“So, neither of you found out anything about Zens’ new creatures?”
Was that contempt in Tonio’s voice? Ezaara bristled.
“Roberto may have found out something, but he didn’t have a chance to tell me.”
“Was there anything that seemed contrived about his capture?”
Silence struck the cavern.
Tomaaz stared at Tonio. “Are you implying that Roberto wanted to be caught by Zens?”
“Please answer my question.”
“With all due respect, Master Tonio, are you mad? Who in their right mind would let tharuks rip their dragon’s belly open, injuring their best friend? And who would want to help Zens?”
“We’ve just had traitors do exactly that, Tomaaz,” Tonio replied sternly. “Before you arrived here, Bruno and Fleur, masters on this council, maltreated Ajeuria, our dragon queen’s daughter. They were influenced by Zens. And they tried to poison Queen Zaarusha. We don’t yet know if they’ve influenced Unocco, Bruno’s dragon, but I suspect they must’ve or they wouldn’t have gotten away with everything for so long. Now, answer my question: did Roberto appear to be complicit in his own capture?”
White-knuckled, Ezaara’s grip on the tabletop tightened, the granite biting her palms.
“Of course not,” Tomaaz yelled, leaping to his feet. He gasped, clutching at his hip, and fell back into his chair.
Ma rushed over. “Are you all right?”
Tomaaz waved her off. “Just a twinge.”
Ma stalked over to Tonio. “My son came home last night with his hip joint shattered. It was touch and go, but we managed to heal him. I’ve recently been in Death Valley. Zens threw me around the room with the power of his mind. I nearly died.”
“Why would anyone willingly go to that monster?” asked Pa, shaking his head.
Tonio bristled. “Not willingly, Hans, but under coercion. Zens weaves some sort of magic over people. He turns them. Roberto has been his protégé before. It could happen again.”
Ezaara felt nauseous. She’d seen Zens’ cruelty through Roberto’s memories. “This has gone far enough,” she said, snatching Lars’ gavel and smacking it on the table. “I called this meeting to make rescue plans for Roberto and Erob, not to hold a trial for a crime a master hasn’t committed. The Egg knows we’ve had enough of those lately.” She shot Tonio a venomous look. He’d been instrumental in having Roberto unjustly banished to the Wastelands.
Tonio gave a cool smile, his dark eyes flashing. “Very well, my Queen’s Rider.” He turned to Tomaaz. “Please inform us of Erob’s whereabouts and the extent of his injuries.”
“Erob is near Death Valley along the border of Great Spanglewood Forest.”
“South of Monte Vista?” Tonio asked. “Or north of the Tooka River? I hope he’s not anywhere near those shrotty wizards.”
“Maazini knows the location,” Tomaaz replied. “He’ll show any dragon how to get there. I’m worried about Erob. He’s been lying there with his gut slit for five days now.”
“We must rescue Erob at once,” Lars interjected. “But it’ll take a few days to reach him. He could be dead by then.”
Pa spoke. “Actually, Marlies and I have rings of power that can get a rider and dragon to any destination instantaneously.”
“That’s impossible, Hans,” called Aidan, master of battle.
Ma interrupted. “Master Aidan, not only is it possible, I’ve used one too. That’s how we escaped Death Valley.”
“I’d heard that after Anakisha’s last battle—may her spirit fly with departed dragons—the two rings of power were lost,” Tonio said. “Now you’re telling me you have them? Did you steal them when you fled Dragons’ Hold eighteen years ago?”
Ezaara held her breath. That dirty spymaster was using every lowdown tactic, reminding everyone of how Ma had accidentally killed Zaarusha’s dragonet.
Ma met his gaze evenly. “The rings were not lost, Tonio, but given to her progeny who were scattered throughout Dragons’ Realm. Her daughter recently gifted one to Hans, and on my way to Death Valley, Anakisha’s granddaughter gifted one to me.”
Pa nodded. “Although Anakisha’s rings of power create realm gates for travel within Dragons’ Realm, every time a ring is used, the walls of the gate grow weaker, creating a ripple in sathir. Zens senses those ripples. We’ve been warned that overuse could risk Zens discovering the gates.”
“The result would be disastrous,” Ma said. “Imagine Zens appearing anywhere without warning. He could even breach Dragons’ Hold.”
Ezaara shivered. Behind her, dragon talons scratched stone. “So, now we can get to Erob, who will go?” she asked.
“I will,” Tomaaz replied.
“Not with your hip, you won’t,” Ma said.
“If I wasn’t your son, would you object?”
Ma pursed her lips. “Yes, but I know you’re too stubborn to listen. Please rest for a few hours before you leave.”
“I’m going with Tomaaz,” Hans said. “I know how the rings work.”
“Then it would seem you’re well-suited to lead the rescue, Hans. There’s still one problem.” Lars gazed around the table. “Any ideas about how to retrieve a dragon with a gaping belly wound?”
One problem? What about retrieving Roberto? Ezaara’s hand went to the crystal teardrop at her neck. If they didn’t get Roberto back, this wouldn’t be the only teardrop at this table. “I have a solution,” she said, keeping her face devoid of the rage churning within her. “Roberto had a secret.”
“Only one?” Tonio asked snarkily.
Resisting the urge to punch the spymaster, Ezaara continued, “Roberto was a great fisherman, catching the fish for all our feasts.” Nods and murmurs of assent rippled around the table. “He and Erob used nets, not a spear. If we can’t heal Erob in Spanglewood Forest, we could place the nets under his wounded belly and lift him home.”
“Anyone else with a better suggestion?” Lars scratched his blond beard as he gazed around the silent table.
