* * *
Barabas walked to Riette's side. "How is he?"
"He's weakened and injured thanks to you."
"He fought honorably and may have saved us all. I did my best to protect him."
"It wasn't good enough," Riette said, aware she was being unreasonable. Somehow knowing was not enough to change it. "What's next? Have him fight Argus Kind himself?"
"He came close already," Barabas said.
The Zjhon soldier's eyes went wide at this statement, and the man seemed to shrink in on himself.
Riette could find no words.
"Your brother is braver and stronger than you believe. Size and age are not limits on the power of one's spirit."
"Surely you've figured that much out," Tuck said from behind her. When Riette spun on him, he recoiled.
"Next," Barabas said, ignoring the exchange, "we need to get the carriage back on Dashiq and get away from here. They'll be back. With a few modifications to one of their airships, they'll be able to get here more safely. I want to be gone within the hour."
"She needs longer," Emmet said.
"No, I don't," Riette argued.
"He's talking about Dashiq," Barabas said. "And he's right but we don't have any more time. We've reduced their capabilities, but they still have greater resources than we do. We need food and safe haven if such a thing still exists." The Zjhon soldier remained silent. Barabas turned on him. "How many more aircraft do you have?"
"Many," the man said, but whatever defiance remained in him drained away under the combined gazes of those assembled. "Have you seen the fleet at the Heights?"
"Many times," Barabas growled.
"That is but a quarter of our strength. Three fleets have sailed. The last is divided up into a dozen pods kept at a safe distance."
Barabas nodded. The man's words explained how more and more aircraft kept arriving. "Get the carriage loaded," he said. "It's time to go."
Everyone worked together to get the bulky carriage onto Dashiq's back. The dragon had to land to allow it, and already she appeared less comfortable. Riette felt terrible inflicting pain on the old dragon while struggling to help secure the cumbersome carriage, which was even more unwieldy due to the damage and hasty repairs. With the cinching of each strap, Dashiq groaned, and Emmet moved to put his hands on her again.
Riette grabbed her brother by the shoulders. "Not yet," she said. "You need your strength as well." For once, her brother obeyed in silence, and Riette was thankful. Her heart already ached with worry. The swelling in his face had gone down some, but still he looked like a different person, which freaked her out. Soon, though, they were boarding.
No longer did Riette feel like a mere passenger fleeing the Al'Zjhon. Now she felt like a true combatant in the war. Emmet's contribution was greater than hers, but she, too, had faced death and had killed. It was not something she could think about without tears gathering in her eyes, but she refused to cry, refused to show any sign of weakness. Emmet needed her; she was all he had. Part of her knew the statement wasn't true; Tuck, Barabas, and Dashiq had become like family to Emmet in many ways. Riette had tried to keep her distance, especially knowing they hadn't always acted in her and her brother's best interest, but they had also saved his and her lives multiple times. Like family, she didn't agree with everything they did, nor did she always like them, but they had thus far proven loyal. Also like family, she was pretty well stuck with them, at least for a time.
Once she and Emmet were strapped in, Tuck and Barabas climbed to their saddles. Before they were secured, Dashiq disconnected herself from the land once again. The remaining Zjhon soldier looked up with fearful eyes.
"You've two choices," Barabas said. "You can stay here and hope your brethren are kind enough to come back for you, or we can take you down. Which will it be?"
The man stood speechless for a few moments, considering his words.
"You have three seconds."
"Take me."
The man had no chance to say more before Dashiq snatched him up in her claws. His screams echoed within the valley but ended in a strangled cry. Three times the dragon circled the rising winds emanating from the secluded valley before she cleared the peaks and flew to the far side of the Firstland, where the land was wild and unruly. Here no structures or other signs of human settlement existed.
Soaring low over a black beach, Dashiq released the Zjhon soldier and sent him tumbling along the sands. Perhaps it was a cruel fate, but at least this way the man had a chance at survival. There were no guarantees the rest of them would fare any better. Still, it made Riette cringe when towering creatures emerged from the forest, possibly drawn by human scent. The last she saw the soldier, he was running along the shoreline. In spite of his being her enemy, she wished him well.
Dashiq turned out to sea, and Riette prepared herself for a long journey. There simply was no way to cover vast distances quickly. Barabas had not said where they were headed, most likely due to the presence of the Zjhon soldier.
"Where are we going?" Riette asked.
"Home," Barabas said.
It was enough.
Beside her, though, Emmet stirred. Turning to look back at the largest of the hollowed mountains on the Firstland, he pointed. "Magic."
"We have what we came for." No matter what Barabas said, though, Dashiq turned toward where Emmet pointed.
At first, Riette thought Barabas might protest, but he remained silent, presumably trusting his dragon's instincts. She was still trying to figure out how they communicated and which of them was truly in control. The more she observed, the more she thought it was the dragon. Their current circumstances served to strengthen that belief.
People shouted from within the fabled halls of Windhold, and Riette began to wonder if the dragon simply wished for a quicker end. They were flying into enemy territory in the full light of day. Already heavy weapons fired on them in spite of their being well out of range. Still following Emmet's direction, Dashiq moved higher. Riette looked down her brother's arm to the exact spot where he pointed. Near the peak, far from the mighty wind channels in the heart of the mountain, a dark entrance became visible. No people or aircraft could be seen, and the channel did not go all the way through the mountain as the larger, lower channels did.
All the hair on Riette's neck stood as they closed in. Despite her condition, Dashiq executed a landing so soft and controlled, it felt as if they were still flying. Darkness awaited them, yet Emmet still pointed.
Barabas lit a lantern and left the saddle as quickly as his body would allow. "We don't have long. They will come."
Emmet climbed down before Riette could get herself unstrapped, and she hurried to join them before the precious light moved too far away. Within a few breaths, she raced after them. It didn't take long for her to catch up. Both had stopped and stood in silent disbelief. Before them, on an ancient stone pedestal, was a saddle not unlike the one Dashiq currently wore, save it was studded with clear gemstones that sparkled despite what might have been thousands of years of disuse and neglect. By her guess, the Zjhon had not discovered this place. Layers of dust on the floor gave evidence it had long been undisturbed. How the saddle remained so clean was a mystery, but she had her guesses.
No one spoke. Dashiq moved to where they stood and lowered herself. Barabas unstrapped his saddle but appeared uncertain. Based on the wear, she guessed his saddle was very old, perhaps the only one he'd ever used. The one awaiting them appeared far older, and Riette hoped none of it had rotted over the eons.
With practiced movements, Tuck and Barabas removed the saddle, able to leave the carriage strapped in place. The new saddle was perhaps a bit too large for Dashiq, but Barabas used an awl from his bags to make new holes farther up the straps before buckling them. Soon he climbed up and strapped himself in to the sparkling saddle. Riette took her seat once again, and even she felt the power coursing through the dragon. Perhaps Emmet had saved them all—again.