by Sam Ferguson
Kyra sighed, and tried to concentrate on the two priests who were examining Leatherback. The dragon did not purr or close his eyes. He watched the priests warily, and that unnerved her.
Warty glanced to Dumbly and Glumly and then said, “They won’t hurt him. I promise. They are only ensuring the taint is not present.”
“I read a book once,” Kyra said quickly. “It said that you worshipped dragons, so how is it you now lord over him as if he is a threat? He has done nothing wrong. He has never hurt anyone.”
Warty smiled wider and nodded. “Well, perhaps no one human,” he countered. “I heard about the wylkins. We all agree that the two of you were responsible.”
Kyra grew silent.
“Your aura tells me that I am right,” Warty said.
“We helped a shepherd save his flocks,” Kyra said after a while. “Leatherback never touched any of the sheep, and we don’t need your lectures any more than we need praise from the shepherds.”
“Quite right,” Warty said with a nod. “I understand your motives. You seek not only to hunt your mother’s murderer, but also to prove that you are not merely the daughter of a vampire.”
Kyra’s face flushed with anger.
Warty put a hand on Kyra’s shoulder and the young sorceress pulled away sharply.
Upon seeing that, Leatherback stood up, pushing both Dumbly and Glumly away a few feet. The dragon snarled and looked down upon Warty with fierce eyes.
“Easy,” Warty said as he put his hand in the air. “I was only talking with her.”
“You make me uncomfortable,” Kyra said honestly.
Warty gestured for Glumly and Dumbly to step away. Then he backed away from Kyra a couple of steps. “I must apologize, for that was actually my intention,” Warty said with a bow of his head. “For weeks we have examined him,” he said, indicating Leatherback. “We have seen nothing in him that showed us the taint was present, but we can see a streak of ferocity in his aura that we have been trying to probe. It is true, we do worship dragons, but not all dragons. We worship only the Ancients. All other dragons are highly revered and respected, but they are less predictable, and capable of violence and destruction as much as benevolence and wisdom. Forgive us, but I had to know what actions might provoke a violent response from him.”
Warty then turned and bowed his head to Leatherback. “I now see that your ferocity is placed within your loyalty to Kyra. This is what we had been hoping to see. This helps us understand that your strength is not on the cusp of turning into feral anger.”
“What are you talking about?” Kyra asked. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at Warty.
The priest turned and smiled. “I am afraid we have not been entirely honest with you. You see, we can easily discern your aura at a glance. We could examine you even from a distance. However, dragons are more complicated. We cannot decipher their auras as clearly. We can see parts of it, but not all of it. In the past, some dragons have even been able to fool a few of our priests, which resulted in disaster. This is why we come so often, and must physically touch Leatherback for our examinations. This is why it also unnerves him as much as it does. I imagine that though our examinations are not painful for him, they might feel something like a worm or a snake working its way through his veins. Still, even with our combined efforts, we couldn’t see the extent of his ferocity. So, today we tried a new tactic. I am happy to say that if his anger has only ever been provoked upon him seeing you uncomfortable, or possibly under a perceived threat, then he is more than likely not a threat to others, so long as the taint never touches him that is.”
“I don’t want you to do that anymore,” Kyra said. “You can check for the taint, but don’t try to provoke him again.”
Warty smiled. “No, Kyra, we will not need to do that again. I have seen enough of him now to know his character. What you have here is a special bond.” Warty then turned to Leatherback once more. “Tell me one thing, if you love her so much, then why place her in danger by hunting wylkins?”
Leatherback snorted and a ball of fire shot out into the air a few feet before turning to a cloud of smoke. “Something hunts her. I protect her. I fight like Gorliad did. I protect my family.”
Warty nodded. He turned back to Kyra. “And why do you not just fly north, beyond the curse’s grasp?”
Leatherback answered for her. “Kyra still in danger. I am not strong enough to fly her with me that far. Now we fight. When I am bigger, we will leave.”
Kyra nodded and met the priest’s gray eyes. “Hopefully he will be ready soon, but until then, we will hunt down the creatures that have threatened me.”
Warty nodded. “We will reduce our examinations. From now on, I believe once a week is enough.”
Glumly cut in. “I should think that we ought to check him the same as we do now.”
Warty shook his head. “No, we do not need to.” He then smiled and bowed his head once more to Leatherback. He turned to Glumly and Dumbly. “Let’s head back now.” The other two priests began walking to the edge of the grove. Warty stepped in closer to Kyra. He didn’t fail to notice Leatherback tense. “Kyra, your bond here is something more than special. I should like to send a letter to our prelate. We have been keeping him apprised of the situation here, of course, but I want to ask him to send someone else here.”
Kyra shook her head. “I don’t want others to know where Leatherback is. What if the dragon slayers should see the message?”
Warty shook his head. “We priests do not command a wide array of spells, but along with our gift of true sight, we have the ability to write with magical runes. The paper will seem blank to anyone who should intercept it. Furthermore, the message itself will ask only that the individual meet us at the academy. I shall not divulge Leatherback’s location.”
“Who is it you want?”
Warty let out a soft sigh. “I will send for the Keeper of Secrets. It is a special officer within our order. I believe he may want to speak with you.”
“With me? What for?”
Warty pointed to Leatherback. “Whether it is by chance or design, you have stumbled upon the first dragon to be untainted by Nagar’s Blight in the last several hundred years. More than that, you have bonded with him and formed the most unlikely of alliances. The Keeper of Secrets would come to speak with you, for there is a prophecy about a dragon’s champion that is to rise, and save this land from Nagar’s Blight. I do not have the right to say it, but I wonder whether you might be that champion.”
Kyra’s eyes widened and she looked to Leatherback.
“What do you say, may I have your permission to send for the Keeper of Secrets?” Warty asked.
Kyra shrugged and continued to watch Leatherback.
The dragon grinned and nodded. “Send for Keeper. Kyra is a mighty champion.”
Chapter 9
After the priests had left the aspen wood, Kyra could tell that Leatherback was still a bit unnerved by how the entire examination had gone. She had a remedy though, as she usually did on examination day. She motioned for the dragon to lie down and then slipped a small book out of her bag.
“I brought another short story,” Kyra said. “I could read it if you like.”
Leatherback snorted, refusing to answer verbally.
Kyra moved in and sat in her spot, leaning back against the dragon’s neck. “I’m going to start reading. If you don’t like it, then we can go and swim.”
Leatherback closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
Kyra patted his neck and then opened the book of children’s stories. “Once there was an old man. He was poor, and had very little to eat. His shack had holes in the roof and cracks in the walls. His clothes were torn and dirty. Yet, despite his poverty, he was a happy man. He loved to whistle as he repaired his leaky roof or mended his clothes. He also sang while he worked in his garden pulling weeds and planting seeds.
“One night, late in the summer, a terrible thing happened. The air was so cold that ice and fros
t descended on the old man’s garden and killed all of his fruits and vegetables. The old man was very sad when he woke and saw his garden destroyed. Worse yet, he had only a small amount of food left in his shack.
“He tried to save something from his garden, but it was no use. Everything was ruined. The old man decided to travel to the city to hopefully find some work so he could buy enough food to get through the winter. He packed the last loaf of bread left in his cupboard, a bag of nuts, and the last of the pickled beans he had prepared the previous fall for him to eat on his journey.
“As he walked through the green forest, he met a man sitting next to a broken carriage. The man was obviously tired.
‘“Do you need any help?’ the old man asked.
‘“The wheel broke,’ the tired man replied. ‘My brother went for help yesterday, and should be back soon.’ The tired man’s stomach grumbled. ‘Do you have any food?’ he asked.
‘“I have a little,’ the old farmer replied. ‘I suppose I can share some.’ The old man opened his container of beans and gave it to the tired man.
‘“Thank you,’ the tired man said with a mouthful of beans. The old man smiled and walked onward. It wasn’t long before he saw a squirrel, crying on the side of the trail.
‘“What’s wrong little fella?’ the old man asked.
‘“A group of birds found my secret spot and stole all of my nuts. Now I have no food for my family for winter.’”
Leatherback snorted. “Squirrels don’t talk.”
Kyra jabbed him softly with her elbow. “Well, they do in this story, so hush.”
Leatherback grinned slightly, and Kyra knew that he was enjoying himself, despite the show he was putting on to the contrary. She began reading again from where she had left off. “The old man frowned. This was very sad news indeed. He couldn’t bear to watch the squirrel cry. ‘Do you have a big family?’ the old man asked the squirrel.
‘“There are thirteen of us altogether; six sons, five daughters and me and Mrs. Squirrel,’ Mr. Squirrel replied in a squeaky voice.
‘“Wow that is a big family!’ The old man reached into his sack and pulled out his bag of nuts. ‘Would this be enough for them?’
“The squirrel squealed and danced around joyfully. ‘Oh yes, yes, yes! Thank you!’ The squirrel took the bag of nuts and scurried off into the forest. The old man started whistling and walked along the road. After a while he stopped to rest on a large rock by a brook. He pulled out his bread and took a bite. As he chewed, a little fly landed on his nose.
‘“Excuse me sir, might I share your bread?’ the fly asked.”
Leatherback chortled and shook his massive head, jarring Kyra a bit as his neck moved. “No fly can speak, they are too small!”
“Shush!” Kyra said adamantly.
Leatherback blew through his mouth, letting his lips flap together to display his displeasure.
Kyra cleared her throat and read some more. “The old man wrinkled his brow and frowned. ‘I’m afraid this is all the food I have left.’
‘“I promise sir, if you let me eat first, there will be enough left for you,’ the fly said.
“The old man scratched his head. ‘Well, I suppose you are right.’ He set the bread down on the large rock for the fly and went to the brook to get a drink of water and wash his face. When the old man returned, the bread was gone. The fly lay on its back, patting its tummy and smiling.
‘“Thank you, sir,’ the fly said.
“The old man slumped to the rock and started to cry. ‘You ate every last crumb! Whatever shall I do now?’ The old man shook his head. ‘I thought you promised there would be enough left for me. Now I have no food.’
‘“Yes, I know,’ said the fly. ‘I saw you give your beans to the man with the broken wagon. I also watched you give your nuts to the squirrel. Then, even though it was the last thing you had left, you gave me your bread.’ The fly buzzed over to land on the old man’s knee.
‘“What shall I do?’ the old man asked again.
‘“Take me to the city, and I will get you enough food for the winter.’
‘“How can you do that?’ the old man asked.
‘“I am no ordinary fly.’ The fly buzzed its wings furiously, producing a fine yellow dust. ‘You have been very kind to others, and now I shall repay your golden heart.’
“The old man’s mouth fell open as the fly first doubled, then tripled in size. Soon it was as large as the old man’s fist. The yellow dust formed a cloud around the insect for a few minutes. ‘Remember,’ said the fly, ‘a man is judged by his heart. As you have a heart of gold, so shall your reward be.’ The yellow cloud dispersed, revealing a large, golden fly.
“The old man picked up the solid statuette and smiled wide. He took it to the city and sold it for enough money that he never worried about food again. He even bought a new house and clean clothes. But, he never forgot what the fly had said. For the rest of his days he continued to share what he had with others in need.” Kyra closed the book and looked to Leatherback. “Well, did you like it?” she asked.
Leatherback grinned. “Good story,” he said, “even if flies and squirrels can’t talk.”
“Well, I thought it was a nice moral. Be nice to others, and someday the niceness will return to you.” She patted him on the neck and was about to say something else, but then a flash of light erupted in the grove and Njar stepped through from his portal.
The satyr held a grim expression on his face and walked toward Kyra with a determined gait. “Kyra, you are in grave danger,” he said.
Leatherback began to stand. “Where is danger?” he thundered.
Njar shook his head. “Not yet, but they are coming for you.”
“Who is coming for me?” Kyra asked.
Njar summoned his staff and struck the ground. A golden wave of light went out in all directions, encircling the entire grove like a great bubble of magic. “This will help ensure no other prying ears can hear us.”
“Njar, what is wrong?”
“I have seen visions in the Pools of Fate. The shade comes for you, but he is not the only one.”
Kyra nodded. “Yes, I know of the vampire,” she said. “I found out from Kathair.”
Njar nodded. “This vampire is no simple foe. He is a great master of the arcane dark arts. If I had a thousand years, I do not believe you would be ready to face him, for he has had several thousand to perfect his abilities. He now also wields Stormfang, a powerful weapon once wielded by the founder of Kuldiga Academy.”
“Yes, I know,” Kyra said. “I saw all of this. Headmaster Herion had a special orb, and I watched this.”
Njar shook his head. “I will not even speak the vampire’s name,” he said. “Were I to do so, he might find us even now, and come for us.”
“Let him come,” Leatherback said with a defiant roar.
Njar shook his head and pointed his spear at Leatherback. “This vampire has killed more than a score of the dragon folk in his day. He is not one to be trifled with. No, you must run.”
“Where can we go?” Kyra asked.
Njar shrugged. “I do not know, but maybe it is time to try and fly to the north.”
“Why not go to Viverandon?” Kyra asked. “Surely the vampire won’t find us if we hide with you.”
Njar shook his head. “This vampire seeks something,” Njar said. “Perhaps if you give it to him, then he will let you go north.”
“What does he want?”
Njar sighed. “I saw a dagger in the Pools of Fate. I saw another vampire who once held the weapon. I then saw your mother kill that vampire with it. I believe this new vampire, the one who sent the shade to your house, seeks the dagger.”
“Then he must already have it,” Kyra said. “The shade killed my mother and her office was torn asunder. If she had the dagger before, then it is gone now.”
Njar shook his head. “No, I disagree. I have seen dark creatures in the Pools of Fate. They are circling closer to your home
once more. Others are coming closer to the academy. It appears as though they are looking for you, and for the dagger.”
“Did you see where the dagger is now?” Kyra asked.
Njar shook his head. “I saw your mother slay the vampire in the woods near your home. After that, I could no longer see the dagger. But, I did see that using the dagger awoke the second vampire. That is why he sent the shade to your home.”
“Then I should return to my home,” Kyra said. “If they are going back for it again, then I have to warn my…” Kyra stopped in mid-sentence. The word ‘father’ caught in her throat, and would not come out. “I should go.”
“I will go,” Njar said. “There is no reason to put yourself in peril this time. I suspect that the shade may be setting a trap.”
Kyra then remembered something from her encounter with the shade. “Actually, I think the shade asked me where the dagger was when we fought before. The dagger must be back at my home.”
Leatherback stepped forward. “I can take you,” the dragon offered to Njar.
Njar shook his head. “No, I will go alone. You will stay here. Kyra, I want you to return to the academy. The headmaster there would be able to protect you if anything came to the school. Go, now.”
“You said that you would help me find the garunda,” Kyra reminded him.
Njar nodded. “I suspect more than garunda are heading for your home as we speak. There is no debate on this. I go, and you will stay.”
Njar disappeared through a flash of light and was gone.
Leatherback reached down and nuzzled Kyra with his snout. “Go,” he said softly.
Kyra nodded, but she didn’t open a portal to Kuldiga Academy. She created one that went to the woods near Caspen Manor. She stepped forward and into the portal, but something snatched her and pulled her back. She felt long, hard teeth grab the back of her clothes and lift her up.
Kyra looked down to her portal and tried to squirm away. “Let me go!” she cried.
Just then, something stepped through the portal. It was a man, with only a loincloth covering him and black tattoos that stretched across nearly every inch of visible skin. He looked up and pulled a wicked knife.
