Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [133]
“What if someone sees us?” The marione gestured to his face and clothing. “We stand out, you know.”
“Then we’ll say that someone told us those statues were in the cave. You know how much Groddenmitersay wants those statues.”
“If they’re real. Even the mighty Groddenmitersay isn’t sure. He has that ‘if they’re real’ in the promise to reward the finder.” Demdar thought for a minute. “Who told us the statues might be in the cave?”
“Some Chirilian we were about to kill.”
“Where is he?”
“We killed him.”
“Where’s the body?”
“We killed so many Chirilians that we don’t know where that one is.”
“All right. Let’s go.”
The two Baardackians stole away. Bealomondore and Maxon followed.
As they passed his second in command, Bealomondore told him to let the men rest thirty minutes, then start chasing the Baardackians out of the valley again.
“Maxon and I are going to follow these two. But we’ll be back before you reengage. If we’re not, just go on without us.”
“Why are you following them?”
“Dragons are supposed to be guarding the statues.” Bealomondore pointed up. “I’m afraid most of the dragons are fighting schoergats. I’m just going to make sure the cavern chapel is secure.”
“And if it’s not?”
“I’ve got Maxon with me, and he’ll come back for reinforcements.”
They left the others behind and stalked the two Baardackians. Cahn and Demdar had moved ahead of them, but Maxon easily followed their trail. Bealomondore and Maxon caught up and watched them enter the cave.
The roar of a schoergat pivoted their attention to the sky. A large spear clattered on the rocks near them. Bealomondore traced the movement of a dragon with some difficulty. This rider had been able to cover his steed with the non-sheen cream. The schoergat flew away from the fray, doubled back, and came toward Bealomondore and Maxon.
“I bet he’s coming back for his weapon,” said Maxon.
“Then we’ll move it.” Bealomondore dashed forward, grabbed the pole with its deadly point, and raced back. He heard the flap of the schoergat’s wings, heard the low-throated growl, and smelled its horrid, hot breath.
He dove between the rocks. “I’m glad those creatures don’t breathe fire.” He panted. “I’d have singed clothing.”
“He probably didn’t even see you.” Maxon took the spear and poked it far into the bushes between two rocks. “I could barely follow your movements, and I knew what you were doing.”
A dragon trumpeted a challenge above. The tumanhofer and kimen looked up in time to see the schoergat batted from the sky with the blow from a powerful tail.
“Come on,” said Bealomondore. “We need to catch up to those two Baardackians.”
They scrambled down a rocky incline, covered the open area quickly, and stopped just outside the entrance. “Hear anything?” whispered Maxon.
Bealomondore shook his head. He used all his senses. Nothing smelled, tasted, or looked out of place. He didn’t want the men they were following to have a chance to set a trap. He especially didn’t want to fall into any trap. He signaled to Maxon, and they crept into the darkness.
54
Confrontation
About thirty feet into the passageway, Bealomondore spotted a blue light up ahead. He and Maxon picked up the pace, knowing lightrocks waited for them at the first junction of two tunnels. Each armed with a glowing stone, they walked even faster, the kimen leading the way.
Maxon stopped and whispered. “I smell blood.”
Bealomondore sniffed the air. “Yes. We’d better proceed with a bit more caution.”
The scent grew stronger as they made their way to the underground chapel. Maxon slowed to a stop again.
“Up ahead,” he said. “Do you see that?”
A mound of some kind glowed.
Bealomondore stooped so that he was closer to Maxon’s ear. “It’s the same color as Odidoddex’s soldiers.”
He pulled his sword, and they crept forward. Cahn and Demdar lay in a heap, in a pool of blood. Maxon turned away.
Bealomondore made sure no one was hiding in the shadow, then examined the bodies. “Their throats were ripped out.”
“That’s not the way dragons kill,” said