Dragon! Book Two: "Revenge"

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The buildings were the same color as the tan of the dirt and grass. There were only five. One appeared much larger. Around the buildings, but out of sight of the ridge because of the hill, were trees and patches of green gardens and pastures.

As Blackie flew closer, Gareth decided three buildings were houses, one a storage shed or barn, and the last was far larger than any other. It was a community center or church. Animals grazed on the lush grass surrounding the buildings, and smoke rose from a chimney.

A startled woman looked up, saw Blackie and shielded her eyes from the sun as she watched and called out a warning. Others emerged and watched. Gareth didn’t want to worry them so he turned away and flew back to the safety of the mountains where Blackie could feed at will as he waited for Gareth to complete his business.

Gareth broke the link and looked at Ann and Tad. “There is a community ahead. Just a few buildings, but I think we need to go there.”

Ann shrugged, “It’s what we came here for. I suspect the answers you seek are waiting there.”

Tad said, “I still hear the minds of ten people, but they are excited, now.”

“That’s because they saw Blackie fly over them.”

“Is there water? I’m thirsty,” Tad added.

“Yes, there’s green fields and trees, so there is water.”

Ann gave him a questioning look. “Out there? How far is this place?”

Gareth understood her question. They had no water with them. As far as they could see it was brown without a sign of water. “Not as far as you’d think. About where the trail disappears from sight is a small hill and the buildings are on the other side.”

She didn’t seem convinced. A glance at the sun to estimate the time and she asked, “Will we be there before dark?”

“Long before our mid-day meal,” he told her, trying to assure both of them.

As one, they stood and started walking. The path was still no larger than at the top of the mountain pass, but it covered hard ground that made for easy walking as they moved down the long slope. At the bottom, they found the land was not as flat as they believed, or that it looked from the crest. Instead, it rolled one small round hill after another. They walked up one gentle slope and down another. Then repeated the process.

Early in the afternoon, with the sun at their backs, they climbed another hill and found the buildings directly ahead. The green of the crops and pastures looked unnatural against the brown of the arid land all around. All of the buildings were constructed of mud bricks with a coating of tan plaster protecting the outside. All were constructed so much alike that it appeared a single worker had done all the work, which may be true.

“It’s pretty,” Tad declared.

“As long as they have water,” Ann said in a raspy voice.

Gareth was about to tell them there had to be a well or spring when movement captured his attention. Two people now stood on the path in the shade of the largest building. Another was walking to join them. “They knew we were coming.”

“Blackie?”

“Yes, they saw him so they waited and watched,” Gareth said, feeling uncomfortable despite having no reason apparent for the feeling. Still, he hesitated. Another person joined those waiting. That made four.

The distance was too great to make out details, but one thing drew his attention. It was not the person, but what he wore. It appeared to be a green robe. A robe like those of the Brotherhood wore, but he couldn’t be sure. Gareth swallowed and started walking. Whatever was down there would answer questions he didn’t even know to ask.

Why he felt so sure was unknown, but instead of being scared he felt confident if a little wary. If Belcher came from there, it was reason enough to be scared. He heard the footsteps following behind, but Gareth took the lead for the first time. His presence might help protect Ann and Tad, but he didn’t believe it would be necessary.

People planning him harm wouldn’t stand in the center of the path and wait for them. As the distance closed, another joined the group, this one a woman carrying a child. He could sense all ten of them, with six standing in the road. Only four more, and as that crossed his mind, two more emerged from another building and joined the rest. Eight, counting the baby.

Gareth attempted to seek out their minds and failed. Each wore protection, as people might wear cloaks in a rainstorm. Their minds were there, just beyond reach, but closed to outside thought. The one in the center held his arms in front of himself, each hand in the baggy sleeve of the other arm. There was not a hair on the head, and Gareth knew there would be no eyebrows when he walked closer.

The others wore similar robes, but of different colors, all shorter in length than that of the Brotherhood, but made of the same heavy material. He saw sandals on the feet. Another figure, that of a younger woman walked from the doorway of a house carrying a baby. She joined the others, standing slightly behind the Brother.

Tad said from behind, “That’s all of them.”

All of the people living on this side of the mountains, every single one, stood within sight. Gareth slowed his approach as he came close enough to see their individual faces, but he still had one more shock to understand. Except for the Brother, seven were women and two babies.

Gareth lifted his chin and continues walking, a distance that seemed greater than crossing the mountains. At the edges of his wits Belcher emerged, like a fighter jabbing and dodging, he struck time after time as hard as he could but did no harm. Gareth ignored him like he would a persistent fly as he tried to understand what he walked into.

A dozen paces away Gareth pulled to a halt as the Brother advanced with his arms spread open in welcome. The man was old, far older than any Brother Gareth had ever encountered. His skin was loose and wrinkled, his eyes slow to track, and his back as bent as a branch of spiral wood. When Gareth closed the distance, the Brother stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Gareth and pulled him close as he kissed Gareth’s neck. In his ear, he whispered, “Welcome back, Gareth.”