"The valkyries were to aid in the protection of Chapelion and his advisors," said Vulpine. "Instead they've focused their attention on seducing members of the aerial guard and fleeing."
"I would argue it's members of the aerial guard who are leading the valkyries astray."
Vulpine ground his teeth. "The blame for our setbacks rests upon multiple shoulders, including my own. I've underestimated the humans in the fort. First the new bows, then the guns. Now they've built a war machine capable of rolling under its own power. There's obviously a genius hidden within the walls of the fort. He sent the assassins."
"What do you propose to do about it?"
"You valkyries are the ones who boast of being experts in war," said Vulpine. "What would you do about it?"
"I would load the catapults with barrels of flaming pitch and burn the city to the ground. We can build a new foundry on the ashes of the old."
"We could build a new foundry a few miles up the road without destroying anything," said Vulpine. "There's more to victory than mere destruction."
"Do you have a better strategy?"
Vulpine scratched his chin and gazed at the red sky left by the vanished sun. The black outlines of Sawface's scarecrows ran along the ridge.
"Ah," he said.
"Ah?" asked Arifiel.
"Tell your valkyries to ready their catapults. Have Sawface remove the scarecrows. They've served their purpose on the roads."
He looked toward Dragon Forge. The sky above it was dim in comparison to only a week ago. He said, "Whoever our mysterious genius is, he'll be working in unpleasant weather tomorrow."
Arifiel looked up. "The sky isn't all that cloudy."
"We won't need clouds for the rain I have in mind," said Vulpine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:
THIS LITTLE PATCH OF EARTH
Shay and hex stood beside the tiny grave. They were near the peak of a rocky, rugged mountain, covered with a low, thick cover of rhododendron bushes. The stone shelf jutted out relatively flat for a dozen yards. Shay had made Lizard's grave by piling stones into a rough pyramid. From the cliff, the view was breathtaking, a narrow valley winding among steep-walled mountains. The sun painted the valley in vivid shades of green. The rhododendron leaves held their color throughout the winter.
The sun warmed the stone shelf. Birds sang in the bushes behind him. When his own time came, Shay could think of worse places for his mortal remains to rest.
Hex stood nearby. Shay hadn't spent much time around sun-dragons-even though Hex was friendly, it was still difficult not to feel small and vulnerable in his imposing presence.
"I should say something," Shay said. "It's traditional to pray."
"We dragons don't offer prayers to the dead," said Hex. "We speak mainly for the comfort of the surviving relatives and friends. We cremate our dead. The living inhale the smoke of the body. In this way, the deceased becomes part of our vital energy. It seems wasteful to bury a body."
"Humans prefer burial because we like to think of death as a type of sleep from which we'll one day awaken. The families of the dead visit the grave and talk to their lost loved ones."
"Not many people can visit him here, I fear."
"Lizard didn't have any friends other than Jandra. Zeeky, maybe."
"And you," said Hex.
"I wasn't much of a friend, I'm afraid," said Shay. His shoulders sagged. "I thought it was only a matter of time before the little beast tried to eat us."
"So why bury him?"
"Because Jandra loved him. And… he obviously loved her, or came as close to love as an earth-dragon can get. He fought to protect her." Shay straightened up, crossing his hands in front of himself as the wind whipped over the edge of the cliff. He faced the mound of stones.
"Lizard I don't know if you can hear me. I don't know if anything waits for anyone after we die, for men or dragons. But, if there is some great final judge who weighs the good we've done in life against the bad, I hope he judges that you were brave, you were gentle, and you were even wise. You accepted Jandra's love without question or hesitation. If there's a heaven, I hope you find a home there."
The shadow pointing from the pyramid led straight to Shay's feet. He felt as if the words he was saying were trivial, weightless noises that would vanish in the air. Yet, he had to keep talking.
"Maybe there is no heaven, and perhaps death is just another kind of sleep. Maybe someday you're going to wake up and look out over the valley. I hope this little patch of earth will make you happy when you see it."
Shay looked over his shoulder. "In a month or two, all these bushes are going to bloom with a million flowers. Maybe you'll wake up on a morning like that. It would have been fun to watch you hiding among them with your camouflage."
He searched desperately for more words to say. A faint smile crossed his lips as he found the words he'd meant to say all along. "Sleep well, Lizard."
Shay turned away from the stones. "I wish I'd had something to read."
"You took those books from the barracks."
"Those aren't for poetry," said Shay.
"Your words were quite moving," said Hex. "I think you've said what needed to be said."
Shay shook his head. "I think that with every day that passes, I'm coming to understand the inadequacy of words." He unfurled his metal wings. The wind played across his silvery feathers. In the valley, white circles of light danced on the dark leaves, reflections of the sun on his wings.
"Let's go," he said, tilting forward, his feet lifting from the earth. Now driven by the urgency of their cause, Shay had lost all fear of flying and was grateful for the twists and turns of fate that had provided him wings. They traveled a hundred miles in the span of a few hours.
Shay could have traveled further, faster. His mechanical wings were tireless. They also propelled him more swiftly than Hex could follow, a literally breathtaking speed at which the wind made it difficult to fill his lungs. Hex required several breaks. The sun-dragon flew at a speed that any could outpace any horse, but he couldn't keep up with Shay.
They paused to drink by a stream at the edge of a farm. Off in the distance, cows gave them nervous glances. Shay noticed the big dragon trembling when he lowered his head to the water. Hex's right limbs looked shakier than their counterparts.
"Are you all right?" Shay asked. "Are you still recovering from Jazz's attack?"
"Somewhat," said Hex. "Half of my body is numb. Perhaps it's my imagination, but my speech feels slurred."
"I never heard you talk before, so I can't judge. Have you always lisped?"
"I suspect Jazz's attack had the practical effect of a mild stroke," said Hex. "A more sustained assault might have killed me."
"We don't have to keep pushing on if you don't feel up to it. We don't know where Jazz is."
"We don't have the luxury of resting," said Hex. "It's difficult to counter the speed advantages of a foe who can traverse great distances in a heartbeat by taking a shortcut through unreality. I want to go to the Free City as swiftly as possible to recover the genie, then travel to Dragon Forge."
"Dragon Forge? Why?"
"Bitterwood was heading there to rescue Zeeky's brother, Jeremiah. He may linger there still. If he's moved on, no doubt someone can provide us with clues to their next destination."
"I'm not really welcome in Dragon Forge anymore. You definitely aren't welcome. They'll shoot you from the sky the second they see you."
"I'll approach on foot, fully armored. I hid my armor near Rorg's cavern to travel more swiftly. If needed, I'll recover it. I'm not afraid of archers."