The Dragons Queen Saga

Part 19: Up the Mountain

He found a modest alcove underneath an overhanging rock ledge to wedge himself into for the night. The rain picked up into a thunderous summer storm, drenching the landscape and muddying his path. He made no fire, but huddled in the warmth of his clothes with his sword across his lap in case of danger. He couldn't quite doze off to sleep immediately. His mind wandered, back to the memory of Baylin in the Temple court room with the rest of the thirteen Dragons banished to exile. Baylin had been smiling. So had Lazarus. What did they know that he didn't at the time? Why were he and Galvinor tormenting this world in exile without correction from the Council of Seven? Dresden had not been allowed to dabble in human affairs for very long without rebuke from the Council. Was it possible that because he was the one who had rallied the other Dragons to his cause that they were watching him closer than the others? Lazarus had told him too much when they were with the Haiute. In those final moments, Dresden had seen some of the future that Lazarus spoke of, but couldn't quite comprehend what it all meant to him. What was his role here? Why him?

Lazarus made it clear that he must help lead humanity into the full ownership of this world. That meant destroying the Dragon island of BasNassal to rid people of Sariahfina's wrath. She would not stop until all the human beings were dead. Dresden couldn't let that happen, wouldn't let that happen. When the Dragons appointed her as their overseer, their lord, there was unanimous agreement that she would be the one to see the Dragons into a future that benefited every living creature in this realm. Their abandonment on Earth had been a bitter moment for all of them. On Numa there would be no need for an overseer, a lord to govern the Dragons. That was unthinkable in their home world; but here, the rules were different. There were other creatures to consider that were evolving, and so many others that had also been stranded on Earth that would need wise counsel and refuge in a foreign land. So much to think about. Sariahfina seemed the perfect candidate. Dresden had never suspected her of treachery from within. How was Baylin connected to this? Surely he would not be pleased with exile unless he planned to be a part of it willingly. The thought struck him hard, making him shift under the rocky overhang. He adjusted his position and closed his eyes again. Baylin wanted to be let loose onto the world of humans. Sariahfina must have known that. Perhaps he'd infiltrated Dresden's group of mutineers for the sole purpose of being able to wreak havoc on Earth without the Council's laws on BasNassal in his way. They claimed neutrality after all, but exiled, Baylin was free to do what he wished, unencumbered. If Sariahfina's goal was to kill the human population, Baylin would be the perfect blunt object for the task.

Dresden had to push the thought from his mind. A lightning flash lit up the hill in front of him, followed quickly by the sound of thunder crashing around him. He laid his head on the side of the rock and breathed in the world, allowing it to silence his mind.

When he woke, the rain had ceased; sun slowly emerged over the horizon and dewy droplets clung to everything they could touch. Before Dresden was able to get up, he noticed a small bundle wrapped up next to him. An oversized fern leaf he couldn't identify, tied carefully with a long strip of beargrass. Even though the hill was rocky, with grass jutting up in every crevice, there were no footsteps to reveal that anyone had been so close to him. He only saw his own muddy indentations left from the night before as he'd made his way under the overhang. He crawled out and stretched, leaving Kizjin Kol propped up on the hill behind him. Then he bent down, scooped up the package and glanced around to see if he could spot his benefactor. Stillness on all sides, the craggy mountain landscape revealed nothing. He gently opened the bundle. Fresh berries, some hulled nuts, several rolled up edibles from what looked like grass and other mashed plants lay in his palm. Whoever had left this for him had been so quiet in the night that Dresden hadn't noticed. That was unusual, he thought, looking around once more. He ate the berries but wrapped the other contents back in the leaf and placed them in his bag.