Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 (15 page)

In the center of the pile of rocks and dust, two dragons labored to dig through a rock wall. They breathed fire on the wall until it glowed red and hot, then raked their claws over the heated portion, causing chunks of rock to fall away. In a pair of alcoves across from each other, two more dragons stood watch over the prisoners as they worked.

"Dig here," Boren said and left.

"Here we are, our punishment for—what was it?" Thane looked over at Renick. "That's right, saving the little squirming worm."

"Thane," Lainey admonished, her voice soft and weak.

"Lainey's right. My mother always says you can't change the winds—just roll up your sleeves and get the work done."

Renick eyed the guard dragons. They looked stern and alert. The dragon prisoners had paused in their digging and were watching them.

"All right, then," Renick said and rubbed his hands together. "What're we mining for?"

A sound very much like a chuckle emanated from the smaller of the two prisoners. It was hard for Renick to tell what color he was under the layer of dirt covering his scales. The dim lighting did not help much, either.

"Not mining." The prisoner chuckled again. "Just digging." The dragon turned back to his work. His laugh grew in pitch until it was almost a wail as he tore viciously into the rock wall.

The other prisoner dragon just watched them with dull eyes.

"Do not mind Hyngarth," one of the guards said. "He is not right in the head."

"What's the point of digging if you aren't mining?" Thane asked.

The guard tilted his crimson head, but did not answer.

"Secret way," Hyngarth hissed. "Under mountain, under trees, secret way out." He let loose a stream of flame that danced wildly around the rock wall.

"Prisoners dig for punishment." The other guard, who was a striking green on white, said.

"Ah," Thane said, not sounding the least bit satisfied.

"I'm Renick–Trusted," Renick offered to the two guard dragons.

"Guards do not speak to prisoners unless absolutely necessary," the green guard intoned.

Thane looked over at Renick, who shrugged.

"I guess we get to work, then." Renick examined the pile of rubble. Most of the broken rocks were too massive for them to move, even if they worked together. But there were plenty of smaller rocks and dirt that they could shift. He bent down and picked up a cooled rock about the size of his head. He turned to the crimson guard. "Where do I put this?"

The dragon moved aside, revealing another passageway. Renick trudged down the tunnel, which proved to be quite short. It ended abruptly at a fissure in the ground. There was a small area that had been hollowed out above the crack. Renick wondered if it ran further out on either side, but he could not tell in the almost complete darkness.

Renick lobbed his rock into the crevasse. On his way back, he found Thane and Lainey standing at the opening to the tunnel. Thane was balancing a large boulder between his knee and the wall. Lainey was clutching a small rock and staring into the darkness.

"She won't go in," Thane said.

Renick nodded. Thane picked up his load and headed down the tunnel.

Gently, Renick pried Lainey's fingers away from the rock, which was not much bigger than her two fists. He set it down next to the opening. "How about this. You carry the rocks here, and Thane and I will take them into the tunnel, okay?"

Her eyes flickered to his face. "You won't leave me?"

"One of us will stay with you. We'll take turns." Renick put a hand on her shoulder.

Lainey nodded and scurried over to the rubble. Together they rolled a large boulder to the tunnel opening. Just as they settled it against the wall, Thane emerged from the darkness.

"I've got this," he said and turned to head down again. "I'm working on a plan," he added in a whisper.

"Let me know how it goes," Renick said, not at all optimistic.

Returning to the colossal pile of rubble, Lainey started filling Renick's arms with smaller rocks. She balanced them neatly in a small mound that reached up to his chin. Renick had to walk carefully along the uneven ground to avoid spilling her work. When Thane appeared once again, Renick took his cargo down to the crevasse. On the way back, he had to flatten himself against the tunnel wall when Hyngarth came barreling down the tunnel pushing a boulder as tall as Renick. The crazy dragon howled as the rock fell into the darkness, and then he rushed back up the tunnel. Renick followed slowly behind.

The cold air of the cave soon became a comfort as beads of sweat formed on Renick's forehead and neck.

The hours wore on. Thane would take a few trips and then rest with Lainey while Renick took a turn heading down to the chasm. Back and forth. Lift and drop. Stone and rock and dirt and grime. And still the hours wore on. Renick's hands were soon raw and covered in small scrapes. His nose filled with dirt until it was the only thing he could smell. His eyes ached from the lack of light. More hours passed.

Finally, when every inch of Renick's body screamed for a respite from the monotonous strain, Boren reappeared. "I am told you need to be fed," he grumbled. "Come with me."

The sound of rocks tumbling to the ground made Renick start and almost lose his hold on his awkward load. He turned to see Thane brushing dust from his arms as he hurried after Boren. Lainey pushed past Renick, knocking his elbow. With a sigh, Renick relinquished his hold on the rock and followed after the others.

Boren led them back to the chamber where they had met. In one corner sat their packs. Renick and his friends settled themselves on the ground in a small circle. Lainey passed out their waterskins while Thane dug in a rucksack for some dried meat.

"Sure wish they'd give us some other food." Thane handed out their meager fare.

"Wonder if they'll let us take a bath," Lainey said between bites.

Renick was going to reply, but his words were drowned out by a loud rumbling noise.

The ground and walls and ceiling shook.

"Stay here," Boren ordered as he stumbled back down the passageway.

"Wait—" The sound of boulders falling swallowed the rest of Renick's words. A cloud of dust billowed from the passageway, engulfing them. For two terrifying heartbeats, the world was nothing but brown dust and darkness.

All was still and quiet.

Renick shook the dirt from his hair and passed his sleeve over his face. "What was that?"

"Cave–in," Thane croaked, and then started coughing.

Lainey looked up. There were streaks on her face where the dirt stuck to her tears. She held her canteen out to Thane. He took a large gulp of water and the coughing subsided.

Hyngarth burst through the tunnel opening. "Free, free, free, free," he panted. He turned toward Renick and the others, dancing around a little. "Come, we free. Come, come, come, come, come, come." With a fit of laughter, he tore down the tunnel that led out of the mines.

Following more slowly, the other prisoner that had been digging with them emerged. He paused and glanced at Renick. A chill danced down Renick's back.

I will avenge her
, an eerie voiced whispered in Renick's mind.

The dragon moved on.

Renick shook his head to clear the oppressive gloom that hung over him. "Where're the guards?" He turned to Thane and Lainey, who were just staring at him. "And Boren?"

He watched the opening of the passageway intently. Nothing stirred as the moments inched by.

Renick jumped to his feet. "Come on." He did not wait for the others to follow and plunged into the tunnel.

Halfway down, his progress was halted by a wall of rubble sloping gently up to the ceiling. A low moan and the sound of shifting rock drew Renick's attention. Boren lay on one side of the passageway with a small layer of sand and rock dusted over him. When Renick tried to speak with him, the dragon did not respond.

Lainey fell to her knees next to where Renick crouched. She placed her ear against Boren's massive jaws. "He's breathing," she reported.

"Are the guards still back there?" Thane asked, studying the wall of debris.

"I didn't see them come out," Lainey answered.

"Do you think they survived?" Renick tried to swallow the lump growing in his throat.

Thane moved to the blockage and examined it. "There's a gap here," he said, pointing to a place near the tunnel wall. "But I can't see anything."

Renick joined Thane and peered into the blackness. "If they're completely buried …"

A warm hand rested on his shoulder. "There could be a cavity, an air pocket, on the other side of that gap," Thane said. "There may still be hope."

"But how do we tell?" Lainey's hands busily worked at brushing the dust and rubble from Boren's immobile body.

"We need to make a torch." Thane turned and ran up the tunnel. He came back a few moments later with their packs. Fishing in his, he pulled out some flint and steel.

Lainey stood and placed her fists on her hips. "And just what do you expect us to do with that?"

"Light the torch." Thane looked up at the ceiling in exasperation.

"What torch?" She tilted her head at him.

Thane looked around the tunnel. Renick followed his gaze. Rocks, rubble, dust, dragon lantern, stone, and more rocks. Nothing to fuel a torch with.

"The dragon lanterns!" Renick ran to the cavern wall and wrapped his hands around one of the glowing orbs as best he could. Using all the strength his tired arms had, he pulled. The dragon lantern did not budge. Thane's large hands joined Renick's and together they tried again to dislodge the orb.

"They are held there by magic," Boren said, his voice weak and rasping.

Renick turned. "We need to see if anyone's on the other side of the cave–in. Can you release the lantern?"

A rumble, halfway between a growl and a hum, rippled through Boren's throat. A nearby orb fell from its place and rolled to Renick's feet. The orb was about the size of his head, but weighed practically nothing when he lifted it.

Back at the small opening in the wall of rubble, Renick pushed the dragon lantern through the gap. He shoved it as far as he could without crawling into the hole. The orb started to roll downhill. Soon it dipped out of sight and Renick heard a dull clank. The orb's light illuminated a small opening and reflected off a set of scales.

"I see one of them," Renick called. Boren's head appeared at Renick's elbow. Jumping, Renick backed away. The dragon peered into the chamber beyond the cave–in and then studied the rubble that blocked their way.

"The cave–in is too unstable. We will not be able to shift the rock. I am afraid if they are alive in there, soon they will not be." Boren hung his head and moved away.

"You can't dig them out?" Renick asked.

"We cannot. We do not have your delicate hands, digging for dragons is a bit more brute force."

"What about your magic?" Renick asked. "Can't you use that to move the rubble?"

Boren shook his head. "Our magic changes and heals—it does not move or destroy. I am afraid there is nothing to be done."

"No!" Lainey said.

"We're going to save them." Thane turned to look at Renick. "What should we do?"

Renick felt as if the entire pile of fallen rock had settled on his back and shoulders. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and then back again. Renick wanted to shrug, but resisted the urge—this was no time for uncertainty. He looked back through the gap. "We dig them out," he said.

"That is a dangerous endeavor." Boren was watching him very closely.

"I know." Renick paused to look at Thane and Lainey for support. "Right, then. Someone should probably coordinate from the other side." He rubbed his hands on the sides of his pants and moved to the opening. He only made it a few feet into the tunnel before his shoulders hit against a rock. Angling his body, Renick attempted to move forward again, only to receive another bruise. The third attempt resulted in a shower of dirt and rocks. He threw his arms up in front of his face as a shield, but still got a good portion of the dirt in his eyes, mouth, and nose.

Renick dropped his head and started moving backwards. "I don't fit," he said in response to Thane's questioning look.

"Well, if you don't, I definitely can't." Thane looked into the gap. "And I don't think we can widen it without it collapsing."

"I think you're right." Renick dusted some of the dirt out of his hair.

"I'll do it," Lainey said from behind them. Her voice shook a little.

Renick turned. Lainey's breathing was slow and even. Her arms hung down by her sides and her hands were clenched in fists.

"I'll do it," she repeated with more confidence.

"Lainey," Renick started to protest.

She looked at him with resolve burning in her eyes. "You'll come for me."

Renick nodded. "We'll always come for you."

Lainey took a deep breath and walked up to the hole. With both hands, she lifted the strap of her healer's pouch over her head and held it out. Renick took it. She stood for a moment, facing the darkness.

"Just keep going," Thane said. "It'll be more difficult if you try to come back."

Without turning to look at Thane, Lainey nodded. Then she climbed into the gap and started crawling to the chamber beyond.

"Plyth should have named
her
Brave," Thane commented as he watched Lainey's progress.

Renick shook his head. "No, he named her right. It's her kindness that helps her forget her fear."

They watched in silence. Lainey moved slowly at first, inching her way along. She would flinch and whimper any time a portion of the tunnel would shift. Renick could hear the faint whisper of her mumbling to herself.

"You can make it, Lainey," he called to her.

This seemed to inspire her—the mumbling stopped and she started to move at a faster pace.

"Almost there," Thane said just as Lainey disappeared from their view.

"I'm through," her quiet voice called at last. Renick could see her face through the opening. She waved at him and then ducked away. He could hear her moving around in the adjoining chamber. Lainey's face came back into the circle of dim light. "Both the guards are here. One's injured, but awake and mostly okay. The other's partially buried. He won't respond to me."