That night, Natalia sat with her back against a tree trunk thinking through countless possible scenarios of what might’ve happened to Anders and Ivan. She couldn’t explain it, but something inside her told her that Merglan was holding them prisoner. The Lumbapi Princess Inama’s voice cut through her thoughts. The Lumbapi accent in Inama’s voice felt light and calming to Natalia, not startling her as Solomon’s touch had earlier.
“I must thank you, elf, for your efforts in saving my life. If it weren’t for you and your unworldly powers, I’d be septic by now and beyond the healing forces of our medicines,” Inama said.
Natalia opened her eyes to see the sinewy young woman sinking into a squat and settling on the ground at the base of a tree directly across from her. Keeping her head against the tree as she spoke, Natalia said, “You can direct your thanks to Solomon for that. His lizards gave me the strength after the dwarfs rescued us; all I did was channel the energy for them.”
“You are a proud woman and I admire your strength. I can find more reasons than healing me to thank you. Your skills with the blade helped us to escape the orc horde,” the Lumbapi princess continued.
Natalia stared at the quaking leaves rustling in the evening air overhead. “How is it healing up since the magic effort?” Natalia asked. She lowered her gaze and watched as the short-haired young woman exposed her tanned torso and looked to the pink mark where a serious gash had been.
“No infection or weeping. I expect it to leave only a slight scar,” Inama said, running her finger over the recently-healed skin.
“How about yours?” the princess asked.
Natalia arched slightly as she pulled her shirttails out from her waistline. She showed Inama the black and blue bruising fringed in yellow that covered a majority of her side.
Inama flinched at the sight, “Can’t you heal it more?”
Letting her shirt drop and shrugging, Natalia said, “Well, with only three days and considering my situation,” she paused, trying to force down thoughts of her dead dragon. “I’m doing a little more each day. I used most of my stored energy during the battle and I don’t want to overwork myself. I need my strength to travel.”
“Can’t Solomon help you?” Inama asked with a frown.
Natalia shook her head, “Those lizards were his channel for magic. Now that he’s sent them to mislead Killdoor and Merglan, he doesn’t have any power.” She gave a half chuckle, adding, “I’d only heard rumors that the razor-backed lizards were still in existence. Fitting that they should end up in the hands of a man who doesn’t believe in wielding a blade.”
“How long do you expect Merglan will chase them before they find out we aren’t with the lizards?” Inama asked scratching at her head through her short black hair.
“If they’re clever enough, they could make him think he’s already dealt with all of us,” Natalia said closing her eyes again.
“How so?” the princess asked.
“The dragon’s fire consumes all,” she replied. “If the lizards followed Solomon’s instructions, Merglan and Killdoor will think they’ve located us in the dense forest. Assuming our location and sensing we’re trapped,” Natalia said spreading her hands. “The dragon’s fire consumes all. Trusting that Killdoor’s deadly fire would claim our camp, they’ll think the Lumbapi in the Drakeshead have been taken care of.
“Would it really work?” Inama asked wrapping her tattooed arms around to hug her knees and nervously tongued at her septum piercing.
“Solomon used those two little creatures’ magical abilities to shield us from Merglan’s mind’s eye. From what I saw today, Merglan returned to destroy us after learning of Lageena’s fate. The lizards’ concealing presence should have done the trick. To Merglan, the space created by their concealment spell would appear to be a large group hiding in the forest. That’s what would make him think he’s trapped us. If the lizards end their spell, he’ll be encouraged to think that the fire consumed us. If I were him and had more pressing matters to deal with, like controlling the entire world, I would assign my army of orcs to hunt out any survivors and trust that the matter will be resolved. With luck, Merglan will think the Lumbapi have been disbanded and defeated; his gaze will turn elsewhere.”
“Your magic is like that of the other riders, but you don’t ride a dragon. Did you also lose your bonded partner?” Inama asked.
Natalia bit the inside of her lip. She nodded as she opened her eyes to look at the blurred canopy through the tears welling up in her eyes.
“Like Ivan,” Inama said. “I’m sorry for this pain you must carry. It has to be difficult.”
Natalia forced herself to respond in a steady voice, “I’ve lost both my parents and thought I lost my sister for over a decade, yet I can tell you that there’s nothing that cuts deeper than the loss of your dragon. It’s a part of you, a part of your soul. Once you’ve bonded, that’s it. You’d do anything for your dragon.”
“How long until,” Inama began, but the question faded from her lips.
“It could be years or months,” she said.
“But Ivan,” the princess started, only to have Natalia speak over her.
“Ivan’s different, he’s one of a kind, a king among men. I’m not sure how he’s retained his powers for so long. I can already feel the effects of my loss and it’s been almost two-and-a-half months.” Natalia closed her eyes again, searching for her slowly depleting powers.
“That’s why you can’t risk healing yourself? You don’t have the power?” Inama asked.
“A year ago, I would’ve had no problem. Now I’m tapped and it feels like it’s taking longer to regenerate more energy.”
“You’re good to keep going, though? Solomon told me that he’s worried about you,” Inama said.
Looking sideways toward the other Southland natives gathered nearby, she said, “The bones are healed, he was able to do that much before we left. I should be better by the time we get to the Ramhorn, unless we come across some unforeseen difficulties.”
Inama nodded, “It won’t be long. If we keep moving quickly and the evil dragonrider doesn’t find us, we’ll be reunited with the bulk of our people in a week.”
“Maybe by then I’ll know for certain whether Ivan and Anders are in Kingston,” Natalia said.
“And if they are?” Inama asked.
“I’ll go to them,” Natalia said.
Inama nodded, “I can’t force the others to attack, but as for me, I’ll go with you. I owe them that much.”
“For a mission like that, a smaller group is better. Merglan won’t expect it, so we’ll have the surprise to our advantage.”
“If there is an army in Kingston, it will be hard to sneak in unnoticed.”
“That’s where your army would come in handy. The army could draw out or distract Merglan’s forces while we complete our mission. That’s what Nadir wanted.”
“My people will do what is best for their country. If going to battle outright is best, then they will do so, but if they decide we can win the war by slowly pushing the invaders out, then that’s what they’ll do. Like I said, I owe a debt to Ivan and Anders, and to you, so I will help you in your mission.”
“Thank you,” Natalia said with genuine appreciation. “With surprise in our favor, we might be able to extract them unharmed; if they’re still alive.”
