Battle Master Aidan spoke up. “What are these beasts like? Are they armored? Do they have weaknesses? How many of them?”
“I wish I knew.” Lars combed his fingers through his beard. The doors to the chamber room swung open. “Ah, we may have more answers now.”
“There they are.” Ezaara’s relief rushed through Roberto as she glimpsed her parents, but then it died. “Who’s that with them? Poor guy.”
Ezaara’s parents helped a huge man through the door. Marlies had obviously treated his wounds, but his fresh scars left no doubt that he’d been mauled by tharuks.
“Welcome to Dragons’ Hold, Giant John,” Lars said. “Or should I say, welcome back? It’s been a few years.”
More than five, since Roberto had never seen him.
“Seppi,” called Tonio, the spymaster, getting up. “Fetch him a chair.”
Seppi found two armless straight-backed chairs, pushing them together side by side. The man sat, his bulk taking up both.
Marlies and Hans took their seats behind the council table, and Lars motioned Giant John to speak.
Giant John’s breath was ragged in the quiet council chamber. “I’ve traveled non-stop since Tooka Falls, where a tharuk tracker boasted that Zens is creating new creatures.” He took a few slow breaths, then continued. “These beasts can destroy dragons and people. Zens wants to control everyone in Dragons’ Realm.”
Tonio paced between Giant John and the table. “What can you tell us about these beasts?”
“Zens is creating them,” Giant John replied.
“What sort of beast are they?” Tonio’s dark eyes scanned the man’s face. “Flying, crawling, slithering? Or some strange otherworldly creation, like tharuks?”
“I don’t know—only that they’ll fight dragons.” Giant John winced, rubbing his side.
“How many?”
“No idea.”
“What more can you tell us?”
“I really don’t know anything more.” The Giant slumped.
Tonio placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Giant John.”
Marlies and Hans stood and started to escort him to the door.
“Not so fast,” Tonio said. He wheeled to face the council. “We need more information. Someone has to collect it.”
“I’m not sending anyone into the jaws of that viper,” Lars snapped.
“Me, neither.” Tonio held up a finger. “But, we have several people here who have been to Death Valley and survived.”
Roberto’s blood ran cold. He’d left Death Valley behind and come here. Turned his life around. He wasn’t going back, no matter how desperate for information Tonio was.
Lars’ voice took on a hard edge. “Exactly who are you thinking of, Tonio?”
The masters shifted in their seats, eyes touching on Roberto then flitting away.
“We have the slave boy,” said Tonio, counting him off on his thumb. “And—”
“Who can’t speak,” interrupted Lars, “so he’s no good.”
Tonio nodded, and kept going, “and Lovina, the girl who was enslaved to the traveling merchant—”
“She’s terribly thin and suffering from maltreatment,” said Marlies. “She’s in no condition. That would be her death sentence.”
“And there’s you,” Tonio said, turning to Marlies, and counting off his third digit.
Hans bristled, but spoke quietly, “My wife hasn’t recovered yet, either.”
Tonio held up his last two fingers. “That leaves your son, Tomaaz, and Master Roberto.”
There it was; out in the open. Tonio had resented Roberto’s tenure here at Dragons’ Hold ever since he’d been appointed as master of mental faculties and imprinting. The best way for Tonio to be rid of him was to send him straight back to Zens.
“No, they can’t send you,” Ezaara melded.
“That’s right, they can’t,” Roberto replied. “I won’t go.”
“No!” It was Marlies, standing right in Tonio’s face. “Tonio, I’ve lived my life. I’ve done my dues. Send me, not two young ones who haven’t had a chance yet.”
Tonio lay a hand on Marlies’ shoulder and shook his head. “You’re not well enough yet, and besides, we need a talented healer here at Dragons’ Hold.”
“As if they don’t need a master of mental faculties and imprinting!” Ezaara melded. “Without you, they wouldn’t have unearthed the traitors!”
Lars’ lips were pursed. “Zaarusha, honored Queen of Dragons’ Realm, what do you think?” He strode to the back of the room and lifted his hand to her lowered head. After a few moments, Lars said, “Zaarusha is concerned that Zens may slaughter more of her citizens and loyal dragons. She would like more information, so we could minimize the danger.”
Roberto’s queen needed more information. He had pledged to serve her, to fight and defend Dragons’ Realm. “I’ll go,” Roberto said.
Ezaara’s gasp was audible to every ear in the room.
Tonio shot him a sharp glance. “Thank you, Roberto.”
There was a knock at the door. The blue guards opened it.
Tomaaz strode in, Maazini behind him. Giant John sank back into his chair, and Marlies and Hans moved to stand on either side of their son.
“Erob, you sly dog, you just had to tell Maazini, didn’t you?” Roberto asked.
“He is my brother, Roberto. Besides, Tomaaz has grit. I want you to have a good traveling companion.”
Roberto snorted. “You’re the only traveling companion I need.”
“What about me?” Ezaara broke in. “I’d rather help than lose you all.”
“I’ll go with Roberto,” Tomaaz said. “We have to kill Zens.”
“We’re not looking at killing Zens, now,” Tonio said dryly, “although if you get the chance, we’d be highly appreciative.” His lip curled in a sneer.
A titter ran around the room.
One by one, Tomaaz stared the masters down. “I’ve just been in Death Valley,” he said. “I’ve seen the starvation, the beatings, the senseless suffering. I’ve seen our people robbed of their minds, their will to live. I’m not afraid to go back.”
“Well spoken,” said Roberto.
The spymaster pursed his lips. “You need to leave by nightfall.”
Roberto rose to his feet. Tomaaz met his eyes, nodding.
Lars’ smacked his gavel on the granite. The meeting was over.
Dragon Rift
Six Weeks Earlier
Lars smacked
