Kyrowat rolled his eyes.
“Wha – ”
“Don’t look so stunned girl. How did you think dragons picked riders? They like to see some courage and a little bit of fire in the belly, you know?”
My own belly felt like it was on fire and as I helped him gather his things and check on Jeriath – still delirious as he moaned and muttered, though the bleeding seemed to have stopped – I couldn’t help but feel like everything was spinning out of control.
Seleska, I tried to remind myself, it’s not an adventure if you’re in control. But when, after long minutes, there was still no sign of Heron and the Purple dragon, I had a hard time believing my own words.
Chapter Four
“Load up the Ilerioc behind you and strap him in behind the saddle,” Hubric said.
I’d done what he said with a lot of difficulty, though it didn’t look very comfortable for a wounded man. Jeriath could help me a little, but he was incoherent and mumbled constantly.
“There’s nowhere else to put him and we can’t afford to risk ourselves. We have miles to go today to reach the Dawn Gate and who knows what we’ll find when we get there.”
“There are no people between here and there?” I asked.
“Not that I’ve ever heard of. It’s a place for dragons to roam free.”
“What are these other dragons going to do?” I asked as I finished strapping Jeriath to the saddle. Hubric’s other gear and my staff were already stowed in the proper bags and I would have been feeling worried about the lack of food or blankets if my belly wasn’t burning like a hot ember was inside of it.
Should I tell someone about that, or would it just make them nervous? Maybe it was just all in my head, anyway. You could cause problems inside your body just by worrying too much, right? And I was pretty worried about swallowing that stone. That had been a bad idea.
I didn’t like the idea of it staying inside, but I also didn’t like any of the other alternatives.
“They’re a group of juveniles traveling together. They didn’t know about the conflict. They haven’t decided what they’re doing, but I think as long as Olfijum is partnering with Heron, they’ll want to stick around.”
I still hadn’t seen them. I kept one eye on the sky as we took off and one eye on little Nasataa. He flew tucked under Kyrowat’s left wing like a moon orbiting the larger dragon.
“Will he be able to fly for long?” I asked Hubric anxiously. “He’s still so young!”
“Trust him. He’ll be fine. You have to trust people – and dragons – to be able to do things without you. You show them disrespect if you pretend they can’t function without your constant aid. It tells them you are capable and they are not. Do you want him to think he’s capable?”
“Yes.”
“Then trust his abilities.”
It wasn’t as easy to trust those things as Hubric seemed to think. I was a ball of nerves as I tried to keep an eye out for both the people I loved at once. It wasn’t weird to say I loved Heron. That’s what friends felt about each other.
I’d thought that the juvenile group had changed their minds about joining us but after an hour of flying they caught up, snorting and flaming in excitement as they pulled up beside Kyrowat, cupping the air with their huge wings.
At the back of the pack, Olfijum soared with Heron on his back. My best friend whooped like a kid riding a goat, one hand high in the air as he waved wildly to us. In any other circumstances, his sheer delight would have melted me. It still kind of did. But I was also worried.
Would an untrained dragon be able to take care of him so high up in the air? He didn’t even have a saddle! Would things change between us now that he had this new friend? I glanced toward Nasataa, biting my lip. My dedication to him had changed Heron’s life. How could his dragon not change mine?
On top of that, Hubric was making me worried. He glanced behind us often and every time he did, Kyrowat seemed to speed up. But whatever he was seeing, I wasn’t seeing and after long hours my eyes began to hurt from looking at everything all at once.
“We’ll set down at this creek for a drink,” Hubric called back to me out of nowhere, and then we were diving toward the creek before I could respond, like a fleet of ships descending on an island.
The dragons, thirsty after hours of flying, plunged their heads into the creek, sending up columns of steam. Nasataa was right beside them, shoving his own head into the water before I could leap from Kyrowat’s back and gather the little dragon into a hug. He seemed far more calm about being separated from me than I was from him. Here I thought he needed me, but really, he was ready for some independence.
He still needs you. He just needs you to let him fly.
Kyrowat seemed very wise.
Yes. It comes with age.
And very old, I teased.
Watch it!
I cuddled Nasataa to my chest as he drank, resting my cheek against him, just plain glad that he was okay. It felt wrong to be so far from the ocean as if we were walking away from life.
“Did you see?” Heron asked, excitement bubbling up from his deep voice. I’d never seen him so boyish – he was usually the responsible one, the worrying one. It was as if we’d exchanged roles overnight. “Did you see Olfijum? Isn’t he amazing? He can speak to me! Right inside my mind!”
“Then I guess that maybe you won’t be talking about going home all the time,” I said. Why couldn’t I just be happy for him? Why did it twist inside me painfully whenever he looked at the dragon with adoring eyes.
Ouch! He was doing it again.
He laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me away from Nasataa who seemed just as happy to drink without being mauled by an overprotective guardian. No one needed me anymore, it seemed. I didn’t mean to pout – but my lower lip did seem fuller than usual.
Heron pulled me up and into his arms laughing at my pout.
“Seleska, you silly little fool. Do you think that because I’m excited to meet Olfijum and fly in the air with him, that I’m any less attached to you? Hmm?”
“Maybe,” I admitted, letting my eyes grow big and sad. “Maybe you’ll forget me just like that.”
I snapped my fingers on the word that.
He laughed. “I’m as likely to forget one of my eyes or leave my hand behind by accident. I’ve grown used to those pouty looks and mischievous smiles.”
“Oh really,” I said, giving him one of the mischievous smiles again. “Does that mean I can do this again?”
I stood up on tiptoes and offered him a light kiss. Just like last time, he froze, as if he was afraid to touch me.
“Seriously, Seleska. You ...” he cleared his throat. “You shouldn’t play with me.”
“But you’re fun to play with,” I said, smiling widely. At least he still seemed to notice me when I did that.
“Skies and Stars,” Hubric growled from behind us. “Every young person I meet forgets I’m there the second they can look starry-eyed at someone else. It’s as if I’m invisible. Can you see me? I didn’t think so.”
I laughed.
“You won’t be laughing in a minute. The dragons have water and we must be off again. They’re gaining on us.”
“Who is gaining on us?” I asked, suddenly too worried to play games with Heron.
“The twenty Manticores and their riders who have been on our tails all morning. We had to stop for water, but if I had my way, we wouldn’t have. We’ll be lucky if we can stay ahead of them until dark and then we’re going to have to maneuver quickly to lose them in the dark. Skies and Stars send a black night! There should be a new moon.”
I exchanged a worried look with Heron but we were both scrambling back onto the dragons before Hubric was even done his speech. What would we do if they caught us? There just weren’t enough of us to fight them. And Nasataa was just a baby. I watched him worriedly, trying not to upset him as we launched back into the air.
Skies and Stars send a black night and a chance to av
oid the Manticores! My belly flared hot and ill at the thought.
Chapter Five
My eyes were so glued to Nasataa as we kicked up into the air that I barely noticed Heron shooting by on Olfijum.
“Boy’s a natural,” Hubric commented. “You could think about going easier on him.”
As if I was hard on Heron! He was the one who was always leaving me feeling confused. I shook my head.
“He followed you all this way, didn’t he?” Hubric pressed. “That’s dedication. You won’t find that just anywhere.”
The sun was glaring and hot, making it hard to see far without squinting, but when I looked behind us, I saw what Hubric had seen. Silhouettes. Figures chasing us through the sky.
After that, I kept a close eye on my small dragon. If he started to flag – even for a moment – I wanted to be there to catch him and help him. The hours passed with the slowness of aging, one after another, after another. My seat hurt from sitting so long, my neck from craning down to keep an eye on Nasataa and my eyes from constant vigilance as I watched the sky behind and before. We were headed toward a black, teeth-like mountain range but as the hours passed, it hardly seemed to grow bigger.
“We’re supposed to find a dragon named Raolcan in the Dominion,” I said to Hubric, not able to keep worry out of my voice. “Any idea who he is?”
“Sure,” Hubric said casually.
“Any idea where he might be?”
“With the Dominar,” Hubric said. “He’s her dragon. Or maybe she’s his human. That can be tricky to sort out.”
“What’s a Dominar?”
Hubric chuckled. “The fearsome leader of the Dominion, ally of Haz’Drazen and guardian of the dragon’s greatest human allies.”
I swallowed. “Will it be hard to get to talk to him? Taoslil said I needed to talk to him in particular about where to find the keys we need to unlock the Haroc.”
“I think I can get you a meeting,” he said dryly. There was something he wasn’t telling me. It was almost as if he was friends with this Raolcan.
He mentored the Dominar just like he’s mentoring you. Although she was a bit less hotheaded.
As always, Kyrowat was a bit cranky. Hopefully, he was keeping an eye on Nasataa.
Believe it or not, he’s important to us, too.
“And then I need to find keys in Ko’Torenth and Baojang. I don’t suppose you know anyone in those countries, too?”
“Could be,” Hubric said with a grunt.
“Maybe you could share that information?”
He was quiet for a moment. “Do you really want me to be your mentor?”
“I don’t know. It seems like I need you. Do you mentor people who aren’t dragon riders?” I was probably fine on my own, but Hubric had been helpful and it seemed ungracious to act like he hadn’t been. I’d still be floundering in the river if not for him.
Ahem.
And Kyrowat.
“Not usually, but for you, I might make an exception. Usually, there are oaths.”
I sniffed. “I don’t really like being tied to things. I like to be free as a flag in the wind.”
“Yes, I can see that. You haven’t given any rash promises about guarding little dragons with your life or finding three keys before the Manticores do or anything like that.”
I tapped him on the shoulder and when he looked behind him I gave him my very best smile. “Would you like to swear oaths, wise mentor?”
He snorted. “You’re trouble, Seleska. Trouble on two legs. But I think you plan to be trouble to the Manticores and the Rock Eaters and that you’ll be loyal and true to your friends and your dragon. That’s why I’m willing to take you on and make you my responsibility. So. Repeat after me and try not to flinch. I, say your name.”
“I, Seleska.”
“You should put your fist over your heart for this part.” He nodded when I did. “Swear fealty and full allegiance to Hubric Duneshifter, Dragon Rider of the Purple, until death takes one of us.”
“But I’m sworn to Nasataa first,” I objected. “You can’t come before that.”
“Fealty is different,” he growled. “Fealty means you listen to me and I guide you. I won’t ask you to do anything that isn’t in the dragon’s best interest.”
I hesitated.
Just do it. He won’t give up until you do, and seriously, you’re getting the better end of the bargain.
For a supposedly choosy dragon, Kyrowat sure did speak to me a lot.
It’s possible that I’m growing to like you.
Surprised, but a bit triumphant, I repeated Hubric’s words. After all, I could use more allies, couldn’t I?
“And I swear this by my honor and the Truth which is all I have to give.” His knife flicked out of the sheath as I repeated his words and then he slit the end of his thumb and pressed the blood to my forehead.
Yuck. And I didn’t even have a cloth to wash it off with.
“I, Hubric Duneshifter, accept your pledge, Seleska, and I swear to protect and guide you, shelter and provide for you, as my liegesworn until death takes one of us. I swear this by my honor and the Truth which is all I have to give.” His smile widened. “It is done. Don’t make me regret this!”
I laughed. “How could you regret it, old man? I’m going to make your last years the most exciting of your life.”
He didn’t laugh. “And now that we’ve done that, I think you should stop lying to me.”
Chapter Six
My heart skipped a beat. “Lying?”
“Those Manticores are tracking us like they know exactly where we are. How can they do that, Seleska?”
I looked over my shoulder. There were so many of them back there. More than the dozen that Hubric had guessed before. And they were gaining on us. I bit my lip and thought fast.
It couldn’t be the rock in my belly. Could it? Of course not. That was just a little mistake. It had nothing to do with this.
“I can tell from your expression that you’re hiding something. And they’re gaining on us.”
“Well,” I reasoned, “We’re easy to see from the air.”
“But if we went down in the rocks below, could we even hide if we wanted to?” Hubric asked. “What did you take from that Atura girl?”
“A rock,” I said guiltily, my eyes still fixed on the Manticores. They were gaining on us. They were bigger than the dragons and on their backs, they carried multiple riders. I could almost make out covered faces and red hoods. Rock Eaters.
He let out a quiet curse. “A rock? Do you know what their rocks do? How they’re made?”
“They suck the life out of people and use it to make magic. They put that power in the rocks,” I said.
“Yes. Exactly. And you took one. Well, they also can track that magic anywhere, so it’s an easy solution. Pull it out of whatever pocket it’s in and throw it to the ground.”
“Ummm.” Was that – that couldn’t be Atura on one of them, could it? She had something in her arms. Something just a little bit smaller than Nasataa.
“Well? What are you waiting for?”
“There’s a tiny problem. Just a little one. Small, really.”
“Spit it out.”
“Yep, that’s the problem.” I felt my cheeks growing hot.
Hubric snarled. “Speak clearly, girl!”
“I swallowed the rock,” I said, watching him with big worried eyes as he cursed so loudly that Kyrowat jumped beneath us.
When he was done, all he could do was shake his head. “You’ve doomed us, girl. You’ve doomed us all.”
“Look, I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!” I said even though he wasn’t listening to me. “I didn’t mean to. I was just hiding it in my mouth so I could show her my empty hands and then I swallowed it by accident.”
“Check Jeriath. Is he alive?”
I checked, frantic to do anything to make up for my mistake. Hubric was tearing through his saddlebags like a madman.
“He’s alive but he s
till isn’t doing very well.”
“When he wakes up, you’re going to interrogate him, okay? Start by asking how the Manticores got into the Lands of Haz’drazen. Make sure you let him know that you know he is Dusk Covenant.”
“Dusk what?”
“Covenant. Don’t ask questions, just listen. He’s Dusk Covenant. I’m nearly sure. Their sign is tattooed on his ribs. There must still be some of them left. Ask him who and how many. Get as much information as you can, okay?”
“O – kay. But can’t you do that?”
“Take this book. It’s my book of Prophecies. Read them. You know how to read, right?”
“Yes.” He was scaring me. “But you just promised that you’d be with me until you died. Why does it sound like you’re planning to leave me?”
“See this scarf?” he asked, ignoring my question as he untied a scarf from around his head and put it around my neck. “The Dominar will recognize it. It’s been mine for a long time and the pattern is unique. So will Tor Winespring, the ruler of Ko’Torenth. Tell them that I sent you, and they will help you in any way that you need. Trust no one else. Follow the prophecies.”
I looked behind me. The Manticores were so close that I could see Atura’s face. The triumphant look on it sent a chill through me.
“You’re acting like you’re going to die!” I didn’t mean to make my voice sound hysterical, but it sounded like that anyway.
“Girl,” Hubric said through clenched teeth. “If you told me the truth about that stone, I will be dying tonight.”
Chapter Seven
The sun was dipping lower, staining the black rocks with an orange glow as the Manticores finally caught up with us. I’d been watching them for the last minutes, no longer trying to delve into what Hubric meant by saying he was going to die. I was too obsessed with the death that loomed for all of us right behind where we flew.
I looked down at Nasataa. He’d been doing so well, but the little dragon was flagging now, and Kyrowat had to slow down to keep him close. The gap between us and the juvenile dragons widened so quickly that when I called to Heron, he didn’t hear my call.
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