The Last Dragon: Book Three

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Damon

“The real power is located in Kaon.” The words haunted us. We had been about to make a huge mistake in going directly to Dagger to try to rescue Elizabeth if what the Slave-Master revealed was correct. I looked at my sister and then at Elizabeth. The three of us shared the same expression, one of mixed belief and fear of failure.

The Slave-Master turned to me. “Damon, we played blocks, and I have a certain insight into you, and suspect you have the same for me. All I am saying is for you to think. Use that mind of yours as if this was a game. How would you defeat me if I was you?”

“You wouldn’t show me your true power while you wore my defenses down.”

“Exactly.”

The Slave-Master sat cross-legged on a fat pillow and waited. His partial smile was not what I’d term smug, but not humorous either.

I said, “We think the mages are gathered in Dagger.”

“I think you are right, as I’ve told you.”

I said, “Then, I don’t fully understand the reasoning. If they are there, we should go there.”

“The mages are like the princes and princesses of a royal family. The king is in Kaon.” The Slave-Master showed his first signs of impatience with me.

Elizabeth snapped, “What king?”

It was not the Slave-Master who answered, but Kendra. “The one behind all the attacks and controlling the mages in Dagger and elsewhere. They are not powerful enough, not even as a group to do what we saw in Emma.”

Elizabeth turned to the Slave-Master. “Are you speaking of the Young Mage?”

Kendra and I exchanged puzzled looks. We hadn’t heard the term.

The Slave-Master said, “I have not heard that name but like it and believe we’re talking about the same one.”

“He lives in Kaon?” she asked.

“He does. At least that is where he first appeared and seems to reside still.”

She bit her lower lip as she concentrated on the new information. Finally, she snapped, “What else can you tell us about him?”

The Slave-Master spread his hands in resignation. “Rumors. Lies. Conjectures. They say he is young, not yet a grown man. He craves power and puts ambitious ideas and thoughts into the minds of mages, things they are not aware that he has put there. People act on those thoughts believing them their own ideas. Some say he can make people do things, almost anything.”

“Make them?” I asked skeptically. In my experience, a person could be tricked or persuaded, but never made to do things.

He smiled and said as if I was a child. “Making a person do something they don’t want to do is as easy as providing ugly choices. For instance, a man who is afraid of snakes does not want to jump off a roof. But if he does not, the snakes he sees in his mind crawling on that roof and slithering up to him will make him jump.”

“It just takes a larger fear to convince someone to ignore a smaller one,” I said.

“Exactly,” he said. “Suppose a man does not want to sail to Dire but finds out if he does not board the ship he will face the lingering torture of the king’s dungeon—and the tide is right for sailing. He must decide now.”

I finished for him, “He gets on the ship.”

Elizabeth said, “Using that technique, the Young Mage can make almost anyone do whatever he wants them to do. The concept is frighteningly easy.”

To my surprise, neither Flier nor Avery spoke, and Anna remained quiet too. However, they all listened to every word that passed between us. Servants brought more wine. None of us ate except the Slave-Master,

Kendra said, “You refer to him as the ‘young mage.’ Why?”

The Slave-Master said, “Remember, all I’ve told you are rumors, many drawn from slaves who will say anything for their freedom. I cannot vouch for the truth of what I’ve told you, only that I’ve faithfully presented it as I’ve learned.”

“But you believe it,” Elizabeth said.

He sighed. “Yes.”

“Tell me why,” she continued.

“The rumors fit with what I know and have experienced. That’s all I can tell you.”

We exchanged more confused looks. It appeared the Slave-Master had said all he was going to. We could believe him and act on the rumors or not. He avoided making eye contact with any of us.

The temperature in the room seemed to have fallen. At the same time, I was sweating more than ever. That may seem strange if you’ve never been lost in your emotions.

Kendra had turned and looked at Anna.

Anna said, anticipating the coming question, “Touch me. I’m real.”

That summed up our conflicting beliefs. We didn’t even know if the girl who traveled with us was real or not. If she was not, and another manifestation of the Young Mage, as we called him, what would she say? Probably exactly what Anna did.

*Tell her,* Anna’s voice came to my mind.

“Anna is real,” I said, probably too loud because everyone jerked at the sound of my voice.

“How do you know?” Elizabeth asked. “I mean, how can you tell she is not like the other one? Maybe created for the exact circumstances of when Emma was discovered.”

I said as I touched a finger to my forehead, “In here. I can see inside her mind.”

Several people reacted to my statement, including two servants who rushed out of the tent in near panic as if I was going to invade their minds. The Slave-Master’s expression turned cold.

Kendra reached out and grabbed Anna in a warm hug. “I’m so sorry.”

Anna sat stiffly, not reciprocating the affection.

Elizabeth was looking at the Slave-Master. Her expression was one I’d seen when she bargained or dealt with people in Crestfallen, those who opposed or withheld information. It was not that she doubted what he’d told us, but that she thought there was more unsaid. Since we’d found her, she had acted differently, more confident and less like a child.

Her opinions were stronger, her attitude more demanding. Instead of talking around subjects as was her norm, she went directly to the information in question. Instead of asking, she demanded.

It was a subtle change, but one Kendra and I had both noticed and raised an eyebrow over. Our little princess was growing up. Also, there was Avery who sat aside and contributed nothing. As if reading my mind, Elizabeth turned to him. “Your thoughts?”

He smirked. “I was wondering how to explain to the king and to the king-to-be the changes in you. In Trager, you were much the same as in Crestfallen. Now, only a few weeks have passed, but you have grown into a true Royal, one ready to assume important duties in ruling a kingdom.”

“Your thoughts on this situation?” she continued as if she hadn’t heard her first compliment in her relationship with Avery.

“I came here to rescue an old friend who is dead. Without the three of you, I’d have sailed home as ignorant as when I sailed away.”

“Do you have any suggestions?” Elizabeth asked.

Even the Slave-Master wore a grin as Avery said, “I live to serve. Your father, your brother, and you. What is your wish?”

She closed her eyes for a moment. Then they snapped open as she came to a conclusion. “Dire must know of this danger. If we should fail, or be killed, our kingdom is at risk of being taken as easily as Trager and Vin, and with the same results. I command you to return to Dire and inform those in need. Tell them all you know.”

“And you?” he asked respectfully.

“It appears we are going to Kaon.”

Her pronouncement was not expected, and it allowed for no argument. The Slave-Master said, “It happens that I’m going that way. My caravan will make its own way. Perhaps I can be of service.”

I expected her to decline, but she said, “We’ll appreciate any help. Also, can you spare a detail to escort Avery to the port in Dagger and see him safely on board a ship?”

He said, “Few people concern themselves with Wandering Priests, and he will draw even less attention than the four Kaon warriors who will ‘happen’ to be traveling in the same direction. Remaining out of sight without drawing attention is worth ten guards.”

“Thank you.” Elizabeth turned to us. “Flier, you have more than repaid your debt to Damon and are free to go your own way.”

“I’ll stay.”

She rolled her eyes as if he was making a dangerous mistake without proper consideration. “Your choice. Now, Anna. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I’ll stay, too.”

Elizabeth said, “You are a child.”

“A child who ferreted out the spy in our midst when no adults did. And one who talks to Damon without words, even over long distances.” Anna didn’t back down in her words, meaning, or attitude.

“What’s that mean?” Elizabeth said, then quickly added in a raised voice. “Clear the room.”

The servants and guards all glanced at the Slave-Master before departing, but once the first moved, it was like a race to see who would remain last. In a few moments, there were six of us.

The Slave-Master said, “Do you wish me to leave?”

“No. There can be no secrets between us, and you’ve decided to make yourself one of our group. Anna, please go on, and keep your voice soft.”

“We use our minds to talk. Damon talks to me, too. Like Kendra does to the dragon.”

Elizabeth fixed both Kendra and me with a look that warned us to be truthful. “If true, what else is there I don’t know about?”

I said, “Kendra can ‘see’ those with magical abilities from a distance of about a day’s travel.”

“Mages and sorceresses?” Elizabeth asked.

Kendra muttered, “Yes. I can’t know who they are, but I know they are there and can point to them. The same with my dragon.”

“So, it’s your dragon, now?” she said.

“Funny. I think Damon used those same words to me a few days ago. Yes, it is now my dragon.”

My sister was treading close to being snippy, and Elizabeth was a princess and not used to the tone. Before war broke out between them, I said, “My magic powers, such as they are, have increased. Not mage-strong, but more than before.”

Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows as she thought before speaking—another new thing she was doing. “Tell me. How would you compare your powers to that of a mage?”

I said, “Like a small boy might wave his little carving knife in a mock threat to one of the King’s Guards.”

She gave me one nod of understanding, then continued, “And compare a mage we are familiar with to this new one, this Young Mage.”

“About the same difference, I think,” I told her.

“I thought so. Your magic will do us no good at all.”

That annoyed me. “I wouldn’t say that.”

She smiled sweetly, trying to disarm my anger. “What we need is your bravery and mind, and perhaps skill with a blade.”

“Go ahead and try, but I’ll remember this insult and make you pay.” She flashed her sisterly smile at me, the one that said, go ahead and try. I’ll be ready for you.

The others took our banter seriously. Rather than explain, I motioned for her to continue her thoughts. She said in an officious manner I’d never seen before, “We have no choice but to go to Kaon. Avery, on your return trip, I want you to search for a man called Will. Do you know him?”

“I do not.”

“A minor appointment from our king. He was sent by my father to protect me. He was on the Gallant but did his job so well nobody there will remember him. I’ll give you a description before you leave. If you do not find him, tell my father of the wonderful job he did. I’m certain he’ll show up in Dire.”

I appreciated her explanation, both because it was real and because this was not the time to hold things back from the others. If we were going to survive and be successful, we needed to trust each other.

Avery said, “I prefer to go with you.”

“No. My father must know what is happening and make preparations in case we fail. I suggest he also spread the information to all nearby kingdoms and have them do the same.”

Avery started to speak, then halted as he considered her words. Finally, he said, “You consider this threat that important?”

“More.” She didn’t elaborate, which had the impact of making it even more of a threat. In the past, Avery would have challenged her and argued with his way of twisting words and meanings. That he didn’t do so indicated their relationship had reached a new level.

She turned to the Slave-Master. “You are welcome to travel with us but expect us to ask hundreds of questions daily. The smallest tidbit of information may help.” She looked at Kendra. “I want you to have your dragon positioned close at all times. Can you see what the dragon does, or can it relay information to you?”

“We touch minds, but it is not intelligent. I can point the way for it to fly or order it to attack but that is about all.” Kendra looked away as if seeing into the distance. She pointed to the northwest, in the direction of Kaon. “A mage appeared right there.”

“Just now?” Elizabeth asked. “You can tell?”

“Yes.”

“How can it just appear?” Elizabeth asked, obviously puzzled at the event and how Kendra now assumed a far different role than as her friend and servant.

“A Waystone must be there.”

“There is,” The Slave-Master confirmed.

“Send your dragon to investigate,” Elizabeth said. “Tell us anything you figure out.”

“It is nearly there. I sent it as soon as the mage arrived.”

Elizabeth scowled at her. Not for acting quickly, but because she was confused. “Arrived indicates the mage was elsewhere a short while ago.”

Kendra gave a single nod of her head, but her eyes were vacant, her mind in touch with the dragon. The rest of us watched and listened without interrupting them, but Anna came to me. *The mage who arrived ahead of us was sent by the Young Mage.*

*How can you be sure?*

*Timing,* Anna responded instantly. *Can Kendra tell the relative power of a mage?*

*A good question. Not the time to ask it.*

*Will she know if there is more than one?”*

I sensed the fear in Anna’s question. *Yes.*

None of the others knew we were communicating. Kendra knew of our ability, but not to the degree it had progressed. We now felt comfortable and did it almost as easily as speaking out loud—which brought another question. Who was Anna?

We’d solved the question about Emma, but it didn’t answer those about Anna. How was it that of all the people I’d ever encountered, she and I could speak with our minds?

Not that I believed her to be nefarious in any manner—she was not. While speaking with our minds, there were unintentional glimpses of her honesty and intentions. For me, it was like looking at a person while they spoke. Liars tend to look away, those hiding information cross their arms over their chests for protection, and deceptions are revealed by squinting at the corners of the eyes. In much the same way, I saw that Anna was not my enemy.

But she was not an accidental discovery from the plains of Mercia, either. She had been placed there for me to find. That meant someone or something had placed her there. The fact that she was with Emma suggested the Young Mage was involved. I had no doubt he had created the storm that they were found in and that they were found together.

That fact meant I couldn’t fully trust her.

The following day we continued on, moving slower than usual as Kendra monitored the mage. The Dragon had revealed no additional information, so we moved closer, using what slight cover there was, which was little. We discussed breaking into a small group as we neared the Waystone, but Kendra pulled to a sudden halt. “He’s gone.”

“Did he see us?” I asked.

“I can’t tell,” she said.

The Slave-Master pointed to a slight ridge ahead of us. “It’s there. He could have watched us all morning from up there.”

When we reached the Waystone and looked out over the desert, the Slave-Master had been right. I said, “Why didn’t you tell us about the viewpoint?”

He said easily, “It would have made no difference. Look out there. One road, nothing else. If there is a single rabbit moving, we’d see it.”

One of his warriors pointed to one place. “He stood there and watched. The ground is scuffed, and there are footprints.”

“Where did he go?” Kendra asked, moving to join the warrior while motioning for the rest of us to stay back with the wave of her arm.

They followed the tracks to the Waystone, where they pulled to a stop in front of it. There were none to either side or retreating. Kendra reached out and felt the rock. “Warmer than normal, even for a Waystone. The icon carved in the stone in front of me is the pair of houses.”

I understood the meaning. A pair of houses side-by-side or more likely meaning to move from one house to another. I believed the second.