Dare Elouan wish for a better fate? "What will you do?"
"What I must…."
No one would miraculously save Elouan. "My uncle will never believe I'm dead without proof."
“The night your father died, hundreds of dragons took to the skies, some controlled by Urien, some loyal to your father, and some unaffiliated dragons who appeared to fight alongside theloyal. One of the unaffiliated dragons bore similar markings to yours. Despite my best efforts, he succumbed to his injuries earlier today. I will let ourking,”—Sakaris spat the word — “see the body if he so chooses. I’ve given him no reason to doubt me.” He gave a weak shrug. “Or so my magic tells him. Now, hurry. We haven’t much time."
“What of the other mage?”
Sakaris growled as they passed through the first set of wards. “Gwythyr is pure evil from a coastal court. He doesn’t mete out cruelty at Urien’s command, but because he loves inflicting pain on others.” A touch of his staff on the chains sent them tumbling to the ground, releasing Elouan’s wrists and ankles. Elouan rubbed the chafed skin on his wrists.
His dragon wanted to dart to the exit, shift, and fly. “But you’re a strong mage.”
“Aye, but I fear Gwythyr is stronger. At least at present.”
He must be strong indeed. Strong enough to keep Sakaris silent, strong enough to overcome the wards. Strong enough that Sakaris couldn’t act openly against Urien now. A shiver ran down Elouan’s spine.
Sakaris led Elouan through the second set of wards. Two guards barred the way. "Stand aside," Sakaris commanded. Beta he might be, but he’d lived long enough to gain power through knowledge alone, plus his considerable magic.
Not to mention the rumors of Sakaris turning dragons into toads, no doubt started by Sakaris himself.
The guards averted their eyes. What? Were there some in the court who didn’t want Elouan dead?
Elouan trudged beside his old mentor. Music and laughter sounded from the castle; the murderers celebrating their abhorrent deeds.
Lights shone from the windows of his room, several silhouettes visible. His room. His things. They might take theclothes, jewels, and books in his rooms, but they’d never find the main part of his hoard. He’d hidden the things most precious to him well.
Sakaris lifted his staff, igniting mage light at the end, enough to illuminate their way. Elouan’s normally sharp senses had dulled from too little food, water, or exercise. They traveled a familiar path through meadows where he and his brothers once played. There was a small hill where he’d taken his first flight. Father and Mother had been so proud.
Elouan experienced his first tryst in a stand of trees illuminated by moonlight. The air smelled of grass, trees, and remembered infatuation.
The path grew steeper, winding around ever-higher hills. Elouan’s heart pounded harder, not from exertion, but from fear of what might happen next.
“Your uncle’s treachery angered the Goddess,” Sakaris muttered when the terrain leveled enough for them to walk abreast. “She's not afraid to show her ire.”
Elouan stopped, turning to give the old mage his full attention. “What do you mean?”
“In the days since Urien killed your father, three couples have gone to the sacred mountain. All three returned without eggs.”
Elouan recited words he’d often heard while growing up. “The Goddess doesn’t give her gifts to all who ask.”
Sakaris nodded his grizzled head. “True, but lately every couple has left the sacred mountain empty-handed. The number of our young has fallen since Anrai’s birth. Haven’t you noticed how few young we have?”
Why bring this up now? “Is there a bigger message you’re trying to tell me, Mage Sakaris?”
“Aye. The Goddess won’t bring young into an unhealthy court. Having a faithless or self-serving leader is unhealthy. Just see what happened to the Mountain Meadows and Sandy Shoalscourts under their previous leaders. Donovan Craigh and your dear friend Teron inherited ashes where once courts thrived. While High Reaches thrived under your father, the breeze already carried the scent of change.”
“The courts went to war with each other, and their efforts nearly destroyed them.” Teron alone remained of the Mountain Meadows royal family, as far as Elouan knew. No, wait. He had a sister somewhere, didn’t he? Surviving court members dispersed, seeking shelter with any who’d take them in.
What of Donovan and Sandy Shoals?
Sakaris continued, “It’s been several summers since members of any court I’m acquainted with received an egg. Not to mention how many of our kind have sought refuge on Terra.”
Elouan’s mouth dropped open.What?“They lost hundreds of dragons with their bickering. They either fled or died.”
Sakaris shook his head. “Not hundreds, thousands. Dragon numbers are dwindling even without the war. Few will continue to exist if the survivors don’t take action soon.” After a moment, he quietly added, “Especially if your uncle pursues his mad idea of invading courts while they’re weak and pillaging their hoards.”
“He what?” While dragons squabbled and occasionally fought, it was all for a reason, like territory. “We don’t take advantage of another court for greed.” Another thought occurred to Elouan. “My uncle plans to steal my hoard, doesn’t he?” He glumly added, “Not that I’ll ever be able to use it again.”
