Wrytha laughed. This time Renick not only heard the sound, but the mirth also echoed in his mind. She lowered herself to the ground. It made her seem less intimidating.
"Fear not, little ones, I will not eat you—today." Her eyes smiled down at them. "You helped my grandson?"
Renick nodded. "His wing was broken. Lainey and I set the bone. The bandages will need to be removed eventually."
A wave of gratitude washed over him. "Our young are precious to us. Your deeds have saved you from an awful fate."
She turned and Renick took the opportunity to look at Thane and Lainey again. Lainey mouthed the words, "She can talk." Renick nodded excitedly in response.
Wrytha angled her head around to look at them. Renick could have sworn she had a questioning look on her face. "Come, Renick–Trusted, Lainey–Kind, and Thane–Brave. We must take cover before the hunters find their courage and come after us."
Chapter 17: Dragon's Nest
Renick looked up at Wrytha, who stood at the peak of a sharp incline, waiting for them. Plyth sat next to her, his body shaking as he wagged his tail back and forth. Renick turned his attention back to climbing up to the two dragons.
"They can talk," he said to himself with a shake of his head. His father's favorite story came to mind, the one Renick had always begged to be told at bedtime as a child, the one he thought of every time he spent a long night with a sick dragon or hatchling. The one he dreamed about. Renick was confronted with the impossible, two dragons that could speak—that could communicate with him. A chill of excitement ran up his skin.
"Renick," Lainey said breathlessly beside him, "it's just so amazing, isn't it?"
He nodded. "Talking dragons."
"I never would've thought in a million years. I mean, I used to have a cat. Well, really, my cousins had a cat—I just played with her a lot. And I'd talk to her and imagine that she'd talk back. But I never really expected her to respond. I think if I'd ever had a pet dragon, I'd have done the same." She chattered on, rambling in her excitement.
A rock landed between the two of them. Lainey stopped talking and they both looked down the slope to where Thane was. He placed a finger to his lips and then pointed up above them. Renick followed the line of Thane's finger and saw Wrytha watching them. He suddenly felt very uneasy.
"Would you two watch it? Besides it's not that earth shattering—Plyth can talk so someone must've taught him."
"So you said your cousins had a cat. Where was that?" Renick asked, trying to sound casual.
"Morelindar. A few years ago. I think it died, actually." She smiled at him sadly and then went back to concentrating on the climb.
Renick paused, resting his sore shoulder and letting his thoughts wander. Soon, Thane passed him too. As Renick watched Thane scramble up the rocks, he thought of how his father would have loved to meet Wrytha and Plyth and would probably know how to react to them. His father knew more of the dragon lore—which apparently was more than just myth.
Lainey waved to Renick from the top of the rise, and when she had his attention, she motioned him to join them. Renick started climbing again as he searched his mind for any stories or lore that spoke of how to be polite to a dragon. But his memory failed him.
By the time he reached the top of the climb, Wrytha had already moved ahead. She now stood next to the opening of a shallow cave at the bottom of a dip in the mountain. The others were making their way toward her. Renick looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. All he could see was an endless expanse of blue sky. Not even a wisp of a cloud marred the brilliant blue. It was so peaceful, so quiet.
He skidded down the slope to join his friends. Wrytha tossed her head in the direction of the cave. Lainey wrung her hands nervously, so Renick went in first. There was more light in the cave than he had suspected from looking in. The depression in the rock was just big enough for a dragon of Wrytha's size to lie comfortably and have room to turn around. The floor was mostly occupied by a pile of straw and soft leaves.
"It's not bad, Lainey. Very open." Renick motioned to her.
She dropped her hands to her sides and bit her lip. Then, with a confident toss of her head, she marched into the cave. Taking a deep breath, she looked around. "You're right." She smiled. "Not bad at all."
"Cozy," Thane said with a straight face.
Renick was confused at first, but then Lainey started to laugh. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and shook with laughter. Thane licked his lips and tried to act aloof, but Renick could see the corner of the older boy's mouth twitching.
Finding a place to sit, Renick lowered himself to the ground and leaned his head against the wall of the cave. Lainey knelt beside him.
"How are you?" Her brow and lips pinched in a concerned expression.
"Fine." He tried to wave her away.
Wrytha's head appeared next to Lainey. She jumped a little when the dragon sniffed at Renick's hair.
"You are injured, Renick–Trusted." Wrytha observed.
Renick nodded. The dragon seemed to study him for a moment.
"Help?" Plyth asked.
Wrytha bobbed her head. "All right, little one." She bent her head low and placed her snout on Renick's forehead. Her warm breath seemed to spread through Renick's entire body. He felt a small pop in his shoulder and the muscles around it relaxed. All the stiff pain and tightness melted away and he was left feeling calm and whole.
"How did you do that?" Renick asked in wonder, rolling his shoulder and then lifting his shirt in search of bruises. His skin was clean—not a scrape or a bruise remained.
"Magic," Lainey said, her eyes wide, her fingers reaching toward Renick.
Wrytha chuckled, but Renick felt a questioning undertone in his mind. The dragon turned to Lainey and then Thane, blowing her hot breath on them as well. Renick could see them each slump down in relief after her touch.
Last, she turned to Plyth.
"Remove the bandage," she instructed Lainey.
Lainey's slim fingers worked at the knots holding the splint in place and then unwrapped Plyth's broken wing. Wrytha watched her work.
"You have done well, Lainey–Kind—for a human." Wrytha healed Plyth with the same hot breath. When she was done, he flapped the wing experimentally and then barked with happy laughter.
"Fly!" he crooned.
"Not now, little one," Wrytha told him. "It is not safe." She turned to face Renick, Thane, and Lainey. "Wait here—you will be well hidden. I will be back before nightfall." The white dragon withdrew her head from the cave, spread her wings, and took flight.
Lainey bent to inspect Plyth's wing. "Amazing," she said, and her eyes got a faraway look in them. "If only …" She shook her head and did not finish the thought.
"Where do you think she went?" Thane asked.
Renick shrugged. "Maybe she's checking on the hunters. They could've regrouped by now."
Thane watched Wrytha's form fade away. He crossed his arms. "I don't know. She seems …"
"Skeptical," Lainey offered.
"Exactly."
Renick looked between the two of them. "Maybe she's never met a human who can talk."
Thane arched an eyebrow at him. His expression caused a smile to spread across Lainey's face, which she quickly hid.
"What?" Renick held his hands up in surrender.
"And where do you suggest she would've met a human who couldn't talk?" Thane said in a condescending tone.
"I … don't know."
"I have a great–uncle once removed who lives near a colony of mutes." There was mirth dancing behind Lainey's eyes. "Maybe she's been there." Her lips moved to contain a giggle, but another smile escaped.
Renick could not resist it any longer. He laughed long and hard. After the past few days, it felt good. The remaining tension eased from his body and he suddenly felt tired.
"Perhaps we should rest," Renick offered.
Thane nodded. "Finally, a rational suggestion." He found a spot at the back of the cave and
made himself comfortable.
"Renick," Lainey said as she nestled into the soft nest with Plyth cuddled under her chin, "tell us another dragon story."
He nodded and started the story that had been on his mind ever since he heard Plyth speak. "A long time ago, in a village near the sea, there lived a young boy named Ponti. His father was a fisherman and very poor. To help his family survive, Ponti would often walk the beaches and climb the cliffs in search of things he could sell for a coin or two."
Lainey leaned back and closed her eyes. Renick lowered his voice just a little and noticed that in response, Thane stopped digging in the dirt with his knife.
"One day, Ponti found a dragon's nest. It looked as if the nest's owner had long since abandoned it. And so, assuming that anything left behind wasn't wanted, he searched the nest. Buried in the far corner, he found a very rare seashell. The money he could get for it would feed his family well for a month. With an empty stomach growling in anticipation, Ponti put the shell under his shirt and returned home."
Plyth snorted in his sleep and a little puff of smoke wafted up from his nostrils. Lainey lazily patted his head. Renick lay down and stared at the cave's ceiling.
"Some time later, when the money from the shell was spent and his stomach once more empty, Ponti climbed to the dragon's nest again. This time he found the nest occupied by a beautiful blue dragon. She sat atop three eggs." Renick paused and started drumming his fingers on his stomach. When he resumed speaking, he matched the dictation to their beat. It was something his father often did while narrating.
"The dragon turned to him and asked, 'Are you the boy who took my shell?'
"Ponti suddenly felt afraid. He stammered out an apology, explaining that he hadn't known she still lived there. The dragon just laughed at him and said, 'No apologies are necessary. It sounds as if your need was greater than mine. Tell me, would you like another seashell?' Ponti eagerly nodded his head. 'Then watch my eggs for me tonight. Stay with them and keep them warm. And when I return in the morning, I will bring you another shell,' the dragon offered. Ponti quickly agreed. So she took flight, leaving Ponti to tend to her unhatched. Ponti stayed in the cave all night, tending a fire and keeping the eggs warm."
Lainey's breathing had fallen into a regular rhythm. Renick moved his head so he could see Thane. The older boy was watching him, so Renick continued. "In the morning, the dragon did not return. Ponti stood looking out to sea, waiting. At midday, he climbed down from the nest and returned home. There he gathered up some blankets, a fishing rod, and what few things his mother could spare and returned to the nest. For four days and three more nights, Ponti tended the dragon's eggs."
Renick stopped, his attention drawn away by a shadow that fell over the cave entrance.
"Did she ever come back?" Thane asked.
"Yes. And she rewarded the boy with a shell for each night that he cared for her young. He used the money to buy his father a better fishing boat, and the family never went hungry again. But more than that, he and the dragon became friends. They taught and helped each other for the rest of their days."
"An interesting story," Wrytha said, her head appearing around the edge of the cave. "Where did you hear it?"
"It's a fable my father used to tell to me," Renick said.
"A fable?"
"Well, it couldn't be true—the dragon talks." Renick laughed at himself. "A silly thing to say to a dragon that can speak."
Wrytha was quiet for a time. Her eyes stayed locked on Renick as if she were trying to see inside him, to hear his thoughts—as if she could peel away his skin and see his soul.
"Come," she said. Lainey and Plyth stirred at her words. "The others wish to meet you."
Chapter 18: Dragon City
Renick tilted his head back to look at the cave where Wrytha had led them. The black opening rose above him and almost swallowed the sky. Two dragon statues, carved out of the stone that formed the sides of the opening, sat as silent sentinels. Their cold eyes stared down at him as if waiting for him to speak.
A hand touched Renick's arm.
"What is it?" Lainey asked.
"Nothing." He shrugged. "Just something I almost remember."
Wrytha and the others were waiting for them just outside the cave.
"Go ahead. You three first." Wrytha's voice remained calm, but there was something under the surface, something she did not want them to know.
Squinting at her, Renick tried to feel her projected thoughts the way he did with Plyth. Faint images and thoughts floated just out of his reach. He tried to concentrate harder.
Secret. Wrytha's voice hissed in his mind. Hidden. Secret.
Curious, Renick wondered what she could be hiding from them. He tried to focus on an image that kept resurfacing. When he could almost see it, a burning sensation erupted behind his eyes. Renick pinched the bridge of his nose. The pain caused him to lose focus.
Do not tread where you are not wanted. Wrytha turned and looked at him. Renick stood motionless, hardly breathing under the scrutiny of the angered dragon. She puffed a small cloud of smoke through her nostrils and shook her head.
"Go on," Wrytha urged, no hint of anger or frustration in her voice. Without hesitation, Renick followed behind Thane and Lainey as they marched into the dark cavern.
The light from the sun disappeared and for a moment they were walking in darkness. Then a red–gold glow illuminated the passageway. Renick moved toward the colored light, stumbling a little along the way.
Four large dragons surrounded them. They moved in from the dim corners of the chamber, seeming to come from the walls themselves. Lainey gasped and clutched at Thane's arm. Feeling unsure, Renick turned and walked backwards until he stood in a tight circle with his friends.
Renick watched the massive dragons draw closer. There were two greens, one red, and a blue. Their scales were bright, brilliant colors like none he had ever seen. The glow, which came from four orbs mounted on the cavern walls, made the dragons sparkle and gleam. Their eyes shone with dark and foreboding intelligence.
The air seemed to buzz around him. A barrage of images and emotions assaulted his mind. Renick turned his head as if he could stem the flow. The confusion made his temples throb with pain.
"They're talking to each other," Renick whispered.
One of the dragons hissed at him. "Silence." The word echoed in Renick's mind.
"You …" Lainey did not have a chance to finish her sentence.
"Silence," the dragon repeated.
The two dragons on Renick's left shifted and formed a wall with the other two. Together the four massive dragons—all the same size or bigger than Wrytha—stepped forward. Renick instinctively drew back. The dragons continued to move forward, driving Renick and the others.
"What's going on?" Lainey whispered.
One of the dragons let out a jet of hot air. Lainey yelped and spun around, trying to cover her back with her hands. The dragons shifted their weight impatiently.
In the chaos that echoed in Renick's skull, he thought he could hear a word, or at least understand one cluster of thought. Move, it seemed to say. He reached down and took Lainey's hand and drew her forward with him.
The dragons ushered them on.
They were being herded through a series of tunnels bored deep into the mountain. In some places, the tunnels were open on one side. Renick could see out into a giant chamber. Sunlight filtered down from above and dragons flew back and forth in the cool air. He wondered if the mountain was hollow. Or maybe the chamber was actually a gap between the mountains. Either way, Renick was grateful for the fresh air that flowed through the tunnels. At points on their march where the sunlight did not reach them, there were more glowing orbs attached to the walls. Renick studied them as they passed. The surface looked like glass, but rippled like water. Deep inside, a small ring of flame churned and spun, giving off the odd light.
"Dragon lanterns," Renick said under his breath.
"What?" Lainey a
sked, her voice trembling.
He pointed to the orbs. "They remind me of the dragon lanterns my father makes for special occasions."
One of their captors snapped his jaws at them. Renick and Lainey turned and continued their march in silence. Soon the dragons stopped in front of an opening in the tunnel. Here there was no sunlight. Instead, two of the glowing orbs stood on either side of the black archway. The dragons pushed Renick and the others into the darkness.
Renick found himself standing in the middle of a small, hollowed–out chamber. It was roughly the size of a cottage and seemed large enough to hold two or three wild dragons. A single orb glowed at the back of the chamber, giving off just enough light to see by.
The blue and one of the green dragons left. Renick watched as the remaining two dragons turned their backs and filled the opening of the chamber with their massive bodies.
"They're leaving us here?" Lainey cried. She was breathing very quickly and rubbing her hands together. "They can't leave us here. There isn't enough air."
Thane walked over and wrapped his arms around her. Lainey sobbed into his shoulder.
"It'll be okay," Renick said, patting her on the back.
"What else can we do?" Thane asked, his eyebrows pinched together.
Renick shrugged. "I don't know. With my sisters, I just told them everything would be fine and waited for the crying to stop."
"Do you think they'd help?" Thane motioned toward the guard dragons with his chin.
Renick approached the dragons, watching their backs apprehensively. "Excuse me," he said, trying to sound confident. "My friend is afraid of small spaces. Could you help her?"
To Renick's surprise, one of the dragons turned around and considered him with black eyes.
"Very well," a deep male voice said.
"Hear that, Lainey? Help is coming," Thane said to Lainey's hair.
She just whimpered and dug her head deeper into his shoulder. Renick wanted to offer more support to his friend, but his head was pounding with the constant jumble of images and thoughts from the two guard dragons, who apparently were in the middle of a heated debate. Something about compassion versus preservation. He could not understand all of it.
Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 Page 9
