Vertaga work?
Yes.
They will pay.
Khollo nodded grimly. Yes, they will. The good news is, I know where we are now. A little to the left, Kanin, and another hour or so and we’ll be to the West Bank.
Good. I grow weary. Even dragons cannot fly for four full days with ease.
As they continued on, Khollo began to recognize more and more landmarks below. Hills and streams he remembered from his rides with Ondus, learning to ride Arle and traveling to different villages. Then a low line of hills became visible in the distance, the rocky home of the West Bank.
When Khollo first sighted the fortress, he thought that somehow he had gotten his directions mixed up. For the structure before him looked nothing like he remembered. First of all, the hill had been reshaped so that a few feet from the fortress walls it dropped away in a sheer cliff. The road up to the fortress was wider, but it was now not only the easiest but the only possible way to reach the main gate. Behind the fortress, Khollo could see another, longer wall curving in a graceful circle, enclosing snowy fields with black specks trudging back and forth.
Your old home is impressive, Kanin remarked. Certainly more impressive than the vertaga base we wiped out when we first met. But I think I still like Ethgalin better.
Khollo grinned. Me too, but this will do in the meantime.
The young warrior suddenly realized that a commotion was breaking out below. Soldiers were running back and forth on the walls, and shouts of ‘Dragon!’ reached his ears.
Why do they scurry so? Kanin wondered.
They don’t realize we mean them no harm, Khollo observed. Fly around the fortress, but stay out of arrow range.
Kanin obeyed, gliding around the perimeter of the West Bank. A shattering horn blast reached their ears and more soldiers boiled up in the courtyard, more soldiers than Khollo had ever seen at the West Bank before. And these did not seem to be villagers either, but capable, experienced warriors, moving in perfect order and without any evident panic.
A lot has changed, Khollo reflected. Janis may have a story to rival mine.
Does he have a dragon? Kanin asked with a rumbling laugh.
Fair point.
Kanin was gliding over the northern fields now. Khollo looked down curiously at the orderly rows, ready for planting when spring arrived, and the low stone wall, which was only lightly defended. The villagers had already retreated to a massive portal in the hillside. The entrance was shut tight, but Khollo could make out dozens of arrow slits and the gate was set back a couple meters into the hillside so any foe attacking the door would be under attack from three sides.
“Brilliant,” Khollo murmured. “I wonder who did all of this while I was gone?”
Kanin snorted. I would be through the door in no time, arrows or no. A couple of flaming passes to weaken it, then straight through the door at top speed.
It will keep vertaga out for a long time though.
True. Can we land now? Your friends seem to be confused.
Khollo looked down. Sure enough, several soldiers were turning in slow circles, hands shading their eyes, perhaps wondering why no attack had come yet. Then, Khollo saw a half-dozen figures emerging onto the roof of the keep.
Get me within shouting distance, on the north side of that tower, Khollo said quickly.
I hope you know what you are doing.
Me too, Khollo agreed as Kanin drifted closer to the tower, into arrow range of the men on the roof.
Khollo could make out the small figures below him now. He saw Janis, who was frowning in concentration. A crossbow was in his hands, but he held it at his side. Sermas and Hern were there as well, with three other soldiers. None had bows.
The men on the tower are safe to approach, Khollo announced.
Kanin swung lower and lower, until only twenty meters separated Khollo from his old life. He turned to the tower and waved happily to Janis and the others, whose mouths had dropped open in amazement.
“Good afternoon,” Khollo called, cupping his hands around his mouth so the shout would carry. “Do you think you could have your archers stand down so we can land? It’s been a long journey these past few days.”
The men on the roof exchanged glances, dumbfounded. Clearly, they had expected something more along the lines of ‘shoot this beast that captured me’.
Finally, Janis gestured weakly to one of the soldiers standing by him and the man raised a horn to his lips, blowing the tune for ‘at ease’.
The men on the walls below looked about uncertainly, but did not move from their positions.
The soldier on the roof shrugged at Janis and sounded the signal again. Still no response from the soldiers below. Finally, Janis turned to Sermas, Hern, and the others, speaking quickly. They hurried off through the trap door, leaving Khollo and Kanin hovering in midair.
They do not seem to be the friendliest sort, these friends of yours, Kanin said uncertainly.
They’re being cautious is all, Khollo assured the dragon, patting its scaly neck. They don’t want us or anyone else to get hurt when we land.
Hmm. I hope you are right.
Janis and the others emerged from the keep and began shouting orders. Gradually, the soldiers on the walls dispersed, save for the normal guard, though most of the men stayed in the courtyard or on the front steps of the keep. A fair number hovered anxiously in the entrance to the underground chambers, perhaps thinking it was a good place to be able to watch the action and also escape quickly if necessary.
Let’s go ahead and land, Khollo said to Kanin. Just there, by
