“I will side with Lars and Tonio.” Master Archer Jerrick left his hands on the table. “Even though one of my dear friends is on the Wizard Council, my loyalty lies here.”
Tonio sat with his arms crossed in front of him, jaw clenched.
“I said the vote was binding. I hope I won’t regret this,” Lars said. “Mages got us into this. Without Mazyka’s headlong quest for power, we wouldn’t have Zens or those bloodthirsty tharuks destroying our realm. Our people would not be enslaved, dying by the hundreds, tortured and without hope, in the dreary hell he’s created. Such was the blessing bestowed by an errant wizard and her foolhardy master.”
A buzz of power emanated from Giddi.
Lars came around to the front of the table, face to face with Giddi. “You were our friends and we fought together, but I’m not at liberty to put the past behind me on a whim at the Wizard Council’s request. The damage has been too great.”
Head high, Giddi’s eyes flashed. “The Wizard Council do not wish to treat with you. They’re bigger fools than you are. I’m here because my friend Marlies, and Kierion, a young dragon rider, thought the realm could be saved. They’re right—the only way we’ll triumph is to fight together—but I’m not begging for your allegiance.” Giddi’s cloak swished as he strode to the door. Halfway, he spun, jabbing his finger at Tonio. “Never belittle the spangles again. You may have need of them yet.”
Raised voices sounded outside the doors, and Lovina burst inside, face flushed. “Excuse me, Masters, but I’ve seen a vision. Tharuks will kill all the wizards in the Spanglewood by nightfall, unless we stop them.” She held up a painting, showing a bloody massacre.
A shiver rippled down Marlies’ spine.
Giddi barked at Hans, “You’re still Master of Prophecy. How reliable is she?”
“She’s always been right, so far.”
Shards, if they didn’t accept the wizards, it would be all-out slaughter. “Council masters, I implore you. We have a duty to protect every citizen of Dragons’ Realm, no matter their vocation,” Marlies pleaded. “Please, we can’t let this threat go unchecked. What if tharuks were killing your family?”
A pointed gaze passed between Lars and Tonio. The spymaster nodded.
“We’ve all taken vows to protect the citizens of Dragons’ Realm, whether we like them or not.” Lars was all action. “Masters, meld with your dragons, and mobilize all dragons and riders,” he commanded. “Giddi, meld with Singlar and tell him where the wizards are. We’ll bring them to the hold.”
Thunder flashed across Giddi’s face, sending a jolt through Marlies. No one ordered the dragon mage about.
“Hurry,” said Lars. “We may not like you, but we don’t want Zens to kill the last handful of your kind.”
“The last handful?” said Giddi dryly. “There may be more of us than you think.”
Home
Torches flickered in the downdraft of their dragons’ wingbeats as Singlar and Antonika landed on the stage near the few members of the council that remained at the hold. Lars slid from Singlar’s back and held his hand high. The main cavern was packed, but gradually, the crowd settled into silence.
“The rumors are true,” Lars said. “Tharuks have been hunting wizards in Spanglewood, so we’re taking in refugees. We’re expecting guests at any moment.”
Angry mutters rippled through the crowd.
Lars raised his voice, overriding them. “Yes, years ago, wizards brought peril into our realm. Because of them, we’re battling tharuks today. But we cannot stand aside and let Zens slaughter our people—mages or not, we’ve sworn to protect everyone.”
An older rider hollered, “It’s a mage trick. They’ll slaughter us in our sleep.”
Now, that was just ridiculous. Lars shook his head. “Wizards don’t kill riders, only tharuks.”
The man yelled back, “No, but they let in Zens, who slaughtered my parents. I say we make ’em pay.”
“Zens killed my sister’s whole family before my eyes.”
“I don’t want wizards at my hearth.”
He understood it, he really did. But despite his feelings, he had to abide by his vows and the council’s vote. Lars motioned to Tonio, who blew his horn. The deep note reverberated off the cavern walls.
Tonio stepped forward. “I understand. I, too, have lost family to Zens. But it’s Zens we want to fight, not wizards. They let him in, but they haven’t stopped fighting him since. We can’t allow them to be slaughtered right on our doorstep out of spite. And they won’t be here forever.”
An uneasy silence before a hand shot up. “How long will they stay?”
“Only as long as necessary, believe me,” Lars said, eliciting a few chuckles.
A lad called out, “Long enough for me to learn magic?”
A ripple of laughter broke out. Good, this battle was half won.
“Lars,” melded Singlar, “Seppi will be here any moment with half the blue guard.”
By the Egg! “Half the blue guard? How many mages is he bringing?”
“Some of them are still fighting. Others will be here on the morrow.”
Lars turned to Tonio. “Call the council together.”
Tonio motioned them into a huddle and Lars broke the news. “It sounds if we’ll have nearly a hundred mages turning up. The main cavern is the only place big enough to sleep them all, although they’ll need to warm it with mage flame.”
“We don’t want them getting too cozy, or they may decide to stay,” said Tonio.
“And supplies?” asked Lars. “How’s our food looking with additional mouths to feed?”
“We have plenty,” Hendrik said. “As long as they’re not here too long.”
Lars nodded. “That’s not our intention. This is temporary. Any extra bedding in the infirmary, Marlies?”
“Some. We’ll ask families to bring spare blankets and quilts.”
“Right.” Lars turned to the crowd.
People were staring at the entrances high in the cavern walls. The blue guards were arriving. Seppi led
