League of Improbable Riders

15

The dragons landed that evening a few kilometres outside D'reedan and walked the rest of the way to avoid being seen by Seerown sentinels. In the light of the fading sun, Shaska and her companions dismounted and cautiously crept up the side of a nearby hill to observe the offending village.

Kanah was bursting at the seams, wanting desperately to talk about his first flight, which Shaska understood; the best day of her life was when she and Taz first flew together, but if he talked, it would almost definitely jeopardize their mission: D'reedan was just down the cliff, and the streets below were swarming with people readying themselves for some kind of festival or celebration. She quickly caught his attention and laid a finger to her lips just as he opened his mouth.

He subsided with a disgruntled expression, and Shaska got the distinct feeling that he was thinking at Ember. She sighed and swiveled around to kick him.

Rogue grinned mischievously at her, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Cut it out!" she hissed at Kanah. "You'll only distract yourself—and Ember—and there may be drawbacks! Only address your thoughts to him on the direst of emergencies." Kanah huffed a sigh and turned his attention sulkily back to the town, as did Shaska.

A large bonfire burned in the middle of the village, surrounded by wooden planks, some higher than the others; the lower ones were occupied by men and women with their children, while the others were being loaded with food and drinks of all kinds. More people were trickling into the centre of the town at a steady rate, eager for a feast. Countless cooks scurried about, roasting something above the fire. Something that smelled appetizing but absolutely repulsive at the same time, as its scent drifted through the air.

Rogue shuddered and drew back; Shaska followed a moment later, but Kanah stayed, watching the preparations with longing eyes.

Shaska eyed Taz uneasily; from the way he was acting—tense; upper lip curling into a silent snarl—she had a nasty suspicion of what was being roasted.

"What—what is it?" Rogue asked, looking sick.

Kanah stirred and murmured, "Dragon rib-cage! Don't I wish I could be down there now!" He sighed.

Shaska dry-retched; Rogue was speechless, for once; Taz, Shadow, and Launch all snarled at the boy, but Ember seemed unperturbed and crawled up the ridge beside Kanah.

When he saw all the people he drooled and rumbled hungrily.

"He was pretty much just saying how tasty they look," Taz translated grimly as Shadow did the same for Rogue.

Rogue grimaced. "That doesn't seem like a very healthy relationship," he muttered darkly.

Shaska barked a laugh.

With a shudder she pulled Kanah down undercover. "Don't ever eat another dragon."

His gaze, as he looked at her, was laced with scepticism. "Why?"

"Eugh," Shaska shuddered again, making a face. "They're not animals, that's why! It'd be like eating a human! Or Ember."

Kanah dropped his gaze and Ember peered down at them with narrowed eyes. "That does sound pretty... horrible. Gross."

Ember rumbled in affirmation and nuzzled the boy gently as Kanah scratched his chin.

Launch growled suddenly and Shaska leapt to her feet. "What's wrong?"

"Enough! We need to rescue Keera before something terrible happens," Taz again translated.

Shaska nodded, sitting, and said, "Agreed.