“Because they are as terrified as you if they do not. It is not actually necessary and is frankly a nuisance.”
He laughed despite himself. If that wasn’t a believable answer, nothing was. He first relaxed his legs and found himself secure there despite the wind tearing at him. He tried to lift his butt but learned he was unable, as if strapped into an invisible saddle. He finally took a deep breath as she turned for pursuit, and he relaxed his grip bit by bit. By the time they were soaring away, he had almost let go but remained leaning forward to shield himself from the wind.
Jolian was bigger and more powerful than Sebast, whom he had last ridden. She was also larger than her wounded brother. As they flew, it felt like they would inevitably gain on the blue dragon. It was just a matter of time, which was wasting. But what would they do? He had no real say in this, he knew, but would Jolian attack her own family? Nothing could answer that, and he realized worrying about it was senseless. He could better use his time to assess what had happened.
Novir was a traitor. Had the Orb of Dominion compromised him? It seemed plausible. But then why had he taken part in the summoning of the Ellorian Champions? If he wasn’t enthralled, then he was doing this for another reason. Was he in league with the Lords of Fear? Or the one who had the master orb? Was that why he was not enthralled? It wouldn’t be necessary if the orb had already gotten him.
But what of Brazin? The dragon said that he had done as commanded. Who had ordered him? It seemed unlikely that he gave a damn what Novir said. That coward giving orders to a majestic dragon seemed implausible. Had Brazin come under the orb’s spell? Eric didn’t know how that could have happened and cursed his ignorance. Everything he knew had come from Novir and the wizard.
Could they trust Derin? How much of what they’d been told had been a lie? He wondered if the Orbs of Dominion even existed, or worked as described. Was there even a king enthralled, not to mention a dwarven queen? Maybe there wasn’t, and this was why the summoning happened out of sight. What about these Lords of Fear? How could he and the others prepare for a fight against an enemy they have only heard of and when they aren’t even sure about the identities or capabilities? He couldn’t remember how much of that information had come from Novir, or who said what, but no one in the room had contradicted anything. The only person he trusted right now, aside from his friends, was Jolian.
He remembered the spell Soliander had cast on Matt to read his mind. It was horribly invasive, beyond unethical, but it seemed almost like a good idea. A single lie could get them all killed. How else could they know who they could trust? Supposedly the Quest Rings had an oracle-like quality that validated some of a quest before bringing them, but how much did it really know? And there was no way to know how well was it working. After all, the rings weren’t bringing the real champions, just them, by mistake. What else were they wrong about?
Eric had never been the trusting type. That was Ryan, maybe even Matt, for different reasons. Ryan wanted to believe the best of others as his faith in God guided him. But Matt was just a little naïve and didn’t see bullshit coming.
Eric had neither. Juvenile delinquency, some time on the streets, and a few poor foster parents had given him street smarts. He needed to rely on them more now. He had gone soft, his last foster parents being good to him, his dark past behind him, a steady job and brighter future ahead. He hadn’t needed his suspicion or calculating mindset in years. But now it was crucial, and he vowed to ask far more questions from now on. Never mind if someone felt offended by an improper question. He imagined Anna frowning at him. He would have a talk with all of them about it. No one was supposed to admire or like Andier of Roir anyway, and Eric would take being feared and alive over being liked but dead any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
And the first person he would try out his new probing mindset on was Novir once he caught up to the little shit.
They hadn’t thought to ask when the dragons had come into the situation. Where had the orb been then? Was it long gone before the dragons arrived? How could only one of them have been taken over by it? He sighed in frustration. Maybe the dragon had been compromised some other way. The only way to know was to capture both of them.
Jolian was gaining ground with every mile, the plains beyond the mountains visible in the distance. Novir frequently looked back, Brazin less so. Eric smiled. They had to know it was inevitable. Then he realized his disadvantage. Neither of their quarry would think twice about hurting Jolian, who likely didn’t want to hurt her brother if she could avoid it. And Brazin had some magic, more than Jolian. Maybe Matt should have been here instead of him. Too late now.
Not sure if she would hear him, he yelled, “Do you have a plan?”
“I know my brother.”
“Are you sure?”
“We used to play this game as children. He will not triumph. I know better than to teach even family all of my tricks.”
He had to take her word for that. Suddenly there was no more time to worry about it. With only fifty yards separating them now, Brazin dove. Jolian continued forward instead of following, banking sharply just as her brother rolled sideways onto his back, already spewing shards
