Half-Dragon Solis, Chapter 6

Chapter Six - Two Eavesdroppers for the Price of One

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The day squeaked by in a strange combination of lethargy and anxiety. There was nothing to do, really, but at the same time, a sense of urgency hovered over the Lair. Felix and I weren't told about the mysterious meeting at eight o'clock, so I had to assume Teyaan was right and it was only for those involved in the fight against the Revivers. I wasn't going to stand for that, though.

So far my plan was to follow the least dangerous person to this meeting--and that was probably Patricia. I wasn't entirely sure that Patricia would be invited, but she seemed to work quite closely with Charman to organize what went on in the Lair. It was likely enough, so all I had to do was keep an eye on her and wait until eight.

Felix was still willing to talk to me, but something of the previous friendship we'd shared had been lost. He seemed to view me as a bit of a loose cannon now, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye when he thought I wouldn't notice. The incident with the half-wraith had clearly made him nervous, as it would anyone with a brain in their head. Unfortunately for Felix, I seemed to be lacking in the brainpower department of late--which meant that by the time seven thirty rolled around I was still quite determined to follow Patricia and spy on the meeting.

Patricia had done some bustling about as I followed her movements out of the corner of my eye--tidying up the infirmary, discussing something with Yorka, and spending some time in what was apparently a little office a few halls down.

It was about quarter to eight when I began to suspect that Patricia hadn't been invited to the meeting after all, but soon enough I saw her leave the office and join up with Yorka halfway down the hall. Feeling like the least invisible ninja ever (bright red scales on white walls are pretty hard to miss) I followed after them, practically walking on my heels to stop my claws from clicking on the floor.

Luckily, they didn't seem too worried about anyone tailing them. Yorka glanced back once at a noise I made, but I casually walked into the nearest room as if it had been my destination all along. There wasn't anything inside anyway; an unused bedroom or something. I waited for as long as I dared before peeking outside again and following the two dragon tails as they disappeared around a bend.

As I crept out into the next branch of hall, I was just in time to see them duck inside a room at the end of it.

Okay, now how do we get inside? I asked Teyaan, edging closer along the hall. The door was open and I could just see Charman's back, sitting at a table, as Patricia and Yorka moved out of my sight.

This wasn't very well thought out, Teyaan remarked.

Yes, I was beginning to suspect that myself. Now then, any ideas?

Look a little closer.

I leaned forward as far as I dared, crouching low with one knee to the tiles. Charman, Patricia, and Yorka were the only ones in the room that I could see, and none were looking toward the door.

Quickly. If you crawl inside now, you can duck behind that filing cabinet.

But-

Now, Teyaan growled, startling me into action. He was right; if I didn't go now they were sure to look at the door any moment. I crawled on all fours into the entrance, feeling for all the world like a child trying to escape the watchful eyes of his parents. The three people in the room seemed to be intent on a stack of files Charman was sorting through and placing on the table. At least they were on the opposite side of the room than the door, but it still seemed incredibly unlikely that they wouldn't notice me.

Allow me, Teyaan said with impatience, and all of a sudden my vision dimmed, as his presence in my head expanded. Centuries of memories and experiences seemed to pour into me, sharpening my mind and my senses. I saw a flash of a dark cave, across which I nearly glided, silent as a breath. My muscles bunched and coiled with fiery power, power I had but to wish into being to destroy my enemies. And right now, I, a dragon, was certainly capable of this small act of stealth.

The flash was over as suddenly as it had began, and I found myself wedged behind the filing cabinet, face first. I blinked the dizzy spots out of my eyes.

What the hell was that?

Not going to thank me? Teyaan asked. You were making quite a mess of it, so I allowed you to use some of my experience.

I… I'd prefer if you didn't do that too often, I replied, carefully shifting into a more comfortable position. If I stuck my head out the other side of the filing cabinet, behind a stack of boxes, I could peer in between them to watch what was happening. Patricia and Yorka had each taken seats, Yorka coiled like an anaconda over the chair. I'd reached my hiding place just in time, because it didn't take long for Elise to stride through the door I'd just crawl through and take her own place at the table.

Charman scanned the present dragons, then shot a suspicious glance toward the door. I gulped as he got up from his seat, but he only headed for the entrance and closed the door before sitting back down.

"Thank you for coming," Charman said, slowly turning his gaze around the table. I was looking at him from the back, so most of the others were looking in my direction. I hoped I was as invisible as I thought I was. "As members of our organization, I just want to remind you that everything here is top-secret. Throwing this information around will do nothing but put us at a disadvantage."

Which is probably why he didn't tell us before, Teyaan commented. Since he said nothing more, though, he must have wanted to hear what came next almost as much as I did.

"So, what's the word?" Yorka asked.

"I'm sure you all know by now that the Revivers have been changing their tactics," Charman said. "Recently, we have come to believe that this is because the Revivers we are currently fighting aren't the Revivers we have fought in the past."

"A different group?" Elise inquired.

"No, they are the same group. Several months ago, they attempted an experiment that changed their hierarchy considerably and got many of the people in charge killed."

"Silas?" Patricia asked after a moment in a hushed voice.

"Chairman Silas is dead," Charman replied. The others looked at each other in surprise and confusion, but Charman's face remained impassive.

Silas…? I asked Teyaan.

Frans Silas, the Chairman and leader of the Revivers, Teyaan replied tautly. We tried to kill him for ages.

And now he's just…?

Listen.

"So… that's a good thing, isn't it?" Elise prompted, tapping her claws on the table.

"Mr. Silas and many of his subordinates were killed because they found something we all thought had been destroyed." Charman paused, as if he didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. "That is, the petrified form of Yrathain, also known as the Black Dragon."

"No," Elise hissed. "That can't be true. Even if Yrathain somehow had survived, who would be crazy enough to…?"

"I can only assume that the Revivers forced someone into merging with Yrathain," Charman said. Patricia's face had settled into a deadly calm, her narrowed eyes reminding me of her concentration when she'd been examining Elise. Yorka looked positively ill. "The result is… the result is this. We've code-named him Half-dragon Black, for now."

He opened one of the files and pushed a glossy photo toward the others. I squinted, but couldn't make out anything except a few dark colours.

"…That's a half-dragon?" Patricia spoke up first, her voice abnormally soft and monotone. "It's… deformed."

"That is what happens when an Ancient Dragon as powerful as Yrathain is forced into merging," Charman said heavily. "In this form, we believe he is attempting to recreate his army, using the remains of the Revivers as a starting point."

Yrathain, Teyaan snarled with more hatred than I had ever heard put into one name. Who dared to keep that criminal from being destroyed, when our beloved Queen was killed for justice?

Who is Yrathain? I asked, though I was scared of the answer. Even the way Charman spoke the name was a warning, as if it were a curse he was reluctant of speaking aloud.

He is what you would call the king of the frost-tongues, Teyaan replied slowly. At the conclusion of the war, he, as the ruler of the frost-tongues, and Altruuna, as the ruler of the fire-mouths, were both killed upon petrification. This was the justice of those who ended our fighting.

But, if Yrathain-

If Yrathain is here now, he must die again, Teyaan interrupted me. Regardless of what poor human they have given him to possess.

"His army," Patricia continued. "So, the fire-mouths that belonged to the Revivers would be…"

"So far as we can tell, he hasn't killed them," Charman said. "Consulting with other Ancient Dragons has told us that, judging by his past actions, it seems more likely that Yrathain may have thought to enslave them."

"We don't know that for sure, though," Yorka said with an audible swallow. "And the way they've been trying to steal our half-dragons…"

"And Jason…?" Patricia started to ask, but trailed off as Yorka glanced away and Elise glared at her. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. He's only a kid."

"Mr. Locras seems to be just fine. His dragon is a frost-tongue, after all." Charman replied in an even colder tone than usual.

"Are you implying something with that?" Elise snapped. "Jaelek may be a frost-tongue, but believe me, we won't betray you like Locras did."

"That is good to know." Charman looked around the table, meeting everyone's eyes. I tried to make myself smaller, knowing they'd be angry if they knew I'd been listening in. "Half-Dragon Black is not an enemy to be taken lightly. If any of you wish to withdraw your services for the time being and stay in the safe-house, you are welcome to." He paused. "…Though I feel I should stress that we will need all the manpower we can get right now."

No one at the table said a word, though Yorka nervously licked his lips. Charman nodded. "Thank you. You'll be updated as developments unfold. At the moment we don't forsee any danger here, despite the wraith that nearly caught Elise. If we're careful, we shouldn't draw Half-Dragon Black's attention."

"Yet… if his goals remain the same as they did in the war…" Patricia said, "We will be forced to seek him out before long."

"That very well may be." Charman stood. "Now, then. I wish you all good night, and implore you to stay safe."

"Are you going somewhere?" Patricia asked, getting to her feet as well.

"I have some people I need to meet with," Charman replied, allowing Yorka and Elise to file past him. "I should be back in a few days at most."

"Please, take care," she said, her voice soft and with a certain weight to it. Charman turned his face away and nodded gruffly.

As the two left the room and closed the door behind them, I waited a few moments more in the silence. My heart was still pounding. I'd done it; I'd listened in on the meeting. Why didn't I feel relieved?

This is not good news, Teyaan said quietly. No, this is some of the worst news we could possibly have heard. To think that Yrathain survived!

Nothing we can do about it, I said, though the moment when Teyaan had shared his experiences with me came to mind. The power I had felt, the power of a dragon, alien and yet so instinctively, familiarly, a part of me. The iron determination to win against any opponent. Had Teyaan meant to share that much with me? Or had it seeped through accidentally?

You're right, not anymore. he replied. I wriggled out from behind the filing cabinet and crept out the door, scampering back down the hall toward my room.