Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 (20 page)

Lainey turned her face up to Wrytha. "Thank you." She knelt beside Plyth and wrapped her arms around him. "Good–bye, Plyth. You be careful out here." She turned and offered Derth a parting smile.

Thane patted Plyth on the head and mumbled something. He also bid farewell to Wrytha and Derth.

Renick did not know what to do. Partings were always awkward for him. Not knowing what to say, he simply rubbed Plyth's nose and waved to Wrytha and Derth.

Together he, Thane, and Lainey turned to leave the woods.

"Farewell, my friends." Derth dipped his head.

"Farewell, Trusted of the Dragon Kind," Wrytha said as she, Derth, and Plyth melted back into the forest.

Lainey took Renick's hand. He turned to see her smiling at him. She took Thane's hand as well and the three of them started walking, slowly at first and then more quickly as they gained confidence. Before long, they emerged from the forest into the fading light of sunset.

Renick stopped, releasing Lainey's hand.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It feels," he shrugged, "different."

Thane nodded. "I know what you mean. Like the world's changed and we no longer quite fit."

Lainey shook her head. "It's not the world that's changed—it's us. Our perception has been altered by what we've learned. We may never fit anywhere again."

Renick thought about that for a time. "I don't mind." He looked at the others. "The not fitting."

Thane smiled. "I never really fit before."

Lainey thought that was amusing, Renick could see the laugh in her eyes—even though she did not voice it.

"Come on," she said. "I want a hot meal, a warm bath, and a soft bed tonight." She linked arms with Renick and Thane and pulled them forward once again.

Renick looked up to the sky, the day was coming to an end, and the air had a slight chill to it.

"Do you think the others will be waiting for us?" Lainey asked.

Thane picked a rock up from the road and threw it ahead of them. It bounced several times before disappearing into the long grass. "I was wondering if they even survived."

"I bet they're okay," Renick said. He was not entirely sure he believed that, but it seemed to be what Lainey needed to hear. She smiled at him softly.

"I'm sure your parents are sick with worry. They're probably watching the road as we speak, hoping to see you," Lainey offered.

Renick's shoulders slumped. "There's too much for them to do. I doubt they travelled all the way out here. It's a critical time in the breeding season—my father could never slip away. And my mother has the little ones to tend." He tried to sound nonchalant, like he was okay with being just one in a crowd.

Lainey put a hand on his arm. "I'm sure someone's waiting for you."

The roof of a tall building cut into the horizon. "Look." Renick pointed. They moved closer and more buildings came into view. Some already had candles burning in their windows. "What do we do when we—"

Lainey was cut off by a shout. Renick turned to see four figures racing towards them from the edge of town. Renick stopped, stunned. Thane's hand went to his sword.

"Aunt Melatheen!" Lainey shrieked and started running. A short way off, she fell into her aunt's arms, sobbing.

Thane jogged to meet up with Grahm. They greeted each other with a brisk handshake and concealed smiles.

Renick almost lost his balance when he recognized the two other people—two of his older brothers, Greyson and Penter. He ran to stand beside them. "What're you doing here?" he exclaimed. He danced on his toes, wanting to hug his brothers but afraid they would think it childish.

Penter, his oldest brother, bent down and lifted Renick in a big bear hug. "Renick! We came to find you." When Penter released him, Renick saw that tears were shining in his brother's eyes. Penter never cried. Never.

"Mother's been beside herself with worry. She took to bed after hearing the news of your disappearance. Father would've come himself, but he dared not leave her side," the always calm Greyson explained.

Penter slapped Renick on the back. "Don't ever do that to us again, you hear?"

Renick laughed. "I won't." His brothers engulfed him in another hug. Renick looked over and saw Lainey smiling at him as she chatted with her aunt. They all gathered together and everyone was introduced.

"Nice to meet everyone and all, but I'm cold, and hungry, and tired." Lainey punctuated her words with a yawn.

"Come." Melatheen wrapped her arm around her niece.

As they walked into town, Melatheen and Grahm explained what happened to them after the crash. They were thrown far from the passenger basket. They found the wreckage of the flyer two days after the crash. When the children were not to be found, they decided it would be best to head for Trevinni to get help.

"You weren't hurt?" Lainey asked.

"Not badly enough to test Melatheen's skill," Grahm said with a wink.

Melatheen waved off his praise. "We were all right."

"Your brothers arrived only a day after we did," Grahm continued.

Grayson nodded. "We tried to organize a search party right away, but the flyer operators insisted on doing a fly–over first. They didn't even declare the flyer missing until yesterday."

Penter growled and balled his hands into fists. "Darn mud–eating …" Grayson laid a hand on Penter's shoulder and looked pointedly at Lainey and Melatheen. Penter coughed. "…men."

"They had you as witnesses to the crash and that wasn't enough?" Thane asked.

"Politics, my boy, politics," Grahm said with a shake of his head.

"Well, we're safe now," Lainey said. Her face beamed.

"What about you?" Melatheen asked. "What happened to you?"

Thane, Lainey, and Renick exchanged glances. "Oh, not much," Lainey answered. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"There were the wolves," Thane commented.

"And the waterfall," Renick added.

"Oh, and I almost drowned!" Lainey said. At Melatheen's horrified look, she added quickly, "Thane saved me."

"Sounds like an awful lot happened to you three," Penter said.

Renick smiled to himself. "You could say that."

Renick sat on the floor of the stall, the sick dragon's head in his lap. He gently rubbed the soft scales under her chin. Her breath pulled in and out, rasping across her dry throat. Renick's uncle Loren handed him a waterskin. He put its tip between the teeth at the opening of the dragon's jaw and squeezed.

The dragon tossed her head weakly. The water splashed onto Renick's lap and the hay that covered the floor. Renick put the waterskin down and began stroking her chin again.

"It doesn't look good, does it?" Renick asked.

His uncle's brow furrowed and he placed a hand on Renick's shoulder. "Melatheen will be here soon. She'll know what to do."

Renick nodded, but he did not feel much confidence. The dragon—May was her name—had taken to Renick right away when he started his apprenticeship. In a few short months they had formed a tight bond. And now she lay in his lap, dying. Renick's eyes started to burn and he blinked rapidly to stave off the tears.

"Loren?" a voice called from the stable entrance.

Renick's uncle stood. "Over here, Melatheen."

Footsteps approached and then Lainey's aunt came into view, her stern face more solemn than usual. "Hello, Renick," she said.

The stall door opened and Melatheen entered. Lainey strolled in behind her. Her eyes were narrowed and the corner of her mouth pulled downward. "Are you okay?" Lainey asked as she knelt beside Renick.

"May's the one that's sick." Renick's voice came out sounding rough and hoarse. He coughed to clear it.

Lainey patted his shoulder. "It'll be okay."

Renick watched Melatheen as she examined the sick dragon. The longer she worked, the deeper the frown on her face became. After what felt like days, she sat back and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her sleeve.

"Well?" Uncle Loren asked.

"I just don't know," Melatheen admitted. "It could be any number of things, each with a different course of treatment."

"Can you make a guess?" Uncle Loren's hands tightened into fists. May belonged to a very rich client who happened to be away at the moment. If they lost her, it would not only devastate Renick, but ruin his uncle's reputation.

Melatheen shook her head. "I dare not risk making things worse. Stay with her tonight; see if you can get her to drink. I'll come back in the morning. Maybe time will aid us."

Uncle Loren nodded his head. "Renick, you stay here with May tonight. I'll send out blankets, food, and water. Come get me if there's any change."

Renick nodded and returned his attention to May. Uncle Loren and Melatheen stood. "Thank you for coming, Melatheen."

"Any time, Loren." Together, the two of them turned to leave. "Lainey," Melatheen called from the stable entrance.

"Coming! Just a moment," Lainey responded. Renick looked up at her. "I'd offer to use healing magic, but …"

Renick shrugged. "I know—others might see."

"If only my magic were as discreet as Wrytha's." She smiled at him.

"I wish I could talk to May," Renick lamented.

Lainey's eyes turned soft and sad. "You know you can't. Remember what Derth said?"

Renick shook his head. "I know. But I look in her eyes—all of their eyes—and I have to believe that somewhere inside they have the capacity. That they can talk."

"Hoping for the impossible won't make it so."

Renick turned away from her and hugged May's head closer to him.

After a moment of silence, Lainey slipped away.

Alone with May, Renick let himself feel the growing sorrow and fear. "If only you could speak," he whispered to May. "Then perhaps you could tell me what's wrong." Then, on a whim, he reached out to her like he did with Plyth. He searched for her voice, calling to her.

Pain.

A cold chill ran down Renick's back. The touch felt familiar, but not like it was from May. It was more sinister. The image of a black dragon surrounded by stone surfaced from his memory. "The mines," he whispered to himself.

I will avenge her.

There was an explosion and a chorus of screams pierced the night.

The End

Krista Wayment has been making up stories since she learned to talk. Writing naturally grew out of that. Krista is an avid Fantasy and Science Fiction fan, and a total nerd. She is also a software engineer and loves playing video games. Although, curling up with a good book is still one of her favorite past times.

Learn more at
www.kristawayment.com
 and
dragonstrust.blogspot.com

It takes a village to write a book. I would like to thank my village for helping to bring this one to life. First and foremost, my husband who was always there to encourage me and gave me the push to self–publish. He was always there to tell me that I could do it, even when I believed I couldn’t. Secondly, to my mother who fostered and encourage my love of writing from a young age. And who loved this story from the first moment I told her about the idea.

Next I must thank those who helped to shape this story into what it is today, starting from the beginning. Thanks to Laura D. Bastian, Melanie Skelton, and Holli Anderson for listening to my idea on the way back from the LDS Storymakers conference. A tip of the hat to my Alpha Readers: Krista McLaughlin, Christina Cook, and Terron James. Thanks for helping me to hash out so many details. And speaking of hashing out details, thanks to Lauren Ritz, Heidi Tighe, Anya Kimlin, Terrie Lynn Bittner, Gussie Fick, Laura Josephsen, and all my other iWriteNetwork friends. Also a shout out to my Facebook friends for coming to the rescue with important details and personal experiences that helped give this story that little something extra. Much thanks to my Beta Readers: Nanette O'Neal, Donea Weaver, and Meredith Mansfield for all your wonderful comments and suggestions. I must also mention my fellow Pied Piper critique group members who helped me improve my writing skills. And finally to my editors, Tristi Pinkston and her assistant Maria, for whipping this manuscript into shape.

A final acknowledgment to you—the reader. We did this for you. I hope you enjoyed the story.