“Chase us,” Sakarias corrected her, grinning.
“Let’s not eat too much breakfast then,” Jai said wryly. “We’re going to need to be able to runreallyfast.”
Ferdie was studying Anders. “Do you know what you’re going to say when they all arrive, Anders?”
Anders blinked. “Me?”
There were nods all around the circle. He took a moment to think it over.
“I’ll...” He studied his friends, and slowly it came to him. “Yes,” he said. “I know what I’m going to say. I’m proud you’re all my friends—wolf and dragon and human. I’mhonoredto be your friend. I’m going to find a way to show them all what this is like. The strength in it. I’m going to tell them about us.”
Anders’s thoughts were still whirling as Rayna launched from the landing pad at Cloudhaven, turning southeast to skirt the bottom of the Icespire Mountains and head across the Great Forest of Mists, crossing the Sudrain River and making for the spot near the Holbard camps that they had chosen for their meeting place.
For once, he barely noticed the view, and he couldn’t bring himself to admire the beauty of the land below. He knew that soon he would have to find the words to explain everything that was in his head and his heart. He knew from the way Lisabet’s arms tightened around his middle every so often that she was just as heartsore as he was, but as the wind flew by, there was no comfort he could offer her except to rest his hand on top of hers.
By the time Rayna landed and he pulled off her harness, he felt no more ready than he had at the beginning of the trip. But he was determined. He would find the right words. Hehadto find the right words.
They were in the foothills to the north of the ruins of Holbard, within walking distance of the town camp, running distance of the wolves’ camp, and flying distance of Drekhelm. It was a large, fairly flat area, a little raised up, with a series of boulders off to one side.
Anders chose what he thought was the middle and set down the wrapped cloth package that held the Mirror of Hekla.
Meanwhile, Rayna took the Staff of Reya and began to trace out a large circle, just as Hayn had instructed them. She carefully dragged it over grass, dirt, and stone, making sure she didn’t miss an inch, and that the edges of the circle connected up when she was finished.
And after that, there was nothing more they could do, except wait and hope.
The three of them settled into their hiding place between two of the boulders, and Anders opened up his communicator mirror to see how the others were doing. If anything went wrong now, then everything they were doing would have been for nothing.
Ellukka and Sakarias were equipped with two of the four communicators in Drifa’s and Felix’s set. Anders had the third, and Sam and Jerro had met Hayn just outside the humans’ camp, taking the fourth from him.
Anders spoke Ellukka’s name quietly into the communicator and waited for it to bring him an image from her point of view. She had her mirror pinned to the front of her cloak, like a brooch, so if anything went wrong they would at least be able to watch it and know what was happening.
The surface of the little mirror didn’t change, though. It remained completely blank, showing Anders only his own reflection, which must mean that Ellukka was still in dragon form. He’d expected her to be at Drekhelm by now.
But even as he was thinking that, an image suddenly came into focus, and he was looking at the Great Hall at Drekhelm—scene of more than one showdown with the Dragonmeet, and of the battle between his classmates and the dragons. She must have just landed and transformed.
She turned, and he saw Mikkel and Theo land behind her, one at a time, shifting quickly into boys.
Bryn, Isabina, and Ferdie had remained back at Cloudhaven, in case everything went wrong today, so those humans left behind would have a chance to get away somewhere safe.
Of course, if the dragons, wolves, and humans went to war, who knew if anywhere would be safe?
Meanwhile, at Drekhelm, the Dragonmeet was assembled around its long table at the other end of the room, its members mid-conversation. Voices were raised, and several of them were standing, as if they were readying themselves to leave. But everyone fell silent as they realizedwho the three new arrivals were.
Valerius was the first to respond. He was a big, blond man, his hair pulled back into two braids, just like Ellukka’s. He rose to his feet and vaulted the table, cradling his still-injured arm against him as he ran toward his daughter.
For several moments, the only view Anders had through the communicator was the front of Valerius’s tunic as he hugged Ellukka against him, holding her tight.
“You are insomuch trouble,” he said quietly, “that I don’t even know how to describe it. But I’m so happy you’re safe.”
Then Torsten’s voice sounded from behind him. “What have you three been up to?” he demanded. “We were expecting to see you days ago. You’re just in time to join us in the attack. I’m sure you’ll want to prove your loyalty.”
Valerius released his daughter, and Anders could see the Dragonmeet once more. Very few of them looked anything less than threatening.
When Ellukka spoke, her voice was humble. “We’ve been up to... we’ve done things we shouldn’t have,” she said quietly.
Mikkel joined in beside her. “We were wrong, weknow that now. We’ll accept whatever punishment you give us. Wedowant to show you we’re loyal.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” said Leif, coming to his feet, concern all over his face.
