Fate of Dragons

Chapter Twenty One, Part II

Of the dragons that had not died, most were too ill to fly. So Malía ordered that they establish a camp here in the caves, and sent Tesa and Neela back to Saldive to collect supplies. Although Tesa protested, saying she could help with the healing of the dragons, she was actually glad to get away, at least for now.

Even so, the scene wouldn't leave her head. Each time she blinked her eyes, the shapes of the dragons, sprawled across the hot, dusty rock, were outlined. She didn't envy Renna and Kiana the task of accounting for each of the dragons. Especially because Kiana's dragon, Ireelie, was one of the dead. At first, Kiana had refused to move from Ireelie's side. When Malía finally pulled her away, Tesa understood the look of rage that flashed over Kiana's features, and the emptiness in her eyes behind the rage. Somehow, Kiana had pulled past that and faced the task before her.

Malía sent search parties through all of the caves to track the Karume mages who had disappeared, but Berick and Linnie were the only ones left. They did, however, find symbols that suggested they'd escaped using magic doors.

Orrie winged his way toward the cliffs, the spires looming over them. Behind Tesa, Emric clung to the saddle that Orrie wore. Neela followed on Aerix with another mage, a caster, behind her. Tesa patted Orrie's neck.

Just a little bit further, then it's time for a rest.

Orrie just snorted in response and pumped his wings harder. Tesa knew he couldn't wait to get to the flat rock below the spires.

Malía came out into the open space among the spires to meet them as they landed. Emric thanked Tesa after she helped him climb down, and then he thanked Orrie, too, with a small bow.

As the sun set, they flew their last load up to the spires, and landed in the middle of the open space. The bodies of the dragons had been cleared to one side by the mages. Mercifully, they'd erected some of the visual shield spells they'd meant to use in their attack. The sick dragons had been moved to the other side, and they rested under the overhanging rocks, where it appeared there had been nests for them before.

Tesa unstrapped the final pack from behind Orrie's saddle and hefted it onto her shoulders. Her feet dragged as she headed toward the row of fires built in a large open cave near the dragons. Small groups of people huddled around each fire, many bustling about with clanking pots and pans. Malía's red dragon perched on the rock above. His eyes shone with the fire of the setting sun.

The faces around the fire were grim and tired. Kiana stared blankly into the fire, not moving. Malía and Renna spoke in low tones as Tesa approached, and stopped when she set down the heavy pack beside them. Neela followed behind, and set her own pack down next to Tesa's. Tesa sank onto a blanket in an open space near the fire.

"That's the last of the passengers and supplies for today," Tesa said to Malía. "Orrie will be ready for more tomorrow, after he has a rest. Me too."

Malía pursed her lips and shook her head. "You'll be helping with the healing tomorrow. There's a lot of work to be done."

Tesa's eyes flew to Renna's, facing her across the light of the fire. The corners of his mouth turned up. "You have experience healing dragons," he said.

"Yes, but not with magic," she said.

"That's not what I heard," Neela said.

She was right. The only reason Tesa's abilities as a mage had been discovered was because she had been unknowingly using magic in her healing. All along, when she thought she'd been using her herbalist skills to craft potions and poultices, she'd been using magic, too. She just hadn't known it.

"Not on purpose, though," Tesa said. "I'm not trained in it."

"You'll be a help. It's where you're needed," said Renna. A tiny smile played on his lips.