Anders knew their journey would be dangerous, but he found himself lingering on Raffa’s last words, ‘stay alive while we’re gone’. The coming days would be a test and, if they failed, freedom and peace in Kartania would end with them.
Chapter 74
Dark Wings over the Plains
Anders stood with his feet just inside the blackened stubble that had been grass a few days earlier. The sunlight gleamed off Raffa’s scarlet scales as he watched the massive dragon carry Maija away from him.
I need to stay busy, he thought, realizing that if he didn’t occupy himself with something soon, his worry over Maija’s wellbeing would consume him. More than just their lives rested in his hands and he refused to allow his emotions to stop him from doing his duty to try to save Kartania from ruin.
Diverting his attention, Anders turned back to the wooded area. Max and Britt stood near Rune’s tent. He wondered if they’d been waiting for him to wake. He closed the gap between them with a determined stride and fresh spring in his step after his extended rest. Zahara followed, close on his heels. His two friends stirred in anticipation of an order. Passing within earshot, he said, “With me,” and waved for them to follow. It felt strange to have them looking to him as a leader and awaiting his orders, but he had to accept his role, if he was ever to be their king.
I can’t let my relationships get in the way of how people need to see me now, he told himself. Maija and I are the only dragonriders left among the five nations. We’re needed to oppose Merglan. If I’m not viewed and respected as a leader, then people will not follow us.
Reaching the medical tent, Anders motioned for Max, Britt and Zahara to wait outside. He stuck his head shoulder-deep into the rank tent and whistled to get the attention of those inside. “Rune, can I have a word?” he asked trying to sound as if there was no option.
The surgeon hesitated, the fresh cloth in his hand hovering above a bowl of water. For a split-second Anders thought Rune might choose to ignore him and go right back to work on the patient, but instead he placed the cloth in the bowl and spoke to his assistant, “Prep him for me; I’ll be back in a moment.”
Anders stepped back from the opening and went to Zahara’s side, forming a half-circle with Max and Britt. Rune emerged, wiping his hands on the bloodstained apron around his waist. Standing before them, he adjusted his wireframed glasses and asked, “Well?”
“Zahara and I are taking over for you. Ophelia will help us to make the process go more smoothly.” Rune’s expression widened, so Anders added, “People will trust us more if she is there to break the tension.” He nodded in response. “I want you to help spread word that this war isn’t over. Merglan may already be sending his army this way and we must be ready to stand up to them. Brookside will offer more of a stronghold in our defense, so tell everyone to get back to town. And, Rune, once Zahara and I are finished seeing to the wounded, I’ll want to have a chat with all of the leaders of this Revolution to form a better plan, but for now, we have to get these people back to a defensible space.”
Rune looked over his shoulder at the tent, then hesitantly said, “Very well,” and started off into the forest toward camp.
Anders focused on Britt and said, “You know how to organize a naval defense better than anyone here. We’ll need this army to be sea-ready as soon as possible. I don’t know how much territory Merglan captured in his takeover of the elven forest, but if he has access to their ships, he could move a large number of bodies quickly. We can’t afford to let our defenses down there.”
Britt nodded, “There are ships enough at the Brookside docks. Most are used for cargo, but my crew can get them ready for a fight or flight if need be.”
“And Max,” he said pointing to his friend. “We need to make sure people are moving toward town immediately. Help spread the message and encourage an active retreat to Brookside as soon as possible.”
Max nodded, his face creased with concern. Anders almost stopped him as he and Britt began heading in the direction Rune had gone but he let them go. He didn’t have time to get into whatever it was that bothered Max about his assignment. Although issuing orders to his friends put him in an uncomfortable position, he needed them to do as he asked.
Focusing on his own task, Anders entered the medical tent. He saw Ophelia flinch with surprise when Zahara’s iridescent scaled head followed him and filled the entire enclosed canvas entry. Zahara snorted with distaste. This smell is overwhelming, she couldn’t help saying.
I know, now please help me heal this person. The faster we heal them, the faster we’ll be out of here and able to breathe fresh air.
Ophelia stood awkwardly near the unconscious patient as Anders took Rune’s place. She nervously shuffled through the surgeon’s tools, but he stopped her with a show of his hand. Shaking his head, Anders said, “You saw, I won’t be needing those.” Ophelia shied away and Anders moved his gaze to the soldier’s injuries. Burns from dragon fire covered most of his lower body. We did this, Anders thought to Zahara.
Then let’s start by relieving his pain, Tarron’s voice sounded in place of Zahara’s normal voice. The soul held inside Lazuran’s sapphire caused Anders to glance up and check for a person who he didn’t see. Realizing he was still dressed for war, he quickly recognized the voice as his sentient sword. Anders followed Tarron’s instructions once again as the soul guided him though the ancient language. When the harmonic-sounding spell was complete, the soldier’s burns were gone. Anders felt a great sense of accomplishment.
That would’ve drained me before, he said to Zahara, marveling at the efficient use of the dragon’s native language and its manipulation of Magic.
Zahara snorted again and withdrew her head from the large canvas tent. Anders quickly attended to the needs of the others less injured in the tent.
When he was finished, Anders made to leave the tent and noticed the surgeon’s apprentice standing quietly nearby. He looked back at her and asked, “Aren’t you coming? We’ll need someone to assist us if we don’t want these Riverland people running in terror when they see Zahara approaching them.”
Ophelia startled, as if she’d just come out of a daydream and said, “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Bring that sack of bandages and salve you were clinging to so tightly while I healed that man,” Anders added and left the tent with a slight smile on his face. Amidst the seriousness of his situation, he couldn’t help but feel joy at the girl’s surprise when he asked her to help. He imagined what it would’ve been like if a dragonrider had come to Grandwood when he was her age, around fourteen he guessed by the youthfulness of her oval face and wiry frame and asked for his help.
Outside Anders stared at the cluster of people awaiting medical attention. Many of their faces were gaunt with fear of the dragon standing nearby, but Anders knew that their injuries were too serious to allow them to flee. I think they’re afraid you might eat them, Anders told Zahara as Ophelia joined him.
Why is it that any time one of you humans sees a dragon, you assume we’ll eat you? she asked.
It’s ingrained in us as children that we are to fear dragons. I guess there haven’t been that many human riders in the past and our culture has always feared the power dragons can tap into.
As they approached the small crowd, Anders said to Ophelia, “You know these people best. Explain to them that we are here to help and can make them better.”
The girl nodded, “I’ll do my best.”
***
Kirsten ran her hands along the sides of Bo’s face, his dark brown eyes enchanting her with their magnetic essence. Staring at him, Kirsten wondered how she had ever been so conflicted about which brother she wanted to be with. It was so clear to her now. “Bo,” she whispered, voicing her inner thoughts. He leaned in and their lips met; they held each other tightly. She squeezed him, feeling a swell of emotions she never knew she had. Bo’s lips stiffened and she opened her eyes. He winced. “Are you alright?” she asked.
Bo rolled his shoulders and flexed his back. His skin where the whip of energy burned through his armor had healed, but Kirsten knew he could still feel its bite. “I’ll be alright,” he said rubbing at the back of his neck where the burn had ended.
“Bo, you should be resting,” Kirsten said with concern.
Bo’s eyes moved to look past Kirsten. She twisted to see what had drawn his attention. A group of people, haggard and run down shuffled with heavy packs though the forest.
“I can rest when we’re back in Brookside,” he said.
Kirsten frowned, knowing he wouldn’t sit idle while others were packing up their camp. “If you insist on helping people return to their homes, you should take this.” Kirsten pulled the poudrettite necklace over her head and placed it around Bo’s neck. The chain settled onto his chest and she watched as the stone’s light began to glow faintly and dwindle out.
Bo took his eyes off the pink-hued crystal and asked, “Are you sure you don’t need it?”
Kirsten rubbed her left shoulder feeling the raised bump of flesh where the goblin bite had been and said, “I don’t need it anymore. It will help you keep going while your muscles heal.”
Bo examined the sapphire hanging around his neck, “It’s funny. I’m so used to seeing it on you, it feels strange, kind of like I’m wearing your clothes or something.”
