He paused and allowed each of them to consider his words. When they all seemed to understand, including the old man, Henry, he went on. “I propose that Quint and Dancer take some of the army horses and a few supplies and ride as fast as possible. Buy fresh mounts along the way if you can. We have the coin, and you two are the best to carry word of the attack.”
“In case, your dragon revolts or refuses to obey?” Quint asked.
“Yes. We can’t risk lives something I’ve never done.”
Dancer stood. “He makes sense. I’m ready. But I also have a suggestion. The officer and his troops are standing guard outside. At least one of them should escort us. If nothing else, it will prevent other units of the Northwood army from taking us prisoner, or detaining us.”
“Excellent idea,” Quint said, who appeared ready to leave that instant. His eyes flicked to each of them, and then to the door. He edged closer.
Ander tossed his purse to Quint, keeping only a few small coins to pay for food and lodging. Raymer handed his own purse to Dancer, saying, “Never keep all the coin in one place. Use it well.”
Quint hesitated. “This is strange. If I arrive home and find it in flames, I will know we have been successful, or that King Ember has. Raymer, it’s hard for me to wish you well when attacking my home is your objective.”
Dancer took Fleet aside and muttered a few words, then followed Quint outside.
Raymer looked at Ander. “I guess we should begin.”
“Not yet. You can’t do much out here in the eating room with no privacy,” Ander nodded to the stairs and doors at the top.
Raymer said, “Henry, you and Ander come with me. Fleet, you can let the innkeeper and others back in here, but tell them to keep the noise down. I want you stationed at the top of the stairs. Nobody goes up there unless you allow it.”
Fleet had looked disappointed at first, but quickly understood his duties were important. He grinned and stood.
Raymer said, “Tell the innkeeper I have rented all the rooms for tonight and will pay him later.”
He went up the stairs first, opening the door to the first room. It was tiny with a slanted roof, obviously too small for three people. The second room was filled with the leavings of the officer. The third had an enormously fat man sleeping in a very small bed, his snores like a pride of lions occupied the room.
After telling Fleet to wake the man and send him away, Raymer tried the next door and found a large space. A neatly made bed with a small sitting, or dressing area. Obviously the largest and most expensive room at the inn. He nodded in satisfaction.
Henry and Ander followed him inside. Raymer motioned to a chair and called for Fleet to bring another. He sat on the bed and looked at the old man. “We need to talk.”
“That we do,” Henry said.
“I assume you know the basics of what we’re going to try.”
“And I know why. How do you want to do this thing?”
Raymer closed his eyes and considered. It was a good question. How did he wish to proceed? “What I need you to do is to realize dragons are not very smart. I need landmarks he can see from above, like rivers to follow. Or fly directly at an oddly shaped mountain, but you have to tell me what the mountain looks like so he can know what I mean.”
Henry said, “Relax a bit, I see your intention and think I have the answer.”
“Tell me.”
Henry leaned back and examined the ceiling as he thought. “The main thing is to know where the dragon is, not to tell it where to go. We just have to know its location, and only for a while. Beyond this valley is another. At the far end of that are two great hills, almost mountains, and the only road passes between them.”
“Can you draw me a picture?”
“Get me pen and paper and I will.”
Ander said, “I’ll tell Fleet to get them.”
Henry continued speaking as if picturing everything in his mind. “Beyond that pass is the beginnings of a river, just a large stream at that point, but it’s the landmark I think you need. It winds and turns, and others join it, but my point is that it eventually becomes a large river that flows right pass Castle Warrington before it finds the sea.”
Raymer said, “That sounds perfect. If I can get it by the second valley and to the smaller river, it will be easy.”
“Just have to know when to stop at the castle, but even that is not hard. If it goes too far, it reaches the sea, and you turn it back.”
Fleet returned with ink, pen, and paper.
“While I try to communicate with the dragon, can you and Ander draw a picture of what the mountain pass will look like? Any large structures before it gets there? And then draw the outside of Castle Warrington?”
Ander reached for the pen.
Henry said, “I can draw for myself. Make letters, too.”
Raymer laid back on the bed and closed his eyes. He put everything around himself out of his mind until he ignored their murmurs and the human sounds creeping up from the dining room as people ate and talked. He heard the door close softly.
Then he reached out to the mind of the dragon. At first, he felt nothing and almost panicked, but it was there. He relaxed and allowed the balminess and security the dragon projected to wash over him like warm summer rain after a drought.
He’d expected the mind of a dragon to be evil and harsh. Maybe stupid and vengeful. Instead, he felt an organized, understanding, and completely relaxed mind, more of what he’d expect if he could touch minds with a milk cow or family dog.
Hello, my friend. The words didn’t seem to translate, but the dragon seemed pleased and understood the intent. It shivered in anticipation.
How am I going to convince it to fly? He knew nothing of how to continue or how to manage the dragon. He had a flash of the dragon raising up, flying to the inn and destroying it with flames. He quickly tried to put that image out of his thoughts before it came true.
He wished again that an elder, like his father or Myron, could advise him. Instead, he would make his own rules. I want you to fly. I want you to fly where I tell you.
Raymer waited. How would he know the beast did as he requested?
Joy filled his mind. A sense like a dog might feel when anticipating chasing and returning a stick to its master. There were no words, but the dragon projected the same sort of response, a mental equivalent to a puppy; I can do it, I can do it.
For the first time, Raymer believed he could actually direct the dragon.
Fly to me and then continue flying in the same direction. Do not land. Raymer waited for some sort of confirmation from the dragon.
A flash of joy filled his mind, then dissipated, leaving him with the same sort of feeling when he watched one of his brothers wrestle one of the other boys and win. Joy followed by satisfaction.
It might take a while, but Raymer believed he may have the confirmation he desired. If the dragon emitted that sort of response each time it did as he asked, he’d know what was happening far away.
The ambient noise from the eating room changed. It grew louder . . . Then softened into silence. Raymer sat up on the bed.
Ander said, “Listen.”
At first, Raymer didn’t hear it, but soon the rustle of the dragon’s great wings approaching drew his attention. Those on the floor below had heard it long before he did. Not here, keep going. Fly. The wings beat faster and louder. It passed directly over the inn, exactly as he’d instructed. It kept flying.