There are the elves in red as well, Raffa suggested.
“Nadir sent the redshirts to collect the dwarfs. If they saw the signs of destruction in Cedarbridge, it’s possible they would either return to Mount Orena or continue sailing?” Anders suggested.
We should find them, Zahara said.
“And what of my sister?” Maija asked.
“She is sailing with a portion of the Rollo fleet toward the Glacial Melt Bays. She could be captured if they get too close,” Anders said.
Then we go for her first, then find the surviving elves and dwarfs, Zahara said.
“And if we’re caught flying near the elven kingdom?” Anders asked. “Merglan would catch us out in the open easily. We’re the only riders left in the world who can oppose him. I think we’re too indispensable to risk searching out the elves. Our best option is to find Natalia and hope she’s been in contact with Nadir. From there we can figure out what do to.”
If we’re not attacked first, Zahara said. If we leave now, we could intercept Natalia’s fleet near the Bareback Peninsula, but that could be a route Merglan would take to go back to Southland.
“Why would Merglan be going to Southland so soon?” Anders asked.
“For the crystals,” Maija said as if it were obvious.
But she altered them, Raffa said.
Which was how we thought we could capture Merglan, Zahara added.
“But he didn’t need them to overtake Cedarbridge,” Maija said.
“But what if he did?” Anders asked.
“What do you mean? Maija asked.
“Merglan seemed genuinely surprised when he attempted to use the powers in the crystals but couldn’t,” Anders said.
If he knew he was going to be captured, he might’ve tried to use them to escape before being imprisoned. But if he could’ve accessed the prison’s magic once inside, he may have figured out a way to turn it against itself. Once those locked inside the prison were freed, all he would have to do is tap into the source of Cedarbridge’s power to alter it in his favor, Zahara said, finishing Anders’ thought.
“So, he might want to hurry back to Southland to retrieve the crystals that Natalia altered,” Maija said.
“Exactly,” Anders said.
“So, we should go, like right now,” Maija said.
Anders nodded and Zahara jumped off the mountaintop, taking flight out over the Frozentip Mountains. We’ll need to warn Kirsten and the others and tell them what we’re doing. They might have to face anything Merglan sends this way while we’re gone.
***
The chill of the high elevation fled Anders’ body as Zahara dropped into midmorning winds rising from the plains. Anders could see the Revolution’s forces moving through the thinly spaced trees bordering the grasslands. The burnt area where he’d left Kirsten and the others was devoid of people now. Directing Zahara to land near the edge of the forested Riverlands, Anders and Maija dismounted their dragons and began searching for their companions. If Anders and Maija were going to leave again, they needed to share what they’d learned with the leaders of the Revolution.
Anders found Max resting on a downed tree visiting with Britt and her Rolloan crewmen. When he approached, Max rose stiffly from the downed stump. He met Anders with an open embrace and said, “Anders. It’s great to have you back.”
Anders shared his sentiment but didn’t have time to discuss personal matters. Britt stood at Max’s side and pulled Anders in for a hug as well, saying, “How did you know to come to us here and save us from being overrun?”
“Actually, that’s sort of what I need to talk about with whoever is in charge around here,” Anders said, maintaining a serious expression. “I can’t get into everything right now but know that this fight isn’t over. Merglan is driving all of the nations to ruin. I really need to speak with the leaders and come up with a plan. Westland is not safe from the evils that are coming.”
Max’s face creased with worry at Anders’ words. He answered, “I can honestly say I don’t know who’s leading this army because they were already assembled by the time we arrived. Britt, Kirsten, Thomas and I arrived only hours before the fight and our journey here wasn’t on the most trusting of terms. We were held as prisoners until Rune showed up.”
“Who’s Rune? Sounds like he can pull some weight around here if he saved you from being held against your will,” Anders questioned.
Max nodded and said, “Follow me.”
Max and Britt escorted Anders and Maija a short way into the forest where a tent as long as Zahara’s body had been erected. Wounded men and women sat in groups around the tent’s stained white canvas walls. Their injuries varied in degree, but none seemed life-threatening. As Max pulled open the flap to the tent, Anders smelled the repulsive aroma of burnt flesh. He wasn’t yet used to the stench of war and knew by now that he never would be. Maija gagged behind him upon entering the tent.
“Cloth pad,” Anders heard someone say and saw a middle-aged man wearing spectacles hunched over a soldier’s torn leg. The girl at his side handed him a white cloth and he pressed it down on the exposed flesh.
Anders walked swiftly to his patient’s side. Rune looked up at him from behind the wire-framed glasses. Anders thought he was going to tell him off, but he held his tongue when Max and Britt joined him. Without saying anything, Anders hovered his hands over the soldier’s leg.
Rune glanced to Max. From the corner of his eye, Anders saw Max nod at the surgeon. Reluctantly, Rune stepped away from his patient.
Anders summoned his magic from within and prepared to say the correct words to heal the soldier’s leg. Before he spoke, he thought, in hopes that Tarron was listening, Any advice?
Without a moment’s hesitation Tarron responded, I thought you’d never ask. Speak these words while you apply the healing energy. Repeat after me…
Anders spoke the ancient dialect as Tarron led him though the correct pronunciation to heal the soldier. Blue-hued energy glowed from his palms and down onto the exposed flesh. Anders watched with little sense of fatigue as the man’s severed veins, tendons, and muscles were stitched back together with seamless repair. In a matter of moments, the soldier’s skin was fully formed and the wound had disappeared.
Now tell them that it will take several weeks before this man regains the use of his leg, but he should recover in due time. From there it’s just strengthening the muscles, Tarron said.
Anders relayed the information to Rune, who stood staring at him slack-jawed.
The surgeon nodded, then said, “I’ve heard tales of a rider’s healing abilities, but I didn’t believe this was possible,” he motioned to the newly healed flesh.
“If you think that was incredible, you’re in for a shock when Merglan arrives,” Anders said, managing to direct the conversation toward the reason why he’d come.
