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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
Land of Dragon 42
The Shadow They were in the heart of the ruins when Treylen found them:Laureth, Oakwren, Jargus Duremo, and his mother, Countess Hemila Duremo.Rime was with them and traveling openly, which meant he’d revealed himself. He’d probably grabbed hold of Laureth’s pant leg and dragged her into the tower just before the killing started. Treylen’s aunt wasn’t with them. With any luck, she’d gone to Queenseat with his mother and father.He skidded to a stop in the town square where the mineral-stained pillar twisted up from the cavern floor to touch the ceiling. Their shoes were wet like they’d tried to launch one of the heavy stone boats into the lake but failed to move it. Laureth was about to duck inside the door of the pillar when Treylen appeared.“I knew it,” Jargus bellowed. The mask that assassins wore was little disguise to those who recognized them already. Jargus put himself between Treylen and the others. “I knew from the start there was something wrong with you.”“Husband,” L
Land of Dragon 43
The MissionRemin Noduan had been the last person he suspected would stand upfor him. But when the night ended and Treylen and the small army of assassins found themselves leaderless and staring down the empty tunnel in the base of the tower, the spycatcher had surprised him.Not only had Remin kept his mouth shut about the fact that Treylen had been the last one seen in the shadow’s presence, but he had also suggested that Treylen had the most experience in caves and should lead the expedition to search for the shadow.They had only gone as far as the old city. There they had found a scrap of clothing belonging to the shadow as well as one of his daggers on the beach amongst a mass of hoof prints. After a lengthy search of the city the body of his dragon was found. Rendrak had tied himself into knots and died in the back of an old storeroom.It was decided that the countess had made a bargain with the lowsater, and, possibly with the help of spies from Ketaresk, had set an ambush fo
Land of Dragon 44 : Corrupted Union
FrancescaThe painting of the young woman might seem plain compared with the other more colorful pieces of art at the Met, but it’s always stood out to me. Her youngface, the small smile on her lips, the modesty she exudes, and the hope in her eyes.“Study of a Young Woman” by Johannes Vermeer is the reason I come to the Met every month. I see myself in the girl in the painting. I could look at this painting for the rest of my life and never get bored.People walk past me, taking in the more vibrant paintings nearby. Leaving me alone to study it, memorize its every detail. I don’t feel alone when I’m in a museum. You can’t be. Not when you’re surrounded by so much history and beauty. Compared with the chaos that is my home life, this is where I feel most at home.Someone bumps into me, breaking me out of my concentration. I turn to see it’s a man in his thirties, fairly handsome by societal beauty standards. I expect him to apologize for bumping into me. After all, I’m the one st