I never tire of this, Kanin told him, half turning his great head to look at Khollo. From the sky, everything looks so different. I am free up here, master of my fate and of all winged creatures. Kanin roared a challenge to the world.
Khollo grinned. I love it too, he told Kanin. Flying is both the scariest and most exhilarating thing I’ve ever done.
You think this is scary? Kanin asked mischievously.
Kanin, no! Khollo said quickly, gobbling down the last of his breakfast. Don’t –
Too late.
The dragon folded his left wing and rolled over sideways, plunging towards the valley floor. Khollo screamed in terror as the world spun in a dizzying kaleidoscope of land and sky. Then they were climbing again, up, up towards the clouds, into the clouds. The air was colder up here, almost freezing really. Khollo clutched the spike in front of him and looked around at the mountain peaks, which were below him now.
He hardly had time to enjoy the view though, for Kanin suddenly stopped climbing and fell backwards. Khollo yelled again as Kanin folded both wings and dove straight down, the wind screaming past Khollo’s face and setting his teeth rattling in his head.
“Okay, you’ve made your point!” Khollo shouted. “Kanin! Stop!”
The dragon kept diving, ignoring Khollo’s pleas. They were heading right for the jungle below, any moment they would crash –
Kanin’s translucent wings flashed out and their fall turned into a steep glide. They were still falling, falling. Then, Kanin rotated his wings and they swooped low, clipping the highest branches, before climbing back to a safe altitude. Kanin beat his wings once or twice, then glided on the morning air.
How was that? he asked smugly.
Khollo swallowed, then did a thorough check of all systems to make sure everything was still attached and operating properly.
“Terrifying,” he finally squeaked, his voice much higher pitched than normal.
Thought so, Kanin replied. Those were only basic maneuvers though. If I were under attack, things could get much more interesting.
Khollo frowned. I’m going to need to build a saddle to have any hope of holding on in battle then.
Kanin snorted and began his descent, winging towards the waterfalls and the library beside them. They landed in the courtyard, near the central well.
I guess you’ll have to wait up here, Khollo said as he dismounted and made for the stairs. Keep an eye out for that tiger from the other day. I doubt it has given up the fight, and if it sees you alone –
If it attacks, we will have a different kind of meat to try cooking, Kanin assured him. No oversized cat will best me in a fight, especially now that I can fly.
Khollo nodded. Still, be careful.
Kanin snorted, butting Khollo with his head. The young warrior grinned and headed underground, into the library.
It took Khollo a moment to find where he had left off two days prior. Then the slow, monotonous task began again. He worked his way around the top level of the library, examining every scroll he found. But there were no maps useful to him in that level, so he moved down to the next level to continue the search.
The second level had fewer scrolls. But still, there were no maps to be found among them. Khollo was starting to think he may have set himself an impossible task. The amount of information in the library was just too great. He was hardly even opening most of the documents, and he was completely ignoring the tomes and books standing on shelves.
When the time came for them to return to the hold, Khollo had but a few scrolls left to examine in the second level. And no results to speak of. Another day, gone. He rolled up the latest useless document and shoved it back into its cubby space before retreating up the stairs to the courtyard. He found Kanin dozing on a patch of stone that he had scraped clean of debris. The sun was shining strongly, and Khollo felt his skin warming under its rays.
“Time to go,” Khollo announced. “Nothing interesting to be found today.”
Kanin rolled to his feet blearily. I was enjoying my sun spot, he groused.
Khollo smiled and patted the dragon’s muscular neck comfortingly. We’ll be back tomorrow, he reminded Kanin. There’s still lots to research.
Kanin spread his wings, waiting patiently while Khollo mounted. There was nothing on how to heal dragon legs in those scrolls was there?
Khollo shook his head. Not that I saw. How’s the leg?
It has been worse, Kanin said. But it has also been much better.
You’ll heal, Khollo told him confidently. You’ll see.
Kanin launched himself skyward and began the short flight back to the hold. The sun was hovering between two of the western mountains, casting long shadows across the jungle below. Khollo sighed and leaned forward against Kanin’s neck. Another discouraging day of fruitless research. But Khollo wasn’t giving up hope, not by a long shot. The library would yield its secrets to him. The only question was, how long would it take. And how much time did his friends back home have?
Chapter 31
Khollo took a long, slow sip from his water skin, eyeing the scroll he held at arm’s length. Useless, he thought. Why do I care that three riders patrolled the sea lanes to the west and reported them all clear?
You don’t, but I’m sure the people using the sea lanes did, Kanin observed.
Khollo sighed and rolled up the scroll, jamming it back into its place. Not helping, Kanin, he told the dragon, rubbing at his eyes wearily.
Wasn’t trying
