Dragon! Book Two: "Revenge"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The number of minds working in unison with the twisted, evil one was uncertain, but all were under the control of the mental force Gareth touched. Worse, all were close in proximity to Gareth and all were being directed by one stronger and eviler than the rest.

Gareth felt confident he knew exactly where they were. They were in the valley where he headed, the home of his mentor, the man he called his father. Odd that he thought of the two mentors in his life within such a short time today. His ‘father’ and the Brother. Both had been good to him in their own way.

“You must eat.” Ann’s hand shook his shoulder as the words were repeated louder to wake him.

Opening his eyes, Gareth found her about to shake him again. He smelled food cooking and wood smoke. Onions and other herbs, along with a small fire held his attention. A glance told him it was still early in the evening. Then his eyes shifted to Tad, who was splashing in the stream, a pointed stick in his hand that he used as a spear for imaginary foes. Tad jabbed another puffed out his skinny chest at the victory.

But as much as he’d enjoy watching Tad, he moved his attention to the older boy and asked Ann, “You fed him and gave him more herbs to keep him calm?”

“Only a little were added to his food. He ate like an animal.”

“Meaning without manners, or because he was so hungry?”

“Both. I’m sorry, and maybe I should have let you remain there to do whatever it is that you’re doing, but you need to eat.” She held three small cooked fish on a handful of green leaves.

He accepted them gratefully. All had been grilled over the fire, and she had sprinkled a touch of salt on them. After eating, he went to the stream and slurped water while watching Tad poke his stick at more imagined foes. He said, “Later I will talk with you.”

“Not now?”

“I have some work to do, but I want to spend some time tonight teaching you a few things.”

“Hunting things?”

“Better than that. I’m going to teach you how to defend yourself.”

Tad spun and pointed the stick at on offending tree trunk and poked it. “Like that?”

After the tension of the day, Gareth laughed until he caught sight of Ann’s scowl before she turned quickly away. He went to her. “What is it?”

“You’re going to teach him mental tricks because you’re scared.”

“It’s time he learns to use his powers.”

Ann tossed a handful of small sticks on the fire and watched it flare up. She watched as Gareth threw the remains of the dinner, mostly fish bones at the fire harder than necessary. “Time, indeed,” she hissed.

“I should have been teaching him during the voyage.”

This time, Ann snorted, “You were.”

Gareth flushed in anger but remained outwardly calm. “You’re right. I am scared.”

“Tell me about what you’re thinking.”

“Without facts to back up anything, I believe several people with the same powers I have traveled over that mountain pass up ahead. They went to my father’s home and killed him and his dragon. Think about that. They killed the most powerful man in four hundred years and his dragon. A black dragon. Have you ever heard of someone killing any dragon, let alone a black one?”

“There’s more to your fears. Try to keep the story in some order for me to follow,” Ann said, her voice soft but scared.

“They came to me in my mind and said I was next. Me and Blackie.”

“You are not the kind of man to be scared for himself. What else?”

Gareth settled back and said in a rush, “If they can kill my father and Cinder, his dragon, they can do it to Blackie and me, but then what? If they can defeat us, they can easily slay every member of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, and everyone else. Again, then what? Defeat the King? Take over the entire kingdom and rule it as they want? Make slaves of all? Destroy our way of life?”

Ann’s complexion had paled as Gareth spoke, but she remained quiet.

“The evil mind that rules the others is clearly insane, but just as clearly, it is stronger than any of those he brought with him. My biggest fear is that he is stronger than me, especially when I consider the fact that my mind was trained by the Brotherhood. I have skills and abilities I’ve developed over the years, but what if this menace destroys me?”

“We all die.”

There, she’d said it. Condensed all his fears into three small words. We all die. What a perfect summation.

Ann said, “I have another question that will seem odd.”

“What is it?”

“Can you lie when you speak with your mind?”

“Lie? No, not really. I can try to influence, but you already know about that. But outright lie? No.”

“Have you been in contact with any of the Brotherhood?”

“They have been released and are taking up their watch posts, looking for me.”

Ann said in a more exasperated tone, “Have you been in contact with one specific Brother, the one who you trust? The one you told me about before?”

“How could you guess such a thing?”

“Because you have told me your history or part of it. You do not like the Brotherhood; we all know that. But you speak well of them, at times. I suspect there is one or two that you hold above the others and may speak with him on a regular basis.”

“There is one. I have spoken to him once. Today, for the first time in thirty years.”

“Good. You look twenty, but have not talked to this man in thirty years, and you cannot understand how difficult that is for me to understand. But I wish for you to talk with him again. He can, if he will, pass on a message to the Sisterhood.”

Gareth asked, “What is the message?”

“I wish for him to tell them in any method he can, that I am calling on the entire Sisterhood to support you. I want him to warn them of these evil minds that have come into our land, and that if we do not band together, we will all surely die horrible deaths.”

“You want this passed on to the Sisterhood, but what about the Brotherhood?”

“You cannot lie. The Brother will know that. He knows you. I grant him permission to pass on my message to his people as well, and hope that they will join us.”

Gareth said, “It’s a good idea. If nothing else it will warn all sensitives and maybe there are things that can be done, I don’t know. Watch over me and I’ll try reaching out to him.”

He found the mental link easily now that he knew where to search. Can you briefly speak with me?

*Later.*

Gareth didn’t bother answering. The reply had been sharp, short, and abrupt. There must be observers too close for the Brother to spare more of an answer. Gareth would wait until later as he allowed his mind to seep into the gentle mountain air, listening and probing carefully, but again knowing what he was searching for. It was there. The mind was still angry, as always, and mentally shouting harsh black thoughts and images, but only directed at a few others.

The tendrils of thought carried to Gareth as if he crawled along the veins of a spider web emanating from one central strand. Instead of following the tendrils to the center he allowed different parts of his mind to follow them to the extremities.

There were four of them. Five if he counted the one still searching for the youth sitting beside, but not too close, to Ann. Four more minds that were being berated and tortured. All by the same one.

Learning about the four would tell him about the central one, the leader. Already he found that each cringed in fear when mentally touched by their master. They didn’t know how to defend themselves, let alone lock him out of their minds.

The thoughts escaping them were dispelled by the evil one. Gareth chose one of the four at random, and as quietly as a housecat creeping up on a bird, he moved inside. He let no thought escape to be detected by others. He made no suggestions nor did he react to anything he found. Gareth simply observed.

When the central mind issued a command, the one Gareth monitored cringed, then tried to obey, but all the while thoughts of punishment stayed foremost. There seemed to be no attempt to hide those emotions. The evil almost demanded them.

Gareth allowed himself to slip inside further, knowing the dangers but risking it in an attempt to gain more information. He reached the eyes of the other. Gareth wanted to take control of the eyes that he could now see through. But such a bold move would startle the mind in such a fearful manner that the stronger mind controlling him would react almost at once. He watched but didn’t attempt to shift the view.

There were two dirty feet with bare toes sticking up at the sky. He must be sitting with his legs sticking out in front, like on the grass. The ankles and legs above the feet were equally filthy. A sore oozed on a shin, and a scab on the other showed where an equally bad one had partially healed. Beyond the two feet were trees, mostly fir, and cedar, but through an opening in the trees wound a section of road.

Not the king’s highway, which was wide, packed solid with the daily footsteps, but more of a wide path or track. Two could walk side by side on the grassy road, but the abundance of grass told of how few feet traveled it in recent times. The eyes he looked through never moved anywhere else.

He’s on watch. Gareth pulled from his mind and moved to another. Again, careful to leave any sense of his presence, he moved to where he could look out the eyes. A wide valley spread below, so the watcher must be situated high on a hillside overlooking the valley. In the distance grew trees in orderly rows, and a lake reflected the last of the days’ sun.

The sight almost caused Gareth to react. He knew that orchard and lake. It was the valley where his father had lived. Up the valley, to the right, was the main house. To the left was an empty field where the magnificent dragon named Cinder rotted.

There was no forethought of leaving the mind. Gareth just did it. He pulled back and tried preventing bile from choking him.

“Are you okay?” Ann asked, rising to her feet and hurrying to his side.

“They are waiting for me at my father’s valley.”

“Waiting? A trap?”

“Yes.”

She backed off a step. “Then don’t go there.”

A sad smile formed for an instant then fled as if it had never been. He said, “I have to go. But on my own terms, not like they expect.”

“That’s more like it. Are you ever going to rest?”

“I think I’ll walk around and exercise a little. No, I think Tad and me need to talk.” He went to Tad and watched him throw his pretend spear at a minnow. The throw missed, but Tad was ready to try again when he looked up and saw Gareth.

“When am I going to see Mama again?”

Gareth hesitated. “Your mother will want to talk to you. Come sit beside me and I’ll show you how, but you must follow my directions.”

Tad leaped to his side, sitting on the same boulder and folding his hands in his lap as he looked up at Gareth. With a smile, Gareth said, “I’m going to reach inside your head. Don’t be scared.”

“Like when I listen to you?”

“Yes. I’m going to listen inside your head, then I’m going to reach out and look for your mother’s mind. I’ll guide you, but you must do what I say and do not get too excited.”

“Because we do not want others to hear us talk?”

The boy was asking all the right questions. Gareth nodded and reached out to Tad. Can you hear me?

*Of course.*

“Can you follow me in your mind?” Gareth searched the endless number of minds he could hear, trying to locate his daughter-in-law.

He had touched her mind a thousand times, never reading her thoughts, but ensuring her safety as he did all in his family. In thirty years he’d never once invaded their privacy. There had been no reason to, not even with Sara. On the island, none was ever more than a short walk away.

*Can you find her in all those voices?*

Gareth knew the sound of her mind and quickly located her. He realized how scared he might make her with the mental touch. He didn’t know how to knock on her mental door to warn her of his entry into her mind. Pausing, he tried to think of a way.

*Let me do it*

That might be best. Go ahead, but be gentle. This will be her first time, and we don’t want to scare her. Gareth allowed Tad to advance while he monitored his progress.

*Mama, can you hear me?*

*Wha . . . Tad? Is that you?*

*Gareth said I can talk to you if I don’t make you scared.*

*You are not scaring me, at least not now. Are you well? I miss you so much.*

Gareth pulled back until he barely sensed them, giving them all the privacy possible, but still protecting both from allowing their thoughts to escape into the general din of the world where they might be detected.

He turned his attention back to the conversation when he heard Amy tell him she was on a boat along with the rest of the family. Then he withdrew again. He’d speak with Sara when he determined it was safe to do so. The evil mind was probably out there searching for him at this instant, but it wouldn’t know of Tad.

The entire family was safely on the ship heading for Vespa. If there were any ships sailing to explore and search Bitters Island, they would find it abandoned with no way of determining where the people had fled. The preparations he’d made thirty years ago would give them a safe haven, at least for a while. The farm was large, the workers few, but the managers knew that the terms of their employment were that people might show up. There were housing and food waiting.

Over the years, he’d made sure all was well planned. There was even a cover story about a devastating fire that caused the family to relocate. Of course, that original story had been more convincing when the family consisted of four. Then ten. Now it was far larger, but he would use his powers to convince those on nearby farms that it was normal.

He listened to Tad tell Amy of his adventures, so far. Amy told of what the family was doing, and of the dissension within the family over leaving Bitters Island. However, a family meeting was called, and Sara explained the dangers of remaining, convincing all to travel with her. Gareth was relieved that he hadn’t been part of that, but Sara had insisted he leave. She would handle the family while Gareth went in search of whoever killed Cinder and Gareth’s father.

They talked until the sun settled over the tops of the trees and the air turned chilly. Gareth let them be. If nothing else, Tad was learning how to control his mind. Hopefully, Amy learned that Gareth was trying to help and protect her son.

Ann, much to her dislike, stayed close to the other boy, avoiding his eyes when he opened them. She kept her pouch of herbs nearby, ready to stuff his mouth full if needed. She had not cleaned or medicated any of the cuts, scrapes, or wounds since the night before when she had touched his mind. Instead of asking her, Gareth decided to do it himself.

He kept a mental watch on Tad while also listening to the other boy’s mind and keeping all thoughts private and limited to their clearing. The boy weighed nothing when he lifted him and carried him to the edge of the stream. Setting him down on the sand with his feet in the water, Gareth began splashing handfuls of water on his legs and washing them.

Ann passed them and dropped soap and medicine to treat the wounds. She acted as if they fell from her hand unbidden as she gathered more firewood from the tangle at the bend of the stream.

Several of the smaller wounds had formed scabs, a good sign of healing. More were not as infected or swelled as the day before. Gareth pulled the clothing off of him and found no new flea bites. The lye soap had killed the few left on him, as well as the lice and other crawlies.

He started with the hair and soaped everything until he even had soap between the toes. Then he rinsed and dressed him. The boy remained as still as a corpse.

When Gareth sat him beside the fire, Ann asked, “That is all wasted effort if you have to kill him.”

“I don’t plan to kill him.”

Ann raised her eyes to meet his. “Will you ever be able to trust him?”

“No.”