Dude. A staring contest? How in the hell had he lasted this long? He was like a petty villain. Although according to Aine, he was lucky and sneaky, which aided greatly in his survival. I couldn’t forget that.
“Very well.” He turned, heading for a door off to the side of the room.
I didn’t move. With him focused elsewhere, I took the time to look around. I could shift in here if I needed to. But getting Margrite out of here was the most important thing.
This looked like a dining room. There was a table against the wall, and another closer to the center of the room. Books and paper were scattered across the center table. Off to the left, a curtain surrounded a bed.
Then there was the room Eilor had just gone into. I leaned forward, trying to see. All the walls were stone, which made me think we were in a castle or something like it. Something really well built.
Eilor came out of the room carrying Margrite. Her head lolled against him. I hated that he was touching her. I just knew he had some kind of shitty bad guy funk. Aura. That’s what Margrite called it. You just know, sometimes. And I knew his aura was bad.
“Is she alive?” I kept my voice steady.
“She is. But the Realm is not good for her. We should get her back,” he put on false concern.
I had to focus to keep my breathing steady. “Give her to me. You open the portal.”
“No, that’s not how this will work, boy.”
It’s already started. I’m not Aodan anymore. Just ‘boy’.
“Then how will it work? Because I sure as hell don’t trust you.”
“I will open the portal. Then I will step through and put her back. I will then close the portal. During that, you will not harm me, or attempt to change things in any way. Should you do so, she will die.”
I let my mouth fall open. I’d been talking too much like me. “That’s not fair.”
Eilor laughed, a mean, hateful sound.
“It’s entirely fair, for me. As the victor in this situation, I get to decide what is fair. I am allowing this because it suits me to have you willing and unwilling all at the same time. Makes it sweeter somehow.” He smiled. That was hateful, too.
This guy had no redeeming qualities.
He waved a hand from under Margrite, and a portal began to open. Once it was larger, he held her closer to him and looked at me. “No tricks. No attempts of anything. Or she dies. I hope that we understand one another.”
“We do,” I said, clenching my jaw. I made sure to clench my hands, too.
Margrite stirred, mumbling something. Then she slid down from him.
“Stupid girl,” he said. “Put your arm around me.”
She mumbled again. Then lifted her head, and said, “Pancakes.”
“Now girl, or I’ll kill you and be done with this.”
Slowly, her arm reached up around his neck, then the other one joined it. I saw her fingers weakly trying to link together. One of her hands fell from his shoulders.
“Never mind, girl. Hold still.”
“Can I say goodbye?” I asked.
“No.” He stepped into the portal, and I could see him bend down and kind of toss her on the ground.
At least he didn’t kick her, like he had when I’d seen him before.
He stepped right back into the room, faster than I thought he could move. I saw Margrite sit up, a glint of gold in her hands as she held them to her chest. She looked at me, and then the portal closed.
She’d said what I thought she’d said. Now the question was, what did she have in her hand?
I looked at Eilor.
Then again.
Holy shit.
22
Eilor! I yelled as loud as I could in head talk.
Nothing.
Eilor! Is she alive? If she’s dead, we do not have a deal!
Nothing.
EILOR!
I looked at him. He was gathering something together off of the center table. Without looking up, he started to speak. “I will be moving forward with my plans, Aodan. You figure into those, and since you’re here, no sense in waiting. I want the dragons. I will have your magic.” He pulled a single sheet from the mess and holding it up. “This should do nicely.”
He stepped away from the table.
EILOR! I thought again, trying to shout.
He didn’t even flinch as he came toward me.
Can you hear me, Eilor! Fuck you!
Nothing.
She’d done it. She’d taken it. When—I realized when. And I had to stop myself from laughing.
I tried again because I couldn’t believe it.
Eilor!
He came to me and waved a hand in front of me. I felt all my muscles freeze. I could still breathe, but I couldn’t do anything else. Okay—I could sort of still breathe, if I took shallow breaths.
“That’s better,” he said. “First, I will need your blood.”
I tried to ask why, but since my lips wouldn’t move, it came out as an unintelligible sound.
“There’s no need for talking,” he said. “That’s why you’re immobilized. I neither want nor need to hear from you.”
Fangorn!
Yes? His reply was instant.
No time to explain, but he can’t hear us. Change of plans. Open a portal. Come and get me.
You’re sure?
Yes. But I don’t have much time. I can’t move. You need to hurry.
“Once I have the blood I need, then you and I are taking a little trip. Where are we going? Why, you’re going to take me to the Cavern of the Ancestors. I know you’ve been there. It’s the only place Fangorn could hide you from me. But no more. With you and your blood, they will let me in.”
He wants the Caverns, I thought. Hurry!
They all heard me. I could feel it, feel the anger.
We’re coming.
I forced myself to slow my breathing. Oh, shit. You’ll have to move me. I can’t move. I don’t know what kind of magic he used. There’s no time to look. Just so you know. I won’t be any help.
We will be fine. That was the male I’d heard in the Caverns.
Eilor was back at the table, checking a small bottle with a cork, or something like it, in the top.
“This should be enough. Then you will be mine forever.” He looked up and smiled at me.
I tried to shout “No!” but like before, it was garbled.
Widening my eyes, I did my best to look scared shitless. He liked that, and it made him careless.
Don’t mess with the people who have skills, I thought. We will kick your ass every time and be gone before you even realize it.
It was good that I couldn’t move. I wanted to laugh, which would blow the whole thing.
“Are you ready? You’re only here because of me, boy. If it weren’t for me, your father would not have been born. Nor would you. You’re mine, and you will never forget it again.”
Okay, crazy.
As he walked close to me I noticed he didn’t have anything that resembled a needle. I wondered how he planned to get blood.
The possibilities weren’t pleasant.
When he was about five feet away from me, the ceiling burst into flames.
He looked up, his hands flying over his head and blue flame shooting out from them.
That was a pretty impressive defensive response. He’d been hunted for some time. That and he knew he was up to shit. Made a person a little jumpy.
A bunch of dragons fell through the flames, mouths open and roaring, spraying fire.
Shit! Don’t burn me! I head yelled.
Be still Aodan. You will not burn. That was Fangorn.
Oh. That’s right. I wouldn’t. I’d already tried to burn myself and nothing happened. I was just panicked.
Eilor was shouting something. A large green dragon came through the flames and knocked the shit out of him with one claw. I would have laughed if I could.
Then it looked at me and winked.
That felt good.
/> I bet. Get me out of here!
The girl is safe?
Yes!
I felt claws grip my shoulders.
Relax, Aodan. I will not cut you.
That sounded more female.
As she rose, lifting me up to the hole in the roof, I tried to look down. The whole room was in flames. The dragon carried me out of the house, and I could see that it wasn’t a castle, but it was an impressive looking stone house, nonetheless.
It was also well hidden in the side of a cliff.
Yeah, this shitbag was good.
I felt the dragon increase speed, legs moving as her wings moved faster.
We will be there shortly, she thought to me.
Good. Is there someone who can unfreeze me?
Do what to you?
Allow me to move again.
Oh. I’m sure there is.
That lack of completely surety could be problematic.
I have him, she thought. Do not tarry.
We’re coming. That was Aine.
No! I thought. Aine! Don’t!
I worried about her getting caught by Eilor. He obviously had more of his weird experimenting in mind.
We need to finish this.
I think the dragons are doing that, I thought, remembering how much of the place was on fire when I was pulled out of the roof.
We need to be sure.
I didn’t answer. This was the plan. The fae would come in after the dragons. The only thing that had changed was how they got me out of there. And thanks to Margrite it was a lot easier than what we’d planned.
With Eilor freezing me, I’m not sure our plan would have worked, much as I hate to admit it. Part of what we’d planned needed me to move freely. So this was good even though I generally didn’t like changing things mid-stream.
The dragon carrying me slowed, swooping toward the ground. I could see that we were approaching a cliff, and I hoped like hell it was the one Fangorn and I had been standing on a little while ago.
When she dove, I felt my stomach venture up to my throat. Gross. I couldn’t even close my eyes.
Thankfully, she flew fast enough that there wasn’t time for my stomach to decide that it was time to puke. She put me on the ground lying on my back.
Dear sweet hell, thank you. Thank you for letting me not puke in my mouth.
Okay. Medic! I thought.
What is a medic?
Someone who can take care of medical—health issues, I amended my thoughts. They might not know the terms. The dragons spoke more formally, like people from one hundred years ago. I found myself falling into it at times.
I lay in silence. There was nothing to do but wait.
Are the others back? I sent the question out to whoever might be here.
They are on their way. That was the female who had carried me out.
What is your name? I asked.
I am Imi. It means Tender One.
If you’re tender, what is fierce?
She put off a sense of power and strength.
Imi laughed. It’s not my only quality, Aodan.
I could hear her laughter in my head.
I am fierce, another—male—voice joined in. I am Kyldret. I am the Life Giver. And the Life Taker.
He sounded fierce. He was the one who’d sounded ready to drop Eilor when we were talking before I portaled to him.
As am I, a female voice I hadn’t heard before said. I am Ymri, the Taker of Life. I give nothing. She sounded proud of that.
Except death, Kyldret added.
They all sounded amused.
This was a better ending than I’d expected.
Fangorn?
I am nearly there.
Is everyone else all right?
They have checked the dwelling, and it is now burning.
Is Eilor dead?
Silence, and then, No.
What do you mean?
He was not in the dwelling when the fae searched it. Aine went over the dwelling carefully. He was not there.
Jeesh. He’s like a cockroach. And you blew the place up?
We set it alight.
Same thing. Where could he go?
I wish that I knew, Aodan. We are still not safe with him here.
Damn it. None of us were safe. Margrite and I weren’t safe. Why couldn’t he just die like anyone else in the same situation would?
I could hear a flurry of wings, and then Fangorn landed near me. There were other dragons, but they retreated quickly.
Voko? Fangorn was looking around the main cavern.
I am here.
That was the older female I’d heard before.
More shuffling, and then I could see a pale, golden-colored dragon leaning over me.
I remembered that Fangorn had mentioned her. The mother of all was how he described her. And the closest thing to a dragon doc, apparently.
What did he use? Fangorn asked.
She got closer.
This is an old spell. She looked up at him. It’s a variation on one of ours.
Doesn’t he make the connection that you’re dragons? I asked.
Voko shrugged.
I would never get tired of a dragon saying ‘whatevs.’ Not ever. They didn’t need to speak. Their body language did it so well. I’d have to practice that move. Because it was so very cool.
We are merely a tool and because he held us captive for so long, I don’t believe he sees us as capable beings. That doesn’t matter. Can you break it, Voko? Fangorn sounded irritated.
I got it. I couldn’t believe the cockroach was still alive.
Voko inhaled, and then leaned down to me, touching my forehead with her snout. A golden light blinked in front of me, momentarily blinding me.
Try moving, she said.
I tried to blink, and my eyes hurt. My eyelids wouldn’t close all the way.
Then I tried to lift my arm.
It came up and patted Voko on the side of her face.
Thank you, I said. I wasn’t trying to be rude. I dropped my hand immediately.
Her mouth curved upwards. I know that, youngling. Take your time, but get up. She turned and moved away.
Fangorn huffed and a small flame shot out of his mouth. Then he shifted.
“You are all right?”
“Stiff but yes. I’m fine. How the hell did he get away?”
Fangorn shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Aine! He called out to her.
I am here.
Any sign of Eilor?
No. The fire burned all the books and paper he had, so that’s potentially good.
Why potentially? I asked.
We may have need of the information that was in the books. He has stolen much from the Realms.
She was pissed, too.
I hadn’t thought of that. I could see where that would be a negative thing.
“Aodan, why did you tell me that the plans had changed? I trust you, and it was wise to do so, but I would like to know why?”
I could tell that all the dragons were listening. I could feel the weight of their listening.
“Because I remembered what you said about the pendant—the one where Eilor added your blood?”
He nodded. His movements were short, a sure sign of his anger.
“He wasn’t wearing it. I don’t know where it was. But I took a chance.”
“How could you know?”
“I yelled at him, cursed at him.”
“I heard that.”
“He didn’t answer, he didn’t even flinch. If someone head yelled at me like that,” I said, using Drake’s words to describe what we did, “I would at the very least flinch. It’s like yelling in someone’s ear. It made my ears hurt. He didn’t even show a sign that he heard me.”
“That was what made you change plans?”
“Yes. It’s a good thing I did, too.”
“Why?”
“Because had we stuck to our plan, I’d still be there. He immobilized me. I w
asn’t able to move. Not to speak, nothing. I couldn’t even blink!” I was starting to feel like this had moved to an interrogation, and a less than friendly one.
Our plan had called for me to shift and disable, or at least distract, Eilor. Once I was a dragon popsicle without all the ice that wasn’t possible. I didn’t want to have to explain all this. It’s why, even with the best plans, you still had to be able to change, and adapt.
Nala’s words came back to me.
“Part of Strength is being able to accept the new, or things that are outside our norms.” Is this what she meant?
Fangorn studied me. “It was a risk, but it was a wise risk. He might yet still have the pendant. I will keep seeking it, and him.”
I do not have any idea why I didn’t tell them I thought I might know where it was. I couldn’t be sure. It was a calculated guess on my part. That was all.
“I think you should try calling him, baiting him.”
“Why?”
“Because that guy is a total arrogant douchebag. He really likes the sound of his own voice. I kept waiting for him to head talk with me, but he wanted to talk about how he beat me and what he was going to do with talking. He was gloating, the smug bastard.”
“That’s like him. What are your plans now, Aodan?”
23
I hesitated before I answered. “I’m going back to my world.”
There was a moment before many voices burst forth in my head.
Why? Fangorn silenced them all.
“Because that is my world. My friend is there. She and I have an agreed-upon meeting place whenever we are separated. I need to see that she’s okay.”
“You belong here.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m part of another world. There is part of me that is here. I can’t deny that.” I thought about Aine, and Fangorn, and all the dragons here. Of Drake, and Iris and Brennan. They were family as well.
“Before you go, you must meet with the fae. They are part of you as we are.” He was firm.
Damn it.
I only had a limited amount of time here.
Margrite had said “Pancakes.”
That meant she’d meet me at the shed at the back of the lot of one of the diners at the edge of the city. They had the best pancakes ever, and they made banana pancakes for Margrite. It was one of our code words. If we got separated, we’d do what we could to share the code word. The shed had a cellar. I thought it might have been an old root cellar or something like that.
Dragon Lost Page 21
