| |
Even when all seems lost, Jeeah rules yet, and in his world no man with breath in his lungs is ever truly deprived of hope.
~Sengee, fasah to Shawnahur, the dragon king
5768 AI
South of Cahar, Muintir
6126 AI
“WHERE’S THE KING? His arc lukesure’s here; he has to be here somewhere,” a man’s voice demanded.
“Darregud, we’ve looked everywhere. What more do you want?”
“He can’t have gone far. Find him! Without him there’s no guarantee of success.”
Hest’s heart beat faster. Usheen? Usheen, where are you?
No answer came—not even a sense that the arc lukesure was near. Panic tinged the pain, making his head spin even more. He couldn’t lose Usheen! The rising terror was only compounded when he tried to move and found his limbs completely unresponsive. Had he broken his back? His neck?
Grass swayed above him, obscuring the sky; in the fringes of his vision he thought he saw movement off to his right, but nothing appeared. Goshkeah had trusted Jeeah to protect him; was this how the God repaid such faith?
Footsteps swished through the grass, drawing nearer. “Darregud, I found him!” A harsh face framed by dark hair peered down at Hest. “Long blond hair, right?”
“Aye, that’s the one.” The fiahat swaggered into view, a cruel smile on his face. “Well, what a sight for sore eyes, and to think you fell right into our laps! Jesh, get him up.”
The younger man yanked on Hest’s arm, sending a wave of anguish through him which only receded when it swallowed him up in blackness.
***
WHEN HE AWOKE, HEST found himself again flat on his back, but this time there were branches overhead. He had no idea how much time had passed.
Usheen?
Still no response. That worried him more than the pain that still wracked his shoulder and ribs.
“He’s ready, Darregud.” Jesh shook his head as he turned to Hest. “Are you going to stay with us this time?”
“Depends on if you decide to rip my arm off or not,” Hest said through gritted teeth.
“Carry him to the cart if you have to. We need to get going; when they come looking, they’ll know he’s nearby. That dragon’s crash dug a furrow deep enough to bury a horse.”
Jesh gripped under Hest’s arms and lifted, dragging him to an immense wooden cart. A canvas tarp covered a form that Hest could only hope was a living arc lukesure, but without the familiar sense of the laubrach, he couldn’t be sure.
Dread wormed its way to his inner being. If Usheen was dead... No, he wouldn’t indulge those thoughts.
With a final heave, Jesh deposited Hest onto the cart. “Do you want him tied up?”
“Nay, why do that when we can leave him free to run back and bring his Rittider down on us?” Darregud smacked Jesh upside the head. “Use the brain Jeeah gave you!”
Rough rope bit into Hest’s wrists as Jesh tightened the bonds. At least his hands were in front of him. When that was finished, Jesh threw a dirty covering over him, blocking out Graen and everything else—except the rancid smell. Hest gagged and took a shallow breath to quash the reflex. If he lost his meal, it’d make matters worse.
The wagon creaked and shifted, then jerked to a start. For good or bad, they were on their way. Surely, someone would be able to find them before they made it back to Nwa. Jeeah wouldn’t leave him out here to suffer, would he?
He lost track of time. All he knew was the wood pressing against his back and the smell of molding fabric and rotting meat. His eyes closed, and he thought he slept, but he wasn’t sure.
Heart...of...
Usheen! You’re alive!
Aye, if you can call it...that. The arc lukesure’s voice didn’t sound right, but Hest couldn’t place what exactly was wrong.
We can get out of here now! Excitement surged through Hest as he thought of what he’d do to the two men who had them.
Nay.
Hest dismissed Usheen’s protest. All you’ll have to do is blow fire, send them running, and we can fly back to Cahar, or even follow them back to their leaders.
You didn’t hear me. Usheen took a breath that Hest heard and felt beside him. I can’t, heart of my hearts.
Of course, you can. All it takes is for you to breathe fire.
Aye, and catch this covering on fire with us both trapped beneath it.
But you can get out from under that easily! And so can I. To prove his point, he wiggled his way to the edge of the canvas, his shoulder complaining the whole way.
You can’t get away, though, without me.
I wouldn’t want to. You’ll fly out.
Another shuddering breath shook the cart.
“Take a look at the arc lukesure. Give it another dose if need be,” Darregud ordered.
“Why can’t you?”
“I’m driving, that’s why! What brains do you have?” Darregud groaned and mimicked his commander’s voice. “’Take Jesh, he’ll do whatever you say.’ If Cammaray was here now, he’d eat his words.”
“Oh, shut up!” Jesh’s weight shifted the wagon while Hest held his breath.
Of course. That was how Nwa had known of the fiahat. They’d sent the rebel leader straight to Hest’s would-be-assassin.
Now, Usheen. We can’t wait for him to do whatever he’s going to do.
Heart of my hearts, I wish I could, but I...can’t...fl— Usheen’s voice trailed off, leaving Hest with a sense of loss.
What had happened? Where was the arc lukesure?
“There. Happy?” Jesh moved around. “He’s out again. Didn’t take much to finish him off.”
“Finish him?” Darregud’s voice rose. “You didn’t hurt him, did you?”
“Nay, just gave him the dose the sanyalee said to use. He’ll be out like a baby until we reach Boulick.”
Usheen? Usheen?
All Hest’s mental calling was in vain. He felt the weight of his arc lukesure beside him, but it was as if a rock lay there instead of a being with life and thoughts.
Jeeah, we could use some help. Goshkeah seemed to think you would protect me, but this doesn’t look like any protection I’ve ever seen.
The only answer was the wagon hitting a bump and jolting Hest against the floor. He bit his lip to keep the cry of pain at bay. What good was a God who wouldn’t answer?
Hest scooted closer to Usheen, but the tarp had been tucked under the arc lukesure so that it wouldn’t jostle loose and reveal their cargo.
After a while, even the rocking of the wagon wore away at his pain tolerance, and his shoulder was screaming for some kind of change. With a cry, he rolled over onto his side, but it was no better; if anything tensing his muscles to keep himself there was worse than lying flat. Tears traced their way down his face. He tried breathing deeply, sucking air in through his nose and expelling it from his mouth, but nothing helped. His only solace was thinking of the revenge the Rittider would have on these fiahat. He only hoped it wouldn’t come too late to actually save them.
***
THE WAGON PULLED TO a stop, rocking Hest onto his stomach, his face pressed against the wood.
“Here’s about as good a place as any.” Darregud dismounted. “Make sure to tether the horses.” Hest heard his voice drawing nearer as he spoke, and then the tarp beside him fluttered, and a cool breeze tickled his back.
“You weren’t trying to escape were you, little king?” Darregud rolled Hest over, then pulled him to a sitting position.
Dizziness threatened to send Hest toppling again, but the man’s grip kept him upright. His arm throbbed fiercely and added to the disorienting distortion in his thoughts, but he had to know if Usheen was alright. Desperate for a glimpse at the arc lukesure, he turned toward the wagon, but Darregud yanked him back.
“Nay, you’ll not be working any of your magic on us.”
Spots floated in front of Hest’s eyes; he blinked and bit his lip as Darregud pushed him to the ground at the base of a tree, then roughly bound Hest to the trunk by his waist
“Darregud, you’ll want to see this.” Jesh called from the wagon.
With a final check to ensure Hest was secure, Darregud ambled over. “What’d you find now?”
“Have you seen these?”
“They’re scales.”
“Aye, but look here. ‘Tis where I made the cut.”
“Well, I’ll be!” Wonder colored Darregud’s tone.
What have they done to you, Usheen? Hest longed to see what they were seeing, or better yet, for the arc lukesure to awaken and spray them with fire.
“Here; take this pouch and gather all the ones on the floor. If a single one’s missing, I’ll know.”
“But what about my share?”
“What about it? You’ve been a pain the whole time—complaining or arguing. Those are mine.”
Jesh huffed his displeasure.
Leaning his head back, Hest sighed, then bit back a yell as his shoulder flared with pain. A familiar presence followed the sensation into his consciousness.
Usheen?
No words came to him, but an image of the arc lukesure resting overlaid his sight. Pain throbbed in his side, and terror and discouragement warred with fury and vengeful fantasy. He had to get to Usheen! All else was unimportant as the laubrach took hold, but just as suddenly as it’d come it receded, leaving him empty and cold.
When Hest glanced down, he saw the cords sliced through. A quick look showed Darregud huddled over a fire while Jesh tended to the horses.
Usheen, what am I supposed to do?
But the presence was gone, again. He couldn’t leave the arc lukesure to these men, but it didn’t make sense to have both of them tied up and incapacitated.
“When you’re done with the horses, give the little princeling a dose of that stuff as well,” Darregud called without looking up from the wood.
“Aye.” Jesh’s reply was more of a resigned complaint than an assent.
I’ll be back, Usheen. I won’t leave you alone.
It was a vow that Hest knew he would fulfill even if his life was the price. He couldn’t live without the arc lukesure.
Crawling, he stumbled to his knees cradling his left arm to his body, then rose into a crouch and slipped into the forest. He had to get space between him and the two fiahat, or he’d be back in their clutches, and they weren’t likely to allow him a second chance to escape. If they intended to give him something that would knock an arc lukesure unconscious, there was no telling what it would do to a human, and he certainly didn’t want to find out.
On silent feet, or as silent as he could make them, he crept away from their camp. Within several hundred paces, he came to a tree-lined road. The branches obscured Graen, leaving him no idea which way they’d come. With a sigh, he hoped for the best and turned to the right, walking along the edge of the road where he could hide among the trees at the slightest need.
A shout behind him indicated his escape had been discovered. He picked up his pace and jogged along the road, listening for any sign of pursuit and biting his lip to keep from crying out in pain.
A distant rumble of horse hooves came pounding up the road, and Hest flung himself to the side, ignoring the grinding in his shoulder as he landed in the brush. He stifled a scream and huddled down, listening as the horse slowed. Had the horseman seen him? Who was it? Was he in league with Darregud and Jesh? With his heart pounding, he waited, trying to still his ragged breathing.
“Hallo!” Dareaguhd called, and the horse slowed to a stop. “You didn’t happen to see a man with long blond hair, did you? He wandered off while we tended the horses; he’s dazed and confused—took a nasty fall earlier—and I’m worried he’ll be lost if I can’t find him quick.”
Hest couldn’t hear the reply, but while they were occupied, he crept from tree to tree, collecting a sturdy fallen branch along the way. It’d make a decent weapon if he could swing it without debilitating his arm.
“Appreciate it,” Darregud said.
The horse hooves returned along the road toward his hiding place, ambling along at a walk. Hest froze against a tree trunk, not daring to breathe as the rider dismounted.
