Damara left the Hooded Dragon’s body at last, reminded that Faren was still nowhere to be seen. She walked onward, though not sure of where she was going as she thought of the child.
What if Hasten devoured her?
She shook her head to clear the awful vision that formed in her head.
No, there would have been evidence of that.
What drove him mad so suddenly? She recalled the dragon’s shuddering muscles and rolling eyes. Could that happen to any dragon at any time?
“Letting himself be killed by a mere human…”
Damara slowed as she heard Chasm scoffing nearby. She saw him a little ways away beside Iris, who rested with her back to Damara, curled around a tree.
The female snorted in contempt. “Well, what would you expect of Veer’s mate?”
“Maybe that’s what drove him mad,” Chasm jested.
Iris snickered.
“Slain by that so called Dragon Knight and his pet monigon!” Chasm sneered. “It’s no wonder dragonkind is nearly extinct. So few are as strong and cunning as you and I. But that leaves us with a certain responsibility.” He paused for a moment, giving her a conceited look. “How can we just stand by and watch our species die?”
Iris narrowed her eyes knowingly.
Chasm leaned in and tenderly touched his snout to hers. “I want you to bear my offspring,” he told her. “Through them, my legacy can carry on.”
Iris frowned. “You mean our legacy.”
He snorted.
“Your legacy will live on through mine,” Chasm reassured her. “But only if you provide me with heirs.” He studied her a moment.
The garish female closed her eyes, thinking. “Very well,” she consented. Opening her eyes again, she gazed at him to say, “I will provide you with heirs.”
Heirs?! Damara hurried away. She imagined an entire clutch worth of dragons identical to Chasm and Iris, roaming about the kingdom.
The world couldn’t bear that!
Damara trudged out of the devastated town, fear billowing up inside her like the clouds gathering above her head.
A few trees stood nearby, their leaves turning red. She could feel that fall was in the air.
I hope Faren has her cloak with her, Damara worried, pulling her own cape tight around her shoulders as a chilling breeze came. Grimacing, she tugged her hood over her head, reminded of the Hooded Dragon once again.
What will the knight do without his dragon? She dropped her gaze, ashamed to think of the valiant beast as if he were mere livestock. I wish I could have heard him speak.
She remembered all the times she’d seen him fight so noble, so brave. And all the while, his eyes had been covered, his flight steered by the reins in the Dragon Knight’s gloved hands.
Her heart quickened as she recalled how closely she had come to seeing the Dragon Knight’s face.
He was just taking off his helmet when Chasm came and sent him flying off the saddle.
Chasm…I’ve never seen him so ferocious before.
Is he unstoppable now? she feared. Well…Hasten is dead. Both sides are down one dragon. Which is stronger now?
Damara fixed her eyes on the scene before her. Just focus on finding Faren, she told herself. She needs you the most.
She scanned the area, looking over rocks and trees and wide open fields.
She could be anywhere!
What I wouldn’t give for a hunting monigon. One of those could lead me straight to her.
She bit her lip. Chasm could lead me straight to her. He found me in all of Wystil, just by my scent.
Damara couldn’t decide which was the better option for Faren- being lost all alone or being back under Chasm’s control.
But she still needs me.
Come on, think! Damara told herself, frustrated. Where could Faren be?
Hurriedly, she scaled a tree to search from above.
She’d look like nothing more than a little red speck, Damara thought as she peered through prickly green needles of an exceptionally tall pine tree. Just another fall leaf blowing in the wind.
“Faren!” she yelled as loudly as she could from the top of the tree, knowing it was no use.
Ravens rose from the fire-colored canopy, cawing obnoxiously just as the grey sky began to drizzle. Descending the tree, Damara tried to recall the last time she’d seen Faren, and if the child had said anything to hint at where she could find her.
She was off to gather chicken eggs. But I searched the whole town and she wasn’t there!
Curse me, she swore angrily, pressing her forehead into the bark. Faren was there for me when I was ill. But now that she needs me- where am I?