Dragon Defense (Heirs to the Throne Book 3) (17 page)

Brandon nodded.  “I know and won’t try to come between you again.”

Jordan squeezed Felesia tight.  “Why should we trust you?” 

“I hope I can earn your trust.”  Brandon shifted his weight uncomfortably.

Felesia sighed.  “We’ll discuss this later.  You both look as if you were delivered from the jaws of a mountain lion.”  

“I prefer to fight a hungry lion rather than ride under those claws,” Brandon said. “He made a mess of our boat.  It won’t be seaworthy again.”

Jordan gazed at graceful wings hovering overhead.  “Maybe we should consider a safer way of riding under those wings.”

“I’d rather sail!”  Brandon objected.

“The boat isn’t fit to sail,” Felesia said.  “Besides, white sails make them angry.” 

“Then I’ll walk!”  Brandon huffed.

“Take a look at this landscape.”  Jordan gestured.  “There’s nothing but desert to the foot of those mountains!  We don’t have enough food or water to cross that desert.”

Brandon squinted, his eyes scanning the bleak terrain.  “Couldn’t we stay along the coast?”

“Why not persuade the dragons to carry us?  Forget your fear.  The dragons are friendly and Blaze responded when we needed the boat pulled ashore.  He didn’t know he shouldn’t bang the boat against the cliff.  If we work with the dragons, we may prove they can be helpful.”

Brandon shrugged, gazing at the filmy wings above.  “Sailing through the sky under dragon wings is better than dying in the desert.  Why not?”

“Let’s eat and we’ll rummage through the wood and shredded sails.”  Jordan headed toward the cook fire.  “I always dreamed of flying.”

*****

“Shariel, come see the dragons!”  Jessica ran into Shariel’s room, her face flushed and her blue eyes wide.  “Dragons are flying toward the shore, and they’re carrying someone. Come and see for yourself.”

The girls ran through the common room and out onto the balcony.  Jessica pointed at the spectacle, and Shariel joined the crowd of siblings.  Several dragons flapped toward a cliff, carrying an odd contraption made up of flapping fabric.  She could barely make out a human clinging to the vertical pole at the center.  They watched as the dragons gently deposited their burden onto the cliff and flew away.

“I’d bet that’s Felesia!” Shariel said.  “I wonder how she got those dragons to carry her like that.”  She lost sight of the dragons and thought,
Felesia’s nearby, so I must figure out a way to contact her.

During the last week Shariel spent nights roaming the cavern because she remembered stories about Jarrack sending his mind in the form of a blue haze to wander the castle.  He invaded dreams of women he wanted to control.  Shariel decided to send her mind out to find Aunt Bess.

The first time she managed to walk away from her body, it felt frightening and strange.  Her spirit-shape was gold and she stretched her arms out to see it for herself, feeling relieved that she wasn’t the same color as Jarrack.  She floated through solid walls and wandered down corridors until she sensed Bess behind a solid door.  In a heartbeat she stood next to her beloved aunt and stroked the sleeping face. 

Bess dreamed of their cabin.  She worked the shuttle at her loom and hummed her favorite tune when Shariel walked in the door.  “Are you back from town so soon?” Bess asked.

“No.  We’ve been captured by desert riders and I’m here to talk with you.”

The scene abruptly changed.  Bess sat on a cot in the dark cave, looking at Shariel’s golden haze.  “I don’t want to be here,” she said.

“I’m going to get us out.  I learned to dream-walk like my father and now we can make plans.  My brothers and sisters are held captive in these caverns, waiting for help.  We must help all the captives escape and find a safe place to live.”

Aunt Bess nodded.  “I’ve heard other relatives talk about them but how can we all escape?”

“I don’t know.  The first step was communication, so I’ll carry messages and make plans.  Wake up and remember this dream so that you can tell everyone in the morning.  I’ll be back every night.  Maybe I can teach some of my siblings to dream walk.”

Bess woke with a smile on her face and Shariel kissed her cheek before her spirit returned to her own body.  Night after night Shariel and her siblings investigated the caverns and spoke with loved ones.  Now that Felesia was nearby, Shariel would venture beyond the caves and find a way to contact the girl.  Hope flared in her breast as she spread word of the plan to her siblings.

That night Shariel’s golden haze left the prison caverns to search for Felesia.  The night looked strange, as if she peered through a sheer veil.  She met Chacka outside.  The wolf touched his nose to her golden specter and her vision cleared.

We wondered if you’d learn to dream walk and waited a long time for you to come outside.

A surge of anger sparkled across her spirit. 
Why didn’t you tell me to come out?

Chacka scratched his ear and his golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight. 
Cubs learn skills at their own pace.  Do you wish to stay here or should we guide you?

Shariel stared toward the dark ocean and felt suddenly afraid of going out there on her own. 
I must find Felesia and ask her to bring the dragons.  It’s the only way we’ll escape from the caverns.

We will ask the pack about her location.
 
Chacka sat listening to mental voices Shariel couldn’t hear.  She wondered how the wolves could block her mind while speaking with each other.   Chacka tilted his face up and let his tongue dangle over his sharp teeth.
Dragons carried the girl across the great water and landed on the cliffs over there.  Two human males joined her.

Shariel smiled. 
Thanks.  I’ll go find Felesia and speak with you later.
Her golden spirit floated on invisible wind toward the black expanse of water.  It felt fun exploring the night like a ghost.

As Shariel reached the cliff, she recognized her brother, Jordan, and rushed forward to greet him.  He bolted upright as a golden specter approached, and she felt his fear.

Jordan!  Don’t you recognize me?
she asked. 
I’m Shariel.  Desert riders hold our brothers and sisters captive and we need the dragons help to escape.

Shariel?
Jordan stared at the woman who he remembered as a small girl, running and giggling through the castle. 
I recognize your golden aura, but it’s strange to see you as an adult.  Where do they hold you prisoner?  

Shariel glowed with happiness, casting a beautiful light over him.
We’re inside caverns in those mountains.
 
She projected a mental image of the cavern’s location and the balcony.

Return to your body.  Dream walking drains energy, so return quickly.  I’ll come find you after I talk to Felesia.  We’ll figure out a way to rescue everyone.

Thank you, brother.  It’s wonderful to see you again.
 
Shariel felt an irresistible urge to return to her body, suddenly exhausted.   

*****

The next morning Jordan described Shariel’s ghostly visit. Felesia said, “We must help rescue those poor children.  Flash can’t carry everyone, so we’ll coax the dragons to help.”

“Even if they agree, how can they carry humans safely?” Brandon asked.

Felesia inspected the remnants of sails tangled around the broken mast.  “We’ll make slings and tie them onto pieces of wood that the dragons can grab.  Children could ride beneath each dragon.  The heavy ship’s rigging should have dragged them down but they carried it with ease.” 

“We could use these spars and strips of sail.” Brandon started pulling pieces of cloth from the wreckage but stopped and crinkled his brow with concern.  “Can we trust the dragons with children?  Flash is tame but these dragons are wild.”

“Tame or wild?  You don’t understand!”  Felesia’s eyes flashed with anger as she bunched her fists against her hips.  “I don’t tame my animal friends.  They help me because I’m their friend and ask.”

“Animals don’t ever disappoint you?”  Brandon bristled and he face reddened.

Jordan grinned and held up his hand to halt the argument.  He hugged Felesia protectively to his side and said, “Animals don’t act deceitful like humans.  We trust them.”  His expression told Brandon he’d never earn Jordan’s trust.

Felesia studied the flapping white fabric.  “Dragons hate white eels and attack when they see the white color.  We’d better stain the cloth.”  Felesia used Jordan’s knife to slice a piece of cloth into a large rectangle that she tied around her waist.  “I saw berry bushes on that hillside, so I’ll go collect berries for stain.  You two break spars free from the mast.” 

She marched down the hill without looking back.

Jordan cast Brandon a sour look, wishing he could break something other than pieces of wood.  “I’d rather work with a snake than work at your side.”

Brandon shrugged and tugged at a spar still bolted to the mast.  “Don’t disobey orders, mate, or you’ll feel the sting of her tongue.”

Jordan watched Felesia’s retreating figure.  “Yeah, a beating hurts less than her anger. I’ll follow orders.”  He helped Brandon break the first spar free and then examined other pieces of splintered wood.  Soon the two young men put their backs to the task.

Flash waddled behind Felesia, squawking encouragement, and Arrow rode on her shoulder.  Felesia stuffed red berries into the sailcloth apron, not worried that juice stained her hands as well as the cloth. 

“These look delicious.” 

She started to pop a berry into her mouth, but Arrow screeched and knocked the berry from her hand.  Felesia gaped at her feathered friend.  “Why’d you do that?  I’m hungry.”  She picked another berry to eat.  Arrow plucked the berry with her talon and dropped it with a splat. 

Felesia examined nearby bushes.  Some were full of fruit but several rodents lay dead underneath.  She saw a clear trail that gave a wide berth to these bushes.  She searched the terrain and found different bushes with fruit sparsely hanging from branches. 

“These berries are poison.”  She cringed, realizing how close she came to eating tainted fruit. 
Thanks, Arrow
,
she said mentally. 
I won’t eat anything without your approval but I still need to make stain
.

Arrow flapped to a branch and watched Felesia pick berries.  An hour later her fingers started to tingle, becoming so numb she didn’t notice a sharp thorn prick until blood oozed from her finger.  She wiped her hot brow and felt dizzy. 

Jordan!
her groggy mind called as she slumped to the ground.

When Felesia regained consciousness, her head rested on Jordan’s lap.  “What happened?” she asked.

“I felt your distress and Arrow arrived chattering.  Flash stood guard over your body until we arrived.”

Felesia stared at her red fingers.  “The berries are poison.  Arrow stopped me from eating one, but I absorbed the poison through my skin.”

Brandon’s eyes widened. “You picked poison berries?” 

“I thought picking was safe enough but the juice is potent.”  Felesia said, “I’ll be more careful while dying the cloth.”

“You plan to use the berries for stain?”  Brandon shook his head.

“I picked them already, so I’m going to use them, carefully.”  Felesia sounded emphatic.

“Don’t argue—you’ll lose.”  Jordan grinned.

“Aye, aye, captain, we’re at your service!”  Brandon clicked his heels and saluted.

They cooked berries in a pot from the lifeboat, careful to avoid the pungent steam billowing from the brew.  After it cooled they splashed stain across white sailcloth and spread pieces to dry.

Felesia scrutinized the results.  “The splashes resemble wild bursts of color, like patterns on dragon wings.  Do you think they’ll like it?”

Jordan pointed at the sky.  “You’ll find out soon.”

Wild dragons circled over the bluff, craning their necks to see the patches of colored cloth.  Brandon retreated from the sharp talons.  Flash spread her wings and copied a pattern of color as she strutted before the wild dragons.

Blaze and Dazzle landed near Flash.  Soon both dragons copied the colors and transmitted the design to their flock.

“They like it!”  Felesia squealed.  “See?  Their wings reflect the design.”

Jordan grinned.  “These dragons are connoisseurs of poison berry art, Felesia.”

Brandon laughed.  “When I get home, I’ll spread the word about dragons’ love of color.  Captains will never use white sails again.”

“We’d better work on the slings.  We should practice before we can rescue Jordan’s brothers and sisters.” Felesia sounded gleeful, but Brandon’s face blanched.  He kept silent faced with Felesia’s enthusiasm.

Their experiments were disastrous.  Tying a sling to a piece of wood seemed easy, but standing inside a sling while talons grabbed at the bar was daunting.  Felesia rubbed bruised arms and legs while she considered the problem.

“The boat’s too damaged to float, but could it hold together while a dragon carried passengers?”

Brandon studied the small red craft.  “If we rigged a spar to the mast and lashed it to the bow and stern, it might work.”

Jordan said, “Let’s give it a try.  I don’t want to fall from another sling.”

They worked feverishly on the contraption.  Flash eyed her friends, walking around with her wings folded against her back.  Felesia turned to the dragon.  “Can you grab this bar and lift off?” she asked, sending a mental picture to reinforce the question.

Flash stretched her wings against a gentle breeze.  She launched from a standing position, grabbed the bar, and hovered overhead.  The boat rocked but hung suspended over the ground without tipping.

“Splendid!” Felesia shouted.  “Now bring it to the ground and drop the bar.” 

When the boat landed in one piece, Flash swirled green and gold to shout her accomplishment to the other dragons.  Soon each dragon took a turn, lifting the boat and setting it down without problem.

“So who wants to be the first passenger?” Jordan asked, staring at Brandon.

“I guess I volunteer,” Brandon said without enthusiasm and climbed inside.  “Don’t let them drop me!”

Blaze swooped down to grab the bar and Brandon clung to the mast.  The boat rocked but didn’t dump him out.  He released his death grip on the mast as Blaze set the craft down gently.  He slumped onto a bench.

“It’s going to work!  How many can ride at once?” Felesia asked as she peered into the boat.

Brandon said, “Three across on each bench and four youngsters could sit on the floor.  I’d say ten can fit comfortably.  Can a dragon lift that kind of weight?”

Jordan nodded, “These guys carried a large eel from the ocean to the shore, so I think they can do it.”

Felesia grinned.  “Jordan and I should ride on the back of a dragon to guide them, while you ride inside the boat and help people board.”

Brandon said, “I’m not climbing on the slippery back of a dragon.  Let’s braid strips of cloth into ropes and strap passengers into the boat.”

“Good idea.”  Felesia tore red cloth into strips.  “Jordan, please contact Shariel.  Find out how many passengers she’s got and explain how we’ll pick them up.”

“Shariel visited me at night during my sleep.  I’m not sure I can reach her.”

Felesia rubbed his shoulder.  “You’ve got a strong connection with your sister.  Concentrate and you’ll reach her.”

Jordan nodded.   He sat with his back propped against the cool granite of a large boulder and closed his eyes.  He concentrated on visualizing Shariel’s face and suddenly found himself inside the caverns.

*****

At night Shariel explored the caverns as a golden spirit, touching the minds of friends and relatives, and preparing them for escape.  Most of her siblings felt eager to leave but a few surprised her.  Children raised in the desert felt comfortable with the riders and frightened at fleeing to an unknown place. 

Today Shariel spotted Jordan’s ghostly green image. She glanced around the cavern before walking into her chamber, where no one might watch her stare at thin air. 
I’m so glad you came.  I got worried Felesia couldn’t help get us out of here.

Sorry for the delay, but we needed to build a contraption for the dragons to carry.  How many passengers do we need to transport?
 

Twelve children and as many adult hostages want to leave.  Can you get us out?

Jordan nodded and flooded his sister with reassurance. 
We’ll take two groups of ten and the others can ride on the back of a dragon.  The riders must be able to speak mentally with a dragon.

Shariel considered the plan as she paced. 
I can keep the guards under control while two groups leave.
Her dark eyes widened as she vibrated with excitement.
Do you think I could ride on the back of a dragon? The wolves speak to me, and there are four others with my ability.

I’m sure a dragon would enjoy carrying you.  Everyone must be ready at dawn tomorrow.  A dragon will lower a small boat onto the balcony, and Brandon can help them climb inside.

Where will you take us?

The spaceport isn’t far, and Felesia knows how to open secret rooms.  Everyone can hide until King Donovan arranges permanent quarters.