AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I long to see you,” she echoed.
AuRon heard footsteps. “There’s someone coming. What’s Shadowcatch like?”
“Bloated. Loud. He’s a black, a bit on the dull side.”
“His scales or his manner?” AuRon asked, a thought tickling at him.
“Both.”
There was someone at AuRon’s bay, but he pretended to be asleep.
“There’s going to be trouble tomorrow or the next day. I can feel it. Epinonia, Alhala, and Ouistrela are all ready to lay. Starlight’s doing, I expect. Ouistrela’s fought the rest off, but she’s scared of Starlight’s bite. She submitted.”
“I must go—,” AuRon said, breaking contact and rolling his watchful eye.
Eliam Dragonblade stood in the shadows of the tunnel, picking at a fingernail with a dagger. It had sawtoothed edges and narrowed near the hilt. The dagger looked to AuRon like the one Varl showed him. Two more of the Dragonguard stood behind.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but I have news.” Something that would have been a smile on another crawled across his face like an insect.
“We all do what we can. Those who can’t make news deliver it. Another victory across the sea while you stayed here, cutting the throats of bound dragonelles?”
“Two pieces of news,” he said, ignoring the taunt. “Three riders have been sent to Maganar, to get to the bottom of the deception taking place. They’ll be back within the week, NooShoahk.” He placed the tiniest emphasis on the name.
“Wise of His Supremacy to act quickly,” AuRon said.>Members of the Dragonguard gathered, and Eliam stood before the Wyrmmaster, his hand on his sword hilt. AuRon tried to keep his tail still.
“Someone at Maganar said this? It wouldn’t be that elf calling himself Wickman, would it? Tall, thin, spidery looking?”
“There’s an elf in Maganar?” the Wyrmmaster said.
“Perhaps a part elf, but he looked and smelled of it. I thought it strange, but as I was new there—”
The Wyrmmaster rounded on his men. “Who served at the battle with the Wheel of Fire?”
“Me, sir!” a Dragonguard said.
“With Thunderarm, was there a strange man, tall and thin?”
“Yes, sir. Dark as well, and most of the rest were fair. He seemed an odd duck. Stayed out of the battle, but he was older, and none of the woodmen thought aught of it, so neither did we. Name was Wicker or something.”
“Wickman?”
“Yes, sir, I think that’s it.”
The Wyrmmaster turned red. “By the storms, Thunderarm’s held a viper to his bosom. No wonder his mind was poisoned to me. This elf’s had his ear long before this dragon came. That’s how the elves work, my men, since the first man planted his crop and looked to build a cabin in their woods. They plot and they plan and they infiltrate and deceive with honeyed words that hide the taste of hemlock. He’d have me doubt my own messenger, this dragon who’s lost three kingstones of flesh winging my messages as fast as the wind. Someone will be taken to account for this!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t report him to you sir,” the Dragonguard said, visibly worried. “Now that I’m thinking of it, he did bathe a lot. Had books, too.”
“They’re master deceivers, and honest men like you look for only truth in their fellowship. But don’t worry, the true hearts will get their reward, here and in the afterlife. We’ll claim our birthright, and the tricksters will get what’s coming to them. Books! Bathing, in lavender-scented water no doubt. Effeminacy and corruption among our ranks. No wonder the battle was so hard. The dwarves no doubt had warnings, or more.”
Flecks of spittle appeared at the Wyrmmaster’s mouth as he continued. “What diseased seeds have been planted in honest Maganar, I wonder? I can guess. I’ve seen it before, time and time again. Defeatism. Dwarf-love. Empty cradles, too, for the elves will take a babe and raise it for their wicked purposes at times. Their crimes are well documented. It’s our job to see that the truth is told.”
“Send me back with some riders, Your Supremacy,” AuRon said. “Give me a day to recover, and send me back with some of your true men. We’ll take this spy before he knows his web has been discovered. They’ll get a good look at his ears, and with that evidence open him up and see what the shape of his heart is. But take my advice and never trust the men of Maganar in battle again. Leave them in peace, until generations have passed and unspoiled minds are ready for the truth.”
“No, good dragon, you won’t go back just yet. You’ll take rest, and a deserved reward for a job well done. Not only have you brought me good news in record time, you’ve unmasked a traitor, tripped up by his own evil plots. Eat and sleep, fair and faithful servant.”
AuRon bowed, and backed out of the hall. He met the eye of Eliam. The lone orb held the hatred of two.
Chapter 26
