Hold on, he said grimly, beating his wings faster.
Then the rain hit them.
The water was icy cold, falling in fat drops that stung Khollo’s skin and battered his face. Kanin’s scales grew slick beneath him, robbing him of his tenuous hold on the dragon. Khollo slid awkwardly back and forth. Then, as the wind wrenched Kanin’s wings back and the dragon roared in pain, Khollo was thrown sideways and he was dangling from Kanin’s back, one hand clinging to a slippery spine.
“We have to land!” Khollo shouted.
The hold is near, Kanin replied, his mental tone strained. Khollo could hear his labored breathing through the storm. We can make it.
Khollo tried to pull himself back up, but he could find no purchase. So he grimly hung on as Kanin swept onwards through the rain. Water was falling in great sheets, blocking Khollo’s vision after a few meters. He hoped that Kanin could see more clearly. Otherwise, there was a good chance they would slam into the face of the hold.
Lightning flashed again, and thunder echoed in the valley. Kanin was snatched up in the wind and rolled over, buffeted and tossed about, helpless. Khollo lost his grip on the spine and flew up in the air.
“Kanin!” he shouted desperately.
The dragon twisted below him, looking up, falling, falling. Khollo spread his arms wide and tried to slow his plummet. Then, he slammed into Kanin’s belly and the dragon wrapped his clawed feet around him protectively.
Kanin’s wings snapped open and their fall slowed. Then, he rolled right over under the influence of the wind and they crashed downwards again. They fell for hardly a moment before slamming into a wide stone ledge. Their ledge, outside of their hold.
Khollo blinked water out of his eyes and stood shakily, staggering around Kanin. The dragon was lying at an awkward angle, breathing heavily, the edges of his wings fluttering slightly in the wind.
“We need to get inside,” Khollo murmured in the great beast’s ear. “Come on. One final effort, my friend.”
Kanin shook himself and came half upright, attempting to walk. But his left foreleg buckled and the dragon snarled in pain. Hopping awkwardly, he managed to enter the hold and lower himself to the dragon bowl within. Khollo followed, drenched, exhausted, and cold.
The dragon breathed fire over the rocks for a few seconds and the temperature within the hold rose noticeably. Khollo’s clothes were beginning to warm by the time the dragon had finished and settled down. Kanin kept his injured leg thrust out at a strange angle, growling fitfully as the pain came and went.
Khollo rested a hand on Kanin’s scaly muzzle. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “We should have been more careful. I should have known the storm would be dangerous for us to fly in. We could have beaten it if I hadn’t got caught up exploring the library.”
It is not your fault, Kanin replied softly, his voice laced with pain. It is the way of the world. Storms are powerful, and we with wings are especially at risk. Had I been in a storm before, I would have set down at the hall and gone no further. He snorted gently, and warm air ruffled Khollo’s hair. And now we are cold and wet and I hurt.
“Will your leg heal?” Khollo asked.
It is not a bad injury, Kanin assured him. Only wrenched, maybe strained. I am lucky my wings are not damaged. I was helpless before the wind. The dragon sounded disconcerted, as though his confidence had been shaken.
Khollo sighed and lay back, against Kanin’s warm bulk. “We know better now, and it won’t happen again. And you’re never helpless, Kanin. You managed to catch me and protect me, despite the storm. You did everything a dragon can possibly be expected to do under the circumstances.” He smiled fondly at Kanin, and the dragon’s eyes brightened slightly.
Thank you, Kanin murmured drowsily. Perhaps tomorrow you can begin your research. If the storm is gone.
“Yes,” Khollo agreed. “Tomorrow.” Outside, thunder rolled across the valley and rain splashed against the stone face of the holds. Khollo shivered and pressed himself back against Kanin.
“Tomorrow, nothing will stop me from finding a way back,” he vowed.
Chapter 29
The next morning Kanin was still terribly sore and his leg was throbbing fiercely. So badly, that it was all he could do to traverse the short distance to the entrance to the hold and look out over the jungle. Khollo patted the dragon’s fearsome head sympathetically.
“I know it hurts,” he murmured. “You were brilliant yesterday. Take today off and rest. I’ll hike over to the library and start looking for maps.”
Be careful, Kanin warned. This jungle may conceal many dangers.
“I know,” Khollo said, grinning. “But I’m not exactly helpless you know.” He slung his bow over his shoulder and drew his Sen-teel, attaching the two pieces together. “I’ll be back an hour before sundown,” he promised. “Now, drape your tail over the side so I can get down to that dangerous jungle.”
Kanin continued to grumble, but did as Khollo asked. The young warrior climbed down the dragon’s tail quickly, landing lightly on the second level ledge. Fortunately, the first level was shorter, made for younger dragons and their Keepers. Khollo was able to negotiate the drop by hanging from the ledge by his fingers, then dropping roughly two meters to the ground. He rolled as he landed to cushion the fall, then got to his feet and waved to Kanin. The dragon blinked in reply, and retreated inside the hold, still limping.
Khollo turned to the jungle and set off at a brisk walk, his Sen-teel held at the ready.
