“I saw his sword.”
“Diamond-edged blade?”
She nodded.
“My goodness. Talk about a miracle.” He stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Rain didn’t rush him. It was his process. But she did note that the sun was sinking lower in the sky. They didn’t have much time.
“Very well, you go gather supplies and I will have the boys bring out one of the carts. We meet at the gates in fifteen minutes.” The Padre’s voice was brisk. She’d often wondered why he didn’t lead them instead of El, but Padre Pedro had never been one to seek leadership, though others would have given it to him gladly. He preferred his tomatoes.
Rain nodded and hurried toward the living area of the compound while Padre Pedro strode toward the garages. She took the stairs down two at a time. Every minute that passed meant a minute closer to dark. And dark was when the drags came. They couldn’t afford to be out of the compound then.
Rain grabbed her tracking satchel from her room before hitting the store rooms. As a Tracker she could take anything from store she felt was necessary for her mission.
She grabbed some pre-filled water bottles, bandages, and alcohol. Then she hit the armory for weapons. There wasn’t much that would kill a drag, but she grabbed a side arm. It wouldn’t work against drags, but it would be effective should they run into bandits. Or Marines.
She hesitated at the door, then turned and grabbed one of the grenades. Just in case. Maybe she’d get lucky twice.
PADRE PEDRO HAD ONE of the small handcarts and was waiting at the gate. The carts were usually used by gatherers to haul back to the compound useful items the Trackers had found, but they were large enough to haul an injured man.
She hoped the Dragon Warrior would prove just as useful. The compound could use a good fighter. If she could convince him to quit the Marines. She had no idea how to go about doing that or if it were even possible. Warriors were myths. Legends. Fairy tales made up to give people hope.
Obviously, sometimes the fairy tales were true.
The sun was still hot and brutal as they headed into the desert, but Rain knew they were fast running out of time. It would be a race against the sun to get the Warrior back to the compound before the dragons came out.
She and Padre Pedro spoke little as she led them at a brisk pace toward the spot where she’d left the injured Warrior. She hurried over to where he lay in the shadow of the burned-out Humvee. Though unconscious, his pulse was still strong.
“So, this is the lad.” Padre Pedro knelt beside her. “Looks a little worse for wear.” He pressed his own fingers against the Warrior’s throat. “Pulse is good. We definitely need to get him back to Sanctuary.”
“I’ll get the cart.” She wheeled it closer and the two of them struggled under the Warrior’s massive weight until they were able to get him loaded into the cart.
Though he moaned in pain, the Warrior didn’t regain consciousness. Rain poured a little water into his mouth.
“He swallowed it. That’s good,” Padre Pedro said.
“Should I give him alcohol? For the pain?”
Padre Pedro shook his head. “It will just dehydrate him. If he wakes up, we can give him some, but let’s leave it for now.” He glanced at the sky. “We better get moving. It’s nearly sunset.”
Rain nodded as Padre Pedro moved to the back of the cart. She took up the handles at the front of the cart and began pulling it while Padre Pedro pushed. Despite the fact it was one of their lightest carts, the weight of the Warrior made it hard going. They had to pause for several breaks.
They were less than a mile from the compound when Rain heard it. The shriek of a dragon who’d spotted its next meal.
“THAT’S NOT POSSIBLE.” Padre Pedro stood beside her, squinting against the setting sun. “The dragons don’t come out until full dark.”
“They prefer full dark, but sometimes they’ll come out at twilight,” Rain said.
“But it’s sunset.”
“Yes.” It was way too early for a drag to be out. And hunting, no less. Still there was no use arguing facts. They could both see it plain as day, flying toward them much faster than either of them could run.
“We won’t be able to make the compound.” Padre Pedro’s voice was grim.
“No. We make our stand here.” It was as good a place as any.
“That pistol isn’t going to work against a dragon, Rain.”
“No.” She smiled a little. “This might, though.” She pulled out the grenade and handed it to the Padre.
“This is what you used to kill the dragon at the compound.”
She nodded. “I tossed one down its throat. Only problem is they tend to explode.” And kill anyone nearby in the process. “Fortunately, we also have this.” She slid the Warrior’s sword from its sheath. The diamond edge turned ruby red in the dying light.
“A dragon blade? But you don’t know how to wield that.”
She shrugged. “How hard can it be, Padre? It’s a blade. I’m a Tracker.” Trackers and blades went together like ... well, two things that went together. Sutter had been a genius with a blade.
Rain pushed the thought aside along with the accompanying pain. She’d need all her concentration to fight the drag. The dragon blade was ridiculously heavy, thanks to the folded steel and diamonds. Every movement would have to count.
“Here it comes.” She saw Padre Pedro’s hand tighten around the grenade.
“You know how to use that thing?”
He smiled at her, the skin around his eyes crinkling. “I may be a man of peace, Rain. But this isn’t my first rodeo.”
Whatever that meant.
Rain turned back to the dragon rapidly drawing closer. Her own fingers tightened around the hilt of the dragon blade. This was a fight she had no intention of losing.
Chapter 11
THE DRAGON SWOOPED down out
