Then Kō’ilā hunkered down and tucked in closer to Lianhua. I didn’t double over, but an ache deep in the pit of my stomach told me something wasn’t right. We carried on, each step taken with more caution.
Rodin landed on Genevieve’s back, his head poking out above her shoulder.
Suddenly, a thunderous whoosh swept down the valley, and a huge shadow blocked out the setting sun. We spun around and all I saw were large leathery wings. An immense dragon, bigger than an airship, soared into the valley, and landed in front of us. Dust and rocks kicked up, the sound of shattering rock split my ears as its claws dug deep into the ground. Reddish-brown scales the size of shields covered its body, and fangs as thick as my leg and just as long filled its mouth. With horns taller and thicker than I was curling off the top of its head, and claws extending from each of the bony joints in its wings, I was overcome with both awe and fear. The dragon lowered its head and stared straight at me. Every inch of me trembled as I tried to look away, but couldn’t break the dragon’s gaze.
“What are you doing in my valley?” the dragon roared, and waves of wind and sound reverberated in my chest. Then the dragon noticed Rodin. Its great head turned and large eyes focused on Genevieve.
CHAPTER 28
A FRIEND IN THE MOUNTAINS
The immense dragon leaned down. Genevieve tried to remain brave, but even her stoic stance shifted. The dragon exhaled sharply blowing her hair back. Rodin stood on her shoulder and flapped his wings. He made a series of vocalizations, chirps, and small roars that would have been adorable if not for his much larger counterpart.
I started to speak, but before I could utter a word, the dragon snapped its eye toward me again. With a shake of its head, it returned to Rodin. I took a deep breath and hoped a column of fire wasn’t in our future.
The dragon sat back and folded its immense wings down. “Very interesting,” the voice rumbled deep within the dragon’s throat. “I see.”
I realized it was talking with Rodin. I knew Rodin understood a lot of what I said, he’d often react appropriately, but he and this creature were having an actual conversation. Genevieve looked at Rodin and then smiled at the large dragon.
“We come in peace,” I said.
“Rodin says you search for evil men.”
“Yes. That’s right.” I couldn’t stop talking. I was trying, but words kept spilling out. “We’re looking for the Golden Circle.”
The dragon’s neck curled down and eyed each of us. The creature settled down in front of Genevieve. “Rodin tells me you are his soul sister.”
“We were born on the same day.” She bowed, and Rodin did as well while clinging to her shoulder. “You are magnificent,” Genevieve said.
“You are not like the humans I usually see.”
“My name is Genevieve, daughter of Baron Maximillian Kensington. My father found Rodin’s egg. When he hatched, he became part of our family. This is Alexander Armitage,” she said pointing to me.
“Armitage.” The dragon cocked his head toward me. “I know that name. It once belonged to the only knight, who, unlike all those who came before or after, did not try to smite me. Are you related to him?”
I nodded. “Yes, Armand Armitage. He traveled these mountains seven hundred years ago.”
“In my younger days.” The dragon stared at Lianhua and Kō’ilā. “Who are you, and what did you do to this creature?”
She pulled Kō’ilā back and said, “My name is Lianhua, and yes, I fixed his broken wings.”
The dragon turned toward Mr. Singh, who blurted out, “I’m Indihar Singh, a Sikh, a soldier and a traveler, born here in these mountains, in Shimla.”
The dragon nodded and then said, “I am Āgō āṁdhī,” It bowed deeply, its head almost touching the ground. “I welcome the friends of a dragon to my valley.”
“Thank you,” Genevieve said. “I didn’t know other dragons existed. I’ve never met any beside Rodin.”
“Once we were numerous. Now we are few. I haven’t seen a young one in many, many years.”
“Will he get as big as you?”
“In time, but our lives are not like yours. A hundred years is nothing more than a trip around the sun.” Āgō āṁdhī lip curled up in a smile. “Our growth is tied to age but more to ourselves, to where and how we devote our power.”
“You must be very powerful,” I said.
Āgō āṁdhī chuckled, a deep reverberating laugh that shook the ground. “I am.”
“Have you seen a long metal serpent with legs?” I asked.
“What are you doing?” Genevieve asked. “We shouldn’t insult the dragon with mundane questions.”
“These mountains are his home. He knew Armand Armitage. He might know about the Hearts or where the Knights of the Golden Circle are hiding.”
Āgō āṁdhī moved its head so that it was right in front of me and though I tried to be brave, I couldn’t help but take a step back. “Why do you want to know about the Hearts?”
“We seek—”
“The little dragon already said that! I want to know what you plan to do with such evil.”
“Nothing.”
“Lies!” the dragon roared. “All humans seek the power of the Hearts.”
“We want to prevent their power from being unleashed in our world. We’ve fought them in London and Africa, and now we are here to stop them.” A lump formed in my throat and my knees wobbled. “I do not lie. The power of being a Horseman was offered to me, but I said no. We want to find the men who seek to wield their power and stop them from spreading the evil of the Hearts.”
The dragon pointed one of its claws at me. “I hear the truth of your heart.” Āgō āṁdhī gestured toward the east. “I do know where the evil men hide. In a valley not far from here. They pound metal all day and night. They poison the water and kill off my food. Their evil grows since they found the heart hidden in these mountains.”
My heart skipped a beat and I lowered my head. “They’ve found a second heart.” They must have found the one Armand hid near his grave. I wonder if they have the third one that was in Egypt.”
Genevieve asked, “If we can find them, they will leave these mountains and you won’t have to deal with their evil anymore.”
“Good. I tire of their noise and the horrors they commit. They killed the monks who guarded the Heart. I would visit the monks at night and we would talk about the universe. They were among the few humans I could tolerate, and I miss their curiosity, their desire for... wisdom.”
“Thank you, Āgō āṁdhī,” Genevieve said as she reached out and touched the dragon’s face. “We truly appreciate your wisdom, and may I say it is an honor to meet another dragon.”
“We will avenge the monks and villagers they have killed or enslaved.” I slammed my fist against my palm. “I, too, tire of the suffering these evil men bring.”
“You have an inner fire, like a dragon. I have not seen it in humans for some time.”
“Thank you,” I managed, eyes wide and in complete awe that not only were we talking to a dragon, but that it compared my resolve, my “inner fire,” to a dragon’s! My father would never believe it.
“Rest now,” Āgō āṁdhī, said. “The next series of mountain passes are treacherous, especially in the darkness.” It turned and unleashed a torrent of fire on some nearby boulders. The rocks glowed red and their warmth chased the cold night air away. “This will keep you warm tonight.
“We are honored,” Genevieve said, bowing deeply.
We settled next to the heated boulders. The dragon remained near us and Rodin flew around the creature, chattering away in their dragon tongue. Lianhua sent Kō’ilā off and she returned awhile later with a rabbit for us to eat.
CHAPTER 29
THE HIDDEN VALLEY
The next morning, I opened my eyes and found the dragon stretched out beside us, his body a barrier between the path and the steep drop-off at the edge of the mountain. I sat up and Āgō āṁdhī sti
rred. The fear I’d felt yesterday rose within me, but I knew the dragon wasn’t going to hurt me. I walked toward him.
“Thank you, again. We might have walked for days, or even right by them.”
“Destiny envelops you. Like the knight.”
“I’m still shocked you knew my ancestor. What was he like?” “An honorable warrior.”
“But he succumbed to the evil of the Hearts.”
“Honor doesn’t mean you are always good. It is about understanding thyself and those around you. Honor is about making the right choices—or at least attempting to make the right choices— no matter the consequences. Yes, your ancestor succumbed, for the evil of the Hearts is immensely powerful, but”—the dragon lifted a talon and lightly tapped me on the chest—“the goodness of your heart is even more powerful.”
I nodded and hoped this creature was right. This dragon knew more about life and wisdom than anyone I’d known before. I wanted to ask more questions, but the others were waking and we needed to start moving.
Āgō āṁdhī pointed toward a mountain pass leaving the valley. “Follow that trail for two days. From the top of the ridge you will see the valley where the machines are built.”
Genevieve nodded. “Thank you. Is there anything we can do for you?”
Āgō āṁdhīchuckled. “Take care of Rodin. He gives me hope that my kind will continue.” The dragon stood and flexed its wings. Gasping, we crowded together as it leapt off the mountainside and soared out of the valley.
Rodin unleashed a little roar, and Āgō āṁdhī answered with a thunderous roar that shook the entire valley causing a rockslide at the other end. Within moments it had disappeared behind the mountains.
Rodin and Kō’ilā flew above us as we tread carefully on the narrow, rocky path the dragon had pointed out. Surrounded by towering peaks, the sun only shone upon us when it was directly above, but most of the day was spent in shadow. Toward evening, the path drew near a mountain stream and then turned and followed the fast-moving water. Finally, we made camp as it got too dark to go on.
“I still can’t believe we saw a dragon,” I said to Genevieve.
“As if pulled right out of a storybook,” she said.
Lianhua pulled out a bronze Chinese coin, a rectangular piece of metal with a ring at the end. A snake-like dragon undulated down one side. “I always wondered. The Chinese emperors were said to be descended from dragons. Now, I think I believe them.”
“I’m thrilled to know Rodin isn’t the last one.” Genevieve rubbed his horned numbs. “I do, however, think we will have to build him a bigger bed.”
“Not yet, but eventually,” I said as I sat beside her.
Mr. Singh kept looking to where we’d come from, as if still trying to see the dragon, then to our path forward. “I’m wondering where the Sparrowhawk is?”
“Me too, but don’t worry, we still have a way of calling them.” I patted my bag. “Once we find the Knights of the Golden Circle we’ll signal them.”
At first light we continued on. By late afternoon, the path narrowed and became more treacherous, until it was nothing more than a game trail. We traveled on loose rock and unsteady ground, which made it difficult for Lianhua and her bound feet. At one point we had to turn sideways on the ever-narrowing path. I heard a rumble above and my stomach twisted into knots. Pebbles pelted us from above, followed by a river of rock sliding down the mountainside. We moved as fast as we could, one foot in front of the other on the narrow ledge. I shoved Genevieve forward and leapt out of the way of a large boulder.
However, Mr. Singh and Lianhua were knocked off and tumbled with the rocks down the sloping mountain face. Once the rock slide had stopped, I leaned over the edge with Genevieve. Kō’ilā landed on a spot a few meters down and I saw Mr. Singh’s blue turban.
“Indihar! Lianhua! Are you all right?” Genevieve shouted.
I pulled the rope out of my bag and tied one end to large boulder. I tossed the other end toward our companions. Mr. Singh sat up, and I saw Lianhua wave her arm.
We sighed in relief as Mr. Singh crawled over to Lianhua. He looked up at me and said, “She’s injured. We’ll need help getting up.”
“Coming.” I grabbed the rope and used it to help me down the rocky slope, trying not to dislodge any loose stones. I slid in beside Lianhua and Mr. Singh. “Are you injured?” I asked him, as I saw a few cuts and bruises
“Some pain in my arm”—he rotated his elbow—“but everything works.”
I put my fingers to my own forehead and nodded toward his “You have a cut on your head.”
He reached up, and then pulled his fingers back streaked with blood. “It’s not deep. I’m fine.”
He knelt beside Lianhua and I crouched beside him. “Where are you hurt?”
“My leg,” she said. “And I lost my cane.”
“I checked her over,” Mr. Singh said, “and I don’t believe it is broken. But her cut is bleeding a lot. She needs a tourniquet.”
Mr. Singh pulled the sash off his waist and tied it around her leg. He and I lifted her, then wrapped the rope under her arms and tied a secure knot. I climbed back up using the rope, and once back on the trail, Genevieve and I pulled Lianhua up while Mr. Singh guided her over the rocks. Once back on the trail, we all rested in the shadow of a boulder.
The hidden valley had to be near, but neither Mr. Singh or Lianhua were in any condition to take on the Golden Circle now. I rested my head back against the rock face and closed my eyes. And then I heard it: a pinging in the distance.
“Do you hear that?” I cupped my ear to hear more. “Too repetitive and constant to be natural.”
Genevieve nodded, “Sounds like workmen.” She pushed herself to her feet. “We’ve got to be close!”
“Why don’t you two stay here and wait for the Sparrowhawk?” I said as I reached into my leather bag.
“We’ll scout ahead and see what exactly is going on,” Genevieve said. “Don’t worry we’ll try really hard not to get caught.”
Mr. Singh started to protest, but I whipped out the radio transmitter. “Take this. Flip the switch on the side once we’ve left. The Sparrowhawk will find you. Then you can all come after the two of us.”
Mr. Singh shook his head. “I do not like your plan.”
“We’ll be fine, and this way, if we do get captured, they won’t be able to destroy the transmitter.”
Genevieve patted her shoulder and Rodin landed. “We should get going before it’s too dark.”
Mr. Singh looked from me to Genevieve and then to Lianhua, and I realized he was worried about our safety. “It’s the best way,” I said, motioning to the transmitter. “Flip the switch and then send a message with Kō’ilā to the captain.”
“I don’t like it, but I agree it is best.” He pulled a notebook from his pack and looked up at me. “I’ll pass along what Genevieve said when we left the palace. The captain needs to be prepared for whatever we might find.”
I nodded in agreement and we departed leaving them alone on the rock-strewn path as Genevieve and I continued to pick our way carefully along the narrow ledge. An hour later, as we neared an abrupt curve around the mountainside, we stopped. The pinging of hammers echoed off the mountains. The trail narrowed even further, and I didn’t want to risk turning the corner without scouting ahead.
“Rodin, see what you can find beyond this corner,” Genevieve said. The little dragon leapt off her shoulder and flew along the side of the frozen mountain. Darkness enveloped us as the sun disappeared. A cold wind whipped up reminding me that late spring at the top of the world wasn’t at all like back home.
The little dragon was gone just a few moments and then came back and landed just ahead of us. He flapped his wings and hopped forward, guiding us along the treacherous path. We stepped carefully behind him, and, as we rounded the corner, we stopped at the ridgeline of the secluded valley.
“This is it,” Genevieve whispered.
The sound of hammers, eng
ines, and other industrial noises mixed with the anguish of moaning men, and the hardened commands of soldiers. We’d definitely found the right place. Three-fourths of the valley was made of metal and brick. A huge factory spewed smoke from its three stacks, and several barracks lined the high mountain walls. A fleet of airships were moored to the airdocks nestled in the valley, including a couple of War Zeppelins, and the biggest airship I’d ever seen. The black, rigid airship had a large red Z with a crown perched on top painted on the side.
However, on the far side of the valley sat two bizarre buildings, one was a palace in the shape of a coiled serpent. Trimmed with a golden spine, a balcony lay in the open cobra’s jaw. The other dominated the valley floor. Made of metal, it looked like a pyramid-shaped castle with four towers sticking up, one out of each side. The towers held giant propeller blades.
“What is that weird building with the propellers?” Genevieve asked.
“I don’t know, but it looks like a Vimana.” I pulled my father’s telescope out of my bag. I wrapped the two lenses in the leather case and secured it with the brass toggle.
“What is a Vimana?”
“I read about them in the Mahabharata. A sacred Hindu book that is thousands of years old, kind of like the Hindu Bible.” I peered through the telescope. “They were conical flying palaces used during a war at the beginning of time.”
“Do I even need to ask why you read a Hindu holy scripture?”
I shrugged. “My father. He thought learning about other religions would be a good way to spend the summer.”
“Why would there be one of these flying palaces here?”
“I don’t know.” I pulled my eye back. “But we’re definitely in the right place.” I handed her the telescope and pointed toward the snake palace. “Look at the mouth. Recognize anyone?”
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