When Renick returned to their little camp, a red dragon sat waiting. Renick thought he recognized the dragon as the one that called for their execution in the dragon court. His steps slowed and he cast his eyes around to find Lainey and Thane sitting by the fire. Renick sat with them.
Renick looked to Thane, his eyebrows scrunched together in a question. Thane frowned and shook his head slightly. One corner of Lainey's mouth twitched and she scrunched up her nose. Apparently Renick had not missed much.
"Renick–Trusted, Thane–Brave, and Lainey–Kind," the red dragon said, "I am Grane Redthorne of the Second Circle, and tonight you saved my son, Flyn Thorntail."
The three of them exchanged looks. "We're glad we could help," Renick offered.
"For three of your kind to show such valor when you could have fled with the other prisoners and obtained your freedom—it astonishes me." Grane shook his head.
"We had to help," Lainey said.
"That is just it, Lainey–Kind. You did not have to help. Nothing but that which is inside you compelled you to assist my son and the other dragon trapped in the cave–in. You showed qualities that I believed to be gone from your race entirely." A rumble started deep in the dragon's throat. "In fact, I have seen them fade from my kind as well." He looked at each of them. "I am forever in your debt." He turned to leave. "I will speak for you."
Grane left, descending back into the mountain through the cave entrance where Boren sat.
"That was … interesting," Thane said.
"Apparently he appreciated what we did," Lainey commented.
Renick shrugged. "To be honest, it never occurred to me that we could've just left."
"Even if it had," Lainey said, shaking her head, "you could never have left those dragons down there."
"You two helped," Renick said. His cheeks started to feel hot.
"What you three have done," Boren said, "has shown many of us that you are not like any other humans we have ever known."
"You must not know very good people," Lainey said.
Boren made a noise between a hum and a chuckle. "We mostly know the hunters."
Lainey grimaced. "I wouldn't like humans either if they were the only ones I knew."
They all laughed at this.
"Rest, children. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a big day for you."
Renick leaned back and watched the stars hanging in the black sky above. Every inch of his body was weary, but his mind kept churning thoughts, and he could not quiet them. He focused on Lainey's shallow breathing and Thane's slight snore hoping the sounds would distract him. Despite all his efforts, sleep still eluded him.
The soft sound of dirt moving under something made Renick sit up. He turned to see Derth had arrived and was sitting watching him.
"You are still awake. What troubles you?" Derth asked.
"I'm …" Renick tried to find the words to describe how he was feeling. When his search turned up nothing, he thought of his jumbled emotions. He felt homesick and lonely without his large family. At the same time, he was enjoying the relative solitude of being away from them. He worried about tomorrow—about the fate the new day would bring. He felt excited about the new friendships he was forming with Thane, Lainey, and Plyth. But mostly, he was curious about the dragons.
He wrapped all this up into one thought, one image, and tried to show it to Derth.
The old dragon cocked his head and made a sound that reminded him of his father when Renick or his siblings surprised him. "I think I understand," Derth said. "A lot has happened to you today."
Renick crossed his legs underneath him and shrugged. "It's all so different."
"You mean, intelligent dragons?"
"Yes," Renick said, nodding.
"And here I thought you were adjusting well." Derth chuckled. "You did, after all, rescue two of our kind."
Renick shook his head. "I …" He stopped. He thought what he had been about to say was prideful and might not entirely be true.
"My boy, it is not pride when you are honest with yourself." Derth moved closer and bent his neck down and around so his head was level with Renick's. Derth's deep eyes met his. "Even though I have known you a short time, I know what you feel is true. You would have done the same for any man or beast. So would Lainey–Kind and Thane–Brave. That is why Plyth trusts you—because you are worthy of such trust."
Renick felt uncomfortable. He squirmed and tried to find a better way to sit. Derth held his gaze, never turning away. "I don't even know how I earned it," Renick said.
Derth sat back, another laugh rumbling in his long throat. "That, my boy, is precisely the point. Do not worry so about tomorrow. I believe your worth will be acknowledged by the Inner Circle."
Renick smiled. He was a little relieved. His other thoughts and worries started to melt away and left him with just one. "What happened?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"What happened between the humans and the dragons?"
Derth sighed, and a trail of smoke floated up from between his teeth. "Much of that story is dangerous to tell." A growl thundered in the dragon's chest. "We fell prey to the greed of mankind. They desired our magic at a greater speed and capacity than we would provide. So they sought to enslave us. But the ancestors of the mute dragons saw to it that their endeavor failed."
"You mean, the mute dragons are like you? They can talk?" Renick said.
"No." Derth tilted his head. "As I told you before, they do not have the capacity to speak. It has been absent from their bloodlines for generations."
"And they don't have magic?"
Derth shook his head. "No, Renick–Trusted, they do not have magic."
"That's why the hunters seek your kind. Because you do." Renick thought back to the terrible hunger in Horrin's eyes.
"Yes."
"We're not all like that," Renick said. He placed his head in his hands. "It's such a shame."
"A shame?"
"We could learn so much from you. Do so much together. I regret that my ancestors took that away from me—from us." Renick swept his arm out to take in Thane and Lainey and anyone else in the world.
"Regret." Derth bobbed his head a few times. "That is a good name for it." The old dragon looked up at the stars. "Until I met you three, I did not feel this way. My whole life I have hated, even feared, your kind." Derth looked back to Renick. "But you have changed me."
Renick did not know how to respond. He felt an odd tingling sensation in his stomach. Eventually he settled on shrugging again.
"You three have opened my eyes. Your kind think of our mute brothers and sisters as cattle, but we have thought even less of you. You aided Plyth. You saved the two dragons in the mines. All at great cost to yourselves." Derth paused. He seemed unsure if he wanted to continue. Renick waited patiently. "These are things I am not sure many dragons would do. Renick–Trusted, you regret what your kind is lacking because of their greed. I regret what my kind turns its back on because of pride."
"Do you think the wounds can be mended?" Renick asked, hope flickering in his heart.
Derth did not answer right away. At length, he spoke, "If you had asked me that question yesterday, I would have said no. Then I believed the wounds to be too old, too deep. But today, I think there is a chance that with time, they can be healed. Or at least forgotten."
Renick smiled. "I'd like to think you're right." Silently he promised himself to do all he could to repair the damage done so long ago, though he did not know how he would even start.
"Now, Renick–Trusted, you must rest. Tomorrow will be yet another big day for you. It will be important to have all your wits about you." Derth stood to leave.
"Derth," Renick called. The dragon stopped and turned to look back at him. "Tell Plyth good night for me."
The older dragon just stared at Renick for a long time. Then he dipped his head and disappeared underground.
Renick lay back and with one final look at the night sky, fell asleep.
> Chapter 25: The Gift
Renick bent over Lainey's sleeping form and gently shook her shoulder. "Lainey, wake up." With a moan, she rolled over and opened her gray eyes.
"What?" Her voice was heavy with sleep.
"They want us in the infrem … infirmry … in … The dragon healer is summoning us," Renick explained.
"What? Why?" Lainey moved to sit up and he assisted her. "We aren't hurt."
"Hurry, young ones," Derth said from his position near the entrance to the dragon city. "There isn't much time." His dark scales blended so well with the rock in the darkness of night that Renick could only see the moonlight reflecting in the dragon's eyes.
Lainey, still not fully awake, leaned on Renick's arm. Slowly they moved forward, following Derth and Thane down into the dragon city.
Derth led them through the twisting tunnels to a large chamber well lit by dozens of dragon lanterns clinging to the ceiling. Dragons of all ages and sizes lay in neat rows throughout the open area. Between them, other dragons moved back and forth, sometimes stopping to talk with the ill, sometimes touching them with their snouts.
"This is the infirmary," Derth told them.
A dragon with orange scales and white spikes approached them. She was small compared to the others of the Dragon Kind. Dipping her head low, she introduced herself as Mryx Clawmender. "I have been caring for the two dragons you saved yesterday."
"How are they?" Lainey asked eagerly. She rubbed the remaining sleep from her eyes as she scanned the room looking for them. Renick did not think he would recognize them in the sea of dragons.
"Flyn Thorntail is recovering slowly, but surely. He will only be in our care for a few days," Mryx answered, bending her head low so it was level with Lainey's.
"And the other?" Renick asked. A knot had formed in his stomach and threatened to swallow the last of his words.
Mryx's eyes saddened. "Junther Swiftwing won't survive the night."
The knot in Renick's stomach turned hard and cold. He found it difficult to breathe.
"Oh, no," Lainey gasped and covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.
"Have we been brought here to be punished?" Thane said, his voice quiet and laced with an emotion Renick could not identify. Turning, Renick saw that though Thane's left hand rested on Lainey's shoulder to give her comfort, the other was tensely wrapped around the hilt of his sword.
"No." Mryx shook her head at them. "Quite the contrary. Junther wishes to speak to the three of you."
She turned and started making her way between the rows of sick and injured dragons. Renick and the others followed, though Derth remained behind. As they neared the other side of the cavern, Renick noticed a row of dark openings along it. It was to one of these openings that Mryx directed them. Behind the opening was an alcove filled with half a dozen dragons. Most of them stood clustered around Junther, the fallen guard who lay in the center of the small room.
Mryx entered the alcove first. Bending down, she told Junther, "I have brought them to you."
The guard lifted his head and turned to look at Renick and the others. Renick recognized him as the kind guard that had spoken briefly with them.
"Let me see you." It sounded as if Junther had to force out each word.
Lainey stepped forward, unaffected by the atmosphere of sorrow and inevitability. She knelt near the dragon's head where it lay on a small mound of goose down.
Renick shuffled around so Junther could see him.
"You too, Thane–Brave." Mryx gave Thane a gentle nudge with her nose.
Thane bumped into Renick's shoulder as he sidled up next to him. "Sorry," he whispered. Thane's face was pale and drawn, and he kept adjusting his clothes and fidgeting with his sword.
"I want to thank the three of you," Junther said.
"For what?" Renick asked. "We didn't save you. You're still going to die."
Junther shifted his position before responding. "Yes, but I would have died alone. Because of you three, I was given a chance to say my good–byes and to die surrounded by my family."
Renick could understand that. A memory from the day of the flyer crash came to his mind. He remembered falling, seeing the trees and sky spiraling around him, and wishing his last words to his family had been different.
"I want to do something to repay you, but I have little to offer." Junther looked at each of them in turn.
Lainey shook her head. "You owe us nothing for our failure."
"Dear Lainey–Kind, you did not fail. Sometimes our success is not measured by the outcome, but by our efforts. You especially gave a great effort to save me. You conquered the dark in an attempt to save me from it." Junther leaned forward and breathed on Lainey's forehead. "And that is success enough to me."
Lainey's hand went to her face as she wiped at her eyes.
"I have little time left. I will let the others speak to you of their matters." Junther stopped to groan in pain. Mryx placed her snout on his neck, and he sighed with relief.
"Lainey–Kind, I gift you my heart stone when I am gone. Use this gift to heal and aid others." A rumble started in Junther's chest and rippled out through his throat. A wave of white smoke washed over Lainey, tossing her hair and settling on her shoulders before dissipating.
"What just happened?" Thane asked in a sharp voice.
"Hush. It is done," Mryx said. "Now, young ones, you must wait outside. Junther wishes to spend his final moments with those he loves."
"I'm fine, Thane," Lainey reassured him, motioning for them to follow Mryx's instructions.
Renick turned to leave following, behind Thane. When they exited the alcove, Thane stopped and turned to face the opening. Renick leaned against the wall next to him. It took a few moments for Lainey to follow. Her head was down, but Renick could see the tears between the gaps in her hanging bangs.
"You all right?" he asked.
Ever so slightly, Lainey nodded her head. "What's…what's a heart stone?"
Renick shrugged. "I don't know."
"Don't you know a story about one?"
"Yeah, there has to be some little tidbit about it in that big head of yours." The corners of Thane's mouth twitched as he spoke.
"Nope, I can't think of any reference to a heart stone. Or any kind of stone, really." Renick paused a moment. He could sense that this was something important. It tugged at his memory. "But …"
"But what?" Thane grabbed Renick's shoulders. "I don't plan on just standing by and letting who–knows–what happen to my friend."
Mryx's head appeared from the opening to Junther's alcove. "Lainey–Kind, you are needed inside."
Lainey looked up at Renick and then Thane. Her eyes spoke of uncertainty.
Mryx moved closer. "Come, child."
Thane stepped between Lainey and the dragon, drawing his sword as he did so. "Leave her alone."
"Wait." Renick stepped forward. "I … I think it's okay, Thane. It won't hurt her."
Thane considered him for a moment, then lowered his sword. "I trust you, Renick."
Lainey nodded. "I trust you too." Without any further hesitation, she disappeared after Mryx.
"Out with it, Renick," Thane said.
"The legends talk of dragons giving the final, or greatest, gift. This gift grants long life and such to the receiver. Remember the story of Louren? According to that, and several other stories, a dragon's heart is magical or has magical properties," Renick replied.
"So?"
"So, unless I'm wrong, a dragon's heart stone is that final gift and will grant Lainey long life and maybe even more." Renick could feel excitement tingling in his fingers. All the pieces were starting to fall together. The world around him started to make more sense.
"Then let's hope you aren't wrong," Thane mumbled.
Movement on the other side of the chamber caught Renick's attention, and he saw Derth coming toward them.
"What happened?" the old dragon asked. His voice was laden with foreboding.
"Junther
's dying," Renick said. He could hear the nervousness in his own voice.
"Yes, yes, I know. But Mryx sent for me, so it must have been something else. Where is Lainey?" Derth tossed his head back and forth—whether in agitation or to search for the absent girl, Renick could not tell.
Lainey emerged from the alcove, cupping a glowing stone about half the size of her palm in her hands. The yellow light reflected off her awe filled eyes.
"What has he done?" Derth whispered under his breath.
"Is that …" Renick started, but could not finish.
"Junther's heart stone," Lainey whispered. "Mryx cut open his chest and had … me … get it."
That was when Renick noticed the blood coating her hands.
"He gifted it to you?" Derth asked.
Lainey nodded.
"Hold it to your chest, Lainey–Kind." Derth's tone was short and tense.
"What? Why?" She looked up at the dragon.
"Just do as you are told. Hurry, you would not want to waste such a precious gift." Derth was watching her closely. A torrent of complicated emotions churned like waves around him. Renick staggered a little when they struck his mind.
Lainey did as she was told and clutched the stone to her heart.
"It has to touch your skin," Derth snapped at her.
She looked up, her cheeks coloring. Derth's posture relaxed. "I am sorry, Lainey–Kind. Here." He moved to stand beside her to provide a shield, and then turned his head away.
Renick heard Mryx's voice from behind Derth. "Ah, good. You got the bonding process started. Thank you, Derth."
"You could not have mentioned this in your message?" Derth growled.
"I am sorry, but I was a little preoccupied," Mryx said in return. "Yes, there, Lainey. Now hold it to your skin and I will graft it in place."
Yellow light flashed from behind Derth. Renick turned his head to shade his eyes. With a few pulses, the light faded away. Derth withdrew, revealing Lainey standing with empty hands, watching Renick and Thane. A dull point of yellow light shone from beneath her blouse, just below her collarbone.
"It feels … warm," Lainey said, a soft smile touching the edges of her mouth.
Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 Page 13
