One Realm Beyond (37 page)
The first arrow she freed reminded her of watching a physician doctoring a soldier. The memory of the flesh around the wound starkly contrasted against the bit of hay coming out with the shaft.
“Ugh, Bixby. Stop thinking about blood and guts. No wonder you get sick to your stomach.” Cantor had all his arrows in his bucket. He pushed her aside and neatly plucked hers from the target.
She stood back, not affronted that he took over her job and handed her one arrow after another. “Shoot a human? Shoot a dragon? I couldn’t do it, Cantor.”
The arrows plunked in the tin bucket as she dropped them.
“Bixby, you have to think in context. What if you were in a desperate battle? Could you shoot to kill? Maybe you could shoot to wound.”
She ran this scenario through her mind and saw Cantor grimace.
He pulled out the last few arrows and shrugged. “Maybe not.” He examined the pulverized red circle. “These two targets are ruined. We’ll have to use the next two in line.”
She heaved a big sigh and picked up her bucket. “All right. I could probably shoot to wound someone who’s hurting a child.”
They walked back to the line they had shot from during the first set.
“We need a challenge,” said Cantor, and led Bixby to the next line that added nine yards to the distance. He grinned as he dropped his bucket and restrung his bow.
The dragons above them had ceased any pretense of battle maneuvers, but they made pass after pass so their wingtips seemed to touch. Then they circled and repeated the strange aerobics.
“What are they doing?” asked Bixby.
“Totobee-Rodolow
,
what are you doing?”
Cantor’s wide smile showed his white teeth against
sun-darkened skin. “They’re passing small objects back and forth. They won’t have to land to give each other something little.”
Totobee-Rodolow flew in a lazy circle, away from her little brother. But she spoke to Bixby.
“I’m exhausted
,
darling
,
and sore. I’d forgotten how rigorous the physical training is. Do tell me
,
sweet child
,
that you have salve for overworked muscles in your healing hamper.”
“I do. Why are you so sore? What have you been doing all day?”
Totobee-Rodolow moaned.
“We did long-distance transport. It’s easier to carry passengers than bulky
,
heavy canvas bags. At least a person
,
you can talk to. Then Dukmee ‘suggested’ we practice battle maneuvers. Now we are passing various objects back and forth. I believe I shall indulge in some therapeutic shopping tomorrow.”
Bixby eyed Cantor, who had lain stretched out on the grass. His eyes followed the dragons’ movements and his mouth remained still. But she knew a conversation was going on between realm walker and dragon even if she couldn’t make out the words. In order to tap into their chat, she would have to concentrate and at the same time block out Totobee-Rodolow’s comments.
Bixby sank to the ground and took up a similar comfortable position, flat on her back with her hands behind her head. She’d much rather natter with her dragon than fire off fifty more arrows.
“How are you doing on your rounds?”
she asked.
“Don’t ask. I thought they’d give me credit for the ones I passed last time.”
“They didn’t?”
“Not a one.”
“That’s horrid.”
Totobee-Rodolow did a graceful backward roll, more of a dance move than a military exercise.
“I think perhaps these sitting-behind-desks councilmen are trying to encourage me to continue my retirement instead of returning to active duty.”
“And that means they’re afraid to have you where you can uncover their criminal deeds.”
“I’m not very interested in their greed
,
immorality
,
and vile cruelty.”
“Oh
,
Totobee
,
you can’t mean that. Surely you don’t want them to continue taking advantage of people
,
cheating them
,
and causing harm
,
even death
,
to those who thwart their efforts.”
“Darling
,
I don’t care what atrocities these evil men commit. But I do care about the citizens who suffer. The councilmen can be as malevolent as they please as long as they hurt no innocent bystanders. But that is not possible. Therefore they must be stopped.”
“I agree. But
,
Totobee-Rodolow
,
I don’t know if I could fight someone for real. I’m getting very good when we practice. But actually hurt someone? I don’t know that I could.”
“It’s instinct
,
dear girl. Someone swings at you
,
you duck. They swing again
,
and you look for a way to stop them. Your instinct will bring your fighting skills into play.”
Bixby started to speak, but her dragon continued.
“And anger
,
rage
,
moral indignation hyped up to its maximum caliber. Someone kicks a child
,
and you do something to stop it. That’s where the training is a double blessing. Not only can you rescue the child
,
but you can control the anger. You’ll use it to defuse a situation. You won’t cross over to be the same kind of brute you are fighting.”
“I think I’m afraid of that. Of hurting someone because it feels good to hurt someone. Avenging the child.”
Bixby had the sensation of leaning against Totobee-Rodolow’s chest with her wings folded around her. She could still see the beautiful dragon gracefully flying in loops above. But she felt warmed as if Totobee-Rodolow held her in an embrace and murmured soothing words in her ear.
“You need not fear
,
darling. Someone watches your heart and will pull you back if that’s what is needed.”
“Primen?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Through loyalty and faithfulness. Your loyalty. His faithfulness.”
B
ridger came to the dinner table with a gloomy expression. Cantor regarded him with concern. His dragon friend rarely frowned quietly. He often complained loudly, but he wasn’t known for stoic displeasure.
“What’s wrong?”
“Have you seen my sister today?”
Cantor shook his head. “No, I haven’t.”
Bridger turned to Bixby. “Have you?”
“Not since early this morning.”
The dragon sat down in one of the special dragon chairs and settled Jesha across his chest. He forgot to tuck in his tail, and the servant coming to place a bowl in front of him tripped. Luckily, the man had superb coordination. He saved the stew and served it with aplomb.
Once the man left the table, Bixby leaned forward and
whispered, “Last night she said she needed a recreational shopping spree.”
Bridger’s face brightened. He stabbed a piece of meat with a claw and stuck it in his mouth. As he chewed, he said, “She must’ve gone to the markets.”
Bixby wrinkled her nose. “Mind your table manners, Bridge. You never know when someone might be scoring you for the etiquette round.”
“Bother!”
An alarm registered in Cantor’s brain. He didn’t like people or dragons to disappear.
“Bridger, can’t you locate her with the connection you have as siblings?”
“I’ve tried, but she’s always been pretty clever at shielding herself when she wants to do something she shouldn’t.”
Cantor turned to Bixby. “How about you? You two had the thought-reading connection down even before we got to the vilta.”
She shook her head and finished chewing before speaking. “No, she’s out of range or something.”
“Use one of your tiaras. Surely you have one to help you locate people.”
Bixby huffed as she pulled out her tiara hamper. “Why are you so upset? She’s probably gone shopping. We’ve all been pushed until we’re ready to snap. And she’s done all this memorizing and stamina building before. It really isn’t fair that they’re making her do it all again.”
Bridger stopped eating to comment. “Dukmee told me they want her to be a part of the team. If she didn’t go through the program with us, we wouldn’t have the shared experiences in exactly the same way. Besides . . .”
The brother’s grin reminded Cantor of the expressions he’d seen on human siblings’ faces. Ornery and smug. “Go on. Besides . . . ?”
“Training is supposed to make you humble. My sister could use a dose of humility.” Once the words were out, he looked embarrassed to have spoken them. He hurried to explain. “Well, you have to understand. I’m proud of her. She’s amazing. But sometimes she knows just how fabulous she is, and it shows.”
Bixby placed a crown on her head.
Cantor wondered how much it weighed. The massive headdress combined filigreed gold, plush red velvet, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. Only Bixby could wear the monstrosity and not look absurd.
By all rights, she should. He’d known ten-year-olds taller than she was. And since he’d carried her all the way down the running hill, he knew she didn’t weigh as much as a feather pillow. And her hair? Well, maybe her bushy blonde explosion of hair actually helped offset the size of the crown.
His mind came back to the missing Totobee-Rodolow. “Well?”
Bixby scowled at him. “Wait a minute. I just put it on. And be quiet.”
She closed her eyes and looked beautifully serene. He was about to quiz her when she frowned.
“What is it?” he asked at the same time Bridger demanded, “What’s wrong?”
Her eyes flew open, and she glared with her lips pressed together in an angry line. “Would you take it easy? Let me concentrate.”
She returned to her closed-eyed, meditative look. Cantor
had to remind Bridger twice not to speak. The dragon would open his mouth and Cantor would pinch his arm, along with shaking his head and putting a finger to his lips.
At last, Bixby opened her eyes. “Nothing.”
Cantor pushed his plate away. “I think we should take this seriously. Let’s go to the markets.”
Bixby’s eyes glowed. “All of them?”
Cantor laughed in spite of his concern. “Yes.” As he stood, he slapped Bridger on the back. “You’ll have to fly us, Bridge.”
Bixby stood and looked around the room. The servants were now having their dinner at tables lined up against the wall right outside the kitchen door. Everywhere she went, Bixby had always had an easy camaraderie with the household servants. These men and women had snobbery down to an art. She didn’t trust them to not snitch on her and her friends should they do anything unusual. “Don’t we have to get permission?”
Bridger cast an eye at the servants as well. “I’m not sure we’d get it.”
“Dukmee isn’t in here.” Cantor stilled. The tension from his two companions climbed his spine in a series of warning shivers. “Act natural. We don’t want to draw attention to our departure. Let’s just head for our rooms, and when we get to the dormitory wing of the vilta, we’ll slip outside.”
Before they left, Cantor got a jacket. Flying at night was cold business. Bridger tried to leave Jesha in their room, but the cat slipped out the door every time they attempted to shut her inside.
“I guess she’s coming,” said Cantor after the third try.
“You’re a nuisance, cat.” Bridger gestured. “Come on.”
They got away without any interference from the staff.
Oddly, no one seemed to care whether they went to study or swim or run away completely. That by itself made Cantor suspicious.
Bridger enlarged himself so he could accommodate two riders comfortably. He also shape-shifted a double saddle with large handles to hold on to and slots in his sides to use as stirrups. When Bixby rode Totobee-Rodolow, she needed a girth strapped around the dragon.
“Bridger,” she said, “
you
are a superior mor dragon.”
“Tell that to the realm walker riding behind you.”
“Oh, he knows.”
Cantor ignored them. “Let’s go to the market farthest away, then work our way back.”
Bixby agreed. “That would be Plainsmen Plaza. Totobee-Rodolow and I have some favorite vendors there. If she’s been there, it should be easy to find someone who’s seen her.”
The nighttime atmosphere of the market sparkled and chimed much more than the quiet daytime business. Housekeepers and serious customers had gone home to bed. Cantor remembered festivals back home where friends and neighbors danced through town. This crowd had a brittle edge to it, as if the revelers partied to relieve frustration, not to celebrate life.
In the evening air, the scent of fruits and flowers permeated the atmosphere. Each booth had strings of lanterns to light their wares. Bixby exclaimed over the dainty, more plentiful lights decorating some shops.
“I want to learn how to make these.”
“Later,” said Cantor, scowling at the people passing.
In the background, a band played with lots of flutes, bells, and handheld harps dominating the music. And under all the
forced gaiety, the current of anger drained the atmosphere of joy.
Bridger had withdrawn in size and in manner. He stalked through the aisle, looking at everyone suspiciously. Bixby stopped to look at the merchandise.
