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Reka was perched right on the edge of the cliff, his tail dangling over the lip. He shifted slightly, causing several bits of rock to dislodge and fall toward the water far below. His eyes passed over Heath’s tall form, taking in the rucksack slung securely over his shoulder.
“Interesting,” the dragon said, his voice bright and curious. “When I detected your call with my farsight, I assumed you wanted to explore the structure we found under the water at our last meeting. But you appear to have come prepared for a more significant journey.”
“That’s right,” said Heath. “You’ve often said you wish to explore further across the sea. I’m finally on board.”
Rekavidur tilted his head to one side, regarding Heath closely. “I thought you felt you must put your explorations aside for the present, because of your family’s troubles.”
“Well,” said Heath, shrugging one shoulder. “I’m actually hoping that this time my explorations might help with my family’s troubles.” He swung his gaze back out to sea, squinting toward the horizon, despite knowing perfectly well that if there was anything out there, it was far beyond even his sight.
He looked back to find himself under the intense scrutiny of the dragon.
“What?”
“You haven’t forgotten, have you, that dragons can tell when humans aren’t being honest?”
“Of course I haven’t,” said Heath, nonplussed. “What I said was true.”
“Hm.” Reka snaked his long neck forward until his reptilian head was inches from Heath’s face. He sniffed, not unlike a dog scenting its food. “Then why did you have a flavor of deception about you?”
Heath thought back, evaluating his words, and gave a self-conscious chuckle. “Oh, I see. Well, it is true that I’m hoping this might help with what’s going on in my extended family.” He gave a sheepish grin. “But I also can’t deny that I’m glad of the excuse to explore beyond where we’ve been before. I suppose you could say my motivations are mixed.”
He sighed. “It might be a fool’s errand, but I really do want to help find a resolution for what’s happening. When I was in Bryford I read a record about a land to the east where magical and non-magical people have been coexisting for a long time. Maybe even centuries.”
Reka exhaled in surprise, sitting back on his haunches. The cliff beneath him shifted slightly, another chunk falling into the ocean below, but it didn’t seem to bother him.
“Magical people in a different land? That seems unlikely. Before the birth of your grandmother, and her twin, dragons were convinced that no other creatures could safely carry magic. If there were magical people in a nearby land, we would have known long ago that humans can in fact wield power.”
Heath shook his head. “I don’t think it’s nearby, at least not in human terms. And would you really expect to know about it? I thought you told me that most dragons aren’t interested in exploring beyond their lands. Isn’t it true that the colony your father came from in Kyona didn’t even know about the colony on Wyvern Islands until your father went questing with my grandmother to find more dragons?”
“It is,” Reka confirmed.
“And those colonies are only a couple of hours’ flight from each other, at dragon speed!”
“What you say is true,” Rekavidur said, with that faint tone of surprise Heath had long ago learned to ignore. “I suppose, based on that reasoning, it is possible that there could be lands to the east that no dragon from my colony has ever explored, and that our farsight does not reach.” He flicked his tail slightly. “But surely humans, who are more prone to expansion, would have explored it.”
Heath shook his head again. “The water is impassable, apparently. No one can sail more than a few days eastward.” He grinned slightly. “How long would it take you to fly the distance of a three day voyage?”
“Carrying you?” Reka tilted his head to one side. “An hour, maybe two.”
“Excellent,” said Heath briskly. “Then we can be back before the evening meal.”
Reka looked Heath over again, a shrewd expression on his reptilian face.
“Where does your family think you’re going?”
Heath shrugged. “Just to explore along the coast.”
The dragon shook his head slightly from side to side. “Remarkable how easily humans deceive one another.”
Heath fidgeted uncomfortably. “I didn’t exactly lie. I just wasn’t very specific.” His voice turned stern. “So there’s no need for any sanctimonious comments about how dragons don’t lie to each other.”
“It is good that we do not,” said Reka placidly, “since humans do so enough for both species.”
Heath cast his eyes heavenward, but the dragon continued unperturbed. “So. Where is this supposed land?”
“Vazula,” corrected Heath. “The record called it the island kingdom of Vazula. And all I know is that it’s east of here.”
“Very well,” said Reka amicably, and Heath smiled.
