Dragon Heartstone > Chapter 20–A New Task

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Gall and Riasean rode into the Preytar’s camp and dismounted. The older man motioned for Riasean to follow him toward Nikolas’ tent. When they dipped inside, they found the First Preytar sitting with Katun, a bottle of brandy on the table between them.

Nikolas looked as he always did and glanced at him. “Welcome, my friend. I was saying goodbye to the Duke.” Katun raised a glass. His face was still swollen, with black and blue skin patches. His right arm hung in a sling, and a wooden cane leaned against his chair.

Gall picked up the bottle and looked at the label: Tamorian brandy. “A bit early to be drinking, isn’t it?”

Katun sighed. “Perhaps, but I use it only for medicinal purposes.” He motioned toward Riasean. “Who is your friend?”

“This is Riasean, whom I just met.”

The young man nodded.

Katun raised his glass. “Very nice to meet you.” Tipping it back, he swallowed the contents. “However ill-mannered it appears; I must be leaving.” He struggled to get upright.

Nikolas raced to help the man to his feet.

“Might I ask where you are going?” Gall asked.

“Back to my estate in Landros,” Katun replied without pause. “I need to see what Edwyn’s supporters haven’t taken.”

“That can wait. I have another task for you,” Gall said.

“No, thank you. I’ve done my bit for King and country,” Katun replied, none of the previous joviality evident. “It is time for others to step up and take over.”

“That has already happened,” Gall stated. “Edwyn is dead; Britta is now Queen.”

Katun staggered, but Nikolas braced him.

Gall continued, “She needs your help, though she does not realize it yet.”

The Duke took a breath, patted Nikolas on the arm, and steadied himself. “What does that mean?” he asked, giving Gall a stern look.

“She requires experienced counsel because she no longer listens to me.”

“On what terms did you part company?”

Riasean interrupted. “Not good. She blames him for leaving her at Edwyn’s mercy.”

Gall turned and looked at the young man, “How do you know this?”

“She told me last night after I rescued her from Edwyn.”

“That brings me to another question. How did you come to rescue her?”

“The Caretaker, Lenor, gave me that as one of my tasks.”

Gall clenched his fists. “A Caretaker spoke to you? What did she say?”

“That it was my destiny to retrieve the Dragon Heartstone.”

Nikolas let out a long exhale. “Another legend from the ancients.”

Gall rubbed his eyes. “Let me guess. She did not say where you could find it, did she?”

Riasean shook his head, “She said only that the Heartstone would be where it was needed most. But I don’t know what that means.”

Gall clenched the bottle of brandy in his hands. “The Dragon Heartstone is one of the artifacts of the Mordwahl. Legend says the stone contains the heart of Merkial, the Fire Dragon. The artifact is, or was, mounted on a staff. It allows the wielder to pull fire out of the earth and manipulate it. It is a powerful and destructive talisman that the Caretakers took great pains to hide well.” In a coarser tone, he continued, “Of course, now that it needs to be found, they won’t tell us where it is.” Speaking to Riasean, he asked. “Why did you agree to do this for them? They must have obligated you in some way. They never do anything without some entanglement.”

Riasean stayed silent for a moment. “She said unless I did this for her, someone close to me would die.”

Gall’s face grew hot, “Do you mean Larah?”

Now, it was Riasean’s turn to be surprised. “Yes, but how do you know her?”

“She is my daughter,” Gall replied. “But I don’t understand how this can involve her. She is on her way to Wolfbern with Alric.”

In a low voice, Katun replied, “She could be in danger there, then.”

Gall turned on him. “I don’t see how. Alric will protect her with his life.”

Riasean spoke, “The problem may be the Brotherhood. They tried to kidnap her when she was with me but were unsuccessful. They might seek retribution for their failure, and to make matters worse, they have a strong presence in Cazidor.”

“Then I must go to Wolfbern,” Gall stated.

“We must go,” Riasean corrected.

“No, your task is to retrieve the Heartstone.”

“Of which we don’t know the whereabouts. Is there any reason to believe it isn’t in Wolfbern?”

Gall shot Riasean another annoyed look. The boy had a point. “Okay, we will go to Wolfbern.” He turned to Katun. “Britta needs wise counsel. Please offer your services to her. If she refuses, then you may go on your way.”

Katun exhaled and held up his hand, “Fine, I will propose the idea, but only because I respect Alric, and Britta reminds me a lot of him. She has the talent to make a good Queen if she learns to control the fire of her youth. In that way, she is very much like her father.”

Nikolas looked at Gall. “Is there anything I can do for you, my friend?”

Gall rubbed his chin. “I am concerned about the messages you intercepted. To have the Nagun active close to a large city is unusual unless someone was directing their efforts. Because Faline recently used them near Knife Edge pass for her purposes, I would suspect her involvement. Still, we have no idea if she survived the Citadel.”

“Faline is alive. The last time I saw her, she was moving east along the Silver River toward Keihl,” Riasean interjected.

Gall whipped around to stare at him. “How long ago was that?”

“Two days.”

Gall looked at Nikolas. “That would put her close enough to be the source of trouble. Investigate the possibility and inform Britta as a courtesy to me.”

“We can do that,” Nikolas replied. “I had planned to head northwest toward the Citadel. A more easterly route would take us near to Keihl.” He thumped his chest and extended his hand to Gall. “You have my word on it.”

Gall shook Nikolas’ hand and drew it into his chest in return. “I owe you, my friend. Until our paths cross again.” Nikolas nodded.

He turned to Riasean, “Come, young one. We have much to talk about on our ride to Wolfbern.” They walked out of the tent as Katun hobbled along behind them.

Gall and Riasean helped the Duke onto his horse. The man tucked the crutch under the man’s leg. “Goodbye, Delegate. When you see Alric, tell that old goat I look forward to another game of tap since I already have a rod with which to practice.” He patted the cane. Gall nodded, and Katun rode cautiously down the rise.

The two men mounted their horses and took off at a fast canter toward the road to Landros, where the crossroads would lead them to Wolfbern.