Dragon School: Prince of Dragons

Dragon School, Volume 9

Sarah K. L. Wilson

Published by Sarah K. L. Wilson, 2018.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

DRAGON SCHOOL: PRINCE OF DRAGONS

First edition. April 5, 2018.

Copyright © 2018 Sarah K. L. Wilson.

Written by Sarah K. L. Wilson.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

MAP

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Behind the Scenes:

For the readers who love Raolcan.

MAP

Dragon School Map, April 2018. Larger downloadable version available at www.sarahklwilson.com

Chapter One

“Now what?” I asked.

Someone – Leng, I thought - had lit a fire after we bound up his cracked ribs - and we stood around it uncertainly. He favored them slightly, but they weren’t preventing him from moving around almost as gracefully as usual.

The boy has amazing pain tolerance. I’m impressed, Raolcan said.

I put the kettle on the fire to brew caf because that’s what Hubric would have done if he were here. I missed him. If he were here he could tell me how worried I should be about Leng’s injuries.

Let him tough it out. It’s how dragons do it. Definitely don’t say anything. He wouldn’t like that.

Around us, there were so many dragons that shadows blocked the sun. Dragons herded the Rock Eater warriors and defeated Magikas into a huddle nearby, while others stood guard around them. Dragons dotted the sky where they chased down Ifrits. Dragons gathered up the dead – both men and fallen dragons - for the funeral pyres. My heart ached for Cynos who had given his life and the lives of the other Red riders to fight off this invasion. It ached just as much for the Purple Dragon Rider who had been snatched from behind me by an Ifrit. His body lay among those ready to be shown our respect for the dead.

“They brought five ships,” Rakturan said. He’d taken on a new life since he left us, like he had found a strong vision. He and Enkenay had flown out over the ocean to survey the ships as soon as the Ifrits scattered. “Three Rock Eater ships and two from Baojang. There are skeleton crews still aboard, but they won’t sail with the dragons guarding them. Are these dragons truly loyal to your dragon?”

I looked at Raolcan. He could speak for himself.

I’d rather not. Go ahead and speak for me. Tell him that the dragons will help until we have this situation in hand.

“They’re here to help. For now, at least,” I said.

“It’s my intention to take those ships and return to Baojang,” Rakturan said.

Savette gasped and I felt my own mouth open in surprise. That was the last thing I’d expected him to say.

“And return valuable assets to our enemies?” Leng asked quietly. He stood with us, but he’d been tending to Ahlskibi as we dealt with other tasks. Ahlskibi was clearly injured, favoring his right side and occasionally coughing out black clouds of smoke.

“Baojang is no enemy of mine,” Rakturan said. At Leng’s sharp look he shifted uncomfortably and added, “And I do not want my great nation to be your enemy either. I will return to her and warn about what I have seen. We have our own enemies like the Dusk Covenant there and our own tales of the Hasa’leen – the bringer of light, your Chosen One. It’s time that my people heard that she has come to us. We need to make peace between our nations to tackle this greater threat – the threat to peace that the Dusk Covenant brings.”

“We don’t dare risk Savette that way,” I said quietly. After all, I was a Lightbringer now. She was ours to protect, as well as my friend. Leng gave me a curious look. “Hubric is certain that she is the Chosen One.”

“He is?” Leng’s eyes ran over her, his jaw clenching at her bright eyes, uncovered by their blindfold.

Savette pulled the scarf back up to cover her eyes, as if she felt uncomfortable under his gaze. “I am devoted to Truth. Beyond that, I don’t know what I am.”

Leng straightened his shoulders. “Then she can’t go anywhere. Though that doesn’t prevent this man from leaving. His plan is solid. If war can still be prevented - even after the sacking of Casaban and this invasion force - then peace must be pursued. We’ve all seen what war does.”

He looked sadly around him at the bodies being laid out in a long line along the riverbank. Did he have friends among them? He certainly had suffered alongside some of them. He didn’t notice Savette grab Rakturan’s hand, clutching it tightly in hers.

“Were they your friends, Leng?” I asked gently.

“They were becoming my friends, although they would have died anyway -  none of their dragons survived the attack on Casaban. Ahlskibi only lived because he was out hunting in the countryside. He was set upon by an Ifrit and escaped during the battle but was too injured to immediately follow me. We lost our connection for a time.”

Leng caressed Ahlskibi’s snout as he spoke. They were both still shaken by what they’d endured, and no wonder. I’d be gutted if anything ever happened to Raolcan.

Nothing will. I’m a tough dragon.

Behind us, Savette and Rakturan whispered intently together. She seemed distressed as their voices gradually grew louder. With the sun setting red over the dark sea and the dragons laying out the dead, their whispers made me shiver. It was a grim evening, despite my relief that my loved ones had survived.

“Because it isn’t safe with me,” Rakturan said.

“It’s not safe apart from you! Together we are stronger, and I can’t bear the thought of you being hurt or killed across the sea from me.”

“I will be fine, Savette. I am a prince of Baojang. I will not be killed. We both are stronger than we were before.” He was pleading with her, but I wasn’t so sure he was right. After all, the diplomatic party he was with and even his own bodyguards had been willing to risk him before. This was a risky choice.

“When you are gone, they’ll marry me off to someone else just like they were planning to do before.”

His mouth was open to argue but he shut it at those words. A moment later he smiled.

“What if I married you before I left?”

She still looked uncertain, though more hopeful than before.

“There’s a ship of Baojang drifting out there and a ship will have a captain and a Captain of a Baojang ship has the right to perform marriages. I’ll marry you before I leave, right here where the Feet of the River meets the sea.”

She stood on tip-toes to kiss him, their long hair intermingling in the breeze.

I guess that’s a yes, then.

They were so sweet together. But wasn’t this place supposed to be significant for their magic? Why hadn’t we seen any of that happen in the battle?

You didn’t notice dragons pouring out of the ground? That didn’t seem significant to you?

Well, obviously I’d noticed that.

That’s the magic of this place. Both Dragons and Ifrits can be called up here. Ifrits because this place has deep ties to the earth from which they are created, and dragons because Haz’drazen keeps the cavern system open and one outlet is here.

They came through caverns under the ground?

Yes. I started calling to them when you and Hubric first met with the Reds two hours north of here. Even with that much time, it was difficult for them to come so quickly.

But they came. They came for their prince. I was still trying to wrap my head around the idea of Raolcan as a Prince! Would he tell me more about it if I asked him?

I’ll tell you something else, instead. My friends have found Findar with Hubric’s messages.

Chapter Two

They’re bringing Findar here. He’s wounded from the battle.

Excitement filled me. If only Hubric were still here. He’d be relieved that the messages were safe. I turned to Leng.

“Is there some protocol about accepting Hubric’s missing messages back?”

“So that’s what brought you here. I wondered why Hubric would leave his duty.” Leng nodded his head thoughtfully. “Protocol says that the highest-ranking member is always offered the messages unless there is some reason to do otherwise. Since you are Hubric’s apprentice, that would mean that you should take them, even though I rank higher than you do.” He glanced to where Rakturan and Savette were whispering together and cleared his throat. “I think we can recover the messages on our own.”

Raolcan led the way down the rocky river banks, giving our prisoners a wide berth. Ahlskibi walked so close behind us that I was worried about being singed by his smoky black coughs.

“Can we do anything for Ahlskibi’s injuries?” I asked Leng.

“Not really. They’re magical. He needs time to heal. The medicine of the Whites would help, but there are none here and our own first aid practices are of little use to an injured dragon. He needs rest and time. He will survive this.”

I hadn’t even thought about him dying. Thinking of it now filled me with horror. He wasn’t close to death now, was he? If he was that injured, we needed to get him help right away.

Listen to Leng. He knows what he’s talking about. Ahlskibi is fine. He’s a big complainer at the best of times.

The black sooty cough that burst past me was laced with flames. It scorched the right side of my leathers and I gritted my teeth in annoyance, chastising myself. It was wrong to be annoyed at a hurt dragon.

Even one who did it on purpose? He didn’t like my dig at his irritability.

Maybe Raolcan could keep the teasing to a minimum. Especially since I was standing between the two of them. Leng snorted from beside me and I jumped. I wasn’t used to anyone else except Hubric following along with our silent interactions.

Leng took my hand with care, like he was afraid I might pull it away but also like he was leaving room for me to do that if I wanted to. I felt my cheeks heat and I turned my gaze away, afraid to let him see what I was sure my eyes were showing. His callused palm felt hot and certain against mine. I had very little certainty in this life.

“I’m glad we came in time,” I said. How did I tell him that my heart would have broken if we hadn’t? How did I tell him that he filled my thoughts without sounding like I was pining for him?

You are pining for him. Why didn’t you suggest that the boat captain marry the two of you? You’re as far gone as Rakturan is.

How did I tell Leng that I didn’t ever want to let go?

Oh, for pity’s sake, tell him something before I start fake-coughing fires.

“I’m glad you rescued me, too, Amel. If you’d been any later, Ahlskibi would have tried on his own and I couldn’t have borne his death.” He stopped for a moment, his dark gaze meeting mine with warmth and affection, as if he was also holding in more than he could express with words.

Did you hear that? Ahlskibi the snappy-one owes me. I plan on reminding him of that.

I thought Raolcan was supposed to be a prince. Was it too much to ask for a little dignity?

Not you, too. I left to get away from all of that.

He did?

Well, technically I was sent, but I’m not getting into that.

Leng was still looking at me and I felt my cheeks heating.

It was impossible. I had to speak. “I couldn’t have borne your death, Leng Shardson.”

He leaned down and very gently kissed me. “I haven’t received permission yet, Amel Leafbrought, but life feels like something that can’t be promised from one day to the next – not anymore.”

“Our futures were never certain, Leng.” I fought to look into his dark grey eyes despite my galloping heartbeat. Did he see all the way in when I looked at him? What would he think if he knew how frail I was inside?

“I promise to use what days I have left making your days better.” His voice was so deep and gentle when he spoke to me – like he had his own tone for me. “If you’ll let me.”

I swallowed. “I’d like that.”

Why did I have to sound like such a fool? Why couldn’t I have clever, romantic things to say back? Things like a character in a story? Why couldn’t I sound like someone worth devoting yourself to? Instead, I was tongue-tied and blushing and my head felt too full to think.

“You’re wearing my davari,” he said. “And whose promise is this other one?”

“Hubric’s.” Was that relief I saw on his face? “He promised to come back for me.”

He nodded and his smile grew. “We’ll find him before he can look for us and return his messages and his honor.” He leaned his forehead against mine in a gesture so tender that my heart fluttered like a trapped butterfly in my ribcage. “Remember, you have my heart in your palms.”

This time it was me who kissed him. He held me very gently, like he was afraid of breaking me.

Here’s Findar. Unless you plan on putting on a show for him, I think kissy-time is done.

A red dragon stepped out from behind one of the broken statues. In his mouth, a limp Findar hung like a fish dredged up from the river bank.

Chapter Three

This is Saifmid. He recovered Findar for us.

Saifmid – the red dragon – shook Findar like a puppy with a stick in its mouth. A rain of small objects fell from him, including a dozen message cylinders. I scrambled forward while Saifmid dropped Findar to the ground. Falling to my knee and propped against my crutch, I gathered up the precious messages as quickly as I could. Hubric would want them kept safe. He’d want them to be secure.

“Your Dragon Rider belt has slots for them. I don’t know if Hubric told you that,” Leng said, helping me up. My hands were full of messages, so he lifted me to my feet and helped me settle against my crutch. “Look.”

On the inside of my belt was a cloth panel. I’d known that. What I hadn’t realized was that the cloth could be pulled out slightly, revealing loops. Leng gently took a message from my hand and showed me how to slot it into the belt.

“They’re uncomfortable there, but you know they’re safe. Not everyone uses them, especially not for long journeys. They’re just too uncomfortable, but until you have somewhere else to put them...”

“It’s perfect.” I smiled at him, slotting the messages into the loops in my belt. When I looked up again he was kneeling over Findar.

“He’s alive but unconscious.”

“Can we help him?” I asked.

Leng snorted. “He’ll live. He has no obvious injuries to bind. He probably slipped – or was pushed in the battle - and hit his head. He can wait with the other prisoners until we decide what to do with them.”

Leng hoisted Findar awkwardly into a half-drag, half-carry. He winced at the pain of his ribs, stumbling slightly under the other man’s greater weight. Ahlskibi nudged him with his snout.

“You’re not carrying anyone until you have time to heal.”

Ahlskibi coughed, flame flashing across the rocks in a harmless direction. I agreed with the sentiment. Leng had no business carrying anyone, either.

“Fine. You can guard him. Will that make you feel better?”

It must have been satisfactory, because Leng put Findar down, leaning him against the feet of a stone statue and Ahlskibi settled himself gingerly on the rocks beside the unconscious man. We all liked to feel useful. I understood Alhskibi’s frustration.

“What are we going to do about the prisoners?” I asked.

Leng pulled at his ear with one hand as he thought. “The closest city to here is Casaban and it’s in enemy hands. There’s a city north of here along the coast – Saldrin. We could go there for help. Or we could head northwest toward Leedris City and try there. Obviously, we can’t take care of this ourselves. We simply don’t have the manpower.”

My brothers will stay and watch these prisoners until humans can come and take over their charge.

I hadn’t even asked Raolcan if the dragons wanted to deal with the prisoners themselves. Hopefully, he wasn’t offended.

Why would dragons want to deal with human problems? My brothers will stay and watch the prisoners until you can bring humans here, but we should leave soon. My brothers don’t wish to stay too long.

“Ahlskibi told me what Raolcan says,” Leng was nodding as he spoke. “I think we’ll need to leave immediately.”

After the wedding.

“To Saldrin or Leedris City?” I asked aloud.

Leedris. It’s time we found out if Savette’s family will support her as the Chosen One.

“I agree,” Leng said. “Leedris makes sense. It’s about two days flight from here.”

“Do we bring the prisoners with us or fly alone?”

“That’s a good question. We’ll have to think about the logistics of it.”

But right now, we need to fly to the ship or we’ll be late for the wedding.

What?

You did want to see your friend get married, didn’t you? Don’t worry about the prisoner. Ahlskibi will guard him.

In the distance, a burst of fire shot up from the Baojang ship with a sharp ‘crack.’ I leapt, fear filling me. We were under attack of some kind. Rakturan and Savette had been heading out to that very ship! Could we get to them in time?

Ahlshibi’s puff of flame and smoke looked more like a laugh than a cough and Raolcan was shaking, his own puff of flame flashing harmlessly over the river rock. What...?

“Have you ever seen a night flash before?” Leng asked me, smiling in a far too self-assured way. “They’re a trick of Baojang for special occasions, like a fiery flower shot up into the sky. They guard the recipes for it closely, but I heard a rumor that it’s made of some kind of earth.”

My mouth fell open. So, we weren’t under attack? That was on purpose? They shouldn’t go terrifying people like that!

“I think it’s to signal the wedding. Rakturan must be in a great hurry.” Leng took my hand. That did sound like Rakturan. He had his own way of doing things. “Do you think Raolcan will let me ride with you? Ahlskibi is a bit busy right now.”

As long as he doesn’t get any ideas while we’re there. I think I’ve seen all the romance I can handle for the next fortnight.

We climbed up and Raolcan swooped into the cobalt sky, twisting slightly as he turned toward the ship. It was probably just to remind us who was in charge of this flight, but the sudden twist left Leng grabbing my waist for stability and I didn’t mind that at all.

You’re welcome.

Chapter Four

We looped around the Baojang ship and I craned forward to look at every detail. The woodwork along the hull amazed me. Strange symbols cut into the rail all along the deck and intricate swirls and scrollwork were carved up the mast and across the deck, like the whole thing was a work of art. The sails – saffron in color - whipped in the bracing wind and were bright against the still charcoal sea as the last gold of the sun sank beneath the horizon.

I gasped at the beauty of it, whooping out loud as Raolcan zipped over the water, skimming so close to the dark waves that his belly slid along the crest of them. Leng was laughing behind me and all I felt through my bond with Raolcan was exhilaration.

Was he really a prince of dragons?

Really.

Even with this love of fun?

And a heavy load of responsibility. Why do you think I was sent to Dragon School as tribute? Even the Queen’s own family is not exempt from the ancient pact. One of us had to come, and it was me who was ordered to go.

Ordered to an early death and bonding to a human he didn’t know by his own family. It seemed cruel.

No more cruel than life has been to you. You’ll find that no one’s path is easy. Not if you look carefully enough.

Maybe that explained why he’d hinted that he was supposed to be someone else’s dragon. Maybe Haz’drazen sent him there for a very specific purpose. I waited for him to answer my thought, but he stayed silent. In a way, the silence was telling me everything I needed to know. There had been a purpose for him and it hadn’t been me.

On the contrary. I moment I heard your mind I knew you should be my rider. Sometimes people don’t know what true value is until it’s right in front of their faces.

Savette was waving to me from the ship deck and I waved back. That blindfold certainly never seemed to hinder her and now here we were, arriving for her wedding! When I first heard she was promised to the Dark Prince and I’d thought about her wedding, I’d expected pomp and lavish festivals for weeks. Instead, she’d marry the Dark Prince on a ship with only a skeleton crew, two dragons, and two Dragon Riders for wedding guests.

Behind her, Rakturan was in deep conversation with the men on the deck. The waving swords and guttural tones made me flinch, but Raolcan didn’t seem worried.

It’s just the way of Baojang. They speak loudly and carry big swords. I don’t feel the need to brag like that despite being the best armed in any room, but some people just have to let everyone know they are in charge.

That was rich coming from him. Although it was true that he hadn’t even let me know he was a prince.

Was I also supposed to mention that when I was a dragonlet my favorite color was yellow? I thought I’d let these insignificant things come up naturally.

I was laughing when he landed on the rear of the ship, causing massive waves to roll out on either side of the ship and a yell of worry from the sailors.

Fools. I’ll only be a moment.

I noted that Enkenay was circling the ship in the sky. Perhaps he’d also elicited worry when he landed.

But definitely dismount quickly. I might be heavier than I thought.

Leng leapt down and reached a hand up to me, so I grasped it and slid from Raolcan’s back. He leapt up the second I was off and took to the sky. The ship rocked boisterously at his departure and I was flung into Leng. He steadied us and laughed.

“Purples are an arrogant lot and Raolcan certainly fits in.”

Hadn’t Raolcan said that Leng was very Purple? Did that mean he was arrogant, too?

You should expect that – after all, he’s trying to ignore those painful ribs like they don’t even exist. If that’s not Purple arrogance, then I don’t know what is. Good Dragon Riders take on the traits of their dragons. Next time you land on a ship you might be the one teasing the sailors.

I doubted that would happen.

I’ll keep working on your sense of humor.

Someone had given Savette a new dress – white, flowing sky-silk in filmy ripples that highlighted her slender curves. Gold embroidery traced the edges in the same type of pattern as the carvings on the ship. A wedding dress?

In Baojang they marry in purple clothing. This is probably a trade item that Rakturan has taken from the Captain of the ship. It suits her.

“You look lovely,” I told her as she drew close to greet us. The scarf around her eyes had been replaced by a filmy white scarf made from the same sky-silk and her long blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders.

“Rakturan says we must hurry,” she said. “The Captain says that if he wishes to reach Baojang this season then he must leave now before the winds change.”

“Right now?” I asked. Were ships really so sensitive? Why didn’t Rakturan just fly? Enkenay didn’t need a certain type of wind.

No, but he needs somewhere to land or he’ll fly himself to death. A ship is better for a long sea crossing. Enkenay could take a few rests riding on the ship so he doesn’t tire out.

I hadn’t thought of that. Could he just float on his belly in the water?

Would you want to sleep while floating on the sea?

I shivered.

“Join us!” Rakturan called to us, motioning for us to join him and the Captain. He looked exuberant, like he could hardly contain his excitement, though the Captain gave him the occasional side-long look, clearly still nervous about his glowing eyes. The rest of the crew rushed about, clearing tools and rope to the sides, arranging a string of red lanterns on either side of the ship and lighting them. They hung a golden cloth at the rear of the ship deck with lanterns in front of it, too.

The rear of the ship is called the ‘aft.’

“You’ll find the ceremony strange,” Savette whispered to us as we followed her. “Rakturan warned me it would feel foreign to us. Please don’t object. I want to marry Rakturan according to his people’s traditions.”

“Of course,” I agreed, but Leng held onto my hand like he thought he’d need to protect me. That seemed extreme. After all, it was only a wedding.

I didn’t know how nobles in the Dominion married, but it was relatively simple for commoners. Your families made an agreement oath – that they released their hold on their son or daughter and forgave all debts owed so they could be free and clear. The couple affirmed that they were entering the marriage without coercion and stated their names clearly for the town and then said their new family name together – usually the groom’s family name, but it wasn’t unheard of to take the bride’s. Then we all ate a lot of food and those who could dance, danced until the night grew late and everyone left for home. Simple, but sufficient. Could a Baojang wedding be much different?

The night flashes were the main thing that was different. The sailors arranged themselves formally around the Captain and lit off a careful sequence of flashes that filled the sky. I tried not to flinch, but I must have still been nervous because Leng gripped my hand firmly, as if to steady me.

Seriously, they need to stop firing those things off. They could hit someone.

I wasn’t paying attention to the Captain’s speech, which was in a language I didn’t speak. He read it out of a book, stumbling occasionally as if it were an unfamiliar task.

I didn’t care, I was watching Savette’s face. Even without seeing her eyes it was clear she was happy. Her smile grew when she and Rakturan joined hands and a sailor rushed forward to chain their hands together. Hopefully, they weren’t planning to keep them chained together, or their lives would become complicated very quickly. Rakturan leaned down and whispered to her and his cheeks flushed at whatever she whispered back.

More words were said and Rakturan spoke as well. Could Savette understand any of this? Her confident smile didn’t waver, though she blushed a pretty pink when he leaned in close to murmur something to her before finishing his speech.

When he was finished, another sailor presented a golden bowl to the Captain. He drew two golden loops and a long, thin golden chain from the dish. With a quick step forward, he drew a tiny knife and reached up to Rakturan’s ear. I couldn’t make out his precise movement, but when he was done the loop was in Rakturan’s ear. Savette never flinched when he did the same to her, though a tiny drop of blood fell on the white shoulder of her filmy dress. They were linked now, by the loops in their ears and the long chain. A sailor rushed forward to unlock the chain around their hands and the bride and groom knelt on the ground, fingers of both hands interlaced and the Captain said a few words and Rakturan repeated them, and then the Captain spoke again and Savette tried her best – with help from Rakturan – to repeat them.

When they were done, the Captain made a pronouncement, Rakturan kissed Savette very formally, and the whole ship burst into a cheer. Night flares lit off by the dozens and Savette’s smile was the only thing brighter.

That one almost hit me! Savages! You can tell they have never been civilized by dragons. That’s a terribly backward nation your friend is marrying into. You should tell her that.

Chapter Five

“I think we should read the messages,” I told Leng as we leaned against the ship railing. The sailors had prepared a feast on short notice and we were waiting for Savette to finish eating before we returned to shore. She’d have to come with us then, while Rakturan sailed for Baojang, and I wasn’t looking forward to splitting them up. What were they going to do about those earrings with the chain?

“You can’t. It goes against our traditions.” He seemed tight and tense now that the wedding was over, like he expected something terrible to happen at any moment.

To be fair, we did just rescue him from a flaming hillside – a fire which my dragons put out, thank you for noticing – and then hauled him off to an impromptu wedding.

Now I felt tense. I needed to remember the messages and prisoners and Savette and Leng and the dragons and –

Enough. One thing at a time. The dragons are not your concern. They are my brothers and I will manage their actions. The prisoners can be dealt with once Rakturan is on his way. Findar still sleeps.

“They were lost before. They could be lost again,” I argued. “The safest way to ensure they reach their intended destination is to read them ourselves. Then, if something happens to them, we can still relay the messages.”

“Amel, these things are in place for a reason. Would you feel safe giving a Purple Dragon Rider a message if you knew they would read it?”

“I would if I knew the message was too important to lose.”

“It doesn’t work that way.” He looked so tired. We both leaned against the rail, our backs to the festivities, looking out over the dark ocean. I let my shoulder nudge up against his. “We’ve been trusted with messages for hundreds of years because people know the messages are safe and secret in our care.”

I shifted my weight irritably. So what if we’d done it this way for years? It clearly didn’t work. Didn’t he see that?

“Well, I think that with war on the horizon and cities collapsing, and the Dusk Covenant everywhere, we should find ways to make sure our messages reach their recipients. One way to do that is to read them so that they can’t be destroyed by fire, water or theft.”

“I’ll think about it.” He said it like he was ending the conversation, but he leaned his shoulder against mine to soften the blow.

But it wasn’t really his decision, was it? I had the messages and it would be up to me if they were read. I’d give him until tomorrow to decide and if he didn’t say anything, then I’d just go ahead and read the messages. Someone had to. What was the worst that would happen if I did?

“There’s this place we could go on the way to Leedris - Backwater Manor,” he said. “We could get help there instead of a nearby city.”

I reached for his hand, wanting to offer comfort as I broke the news. “We were there two days ago. It was destroyed by Ifrits.”

He cursed.

“Hubric said it was a Lightbringer safehouse.”

“He told you that? And he told you about Savette too - that he thought she was the Chosen One.” Leng looked stunned. He took my left hand in his gently and pulled my sleeve up to expose my wrist and then looked up at me with a puzzled expression.

“What did you expect to find there?” I asked, pulling my wrist back.

“This.” He drew his own sleeve back, exposing a tattoo of a rising sun over a single hill. The sign of the Lightbringers.

“Well, I only agreed to join a few nights ago. He didn’t exactly have time to demand body art.”

He laughed. “So, you are one of us now?”

I nodded.

“Then I think I should tell you something.” His tense look had returned. “When I was in the south I met with some of our informants there. The Dusk Covenant is spreading like wildfire. They feed on the discontent among us and twist the words of the prophecies. They have found a girl that they plan to bring to Dominion City and set up as the Chosen One of prophecy.”

“Starie Atrelan,” I said.

He went pale. “How do you know?”

“We were there when she arrived at the Garrison of Dominion City. One of the Generals in the room dropped dead under her gaze.”

“This is worse than we feared. Things are coming to a head faster than I imagined.” He ran a hand over his bald scalp, chewing his lip at the same time. “There was a rumor that they are trying to infiltrate the dragon’s lands, too.”

What rumor?

“What was the rumor?”

“It was very vague. Just a rumbling that they plan to strike at Haz’drazen. Our pact with the dragons has long been the strength of the Dominion but, like in all places, there are those who wish to disrupt the peace here and bring the Dominar down. They plan to strike at the heart of our strength – the dragons.

Stay where you are. I must leave for a time. Enkenay will bear you back to the shore by his promise to me.

Where was he going?

I’ll be back soon.

That wasn’t an answer.

Chapter Six

We were all quiet as we rode Enkenay through the night. I clutched Leng so tightly that I was afraid he’d get annoyed, but I wasn’t used to riding a dragon I couldn’t speak to. It felt weird. Savette rode at the front with me and Leng behind her. I could hear her sniffling.

Her first tears had come on the ship when Rakturan detached the golden chain from their earrings and kissed her goodbye. I tried not to watch – they needed their privacy – but it was hard not to be drawn by their sweet words and the way he kissed her tears.

Enkenay was being cranky about carrying us. It was a wonder that he would even do it – dragons didn’t like carrying people who didn’t belong to them – but he seemed very attached to Savette, and it wasn’t very far. As soon as he dropped us off, he would be returning to Rakturan to sail across the sea with him. I was going to miss that white ghost of a dragon.

He set us down close to where Ahlskibi was watching Findar. Leng and I scrambled off and Savette stayed long enough to whisper in his ear before he launched back into the air to return to Rakturan. Despite the late hour, the skies were still busy with flying dragons. They guarded the prisoners and took care of whatever dragon-ly needs they had. The dead were all honored now, and the fires put out, so there was little else that needed to be done.

We trudged through the night, careful not to twist our ankles on river rocks. Leng picked up bits of driftwood as we walked.

“We’ll want a fire,” he said. “Ahlskibi says that Raolcan left your baggage and his saddle nearby. We can set up your tent and make some tea, perhaps.”

“I could use some caf,” I agreed. How had Raolcan removed his own saddle? I didn’t realize he could do that.

You never give me enough credit.

He was nearby!

Not really. Our range grows.

Well, I was grateful that he’d left my gear. We were all tired and we needed our rest, though blankets would be scarce. Maybe Ahlskibi would let us curl up against him.

Unlikely. He’s very irritable with all his injuries. Constant pain will do that to a person – even if that person is a dragon – as I’m sure you know.

I wished we could do something for him. He was standing when we arrived, teeth bared. Was he so irritable that he thought we were enemies? No. Findar was awake and sitting on the rocks before him.

“Findar,” I said. Now that he was awake, we had questions to ask.

“Stay back,” he said.

“Or what?” I leaned on my crutch and I knew I looked like an easy target – the same target he’d stolen a blanket from and tricked into trusting him. But I wasn’t that. I was Sworn and I knew how to use this crutch as a weapon.

He looked around him, like he was searching for a way out.

“There’s nowhere for you to go, Findar. We have taken your allies captive and they are under guard, you have no weapons, and Ahlskibi will flame you if you bother him. He’s feeling irritable right now, so maybe you should sit down and talk to me.”

“Do you have things covered over there?” Leng asked from where he was laying out driftwood for a fire. He was watching us tensely, like he wanted to step in and take over and was holding himself back. I swallowed. I wanted him to be proud of how I handled things and respect me as a fellow Dragon Rider.

“Findar doesn’t worry me,” I said. “He’s the kind of person who hits old men from behind.”

“We’ll just make some caf and set up the tent, then,” Leng said, feigning disinterest.

That’s the nice thing about Leng. He lets people be independent even when he might want otherwise. You should try reading minds sometime. It would help you understand people better.

“And you’re going to explain why you stole those messages and why you brought them here,” I told Findar.

“I won’t.” He crossed his arms over his chest. His face was still swollen from his fight at Casaban, and there was a crusted lump on his head, probably from where he fell during the battle.

“You knew what was happening here. You brought these messages here in hopes that you could prevent them reaching their recipients and benefit the people you serve – the Dusk Covenant. Am I right?”

His eyes told me I was, though his lips narrowed as he pressed them firmly together.

“Did you expect to see the Rock Eaters here?”

“What do you think?”

“I think that it would be wise to answer me.”

“Or what? You’re a girl and a cripple! You won’t torture me, and you won’t let the dragon flame me. There’s nothing you can do to me that would make me talk.”

I wouldn’t let his insults injure me. “You fought against us at Casaban, didn’t you? You’re a traitor.”

“I told you I’m not talking. Why even ask questions if you can’t back up your demands?”

“He did,” Savette said from behind me. I glanced back at her, but she wasn’t even looking at us. She was setting up the tent. I knew one thing Findar didn’t. Savette could feel the truth.

“And you stole the messages to deliver them to the Dusk Covenant,” I said.

He just shook his head in disbelief.

“He did,” Savette said.

“You know what’s in these messages?”

He stared past me, statue still.

“He knows. I think he read them,” Savette said.

“Then I guess I’ll need to read them, too.”

“You can’t.” His answer was too quick. “It’s against the law.”

“Lie,” Savette said. She was done with the tent and she was helping Leng brew the tea. When I glanced back at them, Leng’s eyes shot me a warning look. He didn’t want me to open those messages, but Findar had read them already. Was it really so bad if I read them, too?

I started to pull them from my waistband, one by one. I set them on the ground before me and noticed something I hadn’t when I’d tucked them in. One of the cylinders was slightly different than the others. It bore a sign on it of a spiral with a line through it – the sign of the Dusk Covenant. I picked it up and examined it.

“I think I’ll start with this one.”

Chapter Seven

Findar crouched like he might attack me, but Ahlskibi coughed beside him, letting a gust of flame burst past. When the cough was past, Leng was suddenly at my side, a long knife in his hand, he favored his side, like his injury was finally tiring him out.

“I think you should stay put while the Dragon Rider reads your message, don’t you, Findar?” Leng’s eyes narrowed as he spoke.

I cracked open the seal on the end and slid the paper out of the cylinder. I moved to the small fire and held the slip of paper so I could make out the words.

I read it aloud. “We planted a snake with the crown. Finish capturing the coastal cities. Then send the sign of the boar to Lieutenant Iskaris of the Dominar’s Dragoons. He will know what to do.”

“All the Coastal cities are under threat?” Leng asked.

At the same time, I said, “Who is the snake in the Dominar’s court?”

We looked at each other. I chewed my lip. Tension filled Leng’s eyes. We thought we had a big decision ahead of us before when we thought all we had to do was figure out how to deal with these prisoners and deliver the messages. Now, we had twice the problem. The Dominar was in danger, and so was every city along the coast. I felt a stab of fear rip through me. What should we do?

Findar began to laugh, looking from one face to the next. “And you thought I was the one in trouble. You’re on a losing side. Both of you.”

“We could keep trying to question him,” Leng said quietly to me, “but I don’t think that’s the best use of our time, not with this news. It’s unlikely that someone like him knows any specifics.”

I nodded and tucked away the other messages.

Leng strode forward, seized Findar by the back of the neck and pushed him ahead of him. The limp from his broken ribs was barely noticeable. “If you can’t shed light on things here, you can join your Rock Eater allies under dragon guard.”

I watched him escort Findar down the river bank to where dozens of dragons still swirled around the prisoners, occasionally using their flames to remind the prisoners where the boundaries of their imprisonment were.

I sank down on a rock next to the fire, staring into the flames. “What should we do.”

“We’ll need to split up,” Savette said quietly.

I stole a glance at her. Her bright eyes looked forlorn without Rakturan’s matching pair nearby. I noticed that she still had the gold loop in her ear, even though the chain was gone. She had to come with me no matter what. She needed protection and she had no dragon of her own.

I’m working on that, Raolcan said.

Really? That was what he was working on? I wouldn’t have guessed that. It still didn’t change our dilemma. Savette laid out cups and brewed the caf while I stared at the flames. I should read the other messages. That’s what I should do. I arranged them in front of me on the rock. Savette handed me a cup of caf and I thanked her. Taking me first sip just as Leng stepped out of the shadows and joined us. H took Savette’s offered caf with a murmur of thanks and sat down awkwardly, cradling his ribs.

“We have decisions to make,” he said grimly. If only Hubric was here. He would know what to do. “These are the top priorities in my mind - Savette’s protection, warning the Dominar, warning the coastal cities, dealing with these prisoners. We have one dragon fit to ride – Raolcan.” Ahlskibi snarled, his flames lighting up the night and Leng turned to him. “Don’t grumble. I’m trying to look out for you. That’s called love. Deal with it.” He turned back to us. “We are going to have to choose.”

Wait for me. I’m almost there.

“But every option is important,” I said, sipping my caf slowly and staring into the fire. What if we made the wrong choice? What if it led to calamity.

“Life is all choices, Amel. The worst of it is that the things you want most are usually pushed aside by things more urgent ... but not nearly as important.”

I met the burning intensity of his eyes by firelight. Beside me, Savette’s tears slipped down her face, shining in the firelight. Was she thinking about Rakturan and his choices?

And here we are.

Raolcan landed beside the fire, flirting his wing dramatically at the last moment. As he drew his wings in, a second dragon stepped forward, a red dragon whose sleek scales were now covered in scars.

Eeamdor.

Chapter Eight

Savette gasped, dropping her caf with a clatter and leaping up to embrace her fierce dragon like he was a missing puppy returned to her.

I’ve been working on this for a while, Raolcan said proudly. They were keeping him captive on the Ruby Isles. We arranged to break him out. I had hoped he’d join us sooner, but this is good timing.

He was amazing! He’d been fighting for Eeamdor’s freedom all this time? Who was this ‘we’ who helped him?

Dragons. We do have our own goals and plans, you know. Someone has to take care of Savette. She chose well with Eeamdor. He’s boring, but noble.

Boring?

He can’t take a joke.

Is he why you flew off so suddenly?

Among other things.

And are you going to tell me about those things?

Not all of them.

Of course. I didn’t have any secrets left with him in my mind all the time, but he held on to his.

I’m a dragon of mystery.

“I’m not sure if this helps things or complicates them.” The lines on Leng’s forehead grew deeper. He pulled a map out from his pocket. “Do you know where Hubric is?”

“Oh!” I took the tiny cylinder from around my neck and pulled out the slip of paper within. I read it aloud. “The view is great from here. I can see the Grey Sea and Leedris Castel. Join me at dawn.”

That made no sense to me at all. He said I could figure it out, but he seemed to forget that I wasn’t as educated as I should me.

“Hmmm,” Leng said. “Somewhere that can see Leedris Castel and the Eastern Sea – it usually looks grey - at the same time. You’d have to be on a mountain to do that...” His voice trailed off, but then he snapped his fingers. “Here, look.” I moved in closer and he traced a line on the map. “’Join me at Dawn’ he means the Peak of the Morning. It’s one of the mountains in the nearby range. “

On the map, it was close to Leedris Castel, and also on the way toward Vanika where we’d last seen the Dominar.

“If I go that route, I can bring the messages to the Dominar and also bring Savette to Leedris Castel.”

He nodded. “It won’t be easy to bring these prisoners with you, though. Not only is it a long way to go without food, they will slow things down by being on foot without supplies.”

“But where else can we take them?”

He pointed to Saldrin. “Here. Even if they walk it will not take long. If I load them on ships, I can sail them there in a day.”

“Or they could seize control of the ships and try to escape.”

“They could, but I’m hoping the dragons will come, too. Then I could warn a coastal city and take the prisoners somewhere safe.”

“How will you sail three ships?”

“I’ll make the crews sail them or risk being flamed by Ahlskibi and the other dragons.”

I bit my lip. “That means splitting up again, doesn’t it?”

I have reason to seek the Dominar. This would suit my plans perfectly.

“I would bring the prisoners to Saldrin and warn them of coming attacks. You would go to join Hubric again and together you could keep Savette safe and also deliver messages to the Dominar.”

“What about Ahlskibi? You said he wasn’t fit to carry someone.”

“He can rest on one of the ships when he needs a break. I’ll be careful with him.”

I bit my lip. I wasn’t happy with us splitting up. I’d only just found him again and every time I lost track of him, something terrible happened.

He tucked the map back in his pocket and took my hands in his. “Listen, it’s only for a while. It’s the only way that makes sense.”

I nodded. But his dragon was wounded. He was recovering from a trauma. Who was to say that Raolcan’s dragons would listen to Leng and keep the prisoners together as the sailed to the city?

They will.

What if the prisoners overtook him and killed him?

“You wear my davari,” Leng said, touching the ring on my finger. “It’s as true now as when I first gave it to you. I will find a way to be yours. Until that time, you hold my heart in your palms.” He kissed me. “But we both have responsibilities. We can’t risk our Dominion just to keep close to each other. Wear my davari, and remember that I will return to you as quickly as I can.”

I nodded, but I felt the tears tracing trails down my face. I hated that everyone I loved always had to go. I hated that it always meant risk and danger. If I had my way, there would be no more risks ever again.

And no more fun.

If that was what it took, then yes.

“Let’s get some sleep. We’ll need to leave as soon as dawn comes.”

I found a place to sleep beside Raolcan, but I woke often through the night and glanced over at Leng sleeping against Ahlskibi. I felt safer just seeing him across the fire from me, but I would have liked it better if he were closer.

Seriously, can I just get some sleep? I’m starting to dream about bald-headed humans with all your pining going on in the back of my head - and that’s something I’ve never wanted.

I closed my eyes and fell back asleep.

Chapter Nine

“Are you sure these dragons will work with Leng when you are gone?” I asked Raolcan the next morning. I was saddling him as we chatted and adjusting his load just right to keep him comfortable. Savette would have to fly without a saddle.

They are dragons just like me, Amel. Free, but not without an understanding of our shared responsibilities. They’ll help him bring the prisoners to Saldrin.

I was just nervous about leaving. I didn’t want to go.

You don’t want to leave Leng, but what alternative is there?

I didn’t want to be rational. I wanted to be irrational and get what I wanted.

Don’t cinch those so tight. It’s not my fault that you’re in this situation.

Oops. I hadn’t meant to hurt him. Savette was already on Eeamdor’s back – saddleless, but content. I gave her Raolcan’s reins - it wasn’t like he actually needed them – but I kept the saddle. I needed a place to store my crutch while we flew. We’d have to be careful not to fly too dangerously. Savette’s perch was tenuous, though Leng had rigged safety straps for her.

He walked around our dragons, looking nervous. “You know where you’re going?”

“Raolcan does, and you drew me a map in the back of my book of Ibrenicus Prophecies.”

He nodded, but he didn’t step back so I could mount Raolcan. “Be careful, Amel. Take care who you trust and please keep yourself safe.”

“I’ll be okay, Leng. I’m worried about you with all the prisoners.”

He shook his head, making a shooing motion with his hand. “They won’t be a problem.”

We were either both very confident or both trying to keep the other from worrying. Eventually, he gathered me up in his arms for a fierce hug and gave me a gentle kiss before helping me up on Raolcan.

“I’ll be safe,” I promised.

He stepped back, leaning against Ahlskibi to give us room to launch. I hated that I was going to leave. I didn’t want to go. There must be something more I could say or do. I waved, then tapped the davari on my finger and he smiled.

Oh, for the love of the wind and sky...

Raolcan leapt into the air and I scrambled to hold on, waving as Leng grew smaller and smaller. The smaller he grew, the larger the ache in my heart.

Cheer up. He isn’t dead or hurt, he’s just taking care of his responsibilities, the same as you.

I twisted in the saddle to see Savette following behind us on Eeamdor. It was so strange to think that he’d been alive all this time and on his way to her and I hadn’t even known. Which reminded me, Raolcan had a lot of explaining to do.

You can’t possibly be angry with me. You know Savette is happy to see Eeamdor again. And he’s happy to see her.

Well, I wasn’t angry about that. I guess he didn’t know for sure when they would be reunited, so he probably didn’t want to get our hopes up.

Life is uncertain these days. I had no way of knowing that they’d ever really be reunited.

But he had kept that whole Prince of Dragons thing from me. And he still hadn’t explained what he was really doing there or where he had been called off to.

I waited, but he didn’t fill in the blanks. Irritated, I clenched my jaw. Well, I was done with people keeping secrets from me. The minute we stopped for a break, I was going to crack open those other messages and read them.

I thought you were only going to read them to keep them safe.

That was the original plan, but I felt like I was flying in the dark. I wanted them both to keep them safe and to start to shed some light on things.

I advise against it.

But as the hours passed, the messages seemed to grow heavier. I counted each cylinder where it dug into my midsection and the thought of opening them and reading them filled me with speculation. There were fourteen messages. Fourteen secrets waiting to be read.

Seriously, they are secret for a reason.

Like his secrets? Like whatever he was keeping from me? Why were you called away, Raolcan? Where did you go?

We flew northwest in silence, following the road, but staying far enough away to avoid sight and then moving north of it toward the Dragon Snout Mountains. They stood purple and foreboding ahead of us. Eventually, we stopped to take a break, eat some food and stretch our legs. I’d left half our food with Leng, so we had very little left. Hopefully, we’d find something to eat soon. I didn’t have more than a few coins. It wouldn’t take us far.

Savette and I got down from our dragons and ate our cold lunch in silence. The cylinders were a constant itch, drawing my mind to their presence. After a few minutes, Savette looked at me, her face crinkling in worried lines before she spoke.

“When we get to Leedris, we’ll split up.”

“What?” I almost dropped my waterskin.

“You have messages to deliver, and I have my own path to walk. I need to talk to my father, the High Castelan, and convince him to side with me in the coming conflict.”

“Are you certain he’ll be there?”

She shook her head.

“He wasn’t very helpful when you were being given away as a tribute bride.”

She pressed her lips together like she would say no more about it. My chest felt tight and my heart was racing. This was one thing I couldn’t allow! Hubric would be furious if he knew I let the Chosen One slip away. Rakturan would be equally angry to hear his bride was undefended. What was I supposed to do?

“You can’t,” I said, spitting out the words over my thick tongue. I was so stunned that I felt like I could hardly talk at all.

She crossed her arms. “We all have our responsibilities, Amel, and I’m not a pet that will follow you all the rest of my life. I have my own path to walk. By nightfall, we’ll reach the mountains and camp south of Leedris Castelan. The next day, we’ll arrive. You can deliver your messages and you and I will part ways.”

“But-”

“I’ve thought a long time about this, and I think it’s best. I’m done hiding. It’s time to show the world who I am.”

Chapter Ten

This was a complete disaster! It was up to me to make sure that it didn’t happen. But how did I do that? I didn’t have any allies here except Raolcan. Who was going to help me convince her not to leave us? Maybe I should just follow her? She couldn’t stop that, could she?

And your messages?

How important could they be, really? I pulled the first one from the slot and opened the seal, frustration filling me as I pulled out the tiny slip of paper detailing military logistics and the armies being sent north. Important, but in Leedris Castel I could find someone else to carry that message.

And will they tell the Dominar that the ground has burst open and Ifrits rage across his land? My dragons did not kill all of them.

They could do that. You could say the whole thing in a single sentence.

And will they tell him of the coastal invasion?

They could do that, too. It didn’t have to be me bringing the messages.

Actually, it does.

It really didn’t. Hot tears ran down my face. When had I started crying? But I was just so mad. Everyone left me.

That wasn’t Hubric’s fault. Or Leng’s. Or mine. Or Rakturan’s.

Everyone kept me in the dark.

That’s unfair.

I pulled open a second message. It bore news of Starie’s visit. I could tell the Dominar who Starie was and how much to trust her, but so could someone else. I shoved it back in its cylinder and into my belt. I grabbed a third message. Leng would be horrified. He would tell me to put them all back. But he wasn’t here, was he? It was only me here, all alone to deal with this mess.

Hey! That hurts! I’m here, too.

“Oh yeah?” I said, “Then if you’re here, stop keeping secrets from me. Where did you go? Why were you sent to Dragon School and why am I the one who has to deliver the message to the Dominar?”

Calm down. Take a deep breath. You are not owed all the information in the world. But to satisfy your curiosity, I went to see a representative of Haz’drazen. She has given me a message for the Dominar that I am sworn to give to him directly. I may not share it with anyone else until that time.

“So you were being all mysterious because you didn’t want to hurt my feelings?”

You have enough troubles of your own. Focus on them. But know that there are two things we must do. We must bring Haz’drazen’s message to the Dominar, and we must keep Savette safe.

Because she was the Chosen One.

And because I owe it to my home and people to keep her safe. That was what I was charged with before I left for Dragon School.

I felt that knowledge click into place like a key in the correct lock, and as it turned in my mind I gasped. He’d said he’d gone against what he was supposed to do when he chose me. He’d said that he was sent to Dragon School to honor their pact. He said that Eeamdor had to step up when Raolcan chose me. Together, it seemed so obvious. Haz’drazen had sent Raolcan to Dragon School to choose Savette for his rider. Somehow, they’d known before the rest of us that she was the Chosen One and they’d sent their prince to be her dragon.

The knowledge knocked my breath out. My head spun with what it meant. If Raolcan had chosen Savette, she would have had his protection and strength. She wouldn’t have been snatched at the Ruby Isles – I was certain he’d have found a way to be there to stop that. She wouldn’t have needed to be saved by me. She wouldn’t need protection now.

So why had he ruined all that by choosing me?

There are people who save the world in obvious ways, Amel, and there are people who save what’s best about us in less obvious ways. One is not more important than the other. Remember that when you doubt your path.

Chapter Eleven

I blinked away moisture in my eyes and cleared my throat.

We needed to get flying again, but I had time to read one more message. I pulled out the next cylinder from my belt as I looked around the rocky dell we’d set down in. I couldn’t see Savette anywhere. She may have slipped behind one of the rocks for a little privacy. She was still human, after all.

The mid-day sun was hot and both dragons were stretched completely out on the rocks, sunning themselves. I sat down and examined this next message. In the bright sunlight, the outer markings were easy to pick out. This cylinder had a boar on the outside and was addressed to Lieutenant Iskaris, Dominar’s Dragoons. Wait. I knew that name.

I pulled out the message from the Dusk Covenant. Just as I’d remembered, Lieutenant Iskaris was listed as the man to send word to when their invasion was complete. I was carrying a message addressed to him. What would it say? I swallowed and cracked open the message.

Maybe reading these hadn’t been the best idea. My hands fumbled with the cylinder and it took three tries to get the message out of its holder.

“Iskaris,” it read. “Continue as planned and watch for news from our invasion force. We have reason to believe that the Dark Prince escaped without suspicion during Baojang’s attempt on the Dominar. He continues to be an asset we can rely on. When he surfaces again he may contact you. Watch for his message and send word as soon as you have any.

There was nothing but an ink stamp of a boar as the signature. I reread the message. Could it be true?

That Rakturan is working for our enemies? Just because they think he is, doesn’t mean that he really is.

I was still reading it when I heard a twig crack. I looked up quickly, hiding the message in my pocket.

“What do you have there?” Savette asked, stepping forward and putting out her hand. In the golden mid-day sun, her hair shone like gold. In the sky, a raven shrieked, making me jump.

“It’s one of the messages I’m to deliver.”

“You’re reading them even though Leng asked you not to?” She tilted her head to the side, emphasizing both her question and criticism of me.

I felt my cheeks heat. What if she knew what was in the message I was holding? Would she worry that Rakturan was untrustworthy just like I was?

I don’t think he’s working for our enemies. Or at least, not anymore.

“You look upset,” Savette said.

“I am upset.” Why lie? Didn’t she have a right to know what was in the message? I couldn’t quite look at her, though. Instead, my eyes drifted over the rolling foothills we’d set down in. You could see a long way from here. Maybe as far as the Eastern Sea, though puffy white clouds hid the horizon right now.

“Let me see.” She held her hand out and, reluctantly, I put the tiny slip of paper into it.

She read it and handed it back. “Let’s get going. We’re wasting time here.”

“You’re not worried about the note?”

“I know who Rakturan is. I married him for a reason.” She was already on her dragon, strapping in. She looked like the goddess of dragons in her filmy white dress on the back of her serpentine red dragon. The flamboyant blue and white sky behind her only amplified the look.

I climbed up on Raolcan’s back. Savette’s gaze shone at my back and I felt awkward. Did she judge me for doubting her husband?

Raolcan launched into the sky, barrel rolling as he ascended.

Stop worrying. There’s nothing you can do whether he is guilty or innocent.

But there had to be something. I should warn someone. Savette needed more protection than ever. I tucked the slip of paper back into its cylinder and into my message belt. I wouldn’t deliver that one, but if we found Hubric, then I would show it to him. I hadn’t felt this ... lost ... since I’d joined Dragon School. I wanted to go in so many different directions - with Leng, with Savette – and yet I was stuck flying to find the Dominar.

We flew through the clear skies and I watched as the forest faded to mountains. We flew higher, crossing over the arm of the mountains as we moved toward Leedris Castel. When we got there, Savette would leave on her own. That ate at me. I wasn’t going to think about how angry I was with her for putting herself at risk. I wasn’t going to spend all my time worrying about her safety.

I spun Hubric’s davari on my finger. Was he near to here? Leng had said that I needed to find a mountain called “the Peak of the Morning” but there were dozens of different mountains here and rolling hills as well. How would I even find the right one? Did Raolcan know which one it was?

I’m not sure. We have different names for these mountains. It might be further up along the range.

Was Hubric there already, waiting for us? Watching for us to join him? I twisted the ring in my hand and tried not to think about how long it would take him to find the Dominar and return to that spot. Probably a lot longer than two days. Which meant that even if I found the place he meant, then it would be empty and Savette would want to keep on going to Leedris Castel.

Hold on. I feel a strong current in the wind approaching.

A few moments later it hit us, a powerful force of wind that filled my ears and made me deaf to anything else. Raolcan pushed into it snout first, angling deeper into the mountains to keep from being blown aside.

I’ll try further up.

We flew upward, my breath growing more labored as we climbed. I was seeing spots.

Not good. You can’t breathe here.

We plunged down again, jostled and jolted by invisible forces until Raolcan had us almost level with the peaks of the mountains. He dipped around their shoulders, moving closer to the ground. I looked behind me to make sure Savette was still following.

Nothing.

Where was she?

I scanned the sky behind and above us.

Was that her and Eeamdor tumbling toward that blunt-headed peak? Raolcan?

I see them. I’m twisting to follow, but this wind is unnatural. It’s not like anything I’ve ever felt before. It must have knocked them off course.

I lost sight of them as they fell to the feet of the mountain. It rose like a tombstone, tall, flat and blunt, from the surrounding landscape. At least I wouldn’t lose track of where we lost them.

Hold on tight. It’s getting worse.

Chapter Twelve

It was at least another hour before we found them at the base of the mountain. Even on the ground, the wind was too powerful to hear words. Savette crouched under her dragon, the two of them tucked up against the mountainous cliff, trying to avoid the worst of the wind. I fought my pack open and pulled out my last blanket. Savette’s dress wasn’t warm enough for this wind.

Dismounting awkwardly, I stumbled to where she was and offered her the blanket. She mouthed a “thank you” but her words were lost in the wind.

She feels a great evil – like the Ifrit. She thinks the wind comes from it. I know there are other healing arches. Not all of them are on maps or even known to dragons. Perhaps the Dusk Covenant raises more Ifrits somewhere close.

This felt even worse. To cause winds so strong, what sort of ominous magic could they be creating? Was this what it was like when they made Starie into whatever she was now?

Maybe. I noticed an anomaly when we were landing here.

An anomaly?

Part of this mountain looks like it was carved out by the hands of man. If we investigate, there might be shelter there.

I motioned the Dragon Rider sign to follow to Savette and then stumbled forward, but the wind was too strong for me. I stumbled, falling hard on the rock and cutting my hand. I pulled myself up, only to lose my balance again.

You’ll have to ride.

I climbed back on and clung to Raolcan as he struggled forward against the wind. Behind us, Savette and Eeamdor did the same. She shouldn’t be alone against an enemy who could affect the weather. Couldn’t she understand that?

Look!

He was right. A crevice between two rising mountainous cliffs was in the rock we approached. It was clearly carved by humans. A large pillar it stood just outside the crevice, its shaft carved with swirling dragons. I’d never seen a pillar just left somewhere with nothing to support.

There are grips on one side. You could climb it and stand on there to look out over the horizon.

Or you could fly to the top of one of the mountains.

Not everyone has a handy all-purpose dragon, you know.

Point taken.

Behind the pillar was a crevice. It had seemed small from our angle until we drew closer. It was tucked between the rising mountains in such a way that you had to follow the curve of the land and really get in close to realize that there was more than enough room for a dragon to enter it.

We pushed against the wind – it was particularly powerful rolling over the mountain and through the narrow canyon between the mountains - and entered the crevice. Once we were inside, we immediately saw the door. It was along the mountain side of the crevice, a wide, yawning black hole, but with a carved-stone frame and steps leading into it. It was still wide enough for a dragon, so I stayed on Raolcan’s back as we slipped inside.

The silence within was almost deafening.

There’s no wind here.

My ears echoed with the sound as my eyes adjusted to the dimmer light. It wasn’t dark like a cave. Long slits had been cut in the rock high above and through them, light filtered in to keep this outer room bright. A gust of flame lit up my vision and I flinched into Raolcan in surprise. A moment later the figure registered – Kyrowat!

I slid off Raolcan, but his warning was lightning fast.

Stay back. He’s hurt and angry. Go further inside while I tend to him.

Inside? I looked around. Oh. Up a set of steps on a wide platform was another door – this one, human-sized. I hobbled forward, flicking my crutch into a weapon. What had hurt Kyrowat? Was there danger behind that door?

Behind me, I heard Savette and Eeamdor enter the room, a second puff of flame told me that Kyrowat wasn’t excited to see yet another dragon.

You’d be irritated, too, if you were full of arrows.

Arrows? Where was Hubric? It wasn’t like him to leave his hurt dragon’s side.

Nausea filled me as I entered the inner room. I saw a dark footprint smeared across the stone and quickened my pace. This room was also carved from rock. There were tables, benches, shelves, water barrels and a wide stone fireplace all hewn from the rock and in front of the water barrels a bundle of rags had been left.

No. Wait. Those weren’t rags. I rushed forward, dropping to my knees beside Hubric’s fallen form. His eyes were closed, his teeth gritted, and in his hand, he held a metal ladle. He must have been trying to get water. Sweat poured from his face, mixing with the blood pooling beneath him. How long had he been here?

Since this morning. They made it almost as far as Leedris Castel, but war is upon us. They were shot out of the sky and managed to flee back to here.

Where was he hit? I pulled back his cloak, examining his leathers.

He groaned. “Knew you’d come. More on the way.”

I was so relieved to hear his voice that I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I settled for a muffled sob of relief.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hubric! Where are you hurt?” I drew back, looking him over. The pool of blood was sticky and crusted on the edges. Was he still bleeding?

“Caught my ribs. Can’t get back up.” He moaned.

“Savette!” I called, positioning myself to help him stand.

Savette’s hurried footsteps echoed on the stone floor and then she was beside me helping me stand Hubric up. His head lolled against her shoulder as we half-helped, half-dragged him toward one of the benches.

“I saw a glimpse of beds behind that door,” Savette said, nodding with her head to one of many doors that stood ajar around the room.

How could one old man be so heavy? We were already stumbling under his weight and I could barely manage to do my part while leaning heavily on the crutch. Carrying him the dozen steps to the door dragged for what felt like an hour. Savette was right. There were four beds in the dark room with a drain on one side of the rock floor and a rain catchment on the other. A trickle of water fed a large stone basin. At least we didn’t need to worry about water.

“This place could withstand a siege,” Savette said as we stumbled to the closest bed. “I found a storeroom off the outer sanctuary where the dragons are. It’s stocked with wine and dried foods in barrels. There are clothes and blankets. Bandages and herbs.”

I noticed she’d helped herself to a fur-lined red cloak. It looked a lot warmer than the wispy white dress beneath it. Would there be anything to help Hubric? Could he be helped?

Kyrowat can be, but he needs all my energy now. Eeamdor guards the entrance.

It was the best we had but I was still sweating with worry and fear as we laid Hubric on the nearest bed. Neither Savette or I were doctors.

“Here,” Savette said, unlacing Hubric’s leathers and stripping him to the waist. He moaned, but his eyes were shut in pain and he didn’t speak. She pointed to a mass of bruises on his side. “Broken ribs.”

Even I could see that. Worse, at the center of them was an angry wound, crusted, but oozing.

“Is there still some of the arrow in his wound?”

Savette’s hands moved deftly around his back and her face went pale. “I think I feel something.”

“Hubric?” I asked. “Do you know if the arrow is still in your back?”

There was no answer. I checked him carefully, but he was still breathing.

“He passed out,” Savette said. “He probably feels safe enough now that he knows we’re here for Kyrowat.”

That made sense. “We should turn him over and look at the wound.”

Savette nodded and gently, ever so gently, we turned him in his cot and looked at his back. The entry wound was obvious, but the arrow head had been broken off. I could just see splinters of the shaft peeking up through the wound. Sweat broke out on my forehead as I thought about digging that out. I gritted my teeth together.

“Maybe it can wait,” Savette said. “Maybe we can find someone to help him. Leedris Castel is only a day away.”

“Can you just heal him with magic?” I asked.

“You know I can’t. I could just as easily kill him. Maybe if we were in healing arches...”

But we weren’t, and the nearest arches probably had something bad happening there. I was certain the winds we felt were not from an act of good.

“So, we either dig it out or try to go for help, but that wind pushed us off course. I don’t think you could fly against it all the way to Leedris Castel,” I said.

“I don’t think I could, either,” Savette said, biting her lip.

“I’ll go look for supplies.”

What did you use to extract an arrowhead from someone’s back? A knife, obviously. I had a vague feeling that there should be hot water and bandages and a salve of some kind. Maybe a sewing kit.

There was another store room off the main hall that had everything I needed. Like the other rooms, it was lit by holes in the rock far above and the supplies were laid out on long, fully-loaded shelves. Someone had created this place to endure through storms or even siege, like Savette said. I didn’t have time to explore the rest of the room, so I gathered up what I had and returned to Hubric’s side. Savette had lit a fire in a small grate nearby. There was wood in a stone box not far away.

She was already filling a kettle with water from the stone basin. “I can’t believe how well this place is set up. Its like it’s made to be a shelter. I wonder who it belongs to.”

“It must be another Lightbringer refuge,” I said. “I’m pretty certain it was the one Hubric told me to come to after Leng was saved.”

“That makes sense,” Savette said, putting the kettle on the pothook while I laid out the materials I’d found.

I washed my hands with water from the stone basin and then tried to feel for the stub of arrow in Hubric’s back. Ugh. It felt terrible! I tried to grip it with my fingers, but I couldn’t get a strong enough grip on it with all the blood making it so slick. He was still trickling blood all over the white sheets and woolen blanket beneath him. Good thing there were more in the storehouse. Now, where were the pliers I’d grabbed from the supply room?

Savette rushed over with a smaller basin full of water and I cleaned the pliers in the bowl, wiping them carefully afterward with a cloth.

“This had better work,” I muttered, easing them around the arrow, trying to just grab arrow and not flesh. I gripped the pliers hard and steeled myself to do what I needed to, gritting my teeth and ignoring the trickle of sweat running down my spine.

I pulled as hard as I could and Hubric half-moaned, half-yelled in pain. The first pull wasn’t enough. I felt the arrowhead give, but It was stuck on something. Bone? I hoped not.

There are people here. This is a problem. I need a human here right away.

I looked up at Savette, but her mouth had already dropped open. Raolcan must have called to her, too. She leapt to her feet and raced from the room as I turned my attention back to the arrow stuck in my mentor’s back.

Chapter Fourteen

I gripped as hard as I could with one hand, bracing my hip against Hubric’s prone form as I worked at the arrowhead. I tried not to think about the fact that it was buried in bone and not wood, twisting and pulling just like I would to get an arrowhead out of a stump. It pulled free so suddenly that I heard a tearing sound as it ripped back through the flesh and out of Hubric’s body.

I felt like I was going to be sick, but I fought the impulse to take a moment and gather my thoughts. There just wasn’t time. I jammed a cloth into the wound, hoping I hadn’t hit anything important when I dug it out of his rib. How did people recover from these things? How did they survive when their bodies were torn apart? It was almost miraculous that a person could suffer so much destruction and in a few years look like nothing had ever happened.

I cast the arrowhead and pliers to the side and took out the sewing kit, carefully threading the needle with red fingers. When that was ready, I dipped a cloth into the basin and tried my best to clean Hubric’s wound before removing the cloth and beginning to stitch the skin closed. It was like stitching leather slippers, the tug and pull felt familiar and memories of sewing slippers by the fire of my own home came back as I made careful, tidy stitches, not too tight so that they pulled and puckered or too loose where they didn’t hold together.

Hubric must have passed out from the pain. He wasn’t moaning or yelling anymore, and although his breathing was ragged, it was steady and sure. When I was finished, the kettle was boiling. Maybe we should have waited to clean everything with hot water. Was that what you did in these situations?

My hands shook as I poured hot water into the basin and mixed it with more cold water before washing his back again, and then carefully bandaging it. Outside the room, voices drifted toward me, but I couldn’t hear the exact words.

You’re needed.

I hastily took a sheet and blanket from one of the other beds and laid it over Hubric, before rushing out of the room. Hopefully, he wouldn’t wake while I was gone. The Great Hall looked different now that I wasn’t focused on Hubric. It had a huge fireplace and high vaulted ceilings and seating for a hundred people. How many Lightbringers did they expect to come and seek shelter here? We’d need to investigate all the rooms very soon, so we could know if there were other ways in.

I hurried through the Great Hall into the anteroom where the dragons were. In the doorway, I stopped in my tracks. Savette stood right in front of me on the platform, hands raised in a placating motion. In front of the platform, a group of people stood with wary looks in their eyes. The ones in the front – burly men, some grizzled with age, others as young as I was – brandished weapons. Behind them were women and children. I heard one toddler crying. What were so many people doing traveling like this – with no horses that I could see and little in the way of luggage?

“Take off that blindfold if you want us to believe you’re a Leedris,” one of the men said to Savette. His face was grim, like he expected to strike her down.

“The Leedrises are the ones who put us in this mess in the first place,” another man said. “If she is who she says she is, we’d do better without her.”

“No,” I said, quietly, and yet my voice rang in the enclosed room. I hobbled forward, watching as all eyes went to my crutch. Were they assessing it for whether it was a weapon? “Savette Leedris is the Chosen One of legend, and she is under my protection – mine and these dragons’.”

Always one for drama, Raolcan reared up so that his head scraped the ceiling, even though he hadn’t fully straightened. He hissed, showing his teeth.

One for drama? That’s unfair!

“Who are you people?” No one spoke. The men shifted in place like they were assessing whether they could kill a dragon. How desperate were these people? I pointed to a middle-aged woman toward the back of the crowd. “Speak up. What are you doing here with no horses and no baggage?”

“We’re refugees fleeing the war, Dragon Rider.”

Chapter Fifteen

“What war?”

They looked around at one another as if someone else might decide to speak. Finally, the middle-aged woman spoke again.

“Leedris City is under attack by the armies of Baojang. They swept down from the north and have laid waste to everything in their path. We’re all that remains of our village. We fled before them like game birds before a dog.”

There were barely fifty of them. I felt my heart sink and my belly roil inside me. So, it had started. The Dominion was in the grip of war, and if enemies had swept so far south already, we were in worse trouble than I ever would have imagined. I swallowed a gasp of fear before it started. Now was a poor time to choose to mourn or shake with fright. There was too much to do.

“Why did you come here?” I asked. Was this place so well known that we could expect to see droves of people arriving?

“Handas – an old man from our village – knew about this place,” she said. “He helped construct it when he was a younger man. He was leading us to it when he died on the path.”

“You were attacked?”

She shook her head. “His heart gave out. He had that symbol on his wrist.”

She pointed to the wall and my eyes followed. The Lightbringer symbol was chiseled into the rock. I hadn’t noticed it on the way in. So, this Handas was a Lightbringer and he’d led his people here.

I nodded in understanding. “If we’re going to share the sanctuary of this place you’ll need to stop blaming Savette for your problems. This war is not her fault.”

“How do you know she’s the Chosen One?” the man at the front asked. He and the others hadn’t relaxed their stance. They still saw Savette and I as threats and only were listening to me because I wore Dragon Rider leathers.

“Show them your eyes,” I said quietly.

Reluctantly, Savette drew the scarf down. The room flooded with light until tiny carvings on the walls and inscriptions sprang to life in the dim anteroom and I saw now how dirty and tired the people in front of me were. It was ridiculous for them to be squaring off with us when they needed rest and food.

“Have you seen enough?” I asked. “We want to help you. Savette can do that best right now. Please don’t try to harm her. I have my own wounded to care for.”

When their stances relaxed, I nodded to Savette and turned to leave.

Kyrowat is anxious about Hubric. He says he’s feverish.

Hopefully, I’d find something for fever in the storeroom. Was Kyrowat as injured as Hubric?

Worse, but dragons heal more quickly than humans do. He’s already burning infection away. With care, he will shake he worst of it by tomorrow morning. Fight for Hubric and I will continue to attend to him.

And Eeamdor? He’d clearly had the self-control to let the refugees pass.

I told him to watch but stay hidden.

Probably for the best. I’d go out and watch myself once I had Hubric’s injuries under control. I was halfway out of the room when I heard Savette speaking.

“Come with me and I will show you where food and water are. Bring your little ones.”

I shook off the worry of leaving her with so many armed men. Raolcan would warn us if there was a problem.

They are afraid and that makes them dangerous, but I think they are calming down. I’ll keep half a mind on them. Hurry back to Hubric.

I hobbled back through the Great Hall and back to where I’d left Hubric. The supplies I’d left on the side of his bed had been knocked to the floor and his blankets tangled around his legs. He moaned, mumbling to himself, but his words were impossible to understand. I leaned over him, feeling his forehead. He was burning up with fever. If only one of the refugees had been a White Dragon Rider. Then I would have the help I needed.

I found one of the cloths, wet it from the large stone basin and put it over his forehead before turning to tidy the things he’d scattered on the floor. We might need them all again, and sooner rather than later. I washed out the cloths over the drain, using the hot water from the kettle and then hung them by the fire. Hubric’s leather jacket and linen shirt and leather Dragon Rider boots and leggings received the same treatment and then I tucked his sheet back around him and changed the cloth on his forehead. He’d tangled the sheet again before I was finished. If he didn’t stop moving he’d pull his stitches apart.

“Shhhh,” I said, leaning over him. “Easy now, Hubric. You need your rest.”

He thrashed against the blankets, blood oozing through his bandages.

“You need to rest, Hubric. You are safe here and so is Kyrowat. Rest.” I laid a hand on his arm, trying to help him feel calm, but he didn’t still.

What could I do to calm him? My voice wasn’t helping, and Kyrowat was fighting his own fever. Was there some smell or sound that might be something he was in contact with every day?

Wait! I pulled the book of Ibrenicus Prophecies from my pocket and began to read. I watched as his thrashing stopped and he calmed. I paused for a moment to readjust his sheet, but even that tiny pause agitated him, so instead, I sat on the edge of his bed and read steadily, letting the words wash over both of us like cool rain in the heat of summer.

Hubric grew calm, his breathing regular and the blood on his bandage stopped it’s constant leaking. Good. This was good. I’d just have to keep it up as long as I could. I could hear noise in the next room as Savette helped the refugees. Her calm voice carried over the anxious voices she spoke to. In my mind, I felt Raolcan, ever-present, ever-watching. He would keep us safe while I kept Hubric calm. I read on, trying not to worry about Leng delivering prisoners to Saldrin or what we were going to do once Hubric recovered. I needed to concentrate on this moment and on getting him better.

“For the Light will suffer when the dark grows strong. Many little ones will be lost and the strong oaks will bend and snap but the strong will stay firm to the end and shine light into the dark so that no one goes without hope. When the light is gone, hope dies with it and when the last memory of our foundations washes away, we will have nothing left but our word and truth. Hold fast to the truth, even when it may seem more ridiculous than the lie. Let your word be strong as the mountains, for our word and the truth is all we have, and it will keep us anchored to the end.”

Had it kept Talsan anchored until he gave his life for me? Would it keep Leng anchored as he fought for the same purpose so far from here? Would it keep Rakturan anchored even when the evidence suggested that his heart was divided? Would it keep Savette anchored even though she was so bent on going her own way?

I bit my lip and read on. Savette came in when I was close to the end and brought me soup, but I let it grow cold as I read to the end and began again at the beginning.

Any time I stopped, Hubric stirred and I didn’t dare let him grow wild. Savette changed his clothes and murmured that the refugees were settled and she had checked on the dragons. Still, I read.

The light faded from the room, except for the fire Savette had stoked and a candle she placed on a small bench near to where I sat. I read as she eventually took one of the three remaining beds in the room and fell asleep.

I read as the night rolled on and on in a seemingly endless stream of prophecy and darkness. And my fears and hopes and plans and aches seemed to roll up into the prophecy and find a new significance until I could hardly tell where one ended and the other began but both were sealed into my heart and seared across my imagination.

Chapter Sixteen

You’re needed here.

My eyes popped open at Raolcan’s words. I must have drifted off. Hubric slept fitfully beside me. His hair caked with dried sweat and his face drawn and yellow. That wasn’t a turn for the better. I needed to check his wound.

It will need to wait. You’re needed here now.

I shook my head to clear it, took in a deep breath and fumbled for my crutch. How long had I been asleep?

Maybe half of an hour. No longer than that.

I tucked the Ibrenicus Prophecies back into my pocket and hobbled out of the room. The Great Hall was lit with a fire in the grate and one of the villagers was tending it. He nodded to me respectfully as I passed. They must have come to terms with Savette and me being here. Strange to think of a village man showing me respect when months ago I would have been ignored by someone like him. Back then I was a drain on the town – a cripple unable to work the fields or bear children. Raolcan had saved me from that when he chose me. I wouldn’t have this life without him.

While I appreciate gratitude and praise, I really do need you to hurry.

I rushed through the door in the anteroom to find him standing shoulder to shoulder with Eeamdor, four purple dragons on the other side of the room from them, necks extended like they were challenging my dragons.

Eeamdor is not your dragon and neither is Kyrowat. That privilege is reserved for me.

Fine. They were challenging my dragon allies. Was that better? In front of them, stood four Dragon Riders all in black, their purple scarves and the random ornamented braids in their hair proclaiming them to be full Purple Dragon Riders. I’d never seen so many Purples in one place before.

Greet them, quickly, before they decide to flame!

Was he saying that the Prince of Dragons couldn’t keep other dragons in line?

Of course not, but do you want me to have to show them who’s boss?

I cleared my throat and eight heads swiveled to me.

“I’m Amel Leafbrought. Sworn of the Purple Dragon Riders.” Was I supposed to give some sort of formal greeting? This would have to do, since I’d missed most of my training along the way.

“That’s Kyrowat, Hubric Duneshifter’s dragon,” the woman in the middle said, her tone accusing and her finger pointing to where Kyrowat lay, still feverish. “Where is Hubric?”

“Hubric lies within, recovering from an arrow wound,” I said. “Kyrowat is also recovering.”

Her shoulders lowered in relief. Had she thought Hubric was dead?

They didn’t believe me that Kyrowat’s fever was from being shot. They feared I was hiding his rider’s death.

“I’m Ashana Willowspring,” the woman said. She was young-looking, though the fine lines around her eyes and mouth and the tiny silver threads in her hair told a different story. “Top Rider of the Purples. Where is your master, Sworn?”

“I’ll take you to him,” I said, keeping my voice calm. She wasn’t giving anything away. Not fear or worry or happiness at Hubric’s being alive. Without being able to tell what she was thinking it was hard to know how to react.

She’s guarded. They’ve been through a lot. Seen too much. They fled to this place just like the villagers.

If they were all fleeing here, the war could not be too far behind them.

We will be able to defend this place.

But for how long?

Long enough.

I hoped he was right as I led the Top Rider to Hubric’s bedside, but her calm, cool presence only made me more anxious. If a capable woman like this could be shaken by the coming war, it must be even worse than I imagined.

Chapter Seventeen

“The wound is clean, but infection set in before it was stitched. You’re the one who stitched him, not the blind girl?” Ashana Willowspring asked as she examined Hubric. Two of the other Purples had followed us into the room to the terrified horror of the villager tending the fire outside in the Great Hall.

“Savette is not blind,” I said, leaning over her to watch what she was doing. Was she suggesting that my stitching was so bad that it looked like someone blind had done it? “She is the Chosen One.”

“Ridiculous. Say something like that again and I’ll see you are never raised to our color. You can be Sworn for the rest of your life.”

Like I cared about that. I shuffled nervously. What was she doing to Hubric’s wound? She unwrapped his bandages and hissed at the angry red skin beneath.

“Danver,” Ashana Willowspring gestured to one of the other Purples. He was slight and blond, with a small short beard. “Go check the storeroom for healing herbs. There must be something to cleanse a wound. You did well to pull the arrow out and stitch him.” She glanced up at me. “But you did a lot of damage digging it out. I can see the marks. And you didn’t clean it well enough. You’re going to have to work on your ability to field dress wounds. This is completely unacceptable. How long have you been with Dragon School?”

“About a month.” My relief that there was someone here who could help Hubric took the sting out of her obvious disdain for me.

She cursed. “Last wave before Dantriet disbanded the school and sent you all off in different directions?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Get the kettle boiling. We have a lot to tend to here. Aliss.” She turned to the other Purple – a willow-thin woman with red scars on her face and hands. “Survey our situation here and set up a watch with Rawlins, then report.”

Aliss nodded and left as I scrambled to fill a kettle and place it back on the pot hook. The fire had burnt down and needed to be revived, so I set about it as Ashana continued to sort us out. Savette rose and carefully made her bed as we spoke. She had the air of someone who was being very quiet to avoid notice.

“Come here, girl,” Ashana said to her. “Show me your eyes.” Savette hesitated, so Ashana made an impatient noise and pulled Savette’s scarf down herself. “Don’t be shy.”

Light flooded the room and Ashana took a step backward. Could I help the smug feeling at seeing her surprised look? It was hard enough not to laugh out loud. Savette sniffed loudly and pulled the scarf back up.

“I have work to do,” she said and walked right past where Ashana stood frozen beside Hubric’s bed. Her eyes were narrowed as if she were thinking very hard.

She looked to me. “Chosen One? Who said that first? Her or you?”

“Hubric did,” I said, firmly. It was time for Ashana Willowspring to take us seriously. We weren’t a couple of kids playing a game.

She nodded thoughtfully as Danver returned with herbs. “Thank you, Danver. These will do. Get some rest. We’ll take turns.”

He nodded and strode out of the room. Wherever he was resting it wouldn’t be here.

Probably with us. Their dragons are twitchy and unsettled. Their journey was perilous. Rasipaer only needs rest, but Daieseo, Iasafae, and Drarjes are in shock. They need time.

What kind of horror could put a dragon in shock?

As much as it pains me to admit it, we are not the Almighty.

“Stop daydreaming girl, and bring that hot water here.” Was Ashana always like this, or only after a trauma?

I scrambled up, crutch at my side and hobbled the kettle over to where she’d arranged the herbs in a small basin.

“We’ll make a poultice with these herbs and hope there is time to draw the infection out of him. Now, tell me why Hubric thinks this girl is the Chosen One. Who is she?”

“She is Savette Leedris, a Red initiate. That’s her dragon outside with Raolcan and Kyrowat. Hubric and I have seen her fulfill some of the Ibrenicus Prophecies.”

“Hubric is a Lightbringer,” Ashana said.

“You aren’t?”

“Not all of us can give our lives to faith.”

I felt the same way a few weeks ago. But did I feel like that now? A time was coming when we were going to need Savette and without the Lightbringers, she would be dead already. Without faith, we wouldn’t have known to look for her. Without truth, people might choose to follow Starie instead and that would be a disaster. I was starting to think that these prophecies were the key to all of us surviving what was coming.

“I’m not sure that I agree.”

“Well, then you’re definitely Hubric’s apprentice. Tell me about how he was injured and where you were last.”

“I don’t know how he was injured. We flew out of Dominion City three or four days ago with messages for the Dominar and those with him-”

“Three or four?”

“A lot has happened, and I was knocked on the head. It’s hard to be specific.”

She waved impatiently for me to continue.

“We were attacked by Ifrits along the Great Drake River, but in the aftermath, a man we saved stole Hubric’s messages. We went after him - he took a boat heading to the ocean - and found Cynos Vineplanter along the way with twenty Reds. They agreed to help us recover the messages and help save a group of Purples we had heard were being held captive at the Feet of the River. Before we rescued the captives, Cynos sent Hubric with a message to the Dominar that Casaban had fallen and that we were invaded by Baojang and the Rock Eaters. Hubric left reluctantly and we attacked.”

“He left without you?”

“Cynos was insistent that he would need every dragon available.”

She nodded. “Continue.”

“Cynos and his men perished along with the Purples we came to rescue, except for Leng Shardson. A group of free dragons helped us, and they have gone with Leng to deliver our captives to a nearby city while Savette and I came northwest with the messages.”

Ashana Willowspring’s eyebrows had risen steadily upward as I spoke and she cleared her throat, cutting me off when Aliss entered the room.

“There are supplies enough to keep the refugees already here for a month or more, but there is only one entrance,” she said. “It could be held against a great force – even with as small a defense as what we have now – but not indefinitely. I’d say we could hold it for maybe a week. It’s not a long-term solution.”

Ashana nodded. “We need at least a day to rest the dragons. It will take longer than that if we try to save these refugees.” What other option was there? Would she leave them to die? I felt sick at the thought. “The wave was at least a day behind us. We should have that long to rest.”

It sounded like she was talking herself into something.

“It grows faster,” Aliss objected. “We don’t really know if we have a full day. Look how quickly it took Saldrin.”

“Saldrin?” I asked. I had a sudden image in my mind of waving goodbye to Leng.

“Our enemies are like a black wave flowing over the land,” Aliss said. Her expression was strained. “It washed over Saldrin two days ago and over Leedris City yesterday. It is on its way here.”

I felt like someone had knocked the breath out of me.

“Why does Saldrin matter so much to you?” Ashana asked.

“Leng and the free dragons who helped us are taking the prisoners we captured to Saldrin.”

Her expression became as grim as mine did. “Help me dress Hubric’s wounds with that poultice, girl. It will be ready now. Don’t go yet, Aliss. There will be time to rest, but before then, we’ll induct this girl into the Purple. She’s earned it, and if we get out of this alive we’ll need her.”

They were going to raise me to a Color? I was so surprised that I stopped stirring the herbs for a moment.

“Surprised?” Ashana asked me with a smirk. “When you’re Top Rider you need to remember the long-term as well as the short-term. Your value to us is as important long-term as organizing our defenses here is for the short-term. So, stop gawking and put that poultice on your mentor’s back so we can go to the anteroom together.”

Chapter Eighteen

“What made you change your mind about me?” I asked Ashana as she helped me wrap the bandage around Hubric’s poultice.

“Your account of events matches your dragon’s and Rasipaer keeps telling me that your dragon is important. Raolcan the prince of something or another. Why the dragons sent us a prince is beyond me, but I can see a resource when it’s flung in front of my face. We’ll induct you to the Color, rest up and when we leave, you’ll come with us.”

“And the refugees?” I asked. We left Hubric’s room together, Aliss leading the way and Ashana right at her heels. Savette looked up at me as we entered the Great Hall. She was serving some sort of food to a group of children. My heart twisted at the sight. I couldn’t leave them here unprotected.

“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Ashana said, but I wasn’t convinced. She clearly felt pity for them, but not the responsibility to keep them safe. How could someone be dedicated to truth and not see how we owed these little ones our protection?

Not everyone is you, Amel Leafbrought. Ashana Willowspring is a great and efficient leader, but she does not see as clearly as you do.

I felt my face heating. Raolcan shouldn’t flatter me like that.

It’s not flattery if it’s true. I’m always telling you that.

We entered the anteroom. Raolcan nestled against Kyrowat who was fast asleep.

He’s doing better, but he needs rest.

On the other side of the room, three of the visiting dragons curled together.

They’re friends – used to being together. Eeamdor and Drarjes are outside keeping watch.

Was Eeamdor up to that?

Reds don’t sit still if there’s the smell of battle in the air – like there is right now.

At least Raolcan would be here for whatever they were going to do to raise me to their Color.

As if she had read my mind, Ashana spoke. “Usually there’s a lot of pomp and formality to this. At least a dozen purples will stand and give testimony to who you are and why they think you’re ready to be raised to a Color. Usually, there would be three days of trials and tests. We don’t have time for any of that. Or for feasting or celebration. We’ll do this quick and dirty because we need every competent recruit we can muster. If Hubric can get you this far in a few weeks, perhaps he can make a full Dragon Rider out of you by the end of the year and take on a new apprentice. We will need that. If we live to see the year out. So, all we’ll do today is the last test – and only the most important part. To do that, three of our purple dragons will listen to your mind. This is a great sacrifice for them – both because they are tired right now and because Purples are reluctant to enter minds other than those they choose. It’s more personal than they like and puts obligations on them that they do not appreciate. Do you understand?”

I turned to the dragons, who were regarding me with what felt like resentful yellow stares. “Thank you for this great honor.”

One of them coughed, staining the wall black. I knew dragons well enough by now to know that was no accident. If he thought that would worry me, he hadn’t been through what I had over the last few days.

“Traditionally, you fall backward off the cliffs of Dragon School and let your dragon catch you while other Purples listen to your mind. They will determine if you are fit to serve your color.”

“There aren’t any nearby cliffs here.” I had butterflies in my belly at the idea of falling backward off a cliff, but I could trust Raolcan. I’d done things a lot more dangerous with him since we met.

I’m not allowed to talk to you about the ceremony or speak to you about it until afterward.

Typical. If only Hubric were here to watch. He would want to see this.

I can ask that Kyrowat be one of the ones who helps with your testing.

I’d like that.

“We’ll use that pillar. Can you climb it without both legs?”

I remembered the stone ladder carved into the side of the pillar. Yes, I could climb that. I nodded.

“Then you climb it now – leave your winter cloak here, it’s too bulky – and then you stand, facing out over the horizon and answer any questions the dragons have. When they are done, you fall backward and let your dragon catch you. You must be silent through the whole ritual. Simple enough?”

That was it? It almost sounded too simple.

Ashana’s smile was predatory. “I’ve seen that look on a Sworn face a few times. Trust me when I tell you – simple is not the same as easy. Get going.”

I gave her my cloak, took a deep breath, and left the anteroom through the crack in the stone wall. It was about time that I was considered a proper Purple, war or no war. It would get me that much closer to a free life with Raolcan. Who wouldn’t want that?

Chapter Nineteen

Outside the anteroom, the wind had died down since yesterday, but green leaves were littered across the forest floor – evidence of the wind that had ripped through the trees. Rawlins nodded to me as I passed him. His eyes scanned the horizon constantly from his perch on the nearby rocks. I looked around me at the towering mountains on either side and the forest floor running down from where I was and spreading out into the valley below. From here, I could see the sea below and a black blip rising into the sky north of here. Leedris City? I’d ask Raolcan, but I knew he was supposed to be silent right now. Eeamdor sat on a peak up the side of one of the mountains, his red form obvious against the rock. I was glad he was watching out for us.

It was only a few steps from the door to the pillar and I took deep breaths to keep calm as I crossed them. I placed my crutch at the base of the pillar, gripped the ladder with determination, and began to climb. Ladders were almost as common as dragons in my new life as a student of Dragon School. So was falling from heights. I climbed carefully, but quickly. After all, Hubric needed me to return and care for him and the dragons needed to get their rest.

When I reached the top, I pulled myself into an awkward sitting position on the pillar. There was room all around me – enough that I could stand without any real worry of falling off, but not much more than that.

Stand and spread your arms out on either side.

That wasn’t a dragon voice I recognized.

I am Rasipaer. Are you worthy to ride a dragon of the Purple?

I thought I was. Well, not worthy exactly, but I really wanted to keep doing it. Raolcan wanted me to be his rider, too. Didn’t that count for something?

Brace yourself.

The torrent of thoughts that ripped through me left me gasping. I hadn’t caught any of them, but I felt like I’d been pulled through a sieve, weighed and measured. Any secrets I’d had before were his now. Any sense of who I was had been inspected minutely. I felt very small.

I looked across the horizon before me. That didn’t help. The vastness of the Dominion was more than I’d ever expected. Inside its borders, I was nothing but a small human who’d been given the chance to ride a dragon. There was nothing particularly spectacular about me. I let my eyes rove across the landscape beyond. What would happen to me if I failed this test?

Fail and you become a servant. Usually.

That was Kyrowat. I recognized his mental voice. He didn’t like talking to humans.

Who does?

What was I seeing coming from Leedris City? Was that a pillar of smoke rising into the sky? And what was the dark shadow that crept across the ground toward us?

All of us have something at our core, Rasipaer’s voice said in my mind as I tried to concentrate on the shadow. “We are ambition or mercy or understanding or something else. What are you?

What did it matter what I was when that shadow was creeping forward? Fear gripped my heart. Was that the “wave” that Ashana and Aliss had seen on its way?

What are you? he repeated.

What was I? When it came right down to it, I was a friend. A friend to Raolcan and to Savette and to Hubric and to whoever else needed me. Now, could we focus on something more urgent? Like what that shadow was and why it was creeping forward. How close was the edge?

I followed it over the landscape with my gaze, looking for the forward edge. It was hard to distinguish the exact point along the land that the shadow melded into the normal landscape. Close to us – probably closer than that shadow, I noticed something gleaming in the woods. I squinted my eyes. It was close to the treeline. Close to where I stood on the pillar. What was that? I kept losing track through the canopy of trees. Wait. It was more than one thing...

Are you dedicated to truth above your own comfort and ambitions?

Obviously. If I wanted comfort or ambitions I’d be following Starie around letting everyone tell us how great we were instead of holed up in a cave with Savette, Hubric, and Raolcan.

Are you ready to pledge yourself to keeping your word, upholding truth and being loyal to your dragon in all things?

This time he didn’t wait for an answer. He blasted me with his truth-sieve thing again, but this time I could feel three distinct minds combing through mine, Rasipaer, Kyrowat and one other.

Daieseo. Dragon to Aliss Landris, the fresh voice said.

What they did this time took far longer than last time and I fought to find that thing sparkling in the trees as they fought to sift through every random thought and impulse of my being. There. In the trees. It was hard to concentrate, but I’d found it. What was that? Oh! A glistening silver-skinned dragon.

Wait. What? Kyrowat was listening as he sieved.

A glistening silver-skinned dragon, crawling across the forest floor with another beside him. They carried something between them – some dark shape and there was something wrong with their wings. Were they broken? Around them, men with swords and armor stumbled. I’d seen them before. They looked exactly like the dragoons that surrounded the Dominar.

Enough. Now she swears the oath and we finish, Kyrowat’s voice rang in my mind.

You aren’t- Rasipaer’s was cut off by a sharp thought from Kyrowat so fast and blade-like that I couldn’t catch it with my mind.

Amel, swear that you will serve truth and Raolcan, for the honor of the Purple.

By my word and the truth which is all I have, I swear.

Was that...? It was! An Ifrit rose from the ground behind the silver dragons, harrying them as the fled towards us.

Fall backward and finish this.

Didn’t he see how important that was? Those dragons and those warriors meant only one thing –

Fall! Quickly, now!

There was no time to keep looking and no more time for this ritual. Not now. The fastest way down was the way they already wanted me to go. I crossed my arms over my chest, closed my eyes and pitched backward. It was up to Raolcan to save me or I’d crack my head on the rocks below. But he’d never failed me.

The wind whipped around my hair as I tumbled backward but no strong back met mine. No powerful wing flap soared upward with me underneath.

I opened my eyes to see the ground rising to meet me.

Oh no.

Chapter Twenty

A claw snatched my foot seconds before I smashed across the rocks.

Gotcha.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. My heart raced, and black flecks danced across my vision.

Just breathe. You’ll be fine.

Why did he wait so long to catch me?

It’s a Purple thing. The longer I let you fall before I catch you, the more honor there is for you. It’s considered a great thing if you trust me enough that I don’t have to save you until the last minute. I did you a favor.

It hadn’t felt like that! It felt like I’d been about to die!

But there was no time to dwell on that. Raolcan had to help me get Savette and save those people in the trees. He was moving before I finished the thought, racing us toward the anteroom. I stumbled off his back, grateful when Ashana shoved my crutch into my hand with a quick “Congratulations.”

She was cinching the straps on Rasipaer tighter. On either side, her riders did the same. No one spoke, but it was obvious that this time they had the same priority that I did – the dragons in the trees.

“Savette!” I called. “Savette! You’re needed!”

I raced into the hall, still calling her name. She nearly knocked me over as she barreled through the door.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Ifrits,” I gasped as we rushed to Raolcan and scrambled onto his back. The last Purple dragon was already leaving the antechamber. No time to strap in properly before Raolcan was through the crack in the wall. I scrambled to tighten my straps as we plunged into the cold air beyond and took to the skies.

The silver dragons were closer, lumbering awkwardly over the ground toward our hideout. They were minutes away, warriors circling them. The warriors were flagging, their steps dragging, their arms slow to raise weapons and their shoulders bent with exhaustion. How long had they run like that?

The Ifrit reached their rear - lifting up one of the warriors and smashing him on the ground – as we gained our height and swooped toward them behind the other Purples. Savette reached out her hands, light filling her. If she lifted off Raolcan as her power filled her, where would that leave her? Hanging in mid-air? I grabbed her waist as she lifted off of Raolcan’s back, hastily slinging a strap around her and tightening it.

Light surrounded us all – so bright and overwhelming that I struggled to see outside the brilliance. There was a feeling of shooting forward and then the light left us, bursting through the trees and surrounding the Ifrit. He crumbled to nothing in the act of wrenching one of the dragoons in half.

The other Purples swept behind the fleeing dragons and warriors and with horror, I realized four more Ifrits had joined the fray. With no more effort than a horse swatting a fly with its tail, one of the Ifrits slapped at Rawlins and Drarjes, shattering them against the ground. One look at the tangled mess of human and dragon was all I needed to know that I’d never get to properly meet the Purple or his dragon. The other Purples flamed energetically against the Ifrits, but Raolcan held back, letting Savette recover her strength and fill us with light again. We spun around, settling over the fleeing party of Silvers and warriors before Savette launched her second attack, evaporating a second Ifrit as it lunged at one of the Silver dragons. It burst into pale mist and was gone.

The other three Purple dragons swung around us, signing desperately about the way the Ifrits seemed invulnerable. Did I know enough sign to explain that their fires were not enough? Raolcan would have to tell them.

I am telling them, but they aren’t listening.

Even to their prince?

They are arrogant. They think Haz’Drazen would not have assigned me to your care if I was in her favor. They haven’t been south since they were given to humans and that means they don’t know the heart of Haz’drazen.

Fools.

Exactly.

One of the last two Ifrits swatted at Aliss and Daieseo. Seconds before he hit them, Eeamdor swooped in from his perch, flaming angrily at the Ifrit and distracting him, drawing him away from the fight to chase after the moving target. Would he be able to outrun the Ifrit?

He’s fast, even for a Red. He’ll be fine. At least someone still knows how to show respect.

My eyebrows rose in my surprise. Had Raolcan called Eeamdor for help?

Even I know when to rely on allies.

We needed to get these new refugees into the fortress and find a way to hold out against the Ifrits.

There were still two left.

I glanced behind me, grateful to see the first Silver inching through our door, his warrior guards fanned out around him. We needed to get them inside, finish off the last two Ifrits, and then follow them within to safety. Raolcan rose up over the battle to give Savette a better view as she filled again with light. How many more times could she do that?

This one last time, and then she will need to rest.

But there were two Ifrits.

Yes.

I signed desperately to Ashana to bring her dragons in. This was our last shot at finishing off the Ifrits. She ignored me, wheeling to attack again, and this time Danver and Iasafae were too slow. The Ifrit snapped at them, biting dragon and rider in two with his gaping, fiery mouth. I flinched at the sight, horrified by the destruction.

The last Silver figure darted behind the pillar and into the cave and behind him. Eeamdor dove for safety. I signed desperately to Ashana to fall back, but I didn’t see her response before Raolcan wheeled around again and Savette let loose her light. I was blinded by the blast, clinging to Raolcan as ripples of power spread out from us across the valley and consumed the last two Ifrits with a burst of power. They fragmented to dust and blew away on the wind. In the after-shadow of the burst of light I scanned the horizon. In every direction I saw Ifrits. The two who died must have been burnt on my vision.

No, they’re not,” Raolcan said as we followed Ashana who was finally diving for cover within our sanctuary. Aliss was right on her heels and Raolcan dove behind them. Those are all real. And they come for us.

We crowded in behind Aliss, fear filling me as we shoved into the crowded anteroom. Ashana pushed through the crowded people to the entrance to the Great Hall and felt up along the doorway until she found what she was looking for. A small stone door swung open beside the larger door, revealing a lever. She pulled it dramatically and looked at me.

No, not at me - behind me. I turned and watched as a stone wall slid across the entrance, blocking us from the world beyond just in time to seal us off from the Ifrits outside the door. We were trapped here with a month’s worth of food for the humans and nothing for the Dragons and no other way out.

Ashana fell to her knees and my eyebrows knit together before they fell on the dark litter being carried between the two silver dragons. On it lay a bleeding man, missing one arm. His face was completely concealed by the mask and crown of the Dominar.

Continue Amel’s story in Dragon School: Dark Night.

Need a text alert when the next book comes out? Text “dragons” to 622-200-4303.

Behind the Scenes:

USA Today bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson, hails from the rocky Canadian Shield in Northern Ontario where she lives with her husband and two small boys. Her interests include the outdoors, history, and philosophy. Her books are always about fantastical adventures in other worlds.

Sarah would like to thank Harold Trammel and Sarah Brown for their incredible work in beta reading and proofreading this book. Without their big hearts and passion for stories, this book would not be the same.

Need a text alert when the next book comes out? Text “dragons” to 622-200-4303.

Visit Sarah’s website for a complete list of available titles.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

MAP

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Behind the Scenes: