The Shadow Isle - Katharine Kerr [189]
“Very well, Wynni,” Laz said to her, “it’s time we told your father the truth about that book. Someone else will tend your horse for you.”
Had Laz not gone with her, Berwynna might well have lacked the courage to tell the silver dragon about the lost book. As it was, she found herself lagging behind as he led the way through the tall grass. When he saw them coming, Rori lowered himself to lie with his legs tucked under him. The sunset light dappled his silvery hide with a pale orange and gleamed on his scales.
“What do you want?” Rori said to Laz.
“I’ve somewhat to tell you,” Laz said, “because it may concern you.” He glanced at Berwynna. “We had a book of dweomer spells, I think it was, written in the language of the Ancients, but thanks to bandits and recalcitrant mules, we’ve lost it.”
For that “we” Berwynna could have thrown herself at his feet in thanks. Instead she merely nodded.
“Not the dragon book?” Rori said. “White leather-bound, and a black dragon on the cover?”
“The very one, alas.”
“Do you know if it was written by a creature named Evandar?”
“I don’t, but Evandar had somewhat to do with it. Wynni’s betrothed brought it to her, and he told us that Evandar had shown him where to find it.”
Not quite true, that Dougie had gifted her with the book, but Berwynna decided that she would let it lie rather than admit to a theft—if indeed, theft it was.
The dragon rippled his wings as if he were about to lift them free of his body, then settled back into the grass. “Then it did concern me, greatly even, or so a Westfolk dweomerwoman told me. How did you lose it?”
If Laz could face an angry dragon who hated him, Berwynna decided, she could face one who was her bloodkin.
“I were the one, Da.” Berwynna stepped forward. “It were in my saddlebags, and when those raiders, they did attack us, my mule did panic and throw me. Then it did gallop off, and never did it return.”
“Ah, I see.” The dragon considered this briefly. “Then you didn’t lose it. It was taken from you by those murdering scum when they attacked. You’re hardly to blame.”
Berwynna wanted to feel relieved. She wanted with her very soul to have the burden of guilt she felt lifted. Yet still it nagged at her. We should tell him the whole truth, she thought. She tried to muster the courage to do so, but Laz was speaking again.
“I’ve been thinking about getting it back,” Laz said. “In the morning, when it’s light, I could change into the raven while you guard the caravan. If I see this wretched mule, which can’t have gone that far in two days, then I could fly back and tell you, and you could go off and fetch it. No doubt it would do for your breakfast.”
Rori glared at him. “Trying to curry favor, are you?”
“Trying to show you that I’m not whoever it is you think I am.”
The dragon rumbled with laughter. “I’ll give you this, Laz Moj. You don’t lack guts in this life.”
Laz stared at him gape-mouthed, then suddenly grinned. “I think me I begin to understand somewhat.” Laz glanced Berwynna’s way and stopped smiling. “But this is no time to discuss it.”
“True spoken.”
Berwynna could tell that she was being left out of some secret, but considering her role in losing the book, she decided against demanding to be let in.
“About that idea of mine—” Laz said.
“It’s too dangerous.” Rori shook his massive head. “I’ve been flying over the Northlands for some days now. The Horsekin are up to something, all right. I’ve seen more than one band of them prowling around. Some of them have archers. Could an arrow bring the raven down?”
Laz sucked in his breath with a little hiss.
“I take it that means it could,” Rori went on. “Besides, I don’t want to leave the caravan. My daughter’s life means more to me than the book. Once you’ve all reached safety, I can fly back north and hunt