The Black Wing (21 page)

*****

“Who are they?” demanded Jahet. “Where did they come from?” “My guess would be they're
Knights of Solamnia from Lamesh.” Stunned, Jahet looked away from Khisanth's impassive
face. The lead dragon quickly scanned their ranks of archers, cavalry, and infantry. “But
they have no dragons. How can they possibly hope to win against our aerial attacks?” “I
believe they have three dragons on their side,” said Khi-santh tersely. Jahet's thick lips
ruffled. “Look,” she said, pointing to Khoal, Dnestr, and Neetra, soaring low over the
fortress. “They're with their ridersour commanders.” “Then why haven't they attacked the
enemy yet?” “Because I haven't been able to give the order!” snapped Jahet. “I've been
trapped in my lair!” Khisanth took note of Jahet's frustration and adopted a tone meant to
persuade. “Jahet,” she said, her voice sanguine, “how do you explain the unexpected size,
let alone arrival, of this army of knights? Who's been flying recon to the north? Not me,
not you but Khoal.” Khisanth paused, letting Jahet absorb that truth. The anger lines
around Jahet's snout and eyes eased a bit. Khisanth pressed on. “They've obviously been
lying about troop numbers at Lamesh. Khoal rearranged the schedule yesterday so there was
no chance I'd go north and spot their approach. And so I'd return early enough to be
sealed in last night.” She could see Jahet reluctantly absorbing the truth of it. “Why is
it so hard for you to admit their treachery?” Even before she'd finished the question,
Khisanth knew the answer from the look on Jahet's face. Their betrayal was a black spot
against the ranking dragon. Khisanth actually felt an unfamiliar twinge of pity for the
other dragon. Jahet's allegiance to Maldeev, if not the Dark Queen, was so great, she
obviously felt great shame at the disloyalty of dragons under her command. “No one but
Takhisis could have made them suppress their own greed, Jahet.” The ranking dragon said
nothing, her gaze focused below. From their vantage point on the piney ridge to the west,
Khisanth and Jahet could see into the courtyard. It was a scrambling tumble of
disorganized humanity that was pushing south toward the tents and drill field. Fires
burned unchecked inside the compound. Smoke mingled with dust to form a haze over the
courtyard. Chickens squawked and skittered around; dogs barked. They watched as Khoal,
Dnestr, and Neetra dropped from the air and landed on the drill field amidst the
confusion. “I can't figure out why those three haven't attacked the wing yet,” mused
Khisanth,

“but we've got to get them out of the battle before they do.” “I'll bite their heads off
myself!” spat Jahet, preparing to take flight toward the drill field. Khisanth reached out
a claw to stop her. “Think, Jahet. If we show up late and strike at our own dragons, we'll
look like the traitors.” Jahet scowled. “I hadn't thought of that.” Khisanth put in
quickly, “I have another idea that will remove them from the fight without engaging them
for the whole wing to witness.” Jahet leaned in eagerly. “Tell me, quickly!” Khisanth
grimaced. “I don't think I want to tell you the details,” she said uneasily. Before Jahet
could voice her protest, Khisanth cut in with, “Let me explain. Someone has to restore
order to our ranks, or the knights will burn the tower to the ground without Khoal and the
others having to lift a wing against us.” She regarded the disorganized masses of soldiers
still scrambling aimlessly in the tower below. “Maldeev must surely be wondering where you
are. You must go to him, tell him what we know of the dragons. Together you need to fly
against the knightseliminate their archers. The troops will rally behind you at once.
There's one problem, though.” Khisanth paused, snaring her lower lip between razor-sharp
teeth as she considered the three dragons, who were gathered on the southwest corner of
the drill field. “It's essential that the other dragons think we're still trapped, at
least until I can implement my plan for sending them away. Can you manage to stay hidden
for that long?” Jahet winced, realizing that the entrapment in her lair had caused her to
break her vow to never keep Maldeev waiting. She glanced at the knights, still launching
flaming arrows and charging the walls. “I must join the highlord immediately, but I could
try teleporting directly into the great hall, then send someone into the courtyard to find
him.” She winced slightly again. “I'm a little rusty at teleporting, thoughhaven't used
much magic since my unionMal-deev doesn't trust it around him. If I make it to the hall
and find Maldeev, it'll take us a few moments to formulate a solid plan to reorganize the
troops.” 'That'll have to do,“ said Khisanth. The lead dragon closed her eyes promptly,
preparing to cast the dimly remembered spell, then opened them again to ask, ”I couldI
shouldorder you to tell me your plan.“ Khisanth shook her head and gently nudged the other
dragon with her snout. ”You're better off not knowing. High-lord Maldeev's dragon must be
above such skulduggery. If I succeed, their threat will be eliminated without tarnishing
either of our names. “If I fail,” Khisanth shrugged philosophically, “I'll be beyond such
mortal concerns. You'll be safe, too, because they won't even suspect you know their true
colors, until if s too late for them.” “I'm trusting you to not fail, Khisanth.” Jahet
squeezed her large eyes shut tightly and was gone, leaving only a wispy trail of jet-black
smoke drifting in the golden glow of dawn. The ranking dragon had no way of knowing that
Khisanth was about to break a vow of her own, made over the dead body of her lover one
cold winter day.

*****

The tall, raven-haired young woman purposefully pushed her way through the teeming throng
of harried soldiers who were trying to assemble on the drill field to stop the flow from
the courtyard. Her tawny gold eyes were focused on her intended destination.

Like many of the mercenaries around her, including the dead one she'd looted, the woman's
torso was covered to the top of her hips by a hardened leather cuirass. Leather tassets
suspended from the cuirass protected her thighs. Wool pants were stuffed into the tops of
her soft leather boots. Though her clothing was ordinary enough, her exotic good looks
would never have allowed her to blend into the crowd. Neither would the fact that she was
the only female soldier within the ranks. Fortunately for Onyx, the men and ogres around
her were too busy fearing for their own survival to give her more than a curious glance.
Knowing that success depended almost solely on her ability to project confidence, Onyx
marched straight toward the dragons at the southeastern corner of the drill field, then
stopped at a distance to observe. She knew in an instant how they had remained grounded.
She could hear their riders, including second-in-command Wakar, trying in vain to get them
airborne.

“We are forbidden to attack unless the ranking dragon or her highlord gives us the order
to do so,” Khoal was saying stubbornly. Wakar and the others threw up their hands and
marched off to join the fray in the courtyard. Onyx watched them depart, then looked over
her shoulders for eavesdroppers. No humans but riders would willingly get within earshot
of three dragons, which is why they were so surprised to see the young woman below them.

“I come from Lamesh.” At first they seemed not to hear her. Khoal fixed his hot-orange
eyes on her suspiciously. “Human, you're either very foolish or very brave to get so close
to dragons for curiosity's sake.” “I am no curious onlooker,” said Onyx fearlessly.
Looking about again, she lowered her voice. “I am a messenger from the Knights of
Solamnia.” All three dragons dropped their jaws and afforded her glances ranging from
disbelief to distrust. “Then you are both brave and foolish,” Khoal said cautiously,
“walking into the enemy camp and announcing your position. What makes you think we won't
slay you on the spot?” “Because we all know that we are on the same side in this battle,”
said Onyx evenly. “My commander sent me to reward you for your services. Keeping Maldeev
ignorant of our numbers and impending attack has been most helpful.” Onyx kept her words
deliberately vague, since she was only guessing about the alliance between the knights and
the dragons. “I don't know what you're talking about,” said Khoal quickly, his voice low
and threatening. “I think I will kill you now.” Onyx could see him summoning the acid from
his stomach. “My commander will surely interpret an unprovoked attack as a sign of bad
faith,” she cut in. “You don't want to risk losing the reward for which you've worked so
hard.” “I certainly don't,” said Neetra quickly. “I didn't fly all those long
reconnaissance missions to keep Jahet and Khi-santh from the north for nothing! If I can
get out of this without risking my hide, I say all the better.” Onyx felt her blood boil
at the mention of her dragon name. She was forming a response when Dnestr, the smarter of
the two intermediate dragons, frowned and said, “It seems odd that the knights would send
you in the midst of the battle to give us our land.” Onyx took note of the last remark.
She thought quickly, while Khoal watched her closely. “My commander thinks your uninvolved
presence here adds to the general confusionyou know, dragons on the field frightening his
knights. Besides, the battle is nearly finished, thanks to your entrapment of the other
two dragons in their lairs. What's more,” Onyx continued, managing an almost embarrassed
look, "it would be

best for the image of the Knights of Solamnia if they could avoid open confirmation of an
alliance, however brief, with black dragons. You understand.“ Neetra and Dnestr had only
confirmed the alliance, and were obviously convinced by Onyx's explanation. Khoal,
however, still looked skeptical. He said nothing as yet, nei- ther denying nor confirming
his involvement, watching the interaction between the human and the younger dragons. ”How
do we get our land?" Neetra demanded greedily.

Onyx's eyes widened against her will. “Obviously, no one can lead you there this moment.
My commander has ordered me to direct you to fly into the Khalkists, near Ak-Baraldo you
know where that is?” Dnestr and Neetra nodded eagerly. “Wait there. Another agent will
find you after we have won the battle, as we inevitably will, and lead you to the reward
you so richly deserve.”

The two dragons considered the crowd of evil soldiers milling at a distance, and they
hesitated. “Fly!” Onyx prompted. “Tell your riders you're evaluating the enemy's strength,
if you must. Before they realize the truth, you'll be gone. Besides, what human would dare
try to stop a dragon?”

The argument was enough for Neetra and Dnestr. Giving the silent Khoal the pitying look
they would grant a fool, the two dragons leaped into the air and took wing to the west,
headed for the mountains. “You're not joining them?” asked Onyx.

Ignoring the question, Khoal looked down his nose at the young woman far below at his
feet. “Funny you should mention the wing's other two dragons.” The dragon's voice trailed
off meaningfully. “When Jahet and Khisanth failed to appear after the claxons rang, I
began to wonder if they were not betraying the wing.” Khoal circled once around the ramrod
still woman. “Then Neetra and Dnestr, those foolish young dragons, confessed to me that
they'd made a pact with the Knights of Solamnia and arranged a pre-dawn attack. What's
more, they'd had the last-minute inspiration to trap Jahet and Khisanth in their lairs”
Khoal locked his gaze onto Onyx's tawny eyes “without telling a soul.” His brows raised.
“Strange that you would know about it.” Khisanth did not for a minute believe in Khoal's
innocence. Still, she couldn't prevent her face from falling at the realization of the
trap into which she'd stumbled. The dragon bent low and hissed into her ear with hot,
meat-scented breath, “Why don't you tell me your commander's name?” Khoal had been a liar
his whole long life. Not even his natural greed prevented him from recognizing one on
sight. As the ancient dragon pressed in, evaluating the best way to slay the foolish young
woman, he was only mildly interested in her motives for trying to trick him. He was
certain he never met her, and yet there was something vaguely familiar about her voice,
her cocky attitude. As his eyes focused on her shiny black hair and he prepared to claw
her face from her skull, Khoal was about to receive the first true surprise of his long
life. The old dragon blinked. His face seemed to turn ashen beneath his scales. Where the
young woman had stood was his most hated foe, that ambitious sycophant, Khisanth. Before
his mind could make sense of it, the other dragon's mighty tail raised, delivering a
vicious, air-snapping blow that sent him staggering. Khoal sailed some thirty feet,
crashing into vacant tents and a small gathering of soldiers who'd wandered too close.
Rolling himself from his side and back to his hind feet, Khoal sounded his rage in a
bellow that sent all human and ogre soldiers within a hundred yards diving for cover. “So,
Khisanth, you can shapechange,” snarled Khoal, circling slowly around his opponent. "I
should have guessed. You tried changing yourself into Jahet often enough,

with all your showing off to Maldeev. Unfortunately for you, you can't change into a
better fighter than me.“ Khoal's chest rose with pride. ”I learned my skills before you
were even a wyrmling,“ he gloated. ”I fought in the great war against Huma.“ Khisanth
threw back her head and laughed aloud, a hateful, braying sound. ”And we all know how that
turned out!“ She circled around in tempo with Khoal, keeping her eyes on his wrinkled,
hoary face at all times. ”Perhaps if our queen had more able fighters then, the history of
dragons on Krynn would be much different, and we would not be answering to lowly
humans...."

The taunt hit home. Roaring wildly, Khoal lashed out with his right claw. Khisanth darted
to her right. Anticipating the dodge, the ancient dragon swung his tail and delivered a
slap that hit squarely. With nothing to break her tumble, the younger dragon rolled over
and over, wings snapping against the dirt of the drill field. Finally she skidded to a
thundering stop. Propping herself up with her claw arms, Khisanth regarded her foe with
bitter and true hatred. She tried to think like her opponent to gauge his next move. She
could see the light flicker away in his eyes, as if his thoughts were elsewhere briefly.
Khisanth knew that look. Khoal was casting a spell.