The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10) (96 page)

CHAPTER 28

Concealed in the brush, Nath hunkered down on one knee, scanning the skies above. The Floating City hung ominously in the air. A monolith beyond expectations. Its tall buildings and high spires hosted dragons, colorful and with dark tails.

There must be at least twenty of them up there.

He reached behind his back and grasped Fang’s hilt. The metal was cool to the touch. It put Nath’s mind at ease. Having Fang on his side again gave him an edge, and that would have to be enough.

In one of the stone archways in the city, a dragon with deep-blue scales stretched its wings and yawned. Little bigger than a man, the blue streak dragon dropped out of the archway, glided between the towers, and disappeared behind the cover of the buildings, only to appear again streaking high into the clouds above.

If I just had wings, getting into that city would be a lot easier.

He eased his way through the brush and forest to another vantage point facing the eastern part of the city.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Great Dragons!

Dragons were scattered the same on this side as everywhere else. Some of their eyes gleamed like diamonds, and others were closed. Nath dug his nails into his palm. He had to get moving and help Bayzog. Otter Bone had even said there was a greater menace within than the dragons. Not to mention that even if he managed to make it into the Floating City and out, he’d still have to navigate through the bull dragons. They had his scent. They’d be looking for him.

He scanned the great rock the city floated upon. There were catwalks high above that led from the city onto other rocks floating on jaxite above. But they were a hundred feet above him, maybe more.

I can’t jump that high. If Bayzog were here, he’d take me up.

He eyed the stones that hung in the air. There were many small ones the size of boulders that hung suspended in the air.

Like the rocks that help you cross a rushing river.

That’s interesting.

There were hundreds of stones scattered over the expanse. Nath could see a path leading upward toward the city. But it was no simple feat. The distance from one rock to another looked to be more than twenty feet.

All right, then. That’s one option.
But how can I climb them without being seen? Is this the way Otter Bone meant for me to take? It hardly seems safe. Only one way to find out.

He scanned the tops of the city buildings, eyeing the dragons roosting and gliding through the city.
But what do I do about them?

He combed his fingers through his mane of red hair, buckled his brows, and snapped his fingers. He slipped the potion vials he’d taken from Brenwar’s chest out of his clothes. Each was colorful but not bright. He put the royal-blue and lavender mixtures back and kept the emerald green. He shook its contents in front of his eyes. It began to bubble, fizz. A tiny tornado formed inside with bright sparkles.
I can’t believe I almost forgot about this. Now I just need something to use it on.

Nath crept back into the forest. The potion would work on many things. Living things. But he needed to find the right subject. He stopped at a burrow in the grasses and put his ear to the ground.
Nothing in there.
He trekked around with his head on a swivel. Shoved leafy branches from his face.
Has to be something I can use here.
He lifted his chin. Something buzzed overhead. A hornet nest. He smiled.
Perfect.

He scaled the tree and crawled out on the limb that held the nest in place. The nest was bigger than Nath’s head, and the black-and-gold-winged hornets buzzed with more fury the closer he crawled toward them. Nath huffed a plume of smoke at them. The buzzing subdued. It didn’t stop a few dozen hornets from landing on him, though. Each was big, about half the length of his finger, and he knew their stings were almost lethal to most people.

Nath chuckled. He remembered a time when he’d dropped a hive onto a camp of orcs. He could still see them scrambling and flailing their arms and kicking their legs. A camp of thirty-some orcs, reduced to nothing in seconds. He had freed a pair of green lily dragons that day. It had been more than fifty years ago, maybe longer.

“I didn’t have my scales then,” he said to himself as several of the hornets tried to sting him. “I had to be more careful. One of your brothers still managed to put a knot on my chin.”

He blew another ring of smoke, scooted over the branch, stretched out his arms, and plucked off the nest. The hornets started to cover his arms, chest, and face. He hopped out of the tree, landed on cat’s feet, and made his way back toward the river canyon’s edge.

“This better work,” he said, eyeing the mystic vial though the coat of hornets he wore. He flipped the cork off the vial, stuffed the vial into the nest, and poured.

One … two …

The nest sprang to life.

Three!

He slung the nest high in the air. More than a hundred feet up it went, reaching its zenith, where the entire nest seemed to hover for a moment.

Come on, now, work!

The hive exploded in a burst of buzzing golden light. Dozens of hornets, maybe hundreds, grew ten times in size and streaked through the sky. Their golden wings buzzed with roaring fury. They zigzagged like sparkling gold fishing lures in the air, scattering everywhere.

A dragon roar caught Nath’s ear, followed by another and another. He dashed beneath a leafy overhang in the rocks.

Dragons streaked through the sky, jaws wide and snapping. Their eyes were wild, and their wings beat in chase.

The golden-winged hornets looked like huge flying gold nuggets to the dragons.

The skies filled with chaotic roars that echoed off the rocks. The hornets buzzed in fury. They flew through the skies, into the forest, and beyond. Hundreds of hornets and dozens of dragons.

Nath stepped out of his hiding place and dusted off his hands.

That should keep them tied up for a few hours. Just like fish, dragons love shiny things.”

He sauntered over to the ledge and faced the nearest hanging rock. It was a twenty-foot leap away and about ten feet up. He stepped back a few paces.

I’d better get a run at this.

He dashed over the ground and flung himself upward.

Too far! Too far!

He glided over the floating rock, stretched out his arms, and splashed into the river. Emerging, he yelled, “Great Dragons!”

He swam to the riverbank and climbed the vines. Standing on the ledge again, he flung water off his arms and said, “Let’s try that again.”

He leapt up in a perfect arc and landed flat on his feet on the floating rock. It teetered. He steadied himself with his arms, and with his keen eyes he traced a path to the city on the floating stones.

It took another long hop impossible to man, followed by another and another. Every rock was different than the last. Some were big enough for many and some barely big enough for him. One slip and he’d have to start all over again. Halfway across, he looked down at the river rushing far beneath him. The wind whipped his hair, and every rock he landed on wobbled and teetered.

There must be another way they came up here.

He crouched, craning his neck toward the sky. If a dragon saw him, he’d be an easy mark.

Keep moving. Halfway there.

He leapt onto stone after stone after stone. Some went up. Some down. Some left. Some right. His path spiraled, but he was getting closer. He stood on a smaller stone, barely wider than his shoulders, balancing himself. The next stone was a big one twenty feet wide and ten feet high, but it was more than thirty feet away. He gathered his legs under him. Tried to steady himself in the wind.

I can do this.

His legs exploded upward. Up he was going with his arms stretched out when a gust of wind hit him. He landed on his chest on the rock, with his legs dangling off. His fingers clawed at the rock. The rock titled toward him. When he started to slide off, Nath caught a glimpse of the water rushing beneath him.

I’m not doing this again. For Bayzog!

He raised his arm and slammed it down like pounding a nail. By digging one set of claws into the rock after another, he heaved himself up, legs and all.

“Whew!” he said, drawing his arm across his forehead. He stood up, looked down at the river, and waved. “That should be the worst of it.”

A growl rumbled behind him.

He whipped his head around.

“Sultans of Sulfur!”

All he saw was dragon teeth and scales.

CHAPTER 29

“What is this place?” Brenwar said.

Otter Bone had led them for hours through the forest, using Brenwar and Bayzog as eyes. Bayzog couldn’t help but be impressed. Considering the fact that the sage was blind, he gave excellent directions.

“A hideout,” Otter Bone said in his firm but smoky voice. “Of sorts. We’ll wait here until the others arrive.”

Bayzog rubbed his belly. He’d been nauseated the entire walk, but he was getting better. He took a seat on a small wine barrel and leaned back against the cave wall. They were a few dozen feet deep in a cave that opened like a mouth into a forest. He closed his aching eyes and took deep breaths through his nose.

“The queasiness will pass,” Otter Bone said, shuffling over and staring right past him with glassy eyes. “Most likely by tomorrow.” He stretched out his work-worn hands with heavy knots for knuckles.

Bayzog grabbed one of those hands and led him down into a sitting position.

“Your hands are awfully rough for a sage,” Bayzog said.

“Yours aren’t exactly soft for a wizard, or an elf,” Otter Bone said back. “I used to be a fisherman until the gift came to me. Over fifty years from birth I’d fished, when blindness struck me and a new sight was revealed to me. This cave,” he said, craning his neck around, “I lived here alone for over a decade. Everyone thought madness was upon me.” He sighed. “So did I. Those were dark times.”

Brenwar picked up a wine cask, shook it, and tossed it down. One by one, he went through a dozen of them.

“Your hideout doesn’t have any rations.”

“They will come,” Otter Bone said. “They will come.” He nudged Bayzog. “I thought dwarves were more patient.”

“They are,” Bayzog said. “They’re just testy around strangers.”

“Are you jesting, wizard?”

“It’s not a normal thing for me, but it’s been known to happen.”

“Heh,” Otter Bone chuckled. “You might have made for good River Folk in more peaceful times.” He laid a hand on Bayzog’s shoulder. “I apologize for making you sick, Bayzog.”

Bayzog could sense the man’s sincerity, but he was still uneasy. Otter Bone knew things, and by and large, sages weren’t trustworthy. They considered themselves servants of the world more than champions for good over evil. They were known to align themselves with whichever side suited them at the moment.

“No need to apologize. I’m sure you did what you felt you had to do.”

“I did.”

“Well, no, you didn’t. There is often more than one way to achieve a common goal, if indeed the goal is common.”

“You wouldn’t have made it,” Otter Bone hissed, shaking his head. “I have seen it.”

“Are your visions always right?”

Otter Bone shrugged.

“I’ve never known one to be wrong so far.”

Brenwar kicked a wine cask farther down the cave, sat down, and sulked in gloom.

Bayzog left it at that. He’d already discussed Otter Bone’s visions with the sage and Brenwar. It didn’t sit well with him. It didn’t seem possible that Nath would be safer without them.
Certainly, a formidable party of many is better than a party of one?
He’d give it some time for now. Otter Bone had his ways, and he had his own.
Nath at least needs to know that I am all right.

Hours had passed when Brenwar stirred. Figures entered the darkness of the cave. The outline of Horse Neck’s burly form took shape. A moment later, Ben appeared. He shoved his way past Horse Neck and came right at Otter Bone.

“Don’t trust this lying old man!” Ben said, holding his bound wrists in front of Brenwar. “He’s a deceiver!”

Brenwar slit the cords on Ben’s wrists and said, “We’ve established that much.”

Ben poked Otter Bone in the chest.

“He’s treacherous—
ulp
!”

Horse Neck wrapped his big arms around Ben’s wide shoulders and squeezed.

“Don’t ever touch my uncle—
Ow
!”

Ben drove his boot into Horse Neck’s shin. The goon’s arms slackened. In a flash, Ben grabbed him by the arm, twisted his hips under him, and flipped him over his shoulder, where the brute landed hard on the ground. Ben’s fist pounded on Horse Neck’s ribs.

Jab! Jab! Jab!

Slobbering cries of anger came from the man’s mouth.

“You’ll pay! You’ll pay!”

Ben locked him up in an arm bar and applied pressure.

“OOOOW!”

“What was that?” Ben said, twisting harder. “Are you calling for your cows?”

“OOOOOW!”

“Stop this!” Bayzog said, rising to his feet. “His cries will carry to the town.”

Ben snarled and released the man. Brenwar gave him an approving nod. Horse Neck moaned and pushed himself up from the stone floor of the cave. His heavy eyes glared at Ben.

“Let it go, Nephew,” Otter Bone said, “Let it go.”

Horse Neck rose, spat dirt from his mouth, and lumbered out of the cave.

“He’s protective,” Otter Bone said, staring blankly at Ben, “and he’s not such a bad man, most of the time.”

“Do you care to tell me what is going on?” Ben said to Bayzog, wiping the dirt from his elbows. “Where’s Dragon?”

While a pair of Otter Bone’s henchmen brought in some rations, Bayzog filled Ben in on the details. Ben’s brow stayed furrowed the entire time, and his glare remained hot on Otter Bone.

“We should be done with this sage,” Ben said, scooping Akron up from its spot alongside Brenwar’s chest. “You can’t trust a thing he says. They stuck me in a hole, Bayzog. A dirt hole with a wooden crate and ratty carpet over it.

“It was for your protection,” Otter Bone said. “You were a danger to yourself and others. Whose idea was it to send this man into the River Cities with aversion balm on him?”

“It worked!”

“Hah,” Otter Bone said. “It did no such thing. The overseers of Barnabus have eyes and ears on everything. They would have sniffed you out soon enough. I saved you from a certain doom. All of you.”

“You keep saying that,” Brenwar said with his mouth stuffed with jerky, “but I don’t believe a word of it.” He took a slug of wine from a bottle the henchmen had brought. “But this wine is not so horrible.” He shared the bottle with Ben, who shared it with Bayzog, who took a sip.

“Not so bad,” the wizard said. “Not elven, but not so bad at all.”

“Good that you think so,” Otter Bone said. “It should ease your minds and settle your bones. We’ve a long wait ahead.”

“Nath Dragon moves fast,” Ben said, rummaging through the rations and grabbing a clay jug of water. “He’ll be back tomorrow. You’ll see.”

“I wish I did see,” Otter Bone said, his voice low and eerie. “I don’t see anything, but I’m certain of this. His journey into the Floating City, it won’t be over in a day. It will take many days, if not weeks.”

Ben dropped the clay jug onto the ground, where it shattered with a crash.

“What?”