked up at him and tried to smile. The corners of her mouth twitched a little bit.
"And dark," Renick said.
Lainey closed her eyes. "I know." She started mumbling to herself. Renick thought it sounded like she was saying, "I'm safe. There is air and a way out. I'm safe." Her face looked pale and drawn.
Renick moved around the fire to sit next to Lainey and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. It was how he used to comfort his little sisters when storms raged at night. "Thane'll be back from scouting soon," he told her.
The echo of movement filled the dark air. Renick sat up, drawing his knife. "Who goes there?"
"It's just me." Thane emerged into the small circle of firelight, his hands raised in surrender.
Renick relaxed. Thane held out a bird to Lainey. "I brought you a present—a fine pheasant for a fine lady." Her eyes did not move from the fire. Thane looked over at Renick, who offered to take the bird.
"I'll cook it up for us." They sat in silence while Renick prepared and cooked the bird. Thane carved the bird and handed out strips of the warm meat. Renick fed Plyth, who wiggled happily in Lainey's lap, with a few raw pieces he had saved.
"Can we leave now?" Lainey asked when their meal was done. The pleading in her voice made it tremble.
Thane shook his head. "They're still looking for us. With the way they're circling through the foothills, I can't see a way for us to get out. I'm not sure how long they'll keep it up. It could be days."
Lainey shook her head. "I can't stay here that long."
Renick put his arm around her again.
"It's all right," Thane said. "We'll keep looking. We'll find a way."
"Home." Plyth yawned and stretched out on Lainey's lap.
"Yes, Plyth, we're trying to get home," Lainey said. She gently stroked the ridges on the baby dragon's neck.
Plyth jerked his head back and forth. "Plyth home."
"Where?" Lainey asked as she gazed down at Plyth.
"High rocks," Plyth answered.
"I think he means the mountains," Lainey said. "I think Plyth lives there."
"Poor little guy," Renick said. He reached down and scratched behind Plyth's ear. "He's homesick."
"Home safe," Plyth said.
Thane snorted. "What're we going to do in a dragon's nest? It's probably empty anyway."
Lainey gasped and covered Plyth's ears with her hands. "Thane! What a terrible thing to say. Show some compassion."
It was hard to tell in the dim light, but Renick thought Thane's cheeks might have colored a little. Thane hung his head and grumbled an apology.
"Well, don't you think a mother dragon would choose a safe place to lay her eggs? She would at least find a hidden place to build her nest. You know, somewhere not easy for the hunters to find," Lainey said.
Renick wondered if her insistence that Plyth's home would be safe was in earnest, or if she was that desperate to get out of the cave. Renick turned to Thane. "I don't know. Would we even be able to get into the mountains?"
Thane shrugged. "Possibly. The hunters seem to be focusing on the foothills and the forest around them."
"Maybe they don't expect us to head for the mountains," Lainey offered.
Thane pressed his lips together. "More likely they're laying a trap for us."
Lainey's shoulders sank. "Really?"
In his mind, Renick saw the image of a large white dragon with blue eyes. He had an impression that she was an old dragon and somehow related to Plyth. His mother's mother, maybe?
"Your grandmother?" Lainey asked. She must have felt the same communication from Plyth.
Plyth wiggled his head. "Granmoder."
"I think Plyth is trying to tell us that his grandmother can help us," Lainey
said hopefully.
"It's too dangerous," Thane said.
"What if we go at night?" Lainey pleaded. "Under the cover of darkness and all that." She waved her hand in annoyance.
Thane's brow creased. "I know you're scared, Lainey. But being stuck in this cave is better than being caught by those hunters. Just ask Renick."
Lainey gave Renick a doubtful look. "Renick, what do you think?" Her eyes spoke of fear and hope.
Renick turned to Thane, whose expression was unreadable.
"Home. Near," Plyth urged.
Renick crossed his arms over his chest and considered the two options. The cave was safe for now. The hunters had not ventured into it and the deep darkness would hinder them even if they did. However, Renick and his friends could not stay there forever. The thought of having a full–grown dragon for protection also appealed to him. He wished Thane would make the decision instead of leaving it to him, but one glance confirmed that Thane was waiting for his response. Renick decided it came down to one thing—how long they could stay in the cave.
"How much food do we have?" Renick asked.
Thane closed his eyes. "Not much. But we can hunt for more."
"Any time we leave the cave, we're putting ourselves at risk. We either stay or go." Lainey's breath caught at the end. Renick saw tears sparkling in her eyes.
"All right, then. We leave. Tonight when it's dark, we'll go find Plyth's grandmother," Renick said.
Plyth ran around in a quick little circle and then jumped into Renick's lap. Lainey clapped her hands and laughed.
Thane's eyebrows and nose scrunched together, but he nodded. "Tonight," he said.
"We're taking you home." Lainey reached out and patted the baby dragon.
Chapter 15: The Climb
Renick scanned the blackness of night; his ears strained for any abnormal sound. Off to his left, some wildlife moved through the bush. Holding his breath, he listened even more intently; his ears ached in the silence. After his breath ran out, Renick started breathing quietly, resisting the urge to suck in big gulps of air.
Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 Page 7
