“Never,” Zollin said.
“And now you are going to fight Gwendolyn?” Wilam asked.
“Yes, Zollin said. “And Offendorl.”
“And the dragon he has enslaved,” Brianna added.
“Offendorl led the invasion of Yelsia,” Zollin said. “He was the driving force behind King Belphan and King Zorlan’s invasion. He found a way to control Bartoom and used the dragon against your father’s forces.”
“You were there?” Wilam asked.
“Yes, for part of the battle. The invaders pillaged their way north from Lorye to the Tillamook valley. Your father met them there and had trebuchets built, which stalled their invasion. Then the dragon came by and torched your father’s camp. The army pulled back into the city. I arrived there shortly before they did with Commander Hausey.”
“But isn’t he in the light horse legion at Felson?”
“He was, but they had been sent to deal with the dragon and were almost completely wiped out. When word came of the invasion, the light horse legion-what was left of them-were called to the capital. Hausey and I had worked together trying to drive off the dragon.”
Brianna glanced at Zollin, silently thanking him for not saying they had been trying to kill the beast. She was sure her pride understood the need to destroy Bartoom now, but she didn’t want anything to color their perception of Zollin. He was not a wanton killer, although he was not afraid to use deadly force when necessary.
Zollin told Wilam and the dragons the rest of the story. How they had driven off the army after it laid siege to Orrock, and how he knew that until Offendorl was dealt with no one in the Five Kingdoms would be safe. He told about their journey south and how they had fought the kraken and Bartoom in the open sea. He explained what they had learned in Luxon Bay about King Zorlan and the force he was taking south into Osla.
“Do you think he killed the Oslan generals?” Wilam asked.
“I think he had them killed. It makes sense. He obviously wants Osla under his control.”
“Not just Osla-he wants all of the Five Kingdoms,” Wilam explained.
“That’s madness,” Brianna said.
“Perhaps, but the truth is, he’s close to achieving it. King Oveer is dead. I pushed him out the window of the tower in the Grand City,” Wilam said, hanging his head in shame. “The witch’s spell creates such jealousy that men will kill over her. I have done it more than once.”
“You can’t be held responsible,” Zollin said.
“No,” Wilam argued. “I must be held responsible. We must all be held responsible and do all we can to bring peace to the Five Kingdoms once more.”
“We’re trying to do that,” Zollin said. “We won’t let King Zorlan or anyone else usurp the sovereignty of any kingdom.”
“Then I will go with you,” Wilam said. “I’ll fight with you-it’s the least I can do.”
“No,” Zollin said. “It would be better if you return home. Yelsia and Baska must be prepared to stand together if I fail.”
“I won’t,” Wilam said stubbornly. “This is my fight. I will see it through.”
“But our people need you,” Brianna said soothingly. “Can’t you see we need you to lead our people into the future?”
“I cannot,” Wilam said in anguish. “How can I lead our kingdom when I am nothing more than a lowly murderer? I shall fight with you and die on the field of battle. My death shall redeem the shame I have brought on my family and on our kingdom.”
“You would really throw your life away when we need you most?” Zollin said.
“You don’t need me,” Wilam said, his voice so harsh it sounded as if he were spiting the words.
“We need you more than ever,” Brianna said.
“She’s right,” Zollin agreed. “You’ve made mistakes. Some were your fault and others weren’t, but that’s not really what’s important now. What is important is that you learn from them. Osla fell because its king didn’t care about the people or what was right. And if King Zorlan marches north with the armies of three kingdoms, we will be hard pressed to stop him.
We will need a bold leader who knows the cost of war. We will need someone who won’t take King Zorlan-or any other threat-lightly. We need someone who will care more about the people of our kingdom than their own pride. We need someone like you.”
“I am none of the things you described. I’m stubborn and slow to learn. You don’t know me.”
“Perhaps not,” Brianna said. “But we know who you could be. This is your second chance-not many people get more than one.”
“Think about it,” Zollin urged. “You are not the man you were before. And now you can become the man we need-but not if you stay with us. Our goal is to stop Offendorl and Gwendolyn, no matter what it costs. We can do that. But Yelsia needs you, now more than ever.”
“I will think on it,” Wilam said.
“We should sleep on it,” Brianna said. “We could all use some rest.”
They went back to the tent and settled in for a few hours of sleep before dawn woke them. The dragons took positions on each side of the tent. Zollin and Brianna slept well, but Prince Wilam couldn’t get their argument out of his head. His desire to find King Zorlan and his torturer was like a fire in his belly, undeniable and seemingly insatiable. But the wisdom Brianna and Zollin had shared was sound as well. He was needed, even if he wasn’t worthy. He did consider his second chance to be miraculous, and although he owed King Zorlan for the pain Wilam had suffered at the Falxisian king’s hand, he also owed his life to Zollin for healing him. In fact, the more he thought of it, his family and the kingdom of Yelsia owed Zollin more than they could ever repay. He tossed and turned through the night, trying to reconcile his desires.
The next morning he went for a walk once more. He was lost deep in thought and didn’t notice Gyia walking quietly behind him. The purple dragon’s long body moved as gracefully on the ground as it did in the air. It was only when Wilam turned back toward the tent that he noticed the dragon behind him.
“You are a beautiful creature,” he said, trying to appear braver than he felt. The truth was, Gyia was both beautiful and terrifying. The dragon was a sight to behold, with its long, serpentine body and thin, aristocratic head. The sunlight seemed to sink into the rich purple scales, and although Gyia’s pointed teeth were always visible, the dragon seemed benevolent somehow.
A thought entered Wilam’s mind, clear and easily understandable. It was a mental image of Wilam as king, with a crown on his head, standing on the tower of a large castle.
Wilam was surprised by the thought, and somehow comforted by it as well. The thought appeared again in his mind, but this time Gyia was there with Wilam.
“Are you somehow putting thoughts in my head?” he asked the dragon.
“Yessss,” Gyia hissed.
“Can you read my mind?” he asked, horrified for a moment, but Gyia shook its head. “So, you think I should return to Yelsia too, eh?”
An image of Wilam riding through the air on Gyia entered his mind. He looked surprised.
“You want to take me?”
Gyia nodded. An image of the night before came into Wilam’s mind. He saw himself surrounded by Gyia’s purple body, the firelight flickering on his face as he listened. And at the same time as the mental image came, he was flooded with a feeling of peace and the sense that what he was considering was the right thing to do.
“I guess I’d be a fool to argue with a dragon,” he said. “But what about your pride-don’t they need you?”
The feeling of peace came over him again. “All right, I suppose we should go and tell the others.” They walked back to the tent, where Brianna and Zollin were gathering their things together.
“I’ve made my decision,” Wilam asked. “I shall return to Yelsia, as you have so wisely counseled. I want to thank you for your help.”
“It was our honor,” said Zollin. “Here, I’ve packed enough rations to last a week or so. There’s water in the canteen and some wine in the pack as well.”
“Thank you, that is most kind,” Wilam said.