They never saw Kanin coming.
The dragon swooped low and scooped up a buck with no hesitation. No scattering the herd and singling a beast out or roaring a challenge to frighten them. Just a quick, clean, snatch and fly. Khollo looked back and saw that the herd was not as compact as it had been, but they returned to drinking and grazing almost immediately.
You made up your mind quickly, Khollo observed, surprised. He knew how Kanin enjoyed a good hunt, and was surprised that he had cut this one so short.
I was hungry, Kanin replied, shifting the struggling deer in his talons.
They landed shortly after, on a low knoll mostly clear of snow. Khollo slid off Kanin’s back and sat on the ground, absently ripping up strands of grass and braiding them together. Kanin meanwhile killed his struggling captive and began to eat with messy greed, ripping at the beast’s entrails.
This is a large land we have come to, Kanin observed. Much larger than Ethgalin. But not as bountiful. One small herd compared to the droves on the island.
There’s been no one to hunt the herds of Ethgalin for hundreds of years, Khollo pointed out. It’s no wonder they’ve nearly taken over the island.
Hmm. Kanin chomped on a leg bone contentedly. This . . . Relam you and Janis mentioned. Who is he?
He’s the king, Khollo explained. He rules the entire Sthan Kingdom. He inherited it from his father, King Orram, who died shortly before I rescued you.
Is he like the foolish kings in Ezraan’s story about the first Keepers? Kanin asked curiously.
I don’t think so, but I’ve never met him, Khollo replied, shrugging. He’s roughly my age, maybe two or three years older.
Is he someone we can trust? Or will he try to control us?
That comment brought Khollo up short. He really didn’t know the answer, and the question hadn’t occurred to him. I don’t know, Khollo admitted. If he does, we’ll just leave him to his little war and go back to Ethgalin.
But we need more humans to rebuild the Order, Kanin pointed out.
Yes, well, it’s a large land, as you said, and the king can’t oversee every inch of it, Khollo reassured his friend. We’ll be able to sneak back and recruit Keepers when we need to. But I don’t think it will come to that. From what Leon’s contacts have told us, King Relam is smarter than his father, more aware of the order of things and what is happening in the world. Based on that, I think he will not trouble us.
Good, Kanin said, returning to his meal. I will not be ruled.
Kanin continued eating in silence and Khollo watched the sun begin to set in the west. It was almost as beautiful as the sunrises he had watched with Janis, but different somehow. There was something mournful about the light fading, as opposed to the renewed hope that the dawn brought. But there was also a promise in the sunset, a promise that the dawn would come.
We should be getting back, Kanin said, stretching his wings. I do not want to surprise your friends in the dark.
Good thinking, Khollo agreed, standing up and brushing shredded grass from his clothes. We’ll get some quality rest tonight, and tomorrow, if the vertaga have not yet arrived. You’ve earned a break, Kanin, flying this bag of bones all over the world for the last few days.
You’re welcome, Kanin replied, spreading his wings. Rest would be nice. Even dragons get tired eventually.
The flight back to the West Bank was short, but night had nearly fallen by the time they returned. The soldiers on the walls shouted warnings to each other and readied their weapons when Kanin approached, but no shots were fired. Kanin landed in the courtyard, looking around uncertainly.
This is not a good place for a dragon to rest, he observed, trying not to knock anybody over with his tail.
We’ll find a place to sleep, never fear, Khollo promised. It won’t be the hold, but it will be something.
Hmph. Kanin lowered his body to the ground. I will wait here. Go and find out what the plan is, talk with your friends.
I’ll be back, Khollo promised. He looked around the courtyard curiously. Soldiers and villagers were everywhere, hurrying to positions on the walls or retreating to the underground chambers that housed most of the population since the expansion. To the right, the smithy was awash with light and Khollo clearly heard the ring of hammers on metal and several voices arguing. Curious, Khollo made his way to the wide entrance to see what the commotion was about.
Inside the smithy Khollo found the three smiths, but they were not the ones at work. They were sitting around a low table, grinning hugely as they watched the building’s other two occupants. Sermas and Hern were standing over a workbench, facing away from the entrance, arguing over some contraption in front of them.
“No,” Sermas was saying impatiently. “It needs to attach here, otherwise the strength of the piece is compromised by the imbalance.”
“But if we put it here, then it will provide greater leverage,” Hern countered. “And vertaga are heavy, we’ll need all the leverage we can get.”
“But this design would put immeasurable strain on the support system,” Sermas argued.
“The support system is made of stone, blockhead, it doesn’t care how much strain we put on it!” Hern replied vehemently, waving a hammer.
“Having trouble?” Khollo asked innocently, sidling up to join them.
Hern and Sermas exchanged a glance, then as one flipped over the sheet of parchment they had been arguing over and covered a small metal contraption with a length of canvas.
“No,
