Dragon Airways (12 page)

"I am sorry about that," Barabas said.

"It certainly wasn't your fault," Al'Drakon said and laughed. "You did come in upside down, as I recall. You may have taught this boy too well, you know."

At this, Barabas laughed and nodded. "It was not an easy time for any of us. I still don't know why she chose me."

The dragon eased over to him and nudged him with her jaw.

"She thinks you're cute," Tuck said.

The sound of diesel engines echoing in the valleys reminded of the danger. Though it seemed unlikely any aircraft would venture this high into the mountains, Barabas waved for them to inspect the cave entrances. Carrying the remaining lantern from the carriage, he selected one and walked in. Each was large enough to admit a full-sized dragon with room to spare, and Riette wondered just how large the dragons must have been to create such enormous structures. Even within, the walls were smooth and relatively free of dust and debris. A constant breeze moving through the cavern might have something to do with it.

"The Drakon will hide in the jungle until nightfall. After that, they'll fall back to the dragon's blood trees, and then back to the Heights to mount a final stand."

"And you want us to take you to the jungle?" Tuck asked.

"I don't know," the man admitted.

"That's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say," Barabas said.

"If you stay here," Tuck said. "You can help us finish what you started and take down Argus Kind. But your dragon might leave without you, and the Drakon might think you're dead and replace you. I'm betting that would suck."

Barabas gave Tuck a look that said he might have gone too far, but Al'Drakon just nodded. The sound of aircraft grew louder and louder until it was overwhelming. Riette reached the cavern entrance first, half expecting to see cannons aimed at her. Instead, she saw nothing. The peaks around them blocked much of the view, and Riette moved toward a low point. Al'Drakon gave her a boost, and she climbed atop the mighty stone outcropping. From there she could see hundreds of aircraft launching at once. Row upon row of dirigibles, each heavy with its payload, just barely kept their cargo above the waves. Below most hung six-engine diesel props—bombers—suspended by heavy cables. Others carried entire squadrons of U-jets. The horror of what she saw temporarily overcame her fear of heights, though she stayed far from the edge.

Reaching down, Riette grudgingly helped Al'Drakon up. Barabas gave Tuck a boost. When she turned back again, the scale of the drop fully registered. It was as if she stood on the top of the world, which was now small and pointy. One false move, one misstep, and she would die a horrible death.

"There's nothing I can do," Al'Drakon admitted. "The Zjhon have supply lines and technology well beyond our reach. Once that many bombers and fighters are in range, they can take the airfields, if they haven't already. The Zjhon will control the skies and everything below."

"They might've left most folks alone, you know," Tuck said to Al'Drakon. "Sure, they would have taken out those in power, but what good is a nation of dead people? Better to keep them alive and paying taxes. But now you've gone and made the madman angry. Logic no longer applies."

"Thanks," Al'Drakon said.

"You're welcome," Tuck said. "What are you going to do about it?"

"I cannot stop them even with Berigor. I should have stolen more magic, something to use against them."

"Did you get anything?"

"There was no time. All I have are these." He pulled a small wooden box from his pocket and opened it. Inside rested two stones, one clear and one cloudy. "They won't be enough to turn the tide."

"But they may help us," Tuck said.

Al'Drakon nodded.

"Tonight we finish what we started," Tuck said.

Barabas inclined his head.

Al'Drakon bowed his head in acceptance. Was that a tear she saw falling from his chin?

"Anyone hear buzzing?" Tuck asked.

With the sounds of the air fleet diminishing, Riette did hear a more localized noise. Turning back from the dizzying view, she saw hornets the size of hummingbirds, and they didn't look happy.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Winning by force is more costly than victory achieved through diplomacy and skill.

—Barabas DeGuiere, dragon rider

* * *

Getting away from the hornets unscathed had Riette's heart beating fast. Taking in her surroundings with greater care, she recognized a number of melon-sized paper nests. Hornets of such size would surely pack a powerful sting.

"We must warn the Heights!" Al'Drakon said while pulling at his beard.

"It won't do no good," Tuck said without humor. "They already know we're at war and that we've already lost."

Al'Drakon shook his head, refusing to believe the truth. "There must be a way to stop this madness!"

"Perhaps," Barabas said. "But we've a better chance of finding a way here. At the least, we should cut the head from the snake and remove Argus Kind from this world. Those who survive will at least thank us for that."

It was the most Riette had ever heard Barabas say, and his speech was marginally improved after recent use. If only he would speak more often, the effects might prove less debilitating. She didn't want to admit it might not get better but did anyway. Delusions had not served her; better to understand reality and act accordingly than to survive on unrealistic hopes. There was a place in her life for hope, but that place was small and thin at the moment.

"How do we attack a man who must now be on full alert?" Al'Drakon asked. "Only a fool would be complacent now."

"Maybe," Tarin said, joining them. "But you can only watch so many things at once. Especially if you just sent the bulk of your forces overseas."

"He won't have sent all the aircraft," Tuck added. "Open air in daylight will be a nightmare."

"With all the lights, nighttime won't be much better," Al'Drakon said.

"We should search the other caverns to see if there is anything that might be of use," Tarin added.

Barabas waved for them to go while he made his way back over to Dashiq. She floated above the black stone. He placed his hands on her side and closed his eyes. Riette wasn't certain what impact the act had, whether some energy passed between them or if he somehow healed the dragon with his own intentions, but she relaxed even further. Her chin turned slightly upward, and her hooded eyes fluttered.

Tuck inspected the carriage and clucked his tongue. Al'Drakon and Tarin disappeared into one of the caverns. Emmet had moved alongside Barabas and laid his own hands on the dragon. Dashiq grew still and Riette didn't want to break the magical silence.

An occasional hornet flew past where she rested, and other insects crawled about. When air cannons erupted, no one was expecting it. They were yanked from their meditations and explorations. Tuck was the first to reach where Riette now stood. After giving him a boost to a spot away from any hornet nests, Riette had to wait in suspense.

"Oh no," Tuck said. "Berigor."

Al'Drakon heard his dragon's name and scrambled to reach the overlook. Riette extended her hand. Tarin grunted loudly while letting his leader climb on him. When he reached the top, Al'Drakon gasped but said nothing, which made Riette even more worried. Pulse jets now entered the valleys, their distinctive thumping sound resonating. More weapons fire followed. Jet engines passed overhead, and their roar grew softer. A moment later, Tuck and Al'Drakon dived from the overlook back into the valley. Claws scrabbled at the stone before digging deep. Berigor pulled himself over the promontory, and everyone within the small valley retreated. Berigor crashed into the space they had just vacated and let out a pitiful moan.

It did not require any knowledge of dragons or animals in general to know Berigor was severely wounded. No matter how nimble in the air, the valiant beast had taken repeated hits from heavy weapons. That kind of fire would have annihilated any man-made aircraft. For the moment, he remained alive. Al'Drakon ran back to his dragon, openly weeping. "You giant fool," he said. "You weren't supposed to come back for me. You were supposed to be marking dragon's blood trees right now."

He did not say the dragon would also have had an entire air fleet bearing down on him. Grief was more powerful than logic; his friend was dying. Riette had only come to see it during this journey. These people did not simply ride dragons; they were family to the creatures. There was love and respect between them and undying loyalty. It broke Riette's heart to watch someone lose the individual who meant the most to him; whether it be dragon or human, the feelings couldn't be all that different.

"I was wrong," Al'Drakon cried. "I'm sorry. I take it all back. I'm so sorry."

Barabas DeGuiere stood then. No more did he represent a traitor in Riette's mind. He was a complex and deeply private man, but she had come to see a hero's soul beneath his brusque personality. When he placed his hands on Al'Drakon's shoulders, the man sobbed. Riette didn't know what he said, but there seemed to come an agreement between them.

Dashiq glided to where Berigor lay. Slipping behind the larger dragon, she eased under his wing then under his torso. With a mighty grunt, she helped take the dragon's weight, and he moved slowly but steadily toward the ring of crystals. The closer they moved, the more powerful the updraft became. Soon the dragon supported his own weight with his outstretched wings, and Dashiq slipped out from under him.

Al'Drakon removed the small wooden box from his pocket and handed it to Barabas with tentative awe, a spark of hope visible in his eyes. Riette hoped Barabas truly did possess the magic to heal the noble beast. From within the compartments on Dashiq's saddle, Barabas withdrew two cloth-wrapped bundles. The first contained copper rods. The other he placed to one side, unopened.

Never had Riette truly seen magic in action, and she was fascinated. Barabas handed one of the stones from within the box to Emmet with some whispered words Riette could not hear. She supposed if he went to the trouble of whispering, the words weren't meant for her, but she hated not knowing.

After going over the dragon thoroughly, Barabas identified his most grievous wounds. On the dragon's side, he directed Al'Drakon to place his hands, close his eyes, and concentrate on sending healing energy to his loyal friend and companion. Barabas and Emmet focused their energy on the side of Berigor's face. Like Dashiq, Berigor had taken a hit where he was most vulnerable. The plates covering his torso distributed impacts over a much larger area, but a dragon's head and face were far more delicate.

Yellow and blue light leaked through Emmet's fingers, making Riette shade her eyes. If not for seeing it herself, she would never have believed. Even Barabas appeared surprised, watching how Emmet worked the copper with his hands and energy alone. Metal flowed like syrup, yet her brother was not burned. It took Barabas three tries to achieve the same effect, but soon they applied the metal directly to the dragon's wounded face, filling the gaps and fusing the remaining structure together. Where his eye had been, Barabas fashioned a socket. Precision and detail flowed from the man's mind, and Riette was impressed with his vision and craftsmanship. This was surely an uncommon skill.

Emmet focused on the teeth, bridging a gap in the jawline, he formed new teeth to match those remaining on the opposite side of Berigor's jaw, paying close attention to how the teeth interlocked with those in the bottom jaw. Over time, the dragon's face took shape once again. The metal glowed as if freshly polished. Dashiq's metalwork was pocked and aged in comparison.

After examining the stones he and Emmet held, Barabas nodded and moved to where Al'Drakon stood, eyes closed and meditating with all his might. Barabas spoke softly and the fierce warrior walked to Berigor's head. When he saw the metalwork, he wept once again. Riette suspected it was something few people ever witnessed. It reminded her even hardened soldiers were human. Her father had never been a fighting man before the war came; he and those like him were different. Riette had always hated those who started the wars and so callously sent regular people to their deaths. Now she had come to see some of the truth, and she wasn't certain how much more truth she wanted.

Barabas opened the bundle he'd set aside and pulled out three glass orbs. None were the size of a real dragon's eye, but they represented something important to a dragon: symmetry. "Azzakkan's Eye they're not," Barabas said. "But you may take the one you think best suits him."

Al'Drakon selected a glass sphere wordlessly and approached Berigor; the eye he'd selected closely matched the green flecks in the dragon's remaining eye. After laying one hand on Berigor's neck, he reached up and pressed in on the metal rim surrounding the empty eye socket. The segmented ring rotated outward, making the opening just a fraction larger. After placing the glass sphere into the socket and releasing it, the segmented ring retracted and held the sphere firmly in place. Somehow the eye followed him as he moved away.

"You have been too kind to me and to Berigor," Al'Drakon said, going to his knee. "I relinquish my title to you, Barabas DeGuiere. I am but Keldon Tallowborn."

"No," Barabas said. Keldon looked up at him. "I'm retired."

"You have an interesting way of spending your retirement," Al'Drakon Keldon Tallowborn said. "If we survive the next couple days, I might just join you."

"You might not have no choice," Tuck said. "If your brothers think you're dead, then surely you'll be replaced." The young man pretended no one glared at him.

"Do you think he'll live?" Al'Drakon asked, looking in that moment like a vulnerable little boy.

"For a time," Barabas said.

"It takes extra effort to keep them charged with energy," Tuck said.

Barabas nodded.

"Best not to travel too far from places like this," Tuck continued. "If you must, look for saltbark trees."

"Only ever found those in the shallows, and they don't produce leaves every year. A fickle hope."

"It's all we've got," Tuck said. "The dragon's blood trees help as well but are less potent. If you have magic . . ."

Emmet held out the two stones he carried. One was now completely opaque white, while on the other, a few clear streaks remained. Precious little magic. Reluctantly Emmet handed them back to Keldon, who placed them in the wooden box.

Needing rest, Riette moved just far enough into one of the caverns to be in the darkness. There, she propped herself up against the cold stone wall. Emmet followed and leaned up against her. Together they slept.

* * *

Riette woke with a start, thinking she heard a far-off boom, like thunder except it didn't come again. When she reached for him, Emmet was gone. In a panic, she rubbed her eyes and tried to find her brother. Stumbling back into the light, which was now fading to deep shades of purple, she found the carriage tossed to one side. Dashiq hovered over the black stone wearing only her war saddle, which had two seats.

"You weren't going to tell me, were you?" Riette asked, incensed. "You were just going to fly off with Tuck and leave us here?" The look on Tuck's face spoke for him. Emmet had his jacket buttoned and stood ready to mount. "Oh, no. Not again you're not. How could you think this in any way acceptable? How are you any better than—" She looked around. Berigor was gone. Al'Drakon and Tarin were gone. Barabas shrugged under her questioning gaze.

"They'll come back for us," Tuck said, not daring to meet Riette's glare.

"You knew they were going to leave without telling me," she said.

He averted his eyes.

Even though she knew he was torn between what Barabas wanted him to do and what she thought was only right, she fumed. Stealing her brother and using him like some tool of war certainly was not right. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. When she approached Dashiq, Tuck moved out of her way. It was the smartest thing she'd seen him do in a while.

Emmet looked down from the saddle. "Don't be sad," he said.

Riette stopped in her tracks. He was at peace. He was not afraid or even under duress. He was in that seat because he wanted to go. Who was she to make him stay? A fine job she'd done of keeping him safe. Already he'd proven himself in battle, which boggled Riette's mind, and she did not forget what was at stake. Everything she loved and knew would likely be destroyed in the looming invasion. It was a matter of time before the fleets converged. Riette felt utterly useless. She was just excess weight and had to be cast off. Tuck might know exactly how she felt, but she was angry and afforded him no empathy. Too many times he'd lied to her. Even if he'd thought those lies were in her best interest, it did not excuse the deceptions. Relationships were built on trust, and she could no longer trust his words.

"I'll come back and get you," Emmet said when Barabas strapped himself in. In that moment he resembled a normal boy, one who loved his sister and was going to defend her. He locked eyes with her, and she heard his voice in her mind say the words, "I love you." Expressing emotion had never been among Emmet's strong points. The rarity of those words, even if only heard in her mind, meant more to Riette than anything else. In spite of all her mistakes, all her resentments and bad judgments, he still loved her.

"There will come a time when you'll have to choose between me and him," Riette said to Tuck, locking eyes with him. "I suspect I know what you will decide."