Sable puffed out her cheeks in relief. Down to their right, Maddie and Millen approached, Millen with a big grin on his face. He was still limping, but had discarded the crutch he had been using for over two months.
‘Were you watching?’ said Sanguino, his voice full of pride.
‘Of course we were, you daft dragon,’ said Maddie. ‘You were great.’
‘How was the harness?’ said Millen.
Sable smiled. ‘I managed not to fall off, didn’t I?’
She unbuckled the strap, and climbed down a ladder made from twisted cords of leather that was fastened to the dragon’s flank. She jumped the last yard to the ground, then regretted it as the pain in her waist peaked for a moment. She clutched her side, grimacing. Maddie came up to her and put an arm over her shoulder.
‘Come and sit down,’ she said.
‘I will stay here,’ said Sanguino, as he turned to face the entrance of the tomb.
Sable glanced at him. He had remained on guard by the opening of the cavern ever since Blackrose had been captured by the Ascendants, in case any of the other dragons tried to evict them from the Catacombs. A bolt of anxiety shot through her as she watched him. If Deathfang and the others used force against him, then there would be only one outcome. She kept her face confident despite her feelings, and allowed Maddie to lead her away to the rear of the tomb. Millen followed, and they sat by the dark hearth where they ate their meals.
‘How’s your tummy?’ said Maddie.
‘Fine,’ said Sable. ‘A few twinges, that’s all.’
Maddie frowned at her. ‘Yeah, right. I saw your face when you landed; it looked as if it hurt; a lot.’
‘Don’t worry about me,’ she said. ‘It was worth the pain to get airborne today. The other dragons were staring at us in disbelief.’
Millen passed her a mug of wine. ‘You did great. Flying is wonderful, isn’t it?’
She took a sip and smiled. ‘Yes; it was incredible; worth all of the hard work and frustrations.’ She glanced at the mug. ‘Nice wine.’
‘Thanks,’ said Maddie. ‘I was a little more adventurous on my last trip into town. I also got some fancy cheese.’
Sable glanced at her. ‘I hope you were careful, Maddie. Don’t take any risks. If you get caught getting us supplies, then we lose the Quadrant.’
Maddie laughed. ‘I see. You’re not worried about what happens to me, just your precious Quadrant.’
‘It’s the only way we’re going to get to Dragon Eyre. I wish there had been some other way to get food.’
‘Are you regretting showing me how to use it?’
‘I didn’t show you how to use it; I showed you how to get to the nearest town in Tordue and back; and I only did that because we were desperate and had run out of everything. And, I might have been slightly delirious from my wound at the time.’
‘If you showed me how to get to Alea Tanton, then I could get a far wider range of stuff.’
Sable raised an eyebrow. ‘And that’s the only reason you want to go to Alea Tanton? You wouldn’t, say, also try to rescue a certain dragon from captivity?’
Maddie scowled. ‘Well, it’s been long enough. How can you sit here calmly, sipping wine, while Blackrose is chained up in that horrible city? Every day that passes is like a knife in my heart. What if they kill her? They could be torturing her as we speak.’
Millen groaned. ‘Do we have to go over this again?’
‘But I still don’t understand,’ said Maddie. ‘We have a Quadrant, so why don’t we just rescue her now?’
Sable frowned. Using the Quadrant to free Blackrose had become a constant refrain from Maddie, but Sable had been procrastinating. At first, it had been due to her injury; and then she had been determined that Sanguino would fly before any rescue attempt was made. Blackrose would easily be able to take the Quadrant from her by force, and then she might choose to go to Dragon Eyre before they were prepared. Sable had to delay, so that she could remain in control.
‘Millen’s right,’ she said. ‘We’ve discussed this. We’ll rescue Blackrose when we’re ready, and when we actually have a chance of succeeding. With Sanguino’s flight today, we are one step closer. And remember, I’ve seen her – she’s not being tortured; the Deadskins are treating her like a damn princess.’
Maddie nodded, but her expression remained unconvinced. Sable darted into her mind. The black dragon’s rider was harbouring a hope that she would be able to work out how to make the Quadrant take her directly to Alea Tanton, but Sable was confident that she would need much more time and practice with the device before she would be able to do that. Other than that, Maddie’s thoughts were filled with impatience, and a frustration that could reach boiling point at any moment. Her emotions were stretched and pulled by Blackrose’s absence, and a small part of her believed that Sable would not honour her promise to rescue the dragon from captivity. The Holdfast woman was tempted to use her powers to soothe Maddie’s worries, but she had been doing a lot of that in recent days, and Maddie’s mind was starting to become more resistant to her methods of persuasion.
‘I have an idea,’ she said.
The others glanced at her.
‘You know what I can do with Sanguino, yeah? We link minds, and he can see what I can see.’
‘So?’ said Maddie. ‘I mean, it’s impressive, but what’s that got to do with Blackrose?’
‘I hadn’t finished,’ said Sable. ‘What if I link to you, Maddie, and then I use my powers to check on Blackrose? In theory, if I can see her, then you would be able to as well. You might even be able to pass her a message.’
Maddie’s eyes flashed with hope. ‘Really? Would that work?’
Sable considered. ‘Did you manage to procure any keenweed?’
‘Yeah. Not much, but a bit.’
‘Then, let’s give it a try.’
‘Now?’ said Millen. ‘Are you not exhausted by linking with Sanguino during the flight?’
‘I’m a bit tired, but if it makes Maddie feel better, then I’ll do it.’
Maddie rummaged in a bag by her feet, then passed Sable a weedstick, her hands trembling with excitement.
‘Give me a moment, both of you,’ Sable said. ‘I want to smoke this and prepare myself.’
‘Thanks, Sable,’ said Maddie, as she stood. ‘This means a lot to me.’
Sable smiled, and waited as she strode away, Millen limping off behind her. She turned to gaze at the pile of ash in the centre of the hearth and took a slow breath. The pain in her guts was intense, and she could feel exhaustion about to overwhelm her. She wondered why she was so determined to hide how ill and tired she felt from the others, but she knew that their hopes depended upon her, and she wanted them to believe that she was confident and in control. They were relying on her. In Blackrose’s absence, the others, Sanguino included, had looked to her for leadership, and she had been trying her best not to let them down.
She lit the weedstick and inhaled, feeling her tiredness disappear almost immediately. Her aches and pains eased, and her mind was filled with a sharp clarity. She knew she would pay for it in a few hours, but she needed Maddie to believe her, and she needed to prove her worth. In truth, Sable had never felt so hopeless and alone, despite her achievements. Getting Sanguino into the air had been one of the greatest challenges of her life, and to do so without the protection of Blackrose had seemed an impossible task a month before, when she had lain fevered and close to death. On top of that, the Ascendants had the Sextant, and Corthie and Kelsey, her nephew and niece, had disappeared, while Belinda had turned to the enemy. Dragon Eyre was the last hope she had and, although she was just as desperate to rescue Blackrose as Maddie was, she knew she had to plan everything carefully. If she messed it up, there would be nowhere to go.
She glanced round, and gestured for Maddie to rejoin her. She hurried over to the hearth and sat down next to Sable.
‘Give me your hand,’ Sable said.
‘How romantic,’ said Maddi
e; ‘I didn’t know you cared.’
‘Hilarious as always, Maddie.’ She took the young woman’s hand in hers, and focussed. ‘Alright. To do this, I’ll need to go into your mind, obviously, so that I can form a connection. I’m going to tether your consciousness to my own, and then I’m going to send my vision west over the mountains and all the way to Alea Tanton. We already know that Blackrose is being held in the Northern Pits.’
‘No, you already know that. I have only your word for it.’
‘Well, now you’ll see if I’ve been lying or not. Are you ready?’
‘Yeah.’
Sable went into Maddie’s mind, and repeated what she had done to Sanguino. Her connection to him had been developed and fostered over a long time, but the tethers to Maddie would only need to last a few minutes. She pinched parts of Maddie’s mind to her own, starting with her sight.
‘Woah,’ said Maddie. ‘I’m looking out from your eyes. Is that what I look like these days? Amalia’s ass, what a mess. I’m surprised I haven’t been arrested in town for looking like a vagrant. At least that explains the funny looks I’ve been getting.’
‘Steal a mirror and a hairbrush on your next visit. Right, that part’s complete. Close your eyes; you’ll still be able to see what I see. Let’s go.’
Sable pushed her vision out of her body, and through the cavern, emerging into the valley. She heard Maddie gasp, but tried to ignore her. She moved her vision higher, then shot it out over the tops of the mountains, sending it hurtling over the ragged and barren slopes. They passed the reservoir, then began to descend, the irrigated fields of Tordue before them. Sable picked up her speed, and the land below them became a blur of motion.
I feel sick, Maddie said inside her head.
Don’t talk. Let me concentrate.
Within a few moments the ocean became visible on the horizon, and Sable aimed for the vast, sprawling city that lay on its polluted shores. Along the edge of the city was a wide band of ramshackle shanty dwellings and huts, assembled from wood and animal hides, and beyond stretched the miles of slums. Sable turned to the north, skirting the city, until the walls of Old Tanton came into view. The old port town was surrounded on three sides by the tight network of slum housing, then, after that, lay the vast sprawl of Deadskins territory, home to the hundreds of thousands of Fordians descended from those who had fled the destruction of their land. In the midst of the Deadskins region lay a huge complex of high, stone buildings, and Sable slowed, approaching with care as she scanned the movements of the swarms of people in the streets. She knew the way well, having checked on Blackrose several times since she had been captured, and led Maddie straight to the building where the black dragon was being held.
We’re nearly there, she told Maddie. Remember, do not mention the Quadrant to her.
Sable entered the building and descended into a vast cavern carved from the bedrock of the city. Two dragons were there. One, a fine, sleek, dark green beast, was being fed live goats by a legion of Fordians at the northern end of the cavern.
That is Grassworm, Sable said, the current Deadskins champion. He is docile and obedient, which was probably how I imagine Sanguino used to be. I’d like to try rescuing him too, but we shall see.
Never mind him; where’s Blackrose?
Sable went into the shadows at the other end of the cavern, where a huge dragon was lying, chained and muzzled, her wings secured by a multitude of shackles.
Maddie sobbed.
There she is, said Sable. Let me try to enter her mind.
Sable approached with her vision, and pushed against Blackrose’s eyes. Going into a dragon’s head was different from that of humans, as she had learned from her mistakes with Frostback. It was almost like asking for permission to enter; she felt a resistance, and then the dragon allowed her in.
Hello, Blackrose; it’s me again.
Sable. How is Maddie? I hope you are looking after her as I requested.
Maddie is here with me, inside my mind. I’ve brought her to see you.
The dragon sighed. I wish you hadn’t. I do not want her to see me like this.
She needed to, Blackrose. I think she was starting to doubt my word. I’ve asked her to be patient, but she needed proof that I wasn’t lying.
Maddie? Can you hear me?
Yes, said Maddie through her tears. What have they done to you?
Never mind that, rider; listen to me. I know that I have doubted her in the past, but you must trust Sable. She is our only hope.
Have they made you fight?
Not yet, but that day is fast approaching. I will put on a show for them, to make them believe I am pliant. It shames me, but knowing that you and Sable are working for my release keeps me strong.
I have some good news, Sable said. Today, Sanguino managed to fly again.
The black dragon said nothing for a moment, and Sable saw a tear escape from her right eye.
You should be very proud, Blackrose said at last; and tell Sanguino that I am proud of him.
I will.
Is there any word on Frostback?
I’m afraid not. She hasn’t been seen anywhere near the Catacombs.
A small part of Sable’s consciousness was alerted to a noise in the tomb.
We have to go, she said. Someone’s in the cavern.
Then go with my love and blessings. And, Maddie, stay strong, for me.
I’ll try, Maddie sobbed.
Sable severed the connection and got to her feet by the hearth, the keenweed clearing her mind in an instant. A dragon was hovering by the entrance to the tomb, her grey wings beating as she talked to Sanguino. Sable rushed across the cavern, leaving Maddie swaying where she sat.
‘What’s going on?’ she said to Sanguino as she reached the entrance. She glanced up at the dragon outside. It was Ashfall, one of Deathfang’s adult brood.
‘I bear a message from my father,’ the grey dragon said. ‘He wants to speak with you both in his lair. Now.’
‘Is it bad news?’ said Sable.
Ashfall glanced down at her. ‘Come and see.’
She beat her wings again, and ascended, circling upwards.
Sable looked at Sanguino. ‘We knew this day would come. Your flight was what they were waiting for.’
‘Do you think they will try to expel us, my rider?’
‘Maybe. Stay here, and I’ll tell Maddie and Millen to pack a bag each and then hide in Frostback’s old cavern. Oh, by the way, Blackrose says that she is very proud of you. She shed a tear when I told her you flew today.’
Sanguino nodded. Even without being in his mind, their link had become so strong that Sable could feel the mixture of pride and worry that flowed through him.
He nodded. ‘Don’t be long.’
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Sable climbed up onto the harness and took Sanguino out for his second flight of the day. Rather than give in to exhaustion, she had smoked another stick of keenweed, and her head was buzzing as they ascended to the highest level of tombs, lifted by the swirls of hot air rising from the lava pools at the bottom of the valley. Burntskull was waiting for them as they landed heavily in the entrance of Deathfang’s huge lair, his eyes tight.
‘Greetings,’ said Sable, as she glanced at him.
‘Frostback was right, wasn’t she?’ said the yellow dragon.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You must be a witch, otherwise how could you have made a blind dragon fly again?’
Sanguino raised his claws in a flash, his great talons aimed at Burntskull. ‘Do not insult my rider, or I will rip you in two.’
Burntskull chuckled. ‘At least you have some spirit about you; I thought it had evaporated a long time hence. Come, Deathfang is waiting.’
He led them deeper into the huge cavern, and into the vast space at the end where Deathfang ruled from atop his pile of gold. Sable saw Ashfall stand by his left, while Darksky was on his right, her brood of three young dragons peering out from
under a protective wing. Others were there too, some of whom Sable didn’t recognise except for a brief glimpse of their heads as they had glanced out of their tombs at them that morning. Halfclaw was there, she noticed, the green-blue dragon that had tormented Sanguino along with Frostback when he had first arrived. Sable began to feel the dark red dragon’s fear as he faced the leadership of the Catacombs.
Everything will be fine, she said in his mind. You have nothing to fear.
Deathfang gazed at them with a lazy expression that Sable knew he used when he was anxious or worried.
‘So,’ he said, ‘the blind dragon flies again? How was this done?’
‘With patience and hard work,’ said Sanguino.
‘And with a witch as a rider,’ said Burntskull. ‘It is the only way.’
‘Is this true?’ said Deathfang.
‘May I speak, o mighty Deathfang?’ said Sable.
‘Will you try to bewitch us?’
‘If I was unable to bewitch your estranged daughter Frostback, then it would seem unlikely that any trick would work upon a dragon as powerful as you.’
Deathfang stared at her. ‘You may talk, but I warn you; if I suspect you are trying to use your unnatural powers on me, I will destroy you both.’
She lifted her left hand, and showed them the stump where her little finger had been. ‘A god did this to me. It may not look like much to you, but we humans need our fingers.’ She then lifted her tunic to show the large scar across her stomach. ‘Another god did this to me, and I nearly died because of it. I lay in a fever for days, and it has taken time to heal.’
‘Of what possible interest are your injuries to us?’ said Burntskull.
‘I am trying to prove something. I was maimed and wounded, and so was Sanguino. Alone, we are less than we are together. Together, we flew. You can call it witchcraft if you wish, but for a moment, please consider that dragons and people can sometimes help each other. Please, do not dismiss the notion out of hand.’
Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6) Page 6
