Starlighter (29 page)

Allender looked back at her. “Danger, Miss?”

“Plenty.” Elyssa set her hand on Tam’s back and guided her toward the stairs. “I don’t want to frighten the children, so if we can just get out and—”

“First let me see if the dragon is up there.” Allender started up the stairs, but in a rush of flames, he stumbled back down and crashed to the landing. Micah helped him to his feet.

Several seconds later, a distant thump shook the walls.

“I know that sound,” Micah said. “Yarlan sealed the main entrance.”

“It seems so,” Allender said. “At least this one is open. We might have to wait here and—

Elyssa grasped his arm. “No! We can’t wait here!”

“Calm down, Miss,” Allender said, patting her hand. “You warned of danger. What is it?”

“Shh.” She tiptoed toward the passageway on the left, listening. With every step, a buzzing sound increased. There was no doubt about it. Something was coming through that passageway, something angry.

“Bees.”

J
ason stood under a curved black ceiling with hundreds of starlike dots sprinkled throughout its expanse. If not for torches on the perimeter wall, this room would have looked like an outdoor courtyard rather than the central hub within the confines of the building Magnar had called the Zodiac.

He tried to touch his throbbing head, but his arms, bound at his wrists with a rope that wrapped around his waist, could not reach that high. Riding on that monster had been torture, with every jostle sending a new stab of pain into his wound.

Magnar sat behind a crystalline column at the center of the room. As thick as Jason’s arm and almost as clear as the air surrounding it, the column stood about head-high and was capped by a sparkling, transparent globe the size of a human head.

Something clicked. A hole opened in the center of the ceiling and grew rapidly. Sunlight peeked through, and a
few seconds later, the entire sky, blue and cloudless, came into view.

As Magnar scanned the canopy above, a menacing scowl tightened his scaly face. “Arxad has much to answer for. If his explanation for his actions is inadequate, he will face the same fate as his beloved Starlighter.”

Jason blinked at the bright sunlight. “What did he do?”

“He rebelled against my authority, but the details are none of your concern.”

“If he knows he’s in trouble, maybe he won’t come back.”

“We have no need to fear that. He will not abandon his precious Starlighter or his family.”

For the next few minutes, Jason stealthily studied the room, trying to memorize the locations of escape doors and potential weapons—a broom, a fallen cactus, and a metal rod the length of his forearm—yet nothing seemed adequate.

Finally, Magnar snorted. “You see. Arxad approaches.”

High in the air, a dragon flew toward them, but his flight pattern seemed awkward and jagged. Soon, he flew into the roof’s opening and settled to the ground, his wings, torn and bleeding, beating the air.

Breathing heavily, he bowed and spoke in the dragon’s strange language.

“Use the human tongue, Arxad.” Magnar pointed at Jason with a wing. “I want this boy to listen to what I have to say to you.”

“Very well.” Arxad’s rapid breaths continued. “I apologize for my appearance, but Maximus and I had a rather significant disagreement.”

“You fought with him?”

“I did. You see, I took the Starlighter to the river where I thought I might find that drowning boy, and when Maximus
joined us, his presence jolted me back to my senses.” After taking a long draw of air, Arxad’s breathing eased. “The river had not flooded. All was normal. So I scolded the Starlighter fiercely, and she and her friend ran away. Of course, I could easily have overtaken them, but Maximus attacked me.”

“He attacked you?” Magnar’s tail whipped the floor. “Why?”

“I can only guess, but I think when he learned that I would so easily scold the Starlighter, he knew that I was no longer under her spell. As you might know, ever since Maximus allowed her to enter the Basilica, his motives have come into question among some of us. It seemed that he was completely under her spell himself, and he was pretending to be angered by her trespassing.

“So when I left with her, he followed. But why? Was it to ensure her safety, thinking that I might punish her when my mind was restored? Evidence could lead one to believe that. Because of our battle, she escaped, giving further evidence that he has been aiding her all along.”

“A most interesting story,” Magnar said, “but lying does not become you.”

“Lying?” Arxad blinked. “I have spoken no falsehoods, and the Reflections Crystal shows that every word is true.”

Magnar looked at the crystal column. The globe at the top reflected a gleam of sunlight that projected a barely visible ray toward Arxad.

“Speak an obvious lie,” Magnar commanded.

Arxad glanced at Jason before answering, “I am not here.”

The globe slowly changed from clear to gray, and finally to black.

“It appears to be functioning properly.” Magnar scanned Arxad’s body. “Your wounds also corroborate your battle story, but when Maximus arrives, I will hear his account of events as well.”

Arxad lowered his head. “Maximus will not be arriving.”

“What?” Sparks flew from Magnar’s nostrils. “What happened to him?”

“Our struggle took us into the river. Of course I had to defend myself, but after a great battle, he drowned.”

“Drowned?” Black smoke shot skyward from Magnar’s snout. “How could a powerful dragon drown in a shallow river unless someone held him under the water?”

Arxad glanced at the crystal, a look so brief, Jason thought Magnar couldn’t have seen it. The globe had faded, but it was still somewhat gray.

“I held him under, great Magnar. It was not my purpose to drown him. I merely hoped to keep him from killing me. As powerful as he is, my only chance was to use my greater weight to my advantage.”

Magnar swung his head toward the globe. It stayed a dull, smoky gray. “If you are still speaking the truth, why is the crystal not growing clear?”

“Neither is it darkening,” Arxad replied. “The crystal knows that I speak the truth as I understand it, though I am unsure of my own motivations. You see, I have despised Maximus for many years, and I wonder if my old hatred has clouded my perception. I can assure you, however, that if I had any intent to drown him, I did it only for the future of Starlight, not to save the girl.”

The crystal instantly turned clear. Magnar stared at it and nodded. “Your loyalty to our race is undiminished,
but you will have to stand trial. Even an accidental death must be investigated thoroughly.”

Arxad bowed his head. “I understand.”

“I want to ask you about this boy who implies that he is an emissary from another world.”

Arxad’s brow lifted. “You mean, the crystal is—”

“No. When I checked the portal, it was still closed, and the crystal was not there. Have any of your communications with Prescott provided information that would explain this boy’s presence here?”

Jason leaned closer. The conversation was getting much more interesting.

Arxad extended his neck and looked Jason over for a moment. “I have never seen him in my life. I have no idea how he arrived here, so I think it best to maintain silence in front of him about these matters until we learn more.”

“Agreed, and the crystal again confirms your words. Perhaps a round of torture for this fellow would induce—”

A squeak sounded. Magnar turned toward a cavernous hallway. Zena emerged, leading Koren by a chain attached to a neck iron. No longer wearing bonds on her ankles, Koren walked unhindered, her cloak flowing behind her and a black gag covering her mouth, a stark contrast to her flowing white gown.

From a strap over her shoulder, Zena carried the same bag from which she had earlier drawn a dagger. That side of her body drooped, proving that something heavy weighed her down, and she glanced at it with every careful stride.

“Chain her to the crystal,” Magnar ordered. “And allow her to speak.”

Staring straight ahead, Zena set the bag down and pulled her prisoner toward the crystal. As Koren passed by Jason, she looked at him, her eyes imploring. Her green orbs seemed to speak once again, but not with an appeal for rescue. She begged him to run, to save himself.

Jason shook his head. He couldn’t run. He had to stay and figure out a way to escape with her. But how? Two fire-breathing dragons could catch him and turn them into a pair of torches with a single puff.

Zena pressed Koren’s back against the column and locked the chain to a ring embedded in the stone floor, choosing a link that kept the chain tight between the ring and her prisoner’s neck.

With her arms and fingers straining to make the chain tight, Zena wrapped the remaining links around Koren’s chest and, using a padlock as big as her hand, fastened them together behind the column. Then, with dramatic flair, she drew the dagger from her bag and sliced Koren’s gag at her cheek, nicking her skin in the process. As the gag drooped and fell, a trickle of Koren’s blood followed.

Jason’s anger boiled. He focused on the key in Zena’s bony fingers, a long silver one. Immediately, Elyssa’s words came back to mind:
It’s important to remember details that might help you later
,
even the shape of keys.

He studied the key—three square notches on the shaft and a blunt oval end attached to a metal ring with at least eight other keys of similar size and color. As Zena attached the ring to a strap on her bag, he felt his pockets for his own ring of keys, but it was gone, likely swept away during his wild ride in the river.

“Your spells will not allow you to escape,” Magnar said as he walked in front of Koren and looked her in the eye. “Now will you tell us a tale?”

Koren glared at him. With her cheek bleeding, her eyes sparkling, and her red hair blowing in the warm breeze, she looked like a persecuted prophetess ready to announce an oracle of doom, as if dragon’s fire might erupt from her lips at any moment and consume her adversaries.

Yet not a hint of bitterness spiced her words as she said with a meek voice, “What tale do you wish to hear?”

Magnar glanced at Arxad before replying. “Take us back to the day when Uriel Blackstone escaped. He hid something that belongs to me, and I want to know where it is.”

“Very well,” Koren said. “If I may have some water, I am sure I will be able to deliver this tale more clearly.”

Jason studied Koren’s expression. Why was she being so submissive, so willing to give Magnar what he wanted? Might the request for water be a ploy? Was it a distraction so her rescuer could think of a way to set her free?

Magnar nodded at Zena. “Get a flask, and be quick about it.”

“The closest flask suitable for a human’s use would be in the Basilica,” Zena said.

Magnar’s voice sharpened. “Then get it!”

“As you wish.” Zena hoisted the bag by its strap and trudged toward a doorway.

“Leave that here,” Magnar ordered. “It will only slow you down. I want you back here as quickly as possible.”

Zena stared at him with her blank eyes. “But the prince—”

“I know what is in there! Leave it!” Magnar draped a wing over the bag. “The prince demanded attendance, so let him stay. No harm will come to him.”

As soon as Zena left, Jason looked at Koren. Her eyes focused on the bag. He spotted the key ring dangling from
a loop, barely visible under Magnar’s wing. How could anyone sneak up and remove the key without him noticing?

“Magnar,” Arxad said, displaying a grimace. “While we are waiting, would you mind looking at a wound on my back? I cannot bend my neck far enough to see it, and it feels quite deep. I think Maximus’s claws were the sharpest in all of Starlight.”

“I am not a physician,” Magnar growled. “It seems to me that you deserve your wounds. See to that later.”

Arxad glanced at the bag before returning his gaze to Magnar. “Perhaps you should get the boy to put the prince in position before Zena returns. It will save time.”

“Have a resident of Darksphere handle the black egg?” Magnar pulled the bag closer to his body. “I should say not! I am in a hurry to find the answer I seek, but not in that much of a hurry.”

Jason looked at Arxad’s darting eyes. He was plotting something, apparently trying to get Magnar’s attention, but the first two attempts, both hasty and desperate, had failed. Even though the bag now sat closer to Magnar, his wing was no longer touching the top.

Finally, Arxad bowed his head. “Great Magnar, I have a confession to make about my battle with Maximus, and I trust that you will be a fair judge.”

“Confession?” Magnar edged closer to Arxad, his wing still over the bag. “Are you willing to forego a trial?”

Jason tightened his muscles. This was his chance, but he had to hurry. He tiptoed toward the bag, straining against the rope that bound his wrists. Just a little slack would be all he needed.

“I…” Arxad kept his stare fixed on Magnar. “I am willing to let you decide my fate.”

Jason stooped and ducked under Magnar’s wing. Using both hands, he grasped the ring, found the correct key, and began threading it off the metallic circle. He begged the keys to stay silent. No clinking together, or he would get fried for sure.

Magnar shifted his body slightly. Jason shifted with him. The dragon’s wing brushed the top of his head, but Magnar apparently didn’t notice.

“You see,” Arxad said, his words coming out slowly, as if each syllable brought great pain, “Maximus and I have never been close friends.”

Jason detached the key and slid it into his mouth. Then, he opened the bag and looked inside. The black egg lay in a nest of wadded cloths with the dagger’s hilt protruding from an inner sheath.

“Yes, yes, I know,” Magnar said. “Go on.”

Jason withdrew the dagger and, twisting it in his hands to grip it properly, began slicing the rope.

“But,” Arxad continued, “he has respected my wisdom and counsel. He once asked me about a problem he had with his mate.”

As he continued sawing the rope, Jason glanced at Koren and the stake. The globe on top stayed clear.

Arxad’s voice lowered, as if he were whispering a secret. “I am wondering if his despondency over his marital situation might have led to his initial mistake, his allowing the Starlighter to enter the Basilica.”

The globe turned gray, but it seemed that Magnar hadn’t noticed. Jason continued sawing. It wouldn’t be long now.

“I think I might have taken advantage of Maximus’s emotional state, and he surrendered to my strength more easily than a dragon of his stature might have otherwise.”

“Are you saying that Maximus allowed you to drown him?” Magnar asked.

Arxad just nodded.

Jason looked at the globe again. It remained smoky gray. Could it detect a nod, or did a lie have to be verbal?

“What kind of confession is that?” Magnar barked. “You are heaping blame on Maximus, not yourself.”

When he had sawed through ninety percent of the rope, Jason returned the dagger to its sheath.

“What are you doing?”