Like a barn collapsing, a great groaning came from inside the dragon.Then the serpent’s armored sheets started to separate and slide into disjointedpiles. Sand poured out from cracks in the armor and from Drache’s nose and mouth.
“It takes much more than a single arrow to kill a dragon,” Fibian said, looking suspicious.
The froskman rose from the ground and leaped into the water, making his way towardsthe serpent’s carcass. Cyrus followed.
“Well, if you didn’t kill him, who did?”
Fibian waded over to the dragon’shead, then beyond to the severed stump. Both the skull and stump were hollowhusks bleeding a fine, golden silt. Fibian began to sift his fingers through the sand spillingfrom the severed neck.
“We don’t have time for this,” Cyrus pleaded, “We have to find Edward.”
The froskman poured sand from one webbed handto the next, seeming to study each grain.
“I believe I already have,” he finally said, with a look of worry.
He held his right palm up to a beam of dwindling sunlight. There, withina small mound of sand, lay the unconscious Edward, his black hair on end, andthe yellow mark on his back ablaze.
“Oh, Edward,” Cyrus moaned, “What have you done?”
Chapter 26
WITHOUT ANCHOR
CYRUS TOOK EDWARD FROM Fibian’sopen palm.
“Edward, wake up. Edward?”
Cyrus rubbed his best friend’s back. The spider did not stir. If Edwarddies, I’ll be all alone in the middle of King knows where. He looked to Fibian.
“What do we do? Will he live?”
“I think so,” Fibian replied, collecting thespent arrow from Drache’s eye and gathering up Cyrus’fur hat, “He just needs a little time to recover.”
The dragon’s carcass shifted and groaned as scales and sand settledwithin the bubbling pool.
“What happened?” Cyrus asked, making his way over to the shore, “How didhe end up buried inside the dragon’s remains?”
“We will have to wait until he wakes to find out,” Fibiansaid, “Come, we must build a fire to avoid your blood running cold. And whileon the subject of blood,” the froskman pulled thepinky-sized, glass vial from around his neck.
“What is that?” Cyrus asked, dreading the answer.
The vial was blood smudged. Cyrus inspected the swirling liquid within.He swore he could almost see fiery phosphorescence dance and spark against theglass tube.
“Dragon’s blood,” Fibian replied.
“You took it from Drache?”
Cyrus stepped back.
“It was not difficult,” Fibian said, gesturingto his blood-spattered body.
“You don’t expect me to drink that, do you?” Cyrus asked.
“There may come a time, young Master,when you do not have a choice.”
***
WHEN THE GLOW OF THE SUN vanished, and the moon began to rise, Cyrus and Fibian were sat around a crackling fire, drying themselves inits warmth.
“Come on, Edward, wake up,” Cyrus said, shivering in his underwear,petting the spider curled up in the palm of his hand.
The flames toasted one half of Cyrus’ body, while the night air frozethe other. His clothes were drying beside him along a log.
“Give him time,” Fibian said, “He is stillbreathing. He will be all right.”
“What are we going to do?” Cyrus asked, desperation in his voice, “We’re trapped on this island, and Rorroh must knowwe’re nearby.”
“Our plan remains the same,” Fibian said,inspecting the remaining arrows, “Tomorrow we will make for that fishingvillage to the west. There we can find a boat and head north in search of theyeti ourselves.”
“Won’t sailing north be dangerous?” Cyrus asked, “And what if Drache was lying about the yeti?”
“Sailing north will be very dangerous,” Fibiansaid, “But I believe the yeti to be real, and staying here within reach of the Warrior Witch is sure death.”
Cyrus could not think of an alternative. He just sat beside the lickingflames, his belly grumbling as he studied the sleeping spider balled up in hishand.
“You do not think you can defeat Rorroh, doyou?” Fibian asked, his eyes aglow in the darkness.
“How could I?” Cyrus said, “She’s immortaland far more powerful than I am. I don’t even know how to fight.”
“It is true that no mortal hand will ever take her from the seas,” Fibian replied, “but it is your destiny to end her reignover this world. You will destroy the form in which her tainted soul rules. Youwill cast her adrift to wander the oceans without harbor or anchor. And youwill do this because you have love in your heart, and all she has left ishate.”
Cyrus stared at Fibian for a long moment.
“Love?” he finally asked, “Love? How theAngels will love help me againstan ancient, ax-wielding witch with blackmagic, immortality, and monsters on herside? Are you insane?”
“What if Rorroh appeared right here and now?” Fibian asked, “What would you do?”
“I would run,” Cyrus said, his skinny arms goose-pimpled.
“What if you were back on your island and Rorrohstood between you and your home?”
“She could have it,” Cyrus replied, “I would still run.”
“But what if Edward were inside the home?” Fibianadded.
Cyrus thought about that. His breath quickened. He could not just leaveEdward to die.
“And what if Edward was not alone?” Fibiancontinued, “What if your brother was alive and at his side?”
Cyrus felt a bubbling anger risein his belly.
“My brother is dead,” he said, fighting to keep his voice steady.
“Even now you can sense the great strength love lends you,” Fibian said, “You will defeat her because of your love forEdward, and because of the love you feel towards your people.”
“My people tried to kill me,” Cyrus shouted, “I hate them. I’ll never riskmy life to help them!”
But what about Sarah? Cyrusthought. Surely she doesn’t deserve to die.
He heard a small coughing noise.
“Master Edward has decided to join the conversation,” Fibian said, his voice calm.
“Edward, are you okay?” Cyrus asked, holding the spider close to hisface.
“What happened?” Edward asked.
“The dragon tried to double-cross us, andwe crashed. I lost you during the fall. Then Fibianfound you near the dragon’s dead body.”
Cyrus saw Edward’s confusion turn to fear.
“Do not be afraid, little one,” Fibian said,“You did the right thing. You saved Master Cyrus’ and my life.”
Edward said nothing. He just shook ever so slightly in Cyrus’ slenderpalm.
“What are you talking about?” Cyrus asked, “What did Edward do?”
His best friend would not
