Dragons vs. Drones (16 page)

She turned to Lourdvang.

“Do you know of a dragon named Nolong? He is a Sage.”

Lourdvang paused. “I don't know the name. I have heard that some Sages have escaped from the dragon hunters and live in secret in these mountains, but I don't know where.”

Vero seemed to consider this. “If you ever see him, can you tell him I asked?”

Dree and Marcus looked at each other, confused.

“We . . . knew each other long ago,” Vero explained. “In different times. I was forbidden from seeing him—Flames cannot be with other clans. It is considered unseemly. When I heard about the attacks, I wondered if he was among the dead.”

“I'll keep an eye out for him,” Lourdvang said. “If I see him, I will tell him.”

“Thank you,” Vero said, nodding her head. “Helvath will never help you. He truly believes the machines are clearing out the countryside of pests, and he will not interrupt their work. He has grown idle and crueler with age, as heartless as the mountain we stand on. But I believe you when you say they will come for us. I have seen them work.”

She leaned in, lowering her voice to a rumbling whisper.

“Helvath is a liar. We do not have the Egg.”

“What?” Dree blurted out.

“We did, but it was stolen years ago. Have you heard the story of the town of Toloth?”

Dree frowned. “Of course. It was burned to the ground by the Flames.”

“Yes,” Vero said quietly. “By Helvath himself, in fact. When the Egg was stolen over ten years ago, they followed the trace of it back to Toloth. In his rage, Helvath attacked and destroyed the town, killing everyone. But still he did not find the Egg. We never saw it again.”

Marcus and Dree exchanged a disappointed look.

“So the Egg is lost,” Dree murmured.

Vero paused. “Perhaps. But I would bet anything that it sits deep in the palace—right beneath your government's watchful gaze. I think they stole it to keep it from us.”

“Why do you think that?” Dree asked.

“Because the thief left something behind,” Vero said simply. “And I am the one who found it. An empty envelope with a broken wax seal: the royal seal of Dracone. I knew it from the flags on the battlements. The thief must have dropped it.”

“Why didn't you tell Helvath?” Marcus asked.

“Because he would have burned the city to the ground in his wrath. He almost did it anyway. I did not know he was headed for Toloth, or I would have tried to stop him from that ill-advised flight as well. I do not share his hatred of other beings. I spared the city for a little while. But if this Egg will help your creation, then go and get it. And please bring it back.”

Marcus leaned back on Lourdvang, his mind racing. Who had stolen the Egg? It couldn't have been his father—he hadn't been in Dracone ten years ago. Was it someone from his world, though? Either way, Marcus knew they were getting closer to the truth, and maybe they would find answers in the palace.

“We'll get the Egg,” he said, ignoring Dree's exasperated look. “Thank you.”

Vero nodded. “Now go . . . and don't return.”

With that, she turned and hurried back into the cavern. Lourdvang took off again, and Dree followed on Baby Hybrid. It shuddered and dipped as it ascended after Lourdvang. Dree had to admit, in its current state, the hybrid wouldn't stand a chance against the drones. But the Egg was out of their reach; there was no way they could get into the palace.

“Should we wait for nightfall?” Marcus called over the wind.

“We're not going,” Dree said.

“What?”

Baby Hybrid and Lourdvang were flying close together so that Dree and Marcus could shout at each other over the wind.

“It's impossible,” she said. “The palace is extremely well guarded.”

“You said the same thing about the Teeth,” he pointed out.

“Yes, and Helvath could have destroyed us if he wanted to!”

Marcus scowled. “I'm going. I understand if you don't want to.”

“You'll be arrested.”

“That's fine.”

Dree turned to him. “You think your father is in the palace, don't you?”

“He could be,” Marcus said.

Dree shook her head. She couldn't blame Marcus for wanting to find his father, but it was no reason to get them all killed. He was going on a hunch and nothing more. Was it worth breaking into the most heavily defended place in Dracone to find something they didn't even know for sure
was there? Dree thought about Abi and her brothers, huddling in the cave. She thought of all the other people being attacked in the city. On the other hand, wasn't it worth the risk if there was even a slight chance that the Egg could stop the killing?

If the Egg allowed her to destroy the drones and save her family, then yes. It was a big
if
, but she had to try. There were thousands of other people in danger, and one of them was Abi. Baby Hybrid couldn't save them in its current state. But with the Egg, they had a chance.

“Fine,” Dree said, glancing at Lourdvang. “But this time we take—”

She didn't get the chance to finish her thought. Without warning the fire in the hybrid suddenly sputtered and went out, and Baby Hybrid plummeted from the sky.

Chapter
19

B
aby Hybrid fell fast, and Dree had to hold on to the steel plate just to keep from slipping off its back. Even then, her fingers were slipping on the metal.

“Baby Hybrid!” Dree screamed. “Power on!”

But nothing happened. It was just a hunk of steel, immobile and lifeless.

Just like Dree was about to become.

Above her, Marcus and Lourdvang had swept into a dive of their own, Lourdvang's wings and legs tucked tightly against his body. Marcus was hugging Lourdvang's neck, trying to stay flat, and a million thoughts were racing through his mind, not the least of which was Dree smashing into the valley below. He must have installed the power cells
incorrectly. Maybe the processing core had overheated. He had done this—if Dree died, it was his fault.

“Faster!” he shouted at Lourdvang, already knowing it was impossible.

The hybrid was about two hundred yards from the ground now and falling fast. He saw Dree screaming orders over the wind, trying to restart it. She looked manic, beating the steel with her fist as her hair whipped around and they fell lower.

“Let go!” Marcus called as loudly as he could, knowing she would fall much slower if she spread out her arms and legs and created air resistance.

Dree couldn't hear him, but she already knew that. She just didn't want to let Baby Hybrid fall. It was their chance—it was the one thing she had done to protect her family. If Baby Hybrid was gone, then she had failed them again. She had failed everyone. And even as the ground rushed toward her—a serene valley of ponds and trees and birds that would kill her instantly—she still held on to that hope. A part of her wondered if it was her fate to smash into the ground along with her last chance of redemption.

“Please . . . start!” she pleaded, trying to reach inside the hybrid and trigger the power cells by hand. For just a moment, there was a flicker. But it stayed black.

“Let go!” someone roared. It was Lourdvang. She looked up, feeling tears flood her eyes—either from the cold or the thought of losing the hybrid. She saw Marcus on Lourdvang's back, screaming the same thing, and the tears
blurred them together into a shadow chasing her from the past. All of a sudden she saw Gavri, riding on a dark memory.

She saw his strawlike hair in the sun, his eyes as warm as the meadow below. She wanted to say something to him—to apologize, to tell him she loved him, to just weep. But he spoke first.

“Let go.”

His voice was calm and gentle. It was the voice of her little brother—so full of wonder. And at once, she knew there would be another chance. That it wasn't over.

She let go of the steel plate and felt herself floating. She turned in midair and opened her legs and arms like Lourdvang had taught her, the wind buffeting her furiously. And through her blurred vision, she felt great claws wrap around her body from above.

Marcus finally relaxed as Lourdvang opened his wings and caught the wind, slowing their terrible fall. They were mere yards from the ground. Then Baby Hybrid hit.

It was bad, but it could have been worse. The valley below was marshy and soft, so Baby Hybrid dug deep into the soil, hitting with a sickening thud instead of a crash. He saw the legs crumple and bend, the wings shatter from their pistons, and the head slap hard into the ground. The entire hybrid seemed to shrink from the impact, but it didn't break.

It wasn't over yet.

Lourdvang landed gently in the marsh, dropping Dree into the spongy grass that reached almost to Lourdvang's
knees. Marcus heard desperate cries of birds and beasts as the dragon landed in their midst, and he leapt off of Lourdvang's back and raced to Dree.

She just lay there as Lourdvang stepped back, staring into the sky.

Her face was wet from tears.

Marcus knelt beside her, his hand on her shoulder. He had never even imagined that Dree was capable of crying. He knew it wasn't fear. It was losing the hybrid.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently.

She looked at him and smiled. “I'm fine.”

The calm in her voice threw Marcus off. “We were worried you wanted to go down with the ship.”

“I thought about it,” she said, pushing herself up onto her elbows. “But I changed my mind. How is she?”

Marcus smirked. “She could use a good welder.”

“Then we better get to work,” Dree said, letting Marcus pull her up.

“If you ever do that again—” Lourdvang growled.

Dree hugged his leg. “I'm sorry, little brother. Thanks for the catch.”

Lourdvang just grunted and then nuzzled against her. Dree stayed close to him for a moment, letting his heat spill through her and erase the tears.

“I saw him,” she whispered.

Lourdvang didn't need to ask. “And?”

“And he wanted me to stay here.”

Lourdvang pulled away and looked at her. “And so do I.”

Dree nodded, feeling the tears well again. She quickly turned away, wiping them with her arm. “Let's get Baby Hybrid home.”

It was not an easy trip. Lourdvang struggled terribly with the combined weight of two riders and the hybrid, which he had clutched in his feet. He had to flap constantly to keep them aloft, and Dree whispered encouraging words to him as he struggled through the mountains, keeping low in case he suddenly plummeted from the sky as well.

But Lourdvang made it to Forost, and when he finally set the hybrid down, he immediately collapsed onto the ledge. Dree rushed over to him, and Marcus let them have a moment together. He inspected Baby Hybrid and found that the inner casing of the drone core was still largely intact—particularly the power cells and processor. That meant they could rebuild the frame around it.

But Marcus was definitely concerned—that was twice the hybrid had conked out. And even when it worked, he still questioned if it could stand up to the drones. He was more convinced than ever that they needed the Egg.

“I told you that thing would kill you all,” a deep voice grumbled.

Erdath walked out onto the windswept ledge, looking between the damaged hybrid and Lourdvang, who was still trying to push himself to his feet.

“What did they say?” Erdath asked.

Marcus looked away. “They said no. But they don't even have the Egg. They told us where it is.”

Erdath frowned. “Where?”

“The palace,” Dree replied. “A human stole it years ago.”

Erdath seemed to consider this. “And now you want to steal it back.”

“We leave tonight,” Marcus said firmly.

“Not Lourdvang,” Dree cut in, still stroking his forehead. “We're taking Baby Hybrid in—it's not safe for a dragon near the city.”

Marcus looked at Baby Hybrid, frowning.

“Clearly I'm going to fix it first,” she snapped. “Erdath?”

Erdath sighed deeply, and then he grabbed the hybrid and started pulling it into the cavern. “Humans,” he growled. “It was so peaceful without them.”

Marcus just smirked and followed him in. He was excited to get back to work.

This time they would get it right.

Dree worked through the afternoon, repairing the damage and fortifying the hybrid with their leftover scrap metal. Marcus had managed to reposition the power cells, and he even had made some improvements to the wiring, hoping to address the cause of the sudden power outages. He wasn't completely sure, but he thought Baby Hybrid would retain
her power for far longer now. He hoped, anyway.

Dree was relentless. Sweat poured over her face like a waterfall, soaking her clothes and keeping her blinking as she welded. They slept for less than an hour.

They did take a small break to join Lourdvang in the main cavern for the naming ceremony for a new young dragon. Dree and Marcus sat in the corner, wrapped in shadows as the gathering of dragons hummed and sang and growled in their own language. In the middle of the circle was a young Nightwing, about the size of an elephant and pitch-black, looking small and scared at all the attention.

Lourdvang was close, translating once in a while.

“What's happening?” Dree asked.

“They're telling a story of the first Nightwings,” Lourdvang said, watching the ceremony closely. He listened for a moment. When he spoke again, it was almost in tune, low and gravelly but strangely soothing. “They came from the earth and shadows,” he started. “Flying in the great depths below. But when they emerged from the mountains they saw the stars like fire in the deep, and they knew they had finally come home.”

Dree and Marcus listened, pressed together against the rock wall.

“They dug into Forost and roamed the skies, finding beasts and birds and other dragons that came from forests and fire and the stars. One day they found man, and friends they became, brothers and sisters that rode together on the northern wind.”

As they watched, Erdath stood over the young dragon and blew out a smoky shape—a dragon fully formed—and then breathed fire into the smoke to light it up. The dragons sang louder, and Erdath seemed to grow over them like the mountain itself.

“In time the Nightwings grew far and wide, and the young were born under the stars, under shadow and power. And to you, young one, we call you to the clan. You live with your kin, you fly with your kin, you die with your kin. Will you answer the call?”

The young dragon rumbled, and the crowd shook with excitement.

Erdath stood taller and growled something. Songs and shouts filled the room like an orchestra gone mad.

“Then I name you Windrin,” Lourdvang said quietly. “May you fly far.”

Dree and Marcus watched as the celebration began, and Marcus was left thinking about how these dragons had a culture and beliefs and families, and how wrong it was that the humans in Dracone had turned on them. Part of him wanted to protect the dragons most of all.

They walked back to their side cavern in silence, both lost to their thoughts.

The next day there was only welding work to be done, so Marcus and Lourdvang just watched over Dree as she worked. Finally, after growing more and more agitated with the extra eyes on her, she turned to them.

“Why don't you give Marcus some flying lessons?” she
said to Lourdvang. “If we're going into battle, you better make sure he knows how to stay on your back.”

Marcus looked at Lourdvang hopefully, and he nodded. “Very well.”

Soon they were high over the mountains, soaring in and out of the clouds and laughing uproariously as Lourdvang sent them into occasional dives.

“Ready to try a corkscrew?” Lourdvang asked, glancing back.

Marcus hunched down and gripped his scales tightly. “Let's do it.”

Lourdvang immediately sent them spinning through the air, diving at the same time. The clouds and mountains rolled over Marcus's head in a blur, and he felt incredible g-forces pulling at his body from all directions. He shouted with delight as Lourdvang straightened again, catching a current and gently sailing upward into the clouds.

Marcus felt incredibly free up in the air—the world was small below, and so were its many problems. In the sky, he didn't have to think about what he looked like or what other people thought about him or even about his endless search for his father. There were only air and sun and clouds—only peace.

“So there are no dragons where you come from?” Lourdvang asked.

“No,” Marcus replied. “We have planes—kind of like the drones, but some are as big as Flames, and hundreds of people ride on them across the globe.”

Lourdvang turned to look at him. “I would like to see such a thing.”

Marcus laughed. “I think it might cause a panic if you showed up in my world.”

“What do you do in your world?”

“I'm a student. Well, most of the time. Other than that I kind of just looked for my dad.”

“You said he disappeared when you were young?”

“Yes. I believe he came here, but I don't know where.”

Lourdvang grunted. “My parents left me when I was a baby. I do not remember them. Not much, anyway. I remember something standing over me—something large and warm. I remember sadness, and then nothing. Even as a baby, I thought I was going to die. Dragons grow faster than humans, and we start with a more developed mind. Part of survival. But we are not independent. I needed help to survive.”