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  Dragon School: Dire Quest

  Dragon School, Volume 13

  Sarah K. L. Wilson

  Published by Sarah K. L. Wilson, 2018.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  DRAGON SCHOOL: DIRE QUEST

  First edition. June 13, 2018.

  Copyright © 2018 Sarah K. L. Wilson.

  Written by Sarah K. L. Wilson.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Behind the Scenes:

  For those who feel like there's no wisdom for them.

  Chapter One

  When I was a child I loved to wave dandelions in the air and watch the seeds fly. If the day was windy, they would be carried away, swirling through the air, soaring far beyond my sight.

  We flew – hundreds of dragons and riders – just like those dandelion seeds. We had no clear goal – no certainty of where we were flying to. We tumbled away from the terror of the Ifrits below, abandoning everything in a desperate scramble to get away. Sound, sight and every sense except the pounding of our hearts, blurring together in fear-driven mental chaos.

  One knot of dragons flying in formation would tumble into another and either a fight would break out, or occasionally, the two groups would join. Our own formation had picked up about a dozen survivors as we headed toward the rising sun. Jenanta was one of them, but the others were unknown to me – they were acquaintances of Leng or Hubric from some time in the past. At this point, I didn’t think we cared who joined us, as long as they were willing to fight with us and not against us.

  Twice, the Ifrits had caught up with us, snatching dragons from the sky and breaking them on the rocks below. Raolcan panted with the effort of flying at top speed for so long. My own hands and legs were numb from trying to hold on. Even thoughts were hard to keep straight. They skittered across my mind like a droplet of water on a hot pan, one quick fear replaced by a tight worry and then a flash of observation.

  When the sun was at its zenith, a haze appeared in the distance – like a mirage or a huge body of water.

  The Eastern Ocean.

  Raolcan was panting so much that his tongue was hanging out of his mouth. Kyrowat and Ahlskibi had fallen back to let him lead.

  They’re older than me. Get tired faster.

  We kept Rasipaer in the center of the group, instinctively protecting the Chosen One and the Dominar. We needed to land soon. Somewhere with water.

  Not the ocean.

  No, somewhere with drinkable water. A river maybe.

  No rivers near here.

  Or a lake.

  No lakes.

  A creek?

  Maybe.

  It wasn’t more than an hour before we were banking towards the gray ocean beyond.

  Not the ocean. The creek running into the ocean.

  After a moment I picked it out – a gray ribbon in the long grass below. We circled it, finally landing on the south side. Raolcan landed practically in the creek, not even waiting to see if anyone else followed before sinking his head up to his eyes in the water.

  Skies and Stars, I’ve never been so thirsty.

  If every person I’d ever known had slurped soup at the same time they wouldn’t have been able to duplicate the sound he was making.

  Well, excuse me for getting thirsty after flying my wings off to get us here.

  He’d feel less cranky when his belly was full of water.

  Ahlskibi landed beside us, sides heaving from exertion as he drank. We were all still here, all still alive, all still fighting to stay that way. I hobbled upstream to refill my waterskin. An exhausted Shonan stumbled beside me on the same errand.

  “Savette?” I asked. I was too tired for full sentences.

  “Fine. Resting.” He must feel the same way.

  We filled our skins in silence. Shonan wiped sweat from his forehead before plunging his face in the water. He looked so pleased with himself afterward that I tried it, too.

  “Ho!” I spun to see about two dozen Red Dragon Riders land downstream from our group, spinning to rush back to Raolcan and slipping on the muddy bank. I fell into the water with a frustrated sound.

  “Here.” Shonan offered me a hand and helped to pull me up, waterlogged, from the creek. We scrambled along the shore as quickly as we could. Too late to fight back if that was their intent. Too late to flee.

  “I am Leng Shardson of the Purple,” Leng was saying in challenge. “If you mean trouble, fly on.”

  Bold. And more energetic than Shonan or I were. We stumbled between the high tufts of grass, finally reaching our dragons.

  “Thank you,” I said as he nodded and hurried past. I scrambled back up onto Raolcan’s back, strapping in with the efficiency of muscle memory and not much else.

  “No trouble. I’m Grangor Hummingreed of the Red and I lead the Slateshard Division. We came to the Dawn’s Gate to pledge allegiance to Haz’drazen and were on our way back to our posting when we were set upon by creatures ... terrible monsters of the earth ... and flew here as we fled. We’ve seen hundreds of dragons in the sky though none stopped when we tried to hail them. Have you any idea what has happened?”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t been fighting with Starie. He was just caught up in the Ifrit attack. Before I’d even finished my sigh, it cut off. How many others would be caught up in the hell Starie had unleashed in her anger? We needed allies. We needed to fight. We couldn’t just flee forever.

  My thoughts exactly.

  “Starie Atrelan unleashed them on us all when she was denied by the Dragon Queen,” Leng said loudly. I finally caught sight of him down the riverbank, standing on Ahlskibi’s back, his arms crossed confidently over his chest. This was his element. He was born to ride dragons and speak fearlessly in the face of danger. “The Queen has chosen a different candidate to mark with the dragons’ approval.”

  The Red nodded gravely. “My men and I all stand with Haz’drazen. In these fragmented times, she is a voice of wisdom. Whoever she has chosen has our loyalty. Do you know who that is?”

  Savette threw back the hood of her cloak revealing her bright eyes and marked face.

  “Savette Leedris – Haz’drazen’s choice – flies with us,” Leng said simply. “And we’ll tear apart anyone who threatens her.”

  Chapter Two

  Grangor leapt off his dragon and I braced myself for Raolcan’s attack. Instead, Grangor made a complicated double armed salute, while behind him, the other Reds followed suit.

  “We stand with you, Purple. What orders?”

  Orders?

  That’s how Reds operate. Either they give the orders, or you do, but everyone is in a chain of command. His loyalty is touching.

  Really? I didn’t think I’d ever heard Raolcan compliment another color of dragon before. He sneezed, letting the sulfurous vapors wash over me instead of setting them on fire as they emerged. That was definitely on purpose.

  Everyone needs to sneeze sometimes. Dust gets in your lungs.

  �
��We’re almost at the ocean, but we can’t stay here.” Savette’s voice was clear as a ringing bell and I startled at her words. Was she speaking up after so long? “The Ifrits will follow us and while the water provides some protection, we can’t avoid them forever. Nor can we stand and fight in this place. There is nowhere to make a proper stand against them. We are compelled to go north and find a place where we can fight.”

  “A solid plan,” Grangor said.

  “But not all of us.”

  As she spoke, other dragons were landing around us in pairs and singles – refugees in the flight from the Ifrits looking for any port in a turbulent storm. Did she plan to send some away? She turned to me and Hubric, taking us both in her gaze.

  “For too long we have fled, barely a step ahead of the chasing enemy. But, like a stag run down by dogs, we are weakened by our flight. The time has come to turn and bring the battle to them. But to do that, we must splinter into many prongs.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. A sinking feeling filled me. She was going to send her friends away, wasn’t she? Just like when she’d wanted to go to Leedris City on her own.

  “And so, I accept the loyalty of Grangor Hummingreed and his Reds.” Her smile was as wide as his as they nodded to each other. “And I must ask the rest of you to help me in this.”

  Hubric’s face was as flushed as I knew mine must be. “If you’re suggesting that we leave you right now, while Ifrits are chasing us-”

  She held up a hand to silence him. “I saw things in that volcano. Things I can’t fully explain. Things I can’t put into words - but I came away understanding one thing for certain. If we remain on the defensive the world is lost. If we press our attack back to them, we still have a chance. But too many things need to be done. There are not enough of us even if we split up. And each of us has our own role to play in this.”

  I felt queasy at the words ‘split up’ so I clung tighter to Raolcan’s saddle.

  Don’t worry, I’d never let her split us up. We’re in this together, spider.

  “We each must complete a piece of the puzzle.” Savette’s bearing was suddenly so authoritative that my heart sank. No one would be able to deny her request. “Hubric, you know the Lightbringers. You know how they think and who they are. I desperately need you. Head north to Dominion City and seek them out in secret. Rally as many as you can and prepare them for our cause.”

  He nodded. “Amel, we’ll-”

  “I need Amel for something else.”

  If my face was flushed before it must be pure white now. I was going to have to go somewhere without my mentor? How many times had he saved us? How many times had I needed him? By the frown on his face, he was as upset as I was. I met his eyes, trying to show my own concern.

  “Leng, I need you to fly north. Bring my messages to High Castelans Woelran, Estabis, Tevish, Moran, Lamond, Dantriet, Obadis and Abarynth.” She slipped message cylinders from her belt. When had she found time to write those? She must have written them while they flew. She was one step ahead of us all. “We desperately need their strength and support. Do not fail me in this.”

  Leng saluted as another group of ten dragons arrived.

  “All those who stay with me will be required to swear fealty. Choose today who you will serve,” Savette said to the new dragons, but no one budged. Whether they had come as a last resort or because they truly believed in Savette, they were hers now. “Shonan, Rasipaer is anxious to return to his bonded rider, but I can’t grant him that luxury yet. I did not have time to negotiate with Queen Haz before Starie ripped open the earth and spilled her creatures of evil across the surface of it. Rasipaer will lead you to one of the hidden gates – don’t glare at me, Rasipaer. I saw many things in the volcano. Gates are the least of them – and you will negotiate on my behalf – and yours – for the Dominion. You understand?”

  We all gasped at her words. Sending the true Dominar off on a dangerous quest without any form of protection except a dragon that wasn’t his? It was unthinkable! Shonan gave her a long, hard stare, but eventually, he spoke.

  “Shrewd.”

  She turned to me. “Amel. By now my husband has either succeeded or failed in his mission. Finding him and reporting our situation is the most dangerous thing we need to be done – but it is also vital. We no longer have the resources in the Dominion to turn this disaster around. We need help. Find him in Baojang by whatever means necessary and tell him all that has passed since he left us. We desperately need his help.”

  I nodded, speechless. I couldn’t have imagined a more nerve-wracking job if I’d been asked to. I was supposed to travel to a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language and find Rakturan – who I’d never felt very safe with – and get him to somehow bring his twisted people to save us? The word “impossible” came to mind.

  Set a prince to catch a prince. I like how her mind works.

  Instead, I said, “And what will you do with your new army?”

  Savette stood up on Rasipaer’s back, looked around at the gathered crowd, almost as if she was counting them before saying, “We fly to the healing arches north of here. There, we will confront any Ifrits fool enough to follow us and destroy them utterly. And that is only the beginning.”

  Chapter Three

  Leng was the first to reach me, though Hubric wasn’t far behind. He pulled me into a strong hug and kissed my cheek.

  “Don’t forget my promise. If you ever need to get in touch with me, send a message to the dragon cotes of Dominion City addressed to Hofner Cardsplitter. He holds my messages for me. Stay safe and don’t forget – when this is all over we’ll have that home on the river with horses and cliffs for dragons.”

  I smiled, kissed him and said, “Don’t you forget that I love you.”

  “Same.” His grin was crooked as he rushed away, looking back three times before leaning in to say something to Shonan.

  Hubric cleared his throat. “About done watching him?”

  I felt my cheeks heat. “I don’t like the idea of us splitting up.”

  “I hate it.” His eyes were red-rimmed. “We can fly north together as far as Hezba, but after that, we’ll have to split up.”

  I nodded, but my heart was sinking. There were so few of us and so much to do. It made sense that we should split up, but I just wanted to keep an eye on everyone – to know they were safe and well.

  “He’ll be fine,” Hubric said gruffly as Leng and Ahlskibi launched into the air. “He has a lot of luck, that one. Stumbles on opportunities like they’re roots on a path.”

  I’d never thought of Leng like that.

  Shonan saluted us as Rasipaer leapt into the air. No goodbyes from him. Maybe he’d grown used to the practicalities of these things.

  “He can’t deny who he is and negotiate with the Queen at the same time. She’ll know,” Hubric said. “He’ll have to embrace it.”

  He was watching Savette with admiration, like he was pleased with her plan. Had he talked her into “treason” with the rest of us? Or had she just realized, like I had, that we didn’t stand a chance without him?

  “And after that?”

  He shrugged. “Let’s hope we’re all still alive to make further plans.”

  A wave of cold washed over me and I swallowed. This might be the last time we were all together. Oh, skies and stars, I hoped it wasn’t the case!

  “Time to mount up,” Hubric said, leaving me, but there was still one more person to talk to.

  I hobbled over to Savette. She was already mounting Grangor’s dragon. If anyone could fight to keep her safe it would be an experienced Red Dragon Rider, right? Right? Then why was I still worried?

  “Tell Rakturan to hurry,” Savette said when she saw me. “He won’t have had long to rally his people – he’s probably only arriving there now, but it will take you time to make the same journey. Protect him and help him like you’ve helped me, Amel. You always find a way out of trouble.”

  Was she putting on a
brave face before all these new followers, or was she really so confident in me? If I was honest with myself, it was usually Raolcan who pulled me out of the fires I fell into.

  True.

  And I didn’t like the idea of her flying off unprotected.

  Because Grangor Hummingreed and the Slateshard Division are less able to protect her than one teen girl and her friendly neighborhood dragon? Yep. You’ve definitely been hanging out with Purples for too long.

  “I don’t know how to say-” I began, but she cut me off.

  “I’ll be fine and so will you. Now hurry up. Grangor’s patrol sees Ifrits on their way.” She pointed up to where a Red dragon circled above us on watch. I began to leave but turned when she called my name. “Amel? Take care of yourself.”

  “You, too.”

  We shared a smile and then she turned back to Grangor who was speaking to her and I hobbled back to Raolcan. My crutch felt heavier than usual as I cinched it into place in the saddle, my leg felt heavier as I arranged myself in the saddle and it was hard to see the straps through vision blurred with emotion. I wasn’t ready to go on my own.

  You’re not on your own. You have me.

  To a country I’d never been to.

  Did I tell you that I went there once?

  Wait. I had always thought there were no dragons in Baojang.

  None there by their own will ... except for that time I snuck in.

  Now that was a story I needed to hear. How did a dragon sneak? They seemed a little large for that.

  Maybe later. Let’s fly.

  He launched into the air, close on the heels of Kyrowat who was already speeding up through the clouds. We were still gaining height when beneath us, the Reds burst into the sky like a puff of flame from a fire. That flare might be last I ever saw of Savette. I hoped not, but I had never been to Baojang or the Dark Continent. I already found acid swirling in my belly at the thought.

  They put saffron in the honey. It’s an acquired taste, but you get used to it.