Chapter 17
Shecrish and Idrias Border
The sun hung like a colossal ball of yellow fire in the sky, its merciless rays fixed on Dain. He had been waiting for hours among the tall grass, without any shade, for Esha’s sister, Savita, to arrive.
Savita wasn’t just any Sun Elf. She was a renowned Reader who took direction from the rune stones.
Readers held staggering power, both politically and magically.
Since only Sun Elves had the ability, that put their race in many positions of authority in the Above.
Savita had made a name for herself in Belanore early on and soon took charge of the Asavori Rangers.
Dain knew she did it to keep an eye on Esha.
Others believed that, as well. But no one would dare call Savita out on it.
Readers swore to speak only the truth, and to claim that one lied was tantamount to death.
Of course, just because Readers weren’t supposed to lie, didn’t mean they didn’t do just that.
His worry grew as another hour passed. Savita was never late.
And the longer he remained in the sunlight, the more it hurt.
Not only had he pushed his magic to the brink traveling to Manu, but he hadn’t rested before coming to the border.
His retinas burned from the bright light, ensuring he was all but blinded.
He looked toward Idrias, the land of the dragons.
It was a place meant only for the creatures and the Dragon Kings—dragons who could change shape at will into human form.
They’d come from another world for the dragons, and while Dain had met a few of the Kings, he didn’t know if he would be welcome on their land.
The dragons themselves wouldn’t tolerate anyone.
They killed any who dared to cross their border.
But Dain couldn’t wait any longer for Savita to get in contact with Esha.
This gathering was outside the sisters’ normal meetings, and he had no way of knowing if Savita had gotten his message in time.
The border was the closest Dain had come to Idrias.
He had no idea how big their land was, but if he didn’t get to the Dragon Kings soon, Yasmin’s children might die.
Dain had already lost one child in his care. He wasn’t about to lose more.
He gathered his shadows and headed west. He didn’t stop until he reached a mountain range.
Dain hid beneath an overhang to let his magic recharge, but he didn’t lower his shadows.
A roar echoed around him, seeming to come from right above him.
Small rocks plunked against boulders right next to him before rolling downhill.
Dain broke out into a cold sweat at the knowledge that a dragon was above him.
He had witnessed the kind of magic the Dragon Kings had, and he had no interest in taking on a dragon.
The shadows gave him cover. It was the only reason he didn’t bolt from his hiding place.
He tried to relax, but it soon became apparent that several dragons were around him.
He stayed for as long as he dared before he continued westward.
Kendrick had told him about the capital, Cairnkeep, that sat atop a mountain.
Dain began searching every peak until he saw two identical structures.
That had to be what Kendrick referred to.
Dain headed for them, slipping inside a house and into a corner to nestle among the shadows.
There, Dain sat, his magic almost depleted as he listened and rested. The shadows hindered his view, but they didn’t obstruct his hearing. There was no movement within the home. Outside, however, he heard the distant roars of dragons, seemingly from all directions.
Many elves believed the dragons had vanished from their lands because no one had seen any of the creatures in centuries.
Kendrick’s arrival on Shecrish had nearly started a war between their two races.
The elves would’ve been slaughtered, and it was only with Kendrick’s and the other Kings’ quick thinking that it hadn’t happened.
“I doona know who you are, but I’d advise you to show yourself immediately,” stated a deep, commanding voice.
The accent was the same as Kendrick’s, but it wasn’t his friend. Dain parted the shadows enough to find a tall man with wavy, blond hair and eyes as black as the night sky. “I mean no harm,” Dain said. “I’m looking for Kendrick.”
“Show yourself,” the voice demanded again.
Dain might not stand a chance against a Dragon King’s power, but he was quick enough to get away with his shadows if necessary. He parted the shadows and let them fall away to reveal himself. Without a doubt, he stood before a Dragon King.
“Dain, I presume?”
Dain dipped his chin. “That’s me. I know I came uninvited, bu—”
“I’ve alerted Kendrick. He’ll be here shortly. For now, take a rest.” The King turned and walked to a table before lowering himself into a chair.
Dain glanced around the house as he followed. If the King was upset about his arrival, Dain couldn’t tell. He took the chair opposite the dragon. “I wouldn’t have come if it weren’t important.”
“You helped Kendrick and Esha when they needed it. That’s all that matters to me. I’m Con, by the way.”
Con. As in Constantine, the King of Dragon Kings. The one dragon more powerful than all others. Some of the tension in Dain’s muscles eased. If their King welcomed him, then maybe his journey hadn’t been for naught. “Thank you.”
“Is this about the slave bracelet we got from Jai?”
Dain shook his head. “I almost wish it was.”
The door opened, drawing Dain’s gaze. Kendrick’s form filled the doorway, his black hair windblown, and his green eyes widening at the sight of him.
“Bloody hell,” Kendrick said with a smile as he walked over. “It is you.”
Dain rose and extended his arm. Kendrick shoved it away and embraced him, pounding Dain on the back. No one dared to touch him in such a way. No one except a Dragon King, that was.
Kendrick leaned back and searched Dain’s face. His smile fell as he dropped his arms. “What happened?”
Dain looked between the two men. “It’s Yasmin and Ravi’s children.”
“They were taken?” Kendrick asked, a deep frown forming.
Dain shook his head. “We were worried the Masters would try to go after them, so I hid them with Manu in the mountains.”
“You thought that was a safe place because…?” Con asked.
Dain lowered himself back into the chair. “The Dangerous Peaks are a brutal place not easily navigated by anyone but the Mountain Elves. The Masters didn’t know about Manu’s involvement in helping us take down Shaldorn, nor had any Mountain Elves been kidnapped.”
“Has that changed?” Kendrick asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“What changed was that someone entered Manu’s mountain and tried to kill him.”
Con’s brows snapped together. “They live in the mountains?”
Dain nodded. “Entire cities within a mountain.”
“Interesting,” Con said. “I take it the Masters learned that Manu helped you.”
“Maybe. We can’t know for sure,” Dain said.
“They might have been after Manu, but we think they were trying to find the children. The Masters know if they get even one of them, it will draw out Ravi and Yasmin. The kids aren’t safe with Manu anymore.
There’s nowhere on Shecrish they can hide.
The Masters’ grip is too tight. More and more are falling to their threats.
I was hoping you might know of someplace.
These children are innocent. They have no—”
“I know the perfect place,” Con said over him.
Kendrick nodded. “Somewhere the Masters can no’ reach.”
Dain looked out the window and sighed in relief. Only when he had his emotions in check did he look at the two men. “When can I bring them?”
“Now,” Con said.
It had taken both Dain and Arya to bring the children to Manu. This was much farther and would require several stops. “It will take me a few days.”
“We have a way of getting them here almost immediately,” Kendrick said with a smile.