Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) (19 page)

“
It
’
s not surprising to me,
”
replied Tallin quietly.
“
I wonder how they really view us. Long after we
’
re gone, they
’
ll still be alive. You heard Xiiltharra on the island
—
a thousand years is nothing to her. I can
’
t imagine what life is like from their perspective.
”

The elves ate well, whispering to each other between bites. Galti and Holf came back a while later to see if they needed anything else. Their entrance into the room broke the tension, and Tallin spoke.

“
Do you have news from Sela? I was tempted to contact her myself, but I wanted to save my strength,
”
said Tallin. 

Galti nodded.
“
Sela
’
s been contacting me every few days.
”
Despite his young age, he was a powerful telepath.
“
Once Mount Velik fell, she and Elias travelled to Highport with the survivors. Both of them are there now. They
’
re trying to negotiate a treaty between the clans.
”

“
Mount Velik has fallen to the orcs?
”
Mugla gasped.
“
I can
’
t believe it!
”

“
I
’
m sorry I didn
’
t mention it sooner
—
I thought you knew,
”
Galti said.
“
Most of the women and children escaped, but the dwarf army was destroyed. The refugees travelled to Highport to request sanctuary, but the Vardmiters won
’
t let them inside their mountain.
”

Mugla sighed.
“
What a disaster. This new is very sad. All the clans are still bloodkin. They should try to cooperate with one another.
”

For a moment, Tallin did nothing but try to absorb the shocking news. Mount Velik had fallen? All the clans were in Highport? So many things had happened while they were stuck on Balbor. The elves seemed unsurprised by the news.

Tallin turned on Xiiltharra.
“
This is important news. Did you know about this?
”

“
Careful, halfling,
”
F
ë
anor said, his voice low.
“
This is our queen. Show some respect.
”

Xiiltharra stretched in her chair like a cat. Then she smiled and held up one perfectly shaped hand.
“
I can speak for myself, F
ë
anor. The halfling
’
s gruff manner does not bother me; I find it rather
…
amusing.
”
Xiiltharra paused to pluck a grape from a plate of fruit in front of her.
“
Although the animosity between the dwarf clans does not interest me, it does worry me that the orcs have conquered their stronghold. So I am somewhat concerned about the situation at Mount Velik. The orcs are a plague, even to us, and my people do not wish to see the greenskins spread their vileness any further. I originally believed that the dwarves had the situation under control. The dwarves haven
’
t fallen to the orcs in untold millennia, so we did not believe they would lose. By the time I learned of the clans
’
defeat, I was already on my way to Balbor. There was nothing we could do to help them at that point. The elves can
’
t be everywhere at once, you know.
”

Tallin sighed.
“
I
’
ve only just arrived, but now I have to go to Highport. I have to help my people.
”

“
I
’
m comin
’
with ye,
”
said Mugla.

Tallin didn
’
t try to argue with his aunt this time. He turned his attention back to the elves.
“
Will you all be leaving now?
”

“
Why the sudden hurry to push us out of your city, halfling?
”
snorted F
ë
anor.
“
Are you afraid that we might try to pinch your precious dragon
’
s eggs after all?
”

Tallin didn
’
t respond, but his face must have betrayed his emotions, because Xiiltharra chuckled.

“
Don
’
t worry, halfling. My people only wanted to safeguard the eggs from the Balborites. Now that the threat has been removed, it is in our best interest for Shesha
’
s brood to grow up strong and healthy in the desert. This is their natural habitat, after all. So, I
’
ll give you my vow
—
we won
’
t attempt to take any of Shesha
’
s eggs. However, if any of her offspring should happen to make their way to Brighthollow once they
’
ve hatched, then we will accept them into the land of faerie with open arms.
”

Tallin nodded. He felt better.
“
So tell me, how did Atejul manage to hatch in faerie? Is all the talk of Brighthollow being dangerous for hatchlings just a myth?
”

The queen pursed her lips, as if considering whether or not to answer him. Then she shrugged.
“
No, it
’
s not a myth. Dragons are creatures of the desert. They breed best in this climate, so this is also the best place for them to nest. The magic of Brighthollow seems to affect dragons. Female dragons refuse to nest in faerie, and they will not accept a mate there either. We don
’
t know why.
”

“
Then how did you get Atejul to hatch? Did you use magic?
”

“
No, that would be impossible. Dragon
’
s eggs are impervious to magic
—
even ours. When Nagendra fled the desert years ago, she came to us.  Physically, she was in a terrible state, but she had already mated with Duskeye. She carried her eggs in her belly across the ocean mists into our hidden land. When she arrived, she was exhausted by and badly injured. We nursed her back to health over several months. At the end of her recovery, she laid seven eggs. Although it is rare for dragon
’
s eggs to hatch in Brighthollow, it is not impossible. So we kept the eggs safe and waited for them to hatch, but they did not. Elves offered to carry the eggs back to the desert for a few months to see if the heat would encourage the eggs to hatch, but Nagendra was too afraid. Nagendra was terrified of leaving Brighthollow
—
her family had been slaughtered by dragon hunters. And who could blame her, after everything she had suffered? In the end, only one hatchling emerged from his shell, and that was Atejul. The other eggs went sterile and died. Atejul was weak at first, but we fostered him to health. He eventually grew into the beautiful creature that he is today. We were joined as rider and dragon a while ago, and I must say, it
’
s been a wonderful experience. I have a new perspective now. I want to see the dragons recover and flourish. Are you satisfied now, dwarf?
”
She flashed a dazzling smile.

Tallin smiled with what he hoped looked like genuine gratitude.
“
Yes, that
’
s comforting news. And congratulations on your joining.
”

“
Thank you. Now that we
’
ve settled this little problem, Atejul and I will return to Brighthollow. However, Amandila and F
ë
anor shall be travelling to Highport to assist you.
”

“
W-what?
”
sputtered Amandila.
“
But
…
my queen; I was looking forward to going home. Why must we accompany these dwarves? What are they to us?
”

The Queen looked at her with a hint of a smile.
“
I understand your concerns, my dear, but circumstances have changed. We cannot let the greenskins spread; if we do nothing, then they shall eventually become a nuisance, even for us. I want you both to help the dwarves.
”

“
But my queen
—”
Amandila tried again, but Xiiltharra cut her off.

The Queen
’
s smile turned frosty.
“
Are you questioning my orders?
”

Amandila bowed her head.
“
No, your majesty. I apologize.
”

“
Very good. You and F
ë
anor should make your preparations right away. It
’
s a long journey to Highport.
”
The queen looked at Tallin.
“
Will you allow us to stock provisions for the trip?
”

“
Yes,
”
said Tallin, nodding.
“
I
’
ll notify the stable hands. They
’
ll restock your saddlebags.
”

They all rose up to prepare. Tallin hadn
’
t expected to be undertaking such a long journey so soon after his last. He
’
d been hoping to spend some time relaxing, but he couldn
’
t. There was another threat to be taken care of, another battle to fight. In that moment, Tallin felt very tired.

He trudged up to the ramparts with the intention of getting Duskeye ready to leave. Shesha was there with him.

“
Where are you going now?
”
she asked.
“
You
’
ve only just arrived.
”

Tallin explained the situation at Highport and watched as Shesha grew agitated by the news. Duskeye didn
’
t seem happy either.

“
You
’
re leaving so soon?
”
Shesha asked.

“
We have to
,
”
Duskeye said.
“
It will be a long journey, and I have to carry Tallin
’
s aunt, too. It
’
s tiring for me to carry extra passengers. I
’
m not as young as I once was.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, old friend,
”
Tallin said with a sympathetic smile.

Shesha raised her head.
“
I
’
ll come with you, then. I can carry this
…
aunt.
”

“
You?
”
Tallin looked at her in shock.
“
But what about your eggs?
”

“
My eggs are safe in Parthos
,
”
Shesha said.
“
Orshek and Karela have shown me that they can keep my eggs safe
—
they are my cousins and my kin. Besides, it will be a while yet before they hatch. So I won
’
t let Duskeye go into this battle alone.
”

Tallin could hear the strength of her determination. Galti and Holf were too young to fight, so they were staying behind in the city, so her argument made sense.
“
Thank you. It would be helpful to have the assistance of another dragon. All right, we
’
ll be leaving at dawn. You
’
ll need to be ready by then.
”

“
I
’
ll be ready.
”

It seemed that the elves were ready as well. As soon as Shesha finished speaking, they all appeared on the ramparts together. Amandila and F
ë
anor began to ready their dragons for the long journey by removing their saddles and greasing their backs with oil to reduce friction. Nagendra didn
’
t seem any happier about going to Highport than her rider. As usual, Blacktooth and F
ë
anor remained silent, and basically kept to themselves.