Without looking, Asher grabbed the blanket he had discarded and bundled it up. The dragon leapt forward in a failed attempt to fly and landed in the midst of the soft pile. He scooped the whole thing up and brought her into his chest. From end to end, she was nearly as long as his arm. More than anything, he knew he needed to keep her safe.
Movement in the corner of his eye set his heart racing. Upon realising it was none other than Adan’Karth, an extra moment was required to calm down. He trusted the Drake implicitly.
Adan approached with slow and steady steps, his form slightly hunched to make himself smaller. His eyes, not dissimilar to hers, examined every inch of the dragon with a wonder usually seen only in children.
“Exquisite,” he whispered in elvish.
Asher quite agreed, though he did not voice it. Instead, he listened. A contented smile, rarely seen on the ranger, consumed his expression. He looked at Adan.
“I know her name.”
10
Together Again
Gideon Thorn was lost to his own thoughts. He barely registered Vighon’s account to The Rebellion’s council. He knew what he had seen, out there on the vale, but he couldn’t straighten it out in his mind. If he was right, it would change everything.
You saw it too, Ilargo said into his mind.
Yes. Could it be possible?
It would require a degree of influence I do not possess. But I am not Malliath.
Finally, he was brought back to the present by a familiar sound: the hearty laugh of a dwarf. Indeed, Doran’s laugh carried all the elation, relief and, indeed, disbelief of those camped far from Namdhor. And it was music to Gideon’s ears. Even in their ethereal form, he was most pleased to see the son of Dorain, Faylen Haldör, and, his oldest friend, Galanör seated around the table. Ruban Dardaris also joined them, though Gideon couldn’t claim to know the knight very well. Still, they were all friends and allies, both of which were hard to hold on to in such dark times.
“I can’ believe what I’m seein’!” Doran cheered after Vighon’s recounting. “I was this close to marchin’ on The Moonlit Plains!” he added, pinching his finger and thumb together. “I’d say Grarfath’s adopted all o’ ye!”
“We dared not hope,” Faylen commented quietly, glancing at Galanör.
“The Rebellion would have lost too much to ever recover,” the elven ranger remarked. “I am thankful for your timely arrival,” he said, looking from Inara to Gideon. “And it is good to see you again,” he expressed sincerely.
“And you,” Gideon replied with a warm smile. “It is good to see all of you again,” he said a little louder, addressing the table. “Forgive my absence in your time of great need. Had I been able, I would have returned sooner.”
There were some around the table who looked to Inara for some answers then, but she was still held in grief by the news of her grandmother. Gideon himself had felt a pang in his heart upon hearing of Adilandra’s demise. His memories of her, fighting the Darkakin, were still so vivid in his mind. Whether Inara had or not, the old master also considered the ramifications for Reyna and Nathaniel. The responsibility that now lay on their shoulders was beyond immense. He felt for them all.
“Perhaps, Gideon,” Vighon began, “you could inform us of your time in Erador?”
Gideon knew the best place to start was always the beginning, but there was so much to explain and so little time to act. Still, The Rebellion needed to make informed choices if they were to do what had to be done. But first there was one thing the old master would know.
“On Qamnaran,” he said, glancing between ethereal images, “did Alijah complete his spell, inside the tower?”
“How do you know of that?” Faylen asked.
“The tower fell into The Hox,” Doran replied unhelpfully, waving the whole event away.
“We believe he did,” Galanör answered. “I was with him when the spell reached its end. What do you know of it, Gideon?”
“If Alijah succeeded on Qamnaran then he has already accomplished half of his plan. It also means we don’t have much time.”
“Until what?” Reyna enquired gravely.
Gideon took a breath and started at the beginning.
A stunned and palpable silence had settled over the throne room. Whether they were ethereal or flesh and blood, every member of the council looked around the table at each other. Only Inara remained indifferent, her mind elsewhere.
Gideon gave them all some time to absorb the revelations of his tale, consequential as they were. The old master looked over each of them, wondering who would be the first to speak and which particular part they would focus on. He had covered a lot.
“Asher’s got a dragon?” Doran muttered.
“He’s going to destroy magic?” Reyna mulled at the same time.
Kassian turned to Inara. “You crossed to another world?”
Galanör said nothing. Instead, he inspected his closed fist questioning, no doubt, whether his magic was shielded from the death of the tree.
Nathaniel was the first to actually address Gideon. “Is that what’s happening to Asher right now?”
Gideon smiled. “I believe his dragon’s arrival is imminent.”
The old knight drew in on himself, his thoughts his own, though Gideon could imagine the surprise of it all. Was the need not so great, Gideon knew he would be hovering outside Asher’s chamber right now.
For the first time since seeing her again, Faylen wore an expression of satisfaction and contentment. “I am glad for him,” she announced softly.
“And I thought he couldn’t get any more dangerous,” Vighon remarked.
Kassian was shaking his head as his hands lifted from the table. “I’m sorry,” he began. “It’s great that the ranger has himself a dragon and I’m pleased you found so many eggs. But shouldn’t we focus on the part where our
