Page 28 of Dragon Fire

A tear came to her eye at the happy reunion as Livia continued jogging toward them. She didn’t want to intrude on the moment, but she also didn’t want to get left behind in case Flurrthith was so overcome with rejoining his people that he forgot all about her. She could always get help in the town below, but it was still very far away, and she’d have a heck of a time explaining who she was and how she’d arrived there. She’d much rather stick with the gryphons, if at all possible.

CHAPTER NINE

What Gryffid had called a map was a thing of magic. A glowing, transparent representation of what was happening in real time on the waters and beaches of his coastline. Seth had to consciously shut his mouth, his jaw having dropped open in astonishment at first sight of the wizard’s so-called map.

Gowan seemed less impressed with the wizard’s magic and more troubled by what it showed him. He had a scowl on his face as he watched the movement of the ships and the deployment of the gryphons.

“The red ships are the ones we’ve already seen shooting diamond-bladed weapons. They seem to have an endless supply of the things,” Gryffid said, sounding extremely put out.

“Skithdron was being supplied with diamond blades by the Northern barbarians. We believe the pirates got them from Skithdron,” Seth explained.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Gryffid replied, grimacing.

“The orange ships have only used more conventional weapons to this point. They may be hiding diamond blades somewhere aboard, but have not used them yet. And the yellow ships have not yet engaged with weapons. They’re either scouts or reserve. Or both.” Gryffid summed up the action on his living, glowing map.

“Seth?”Hrardorr’s voice came to him suddenly.

“I’m here. What news?”Seth said quickly, eager to know what the dragon had found.

“I believe I’ve identified all those ships holding diamond blades,”Hrardorr reported.“There are quite a few.”

“We are with the wizard, Hrardorr,”Seth told the dragon.“He’s got this amazing map of the ships they have confirmed shooting the blades, and those that have not.”

“It would be good to compare notes,”Hrardorr said.

“Sir, I’m talking with Hrardorr—” Seth began, but Gryffid held up one hand.

“I heard,” Gryffid said aloud, then switched to silent speech.“Sir Hrardorr, this is Gryffid. First, thank you for coming here to help us. Now, can you see this?”Gryffid opened his eyes wide and concentrated on the glowing map. Seth could only assume he was somehow sending the image to Hrardorr, though Seth wasn’t sure how such a thing could be accomplished.

“You are a mightily gifted wizard if you can make me see through your eyes, sirrah.”Hrardorr’s tone was full of emotion, coming through to all of them.“Some of those yellow ships carry the blades,”he said in a stronger voice as he seemed to regain his equilibrium.

“As I suspected. Can you show me which…”Gryffid’s eyes unfocused for a moment, then he came back.“Yes, I see.”He waved his hand, and several of the yellow ships turned red, as did a few of the orange ones.“Thank you, Sir Hrardorr. My generals have a duplicate of this map in their meeting place, and it, too, has been updated. Now, what is your plan?”

“I would gladly fight at your direction, sirrah.”Hrardorr’s tone was as awed as Genlitha’s had been, though he didn’t seem quite as cowed by the wizard’s presence.

“And I bow to your superior ability and knowledge of the enemy, Sir,”Gryffid said in a respectful tone.“You have faced them before. We will support your action, whatever course you decide to take.”

“I will start by flaming them, then work from below where I can see. I can disable their ships from beneath in many ways.”Hrardorr sounded as if he was looking forward to the battle, which made Seth happy for the dragon, even under such circumstances.

“When the ships start to become disabled, the men on them will make for the shore,”Gowan put in.“That’s what happened in Dragonscove. Your fighters will have to meet them on the beaches.”

“We have already been engaging them in such ways, though not in great numbers,”Gryffid said.

“That will change,”Seth told him.“Once Hrardorr begins his work, many men will make for shore all at once. Your people must be ready for it.”

“I can help there, Sir,”Gowan volunteered.“Genlitha can report from above, and I can help deploy the teams to the right spots with her input.”

“Then, that is what we will do.”Gryffid stood to his full height and seemed to gather his resolve. “Captain Ferator will assign one of his gryphons to take you, Sir Gowan, to the front lines. There is a headquarters set up just beyond our widest stretch of beach. You will work with the captains of our fighting forces there. When you are certain all is ready, you may begin the operation, at your—and Sir Hrardorr’s—discretion.” The wizard’s eye fell to Seth. “Now then, what about you?”

Seth gulped, facing the great man. “I was going to be the liaison between your people and Hrardorr, but if you can communicate with him as easily as a knight, then there is no need. I am a healer of dragons, Sir, but I would be happy to help your gryphons or anyone else, if there is need.”

“He is also the swordsman who led the defense of Dragonscove from the cannon batteries in the harbor,” Gowan put in helpfully. “If you need more fighting men, Seth could definitely help. And he can coordinate with Hrardorr, since they are close friends.”

Gryffid’s eyes lit with interest. “Then, that is what he shall do. We have enough healers for now. Goddess willing, we will not have too many more serious injuries, and your services in that area will not be needed.” Gryffid looked worried for a moment, but turned to a servant who had been standing in the shadows. “Alert Captain Ferator that these two will need fast transport to the beach.”

Less than ten minutes later, Gowan was settling in with the tall blond warriors who led the two-legged fighters of Gryphon Isle. Gowan pointed Seth toward the leader of the winged contingent, and Seth understood his role. He would deal with the winged creatures—liaising between Hrardorr and the gryphons where needed.

Frankly, Seth thought he got the better end of the deal, but then again, Gowan seemed right at home among the fair-skinned warriors of the fair folk. They spoke the same language—that of warriors the world over—and were soon fast friends.

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