“Sure you can,” Zollin said.
“We insist, really,” Brianna added. “You’ve both been a big help to us.”
“Well…” the innkeeper’s wife hesitated.
“Go on, Hydee, you’ve not had nothing but stale bread for two days,” her husband told her.
She nodded and gathered the food she needed.
“How far are we from the Grand City?” Zollin asked Angus.
“You’re three days’ riding, four walking-unless you’re carrying a heavy load.”
“And the armies passed by here, when?”
“The second passed two days ago. I imagine they’ve caught up to the first by now.”
Zollin sat back, deep in thought, as Brianna chatted with the innkeeper. Four days’ ride on horseback was less than a day’s flight on the back of a dragon. Still, they would need to move slowly. Zollin didn’t want to give away his position, or even that he was approaching the city.
He wondered if Offendorl could sense the dragons approaching. He hoped not. He really wanted to sneak into the city and confront Offendorl-perhaps catch the elder wizard off guard. But it sounded like just getting into the city was going to be a difficult task. Of course, they could fly over the walls, but the last thing Zollin wanted was for armies to be used against him or the dragons. He wasn’t sure if Brianna’s pride were as thick-skinned as the big black dragon she called Bartoom, but he didn’t relish the idea of being shot at by hundreds of arrows or spears.
They needed a vantage point to watch the city, to draw out their enemies and meet them on open ground. Zollin didn’t like the armies that were burning villages and invading sovereign kingdoms, but he didn’t want to see anyone else get killed because of him.
It took Hydee an hour to prepare the stew, but when she returned the smoked fish and vegetables were tender and flavorful. Zollin ate three bowls full, and felt like he could eat more-his body seemed to long for the nourishment. He checked his magical containment, but it seemed intact and strong. He guessed he was just tired and hungry from a long day. Angus showed them to a small room with only one bed.
Once he was gone Zollin looked at Brianna. “I guess I should have asked for separate rooms,” he said, smiling awkwardly. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be silly, Zollin. I want to be with you. But I want to wait until we’re properly wed to, well…” She hesitated, her face blushing. “You know what I’m saying. Nothing’s changed since we were in the mountains. Not for me anyway.”
“Not for me either. I want to marry you,” Zollin said. “In fact, I think about it all the time.”
“So let’s get a few hours’ sleep. I don’t want the people here to see the dragons.”
“Me either.”
They lay down together. Brianna rested her head on Zollin’s shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. The room was stuffy, but they were both tired and fell asleep quickly. Zollin woke up at dawn, his body stiff from lying still so long. He luxuriated in Brianna’s warmth, smelling her hair for a few moments before waking her.
“Time to go,” he whispered.
She stood up and stretched. Then they left the inn quietly. The sun was casting the sky in a bright pink when they reached the pride. Zollin knew the big beasts were surely hungry and exhausted, but the dragons took to the air without complaint.
It was an hour before they saw the lone tent. Zollin’s curiosity got the best of him and the pride landed within sight of the conspicuous structure. There were no forests to hide in, not even a hill to land behind. Distance was their only defense. They were well over a mile from the road and the tent, which was set up a short ways off the road. The sides of the tent had been rolled up so that the breeze could pass through-what little breeze was to be had in the hot, arid countryside.
Zollin let his magic flow toward the tent. He was sure whoever was inside had seen them, but they hadn’t fled. Zollin sensed the healer first-the man seemed settled into a nest of cushions, nursing a bottle of wine. Then Zollin touched Prince Wilam with his magic and recoiled instantly. Zollin couldn’t read a person’s mind, but if he let his magical senses flow and opened them fully to the environment, he could get a sense of what was happening or the way a person might be feeling. Just touching the crippled prince sent a shock of horror and agonizing pain through Zollin.
“Zollin, are you all right?” Brianna asked. Behind her Ferno rumbled angrily. The big green dragon was ready to launch itself toward the tent.
“They’ve tortured someone,” Zollin said, his voice shaking a little. “We have to help.”
Zollin didn’t wait for the dragons or Brianna. He levitated through the air. A mile seemed like a long way, but he moved the full distance without even thinking about it. He knew he needed to help, to stop the pain no matter who was in the tent. He came down just outside the small structure, causing the healer to scramble to his feet.
“Who, who, who?” he stammered.”
“I’m here to help,” Zollin said. “Who are you?”
“Zorn. I’m a healer. I’m helping this man.”
“Who is he?” Zollin asked.
“I don’t know who you are,” Zorn said, obviously torn between fear and awe. He’d seen Zollin drop from the sky right in front of his tent, but he was beginning to think he’d drunk more wine than he realized.
“I’m a wizard. I can help him,” Zollin said. “Who is he? Why was he tortured?”
“He’s a prince, I believe. From the north. King Zorlan had him questioned. I had no part in that. I’m just trying to help.”
“You’ve done enough,” Zollin said. “Are you from Felxis?”
“Yes.”
“Good, get moving north. Right now. Don’t stop. Just go. I’ll know if you leave the main road and I’ll kill you. Don’t stop, you understand?”
“I, I, I understand,” the healer said. He started gathering his things. The tent and cushions had been carried on a wagon, but that wagon had gone on with King Zorlan when he moved after his troops. The healer had no horse, so he packed his medicines and started to take the wine.
“Leave that,” Zollin said. “I’ll need it.”
The healer didn’t argue. He took a canteen of water and some of the food rations. Then he hurried away. If he saw the dragons, he made no sound, just kept his head down and walked as quickly as he could.
“Who is that?” Brianna asked. She had come into the tent after Zollin’s conversation. “My god, what did they do to him?”
“The tortured him for information,” Zollin said. “And if I’m right, he’s our future king.”
“You mean?” Brianna said, the shock evident in her voice. “You mean this is Prince Wilam?”
“I think so,” Zollin said, “but there’s only one way to find out for sure. Tell the pride to keep watch-we’re going to be busy for a while.” Then he knelt beside Wilam and let his magic flow into the prince’s ruined body.
Chapter 26
Offendorl and Havina entered the Grand City through the southern gate. Normally the Grand City was full of people. Usually there were merchants and vendors selling every type of good from all across the Five Kingdoms. The streets were often crowded, the inns busy, the marketplace a cacophony of haggling voices. Now the city seemed almost deserted. Except for the men on the tall stone walls, there was no one to be seen.
“It seems deserted,” Havina said in a quiet voice.
Offendorl was thankful that his young companion did not often speak, and when she did it was usually a comment that needed no reply. She drove the small covered carriage with as much skill as a teamster and brought them quickly to the city from the small village of Castlebury, which was little more than ashes and memories now. Offendorl had not wanted to draw attention to the fact that Havina was a woman. He suspected that most of the women in the Grand City had fled or been forced into menial tasks. There would be no women visiting the city, so Offendorl dressed her in men’s clothing. She had submitted meekly, even allowing him to cut her hair without complaint. He had added a wide brimmed hat-which was common in Osla-to shade her face, which was still fresh and young. She was not a beautiful girl in the classic sense-her nose was a little too wide, her lips thin, and her eyebrows pronounced. But she was completely feminine, a quality not completely lost on Offendorl, which he found surprising. He offered her a rare reply to her comment.