“You’re not going to try to capture her?” Daphne asked him.
“Well, if she’s coming here anyway, then she’s going to trap herself, isn’t she?” Karn then nodded to Helina. “And you’re coming with me.”
“What about the dragon who tried to hurt Daphne?” Haadeiya asked. “We can describe him for you.”
Karn hesitated and then sighed. “It’s all right. I can recognize him from what I’ve seen in your minds.”
He then left with Helina before the questions started flying.
“What’s this?” Helina asked as Karn shook up the mixture he’d concocted. They had gone back to the river and Karn had produced two tiny vials from a pouch in his pocket and mixed the contents of one with the other.
“I don’t know what you’d call it,” Karn said. “I brewed this up while we were down in Khalahi. I thought it might be useful. It’s made from several plants and it’s a mixture that Khalahi healers use to induce sleep in the people they’re treating. It’s quite popular with healers in the Greater Realms as well. And the time for which someone will be asleep can be varied with the dose that’s administered.”
“Then how long will that dose put anyone under?” Helina asked.
“Longer than you think,” Karn told her. “It’s very potent. Also, it’s usually administered orally and it takes a while to work its way into the bloodstream. However, I’ve got a more direct technique in mind.” He pulled out a slender dart. “This is heavier than it looks too,” he added. “For throwing balance.”
He paused and turned to his right, where one of the dragonets was standing over his shoulder looking intently at what was going on. He smiled at the creature. “Not now, my friend.”
The dragonet inclined her head, perhaps imitating a nod. Which she probably was, Karn thought to himself.
“All right,” he told Helina, getting up. “You open the doors for me so I can throw these things the moment I get a look in each room. And if either of these dragons makes a spirited attempt to thrash me, I’ll be counting on you to restrain them. Sometimes, a rush of adrenaline can slow the effects of this stuff.”
“Well, I’ll try. But I’m no fighter and I’m not as strong as these Drach’nsvoiya emeralds.”
“You won’t need to be,” Karn assured her. “A rush of adrenaline won’t slow the effects too much. You just need to throw them off balance for a moment.”
When they reached the buildings where the dragons were, Karn took his position by the first door and nodded. Helina swung it open, Karn stepped inside and threw a dart into the neck of the room’s sole occupant where it would work its way into the bloodstream quickly. The dragon had enough time to look surprised and reach for the dart before he collapsed.
This was the dragon that had tried to ravage Daphne and so Karn drew a knife and dispatched him before he and Helina moved on.
In the next room, they repeated the process with the other male dragon but Karn let that one live for the time–being.
Then they went outside and waited for Elenskaer to make the dinner rounds. It was not a long wait.
When she appeared, Karn saw was carrying a heavy tray with succulent roasted meat, cups, and flasks of both water and wine. This was not the action of someone who enjoyed dominion over others and he wondered how she could have ever been caught up in Savenya’s schemes in the first place. Clearly, Savenya had some skill at manipulating people and she was probably quite charming in her way. However, Savenya wasn’t his concern and right then, he was grateful she wasn’t.
As Elenskaer opened the door, she knew something was wrong.
“It’s all right, Elenskaer,” Karn told her, stepping behind her. “We don’t want to hurt you.”
Maintaining her elegant poise, Elenskaer placed the tray down on the table. “May I see the face of my captor?”
“You can turn around if that’s what you mean,” Karn said. “But whether I’m your captor or not remains to be seen.” He nodded to Daphne as Elenskaer turned and saw him. “Daphne tells me that you’ve taken good care of her and Haadeiya, and I can see that’s the case. And you protected her the other night, risking your own life as well. And for your compassion, you deserve our own.”
Elenskaer frowned. “Where are my companions?”
“You wish to see them?” Karn asked. “The one who attempted to assault Daphne is dead. We don’t hold with that.”
Elenskaer nodded. “Neither do I.”
“Who was he?” Karn asked.
“Syvalgri. He was a brute.”
“I see,” Karn said. “And the other?”
“Harvindar.”
“Well,” Karn told her, “Harvindar’s still alive. He’s unconscious in his dwelling but he’s unharmed. What do you suggest we do with him?”
Elenskaer swallowed. “If my wishes mean anything, then I’d ask you to spare him. He’s not like Savenya. He’s even noble in his own way. All he wanted was a better life for himself. That’s how he became involved. But it all just got out of hand.”
Stepping into view, Shaala gave Karn a nod. “She’s telling the truth.”
“So what will become of us then?” Elenskaer asked, lowering the tray.
“You’re acting as if you’re a condemned woman, Elenskaer,” Karn told her. “You’re not. No one was killed by your hand. People have lost their freedom, yes, but you can return that to them.”
“What of the others?”
Karn shrugged. “A fair question. Karafae attempted to resist us with violence and lost his life because of it. One of his dragons, Araestae I think his name was, attempted to use the queens of both Ilara and Maharei as hostages, drawing a blade on one of them. That cost him his life. Nera however appeared to be remorseful for her actions, and it seemed to us that she was just a pawn in all this. And she’s quite safe and we’re treating her well.” Karn gave Elenskaer a smile. “So you see, we are even handed and we’d rather avoid bloodshed if we can.”
“And what of Savenya?” Elenskaer asked.
“That’s for others to decide,” Karn replied. “What happens here though is up to you.”
“And the Angdar?”
“A good question,” Karn said. “My friends and I have been contemplating that for several days. Should we kill them off? They are a violent people and there’s no hope for them.”
“But if they’re a dying race anyway,” Elenskaer said, “even though they’re a violent one, wouldn’t it be kinder just to leave them alone and let them die in peace?”
“You know they’re a dying race?” Karn said.
Elenskaer sighed. “It was obvious when I first saw their settlements up north. I don’t like them but I pity them, to tell you the truth.”
“I don’t know if you believe it or not,” Karn told her, “but so do I. I’ll talk to them to see if I can persuade them to return to those settlements of theirs. And since the other option would be their immediate slaughter, I’m sure they can put aside their aggressive instincts for the time–being and leave peacefully.”
Elenskaer nodded and then she gazed in Karn’s eyes. “There’s something I have to know.”
Karn frowned. “What’s that?”
“Who are you?”
He smiled. “I’m Karn Zell.”
“The mage who defeated Dominicon,” Shaala added, with a smile of her own.
Hearing this, Elenskaer’s entire demeanor changed and she knelt down before Karn, clasping his hands. “Then I’m at your service. For years, I lived in fear of that beast. From now on, ask of me what you will.”
Shaala then came over and helped her to her feet. “It’s all right, Elenskaer. We’re glad to help you. I’m Shaala and I know about your kind and the other dragons that live on Drach’nsvoiya. Although I’ve never laid a foot on it, I’ve seen the rivers of lava there, the ash, the hot and humid jungles, the shrubs that satisfy the hunger of nothing and the way you prey on each other. I’ve seen these things in the mind of Dominicon himself so I can only imagine ho
w bad Drach’nsvoiya was for the rest of you.
“I’ve also seen what it does to you all. You’re splendid beings – you with your hide of ruby red and Harvindar in his coat of emerald – yet Drach’nsvoiya turns you to desperation and pettiness, and makes you less than you are. But here, you can be what you’re supposed to be.”
Tears flowed down Elenskaer’s cheeks as she listened to Shaala. Every word rang true. And around the room, the others watched and waited.
Shaala then knelt down in front of her, while Helina crouched beside her as well and put her arm on her shoulder. This was the end of the life that Elenskaer had known and it was the beginning of something far more meaningful.
XVI. The Fortress of Askenroth
Ramonda alighted on the ramparts of the fortress of Wyvern’s Peak, keeping her balance by slowly beating her wings. “I’ll stay here,” she said as Natooka, Talon and Ishtvan leapt down from her back. In the air above, Haitarus took up a scouting position.
Natooka then led Talon and Ishtvan down into the fortress. She signaled them both to be quiet as they came to the first room below the ramparts, a small guardhouse. There was no one inside so they pressed on, using only the light of the moon through the windows to guide them.
Farther down the stairs, there were a handful of torches on the walls and some lamps on little tables. They then came to another door. Natooka frowned. It didn’t seem as though it were occupied either. There was a light coming from under it but there were no sounds.
Talon looked at Natooka and she shrugged in return, reaching for the handle. It was unlocked. She gave Talon a nod and he and Ishtvan held short blades at the ready. Throwing daggers that Shaala had forged.
As Natooka opened the door, they moved to throw the blades but stopped. No one was inside... which was disappointing. If someone had been, they would have killed Savenya.
They continued down the stairs and came to the prison.
“Natooka?” Keld asked, keeping his voice down.
“I thought you might miss me,” she told him with a little smile. She nodded to Kaolin and the others as she pried at the lock with a small pin that Karn had given her.
“Of course,” Keld replied. “But I must admit, this is quite a surprise.”
“So’s seeing you all penned up in here,” Natooka countered. She pried the lock open and Keld, Kaolin, Kaodas and Lord Asmundyr hurried out. They then saw Talon and Ishtvan.
“And the surprises keep coming,” Kaolin murmured. She reached out and held Talon’s hands. “Is Kelahil safe?”
“He’s in Saharei with Lorial, Gandon and no Drach’nsvoiya dragons in sight,” Talon assured her.
Kaolin hugged him. “Thank you, Talon.”
Talon smiled. “It was nothing, my lady.”
“Knock that off,” Kaolin said, wiping some tears from her eyes. “We’re practically family.”
Talon smiled, some tears coming to his own eyes as well. “Sorry.”
“Where’s Savenya?” Natooka asked them.
“The last time we saw her, she was heading down to the lower levels,” Lord Asmundyr told her.
“Let’s see if we can dispatch her before we get to the villagers,” Natooka said to Talon.
“How do you know where everyone is?” Kaodas asked.
“Dragonets,” Natooka replied, giving him a grin.
“What are dragonets?”
“You’ll find out soon.” Natooka then turned to Ishtvan. “Ishtvan. Do your mother and Queen Heptapshu proud and take everyone up to the roof.”
“Wait,” Keld said to her. “Can’t we help?”
“Wish you could,” Talon told him. “But we don’t have any weapons for you.”
“There were some swords in the guardhouse back there,” Ishtvan said.
“Were there?” Talon asked him, frowning.
“Yes, there were,” Natooka said.
“All right,” Talon said, thinking. “Take Lord Keld there and the others can head for the roof.”
Natooka shook her head at him with an amused smile. “The Lord Keld, the Lady Kaolin, King Kaodas and Lord Asmundyr. Eirahir warriors to the core and you think they’re just going to go to the ramparts and wait for us?”
Talon nodded. “That was pretty stupid of me. All right, Ishtvan. Weapons for everyone.” He turned to Keld. “However, when we head down, Ishtvan and I will go first. Our weapons are a little different.”
A few minutes later, the party, now four stronger than they had been earlier, headed farther down the stairs. They came out into a larger part of the fortress, still high up. They approached one of the rooms on that level and Natooka listened to the faint noises that came from it with keen ears that missed nothing.
She opened the door before the others could say anything but she knew what she was doing. There was a dragon in the room but he was looking the other way.
There was a woman in the room as well, wearing little more than rags. She had more rags in her hands and there were piles of rags around her as well, some dry but most soaked, and she was kneeling on a stone floor while the dragon was sitting at a table above her. As they watched, he sculled some wine and then spilled some onto the floor in front of her.
“Ah, look! There’s more!” he cried out with laughter as the woman soaked it up with another rag from the pile by her side.
Talon threw one of Shaala’s blades into the small of the dragon’s back and the brute keeled over, collapsing on the floor. Then the woman saw them and wept with relief. She crawled over to them and threw herself at Kaolin’s feet. “Oh, my lady!”
“No, no, no,” Kaolin said, her voice filled with anguish. She crouched down and helped the woman up.
“So this is what Savenya’s thugs have been doing while she was sweet–talking me,” she said to Keld, cold anger rising through her. “How dare they?”
“Orleich?” a male voice called out from somewhere close by.
Everyone whirled around – their hands on their weapons – except Kaolin, who moved away from the door, sheltering the woman in her arms.
Another dragon appeared outside the room and his eyes lit up as he saw them all standing there.
“Saveny–arghh!” he shouted out, his cry cut off as Ishtvan threw his own dagger at him. The dragon raised his hand to defend himself but it tore a deep gash through his arm.
Clutching at his wound, he turned and ran for the stairs in long powerful strides, heading down and disappearing from sight.
“That’s Ilvenghaast,” Kaodas said to the others. “Savenya’s favorite among her two servants. Come on. We have to stop him!”
“Natooka! Ishtvan!” Talon shouted. “Stay with Kaolin and the woman.”
He ran off with Kaodas, Asmundyr and Keld close behind him. When he reached the stairs, he leapt down them two at a time. He wondered why Ishtvan’s dagger hadn’t affected Ilvenghaast as it was one of the ones that Shaala had made down in Saharei. However, as he caught sight of him again, he saw the dragon was slowing down and lurching from side to side.
Talon then felt a rush of air and saw that Lord Asmundyr had overtaken him on the stairs.
“I’ll handle this, son,” the older man shouted and then he leapt, holding a short sword out in front of him. And as he came down, the blade sank into Ilvenghaast’s back.
Ilvenghaast fell forward. And still gripping the handle of the sword, Asmundyr landed on him, sliding left of the hilt so he didn’t drag the blade back through himself. Then, as they fell to the next landing on the stairs, the two of them slid to a halt and Asmundyr climbed off the dragon’s corpse and stood up.
However, before the lord of Erahil had even a moment to admire his handiwork, Keld shouted out in excitement.
“Savenya!”
And sure enough, the dragon was there. And she had seen Ilvenghaast’s end. However, there were another two landings separating her from them and she was fast. The first thing she did was run for a window and for a moment, it looked as though she would leap out, chan
ging into her dragon form then and there. But she pulled her head back in with an expression of disbelief and fury, then turned and headed for another flight of stairs.
“They’re the main stairs that lead to the gate,” Keld shouted. “She’ll get away.”
They were running as fast as they safely could on the stairs but Savenya had already disappeared from sight.
At this point, Talon turned around to head back the way they had come.
“Stay with her and be careful!” he called after the others.
“Where are you going?” Keld asked, surprised to see the younger man abandoning the chase.
“To get help!” Talon called back, and he was already at the next landing above them.
Turning away, Keld continued down the stairs just behind Asmundyr, with Kaodas at the front. As they made their way farther and farther down, they passed several more Arahir women.
“My lords!” one of them exclaimed as they ran past.
“Did Savenya pass this way?” Keld asked them.
“She did but you must hurry,” the woman told him. “She’s very fast.”
Keld nodded and continued on, realizing that he was too old to be racing down flights of stairs like this. It was a huge fortress and everywhere there were disused corridors that led to battlements and armories. It had been Askenroth’s stronghold during the first great war and it had no doubt been expanded upon and modified many times during the years in which Askenroth and Gammoroth had stayed there under siege, which meant there were many rooms in which Savenya could hide from them if she chose.
Keld also wondered whether she might try taking one of the other Arahir women as hostages but they seemed to have passed all of them and were now in the bowels of the fortress.
Then they came to a halt.
All around them were Angdar soldiers and terror froze Keld in place. He had not seen this many Angdar in the one place since the war and he had been much younger then, with a better sword at his side than the one he was carrying. He’d also usually had more than two companions at his side as well.
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