Dragon! Book Two: "Revenge"

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The intense silence of two opposing groups filled the room again. If none held information that would help Gareth kill Belcher, his reason for being in the desert community with the glowing water was at an end. Feeling betrayed that they had given them the water without warning, and also feeling that if he didn’t leave the village immediately, he might slay everyone in the room but Ann and Tad, he gave the room one last disgusted look.

Ann asked the room at large, “My mother drank water from that pool before I was born?”

Several women nodded. One looked away as if ashamed. Another said, “All of our mothers did.”

Gareth stood, and as he did, so did Tad and Ann. Together they walked across the fieldstone floor and opened the door to face the brilliant desert sun. In their cabin, they quickly gathered their belongings and went outside where all the women and the old Brother waited in a tight group. Gareth walked in a wide circle around them instead of speaking to them, and began the long, hot, dry walk up the long hill that led to the mountains in the west.

It would be a thirsty walk until the first waterhole, which they wouldn’t reach until morning unless they walked all night. That was better than drinking water that glowed and somehow changed babies into something more—or less.

Tad, his voice chipper and as if to punctuate the statement he spun in a circle as she said, “I’m glad we’re leaving that place.”

Ann said, “Me too, but what of Belcher? What are we going to do about him?”

“I think I know how to resolve it. The Brother back there gave me what information I needed, along with a few clues Ramos provided. I don’t believe Belcher is stronger than me, but his twisted mind makes him far more dangerous.”

“I know he’s dangerous, but how are you going to defeat him? Or do you plan to talk him into a compromise or something else equally stupid?” Ann didn’t withhold the anger from her voice.

The slow climb up the path that would take them to the mountains slowly made the backs of their legs ache, but all kept walking. Gareth finally said, “I have a plan.”

Ann continued walking in silence except for a few soft words urging Tad to keep up. Finally, she said, “Listen here. I’ve traveled with you, risked my life in this desert, swallowed water that glows in the dark, and a hundred other things. I expect a better answer that that.”

The bright setting sun was directly in their eyes and made walking difficult. Gareth felt his stomach twist in hunger and said, “Let’s sit and talk a while. We can travel later when it's cooler, and we don’t face the sun.”

They sat on a blanket spread near the side of the path, and when they turned and looked back at the floor of the desert, the buildings were in still sight in the distance, too far off to see individual people. The small community was already fading into the landscape with only the green of the fields, pastures, and orchards standing out. Soon, they too would vanish behind the hill.

Tad curled into a ball and fell asleep with his head on Gareth’s lap, which was well because Gareth hesitated to speak of killing a person in front of the boy. Wiping the hair from the boy’s forehead, he said, “If an enemy is strong enough to kill a mature dragon in his prime, he is a foe that I must be wary of, at the very least. The rage we all heard in our minds sounded as if an ancient god had returned from the heavens to throw balls of lightning and thunder at us. It killed my father and his dragon. I admit I was scared.”

Ann chuckled, “There are no balls of thunder.”

“Okay, I’m just trying to express myself.”

“You were scared with good reason,” she said softly, settling back to listen.

“It was all bluster by Belcher. The insane ravings of a childlike mind in a fit of temper. A mind we cannot control, but one that will hurt thousands of others if not stopped. I cannot allow that to happen.” He closed his eyes and drew in a mouthful of the dry desert air before speaking in a firm voice. “I won’t let that happen. But I now know that Belcher cannot kill dragons in some mystical fashion, and he is no more powerful than me.”

Ann said, “When the time comes to kill that young man, or boy, or whatever he is, do you believe you will be able to do it? Kill him, I mean. It’s not like you to kill.”

“No, of course not.”

“So you admit you cannot kill him, and you cannot allow him to live. Gareth, so far I don’t think much of your stupid plan.”

He smiled and said, “There is one more piece of it. Well, actually several. However, while I deal with Belcher, I want you to take Tad to my family in Vespa and If I win, bring them all to the valley where my father lived. It’s the perfect location for them to start over and make a new home.”

“Belcher is waiting for you there, or he was the last we knew of him. It’s also there that he has his trap set for you. Remember?”

“I hope he is there. That’s part of my plan.”

Oh, Gareth, you’re really not going there to face him, are you?”

“Not exactly.”