The young king broke off and took a deep breath. “Well, I’m glad he’s gone.”
Khollo smiled grimly. “I think I am beginning to understand some of the difficulty you are having controlling the people around you. I can’t imagine that the nobles of Etares are any easier to deal with.”
“No, they aren’t,” Relam agreed. “And there’s more of them besides.”
Khollo nodded, shifting his weight from side to side. “Did you want to fly back now, or later?” he asked finally.
Relam started visibly, then turned to face Khollo and Kanin. “What? Oh, yes. Whenever you’re ready, Keepers.”
Khollo clambered up Kanin’s left foreleg. “Climb aboard,” he called to Relam, grinning.
The young king smiled back and approached Kanin warily. The dragon regarded him with one large green eye, then snorted gently, butting Relam with his snout.
“He likes you,” Khollo observed.
Relam grinned nervously and began climbing up to Kanin’s back. “Well, that’s a relief. It would be embarrassing to be eaten by a friendly dragon after dismissing my captain of the guard like that.”
This flight is not over yet, Kanin said to Khollo, grinning wolfishly.
Quiet. Just take us back to West Bank. Nice and easy.
That takes all the fun out of it, the dragon grumbled.
Just fly.
As you wish.
Kanin spread his wings and leapt skyward, rapidly gaining altitude. Relam gasped as the ground dropped away below them, clutching wildly for a secure handhold.
“Hang on!” Khollo warned unnecessarily. Relam panted shakily, looking back behind them. He seemed all too aware that the only thing keeping him on Kanin’s back was a tenuous grasp on Khollo and his legs gripping the dragon’s scaly hide. As they leveled out high above the ground though, Khollo felt Relam relax noticeably.
Khollo turned and grinned back at the young king. “Better?” he asked.
“Amazing,” Relam replied reverently, looking around at the clouds and down at the distant world. “Truly amazing.” He looked left and right, studying Kanin’s wings curiously, then back at his tail, sweeping through the air as Kanin adjusted course.
They flew steadily eastward, Relam exulting in every moment they were airborne. When the West Bank came into sight less than an hour later, he was very obviously disappointed.
As Kanin landed in the central courtyard, villagers and soldiers scurrying out of his way, Relam sighed and slid down from Kanin’s back reluctantly.
“Thank you, noble dragon,” he said by way of Khollo. “I never dreamed that I would get to fly, but here we are.” He bowed slightly, and to Khollo’s immense surprise, Kanin dipped his head in reply.
His majesty is welcome anytime.
Khollo passed on Kanin’s comment and Relam’s eyes shone. Then, he shook his head ruefully.
“Unfortunately, I doubt if I’ll have much time for flying in the near future. Kingly duties and all of that. And, we are at war you know.”
“I know,” Khollo agreed ruefully, sliding to the ground. “But, the offer still stands. Any time you are in need of a friend, or maybe a flight, find us.”
“Gladly,” Relam replied happily. “You’ll be at the council of war later?”
“Of course,” Khollo said immediately. “When is it?”
“First thing in the morning, in the excellent council room you have in the keep tower.”
“We’ll be there,” Khollo promised. “Well, I’ll physically be there and I’ll report everything to Kanin and give his feedback to you. There’s not a good way to cram a dragon into that room.”
“I had not thought about that,” Relam replied, scratching his head thoughtfully. “Ah well, we’ll make it work. That’s the only secure place I can think of to hold a council around here. Unless you have a better idea?” he added hopefully.
Khollo shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t. And I’ve lived here for years. Just out of curiosity, what are we discussing at the war council tomorrow?”
“The next step,” Relam said grimly. “Finding the vertaga stronghold and destroying it.”
“Do you know where to start?”
“No,” Relam growled. “My only guess is that it is somewhere deep in the Fells.”
A sneaking suspicion was growing in the back of his mind. “I think I might have an idea about that,” he said slowly.
Relam’s eyes lit up excitedly. “Really?”
Khollo nodded. “Yes, but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to hear it. I want to double check before we get too excited.”
Relam nodded slowly, then shook hands with Khollo. “Until tomorrow, then, Khollo.”
“Good luck, Relam,” Khollo replied. “If that commander keeps giving you trouble – ”
“I’ll send for you and Kanin,” the young king promised. “That ought to put him in his place pretty quickly.”
Chapter 52
The council room had never been so crowded, even during the extended councils Janis had held during the construction of the underground fortress, or for the first announcement that the vertaga were at large once more. Every chair at the long council table was filled, and dozens of men stood against the wall, clustered in small groups, muttering to each other.
I don’t like the look of this, Khollo reported to Kanin, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
Everything will be fine. Remember, you are the heir of the Keepers. These nobles, with all of their finery and fancy talk are nothing.
They are a nuisance, according to Relam. And a potentially dangerous one.
Whereas a dragon is actually dangerous, Kanin pointed out.
Khollo grinned in spite of himself, drawing curious glances from a few of his neighbors. I can’t help but think that this meeting would go a lot better with you here.
For good reason. Who wants to argue with a dragon?
Not me, Khollo said fervently. And not any of these nobles either.
At that moment, Relam stood to begin the meeting and their silent conversation was interrupted. At Janis’ insistence, the young king
