Bones of the Dragon - Margaret Weis [50]
Skylan swam underwater as long as he could hold his breath, until at last he was forced to surface. The ogres had been watching for him. Sighting his head, they raised a shout. Spears plunked into the water all around him. Skylan had to search for the shoreline; he’d grown confused in the darkness. A spear struck him in the leg, but its flight was slowed by the water, and it did little damage. Akaria, his blessing on her, held her lantern high. The beach gleamed white silver in the moonlight, and Skylan sucked in a breath and dived down once more.
He thought he heard more spears strike the water, but he couldn’t be sure, and by now he no longer cared. His strength was flagging. The waves carried him forward, and at last his feet struck the sandy bottom. He lurched up out of the water and staggered toward the shore and heard the ogres yell. Spears thunked around him, and he fell to his knees and began to crawl. He was about finished. He could not make it much farther.
Two men rose up out of the dunes. Bjorn and Erdmun, braving the spears, dashed across the sand. Each grabbed hold of Skylan by his shoulders and, lifting him up, hauled him bodily across the beach and into the shadows of the dunes.
Skylan shook with the cold. Bjorn flung a cloak around him, began rubbing him down.
“Did you get the spiritbone?” Erdmun asked worriedly.
“I would not . . . have come back . . . without it,” Skylan said through chattering teeth.
CHAPTER
11
Skylan sank into a deep sleep, his hand clasped around the spiritbone, while Bjorn and Erdmun worked unsuccessfully to warm him. They tried to wake him, but he remained unconscious. They tried to pry Skylan’s fingers from the spiritbone, but even in his sleep, he refused to let it go. Eventually, not knowing what else to do, they picked him up and carried him back to the village, where they were met by a contingent of armed men.
Having heard the ogres’ shouts, they thought the battle had started. They cheered when they saw Skylan and heard he had the spiritbone. When he did not rouse at the cheering or at the sound of his father’s voice, they grew concerned. They loaded him onto a wooden plank and carried him to the dwelling of the Bone Priestess.
Garn waited with Aylaen and Treia in the small longhouse. Hearing the shouts, Garn picked up his axe.
“Is it ogres?” Treia asked calmly.
Garn listened carefully. “I don’t think so. But something’s happened. I’ll go see.” He ducked out the door. “I’ll be back,” he called over his shoulder. “Wait here!”
Aylaen looked at her sister. Treia did not appear at all frightened. She remained seated on a stool, her hands folded in her lap. If anything, Treia sounded almost relieved.
“It’s Skylan!” Garn cried exultantly.
Aylaen met him in the doorway.
“He has the spiritbone!” Garn told her. “Norgaard says your sister should make preparations for the ceremony to summon the dragon.”
“Is Skylan all right?” Aylaen asked, noting Garn looked worried.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Something is wrong. He has fallen into a strange sleep, and he won’t wake up. I’m going to him.”
Before Aylaen could say a word, Garn dashed off. She turned to her sister. “Did you hear?”
Treia nodded. “Shut the door.”
Aylaen stared at her. “But they will be coming—”
“I said shut the door.” Treia’s voice grated.
Aylaen did as her sister asked and pulled the heavy door shut.
The only light in the dwelling came from the fire, and that had been allowed to burn low. Treia’s face was a pale glimmer in the shadows. Aylaen sat down beside her sister. She reached out, clasped Treia’s hand.
“Treia,” Aylaen said softly. “What’s the matter?”
Treia did not look at her. She sat gazing into the darkness.
“The last time I tried to summon the Dragon Kahg, on the raid, the dragon would not come,” said Treia.
“You said he was angry,” Aylaen reminded her. “The warriors had not found any jewels—”
Treia shook her head. “I lied. Vindrash won’t speak to me. How can I summon the dragon if the Dragon Goddess won’t answer my prayers? And then there’s the