19
The journey back to the ice caves was quiet but not somber. There was a sort of reverent hush born of hard-won victory and the weight of what had been narrowly avoided. The strike team moved in a tight formation through the snow-covered passes, their path sure and steady, even as fatigue set in.
Kurt rode beside Malea, their horses trailing near the back of the group.
Neither spoke much, but their silence was companionable, filled with shared glances.
By the time the narrow path opened into the high valley that marked the entrance to the ice dragons’ hidden domain, the air had shifted.
Cold, yes, but clean. Still. Almost sacred.
They dismounted near the entrance to the ice cave, the soldiers stopping their horses for a quick rest before they moved on.
“This is where we part ways,” said Captain Nariel, her breath fogging the air in front of her as she turned to them.
“We’ll head down from here to meet up with the rest of the army.
The General left a contingent at the mine site to clean things up and make sure we got them all.
I suspect he’ll be going back to inspect it for himself shortly.
In the meantime, the rest of us are going back to where we came from. ”
“Thank you for all you’ve done,” Kurt said, shaking her hand with genuine respect.
“I could say the same to you,” the Captain replied with a grin as she shook his hand, then turned to give the same farewell to Malea.
“If you’re ever in Valdis Maj and have a night off, come to Master Goldman’s and ask for me. I think it’s good to make friends in different walks of life, especially in our vocation,” Malea said, smiling at the Captain.
“Thank you for the invitation. I just might take you up on that the next time I’m in the city. For now, farewell, new friends. May your paths be easy and your burdens light.”
They returned her sentiments and shook the hands of each member of the strike team, thanking them for their help. The soldiers melted into the landscape not long after leaving, demonstrating a level of skill at stealth that impressed Malea all over again.
“I bet I could learn a thing or two about blending into the scenery from those people,” Kurt said beside her as they watched the soldiers disappear from view.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Malea concurred.
Kurt turned his horse, and they started up the slope toward the entrance to the ice cave they had visited before. It wasn’t far now.
Malea’s horse carried the saddlebag in which the virkin were resting.
She checked on them, just lifting the flap to peek in and found them still fast asleep.
The magic they’d done during the battle had really taken up a lot of their energy, but they looked content, sleeping in a tangle, their long necks and tails curling around each other.
They entered the cave respectfully and used caution to approach the ice dragons, who were resting on the ground rather than sitting up, as they had been last time.
They looked tired too, Malea thought. She let Kurt handle the greetings while she carried the saddlebag with the virkin inside, just in case they woke up or the dragons wanted to speak with them.
It hadn’t felt right to leave them behind with the horses, so Melea had slung the saddlebag gently over her shoulder and brought them along.
Malea made her bow to the dragons as she stood beside Kurt, who did the same. The largest dragon got to her feet and strode forward to meet them.
“Where are the virkin?” she asked, looking all around.
“Your pardon, milady. They are here.” Malea spoke in a respectful tone as she offered up the saddlebag and lifted the flap so the dragon could peer inside.
The enormous dragon’s head hovered close for a moment as she seemed to inspect the sleeping virkin, then she moved back as Malea almost sighed in relief.
She didn’t really know these dragons, and they were so much larger than her friends back in the city.
Of course, Salveer and the others were much younger dragons, comparatively speaking.
They would probably grow to this size, given time.
“I see you have given over some of your own clothing for their comfort,” the matriarch dragon said at length.
“That is well done of you. Of course, I was very impressed by all you two have accomplished and also by the participation of your General and his troops. I have already spoken to him and young Salveer about it and found him a most agreeable human.”
Malea wasn’t sure if she was supposed to answer or not. She settled for simply nodding respectfully.
“I am Mendalith, and these are two of my children, Maddox and Meerandalath. My mate is consulting our kin to the west after their raid on the forge, but he reported good results from that raid as well as the one I led to the mine,” the matriarch told them, looking satisfied as she sat back on her haunches.
“We are pleased to make your acquaintance, milady. I am Malea, journeyman of the gem cutter’s guild, and this is Kurt, who is a craftsman of the glass maker’s guild.”
“Yes, my children told me about your first visit. I’m glad to see their trust in you has paid handsomely.
I was skeptical about allying with the Valdis King, but I’m glad to be proven wrong in this instance.
You have done well for your Kingdom and for dragon kind, and I thank you.
” The elder dragon bowed her head in respect, and Malea and Kurt followed suit. This was high praise, indeed.
“Thank you, milady,” Kurt replied formally. “I am only glad we were able to help, and stop this before it went any further. However, from things the mage said before his death, I can’t help but worry that there is a warlord out there still plotting to harm dragons and make war on others.”
“Ah, yes. Balreal,” the male dragon, Maddox, spoke for the first time.
“I have heard his name spoken in remote places, and I will be sure to keep an eye out for him. For now, we will have to watch and wait, since he has, no doubt, gone underground with what followers he has left. The loss of the forge and mine had to have cost him a lot of men, not to mention the weapons. I have talked this over with your General, and we’ve agreed to share news, if either of us hears of his whereabouts. ”
“That’s great,” Kurt said, smiling broadly at the male dragon. “Thank you, Sir Maddox. I confess, that is what I’d hoped to hear. I didn’t want anybody to let down their guard, thinking the threat was over forever. There are still enemies out there, and we must remain vigilant.”
“Agreed, young craftsman. You have my thanks for your concern and continued work, should you come across more information,” Maddox replied.
“I will be certain to pass along anything I might hear,” Kurt promised.
“Good. Now that is done, it is time to fulfill our part of this arrangement. Meerandalath?” The elder female nodded to the younger one as she moved back to her original spot at the back of the cave between her two offspring.
The younger female lifted her head for the first time, and Malea couldn’t suppress her gasp of surprise. Under the dragon’s head was a treasure trove of clear, colorful, uncut crystals of various sizes.
“I gathered these for you,” Meerandalath said, almost shyly. “I hope they’re good enough and that I collected as many as you need.”
“Good enough?” Malea stammered.
Even from a distance, she could tell the gems were of amazing quality and clarity. She walked forward, almost entranced by the gleaming pile of rough stones. It was a large pile.
“Milady…” Malea had to clear her throat and take a breath before she could continue.
The dragon moved back a little as Malea approached, but Malea stopped and looked up to meet her crystalline gaze.
“Milady, I am overwhelmed. I cannot take all of these. They are too valuable and too fine. My Master will be pleased if I bring just a handful of stones like that back from my journey,” Malea explained.
“Will it bring you trouble or draw too much attention if you bring them all back with you?” the dragon asked craftily.
“Um… No… Master Goldman knows what my full mission was when I came here. He is a close confidant of the crown, and he doesn’t have to tell everyone what I bring back, since he is the Master of his hall.
” Malea thought it through. Was the dragon really hinting that she should take back this King’s ransom in rough gems? Malea could hardly believe it.
“Then take as much of this as you can carry. I can always get more. And it would please me if your Master Goldman would cut and polish some of these to make into something to present to the King and Queen on our behalf, as a token of our alliance and in thanks for his friendship and willingness to help safeguard our skies,” Meerandalath said eloquently.
When she put it that way, Malea could hardly refuse.
“If it is your wish, milady, then I will do as you say, and I’m certain Master Goldman will be pleased with the commission of a jewelry piece for the King and Queen.
He has done several for them over the years and knows their tastes.
” Malea bowed her head in thanks to the dragon, stunned by the gesture but willing to do as the dragons wished.
“And I have gathered obsidian glass for you, young craftsman,” Meerandalath said, turning her attention to Kurt. She moved her front foot back a yard and a pile of black and rainbow obsidian was revealed. Malea looked at Kurt and saw his eyes go wide.
“Milady, I cannot thank you enough for the bounty. I already know my Mistress will be pleased to create something special for the crown, if that is your wish. She has done so before at a dragon’s command.”
“You are a craftsman now, are you not?” Meerandalath asked Kurt point blank.
He seemed taken aback, but answered quickly. “Yes, milady. I am.”
“If I understand it correctly, you should be working on your showpiece to achieve Master rank in your guild. Is that not so?”
“It is, milady,” Kurt said, his eyes widening even more.
“Then, it is my wish that you use this obsidian to try to create your Master piece, with my blessing and encouragement. You have done us a good turn. I would like to do the same for you,” the younger female dragon shocked them by saying.
“You are both kind and generous, milady. If it can be done, I will do it, and I thank you for everything you have said and done. I am truly glad I met all of you and was able to help in some small way,” Kurt replied graciously.
“What you did was not small to us,” Maddox intoned, sounding friendlier than Malea had yet heard him speak.
Kurt was prevented from saying anything else when two small heads popped out of the saddlebag that was still slung over Malea’s shoulder.
The virkin were awake and looking around with interest. Without saying a word, Keera jumped out of the bag and headed straight for the pile of gemstones, examining each one by rolling it around with her forearms.
“These are pretty!” Keera exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention.