We reach the field and find them embracing. I expect, I hope, that they spent the night making love as well.
“Where have you been?” Surath calls out when she sees us. “There’s much to do.”
“Leave them alone.” Xendus kisses her forehead. “They were separated a long time.”
The dragons all shift, Saxon and I mount, and the group of us fly back toward camp.
As soon as we’re in the air, we see smoke rising in the distance.
“What’s burning?” I ask aloud, so that both Zogar and Saxon can hear me.
“It looks like the dragon handler’s storage shed,” Saxon calls out.
Let’s keep our distance,Zogar says,until I can be more certain what’s happening.
Before we reach the enclaves, Treacher and Ersot fly toward us.
Ersot has freed more dragons,Zogar tells me excitedly.She tells me that most of the human riders are cooperating with her and Treacher. But a few have refused to mount, and the jailers tried to use shadowdust again.
Ersot and Treacher are close now. They swoop around the group of us until the four dragons are flying in a formation with Zogar and I slightly above and ahead of the other three.
What do you suggest?he asks, but I’m not sure who he’s asking.
“We’ve been circling the enclaves,” Treacher says to everyone. “Making sure the riders who agree, can safely mount and fly through the veil.”
Excitement courses through me. It’s really happening. More of Zogar’s people are free.
“I put Alexandre and Stran in charge of taking riders across,” Treacher tells us. “I showed them where to find that plateau. As more return, it will become easier to corral the enemy on the ground.”
I smile to myself at how quickly Treacher has become our ally. How he’s referring to some of the people he used to command as his enemy. Although I know he mostly means the klericks.
The klericks have been captured,Zogar tells me.Ersot and her rider locked most of them in the dungeon. The same one where they held Saxon.
Clearly the dragons have been communicating amongst each other while Treacher was telling Saxon and me what was happening.
“Can we land?” I ask Zogar. “I’d like to make sure that others at camp—the candidates and the servants—are safe.”
That is a worthy endeavor, my queen.Zogar is quiet for a moment.Surath, Saxon and I will accompany you, while Xendus and Ersot protect the dragons who’ve not yet been freed.
CHAPTER 51
Rosomon
“Samyull!” I spot my friend, with a group of other servants and I drop the hood of the cloak I’m wearing. The group are all dressed in the simple garb of acolytes, many armed with knives and other weapons.
Zogar reluctantly agreed with my plan that I should seek them alone, fearing there might be bloodshed if a more aggressive approach was taken. Given the weapons, I’ve been proved right.
“Rosshall!” Lowering his sword, Samyull rushes toward me. “I mean Rosomon. You’re alive. Where have you been? Do you know what’s going on? Why are the dragons revolting?”
“Come,” I tell him. “I have much to tell you, but not here.”
“Stay here,” Samyull says to the others. “Stay hidden.”
I’m relieved that he’s agreed to come, and proud of how he’s taken a leadership position amongst the terrified servants. The two of us remain quiet and take care not to be spotted until we are outside the gates of camp, where Zogar, Surath and Saxonare waiting. Surath, in dragon form, stands proudly behind the two men, as if guarding them.
“Master Saxon!” Samyull calls out in shock. Then he glances around, as if worried who heard his outburst. He rushes toward Saxon and bows his head when he reaches him. “We were told you’d been executed for blasphemy. I’m so grateful to see you’re alive. You were kind to me last year. Back when I was foolish enough to think I could ride a dragon.”
Saxon nods. “You weren’t foolish, and I was glad to help you.”
