She looked over her shoulder.
The last thing she saw was a small, churning clump of blue fighting its way towards the Square's western door, surrounded by a dark maroon sea.
41
T
HEY RACED OVER
the southern bluff, the High Keep's walls falling behind them, cliffs and mountainside dropping away as they cruised into the open air. Far below them, the green farms and forests of House Dradón spread far and wide, the horizon a huge, hazy arc where verdant land kissed the cloudless sky. Dagger flapped twice, the thrust of his shoulders good, but waning. Then he took a deep breath, held it, and stretched his wings wide, flight bladders swelling, riding the air like a silent falcon, the only noise the rush of their own wind. They glided past the southern-most watch tower. There should've been a pair of Dradón guardsmen stationed there. But the tower was empty and House Dradón's banner hung limp in the listless air.
42
I
T TOOK THEM
less than half a bell's time to reach her family's farm, and they arrived without incident.
The farmhouse itself was a wide, low-beamed building, roofed with silver-grey slate. It was fronted with a broad courtyard enclosed by a wall of dark stone. The courtyard proper linked the two barns on the eastern side of the compound to the workers' quarters on the west. An oversized House Dradón banner, freshly laundered and pressed, hung from an iron pole fastened to the right of the courtyard's gate.
At the center of the courtyard, two farm hands were crossing the cobblestones. They wore clean work clothes and carried pitchforks. Anna knew them both by their gaits. Dagger banked hard, his shadow growing, then shrinking, as he dropped to the courtyard's center. He landed behind the hands with a muscly grunt.
"Ho there, rider!" the shorter of the two hands, Master Jon, shouted in surprise. Seeing the Tevéss war banner still fixed to Dagger's chest, he dropped immediately into a pikeman's stance, pitchfork held at the ready. He squinted up at Anna, eyes narrow against the sun.
The taller of the two, Master Fredrik, laughed and slapped his buddy on the back, shielding his eyes. "Ha! Miss Anna! Good day!"
"Great Sisters!" Master Jon grinned. "Good morning, Miss Anna! Didn't recognize you, miss! Your mount wears a Tevéss war banner?"
"And see there!" Master Fredrick cried, pointing at the cut on Dagger's ribcage. "He's wounded!"
"Good day, gentlemen." Anna nodded quickly, tired. She unclipped, swung a leg over her saddle, and dropped to the cobblestones, her knees wobbling a bit. She clapped Dagger on the chest and pulled her goggles from her face. Dagger shook his head, growled, and spread his white wings wide, settling back on his haunches. His broad tongue tasted the farm's air. He was tired, too.
"Good to see you both." Anna nodded. "Time's short. Is Mother near?"
"Right here, dragon rider." A strong voice behind her.
Anna turned.
Mother stood in the front doorway, her face hidden by the shadow of the door's gable. She was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore a simple, grey work dress under a leather apron. She was wiping her hands with a white towel, one hand then the other, cleaning each finger with a twisting motion. A steel cleaver and a wooden spoon were tucked neatly into the flat leather belt at her stomach. Anna's youngest sister, Wendi, who'd just turned five, stood halfway behind Mother's dress. She was looking out into the courtyard, her eyes alert and curious, taking it all in—especially Moondagger.
Anna went to them.
"That dragon can't see," Wendi said matter-of-factly.
Dagger's tail swiped at the cobblestones. He snorted and gave a huge yawn. His scales shone brilliant white in the sun.
"That's right," Anna said. "But we fly and fight just the same. Mother, something's happened. Let's go inside."
"How's that work?" Wendi asked.
"What's going on?" Mother asked, frowning. She looked from Dagger to Anna's armor and gear.
"He looks strong," Wendi said. "What's his name? I want to ride him. When can I ride him?"
"Moondagger," Anna said a little too sharply. "Not today." She pulled off her gauntlets, folded them in half, and shoved them up into her bandolier. "I'm here under orders."
"Oh." Wendi nodded and bowed her head. "Orders. Sorry. I see. Moondagger. Sorry."
Anna shook her head. Why was she snapping at Wendi? The kid hadn't seen her in months. Anna picked Wendi up from the threshold and kissed the top of her head. Her hair was warm and clean and smelled like home.
Mother looked past Anna, assessing Dagger's wounds and the Tevéss war banner at his chest with a practiced eye. Her hair was dark, just a touch lighter than Anna's; she wore it in a tight, functional bun. Her mouth flattened to a grim line. Wendi giggled and leaned away as Anna kissed her, pushing at Anna's face with her tiny hands.
"Come inside, then." Mother nodded, smoothing a lock of hair behind her ear. "You have time for food?"
Anna nodded, setting Wendi on the ground. "I'll need something for my mount, too. Right away." She turned to Mother and hugged her.
"Gathered as much." Mother hugged her back, cleared her throat, and clapped her on the armored shoulders, pushing her back and turning into the house. "Come on—."
"What's this ugly-butt baby
dragon
doin' out here?!" Penelope shouted from the far side of the courtyard, jogging up behind Dagger, her smile enormous. "And who's this gangly-bones rider? Don't they know how to rig you people out up there? Jon, Fred? C'mon! You gonna stand by and let this white worm
poop
on your freshly cleaned yard? Great Sisters save
us, lads! Where's your
pride
?!"
The farm hands smiled, but it was forced. They'd heard Mother's tone and they knew something was wrong. Penelope looked at them with a quizzical expression as she crossed the courtyard. She was twelve years old and tall for her age, almost as tall as Anna. She had Mother's hair, Mother's eyes, and Father's square chin. She wore a leather work apron over a long-sleeved work shirt, leather breeches, and a pair of shin-high boots. Her shirt's sleeves were stained bright blue with the family's signature dye. Her boots were toed with caps of black iron and caked with fresh merino dung. Her eyes flashed as she jogged across the cobblestones straight up to Moondagger—then stopped short.
"This dragon's wounded," she said, shooting a hard look at Anna's gear and Mother's expression, taking everything in at once, her eyes flashing. "Jon, send for Master Kellen immediately. Move, man! Have him bring his full kit."
"Yes, Miss Penny." Master Jon bowed and immediately took off towards Master Kellen's study.
"What's happened?" Penny ran up to Anna.
"Come on." Anna turned into the farmhouse.
Mother patted Anna on her back as she passed and said over her shoulder, "Fred, send Dógun out to get a sheep and some fresh water for this mount. Then, bring some hot water and fresh linens here for Master Kellen. He'll tend this dragon where he stands. From what I gather, he won't be here long."
43
"
P
ENNY, GET
MY
maps," Mother said when Anna had finished her story. Her voice was cool, but her eyes smoldered. "We'll adjourn to the library."
They were in the freehold's kitchen. Penny was looking at Anna, her face pale. Wendi was still wiping angrily at her eyes with her little hands; she'd cried when she'd heard about Voidbane. Anna had eaten quickly as she'd told her tale, shoving it down as she spoke. As always, the kitchen was bustling with activity, a dozen young women going to and fro, working on the freehold's evening meal—and trying hard not to eavesdrop. Copper kettles, pots, pans, utensils, and rows of drying herbs hung from the ceiling. Four stone ovens lined the far wall, the centermost glowing with a low fire.
"This moment, ladies," Mother said.
The three sisters nodded, stood from the kitchen's work table, and walked from the kitchen, down the central hallway, towards the family library.
"Cass." Mother stopped one of the kitchen staff as they left. "Finish supper. Then tell everyone that we'll meet in the courtyard two bells before sunset. Every single man, woman, and child on this freehold. Clear?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Cass bowed, glanced at Anna's gear, and quickly moved to obey.
"Wait." Mother smoothed a lock of dark hair behind her ear. "I also want you to send Rocky with a message to Captain Fomór. Have him come this moment. And I want messenger dragons sent to every minor house within three days flight of the Drádonhold. They're to send courier riders to us immediately."
"Yes, ma'am!" Cass bowed.
"Have Jon and Fred unlock the weapons. We're at war."
44
W
ITH THE EXCEPTION
of the windows on the southern and eastern walls, the Dyer family library was set floor to ceiling with beautifully made bookshelves. The shelves themselves were packed with carefully ordered books, tomes, volumes, envelopes, files, and scroll cases. The organization of the collection was by subject, and Anna knew it well. Like all the Dyer children, a large portion of her early years had been spent right here with her first tutors. In the southern corner of the room, an ancient writing desk of Anorian oak sat before a pair of large windows that looked south into the courtyard. A brass globe, showing Dávanor's counties and geography, stood on the desk's corner beside a simple clay pot filled with pens and quills. A pair of large books bound in red leather rested at the desk's center, several pages marked with clean strips of white cotton. The library's eastern windows looked out over the orchards and the forests beyond. A well-polished reading table ran down the room's center.
"Penny, the maps," Mother said.
Penelope nodded, rolled a sliding ladder along the far wall, and scaled a set of shelves. Mother lifted Wendi onto a reading chair so that she could see the table top, lit a pair of brass safety lanterns, and set them on the table.
"Mother," Anna started, "Master Khondus said—."
"Quiet for a moment," Mother said. "Let me think."
Anna closed her mouth. Mother had fought in nearly as many battles as Father. Under her leadership, House Dradón's White Demons had become a legendary squad, renowned for their ferocity and cunning. Penelope came back carrying a leather tube. It was sealed with a bronze cap embossed with the Dallanar Sun, a six-pointed star with a single tear at its center. Mother removed the cap and handed it to Wendi. She took it and rubbed the convex impressions with her tiny finger. Mother thumbed through the maps and pulled forth a large sheet of rolled velum. She smoothed it flat across the desk, placed one lamp on each of its far corners, and hung another lamp on an iron hook suspended over the table.
"Master Khondus's initial plan is correct." Mother looked from the map to Anna. "Even with a message through to Bellános, House Dradón must strike. We must attack Lord Fel and we must attack
now
. We don't know what's happening in the High Keep, but it doesn't matter. If we kill Fel, his sons will tear each other to pieces. The oldest, Halek, is ill and of no consequence. But Malachi and Philip detest each other. Any confusion we can sow in the enemy's ranks is an advantage. Especially if our message made it through to Kon. We need to give Bellános the time he needs to come to our aid. If he sends Michael, this will be over before it's started."
"Who's Bellános?" Wendi asked, pronouncing each syllable of the name with special care, looking at the map.
"The High King," Penelope answered. "The true King of Remain. He wars now against his brother, Dorómy."
"Bellános will help us." Wendi nodded.
"Here's Jorgun Gorge." Mother traced her finger over the snaky canyon that slithered its way through the Green Mountains. "The best and fastest way through. Lord Oskor will come through here." She tapped the map with her fingernail.
"So said Master Borónd." Anna nodded. "But the Tevéss Captain, Corónd? He said Hengén Cleft. He must've been lying."
"To throw you off, in the hope that you'd pass that bad information to your superiors." Mother nodded. "Corónd was always a vain, pompous fool. Regardless, the Cleft makes no sense. It's nearly five times the distance. Penny, pull my map of the Gorge out of there."
"Yes, ma'am," Penelope said.
"The real question," Mother mused, still looking at the map, "is
where
? Where in the Gorge can we hit him? We must strike from above, around midday, the sun above and behind us. That's clear. But is there a particular turn or a bend that we might use to our advantage? Hakon's Hook, of course. But it's obvious. It'll be watched and guarded, without doubt. But if not there, where?"
"Here you are, Mother." Penelope handed her a slightly smaller map. The map showed the topography of the Gorge in detail.
"Good. Help me spread this out. There we are. Now, attend."