The dragon did not reply, and would not look at Khollo, turning away from him.
Kanin, talk to me.
Kanin did not look back at Khollo. I am fine, he replied, his voice a mere whisper in Khollo’s head. It was only a dream, after all. I am sorry that I woke you.
Don’t worry about it, Khollo said absently, looking around the silent, dark fortress. It doesn’t look like anyone else noticed what was happening.
Good. Kanin still would not look at Khollo, focusing instead on some point above the main gate of the fortress. Finally, Khollo stood and walked around so that Kanin was facing him once more, but still not looking at him.
What were you dreaming about? Khollo asked, resting a hand on the side of Kanin’s jaw.
Nothing, Kanin said quickly. Too quickly, to Khollo’s ears. Something had rattled the dragon.
Tell me, Kanin. Let me help.
Kanin lowered his gaze to look into Khollo’s eyes. It was only a dream, he said again, sounding less convinced this time. You are the one who has visions.
Khollo sucked in a breath, questions leaping to the front of his mind. But he held them for the moment, waiting for Kanin to continue. When the dragon did not, Khollo decided he would have to press the matter.
What did you see, Kanin?
Kanin rustled his wings in annoyance. I saw . . . but it is not possible. I would never . . . there is no way that . . . The dragon shuddered from his tail all the way to his head. I would never fail you! he cried, distressed.
I know, Kanin, I know, Khollo said soothingly. But what did you see?
You were falling, Kanin replied finally. Falling from a great height. And I was trying to catch up to you, to rescue you. But no matter how fast I flew, I could not reach you. Then pain, everywhere, those horrible weapons called arrows biting into my belly, tearing my wings. There were clouds of smoke below us, I could not see anything but you. Then you fell through the smoke and you were gone.
Khollo was not sure how to reply to this. It was only a dream, he said again. Do not let it trouble you.
But don’t you see? What if it was more? Kanin cried, whipping his tail back and forth. What if I will fail you, sometime soon? We are Keepers, you and I. You have visions in dreams why should the same not be true of me?
My dreams show the present, usually, Khollo replied. The present is as it is. The future is . . . well, the future. Undetermined. Unpredictable. Changeable.
Are you sure? Kanin asked worriedly. What if I have seen our destiny?
Khollo bit his lip worriedly. Then we had best make the most of what time there is between now and my fall, he said. But I am telling you, that won’t happen. You’ve never let me down, Kanin, and you’re not about to start now.
Maybe you should not fly any more for the present, just in case, Kanin suggested. Maybe we should fight separately during the coming battle.
No! Khollo said forcefully. We are a team. We are one. We fight together.
But my dream –
Is only a dream. I will not fall, and you will not let me fall, Khollo said as confidently as he could. He paused, not wanting to voice the thought that had just come to him, but his curiosity was too great. Did you have any other dreams? Were there other things in this vision?
Kanin shook his great head. No, he whispered sadly. Just the fall.
Khollo nodded. Try and get some sleep, Kanin, he urged. I’ll keep watch over you.
The dragon sighed and lay down again. I will not fail, he promised, one more time. Then, Kanin slept again. Khollo sat beside the dragon, but sleep would not come to him. He was too busy worrying about what Kanin had seen, and wondering if it could really be their destiny.
Chapter 42
When the watch changed at dawn and the guards stood to on the walls, Kanin was still sleeping soundly. Khollo, on the other hand, had not slept since Kanin had woken him with his thrashing. The young warrior was drained of energy from his mental and emotional struggles during the night. But now that the sun was up, he forced himself to do something useful, maybe go exploring, or examine the defenses. Or help Janis draw up a strategy for deployment. But first, breakfast.
Khollo made his way to the keep and followed the familiar path to the kitchens. There, he found a bustling hub of activity with dozens of cooks and assistants scurrying all over with platters of food. Fresh-baked bread sat on racks along one wall, filling the kitchen with its wonderful smell. Bacon and ham were frying in skillets, and cauldrons of porridge hung over the fires to stay warm. All this Khollo registered in about three seconds, before a white clad figure embraced him fiercely.
“Young master Khollo! I’d heard you were back!” Dari cried, pinning him to her. “Oh, what a joyous day this is. We were all so worried when Sermas and Hern came back saying you’d been taken!”
“A misunderstanding is all,” Khollo promised the gray-haired cook, smiling. “Kanin and I have gotten everything sorted out. There’s a place he took me to . . .” Khollo trailed off, not wanting to reveal too much. “A beautiful island,” he said finally. “Where dragons and humans used to live together.”
“I hardly believed it when those two rascals brought back tales of a dragon,” Dari muttered, stepping back. “But I saw your dragon yesterday. Beautiful creature with those emerald scales. Wonder what he eats?”
“Not people,” Khollo assured her, still grinning. “Deer, steers, some other herd animals.”
