Dragon Valley Trilogy Page 25

  ‘I will not stay here and abandon my father and my village! My village needs the elf stone,’ he shouted at Brax and his voice echoed around the cone, bouncing back and making it seem like a crowd was yelling. ‘We brought your dragon back and now we’re leaving!’

  The echoes of Kheron’s outburst slowly petered out and the cone remained silent as everyone waited for Brax’s reaction. Rhonan half expected the bronze dragon to breathe fire and bellow in anger. Brax was the royal leader of the entire dragon kin and Rhonan doubted that anyone was permitted to speak to him like that.

  Finally the bronze dragon nodded briefly and turned his attention to the hundreds of dragons and people watching.

  Danger of blue dragons invading our valley is great. Decision for entire valley. Leave gate unsealed to send heroes home? Seal now? You decide.

  Dragons flew from their perches. People below began to talk loudly. The entire cone was abuzz with noise and flying dragons. Brax and Jerrik stood waiting silently. After what seemed a very long time the noise finally subsided. Dragons retook their perches and the crowds below fell silent. Jerrik stepped to the edge again and addressed everyone in the cone.

  ‘Cast a red sphere if you wish the gateway sealed immediately. Cast a yellow sphere to allow it to stay open while we find a way to send the children home.’

  Instantly hundreds of small lights, similar to the ones which hung high above them, began to float into the air. Small round balls of light that drifted upwards. Rhonan peered down and saw that they were a mixture of yellow and red.

  ‘How did they do that?’ Dyahn asked as she pointed at Toby and Merryn. They both had a small globe of light hovering on their outstretched palm. Both of them were yellow.

  ‘I guess it’s sort of like enhancing a moonstone,’ Kheron suggested.

  ‘There are quite a few red ones,’ Rhonan muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

  ‘We must wait for everyone to vote,’ Jerrik said as he released a yellow globe into the air. The globes floated up and separated. Red ones filled half of the top of the cone and yellow filled the other half.

  ‘Need to count,’ Brax said, signalling two smaller dragons to fly up to the globes. A minute later they flew back down and a brief, heated discussion broke out as the dragons huddled together with Jerrik and Brax.

  Jerrik broke away from the group and closed his eyes briefly before announcing the verdict. Rhonan held his breath. These people and dragons were about to decide if they were allowed to return to their homes and families.

  ‘The vote was close - but the gateway will be sealed in the morning,’ he said simply and without the emotion that showed clearly in his eyes. He cast a sympathetic look at the three children before he turned and walked off across the rope bridge.

  Dyahn was sobbing quietly with tears trickling down her cheeks and Merryn was trying to comfort her.

  Brax leapt into the air and hovered, causing a great down-draft that almost blew them off the platform. Tryx flew down and landed next to them. She looked at her new friends as if looking for the right words. She looked far older than the curious, mischievous dragon they knew.

  Tryx. Brax called and the smaller golden dragon reluctantly flew after her father.

  The rest of them stood looking stunned for a few minutes, then Merryn bustled them back across the rope bridge. Rhonan barely even noticed crossing it this time as his head was spinning. They could not go home.

  A few minutes later he found himself sitting once again in Merryn’s house. She was bustling around bringing food.

  ‘I wish we could get you home before they seal the gateway,’ Toby said, earning him a warning glance from Merryn. ‘What were you saying about an elf stone? What is it?’

  ‘We saw some black stone on the wall of the dragon’s lair. We call it an elf stone,’ Rhonan explained. ‘It will save Shaldoh from the hunters.’

  ‘Hunters?’ Merryn said, plonking down yet another plate of food. ‘What are they hunting?’

  ‘Us,’ Kheron muttered.

  ‘Why they hunting you?’ Klel asked, pushing his snout down the trap door to the roof. ‘What you do?’

  ‘We didn’t do anything,’ Rhonan said with a small sigh. ‘It is because we are elves. They call us Shadows.’

  ‘You’re only half-elf,’ Kheron reminded Rhonan but his voice no longer carried the dislike and spite it had a few days ago. ‘And Dyahn is a hunter.’

  ‘Dyahn is hunting you?’ Toby looked very confused. ‘Isn’t she your sister, Rhonan?’

  Rhonan stood up and walked a few steps away from Kheron, then turned and faced them all. ‘See, I have no shadow when I am away from the black stone around Kheron’s neck. My mother is a hunter and my father is an elf. I take after my father and Dyahn is like our mother.’

  ‘And hunters don’t like elves because they have no shadow?’ Merryn was trying hard to grasp the story but didn’t look like she understood at all.

  Both Rhonan and Kheron continued to explain the differences between elves and humans but Toby and Merryn both shook their heads at the end.

  ‘But you all look the same to me except two of you have shadows and one doesn’t,’ Merryn said with a frown.

  ‘We need to take the elf stone back to Shaldoh and keep the village hidden,’ Kheron insisted, refusing to explain any further.

  ‘The gateway will be sealed in the morning,’ Merryn said sadly. ‘Perhaps your father will take the stone back for you.’

  ‘There are other worlds you can visit from time to time if you want,’ Toby said, trying to change the subject. ‘Maybe we’ll find another gateway that leads to your world.’

  ‘Speaking of visiting, Toby – aren’t you supposed to be going to see Aggie?’ Merryn asked with a motherly tone. ‘Your foster mother will worry if you don’t come.’

  ‘Perhaps I should stay here and help our guests settle in. Aggie will understand,’ Toby suggested.

  ‘You really want to upset Aggie?’ Merryn asked with a raised eyebrow. ‘You didn’t visit last week either.’

  Aggie will be cross with Klel for not bringing you, Klel added from above them.

  Toby looked a little guilty. ‘I guess I should go. Thanks again for bringing Tryx home,’ Toby said, nodding at Rhonan, Kheron and Dyahn.

  He walked slowly up the stairs and climbed up onto Klel’s back. ‘I’m sorry you can’t go home. I’ll talk to Brax again in the morning. Maybe there is something we can do to change his mind.’

  The golden dragon leapt into the sky and was just a speck in the distance a few seconds later.

  ‘Well, I imagine you’ll want some peace and quiet after all that,’ Merryn said, standing up and herding them towards the bedroom again. ‘I’ll have a nice meal for you when you wake up.’

  Rhonan paced the floor. Was this where they were going to live from now on? Would they ever get back home? What must Falh be thinking – he didn’t even know where they had gone!

  ‘I’m not staying here,’ Kheron muttered as soon as the door was shut. He threw himself onto one of the beds and glared at the others.

  ‘Nor I,’ Dyahn agreed.

  ‘We have to get home and take the elf stone back to Shaldoh,’ Rhonan said, nodding.

  ‘But how will we get home?’ Dyahn asked, her brave expression crumpled into one of misery and her bottom lip began to quiver. ‘We can’t get through their gateways without their help.’

  ‘We’ll find a way,’ Rhonan said with a deep sigh and gave his sister a hug. ‘We have to.’

  Dyahn lay down on the sofa and buried her head in her hands. Quiet sobs shook her small body for a minute and then she lay silent. Rhonan checked her and was surprised to see she had fallen asleep. Their adventure had taken a lot of courage and strength so far and he was proud that she had handled it so well.

  ‘She might be a hunter, but she’s the bravest one I’ve seen,’ Kheron said. ‘That blue dragon would have had me if she hadn’t thrown the band of gems at him.’

  Rhon
an wasn’t tired at all. He lay looking at the roof, wondering if his father had found their mother and what Falh was doing. Had the blue dragons discovered him?

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  TRYX TO THE RESCUE

  A scratching noise made him glance up at the small, high window. He was expecting to see a tree branch brushing against the window but a golden head with green eyes peered back at him.

  ‘Tryx?’ he said, sitting up and standing on a chair to reach the window. He pushed open the small window and the dragon tried to push her snout inside. Outside the sun was close to the horizon. Kheron woke Dyahn and came over to see what was going on.

  Help you go home, Tryx said in what was probably supposed to be a whisper, but in the quiet room it was very loud.

  ‘How?’ Kheron asked, keeping his voice low.

  Take neckband from father’s lair, Tryx said, proudly holding up a smaller version of the neckband Ryena had worn.

  ‘You stole it?’ Dyahn asked with a disapproving tilt of her head.

  Borrowed, Tryx corrected her with a guilty look. Give back when you home.

  ‘Do you know how to open the gateway?’ Kheron asked. He clearly didn’t mind where the neckband came from as long as they made it home and Rhonan felt the same.

  Heard words Klel used. Dragons very good hearing, Tryx assured them with a nod. Come outside soon. Must get there by dark. Dragons not see well at dusk.

  ‘We should at least say goodbye to Merryn,’ Dyahn said.

  ‘What if she tries to stop us?’ Kheron pointed out. ‘She knows the gate isn’t supposed to be opened again.’

  ‘And I also know that children belong with their parents,’ a voice said from the doorway. They all turned guiltily to see Merryn standing by the door. ‘Come up to the roof, we can talk much easier up there.’

  They meekly followed the small woman back to the spiral stairs and up to the flat roof. Tryx was waiting for them and Merryn looked at them sternly. ‘Brax didn’t say you couldn’t go home. He just said they were sealing the gateway in morning. Do you think you can do it without the blue dragons seeing?’

  Dragons not see well at dusk, Tryx said, nodding eagerly. Go through quickly – not be seen.

  ‘That’s true,’ Merryn said, appearing to be thinking it over. She looked up at the gateway in the distance then turned back to the children. ‘I know how I’d feel if it were one of my children stuck in a different world. I’d want them home.’

  ‘So you won’t tell anyone?’ Rhonan asked.

  ‘As long as you make sure the blue dragons don’t come through to Dragon Valley,’ Merryn said with a small nod and a smile which turned to a frown. ‘The last time they came through they nearly destroyed the entire valley. You’ll have to go soon if you want to get up there by nightfall.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Kheron said, nodding gratefully.

  ‘I’ll be watching the gateway. If I see even a tiny speck of blue dragon I’ll ring the bell and call out every dragon in the valley,’ Merryn warned with a wag of her finger.

  ‘We’ll be careful. Thanks for making us so welcome,’ Dyahn said, rushing up to the old woman and throwing her arms around her.

  Merryn beamed at the hug then hurried off to the kitchen to get them some food to take along. They followed her down and she handed them small packs of food before showing them a back alley that would lead them to the edge of town.

  ‘Good luck!’ Merryn called as they hurried off into the bushes that surrounded the village. Keeping Tryx out of sight was almost impossible as she trampled bushes and almost knocked trees down. Finally Rhonan called a halt.

  ‘They’re sure to spot us like this,’ Rhonan pointed out.

  ‘Why can’t she meet us at the gateway?’ Dyahn asked. ‘She can fly up there in just a few minutes.’

  ‘True, and nobody would notice another dragon flying around in a world full of them,’ Kheron agreed.

  ‘But you can’t carry that neckband around,’ Rhonan said, pointing to the brightly glowing gem band that Tryx had looped over one front leg. ‘It will draw attention to you.’

  ‘Especially since you’re not supposed to have it,’ Dyahn added.

  Rhonan look after it, Tryx said, handing over the gemband quickly. Meet at gate at dusk.

  The children all nodded and the golden dragon wriggled out from a tree she had become entangled in and launched into the air with a graceful leap.

  ‘She’s grown up a lot,’ Kheron said, watching her fly away. ‘Let’s get moving shall we?’

  Rhonan threw the band of gems over his shoulder and they set off. The walk back up the hillside to the gateway was much harder than the trip down had been. It took them much longer and they came panting into sight of it just as the sun touched the mountain tops across the other side of the valley.

  Tryx came gliding in a few seconds later and landed right next to them. Rhonan quickly shoved the golden dragon behind a large tree so she couldn’t be seen from the village.

  Tryx could have carried you up here, Tryx said with a tilt of her head at the sight of them trying to catch their breath. Could carry at least two.

  Rhonan tried not to be annoyed at the dragon’s belated offer of help and turned his attention to the gateway. He could see several blue dragons flying around and one sitting watching the gateway with an unblinking stare that unnerved him. Could it see right through?

  Blue not see us, Tryx assured Rhonan as the golden dragon came up next to him. Tryx have band now?

  Rhonan handed over the band, wondering at their plan. How could they expect to just walk past all the huge blue dragons - dusk or not - surely they would be seen? Dyahn was looking just as nervous but Kheron’s face was set in a determined and hopeful expression as he searched the vision for his father.

  ‘Do you think Falh waited for us?’ Dyahn asked, her voice wobbling a little and giving away her uncertainty. Tryx knelt down so that Dyahn could clip the neckband into place. It was a little too big but Tryx beamed with pleasure.

  ‘Of course he did,’ Kheron replied quickly.

  The light on both sides of the gateway was growing darker with every second and Rhonan knew they must go now or not at all. On the other side of the gateway the watch dragon blinked and looked away. Something was going on and Rhonan could hear muted screeches from Shaldoh. Suddenly the air in Shaldoh was full of dragons swirling and calling to one another. The watch dragon rose into the air and joined his kin in their mad diving and screeching. The dragons set bushes on fire with a single breath, snapped trees with ease and swirled around angrily again.

  ‘Maybe we should wait a while?’ Dyahn suggested. Her face was pale and she was obviously frightened. Rhonan didn’t blame her – he was frightened too.

  No, dragons not watching. Best time to go, Tryx told them as she took several steps back and concentrated on the archway. The children all reluctantly stepped forward until they were so close they could almost feel the frozen ice on the other side. Tryx began to speak, slowly and with words that didn’t sound like words – dragon language Rhonan had to assume. The gateway glowed briefly and Rhonan could tell that the ice on the other side was beginning to melt.

  ‘When do we go? Kheron asked and Rhonan was surprised to hear a wobble in the elf’s voice too. They were all poised like runners waiting for starters orders, rocking back and forth on the ball of their front foot. The screeching dragons had moved out of sight and not one dragon was watching the gateway.

  Wait… Tryx said quietly. Wait…

  Rhonan realised he was holding his breath and forced himself to breath slowly. His heart was hammering so loud he wondered if he would hear the golden dragon’s instruction to go.

  Go now!

  Rhonan heard it even though the golden dragon spoke quietly. He stumbled forward, grabbing hold of Dyahn’s hand and felt a blast of freezing cold air hit his lungs as he breathed in. In just two steps they were back at Shaldoh Mountains. The sheer delight of getting back to where he belonged blocked out the dang
er of the blue dragons for a second. He looked back at the slightly blurred vision of Dragon Valley and saw Tryx wave farewell. With a frown he realised he hadn’t even thanked the golden dragon.

  ‘Take cover,’ Kheron hissed at them as he skidded across the frozen ice.

  Rhonan dragged his attention away from Dragon Valley and hurried after his cousin, pulling Dyahn after him. A movement, just ahead of them made Rhonan pause in mid-step and Dyahn ran right into him.

  Kheron suddenly disappeared into a thick bush just ahead with a muffled yelp. Rhonan hesitated. Should he run the other way? He could hear the blue dragons getting closer. If they stayed where they were they were sure to be seen.

  ‘Get in here!’ a voice ordered sharply and Rhonan saw his Uncle Falh’s face peer from the bush.

  Rhonan almost picked up his little sister and dove for the bush just as a blue shape came overhead, blocking the fading daylight. They all lay still for a few seconds waiting for the blue dragon to move off. Finally it flew off, hissing flames and running into trees.

  ‘We weren’t sure you’d be waiting for us,’ Kheron said, sitting close to his father as if he didn’t want to be separated again.

  ‘Where did you go? Falh asked. ‘I looked everywhere for you.’

  ‘Tryx lives in another valley that you can’t see from here. It’s a magical place,’ Dyahn answered. ‘She saved us from the blue dragons.’

  ‘Why are they so upset?’ Rhonan asked, daring a peek out through the branches.

  ‘I took something they want back,’ Falh said, pointing to the backpack, which sat next to him. ‘I stole the neckband they had. I felt sure it had something to do with your disappearance so I thought it might help me find you.’

  ‘I threw it at them to stop them hurting Kheron and Rhonan,’ Dyahn admitted, looking a little embarrassed.

  ‘Well, we’re back now,’ Kheron said, changing the subject. ‘And I think we should get out of here and take some elf stone home.’

  It was too dark to see everyone’s faces now but the silence said that everyone agreed.

  ‘I saw a loose piece over by the far wall, near the stream. We should be able to carry it between all of us.’ Falh paused for a second. ‘Where’s Tryx?’