Returning to the point of his original ascent, Kagonos at last raised the horn to his lips. Closing his eyes, turning the mouth of the instrument toward the highest peaks of the range, he blew a long, clamorous blast. The wind took his song, carried it upward and away-but only to those ears sensitive enough to hear it. Patiently the elf stared eastward, visually tracing the long, twisting valley leading toward the heights.
The Pathfinder's hazel eyes darkened as he squinted across the miles. Raising a hand to his forehead, he shaded his vision against the bright sunlight, his focus extending far, far into the distance.
Minutes passed, and then silver glinted, blinking the reflection of sunlight with each powerful stroke. Darlan- tan's mighty wingspan stretched outward in a broad embrace of the air, shimmering even across a score of miles. The silver dragon flew low, ensuring that he was not visible to anyone beyond the confines of this high valley.
Kagonos smiled tightly as he watched the gleaming serpent glide along the curve of the descending vale. Flying, he thought, must be the only type of movement more serene, more fluid than skiing As always, the majesty of the airborne serpent all but took his breath away. ТЪе elf's throat tightened with the familiar, warm emotion as Darlantan drew nearer to the mountain and gamed speed.
Finally those wings hooked outward, rigid sails in the wind, as the momentum of the dragon's flight swept him upward. Always Darlantan kept the bulk of the mountain between himself and the ogre armv-the monstrous troops would not observe his presence on their flank.
Nearly stalled in the air, the dragon reached out with huge paws, driving his wings powerfully downward for one last stroke as he settled gently to the rocks of the domed mountaintop. He shook his head and snorted a blast of frigid air, as if clearing the reverie of flight from his ancient, wise brain.
'Greetings, Pathfinder.' Darlantan nodded elegantly, dipping his head as the silver scales rippled along his serpentine neck. 'I am glad that you summon me.'
Darlantan's body shimmered and twisted, shrinking more quickly than the elven eye could follow, and in a blink Kagonos was looking at a long-bearded, spry old human, who wore a bright cotton tunic that matched the pure white of his flowing beard. His eyebrows and the thick mane of his hair were tinted with silver, and his eyes- gleaming from deep-set sockets-were a vibrant, fiery yellow. Though the wrinkles across his forehead showed a visage that could be stern, now Darlantan's face beamed as he reached out to clasp his friend's hand.
'Tell me,' Kagonos asked. 'Why do you take the shape of a man when you could be something so much more handsome-an elf, perhaps?' He was used to Darlantan's shapeshifting by now-during previous meetings the silver dragon had appeared as a man, an ogre, an elf, a bear, an eagle, and a host of other creatures. Still, the Elderwild knew that Darlantan favored the shape of this human sage, and had never figured out why.
Darlantan laughed, a sound that was kind and compassionate as well as heartily amused. 'I am whichever serves me best at the time,' he replied-his typical evasion. 'As to this body, there may come a time when your people develop an appreciation of human wizardry!'
'The House Elves, perhaps-but the Elderwild have no need of humans, nor any desire to learn from them.'
Darlantan nodded, a noncommittal glitter in his eye.
'Have you flown over the plains?' asked Kagonos, with a look toward the flatland and the distant ogre horde.
'Aye-in the guise of an eagle, so as not to alarm the ogres. The two armies vie for position on the field. If Talonian is not careful, he will find that Silvanos has him trapped against the Vingaard.' '
'Good. Perhaps the House Elves can win their victory, even without the power of the Bluestone.'
'That is the hope of us all,' the human sage replied. 'But I fear that the blue dragons will arrive any day-and when they do, it will take more than an army to defend Silvanos and the elven houses.' He looked shrewdly at the wild elf, as if he had a premonition of Kagonos's secret news.
'There is a reason I asked you here,' said the Pathfinder slowly. He continued, as Darlantan made no reply. 'I believe I have located the Bluestone.'
'This is very good news-if you are right. You have not seen the stone itself?'
'No-but I have discovered an encampment of ogres near here. They have selected a defensible hilltop, but it is not a place they would normally choose to make a camp. 1 believe they guard something there.'
'That makes a great deal of sense. The Bluestone is the last of the Five Talismans-they will go to every length to ensure that it remains in their hands. The entire army of Talonian, on the plains before us, maneuvers only to divert attention from the real object.'
'And what word of the blue dragons?'
'They departed inland several days ago. Even if they do not fly at top speed, they will reach the central plain within the next three days. Unless Silvanos has the stone by then, his army is doomed.' Darlantan looked to the north, as if he sought a sign of those serpents against the horizon. Then he turned back to the elf.
'Where is this ogre camp?'
'Not far from here, though it will be difficult for my warriors to reach. The camp is on an island in a lake, secured within the crater of a high peak. Now, of course, the place is surrounded by snow and ice. I imagine they think it will take any attack a long time to develop.'
'But you will try this attack?'
'Yes. I have gathered the tribes in the mountains and shall ask all the braves to join me. Can Silvanos prepare to face Talonian and the dragons in time?'
'I will carry word to him. He has been contemplating dividing his force, seeking shelter in the southern forests- but I'm certain that, with this hope before him, he will stand firm. How long will it take?'
'Our attack will be made the day after tomorrow-it will take tfiat long to gather the warriors, to climb the outer mountain. It will take another day, perhaps a day and a hjrff, to carry the stone to the plains.'
'It may be that we can reduce that latter delay. I depart at once, for I know that Silvanos will be elated by this news.'
'Will we have time?' Kagonos asked.
'Only the gods know. If the blues come too soon, I shall try to hold them at bay until the stone arrives-but it will have to be soon, for I cannot stop them all.'
'Then we should go quickly from here and meet again on the field of victory. Thank you for coming to the summons of the Ram's Horn.'
'I could do nothing else-but hold a moment. There is another thing you should know.'
Kagonos waited.
'Silvanos wants you, wants all your tribe, to join him in the south after the war is won. He would raise you to the status of a house, and bring you into his new nation.' Cbe Kagoncsri
The Elderwild shrugged. 'He can ask-but I shall not go'
'That is as it should be.' Darlantan was pleased. 'Now, go to the dragongem-and may this accursed business be put behind us! Do you know-even the gods themselves have paid a price in this war?'
'What do you mean?'
'Three children of Paladine-Solinari, Lunitari, and Nuitari-stole the power of magic, that the dragongems might be made. Those gods have been punished for their theft, in a manner that will soon be made apparent to all.'
'What punishment is of avail against a god?'
'Look to the night sky, after the last battle-whether the result be for good or ill. There you will see the proof, outlined against the stars.'
Darlantan explained with a slow nod. Long tendrils of silvery whiskers curled outward from his jaw, and now that fringe flickered slightly in the growing wind. That same breeze brought the sounds of a distant pulsation.
'The drums have begun,' Kagonos observed.
'In three days at the most, Talonian's ogres will be ready to attack. The blue dragons will be near, and the time of resolution falls upon us,' agreed the elderly human. Though his body seemed frail, he stood firmly against the force of the wind, and in his yellow eyes glowed a glint of very youthful determination.
'Good luck, my friend,' Kagonos offered, placing an affectionate hand on the man's shoulder. Already the human shape began to change, shifting and expanding into the form of the great serpent.
'And you,' replied the dragon, with a serene dip of his head. 'May victory soon be ours.'
The Elderwild turned back to the slope and jammed his feet into the bindings of his skis while Darlantan spread his broad silver wings. In moments, they were flying- one through the air, the other over the snow-as they
