“I want to alert the dragons,” she blurted. “I want to take a few days to travel to the Talon Range. The dragons helped us just a short while ago, and I believe they'll help us again—if we make a solid appeal.” Her father looked poised to deny her on the spot, but she pressed on. “Their aid during the great battle turned the tide in our favor. We don't need an enormous force here, necessarily, just a handful of dragons to participate in patrols and scouting missions. Imagine how much more ground we could cover, how much more we could learn about the size of the enemy force, if we had a few dragons flying reconnaissance for us.”
Her father considered it briefly, his shoulders slumping. “They would be a great asset,” he conceded. “But even so, Minx, they have made it clear that they do not intend to assist us any further. Their cooperation during the great battle was a gift, but we cannot count on the dragons to save us. The Fae must pull together, must call on other allies—”
“Who?” demanded Minx, turning toward him. “Who, father? Our ranks are being steadily depleted. Every battle leads to a handful of deaths or grave injuries. Soon, we'll have to build another medical tent. In a few weeks, we'll have no one left to fight on our side with the way things are going. If forces of this size turn up again and again, we will eventually fall to them. Mau and I can only take on so many before we, too, will be overwhelmed. Please allow us to travel to the Talon Range, father. I will plead with the dragons and ask them to help us. Surely Kaleb, at least, will hear us out.”
He smiled a little, shook his head. “Is that what this is about? Kaleb? You're still thinking about that young shifter, are you?”
She didn't meet his gaze, her cheeks reddening. “He's a powerful ally, father. And he was instrumental in bringing the dragons here the first time. I think he'll be willing to help us. Our people need assistance. I don't see any other way through this...”
“The Talon Range is far. Going there by foot will take a few days, even if you travel at a great clip. You won't be carried there by dragons this time around. It would be risky to allow you and Mau to venture so far when we're in need of strong warriors. Especially... when there's no guarantee of your success.” Valdar sighed. “But then, I know you, Minx. You won't let this go until I've given you permission. I suppose, under the circumstances... it may be worthwhile.” He leaned toward her, adding, “But you must be careful, and travel quickly. According to our scouts, the lands beyond our territory have been ravaged by the dark forces. The Krah, Plurn and Wuff are a scourge, and will threaten our local forests if they are not stopped. The path to the Talon Range is sure to be fraught with dangers. Are you sure that the two of you can make the trip safely?”
Minx nodded firmly. “The two of us can move quickly and quietly. Without a large force bogging us down, we should be able to slip past remnants of the dark army undetected. But if this is going to be effective, we need to leave immediately.”
“Immediately...” Her father echoed the word with a frown, as though it possessed a foul taste. “All right, then. Pack your things, Minx. You and Mau may travel to the Talon Range. I wish you great success... But please... be careful.”
She squeezed her father in a brief hug and nodded. “Of course. We'll keep our wits about us and return as quickly as possible—with reinforcements!” Starting from the square with Mau at her side, the Fae huntress marched immediately for her home. Let's go, Mau. There isn't a moment to waste!
Chapter 4
The journey to the Talon Range was one of nearly three days—a journey fraught with perils, and which took the powerful duo far from the familiar borders of Fae territory. They traversed the interstitial wilds, evading pockets of wandering warriors all the way, with only an outdated hand-drawn map from the tomes of the Fae Elders for guidance. On their previous trip to the Talon Range, they had been carried by Kaleb. Now, they were forced to travel on horseback, and to navigate largely by instinct.
The ravages of the dark army upon the surrounding lands were far greater than either of them had dared dream. Lush grasslands had been reduced to fields of dust—stripped, burnt and trodden by thousands of dark warriors in the days since Torrent's forces had first converged upon the Trading Center. This same flavor of destruction would soon visit Pan if Minx failed to carry out this errand; the mobs, slowly accumulating power after their unexpected rout, would march upon the tree city of the Fae, upon old Winterlimb and Heilo Lake if given the chance, and would surely delight in the ravaging.
Had Minx and Mau been forced to travel by foot, the trek to the foothills of the Talon Range would have taken upwards of a week. In the interest of haste, Minx's father had provided her with a powerful black stallion to ride. The horse, Strider, was a treasured workhorse, one of the choicest bred by The First, and was equipped with sufficient food and water to last a total of three days. The stallion rode at a furious clip, bearing the lightweight Fae huntress without difficulty and nearly outpacing the Faelyr who ran alongside.
Due to the constant presence of dark marauders for miles around the Trading Center, Minx and Mau decided to travel by night. Their passage into dragon territory would be more difficult to trace under the cover of darkness, and they rode from the evenings until the first stirrings of dawn till the third day, encountering only a few small groups of warriors in the process. Their decision to travel after dark lent them an element of surprise, in that those they did encounter in the field were at that time busy setting up their own camps and subsequently unprepared to give chase.
On the second day, just prior to sunrise, Minx and Mau ran into a raiding party of ten Wuffs who'd just broken their camp and were in the process of heading toward the Trading Center to regroup with the larger forces scattered thereabouts. The Faelyr seized upon them without warning, throwing the groggy warriors into a disarray, while Minx picked off the remainder on horseback. The struggle lasted only a few minutes, and one of the Wuffs—having barely survived an arrow to the gut—was questioned.
“How many of you are there?” demanded Minx, dismounting and training another arrow on him.
The Wuff, his brown fur dripping with sweat, looked up at her from the ground with a certain smugness. “More than you can imagine,” he replied, wincing through his pain. “You have no idea what's coming...”
Minx availed herself of the raiders' rations, gave both Mau and Strider a rest, and then drove them on a short while longer, making a simple camp in a copse of dense trees in the early morning hours. There, they enjoyed an uneasy sleep in the shade, listening always on the wind for new disturbances. They were off once again before the sun had fully dropped out of the sky.
You sure there's no room for me on that thing? panted Mau as she fought to keep up with the stallion. I won't stick my claws in him. Promise.
Sorry, replied the Fae huntress, but you're kind of heavy, Mau. We don't want to break Strider's back, do we? Anyway, you're doing wonderfully. By my calculations, we're nearly there. The morning of the third day brought the peaks of the Talon Range into view, and rather than stopping to make another camp, they proceeded toward the home of the dragons. Since the previous evening, they had not come across any other warriors. It seemed that this stretch, so close to dragon territory, had not been attacked yet.
I guess the Wuffs know better than to bother the dragons on their own turf, huh? said Mau. Things seem peaceful out here. For the meantime, anyway.
Minx agreed, though it was only a matter of time before Torrent's forces reassembled and encroached upon the Talon Range. When the Fae had been dealt with, the dark army would certainly turn their attention to the dragons. She recalled with a chill the way the small force of dragons had been overwhelmed during the early stages of the great battle, and how Valry of the Wuff had utilized a powerful magical shield which had interfered with Kaleb's powers. When the time finally came for the dark army to march on the Talon Range, they would not come unprepared. That's why it's so important that we team up and face this threat together, she told the Faelyr. Valry and To
rrent aren't stupid. When they're done with Pan, they'll come for the dragons. We stand a much better chance of defeating them together than we do apart.
Absolutely, replied the Faelyr. Now... hopefully we can convince the dragons of that. On the whole, they weren't too amenable to our request the last time. Remember?
Minx rode hard, slipping into the vast, manicured clearing at the foot of the Talon Range where the dragons practiced their military maneuvers. The light of the sun emerged from behind the jagged peaks, leaving her tired eyes starry and moist. It was true; their last appeal to the dragons, with Kaleb in tow, had not gone smoothly. The generals of the Talon Range had listened to Kaleb's rousing speech, only to spend several hours raging in the War Chamber. After so much debate, a small cadre of young volunteers had agreed to join the Fae war effort, but the top brass had stubbornly refused. It had only been during the final chapter of the battle that the dragon leaders had descended upon the Trading Center and dealt Torrent's forces a punishing blow—and most of them, in typical dragon fashion, had departed almost as quickly as they'd come.
Minx didn't trust dragons—not implicitly. Their aid during the great battle proved to her that they were not wholly evil, but their stubbornness and ingrained dislike of her people made them wildcards, at best. But she did trust Kaleb, and the confident young dragon shifter would, upon their reunion, surely hear her out as he'd done so many times before. She remembered her previous trip to the mountain fortress with him, recalled the beautiful stonework throughout the mountain and its countless winding pathways. Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him again, and as they arrived at the base of the mountain, near one of several large tunnels leading inside, it finally dawned on her.
Finally, I get to see Kaleb again!
The anxiety of the previous weeks melted away in an instant as she tied Strider to a post outside the mountain and led Mau toward a yawning entrance tunnel. She had yearned to see Kaleb since his departure—had longed to hear his voice and feel his touch—and wondered how he would react at her unexpected visit. Would he be pleased? Shocked? With an almost child-like excitement, she led Mau into the mountain, starting up a handsomely-carved staircase of slate-colored stone. She didn't know her way around the complex, and was liable to get lost, but after days of difficult travel and uncertain navigation, she knew the hardest part was behind them. The only thing left was to press on into the fortress and seek out Kaleb. He would handle the rest.
Their ascent brought them to a large, many-doored chamber. Creeping slowly into it, uncertain of what kind of reception a Fae could expect without a dragon escort, Minx studied each of the doorways before her carefully before starting across the room toward the centermost. I'm not sure where we should go, exactly. I'll try and get to that large room outside the War Chamber—or maybe, if we can find our way higher up, I'll attempt to find Kaleb's quarters. Do you remember where that was—where his father and mother live? We spent a bit of time there the last time we came. Do you think we could find that spot again?
Mau, still tired for the journey, chuckled. I feel like we could search this place all day and never find it. We'll be better off asking for directions... But then, the last time we were here the locals weren't exactly welcoming...
Maybe some of the dragons who participated in the battle are around here somewhere. Surely one of them would help us, right? Minx second-guessed herself, studied the other doorways in the vicinity. I wish we had a map. This place is enormous...
At that moment, from a rightward passage, emerged two young dragons in military dress. Armed with swords, they carried on jovially amongst themselves—and then stopped in their tracks as they noticed the Fae huntress and Faelyr in their midst. Their expressions passed from relaxation, to shock, and settled finally on something akin to outrage. They peered at one another and reached reflexively for their weapons.
Oh, good, moaned the Faelyr. Now we've done it.
Minx came to a halt, shoulders stiffening, and offered the two dragons—guards, by the looks of it—an awkward smile. “H-Hello,” she stammered. “I don't suppose you could give us some directions? You see, we're a little lost... We came to see a friend of ours, and to make a diplomatic appeal to the generals of the Talon Range Guard. This place is so huge, though... we're having trouble finding our way.”
One of the dragons, the taller one, with a mane of spiky brown hair, marched toward them immediately, his fist locked around the hilt of his sword. “You're lost?” he spat. “I'll say! You're in dragon territory—in a complete and utter breach of the treaty!” He drew his sword and pointed the business end at her—and the edge in his voice told her he was ready to use it. “Stop where you are. You're under arrest.”
Minx and Mau exchanged a furtive look. The Fae huntress hadn't expected to be welcomed with open arms, exactly, but was taken rather off-guard by this hostile reception and had to suck in a deep breath to keep her temper at bay. “I'm sorry. Yes, I know that this is a violation of the treaty. I am Minx, a Royal Fae, and I'm here to speak to Kaleb. I've been here before, and just recently I fought alongside many of you in the great battle against the Wuff—”
“Silence,” ordered the guard. His partner came up from the rear with a pair of steel shackles at the ready. “You're under arrest,” he repeated. “Stay where you are. Outsiders—Fae—are not permitted here. You've made a serious error in judgement, and if you don't comply, we'll be well within our rights to strike you down where you stand.”
Mau backed away from the approaching guards with a whimper. I think they're serious, Minx... and I don't think they care who we're here to see. Maybe we should've sent Kaleb a letter in advance, let him know we were thinking of dropping by...
Minx was ready to argue, to resist, but stopped short when she recognized the other guard. The one with the shackles in hand had been one of the young volunteers who'd joined her and Kaleb prior to the great battle. He was heavier set, with a flat nose and thick ribbons of curly black hair. She couldn't recall his name, but met him with a broad smile. “Hey, I know you! You were one of the dragons who came with me and Kaleb to Pandling Grounds! Surely you can vouch for me, right? We're not here looking for trouble. It's just like before—we're here to ask for some help. Things back home, with the Wuffs, well... they're not so good at the moment. Do you know where Kaleb is? If I could only speak to him, I think I could clear up the confusion and put this silliness behind us.”
The dragon offered a sheepish grin, nodding. “Uh... yes, that's true, Minx... I remember you.” He gave the cuffs a little shake. “I'm sorry, though... we're still going to have to take you in.”
“Huh?” She balled her fists. “What do you mean?” Minx blinked hard, as though unable to process his words. “But... but you know me. I'm not just some invader! This isn't really necessary, is it? Just tell Kaleb we're here, will you? We don't have a lot of time for all of this.”
The familiar dragon chuckled uncomfortably. “I'm sorry, but you're technically trespassing. We have to arrest you, Minx. It's the law.” He held out the shackles, inviting her to slip them on. “Nothing personal, of course.”
“Oh, great! As long as it isn't personal, I guess you can go on and arrest us, then. That's no trouble at all!” she scoffed.
Minx, cool it, warned the Faelyr. These two aren't going to mess around, and even if we make a break for it, we're still going to be stuck in a mountain full of dragons. Don't rile them up, please...
The other dragon piped up, pointing to the bow on her back. “Remove that weapon. You're under arrest and will face trial. If you show any resistance, we won't hesitate to meet it with deadly force.” A few other guards stepped into the chamber from one of the other doorways. “Hey,” he ordered them, “take this Faelyr to a holding cell in the dungeon. Don't let it out of your sight.”
“Now, hold on!” pleaded Minx. “That really isn't necessary! I can explain—”
Her protest fell on deaf ears, however.
At the point of a s
word, she was forced to place her wrists within the shackles. They were tightly fastened and she was led out of the room, to the right, while Mau was carefully coaxed by a handful of swordsmen. “D-Don't hurt her!” warned Minx, her stomach dropping as Mau was led away. “Please, be gentle with her. She's a friend of Kaleb's, too.”
W-What should I do? asked the Faelyr, her fur bristling. Wait for you in the dungeon?
Stay calm, instructed Minx. We're outnumbered... and anyway, we don't want to do anything to jeopardize our chances of aid. Go with them, peacefully. This will all be cleared up as soon as I speak to Kaleb, I'm certain. Many of the dragons don't like us—we should have expected this much.
The Faelyr gave a pathetic whimper and made no move to resist the moves of the encroaching guards. If you say so...
Minx was led out of the chamber by the familiar shifter. He kept his head low, obviously embarrassed at the spectacle, and did not treat her roughly. They ascended a narrow stair, cut across a massive plaza where handfuls of onlookers studied her with curiosity, and then started through a wide doorway. This doorway led, after a few twists and turns, to a familiar space. They'd entered the vast room outside of the War Chamber. Rather than starting into the space where Kaleb had made his appeal during their last visit, the guard led Minx past the massive wooden doors and into a smaller room fronted by a single guard. The door was opened, and Minx was brought into what appeared to be a small courtroom. A large stand and podium sat on the opposite end of the room, and a modest amount of seating for jurors and spectators was sprinkled throughout in neat rows. A few older dragons were seated about the room, locked in quiet discussions. Furthermore, across the room, stood a tall man, half-hidden by the red curtain hanging in the rear passageway.
How to Save a Fae (Heir of Dragons Book 2) Page 3
