Burned: Dragons' Trust Book 2 Read online

  "What about him?" Renick tilted his head toward the driver, who still lay unconscious on the bed.

  Lainey waved her hand dismissively. "He won't wake up. Aunt Melatheen gave him a sleeping draft this morning. He's still in a lot of pain." Her expression softened at the mention of the man's suffering.

  Renick felt like he should try and comfort her. Not knowing what else to do, he reached out and patted her arm. She rolled her eyes at him, but he could tell she appreciated the effort.

  "Come on, I can watch him from the back room. That will give us a few more seconds in case someone shows up." Lainey skipped to the back room and perched herself on one of the cots. Renick sat uncertainly on the one across from her.

  "How do we start?" Lainey's gray eyes were full of excitement.

  Renick cleared his throat and tried to recall Wrytha's instructions. A lot had happened since then, and his memory of it was a little blurred. But if he could remember all his father's stories and dragon lore, he could remember this. "Um … begin by pulling your magic like a thread. Wrap one end around yourself … no, your mind—"

  Lainey raised a hand to stop him. She had closed her eyes. "Hold on, let me get that much." Renick watched her anxiously. Lainey tilted her head to one side, tilted it to the other, scrunched her brow, and pressed her lips together. Finally, without opening her eyes, she said, "I think I've got it."

  A small twang of jealousy echoed through Renick. To have magic would be amazing. But he also knew the weight of responsibility it was for Lainey. Especially since she often could not use it for fear of discovery. Lainey did not like to watch others suffer. Lainey nudged his leg gently with her foot.

  "Oh, right. Uh … next you think of Wrytha. Of her song." A thought occurred to him. "Do you remember her song?"

  Lainey smiled and nodded her head. Renick sighed with relief. "Okay, you're supposed to think of her song while sending your own song through the thread. I think. Does that make sense?"

  She held her hands up as if she was not sure. "Is that all?"

  Renick shrugged. "It's all I remember."

  Lainey gave an exaggerated sigh and said, "I'll try it."

  "You have a song?"

  His question was greeted with a laugh. "Silly Renick, everyone has a song. Even you. Some just haven't chosen to voice it yet."

  "Ah," he said and shrugged, even though Lainey could not see him because her eyes were still closed. It had never occurred to him that humans would also have a "dragon song"—a song that embodied everything about who they were and where they came from. Renick started to think about what his song might be. He imagined it would be much like a story being told.

  Lainey growled in frustration and Renick jumped. It was not a sound she made often. "What?"

  She opened her eyes. "I … I can't get it. I … it's too hard to think of my song and hers at the same time."

  "Maybe I can help."

  With an inquisitive cock of her head Lainey asked, "How?"

  "Can you wrap the thread around me too? I'll think of Wrytha's song and you can send yours along the thread at the same time."

  A bright smile broke across Lainey's face, and her whole demeanor changed. "That's brilliant. Um, do you know Wrytha's song?"

  Renick felt a little sheepish. "I don't know if I remember it."

  Lainey sent the song to him through dragon speak. He could hear it in his mind, familiar, but strange—most likely because Lainey was singing it instead of Wrytha. The notes were full and deep with a light trill that ran through them, like a wise woman who had not forgotten her youth. He felt the sun on his face and the wind at his back, and he could smell wild roses.

  "Got it."

  Lainey closed her eyes again. Feeling a little odd, Renick did as well. He concentrated on repeating Wrytha's song in dragon speak.

  Stronger. Louder. Lainey's voice urged in his head. Renick tried to think of the song being more, of it echoing through his head and growing in intensity. It was a hard thing to do completely in your mind. Drifting up like a fog on a summer's day, Lainey joined in with her song. It was yellow, like flowers and sunlight. Lainey's song felt like a gentle blanket being wrapped around him. There was also an undercurrent of joy and contentment. Renick opened his eyes and peeked at Lainey. She was smiling.

  I hear your voices, young ones. Wrytha said in their minds.

  She added, "What news have you?" Both Renick and Lainey jumped. It sounded as if she were standing in the room with them.

  "What happened?" Renick asked.

  "I completed the connection. We can now hear each other speak. Impressive, Lainey-Kind, that you thought to include Renick-Trusted in the magic," Wrytha's voice said.

  "It was actually Renick's idea."

  Renick felt a wave of admiration from Wrytha. It was odd to hear her voice and feel her dragon speak without seeing her. It felt kind of like a half-heard whisper just as you are falling asleep. "Can others hear you?"

  He could almost see the white dragon shaking her head. "Only those bound in the spell can hear me. But those nearby can hear you. I hope you are alone."

  "We are," Lainey assured her.

  "What is wrong, young ones? Renick-Trusted, you are especially concerned."

  "Horrin and Gunther are here," he said simply. He could feel Wrytha's reaction through the magical bridge. She was afraid, a little for the Dragon Kind and even Folgyn, but mostly she feared for the three of them.

  "You are all safe? Where is Thane-Brave?" A flood of worry that bordered on panic struck Renick along with Wrytha's words. Renick was touched by her level of concern.

  "He's busy with the dragon knights. But he's fine," Lainey told the dragon.

  The release of Wrytha's worry washed over him, and Renick swayed a little under its force. "This is not good." Her voice hummed. "The dragon hunters must not be allowed to kill Folgyn. Tensions are running high among the circles. One more death of our own at the hands of a human and the tide will break. There will be war."

  Lainey and Renick exchanged a glance. War with the Dragon Kind would be devastating—for both sides. It occurred to him then that if there was a war, he would be forced to choose between his own kind and the dragons he loved so dearly. Renick knew he could not face that choice.

  "What do we do?" he asked.

  "I cannot advise you. Plyth and I will fly to the dragon city and confer with Derth and the others. You two concentrate on staying alive and keeping Horrin away from Folgyn. I will call to Lainey-Kind when I have more news."

  Renick felt her withdrawing. "Wait, there's one more thing." As he spoke he looked through the door to the front room and out the window and saw Melatheen at the end of the street. They did not have much time, so Renick conveyed the story of Folgyn's attack on the carriage through dragon speak.

  "He knows you are marked. Good, it means that his mind is not completely gone and he can still sense the magic. He should not harm you," Wrytha said.

  Renick felt comforted until Lainey asked, "Should?"

  "Hmm," Wrytha hesitated. Renick could picture the position she would have her head in if she were standing in front of him. Down, as if she had been caught trying to hide something. "It is against our laws, but Folgyn has broken them before."

  They heard the latch on the door.

  "We have to go," Lainey whispered urgently. Then she must have cut the magic thread because Renick could no longer feel Wrytha.

  Melatheen smiled at them as she came in the door. "You two look entirely too serious. Go outside and play."

  In that moment, Renick felt far too old to go play.

  Chapter 15: Dragon Tracks

  Sweat dripped down Thane's neck, causing his shoulder blades to twitch with irritation. He reached up to wipe it away with one hand. Either it was an uncharacteristically warm day, or his nerves were getting to him. A cool breeze helped to alleviate some of his discomfort, but his tunic was still sticking to his skin. Thane took a step forward, scanning the area around him.

&nbs
p; All the dragon knights and squires were out combing the forest for signs of the dragon. The idea behind doing it in broad daylight was twofold: first, they could see better in the light, and second, the dragon had a tendency to attack at night. Which meant he most likely slept during the day. Apparently Horrin's first bit of advice to the dragon knights was to find the dragon's lair. Everyone was acting like it was some new idea, but Thane remembered that just such a tactic had been suggested by others already. It was irritating how just because Horrin said something, it was some stroke of brilliance.

  A fly buzzed next to Thane's ear, and he waved his hand at it. The annoying little creature continued to circle around his head until it finally landed on his arm. Thane moved to squash it, but the fly escaped because something caught his eye. With his head bent to aim at the fly, it had put him at just the right angle to see an impression in the ground. Falling to his knees, Thane inspected further. Judging by the shape and size, it was definitely a dragon track.

  He opened his mouth to announce that he had found something but then closed it again. Perhaps hesitation and caution were a better course.

  Waiting would give him an opportunity to speak with Renick and Lainey. They may have learned something new from Wrytha. He could always find the tracks again and report them later. He battled with indecision for some time. The tracks were fresh, and so maybe they could catch the dragon sleeping and end this whole ordeal now. Then he remembered the warning Wrytha had given Renick and Lainey. Neither the dragon hunters nor the knights could be the ones who ended Folgyn's life. At least, not yet.

  Silence, then, he decided. Standing, he glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to see him. Then he pulled the knife from his boot and made a slash in the tree to his right, so he could find the spot again. He felt confident that he knew where he was in the forest, so he did not bother to make additional marks. The movement could draw attention from the others.

  Thane moved on, heading away from the tracks and pretending to search for other signs. A quick look through a gap in the forest canopy told him that it was already after midday. He hoped that Horrin would call off the search soon. And that no one else would find anything.

  It took forever before a halt was finally called and Thane was released to relax for the rest of the day. Once back in Trevinni, Thane headed straight for Lainey's house.

  "I'm sorry," Melatheen said when she answered the door. "She went to go deliver some things to Loren's stables. Probably got sidetracked talking with Renick. You three, always talking." A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  "Well, to be fair, Lainey does most of the talking." Thane was rewarded with a laugh and then sent away. Thane had always thought Melatheen understood best how the three of them had bonded being lost in the forest together all those months ago. Of course, she did not know the whole story, just that surviving together brings people closer. She probably had the same thing with Grahm, since they had been through a similar experience.

  Well, except for the dragons.

  Thane ran all the way down the street to Loren's stables. He found Renick and Lainey sitting on the floor outside of May's stall.

  "Thane," Lainey beamed up at him. Thane's heart pounded in his ears, probably from the run. Lainey continued, "We were just noting how much better May is doing."

  "Right, good. I found dragon tracks." He had their full attention now.

  "Where?" Renick asked, his hand dropping from May's neck.

  "In the forest. I marked the spot. They were pretty fresh. If we go back soon, we should be able to follow them." Thane leaned against one of the support beams and tried not to look like he was exhausted. He concentrated on slowing his breathing and relaxing his muscles.

  Lainey's face fell. "I don't think Aunt Melatheen would let me go. It's too dangerous."

  Renick shrugged. "I've caught up on my chores and I think Uncle Loren might be persuaded. But I don't think he would let us go on our own. And we'd still need to get permission from the dragon knights."

  "We won't be able to ditch Grahm again. Especially not long enough for us to find Folgyn and talk some sense into him." The wheels in Thane's head were turning. There had to be a way.

  Lainey was chewing her bottom lip and Renick appeared to have nothing going on in his head, like he was daydreaming. Renick always looked that way when he was trying to think.

  "I've got nothing," Renick said with a shrug. "We can't use the herb gathering thing again. I think they would see through that."

  "And asking permission from the dragon knights would only draw unwanted attention from, you know who." Thane slid down to sit on the floor. "I'm still surprised no one else found anything. We have to act fast."

  "No one else found anything?" Renick asked. "But you had everyone looking, right?"

  Thane nodded. "Horrin spread everyone out, and we were told to keep moving forward until a halt was called."

  "Maybe Folgyn is just staying well hidden?" Renick offered.

  Thane waved off Renick's comment. "Perhaps. But that is not the important point here. We need to find a way to get to Folgyn before the others."

  "We could …" Lainey started, and then she stopped. She hung her head and tried to pretend like she had not said anything.

  "Yes?" Thane prompted.

  Lainey took a deep breath. Thane prepared himself to listen either for quite a while or very intently. A deep breath from his friend usually meant she was about to launch into a lengthy description or to speak at a very rapid pace. It proved to be the latter, for Lainey's words came out in one continuous stream. "We could tell them we're going to do something else, you know, like hang out together, and then sneak out to follow the tracks instead."

  It took a full minute to register her words.

  "Lainey, are you suggesting we … lie and break the rules?" Renick sounded just as shocked as Thane felt.

  Her cheeks colored and she fluttered her eyelashes. "It's important. And we wouldn't have to lie exactly. Just not tell the whole truth. We seem to be doing it a lot lately anyway."

  "I don't know." Renick shook his head. "The knights have the city locked down for a good reason."

  "Yes, to keep us safe." Lainey's eyes turned pleading. "But we're Marked. And we're the only ones that can stop Folgyn without causing a war."

  Renick seemed to consider this.

  "I'm going," Thane announced, putting an end to the debate. "It's risky and I don't like the idea of breaking rules, but Lainey is right. The lives of a lot of people depend on what we do next."

  Renick looked back and forth between Thane and Lainey for a moment. Ultimately he did not object. Instead he sighed and asked, "When?"

  "Tonight," Thane and Lainey said together.

  Chapter 16: Lost Beloved

  Renick fidgeted as he sat crouched by the stone wall that surrounded the city proper. Thane and Lainey were late. Only once before in his entire life had he "snuck out." His seven-year-old self had not been able to resist going out to the brooder to see the newly-hatched dragons. Of course his father had caught him, and the punishment was a whole week of double chores in the house. But after that, his father started teaching him how to care for the little dragons. However, Renick had been required to swear an oath that he would never leave the house without permission again.

  A twinge of guilt hit him as he thought of that promise. But it had only applied to his home on the ranch and did not extend to his new home here.

  The sound of footsteps approaching made Renick's heart race. He tried to crouch down lower and slow his breathing.

  "It's me," Thane whispered in the darkness.

  Renick relaxed. "Where's Lainey?"

  "Here," her soft voice sounded from right behind him.

  He jumped a little. "How long have you been there?"

  "Not long."

  Thane shushed them and then drew back further behind a building. Renick followed, staying low. The hollow sound of someone walking along the main street echoed
the pounding in Renick's ears.

  Lainey stood in the open. She was still mostly hidden, but it was light enough out that if the person looked their way, she would be spotted. Renick reached out and drew her down next to him and Thane. She looked up at them, her eyes grateful.

  Once the footsteps faded, Thane leaned in close. "Stay here," he whispered. "I'll go check things out." He moved slowly around the edge of the building and disappeared from sight. Renick waited silently, and beside him Lainey did the same. He could not even hear her breathing.

  Thane rounded the corner of the building and Lainey jumped, covering her mouth to squash a scream. "All clear," he declared.

  Lainey stood and slapped his arm. "Wipe that smile off your face, Thane Shaytorrin." She somehow managed an authoritative tone, even though she was whispering.

  "What?"

  Renick shrugged, which made Thane shake his head, the amused smile still on his face.

  "Now what?" Renick asked, pointing up to the top of the wall.

  "Up and over," Thane said, cupping his hands. Without hesitation, Lainey put her small foot in Thane's big hands and he launched her up. She just barely caught the edge of the wall and scrambled on top. Then it was Renick's turn. He steeled himself and then mimicked Lainey's movements as best he could. Once Renick was securely perched on the wall, he reached down and, with Lainey's help, dragged Thane up beside them.

  Turning his attention to the other side of the wall, Renick saw that part of it had fallen away, probably some years ago, making their perch the shortest point. The rubble on the outward-facing side made climbing down a lot easier and safer. Before long all three of them were standing on solid ground again.

  "Where to?" Lainey asked in a soft whisper.

  "This way," Thane waved his hand to them and started moving through the knee high grass, leaning low over the ground to appear less conspicuous. Renick followed with Lainey close behind.

  They soon entered the forest. Thane paused for a moment, probably so he could get his bearings. They moved forward again, heading a little bit to the right. After a short time, Thane stopped and waited for Lainey and Renick to gather close around him.