Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 (6 page)

"A long time ago, there was a boy called Louren, who rescued a dragon that had been rejected by its mother," Renick started. He knew this tale well, as his father had told it many times. "The dragon was so grateful for what Louren had done that he stayed by his side day and night, protecting him. When Louren grew into a man, the dragon would follow him to market, where no one dared to cheat him. No thief ever stepped foot on his land. No bandits ever gave him trouble. Louren had a long and successful life. When his hair turned gray and his body started to fail, the dragon gave him a final gift. The dragon spoke Louren's name and then surrendered his life to Louren. With his body restored to its youth, Louren was able to live a second life that was just as plentiful as the first."

His tale finished, Renick looked up from the fire to see Thane and Lainey still watching him. The daylight had faded and their faces glowed against the darkness.

"I like that story," Lainey said with a yawn.

"It's just a story. Dragons don't really speak," Thane insisted.

Renick shrugged. "They don't." But he wished in his heart that they did.

Lainey looked up at the canopy of trees. Sunlight danced across the wet leaves, making them sparkle. She breathed in the refreshing scent of the forest after a rain. Aunt Melatheen loved the rain. The thought brought a pang of worry and regret. Lainey let herself feel it for a just a moment before carefully tucking it away. The best thing to do for her aunt was to get out of the forest and find help.

"Look," Thane called out.

She turned to follow the line of Thane's outstretched arm. Up ahead, the river widened to fill a large gap in the forest. The river was so flooded that it lapped at the trunks of some of the trees that lined its banks. Here the river flowed at a much lazier pace. It seemed to trickle along, spreading out and taking its time. The rushing sound had also quieted to just above a whisper. Lainey caught her breath and soaked in the peaceful moment, saving it for later.

"Do you think we can cross here?" she asked.

Thane's brown eyes scanned the river, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I think so," he said as he rubbed the stubble that had formed on his square jawline.

Lainey turned to Renick, to whom she had really been speaking. "What do you think, Renick?"

He shrugged like he always did when he was unsure. "It looks safe enough." He glanced over at Thane as he spoke, a question on his face.

To keep from laughing, Lainey pressed her lips together. It was just too much fun to make Renick squirm. Thane took a deep breath and clenched his fists. It was a bonus that it annoyed Thane as well.

Some bushes nearby rustled, the sound breaking through the calming melody of the river. The boys turned to watch the spot. Thane's hand went to his sword.

"I think if we're going to cross here, we should do it quickly." Thane was trying to sound tough and brave, but she saw his feet shifting nervously. A knot formed in Lainey's throat. If Thane was really that worried, there was something to be worried about.

"Why?" Lainey asked. When the question came out shaky, she mentally kicked herself for letting the fear leak out. She really was trying to be strong, like the boys.

"This'll be a good watering hole for the animals of the forest, which means there'll be predators lurking about," Thane answered.

"Yep. All right, then, shall we cross there?" Renick pointed to the widest part of the river. A sister knot formed in Lainey's stomach. Renick was feeling unsettled too. Were they really in that much danger? She was glad for her grip on the baby dragon's pack because it meant the boys could not see her hands shaking.

Thane nodded. "As good a place as any. I'll go first to make sure it's safe." Thane stripped off his sword as he spoke. He also pulled the knife from his boot. Holding the weapons above his head, Thane started to cross the river.

Lainey watched him intently. At the midway point, the water rose to his thighs. She could feel her breathing speed up. The water would be up to her waist. She could not swim. She opened her mouth to tell Renick as much and closed it again. They had to cross the river and it was silly for her to be afraid. After all, she could still walk across—she would not have to swim.

Renick turned to face her, his arms outstretched. "Let me take the dragon."

Lainey tilted her head and looked at him sideways. She smiled and said, "I can carry him—he's not that heavy. Plus, you'll be the rear guard. It wouldn't do to have you burdened by a passenger."

He seemed unconvinced, so she did not give him a chance to argue further. Lainey took her first step into the river. The water soaked through her thin travel shoes. The cold cut into her feet and legs as she trudged deeper into the water. At first, she kept her eyes on Thane, who was waiting on the far bank, but then her feet went numb. She had to keep her head down, watching where she stepped through the murky water.

The gentle push of the current against her legs made Lainey falter and her foot came down on a loose rock. She felt herself tilting dangerously close to the water. Throwing her hands out, she managed to steady herself. She took a few deep breaths to quiet her drumming heartbeat. When she felt ready to continue, she wrapped her arms back around the baby dragon, who had started to squirm, and took another step forward. She felt her foot slip on a slime–covered rock and went down.

The cold water of the river surrounded Lainey. The only sound that broke through the din of the rapids was the plaintive pleas of the baby dragon. Lainey felt the water close around her head. Yanking the pack off her arms, she pushed the baby dragon up toward the surface. Something pulled against her arms, and her head broke above the crushing water. Lainey sucked in a breath before she was tugged under again.

Around her there was blackness, sliced up by the light dancing across her face. The bitter cold pressed in around her. Her lungs began to ache for want of air. She kicked mightily with her legs, trying to gain control of her movement, to drive herself upward. She kept her arms extended, if nothing else, she knew she must keep the baby dragon above the surface. Just when she felt sure she would die in the cold wet of the river, her head broke the surface once more.

A voice was calling out to her, but the words were swallowed by the cold water.

Lainey felt a sob threatening to escape her tightly closed mouth. All is not lost. All is not lost, she told herself over and over. She would not give up yet. Thane and Renick would save her. They would come for her.

Suddenly she felt a warm comfort, much like hope, spread through her. Lainey had the distinct impression in her mind of the baby dragon wrapping its wings around her and lifting her up.

Air. She breathed deeply and looked down to see the dragon still trapped in the pack, watching her.

Then the water again.

All is not lost.

An arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her upwards.

"I've got you," Renick said in her ear.

Lainey relaxed and sobbed in between deep, desperate breaths. She pulled the baby dragon close to her and watched the brown and green blur of the forest. There was a flash of color in the trees. Lainey tried to focus on the movement, blinking the water from her eyes. Thane's figure appeared, sprinting along the bank. The fear and panic receded as she watched him move through the trees. She was safe.

The pressure of Renick's arm around her chest lessened and she slipped below the water again.

Lainey felt the rucksack with the baby dragon being pulled away from her. She clutched it closer, but her hands were too cold and she lost her grip. Looking up, she saw the sunlight play off the surface of the water. Two long shadows descended toward her. Strong hands gripped her shoulders and she surfaced again.

Sucking in gulps of air, Lainey tried to speak as Thane dragged her out of the river. All that came out was a fit of coughs. "Dragon," she managed to wheeze. Thane's step did not falter as he carried her away from the edge of the water. Lainey stretched out one hand over Thane's shoulder and said with more strength, "The dragon!"

"Got him." Renick's lanky frame rose from a shallow section of the river just a little downstream. He held the soaked pack and the wriggling baby dragon.

Lainey sighed with relief. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "and Renick! Sorry, I forgot about you," she added with a sheepish smile.

Thane laughed. Lainey could feel it rumbling through his chest as he set her on the ground. The gentle movement helped erase some of the lingering fear.

Renick gave her a half smile. "It's okay, Lainey."

"We need to get her warm," Thane said. Renick nodded, set the dragon down next to Lainey, and dodged off into the woods.

"Where's—s h—he g—going?" Lainey asked, her teeth chattering.

"To collect firewood. We need to get you out of your wet cloak." He helped her unclasp her traveling cloak and pull her arms out of the sleeves. Thane laid the cloak over a nearby branch. When he returned, he draped his mostly dry cloak around her shoulders.

Lainey tried to offer thanks, but the only sound she managed to make was a vague grunt. She smiled up at him instead.

There was a soft thud and Lainey looked down to see that the baby dragon had knocked the pack over as it attempted to get out. She reached down and tried to aid him with her numb fingers. After a moment of her fumbling, Thane sighed and gently covered her frozen hands with his. They were so warm that they almost burned against her skin. He moved her hands aside, peeled the baby dragon from the rucksack, and placed it in Lainey's outstretched arms.

"Thanks," she said. Thane looked as if he were about to say something, but Renick returned with the firewood.

The two boys set to work building the fire. Once they had a good blaze going, they helped Lainey move to sit next to it. The baby dragon started crooning as it warmed by the fire. Lainey laughed. It felt good to laugh after the terrifying trip down the river. Thane and Renick joined her, their laughs blending oddly with hers. Even the baby dragon started making short barking noises. Lainey stroked the dragon's neck.

"It's okay," she whispered softly. "We're safe now."

Something wrong.
Plyth lifted his head. The fire warmed his cold, wet scales.
Something out there.
He turned his head and searched. Kind rubbed his head, but it did not comfort him. He wiggled in her lap.
Yes, something wrong.

Plyth sniffed the air. Wood. Green. Rain. Rabbit. Smoke. He smelled all that. Nothing bad. Good smells. Plyth listened. Kind hummed a sweet, soft song. Good sound. Plyth liked humming. Wind moved some leaves. Rabbit darted away. Dirt shifted.

He stopped. Dirt moved? Why? Under a foot. Plyth tasted the air again. Nothing. No bad smell.

Snap.

Plyth jumped out of Kind's lap. Looking, looking everywhere. Listen, smell. Wind again—this time it smelled of something familiar. Something Plyth smelled before. Something from when his mother fell. Bad smell, very bad smell.
Danger.

Hunters.

Plyth ran in a circle. Whined, and ran in a circle again. Hunters. There were hunters nearby. It was not safe here.

Kind picked up Plyth and rubbed him. He tried to wiggle free.
Scared.
Need to run away. He whined again.
Bad.
Hunters bad. Danger—must get away. Hurt mother—now they want to hurt him. Plyth cried. Kind held him tighter. She said something. She was worried. Trusted felt unsure. Brave was tense.

Hunters. Danger.

Plyth looked at Trusted.
Run away.
He wanted to get away. Plyth looked at Kind. She not understand. How to tell? How to tell?

More dirt shifted. They were coming. Close now. They must have trail to follow. Must see them, hear them. Maybe they could still get away.

Plyth's fear got worse. He wanted to fly away, He beat his wings.
Pain.
He could not fly. Broken wing. He wiggled again, trying to get out of Kind's grasp.
Need to run.
Kind stood up. Plyth arched his neck back and tried to see her eyes. Needed to tell her.
Run. Run. Run.
Mother would know. Mother could tell.

Brave and Trusted went to woods. No, not safe.
Come back—hunters that way.
They gone for long time. Plyth wiggled some more.
Not that way. Not safe.
Trusted came back, and Brave came back too. They okay. They growled and chattered at Kind.

Plyth thought of Kind, then thought of running away. He thought of danger and made his thoughts big. Loud.
Run. Run.
"Run!"

Kind made a funny sound. Lots of air going in at once. Plyth made thought loud and big and looked at Brave and Trusted.
Run. Run.
"Run!"

Trusted looked at Plyth. He chattered at Kind and Brave.

They started running. Yes, yes.
Run!

Renick burst through the trees into a small clearing. They were exposed. He needed to find cover. Off to his left, toward the edge of the open space, an ancient tree had fallen over and rotted out. The remains were large enough to hide them. Renick changed course and headed for the tree. When he reached it, he skidded to a halt. Lainey whipped past him, sliding to the ground, her back to the log and her arms clutching the baby dragon.

"You okay?" Renick asked through gasps of air.

Lainey nodded. She was breathing too hard to speak.

Turning, Renick scanned the line of trees. Thane leapt into the clearing and pivoted, sword drawn. He stood ready, the point of his blade swaying back and forth. Then he spun around, and in a few short bounds, dodged behind the log.

"I don't think they followed us," Thane said as he sheathed his sword. He crouched down and knelt on one knee.

Renick crumpled to the ground next to Lainey. He sat with his legs folded and picked at the long weeds that covered the ground.

Looking up, Lainey asked, "Did you hear him …"

"Talk?" Renick finished with a nod.