Khollo stood back and Kanin moved forward, grabbing the vertag’s leg in his jaws. Then, with a convulsive movement of his thick neck, Kanin slung the vertag off the edge of the cliff. Khollo heard a series of sickening thuds as it bounced off boulders on the mountainside.
Satisfied? Kanin asked.
Khollo shuddered. Not really, but let’s get moving.
They took off again and began searching for a new place to spend the night, flying from peak to peak, avoiding those with obvious, comfortable caves. Finally, they found an inaccessible, inhospitable plateau bordered by a sheer drop on three sides. There was no shelter from the wind, but it would have to do since night was falling.
Kanin settled down on the flat ground, sighing heavily. No warm rock, he grumbled, spreading a wing in a cave-like shelter for Khollo.
The young warrior huddled against the dragon’s flank, thankful for the extra warmth. They were high in the mountains and as the night deepened the temperature would drop to uncomfortable levels.
Tomorrow we find Dun Carryl, Kanin mused. I think the vertaga we slew today are a sure sign that we are close.
Perhaps, Khollo agreed. You think those three were an outpost garrison?
More like lookouts, I would imagine. I did not explore the caves and could not see the inside very well, but there was not much in the one I flamed. It may have been only a temporary camp.
Khollo shrugged. Hardly matters now, seeing as there’s nothing left of it.
The two Keepers lapsed into silence, and eventually Khollo managed to fall asleep. His dreams were haunted by vertaga soldiers in various scenes of combat. Clubs, swords, and axes whirled and smashed, battering down smaller opponents. Occasionally, a vertag would leer at Khollo, but none ever attacked him.
Then the image changed and the vertaga were armed with bows, aiming up at him. As their bowstrings released with a dissonant twang, Khollo woke, breathing heavily.
Good morning, Kanin said sleepily, folding his wings across his back. Did you sleep well?
Not really. Khollo sat up and looked around, rubbing at his eyes.
Today we find the enemy stronghold, Kanin said, getting to his feet. I wonder what it will be like?
No time like the present to find out, Khollo replied, climbing onto Kanin’s back.
Already? You do not want breakfast first?
Not hungry, Khollo replied with a shrug. Besides, hanging around here is getting to me.
Kanin spread his wings. Very well. We fly, then.
The dragon lifted off from the plateau and turned towards the largest peak once more. Khollo closed his eyes, letting the brisk wind drive the last vestiges of drowsiness away and distract him from his troubling dreams. When he opened his eyes again, they were flying over a highland pass between two mountains. The land rose below them, then began to fall away again as they passed the apex of the pass. Khollo was suddenly reminded of their flights on Ethgalin, of the narrow, wooded passes and the stone watchtowers.
Once they were through the pass, the largest mountain was the only thing that stood before them. The highest parts of the peak were bare gray stone, grim and foreboding. Lower down were pine forests, and then a great gray heathland that spread out for miles around before rising up the slopes of other mountains.
Look, Kanin said quietly, intruding on Khollo’s thoughts. Straight ahead, near the base of the mountain.
Khollo looked and his heart caught in his throat. Directly ahead, two long ridges broke the uniform heathland, running parallel to their current course. The result was a V-shaped canyon disappearing back towards the mountain.
That’s our path, Khollo said quickly. I know it.
Kanin beat his wings faster, barreling towards the opening. As they drew closer, Khollo saw that the cliffs grew higher and higher the further the canyon went. In the distance he could see a long lake, largely hidden in shadow.
This is the place.
It matches your vision?
Yes. Now, let’s go before –
A horn shattered the morning air.
We’re spotted, Khollo finished, grimacing.
Maybe not, Kanin said. Look ahead, near the lake.
Khollo squinted, trying to make out what Kanin had spotted. Your eyes are better, I can’t see a thing with all the shadows in the canyon.
A group of vertaga just reached the near end of the lake, headed for the rear of the canyon, Kanin reported. Many are wounded.
The remnants of the Ishkabur force?
Maybe, Kanin agreed. The dragon glided farther along the canyon, still peering down. They are going around the lake, making for a huge door in the mountain. The door is not very defensible. It is flush with the mountain face, with no walls jutting out to either side like at your West Bank.
Still, a force of crossbowmen could do some serious damage before the gate was breached. Does the gate look strong?
It is made of stone, Kanin replied, sounding surprised. It opens now, but I cannot see into the mountain. He paused. There is very little to see in the canyon at all, really.
Then let’s get back to the army, Khollo said. We know what we wanted to know. This is a vertaga stronghold. Dun Carryl does exist.
Kanin climbed higher into the sky, wheeling back to the West. Khollo looked back at the canyon, listening for cries of alarm but he doubted they would be noticed now. The lake was a dull speck from this height, the wide canyon around the lake a narrow chasm that dwindled to a jagged black line where it emerged onto the heathland.
Dun Carryl will be difficult to take, Kanin said after they had left the vertaga stronghold far behind. A small force could hold the pass or the gate indefinitely.
The gate they could certainly hold, but we may be able to do something about the pass, Khollo mused.
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