Dragonmaster (9 page)

W
hen morning dawned, the dragon child stirred. It looked around, then fell upon the remains of the fox. It finished them quickly and began to search for more. Norl watched. The beast seemed unaware as yet of his presence, but Norl could sense its thoughts. Hunger, slightly abated, increasing rapidly. The dragon child must feed again.

Norl shut his mind to everything but the need. He had promised to do this, he would do it. He closed his eyes and willed himself become bird. He took flight and began the hunt.

This time, when the dragon child was sated and curled itself up to sleep once more, Norl let himself drift down to settle beside it. The hunger that had possessed him the night before rose again when he saw the remains of the carcass that the dragon had been feeding on, but he took back his own shape before he succumbed to it.

Never again,
he promised himself, shuddering with
disgust. The craving had taken him by surprise the night before, but now that he was forewarned, he would not let it control him again.

He perched himself on a rock as far away from the dragon as possible. Caulda’s body was beginning to rot. How long before the child would be able to leave this place? When the sun was directly overhead, the dragon child stirred. It opened its eyes and saw him.

Norl tensed. The same wave of emotion that had swept over him the night before washed over him yet again. This time it was different, however. It seemed that it was not hatred so much as confusion. Fear, even.

Who is this?

Norl could sense the question in the dragon’s mind. Quickly, he answered it.

I am Norl,
he sent, willing the dragon to hear his mind words.
It is I who fed you. You cannot harm me or you will die.

Die? What is that?
came the question.

Cease to exist. Go back to where you were before you were here,
Norl answered.

Before I was here? I have no memory of that.

If you die you will have no memory of anything. You will cease to be.
Norl forced himself to stand upright. To take a step toward the beast. He made himself as tall as he could, but even so he did not reach as high as the dragon’s eye. With a start he realized that the child had grown in the short time since it had hatched.

You are Norl.
The words came slowly.
Who am I?

You are dragon,
Norl answered.
Child of Caulda.
He indicated the vast body that loomed behind them.

The dragon child scarcely looked. It hooded its eyes and, to Norl’s surprise, shielded its mind from him. How had it learned to do that? Hard upon that thought came another. If he was to control this beast, he must not allow it.

Unshield your mind!
he commanded.
You must not do that with me or I will leave you to die.

To unbe again?
the dragon asked.

Yes,
Norl answered.

I do not wish that. I will obey.
And with that the dragon’s mind opened again. Norl flinched. The force of the dragon’s thoughts, questions, was almost overwhelming. He straightened and braced himself against it.

I feel…
The beast hesitated.
I do not know what I feel. But there is pain
…”

You hunger. I will bring food. When you are strong enough you will fly and we will leave this place,
Norl said.

Fly?
the child asked, but even as he did so, he stretched and, for the first time, his wings unfolded. The child was as startled as Norl as they spread out above him. It lashed out with its tail, almost catching Norl, and exhaled a plume of smoke and fire.

Yes!
it exclaimed, looking up at the wings with sudden knowledge in its voice.
I am dragon! I know that now! I am…I am Lorgan!

You are!
Norl answered, and an equally sudden knowledge flooded through him—the child might be dragon, but he, Norl, could be its master.

If he wished.

Did he?

Was
this
what he was destined to do?

In the days that followed, Norl did not return to Hhana and the Sele. When Lorgan was awake, he hunted for him. When Lorgan slept, he slept with him. Despite his resolution, his own hunger forced him to feed as Lorgan fed. In eagle body, he feasted with Lorgan, side by side. He shut his mind to the fact, even as he shut his senses to the dragon stink around him. Lorgan grew stronger. From time to time he stretched his wings and beat them, experimenting, discovering their power.

And they talked. Without words, their minds met and discovered each other. For Norl it was an awakening. Lorgan hungered for knowledge of the world into which he had been born with an intensity equal to his need for food. He questioned Norl unceasingly. Norl, in his turn, was fascinated by the speed with which the young dragon learned and absorbed all that Norl could tell him. He recounted to Lorgan what Sele the Plump had told him. About how once there had been many dragons on Taun, and how they
had lived side by side with humans. He did not tell Lorgan of the evil that his brother and his mother had wrought, though. Nor did he tell Lorgan that he was the last of the dragons. Something held him back from doing so. Sympathy, perhaps? How would it feel to know you were the last of a dying race? With that came thoughts of Hhana. She, too, must feel that loneliness. The realization set him back. Perhaps he had judged her too harshly. Perhaps he had looked for deception where there had been only despair.

Norl lost count of the number of days he spent with Lorgan but, finally, he judged the dragon ready to leave the den.

Today you will fly with me,
he told Lorgan.
It is time to leave this place.

Where do we go?
the dragon, child no longer, asked, but Norl had no answer to that. He knew only that this dragon and he were bound together now by a bond that would last his lifetime.

Norl led Lorgan up and out of the cleft in the mountain in ever expanding circles. At first hesitant, Lorgan soon flew steadily and with confidence. He followed Norl without question. Norl glanced back, the wind whistling through

his feathers. He could not keep a surge of triumph from flooding through him. He had tamed a dragon! But the
elation faded as quickly as it had been born. What now? Find Hhana and the Sele, that was obvious, but what were they to do then?

Without warning, the memory of the dark swirl in the river and the mountain stream came back and with it a feeling of uneasiness. More than uneasiness. He had thrust it out of his mind because of his greater concern about finding and facing Caulda, but now he could ignore it no longer.

It was time to return to Catryn.

He banked and searched the ground below. Almost immediately he found Hhana and the Sele, camped near the entrance to the dragon’s cave.

Follow me,
he commanded Lorgan.
We will land here.

He swooped down and shook himself back into his own form. Lorgan followed more slowly, wary of the presence of Hhana and the Sele. He landed at the very edge of the path.

“Norl!” There was a world of relief in Sele the Plump’s cry.

“We watched you with the dragon child,” Hhana said.

“But we did not dare call to you,” the Sele put in. “We were afraid of what the child might do.”

“Still, we worried,” Hhana said. She sounded more resentful than worried, however. She stared at Lorgan and he stared back at her.

“You did well,” Norl said. “It was good that you left us
to ourselves. It was necessary.” But he dropped his eyes. The Sele had seen him in his eagle form, then. Feeding with the dragon. The Sele, who ate nothing but grain. Who feared fire and forbore from the taking of life of any kind, much less the eating of it. It was uncalled for, but Norl could not help feeling shame under the Sele’s steady gaze.

“The dragon child has grown,” Hhana said, breaking the sudden silence.

“He is child no longer,” Norl said.

Who is this?
Lorgan asked. The force of the question seared into Norl’s mind.
She is not like you. She is like me—but not like me.

She is dragonling,
Norl replied.
Of your race and of mine both.

Hhana watched, looking intently from one to the other. She seemed about to ask a question of Norl, then she stopped and looked even more intently at Lorgan. Her body shimmered, her eyes blazed. Even more strongly could Norl now see the dragon in her.

“I am Hhana,” she said, answering Lorgan’s unvoiced question.

“I am Lorgan,” the dragon said.

Norl was taken by surprise—Lorgan had spoken aloud! But Caulda had had the power of speech when she chose to use it, he remembered. Why would her child not? Then he realized that Hhana had answered the question Lorgan had asked only with his mind. More—when they
had returned to the cave and Lorgan lay curled up at the bottom, she had known the dragon child was alive even before Norl did. Could it be that she and Lorgan could also communicate without speaking?

She was dragonling; of course she could. She was closer to Lorgan than he would ever be.

Now it was Norl who felt the snake of jealousy slither into his heart.

D
ahl had returned to chaos. As he approached Daunus he could hear shouts and cries. A mob of villagers was gathered outside the palace walls.

“Where is our king?” came the cry. “What is he going to do? We cannot live without our river—we must have water!”

Dahl reined Magnus in, then urged the animal forward into their midst. He fought down the shaking that had begun deep within him when the portal had not opened for him. What was happening within the Domain? With the Elders? With Catryn?

He shook his head, shut his mind. He could not think on these things now. No matter what was happening within the Domain, he must see to the needs of his people. Even without Catryn’s help, he could not fail them. But, as he straightened in the saddle and began to speak, he saw the river running black beyond them and it brought an even greater chill to his soul. That it was a harbinger of evil, he had no doubt. He and Catryn had defeated the evil that had threatened Taun twice before. They had

believed that they had won. That it had been vanquished. But had it arisen yet again? Was there no end to this?

At first, as men recognized him, they fell back and gave way, but even as they did so, a woman thrust herself forward. She grabbed the horse’s bridle and brought the animal to a standstill, then shook her fist at Dahl. Tears streamed down her face.

“It was my child and my man who were taken,” she cried. “What are you going to do?”

Dahl reached down a hand to her, then looked at the faces filled with fury that surrounded him.

“My people,” he began, but choked and could not go on. It was with relief that he saw Coraun pushing his way through the throng toward him.

The adviser took the woman’s hand gently and removed it from the horse’s bridle. He stood beside her and turned to face the clamouring throng.

“Peace,” he called out. “Let the king speak.”

The crowd fell silent. Dahl saw the expectant faces looking up at him and for a moment his spirit quailed. What could he say to them? Then, with an effort, he forced down the panic that was rising within him.

“I will send scouts out to every corner of Taun,” he cried. “We will ascertain just how far this blight has spread. But in the meantime, we must dig wells!”

“What did he say? What did he say?” Puzzled murmurs and whispers now.

Dahl willed his voice to remain steady. “All those who are able must report to my guards and we will begin at once.”

The murmurs and whispers died away. There was a moment of silence, then shouts again, but of approval now, not anger. The crowd dispersed but returned within minutes, shovels in hand, ready to go to work.

Dahl leaped down from his horse.

“Fetch me a shovel,” he ordered Coraun. “Surely we will find sweet water away from that cursed river.”

“What now, Norl?”

The Sele voiced the question that Norl himself had faced.

“I must ask Catryn,” he answered.

“Do we return, then, to the Domain of the Elders?” Sele the Plump asked. “With the dragon?” He looked sideways at Lorgan.

Lorgan, in his turn, was looking from one to the other of them. His tail twitched. Small though the movement was, it was enough to uproot a small bush and send it flying.

“Let me be for a moment,” Norl said. He turned and walked away from the others. Now he
must
try to reach Catryn. He pushed into the bushes that edged the path until he was out of their sight. For a moment he felt uneasy—what would Lorgan do if he were not there to watch him? Then he thrust the question out of his mind and concentrated on calling to Catryn.

Catryn responded as soon as he opened his thoughts to her.

Norl! Where are you? What has happened with you?

Norl was taken aback by the fear that she radiated. It did not sound like Catryn at all.

I found Caulda,
he answered,
but she was dying.

Is she dead, then?

Yes, but…

But what?
Even more anxiety.

She left a child. A son. His name is Lorgan.

A child!
Catryn’s dismay flooded his mind.
Did you destroy him?

No,
Norl answered slowly.
I could not. I…I cared for him. I fed him.

You fed him!

I could do nothing else.

Catryn did not answer.

Are you still there?
Norl asked, alarmed by the silence.

I am,
Catryn responded.
I was just—shocked. What is to be done with the creature?

I do not know. I hoped you could tell me. Should I bring him back to you?

Norl, you cannot. The Domain has been sealed.

To Norl’s amazement, he could hear a note of barely controlled panic in Catryn’s words.

What do you mean?
he demanded. This could not be.

I cannot get out,
Catryn answered.
There is evil afoot

again, Norl. I know it, but I cannot see it. Our river runs black, even the water in my seeing bowl ran black.

The swirl he had seen in the mountain stream! So it had not been his imagination. He had been right to fear it.

I, too, have seen the black water,
he sent. Then he had a thought.
What about Daunus? Do you know how Dahl fares?

I cannot reach him,
Catryn answered.
He does not possess the powers to hear me.
Now the words were thin, shrill.
There is trouble there, too, Norl. I am certain of it, but Dahl must not be able to get through the portal, either. If he could, he surely would have come by now.

I will go to him then,
Norl said.

But the dragon…?

I will have to take him.

What if he is possessed by the same evil that infested Caulda?

Norl had never known Catryn to be so distraught, so faltering. It only added to his fear.

I do not think he is,
he answered.
Not yet. But I dare not leave him alone.

You must do something, Norl.
Catryn’s voice was a cry in his mind.
I cannot leave. I have tried every way. I am imprisoned here. It is up to you, now.

Catryn was asking for
his
help! She who had been his teacher—the Seer of Taun! It was impossible! Before Norl could answer, a sudden, excruciating pain tore into his
head. For a moment his senses swam. When he came back to himself, Catryn was gone.

Catryn?
he called, frantic, but there was no answer.

He stumbled back to where Hhana and Sele the Plump were waiting. Hhana was staring at Lorgan, almost as if she had not even noticed Norl’s absence. The dragon was looking back at her with an equal intensity. As Norl joined them, Lorgan spoke, but to Hhana only.

“Are there more beings like you?” he asked.

“I do not know,” Hhana answered. “I did not even know what
I
was until just a while ago.”

“There are more like me,” Lorgan said.

Norl looked up sharply.

“More dragons?” Hhana asked.

“Yes. More hatching now. As I did.”

“How do you know that?” Norl demanded, but even as he spoke, he remembered:
The dragonsss will rissse again,
Caulda had said.
My child will lead them…

She had known! She had known there were more dragon eggs, hidden safely away by the members of a dying race, dragon-spelled, waiting for the right time, even as Lorgan had waited.

Lorgan had waited for him; for whom had these others
waited? But even as the question arose in his mind, Lorgan answered it.

The dragon turned his head toward him. Fire burned deep in the depths of his eyes. “I hear them,” Lorgan said. “They call to me. They are telling me to send the dragonling to them. That is you?” he asked, turning back to Hhana.

“It is,” Hhana replied. Only now did she see Norl. “Did you hear?” she asked. “There are more dragons! I must find them!”

“You cannot…” Norl began.

“But I must. I
will.
Did you not hear? They are calling for me. They need me, as Lorgan needed you. Do you not
understand?
Come with me, Norl. We will go together to discover them.”

“I cannot,” Norl said. “There is evil afoot. Taun is threatened. I must go to Daunus to find Dahl.”

“Then I will go by myself.” Her eyes glowed golden, reflecting the flame that lay in Lorgan’s gaze.

“You cannot!” Norl exclaimed again. “Evil has returned to Taun. It is too dangerous for you.”

“If there is evil afoot, it will be no more dangerous for me where I go, than if I went to Daunus with you,” Hhana replied. “Perhaps even less so. I will take Lorgan with me.”

“No!” Norl said sharply. “That you will not do.”

“Why not?” Hhana frowned at Norl. “Should he not decide that for himself?”

Norl shook his head stubbornly. Things were happening too fast. He could not stop Hhana from going, but it was inconceivable that she take Lorgan. She knew nothing of the dangers that threatened Taun. Of what evil forces there could be, who might command Lorgan if they wished. Lorgan must stay with him. Besides, in a small, secret part of his mind, he knew that he was not ready to give Lorgan over to Hhana. It was he who had found him, he who had nourished him. And he distrusted Hhana. What might she do, given power over a dragon?

Hhana turned to Lorgan. “Do you know where they are, these others?” she demanded.

“No,” Lorgan replied. “I have no knowledge of that. I know only that they are buried deep within the mountains of Taun, even as I was.”

“Would you come with me if I asked it of you?” she inquired. She spoke to Lorgan still, but she threw a challenging look at Norl.

Norl held his breath, ready to do battle, but the dragon shook his head, sending plumes of smoke flying.

“No,” he replied.

Hhana scowled. For a moment Norl thought she would persevere, but she shrugged and gave in. “I will go alone, then,” she said.

“How will you do this thing?” Norl shot back. “You know not where to go. You will have to search over all of Taun.”

Hhana whirled around to face Sele the Plump. “I am dragonling, am I not?” she asked the startled Sele.

“Yes—” it began, but she interrupted it.

“Well, then, it is time for me to find myself. And I know how to do it.” She drew herself up to her full height and stared at Norl for a long moment; then she closed her eyes. As Norl watched, the aura around her strengthened and grew thickly visible, scarlet as flames. A wave of heat rose. The air became viscous, heavy. It obscured Hhana for a moment. When it lifted, a dragon, tall and powerful, stood before them.

“I can hear them,” the dragon that was Hhana said, looking at Lorgan. “The other dragons. Even as you can. And I can fly
now,
Norl. Never fear, I will find them.”

Norl stared at her.

And what will she do then?
The thought sent ice coursing through his veins.

“If you find the hatchlings, you must bring them to me,” he said, fighting to keep his voice firm. “In Daunus, or wherever I may be.”

The dragon that was Hhana hooded her eyes. “I will do what is necessary for their survival,” she said. She unfurled wings mightier even than Lorgan’s and made ready to take flight. Then she looked back down at Norl. “I make no promises,” she said, “but I owe you much, Norl. I will not forget that.” With two strong wingbeats, she was aloft.

Norl watched until she disappeared from sight. Only then did he give in to the sickness that cramped his belly. Surely, somehow, he should have stopped her. But he could not think on that now! He turned to Sele the Plump.

“We go to Daunus, friend Sele,” he said.

“What about Catryn?” the Sele asked.

“She is imprisoned within the Domain,” Norl answered. “She cannot get out, and she does not believe anyone can get in. There is more—I can no longer speak with her. Something—someone—has blocked the path.”

“The Domain is closed?” Sele the Plump asked, incredulous. “How can this be?”

“I know not,” Norl replied. “But I do know that we must get to Dahl as soon as we can.”