Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (43 page)

They passed over an eroded bank protruding into the river when a long, high-pitched howl drew their attention. Namir pivoted to face the bank as a mud-colored dog limped heavily into view, its tail wagging. The dog barked louder, wagging its tail faster.

“As much as I hate to leave a dog, Namir, we are here to find Kirynn. Besides, I do not think Cat would appreciate sharing you.”

“The dog showed herself for a reason. Most canines are afraid of dragons at first or threatened. This one is neither. She has had contact with dragons before.”

“Now it’s a ‘she?’”

“I can smell her from here, even covered in mud. We will land and investigate.”

Vaddoc glanced down at the river, sighing in resignation.
“Of course we will.”

The gold lowered himself to the ground just beyond the reaching branches of the trees. A hot wind rippled the grass of the prairie behind them, doing little to cool the sweat running down Vaddoc’s face. He wiped it away and unfastened the safety straps. The dog limped a few more steps before lying down with a whimper, though her tail never stopped its happy wag.

Vaddoc jumped down from the saddle, loosened the catcher strap, and then walked toward the dog. Her tail picked up its pace the closer he got. He knelt and offered a hand to her. She eagerly licked it, joyful whines mingling with her whimpers.

Bloody smears and dried mud mixed with the fur. Vaddoc stroked her head, working his fingers into the crusty fur to rub behind her ears while he looked her over. One swollen back leg appeared broken and there was a large gash on her chest, but no injuries to account for the blood on her head and scruff. The dog stood and limped into the trees. Vaddoc glanced back at Namir.

“You should probably go with her,”
Namir sent.

Vaddoc barely stepped beneath the sparse, waving canopy when he saw them. Lenya was curled on her side. Kirynn, less than an arm’s length away from the child, laid on her back. Both were coated in the dried mud of the river blending them perfectly into the ground.

“Namir, call off the search. We found her.”

“I told you the dog got our attention for a reason,”
came the dragon’s smug return.

A few long strides brought Vaddoc to Kirynn’s side, a mixture of relief and worry flashing through him. After taking a deep breath, he did his best to shut down the emotions that welled up and tried to think only as a soldier as he assessed her injuries.

Fresh, bright-red blood oozed through the crust of mud around a stick driven into Kirynn’s side. A smear of muddy red in her hair drew his attention. With gentle fingers, he found a deep cut with a large swelling under it. Her lower left leg was swollen twice its normal size and bent at an odd angle. He dropped to one knee next to her. “Kirynn?”

She didn’t wake or move. Turning, he checked Lenya for a pulse and found it beating strong. The child didn’t appear injured, and he gently shook her. Rich dark eyes opened slowly and stared at him before she sat up. Her expressionless face gazed toward the river. “Lenya, are you hurt?”

She didn’t answer him. Her eyes, devoid of emotion, remained fixed on the moving water. He turned back to Kirynn as the wind from the wings of several dragons sent the canopy overhead into a frenzy of slapping branches and rustling leaves. Nira and Serena appeared under the trees and knelt to either side of Kirynn, their faces etched with concern, both wearing the same no-nonsense expression.

Vaddoc stood and backed out of their way. Serena knelt next to the swollen leg, muttering about multiple breaks and shattered bones. Nira laid a hand near the protruding stick and closed her eyes. Her other hand began easing the stick out.

Nira managed to pull three inches of thin branch from Kirynn when she jerked up with a roar and slammed her left fist into Nira’s face. The healer tumbled back into the dirt with blood flowing from her nose.

“Hold her,” Nira ordered sharply and climbed to her feet. The blood smeared across the black skin of her cheek when she attempted to wipe it away.

Vaddoc shoved Kirynn back down by her shoulders. Her fist connected with his cheek as she spit curses at him. Maneuvering around, until he knelt above her head, he caught her flailing arms and pinned them down under his legs while pressing his hands against her shoulders and using the full weight of his upper body to hold her. Even with his greater strength, she was hard to hold.

“Make your repairs quick, Nira,” he said.

Nira resumed her position next to Kirynn and began working the stick out. Vaddoc strained to hold Kirynn as she thrashed and screamed. She glared at him, and he could see by her uneven pupils that the blow to her head was causing her violent reactions.

Three more inches of branch came out and finally she was free of that pain. Though still growling a constant string of curses that would have curdled the ears of the raunchiest tavern patrons, she finally relaxed a little under his hold.

Serena still worked on the leg, her brow furrowed in concentration. Nira, finished with mending the injuries caused by the stick, moved to work on the large lump on Kirynn’s head. Kirynn relaxed even more until her eyelids drooped and finally closed.

Finished, Nira opened her eyes, slumped back, and wiped at the small trickle of blood that still ran from her nose. She tore off part of her sleeve and pressed it to her face before glancing at Vaddoc. “You can release her now. Serena is almost done and Kirynn sleeps deeply. After her injuries and the extensive healing, her body is drained of energy. It may be a few hours before she wakes.”

Vaddoc rocked back on his heels and stood while Nira arranged Kirynn’s arms into a more comfortable position. When she was through, he offered his hand to the healer.

She took it and smiled. “Thank you.” Her dark eyes and haggard expression spoke of exhaustion. Even with the mages working on the minor wounds that had come in from the three battles, the Yellows had spent too much time doing little else but healing.

More heavy wind buffeted the trees as the other dragons landed. By the time Serena sat back with a ragged sigh, most of the other riders had gathered. She wiped her brow with a shaky hand and glared at the group of them. “Well this makes a lot of sense.”

“What do you mean?” Kellinar asked as he helped her to her feet.

“The lot of you standing around here. Kirynn was located and being healed by two more than capable Yellow Riders and yet you all felt the need to land anyway instead of returning to Markene or Galdrilene or any number of safer locations.” She shook his supporting arm away and brushed the dirt off the back of her pants.

“We came in case you had need of us,” Mckale said.

“And what need would we have?” Serena pushed away the short, dark strands of hair that clung to her sweaty forehead, making them stick out in odd directions then began walking toward the edge of the trees. “If an attack were imminent, you would have done more good if you were still flying on your dragons watching for danger. Or did you just want to create more work for the healers than they already have?”

Vaddoc frowned after Serena. What had gotten in her?

Nira sighed and said, “Don’t mind her. She is beyond tired and not in her best temper because of it.”

Mckale glanced toward the east side of the river as Nira laid a hand on Lenya. “She does make a good point.” He looked back at them. “Everyone but Nira, Kellinar, and Vaddoc needs to get back to their dragons and Slide out of here.”

Vaddoc nodded as everyone but Mckale, Kellinar, and Nira headed back to their dragons. “I will transport Kirynn to Galdrilene if one of you can take Lenya.”

“I can transport myself—thank you very much—and Lenya too,” Kirynn growled, slowly sitting up.

“You are not even supposed to be awake, and you certainly are not strong enough to hold onto Lenya while in flight.” Vaddoc reached down and clasped her lower arm.

Kellinar shook his head and mumbled something about stubborn women.

Using Vaddoc’s help, Kirynn hauled herself to her feet and wobbled. “Burn it all. Flaming piles of rotting shadow carcasses...” her voice trailed off into a string of grumbled curses before she finally took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “Fine. You may be right about me not being able to hold Lenya. You can help me gain my saddle and then you can transport her.”

Kirynn turned to Nira as the dark-skinned healer pulled away from the child. “Is she all right?”

“I have healed all of the cuts, they were fairly shallow. There is nothing wrong with her physically that food and drink won’t cure.” Nira frowned. “Whatever else ails her is beyond the abilities of a healer.”

Mckale clasped Vaddoc on the shoulder. “I will take Lenya. You make sure Kirynn the Obstinate doesn’t fall off Syrakynn before the safety straps are buckled.”

Vaddoc nodded and frowned at Kirynn. “I will do my best. What about the dog?”

“Dog?”

Vaddoc pointed to where the dog lay in the shadows of the trees, her muddied fur blending into the scenery. “She is the reason we found Kirynn.”

Mckale approached the animal who gave a happy yip as he drew closer. He took the dog’s head in his hands and looked in her face. “Mola?”

The dog’s tail wagged furiously while her tongue covered his face in a multitude of licks. “How in the Fates did you get here?” He rubbed her head and behind her ears. “It’s good to see you, girl.”

Kellinar ran a hand over his braids. “She must have washed down in the flood.”

“She’s injured.” Mckale turned to Nira. “Can you heal her or are you too tired?”

“I will heal her.” She knelt next to the dog, worked her fingers into the dirty fur, and closed her eyes.

“I’ll take Lenya to Galdrilene so you can bring Mola,” Kellinar said as he stooped to pick the child up. Lenya offered no resistance, her eerie silence continuing.

Bending, Vaddoc pulled Kirynn’s arm around his shoulders and wrapped his arm around her waist for support while she made her unsteady way to Syrakynn. Kirynn shot a glare at the red as she reached for the saddle. “I’m fine,” she said in response to what Vaddoc figured was likely an admonishment from the dragon.

He had to practically lift Kirynn into the saddle and help her fasten the straps. “Are you sure you do not wish to put aside your stubborn pride and ride Namir with me?”

“I can fly my own dragon home.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You will not fly her home. She will fly you home. Make sure you show her more gratitude than you have shown your rescuers.”

Kirynn sighed and eyed him for a moment. “I offer my heartfelt gratitude for your assistance.”

“Nothing like a formal thank you to make one feel warm and fuzzy.”

“Let me get to Galdrilene and rest and I assure you, I will make your efforts more than worth your while.”

The spark in her eye that accompanied the words sent the blood racing through his veins. “Then by all means, my lady, make haste in your return and rest.”

She sent him a tired smile as he stepped away from the red. When he was far enough back to be clear of her wings, Syrakynn launched herself into the sky.

When he turned toward Namir, Kellinar was busy fastening safety straps with Lenya held securely in front of him. Mckale emerged from the trees with Mola in his arms, and Nira followed. By the time Vaddoc was in his saddle and ready to go Kellinar had left, Mckale was almost ready, and Nira was already in the air.

Vaddoc took a long, last look at the land on the far side of the river. At one time, it had been his home. Now it was nothing more than a bloodied prize held by the enemy. At least they hadn’t lost any riders in the three battles, though how long their luck could hold out was anyone’s guess.