Everyone stared down at the map. Eventually Rayna spoke. “What?”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Lisabet admitted.
“It sounds like somewhere wolves like,” Anders whispered. “Somewhere on a coastline, if there’s spray, maybe? Does that sound familiar, Lisabet?”
With an apologetic expression, she shook her head. “Maybe Hayn can help. Or if he can’t, he has the whole library, he can research it for us.”
“Right.” Anders relaxed. Their uncle would know how to find out where wolves felt strong, or found strength, or... whatever the riddle meant.
“Let’s get some sleep,” Rayna said quietly. “Long flight in the morning.” And then, after a pause: “Good work, you two.”
Above them, Ellukka rumbled soft agreement.
“Thanks,” said Anders, smiling at Lisabet. “It was pretty amazing. We’ll all go back someday, when the sun’s out and the weather’s warmer.”
“But for now,” Lisabet said, “Rayna’s right, we should rest.”
They all settled down in the firelight, Anders with the map and the scepter piece tucked inside his cloak. He curled up beside Rayna, just as they had all their lives, tangled together beneath a blanket, as if they were once more hiding in an attic or stable, rather than sleeping beside a waterfall between a dragon’s forelegs.
And as the stars twinkled gently above them, one by one they each fell asleep.
Chapter Twelve
IT WAS NEARLY DINNERTIME THE NEXT DAY BYthe time they reached Drekhelm. Rayna and Ellukka each took their turn landing in the Great Hall, and Anders was so relieved to climb down and stretch his cramped legs that at first he didn’t register the group of dragons at the other end of the hall, too busy pulling off his twin’s harness.
Both the girls transformed, and they hadn’t missed the gathering—Anders followed their gazes and realized all the members of the Dragonmeet were gathered around their customary long table. All of the Dragonmeet, except for Leif.
Mylestom came immediately to his feet, and several others rose as well. Saphira wasn’t wearing anything like her usual smile.
Leif, who had arrived and transformed first, walked forward to address the Dragonmeet. “I was not aware we have a meeting scheduled,” he said. “Has something happened?”
It was clear from the looks most of the dragons exchanged that they had not meant him to return while they were still speaking. When Leif turned his attention back to the Finskólars, his expression was grave. “Thank you for your company on our trip,” he said, with all his usual courtesy. “We will resume classes in the morning.”
Nobody felt easy as Anders and the others made their way from the Great Hall, leaving Leif and the Dragonmeet behind them. Theo peeled away almost immediately to head for the archives—he was hoping to find Hayn before the big wolf left his workshop for the night and ask him whether he could cast any light on the next riddle. Whether he could think of or knew how to find any places the wolves traditionally said gave them great strength.
Anders was dying to go with him, but though the guards on the archives were now used to Theo visiting—Leif had given him permission, as part of his research—if a wolf tried to go inside, even a Finskólar, they would insist someone ask the Dragonmeet for permission. He couldn’t afford to risk drawing their attention just now, especially the way they’d looked when Leif and his students had landed.
So he went with the others as they collected food and retired to his and Lisabet’s room, taking up their usual positions while they waited for Theo.
“I don’t know what was happening in the hall,” Mikkel said, “but it wasn’t good.”
“My father wouldn’t meet my eyes,” Ellukka said. “That’s not normal.”
“I have a horrible feeling,” Lisabet said, “that they were talking about Leif.”
It was the same feeling they all shared, and they lapsed into uneasy silence. Leif was the voice of reason on the council, the one who had stopped the dragons from throwing out Anders and Lisabet right after the wolves attacked. If his power was slipping, what would that mean for them and all the rest of the Finskólars? For the fragile truce between the wolves and dragons?
Anders didn’t know about the others, but he was focused on silently willing Hayn to be in his workshop, to know the answers, to help them hurry toward the third piece of the scepter. More and more, it felt like time was running out.
As if to emphasize his point, Rayna shivered and stole one of the blankets from the end of his bed to wrap around her shoulders. He’d never seen her need so much extra warmth in the dragons’ own stronghold before.
Everyone looked up when the door opened to admit Theo. Straight away, his face told them he had not been successful.
“Hayn wasn’t there?” Lisabet asked.
Theo shook his head. “Worse,” he said. “He was there, and he wasn’t alone.”
Anders sucked in a quick breath. “Did they see you?” he asked.
