Dragon Stones (Book One in the Dragon Stone Saga), Page 5

  Chapter 4: The Death Sands

  Dozens of soldiers lined up like dominos in the desert heat. Archers patrolled the lookout towers. Parthos was a meticulously planned city, designed in layers whittled from the mountainside. The city was a fortress, with successive safety walls and defensive bulwarks. It backed up against a mountain, and was surrounded by sheer cliffs on either side.

  Everything in Parthos ran with a crazed efficiency that ensured its continued survival. The city was built on a natural spring that ran year-round. There was a natural oasis nearby, and it even allowed animals some limited grazing around the city perimeter.

  An aqueduct system, combined with mandatory rainwater collection tanks on every roof, assured that city’s inhabitants always had enough water. The homes inside the city walls were small, with flat roofs, designed to save energy. The mud-brick homes weren’t much larger than sheds, but they were functional, staying cool during the day and warm during the chilly desert nights. Some citizens even lived in remote caves on the mountain, doubling as permanent look-outs. Heavily guarded underground tunnels led to catacombs stocked with provisions—the city always operated as though it was under siege.

  Guardsmen stood alert at the city gates, minding their posts in silence. They rotated every hour to drink and cool down. The walls were never unattended. There were also soldiers on mounted patrol; the men rode camels instead of horses. The finest camel breeders worked in Parthos, and nomadic tribes from the Death Sands ventured there to improve their stock.

  The city’s camels were well-trained and suited to the dry environment. The animals could go several days without food or water, and could live up to fifty years. The camels retain water so efficiently that their dung could be burned almost immediately after it is excreted. The dung was a substitute for firewood in the desert.

  Camels are intelligent and fast, able to run without stopping for many leagues. The king’s camel herd numbered into the hundreds, supplying his people with meat, milk, and fuel.

  Inside the city walls, the streets bustled with activity. Most of the inhabitants were involved in trading or smuggling, and Parthos was recognized for its busy open market. The narrow streets were crowded with street merchants. Dealers, camel traders, and nomads all came to Parthos to buy and trade goods. On one corner, a merchant sold mesquite pods, a native desert food that could be ground into a hearty flour. Another sold prepared cactus leaves, sliced and ready to be cooked. Even more sold camel milk and yogurt, which was always abundant and nutritious. Fermented camel’s milk (called shubat) was sold all over the city.

  There also a few outsiders; ebony-skinned nomads selling their wares before heading out to the desert again in the evening. They sold bone knives, saddles, dried goods, and beaded leather clothing. Their women sold intricate baskets, hand-woven so tightly that they could hold water.

  The city was alert… but at peace. And overhead, observing everything, flew a Dragon Rider.

  It was Sela and her carnelian dragon, Brinsop. The dragon’s rust-colored scales glittered in the blistering sun. Sela’s dragon was full-grown, and as a carnelian dragon, she was the smallest of the species. But she was still an impressive sight. When standing on her hind legs, Brinsop was over fifteen feet tall, and weighed more than the largest horse. Her scales matched the color of the gem at her throat. Sela, her rider, wore the gem’s counterpart proudly on her neck, hung from a thick silver chain. It was the only jewelry she wore.

  “Sela, how are you holding up? We have been out here for hours already, and it seems hotter than normal today.” Brinsop communicated with Sela using the dragon stone. To an observer, a dragon’s speech sounded like grunts and snorts, but Sela understood the dragon’s speech perfectly.

  “Perhaps we should go back. I am getting uncomfortable in this heat, and my waterskin is empty. Let us return to the castle, rest for a moment and eat.”

  Brinsop turned, flapping her wings in the stagnant air. She circled and landed on the castle ramparts. There were two other dragons there. It was Orshek and Karela, the orphaned clutchmates. They sunned themselves lazily, rubbing their black hides ecstatically on the warm earth. Their mother and other siblings had been killed by dragon hunters less than a few months ago. Orshek and Karela survived because they had hatched weeks early.

  The hatchlings had been exploring inside their birthing cave when the dragon hunters descended on their family. Orshek and Karela could hear their mother shrieking with fear and agony, and as they rushed back to the nest, their mother sent them a desperate telepathic message, “Stop! Stay hidden! Stay silent! Do not show yourselves! Stay hidden! Stay silent!”

  The siblings huddled together in terror, hiding while the dragon hunters slaughtered their mother and the rest of the hatchlings. When the dragon hunters searched the rest of the cave, the hatchlings concealed themselves. They escaped detection, but were too afraid to leave the cave. Instead, they struggled in the darkness for weeks, hunting mice and eating insects. They could smell the rotting bodies of their mother and siblings. At one point, they heard vultures and other scavengers fighting over the carcasses.

  Weeks passed. Orshek and Karela existed in darkness, surviving on bugs and rats. Sela and Brinsop found them by chance, while exploring the outskirts of the Death Sands. The hatchlings were so emaciated and skittish that Sela had to cast a slumbering spell upon them and drag them out of the cave by their feet. Brinsop carried them back to Parthos one at a time.

  In Parthos, they were treated and rehabilitated. The black dragons were considered juveniles now, but their bodies were underdeveloped. Onyx dragons are traditionally one of the largest dragon species, usually growing larger than a house. But after weeks of malnutrition and lack of sunlight, the hatchlings’ growth was stunted. Eventually, they would mature enough to bear the weight of a rider, but they would never develop to the size of a normal black dragon.

  Orshek and Karela became attached to Brinsop, the dragon who saved them. In time, they even started calling her “mother.” Even now, they played on the castle roof because they preferred to keep Brinsop within their sights.

  “Look at you two,” growled Brinsop affectionately. “Playing like baby hatchlings while the rest of us labor in the heat!”

  “But mother, we await your return,” said Orshek. “Remember—you promised to take us hunting for wild ostrich.”

  “Orshek, I never promised to take you hunting for ostrich. I told you and your sister to go hunting—by yourselves. I want both of you to go out and practice hunting. You know that I cannot go with you; I have my duties here with Sela. Stop squandering away your time. You don’t have to go far, but do try to catch something larger than a rabbit for a change.”

  “Why won’t you come with us?” pouted Karela, who was the shyer one. She, more than her brother, bore the emotional wounds of their isolation. When Brinsop went away on a scouting mission for a few days, Karela refused to eat.

  “When I was a hatchling, dragons half your age were already hunting on their own!” said Brinsop, exasperated.

  “Karela, please understand, we cannot leave the castle when we are on watch.” responded Sela. Sela communicated with Karela and Orshek using her dragon stone. The young dragons were too inexperienced to block Sela’s communication. They were forced to listen to her. They both sulked, but didn’t say anything else.

  “Sela and I are on duty for the next four days. Why don’t you ask Charlight and Hanko if you can go with them? They are planning a hunt this evening,” suggested Brinsop. Brinsop tried to encourage the adolescent dragons to explore the countryside, make friends with the other dragons, and enjoy hunting prey, but it was difficult. They were still dependent on Brinsop and Sela for everything.

  “We don’t want to go with Charlight and Hanko. They’re so bossy!” said Orshek.

  Shlickt! Brinsop swatted the two with her tail. “Stop complaining and go do something useful! Don’t just lie here terrorizing the guards!” Brinsop snorted smoke and rose
up on her hind legs, demonstrating that she was serious. The little dragons frowned and scuttled away. They looked back a few times, trying to stoke some pity. Brinsop held her gaze steadily, and pointed out towards the desert. Once the young dragons reached the end of the wall, they took flight, exploring the desert by themselves.

  “Finally!” snorted Brinsop. “Those two grow more stubborn every day,”

  “They won’t go far.”

  “I know. But it’s a start.”

  “They are obstinate because you spoil them. One minute you bellow at them, and the next minute you coddle them,” said Sela.

  Brinsop sniffed, but she did not argue. “I worry about them. They are not growing normally. Karela is so fragile, and Orshek is overprotective of his sister. They are fearful. There are so many unresolved issues. If they cannot overcome them, they will never be able to take a rider, or even defend themselves properly.”

  Sela patted Brinsop’s side. “They are alive. Let us be thankful for that. They may be the only two black dragons left in the kingdom. We are lucky to have them.”

  “Don’t misunderstand me—I am thankful. I just wish we could do more. There are so few of us, and the ones who survive are all… impaired in some way. The emperor has decimated my kin. How many survive in the wild? A dozen? Maybe less. There are fewer mating females every year.”

  “I know it is discouraging, Brinsop. But we must continue to fight. We will save as many as we can.” Sela talked soothingly to her dragon. Then her stomach growled.

  “You are hungry; let us stop this depressing talk and eat. We have dawdled long enough.” Brinsop grabbed a few live chickens and swallowed them whole. The king kept live chickens on the fortress walls mainly to feed the dragons. They were cheap to raise and also laid eggs, so it was a good trade-off. Sela found two eggs hidden in a crevice and cracked them onto a flat stone. Solar cooking was easy in the desert, and it saved precious fuel. The eggs bubbled up and cooked quickly. She scraped the steaming eggs off the stone with a knife and ate them. Then she filled her waterskin at the spigot, and rested in the shade for a few minutes.

  Just then, King Mitca walked up to the roof. Sela and Brinsop gave slight bows. Before the war, Dragon Riders bowed to no one, not even the emperor. But now most dragons and their riders bowed to King Mitca as a sign of fealty and respect. His kingdom was the last refuge for dragons and their riders—the only place they could live in relative safety. More than anyone else, he was responsible for the dragons’ survival. Without Mitca, it is likely that every dragon would have been killed by the emperor.

  “Sela, Brinsop.” He nodded, acknowledging their gesture of respect. “I have news that I must share with all the riders privately. Call the others back to the city. This is important for everyone to hear.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Sela responded. Sela closed her eyes and touched Brinsop to augment her power. Telepathic communication was not one of her strengths, especially at long distances. She focused, reaching out with her mind to all the dragons in the realm. There were six dragons in Parthos, only four of which had riders. Sela and Brinsop had been bound together the longest.

  Charlight and Hanko were next. Charlight was also a carnelian dragon; a female. Hanko was a human rider. Then there was Duskeye and Tallin, the wild pair. Duskeye was a male sapphire dragon, and his rider, Tallin, was a rare dwarf half-ling. Tallin was half dwarf and half human. The youngest rider was an elf half-ling—a female named Riona. Her male dragon was called Stormshard. Stormshard was also a carnelian dragon.

  Sela instinctively grasped the dragon stone around her neck. Her mind reached out; tendrils of thought streaked across the desert. She stood, trance-like, while searching for the minds of the others. It was always difficult to find the other riders, mainly because their minds were so guarded. They had learned to protect themselves from magical attacks. Sela found Riona and Stormshard first, sparring on one of the rocky outcroppings near the city.

  “Riona, Stormshard—please return to the castle. The king has called us all back for an urgent meeting. Do you know where the others are?” Sela’s neck veins bulged under the strain. Although she had decades of magical training, she could only communicate telepathically with difficulty. The farther the distance, the greater the exertion. Even with Brinsop’s considerable assistance, it was a struggle for her.

  “We hear and obey, mistress. Charlight and Hanko are in the north, searching for wild dragons. Duskeye and Tallin flew south, hunting ostrich with the black fledglings. We saw them pass some time ago; they invited us to hunt with them.”

  “Please contact them and tell them to return to the city at once.”

  “As you command, mistress.” Riona and Stormshard broke contact abruptly. It was jarring, but Sela and Brinsop were used to it. Riona and Stormshard were both young and inexperienced, but Riona was a powerful telepath. Contacting the other dragon riders would be easy for her. Eventually, Riona could become the most powerful of all the Dragon Riders in Parthos. Sela exhaled and sat down for a moment to gather her strength. “Whew!” Her head was pounding from the effort.

  “Did you find them all?” asked the king.

  “Yes. They are all nearby. Riona will call the rest of them back. They will all be here within the hour.”

  “Excellent. Come with me. We have much to discuss.”

  “What about the aerial watch?” asked Sela.

  “I will double the palace guards in the towers and put everyone on high alert. This news cannot wait. I need to pick up a scroll in my private quarters, and then I will meet all of you in the fortress cathedral.” The king turned and walked briskly down the stairs.

  “I wonder what this is all about,” said Brinsop.

  “Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe the scouts found something interesting.” Sela mounted Brinsop for the short flight to the cathedral.

  “It’s been months since King Mitca has called a meeting like this, so the news must be important. He’s smart enough not to bother us with little particulars,” said Brinsop.

  The cathedral was on the lowest level of the city. It was dedicated to Golka, the goddess of war and defense. A statue of the black-skinned goddess stood at the entrance. She had a flaming sword in each hand. Two of her eyes were in the front, but Golka also had an eye in the back, so that no one could ever attack her from behind.

  The cathedral was usually filled with worshippers. The cathedral was one of the only places in the cramped city that was spacious enough for all the dragons and their riders. Mitca’s guards had emptied the building and searched it hours before in preparation for the king and his riders. For this and other sensitive tasks, the king always used his private guard. They would all meet discreetly.

  Sela and Brinsop arrived first, and entered the church gates without opposition. Seven heavily armed guards stood at the entrance. They nodded to the rider and her dragon, but otherwise did not move. Sela marveled at these men. Their full-body tattoos identified them as members of the king’s personal honor guard. The ornate tattoos were not merely for decoration; they were comprised of ancient symbols—protective inscriptions to ward off hexes, curses, and other evil spells.

  Mitca’s private sentinels were all descendants or relatives of Fivan, the soldier that had saved him as a child. Fivan guarded Mitca throughout his life, and even helped build and design the city of Parthos. The tale of Fivan’s death was well-known throughout the city. Mitca never let anyone forget it.

  Fivan insisted in sampling all of Mitca’s food before the king would eat it, in order to prevent a poisoning attempt. Mitca was impetuous and brash, and, like many young princes, he thought Fivan was too cautious. Mitca playfully called him “mother hen”—even clucking when he came into the room.

  But Fivan’s caution was well-founded. He knew that the Vosper’s treachery was boundless. In the end, Fivan died protecting his master.

  Starfruit was a rare treat; it perished quickly and had to be smuggled in from Southern Durn. It w
as prohibitively expensive, and Mitca craved the fruit often. Fivan insisted on eating part of the starfruit.

  “My king, you must wait. I will taste the starfruit first. Then you may eat the rest.”

  “Fivan, you are too cautious! I don’t want to share this with you. I only get starfruit once a year and I want this all to myself.”

  “That is all the more reason for us to be vigilant. My lord, please agree, or I will be forced to throw the entire plate out the window.” Fivan smiled, but Mitca could tell that he was serious.

  Mitca sighed. “Fine! I don’t know why I let you intimidate me. I’m the king!”

  Fivan laugh quietly, and took a bite from the costly fruit. A few minutes later, Fivan collapsed to the floor in convulsions. The starfruit had been laced with kudu oil, a powerful poison made from the kuduare plant. Kudu was called the “death berry” because ingesting a minute amount was enough to kill a grown man.

  Mitca, impatient, had also eaten a piece of the fruit, but was able to vomit in time to save his own life. Even so, Mitca spent weeks between life and death. Healing mages attended his bedside day and night. Eventually, Mitca recovered, but the experience made him a changed man. The oil caused permanent damage to Mitca’s esophagus, and he never ate starfruit again.

  The king mourned Fivan for a year, and buried his body in an ornate tomb in the cathedral. He never forgave himself for Fivan’s death, and he vowed to treat Fivan’s family as his own. Shortly after the funeral, Mitca took all of Fivan’s children and his widow and moved them into a private wing in the castle. Fivan’s nine sons became his private guard. It has been so ever since.

  “We have arrived,” announced Riona as she appeared with Stormshard at the cathedral doors. “The others should be here in a few minutes.”

  Charlight and Hanko appeared next, and then Duskeye and Tallin a few minutes later.

  “Where are the fledglings?” asked Charlight.

  “We left them at the fortress. I told them to watch the gates. It gives them something to do, and makes them feel useful,” replied Tallin, his red curls bobbing as he spoke. Tallin was handsome, fine-featured, but short and stocky. A thick scar ran from his cheek down to his shoulder, and disappeared below his tunic. Tallin’s dragon, Duskeye, also bore evidence of grievous wounds, including a pronounced limp and a cloudy right eye, which was sightless. Neither one ever talked about the source of their injuries.

  Tallin never spoke of his upbringing or his childhood. The others only knew that he had been born in the Mount Velik, along with other dwarves. Once Tallin discovered his magical gift, his life changed. He was spirited away from Mount Velik to Aonach Tower, where he thrived under the tutelage of the Masters.

  When Duskeye accepted him as a rider, Tallin was overjoyed. Rider and dragon were inseparable. Tallin and Duskeye ate together, slept together, hunted together. They survived the emperor’s butchery because of their fierce bond. When the emperor started hunting dragons, Duskeye and Tallin left for the desert and lived in hiding for decades.

  Sela eventually found them by chance. Tallin almost killed Sela out of panic at being discovered. Sela and Brinsop tried to convince them to come out of hiding, but it still took many months of careful persuading for them to agree to come to Parthos. Even now, they refused to remain within the city’s walls for any extended period, preferring to live in the desert.

  “All of you are here—good.” Mitca walked into the cathedral. As usual, all of the dragons and their riders offered slight bows to the king, except for Tallin and Duskeye. They never bowed to anyone.

  “Everyone, I have news from the east.” Mitca pulled a scroll from his waistband and unrolled it. “I received an urgent message from one of my informants last night. An emerald Dragon Stone has been found in Darkmouth Forest. This scroll bears a rubbing of the engraving. It is a rider’s stone—I suspect the stone was Chua’s.”

  “Chua? That’s impossible,” said Sela. “Chua and his dragon, Starclaw, were killed years ago. They fell from the sky during the Great War. I saw it with my own eyes.”

  “I know it sounds implausible, but who else could it be?” replied Mitca. “It is a rider’s emerald. Green dragons are rare, almost as rare as white dragons. But if the dragon stone is intact, then it is likely one of them is still alive. Perhaps both of them are.”

  Charlight shook her great head. “Chua cannot still be alive. It would be insanity for him to remain near the capital city. Even if he was alive, the Dragon Hunters would have found him by now. And even if the hunters couldn’t find him, the emperor’s necromancers would have.”

  Sela communicated Charlight’s comment to the king, while nodding in agreement. “I agree with Charlight. The stone must be a forgery.”

  Tallin cleared his throat and then spoke quietly. “A forgery is unlikely. Mitca is right. If the Dragon Stone is intact, then they are probably alive. Chua may be in stasis, and Starclaw may be in hibernation. It is possible to stay alive in this way, and expend very little energy. It even helps repair injuries. Duskeye and I know from experience.”

  Duskeye dropped his snout and touched Tallin. “If both of them had died, the stone would have splintered. A strong cloaking spell would conceal them, even in the east.”

  “This is foolishness. Who has the power to maintain a cloaking spell for that long? It is impossible!” scoffed Riona.

  “We can,” replied Tallin. “Duskeye and I learned how to sustain our cloaking spells for months at a time.”

  “B-but that’s impossible! Cloaking spells are exhausting—how can you possibly endure the strain for so long? Even while you sleep?” Riona sputtered.

  Tallin turned to Riona with steely eyes and said, “To underestimate our powers would be a mistake, elf. Do not forget that I have dwarvish blood. I am much stronger than I look. The more one practices the magical arts, the stronger one becomes. Duskeye and I concentrated our studies on concealment spells. There is not a mage in the kingdom who could find us if I did not want them to.”

  “Let’s get back on track, everyone,” Sela said. “I do not believe that Chua and Starclaw are alive. How could they be—after all these years? Isn’t it more likely that the stone is a forgery?”

  “It is real,” answered the king. “My informant is a mage. Her powers are marginal, but she could still feel the stone’s energy. She tested it herself.”

  “Can your mage be trusted?” asked Hanko.

  “Yes. She is beyond reproach. She fought in the Orc Wars, and her husband was a rider. He was killed by the emperor during the war.”

  “Really? Her husband was a rider? What was his name?” asked Riona, her eyes wide with surprise.

  King Mitca’s eyes narrowed. “I would… rather not say.”

  Riona bit her lip, her face burning with embarrassment. Some secrets were too precious to repeat. She knew the king could not risk revealing the identity of his informant, even to the Dragon Riders. Spies were everywhere, and the emperor was ruthless. Some minor detail, whispered in passing, could seal all their fates.

  Mitca passed the scroll to Sela. It appeared to be blank. There was a glamour on the scroll. Not strong enough to deter anyone with magical abilities, but enough to prevent a normal human from reading the text.

  Sela recited a simple incantation and runes appeared. She recited the letter. “It says—‘Your Royal Highness, I must inform you that a Dragon Stone has been found in the east. It is in my possession. I tested it with spells and I can say with certainty that it is real. I will keep it hidden as long as I can. Please send orders. Faithfully yours.’ That is all. It is signed with a symbol instead of a name.” Sela passed the scroll around to the others.

  “All of our informants sign with a symbol, and they only send messages in the old language. It makes communications safer,” said the king.

  The writing was rudimentary—everyone could tell that the writer had not studied the old language for very long. However, the image of the Dragon Stone was crystal
clear. The stone had been placed underneath the parchment, and charcoal had been rubbed over the image, creating an impression. The carving depicted a dragon’s head, breathing fire.

  When the scroll passed to Duskeye, he examined it and frowned. “If the stone is not a forgery, then it is Chua’s,” said Tallin. “I recognize it.”

  “Are you sure?” asked Riona. “There were hundreds of Dragon Riders before the war broke out.”

  Tallin responded to Riona flatly, “I’m sure.”

  Mitca said, “It is too dangerous for me outside the Death Sands. I pass this information to you so you may decide what you want to do. I cannot leave. I will offer asylum to Chua and Starclaw, if you can get them back to Parthos alive. That is the best I can do.” King Mitca took the scroll and tucked it back in his waistband. “If you decide to search for them, then let me know and I will send word to the informant. She will put the stone in a safe place where you can retrieve it.”

  The King turned to leave. “I will leave four of my guards at the cathedral doors to ensure your privacy. When you leave, dismiss them, and they will return to the castle. You have one day to decide what you want to do.”

  “And what if we cannot come to a consensus?” asked Sela.

  “If you cannot come to an agreement, I will order my mage to destroy the stone. I cannot risk it falling into enemy hands,” the king said as he left the cathedral. “I leave you to decide.” The king walked out into the street, and his private guard surrounded him. A few guards stayed behind as promised. One popped his head inside the cathedral and addressed the group.

  “The king has ordered us to escort Mistress Sela and her dragon back to his private quarters after your meeting is adjourned.” Then he turned back and sealed the door. It closed with a thump.

  “A Dragon Stone cannot be destroyed—can it?” asked Riona.

  “Yes… It can,” answered Sela. “But only with difficulty. The stone cannot be destroyed when it is in the rider’s possession, except by killing the rider. However, when a stone is separated from its rider, it can be shattered using necromancy. During the war, the emperor’s necromancers would try to kidnap a dragon or a rider, remove the dragon stone, and destroy it using dark magic. The magical shockwave would usually kill the rider and the dragon, so it was like killing two birds with one stone. More often than not, the spell would kill the necromancer, as well. It is an evil thing to shatter a dragon stone.”

  Sela sat down and sighed. “So, what are we going to do?”

  “If Starclaw is alive, we must find her. We cannot leave her to die in the east,” said Charlight.

  “It is too dangerous,” said Riona. “There aren’t enough of us. We cannot risk one to save another. It could be a trap.”

  “How about the rider? Is it possible that Chua is still alive?” asked Sela.

  “It’s doubtful. And even if he was alive, none of us could risk our lives to save him,” spat Hanko.

  “Why not? Isn’t saving the rider just as important as saving his dragon?” said Riona.

  “Chua was a traitor, Riona,” replied Hanko.

  Riona gasped with surprise. “A Dragon Rider who was a traitor? I never knew this—how come the others don’t talk about it?”

  “Now, now, everyone… let’s not jump to conclusions,” said Sela. “No one is sure what happened. Chua disappeared during the war, after falling from the sky in battle. Most assumed that they were dead, but there was some spotty evidence that both had defected to the other side, and had been working as a double agent for the empire, as spies.”

  Hanko spoke again, “Chua was an oathbreaker! Hundreds of dragons and their riders may have perished because of him.”

  “There is one other possibility,” said Duskeye, quietly.

  “What else could it be?” asked Sela. “The stone exists, so Chua and Starclaw must both still be alive.”

  “Starclaw could be waiting in Darkmouth Forest… for her new rider to mature,” replied Duskeye. “Chua was gravely injured during the war. Of that, I am certain. But Chua was still alive when he fell from the sky. What if Chua had a child? If a magical transfer was done, then the child would be able to take the original rider’s place.”

  Hanko scoffed, “Unlikely! How could a dragon stay hidden for so long in the east? And how could they have made a transfer without anyone discovering it? This is foolishness!”

  “No. I disagree. It is possible, and in fact, it makes perfect sense. It explains why Chua and Starclaw disappeared,” said Tallin. “Chua had a lover during the war. I saw them together at least once or twice. A peasant woman. The woman… was with child. Even if gravely injured, Chua could have done a transfer; even if the child was an infant. I’ve seen it done… in desperation… at least once before.”

  Sela sighed. “I have serious reservations about this. It may be a trick. But we cannot ignore it. The only thing left to decide is… who is going to leave the safety of the Death Sands to look for Starclaw, and possibly, Chua?”

  No one spoke. Then Duskeye said, “Tallin and I will volunteer.”

  Everyone looked at the pair in surprise. Tallin and Duskeye never volunteered for anything.

  “Duskeye, are you sure?” asked Sela.

  “Yes. We will go,” Tallin responded. “Duskeye and I understand something of how Starclaw must be feeling. I, too, was separated from Duskeye for an extended period—to be alone, for so long… after bonding to a dragon, it is… unbearable.”

  Sela and Riona shivered involuntarily.

  “Tallin is the strongest illusionist, and he will conceal us with ease. It would be riskier for anyone else to go,” said Duskeye.

  “You have a point,” nodded Sela. “But where will you go first? Darkmouth Forest is vast.”

  “I have an instinct, and I will follow it,” said Tallin. The others waited for him to elaborate, but he did not offer anything more. Duskeye nudged his rider, but also remained silent. Their thoughts were guarded, as always.

  “It is an honorable choice. I will report our decision to the king,” said Sela.

  “It is decided, then. Duskeye and I leave for Darkmouth Forest tonight,” said Tallin.

  ***