Dragon Trials (Return of the Darkening Book 1) (16 page)

I didn’t know if it was because of Seb’s strange affinity with Kalax, or if it was because of what had happened back at the enclosure, but it felt that we were actually a partnership now, in more ways than one. All of us. Kalax lifted into the air as soft as a feather and flew the best that I had ever known, and Seb and I just seemed to be on the same page for once.

I replayed the feel of his lips against my skin, just a gentle brush, a hint of warmth and softness. It had left me shivering with something like fear, excitement, and butterflies in my stomach all at once. But Dragon Riders were supposed to be partners—not lovers. And as cadets we weren’t even supposed to be more than friends. I knew of some Dragon Riders who had eventually settled down and had married—but never while in service. It just…well, it wasn’t done.

Thinking ahead, too, I knew that I had to put my duty to the Academy and my father and my king first. What if there was a war tomorrow? How could Seb and I fight in battles if we were too…too emotionally entangled? And what would those tangles do to our riding Kalax?

There were too many questions. I almost wished Seb hadn’t kissed me, but I knew deep inside that part of me wished he had done it a lot sooner.

What am I thinking?
Father would never agree to an unequal match, and I wanted to be a Dragon Rider, not a woman who would be a wife and mother above all else. My mind was in turmoil and my emotions bounded around like young dragons trying out their wings for the first time.
Enough
, I thought. For the moment, duty mattered the most. There was a real chance we were all in terrible danger, and I needed to focus on simply finding out if that danger was real or just some stories.

We had to do what was right, meaning we needed to bring back information to the Academy if there was a danger forming. We flew high, catching the cold winds. It seemed to me that Kalax enjoyed stretching her wings. The Leviathan Mountains rose in front of us, marching toward us, their peaks as white as linen.

Below us the terrain grew wilder and wilder, the farms breaking up into meadows and ravines, snow-fed streams snaking paths down the foothills. We flew past the occasional shepherd’s croft, perched high in the hills, and over deep woods where deer startled and burst into the open, and over lakes that looked ice-cold with blue waters. We had been flying for the best part of the afternoon—Kalax seemed to never tire, and she knew how to ride the thermals to save her strength. Seb and I kept quiet, too, for we needed to save our energy as well. The day was drawing to its close, the sky overhead turning darker, when I saw what we were looking for. A village—and it must be one that had supposedly been taken over by the Darkening. I pointed downward. Seb nodded and coaxed Kalax into a wide circling movement to bring us down.

*

“Well, it doesn’t look as though it’s been wiped off the map.” I glanced at Seb. We had landed on a wide section of barren land just outside the village, perhaps the place where they might once have held fairs or markets. The simple, two streets of the village all stood before us in as good a condition as you’d expect. A few boards were missing from two of the buildings, a few windows were missing their glass, but the roofs were all intact and not a house was burned to the ground or otherwise demolished. I could see no signs of battle.

Seb was frowning. “But…this village wasn’t on any of the maps I saw. And…where is everyone?”

“Look there.” I pointed to the surrounding woodlands. A thin wisp of pale smoke rose above the tree line. “Someone has a fire.”

“Guess we’d better introduce ourselves,” Seb said, drawing his sword from his saddle scabbard. I unslung my bow and notched an arrow, joining him as we crept toward the trees. Kalax moved surprisingly quietly behind us.

The woods surrounding the village seemed unkempt—fallen wood had not been gathered for fires. The trees were tall pines, dry needles crunched under our boots and Kalax’s step. Within the forest, we found a narrow track that led to a small, thatched cottage. Lights twinkled from within the clouded windows, and a thin trail of white smoke rose from a stone chimney.

“I’ll knock.” Seb moved up to the cottage door and raised a fist to rap on the door.

“Hold fast,” a voice called from the other side of the clearing. We turned. An old man emerged from the shadows of the trees on the edge of the clearing. He was bald with a long, white beard and he wore dirty brown and tan robes. He held a taut bow in his hand, an arrow notched and aimed at Seb. “Move off, unless you wants a new hole to breathe through.” A shadow fell across all of us.

Kalax pushed aside a trio of saplings and rose up in the clearing, her teeth bared and a rumble coming from deep in her chest.

The old man paled and lowered his bow.

Stepping forward, Seb spread his hands wide. “We mean you no harm. We’re here…we heard stories. Tales of bad things happening in the north. We came to find out the truth.”

“Dragon Riders? From Torvald?” The old man started to shake. Relief eased the lines on his face, but fear still seemed to lurk in his eyes. “I thought you’d never come!”

“Were you attacked?” I asked.

The old man strode forward, glancing over his shoulder, and made for his cottage door. “Come in. You’d best come in.” He looked up at Kalax. “Er—there isn’t room for all of you, though.”

I nodded. Seb put a hand on Kalax’s neck. She grumbled, but wrapped herself around the rock of the fireplace and the cottage, warming herself.

Inside, I saw the old man lived simply—a hunter and trapper, I guessed. Skins and furs hung from the rafters, and the place had the smell of preserving vinegars, salts and a musty undercurrent of meat and bone. The old man hung his bow and quiver of arrows on a hook by the side of the door.

He moved to the fire, added a log and gestured for us to sit. His chairs—two of them looked hand-hewn from logs. I chose to stand near the door. But Seb sat and put his sword across his knees.

The old man glanced from Seb to me and back. He looked tired and weary. He rubbed a hand down his beard. “My grandfather rode the dragons of Torvald, but my father—he was never picked.” He glanced at me and his eyes narrowed. “You’re a Flamma, aren’t you? That hair—like golden fire. My grandfather told me of your line. Said you was cousins, of a kind.”

I lifted my eyebrows. I would never claim a man such as this as kin, but I knew the House of Flamma was widespread. “Your story?” I asked, prompting the man.

He shook his head and stared into the fire. “I had gone out to hunt, as I always do, spending a few days in the deep woods, caching what I can’t carry, picking up a few rabbits and pheasants, deer and a boar as well. My cart was weighed down by the time I returned to the village. I came by the old path, the one up to the mines. And what I seen—well, it weren’t right. Men, women, children all—everyone staggering in and out of the old mine like they was asleep but with their eyes open. But they weren’t carrying ore out—all the ore from the old mine was used up years ago. They were just carrying rocks.”

“Big rocks?” I asked.

The old man scratched his beard and shook his head. “All sizes. I couldn’t understand it. I tried asking a few what they were doing—old Tom the butcher, and Ralph the smithy. Wouldn’t say a word. Wouldn’t even stop for me. Mindless, they were. Just walking in and out of the mine, carrying rocks. Next thing, I hear hoof beats a-coming. I hide by picking up a rock and being one of those without a mind. And up comes a black rider on a black horse. In one hand, he’s toying with something hung around his neck. A green stone…a jewel the size of your fist…and I stare into it and feel my past leaking away.”

“The Memory Stone,” Seb breathed out the words. I hushed him and turned back to the old man. “What happened next?”

He let out a breath, looked up at us and leaned back in his chair. “House of Flamma. Grandad always said House of Flamma made the best riders. Said his own gran came from that house. Ran off she did, to her family’s disapproval.”

My patience was wearing, but Seb leaned forward and said, “What of you? Can you remember?”

The old man shook his head. “I wakes in a camp full of the sleepers. Don’t know why I wakes and they don’t. I got up and ran back to the village, but the people ran with me. Under a spell, I figure. A wicked magic. Just like in the old tales.”

I crossed my arms. “If there is magic, why didn’t you stay under the spell?”

Seb glanced at me. “Maybe the magic doesn’t work on everyone the same.” He looked at the old man. “What do you think is different about you?”

Shrugging, the old man looked at me. “Maybe it’s cause I’ve Dragon Riders’ blood in me. It’s weak and old as me, but it’s there. Or maybe it’s ‘cause I didn’t look long enough into that stone. Maybe that black rider couldn’t steal all my soul.”

Frowning, I tried to will Seb not to keep asking questions. It was possible this old man was just mad from living too many years on his own. He might be spinning stories, too—maybe he was even the one who had started the stories of trouble. There could be a lot of reasons for the village to be empty—maybe a sickness had started and spread, or those who lived here had left to follow rumors of gold. But I knew that even if those things were true, a few should still be here. And not just this old man.

“You know what’s going on, don’t you?” the old man asked, his voice anxious. “The Darkening—it’s returning. That black rider with his black eyes is bringing it back.”

Stepping over to him, I put a hand on his shoulder. “Make your way to Torvald, get yourself behind strong city walls and close to the city.”

Seb stood. “Thea’s right. This…this looks as if the Darkening is returning—and if that old evil has the power of magic with it, no one is safe. We must get back to the Academy and warn others.”

I sent Seb a worried glance. We didn’t have any real proof—just an empty village that was not on any map and an old man with more stories to tell. But, still, it might be enough to set up an alarm. I turned to the old man. “Get yourself to Torvald. You’ll be safe there.”

He spread his hands wide. “But my cottage? My wife is buried outside.”

“You want to be buried next to her?” Seb asked.

The old man shook his head. With a sigh, he nodded. “I’ll pack and set out in the morning.”

Seb headed outside and I followed. The air was colder now, and the darkness thick. I couldn’t help but look around us and wonder where the black rider was—and what his plans were. There was trouble in the land—and now we had to sound the alarm before it was too late to halt its spread.

We headed back to the open area near the village, Thea, me and Kalax. I needed time to think about what the old man had said. Why hadn’t he stayed under the power of the stones? Could some resist it? Or was there a limit to the stones’ power? Or had he been let go for a reason? His stories worried me. Thea mounted into the protector’s saddle behind me. Kalax nudged me with her nose.
We go home?

I could tell she was tired. She needed rest, as did I. With a nod to Thea, I mounted and asked Kalax to fly south. We flew through the early hours of the evening and into the night. I was surprised at how quickly she responded to my mental commands. She’d taken to night flying almost immediately. I could tell she liked the cool air on her face and the stars glittered overhead. The cold wind, however, seeped through my leather jerkin and now I wished I’d worn a warmer, winter cloak.

Finally, the pale towers of the Academy rose up. We could see them from behind the ridge of Mount Hammal. But I also saw the beacon torches blazing from the tops of the walls. Something was very wrong—the beacons were only lit in times of great danger. Or war.

In the distance the dragon horn sounded three long calls. Kalax stiffened underneath me and picked up speed. Three blasts was a summons to all riders to arm and mount.

We circled our platform and descended to see one of the Dragon Riders waving landing flags at us, telling us to land and dismount immediately. Down in the training area and also on top of the walls, Dragon Riders ran, hastily pulling on their armor and grabbing their saddles, weapons and harness. Overhead, dragons swept from the sky, landing on platforms, giving out small bursts of fire that lit the night. Along with the beacon torches, the dragon fire left the air smelling of smoke and the night seemed to take on a reddish haze.

I swapped a look with Thea—she glanced at me, her mouth tight and her eyes huge. Thea gave Kalax a pat. “She should get some food and rest.”

I nodded. We quickly unsaddled Kalax, and I told her to go back to her cave to eat and rest. She looked at me.
No flying? Want to fly!

Eat first
, I told her.

She puffed out smoke and took off. Heading down into the training yard with our saddle and harness, I saw a small knot of people in front of the keep. Commander Hegarty stood out in full battle array.

He glanced at us and smiled. “Sebastian. Agathea. Thank the heavens you are safe. We thought you been caught up in the attack,”

Panic knotted my stomach. “What attack? What’s happened?”

The commander put a hand on my shoulder. “Enemy dragons…black dragons have been spotted, coming from the north. We’ve had word of two villages having been attacked, and that an army of mindless slaves marches with black dragons. We’re preparing for war.”

“The Darkening,” I muttered. It was coming at us, sooner than I thought it would. Next to me, Thea pulled in a sharp breath.

Commander Hegarty was looking grave. He turned and ordered those around to head to their dragons.

“Sir, we’re ready to ride,” Thea said stepping forward.

The commander shook his head. ”You and the other cadets are to stay here at the Academy. Your job is to keep it secured. The Dragon Riders will deal with this threat.”

“But Commander…” The words poured out of me. I had left the commander a note saying that Thea and I were practicing night flight—that way at least I’d known we’d come back and not get a third mark against us. But no one was thinking of marks now. I told him about the stones, the mines, the empty village we’d found, and about the old man’s story. The commander’s mouth pulled down and his eyes sharpened. “Sir, we think the Darkening is returning.”

Next to me, Thea nodded. “It’s true, sir. The stories from the north—and the story about a…a stone that can steal memories.”

Hegarty looked from Thea to me. “The Memory Stone—that is something you should not mention again. Not to others. There is too much danger in the knowledge of that stone. We’ll speak more later. For now, you have your orders.” Commander Hegarty clapped a heavy, firm hand on my shoulder and one on Thea’s. “Your time will come, cadets. By the first dragon, it may be more quickly than you think.” He turned and strode away, heading up the stairs to the platform where his dragons waited.

I turned to Thea. I felt helpless, and worried. Did these riders even know the danger they faced? Could they win against magic? The old stories said they’d had the dragon stones with them—what would happen if those stones were in the hands of the Darkening? Shoulders slumping, I nudged her with my elbow. “I guess we have our orders now.”

Thea was looking up at the dark bodies of the winged dragons flying hard against the rising wind, circling over the Academy as they formed into squadrons and rank. Turning to me with fire in her eyes, Thea shook her head. “I know this is going to mean disobeying the commander—something that will get us both kicked out. But we have to choose—stay and maybe there would be an Academy that will take us in as full Dragon Riders, or kick us out. Or ride to save our city and the realm.”

I shook my head. “The commander knows what he’s up against. We told him—that’s what we wanted to do.” Thea punched my arm. Hard. Pulling back I glared at her. “What was that for?”

“This is the most important thing that’s ever happened in my life. Ever! Do you really want to stay here and wait. We might be cadets, but what if the commander needs to send messages? What if the Darkening, whatever it is, is stronger than even the king’s Dragon Riders? You have skills no one else has, Seb. You heard what the old man said—there’s magic at work. Dark magic. And what the commander said—black dragons on the move. There are cadets enough to hold the Academy—but they’re going to be dead, too, if whatever is moving against us defeats the Dragon Riders. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that one person can make a difference. Now are we going? Or are we going to let everyone down?”

I let out a breath. As long as I had Thea and Kalax by my side, I wouldn’t ever hesitate again.

“Let’s go. But I want a heavier cloak first. And if we’re going to ride with Dragon Riders, we’d better look like them, too. So whose helmets and armor do you think we can borrow?”

With all the rushing around and confusion, it was fairly easy to fill saddle bags with food from the kitchen, and grab extra armor and weapons from the sheds. I asked Kalax if she had eaten, and she had, but she wanted to be up in the air. She had caught the excitement of the other dragons and didn’t want to miss this. She was just like Thea. I kept worrying, but Thea’s eyes sparkled bright in the torchlight as if she lived for this kind of thing. I tried not to think about getting caught—there were more important worries, like ones about staying alive.

Once saddled, Kalax followed the rest of the Dragon Riders. We flew north, hanging back behind the last flight squadron. We had been about two hours in the saddle when I noticed Kalax was starting to tire. Her wings dipped lower each time she beat them and her long neck wavered as she tried to hold up her head.

Ahead of us, the experienced dragons knew how to use the air currents that flowed over the ridge-lines of hills, ducking low over lakes and rivers, saving their energy. The experienced Dragon Riders knew how to pace themselves—and they hadn’t already made this flight north, unlike us.

We almost lost the squadron twice as the dragons flew low over the forests and woods below, never daring to raise themselves up high in the sky, which would give away their position to any enemy watchers.

But where was the enemy?
I scanned the horizon. There was no glow of fire, no smoke, no terrible sounds of battle. It was as if we were just flying a night training mission.

The dragon squadron changed their pace, rising in the air in vast swooping movements. I realized we were nearing the village that must have reported that they were under attack.

“There,” Thea leaned forward to point out to a spot ahead of us. Nestled against a low hill, I glimpsed the glow of camp fires dotting the woods. I gasped when I realized the size of the camp—there had to be thousands of Dragon Riders spread over the edge of the woods and the river.

“But where’s the village they’re here to protect?” Thea asked as I used one of my telescopes to scan the dark horizon, but everything was too black to make anything out. Finally, I spotted a dark collection of irregular shapes. The village was actually a walled town, with high walls rising on one side of a river and the bluff of hills behind. Two bridges spanned the river. Inside the walled township, I could see not a hint of light.

I shivered. It was just like the other village we had seen earlier—deserted.

I turned to ask Thea where we should land, when a pain shot through the side of my head. It was as if a blazing poker had been pushed into my skull.

“Seb!” Thea shouted, and then Kalax roared. I swayed and started to fall from my saddle.
Too many wings, too many …

Thea grabbed my shoulder and shook me. Underneath me, Kalax wobbled and dove—I knew she could feel my pain and it was unbearable. I cried out and Kalax roared again and dove, trying to escape my own confusion and agony.

“Land us,” Thea yelled.

I managed to get the picture of what I wanted to do to Kalax. She skimmed over the edge of the woods beyond the king’s camp, landing awkwardly with a disgruntled squawk in a small clearing.

Thea unclipped me from my harness and dragged me to the ground. Above us, Kalax hissed into the air. “What is it?” Thea demanded.

“Too many…too many dragons. I can feel them…” The pain began to ease to a low and steady thump behind my eyes.

“Your dragon affinity. Looks like there are drawbacks to your gift.” Thea sat back on her heels. Under me, the ground was cool and steadied me. Thea glanced over to the fires on the hillside. “Something’s made it worse. But you never had this trouble at the Academy, and we have a lot of dragons there. Maybe it’s their excitement, or maybe it’s the dragon stones…”

I sat up. I didn’t know why it had hit me like that, either. I could feel the waves of fear and excitement coming from all of the dragons. Some dragon minds were sharper and more distinct—I knew which dragons I met at the Academy. But somewhere nearby, there was also a tide of hunger and anger. I had the feeling these were the black dragons that the Dragon Riders would be facing.

“You’ll have to rest,” Thea said, one hand on my chest. Kalax gave a welcoming chirrup and sat down heavily beside me. She folded one of her wings around me and Thea. It was like being surrounded by her heartbeat. The pain eased and I closed my eyes, but still I could feel the threat of the black dragons.