Dragon-Eyed Void

By L. Darby Gibbs

In the heart of Rigaria, where ancient sentient forests hold the secrets of the land, a dire crisis unfolds: the dragons of the Void teeter on the brink of extinction, and salvation demands a monumental effort from each individual set on a separate impossible task.

Every proposed solution carries a deadly consequence:
• If a single dragon is removed from the Void, it sets in motion a catastrophic cascade, leading to the Void's total collapse.
• Removing all dragons from the Void would condemn them to perish in the resource-starved lands of Rigaria.

Desperation mounts as it becomes clear that the number of melders is far from sufficient to bridge the gap.

Amidst this turmoil, a group of exceptional melders—Zyla, Seguin, Madras, Thaddeus, and Afley—must unite to confront their destiny. The weight of their mission rests on their shoulders as they strive to defy the inescapable fate looming over the dragons.

But the challenges do not end there. A rogue faction of casters, wielding their element-enhanced spells, threatens the very essence of the Lynkyn forests and seeks to enslave the melders. With relentless determination, they pursue our heroes, leaving no sanctuary untouched.

In this relentless race against time, where magic alone cannot assure victory, bonds of friendship will be tested to their limits. To tip the scales in their favor, an unexpected ally from the opposing side must emerge—a ray of hope that seems as elusive as it is vital.

As the destiny of dragons and melders hangs in the balance, one thing is clear: the arrival of a solitary melder mercenary in the Void is but a glimmer of hope, yet it may be the spark needed to ignite the flames of change.

Will they defy destiny and overcome insurmountable odds, or will they succumb to the grim fate that threatens to snuff out the last embers of the dragons' existence?

Buy this last book in the epic tale of the Annals of the Dragon Dreamer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. Darby Gibbs
• Release date: Jan 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215331927

L. Darby Gibbs

L. Darby Gibbs has been publishing novels since 2011. Since 2018, Gibbs has been writing fantasy, and has three series out: Solstice Dragon World (six standalone books), Standing Stone (five series books), and her newest Kavin Cut Chronicles (a trilogy).When she is not writing or teaching, she is active in the outdoors, mostly on a tandem bicycle or, more recently, sailing.Gibbs is a teacher of writing and published a non-fiction reference book of traditional story plots titled THE LITTLE HANDBOOK OF OF NARRATIVE FRAMEWORKS in 2013.Gibbs enjoys going to the theater, reading, traveling and spending time with her family and pets. She has been married over thirty years, has one child and a Labrador. She lives in the United States and has lived in several states north, east, west and south. Though born on the east coast, her roots are buried deepest in Southern California.

Book preview

Dragon-Eyed Void

Annals of the Dragon Dreamer, Book 5

L. Darby Gibbs

INKABOUT PUBLISHING

Dragon-Eyed Void

Annals of the Dragon Dreamer, Book 5

Published by Inkabout Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2023 L. Darby Gibbs

All Rights Reserved

License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the retailer of your choice and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, events, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. However, you may temporarily engage in daydreaming that they are real for your own enjoyment.

Cover art 2023 by Gibbs & Gibbs

Edited by Kendra’s Editing and Book Services

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Lottie wakes each morning, facing another day in Winsome Woods. She doesn’t remember why she’s there or where she came from, but there are things to do if she’s going to last long enough to figure it out.

When the arrival stone shakes her small wooded world, she finds out she’s no longer on her own. Unfortunately, Jag’s arrival inside the failing spell confirms there’s no way out.

The spell is breaking down, and her limited skills may lead to it faltering in a matter of days. When the last leaf drops, everything and everyone disappears.

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Contents

Map of Rigaria

Introduction

1.Just Get out with His Mind Intact

2.A Quest for Answers

3.Champion of the Red

4.Making Sense of a Notion

5.Void Dreaming

6.A Task Too Many

7.Observing

8.Coming and Going

9.Double-Dragon Melder

10.Not Alone

11.An Enemy Made

12.A Pocket Full of Element

13.Unreported Dreams

14.Mist and Illusions

15.Target

16.Strength in Harmony

17.Void Drawn

18.Way and Destination

19.On the Assault

20.Dragon Sacrifice

21.The Sage Horse

22.Tweaking the Plan

23.Behind Illusions

24.Revealing Truths

25.Grief Takes Flight

26.A Dodger in Camp

27.On the Move

28.Trailing a Dragon

29.Joining Forces

30.Overwhelm

31.Tipping Point

32.Beyond the Void

33.The Inquest

34.Finding Harmony

APPENDIX

Excerpt: The Dragon Question

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Introduction

Just a quick note, reader. You will find an Appendix at the end of the book listing dragons, Lynkyn, Grand Lynkyn, and Lynkyn-born horses. I thought this might be useful as they have grown in number and different dragons, Lynkyn, etc., are important in each book. Nearly all are referenced in this fifth and final novel in the series. I thought you might want a means to refresh your memory or quickly check who or what is related to whom or what. Here is a quick link to the page, but you will find it also listed in the Table of Contents.

Now off you go. Enjoy your reading.

Chapter one

Just Get out with His Mind Intact

Captain Spear

Mena’s mayhem! This was the last thing he was expecting. Captain Spear dodged around another sprouting tree and avoided touching it. The hum alone was disconcerting, and he didn’t need images flooding his thoughts.

He had to get out of this forest before he lost his mind.

Others were stumbling and cursing out of sight. Branches snapped nearby. He should round up his wayward casters. If he had any idea where they were in this erupting forest.

Another tree sprouted out of the ground almost full size, the girth equal to his waist. He double-stepped around it before the burgeoning limbs could catch him up.

What a job! He hadn’t signed up for this when hired to ferry casters to Wisery Towers. Who’d have expected a school for casters to turn into a rabid forest?

Caster Akin tripped and sprawled right under his feet. For the love of the gift! He grabbed the skinny man by the arm, hauled him to his feet, turned him in the right direction, and pushed him forward. That’s one. Four more frightened casters to sift out of a blooming forest!

Chapter two

A Quest for Answers

Zyla

Through the trees, Zyla could see the break, the crushed stone replaced by polished white marble. The pale swirls in the stone reminded her of the Void and its whirl of fog. She shook her head, throwing away thoughts of the Void and the dragons on the verge of extinction inside it. They had to get to the melders in the raiser forest and prepare them for their dragons. So many parts of their plan had to come together, and she could not lose herself in the possibility of their efforts failing.

They rode through the last trees at the edge of Wisery’s forest. Corney ambled along, maintaining a lopsided pace, and Zyla would have glared at the horse if the beast had deigned to acknowledge it was being deliberately awkward.

Seguin rode Rorik. Lucky man. His horse didn’t have a malicious streak. A fount of dry humor, but no tendency to annoy.

They paused at the bordering trees, and Zyla hesitated, nudging Corney forward.

Rorik stamped out his impatience, and Seguin leaned forward and soothed him with a pat. His leathers creaked with the movement, and he rearranged the reins in his hands.

Corney stood perfectly still, as if she too hesitated to cross the Lynkyn line and begin their journey. Zyla knew Corney wasn’t hesitating. The horse hadn’t an uncertain bone in her motley body. One of them had to take the first step, and she was challenging Rorik to do it. The sun glared off the polished finish of the marble break. It’s so shiny, she said, raising her hand against the unaccustomed glare after the cool shadows of the forest.

It’s a statement, Seguin said. Wisery isn’t pretending he’s dangerous anymore.

He’s signaling all the rumors are true about Lynkyn forests? That should settle every caster and average citizen’s mind in a four-league radius. She wondered why the forest thought stretching his marble courtyard around the perimeter had advantages. When it was crushed stone, it had concealed the awareness it offered him. Now solid and polished, it served another purpose, but what was that purpose? Wisery, young as he was, seemed the master of secrets.

Seguin flashed her a grin. Maybe. Or it gives him more control of his border. He patted Rorik again and scanned the view, his eyes squinting as he looked past the break and into the surrounding oaks and maples. Ready?

She was about as ready to leave as Klasin had been ready to let her go. An image of the weeping companion dragon rose in her mind. The dramatic little beast hadn’t wanted to stay behind, even though Szjar needed him. Ainth’s companion dragon seemed a fraction better. No tears, but Bolary’s eyes had stared with longing at Seguin. Edain, the practical little dragon that he was, had swooped around her twice and resettled atop Quoa’s head. A curt chirp allowed he wanted her to be careful, but he didn’t mind staying behind.

Zyla shook her head. She had yet to return to her former strength, and a fogginess in her mind dulled everything. The dragons suffered as much and were taking twice as long to recover. She hated leaving Quoa and Edain. It would be so much easier to face this task on dragonback.

We could stay another day, Seguin said. No one would complain, but the sooner we…

She batted Seguin’s arm. I’m uncertain if we really need to go. Wisery and Bruhl have been the ones to argue the need to gather melders. Having the lot of them come to Wisery seemed the wiser choice. Corney shifted beneath her, grunting and swinging her head around to peer a curious black eye at Zyla. She shrugged at her mount. Something squeezed her senses, but it wasn’t fear, she didn’t think.

The woods beyond the break held Seguin’s attention. It’s not safe for them to travel here alone. Briefly, he held her gaze. They don’t know how to dragon dream. When I left them, melding wasn’t coming easy to them. We need to guide those melders to their dragons and bring them to Wisery.

That might be the plan, but there were too many for Rigaria to support. And then what? Rigaria can’t sustain that many dragons.

We’ve talked about this, Seguin said, his tone soft but steady. We don’t even know how many dragons are in the Void. Knowing how many melders can dragon dream will give us some idea. He ran an assessing gaze over her, and she straightened up, jutting her chin imperiously. She was tired, not confused. You’re worried about running into Canderbury, aren’t you?

It’s just worry. She chewed on her lip. I’m not sure what it’s directed at. Something seems very wrong about leaving Quoa and Ainth.

I think that’s normal. We can feel the tug of our tethered magic. He guided Rorik closer to her and took her hand. They can’t go with us.

I know that. She rolled her eyes at her exasperated tone. The Void drained the dragons of their element like a hole in a bucket. Wisery fed them enough to keep their levels normal. If they were to leave, the drip would empty them over a matter of days. Dragons with too little element in their systems lost their minds and their health. She didn’t want that to happen to any of their dragon friends.

His hand squeezed hers. I know you do. Sometimes it helps to hear it. It helps me to say it. I hate leaving Ainth and Bolary. It’s like I’m cutting off my arms and expecting to carry a box, but we have to go, and they have to stay so Wisery can support them.

Zyla jostled her heels into Corney, and the horse lumbered between the trees and onto the marble break. There, that proved she was not afraid and knew they needed to go to the raisers in person. They stopped on the marble road, and Seguin side-eyed her.

Shall we do this a step at a time? he asked, good humor lacing his words. He sat astride his horse like he could out-wait her into eternity. How could he be so calm?

They didn’t have that kind of time. She signaled Corney to proceed, and the horse broke into a trot, heading north. They’d follow the white road for an hour before leaving Wisery altogether. Rorik caught up quickly, his nose even with Corney’s. He wasn’t as competitive with Corney as he was with Bay. Zyla smirked. Or he knew Corney was likely to nip him if he thought he could challenge her.

Zyla kept gazing beyond the break. Did Canderbury have casters waiting to pounce?

No one can see us, Seguin said. Wisery shields us until we leave his domain. After that, we’ll have to be more circumspect.

We’ll need an illusion.

Seguin looked away, his ear cocked toward her. She hated when he did that. It was nearly as maddening as being reminded verbally that she wasn’t thinking things through. No melding unless absolutely necessary. That meant no illusions. I wish I had my cloak.

He nodded, but there was nothing to be done. It was buried beneath Wisery, and she really didn’t want it. It had been a gift from Canderbury. What she wanted was a cloak like it, one that could hide her red hair and pale skin. Better yet, it could shield her from cold or heat, certain elemental attacks, and take on a variety of appearances.

I’m sure if we asked, Wisery could dig it out. I doubt it’s damaged.

She shook her head. I don’t want it.

You just said you did.

"I want what it offered, but I don’t want it."

He probably infused it with Lynkyn distilled element.

She snapped her gaze at him. That made sense. She fingered the rucksack mounted behind her. They’d brought along warmer clothes, knowing their journey would have them traveling during fall, even winter. Could Lyn infuse similar qualities into the cloak she’d packed? They had spoken recently through their connection, but it wasn’t a convenient way to communicate, especially when Lyn had a tendency to be cryptic. It’s going to be a boring ride to Bruhl’s forest.

We can hope.

Could you stop bringing reality into this? A nervous laugh broke from her throat, but it was a laugh, and she’d take what lightness she could.

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Seguin put the last of their dinner tins away. I don’t have to tell you no dragon dreaming?

And yet you are. She kicked dirt on the fire and confirmed it was doused. The sun was setting, and they would make an early night of it, waking at dawn to continue. I don’t dragon dream on purpose. Some silly dragon in the Void yanks me in. That silly dragon had always been Szjar, so perhaps they had nothing to worry about. Szjar was in Wisery with Thaddeus.

I’m just aware that you have an affinity for the Void.

Did it offer sanctuary? Recently, that was all she desired. There was nothing to run from today, not with Rorik, Corney, and Seguin by her side. When had she become such a ninny? She could take care of herself.

Are you going to be grumpy tomorrow, too?

I’m thinking about it. It’s such a good look on me.

Seguin crouched by their rucksacks, reached out, and encircled her waist. Before she had a moment to react, he had her seated beside him in a hug. You always look good to me. Grumpy, happy, sad, giddy, ornery, hungry. He kissed her cheek.

Stop.

He pulled back, but his arms tightened around her. "Was that stop kissing me or stop teasing me? Because I will not stop loving you."

His crooked grin and smiling eyes tugged at her heart. Stop listing my looks.

Not stop kissing you?

Did you water the horses?

He nuzzled her neck. I pointed at the stream.

Did you remove their saddles and bridles?

Stacked and dusted. He situated her until her legs crossed over his. The other side of his grin raised.

Zyla ignored the look in his eyes. Are they free to feed?

Munching as we speak. His hug shifted into a supportive hold, one hand at her neck, the other clutching one hip.

A tingle ran up her spine. Then kissing is acceptable.

Go ahead, he said.

Rorik burbled, and Seguin plopped her back on her feet and stood beside her, his sword swiftly in hand.

Corney plodded to her side, and a look over Zyla’s shoulder confirmed the two horses formed a V at their backs. Zyla reached for the Moro staff on the ground, and it flew into her hand. She gripped it and listened.

Wait here, Seguin said and vanished among the trees. Zyla pulled a throwing knife from her belt and dropped her stance into the ready position Seguin had taught her. She wasn’t good with a sword, but she could throw accurately, and the staff was her favorite weapon now that Moro had a grip on his sanity.

Seguin returned like a shadow. He pointed at the rucksacks and then at the horses. She nodded, and he saddled their mounts while she stuffed their blankets and anything else loose inside the packs.

He grabbed a pack and secured it behind his saddle, and she did the same behind hers.

Reins in hand, he guided them into the trees, heading east. Silent as church mice, they stole along for more than an hour. Mount, he whispered.

It was well past midnight when he touched her arm, and Rorik nudged Corney leftward.

What was it? she asked.

Three people, two women and a man. I would have assumed they were just trying to get somewhere quickly, so traveling into the night.

She knew the tilt of his head and that tone. But?

He shook his head. It’s odd. I can’t put a finger on it, but something about them wasn’t right, as if one of them was searching for us.

Rorik muttered, and his withers quivered.

Seguin patted the broad blue-black shoulder. Rorik sensed it first, a sort of wash over his skin, and he didn’t like it.

The way you can comb the area for life and activity? Seguin always faced the world with a calm fluidity, ready to leap into action but conserving his energy until the moment called for action. She knew it was his double-melder power that made him sensitive to animals and humans in the surrounding area, a skill she would have liked. She could see he was tense and had a notion why. One of them must be a strong melder?

Or enhanced by distilled element. But I don’t alert the creature unless I want to.

Was that the notion that worried him? Had Rorik been deliberately warned, or did the individual searching lack skill? Nobody has your heightened reach. This was what bothered her. How much distilled element did Canderbury have at his disposal? How willing was he to dole it out and use it to recapture her and Seguin?

He grinned at her, the moonlight glinting off his white teeth. I’m an odd one, that’s for sure. So, do we have enhanced casters out searching for us, or am I paranoid?

The only overly quality about Seguin was he was overly attached to her, and she didn’t mind that. If he thought one of the people he’d observed was seeking them by some enhanced means, then they were. You’re perfect.

I’ll feel better when we get to Bruhl’s forest, but we need to stop soon and rest. You’re still not fully recovered.

She hated that. He was right, though. Her long captivity with Boss and under liberal use of the dodger had left her feeling fragile. Even after two weeks of rest in Wisery, she still felt her melder powers as a brittle, flimsy thing ready to cascade out of reach at the slightest pressure.

We need to do something about that, he said. I don’t just mean getting enough sleep. We need to find a way for you to practice without using element.

She snorted. There was no way to meld and not use element.

He snapped his fingers, and Rorik came to a stop. The horse swung his head around and burbled. Exactly. Seguin grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

She hadn’t caught Rorik’s message, probably because Rorik hadn’t wanted her to. It would be just like them to hide her away somewhere safe until they were satisfied she was comfortable with the world again. Seguin tipped his head to the right and stilled, then repeated the action left. Come on, he said, and Rorik leaped into a gallop.

Not to be outdone, Corney surged forward, and Zyla tightened her knees to keep her seat. When they caught up and rode at Seguin’s side, she asked, Where are we going? then wondered if he could hear her over their thundering pace and through his determined gaze, which revealed his concentration on whatever he sought.

He swung his attentive eyes toward her and said, To the one place containing element you can meld and not use up.

We should have just stayed in Wisery. I could meld there without worrying.

Seguin nodded, his grin wide and twisted with smugness. We can nab two trout with one hook.

She looked for landmarks. For a woman who had spent most of her life inside the walls of Wisery Towers, in the last year, she had traveled most of the eastern side of Rigaria and gained an intimate knowledge of the territory, especially the Lynkyn forests. She raised from her saddle and took her bearings. They were on the west coast of Rigaria and about to head into the Roke foothills just northeast of Wisery. That put them on the path to thread the pass and enter Bruhl’s forest. But what lay between?

She’d come this way, dropping Lynkyn seeds as she went, and Lyn’s tug directed her. However, she’d been flying Quoa, and the landscape looked different from overhead than from ground level. Not that nothing was familiar, but fatigue played at the edges of her effort to attach memory to their route.

Maybe her sensitivity to the world around her could supply an answer. She stretched out her senses and ignored the rough ride. Lynkyn trees! Maybe an hour ahead of them.

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Seguin tiptoed into the Lynkyn forest and called out, Harlee?

The horses trailed behind them, both Corney and Rorik voicing gentle grumbles.

Zyla scanned the forest. There had been a long discussion about Lynkyn forests during her most fragile time after the battle, and she had not been part of it, spending much of her time in a fog of recovery. The name Harlee had come up, one of the forests she had planted with a seed from Lyn.

The number of mature Lynkyn were outnumbered by young Nahlyn. Were the other forests she planted in the same state, needing active melding to help them spread, develop, and force the young Grand Lynkyn to delve into their store of knowledge? Madras and Thaddeus had spent some time with Harlee, but she was still a stunted Lynkyn forest.

Zyla kept up with Seguin’s determined pace, but her steps were weary. A Lynkyn forest meant they were safe to rest, but they needed to greet the Grand Lynkyn before they settled in. She snorted. Dawn was creeping over the dark sky. Already, she could make out distinct trees and ground cover. They were going to sleep until noon after their long ride from Wisery.

Seguin called out again, and Rorik shook his head and burbled loudly, ending the bubbly inquiry with a whinny.

Corney chewed the grasses poking up through the palm-sized leaves littering the forest floor. Zyla suspected her Lynkyn-born horse had little concern for politeness. Given a moment, Corney would rub her rump against a trunk without a by-your-leave and consider it a kindness.

Nothing gave the impression that the forest entity had an interest in recognizing their presence. Harlee had experienced one winter since her planting, but she wasn’t what one would call a social Grand Lynkyn.

Zyla tickled her connection to Lyn. Maybe her own Grand Lynkyn could summon the young one here.

Grand Lynkyn are as unique as any living creature. This one is cautious, Lyn said.

A hesitant touch ran over her skin, lifting the hairs on her arms. Beneath the coolness of the morning air, curiosity hung like bated breath. Zyla closed her eyes and offered patience. A softening caress ran through her mind, as if the Grand Lynkyn suggested they talk later after a rest.

Zyla tapped Seguin’s shoulder. She shook her head at his raised eyebrows. Let her grow used to us.

His gaze partially focused on her words, he patted Rorik’s shoulder. They walked through the forest, taking the wider route between trees until they reached a tiny clearing of marble. The courtyard spanned twenty paces square, and a few mature Lynkyn huddled close to the smooth edge of the stone.

We’ll make camp here, Seguin said and loosened Rorik’s saddle, giving the war horse a shove toward a pleasant grassy space among the trees. Corney butted Rorik aside and strode past, making herself comfortable at once. Rorik burbled a reprimand, and Corney swished her tail.

Rorik doesn’t know what to make of that horse of yours.

Zyla watched the two enforce their portions of the small grassy area, like siblings having to share a room. Corney’s a free spirit. Once Rorik figures out it’s a waste of time expecting her to follow his lead, they’ll be fine.

His mouth twisting wryly, Seguin nodded. Like another woman I know.

Zyla hugged him from behind and pressed her cheek to his back. I wouldn’t argue against a nap.

As you wish.

She wobbled on her feet when he pulled away, putting out her arms as if walking a tightrope, and stood waiting. He dug through the packs for blankets, unrolling the felt pads like unfurling carpets. No encouraging wave was needed. She lay down at once and closed her eyes. He kneeled beside her and untied her braid, untwisting her hair until it lay behind her.

His fingers through her hair relaxed her, the warmth and tenderness seeping into her skin with a tingle. Sleep, Firebrand.

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A chill brought a shiver to her skin, and Zyla sat up, flakes of white ash sliding off her and floating to the ground. She blinked at the twilight casting muted light over the quiet scene before her. A cracked lavender sky hung overhead, while gray, brittle ground lay exposed where she had brushed aside the strange snow that dusted everything around her. Two mounds, like buried mountain ridges, stretched out before her.

It took a moment for her dulled thoughts to catch up.

Void.

Not the Void she remembered.

Twin puffs of air stirred the dusting on the mounds. Eyelids blinked, and two heads shook and rose, uncovered. Their dark green scales lacked luster and dull amber eyes viewed her with bleary curiosity.

Dapples and No-Dapples. She remembered them from a visit Szjar had initiated. Their confused gazes suggested they had not pulled her into the Void. Had she come unconsciously desiring confirmation of the faltering prison?

The Red? the dappled one asked. His eye ridges creased, pressing folds into his ash-dusted forehead. Have you come to aid us?

Of course. She is the Red, said his un-dappled twin.

Are you sick? Zyla rose to her feet. The landscape no longer held the definite edge she remembered. Everything was lost in the polluted air. The fine white dust floated as if they stood in a viscous solution.

We need element. There are only drifting clouds of it, Dapples said.

No-Dapples drew his head close to her. You must save us.

She wished it were that easy. Removing a dragon required element. She could take these two out, but she would doom the rest. How many dragons are there?

The two green dragons exchanged looks. More than a thousand, Dapples said.

Less than two thousand. We were on the verge of extinction at the time of the Void creation. No-Dapples raised a foot slowly and rested his head in his huge palm. A tiny dragon tumbled out of the shower of whiteness. It curled up in the crook of the dragon’s elbow.

Poor thing. It must be conserving element. Dapples’ companion must be buried somewhere near him. I’ve never learned your names. I’ve been thinking of you both as Dapples and No-Dapples.

The black-dappled beast grinned. Dreb.

Fleud, No-Dapples said.

A crack concussed the air, followed by a snapping that zigzagged across the sky, a bold mark out-doing the smaller cracks it joined.

Zyla watched the dragons. They sighed, but neither seemed dismayed.

Happens, Fleud said and shrugged. It will shrink.

For now, Dreb said. At some point, there will be a crack, and there won’t be enough element to seal it. We’ll whoosh out into nothing, or spill into Rigaria. He mimicked Fleud’s shrug. We do not know our fate, but it comes.

She didn’t like the idea of spilling anywhere, but she supposed she would just wake up. What of the dragons? She had to ensure they could remain safe in the Void or that Rigaria could support them. How did I get here? Did you two bring me?

Another crack scored overhead, drowning out the end of her question.

Dreb eyed the dome. They don’t usually come that fast.

I think you need to leave, Fleud said. You are the difference.

I need to know how I got here so I can control it. If every time she slept, she entered the Void, would she hasten its breakdown? She spread her feet, reducing the impact of the quake that shook her.

Double cracks raced from opposing horizon lines, the sound shaking them, and she stumbled.

Something touched her shin, and she looked down. A companion dragon perched at her feet. Twice its tiny palm patted her leg, then it pushed, and she snapped awake.

The morning sun slanted through the canopy of leaves overhead. Fatigue still fogged her mind, and she stared at the Lynkyn forest blearily. A stirring by her shoulder drew her attention. A solid, broad-shouldered woman crouched by her head; braided green twigs ending with pale leaves hung alongside her round face, one eye shielded by the mass.

Sleep, Zyla Powerbane.

Chapter three

Champion of the Red

Seguin

Madras had stocked their packs with enough food to carry them to the raiser forest and probably on to Lyn’s. Seguin sifted his hand through the tidily packed items. The variety made it hard to decide what breakfast to set out for them. Perhaps that was why he always preferred his dull travel bars. He didn’t waste time on decisions.

He sat back on his heels. Why was he blaming Madras for his indecisiveness? Tension held his shoulders tight, and he tried to press them down. Zyla might think him calm, but his mind whirled with how he was going to protect her from Canderbury.

Zyla slept; exhaustion continued to cast her face in weariness. He hoped she wouldn’t awaken until early afternoon. A glance at the sky assured him they were still on the morning side of the day. Hunger would probably wake her. Even now, she seemed to breathe with an alert tempo.

He returned to her side and played with the curls draping her shoulders. They slid beneath his fingers, a caress of sunny softness. If she was going to wake, he wanted to be the first thing she saw. Each morning, dulled with sleep, she often awoke fearful, her fists clenching as if against remembered pain made real in her dreams.

He closed his eyes and willed her a peaceful rest. Wake this morning with a smile, he whispered in his mind and pressed out to her.

Rorik nickered sympathetically, probably catching Seguin’s wish through their link.

From behind a tree, a figure stepped, the Grand Lynkyn Harlee. She reminded him of Tov’s broad form, and she raised a finger to her lips. She will sleep a while yet.

I’ll hold off breakfast then. He sat down, recognizing Harlee had a furtiveness about her. She hadn’t the bold personality of her siblings. Her build may appear similar to Tov’s, a solidness about her one might assume carried confidence and command, but some quality, a rounding of her shoulders or a duck of her head, suggested shyness. He would wait for her to approach.

She rounded the tree and leaned against it, her bare bark-skinned feet splayed on the marble courtyard edge.

She is stronger than you think. Harlee’s soft voice wafted through the trees.

A shake of his head was his only response.

You will hold her back from her healing.

What do you know about her? he demanded. You can’t know what she’s been through.

I share heart roots with Lyn and Wisery. She dipped her head, her braided hair occluding her face, so only one eye peered cautiously at him.

We’ll leave as soon as she awakens. This wasn’t a good idea. Everybody was pushing for them to save the Void, but what about Zyla? Shouldn’t she be saved first? He leaned over her, wishing he could take her in his arms and protect her from Canderbury and anyone else planning to hurt her.

Preparing the melders and the forests of Rigaria would be faster if you two went separate ways. You must round up all the melders you can and acquaint them with their dragons. Before that, we must prepare Rigaria, develop the forests, and train the melders to control their power. There is much to do.

Seguin shook his head. Leaving Zyla was out of the question.

You cut your efforts in half and ensure that the dragons and Rigaria will not recover from the fracturing of the Void.

I ensure Zyla recovers from her fracturing.

Containing her is not dissimilar to binding her. You have learned that your powers lay in will and intention. You wish to control her will and muffle her power.

Look at you. Seguin stood, pointing at Harlee huddled by her tree. A young, inexperienced Grand Lynkyn. What do you know of how I should protect Zyla? Nothing.

I have Lyn guiding me; her fount of memory fills me. The Grand Lynkyn floated around the back of the tree and reappeared beside the next. I know Zyla because I know her time with Lyn. Your love for her will stifle her recovery. She brushed aside the drape of her hair from one side of her face. Her bright green eyes offered sympathy. You convince her of weakness when you should confirm her strength.

I protect her!

Your fear interferes with the greater good, she whispered from behind her locks.

She is more important to me than any dragon, forest, or collapsing Void. Seguin strode across the courtyard until he stood before Harlee, her stature hunched so that she looked up at him from a down-turned face.

Harlee raised her head, the obstructing braids sliding away and revealing her second eye sparking with feeling. Then you trade destruction for a cage.

Zyla stirred and Seguin hurried to her side. She rose on her elbows. What are you two talking about?

Nothing important. Go back to sleep. You still need rest. He pressed her shoulders down, but she shook her head and sat up.

I’m wide awake, and you two are discussing things we three need to unravel together. She scooted herself forward, her arms loosely wrapping around her legs, her eyes revealing she wasn’t as alert as she claimed. Tell me, what’s this about a cage?

Nothing. He shook his head and hugged her. Hungry? I’m about to set our breakfast out.

Sure, she said, her head tipped with suspicion in her gaze.

He returned to the open pack. Harlee had disappeared, and he rummaged, pulling out items randomly. He hoped she kept her distance. We leave as soon as we’ve eaten.

Zyla twisted her mouth in disapproval. Not before we meld for Harlee. She scanned the forest, her gaze pausing on the few mature Lynkyn. "She needs support from us. The more we can offer her element, the more she will be able to