Starlighter

  As the dragon stomped down the entrance path, Jason breathed a silent prayer. This would be it, all his training rising to the top in a life-or-death battle with the most powerful and ferocious beast he had ever encountered. He flexed his muscles, listening to the silent words Adrian had signaled just before the tourney’s final round. Listen to your hearty, but use your brain.

  Giving his brother a nod, he jumped in front of the entryway with his sword straight out. The dragon charged towards him. Jason lunged. The sword struck the dragon’s belly, but the blade merely glanced to the side. A swipe from the dragon’s claw threw him backwards.

  After a slide and a reverse somersault, Jason leaped to his feet. Now his ribs ached, but he couldn’t double over. He had to stay ready to strike or dodge.

  The dragon stalked into the anteroom and straightened his body. The spiny head at the end of the long neck nearly brushed the ceiling. It wavered from side to side as its red eyes scanned the dim chamber.

  Jason glided out of the way and crouched low near its flank. Apparently its eyesight hadn’t quite adjusted. Could he take advantage? Did this dragon have a weak spot? It had to have a weakness somewhere, didn’t it?

  He caught sight of the tail, fully armored with thick spikes and scales. Every inch of this beast seemed impenetrable. Maybe a leaping stab at his eyes would do some damage, but his head stayed so high, that, too, seemed impossible.

  Suddenly, the river appeared with Tibalt standing in his usual place and Randall next to him. Tibalt’s eyes flared. “A dragon!”

  Randall aimed his photo gun. A blue fireball shot out and splashed against the dragon’s cheek. It wagged its head and roared. Then, rearing back, it seemed ready to launch a barrage of flames.

  His ribs still aching, Jason cringed. It was now or never. He jumped up and dove headfirst through the portal. A rush of fire flashed in the corner of his eye, and heat warmed his legs, but when he rolled to a stop and settled on his back, darkness flooded his vision, and a puddle of water cooled his skin.

  Barely visible in the dim room, Tibalt stared at him. “That was a big one!”

  “Definitely,” Randall added as he extended a hand to help Jason up.

  Jason grasped Randall’s hand and shot to his feet. “We have to get back there. Elyssa’s trapped in the mine.”

  “In that low tunnel?”

  Jason nodded, refusing the urge to wince at the pain. “They’re hiding. I’m sure they were watching, so they probably saw me disappear.”

  “That dragon’s too big to chase them,” Randall said. “She’ll be fine.”

  Jason pointed at Randall and spat out his words. “What are you doing in here? You were supposed to be guarding the door! I could’ve used your help!”

  “I was guarding the door, and Tibalt showed up. I heard a dragon making those growling, barking kind of noises, so I ducked in here for a while. We tried to guess when we could open the portal again.” Randall pointed at himself. “I did help you by guessing right.”

  Jason stared at him for a moment, his teeth grinding. Randall had helped. In fact, he had displayed a lot of courage, far more than Jason ever expected. Maybe it was time to give Randall a break and start treating him like a warrior.

  Jason hung his head. “I guess you’re right.” He offered Randall his hand. “Thanks.”

  Randall shook his hand warmly. “I’m just glad it worked out.”

  “I’m sorry about the trick I played in the tournament.”

  Randall clapped Jason’s arm. “Forget about it. We have to save Elyssa.”

  Now holding his side as he limped toward the wall, Jason sheathed his sword. “Right. What do you think we should do?”

  “As long as that dragon’s there,” Randall said, “we can’t move a muscle. To him, my photo gun was like an annoying firefly.”

  Jason touched the viewer. “Maybe we could get another look without opening the portal.”

  Tibalt winked. “Didn’t you say you saw a pretty girl through that glass?”

  “Koren?” As Jason looked at the black window, Koren’s face came back to mind—sad, wounded…and lovely.

  “I did. But if this viewer just shows her, it won’t do much good.”

  “Maybe she can help,” Randall said. “If she’s a slave there, she’ll definitely know more than we do about dragons.”

  “A weakness?”

  Randall shrugged. “Maybe. It’s worth a try.”

  “We have to make this fast.” Jason inserted his fingers. As before, the dragons lit up, as did the inscription and their fiery breath. He gazed into the glass, silently begging for it to clarify once more and show Koren.

  After a few seconds, the image of a girl appeared, a younger, dark-haired girl. With tear tracks smudging her cheeks and deep lines digging into her brow, she seemed worried, if not terrified. Well beyond her, two dragons were lifting the body of a third dragon onto a pair of rafts. The dead dragon had only half a tail.

  “It’s the dragon I killed!” Jason strained his eyes. “It’s like I’m standing on the opposite side of the mesa from where I was before.”

  Randall looked over his shoulder. “If those dragons are so tough, how did you manage to kill that one?”

  “It wasn’t too hard. It definitely wasn’t the same kind of dragon.” Jason studied the girl’s cracked lips. She was saying something, but she kept licking her lips, making them impossible to read.

  “Well,” Randall said, “do you see anyone in there?”

  “Shhh! I see someone, but I’m trying to concentrate.” For the moment, the girl had stopped licking, and as Jason pieced the words together, he spoke them out loud. “What did you say, Koren?”

  “Koren?” Tibalt asked. “You found her?”

  “Quiet! Just listen.” Again Jason drilled his stare at the girl and, copying her lip movements with his own, gave voice to her words. “You’re hearing someone? Who?” The girl stared straight at Jason and continued speaking.

  This time, Jason stayed quiet as he read her lips. Jason? she asked. The boy you saw in the egg? The girl looked more worried than before. That’s impossible. You’re just upset and imagining things.

  “No!” Jason shouted. “Koren! It’s me, Jason! You’re not imagining things.”

  The girl squinted. Koren? What’s wrong? She stepped closer. How can you talk to Jason? He’s not here.

  “Koren,” Jason said. “Listen carefully. I can’t see you this time, and I can’t hear you, but I can see the girl who is talking to you. Tell her to carefully repeat what you want to say to me, and I’ll be able to read her lips.”

  The girl cocked her head. Okay, Koren. If you say so. She straightened and spoke slowly. My name is Natalla, and I am Koren’s friend. We are trying to get into the slave mines, but there are two dragons close to the entrance, so we’re waiting for them to leave.

  A feminine hand reached out and pushed Natalla’s hair away from her mouth. Wounds marred the girl’s wrist, blood still oozing from a raw cut.

  Jason sucked in a breath. Was he looking through Koren’s eyes? How could that be?

  “Koren,” Jason said, “it looks like you’re near the entrance where the workers go in. Do you know where the other entrance is?”

  Yes, Natalla’s lips said. Why do you ask?

  “There’s a chamber at the bottom of the stairway, and a huge dragon is there blocking my way out. If it leaves, I can open a doorway to my world and help the slaves escape forever, so can you tell me when it comes out?”

  I will take care of it.

  Koren grasped Natalla’s arm. “Stay here. I’m going to act as bait to get that other dragon out.”

  “What other dragon?”

  “Jason said there’s a dragon inside the secondary entrance, blocking his way. Remember? We saw him go down there.” Koren pointed at herself. “When the dragons come after me, run into the main entrance. Do you remember where that is?”

  Natalla nodded. “And what about you?”

&nb
sp; “Don’t worry about me. I’ll tell a story that should give me enough time to get away from them.” Koren set a hand on the mesa and peeked around its curving side. The Royal Guard dragon and the patrol dragon had finished loading the dead body onto the rafts and were now conversing, each one glancing at the mine entrance from time to time. The weight of the rafts combined with the dragon’s body dammed the stream, and the water flowed toward the mesa, following a trench with newly dug earth and rocks lining the sides.

  A bend in the trench diverted the flow from the main entrance and into a hole at the base of the mesa near her feet, probably an air vent for the miners. She stooped and pushed her hand into the water. Whatever the dragons were up to, it couldn’t be good.

  Taking a deep breath, she leaped over the trench and dashed around the bend. She passed by the first entrance, a low arch with stone steps descending into darkness, and sprinted toward the second.

  “Stop!” one of the dragons roared, but Koren didn’t look. When she reached the second entrance, she slowed down and crouched as she negotiated the steps. The dragon came into sight, huge and armored—probably a Royal Guard. He faced the inside, his tail flicking back and forth within reach of her outstretched hand.

  With his back towards her, his eyes stayed out of view, but his head’s rhythmic swaying from side to side indicated his fixation on something toward the rear of the chamber. Even with all their brains and brawn, these Royal Guard dragons sometimes obsessed beyond reason. It wouldn’t be easy to draw him away, and with the other two dragons probably closing in from behind, she would have to use all her skill to get out of this mess.

  Koren pulled the hood over her head and called out, “One day long ago, a dragon flew to—”

  “Stop!” The dragon swung his head around, revealing his familiar face.

  “Ma…Magnar?” Koren backed slowly up the slope.

  “Yes, Starlighter.” Magnar hissed as he followed, his head low and his tongue flicking in and out. “I think your storytelling days are over.”

  Eighteen

  The dragon’s following her!” Jason jerked his fingers from the wall and stepped aside. “Tibalt! Quick! Open the portal.”

  “Will do!” Tibalt pushed his fingers in place. As before, the glass expanded and brightened, revealing the scene in the anteroom, still somewhat blurry. The only sign of the dragon was the end of his tail snaking up the entry slope.

  Jason and Randall withdrew their swords as one. “You check on Elyssa,” Randall said. “I’ll see what I can do to help Koren.”

  Jason pointed with his sword. “That dragon’s a tough one. It’ll take both of us to kill it, and there are two more besides.”

  “I don’t mean to kill it. I’m just going to distract them long enough to get Koren to safety.” He patted his photo gun holster. “This will at least blind them for a few seconds. One of us needs to check on Elyssa and the kids.”

  “Okay, I guess you’re right.” Jason strangled his hilt. The portal seemed to be taking longer to expand this time.

  Finally, the gateway wall disappeared completely. As soon as they leaped to the other side, Randall ran up the entry stairs, and Jason spun around. “Open it again every half hour until you see us. Got it?”

  “Got it.” Tibalt raised a hand as if to salute and disappeared.

  A roar and a sword clanging on scales erupted outside along with Randall’s groan.

  “Randall!” Jason turned toward the exit. The distinctive pop of a photo gun sounded from outside, followed by two dragon yelps.

  “Jason! Over here!”

  Jason spun on his heels and found Elyssa waving her arm frantically.

  “Hurry!” she called.

  He ran to the central tunnel and ducked inside with Elyssa. “What’s wrong?”

  “The mine pit is filling with water.”

  “Where is it coming from?”

  “The miners had an air vent to the outside. Water’s pouring in from that down deep in the pit. Allender thinks the dragons diverted the stream to flush the slaves out.”

  “I think you’re right,” Jason said. “I saw the trench they dug. But can’t the miners plug it?”

  She shook her head. “They were all at the ledge talking, and no one noticed the water until it was too deep. Even if someone dove down there, he wouldn’t be able to see well enough to find the hole, much less plug it before running out of air.” She pulled him farther into the tunnel. “Come on. You need to talk some sense into them.”

  “Sense? Why?”

  As they hurried through the dark passageway, Elyssa spoke in a low tone. “Allender proposed sacrificing two men, but the dragons demanded either all six men or two children. If they sacrificed the six men, all the children would be given new Assignments instead of being put in the cattle camp.”

  When they reached the ladders, they descended in parallel. “What did Allender say to that?” Jason asked.

  “He countered with four men. Two had to stay alive to make sure the dragons kept their word regarding the children.”

  “And?” Jason prompted as they stepped down to the lower level.

  “The dragons upped it to all six men or three children. Now Allender is trying to get the deal back to the first offer, but I think he’s trying to persuade the men to let two children die.”

  “What?”

  “Come and listen for yourself.”

  Jason followed Elyssa toward the far side of the mine pit where Allender stood in the midst of the other five men, who were sitting with their hands clasped on their laps. Allender waved his arms as he spoke, but his voice stayed too quiet to hear. The children were nowhere in sight, not even Wallace.

  Jason looked into the pit. Light glimmered far below, perhaps a reflection on the surface of the water, but it was too dark to discern the rate at which it was rising.

  When they arrived, Allender glanced at Jason for a brief second before continuing. “I maintain that it is better for the children to die than to be sent to the cattle camps. Their suffering would be unimaginable. If they die, they will be in the comfort of the Holy One’s arms.”

  “Only a cowardly man allows a child to die in his place,” Micah said, shaking a finger.

  Allender gave Jason another glance. “For the sake of the foolish boy who has caused our troubles, I will say it again. I would gladly give my life to save any child. In the casting of the cube, I lost, and I made no complaint. Even now, I would walk into the dragons’ fire without flinching if I could be sure that they would keep their word. But as it stands, no one would remain to make an appeal to the priests of the Zodiac if they break their promise.”

  Mark looked at his wringing hands, sweat dripping onto his fingers. Another man leaned his forehead against his tight fists, rocking as his lips moved silently.

  Jason read his unspoken words. Holy One, O Holy One, grant us wisdom. Grant us courage. Grant the children freedom and peace.

  A ripping pain stabbed Jason’s heart. These poor fathers and uncles! They loved their children so much! And there seemed to be no way out of this deadly predicament.

  Yet there was a way out, but not for almost half an hour. Would the water rise that quickly? Did they have time to wait for the portal to open? And would Allender and company now believe him?

  Cowl rose to his feet, wiping tears from his eyes with his thumb. “I say we give them six men. I trust Wallace to make an appeal if necessary. He is almost of age.”

  “Almost,” Allender repeated. “Almost will not pull the pail. Since Wallace has only one eye, he would be the best candidate for sacrifice. We need to choose only one other.”

  Jason boiled inside, and his voice erupted unbidden. “You can’t be serious!”

  “The dragon killer speaks.” Allender gave Jason a mock bow. “Now that you have brought us this calamity because of your madness, would you kindly offer us another generous helping of insanity?”

  Jason bit his tongue. A hundred retorts flew into his mind, each one no
thing more than a combative insult. But that would truly be foolishness, definitely not using his brain. Heaving a sigh, he spoke in an even tone. “How long do you think we have before we’re flooded out?”

  “Based on the last measurement,” Cowl said, “about fifteen minutes.”

  Jason nodded toward the ladder. “All the way to the upper chamber?”

  “We think it will rise to that level by then. It’s hard to be sure.”

  Jason looked at Elyssa. “Tibalt won’t open it in time.”

  “I know what you’re thinking. It’s probably our only chance.”

  “You know what I’m thinking?”

  She nodded. “It’ll come to you. You’ll see.”

  He looked into her eyes, sparkling green and sincere, the same eyes that coerced him into so many brave and daring acts when they were children. Her little-girl voice echoed from the recesses of his mind. You can do it, Jason!

  Young Elyssa had fallen from a tree and was clinging to a branch that hung low over the fast-flowing river. The current beat against her dangling legs. She couldn’t hold on much longer.

  Eight-year-old Jason stood on a limb, clinging to a vine. “I’ll have to climb down and grab you!”

  “You can do it, Jason!” Then, as now, Elyssa displayed no fear, just trust—trust that he would find a way to rescue her.

  As the vision faded, Jason let out a long sigh. “Okay. I think I know what you mean.”

  He returned Allender’s bow. “I will go with five other men, and we will be the sacrifice. I suggest that Cowl remain as the survivor so that he can continue to be a wonderful father to Tam.”

  Allender studied him for a moment. Then, extending his arm slowly, he grasped Jason’s wrist. “Very well. I think I misjudged you, young man.” He turned to the others. “What say you all?”

  Four men spoke. “Aye!”

  Cowl shook his head. “I cannot vote for my own survival while you brave men give your lives.”

  “No need to give us a nay, my friend,” Micah said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You are outvoted.”

  Allender took in a deep breath and motioned toward the ladders that led to the main entrance. “I will go first and tell them, and the rest of you follow. Let Jason be the last, but he will have to leave his sword behind.”