Draka

After napping away the rest of the afternoon into the early night I headed to the lake. It had only been a few days since Herald’s message, but it had been almost a week since I met my friends, Herald had said ‘two days at most’, and I was getting antsy. And since Herald had promised to come hunt with me, I didn’t really feel like doing it on my own. In the darkness I didn't have to be very careful while flying, so I made good time.

To my disappointment there was still nothing waiting for me at the tree. I hadn't expected anything so soon, but I had hoped, and after our trip north I had gotten used to having my friends around. I was getting lonely, plain and simple, and it hit my mood harder than I expected. Not enough for my dragon to do anything about it, but enough that I didn't have it in me to go back home or do anything else. Instead I curled up in a familiar tree, and went back to sleep, waiting and hoping for the morning.

I was woken by the sound of hooves. It was mid-morning, by the sun, so I'd slept quite a few hours. When I looked down through the leaves I saw a familiar, if not entirely welcome, figure. Lalia, of all people, was pinning something to the tree.

Sure, we’d done well together against that bear, but I hadn’t forgotten how generally shitty she’d been to me before that. I didn’t exactly want to talk to her, but I couldn't just let her leave. Maybe she was carrying another message from the sisters, or maybe Rallon wanted something? No matter how funny the scouts had looked at me after last time I'd still made bank and so had they, and I'd definitely want to listen if the Wolves had a proposal. And sure, I could just wait until she cleared out and read the message, but what if she knew more and I had questions?

And I was lonely, damnit.

Making sure that Lalia was alone I slunk down from the tree and snuck through the ferns until I was close enough.

"Psst!" I tried to say, but it came out as more of a hiss. It startled Lalia though, which would never cease to be funny. "Lalia!" I said as she turned toward the sound. "Here, in the ferns."

I stuck my head up to let her see me.

Lalia looked around, then approached, leaving her gelding Windfall by the tree.

“Mercies,” she said in a low voice, seeing that I had to look down on her from my seat on the ground. “Were you always this big?

“I’m a growing girl,” I told her. It was no surprise to me, especially with what I’d recently realised. It was quite enjoyable to see how she fidgeted under my gaze, but I was the one who wanted something from her. I folded my arms and lay down, putting myself lower than her. A peace offering.

A significant tension left Lalia. “Make it quick," she said. "My squad is waiting for me."

“What, no small talk? We haven’t talked for weeks. Don’t want to catch up? What happened up on the mountain?”

She shrugged. “It was nice and quiet. We spent the night playing cards and telling stories, mostly. Oh, and I think two of my soldiers snuck off to screw behind a rock. That’s about it. I heard you all had a hell of a time down in the forest.”

“That’s one way to describe it. But we’re all alive and they’re mostly not, and we got the prisoners out, so… yeah.”

“Caught up enough? I really do have to get back to my squad.”

"I guess. What's the message?" I asked. "From Rallon?"

She shook her head with a frown. "From Mak. I got it by messenger this morning, with a note asking me to leave it here as soon as I could. I wish she'd come to me herself. I haven't seen either of the girls for a few days now, which is unusual. Getting a little worried, to be honest. Tell Mak to get in touch with me when you see her, will you?"

Lalia must have been really worried to ask me for anything. "Sure," I told her. "I'll let her know. Did you read the note?"

"Yeah, and I don't like it. She says she'll be here every night after sundown until she's seen you. Sounds important."

'And I'm mad that she didn't come to me first' went unsaid. But I agreed with Lalia. I didn't like it either.

"I need to get back to my squad," she said, then hesitated. "I'm on this patrol again tomorrow. If you see Mak tonight… any chance you could meet me, same time tomorrow morning?"

She must be really, really worried, I thought. Out loud I said, "I'll be here if I can."

"Thanks." She mounted Windfall. Then, as she was about to leave, she turned and said, "Lahnnie's been talking about you. Not anything –" she gestured to me "– incriminating, but I guess you made a real impression. I, uh… I told her that I met you. That you told me about her. She liked that."

I smiled at her. One of my nice, practised smiles, without so many teeth. "In that case, tell her I said 'Hi'."

"I will," she said, returning my smile with the barest hint of her own, and rode off.

Lalia was one of the people I absolutely did not want to show weakness in front of, and so I had forbidden myself from freaking out until she left. But this was definitely a freakout-worthy situation.

I read and re-read the note. It was short and to the point. Mak wanted to meet me. No mention of Herald, but Mak would be here after sundown every day, starting the day the note was posted. That probably meant going here every day and back every night or even morning, which would take up most of her waking time, which also meant that she wasn’t spending time with or looking after Herald. And Lalia hadn’t met either Herald or Mak for a few days.

This was clearly important. Something was wrong. Something that Mak couldn’t go to Lalia about. That should have made me suspicious, but I'd been getting along with Mak last time we parted.

Part of me wanted to go to Karakan immediately to find her, but common sense prevailed. No, I would have to make sure that I was here and ready when Mak arrived. That meant making sure that my mind was sharp and my body rested, and the best place for that was my nest.

I sped back to the cave, keeping low over the densest parts of the forest to minimise the risk of being seen. The bestiary that Herald had given me said that wyverns were most active during the day and that was when they’d approached the scholars’ camp, so I assumed that few hunters would be out at night, when I did most of my flying. Since I didn’t hear any cries of alarm or notice any spears or arrows flying at me, I figured that I’d gotten away with it.

“You worry about the humans,” my dragon said as I reached the cave and began my descent. “This Makanna, the sister of the Herald, she is an annoyance. Why do you concern yourself so much with her?”

Can’t you see that in my thoughts? She is important to Herald, I said. If something happens to her, it would hurt Herald. And I think Mak is beginning to trust me, at least a little. But that is not the issue here.

“Then what is?”

I don’t think she would come to me if she herself had a problem. You heard Lalia. She hasn’t heard from either of them for days. And now Mak sent a message instead of meeting Lalia herself. Something is wrong. I think they may all be in trouble.

“You think the Herald is at risk?”

I hope not. But, yes.

For all my worries I still slept soundly, lulled to sleep by my hoard. My dragon woke me, saying that it was time, and before my mind started churning again I wondered idly how she knew. She was right, of course. When I reached the mouth of the cave the shadows of the mountains were just beginning to stretch across the forest. It was not long until sunset.

I didn’t have any food lying around, but there was no time to hunt. I had a quick drink, but that delayed me by five minutes at most. Hydration is important, no matter your species. When I arrived at the lake I landed as close as I dared. Night had fallen, and I made my way through the woods straight to the lone tree.

Mak was waiting for me, holding a lantern.

That definitely should have made me suspicious. Mak had no need for a light source, not underground and certainly not outside, under a clear sky with the moon and stars to give her all the light her magically enhanced eyes could possibly want. But I was too worried, and when I saw Mak’s harrowed face I didn’t think straight. I barely looked to see that we were alone before bursting out of the trees.

“Mak!” I said. She jumped and turned as I broke out of the undergrowth, and barely calmed when she saw me. “I met Lalia. She gave me your message. What’s happening?” I babbled “What’s the problem? Lalia is so worried about you, she says she hasn’t seen you for ages. Where’s Herald? Is she alright?”

“Oh, Mercies be blessed,” Mak said. Her voice sounded… broken, somehow. Rough and almost hopeless. Dread gathered in my gut as she continued, “I was afraid you wouldn’t see the message today. That I wouldn’t see you tonight. That I’d have to…” She swallowed. “I’m glad you’re here now.” She fidgeted with the lantern, and I noticed that she wasn’t holding it very firmly. Like her fingers didn’t work properly.

“Mak,” I said. “What’s going on? Tell me. Please.”

“It’s… It’s Herald,” she said, and her voice broke, tears spilling down her face. “I need your help. Please.”

The dread in my stomach crystalised into a jagged lump.

“What’s wrong with Herald?” I asked, feeling faint for a second. “Is she hurt?”

Mak bit back a sob. “Come. Please. I’ll show you. Over here, come!” She turned and began to walk back towards the campground, twisting to make sure I followed. I did, of course. Without a moment of suspicion, running on pure fear for my friend, I followed Mak. She skirted the campground, keeping close to the trees until we reached a narrow path, barely more than an animal trail.

“Here,” Mak said urgently. “In here. Follow me.”

I did.

Only a few dozen yards into the trees Mak stopped. She turned to me, looked at me with tears streaming from her eyes, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

I understood that something was wrong when there was a rustle of leaves above me, and then the world went white. My ears rang, and my mind was a blank of pain and confusion. I dimly felt the ground beneath my chin. I must have fallen, I realised. Odd. I never tripped anymore. I tried to stand, but my legs didn’t move like they were supposed to, like they were stuck in something, or stuck together. Pushing with my arms worked better, and I looked around, trying to make sense of what was happening.

“It’s still awake,” someone murmured as I felt a sharp sting under my right wing.

This time I had a chance to see the man in front of me, as he wound up and smashed his hammer into my head. The world went white again.

“... hope you didn’t kill it,” a voice said some time later, when my hearing came back. “Boss’ll be real pissed if you killed it.”

The world was bouncing. I forced one eye open and the ground was passing beneath me. I’m being carried, I thought. Mak walked next to me, her face blank, her eyes empty.

The world faded out again.

I woke to cold, salty water splashing over me. I tried to gasp, but my mouth wouldn't open and there was something pressing into my scales all around my face. I reluctantly opened my eyes – my head was just a mass of pain – and as my eyes slowly focused I saw a cage of iron around my mouth.

Even moving my head made me want to hurl, but my mouth was shut tight. Confusion sloshed around my brain for a little while before I understood. I'd been muzzled.

Sheer outrage woke me up another fraction before a woman's voice said, "Again," and another load of cold, salty water splashed over me. I struggled to rise, but all my limbs were tightly pinned to my body. I turned my head to look and saw a mass of chains binding me tightly.

"Hello, Draka," the same voice said. It was warm and smooth and full of promises. "I'm so glad that you've joined us."

I slowly turned my head towards the voice, fighting the nausea, and saw a small group of people in front of me. Metal bars separated us. A woman crouched in front of me, her hands resting lightly on the bars, and she smiled with delight as warm light flickered across her face from a lantern in the hand of the man next to her. She smelled of musk and jasmine, and even as her prisoner there was something about her that made a part of me grateful that she’d noticed me. She was the only one of them that didn’t smell like prey. I hated her instantly.

"I would love to talk to you, you know?" she said. "Our mutual friend in the other cell has told me so much about you." She sighed. "But I can't have you killing any more of my men, so until I'm sure that you can be trusted, this. Stays. On." She reached out and punctuated each word with a tap on my muzzle.

I drew my head back indignantly, straining futilely against the chains. She laughed, a delighted, musical sound.

"I have to go now, unfortunately," she said and rose smoothly. "I'm a busy woman. But don't worry. I'll be back soon. One of my men will explain the situation to you later, so that you understand why you being a nice, friendly little lizard is best for everyone involved."

I practically shook with barely contained rage, and my mouth was filled with the bitter taste of venom. This woman was going to die.

She looked down at me. "Oh, don't be like that,” she said dismissively. “It'll all be fine, you'll see. Now," she turned to one of the men, "Vic, you keep an eye on our guests. I’ll be gone for a few hours, and I don't expect any trouble from anyone. That includes you," she said, poking the man in the chest. "No more kicking the woman! I don't care if she annoys you. Some crying is normal, and you'll just have to bear it. Understood?"

The hulking man hung his head in shame, like a boy being scolded. "Sorry, boss," he mumbled. "I won't."

"Throw some water on her if you absolutely must do something, or bring down the other one and break one of her fingers or something. That usually shuts her up. But if you damage her, I'll be taking the cost of the potion out of you."

"I know, boss. I won't."

"Good. The rest of you, with me."

The woman swept out of the room with the men, except for Vic, following her. A lantern in the ceiling cast a weak light though the prison, but not nearly enough. They left me in the dark.

As a still somewhat human woman I was equal parts impressed and offended at how adoringly the men looked at her, and how meekly they followed her. I wondered idly if she was sleeping with any or all of them, or if it was just the implied possibility that had them acting the way they did. I'd never been one to slut shame, but from what I'd just seen it didn't seem unreasonable. Not that there had been anything overtly sexual about anything she’d done, or said… or how she dressed… Honestly she was just an elegant, charismatic woman who had a bunch of men wrapped around her fingers, but I wasn't exactly feeling charitable.

In the shadows, my draconic side wondered just how stupid she was, and how much of her entrails I could eat before she died.