Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [76]
Akabar pulled away the treant vines that remained around the creature's throat, carefully removing the suckers that appeared to be burrowing into the scales and plate protecting Grypht's neck. Almost immediately Grypht began to breathe more easily, though he was still badly injured. One side of his body was scorched from being too close to Akabar's wall of fire. The Turmish mage felt a twinge of guilt at having endangered the wizard, but he'd really had no choice. Mostly, Akabar suspected, Grypht was hurt from the beating he'd taken by the twisted treants.
The only thing to be done now, Akabar realized, was to let the creature rest and heal naturally. He hoped the saurial wizard would awaken before the extradimensional space dissolved, so they could return to Shadowdale without further incident.
*****
Breck scowled across the ravine and cursed under his breath.
"What is it?" Alias asked, pulling her horse up beside the ranger's mount.
"Damn magic trick!" the ranger growled. "The creature's taken a dimensional doorway across. We've got to climb down the ravine and back up and pick up the search for the trail again on the other side."
"Oh," Alias replied softly.
Breck glanced at the sun, which lay low near the horizon. "There's just enough light to make it to the other side before dark."
"It's an awfully steep slope for the horses," Alias ventured.
"There's a trail leading down. We passed it a few minutes back," Breck said, turning his horse and urging the animal south, along the edge of the ravine.
Alias turned her own horse to follow the ranger. Dragonbait was nowhere in sight, but when she and Breck reached the trail leading down into the ravine, they discovered the saurial seated beside it, munching an apple.
Ignoring Dragonbait, the ranger scratched his horse's neck and spoke some encouraging words into its ear. The horse started down the steep trail without the slightest balk. Alias's mount followed the example set by the lead horse.
Dragonbait stood up as they passed and followed along behind, tossing his apple core into the brush.
In the ravine, it grew dark before the sun had set, and Dragonbait took the lead. The saurial paladin commanded his magical sword to flame and carried it high, like a torch. The river at the bottom of the ravine was deep and swift, but fortunately the trail led to a rough wooden bridge across the water. They filled their water bottles and continued on. By the time they'd reached the top of the ravine again, the sun had set.
Breck passed the saurial and turned his horse back to the north.
"You're not going to try tracking in the dark, are you?" Alias asked.
"There'll be twilight for at least an hour yet," Breck replied, "and the moon is full tonight." He nudged his horse onward.
Dragonbait stood aside so Alias could follow the ranger. The swordswoman checked often to be sure Dragonbait kept up now that it was growing dark. Occasionally she looked down into the ravine, and on one such occasion, she spotted a light moving across the bridge.
Alias halted her horse and waited until Breck had moved out of earshot. Then she dismounted and grabbed Dragonbait's shirt before he could pass her by.
"Who's following us?" she demanded in an urgent whisper.
The saurial paladin shrugged.
"Who were you marking the trail for?"
Dragonbait looked at her blankly, but Alias wouldn't accept his dumb animal look.
"Dragonbait, I can't believe you're treating me like this. Why don't you trust me?" Alias asked.
Dragonbait stared down at the ground. He looked genuinely ashamed.
"Just tell me," Alias said. "I promise I won't get angry. Who is it? Olive?
Nameless? Another saurial?"
Dragonbait signed five letters, spelling a name.
"Zhara!" the swordswoman shouted angrily.
You promised you wouldn't get angry, Dragonbait signed.
"Zhara?" Alias asked more softly. "It can't be Zhara. Mourngrym promised to keep her at the tower."
Dragonbait signed that Zhara was a