Riders of the Realm #3

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

  The stomping grew closer. No, no, no!

  Then it appeared—a drooler—but not Granak. This was a female spit dragon, as evidenced by her round-ridged spine. She stood thirteen lengths at the shoulder at least—and looked hungry. Her forked tongue slid from her mouth, tasting the air. Her drool dripped and puddled around her huge clawed feet.

  I’Lenna tugged on her left arm, trying to free it too.

  The dragon spotted her. It stood three hundred lengths away, maybe less. Its eyes locked on hers. Bloody rain!

  The dragon crept forward, tail vibrating.

  Four moving figures suddenly caught I’Lenna’s eye. They glided toward her from the Kihlari stable. She recognized Rahkki’s friends Koko Dale, Mut Finn, Jul Ranger, and Tambor Woodson. “Over here,” she rasped.

  These teens had protected Rahkki during the march to Mount Crim and scouted the giant hordes with him. They didn’t trust I’Lenna because she was a Whitehall, but Rahkki had forced them to accept her. They rushed closer and I’Lenna’s breath hitched.

  “Need some ’elp?” Koko asked.

  I’Lenna exhaled loudly. “I do!” she cried.

  Mut drew his hunting knife, the only type of weapon Harak’s army had allowed the villagers to keep. He and Koko sprinted forward to bait the dragon away from I’Lenna. Jul and Tambor, who went by Tam, raced to free her. “Land to skies, your hand!” Jul whispered, gaping at her dangling thumb.

  “It’s nothing, just cut me loose.”

  Jul’s hunting knife sliced easily through the final lashings and I’Lenna staggered free.

  The black dragon lunged at Koko. The girl ripped off her bright-yellow cloak and waved it at the beast. Mut sliced his arm, using the scent of his blood as bait. The drooler hissed at them, her tail lashing. Purple, blue, and green hues shimmered across her scales as she lowered her neck and charged Mut and Koko. The pair sprinted off, leading the dragon away.

  Jul and Tam steadied I’Lenna. “Are you hurt?”

  “No, not really,” she said, cradling her injured thumb.

  Mut and Koko zipped like rabbits, crossing their paths and confusing the reptile. The dragon swung her head in frustration. Mut’s long legs got tangled and he fell. The lizard sprang.

  I’Lenna, Jul, and Tam leaped toward him.

  But Koko was already there. She snatched Mut’s dagger and stabbed the dragon in the leg. The reptile twisted around, teeth flashing.

  Mut rolled back onto his feet.

  “Over here!” Koko shouted, sprinting toward the trees.

  The dragon reared, standing thirty lengths.

  I’Lenna gaped at it, her mind racing. “Release one of the pigs!” she shouted to Jul. “Now!” This dragon was not going to leave without eating something.

  Jul sprang away to the animal pens and threw open a gate. It was goats, not pigs, but what was the difference to a dragon? The confused herd blasted out of their pen and frolicked across the trampled grass. Having been protected by Sandwens their entire lives, their instincts had dulled to danger.

  As hoped, the easy prey drew the dragon’s bright eyes. She quivered, her tongue flicking. In two mighty steps she reached the goats and bit one, then two more. She lowered herself, waiting for her toxic venom to take effect.

  Koko and Mut edged around the chaos, back to I’Lenna.

  High on the hill, the smaller gate to Fort Prowl opened and a man appeared, his face lit by a torch—Harak Nightseer. I’Lenna and the teens ducked behind a water trough.

  Harak peered into the darkness. The dragon hissed and Harak’s grin was noticeable even from a distance.

  “Look how happy he is thinking I’m being eaten,” I’Lenna huffed.

  “It’s good though,” Mut replied, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. “In the morning, when he sees that you’re gone, he’ll assume the dragon ate you. He won’t go looking for you.”

  “True,” she answered.

  “Wha’ now?” Koko asked, swiping her sweaty blond hair off her face.

  “Follow me,” I’Lenna urged, and she angled toward Leshi Creek. The huge dragon had lost interest in them as she swallowed the first goat. Clouds rolled in, covering the few glittering stars. I’Lenna glanced gratefully at Mut and his pals. “Why did you guys save me?”

  “We didn’t plan to,” Mut said. “We were on our way to Mount Crim to rescue Rahkki when we spotted the drooler. We . . . we couldn’t let you get eaten.”

  I’Lenna straightened, offering a wry smile. “I appreciate that.”

  Mut grinned at her. “Turns out we’re on the same side, right?”

  I’Lenna nodded, glad she wasn’t alone. “So you four are on your way to save Rahkki? Just you?”

  “Yeah,” said Jul. “But we’re going to the trading post first to buy weapons, since Harak stole most of ours.” Jul’s family was wealthy; he could afford enough weapons for all of them.

  Mut glanced at I’Lenna. “Maybe you know something about this,” he said. “I was at the trading post yesterday and I overhead a Daakuran man asking a lot of questions about Rahkki. Why do you think that is?”

  She stiffened. “I don’t know. Why would anyone from Daakur be asking about Rahkki? What did the man look like? Who was he questioning?”

  Mut shrugged. “He was young, had blond hair and a beard. He was at the import-and-export tent, talking to Willa Green.”

  A tingle ran up I’Lenna’s spine as she considered this. “Rahkki sold a very special Kihlara blanket to that woman for resale in Daakur. It had belonged to his mother’s mount, Drael. Did Willa mention the blanket?”

  Mut squinted, thinking. “I don’t remember exactly. But the man asked about Rahkki’s uncle and brother too.”

  “Wha’ does it mean?” Koko asked.

  “I’m not sure,” I’Lenna said. Her injured thumb had begun to throb. “He’s probably just looking for more Kihlara blankets to buy. So how do you four plan to free Rahkki from the giants?” she asked, not meaning to sound skeptical.

  Tam sheathed his hunting knife. “We’ll figure it out when we get there. Anyway, there’s no one else to do it.”

  “Not true,” I’Lenna said. “His family will help once they hear my idea.”

  Koko shook her head. “Brauk ’ates the White’alls. I don’ think ’e’ll listen to yuh. Beside, he can’t walk.”

  “I know that,” I’Lenna said. “But I have a plan. Don’t go to Mount Crim by yourselves, okay? Stay with me. I just have to get to the southern drainage ditch that leads into Fort Prowl. There’s something inside the fortress I need to steal, and the clan is on vigil until morning. No one will see us. And then we’ll go straight to Darthan’s rice farm.”

  The four teens glanced at one another, debating with their eyes. Then Mut nodded and the decision was made. “We’ll stay with you.”

  Jul nudged Koko. “If we’re not going to Mount Crim right now, you and I should return to our posts before we’re missed.”

  “Yur righ’,” Koko agreed. She eyed I’Lenna. “When yur ready ta save ’im, let us know.”

  I’Lenna nodded. “I’ll get word to you as soon as I can,” she said. Koko and Jul turned and vanished into the darkness.

  “So, what are we stealing?” Mut asked, smiling down at the princess.

  She grinned. “Medicine. Now hurry, let’s go!” After a suspicious glance from Tam, the group jogged toward the drainage ditch at the south end of Fort Prowl.

  9

  Guilt

  RETRIEVING THE SPECIAL MEDICINE FROM FORT Prowl was easy for I’Lenna because most folks had retreated to their rooms, and the dining hour had passed. The mood in the fortress was grim. No one liked knowing their crown princess was tied up outside and that half the clan’s militia was imprisoned in the Eighth Tower. I’Lenna used the secret tunnels she was so familiar with to break into the Borla’s medicinal supplies and take what she needed.

  Now she, Mut, and Tam were sneaking through the jungle toward Darthan’s hut. They stopped cold when
they arrived. Over a hundred wild Kihlari had gathered on Darthan’s front lawn.

  “Land to skies,” Tam whispered.

  Some of the Kihlari were grazing, others dozing, but when the first one spotted them, they all threw up their heads. Firo whinnied a greeting and glided toward I’Lenna.

  The princess rushed to greet her. When Firo touched down, she nuzzled I’Lenna’s hair, and the girl wrapped her arms around the roan’s neck. “I was so worried about you,” I’Lenna whispered to her pet.

  Darthan opened his door and stepped out of the shadows, looking as stunned as I’Lenna felt. “You escaped the Sunstone?”

  I’Lenna nodded toward Mut and Tam. “With a little help,” she answered, feeling giddy with exhaustion and relief.

  A flame-haired woman poked her head out the window. “Ay, Mut!” she called. I’Lenna recognized her from the clan. It was Mut’s sister, Ossi Finn. “What in Granak’s name are you doing here?” Ossi asked her brother.

  Mut spread his arms. “Rescuing a princess, what else?”

  “Well, hurry inside,” she urged. “It’s a night for dragons.”

  “You think?” Mut quipped, and I’Lenna and her new friends sputtered into laughter as they walked toward the hut.

  I’Lenna spotted Rahkki’s Flier, Sula, and her heart surged. “Is Rahkki here?” she asked Darthan.

  With a small shake of his head, he motioned them inside.

  I’Lenna, Tam, and Mut had to pass through the herd of untamed Kihlari first. Even with Firo beside her, I’Lenna’s heart hammered with fear. These wild steeds smelled of soil and sweat. Their hair was tangled with burrs and crawling with insects, and they were thin and wiry. But I’Lenna was not fooled by their sorry appearance. Savage power lurked within those flared wings and tight muscles. Proud spirit sparked from their eyes.

  She slid a nervous glance toward Firo. I’Lenna had fallen for the roan’s beautiful ice-blue eyes and shiny feathers. She’d slept beside her and braided her tail countless times, never truly grasping—until this moment—that the mare was wild.

  “Land to skies,” I’Lenna whispered, suddenly seeing Firo’s sharpened hooves, muscular jaws, battle scars, and the fierce intelligence that burned inside her striking glance. In that moment, she realized she’d never owned Firo; the braya had tolerated her by choice. “You’re not a pet, are you?”

  “What did you say?” Mut asked.

  “Nothing. I’m just—look at these steeds! They’re so . . .”

  “Wild?” Mut finished. “Yeah, I noticed.”

  Brauk’s Flier, Kol, stood among the wild herd, looking overfed and underworked in comparison, but his lax appearance didn’t fool I’Lenna either. A Kihlara steed needed a Rider to activate its power. One command from Brauk and Kol would transform from docile pet to dangerous warrior in the span of a blink.

  As they made their way to Darthan’s porch, moving carefully through the herd, I’Lenna spotted a gaunt pinto mare with two newborn foals and her heart squeezed. She could not imagine this poor mare suffering captivity with giants while pregnant!

  But the proud pinto met I’Lenna’s gaze. She sported knife-sharp hooves and battle scars like the others. Her eyes, bright and undaunted, showed no fear. She whinnied to her foals and they drew closer, tucking safely beneath her wings. I’Lenna swallowed as her throat tightened. Unlike a Kihlara dam, this braya was a mother and a warrior. What had the clan been thinking to pluck these creatures out of the sky as if they were pretty flowers?

  “Why is the wild herd here?” she asked Darthan when her group reached his front porch. “They’re not tethered. They’re free to go.”

  “We’re not sure,” he said. “Come inside.” The old wooden stair boards creaked as they ascended and Darthan allowed them into his hut. Dark smoke lingered in the air. “I burned dinner,” he explained.

  I’Lenna’s belly grumbled at the word dinner.

  “Sit,” Darthan invited, indicating a bench and two chairs by the fire. I’Lenna’s eyes flitted about the room. Ossi had taken a seat at the small dining table and Brauk reclined in a raised makeshift cot.

  His lip curled when he caught her staring at his useless legs, and I’Lenna felt her cheeks grow hot. She fingered the medicine she’d stolen from the fortress on the way here and then dropped the vial back into her pocket. She’d taken it for Brauk, but his hot stare warned her off. Not yet, she thought.

  “Sit,” Darthan repeated. “I’ll find something for you all to eat, and then I want to look at your thumb, I’Lenna.”

  I’Lenna lowered herself into a hard chair while Rahkki’s uncle poked through his larder and returned with spiced rice, cut pineapple, chickpeas, and three shards of honeycomb. He portioned the food onto three plates and then handed them to I’Lenna, Mut, and Tam.

  Mut dived onto his plate like a hawk, arms mantling around his face. Tam happily bit into the rice and I’Lenna crunched into her honeycomb first, her belly singing with pleasure.

  While they ate their dinners, Mut spoke freely, telling Darthan, Brauk, and Ossi how I’Lenna had freed one hand from the Sunstone when a huge drooler stomped out of the woods. He and Tam paused eating to act out what had happened next, baiting the dragon, loosing the goats, and hiding from Harak behind a water trough.

  “Come morning, the clan will think the dragon ate I’Lenna. No one will look for her,” Mut finished, licking juice from his lips.

  While the boys were telling the story, Darthan had wrenched I’Lenna’s right thumb back in place and splinted it because the thumb ached whenever she moved it. I’Lenna sighed with relief and addressed the group. “That’s enough about me,” she said. Darthan’s meal and the sugar from the honeycomb had begun to revive her. “Let’s talk about Rahkki.”

  The room quieted and Brauk turned the full force of his black-lashed golden eyes on I’Lenna. She lost her breath—he looked so much like his little brother!

  “What about Rahkki?” he asked.

  “We need to get him back from the giants.”

  Brauk spit in Darthan’s fire, making it sizzle. “You think we don’t know that, I’Lenna?”

  She dropped her eyes. “Rahkki saved my life.”

  Brauk grimaced. “Yeah, he took a Gorlan punishment that was meant for you; I heard about that.” His voice tightened, his fists hardened. “What I don’t understand is why you lied to my brother. You told him you didn’t want the throne.”

  Darthan, who was filling his pipe, grunted softly at his nephew.

  Heat rose in I’Lenna’s cheeks. “I don’t want it, but I can’t let my mother keep it. There’s a difference.”

  Brauk’s eyes flashed. “Not to me.”

  Darthan took a long draw on his pipe, releasing sweet clover into the room. “I don’t think I’Lenna came here to argue,” he said.

  “I didn’t,” she agreed. “I came to finish what I started. The rebellion isn’t over.”

  “Isn’t over?” Brauk huffed. “Everyone loyal to you is either dead, captured, or locked in the Eighth Tower. It’s over, I’Lenna.”

  She shook her head. “No, we can’t give up. My timing was terrible; I’ll give you that. I should have held the throne until Harak returned and then arrested him, but I was more concerned about stopping the war with the giants.”

  Brauk crumpled his fists around his trousers. “You think your timing was your mistake?” He made a disgusted noise. “Every Sandwen knows that the safest way to kill a snake is to cut off its head. You left your mother alive, that’s where you failed.”

  “Ease off her, Brauk,” Ossi chided. “She’s just a girl.”

  In the soft light of Darthan’s fire, I’Lenna’s guilt exploded. “I know I made things worse,” she cried, startling everyone. “Rahkki might be dead, because of me.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I lied to him, it’s true. I befriended him when I shouldn’t have, I know. I brought civil war to my clan and got my general assassinated. It’s all bloody true! People are dead! I know what I’ve done.” Sh
e choked and turned to Brauk. “I know that the best way to kill a snake is to cut off its head, but I can’t. I love my mom, don’t you see? But I have to stop her. I don’t know how, but this time I can’t fail.”

  “First things first,” Darthan interrupted. “What do you want from us, princess? How can we help you?”

  She took a deep breath. “I’m here because I need an army. I need to rally the villagers, but no one will fight for me, not again.” She wiped her nose with her sleeve and looked from Darthan to Brauk. “But they will fight for the Stormrunners.”

  Brauk laughed, his voice bitter and hollow. “Look at me,” he rasped, pointing at his paralyzed legs. “I can’t walk, I’Lenna, or fly my stallion. I can’t lead an army.”

  She ignored that and pushed on. “Once we overthrow Harak and Lilliam, we can take over both the Fifth Clan armies, fly to Mount Crim, and rescue Rahkki.”

  Just then thunder boomed and pent-up rain began to fall in heaps, pounding Darthan’s thatched roof.

  “By Granak,” Tam groused. “The clouds are angry.”

  Darthan drew on his pipe. “It’s an early monsoon.”

  Mut groaned. “Another bad omen. Nothing has gone right since Granak rejected the sow after the winged horse auction.”

  “Not true. Our bad luck stems directly from my mother.” I’Lenna peered at the Stormrunners. “For you two, it started eight years ago.”

  Brauk whipped his head toward her. “Don’t talk about that night.”

  “Do you want Lilliam off Reyella’s throne, or not?”

  “Yes,” he snarled, “but not so I can see you on it! Trade one Whitehall for another? Why?”

  “Then who will take it?” I’Lenna leaned forward, imploring him. “It has to be a Sandwen princess, Brauk. I’m here and I’m the heir.”

  Brauk slammed his fist onto the table, making Ossi jump. “Even if I wanted to, how could I be of any use?” He scowled at his limp legs.

  “This is how.” I’Lenna produced the crimson vial she’d stolen from the Borla. She swirled the elixir and the dark liquid shimmered within the red glass.

  Everyone leaned closer and Darthan sucked a breath. “Is that what I think it is?”