Sarah’s eyes widened in recognition, and a thin red blush crept into her cheeks. “Oh, that,” she said hastily. “Right, we’re sorry, it’s just—”
“Worry not,” said Bonebreaker, the low rumble of his voice cutting her off. “Hearken now. See my claws?” He held up his front leg. His five claws, longer than my whole body, splayed themselves in the air.
I nodded, and the others did the same.
Bonebreaker turned to Thunderfoot. Without speaking a word, she made the same gesture. Her claws splayed in the air…and there were four of them.
My eyes shot wide. “Girls have four claws?”
“Four in the front, and five on our hind legs,” said Thunderfoot. I looked back to see her rear leg and its five digits. “Bonebreaker, you will see, has four upon his hind legs, as do all males. There are other differences, to be sure, but I think this you will see more easily than the others.”
Sarah, Blade and Miles laughed nervously. I could only retreat further behind my hair. Now that I could see it, it seemed so obvious. I wondered why we’d never noticed it before. Then again, when a dragon was talking, I didn’t look at its feet. It was hard to look past the gigantic fangs that were usually much closer to my face than I wanted.
Sarah bowed. “Thank you for showing us,” she said, her voice heavily layered with relief. “I wish we had thought to ask sooner.”
“I wonder that it seems of such concern to you,” said Bonebreaker. His head cocked slightly as he looked at her. “It seems of little consequence, and yet your joy at finding this truth seems great.”
Blade smirked. “Well, we’re not exactly big on dissing you guys on your own turf, you understand,” he said. “We’re in your home, on your mountain. I don’t want to accidentally call you a girl and have you eat me before I know what I did wrong.”
Bonebreaker gave a long, slow blink. “I do not understand. What insult would be delivered?”
Blade blinked. He opened his mouth. Beside him, Miles kept glancing back and forth between Blade and Bonebreaker, his eyes flying like he was watching a tennis match. Sarah gave Blade a smug look, waiting for his answer.
Blade threw his arms up in the air and turned around, walking back toward Nightclaw’s nest. “Whatever, man,” he muttered. “I’m going to finish my breakfast.”
Sarah shook her head and rolled her eyes before giving me a look. “You okay out here?” she said.
“Fine,” I replied. “I just wanted to take a little walk.”
“Don’t go far,” she said, frowning a bit. “We’ll need to go to the Council hall as soon as Calvin and Raven wake up.”
“I won’t,” I said. “I just want to get some fresh air.”
Sarah nodded and turned to go back inside the nest, Miles at her heels. The Runegard trailed after them both, with only Nora staying outside with me.
I turned back toward the open sky and the open lands beyond, taking them in. It seemed like a good morning to appreciate the size of the world, and the beauty of it. Considering that today the dragons might decide to eat us, I thought.
In my heart, I knew that was ridiculous. Blackscale would never vote against us. Cloudsplitter seemed very friendly, and Longtooth just seemed old and thoughtful, but not hostile. Even Windfang, the grumpy Elder we’d met, didn’t seem to hate us. She just didn’t want us around. Only Redwing had shown any desire to actually hurt us.
I was way more concerned about whether or not the dragons would decide to help us. That was a lot more dicey. If they didn’t, I had no idea what we were supposed to do. Were we just going to hike all the way across Midrealm back to Morrowdust, with no dragons, in the exact same place we were when we left?
What other choice would we have, if the vote went against us?
I walked toward the path that led around the mountain’s edge. Bonebreaker followed not far behind, while Thunderfoot remained behind to guard the entrance to Nightclaw’s nest.
“You said that Thunderfoot was your hatchmate,” I said, glancing up at the dragon. “What does that mean?”
“Our eggs grew together,” explained Bonebreaker. “Long did we both wait in the darkness and warmth, guarded by our parents. We broke free within weeks of each other. We shed our skins on the same day. There is no greater bond between kin.”
I put my hand on the pouch that now held not only my runestone, but the golden scale that Cloudsplitter had let me take. “How are you two related?” I asked.
“My mother’s father’s son is Bloodtooth, her father,” said Bonebreaker. The sentence rolled off his tongue with ease, but I had to take a few seconds to figure it out.
“So you’re cousins?” I asked.
He peered at me. “This word is odd, and yet I hear a meaning in it that is true.”
I glanced back at Thunderfoot’s massive form curled up outside the nest. “If she’s Bloodtooth’s daughter, why is she on our side?” I said. “He seems to hate us.”
Bonebreaker gave a long, rumbling sigh. “The ties of kin do not always bind us tightly. Sometimes this is well. If Blackscale believed in his father’s words as strongly as Bloodtooth, he would not help you. Though Thunderfoot was born of the one bloodline, she has always held Blackscale’s word in higher regard than his brother’s.”
“Lucky for us, I guess,” I said quietly.
“I should hate to have to keep track of the workings of this place,” said Nora lightly from beside me. “It is hard to remember who is kin and who sides with who.”
“We grow used to it after long practice,” said Bonebreaker. “Centuries upon the mountain teach one to keep his friends and enemies firmly in mind.”
“Tess!”
The call pulled my attention to the mouth of the cave. Thunderfoot rose to her feet as Sarah and the others emerged into the light of morning. Calvin and Raven had finally joined them. Calvin was still blinking sleep from his eyes, and Raven looked sullen and grumpy.
“We’re all here,” said Sarah, her voice heavy. “We should be getting to the Council hall.”
“Okay,” I said quietly. “I’m ready.”
Sarah looked around for a moment as Nightclaw emerged from the mouth of the nest behind her. “Where is Blackscale? Is he coming with us?”
“He left word that he would await you within the Council hall,” said Nightclaw. “He will no doubt wish to be there as the rest of the Council arrives.”
“Okay,” said Sarah. “Then I guess we’d better be going.”
Bonebreaker and Thunderfoot took the lead, with Nightclaw following along behind us. Our little procession made its way along the mountain paths toward the massive stone structure that housed the Council hall. Above us, countless dragons wheeled in the sky. Others peered at us from the openings of their nests, their sharp hunter’s eyes fixed on every step we took. I began to feel self-conscious and ducked further into my hair.
We walked into the Council hall to a sound louder than the loudest rock concert imaginable. The dragons of the Council were perched upon the massive stone pillars at the other end of the hall, their eyes upon us as we came in. Above them, all along the walls up and down either side of the hall, dragons perched on the stone shelves and lingered in the windows above us. Their voices rose to a fever pitch as we entered. But the Council members remained silent.
I felt my pulse begin to race. My breathing quickened. Then I caught sight of Blackscale on top of his pillar. He was studying us carefully, his body still and calm. It gave me strength, like a thick wall to lean on. I forced myself to breathe normally.
As we neared the stone pillars and the golden chairs, Blackscale finally moved. He pushed off from the pillar and fell to the ground. In midair he twisted and turned, his wings wrapping around himself as his whole form seemed to implode. It reminded me of films we’d seen in science class of stars collapsing in on themselves.
Blackscale landed, but he wasn’t exactly Blackscale any more. He was a tall figure wrapped in dark green and black clothes, with scaly skin, a long
snout with pointy teeth, and two swords on his back.
I gasped at the transformation. Sarah and Calvin had told us about earthbinding, of course, but I hadn’t seen it yet. After hanging around with dragons for a few days, I wondered at the fact that this transformation still had the power to shock me so badly.
One by one, the other Council members dropped from their pillars toward the ground. Each of them twisted and folded their wings around their bodies, and by the time each reached the stony floor, they were earthbound. Five humanoid figures covered with scales stood before us for just a moment before stepping forward to take their places in the five golden chairs. Longtooth nearly stumbled as he walked forward, but Blackscale reached out and took his arm, helping him step forward and take his seat.
We stopped a good twenty feet away, standing before them like criminals on trial. Redwing’s eyes flashed as she studied us, her fury evident even in her earthbound form. Blackscale nodded at me as he caught my eye. Cloudsplitter slouched a bit in his seat, looking almost bored. Longtooth leaned heavily on his chair arm, propping up his snout with one hand.
Above us, the dragons on the walls slowly grew silent. Behind us, Bonebreaker still stood fast with Nightclaw and Thunderfoot. Soon the Council hall was quiet, with only the faint leathery rustling of wings above and the wind whistling through the door behind us.
“The Council is seated,” said Longtooth slowly. “Upon us lies the burden of judgement. We will hear the words of the Realm Keepers and deliver our doom. Which among you will speak?”
Sarah took a half-step forward, just enough to put herself in front of the rest of us. “I’ll speak for us. If it’s all right, others might talk from time to time if they have something important to say.”
Longtooth nodded slowly. “It is well. Even a leader cannot be all things. Why have you come to the Wyrmspire, Keeper of Earth?”
Blade gave a heavy sigh beside me. Blackscale’s eyes fixed on him sharply, and I put a hand on his arm. No doubt he was exasperated that we’d spent the last two days meeting the Elders and talking with them, and now we had to explain ourselves again. But I knew we couldn’t afford to be annoyed here or try to hurry the proceedings along. The dragons were big on their rituals and their rules.
Sarah rolled forward as though she hadn’t noticed anything, though she had to have heard him. “We’ve come to ask for your help. Chaos is invading Midrealm. They’re striking at the humans from all sides, and we believe they may have infiltrated the Elves as well. There’s no telling what’s been happening with the Dwarves, but the scale of their attacks is massive. We want to rebuild the alliance that we had with the dragons in the old days. Together, we think we have a chance of beating Terrence and his army.”
I had expected the dragons above us to start talking again at some point, maybe to react with anger when we talked about rebuilding the alliance. But the Council hall was still deathly silent. Either their manners were incredible, or they were waiting to see what would happen next.
“Is this the whole of your request?” said Longtooth slowly.
Sarah was silent for a moment. Then she nodded. “Yes.”
Longtooth nodded before turning and looking at the other Council members around him. “Very well. We have heard these Realm Keepers. What words have those of the Council?”
“I would speak,” said Redwing immediately. My heart dropped.
Longtooth nodded again. “Your words will be heard, Elder Redwing.”
“The Realm Keepers’ presence on the mountain is nothing less than a desecration,” Redwing spat. “They come with their talk of war, seeking to use dragon lives to save humans. And they have committed high crimes against we of the mountain. I have caught these Realm Keepers in a lie.”
My stomach did flip-flops. A lie? None of us would have been stupid enough to do that. What was she talking about? I glanced nervously at Blade beside me. To my surprise, I found him smiling.
Still, only deathly silence reigned in the hall.
Sarah’s head jerked at Redwing’s words, but she held her peace. Longtooth’s eyes remained fixed on Redwing.
“You place a grave accusation, Elder Redwing,” he said eventually. “Tell us of this.”
“I spoke with the Realm Keepers,” said Redwing. “I asked them of the war they sought to bring to our slopes, and I asked them what had become of the Realm Keepers before them. From two of them I heard two different things. One of them is lying, or both are.”
Longtooth turned his gaze back to Sarah. “Have you anything to say in this matter?”
“Only that I don’t know what she’s talking about,” said Sarah. “She talked to two of us, not to all of us. I don’t know what she asked, and I don’t know what was said.” She gave a furtive glance at Blade, clearly furious with him for not telling us about this. But Blade just kept right on smiling.
“Which of you spoke to Elder Redwing?” said Longtooth.
“Tess, the Keeper of Mind, and Blade, the Keeper of Fire,” said Sarah slowly.
Longtooth’s eyes swiveled to me. “What did you tell Elder Redwing of the past Realm Keepers?”
I looked nervously at Sarah, then at Nora, and then finally at Blade before I answered. “They were killed, except for Terrence. He killed the other Realm Keepers and…took their powers somehow. I’m not sure how it worked. But he can use all six elements, even though he used to just be the Keeper of Mind. That’s about all I know.”
“Lies,” hissed Redwing. “Even now, even before the whole Council, you continue your lies.”
I felt an uncharacteristic flare of anger, burning like a hole in my chest. “I’m not lying,” I said firmly. The spark died as quickly as it had come, and I retreated behind my hair again.
“And what of you, Keeper of Fire?” said Longtooth. “What did you tell Elder Redwing?”
Blade’s smile faltered for just a second. He looked around at the rest of us. “I’m not supposed to say.”
Longtooth’s eyes narrowed. “You must speak before the Council if you hope to defend yourself.”
Blade hesitated. His eyes darted down to the ring on his finger. He was talking to Meridia in his mind, I realized.
“I can’t,” said Blade. “It’s for the protection of someone here. But I can tell you this—what I told Redwing was different from what Tess told her. But that’s not because we’re lying—Tess just didn’t know the truth that I know.”
“Elder Redwing, you insolent mousling!” said Redwing, standing from her seat. “You will address the Elders on this Council with respect.”
“Be calm, Elder Redwing,” said Longtooth, eyeing her. “You speak out of turn. Sit.”
Redwing shot him a supremely nasty glare before she took her seat again.
Longtooth fixed his eyes on Blade again, and his glare was hard. “Your assurance means little if we cannot judge your words for ourselves,” he said. “You must tell us what was said if you wish to be judged. Else Redwing’s account shall be held as true.”
Blade’s smile finally fell away completely. “Hey, you can’t do that!” he said angrily. “I already told you, I know something Tess doesn’t. That doesn’t make her a liar any more than me!”
“Blade, chill out,” Sarah said quietly.
I could feel the mood of the Council darkening. Blackscale’s eyes flitted back and forth between us, clearly trying to think of some solution, but he didn’t say anything. Even Cloudsplitter seemed to be eyeing us askance, as though suddenly uncertain.
Hardly thinking about it, I reached into myself and contacted Mind. The world turned to a white, foggy version of itself as I reached out for the burning white spark that was Blade’s mind.
What’s wrong? I said. Why can’t you just tell them?
Blade turned to me, the anger in his eyes dissipating slightly. It’s something Meridia told me, he thought back. But if anyone else in the group finds out…it’ll be bad news. Just trust me.
They’re not going to believe you, I thou
ght frantically. What if they decide to kill us for lying?
I’m not lying! he barked in my head. His eyes flashed.
There is a way.
I paused at the new voice. Meridia?
You can link Blade’s mind to theirs. They will see his thoughts and knowledge. They will see the truth of the matter, and no one else need be the wiser.
I don’t know how to do that, I thought miserably.
I will guide you, said Meridia.
I blinked, and the world returned to normal. The whole conversation had taken place in the flashes between seconds. I turned to Sarah and grabbed her arm.
“I can show them,” I said urgently.
She shot me a look. “Show them what?”
“I can link Blade’s mind to the Council. They’ll see what happened, and he doesn’t have to say it out loud.” I turned to him. “If that’s okay with you.”
Blade scowled for a moment as he thought about it. Finally, slowly, he nodded. “I guess. If it will make them happy, and I don’t have to explain.”
Sarah turned back to the Council, and I looked past her to scan their faces. Redwing’s face had darkened, her scaly brows drawing together in anger. Blackscale had sat back, his fingers no longer gripping the arms of his chair so tightly.
“Is that okay?” said Sarah. “I can’t force him to talk. But if you can see into his mind, you’ll see he’s telling the truth. I know it.” She looked at Blade for a moment. “I trust him with my life.”
There was a long silence before Longtooth spoke again. “I will grant my permission for this.”
“This is a witch’s trickery!” said Redwing. “How do we know we will see the truth? She could cast a web of lies within our minds.”
“You know precious little of the magic of Mind if you think we can be so deceived,” said Blackscale contemptuously. “Though it has been centuries since last they were seen, I know enough of human magic to know that this cannot be done.”
Wyrmspire (Realm Keepers Book 2) Page 62
