Physically, the dragon was slowly recovering. The best surgeons and dragonsmiths had worked their magic and the dragon’s own strength and powers began to return. Two Gulps Too Many and Quenelda were rarely from his side, yet the dragon remained listless. Over the last moon, the ulcerated sores that covered his body had begun to crust over, and then close. Under Quenelda’s guidance, several bones had been re-broken and reset, a tricky procedure, only made possible by her new-found assurance and skill in healing. Beneath the dulled tattered hide, hints of new-grown pebbled armour could be seen; and where it failed, the dragonsmiths had been grafting skilfully. But spiritually, the big dragon was dying, and everyone knew it – everyone except Quenelda.
‘I’m more than satisfied with his progress, and yet there is no sign of him shedding his skin.’ Tugging his long, luxuriant beard, Professor Rumspell, Dragon Isle’s senior surgeon, hesitated, watching Quenelda assist a dragonsmith with the careful grafting of new skin onto Stormcracker’s tail. ‘I’m guessing here, Dragonmaster, but I don’t think his physical injuries are the problem any more, terrible though they are. Of course, he will never be operationally fit enough to fly with the SDS; his injuries are too severe to cope with battle manoeuvres. But he should be able to shed his skin, to fly once again – and yet he cannot.’
The surgeon sighed. ‘I think it is guilt and grief combined. His spirit is broken. Without Quenelda he would already have died. He cares enough to respond to her, but it is not sufficient. He’s slowly fading. A dragon raised by a Dragon Lord has an unbreakable bond – an echo of the Dragon Whisperers’ bond. Without the Earl and the SDS, he’s lost. It would be better had they both died rather than have him suffer this living death.’
Tangnost had a sudden thought. Thanking the surgeon, he strode over to Quenelda and Root, who were miserably watching the battledragon as he half-heartedly ate a small cauldron of brimstone offered by Quester. The youth had spent countless days waxing the huge dragon’s pebbled hide and oiling his talons under Tangnost’s guidance.
‘We’re approaching this the wrong way,’ the dwarf announced.
‘What do you mean?’ Quenelda was instantly alert to the change in Tangnost’s bearing.
‘We’re trying to get Stormcracker to shed his skin. Professor Rumspell says that physically he’s mending, gaining in strength every day; that there’s nothing stopping him trying to fly. But he’ll never be a battle-dragon again, never fight with the SDS; his whole purpose in life is gone. It’s a sickness of the spirit that is holding him back. He—’
‘He’s pining,’ Quenelda finished for him. ‘He’s pining!’ Hands on head, she shouted, suddenly alive, suddenly laughing, hugging Tangnost. ‘Of course!’ How could I have missed something so obvious?
‘What?’ Root looked baffled.
Tangnost nodded, knowing that Quenelda had understood. ‘He’s consumed by guilt,’ he explained to Root. ‘He sees no point in living because he believes he abandoned the Earl.’
‘Tell him what we’re planning, Quenelda.’ He watched the battledragon. ‘Tell him that if he gets fit enough, we’re going to search for your father. Maybe that will make a difference, if he has something left to fight for.’
‘Yes!’ With a hopeful smile and a bounce in her step, Quenelda went over, Root following behind. Stormcracker was yearning for her father – just like her! Why hadn’t she realized that?
We are going to find Thunder Rolling over the Mountains? The battledragon’s golden eyes lit up with sudden hope, and Quenelda knew with a rush of adrenaline that he was going to be alright.
Yes. One-Eye will help us …
Stormcracker shuddered, and let out a long soft breath, his muzzle lipping at Quenelda’s shoulder. The glint in his eye grew stronger. He raised his massive head towards the sky and bellowed, an earth-shaking challenge that rattled the combs of Dragon Isle. A challenge had been thrown down to those who had betrayed the SDS.
But you must be strong. The path is treacherous. The No Wings who betrayed us will try and stop us, will try and kill us before we find him.
The dragon creatures from the Abyss … they will fight us?
Quenelda nodded. You must be strong to defend us, to hide us. We have to find the path you took, find Thunder Rolling over the Mountains and then bring him home safely to roost here on Dragon Isle. We are going on a quest …
I will be strong, Dancing with Dragons … the battle-dragon promised, smoke pouring from his nostrils. I will build up my strength so that we can face the dark together.
Stormcracker’s eyes locked with Quenelda’s, before he turned back to his food – only to find it gone. Curled up in the empty cauldron, Two Gulps Too Many burped happily in his sleep.