Page 60 of A Kingdom Restored

“Never mind that right now,” Heath said in agitation. “There isn’t time to go get little Jacqueline, even if her magic was strong enough. If we can’t hide you, can we distract them somehow?”

Rekavidur considered the idea. “Perhaps,” he said. “It would not be free of risk, however. If my position is being watched, they will notice me leaving Valoria, whatever you do to distract them.”

“No course is free of risk now,” said Heath. “Head for the underwater kingdoms. I’ll go to Wyvern Islands to attempt to distract the elders.”

“What’s your plan?” Reka demanded.

“I have an idea,” said Heath. “But I don’t think I’ll tell you the details.”

“Why not?” asked Reka.

“Because I don’t think you’ll like it, and there’s no time to argue,” Heath said bluntly. “The main question is how I’ll get there quickly enough. You can’t afford to delay in order to take me.”

“My father is sympathetic to our cause,” said Reka. “I will request his assistance.”

He threw his head back abruptly, letting out a shrieking cry that caused Heath to cover his ears with his hands. When Reka lowered his vast head again, he looked satisfied.

“Fortune is with us. He was already flying over the mainland, not on Wyvern Islands, and he is willing to assist us.”

“How do you know?” Heath asked.

Reka gave him a superior look. “Dragons do not always need words to communicate via farsight.”

Had the situation been less tense, Heath would have rolled his eyes at Reka’s lofty tone. But all other thoughts were driven away as Rekavidur seized his shoulders unceremoniously, launching into the air.

“What are you doing?” Heath shouted above the wind, as his legs dangled below him, far above the ground. “There’s no time for you to take me to Wyvern Islands! You need to go to Merletta!”

“I have a better idea,” Reka called back calmly. “We’ll meet my father halfway.”

The dragon was moving at such speed that speech quickly became impossible. Within only a few minutes, he began to slow, just as Heath caught sight of another scaled form speeding through the air toward them. Heath expected Reka to land, but instead he merely wheeled eastward, heading toward the coast as he continued to fly at a decreased speed.

The other dragon matched the movement, and soon they were flying side by side, the ocean visible ahead.

“Greetings, my sire,” Rekavidur said in an unhurried way. “I thank you for your swift response.”

“Greetings, Rekavidur,” said Elddreki. The larger dragon’s scales reflected the early morning light, glints of green, purple, and blue dancing out. “What is the nature of your need?”

“In point of fact, it is more Heath’s need,” said Rekavidur. “He has seen that the mermaid Merletta, with whom his life is entangled, is under threat of imminent death. He wishes me to fly to the underwater city where she is being held, and liberate her.”

Elddreki said nothing, waiting patiently for his son to explain further.

“I wish to assist him,” Reka went on. Even though they were flying slowly, Heath had to strain to hear the words. “But I believe that if I leave this kingdom, my flight will be followed, and the location of the merpeople’s home will be revealed to the elders, leading to the slaughter of its inhabitants.”

“I concur,” said Elddreki.

“Heath intends to distract the elders,” Rekavidur continued. “However, I suspect that if he were to approach them, my absence would be suspicious enough that my location would be sought.”

“Again, I agree,” Elddreki replied.

“Are you willing to go in my place?” Rekavidur asked his father. “To retrieve Merletta from the danger in which she finds herself, for the sake of my friendship with Heath? I know I ask a great deal.”

Elddreki didn’t reply immediately, and Heath found himself holding his breath.

“Although I wish no harm to the descendant of my dragonfriend, I do not feel any obligation to undertake such a task for Lord Heath,” the dragon responded at last. “It is for your sake, Rekavidur, that I will undertake this journey.”

“Thank you, my sire, for the unearned favor,” said Reka, dipping his head in a gesture of submission.

Hope flared to life inside Heath. Elddreki was older and more powerful than Reka. If anything, he would get there more quickly. Provided he could find the place.

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