Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [131]
“Invisible?” asked Paladin. He opened a jar and sniffed the contents. “No smell.”
“Well,” said Fenworth, “that would defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it? If it smelled like something, your men and dragons would be unseeable but smellable. Not a very good plan to hide reeking soldiers all around.”
“I agree,” said Paladin. He motioned several dozen kimens to come closer and directed them to deliver the jars and instructions to the men. “You will have to help spread the non-sheen substance on the dragons.”
They grabbed jars and raced off to do his bidding.
Paladin dipped into the cream and spread it on his face and through his hair. “It might have been better to give this to the men while they were still here in camp.”
Fenworth frowned at him. “Right. Might have.” He clapped his hands together. “But now the soldiers have something to do other than sit and worry about the coming engagement.” He turned away, then back. “Oh, I forgot. I’ve put up sheening devices at intervals along the edge of the valley rim.”
“And a sheening device.” Paladin stopped to give Fenworth an opportunity to explain.
“A sheening device, of course, does the opposite of a non-sheen cream.”
“I see.”
“Oh yes, you’ll be able to see them. Folly to attack at night when the valley is equipped with sheening devices. But then, how would they know a wizard backs all your endeavors?”
The old man marched off, waving nonchalantly over his shoulder and humming a cheerful tune.
Paladin caught Hollee’s eye and held it. “I suppose the enemy will shine.”
“Glow,” said Hollee and giggled.
A dragon screech scraped through the quiet night. Paladin’s head jerked around as the noise continued to declare a dragon in trouble.
Hollee spotted the wounded dragon first and pointed to the sky over the lake. “A dragon and something else. They’re fighting.”
The two combatants charged each other.
“I’m going up there,” said Paladin as Caesannede flew in. “I can’t tell what that creature is.”
“Can I go with you?”
“Of course.” Paladin shook his head. “That thing must not have walked through Wizard Fenworth’s sheening device.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Doesn’t glow. Flew over, most likely.”
Caesannede landed. Paladin and Hollee scrambled aboard.
“All right,” said Paladin. “Go to the weapons first.”
Hollee assumed the dragon fussed at his rider. “He has a point. That thing looks fierce.”
“Schoergats! He says they’re schoergats.”
The dragon fighting the creature shrieked again. Pain emanated through the harsh cry. Hollee whipped her head around to see the dragon fall from the air. “Oh no! Paladin, I think the dragon is dead.”
“We must mobilize before too many dragons are in the air.”
Caesannede landed nearer the castle, in the field where weapons were kept.
“A saddle!” Paladin shouted, and two marione soldiers appeared from a shed, lugging the many-strapped leather contraption between them. Hollee almost asked why he called for a saddle but realized he needed the many sheaths that held weapons. She and Paladin jumped off and gathered spears, a bow and arrow, and a slingshot.
Dragon battle cries announced the response to one of their own being killed. The sky filled with beasts of all sizes. Many of the dragons had launched the counterattack without waiting for the men who’d been trained to ride them.
“We have to hurry.” Paladin dropped his armload of weapons and aided the two men fastening leather straps around Caesannede. “Dragons lose all sense when battling schoergats, and they usually lose the fight.”
Hollee ran from the pile of weapons to the back of the dragon, loading the saddle with their supplies. “What are schoergats?”
“A low race, dragonkillers. Their greatest pleasure is to kill and then eat dragons. They