The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 14

How are you doing, Srot? Kelnor asked, breaking the silence an hour or so into their flight. Srot's wing strokes had been getting noticeably slower and more labored over the past few minutes.

To tell the truth, I'm beat, Srot replied reluctantly. Any chance we can stop somewhere and rest for a bit?

I think we could all use a break. May as well call it for today. Char, Rath, don't you two have a hideout somewhere around here? Kelnor asked.

Uh, no, Rath said unconvincingly.

Char sighed. Yes, we do, but the mage may know about it. It's where we found Iris.

He's probably too worn out from that fight to give us any trouble tonight. Lead the way, Kelnor ordered.

Char pulled up out of Thrak's slipstream and overtook Thrak and Kelnor with a few hard flaps to settle into the lead position. He was tired, too, but not anywhere near what Srot had to be feeling after struggling against the mage's noose around his neck for several minutes. It wouldn't matter if they made it home tonight or not. Iris had used a lot of magic over the last few days, enough to knock her out yesterday and again today. She wasn't waking up anytime soon.

Just so we're clear, we've never used this place to hide out from work, Rath lied.

Thrak laughed. Yeah right.

It's too late, Rath. He already knows about it, Char said.

But it's really new. It hasn't seen much use yet.

Can it, Kelnor said, but his voice wasn't as harsh as Char expected. It was your father's hideout first. I just forgot where it was.

Srot laughed and dipped lower to the ground.

Need a little help, Srot? Char asked, looking back over his shoulder at the struggling purple dragon.

I'll be fine as long as it's not too much further, he replied wearily.

It's not. See that lake? It's behind the waterfall.

Behind the waterfall, Kelnor repeated. Knew he hid it really well. You said that's where you found Iris?

Yeah. Char left it at that and tucked his wings to his sides as he dove toward the waterfall, the wind whistling across his scales. He spread his wings at the last second to slow his descent, tucking them closed again to penetrate the roaring water. His talons scraped across the stone, crunching the charred remains of Iris' fire, already spread across the floor by their hasty exit a few days ago. Refracted sunlight cast shimmering, watery shadows across the cavern walls. Ice tore through his veins, and he was in human form again, stepping out of the way just as Kelnor made his entrance. An icy wind blew Char's hair back as Kelnor transformed into his human form. His red eyes scanned the cavern entrance as he stepped back to make way for Thrak.

"She made it this far by herself?" Kelnor asked incredulously.

Char nodded, his hair blown back again by Thrak's transformation. "Rath and I came here after the battle. I told him we were lying low to avoid you, and then I went out looking for her the next day. Never found a trace of her, but I brought a deer back, so there's plenty of food for everyone."

"Good. I'm starving!" Thrak said enthusiastically as Srot burst through the waterfall. He landed clumsily, and when the burst of icy wind cleared, his face was haggard.

"Can't say I'm a fan of being a conduit," he said, dragging his hands through his dirty blonde hair.

"I don't know why he needed you. He already had a direct connection to Iris from when she healed you," Char said, frowning.