Page 64 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“I am a battler. I run with the guard. I know thesemountains.”
Timur hooked his chin over Mikoto’s shoulder, putting hismouth right next to his ear. “Ever face a dragon?”
“No.”
“Then you’re at a disadvantage. Listen well. Dragons intruest form are formidable. Claws and jaws and horns and ridges. Don’teverlose track of their tail.” Timur’s tone was grave. “Most believe that dragonsbecome even more dangerous in speaking form. Speed becomes a factor. And with afew words, they can ensorcell a whole rank of battlers.”
“Which will we be facing?”
“We’ll be facingSinder.” Timur’s hold tightened. “Ourfriend needs us, and we’ll do whatever’s needed. Got it?”
“Yessir.” But Mikoto needed more information. “What happenedto him?”
“Something bad if we received a call.” As lights beganshowing between the trees ahead, Timur’s grip nearly robbed Mikoto of breath. “Faster,Fend. He’s suffering.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Scream
Kyrie had no trouble keeping up with Ginkgo, who lofteda handful of illuminated crystals to zip ahead and light their run throughunfamiliar woods. Long before they reached any kind of destination, Kyrie knewsomething bad was happening.
The wind carried frightening scents. They made him want torun faster, but also to stop.
“Okay, little bro?” Ginkgo asked.
Before Kyrie could answer, he heard his first dragon scream.It made him want to scream back.
Ginkgo scooped him up and ran on. “That bad?”
“He is trying to say, ‘Stay back. Go away. Leave me.’” Thewords hurt because they offered a terrible kindness. “Sinder does not mean it,though.”
Ears askance, eyes worry-wide, Ginkgo asked, “How can youtell?”
Tapping his fingers over his heart, Kyrie admitted, “I mightonly half understand. But that is the truth of his call. He wants a rescuer.”
“That’d be us, yeah?” Ginkgo kissed the top of his head. “Timur’sjust ahead, and I’m catching Torloo’s scent. They’ll need our support.”
Kyrie simply nodded.
“ … the next trial,” Torloo was saying. “An experimentaltechnique combining sigilcraft and crystal-tipped bolts. Crossbow delivery.”
“But whyredcrystals?” Timur was pulling at his hair.
“We must test all hues, and the samples provided werearranged in a spectrum.” Although his tail was puffed double, Torloo’s voice wassteady, his answers succinct. “Red was first.”
Ginkgo let Kyrie down and shouldered his way between Timurand Mikoto.
Torloo continued. “He reacted poorly. He is contained,largely thanks to Salali, but he has not calmed. There is some concern withregards to the damage a rampaging dragon can cause.”
“To the village, or to himself?” growled Timur. Kyriethought Lilya’s big brother looked dangerous right then. Like he was daring theassemblage of battlers to say the wrong thing.
“He knows us. Trusts us,” said Ginkgo. “What I want to knowis who cut him?”
“No! Well,yes, a dart pierced him. But after that,Sinder hurt himself.” Torloo pointed to the sigils that danced in midair, forminga roughly hexagonal barrier. “Once we had him penned, he began thrashing. Treesshattered, and he threw himself against the resulting splinters.”
Kyrie felt bad for Torloo, whose misery was palpable.
Timur growled something, but Kyrie slipped away. He saw noreason to worry about the village. Sinder should be everyone’s first concern.Saving him would keep everyone safe.
