She laughed.
“I love your laugh.”
Her face grew warm. No one had ever said anything that nice. “Thank you.”
He wiggled his eyebrows, making her laugh again.
So, this was what happiness felt like, this bubbling inside.
He touched the new scar on her cheek. “All right, Maazini,” he said aloud, “let’s go.” He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her broken arm.
“Wait!” Lovina turned to him again. “Don’t you get flight sick anymore?”
He grinned. “No, I don’t.”
“What happened?”
“Maazini happened. He’s changed my life. And so have you.” Tomaaz patted the dragon’s flank.
Maazini bunched his legs and leaped off the ledge, his wings still furled tight against his sides. They plummeted like a stone, Lovina’s stomach dropping. Then the mighty orange dragon unfurled his wings and caught a warm thermal current, spiraling upward, to carry them high above the valley. Dragons wheeled in the air at the far end of the basin. The wind sifted its fingers through Lovina’s hair.
“Maazini says, welcome to your new home, Lovina.” Tomaaz’s arms tightened around her as they headed across the basin.
The air was fresh. Tomaaz’s warmth was at her back, pristine snow flecked the mountaintops, and a lake glinted below in the forest. Her heart soared.
“Welcome to your new life,” he murmured in her ear.
§
“So, how are you feeling, Master Healer?” Hans asked as they entered their new living quarters, just off the infirmary.
“I’m not sure, Master of Prophecy,” Marlies replied. The weight of her new responsibility had yet to sink in. “Strange, I never thought the council would reinstate us. I thought we’d shattered that egg long ago.”
“So did I.” Hans shrugged. “With the other masters banished, they don’t have much choice.”
“Thanks a lot!” She smiled, hugging him.
He squeezed her hand, then pulled an armchair over for her.
“I’m not an invalid, Hans.”
“No, but now we’re together again, I have a chance to spoil you.”
And to humor her. Mind-melding meant he knew exactly how worn out she was.
Hans produced a paper package from his jerkin pocket and passed it to her.
She unwrapped it. “Oh, Hans, a butter cake?” Her mouth watered.
“Cook said that anyone who rescued Maazini deserves more than a butter cake. Go on, try it.”
She broke a piece off for Hans, then bit into the creamy cake.
“Blue guards are coming,” Liesar announced, breaking into their thoughts. “They’re bringing a man who’s been cut up by tharuks.”
Marlies sprang to her feet. “Hans, prepare a bed, bandages and—”
“I know the drill.”
They ran through the infirmary, Hans stopping to prepare, while Marlies raced out to the ledge. Liesar took to the air. Far off, specks of blue were growing larger—two dragons were approaching.
Liesar flew out to meet them. “Marlies, Hans,” she melded, “it’s Giant John, and he’s pretty gashed up.”
Shards, she’d led him to being hurt. No, she had to stop thinking like this. “Hans, I’m going to need help lifting this one.”
The blue dragon landed. Marlies stared at her gashed and bloody friend. “I hope you’ve got the piaua juice ready,” she said to Hans. “John’s going to need it.”
§
“Order!” Lars, the leader of the Council of the Twelve Dragon Masters, rapped his gavel on the granite table.
Roberto pulled his chair into the horseshoe-shaped table. A few straggling masters took their seats. The new master of prophecy and master healer weren’t here yet. “Where are your parents?” he asked Ezaara.
“Zaarusha says they’re coming.”
Two more seats were empty: those of the recently-murdered masters. “May Shari and Jaevin’s spirits soar with departed dragons,” Roberto melded to Erob.
Erob grunted.
“A matter of grave importance has come before us,” Lars said. “Zens is creating new beasts. Rumor says they’ll be able to slay dragons.”
Roberto’s belly tightened. New creatures?
Murmurs rippled around the room.
“Just let those beasts try,” Erob snarled in Roberto’s mind. Behind him, the dragons’ talons scratched stone.
“A trusted witness heard tharuks gloating about these new beasts,” said Lars. “We plan to counter their attack.”
Battle Master Aidan spoke up. “What are these beasts like? Are they armored? Do they have weaknesses? How many of them?”
“I wish I knew.” Lars combed his fingers through his beard. The doors to the chamber room swung open. “Ah, we may have more answers now.”
“There they are.” Ezaara’s relief rushed through Roberto as she glimpsed her parents, but then it died. “Who’s that with them? Poor guy.”
Ezaara’s parents helped a huge man through the door. Marlies had obviously treated his wounds, but his fresh scars left no doubt that he’d been mauled by tharuks.
“Welcome to Dragons’ Hold, Giant John,” Lars said. “Or should I say, welcome back? It’s been a few years.”
More than five, since Roberto had never seen him.
“Seppi,” called Tonio, the spymaster, getting up. “Fetch him a chair.”
Seppi found two armless straight-backed chairs, pushing them together side by side. The man sat, his bulk taking up both.
Marlies and Hans took their seats behind the council table, and Lars motioned Giant John to speak.
Giant John’s breath was ragged in the quiet council chamber. “I’ve traveled non-stop since Tooka Falls, where a tharuk tracker boasted that Zens is creating new creatures.” He took a few slow breaths, then continued. “These beasts can destroy dragons and people. Zens wants to control everyone in Dragons’ Realm.”
Tonio paced between Giant John and the table. “What can you tell us about these beasts?”
“Zens is creating them,” Giant John replied.
“What sort of beast are they?” Tonio’s dark eyes scanned the man’s face. “Flying, crawling, slithering? Or some strange otherworldly creation, like tharuks?”
“I don’t know—only that they’ll fight dragons.” Giant John winced, rubbing his side.
“How many?”
“No idea.”
“What more can you tell us?”
“I really don’t know anything more.” The Giant slumped.
Tonio placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Giant John.”
Marlies and Hans stood and started to escort him to the door.
“Not so fast,” Tonio said. He wheeled to face the council. “We need more information. Someone has to collect it.”
“I’m not sending anyone into the jaws of that viper,” Lars snapped.
“Me, neither.” Tonio held up a finger. “But, we have several people here who have been to Death Valley and survived.”
Roberto’s blood ran cold. He’d left Death Valley behind and come here. Turned his life around. He wasn’t going back, no matter how desperate for information Tonio was.
Lars’ voice took on a hard edge. “Exactly who are you thinking of, Tonio?”
The masters shifted in their seats, eyes touching on Roberto then flitting away.
“We have the slave boy,” said Tonio, counting him off on his thumb. “And—”
“Who can’t speak,” interrupted Lars, “so he’s no good.”
Tonio nodded, and kept going, “and Lovina, the girl who was enslaved to the traveling merchant—”
“She’s terribly thin and suffering from maltreatment,” said Marlies. “She’s in no condition. That would be her death sentence.”
“And there’s you,” Tonio said, turning to Marlies, and counting off his third digit.
Hans bristled, but spoke quietly, “My wife hasn’t recovered yet, either.”
Tonio held
up his last two fingers. “That leaves your son, Tomaaz, and Master Roberto.”
There it was; out in the open. Tonio had resented Roberto’s tenure here at Dragons’ Hold ever since he’d been appointed as master of mental faculties and imprinting. The best way for Tonio to be rid of him was to send him straight back to Zens.
“No, they can’t send you,” Ezaara melded.
“That’s right, they can’t,” Roberto replied. “I won’t go.”
“No!” It was Marlies, standing right in Tonio’s face. “Tonio, I’ve lived my life. I’ve done my dues. Send me, not two young ones who haven’t had a chance yet.”
Tonio lay a hand on Marlies’ shoulder and shook his head. “You’re not well enough yet, and besides, we need a talented healer here at Dragons’ Hold.”
“As if they don’t need a master of mental faculties and imprinting!” Ezaara melded. “Without you, they wouldn’t have unearthed the traitors!”
Lars’ lips were pursed. “Zaarusha, honored Queen of Dragons’ Realm, what do you think?” He strode to the back of the room and lifted his hand to her lowered head. After a few moments, Lars said, “Zaarusha is concerned that Zens may slaughter more of her citizens and loyal dragons. She would like more information, so we could minimize the danger.”
Roberto’s queen needed more information. He had pledged to serve her, to fight and defend Dragons’ Realm. “I’ll go,” Roberto said.
Ezaara’s gasp was audible to every ear in the room.
Tonio shot him a sharp glance. “Thank you, Roberto.”
There was a knock at the door. The blue guards opened it.
Tomaaz strode in, Maazini behind him. Giant John sank back into his chair, and Marlies and Hans moved to stand on either side of their son.
“Erob, you sly dog, you just had to tell Maazini, didn’t you?” Roberto asked.
“He is my brother, Roberto. Besides, Tomaaz has grit. I want you to have a good traveling companion.”
Roberto snorted. “You’re the only traveling companion I need.”
“What about me?” Ezaara broke in. “I’d rather help than lose you all.”
“I’ll go with Roberto,” Tomaaz said. “We have to kill Zens.”
“We’re not looking at killing Zens, now,” Tonio said dryly, “although if you get the chance, we’d be highly appreciative.” His lip curled in a sneer.
A titter ran around the room.
One by one, Tomaaz stared the masters down. “I’ve just been in Death Valley,” he said. “I’ve seen the starvation, the beatings, the senseless suffering. I’ve seen our people robbed of their minds, their will to live. I’m not afraid to go back.”
“Well spoken,” said Roberto.
The spymaster pursed his lips. “You need to leave by nightfall.”
Roberto rose to his feet. Tomaaz met his eyes, nodding.
Lars’ smacked his gavel on the granite. The meeting was over.
§§§
Dragon Rift
Six Weeks Earlier
Lars smacked his gavel on the granite table. “Queen Zaarusha and the Council of the Twelve Dragon Masters are in accord.” His voice was crisp in the tension-filled silence of the council chamber. “It is imperative that we understand this new threat to our dragons and our people. Master Roberto and Tomaaz will infiltrate Death Valley to discover what manner of new beasts Commander Zens is developing. We must know how they’ll attack Dragons’ Realm. You’ll leave tonight.” He gave Roberto and Tomaaz a grim nod. The other masters’ eyes slid away. No one envied them this job. “We thank you both,” Lars said. “Our spymaster will instruct you further. I hereby end this meeting.” The council leader gave another sharp rap of his gavel.
Everyone flooded toward the doors.
Master Marlies approached Lars. “Please, Lars, this is madness. Let me go in their stead.”
“The queen’s decision is final,” Lars said, ending the discussion.
Thumping his fist over his heart, Roberto bowed to the dragon queen, then followed the other dragon masters and Tomaaz toward the chamber’s exit. His head reeled. How had that happened? How had he agreed to return to Death Valley? Last time he’d been there, Commander Zens had broken him. He’d become a monster, a pawn in the hands of the enemy. A powerful pawn.
He shuddered, remembering the people he’d killed while under Zens’ power. If it hadn’t been for his dragon, Erob, he’d still be Zens’ prisoner, living in a drugged fog of numlock, subservient to Zens’ will. “I’m so glad you found me, Erob.”
“Don’t go all mushy on me, now,” Erob mind-melded. “Mushy is the last thing you need to face Zens.”
“I don’t want to go back and face my worst nightmares,” Roberto replied.
“Worse than nightmares,” Erob said. “People wake from those.”
Roberto sighed. He’d just promised Zaarusha, his dragon queen, he’d return to that arid hell, but right now, he needed time alone to think.
Ezaara, the Queen’s Rider, was inside the huge double doors, chatting with the Master of Flight, Alyssa. The elegant flight master tipped her dark head back, laughing. Torchlight played across the highlights in Ezaara’s honeyed hair. How could he leave her when their love was so new and bright, and head to Zens’ soul-crushing slave camp? She furtively mind-melded, while nodding at something Alyssa was saying, “Roberto, you don’t have to go.” Jade eyes met his, full of concern.
His heart jolted. Gods, what had he done to deserve her? Every time he looked at her, he felt the wonder of a new dawn in spring. “I wish I didn’t have to, Ezaara. You heard Tonio and Giant John. Zens is creating a new type of monster, something that can destroy dragons. We have to find out more.”
Someone tapped Roberto’s shoulder. “Roberto, a moment, please.”
It was Tonio, the spymaster.
“Ezaara, I’ll meet you in the orchard in an hour.” He had to hold her one last time before he left. Burn their time together into his mind for the bleak days ahead.
“Of course. I look forward to it.” She was swept outside amid the flow of masters and dragons.
“I’ll be on the ledge,” said Erob. “Watch your step with Tonio.”
Tonio waited until everyone had left, then pushed the huge double doors shut with an ominous thud. He paced before Roberto, boots snapping on stone.
Roberto drummed his fingers against his thigh. So little time left with Ezaara. “Lars wants us gone by nightfall. I don’t have much time to prepare. What is it you want?”
Wheeling, Tonio grabbed Roberto by the shoulders, slamming him against the rock wall. “Antonika was flying the perimeter of the basin earlier. She saw you kissing the Queen’s Rider in the orchard, Master Roberto.” He spat on the rock beside Roberto’s face. “You’re her master. The law says you should be banished for this crime.”
Roberto clenched his jaw. So, it had finally come to this. “You’ve always had it in for me, Tonio. You tried banishing me using Fleur’s false evidence, and now this.”
“How long has this affair been going on?” Tonio snapped.
Roberto’s blood boiled. Who was Tonio to dictate who he could and couldn’t love? Ezaara had nearly died for him. Had given up her role as Queen’s Rider, had risked everything she loved to save him. And the law said he couldn’t kiss her? Roberto’s mind raced. Antonika’s memories could be used as evidence, but having recently lost four masters from the council, Dragons’ Realm was in a precarious position. They couldn’t afford to banish him now. He had nothing to lose by being honest.
“Just that one kiss in the orchard. She’s nearly qualified—Lars said so himself. She saved the queen’s life, for the sharding Egg’s sake.” Roberto’s breath sawed in and out of his chest. “And mine.” Tonio’s eyes narrowed, and he jabbed a finger at Roberto, but Roberto cut him off before he could start. “And maybe she saved your life too, by catching the traitors you failed to detect.”
That last bit was too much. Tonio’s dark eyes flashed.
Ro
berto had never noticed the similarity before, but Tonio looked just like Roberto’s abusive father, Amato, with his calculating Naobian eyes. Shards. He shouldn’t have goaded him.
“I could have your head for this, sent to the Wastelands on a platter,” Tonio snarled. “However, this trip will probably kill you.” He shoved his finger in Roberto’s face. “Find out about those new creatures, Roberto, and get out. If you get stuck in Death Valley, we won’t be coming after you.”
Roberto pushed off the wall, forcing Tonio to take a step backward. “So, you can forgive Marlies for killing a dragonet, but not me for being Amato’s son? What is it that Amato did to you, Tonio? Why do you hate me so much?”
Pain flashed across Tonio’s face. Stiff with rage, he stalked out.
§
With Tomaaz and Roberto about to leave for Death Valley, and everyone buzzing around preparing, no one noticed Ezaara slipping out to the infirmary ledge. Her boots crunched in the snow.
Pa’s dragon, Handel, was resting, his tail curled around his huge bronze body. Pa and Handel had the gift of prophecy. If anyone knew the outcome of this trip, it would be them. Thank the Egg, Handel was alone. She couldn’t risk telling Pa how she felt about Roberto.
“Handel, please tell me,” Ezaara mind-melded. “Will Roberto and Tomaaz be safe in Death Valley?” She hid her feelings for her master so Handel wouldn’t know.
Handel snorted. “Death Valley is always dangerous. As Queen’s Rider, you should know that.”
“I’m asking about this specific trip. Will anything happen to them?”
He huffed, his breath stirring up dust. “You thought I could conjure up a quick prophecy to reassure yourself about your master and your brother? These are perilous times, my Queen’s Rider. You heard the council. Commander Zens is creating new monsters to overthrow us—worse than tharuks—beasts that can easily kill dragons. We must know everything we can about these new enemies.”
“I know, it’s just that—”
“You want reassurance, comfort, and safety.” Handel’s tail twitched. “Nowhere is safe. Not even Lush Valley, now that tharuks have breached the pass.”
Why wouldn’t he answer her? “Handel, listen.”
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