She stopped before him in an aggressive yet alluring stance that made the word “vixen” pop into his mind. “Fear not, Dragon Slayer,” she said in a rich alto. “We know your reputation, but we also know you only kill the ones who deserve it. And there are none such here.” She leaned over and ran a finger along his jaw, leaving a trail of heat as the scent of roasted embers filling his nostrils. “We’re not even offended by your nickname.”
Clearing his throat uncomfortably and amazed that a dragon was hitting on him, Ryan said, “I have others, like the Pride of Andor.”
“And do you feel pride, Lord Korrin?”
“To be talking to you? Absolutely.”
She smiled then, all the way to her stunning eyes, and he felt certain that, by some miracle, he had just flattered a dragon. A freakin’ dragon.
She added, “You will ride me, Pride of Andor.” Hearing Eric quietly laugh, Ryan shot him an amused yet stern look to keep his mouth shut. “One other can accompany you, as we each can take two.”
“Eriana, if it pleases you.”
The dragon looked at her and nodded. “It does.”
Denir said, “The dragons rarely involve themselves in the affairs of others on Rovell, but they recognize the threat that the orbs pose for all, including them. Three have agreed to assist us.”
The red dragon strode to the head of the table as the other two came to flank her. She rested one arm around the neck of the one in blue leather. “I am Jolian. My brother Brazin here will carry Novir. The others will ride with our green friend, Sebast. We should leave now. I am curious to see this leviathan up close and see how she compares to us.”
Eric caught Ryan’s eye and said, “We would like a moment alone to discuss our plans.”
Denir nodded. “Of course. We will step outside and prepare the saddles and what supplies you may need. Please join us when ready.”
“Thank you.”
Everyone filed out, Jolian the last to go with a last look at Ryan before closing the doors. They waited a moment for the voices to move farther away, and within a minute, the sound of enormous wings snapping in the air reached them, the ground shaking slightly from the steps of dragons.
Anna smirked at Ryan. “I think she likes you.”
He tried to put her on the defensive instead of himself. “Jealous?”
She chuckled. “I can’t compete with that.”
They all laughed a moment before turning serious, with Eric, as usual, being the one to get down to business.
“Anna,” he said, coming over to her, “how are you doing?”
Ryan thought she looked like she didn’t want the reminder of what had happened on Earth as she pursed her lips. He shared her concern. The car had almost certainly crashed. The only question was how hurt her friends were. It might also cause another round of attention from the media, as if they needed more of that.
“Worried,” she admitted. “There’s nothing I can do. It’s already too late.”
Ryan came around to her, wanting to make her feel better. “Try to have faith. I know we’ve argued about God and all, and I’m sorry about that. You don’t need faith in Him so much. I know it takes an effort, to just trust that everything may have worked out fine, nothing but minor bruises and scrapes. We can’t know and letting our minds go to the worst possible outcomes… well, it won’t help us all get back to find out the good news that everyone is fine.”
She smiled, putting a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Ryan. You’re right. I need to focus on our own problems right now.”
“Yeah. Just, if you need anything about all of this, we’re all here. You’d do the same, helping us if it had been us instead of you, so don’t think you’re being a burden or something. We’re all family now.”
“Yes,” said Eric, “just physically protecting each other isn’t enough. There’s a lot more going on with all of us. Fear, uncertainty, not knowing what the hell we’re doing.”
“I hear you.”
Eric turned to the table and gestured for them to come over. “Memorize the map in case we get separated. Keep your own money bag, too.”
They studied the map, noting roads and the compass direction, anything that might be useful should they be on their own to find their way back to the Quest Ring. The importance of not becoming lost or separated hung in the air.
To the east loomed the Galla Mountains that they had seen outside, the dwarven Kingdom of Hamarven toward its southern end and directly east of their position. Most of the Minari Kingdom lay west, but they’d never see it. To the northeast, past the Artem Woods, more of the mountains awaited with the town of Valegis nestled between the peaks. And nearly due west from there, outside the peaks on a plain, lay their ultimate destination of Ortham just over the border with Gisla Kingdom. If they got lost, it looked like all they had to do was walk south, parallel to the mountains. They had three options for that. Walking along the foothills risked attack from anything in them. Walking through Artem Woods to the west of the peaks offered the same. But still further west, miles from the trees, lay a road all the way from Ortham down to Castle Arking and the Quest Ring. As long as the mountains were on their left, they were heading south when coming back.
With the map memorized, Eric asked Matt, “Are you certain you can cast this Mind Shield spell?”
“Yeah, it doesn’t look hard. Getting
