Burned: Dragons' Trust Book 2 Read online

  Fear.

  To his astonishment, she steadied herself, stood, and faced him bravely. Almost all of her fear vanished, but Folgyn could taste the last bit that remained on the air. It taunted him.

  Letting loose a roar, he breathed fire around her—being careful not to actually burn her. His bait needed to be whole to attract his quarry. The little girl did not waver. Insulted, Folgyn stood on his hind legs and stretched his neck and wings to their full length.

  "You dare defy me!" he said in their vile tongue. Human worm.

  Instead of becoming frightened, the girl seemed to gain strength. Folgyn growled in annoyance. "You think you are so brave," he hissed. Crunchy snack. She seemed to shiver a little at that. "You think your mark will protect you?"

  She shook her head back and forth. He did not know what that meant, but he could feel her defiance like a cold rain. "No. But Renick and Thane will come for me. They always come for me."

  Folgyn laughed. I'm counting on it.

  Her resolve faltered a little, but she regained it quickly. "I am Lainey-Kind of the Circle of the Trusted, and Trusted of the Dragon Kind. Release me."

  He loomed closer to her. The little human mite took a step backward. He drew in a deep breath, relishing the scent of her increased fear. Just a little more and the perfume would fill the air again. "I am no longer of the Dragon Kind. Did not your foolish friend tell you? My name has been Stricken from the dragon hall."

  He leaned back on his hind legs and pulled himself up to his full height. "I am Folgyn Darkwing, Stricken from the Dragon Kind, and I am bound by no laws."

  Fear.

  Yes, that scared her. Terrified her even. No protection for her or her little friends. I am free. Free to do to you and your little pet dragons as I see fit.

  "Tell me, little one." He brought his snout so close to her ugly little face that her hair danced wildly in his breath. "What is the best way to prepare tender, fresh, human meat?"

  Terror.

  She gasped and stumbled backwards. Her little insignificant foot caught on something and she fell to the ground. Folgyn lunged forward so that he stood over her, trapping her. No, no little thing. "You have not answered my question." He let a little smoke leak out from his jaws, the fire hovering right behind it.

  "You bury them in sand!" she yelled as she flung something at his face. Grit bit into the tender flesh of his eyes and nose. Folgyn coughed and reared back in anger.

  You little gnat!

  The puny human wiggled away from him and tried once again to gain the safety of the trees.

  Folgyn swung his tail into her path with such force that the leaves littering the ground jumped into the air for just a moment. Foolish child. You cannot escape me. He lifted her up in his front claws and took her back to the opening of his cave. I have things to attend to. Plans to set in motion. I think it is best you sleep for a while. He beat his wings slightly, just enough to stir up the ground in front of him. The petals of the sleeping rose, which he had prepared, filled the air around the little girl's head. The pollen from the flowers created a kind of yellow haze around her. It almost looked beautiful. She struggled for a moment, holding her breath, but then had to gasp before she suffocated. She stumbled backward, falling to the ground. She tried to stand and then fell limp.

  It would have been so much easier if he had magic for calming and putting to sleep. But the rose pollen worked well enough. Besides, his stealth magic was more useful.

  At last you are silent.

  He launched himself into the air. The trap set, it was time to lure in the prey.

  Chapter 22: Kidnapped

  Renick picked up another armful of hay and spread it across one of the dragon stalls. The occupant was out being exercised by one of the other dragonhands, as were half the other dragons his uncle stabled. Renick added more hay to the floor and used his muddy boots to spread it out more evenly. Lainey was always appalled by how dirty his shoes were. But she was not there at the moment.

  His boots were new. It was his very first pair that was not a hand-me-down, purchased with a portion of the allowance his uncle gave him. Thane always seemed to have on new shoes, or he was really good at keeping them clean. Renick considered wiping the mud off but decided he did not care.

  The hay distributed, Renick went to go fill his wheelbarrow with feed. Just as he came out of the stable doors he heard someone calling to him. He looked up and found Melatheen hurrying toward him.

  "Renick, is Lainey here?" Melatheen was out of breath.

  He shook his head. "No, why?"

  Melatheen's eyes filled with tears and her hands started to shake. "I—I sent her home last night. But when I got back early this morning, she wasn't there." Her voice caught and she paused. After taking a deep breath she added, "Thane hasn't seen her either."

  Renick felt cold. The last time he had felt this way was when his youngest sister had gotten lost. The whole family had been set to searching. Little Angie was found in the pantry, happily playing in a bag of flour. Renick doubted Lainey was playing in flour.

  "Come on." He gently guided Melatheen through the newly hung door into his uncle's house and to a chair next to the table in the kitchen. The cook was busy preparing the midday meal. It took her a while because she had to feed three grown men and seven boys. The room was filled with the smell of cooking meat and fresh wood. They had just finished rebuilding it the day before.

  "My dear!" The cook clucked her tongue when she saw Melatheen. "Whatever is the matter?"

  "Her niece, Lainey, is missing," Renick answered for her.

  At his words Melatheen finally lost her strict control and started sobbing. The cook moved to her side and started rubbing her back. "Fetch your uncle, boy. He'll get all the dragonhands to look for her."

  Renick nodded, spun around, and ran out the door. His uncle would be in the market bartering for supplies and such. He ran the whole way there, concentrating on the pounding of his feet and not on the fear that was threatening to stop him in his tracks.

  Uncle Loren was at a stall inspecting several pieces of leather work. Renick skidded to a halt next to him.

  "Renick, what's the matter?"

  "Lainey's … missing …" he said, gasping for breath.

  "Missing?" Uncle Loren rubbed his chin. "Are you sure she's not just off somewhere. Maybe with Thane?"

  Renick shook his head. "No, Melatheen says she should've been home sleeping. And Thane hasn't seen her."

  Uncle Loren's eyes clouded over with worry. "She's been gone since last night?"

  Renick nodded.

  "Go round up the rest of the dragonhands and meet me at the stables."

  Renick's feet were moving before his uncle had finished speaking. Still, it seemed to take forever to round everyone up because the dragonhands were all over the city. Some were with dragons, others running errands, and the rest were helping to finish the last repairs to buildings damaged in Folgyn's first attack. At last all were gathered.

  Back at the stables, Thane was waiting for him.

  "You haven't seen her?" Thane's brow was creased with worry. "Not at all?"

  Renick shook his head. "Uncle Loren's going to organize a search."

  "Do you think it was—"

  "I hope not," Renick said, cutting Thane off. "She's probably just off somewhere and forgot to tell her aunt."

  Thane gave him a skeptical look. They both knew Lainey would never go anywhere without telling either one of them or her aunt. This just was not like her.

  "She's fine." Renick tried to sound reassuring, tried to feel reassured—but failed.

  "Could Wrytha find her?"

  "Thane, she's back at the city, remember. Besides, we can't communicate with her if we don't have …"

  "Lainey." Thane's shoulders slumped.

  Just then Uncle Loren jogged up to them. "Listen up, everyone. Lainey, the healer's niece—you all know her, right?" Uncle Loren paused and made sure everyone nodded in response. Lainey was known and wel
l-liked by people in their area. "Good. She's missing. We're going to search for her. Everyone will be assigned a section of the city. Search it thoroughly and report back here." The cook brought his uncle a map, which was laid out on an obliging crate. The boys clustered around to get their assignments.

  "Focus on areas that can't be seen from the air. The dragon knights will be flying overhead searching for her too."

  At his uncle's words, Renick felt a glimmer of hope. If Lainey was still in Trevinni, they would find her. And if she was not, he knew where to look.

  Renick was assigned the area around the market place. Thane's assignment was just a few streets over from that. They left together, running full speed. Thane was faster than him and eventually disappeared from sight.

  As he passed one of the local inns, Renick felt the back of his neck tingle. He looked over his shoulder and saw Horrin watching him. He turned down a through street, where Horrin's single eye could not follow him. A chill ran down his spine. What interest did Horrin have in them, in Lainey's disappearance? Renick wondered why the dragon hunter was still so intent on the three of them. All he had done was escape from the hunter's camp. Something that simple should be easy to let go.

  Instead Horrin held a grudge, and Renick had no idea how long it would last.

  Perhaps it was not Folgyn that took Lainey. After all, they had other enemies. No, Renick knew that if they did not find Lainey in the city, she was back at Folgyn's cave and in very real danger. The image of her having to face that black dragon on her own stayed in Renick's mind while he searched for her.

  He looked under stalls and behind crates. He asked every person he passed if they had seen her. No one knew anything. It was as if Lainey simply vanished into the air.

  "Blondie got snatched." The gruff voice and slurred words brought Renick's frantic feet to a halt.

  He spun around and saw an old beggar sitting in the gutter. "Mean dragon snatched her."

  Renick fell to his knees next to the man. "You saw her? A young, blonde girl, just shorter than me?"

  The man turned to him with glassy eyes. "Can you spare a coin?"

  "I don't have time for this. She's in danger. Just tell me what you saw!" Renick slapped the cobblestone street with his hand.

  The beggar clicked his tongue. "The young and fed, always in a rush."

  No matter how hard he tried, Renick could not get anything more out of the man. So he dug in his pocket, found a coin, and placed it in the man's outstretched palm. "There, a coin. Now will you tell me?"

  "Tell you what?"

  Frustrated beyond his patience, Renick stood and left the beggar to his work.

  Thane met back up with him on his way back to the stables.

  "Folgyn's got her," Renick said as soon as he was close enough to not be overheard.

  "Then we'll go get her."

  Chapter 23: The Eye that Watches

  When Renick arrived at the well that night, Thane was already waiting for him. "Any problems?"

  Renick skidded to a halt and leaned over, putting his hands on his knees. He shook his head and after a few deep breaths said, "Told my uncle … going to look … for Lainey."

  "Excellent, let's go."

  They headed for the area of the city wall where they had escaped before. The plan was simple: go to Folgyn's cave and if Lainey was there—save her.

  "Where do you think you're going?" a voice asked from the shadows. "Doing a little hunting?"

  Renick stopped and spun around. His heart was pounding in his ears, his palms started to sweat, and the air was suddenly thick. Horrin. The dragon hunter stepped out from an alleyway, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. Renick's eyes flashed to the three parallel scars that marred Horrin's face and then to his missing eye. It was a face that often haunted Renick's nightmares. Shaking himself, Renick squared his shoulders. "That's none of your business."

  "Ah, Rub, is it?" Horrin took a step closer. "No wait, what did they call you the other night—Renick?"

  Renick swallowed.

  "What do you want, Horrin?" Thane's voice sounded threatening. He stood ready, his hand on his sword. Renick's fingers itched to reach for his hidden knife, but he hesitated because he would not be much help in a fight.

  "And you, I don't recognize you. But he does." Horrin jutted his chin out.

  Behind them, Gunther stepped out of another alley. He walked with an odd limp, his left leg dragging awkwardly. Probably an injury from his fall in the forest, courtesy of Wrytha. "'ello, boys," he drawled.

  A shiver ran down Renick's back. They had to get out of there. He looked to Thane and tilted his head toward a side street. Thane nodded almost imperceptibly.

  Horrin narrowed his eye. "Planning on running? Now why would you do that? We aren't going to hurt you. We just want to see what you're up to."

  Turning slowly, Renick started to walk down the side street. Thane followed only half a step behind him. They would have to lose Horrin and Gunther before they headed out of the city, or the dragon hunters would follow them straight to Folgyn. Maybe if they made enough twisting turns they could simply disappear from sight. At least that was his plan—he wished he could confer with Thane, but the dragon hunters were too close.

  "Do you have a plan?" Thane asked, once they were a little farther away from the two men.

  Renick shrugged.

  Thane was silent for a moment, then he increased his pace and passed Renick. "Follow me."

  They turned a corner and Thane started running. Renick took a moment to react and pushed hard to catch up. Thane swerved around a corner and dove behind a stack of barrels. They were behind one of the shabbier inns in Trevinni. They heard Horrin and Gunther running toward them.

  "Where'd they go?" Gunther shouted.

  Horrin did not respond. Renick shifted so that he could see between two of the barrels. Horrin stood about a stone's throw away, looking in the opposite direction. Gunther was next to him being useless, as usual. Thane nudged Renick. Standing, Renick headed back the way they had come and spun around the corner as fast as he could.

  "Oy! Over there," Gunther called from behind them.

  Thane took the lead again and they rushed down the street toward the marketplace. It would be empty at this hour, so there would be plenty of good places to hide. Thane, Renick, and a group of other boys had gotten in trouble once for a massive game of hide-and-seek there.

  By the time they reached their destination, Renick's legs were burning and a sharp pain stabbed his side. They had pulled away from the dragon hunters a little. Thane came to a stop in the middle of all the empty, closed-up stalls and looked around.

  "There." He pointed to a spice merchant's stall. They hurried behind it and found that under the counter were two empty cabinets just big enough for them to squeeze into.

  "In," Thane said, pushing him to the one on the left.

  Obediently, Renick bent down and climbed in. The fit was tight. He did not know how Thane, who was taller and broader, managed to fit.

  Renick sat in the dark and concentrated on quieting his breathing without passing out. It seemed like a whole day came and went. He started to wonder if they had lost Horrin and Gunther on their way to the market. It took a lot of effort to resist the urge to poke his head out and check. Just when he decided that the hunters probably were not coming after them, a clang rang out through the night.

  "Sorry," Gunther said. Horrin shushed him.

  With a start Renick realized that the hunters knew they were hiding and had probably been in the market for a while. If he had given in and looked—Horrin would have caught them. He heard footsteps just outside the stall he and Thane were hiding in. The steps were even, and so Renick guessed it was Horrin. He imagined the one eye piercing the night and spotting him through the panel of wood. Renick closed his eyes and started counting. Thane had taught him the trick a while ago. It helped him keep from panicking.

  Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

  There was a loud crash that
sounded like several barrels being knocked over, followed by some very terrible singing that grated against Renick's ears. A group of drunken men stumbled through the market place. Their singing was so slurred Renick could not tell what they were saying. He probably did not want to know anyway. The noise rose to an uncomfortable level. His arms were pinned, so he could not get his hands over his ears. Instead he gritted his teeth and hoped that they would move on soon. Maybe they would take Horrin and Gunther with them.

  "Move along!" a commanding voice said over the din. Renick imagined a guard facing the band of ruffians, sword drawn, and sighed in relief. The singing stopped and there were a lot of shuffling sounds. "Move along. Move along."

  Things quieted a little. Renick heard footsteps. Slow, even, with a slight metallic ring. That must be the guard. "You too," he said.

  "We're just passing through—" Horrin started to say.

  "Move along."

  Soon the market was quiet again. The drunkards and the guard were gone, but were Horrin and Gunther?

  A quick succession of taps broke the silence. It took Renick a while to realize that it might be Thane trying to get his attention. With a little twisting Renick managed to get his hand so that he could repeat the sequence back.

  Thane tried to say something, but the words were all muffled.

  "What?" Renick said as loud as he dared.

  Another stream of muffled nonsense followed. Renick pulled himself out of his hiding space and crawled over to Thane.

  "What?"

  "I'm stuck." The expression on Thane's face was priceless. He looked so humiliated that Renick did not even dare to tease him about it. Instead he just held out his hand and, using a foot placed against the stall as leverage, hauled Thane out of the tiny cupboard.

  "Thanks." Thane busied himself with brushing off his tunic, which was covered in little flakes of dried spices. "We shall never speak of this again."