The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 14

How are you doing, Srot? Kelnor asked, breaking the silence an hour into their flight. Srot's wing strokes had been getting slower and more labored the longer they flew.

To tell the truth, I'm beat, he replied, a note of reluctance in his voice. 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?

Uh, no, Rath lied, his tone unconvincing.

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

There's no way he can make it there on foot before we leave in the morning. Lead the way.

Char pulled up out of Thrak's slipstream and took the lead position with a few hard flaps. He was tired, too, but nowhere near what Srot had to be feeling after battling the mage's noose around his neck for several minutes.

He wanted to keep going, though.

But 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 wouldn't wake up anytime soon.

Not that he could do anything to help her, anyway, he reminded himself.

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

Thrak laughed. Yeah right.

It's too late, Rath. Kelnor already knows about it, Char told him.

But it's really new. We haven't used it much yet.

Can it, Kelnor said, his tone less harsh than Char expected. It was your father's hideout first. I just forgot where it was.

Srot gave a weak laugh and dipped lower to the ground.

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

I'll be fine as long as it isn't too much further.

It isn't. 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 tucked his wings to his sides as he dove toward the waterfall, the wind whistling across his scales. He spread his wings wide at the last second to slow his descent, then tucked them close 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 entered.

A blast of cold 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?"

Char nodded, his black 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 with enthusiasm.

Srot burst through the waterfall with a clumsy landing. When the burst of icy wind cleared, his face was haggard. He dragged a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "Can't say I'm a fan of being a conduit."