Pa sat up in bed, flexing his legs. “Klaus, we have to prepare against tharuks.”
“I’ve had enough of you inciting people, Hans.”
“They’re coming, whether you believe it or not,” Pa insisted. “Either we meet them prepared or pretend nothing’s happening. It’s your decision.”
“I said, I’ll not have you inciting rebellion.”
“Klaus, see reason.”
Klaus’ face was a storm cloud. “I am seeing reason. I believe what I see. And I haven’t seen a beacon fire or any sign of mythical beasts.”
“Mythical!” Pa exploded. “I’ve fought those monsters, years ago, before I came to Lush Valley. Tharuks are no more mythical than a field of wheat. Look!” Pa pulled up his smoke-stained shirt to reveal a faded white scar across his belly. “Tharuk tusk! Now what do you think of that?”
Klaus shrugged. “Looks like an old knife wound to me.”
“Klaus, you idiot!” Pa yelled.
He’d pushed it too far. Klaus face’ went red and he hissed, “Smithy, Pieter, in here.”
A moment later, their bulk filled the doorway.
“Hans requires a few nights in the cells to teach him civility and reason. Now that his wounds have been treated, you may escort him to jail.”
Pieter and the smithy yanked Pa to his feet.
Ernst rushed in, placing a hand on Klaus’ arm. “Klaus, please. Hans is an upstanding member of our settlement. He’s had a few shocks today. First the dragon, then his daughter being ill, and now, almost being burned at the stake. I think he just needs rest.”
Staring at Ernst as if he was vermin, Klaus said, “He’ll get plenty of rest in jail. That will give us time to uncover more proof that he is, indeed, a dragon lover.”
The crash of the front door made Tomaaz start. A man shoved his head through the doorway. “Klaus, sir, we’ve captured Bill and put him in jail. Says he wants to see his daughter.”
“I’ll not have that man go near Lovina again,” Klaus said. “Help these two take Hans to jail. Not in Bill’s cell, though. I’ll not have murder on my conscience.”
“Uh, sir, excuse me, but I’m suspicious of Tomaaz,” Pieter said.
Klaus nearly snapped Pieter’s head off. “What now?”
Tomaaz’s heart thudded.
“Tomaaz offered to take my daughter, Beatrice, out walking.” Pieter’s glance slid over Tomaaz. “I believe he was trying to entice her into the forest to offer her to the dragon.”
Throat tight, Tomaaz waited for Klaus’ verdict.
In the next room, Lovina whimpered.
Glaring at Tomaaz, Klaus said, “You’ll keep until morning.” He swept out the door, announcing, “I’ve had enough! I’m going home to bed!”
Through Fog
After a hurried meal of flatbread, Lofty hoisted Tomaaz onto Sorrel, their tamest mare, then climbed into the saddle in front of him. Tomaaz felt like a littling, but he didn’t protest. His legs were too sore to ride Sorrel on his own. He clung onto Lofty, each jolt painful, as they plodded along the road into the village.
Pa in jail. Ma heading for tharuks, and Ezaara riding a dragon queen he hadn’t even known existed. Life was as slippery as the stepping stones in a flood. He shook his head, then wished he hadn’t as the world rocked around him. He was weaker than a newborn colt.
As they passed by, mothers tugged their children behind them. Men glowered, folding their arms across their chests. Tomaaz’s skin crawled from the heat of their stares. When they reached the jail, Lofty helped him down, and Tomaaz hobbled inside like an elderly man.
“Down the end, dragon lover.” The guard spat on Tomaaz’s boots.
It was all he could do not to draw his sword, but he was in no condition to fight.
“Easy,” Lofty whispered behind him. “I’ve got your back.”
Prisoners lay on wooden beds, warily watching them pass. In the distance, rough retching broke the silence.
“Got any food?” a dirty-faced man pleaded, poking his arms through the bars.
In the last cell on the left, Bill was crouched over a wooden pail, vomiting. “You!” He let out a string of curses, then bent over his bucket again.
The cloying scent made Tomaaz’s stomach turn. Thankfully, he’d only had bread for breakfast. Lofty wrinkled his nose, and mimed gagging.
In the cell opposite Bill’s, Pa was pacing. He hurried over to the bars. “Still in pain, Son?”
Tomaaz shrugged. “They treating you all right?”
Pa snorted. “Those sharding idiots will all be killed in their sleep.”
“I heard that,” called the guard down the hall. “Are you threatening murder?”
Pa leaned forward, speaking quietly. “You should’ve let yourself be healed yesterday. You can hardly walk. When tharuks arrive, you’ll be easy pickings, Son.”
“I had to help Lovina. You saw her back.”
“Lovina?” Bill approached the bars of his cell. “Boys, where’s my daughter?” He reached a grasping hand through the bars, beckoning to Lofty. “I helped you with those bets. Helped you get rich, I did. Surely, you can ask my daughter to bring me my favorite tea?”
Swayweed tea.
Lofty winked at him. “Of course I will, Bill.” He turned back to Pa, rolling his eyes. “My father come to see you this morning?”
“Yes,” Pa whispered. “He’s recruiting those who will fight, but there aren’t enough. See who you can find. Young, fit, strong. Although your Pa has never fought tharuks, he’ll train them as well as he can.” Hans shook his head. “If only I was out of here.”
“What do you want me to do?” Tomaaz asked. “I could drill them in sword fighting.”
Deep grooves furrowed Pa’s forehead. “Not now, you can’t. Go and rest in bed,” he said. “Heal up before those beasts arrive.”
Pa thought he was useless because he was injured. Tension coiled deep in Tomaaz’s belly, like a tharuk tusk driving through his innards.
§
Gingerly, Lovina stirred, bracing herself. Bill’s kick never came. Neither did his
