“Gale!” The word erupted from Dhamon’s mouth. The dragon was indeed familiar! Dhamon’s eyes widened with recognition of the dragon’s visage. The long curling horns, the ridge above the dragon’s malevolently gleaming eyes—the features were distinct. He swallowed hard. “Stop this! Gale!”
The dragon glanced down, spied Dhamon toting the lance, saw his own blood hitting the deck and painting the wood crimson. The blue paused in his assault and scrutinized the man, his wings slowing as he hovered above the dock.
“Dhamon?” the blue hissed. “Dhamon Grimwulf?”
Palin’s concentration faltered, ending the spell. The sorcerer looked incredulously at Dhamon. Feril and Jasper were staring at him, too. Blister was slack-jawed and speechless.
Dhamon nodded. “That’s right, Gale. It’s me. You don’t have to do this. These people have done nothing to you. And you have no reason to fight them.”
“Dhamon, join me!” The dragon’s voice cut through the rain and thunder. “Together again, we can serve a new master!”
“No!” Dhamon retorted. “I’m through with that life!”
“Fool!” Gale hissed. “A grand war is in the offing, Dhamon, and if you side against me, you will be on the losing side.”
“Don’t be certain about that, Gale,” Dhamon said. He held the lance up.
The dragon threw back his head and roared, sending a thick bolt of sizzling lightning skyward. Thunder rocked the harbor. “You’re through with that life? Then you’ll soon be through with life!” the dragon roared. “I’ll spare you for the moment, for old time’s sake. When next we meet, I will not be so charitable.”
The dragon raised his head to the sky and released another barrage of lightning, then he pumped his wings and rose to the clouds, banking toward the western hills.
The rain increased, hammering against the docks and ships. The wind howled like a beast, the ships in the bay crashed into piers.
Palin, fighting against the unnatural weather, thrust the unused coin into his pocket and struggled up the slippery plank to the Anvil’s deck. He headed toward Shaon.
Rig held Shaon’s body, as Jasper, Blister, and Feril crowded around. Dhamon slowly approached them. The big mariner’s eyes were filled with tears, his chest heaving with deep sobs. His dark shoulders shook.
“Shaon,” he moaned. “Why?” He turned to see Dhamon and his eyes narrowed. He gently lowered Shaon’s body to the deck and stood up. “You! You have a lot of explaining to do!”
“You know the dragon?” Feril’s voice was thick with disbelief. “You know the dragon that killed Shaon?”
“Groller?” Dhamon swallowed hard. “Is he dead, too?” “He’ll live,” Jasper answered. “But he’s hurt badly.”
“Answer me, Dhamon!” Feril insisted. “You know the dragon—how?”
“He was my partner. Years ago,” Dhamon began. “When I was a Knight of Takhisis...”
“No!” the mariner wailed. He charged forward, slamming into Dhamon. The lance fell from Dhamon’s hands, clattering, as the pair toppled to the deck. Rig’s hands closed around Dhamon’s neck.
Feril pulled at the mariner. “Stop!” she screamed. “No more killing!” It took her, as well as Palin, to pull the big mariner off.
Dhamon rolled away. He gasped and grabbed his throat, coughed and inhaled deeply as he pushed himself to his knees. “I’m sorry!” His voice was hoarse. “I left Gale years ago.”
“If you hadn’t left him maybe Shaon would still be alive!” Rig spat.
“You don’t know that,” Palin whispered.
Feril took a step toward Dhamon. “Why didn’t you tell us? How could you keep something like this from us?”
“Feril, I...” He stood up and reached out to her, but she recoiled and stepped back. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. Dhamon closed his eyes, trying to control his tears, but they spilled down his cheeks, mingling with the rain.
“Sorry? You’re sorry?” Rig fumed. “Sorry won’t bring Shaon back! You should be dead—not her!”
Dhamon’s gaze met the mariner’s. “Look after Feril—please. I’ll deal with Gale. I’ll make sure he never hurts anyone again.” He hurried down the plank that lead to the dock.
“Dhamon!” Palin called. The sorcerer retrieved the lance and held it out. “You’ll need this.”
Dhamon shook his head. “No I won’t.” He quickly lost himself in the crowd that had gathered to stare at the battered Anvil.
36
Severing Ties
The rain fell, ceaselessly. The sky was gray, the clouds thick, hanging dismally over the entire scene.
Rig held Shaon’s body close, rocking back and forth as he sat on deck with his back against the broken mainmast. He whispered to her, as if her spirit might be comforted. He whispered about how sorry he was, how beautiful she had looked in the violet dress, how much he loved her, how he didn’t know if he could go on living without her.
Jasper and Blister helped Groller to his feet, and Fury paced around the half-ogre, whimpering nervously.
“Below deck with him,” the dwarf said. “I want him in bed, then I’ll see what else I can do for him.”
Blister chewed her lip as her fingers painfully closed about Groller’s big hand. She and the dwarf slowly helped the half-ogre to the hatch. The red wolf was close on their heels.
Feril gazed toward the shore, but saw no sign of Dhamon. There was a crowd growing along the bank. She felt very alone.
Palin looked toward the hills, to the west, while the mariner continued his tirade against the former Knight of Takhisis. “Dhamon’s responsible for all of this! Let the dragon kill him, too!”
“Perhaps you are wrong in your anger,” Palin said, not turning around to face Rig. His voice was soft, but the words were forceful enough to give the mariner pause. “A blue dragon killed Shaon, and the dragons are responsible for most of the pain on Krynn.”
“But he knew the dragon—rode it himself!” Rig ranted. “When he was a Knight of Takhisis. He called the dragon his partner!”
“When he was a Knight of Takhisis,” Palin returned. “Was—your word. And I thought he was your friend. He rescued you from the ogres.”
Rig’s shoulders sagged. “Shaon is dead.”
“She should be mourned, but not forgotten,” Palin continued, his back still to the mariner. “It would not be honorable to blame Dhamon for her death. How can you condemn a man for a life he left behind? How can you blame him for the despicable deeds of a dragon? Isn’t there anything in your past you want to leave behind and bury?”
The mutiny, Rig thought, as he continued to cradle Shaon’s form. But I couldn’t have prevented the death of my captain. This is different.
“Isn’t there anything you prefer to leave behind?” Palin persisted.
Through a haze of tears Rig gazed at Shaon’s still form. Maybe Dhamon couldn’t have done anything else....
“I’m going after Dhamon,” Feril, who had been watching, announced. “He can’t take on that blue dragon alone. And he’s why we came here to fight the dragons.”
“I’m coming with you,” Palin said, turning to face his companions. I’ll inform the others below.
“Let’s hurry,” Feril urged.
The rain continued to fall as they wedged their way through the crowd on the shore and struck off toward the western hills. The sorcerer moved quickly, despite his years and the fatigue he felt. Still, his pace was not as fast as the mariner’s. Rig had caught up with them before they reached the edge of town. He carried the lance.
“Damning him won’t bring Shaon back,” Rig admitted to Feril. Then to Palin, he said, “I guess you’re right. Sometimes pasts were meant to be buried.”
Dhamon scrabbled up the mountainside. The rocks were slick with rain, and more than once he almost lost his footing. The storm continued to rage around him, and the lightning illuminated the dragon perched high above him.