[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
of his arms cradled her. One hand stroked her face. You ve reached the dragons, Kale. And you did
more. Every citizen of Amara who has had any allegiance to Wulder also heard your plea. Each saw the
images you sent as if you put that person in the picture.
He squeezed her to his chest and kissed her forehead. You ve done more than I imagined you could.
She felt droplets splash on her cheeks.
Her father wiped away his tears from her face. You must rest.
I m all right.
Are you?
Yes, just tired.
Try to summon Gymn, or Metta, or Ardeo. Summon just one of your dragons.
He waited.
I can t. She struggled to sit up. Her body did not cooperate. She returned to a limp rag-doll state in her
father s lap. Help me.
I can t call the dragons for you.
Then help me sit.
With her father s aid, she brought her head up and rested her back against his chest.
Her muscles refused to hold her. She started to slide to one side. Her father repositioned her in a more
stable spot with his arm around her.
She blinked back tears. What s wrong with me?
You re exhausted, but you re young. Soon, physically, you will be as strong as ever.
Physically?
You ve exhausted your talent, Kale, and I don t know if that will return.
45
WHO IS THE ENEMY?
Kale wore a belt that would help keep her in the saddle. She thought it unnecessary, but Sir Kemry
insisted. She looked down from Alton s back to her father s worried face. I m all right.
He smiled and winked. Then, patting Alton on his shoulder, he said, Take her to her mother, friend. And
remember she can t hear you.
Kale forced a brave smile on her face as the dragon spread his wings and jumped into flight. But as soon
as no one could see, she let it slip. Of course she could hear the dragon s wings beat against the air, but
she couldn t hear him mindspeak.
All six of her minor dragons were with her, but she couldn t communicate with any of them, either. Gymn
traveled in a sling under her tunic so that he would be next to her heart. She knew he was giving her more
healing, but not the speedy recovery that used to come when her talent cooperated with his. The rest of
the dragons tucked themselves into their pocket-dens. The eggs rested in the scarf wrapped around her
waist.
Her father s plan met with Kale s wholehearted approval. He would organize the dragons. She would
return to her mother. Kale didn t have any talent to help her locate Lady Allerion, so she and Alton
would have to set down often to ask for news and directions. That might prove to be dangerous, but
Kale tried not to worry.
Father said I would be as strong as ever physically. All the training I ve done to fight didn t rely
on my talent. I can still defend myself.
She and Alton flew north, away from the Dormanscz Mountains and over Ordray. Far below, indistinct
shapes moved in mobs. They swarmed a house or barn, then ranged the open spaces until they detected
another target. Kale wanted to ask Alton to fly lower so she could investigate, but none of her efforts to
mindspeak to the dragon resulted in anything other than frustration.
She knew that what she saw below were animals, but without a closer look she could not tell what type
they were. From the way these creatures moved, she surmised that they were not ordinary wild beasts.
The agreement had been for Alton to set down outside the first town they came to. He didn t. Kale felt
certain that he had a reason, but it was a reason she had no way of understanding.
Alton picked up speed and soared to a higher elevation.
Is something wrong? Kale called out. But if he answered her with mindspeaking, she had no idea.
She craned her neck to scan the skies around them. Nothing in the air. She surveyed the land. Squinting
at a dark smudge on the horizon before them, she realized she d spotted a military camp.
I bet it s not ours.
Alton veered to the north rather than fly directly over the encampment. The activity below stunned Kale.
Troops of soldiers marched down every road. Ordinary citizens engaged in battles with swarms of
strange, scrawny animals. From her position, Kale could not see that any of the farmers and villagers won
against the onslaught.
She was so busy watching the tableau beneath her that she carelessly forgot to pay attention to her
dragon s body cues. Alton changed directions and flew faster. The sudden shift caught Kale off guard,
and she was thankful for the belt that helped her keep from falling. She clenched her knees into the
stirrups and fussed at herself.
You ve lost your talent, not your brain. Pay attention. It doesn t require wizardry to keep your
seat on a dragon s back.
She glanced around and saw two dark shapes in the sky. That s why you ve changed directions, isn t
it, Alton? Dragons, and I ll bet they re fire dragons sent to kill.
She didn t expect an answer and didn t get one.
The dragons behind became larger as they drew closer. Red scales glistened in the sun. She could see
smoke curling from their nostrils. Her heart beat faster, and she willed Alton to find the strength to
escape.
Alton had not lost hope. She marveled that he continued the steady beat of his wings. His long flight since
dawn that morning prevented him from exerting more effort. He d been in the air for hours. They could
not speed ahead. But Kale recognized the wisdom of flying higher. The thinner air would not provide the
necessary zoic to fuel the fire dragons flames. But the high altitude also meant Alton had more difficulty
breathing.
Kale pulled one of her spears from its quiver. Most of her strength had returned before her father would
allow her to make the journey. Healing had taken more than a week when, with Gymn, it should have
taken less than a day. Her aim had always been good. And if the fire dragons passed beneath them, she
had a good chance of striking her target.
The muscles along Alton s shoulders quivered. Kale put her hand on his scales. If she shouted, he might
hear. But would he understand? Different dragons had different capacities for understanding spoken
language. Her own Celisse had lived with a farming family before coming to her. Celisse comprehended
speech proficiently. Kale couldn t encourage Alton with words, but maybe her touch would tell him she
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]