Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 Read online

  "Come on, let's get going. I would like to find a nice spot to dry out," Lainey said. She stood and picked up the pack. "Can I carry him for a while?" she asked Renick. The tone of her voice made her sound small.

  "Sure."

  Lainey put the pack on backwards so she could cradle the injured dragon. She whispered to it as she set off to follow the river again.

  Renick turned to glare at Thane.

  "What?" the older boy asked. "They don't. Do they?"

  "My father says that dragons are born with a sense of humor. How else would they put up with our silly antics?" Renick answered.

  "You believe that?" Thane had a smirk on his face. No doubt he had a quick response on the tip of his tongue.

  "Does it matter? Lainey does." With that, he turned and followed after Lainey. After a while, he heard Thane's footsteps behind him.

  They started the slow march again. Lainey's flute–like voice rose just above the sound of the rushing river as she sang happily to the baby dragon. The gentle music broke up the monotony of the long walk and Renick was grateful for it, even if Lainey was a little out of tune.

  "You think she's mad at me?" Thane asked.

  Renick jumped a little in surprise. He had not noticed Thane walking so close, and the question seemed odd. "I don't know. I think you just hurt her feelings a bit."

  "Hurt her feelings? Over a stupid dragon?"

  "She's a girl, Thane." Renick sighed. "They have silly feelings about a lot of stupid things."

  "How do you know so much about girls?"

  "I have three younger sisters, and two older. I'm the baby brother and so I always got way too much attention from them." Renick smiled to himself at the fond, if annoying, memories.

  "I just have an older brother," Thane commented. "And my dad. And Grahm."

  "Who's Grahm?"

  "He's kind of like my teacher. He was the one traveling with me," Thane answered.

  Renick nodded.

  "Grahm was taking me to Trevinni to train as a dragon knight." Thane seemed distracted. Renick wondered if he was worried about Grahm.

  "I'm going to apprentice with my uncle," Renick said, trying to divert Thane's attention.

  "Doesn't your father own a dragon ranch? I would've thought you would work there."

  Renick shrugged. "I have four older brothers. There's not much space for me there."

  Thane gave a half smile. "I see."

  They walked side by side for a while, listening to Lainey sing. Soon Renick could no longer hear the melodic rise and fall of the song. At first he thought her voice was trailing off, and then he realized that the sound of rushing water was growing louder and louder. A sinking feeling settled into his stomach and still the sound grew louder until it was like a roar of thunder. Up ahead, Lainey climbed to the top of a hill. She stopped suddenly. Just as Renick was about to reach her, she turned back, a stricken look on her face. She held out one arm to point behind her. Renick followed the line of her finger and the sinking feeling turned to despair.

  Their way was blocked by a large waterfall. Before them was a sheer face of rock reaching up into the sky. The river rushed over the side and on past them.

  Thane came up beside him and said something, but Renick could not make out the words. He shook his head and pointed to his ears. "I can't hear you!" he shouted as loudly as he could. Thane moved closer.

  "We'll have to climb," Thane said. Renick could tell he was shouting too, but the words were almost drowned out again.

  Renick turned and examined the cliff to the side of the waterfall. The wall shot straight up, and the rocks were mostly smooth and wet. Turning back to Thane, he shook his head. "I don't think we can. At least, I can't with my sore shoulder."

  Someone tapped his arm. Renick turned to look at Lainey. She got Thane's attention too before shouting. "Look!" She pointed to the other side of the river. Renick saw that over there, the ground sloped upward to the falls. That passage would be much easier.

  "We'd have to turn back and find a safer place to cross," Renick said.

  Thane shook his head. "It's the wrong direction."

  "Renick and I can't climb that, and who knows how long it'll take us to go around." Lainey had to take a deep breath after she spoke as she struggled to be heard over the sound of the falls.

  Thane crossed his arms.

  "We could get lost," Lainey insisted. "We have a landmark—we should stick to it."

  "I agree," Renick said. "Let's go back. There may be somewhere to cross further down."

  Thane opened his mouth to object. Lainey turned to Renick. Her eyes were narrowed and her lips pressed close together. Renick shrugged his shoulders at her. She jerked her head in Thane's direction.

  Renick took a deep breath and clenched his fists. "I think we should turn back!" he shouted. Without waiting for any further discussion, he turned and walked resolutely back the way they had come.

  Chapter 7: Dragons Don't Talk

  Renick stomped his foot down a little harder than necessary, causing the damp dirt to form little mountains around his boot. He focused on the way the dirt rippled and cracked, but it did not work. He could still hear Thane and Lainey behind him.

  "What's wrong, little one?" Lainey said.

  "Do you have to keep talking to it like it understands you or something?" Thane retorted.

  "I can talk to him however I want." Lainey paused for a moment and Renick thought maybe she would leave it at that. But of course, she did not. "Besides, I'm sure you talk to those hunting dogs you keep blathering on about," she added.

  "Hounds. They're called hoounndss." Thane sounded the word out like he was trying to teach Lainey how to spell it. "And I don't actually expect them to respond. Other than to my commands."

  "Well, can you train your dog to do this?" Lainey started humming a snappy tune. Every so often, she would skip a note. To Renick's surprise, the dragon would chime in, filling in the gaps.

  Thane snorted. "So what? That's just a dumb old parlor trick. Any parrot can do that."

  Lainey drew in a sharp breath. "How dare you say such a thing, Thane Shaytorrin. You apologize this instant." She stamped her foot.

  "What? To a stupid dragon? No way."

  Finally silence. Renick closed his eyes and puffed out his breath. He guessed the tension between Thane and Lainey was because they were tired, or hungry. At the thought, his stomach grumbled. Renick's respite was short–lived as Lainey stalked past him, her mouth in a grim line and her eyes narrowed.

  "Stupid boy," she mumbled under her breath.

  Renick stopped and watched her walk up the path, kicking at rocks.

  "She's so emotional," Thane said with an exasperated sigh.

  Renick shrugged to avoid having to say anything. He actually agreed with Lainey, but he could not admit that to Thane.

  Thane looked up at the sky. "I think we've dawdled enough, don't you? We should turn back now."

  Lainey's blond hair swirled around her shoulders as she whipped her head around. "We don't have to listen to you, Thane," she called.

  "We'll find a crossing," Renick said. He tried to hide the fact that his confidence was fading with every step. Back at the falls, he had felt that following the river would be the best course. Now he was not so sure. But he could not let the others know, especially Thane. He could not stand the thought of losing more of the older boy's esteem. Lainey believed in him—maybe that was enough.

  "Hey," Lainey called. She had set the pack with dragon on the ground and stood with her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.

  "What?" Thane demanded.

  "The baby dragon's hungry," she announced, pointing to the rucksack at her feet. The baby dragon had his gray–blue head pocking up, the flap covering one ear. It watched Renick expectantly.

  "How do you know that? Did the dragon sing it to you?" Thane jabbed. Lainey rolled her eyes and flicked her hand at him.

  Renick sighed. "Lainey," he put his hand on her shoulder, "why
don't you and I feed the baby dragon. We've a few strips of jerky we could soften."

  Lainey shook her head back and forth, her hair floating around it. "He doesn't like the jerky. It smells funny."

  Thane threw his hands in the air. "Now she's a dragon whisperer. What? Did the little lizard complain about the jerky?"

  Lainey's eyes shone with tears. "Maybe he did," she said, half–heartedly.

  "Dragons can't talk," Thane said.

  "Thane." Renick was surprised that he was able to keep his voice neutral. "We could all use a good meal. Maybe you could catch us some rabbits?"

  Thane clenched his fists.

  "You are, after all, a superior hunter, and I'd love some rabbit." Lainey flashed Thane a smile and fluttered her eyelashes.

  It took Renick a second to catch up with her sudden change in mood. Before Renick could collect his thoughts again, Thane was nodding his head. Thane placed one hand on the hilt of his sword and the other on his hip. "I am an excellent hunter. Wait here—I shall find us some dinner." He moved off into the forest.

  Renick watched with his mouth hanging open. He turned to Lainey, who smiled and twirled her hands in a fancy shrug.

  "My aunt says men need their egos stroked every now and then. And that they like making pretty girls happy." She looked back after Thane. "At least she was right about the first half."

  Based on the evidence, Renick could not argue against that. Instead, he bent down and patted the dragon on the head.

  Lainey nudged his shoulder. "A good friend would say, 'She's right about both. You're a very pretty girl, Lainey.'" Her tone was stern, but there was a twinkle in her eye.

  "I guess I'm a dismal friend, then," Renick replied, trying to sound just as serious. "Do you think I'd be better at making camp?"

  Lainey smiled and together they set up the shelter and started a fire. It was not long before Thane returned with two freshly killed rabbits. He held them out to Lainey, who squealed and clapped her hands before taking them. She looked down at the rabbits and back up at Thane, her face slightly green.

  Thane snorted. "Would you like me to clean them for you?"

  "Yes, please." She beamed.

  Thane took the rabbits and cleaned them with expert hands. "Did a lot of rabbit hunting back at my father's estate. A knight often has to survive on his own in the wild, even during times of peace."

  "You must've gone hunting with your father a lot," Lainey commented.

  Thane's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not with my father—with Grahm."

  "Grahm?" Lainey said.

  "From the passenger basket," Thane explained.

  "Ah." Lainey laid her chin on her bent knees. "When I lived with my aunt and uncle in Sovertin, we ate rabbit several times a week. My uncle was pretty handy with a snare, and it kept our bellies full during the winter."

  "I didn't know your aunt was married," Thane said as he removed the last bit of pelt from the second rabbit.

  "Different aunt," Lainey explained. "I've lived with a lot of different relatives. Aunt Melatheen took me in just a few months ago. She kind of rescued me."

  "Rescued you from what?" Thane asked.

  "How're we going to cook the rabbits?" Lainey asked, ignoring Thane's question.

  "On a spit," Thane said.

  "We don't have a spit," Lainey countered.

  They both turned to look at Renick. He stood from where he sat watching their exchange. "How about I build one?"

  Renick found a suitable roasting stick rather quickly. The small, fallen branch was already pointed at one end, which would be good for skewering the rabbits. Finding the two support sticks proved to be a little more difficult. The forks had to be just right and far enough down to hold the roasting stick above the fire. He had wandered so far from their small camp that he could no longer hear the sound of Lainey and Thane bantering back and forth. He turned back, not wanting to get lost. He looked up and inspected the branches of the trees as he passed them. Eventually he was able to find two suitable branches, but he had to rip them from the trees.

  When Renick returned to camp, Lainey and Thane were quiet.

  "What now?" Renick asked.

  "Dragons can't talk," Thane said.

  "Well, this one can," Lainey said. She stuck her tongue out at Thane.

  Thane opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. Slowly, he reached with one hand and drew his knife. With his eyes locked on Lainey, he took aim. She screeched.

  "Quiet!" Thane hissed. "And don't move."

  Lainey froze mid–scream. With a flick of his wrist, Thane sent the blade flying. It landed right between the eyes of a large snake. Lainey twisted her head around and the rest of her scream escaped. The serpent writhed for a few seconds before collapsing and going completely limp.

  "I caught us dessert." Thane smiled.

  "Eww!" Lainey scurried to get further away from the snake.

  Renick could not help himself any longer. He started laughing, breaking his silence and drawing Thane and Lainey's attention. "Lainey," Renick said when he had gained a little more control, "we aren't really going to eat it."

  "We aren't?" Her voice was fearful and pleading.

  "No," Thane said with a smile, "its meat is poisonous."

  Relief showed on Lainey's face. "Good. Renick, did you make a spit?"

  Renick nodded his head and handed one of the support sticks he had found to Thane, who drove it into the ground next to their fire. Renick had to try a few times before he could get the other one into the ground directly across from it. Thane picked up the roasting stick and pushed the pointy end through the first rabbit.

  "Wait," Renick said. "Dragons eat their meat raw. Give me some of that second rabbit."

  Thane cut the rabbit in half with his knife and handed the rump end to Renick. He put the other half on the skewer and set it across the two support sticks.

  "Can I borrow your knife?" Renick asked. Thane flipped the knife so he was holding the tip of the blade and held it out to Renick, who cut the rabbit into small pieces.

  "What're you doing?" Lainey asked.

  "The dragon's still too small to eat on his own. At this age, the mother dragon would still be partially digesting his food for him. But if we cut up the meat small enough, he'll be able to manage." Renick held out a handful of meat to Lainey. After a moment's hesitation, she took it.

  "You must've fed a lot of baby dragons," she said.

  Renick shrugged. "Every once in a while, there's a runt that needs hand–feeding. That usually fell to me."

  "So, how do I do it?"

  "Hold one little piece over his head. When he opens his mouth, drop it on his tongue, not down his throat." Renick explained.

  As Lainey fed it, the baby dragon started to wiggle around and seemed to sigh contentedly.

  "You look like you have something on your mind, Renick," Lainey said without raising her eyes.

  "I was just remembering a story."

  "Let's hear it then," Thane said gruffly. Lainey shot a dagger–like look at him. "What?" He raised his hands in surrender. "I knew you were going to ask. I just beat you too it." They both turned to watch Renick expectantly.

  "A long time ago, there was a boy called Louren, who rescued a dragon that had been rejected by its mother," Renick started. He knew this tale well, as his father had told it many times. "The dragon was so grateful for what Louren had done that he stayed by his side day and night, protecting him. When Louren grew into a man, the dragon would follow him to market, where no one dared to cheat him. No thief ever stepped foot on his land. No bandits ever gave him trouble. Louren had a long and successful life. When his hair turned gray and his body started to fail, the dragon gave him a final gift. The dragon spoke Louren's name and then surrendered his life to Louren. With his body restored to its youth, Louren was able to live a second life that was just as plentiful as the first."

  His tale finished, Renick looked up from the fire to see Thane and Lainey still watching him. The daylight had f
aded and their faces glowed against the darkness.

  "I like that story," Lainey said with a yawn.

  "It's just a story. Dragons don't really speak," Thane insisted.

  Renick shrugged. "They don't." But he wished in his heart that they did.

  Chapter 8: The River Rushes On

  Lainey looked up at the canopy of trees. Sunlight danced across the wet leaves, making them sparkle. She breathed in the refreshing scent of the forest after a rain. Aunt Melatheen loved the rain. The thought brought a pang of worry and regret. Lainey let herself feel it for a just a moment before carefully tucking it away. The best thing to do for her aunt was to get out of the forest and find help.

  "Look," Thane called out.

  She turned to follow the line of Thane's outstretched arm. Up ahead, the river widened to fill a large gap in the forest. The river was so flooded that it lapped at the trunks of some of the trees that lined its banks. Here the river flowed at a much lazier pace. It seemed to trickle along, spreading out and taking its time. The rushing sound had also quieted to just above a whisper. Lainey caught her breath and soaked in the peaceful moment, saving it for later.

  "Do you think we can cross here?" she asked.

  Thane's brown eyes scanned the river, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I think so," he said as he rubbed the stubble that had formed on his square jawline.

  Lainey turned to Renick, to whom she had really been speaking. "What do you think, Renick?"

  He shrugged like he always did when he was unsure. "It looks safe enough." He glanced over at Thane as he spoke, a question on his face.

  To keep from laughing, Lainey pressed her lips together. It was just too much fun to make Renick squirm. Thane took a deep breath and clenched his fists. It was a bonus that it annoyed Thane as well.

  Some bushes nearby rustled, the sound breaking through the calming melody of the river. The boys turned to watch the spot. Thane's hand went to his sword.

  "I think if we're going to cross here, we should do it quickly." Thane was trying to sound tough and brave, but she saw his feet shifting nervously. A knot formed in Lainey's throat. If Thane was really that worried, there was something to be worried about.