Anders heard wood clack together as she tossed a few small logs into the fire ring and muttered something he didn’t hear clearly. A narrow stream of flame poured out of the red dragon’s mouth, dripping flames onto the wood. The orange and red glow from the dragon’s mouth lit the space between them. Anders could see Maija lock eyes on him from several arms’ lengths away. The glow lessened as the dragon’s fire cut off and the flames began to burn the logs, but the small fire provided more than enough light to see.
All of Anders’ worries melted away as he stepped hurriedly into Maija’s embrace. They held each other tight for several long breaths and Anders allowed himself to become lost in her familiar touch. Pulling back, he could see the wrinkles of worry on her face as she asked, “Anders, is everything all right?”
Anders glanced to Zahara as he saw her move closer to the enormous red dragon, sniffing the air carefully as she leaned her head in his direction. Anders shook his head, the throbbing stab returning to his mind. He asked, “What’s happening? Where are we?”
Maija’s jaw clenched and she glanced down, obviously considering where to begin, “Let’s get you back onto the blanket; it’s sort of a long story. You and Zahara have clearly been through some trauma and you’re exhausted.” Ushering Anders back to the blanket, she helped him sit back down. She gasped as she glanced at his back, “Anders, you’re bleeding again!” He felt her chilled hands touching his bare skin. “And I had finally gotten it to stop.”
Anders smiled as she moved swiftly to the other side of the fire. Grabbing the other blanket and a small satchel that he recognized from his riding saddle, she returned, setting them down at his side. Reaching inside, Maija pulled out a cloth and dabbed it on his back. He flinched as she prodded the wound, “You’re going to have to be more careful now that you’re awake.” She placed the cloth across his back and said, “Don’t move.”
She then hefted Zahara’s saddle around the fire, setting it behind him. Touching him on the shoulder she said, “Okay, now lie back, but carefully.”
He did as she asked and gently leaned against the leather. Maija spread her wool blanket out next to him and leaned back, sharing the saddle. He couldn’t help but grin when she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling their bodies closer together. He kept an eye on Zahara, who continued to circle the red dragon, sniffing at him as he lay on his belly, stretched out behind them again. Seeing the dragon settle in, Anders realized he must have been stroking the dragon’s hind leg when he thought it was Zahara. Glad to be in safe company and looked after, Anders desperately needed some answers, “Alright, now that you’ve sorted me out, will you fill me in on some details? Like how you all of a sudden are traveling with a dragon and how we got here?” As Anders spoke, Zahara shifted her focus and laid down near Anders’ feet, exhaling with a snort as she relaxed. But she kept her eyes fixed on the red dragon. Her actions had Anders wondering whether she had known the dragon was there or if she, too, had just become aware of his presence.
Maija inhaled, turning to meet Anders’ eyes, “I think you’re going to have to fill me in a little bit, too. I only found you and Zahara by chance.”
“I’ll try, but I’m a little foggy on the details still,” Anders said, rubbing his temple again. “My memory is coming back in waves.”
“You two were in pretty rough shape. I thought you were going to die a few times, based on your breathing patterns.”
“Really?” Anders asked surprised.
Maija nodded, tightening her grip around his arm, “But you didn’t. Anyway, how I found you, it was so strange. You and Zahara just appeared out of nowhere. We saw a bright flash of light and then, poof, the two of you showed up. By the time we reached you, both you and Zahara were out cold. Your armor and her scales were coated in blood and charred as though you’d walked through fire. She had some deep gashes and your riding armor was torn across the back. Raffagaun and I had only just become acquainted.”
“Raffagaun?” Anders interrupted, nodding toward the scarlet dragon.
“Yes, he’s the dragon we saw on Mount Orena. It took me over a week, but I found him,” she said, swelling with pride.
“Of course you did,” Anders said.
“So, we’d just met, and I was riding him for the first time when we saw you two pop up.” Anders wanted so badly to interrupt and ask her more about Raffagaun, but he held his tongue. “Our communication wasn’t perfect at first, but with a little trial and error, I told Raffa that we needed to get you two somewhere safe, which wasn’t easy, by the way. Not so much for you, but Zahara; she isn’t exactly light, you know.”
Anders eyed Zahara, her gaze still fixed on Raffagaun, “That’s incredible. So, we’re at Mount Orena? Maybe we can arrange for the dwarfs to…”
Maija cut him off, “Not exactly.”
“But King Remli is our ally,” Anders said. “He helped us on our campaign in Southland.”
“No, not about the dwarfs,” Maija interjected. “About being at Mount Orena.”
“But I thought…” Anders began and trailed off.
“I said it took me a while to find him,” Maija said. “That’s because he didn’t stay in Eastland. Anders, we’re in Nagano.”
Anders’ eyes widened, “As in, the land of dragons, Nagano?”
Maija nodded.
“Are we safe here?” Anders asked, unsure how wild dragons would react to the rider’s presence. He knew from his studies that the last time riders came to Nagano was during The War of the Magicians, and Merglan had caused a civil war between young and old dragons. He hoped those affected by the war wouldn’t associate that king of devastation with all riders.
Maija nodded, “We’re safe here, at least we will be during the night. Raffa’s provided us with a comfortable hiding place, so hopefully during the daylight the other dragons won’t take much notice of us.”
“How long have Zahara and I been here?” Anders asked.
“Since yesterday afternoon. It must be near dawn now,” Maija replied.
Anders shifted slightly and stared into the flames. He didn’t like it when he lost track of time, no matter how long it had been.
“I was beginning to get worried you weren’t going to come out of it. Your breathing at times was not normal. What happened to you two? There was a campaign to Southland with the dwarfs? And you transported?” Maija asked hesitantly.
Anders continued to stare into the flames, recalling the battle at Ryedale and the confrontation with Merglan and Killdoor. Flashes from the battle danced among the flames before them. Orcs falling one by one at the hands of Lumbapi soldiers. Elves flooding into the streets in the riverside town. Zahara and Anders battling Lageena. The chaos of slaughter, the explosion, Lageena transporting them directly to Merglan. That’s when things became patchy for him. He could clearly recall transporting and Ivan being pulled away. He recalled the mental struggle with Merglan and the sensation of Killdoor’s claw cutting through to his flesh.
Maija nudged Anders back to reality. “It’s okay. Whatever it was that happened, you’re here with me now.”
Anders shook his head. He was glad to be with Maija, but what had happened to the others? What had he done by leaving them behind? Somehow, amidst the chaos of what was happening in Merglan’s lair, Anders had used the somewhat tainted power of Lazuran to will himself and Zahara to Maija.
“I know whatever it was, was awful and involved a lot of bloodshed,” Maija said.
Anders turned to meet her deep brown eyes, glinting in the firelight. Taking in her stunning features as if he’d never see her again, he said, “I did things, terrible things in the name of vengeance. And the others, we left them behind.”
He wanted to say more, but Anders couldn’t bring himself to describe what had happened, not yet anyway. Maybe he would tell her more in the morning, but for now, he rested his head against the saddle and felt the heartache and pain again. Maija placed her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. Anders closed his eyes, letting the memories of the encounter with Merglan seep back into his consciousness.
Waking hours later in the early morning, Maija slowly lifted Anders’ arm up and over her head and carefully stepped away from the wool blanket she’d taken from Anders’ saddlebag. He didn’t have much in the small side pouch compared to the larger bags Zahara had carried on their way to Mount Orena. This time Zahara’s saddle had been outfitted for combat; she only carried two small bags holding a few essentials for survival.
Maija added several logs to the smoldering fire that Raffa had started for them earlier. She heard the now-familiar movement of his clacking scales as he woke. Maija turned to face the dragon as he raised his head from the grass. She placed her index finger over her lips, shushing him. He immediately obeyed her command.
Stretching his leathery wings out and folding them back in, the red dragon spoke in Maija’s head. She almost jumped at the sudden presence of his deep mental voice, When will the human and she-dragon be well enough to ride?
