49. Aedon
49
It was a long, dark, restless night as the four aching warriors huddled around their fire, built as high as resources and energy would allow, refusing to rest in case Dimitri should return. Even Brand drooped with weariness by the time the sun rose, its pale light blinding to their swollen, heavy eyes. Every limb was stiff, the pale flickers of the fire failing to permeate the freeze of night.
In silence, they broke fast that morning on unsatisfying, cold rations. Every muscle hurt as though Aedon had run for days with a heavy pack, and his fingers shook. Rage bubbled through him at the spymaster’s cruelty—but fear laced the edges. What would he do to Harper when he found her? Now, Aedon was certain she went to her doom.
Aedon had renewed the wards thrice, but even so, they had not dared speak for fear Dimitri would be listening. Brand scouted the area, ambling back uncharacteristically slowly. “If he is here, I can find no trace of him.”
“We have to find her,” Ragnar said. His eyes were as dull as his voice as he stared listlessly into the flames. “She is in danger from that monster.”
Brand shook his head. “If we’re not too late.”
Aedon glanced at Erika, who remained silent on the matter. “I fear you’re right, Ragnar. As much as she swore she was capable of independence, Dimitrius is too great a match for her.” He shook his head. “Even if she’s not walking into a trap, she goes to her doom. It would be unforgivable if we let her.”
The group sat in silence for a long moment.
“There’s a slim to none chance that we will procure any more Dragonheart, powdered or whole,” Brand said carefully. “I think we all realise that. We have no Dragonheart and no knowledge of how best to use one. Going to Tournai may be our own doomed mission.”
Aedon gritted his teeth. “We made a promise, and I will not renege on it. Lives are at stake. We might find another way to fulfil our oath and save her at the same time. She’ll be branded a thief and imprisoned—or worse.”
Brand held up his hands in submission, though he knew Aedon had taken his point on.
“Besides which, Harper is in trouble. I know she is not what some of you would consider one of us, but even so, I feel a duty to help her. Do you not agree? The quest for the stone might be futile, but at the very least, we could save one more innocent life from Toroth. Is that not worthwhile?”
“You know where I stand,” Ragnar said. “I’m ready to go when you are.”
Brand dipped his head. “You are right. It’s foolish, beyond madness, but you are right. I could not live with that on my conscience.”
Aedon turned his attention to Erika, who sat there as taciturn and imperturbable as always. He fidgeted as he waited for her answer, disturbed by a sudden sense of urgency that they had to leave now, find Harper before it was too late.
“It’s idiotic to risk ourselves for a stranger,” she said shortly.
“You were a stranger when I risked my life for you.” Brand stared at her until she dipped her gaze.
“Dimitrius hunts her,” Aedon said. “Dimitrius, the spymaster of King Toroth himself, personally hunts her. If that is no clue to the danger she finds herself in, I do not know what is. She is clever and fit, especially now she’s eaten better than I suspect she has in her entire life, but she is no fighter. She does not understand politics, at least of Pelenor. Leaving her is worse than leaving you to the wolves—which we could have done to make our lives easier, and did not,” he added pointedly.
Erika stirred. “Fine. I do wonder what he wants with the stone, and she is not safe in his path.” It was as close to an acknowledgment, and agreement, that they would receive.
“We are settled then?” Aedon looked at them in turn. “We are going to venture into the jaws of the dragon itself, into Toroth’s very court, to save Harper—and the Dragonheart, if we can—from the clutches of that bastard Dimitrius.” He dashed to his feet, bouncing upon his toes. His entire body sang of the urgency that pulled him towards Tournai. “Come on!” he chided them impatiently.
Ragnar struggled to his feet, with Erika’s help, as Brand scuffed dirt over the last of the fire to douse it. “We have a girl, a stone, and a village to save.” And a spymaster to foil, he added to himself, wondering darkly what Dimitrius’s intentions were.