DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [76]
Wittoom was the safest province in the country. The road between Annonshan and Dormenae bustled with benign travelers. Not one lonely stretch, where one might be waylaid by bandits, existed on the entire route. He arranged for a reputable company, Wittoom Coastal Transport, to oversee the trip, providing wagon, driver, and assigned inns for overnight rests. Mapmaker Bromptotterpindosset would see that they wouldn’t get lost. Holt decided he would like to visit Sir Dar’s court, so that made an extra male escorting the entourage. N’Rae was too tired from chasing children to flirt with Holt. How could anything have gone wrong?
Bardon paced the dragon field on a hill above Castle Pelacce. Greer reclined on the grass with his chin resting between his forefeet. His eyes followed his rider’s movement back and forth. The squire stopped to search the road winding off toward the western hills. He heard Greer sigh behind him but did not turn.
Sir Dar sent out riders with homing waistcoaters. The birds will bring us a message if Dar’s men locate our party. Blast it, Greer! I don’t see anything but dorkers, finches, and mountain sky birds.
He resumed his pointless walk to the end of the field and back. He made three passes, then stopped in front of Greer.
What good would it do to fly the route once more? We saw nothing last night. And nothing again this morning. They’ve disappeared off the face of the earth… He slapped his hand against his thigh. I know they were a bothersome lot—
He shook his head as if to rid himself of a nasty idea. Are, Greer, not were!—but they are my responsibility. He looked down at his feet. I have not worn a path along the top of the hill…All right, you win. It does make more sense to be traveling over the countryside searching for them, than traveling the same patch of ground where I can only see to the next ridge.
With long strides he crossed the knoll to a well-built shed. He had no problem locating Greer’s saddle in the dim light. Greer had followed him to the tack house, and in a matter of minutes, they were airborne.
This time let’s travel one mile north of the Annonshan road instead of directly over, Bardon suggested.
Less than halfway to the coast, Bardon spotted something unusual in a small village.
Greer, look at the side yard of that tavern. Isn’t that horse wearing a caparison in Pelacce’s colors?…A roan horse in green and yellow? It must be one of Sir Dar’s riders. Let’s go down and find out if he knows anything.
They landed in an open field, the crop of corn already harvested. Bardon covered the distance to the tavern quickly on foot. A young boy walked the horse.
“Is the rider inside, lad?”
“Yes sir. He’s from Dormenae. One of Sir Dar’s men. He let loose a waistcoater ’fore he went inside, and it took off to the east. Man said it would go right to Sir Dar and give him a message tied to its leg.”
Bardon said nothing in response. He wanted to know what was written on the small scrap of paper. He rushed into the inn and located the rider sitting at a table and having a meal. The man stood when he recognized one of his master’s squires.
“What news have you, man?” asked Bardon.
“They were seen here by a couple of children at a farmhouse several miles east. And that’s where the trail ends.”
Bardon nodded and left. As he hurried out the back door, he started to call for Greer, but the dragon’s huge form already cast a moving shadow over the yard. The squire sprinted to the road. While the boy walking the horse watched in awe, the man and dragon synchronized the pickup with the precision of much practice. Greer circled and landed in front of Bardon. He ran up the tail and leapt into the seat before Greer took off again.
They flew back along the Annonshan road on the south side. Thick forest covered much of the terrain. Greer spotted smoke and circled low. In a clearing backed against a sheer cliff, a large passenger wagon sat unhitched. The horses