I never saw them coming last time either. He’s good at masking his presence. While keeping his mental senses acutely aware of their surroundings, Anders relied on what he could see. I can’t see anything ahead, Anders said in frustration.
“Should we really be doing this?” Thomas asked.
“I can’t let him get away,” Anders replied over his shoulder.
“It’s dark and I can’t see where they went. What if he’s waiting to surprise you behind one of these mountains?”
“Then we’ll fight him, Thomas. This is exactly what I was talking about when we spoke of shirking responsibilities. I am the only weapon to use in this instance.”
“I thought he was able to fool you the last time you faced him, and you had help then,” Thomas said.
Before Anders could respond, Tarron’s voice entered his mind, Perhaps your cousin is right, Anders. I can feel your desire to put an end to this above all else, but you don’t know Merglan’s full potential yet. We are out in the open and unprepared to face him. You are tired and in need of a good night’s rest.
Are you suggesting I let him go?
You spoke of responsibilities not only as a dragonrider but as King. You need to put the lives of your people first. What if he meant for you to see him and lead you farther away from them so they would be unprotected. He might be seeking to destroy the town as we search the darkness.
I agree with him, Zahara added to the conversation.
Anders chewed on his lip for a moment, deliberating on whether to go back. It wouldn’t be the first time Merglan lured them somewhere only to launch an attack elsewhere.
“Anders, I’m worried about Kirsten,” Thomas said.
“Alright,” Anders said giving in somewhat reluctantly. “We’ll go back and make sure nothing’s gone wrong in Brookside.”
Zahara swung in low over the collection of roofs in town. She and Anders swept Brookside with their minds, searching for any sign of a disturbance or intruder. Through the dim glow of lamp light, they could see enough to make out distinct shapes in the night.
“Keep an eye out for anything that seems off,” Anders said to Thomas.
Sharing his mind with Zahara and Tarron, he passed over the port town. Bring us down near the docks, Anders said to Zahara. I see people down there are still working. I want to ask them if they’ve seen anything strange.
Anders leapt off Zahara’s back as she folded in her wings. He saw Helga holding a candle up to a piece of parchment she’d placed over a crate. Approaching her swiftly, he called out her name.
“Anders,” she said, eyeing him and immediately keying into his worried state. “What’s happened? You look flustered.”
“Have you noticed anything strange happening in the last several hours?” he asked.
She folded her arms and lifted her head in thought. A moment later, she sighed and said, “Not that I can recall. Why do you ask?”
“Are Britt and her crew still out on the docks?” he asked, ignoring her query.
“Yes, they are. What’s going on?”
“Have them ready the gunners. We spotted Merglan and his dragon flying not far from here,” Anders said and started off toward Rune’s office.
He heard Helga curse under her breath then take off running down the wooden docks. Thomas had climbed down off Zahara and jogged to Anders’ side. “What are you doing now?” he asked.
“I’m gathering the leaders so we can get these people ready for whatever Merglan throws at us.”
“What can I do to help?” Thomas asked.
Anders stopped at the door to Rune’s practice and looked his cousin in the eye, “Make sure Kirsten and the others are safe. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I want you two well protected and ready for anything.”
Thomas nodded and hustled down the street. Anders called after him, “And Thomas.” When his cousin turned, Anders tossed him the crystal Kirsten had recovered from Rankstine. “Make sure she’s got that when it happens. If what I heard was true, she’ll protect you better than the others.”
He nodded, pocketed the crystal and took off running down the street.
Anders pulled open Rune’s door. The surgeon already had his coat on and was lacing up his boots. “I saw you through the window. It looks serious. What’s happened?”
Anders grabbed Rune’s sword and belt from the coat rack next to the door and handed them to him, “Merglan’s outside the city. I saw him and Killdoor less than an hour ago.”
“I was hoping this wouldn’t happen until we were ready,” Rune said.
“Come on, we’ll need to get the other leaders to help assemble the people. As far as I can tell, Merglan hasn’t attacked, yet.”
Rune notched his sword belt and the two headed out into the night.
***
Thomas ran through the yellow lamplight dotting the street. His feet clacked against the cobblestone street as he rounded a corner to the lane where he, Kirsten and Bo had taken up residence. Only one more block, he told himself as he became increasingly short of breath.
The sound of glass shattering followed by a heavy thud brought Thomas skidding to a halt. The noise came from in front of him, just a couple of houses down. He saw a dark hole in the front window of a brick house on the right.
Crap, he thought to himself and turned the other way to run for help.
His thoughts were followed by gut-wrenching screams. He started running but stopped. “Kirsten,” he said under his breath. He couldn’t abandon his sister, not when she was so close to whatever danger was happening in that home.
He ran back down the street as he heard crashes and more screams coming from the home with the broken window. He stopped again just outside the house so he could look through the hole in the front window. A dark shape moved quickly through the frame. When Thomas saw wings on its back, his heart leapt into his throat. He choked, forgetting to breathe for a moment. Go around, I will go around, he told himself, trying to stay calm and do what Anders said. Go to Kirsten.
