Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 (11 page)

"Are they going to …" Lainey cast a look down at Plyth, who lay nestled in her arms, " … you know." She hunched her shoulders forward.

Thane shook his head. "Not unless she flies closer."

Just then a hunter stumbled out of the trees as if he had tripped. The dragon, who had been gliding over the trees roaring and breathing fire, circled and dove for the exposed hunter.

Renick stood and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Wait! It's a trap!"

Plyth cried out too—a warning mixed with fear hummed through the air and added an undertone to Renick's words.

The white dragon pulled back, flapping her leathery wings with a mighty effort. The trees at the edge of the forest tossed to and fro under the currents of air, and the grass was flattened. The hunter lying sprawled on the ground raised an arm to block the dust and dirt. It was too late—the white dragon was in range and one of the hunters let loose a bolt.

"No," Lainey gasped.

Renick held his breath, watching as the black bolt flew through the air. The dragon expelled a stream of fire from her powerful jaws. When the flames dissipated, the remaining burned–out husk spiraled out of control, just missing the dragon's right wing.

"Yeah!" Renick cheered, throwing both his hands into the air.

At the same time, Thane slapped the rock he was leaning on. "That'll show them!"

Lainey let out a breath that puffed out the hair hanging above her eyes.

The white dragon let out a screech of annoyance much like the one Renick's mother used when she found a trail of ants in the kitchen. She dove again, this time breathing fire as she went. The ground around the fallen hunter burst into flames. Yellow flames also lapped at the sky from the canopy of the forest. The dark trees engulfed the dragon as she plunged through them. A moment later, she emerged, a hunter held captive in her front claws. The man was frantically trying to load his crossbow. His attempts were thwarted as the dragon started tossing him from claw to claw as she circled higher and higher.

Then she let him fall.

When the hunter landed in the still–smoldering clearing at the base of the mountain, Renick noticed that the other hunters were gone.

"Cowards," Thane said under his breath.

Spreading her almost–translucent wings, the white dragon angled back toward them. Gracefully, she alighted in front of them. From the ground to her withers, the white dragon stood taller than three horses. She was twice as big as the largest domesticated dragon Renick had ever seen. From square snout to the tip of her tail, she was easily sixty paces long. Renick had to turn his head to see the full extent of her wingspan. A trail of silver spikes started in a cluster between her eyes and arched down along her neck and back, between her wings, and ended with another cluster at the end of her tail. Renick's mouth fell open in appreciation. She was a magnificent dragon.

Plyth leapt out of Lainey's arms and bounded up to his grandmother. He ran circles around her legs, yelping excitedly. Renick felt a sense of coming home, of being with loved ones again. It made him homesick for his own family, chaos and all.

The white dragon lowered her face to Plyth and tenderly blew on him. Plyth launched a rapid succession of images and feelings. Renick sensed that Plyth's grandmother was responding, but he was not getting any of that side of the conversation.

Renick saw Plyth's mother fall from the sky. Felt the pain and fear the baby dragon experienced as he fell to the forest floor. Renick saw his face, and the faces of Thane and Lainey, and felt the growing trust and friendship of the little dragon.

A growl rumbled from the white dragon's throat. She looked at Renick, sharp, intelligent eyes considering him.

"Humans," she hissed with an undercurrent of distrust and hatred that echoed in Renick's mind.

Lainey let out a small shriek that sounded like a mouse. She clasped her hands to her mouth in an attempt to erase the noise. Thane stood with his hand halfway to his sword and his shoulder tilted back, as if he did not know whether to fight or flee.

She could talk. That same thought circled over and over in Renick's head. She, a dragon, could talk. Plyth was not the only one. He shook his head to recover and looked over at Thane and Lainey, who still stood motionless.

Not knowing what else to do, and clearly being the only one capable of rational behavior at the moment, Renick stepped forward. "I'm Renick. Thank you for rescuing us." He made his best effort at a bow.

The white dragon huffed.

"Trusted," Plyth told his grandmother. She tilted her massive head to the side and sniffed at Renick.

Lainey stepped up beside him and curtsied. "I'm Lainey, madam. I extend my gratitude to you for your service."

"Kind," Plyth hummed.

Thane cleared his throat and bowed quickly. "Thane, milady. My thanks for aiding my friends when I couldn't."

Plyth tossed his head. "Brave."

Renick thought this made the white dragon laugh. She made a staccato gurgling sound and wiggled her head back and forth.

"Young humans," she said. Leaning back, she sat on her hind legs and rose to her full height, spread her wings, and looked down at them. "I am Wrytha Whitewing of the Dragon Kind, member of the Seventh Circle. And you are trespassing on our lands." She let out a long bugle sound and bared her teeth.

Surprised, Renick found himself taking a few steps backwards. A flurry of questions filled his mind and leapt to his lips—thankfully he was too stunned to utter them. Instead, he tried to remember the etiquette his mother had so desperately wanted to teach him and his siblings. He wished now that he had paid just a little more attention. "We apologize. We didn't know this land was yours. We're lost and trying to find our way out of the forest and back to our people."

Wrytha laughed. This time Renick not only heard the sound, but the mirth also echoed in his mind. She lowered herself to the ground. It made her seem less intimidating.

"Fear not, little ones, I will not eat you—today." Her eyes smiled down at them. "You helped my grandson?"

Renick nodded. "His wing was broken. Lainey and I set the bone. The bandages will need to be removed eventually."

A wave of gratitude washed over him. "Our young are precious to us. Your deeds have saved you from an awful fate."

She turned and Renick took the opportunity to look at Thane and Lainey again. Lainey mouthed the words, "She can talk." Renick nodded excitedly in response.

Wrytha angled her head around to look at them. Renick could have sworn she had a questioning look on her face. "Come, Renick–Trusted, Lainey–Kind, and Thane–Brave. We must take cover before the hunters find their courage and come after us."

Renick looked up at Wrytha, who stood at the peak of a sharp incline, waiting for them. Plyth sat next to her, his body shaking as he wagged his tail back and forth. Renick turned his attention back to climbing up to the two dragons.

"They can talk," he said to himself with a shake of his head. His father's favorite story came to mind, the one Renick had always begged to be told at bedtime as a child, the one he thought of every time he spent a long night with a sick dragon or hatchling. The one he dreamed about. Renick was confronted with the impossible, two dragons that could speak—that could communicate with him. A chill of excitement ran up his skin.

"Renick," Lainey said breathlessly beside him, "it's just so amazing, isn't it?"

He nodded. "Talking dragons."

"I never would've thought in a million years. I mean, I used to have a cat. Well, really, my cousins had a cat—I just played with her a lot. And I'd talk to her and imagine that she'd talk back. But I never really expected her to respond. I think if I'd ever had a pet dragon, I'd have done the same." She chattered on, rambling in her excitement.

A rock landed between the two of them. Lainey stopped talking and they both looked down the slope to where Thane was. He placed a finger to his lips and then pointed up above them. Renick followed the line of Thane's finger and saw Wrytha watching them. He suddenly felt very uneasy.

"Would you two watch it? Besides it's not that earth shattering—Plyth can talk so someone must've taught him."

"So you said your cousins had a cat. Where was that?" Renick asked, trying to sound casual.

"Morelindar. A few years ago. I think it died, actually." She smiled at him sadly and then went back to concentrating on the climb.

Renick paused, resting his sore shoulder and letting his thoughts wander. Soon, Thane passed him too. As Renick watched Thane scramble up the rocks, he thought of how his father would have loved to meet Wrytha and Plyth and would probably know how to react to them. His father knew more of the dragon lore—which apparently was more than just myth.

Lainey waved to Renick from the top of the rise, and when she had his attention, she motioned him to join them. Renick started climbing again as he searched his mind for any stories or lore that spoke of how to be polite to a dragon. But his memory failed him.

By the time he reached the top of the climb, Wrytha had already moved ahead. She now stood next to the opening of a shallow cave at the bottom of a dip in the mountain. The others were making their way toward her. Renick looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. All he could see was an endless expanse of blue sky. Not even a wisp of a cloud marred the brilliant blue. It was so peaceful, so quiet.

He skidded down the slope to join his friends. Wrytha tossed her head in the direction of the cave. Lainey wrung her hands nervously, so Renick went in first. There was more light in the cave than he had suspected from looking in. The depression in the rock was just big enough for a dragon of Wrytha's size to lie comfortably and have room to turn around. The floor was mostly occupied by a pile of straw and soft leaves.

"It's not bad, Lainey. Very open." Renick motioned to her.

She dropped her hands to her sides and bit her lip. Then, with a confident toss of her head, she marched into the cave. Taking a deep breath, she looked around. "You're right." She smiled. "Not bad at all."

"Cozy," Thane said with a straight face.

Renick was confused at first, but then Lainey started to laugh. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and shook with laughter. Thane licked his lips and tried to act aloof, but Renick could see the corner of the older boy's mouth twitching.

Finding a place to sit, Renick lowered himself to the ground and leaned his head against the wall of the cave. Lainey knelt beside him.

"How are you?" Her brow and lips pinched in a concerned expression.

"Fine." He tried to wave her away.

Wrytha's head appeared next to Lainey. She jumped a little when the dragon sniffed at Renick's hair.

"You are injured, Renick–Trusted." Wrytha observed.

Renick nodded. The dragon seemed to study him for a moment.

"Help?" Plyth asked.

Wrytha bobbed her head. "All right, little one." She bent her head low and placed her snout on Renick's forehead. Her warm breath seemed to spread through Renick's entire body. He felt a small pop in his shoulder and the muscles around it relaxed. All the stiff pain and tightness melted away and he was left feeling calm and whole.

"How did you do that?" Renick asked in wonder, rolling his shoulder and then lifting his shirt in search of bruises. His skin was clean—not a scrape or a bruise remained.

"Magic," Lainey said, her eyes wide, her fingers reaching toward Renick.

Wrytha chuckled, but Renick felt a questioning undertone in his mind. The dragon turned to Lainey and then Thane, blowing her hot breath on them as well. Renick could see them each slump down in relief after her touch.

Last, she turned to Plyth.

"Remove the bandage," she instructed Lainey.

Lainey's slim fingers worked at the knots holding the splint in place and then unwrapped Plyth's broken wing. Wrytha watched her work.

"You have done well, Lainey–Kind—for a human." Wrytha healed Plyth with the same hot breath. When she was done, he flapped the wing experimentally and then barked with happy laughter.

"Fly!" he crooned.

"Not now, little one," Wrytha told him. "It is not safe." She turned to face Renick, Thane, and Lainey. "Wait here—you will be well hidden. I will be back before nightfall." The white dragon withdrew her head from the cave, spread her wings, and took flight.

Lainey bent to inspect Plyth's wing. "Amazing," she said, and her eyes got a faraway look in them. "If only …" She shook her head and did not finish the thought.

"Where do you think she went?" Thane asked.

Renick shrugged. "Maybe she's checking on the hunters. They could've regrouped by now."

Thane watched Wrytha's form fade away. He crossed his arms. "I don't know. She seems …"

"Skeptical," Lainey offered.

"Exactly."

Renick looked between the two of them. "Maybe she's never met a human who can talk."

Thane arched an eyebrow at him. His expression caused a smile to spread across Lainey's face, which she quickly hid.

"What?" Renick held his hands up in surrender.

"And where do you suggest she would've met a human who
couldn't
talk?" Thane said in a condescending tone.

"I … don't know."

"I have a great–uncle once removed who lives near a colony of mutes." There was mirth dancing behind Lainey's eyes. "Maybe she's been there." Her lips moved to contain a giggle, but another smile escaped.

Renick could not resist it any longer. He laughed long and hard. After the past few days, it felt good. The remaining tension eased from his body and he suddenly felt tired.

"Perhaps we should rest," Renick offered.

Thane nodded. "Finally, a rational suggestion." He found a spot at the back of the cave and made himself comfortable.

"Renick," Lainey said as she nestled into the soft nest with Plyth cuddled under her chin, "tell us another dragon story."

He nodded and started the story that had been on his mind ever since he heard Plyth speak. "A long time ago, in a village near the sea, there lived a young boy named Ponti. His father was a fisherman and very poor. To help his family survive, Ponti would often walk the beaches and climb the cliffs in search of things he could sell for a coin or two."