Burned: Dragons' Trust Book 2 Read online

  "Retreat!" One of the dragon knights called. The others picked up the command. And the knights that remained in the air turned and flew away in all different directions.

  For one instant Thane was glad the black dragon did not decide to pursue him. Then a jet of flame from the giant creature illuminated a blue dragon and her two mounts. The squire caught on fire. A pit formed in Thane's throat. That could have been him. He regretted his earlier feelings—he wished instead that the dragon had not pursued any of them.

  Thane watched as the knight turned his mount to the ground, and the squire had the presence of mind to roll from the dragon onto the grass, which put out the flames.

  "We have to turn back!" Thane yelled toward Arren.

  The knight turned his head. "We can't. The difference between being a hero and being dead is knowing when to save yourself."

  Thane did not like that kind of thinking at all. He never left one of his own behind—never.

  Chapter 7: Old Faces

  Renick went to meet his friends first thing in the morning. He slipped out after his chores and promised Uncle Loren to be home in time to help with more rebuilding. Thane was pacing back and forth in front of the well when Renick arrived. Lainey was sitting on the stone steps watching Thane with concern. Renick could see why, since Thane looked as if he had not slept. His usually neat hair was disheveled and his clothes were wrinkled and dirty.

  "How did it go?" Renick asked.

  Thane looked up and paused in his pacing. "We've got trouble."

  "That bad?" Renick looked to Lainey to see if she would offer any more information. She just shrugged and puckered her lips.

  "Not here." Thane grabbed Lainey's arm and practically dragged her toward their favorite pub, which was not far from the well. Renick hurried after them.

  Once they were all seated, Thane ordered breakfast and cider for the three of them. It was the kind of meal that Renick and Lainey could not afford, and Thane liked to treat them. Renick would normally object, but he knew it was one of the small ways Thane expressed his friendship. Besides, he was hungry, and the pub had the best cider in Trevinni.

  Despite Renick's urging and Lainey's pleading, Thane would not give them more details until the food had come and the waitress had left.

  "There's been talk," Thane said after swallowing his first bite.

  "What kind of talk?" Renick said around a mouthful of bacon. Lainey, who was seated across from him next to Thane, gave him a reproachful look. Renick felt as if he had just been scolded by his mother or one of his older sisters. Lainey was good at that.

  As if to solidify her displeasure, she said, "That's disgusting, Renick."

  He swallowed and mumbled, "Sorry."

  "About the dragon. Last night we laid a trap for him. It should've worked—well the knights thought it should've. But they didn't know they were dealing with …" Thane cast a nervous glance around them. "You know."

  Renick nodded.

  "Do the knights suspect anything about the dragon?" Renick asked. This time he made sure to clear his mouth of food before speaking. Lainey smiled with approval.

  "Not, exactly. Well, they know there's something different. They've been talking about calling in an expert." Thane swirled his cider around in his glass and then took a large gulp. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, which earned a horrified look from Lainey, who scrunched up her little nose. Thane did not seem to notice.

  Lainey rolled her eyes. "Thane Shaytorrin! What kind of manners are those? Honestly, one could forget that you're not only a dragon knight in training, but a nobleman's son."

  Thane opened his mouth to respond.

  "What kind of expert?" Renick asked quickly, trying to distract the two of them.

  "Dragon hunter. One in particular." Thane stopped and looked at Renick, something like fear or resolve—or both—in his eyes.

  "Horrin," Renick whispered.

  Thane nodded. "I've heard his name a few times. Apparently he has a reputation for being able to deal with especially difficult rogue dragons."

  "How do they know about him?" Renick wiped his hands on his pants. Horrin was not a man he would like to see again in his lifetime.

  "Lord Krane apparently worked with him years ago. Something about a hunting expedition in the forest," Thane said, tilting his head back and finishing off his cider.

  There was only one thing Horrin would be hunting in the forest, wild dragons, which the three of them now knew were actually the Dragon Kind. Dragons like Plyth's late mother. Renick shuddered.

  "We can't …" Lainey started and then had to stop and catch her breath. She was probably trying not to cry in front of them. She seemed to believe they would think less of her. But Renick could never do that. Not after she climbed through that tunnel in the cave-in.

  "We can't let them get him. I don't care how many people he hurts," Lainey said.

  Renick agreed. He wanted to say that if the hunters found the dragon, they would cut out his heart stone and use its magic for who knows what. But a serving maid walked by at that moment. He paused, watching her pass, and said instead. "And … our friends … would be in more danger, even if they're farther away."

  Thane nodded. "Horrin might also recognize you, Renick, which wouldn't be good for anyone."

  "What do we do?" Lainey said from behind her hand, which was plastered over her mouth. Worry that edged on panic made her eyes wide and shimmery. She was holding it together, despite the fatigue Renick saw in her face.

  Without looking over at her, Thane reached out and covered her other hand with his. She relaxed a little.

  "Don't worry, Lainey, everything will be fine," Renick said, trying to sound reassuring. "We need to talk to Wrytha. The dragon knights can't call in the hunters. We need to find a way to deal with the dragon that keeps everyone …"

  "Safe." Lainey sighed. She took a dainty bite of her breakfast and hummed a little in pleasure.

  "I can't go." Thane said. "All dragon knights and squires have been ordered to stay in Trevinni. We're on alert."

  "Aunt Melatheen needs me," Lainey said. "And she was so worried yesterday by the time we got back—I don't think she'll let me out again."

  "I'll go," Renick offered. "I can come up with an excuse to go out hiking by myself." He looked down at his empty plate. He could not think of a reason. So he shrugged and continued, "Uncle Loren's let me go before." Renick's plate was clean and he eyed Lainey's leftover bacon. She did not like it much. She picked the meat up and passed it over to him.

  "That's not a very … detailed … plan, Renick," Thane said, popping his last forkful of eggs into his mouth.

  "Burn wort," Lainey offered.

  "What?" Thane looked at her, confused.

  "We are running dangerously low on burn wort. All the healers are with so many people to treat. It only grows in really wet places in the wild," she explained.

  "Like by a river." Thane looked as if he was catching on.

  Renick was not sure why a river would be significant. Until he remembered what Wrytha had told them before she and Plyth left. "Like the river Wrytha told us to follow in order to find her."

  "Exactly." Thane slapped the table triumphantly. Renick jumped a little. Thane seemed to be a little over excitable at the moment.

  Lainey leaned away from Thane. "And you could tell Loren that Aunt Melatheen won't let me go that far."

  "That's perfect," Renick said with a smile.

  "It's a plan, then," Thane said. He turned to Lainey with a smile on his face. "You, Lainey, are such a smart girl." He patted her on the shoulder. "Really an excellent idea."

  Renick looked over at Lainey, who had her eyes pinched with worry.

  "Thane, you really need to get some sleep," Lainey urged. "Come, we'll take you back to the barracks."

  "I'm fine, really," Thane said closing his eyes.

  Lainey laughed. She stood and pulled him up next to her. "Liar."

  "Go tomorrow," Thane said, standing a little ta
ller and straightening his tunic. "Afterward, we'll meet here for the evening meal and discuss what Wrytha has to tell us."

  The three friends all nodded in agreement. Thane gently brushed Lainey away. "I have to go. I'm on watch soon." He crossed the pub in three strides and was gone.

  "He looks so tired," Lainey commented, leaning on the table and watching after him. "He'll never make it through a watch."

  "He's stubborn. He'll be fine. But you look like you're about to fall asleep standing up," Renick pointed out.

  She gave him a sad smile. "Protectors and healers—we never rest."

  Chapter 8: Hiking

  "I'm sorry," Uncle Loren said. "They issued a decree this morning. No one is allowed out of the city unless they work in the fields."

  "I'll be careful," Renick insisted.

  Uncle Loren pressed his lips together and shook his head.

  "What if …" Renick thought frantically of some way to convince his uncle to let him go. If only they had not sent Wrytha away so soon. Or had some way of communicating with her over long distances. The image of Horrin's bloodthirsty face, with its three long scars and missing eye, flashed before Renick's eyes. He shivered, remembering the dragon hunter that once held him captive until Thane came to his rescue. That gave him an idea. "What if Thane came with me?"

  Uncle Loren looked as if he was going to repeat his previous objection.

  "And Grahm," Renick hurried on. He would work out the details about getting them permission to come and keeping Grahm from meeting Wrytha later. He just had to get his uncle to agree to his little outing. It did not look likely, although Renick could tell his uncle was thinking about it. "And we got leave from the dragon knights?"

  His uncle considered him for a moment, leaning on his pitch fork. "Well, okay, but be back before nightfall."

  Renick turned to exit the stable. He was halfway out the door when he heard his uncle call after him. "And you're doing double chores for the next three days."

  Renick raised his hand and waved to acknowledge Uncle Loren's order. He did not mind extra chores. The more time he spent with the dragons the better. He felt more comfortable around dragons than people, except Thane and Lainey. Next to staying home at his father's dragon ranch, working with his Uncle Loren was the best apprenticeship his parents could have chosen for him.

  Running all the way to the barracks took all the breath out of him. He gulped down large amounts of air as he knocked on the door.

  The porter's eyes considered him. "What do you want?"

  Renick tried to laugh, but he was too out of breath. He gave the porter a meaningful look. But the porter's eyes just glinted with the humor of the situation. Renick managed to squeak out his name and that he was there to see Thane.

  "Well, that wasn't so hard, was it?" The porter said, then disappeared.

  By the time Thane came down Renick was breathing normally again.

  "What is it?"

  "Uncle Loren says there was a decree. I can't go without you, Grahm, and permission."

  Thane folded his arms. "That complicates things. I'm not sure we can get away."

  Renick shrugged. "The burn wort?"

  At first Thane looked skeptical, but then he slowly nodded. "Yes, you're going to gather burn wort for the healers and so you need an escort. Grahm and I can help collect it." Thane turned to leave, but stopped abruptly instead. "Wait, what're we going to do about Grahm?"

  Renick smiled. He had thought about that during his long jog. "We'll divide up when we get to the river. Spread out a little, and I'll just kind of melt away."

  Thane stroked his stubble-covered chin. "That could work. He'll get worried and want to go look for you, so you have to be fast with Wr—" Thane glanced quickly into the porter's station, but the man did not appear to be listening. "Our friend."

  "Can do."

  "Wait here. I'll get Grahm and permission to leave."

  Renick leaned against the brick wall to wait. He pushed his hand into his side to try and relieve the cramp he felt there. It had been hard not to wince in front of Thane. After a little while the pain eased enough for Renick to stand up straight again. Thane still was not back, so he sat on the ground and tried to keep his mind occupied to avoid thinking about the dragon, burning buildings, and the face of a certain dragon hunter. By the time Thane finally reappeared with Grahm in tow, Renick had resorted to counting the stones in the cobbled street.

  "Come on, boys," Grahm said, marching past Renick. "The healers need that burn wort."

  Grahm and Thane were in full leather armor and both had swords strapped around their waists. Renick felt a tad underprepared with nothing but his apprentice tunic and the knife he had found in an abandoned way station tucked into his boot. His worry must have shown on his face, because Thane slapped him on the back.

  "It'll be fine."

  "Any trouble?" Renick asked, changing the subject.

  "No. Grahm can be very persuasive sometimes. Especially if I mention Melatheen." Thane winked at him, but Renick was not sure what that meant. Thane laughed at his confused expression. "Renick, you're thick sometimes." He slapped him on the back again.

  Renick moved away so he was out of Thane's reach. "Whatever."

  At the pace Grahm set for them, it did not take long to reach the east gate. At first the guards were not going to let them through. But Grahm, with a very authoritative air, produced a document that apparently allowed them to leave. The guards opened the newly reinforced wooden gate. Renick could not help but notice that the gate still would not serve very well to keep the dragon out—since the dragon could fly and breathe fire. He understood, though, that the city was doing its best to protect the people.

  Grahm stopped just a few paces outside the city. "Where to?" He turned his serious gaze on Renick.

  Renick shrugged and then realized he was supposed to know where this burn wort stuff was and that they really did have a specific destination in mind. He cleared his throat and pointed south. "There's a stream that way, along the edge of the forest. Lai—Melatheen said it grows near water."

  "Excellent," Grahm nodded and started a swift march at a south-eastern angle toward the forest. Grahm was always efficient.

  The march was a long one, but not strenuous. They stuck to the edge of the forest, where the grass was not as high but the ground was still relatively clear and flat. They reached the small stream that trickled out from the forest when the sun was halfway between sunrise and midday. Grahm let them stop for a brief respite. Renick knelt next to the stream and drank some of the cool, swift-moving water. Then he splashed some over his face and hair. The icy cold sensation reminded him of a stream he washed in once on top of a mountain. He and his friends had faced danger there too, but of a different kind.

  Thane and Grahm also bent down to the stream for refreshment.

  "We good to go on?" Grahm asked, looking at Renick.

  Renick was still a little out of breath and his legs ached. He was used to being on his feet all day, but he only walked in spurts. Hikes like this were uncommon. It was much longer than they usually had to go to meet with Wrytha and Plyth. However, neither Thane nor Grahm were showing signs of fatigue, so Renick tried to brush off his own discomfort. "I'm good."

  To his credit, Grahm also turned to Thane with a questioning look. Thane gave a short nod and the three of them started off again. They followed the stream east into the forest. For a time Renick was worried that they would not actually find a patch of burn wort—a possibility that had not occurred to him before. If they were forced to move to a different water source it would be harder for him to get away and find Wrytha.

  Just as Renick began to formulate an alternate plan, he spotted the little red, fern-like plant.

  "Here we are," Grahm said. He came to stand behind Renick and look over his shoulder at the plant. "Let's get to work. Don't harvest all of it, only about half. We need to leave some to spread and grow more."

  "Right then." Renick rolled up his sleeve
s and started harvesting the plants, stowing the damp leaves in the satchel slung over his shoulder. As they gathered, Renick and Thane started to slowly work away from each other. Grahm, following his nature, tended to stick around Thane. The plan was working.

  By the time the sun had risen to its zenith, Renick was far enough away from the others to drop the facade of harvesting and move off into the forest after his real goal.

  Chapter 9: A Sad History

  Renick covered his face with his arm to protect it from the dirt Wrytha sent whirling around him with the flapping of her mighty wings.

  "I did not expect you to call me so soon, Renick-Trusted. What troubles you?" she asked before she even settled to the ground. Renick noticed Plyth was not with her. He smiled to himself as he imagined Wrytha trying to convince Plyth that it was not safe to come. Then he remembered that it really was not safe, and why.

  He decided it would be best to get straight to the point. "The dragon knights are talking about hiring some experts to help catch the dragon. Horrin's name was mentioned."

  Wrytha's angry hiss sent a pair of birds fluttering through the trees. "Horrin. His shadow seems to haunt us lately." She tossed her head back and forth as if in dismay. "This is not good, Renick-Trusted. Things are happening among the Dragon Kind that could shift the tides of fate. For good or ill."

  "Things?"

  "They are both too vague and too deep to discuss right now. But you do need to know this—what happens to this rogue dragon could tip the balance in our society and lead to war." Wrytha let out a puff of smoke that escaped through the gaps in her razor-sharp teeth. "I am confusing you. Let me start at the beginning."

  Renick was relieved. Wrytha did not always say things as they were. She was very skilled in the art of being mysterious.

  The great white dragon tilted her head toward him. "You may wish to find a place to sit. My tale is a long one."