The Shell
Once they entered the hellcaves it was clear why the twins had beenso nervous even before they’d seen the dwarven gate. The chambers above had closely resembled these. Wide and winding, they had the feel of the sprawling understory of the forests of Lome. But in place of brush and trees there were fallen boulders, jagged crystals, and dripping columns of dark stone. The sound of running water echoed from far off and the heat and mugginess grew the farther they walked. Scattered about the caves were thick patches of oozing fungus, glowing toadstools and long, stringy slime that seemed to move ever-so-slightly if watched close enough.Along with thoughts of Lome came his memory of the otters there— beasts the size of men who dwelled in the river and stalked their prey in packs.At least here he and Rime weren’t alone.Brome and Noulea continued to lead albeit more
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Land of Dragon 34
The BasaltThe stairs were never-ending.After a long, tense hour of travel the caverns had ended, the last of the cobwebs falling away to reveal a square stone archway carved with the dwarven runes. Then the climb had started.“I cannot go on. We must sleep.” Halfindle grabbed the Lowsater by the fur on her leg. If she was at her breaking point, then the others were likely past it.“We are not free of the danger.” Noulea pulled away and started up the stair again.“I can’t either,” Laureth said.“I am also tired, sister,” Brome said from the back of the party. He peered down the stair behind them as if the spider might come up from the hellcaves at any moment.“We'll sleep right here on the stairs then,” Treylen said. “We've been climbing for hours. There's no end to it. I'll take the first watch. Noulea can take the second.”“I will take the third,” Oakwren said.“No, no,” Laureth put a hand on Oakwren’s shoulder. “I’ll take the third watch. I've slept a little, remember?”“I've nev
Land of Dragon 35
The Parser of the VeilIt was no secret that in times of old the great Dragon King and thefirst queen of Iverna had ruled together from the heart of the Dragon Lands. The very throne where the now-queen held her court had been carved from the same stone.So, it shouldn’t have surprised Treylen to see Iveran stonework as they neared the heart of those lands. But an archway in the shape of a great dragon’s maw was no small feat of labor, and the carvings one increased in number and detail as they passed under it and into the halls of what must have once been a grand fortress.“This is familiar,” Treylen said, running a finger over the lifelike scales of a stone fledgling that seemed to leap out from the wall.“You have been here?” Noulea asked.“No, but the layout of these halls reminds me of something.”They passed another archway and into a wider hall with a honeycomb pattern that covered the ceiling.“There is something about it,” Laureth said, stopping to put her hand
Land of Dragon 36
“A great deal more than you, assassin. And less at times, for much of my correspondence is with elder beings and those whose understanding is apocryphal. Still…” She paused, and lifted her head, resting one arm on the mountainside, and dragging a claw across the scales of her jowls, in a gesture that was gargantuan, but almost human. “I know of your kind and their follies. I know the failings of the queen of Iverna to keep that which she had stolen. Of the prescience of the Kysik and the great betrayal of the stone kingdom. I know the tide of war beats upon the breakers of your valley, and the spoils flow like ichor to the seat of Jaul while the Ketaresk drown upon the tail of the continent and the elkbones revel in their indulgence. Shall I go on?”“Not if it doesn’t please you,” Treylen said, grating his teeth at what sounded like blasphemy against his kingdom. “I understand Jaul, and I’ve heard of the land called Kysik and Ketaresk and Stone Kingdom. But I know not of this Iveran b
Land of Dragon 37
The Seal Wings beat the air. The wind from them sent Rime tumblingbackward. Treylen nearly went with him but found his footing. For a moment, Treylen thought she might take flight but the gust of air was only to clear the fog away from the lower basin of the crater, where the lava flowed. The dragon pulled her wings in and lumbered down the side, along a path of crushed stone. Large as she was, her body was still long like Rime’s. So different from the saddled mounts that assassins rode.Treylen had to wonder, would all dragons grow to a size like this if they weren’t shackled to the short lives of their riders?Treylen followed. Though what served as a flat and easy path for the guardian was still a field of jagged rock to him. Rime hopped behind him. The others watched and waited, covering their faces against the foul odor of the mountain. The path descended and they entered another cavernous opening in the rock.This chamber had been hollowed out by stone carvers long
Land of Dragon 38
The Hearth-HumThey returned to the crater where the others were waiting. Treylenmade a proper introduction for each and the guardian greeted them in turn.With Laureth and Oakwren she was terse but cordial. To the twins she extended her welcome and described the mountains to the north which lay just before the foothills of the badlands. She bade Treylen entrust them with the write of passage to be delivered to Uberetus. To Halfindle, a sad greeting that Treylen didn’t quite understand. She bowed her monumental head low, whispering softly and allowed the clan woman to climb the side of the crater and kneel before bones there.When she’d returned the guardian spoke again.“I’ll not permit present company to wander beyond this ridge, for the queen’s agents and her loyalists bring ill tidings to the Den of Fire whose people live under my protection. I would not permit you to seek them out or set eyes upon their dwellings as was your intention in coming here.”“I don’t think that will be
Land of Dragon 39
The Passengers That night, Treylen slept with a restfulness he hadn’t earned. Hedreamt of hearthstones carved from obsidian and of warm caverns in the wintertime. He dreamt of burnt wheat fields and of children sleeping in the curl of a dragon’s tail in the hold of a weather-beaten ship.He woke with a start to a gust of wind and the sound of wings as six dragons, with four riders between them, descended on the campsite. The others were on their feet, and he pulled himself up and put his back to Oakwren’s as the dragons landed around them, riders dismounting.All six of them were a pale misty white, but as quickly as they landed, their color shifted to a black-purple obsidian.“I’d thought that Cyndrael would be here,” Treylen said. “She is tending Volgnash.”“I understand.” Treylen nodded briskly. If he pressed further there might be no ride home either.There were no introductions. The women and men looked their guests over then directed the lowsater to climb onto the two larges
Land of Dragon 40
The Rope While Rime crept along behind Laureth and Oakwren, Treylenborrowed some of his dragon sight and strength to travel off the path. Scaling boulders and bounding up cliff faces, he moved to the south of the city. He would climb to the gorge, then down the cliff face and approach the city from below. With any luck Aaron or Felicity would be out surveilling. If not, then Treylen might have to approach the clan—the Storm Den, as they called themselves—and ask after him.He traveled quickly and soon the others were far behind him.The tower grew closer, and sure enough, Treylen spotted two sentries posted at the top. The moon was hidden, but he kept low against the mountainside all the same as he neared the ridge just before the gorge. He scanned the rocks that lay uphill. There was no doubt that the countess would have been searching for them outside the city. He would not have put it past her to post sentries.Treylen spotted one just as he approached the rise that dropped off
Land of Dragon 41
The Chase Treylen hadn’t seen the queen’s shadow when he entered, but as thedoor slammed shut, he felt the long fingers of the old elf wrap around his shoulders.“The long awaited return of Cren’pin Tromweft…” the oily voice slithered into Treylen’s ear.He didn’t dare move.The hands slipped away. Treylen was relieved to see Aaron was awake.His eyes locked with Treylen's as he turned slowly on the rope. “You were to bring him directly to me.”“Yes, Shadow,” Remin said.“What is this then?” He gripped the man's chin and turned his head, a trickle of blood running over his pale fingers.“There was a misunderstanding.” Remin struggled to lower his eyes and the shadow lifted his chin again. He pursed his papery lips, then relaxed them.“It is time. Tell them.” He flicked his fingers dismissively. The assassins in the stalls rose without a sound, filing out the door. The sound of the wings in the night air told him they hadn’t come alone. Each of these assassins had a dragon with the