Starlight (The Dragonian Series Book 5) (38 page)

He smiled. “No, but he is going to break my record in the next twenty four hours.”

I laughed. “I heard. I still don’t know what record you are talking about.”

“The one that I’ve held for more than a hundred years.”

“Let me guess, that is not good?”

“Not at all. I’m the leader of the Dragon League, what would it look like if my own son broke my record on his first try?”

“He is the Rubicon.”

“Still, not a good thing for me, Elena.”

“I’m sure you will find a way.”

“I won’t. Emanual knows exactly where he is but wouldn’t tell me. He says it’s payback time.”

I laughed. “What do you mean, knows where he is?” He wasn’t with his father at all.

“It’s called the hunt. You should come and have a look, Elena. Maybe today, then he will not break my record.”

“You sure about that?”

“Oh, Blake only has one weakness. And if that weakness was near, he would give everything up.”

My face glowed as he said that. “That is bad form.”

“I’m a desperate man, Princess.” He grinned. “So what do you say? Are you up for some fun?”

Seeing Blake tonight, telling him sorry face to face and….I smiled as I realized Sir Robert was still waiting for my answer.

“Okay, what do you want me to do?”

I PHONED EMANUAL.

“Elena,” he sighed. “I’m sorry about…”

“Can you take us to the Dragon League please?”

He squinted and then grinned like an idiot.  “Let me guess, Sir Robert phoned to wish you a happy birthday and now it’s payback time.”

I laughed. “No, I called him ‘cause I couldn’t get a hold of Blake.”

He frowned. “Don’t tell me I got through to you last night?”

“Something like that,” I lied. “Besides he is still my dragon.”

“True.”

“So, are you going to take me or not?”

“Why do you want to go?” Emanual asked.

“It has nothing to do with you whatsoever,” I said and smiled at him.

“Oh, it does if it means you are going to fight with him more.”

“I’m done fighting, okay? I know he didn’t do it. I was an idiot. So please, I’m begging you. I really want to see him, preferably today.”

He pulled his mouth and just stared at me.

I tried to ignore it. “Are you going to take us or do I need to get directions from Sir Robert?”

“Nope, I’ll meet you at the palace in half an hour. I was just about to go there myself. I’m errand boy.” I laughed and the connection was broken.

I went downstairs. I knew Becky was dying to see George and she would definitely come with.

“Hey,” I popped me head around the corner of the living room and found her on the couch reading a magazine.

She looked up. “So what are we going to do today on your birthday?”

“How about we go to the Dragon League?” He eyes rose and she jumped up.

“Are you serious?”

I nodded. “But it means that tonight is not going to happen at Longbottoms.”

“I don’t give a shit. I’ve waited for this for like forever.” She ran up the stairs while yelling at her mom that we were not going to be here tonight, but will be back in time for that stupid interview with Just Kev tomorrow.

I went to my room and phoned Sammy. She was just as excited because she’d wanted to check out what the Dragon League was all about. She said that she and Dean would meet us at the palace in twenty minutes.

Becky was giddy, she’d gotten her spark back and wanted to phone George but he was also disconnected completely.

“Why can’t I get through to him?” She sulked.

“It’s called the hunt. I have no idea what it’s all about,” I explained as we said goodbye to Lucille and climbed into my car.

The drive to the palace wasn’t a long one.

“The hunt. What are they actually hunting something?”

“I don’t know Becky, I’m sure Emanual will be able to tell us more.”

“I missed his ass so much. You think he is still upset with me? Wait, I know I shouldn’t be asking this, but yesterday you were still so upset with Blake.”

I smiled. “I’m not anymore, okay.”

“He cheated on you, Elena.”

“He didn’t Becky,” I spoke softly.

“How do you know?”

“Because…” I took a deep sigh and grunted. “You are going to think badly of me.”

She just gave me her raised eyebrow.

“Don’t tell Sammy, please.”

“Spit it out.”

“Mr. Dalton didn’t just give me my suit that day, he also gave me Blake’s journal that he’d left there.”

“What?” Becky sat up straight and stared at me. “His journal, the one he’s always writing in?”

I nodded.

“Do you know how he searched for that? He panicked like crazy.”

“Why? Nobody can open it.”

“They can’t?”

I pulled my face, “Well, almost nobody.”

“You opened it?”

“I know, I shouldn’t have, but yes, I found a way and no I’m not telling you what is inside. Well I’ll tell you about one thing.”

She just stared at me.

“He wrote something that I think is about the Dent. It still doesn’t make sense, but it’s not a spell, I think.”

“What is it, did he say what happens?”

“Shield can be penetrated, Becks.”

“Okay, fine. Told you it wasn’t a stupid spell.”

She lay back in her chair, contentment on her face. “It’s real.”

WE FOUND EMANUAL with Sammy and Dean already waiting for us.

We climbed into the famous Range Rover and Emanual took us to the Dragon League. It was about a three-hour drive from the palace, and stationed in front of a huge forest. What was new?

The Creepers had destroyed half of the forest so these dragons were really playing on Death’s doorstep.

“So what is this hunt about?” Becky asked and Emanual laughed from behind the steering wheel.

“Elena, if you want to see Blake tonight, there is only one way to do it.”

“How?”

“By going after his team’s flag.”

“His flag, what flag?”

“Oh, the Dragon League training is all about strategy and teamwork. One team gets a flag. They have to guard that flag with everything they’ve got. If one of the other teams claims your team’s flag, you have to retreat to home base, wait two days and try again.”

“So what, they like camp out while protecting a flag?” It sounded so stupid.

“Yes, they are supposed to hunt and find fresh water, all of those things.”

I laughed as I realized what he meant by errand boy. “You take them supplies, don’t you?”

“Only Blake’s team. It’s about time someone broke his father’s record, but now that you are here, I doubt that is going to happen.”

I smiled as I looked out the window.

“Sounds like fun,” Becky said.

“Blake’s team has been in the woods for the past six weeks.”

“What?” both Becky and I said.

“Oh, they are on a mean streak.”

I laughed. “How is he doing?”

“Really good. Loves every minute of the Dragon League, George and him, they are naturals. Found the other teams flags in record time too. It helps if you have a Moon-Bolt on your team.”

Becky glowed with pride as he said that. “But they are like two sulking pups when they don’t do anything,” Emanual said and we both smiled at each other.

“Well, he’s my sulking pup,” Becky said and I laughed softly.

“So, is he forgiven?”

“Yes, he is forgiven. Are you going to help me find his flag?”

He gasped. “What kind of a dragon you think I am?”

“The kind that is true to his word. What were they again? Oh
you will always be my princess, Elena
.”

Everyone in the SUV laughed, even Dean. Emanual grinned at me in the rearview mirror.

“You really said that?” Dean asked, from the passenger seat.

Emanual’s smile disappeared. “Shut up.”

All of us couldn’t help but crack up. It was a really good trip. “Fine, I’ll tell you were it is, but you are going to have to work for it.” He looked at me though his rearview mirror again. “You are just like your father. He got Sir Robert’s flag the day he set the record.”

“That is why he knows this will work?”

“Yip.”

We finally reached the base. It was a farmhouse and had an entire boot camp obstacle course a couple of yards away from it. Teams were busy training.

“See, I told you it was sort of a boot camp.” Becky left her two-cent comment.

“This is how everyone starts out. Two weeks of drilling and then you get your team, and off you go.”

“I’m not doing that.” I said flatly and the entire SUV was engulfed in laughter again.

“Princesses have their perks.”

“And friends of princesses have their perks too.” Becky left her two scent comments.

Emanual parked the SUV.

Sir Robert smiled as we all climbed out, and gave me a tight hug. “I’m so glad that you are here.” He sounded happy.

“That is not fair, Sir Robert.”

“Sir Bower, I am a strategist, one that will not surrender easy.”

He laughed.

“Sir Bower?” I teased Emanual.

“You didn’t know my surname, Elena?” He teased and I laughed again.

“You are Emanual to me. Why doesn’t anybody address you as Sir Bower?”

“Because I asked them not to.”

Another guy in an army uniform rushed to Sir Robert while troops were being drilled through each obstacle of the boot camp. It was crazy to think that George and Blake had to do this too.

I put my baseball cap on, feeling the vibe coming through. The guy shook Emanual’s hand and smiled.

“Recruiting more deputies, I see.”

“Not at all,” Emanual answered.

“This is the team that is going to bring back the Rubicon.” Sir Robert had a lot of confidence in me, which was scary.

The guy squinted as he looked at us and found his eyes on me. He laughed as I looked back.

“Sir Robert, bad form.”

“I don’t care. That boy is not going to break my record.”

They all laughed.

“Welcome to the Dragon League, Princess.”

I bowed my head and followed Sir Robert into the house and to the first door on the left, which he had turned into a huge office, with a 3-D map of the forest in a glass case.

Sir Robert spoke first, explaining that this entire case was the key to where everything was. Blake and his team were stationed somewhere. He sent Emanual an evil glare, and looked back at the map. Our duty was to find them and retrieve the flag before oh-six-hundred hour tomorrow morning. That was our mission.

As for where the flag was, well, Blake kept it with him at all times, but Emanual grinned which told me it wasn’t the truth.