Whisper

by Christine Grey

  Dearra was also feeling a bit overwhelmed. Brin had told her his story, but she had no idea the story had affected so many, or that there was an entire race of people committed to aiding him. She was embarrassed to realize she had never given any thought to helping Brin. To her, he was her friend and her weapon. Stopping to ponder him caged, trapped against his will, was uncomfortable, in much the same way it was when she thought of Pip in the same situation. Her love for Phillip insisted she take action, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do to free him. Now that same love for Brin was needling her to act on his behalf, though she wasn’t sure exactly what she could do to help.

  Darius felt Dearra’s grip tighten and loosen around his waist as she rode behind him. He knew she was wrestling with something inside herself. Darius wondered how Brin was doing with all of this. The dragon hadn’t spoken much, which wasn’t normal. You, all right, Brin? He asked.

  I’ve been trapped in a sword for a thousand years, strapped to the hip of a teenaged girl-warrior, and now I have Tolah only knows how many fairies all chomping at the bit to “save” me. How do you think I am?

  I can see how all that could be tough on you, but it’s not as though the fairies are against you. I would think it would be much worse if that were the case.

  There’s no telling with the Etrafarians. They are devoted to Rah and trying to do his will. The only problem with that is that sometimes they get it wrong. Tolah knew Rah. He was here in the beginning when Rah spoke openly to his children. Tolah says that while Rah is a loving and compassionate god, he is also unpredictable. It’s all a bunch of nonsense if you ask me. I trust what I can see and touch.

  Tell me, Brin: do you trust Dearra?

  Of course I do.

  You trust her because she loves you, and you know she would do anything for you, right?

  Absolutely.

  Tell me, Brin’du Drak’Tir, what does love look like? What does it feel like?

  Shut up, Darius.

  Darius chuckled softly to himself. I’m just saying that not everything can be seen or touched. I see no dragon, but one is with me none the less.

  Have you always been this annoying?

  Worse, my friend, much, much worse. You should meet my father. He could tell you stories that would make your tail curl.

  Do you ever miss your family, Darius? Brin asked seriously. From what I know of you, family is very important. I would think it to be very difficult for you to be separated from them.

  Darius seemed to consider Brin’s question carefully before he answered. It was hard, Brin, but not in the way you mean. I am not alone, now; it was the first nineteen years of my life that were spent in solitude. I had to leave my home to find my family.

  You’re a good man, Darius.

  Brin! That’s very kind of you. Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell people you have a soft heart and that you can be nice when the mood strikes you?

  No, not really. Who would believe it?

  Darius laughed aloud, startling Dearra and Carly. “Sorry,” he said. “Brin was—”

  “Say no more,” Dearra said. “I completely understand.”

  ***

  Hugh paced anxiously in front of the stables and rushed forward to meet them when they arrived. He reached up to help Dearra down from her perch and scolded Darius sharply. “Boy, you could give some thought to a father’s feelings. Jacob tries to harm our girls only last night, and now you’re out until all hours, with no word to anyone.”

  Khan lowered himself down to one knee to allow Carly to gently slide to the cobbled street. “Peace, Lord Hugh,” Carly said. “You sent us for answers, and we have them. Come, now. We’re all hungry and tired. Let’s not stand in the street arguing over things that cannot be changed.”

  “Well put, Carly,” Daniel said, as he stepped from the shadows. “He’s been a bear since late afternoon, pacing around and making everyone tense. I told him you would be along when you were finished and to stop worrying so much.”

  “Sound advice, Weapons Master,” Darius said, nodding. “So you were only out here to pace beside him for moral support?”

  Having been caught, all Daniel could do was shrug and grin.

  “Well, we’re here now, so let’s go in to our meal,” Dearra said. “Carly has a lot to share with you.” She stood on tip toe and kissed her father’s cheek. “Thanks for worrying about me, Father.”

  Hugh grumbled something about headstrong daughters and Breken boys, but Dearra only laughed and tugged him towards the inn.

  Daniel took Carly’s arm, but when he moved, she remained still, and he looked down at her with concern. Her eyes were dark, thin worry lines were etched into her forehead, and she looked tired out.

  Carly crooked a finger at him, and he lowered his head. She kissed his cheek, as Dearra had done to Hugh a moment earlier, wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Thanks for worrying about me.”

  Daniel held her close. She rubbed her soft cheek against his rough one. She was so little and seemed so fragile; he hated to see her worried. His mouth touched hers in a sweet kiss that turned more heated as her embrace tightened around his neck. It seemed to Daniel she was using the kiss to seek solace in order to escape from the events of the day. Her motives soon grew unimportant to Daniel when he found himself matching the urgency of her kiss.

  Their moment together ended abruptly when Khan whinnied loudly from his stall. The sound of splintering wood rent the air as powerful hooves smashed against the door that held him. The boys who had cared for the animals housed there approached nervously, and began their efforts to calm him.

  Carly rolled her eyes. “He’s not a good sharer,” she explained. She went inside and stroked a hand against the agitated animal’s neck. “Easy, Prince. Easy now, most magnificent of horses. Shhhh, hush. Rest now, Khan. Eat well, and dream of the paradise that comes after this world, fields of clover, and sunshine, and many, many mares.” The horse nickered contentedly.

  She turned to Daniel. “Come on, Daniel,” she said. “He’ll be all right, now.” Carly turned towards the inn.

  “You go ahead, sweet. I just want to talk to the stable boys a moment. Make sure they know what to do if he acts up again.”

  Carly nodded and gave him a loving smile before turning and heading inside, but instead of speaking to the stable boys, Daniel turned to Khan and said, “You understand me, don’t you?”

  Khan tossed his head as if nodding.

  “You’re devoted to her, I get that. I even appreciate that,” Daniel said softly.

  Khan pawed the ground with one hoof and threw his head high.

  “But listen carefully, Prince Pain in the Butt, if you ever ruin a moment like that again I’ll see to it that you get to see that horse paradise Carly was talking about. Now, do we understand one another?” Daniel asked.

  When no answer came, Daniel said, “Good, then.” But as he turned to go, Khan spun in his stall so that his back end faced Daniel, lifted his tail, and produced a rather impressive pile of dung. When he had finished, he pivoted so that he was facing Daniel again and whinnied a high, long sound that Daniel thought sounded remarkably like laughter.

  “Stupid, horse,” he mumbled, and left the stables.

  ***

  Daniel entered the inn and made his way to the common room, following the voices of his friends.

  “Daniel’s not going to like it,” William said, shaking his head.

  “Not going to like what?” Daniel asked casually. The fact that Carly’s was the only happy face in the room should have told him it was something bad.

  “Well,” Hugh began, “our Breken visitor has decided we are to be trusted enough for a one on one conversation with his master, as well as the opportunity to check on Phillip and ensure he is well.”

  “I don’t understand,” Daniel said. “That’s good, isn’t it? At the very least, it means we’re one step closer to finishing this and getting home.”

  Darius spoke next, taking the burden
from Hugh: “True, Daniel, but you understood from the beginning that this was going to be a long, drawn out affair. The Breken are a much ritualized people in some ways. I think it makes up for the everyday chaos around them to have certain ways of conducting business.”

  “Yeah, I got that. So what am I not going to like?”

  Hugh cleared his throat, as if willing himself to speak.

  Carly bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, as if fighting to stay silent.

  Darius spoke in answer to his question, saving Hugh, yet again. “The meeting is only for one negotiator. The rest of us will stay here. That’s the arrangement.”

  Thin lines of concern appeared on his forehead. “Which one is it to be?” Daniel asked.

  Hugh came forward and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We agreed, before we ever set out, who would fill that role.”

  Realization finally dawned on Daniel and he said, “Not a chance! No. I suggested we bring her along because I…because I wanted to…because—”

  “It doesn’t matter why, Daniel,” Darius said. “The Breken know she’s our negotiator now, and they will have no other.”

  “When did all of this happen? I was here when Behrouz came. I don’t remember any of that.”

  “You had gone out to look for Carly, and it just sort of came up.” Hugh rubbed a hand at the back of his neck, trying to ease some of the tension growing there.

  “Just sort of came up? What in Cyrus’s name, Hugh? What were you thinking?” Daniel shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what the Breken will or will not have. We’ll just have to send someone else.”

  Carly had been patient long enough, and she opened her mouth to have her say. “Now listen here: I am more than capable of seeing to this. I have a hundred times more experience than any of you when dealing with this sort of thing.”

  “Carly, sweet,” Daniel said, taking her hands in his. “You haven’t exactly been yourself lately. Calm is needed for these negotiations. What happens if you have one of your…your fairy moments? What then?”

  Carly chewed on her lower lip. He was right, of course. In order to do this she would need to be in complete control. What if she slipped? She longed for the adventure, but she also worried about her ability to control her budding abilities. Luckily, Darius interrupted to save her from having to decide.

  “She has to go, Daniel. To send someone else now would be an insult. It would be as good as shouting from the middle of the streets that we don’t trust them.”

  “We don’t!” Daniel bellowed.

  “No, but to say so openly could endanger Pip.”

  Daniel sighed. “I see I have no choice in all of this. What about sending someone with her? I would feel so much better about it if we were able to send someone with her.”

  “We can,” William said softly.

  Hugh shot him a threatening look.

  “Well then, that’s different!” Daniel said, having already decided he would make the best escort.

  Daniel’s demeanor had cheered noticeably, but Darius stiffened and turned his attention to William. “Not Dearra,” Darius growled.

  Dearra’s head snapped up, her eyes sparkling with interest.

  “They can’t force us to send her, Darius,” Hugh said consolingly.

  “He was pretty specific,” William said, earning him another glare from Hugh.

  “Is that true?” Dearra asked. “She can bring me as escort?”

  “Or go alone,” Hugh said. “Honestly, Dearra, why would they harm Carly? There would be no gain in it for them.”

  “Father!” Dearra shouted. “How can you even think of sending her out into the desert alone? There are more than Breken warriors out there to be wary of. It’s a two day trip, alone across the sands. How could you even consider such a thing as sending her by herself?” Dearra wrapped her arm around Carly’s waist, and the two young women stood united.

  “What about those sand serpents Darius told you about?” Hugh asked, desperately casting about for anything that might prevent his remaining child from putting herself under Breken control. “What are the two of you going to do against something like that?”

  “Darius and I talked about that, Father. He told me those snakes are very, very rare, and that even those who live in the desert could easily go their whole lives without ever seeing one. Isn’t that right, Darius?”

  “Yes, I did say that, but—”

  “See, Father? There’s nothing to worry about. You wouldn’t really make her go without me, would you?”

  The men knew they had been defeated, made helpless by the two girls uniting against them on the matter.

  ***

  As she lay in bed that night, her mind focused on the coming mission, Dearra was unable to fall asleep.

  Dearra, you could have been a little nicer to the men at supper this evening.

  “Oh, Brin, don’t be that way. I would have thought you would be thrilled at this chance.”

  Not really. To be honest with you, I have no desire to ever see Darak again.

  “Don’t be a baby, Brin. It’s just a place. Hathel is long dead. You know there’s nothing there that can harm you anymore.”

  Yes, well, we all have our irrational fears, don’t we? Brin snapped, annoyed at being called a baby.

  Dearra laughed at her friend. “Not me! But I suppose that’s because I am just naturally stronger than you,” she teased.

  Dearra? Brin said, his voice icy. Have you forgotten how we are getting to Darak? he asked, certain that she had, indeed, forgotten, in anticipation of the journey ahead of her. Two whole days on the back of a horse. And not just any horse, but the biggest, strongest, most dangerous horse ever to draw breath. I sure am glad you aren’t bothered by irrational fears. Well, goodnight, Dearra.

  Dearra swallowed the hard lump in her throat and stared wide-eyed at the ceiling above her. “Night, Brin,” she said with a catch in her voice. It was three long hours before sleep finally claimed her.

  Chapter 26

  “There’s no way, Darius,” Daniel said. He paced back and forth across the floor, his step so heavy, his boots scuffed the wood beneath him. “There’s no way they can just go off into the desert alone. I won’t have it.”

  Darius sat silently in a chair, his long legs stretched out before him, the glow from the fire lighting his face. He gave no indication that he’d heard Daniel’s rant other than when his hands flexed on the arms of his chair.

  “Two little girls, out there where anything could happen to them,” Daniel continued. “Dearra’s a fine warrior, but she doesn’t know this region. The animals here are different from home, and they will be outnumbered by Breken.” He resumed his pacing.

  Darius stared into the flames before him, his eyes growing darker in the flickering light.

  “I don’t know why we let a bunch of Breken dictate to us anyway. Are we men or not?” Daniel slowed his pacing as he saw the effect his last words had on Darius, who had straightened noticeably in his chair. “Not to mention Jacob,” Daniel prodded. “Who knows what trouble he could cause?”

  Darius sprang suddenly to his feet and headed towards the stairs.

  “Where are you going?” Daniel called.

  “To pack. We’ll want to have everything ready if we’re to follow after the girls in the morning.”

  A slow smile spread across Daniel’s face, and he followed Darius up the stairs to make ready.

  ***

  Dawn came. Dearra sat behind Carly on Khan as he pranced sideways, eager to be off. He was annoyed to be wearing a bridle, but Carly thought it was better to be safe than sorry, seeing that, if Dearra needed to control the animal, he would not respond to her as he did to Carly.

  Hugh stepped forward and took each of the girls’ hands in his own. “Be safe, and hurry back.”

  Carly wheeled Khan around, and gave him his head. The men watched as they raced through the cobbled streets. It wasn’t long before the pounding of hooves on stone faded into
the distance.

  “Darius?” Daniel said.

  “Get the horses ready, but there is no rush. I am familiar with their destination. We will be less conspicuous if we wait until they make their way out a bit. Once we’ve reached the dunes we should be able to follow them a bit more closely, but the ground’s too flat until then.”

  “I don’t like it,” Daniel said. “What if something happens? What if they need help and we don’t know it?”

  “Not to worry, I have ways of knowing these things,” Darius said, smiling broadly.

  “Don’t tell me you have some kind of strange fairy powers, too. I don’t think I could handle it if you did.”

  “I have something even better than fairy powers.”

  “Better?” Daniel asked.

  “Yes. I have Brin.”

  A smile grew on Darius’s face, which was soon matched by the one on Daniel’s. Somehow, Darius had convinced the dragon to keep their secret from Dearra and agree to help them follow. “How?” was all Daniel could ask.

  “I owe it all to you, Daniel. Last night, when I was arguing with Brin in front of the fire, I thought his mind was made up, but when you mentioned Jacob, that swung things in our favor.”

  “You’re something, you know that? I thought it was you who I had convinced with Jacob’s name, not some dragon.”

  “The truth is I really didn’t need any convincing, but if I had, that would surely have done it.”

  Daniel chuckled and went to get the horses, shaking his head as he went.

  Hugh had been holding back, but now that Daniel had gone to the stables and William had headed back inside, he felt free to speak. “It kills me to not be going with you, Darius.”

  “I know, Lord Hugh, but it has to be this way. If you were taken, it would be the end of us all.”

  “That’s something I don’t understand, Darius. There are hundreds of them that could simply come in here and drag me away. What prevents them from doing that?”