Days of Air and Darkness - Katharine Kerr [2]
Their camp lay in a broad valley where a river flowed through scattered pines and high grass. All round rose the mountains of the Roof of the World, in those days untrod and unsettled by either dwarf or man. Framing the valley, hills climbed, dark with trees, while beyond them rose the high peaks, their perpetual snow gleaming a faint silver in the light from the overarching stars. Down from the foothills, the night wind brought them the sound of wolves howling on the hunt. Arzosah raised her massive head to listen.
“They’re moving away from us,” she remarked. “I do wish you’d sheathe that knife, Rori. It’s driving me daft, watching you play with it.”
He smiled and closed one broad hand round its hilt.
“You know,” she went on, “if you need someone to hate, you could blame Evandar. I do.”
“For what? The vanishing of Haen Marn?”
“Nah, nah, nah. What do I care about your stupid island? It wasn’t my home. I blame him for the troubling of me.”
“I should have known.” Rhodry translated this exchange for the puzzled Enj, then turned back to her. “Well, if he hadn’t given me this little ring, you’d be all nice and snug, sure enough, lolling round in your fire mountain and chewing on a cow bone or two.”
“Don’t mock! It’s bad enough you’ve enslaved me. Don’t mock me, too.”
“Watch your courtesies when you speak to me.”
She whined, rolling an enormous copper eye to the stars. He held up his hand to catch the firelight on the ring.
“My apologies,” she said. “You’re a harsh man, Rhodry Dragonmaster.”
“I intend to stay that way and stay alive.”
She whined again, flopping her head onto her paws. He glanced at Enj to find him utterly expressionless.
“We should turn in,” Rhodry said. “Think you can sleep?”
“Not without dreaming. Let’s let the fire burn awhile.”
“Very well.” He looked at the dragon, who was quietly snarling to herself. “Still thinking of Evandar?”
“Yes. If ever I find him again, I’m going to eat him. Munch crunch gobble gone.”
“A fine sentiment, but I’m afraid you can’t really eat him. He doesn’t have a real body, not one made out of meat, I mean, like you and me.”
“Just like him! The final cheat of all!”
“A spiteful beast, isn’t she?”
The voice came out of the dark beyond the fire. His dagger in hand, Rhodry scrambled to his feet as a figure strolled toward them. A silver glow like moonlight hung in the air round him so that they could see him clearly, a tall fellow, slender, dressed in a long green tunic and buckskin trousers. His hair was the bright yellow of daffodils, his lips were the red of sour cherries, and his eyes were an unnatural turquoise blue, bright as gemstones. Yet the strangest thing of all were his ears, long and delicately pointed, furled tight like a fern in spring.
“Evandar!” Rhodry hissed.
The dragon slapped her tail upon the ground with a dull boom like an avalanche. He could hear her scuffling to her feet behind him.
“The very one.” Evandar made him a bow, then raised one hand to point a long and slender finger at the dragon. “Arzosah Sothy Lorezohaz! Remember that I know your name.”
She snarled, opening her mouth wide, but she held her place. Enj crouched by the fire and stared at their visitor.
“What brings you here?” With a nod Enj’s way to include him, Rhodry spoke in the Deverrian patois.
“A warning for you,” Evandar said in the same. “Are you heading south?”
“We are. Cengarn’s under siege. Did you know that?”
“Of course. I know everything that’s worth knowing about this war, Rhodry Maelwaedd.”
“Oh, do you now? Then where’s the relieving army? We’ll be looking to join up with it.”
“Go to Lin Serr first. Garin and his troop of axmen haven’t left yet.”
“What? I’d have thought them long gone.”
“There’s an obstacle in their way.” Evandar flashed him a grin. “A small army’s tramping round the countryside. Horsekin.”
Enj winced and swore.
“The filthy bastards!