“Where were the vertaga last sighted?” Khollo asked, glancing down at the map of the Renlor Basin that covered most of the table.
Leon stirred and blinked slowly. “Two days ago, they were four days south of here.”
“Directly south? I would have thought Kanin and I would have crossed their path,” Khollo muttered, chewing his lip thoughtfully.
“Could you have flown past them in the night?”
“We didn’t fly at night for that part of the trip.”
“Well, that’s disturbing,” Janis observed, taking his seat at the table as well.
“They could have changed course to skirt some of the ruined villages between here and there,” Leon suggested. “They may have thought we were more likely to have observers among the ruins than on the open plains.”
“Possibly,” Janis agreed. “It still bothers me that Khollo and Kanin didn’t see them though.”
“Me too,” Khollo muttered. “What is our best estimate for the day of the attack?”
“Two more days,” Leon replied, tapping a long finger on the table thoughtfully. “But I wouldn’t be surprised to see an advance party sooner than that.”
“Or more of those lutags,” Janis grunted.
“Lutags?” The term was unfamiliar to Khollo.
“That’s what we’re calling their steeds,” Kanin explained. “They’re the ones that are mostly responsible for the destruction of our force of scouts. The lutags have an incredible sense of smell and oftentimes our men find themselves exposed and surrounded in a matter of seconds.”
Khollo swore quietly. “Well, Kanin and I will kill as many of those off as we can when they get here.”
“Kanin?” Leon asked quietly.
“My dragon,” Khollo replied, grinning. “He’ll love roasting those lutags.”
“A . . . dragon?” Leon asked uncertainly.
“Were you not in the courtyard yesterday with everybody else?” Janis asked.
“No, I was resting.”
“Ah, well, Khollo has a dragon.”
“A dragon called Kanin?”
“Yes.”
“Wonders never cease,” the old man muttered, raking a hand through his gray hair.
Khollo pulled the map closer and frowned down at it. “The good news is, there’s nowhere else the vertaga can attack. No places they can take unawares, like the East Bank before. The only place they could go is here.”
“Or past us,” Janis murmured.
“They’d run right into Relam’s army,” Leon replied. “And his force is much larger.”
“But, not ready for battle at a moment’s notice,” Khollo observed. “Should we warn them, just to be sure?”
“How?” Janis asked.
“Kanin and I could go,” Khollo suggested.
“That could end badly,” Janis observed drily. “Our men here nearly shot you even though I kept telling them to stand down. Relam doesn’t even know you. Besides, we need you for the coming battle, which could be any day now.”
“Do we know of any villages or towns he’s marching past that we could send a rider to?”
“No,” Leon said, shaking his head. “I could send my scouts north with messages and hope one of them runs into Relam’s army, but it would take time.”
“More time than we have, likely,” Janis agreed. “I think we must rely on Relam to use good sense and be prepared for the time being. Besides, I seriously doubt the vertaga will pass up the West Bank, especially if their spies know how much larger the fortress is and how many warriors are here.”
Khollo sighed heavily. “I still don’t like it, but you’re right. Relam is on his own. Have you heard much about the new king in the past few weeks?” Khollo asked Leon curiously.
“He has survived the politics of the capital and managed to muster an army,” Leon said thoughtfully. “That in itself is impressive. And Janis tells me you saw some interesting designs on the banners accompanying our king. I do not know how, but he seems to have persuaded the nobles into obedience.”
“Perhaps they are frightened of losing their power and wealth if the war spreads too far,” Khollo suggested. “Surely the lords of Narne, Ardia, Ishkabur, and the Heights have pleaded for help and soldiers as much as we have.”
Janis nodded distractedly. “Yes, perhaps. I am most curious about the king myself. I hope he makes it here in one piece, and that we are still in good enough shape to receive him.”
Khollo felt Kanin stirring in the courtyard below and stood quickly. “Must go,” he murmured as Kanin reached out a questioning thought. “Kanin’s waking up.”
Where are you?
Keep tower, talking with Janis, on my way down, Khollo replied immediately.
Good, there are people around that look decidedly nervous about a dragon with no rider awake and moving.
Khollo swore and left the room at a run, leaving behind a confused and surprised Janis and Leon. He dashed down the spiraling staircase, bouncing off the rounded walls and nearly colliding with two soldiers who were on their way up. Finally, Khollo careened into the great hall, rebounding off of one of the long tables, and ran out through the front doors of the keep.
Kanin was waiting in the courtyard, tail flicking back and forth uneasily, head moving from side to side constantly. A few soldiers on the walls who were supposed to be watching for vertaga had turned their attention inward instead and were watching Kanin with their hands on their weapons. Khollo ran to his dragon, and embraced him, wrapping his arms around Kanin’s scaly neck.
How are you feeling? Khollo asked.
Much better, much stronger, Kanin replied happily, stretching his wings and shaking himself from head to toe. I hope the battle comes soon. I am ready to flame many vertaga.
You won’t have to wait long, Khollo assured him. Either this day or the next.
Kanin rumbled with pleasure, butting Khollo with his nose. We will fight together again, as one, like the old one taught us. A great sorrow emanated from the dragon.
I miss him too, Khollo agreed.
