Dragon Wish (39 page)

struck against his confines, drawing in the dragon’s magic.

The remains of the dragon disappeared. Having trouble

pulling a deep breath, shocked by the dragon’s death, she

glanced at her son.

He stared at the second beast which cowered a short

distance away.

“Be gone. Hie yourselves to Arcane. When he moves, you

will send word, even at the cost of your lives. Go. Now!”

Both remaining beasts answered the order by leaping into

the air. Neither looked back from their path leading

254

Dragon Wish

northeast. Legion’s form, held together by his magic, fell

apart before Seren’s eyes. She cried out, one hand reaching

for her son. He disappeared.

A sob escaped from Seren. Paladin reached her and she

faced him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her

tight against him. She buried her face in his chest and

whispered, “I didn’t want him to go.”

“I know, love, but his time will come. And soon. Have no

fear of that.” He placed a hand on the back of her head,

stroking her hair. “Come, we must hurry before any others

decide to join us. It is only a little ways more.”

She sniffed and nodded, struggling with need to see her

son again. Paladin steadied her. With her feet planted firm in

the sand, she glanced over at Ren. The wizard studied her,

his eyes narrowed in speculation.

He met her gaze and asked. “Has he ever displayed his

might like that in the past?”

“No. I’ve seen him only one time in a vision, but never in

such a way.”

“It’s good he manifested to the dragons. Word will spread

through the clans and beyond of his power. This will cause

many to reconsider going against him.”

“I suppose. I’m still scared even though he protected me.”

Ren grunted in response. He pivoted and started walking

in the direction of the rock formation again as though

nothing had happened. “Come, it’s best to reach the place

before the sol descends.”

Paladin kept an arm wrapped around her shoulders,

giving her strength. Without a word, they followed Ren.

The sun moved toward the horizon. Perspiration coated

Seren’s face. She swiped it with the sleeve on her cloak. She

tried to swallow, but the dryness in her mouth stopped her.

Her lips cracked in fine lines. Paladin passed her a water

pouch several times, stopping, and letting her drink a little to

restore the moisture she sweated out.

Legion’s actions against the dragon played out in her

255

Dragon Wish

mind. He’d physically sucked the life from the beast until

nothing remained.

So, Arcane’s comment held truth. He’d gained power by

drawing the magic from others. She glanced at Paladin,

needing to question him, but deep in her heart she feared

what he would tell her. Was this how the dragons increased

their magic, by devouring the very essence of weaker ones?

She found no other explanation for the sudden increase of

strength in her body and womb after the dragon evaporated.

Up ahead, Ren reached the formation. He stopped not far

from it. The small party trailed behind him. So near, Seren

sensed what Paladin had spoken of earlier. Energy surged

around the huge slabs protruding from the desert, coating

the stones with a glistening layer.

“Wait here. I will open a way,” Ren told them, moving

closer to the barrier. Streaks resembling colored electricity

ran through the air before him. A multitude of colors, reds,

blues yellows and greens, mingled together to manifest into a

rainbow effect.

The wizard stopped. Winds coasting along the desert

increased, lifting his cloak away from his body, flashing

crimson on the inside and the deep navy on the outer side in

the waning light. Ren raised his arms, his staff, tipped with

the yellow dragon stone, held tight in his right hand. He

chanted—the words unclear and carried away with the

breeze.

Seren’s heart accelerated with the magic generated in the

domed barrier. Electricity spiraled in the air, sending tingles

through her body. She reached out and slipped her fingers

into Paladin’s hand, seeking security in his touch.

He pressed against her fingers, tightening his arm about

her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side. “Do not be

concerned. He will open a path. We will be safe for a time.”

“Hope so. My chest is starting to hurt, like there’s a heavy

weight on it,” she said, leaning against his side.

“This will pass once he secures an opening. Watch, love,

256

Dragon Wish

he will soon move to the cavern’s mouth.”

The easy way he spoke the endearment brought a smile to

her lips. He appeared assured with Ren’s actions. Sucking

back a fear-laden laugh, she hoped Ren Murdock didn’t do

anything to blow them away.

Several minutes went by, the sun slipped further over the

horizon’s edge. Ren, hair tossed about on his head, took a

slow step forward. Seren straightened and stared, amazed at

the man’s power. Another step and another until he stopped

some feet from where he’d started.

Paladin squeezed her lightly. “He’s done it. A gate is open

to the safekeeping.”

“Good, I’ll feel better knowing there’s something to slow

Arcane when he decides to attack.” She gave him a quick

one-sided hug. She moved from under his protective hold

and stepped to the gateway through the barrier.

“It will stop him dead.”

She glanced at him. “Dead? Don’t we wish?”

“Shh, do not ever say that word. It is forbidden.”

Surprised at the strength in his quiet comment, she

studied him. The way his brows drew together, and the tight

brackets on either side of his mouth revealed he believed

this. She shrugged, hoping to put him at ease. “It slipped out.

Sorry, but the word is no big deal on Earth.”

“Big deal?”

“Not important.”

“Ah, I see. Here, the dragons hear through magic what

each person, human, dragonseed, even Felerians say. With

dragonseeds, the connection also goes to their thoughts.” He

moved nearer and took her hand. “The night I found you, I

made one simple wish. They heard and responded. Because

of this, your life and mine have been irrevocably changed.”

She smiled, draping her arms around his neck. “For the

better I hope. One thing we do know, this will come to an end

and I will go home. To Earth.”

The same strange shuttered expression from earlier

257

Dragon Wish

crossed over his features, renewing the question inside her.

He hid something from her. She felt it clear to her bones.

“Paladin...?”

He stopped her with a brief passing of his lips over hers.

“Come, we must move on. I’m not sure how long Ren can

maintain the opening for us.”

Deciding to let the matter sit until they had time to work

it out, she nodded and let him guide her through the

gateway. She eyed the wizard when they moved past him. He

frowned, concentration evident on his features. Once

everyone in their party entered, he moved past the spot he

stood and in the direction of the entrance to the cavern. The

barrier slipped into place, leaving no exit for the dragonseeds

within unless Ren opened another passage for them.

This did little to relieve her though. Doubts concerning

the barrier and Arcane’s power to break through stayed with

her. She glanced over at Paladin. He appeared so calm. Was

he? Again the doubts about his reasoning in coming to this

place rose. She wanted to believe in him, but too many

questions popped into her thoughts, making her question his

reasoning.

Trying to shove the negativity aside, she followed him to

the triangular shaped entrance into the cavern. Paladin

stopped. She came to a halt behind him, and Ren joined

them. At her side, the wizard raised a brow at her. “Welcome

to your new home.”

Paladin shook his head and glanced over his shoulder, a

slight smile on his lips. “Only for the moment.”

“If you wait here, I will continue to the living area and

clear out the dust and debris.” Ren offered.

“I’d rather we go with you. You’re going to use your spells

to do the cleaning, right?” Seren questioned, glancing at the

wizard.

“But of course, it is the only way to keep everything

organized and in its proper place.” Ren grinned at her. She

smiled in return. It pleased her that he appeared more at

258

Dragon Wish

ease in her company. His good looks came alive with the

smile.

“If we go with you, we won’t be in the way?”

“Not at all. Come, mother to our unborn king. Let me see

if you care for my cleaning methods.” He proceeded to stroll

down the darkened corridor leading underneath the flowing

dunes of the desert.

Once inside, the blackness closed in around them, thick

and impenetrable. Ren’s footsteps, crunching the sand on the

stone floor echoed in the high ceilinged passageway. A flash

streaked in front of her followed by a flood of luminous light

from the yellow dragonstone on Ren’s staff. The eerie circle

of light from the stone carried across the space between and

several feet about them. On the walls on either side,

engraved designs flowed over the surfaces, etched by human

hands.

Seren moved closer to the wall on her right. She studied

the pictures carved there. Dragons amassed in the skies

above fleeing humans. A thrill surged to life in her veins.

“This is why they made this place?” she asked, reaching

up to lay her palm on the wall.

“Do not touch,” Ren’s order came too late.

Images and sounds entered Seren’s body through the

pictures. Humans screamed in terror, their clothes, hair,

even their very flesh burned under the dragons’ flames.

Compassion for the lost lives released her from the vision.

She slid her hand down and away, balling her hands into

fists.

“The marks were magically encrypted so their

descendants would never forget the tribulation they

suffered.” The wizard stepped to her side. “This place was the

sanctuary of the golden dragon so the magic in the walls is

more intense.”

Both she and Paladin faced Ren, shocked at the wizard’s

answer. Paladin stepped closer to the wizard. “Is it safe for us

to come within its boundaries?”

259

Dragon Wish

The wizard frowned at them. “The beast no longer exists

except for its bones and scales. I’ve been here many times. I

have never seen any signs of a live golden one. Nor have I

sensed its presence.”

More than a little surprised, Seren stared at him. She’d

seen the dragon at her purification. Paladin had too. “That’s

not true.” She motioned to Paladin. “We saw one.”

Ren shook his head and motioned with his head, “So he

has said, but until the time I can see with these eyes of mine,

I will continue to believe it is a hopeless cause. Mind you, I

will never cease my search, but I admit freely it is a useless

one. Come, we’re almost there.”

Confused by Ren’s attitude, she nodded. She reached and

took Paladin’s hand. The touch gave her strength to continue

after the wizard.

Ren moved deeper into the cave. The faint sound of water

dripping further into the cavern echoed, and soon, mingled

with their steps. The wizard halted. He tilted his head,

appearing to listen for something while he waited. Seren’s

heart picked up speed.

“What? Is there danger?” Paladin let go of Seren’s hand

and slid his hands over his sword handles.

The wizard turned and faced the wall on his right. He

lifted the staff so the dragonstone’s light extended to reveal

the bottom half of the wall.

Reddish brown worms, their many hairy legs swishing

back and forth, poured from a crevice in the stone.

She swallowed, wrinkling her face in disgust. She moved

closer to the two men so she stood between them. “I hate

worms.”

A frown flashed across Ren’s face as he glanced at her.

“Don’t we all?” Without waiting for her to answer, he began

walking again.

The path descended then rose to curve one way then the

other. At the end, stone steps rose to such a height they

disappeared into the outer edges of the light from the

260