CHAPTER FIFTEEN


Damon


We gathered together a few steps away from our prisoners and held what amounted to a family council. Since I’d recently been a prisoner, I identified with them. Flier did most of the talking, Emma and Anna remained quiet, willing to accept whatever we decided to do. Kendra seemed in a hurry to both depart and to reach Vin. As for me, I just wanted to get out of the desert sun that reflected off the water and the sand and seemed to suck all moisture from us, no matter how much or often we drank.

Flier turned to face our prisoners, and he cut the bindings from them as he spoke for all to hear, “Listen well. We are fighting against the council and the new rulers; however, it is something we must do alone. If you attempt to follow us, you will die. So that you understand it is no idle boast, I have arranged to have a true-dragon land on the bank of the river in full view of you tonight. If you go near or attempt to follow us, it will make a meal of you.”

The former stableman scowled. “Since when can you call a dragon to do your bidding? I have heard nothing of you training to be a mage.”

Flier shrugged as if he was controlling the dragon, which I appreciated. Instead of saying Kendra’s name, or that Anna communicated with it, he took full responsibility. Our former prisoners would spread the tale to others of the desert that Flier had forecast the appearance of the dragon, thereby further complicating the story. With each telling, it would become a little less believable.

All three girls had already placed their silly-looking reed hats on their heads, and I might have laughed at how they appeared, but we were all standing directly in the sun, and their faces, necks, and shoulders were in the shade. I felt the sweat and heat on my face, not all from the sun as I know how silly I’d look as I placed mine on my head and tied the chinstrap.

As we walked away, I managed to glance behind a few times without being too obvious. The three men were lucky we hadn’t killed them, and they knew it, although two had severe headaches from being struck with rocks. To increase the odds of our survival, we should have killed and buried them or at least left them tied to trees. They probably talked briefly of following us, but the ring of truth in Flier’s tone about the dragon held them back. All in sight behind was the seemingly endless flat of the desert and the river disappearing into the dense growth at the edges.

Fortunately, we had all the sluggish brown water we wished to drink. Unfortunately, we had nothing to eat. Little Anna complained first, then Emma joined in for a while, but after seeing the expression on my face, both shut up.

Flier walked well ahead, increasing the distance between us after warning me he should be there as a scout to search for more bandits, robbers, killers, or anyone else who might want to cause us harm. Our pace lagged, we stumbled, and still, we hesitated to drink any water.

Kendra said there must be a waterhole, well, spring, or clean pond ahead, but if it was there, we hadn’t reached it when I made my choice again. I went to the river’s edge, knelt and scooped the surface water clear of sticks, grasses, and insects. After a brief inspection, I tasted it, just the smallest amount. There was a slight earthy taste, but despite its brown appearance, it was wet and went down smoothly. I could grow to like it if I didn’t have to look at it.

All three girls followed my lead. Although they had all tasted the river water, they wanted to know my opinion, as if they would refuse to drink more of it if I refused. Despite the heat and exhaustion, there were little giggles and even laughter as they took turns and I made up my mind to tease them at the next place we paused, perhaps by pretending to be poisoned. No, that would be cruel. Instead, I could pretend to chew my drink because the water was so thick.

Kendra said on a more serious note, “The dragon is going to swoop down and pass right over us in a few moments. I wonder at the reactions of those behind us. Maybe they will believe?”

I said, “My reaction is to run and duck. Is it going to land on the ground and protect our backs as Flier suggested?”

She shook her head. “I think that’s a little extreme, now. Dragons don’t like to land out in the open where they can be attacked. But you can never tell, so it is going to pass low over that place where we left them and land just long enough for them to get a good look at her. Then the dragon will fly into the mountains and hunt for a deer or goat. It’s very hungry after all that flying.”

“Do you have any idea of what happened to the ships?”

“Not like images or anything. Her response was to fly there as I asked, then my dragon was attacked by at least ten Wyvern. They came at her from all sides, and she was both scared and angry. Five or six Wyvern were outright killed, and she was still scared when she attacked the first ship.”

I said, “You keep calling it her. And you said my dragon.”

“Shut up and listen and wipe that silly grin off your face. She clawed at the first Wyvern, and the mages used spells to call down lightning and created red smoke to hide their ships in. They made other images appear in the sky that seemed to attack her, but finally, she attacked and ripped boards loose from the hull of the first ship with her claws and flew off.”

“The other ship?”

“She learned how to best attack from the first. She flew low and fast to the second and landed on the stern of the ship with her great weight. It was forced down into the water and started to flood, and the dragon went down with it. She felt timbers break and water rushed in before the mages could fight against her. It only took a few instants to sink the rear of the ship; then the rest followed as she flew away. The mage-storm stopped.”

I didn’t want to correct or criticize her in front of the girls but did want to make a point of my own. “If she didn’t send you images in your head, and you couldn’t see through her eyes, how do you know what happened in such detail?”

Emma said as if the question was stupid and something everyone should know. “Because that is what happened.”

“Do you also know what happened?” I asked, intrigued by both the idea that she could, and perhaps she could better explain how she knew. I’d sensed a reluctance in Kendra to discuss some subjects, lately. It may have been a natural reaction to new and strange things or the perception that I couldn’t understand because I didn’t share her unique abilities. Or, it may have been something else, so I watched my sister as the words of the question fell from my lips.

“Of course,” Emma said in the manner all little girls use when speaking to adults about something they believe they should already know. Her left hand was on her hip, her lower lip extended in a pout, an expression much like Kendra often used to use on me—and sometimes still does.

We all laughed at her, but in the back of my mind, the situation had turned more serious. Just how much did Emma know, and what did she hide? We knew so little of her powers. How could we test her to find out the true extent? She was like a puppy in a field of wildflowers sniffing each one. How could we tell which she had already sniffed, which she liked, and a hundred other questions? The truth for us was simple to discern. We didn’t know any answers, let alone what the correct questions were to ask.

Flier waved for us to continue our journey. He was two or three hundred paces in front of us when the dragon flew along the surface of the river, following the twists and turns as if it was a game. It turned to the left, the right, and back again, so low the wind from the tips of the wings caused ripples in the water.

I couldn’t be certain, but it turned and looked at Kendra as if it was happy to see her again. Of course, that might be my imagination. Dragons can’t feel affection for humans, can they?

It flew on as we paused as one to watch it, despite Flier yelling that we needed to move faster. We hurried to make up time.

The footing along the river was solid, dry, and there was a path through the tall grass that told of many other feet passing that way, but because of wind blowing sand most afternoons, we didn’t know whose feet they were. We didn’t even know if they were human.

The river took a wide bend to our right, and where that happened, the trees grew in a thick and tangled mass. Adding water to the desert sand made it bloom. A flock of birds flew as one from the trees, and I kept my eyes on that place. Had they been startled or were they searching for food together?

We moved closer without any indication of a trap. However, I felt eyes watching us. Flier paused and held up his fist, the signal for us to stop. He watched the same place as me.

After what seemed long enough to walk all the way to Vin, a single man emerged and walked slowly and carefully to Flier. No doubt others watched from concealment.

The man wore a battered gray uniform, the pants, and tunic more or less the same color. Flier moved ahead slowly and looked like he called out something, but we couldn’t hear.

“Be ready to run across the river. It’s shallow enough, and we can decide what to do from there,” I said. “It’s easier to defend if our opponents are slowed by being in the water.” While not much of a barrier, it might give us time to defend ourselves.

Flier advanced on the man slowly as he talked, then bolted ahead, arms raised.

“Run,” I ordered, stepping into the water and prepared to help the others.

“No,” Anna called. “Look!”

Flier had reached the man in the uniform, and they embraced, then danced as they refused to let go of one another and spun in joyous circles. I waded ashore and joined the girls as we cautiously advanced.

Flier called to us as he kept an arm over the shoulder of the man, “We were messengers together. We called him Slacker because he always managed to get out of the hard details.”

Both wore wide smiles. The man’s tattered and filthy uniform made him an officer, and his age prevented me from seeing him as a fleet messenger, but not many in their early thirties would. He stood taller than Flier and heavier. Big-boned, some would say. His feet and hands were large, as were his shoulders and long legs. Picturing him younger and thinner brought an image of a lanky runner with a long stride.

I reached out to shake his hand as more men emerged from the trees. Their uniforms were in as bad shape as Slacker’s, with mismatched pants and tunics, a variety of hats, and unkempt appearances. That applied to all but their weapons. Swords, bows, and even spears were polished, sharpened, and oiled against rust.

Five of them eventually stood awkwardly with us, and there were a few glimpses of at least two more held in reserve within the trees. While their clothing was a collection of rags, their weapons and tactics seemed professional.

Slacker invited us to talk in the shade, and we readily accepted.

Their camp was concealed and fortified, and immediately several items stood out. While it was a defensive camp, open to attack from the river, a small ridge created by the river flooding stood behind. A single opening had been cut through the sandstone to allow one person at a time to climb a ramp to the top. The narrow slot of stone could be blocked by the boulders on either side, balanced and ready to fall when smaller rocks were removed from the base.

Above the ridge, which was higher than my head, spread a short wall, tall enough to kneel behind. A small force could hold that position from a hundred attackers—for a short time.

Slacker noticed my interest. “After we slow them down here, we will head into the desert where we have hidden water supplies. A single day out there without enemies having water gives us all the advantage. A man cannot carry enough for a full day. Our plan is to lead them deep into the dry-lands where we will stop at several caches of water, and then we’ll attack them the second or third day if needed. The desert will probably do our work. We have to survive.”

Flier said, “You’ve done it before?”

“Three times, so far. Lost two men and a few were wounded once, but not bad when fighting a larger force.”

“Who are you fighting?” Kendra asked, speaking for the first time.

I noticed with her first words, none of Slacker’s men had said anything. They were not unfriendly, but neither were they happy to see us. Their eyes had the lack of focus that comes with boredom and hardship over a long time.

Slacker said to Flier, “About the same time you disappeared all those years ago, the king also disappeared. I mean, he issued directives and did all the usual things, but nobody ever saw him. About a year later, he tired of ruling, so appointed a Council of Royals to act in his stead.”

Kendra sighed, “And nobody ever saw him officiate or attend a ball. It was as if he didn’t exist.”

“At first,” Slacker defended himself, “we all believed it seemed odd, but nothing for commoners to question. Especially, those of us in the army who were sworn to serve him. We still had our generals and orders to follow.”

I also knew where the tale was going. The ruling body seized control of essential services and those who objected or refused had accidents and were replaced by people supportive of the Council. It was the same story as in other places.

“Mages?” I found myself asking.

Slacker seemed surprised by my blurted question. “Two, at first. Now they are gone.”

I looked at Kendra for confirmation. She nodded, confirming there were presently none in Vin. Then her eyebrows narrowed slightly, and she held her index finger and middle finger pointing down at her foot. It was our signal that she wanted to tell me something in private.

Because of my question, it was probably something to do with mages or their disappearance. However, we’d reached a sunken firepit, obviously to keep the flames from being seen at a distance. An iron grate sat on the rocks containing it, and a large fire-blackened pot hung from an iron tripod over the fire. Food cooked, and to my nose, it was the best aroma I’d ever smelled.

“Hungry?” Slacker asked. “We don’t usually have much, but we just killed a desert goat, and there’s plenty of stew if not enough vegetables. I hope you like water-onions.”

A small stock of clay bowls was passed out as Slacker sent men to watch posts surrounding the area. I had the impression all had lived in this place for a long time. We sat in small groups, but Flier sat with Slacker, and they talked between themselves. A few laughs, more than one disbelieving expression from Slacker was cast our way. Obviously, they were old and close friends. After the impromptu meal, Flier came to Kendra and me.

He said, “These men are rebels. They no longer serve the king or the council. Members of the original army and recruits paid by the council fight against them.”

Kendra said, “What is their goal?”

“To sit the rightful king or his heir on the throne again.”

I glanced at Kendra and said, “Have you figured out that Elizabeth is sailing directly into a trap?”

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