Chapter 15
The dragons had concocted a plan to find May’s little brother while the mates had read Ciel’s new chapter. Yesterday, a Guardian had reported seeing a small boy she didn’t recognize with an older man who seemed to tug him roughly by the hand. She’d followed them around a corner to intervene and lost them.
That Guardian had immediately reported her concerns to those serving as police and peacekeepers. They’d asked the community to keep an eye out for the boy. Three other Wyverns had also alerted the police, concerned by the man’s demeanor toward the child. When one attempted to intervene, the older man had threatened her before carrying the child away.
Without power to force water into all areas of the city, manual pumps now supplied the precious commodity in key sections of Wyvern. They had become routine gathering places for the citizens. The authorities had alerted those running the stations to watch out for the youngster. The dragons took it a step further and created a whistled code to alert them.
Days passed with no sightings. Rogan and Brooks visited Elenore frequently to talk to May and assure her they hadn’t forgotten Edwin. She was losing hope and spent hours roaming the streets searching for him.
“I’m going to visit the water stations today, Brooks. Would you like to go with me?” Rogan suggested.
“Yes. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for May, and for Edwin, of course,” Brooks said with a frown.
“We’ll keep searching. Someone has to see him soon. The authorities are also working their way throughout Wyvern, asking questions and meeting with people.”
“I really want to help. I’ll keep my eyes peeled as you fly. Maybe I’ll spot something that will help.”
“Good idea.” Rogan didn’t have the heart to remind him that a dragon’s eyesight was greatly superior to a human’s. It couldn’t hurt for him to scan as well.
On their way to the third water station, Rogan heard the signal. Hold on!
As soon as Brooks’s arms tightened around his neck, Rogan swerved in that direction. It came from the farthest supply point from Wyvern’s old town center. He flew as quickly as he dared without endangering his mate.
Daddy! There’s a truck hidden under netting back there.
We’ll come back and investigate as soon as we check this out, Rogan promised and made a mental note of their approximate location. He landed quickly, and Brooks ran toward those gathered without waiting for him. Shifting, he followed his mate. Adventurer! Stop! Wait for me!
His mate didn’t slow. Time for another spanking when they were alone.
“That isn’t Edwin.” Brooks’ voice revealed his disappointment as he checked out the blue-eyed boy who’d inspired the alert.
Rogan took a defensive position next to his mate and added, “Edwin has dark eyes. I’m sorry, ma’am. Could you help us keep an eye out for a young boy about your son’s age with dark hair and eyes? His family is searching for him.”
“A lost child? Oh, how sad! Of course, I’ll keep my eyes open. His name is Edwin?” she checked.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Brooks answered. His shoulders drooped with disappointment as the adrenaline seeped from him.
Rogan let the woman drift away with a supply of water before guiding his mate back to a clearing where he could shift. He could see the defeat written on his mate’s face.
“I thought we’d found him,” Brooks told him softly.
“I did, too. False alerts are common and that’s okay. We’d rather those watching for Edwin said something. If they hesitate until they’re certain, we could miss him,” Rogan reminded him. “Didn’t you say you saw a truck under some kind of cover?”
“Yeah. It was in an alley. Probably just something moved off the street to get it out of the way.”
Rogan didn’t like the dejection in his mate’s voice. “I guess we won’t be sure if we don’t go check it out. Got anything pressing to fill your schedule for today?”
“No. I was going to help move some livestock from one field to another. The cows move quickly when they smell dragon on me.”
“Of course, they do. Come on, Adventurer. Let’s check out what you spotted. I made a mental note of roughly where it was so we could find it again,” Rogan told him.
A few moments later, Rogan flew over that spot and glimpsed what Brooks had seen. You’re right, Brooks. That’s suspicious. He could see a white S on a red background.
Without hesitating over that spot, Rogan continued on his trajectory and alerted the horde. I think Brooks found the Snap-On tools truck. Anyone want to come investigate with me? Keres? Got that fancy suit?
“Daddy? Aren’t we going down there?”
I’m not putting you at risk, Adventurer. I’m going to take you to the next water station and drop you off. You’ll stay there until I come to get you.
“That’s totally unfair. I found the truck,” Brooks protested as Rogan landed.
You did. Do you want me to find Edwin or worry about you being hurt or taken?
“I could stay way back away from everything where I could see but not be in danger,” Brooks suggested.
If you’re close enough to see, you’re close enough to get hit with that powder. I’ll keep you updated with messages when I can. Will that be okay?
“Better than nothing,” Brooks grumbled before adding, “If I’m far away, I can’t help you.”
You won’t help me like that again, Mate. You are not to put yourself at risk again. I will promise to be extremely careful. I don’t want to experience that again.
“Promise?”
Promise. I love you, Brooks. Rogan wrapped a wing around Brooks and hugged him close.
“I love you, too, Daddy.”
Releasing Brooks, Rogan nudged him away with his snout. Reluctantly, Brooks backed away to give him room to explode into the sky. Rogan could feel his mate’s gaze on him until the buildings interrupted their visual connection.
Rogan? Where are you? Keres reached out.
Almost there. I had to safeguard my mate. Look for a truck almost completely covered by netting.
I’m here with Khadar, Argenis messaged. Check it out for us, Keres.
In a few minutes, both Keres and Rogan landed a block away from the disguised truck, where the others waited. Keres unrolled a package he’d carried in a leather duffle, revealing his hazmat suit. Soon, boots, pants, jacket, gloves, and protective hood covered him from head to toe.
The others followed him around the corner. Argenis shifted to flap his wings, driving the wind away from them, and prepared to flame any dust that emerged to threaten Keres. The area was quiet. At this time of day, all Wyverns were either embroiled in their chosen line of work to support the community or asleep, preparing for the next night shift.
Keres walked slowly up to the truck. He carefully lifted the edge of the netting and revealed the rest of the tool brand’s logo. When he knocked on the side of the truck, something scurried around inside. Thanks to their dragons’ keen hearing, everyone in the group heard that sound.
Subtle, Keres. Did you want to warn them? Rogan asked.
Only one person moved. Small stature. Keres scanned the truck, searching for any additional traps.
Rogan reconsidered. Maybe Keres wasn’t just crazy, but crazy smart.
“Edwin? Are you inside?” Keres spoke quietly again. “May sent us.”
The scrabbling sound repeated itself, but toward Keres this time. Small thumps landed on the metal sides. If it was Edwin, he was too young for a complicated discussion. They needed to get him out of there as quickly, but as carefully as possible.
“May. May!”
It has to be him. Keres reported. I’m taking a leap of faith. I think they’ve abandoned him in this truck to keep him out of sight and booby trapped it for spite alone. Let’s get him out of there.
Agreement resonating with anger came from each dragon.
Keres walked to the rear of the truck and put out a hand to lift the netting from the back entrance. A smudge of colorful dust made him ease the covering to its original place and back away. Powder at the rear door.
Crap! Check the front, Rogan suggested before sending a message to Brooks. We think we’ve found him. Keres is working on the best way to remove him.
Keres turned and walked to the front of the truck. Peeking under the netting, he checked the door and turned to shake his head. They’ve protected the two entrances to keep us out. Guess what that means, Argenis. You’re now officially a welder. Narrow your flame to a tiny beam and let’s make our own door in the side. I’ll get Edwin away.
Keres made an X on the truck where he wanted Argenis to cut. When the silver dragon nodded, Keres moved a couple of feet toward the front of the truck. Leaning close to the metal side, he said, “Come down here to see May, Edwin. There’s going to be some scary stuff happening, but May will keep you safe up here.”
Keres tapped on the truck again and waited. A few seconds later, they heard the scrabbling of feet on the metal floor inside the truck. Then a few pats on the wall landed close to Keres.
Go. He’s here.
Argenis sent a laser-fine line of fire toward the truck. Keres knocked on the side again and said, “Stay here with May. She needs you to wait for her here.” A soft thump answered him.
When Argenis has a hole cut, I probably shouldn’t lift him out in case I agitated some dust. I’ll step away and Argenis can blast the suit. Khadar, you flap as I take this off. Then, I’ll go grab him.
I’ll get him. He won’t wait while you go through all those steps, Rogan told them.
There’s a risk. I did my best not to disturb the dust, Keres warned.
I’ll send anything lingering away, Khadar promised. Stay away from the entrances and keep the wind to your back.
Almost finished, Argenis alerted them.
Metal rang as the newly crafted door crashed to the floor. A small face appeared in the opening.
“May?”
Keres held his hand out. “Stay there, Edwin. My buddy, Rogan, is going to come help you down.”
Rogan immediately walked toward the truck as Keres stepped to the side to have Argenis torch any lingering dust off the suit. “Hi, Edwin. You have been so brave.”
He reached in and carefully lifted the small boy free, avoiding the still glowing edges of the opening. To his relief, Rogan didn’t spot any packets of dust attached to Edwin, and the toddler appeared unharmed. Remembering May’s pocket of the toxic material, he stripped off the boy’s clothing and tossed them to the side for Argenis to destroy.
As he walked toward the others, Rogan stripped off his shirt and wrapped Edwin in the fabric. “I think he’s okay.”
“Juice?” Edwin chirped, holding on to Rogan’s neck like he’d never let him go.
What should I do with this truck? Argenis asked.
Leave it for now. We’ll get some warning signs on it to keep people away. Rogan suggested. Khadar? Would you fly Edwin and me to Elenore’s? I think this young man would like to see his sister. Someone needs to hold him.
“Juice? May? Bad guys,” Edwin said, words tumbling from his mouth in his excitement to be free.
“See what you can get out of him,” Keres ordered as he paused in stripping off the suit.
“We’ll have time for that later,” Rogan suggested. “First, let’s get these siblings reunited.”
Want me to bring your mate to you? Argenis asked.
Please. Brooks is at the water station about two miles east. Rogan turned to point in the precise direction.
“If you’re talking about me, I’m here.”
Rogan turned to see a sweaty Brooks stepping out of the shadows from behind them. “You are in so much trouble, Mate.”
“Okay. I had to make sure you were okay,” Brooks said without a shred of an apology in his voice.
What’s one more? Come on, the Khadar bus is ready to leave the station, Khadar announced.
When they landed a few moments later, Rogan carried Edwin to the door and knocked.
“Rogan! Brooks! Oh, my. May, come quickly. We have visitors,” Elenore called back into the house.
“More visitors?” May’s unhappy voice drifted down the hallway. When she turned the corner to see Edwin, she shrieked his name and ran forward. Snatching him away from Rogan, she hugged him close, pressing kisses to his face as Edwin patted her face as if he never expected to see her again.
“He’s hungry, thirsty, and dirty, Elenore,” Rogan told her.
“I’m used to boys,” Brooks’s grandmother said with a wink at her grandson. She didn’t ask questions but watched the reunion with tears in her eyes. “Food and drink now. Bath later. Questions tomorrow.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Rogan wouldn’t argue with her. “Is it okay if they stay with you?”
May turned to listen to Elenore’s answer. Her guarded expression hinted at how precarious their life had been in the past.
“You’re going to have to use dynamite to get them out of this house. May and Edwin are at home now,” Elenore said firmly and wrapped her arm around May’s waist when she rushed to the older woman’s side. “Come on. We have cookies to eat.”
“Juice?” Edwin asked hopefully.
“I think I have some juice for a thirsty boy,” Elenore assured him as she steered the group to the kitchen.