Chapter 2: Secrets of the Mount
Pendragon Inn, Cornwall.
"Strongrock's arrived." Vale nodded toward the front door of the lounge. "His stealth approach appears to have been successful. No one in the pub is babbling about having seen mythological creatures in the sky."
Irene turned her head to study Kai. She'd regretted calling him back early, but judging by the width of his smile, he didn't mind. Gone were the dark circles under his eyes. Perhaps she should avail herself of a little R&R in his uncle's world as well.
After stopping to purchase a lager at the counter, Kai joined them at their corner table. "Have you left anything for me to do?"
"You didn't miss anything," she assured him. "We only arrived a few hours ago. Your visit with your cousin went well?"
"He's away on a diplomatic mission. I spent the time with my martial arts master instead."
Vale arched an eyebrow. "Does he live in a monastery on top of a steep mountain?"
Kai chuckled. "Not quite as cliché as that. Master Wu is a woman and she lives on an island, but the buildings do having a passing resemblance to a monastery."
So much for the wizened, spry instructor that had popped into Irene's head. All she had now was one big question mark. She'd never met a female dragon, but if they were as good-looking as their male counterparts, that may have been for the best. Not that Irene would ever be jealous.
Kai's expression grew serious. "It wasn't my intention, but I obtained information relevant to Lecerf. I asked Wu if she knew of any magic capable of creating and manipulating spirits, and she did. The spells are contained within a dragon classic, called the Mo Dian. A copy of the book was stolen two years ago from the headquarters of Wu's order." He folded his arms on the table as he leaned forward. "This may have been the work of Alberich. He could have assumed the appearance of one of the humans and penetrated the fortress. The head of the order was killed during the commission of the crime."
"Alberich also could have masqueraded as one of the dragons," Vale pointed out. "For anyone capable of stealing someone's skin, surely that wouldn't be an impossible feat."
"Theoretically, it's possible," Kai admitted, "but he couldn't have peeled off the skin as he did with humans. Our physiognomy prevents that type of procedure."
"Alberich could have used magic to make observers think they were seeing someone they knew," Irene countered. "Do you know if the Mo Dian contains anything relevant to the magic needed to create portal-books?"
"Possibly," Kai allowed, "but there are very few—less than a handful—of experts who are privy to its secrets. Wu confirmed that one could use magic to manipulate a spirit to look like Ning."
Kai's openness in talking about his former girlfriend was a welcome sign. Irene attributed it to him no longer being concerned that Ning's appearance in the air tunnel was produced by a hallucination.
"We'd hoped to find Dream of the Red Chamber in Lecerf's fortress," Vale noted. "The Mo Dian could be there as well."
"That's my hope," Kai said. "Then I can return it to the monastery."
Irene didn't contradict him, but she sensed a potential conflict ahead. By rights, she should inform her supervisor of the Mo Dian's existence. What would happen if the Library ordered her to retrieve the book for the Library?
"Have you prepared a plan on how to proceed?" Kai asked, turning to Irene and seemingly unaware of the issue he'd raised.
She nodded. "Lord Silver is spreading a rumor which will hopefully cause Lecerf to go to London."
"What kind of rumor?" Kai asked warily.
Vale was eyeing her with amusement, apparently looking forward to her explanation. She'd already informed him and survived the embarrassment, but if Kai heard the details his reaction would likely be explosive. "Silver's intimated that I'd discovered a way to reenchant the copy of Wuthering Heights from Thrushfield Hall. He's currently accepting bids before placing the item up for auction." No need to mention the rumor that she might also be auctioned. Before Kai could ask any questions, she quickly changed the subject. "I plan to take advantage of his absence by infiltrating the castle as a tradesperson."
"By yourself?" he challenged.
"That will be best. I can use the Language to convince anyone I meet I'm where I should be. Trying to convince someone that two people aren't cause for alarm is more difficult."
"What will Vale and I be doing?"
"Our role is to discover when Lecerf will be away," Vale said. "I propose we disguise ourselves as fishermen. There are numerous fishing boats and rowboats in the area so our presence won't arouse suspicion. We'll be able to dock our boat in a cove at the base of the island. The pub in the hamlet next to the cove is frequented heavily by locals. It should be an excellent source of local gossip."
Kai didn't look satisfied, and she'd be the first to admit it wasn't an ideal situation. If Irene were discovered, it would be a while before anyone would know about it. "Silver could have been won over by Lecerf and is now working for him," he pointed out.
"I don't think it's likely but it's possible," Irene admitted. Kai's dislike of the Fae made it easy for him to think Silver would betray them. Apparently he still refused to believe that a dragon could be working with Lecerf and Alberich. When Irene heard about the missing classic, Alberich wasn't her lead candidate for the thief. There had already been far too many instances of inside knowledge about Kai. If Lecerf was fantasizing he was Merlin, wouldn't he want a dragon accomplice?
#
"The cave's just around that cluster of boulders," Vale said, clambering down the rocky hillside.
Kai paused to glance up at the castle. Irene was on the other side of the island, probably putting the final touches to her shopkeeper disguise.
For the past three days, he and Vale had acted the parts of fishermen. Their fellow anglers were a friendly lot at the pub located at the base of the island, particularly when supplied with a round of the local ale. The owner of the castle was named Lord Hartford. The Fae's hubris at incorporating a synonym for stag in his alias led Kai to suspect he might be taunting them. Hartford, or Lecerf as Kai continued to call him, never visited the pub, which meant his employees were free to gossip about him. Lecerf had a private boat dock on the far side of the island. The feature was called Merlin's Cave, something which should appeal to him if Irene was right about the Fae's fondness for the wizard.
On the second day of their surveillance, a boatman who was employed by Lecerf mentioned to a friend he wouldn't be able to go fishing the following afternoon because he needed to man the boat for his lordship. Did this indicate Lecerf had taken Silver's bait? It's what they were gambling on.
Irene would take advantage of Lecerf's departure to infiltrate the castle while Kai and Vale monitored the cave in hopes of confirming Lecerf's identity. There was no way to alert Irene when they spotted him. For what was probably the hundredth time, Kai yearned for the cell phones of his uncle's world.
The boatman had indicated he'd be gone in the afternoon but hadn't mentioned the hour. Kai and Vale had anchored their boat at the public dock and were now working their way around the rocky coastline toward the cave. They were trying to keep out of the castle's line of sight and hoped to be hidden inside the cave before Lecerf arrived.
Kai surveyed the terrain. "If we stay on the hillside, we'll be more visible from the castle."
"Agreed. A beach approach will be far less risky."
The castle was linked to the cave by a series of stone steps. They were fairly confident they'd be able to spot Lecerf on his way down. Locals told them that the cave had been used by pirates in the past. A ship could dock on the far side of the island during the night and be invisible from the mainland. Smuggling operations had been widespread in this part of the country and it was tempting to think the castle had been used as a base of operations.
They managed to reach their destination without incident. The cave provided a natural berth. The interior had been excavated to allow enough water to flow in to make a shallow bay. Iron cleats were nailed onto the edges for docking. There was enough dry space on the sides for supplies and extra gear. A rowboat with a damaged hull had been hoisted out of the water and was lying on one edge.
Vale eyed it speculatively. "It's sufficiently dark that we should be able to hide behind the boat without being seen. Shall we make the attempt?"
He didn't need to ask. Kai was already examining the narrow space. It would be a tight fit. Vale was as tall as him and they would have to lie virtually flat to escape detection, but it was worth the risk. If they'd brought along Silver's collar, they might have been able to overpower the Fae on their own.
They settled in for what could be a long wait. The cave was cold and damp, but they were spared the gusty wind which prevailed on the beach. They didn't dare talk for fear of missing the sound of approaching footsteps. Both of them were taking breaks to flex their knees.
Vale touched his arm when at long last they heard a voice. Unexpectedly a second one responded. They spoke too quietly for Kai to catch the words but they were both men. He squirmed into position on all fours near one end of the boat so he'd be able to peer around.
When the voices grew louder, Kai froze. He'd heard Lecerf's voice before but it was the other voice that turned his veins to ice. The unmistakable baritone of Jian Yu. This was the diplomatic mission he was on?
#
Irene had spent the past hour beachcombing along a stretch of the shoreline from where she could keep an eye on the back of the manor. When she spotted two men exiting from the back entrance, she beat a hasty retreat to a clump of shrubs thick enough to provide cover. She had a change of footwear, a shawl, and a wig for the transformation from tourist to shopkeeper. The gray hair of the wig was tied into a bun. With the addition of wire-rimmed glasses, her appearance was sufficiently altered that no one would look at her twice. She dumped the seashells on the beach and made for the front entrance.
She was confident that one of the men she'd seen was Lecerf. He was the right body type and his long ash-brown hair extended much further down his back than was the norm. But who was the second man? He appeared to be roughly the same age—around forty. Like Lecerf, he wore a tweed jacket. His hat prevented her from seeing his face but his black hair was bunched back into a tail. She hoped Kai and Vale would obtain closer views.
When Irene knocked, a short, ruddy-cheeked woman wearing a starched white apron and mob cap opened the door.
"Yes, dearie?"
"I'm Felicity Arnold from Brigham Upholsterers in Penzance," Irene said brightly. "I'm here to measure the sofas." She hoped to gain entrance through persuasion rather than the Language. The woman would have believed her instantly but a few minutes later she'd wonder why she'd allowed a stranger into the house. Since the search could take a long time, Irene hoped the ruse would suffice. "Lord Hartford had asked me to come today while he was gone so I wouldn't inconvenience him. I hope his lordship has already left?"
"You just missed him." A frown settled on the woman's good-natured face. "I'm surprised he didn't mention it, but recently he's been preoccupied."
Irene fished a ledger book out of her basket. "His lordship gave me meticulous instructions. I do hope my presence won't cause a problem." She gazed pleadingly at the woman through her wire rims. Her collection of tape measures was prominent in the basket.
"I'm sure we can work around you, dearie. It will be a blessing to not have to listen to his lordship's complaints about the furniture. Between you and me, I'm surprised it's taken him so long to do something about them."
Irene took a second to savor the special glow which resulted from her invented tale being accepted and elaborated. "It won't be long before his manor will be transformed," she promised. For, after all, time was relative.
"There's no need to rush. He won't be back till sometime tomorrow afternoon."
The Library gods were smiling on her. If she could just find where Lady Moreton was located, they could free her tonight and then prepare a trap for Lecerf.
The inside of the manor was crammed with Gothic Revival furniture of questionable taste. Irene couldn't fault Lecerf for wanting a makeover. The few members of the staff she encountered were busy with chores and left her alone. Navigating her way through the six levels was more of a challenge. Since there were no guards around, she guessed that Lecerf was using magic to keep his prisoner in line. In Thrushfield Hall he'd controlled Lady Moreton by means of an enchanted ring. Irene had pried it off, earning her gratitude. This could be a similar situation, but it also raised a potential danger. Had Lecerf established a connection that would somehow alert him if Helena left the room?
High in a corner turret, Irene found what appeared to be her target. The oak door was locked and warded with magic. There was a small access panel cut into it, but it was probably warded as well. She could break the spells with the Language but she didn't want to sound any alarms quite yet.
"Helena, are you in there?" she whispered through the keyhole. At one time, the Fae had acted quite smitten with Irene. Was that still the case?
She heard a rustling of fabric. "Yes, who's there?" a breathless voice whispered back. Irene breathed easier when she heard the distinctive lilt in the cadence.
"Irene. A mutual friend sent me."
"Lord Silver?" Helena gasped, her relief evident. "Don't try to open the door! The count has it rigged such that if anyone other than him opens it, the tower will explode."
Was that true? Irene couldn't take the risk of finding out, especially since Helena's location provided another method for escape. After promising her she'd be back at midnight, Irene darted downstairs. On the way, she stopped off to snatch the copy of Dream of the Red Chamber which she'd found in Lecerf's bedroom. The first known example of a portal-book was enough of a prize in itself to declare the mission a success, but she was determined that this was just the beginning.
By the time she left the island, it was low tide, and she was able to walk to the mainland on the paved causeway. When she arrived at the hotel, she stopped off at the hotel office. They had an iron safe where she could store the Chinese classic till she had time to return it to the Library. Cold iron was anathema to the Fae. It scorched their flesh and there was no magic she knew of which allowed them to circumvent its destructive effects.
Irene found Vale and Kai sitting on the back patio at one of the pub's wrought-iron tables. It was early enough in the day that the evening crowd hadn't begun to appear. They had the back garden to themselves.
"Your mission was successful I assume," Vale said.
Irene nodded absently, not surprised that Vale was able to determine by her demeanor how it had gone. Why was Kai looking so tense?
"On multiple fronts," she said. "I made contact with Lady Moreton and was able to secure a certain Chinese classic we'd long desired."
At that bit of news, even Kai's face brightened. "Where did you find it?"
"In his bedroom. He'd made no effort to conceal it."
Vale raised a skeptical eyebrow. "The Fae displays a notable nonchalance. What security measures has he used for Lady Moreton?"
"The door is supposedly warded to cause an explosion if anyone other than Lecerf opens it, but Helena hasn't been physically harmed." Irene understood Vale's implied meaning. Had Lecerf left the book out deliberately? She hadn't sensed any chaos emanating from it and suspected it was no longer enchanted.
Now that Alberich had fled the Library, Lecerf didn't have an inside informant. Although he couldn't extract her itinerary, he could employ spies to track her movements in London. The possibility that Lady Moreton was serving as bait to trap them still loomed large. Had Lecerf seen through Silver's ruse? The book could have been an extra inducement. The thought wouldn't change their strategy, but it did add an extra level of risk.
Kai took a breath. "We were also successful. We were able to hide in Merlin's Cave and had close-up views of Lecerf and his collaborator." The last word was bitten off like it was a hot coal in his mouth.
"Did you recognize him?" Irene felt compelled to make the prompt when Kai didn't elaborate although it was an unnecessary question. His expression already conveyed the answer.
"Lecerf's associate is Jian Yu."
"Your cousin?" Irene asked, shocked.
Kai nodded. "I have failed you," said bitterly. "I was blind to what I should have seen. You attempted to warn me a dragon could be involved, but I refused to consider it."
"The traitor was too close to you. Under similar circumstances, we might have all fallen victim." Well, not Vale, but this wasn't the time to praise his superiority, and he tactfully didn't bring it up.
Instead Vale took command of the narrative, describing what they overheard. Lecerf and Jian Yu discussed the need to verify what was being auctioned. They'd learned that Silver was no longer in London and speculated he'd already left for Venice. The boat arrived shortly afterward and nothing more was gleaned, but Vale and Kai had already learned the essentials. The elephant standing in front of them was why Kai's cousin had allied himself with the Fae. Irene had feared dragon involvement, but Jian Yu's betrayal was much more personal than she'd expected.
"Kai, we'll need to review your history with your cousin before proceeding," she said, hating that she couldn't postpone what would be a painful conversation. Depending on how he handled it, she might have to ask him to step aside, but that raised another set of issues. From the Library's perspective, Kai could be tainted too. Once Coppelia heard of a dragon possibly working with Alberich, she might request that Kai be confined till the matter was resolved. Given the high rank of both dragons, the diplomatic furor which could erupt over the incident could play directly into Lecerf and Alberich's hands.
Kai nodded. "I understand."
When he didn't continue, Vale said, "You may wish to discuss this privately, Strongrock. I'll go inside."
He began to rise from his chair but Kai stopped him with a gesture. "Please stay. Obviously, I've made a hash of analyzing the events. Your perspective would be much appreciated."
And not just by Kai, Irene thought, grateful for Kai's request. "When was the first time you met Jian Yu?" she asked as Vale sat back down.
"You first need to know a little about my family or it won't make much sense to you." His hand clenched into a fist. Irene sensed he was probably breaking several dragon protocol rules to speak of it. "My father is Ao Gwang, King of the Eastern Ocean." He slanted a glance at Irene. "I believe you'd already suspected a royal connection."
Irene nodded but Vale clearly hadn't by his look of surprise, and Kai quickly added, "I'm the youngest of several sons and of relatively low status. Jian Yu is the eldest son of my lord father's younger brother Ao Shun, King of the Northern Ocean. As heir apparent to my lord uncle, Jian Yu has a much higher rank than I do."
Their situation had just become significantly thornier. Treachery by the heir to a dragon throne was all the more shocking.
"It's considered standard procedure for sons to be raised at the courts of siblings as a way of discouraging favoritism. Jian Yu, for example, was raised at the court of Ao Ji, another of my father's brothers. When I was sent as a young child to my uncle's court, Jian Yu had just returned after an absence of twelve years. Although Ao Shun is my father's youngest brother, all his sons are older than me." Kai's words trailed off as he gazed absently at the roses bordering the patio.
"You looked up to Jian Yu?" Irene prompted.
He nodded, refocusing on her. "Bullying is considering a standard method for toughening youngsters. Some might say my cousins carried it to an extreme. After a particularly flagrant example, Jian Yu stepped in to prevent any recurrence."
"You told me he was also the one who rescued you when the air passageway collapsed."
"That's right." He gave a rueful wince. "Not normally the behavior of someone who wants to kill you."
"I assume Jian Yu is aware of what happened with the girl Ning?" Vale asked
"When Ning died, Jian Yu was the only one I could talk to about it," Kai admitted.
"What was the manner of her death?" Vale asked. Irene hoped the clinical calmness of his voice would ease Kai's pain in having the scab ripped off.
Kai took a swig of ale, fighting to maintain his composure. "We'd agreed to meet at a scenic spot near a lake one evening. That afternoon my uncle requested my presence at a diplomatic function. I left her a voicemail, but she must not have received it. Her corpse was discovered the next morning at our rendezvous spot. The killer was never found."
"Was Jian Yu involved in any way?" Vale asked.
"Only afterward. He was the only one who knew of our relationship." Kai rubbed his forehead as if he was hoping to erase the memories. "He kept me from falling apart and disgracing my father." He looked pleadingly at Irene. "Could Alberich have joined forces with Lecerf to manipulate him? Perhaps he's a victim too."
"I suppose it's theoretically possible, but I wouldn't count on it."
Kai nodded gloomily. "You're right of course. I should know by now to accept reality when it's kicking sand in my face."
"Are there any other incidents we should be aware of?" Irene asked.
He shook his head. "I haven't seen him since I joined the Library although we've exchanged a few letters."
"What is his current occupation?"
"He serves his father," Kai said simply. "He offers assistance in whatever capacity my lord uncle requires. I don't understand why he would help Lecerf. What does he hope to get out of it?"
"There are several Machiavellian possibilities," Irene said. "You said he serves his father. He could be acting under Ao Shun's orders." When Kai grimaced, she added. "This one you may like even less. Jian Yu could feel that by helping Lecerf destabilize worlds, he'll then be able to step in and assume control. The local society will be so desperate they'll welcome dragon overlordship with open arms."
Kai looked at him appalled. "We would never force ourselves upon a people."
"I said these were Machiavellian possibilities," Irene reminded him. "They're no more remote than the odds of you being betrayed by a cousin." Kai's face reddened at her words, and Irene regretted she'd been so blunt. But this wasn't the time to mask the ugliness of what had occurred. "Jian Yu knows about Ning. He knows about the sabotage attempt of the rite of air."
"You should also prepare yourself for an even harsher reality," Vale added. "Jian Yu may have orchestrated both disasters in an effort to bind you even closer to him."
Kai stared at him aghast. "Why?"
"Jealousy perhaps or some animus against your father. He may have felt you were easily manipulated. By gaining your trust, he could guarantee you'd obey his wishes, no matter what he asked you to do."
"He wanted me to be his stooge?" Kai clenched his left hand into a fist, his eyes flashing red briefly.
"You must purge your mind of prejudices and view the situation dispassionately," Vale urged.
"We won't know the truth for a while, but we need to maintain the focus on the present situation," Irene added, seeking to lower the level of tension. "Will you be able to put thoughts of Jian Yu aside for the moment? We'll have to return to him later, but first we need to rescue Lady Moreton. If we can capture Lecerf, he may provide the answers."
"I have no choice," Kai said with a grimace. "There's no one I can notify about Jian Yu. The only evidence we have is that he was with Lecerf, but his words are sufficiently vague that they could be misconstrued. In any case, it would only be my word against his. No one would believe me."
He didn't go into the repercussions he'd suffer for making what could be considered slanderous charges. If Jian Yu suspected he'd been discovered, he could turn the tables and charge that Kai was the traitor. From the limited understanding Irene had of dragon hierarchy, Kai would never be believed over Jian Yu unless the evidence was overwhelming.
"We need to break Lady Moreton out this evening," Vale said. "How do you propose getting in? We can't enter through the door without setting off alarms."
Irene didn't say anything. She hoped she wouldn't need to ask, but if Kai didn't volunteer his services, the implication could be either it wasn't possible or that he found it too offensive.
"There is another route available," Kai pointed out. Irene kept her sigh of relief to herself. "I could fly you over on my back, but we'll need to devise another plan for the return trip. I'm not able to carry three adults."
"You won't need to," she assured him. "If you can fly Lady Moreton to the estate where Lord Silver is staying in Cornwall, I'll take her place then subdue Lecerf when he returns."
"I'll remain at the castle with you," Vale offered.
"I'm not going to leave the two of you to face him alone," Kai objected.
"You have to," she insisted. "I'll be able to use the Language to trap Lecerf for long enough to place the collar on him."
"What if Jian Yu is with him?"
"I can also secure him. That's another reason, it's best if you're not present. Having only one dragon in the castle will simplify the commands."
"It will only take me ten minutes or so to fly to Lord Silver," Kai pointed out. "Once I've delivered Lady Moreton, I'll be back. If Jian Yu is present, you'll need my help." He smiled ruefully. "And if the Language paralyzes us both, feel free to ignore me."
"Few of the townspeople will be awake at midnight," Vale said. "If anyone sees a dragon they'll think they're dreaming." Only an extra glint in his eyes indicated his excitement at being part in the flight. As for Irene, the thought of catching a ride on Kai's back was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"We'll have a long night ahead," she cautioned, keeping a tight leash on her dragon-rider enthusiasm for the moment. "We should all catch some rest while we can."
Kai stood up. "I'm not tired. I'm going for a walk."
"Would you like company?" Irene asked even though she felt certain he would decline.
"Not this time, thanks. Don't worry, I won't be gone long."
Vale watched Kai exit through the garden gate, his expression growing somber. "I assume you've taken into account the likelihood of Lecerf having set a trap."
Irene nodded. "According to the housekeeper, Lecerf won't return till the morning. I'm not relying on him staying away till then and I know you aren't either. How likely do you think it is that Jian Yu had Ning murdered?"
"The probability is high. Kai called the location their rendezvous spot, meaning they'd used it before. Jian Yu has been manipulating him since he was a child. I find it unreasonable to conclude he's had a change of heart."
#
A full moon shone overhead when the three of them left the hotel in the hansom Vale had rented for their use. They drove a short way along the coast to a marsh west of town. Irene had opted to wear brushed-twill riding pants and boots for the assault. The pants were pleated and wide enough to pass for a skirt. She had no intention of being encumbered by a bustle. Lord Silver's collar was in her pocket. She wore a long chain of iron around her neck in case reinforcement was needed. Vale was also wearing riding attire. His silver-headed ebony cane masked a sword.
Irene's heart raced at the thought of how Kai would transform. He'd never explained the procedure. Would his back split in two and his wings pop out? What happened to his clothes? Wild notions invaded her thoughts as they neared their destination.
The walk appeared to have been beneficial for Kai. He masked the bitterness he undoubtedly still felt about Jian Yu's treachery under an outwardly cheerful front.
When they got out of the hansom, Kai gave her a cheeky smile. "I hope I won't be a disappointment," he said as if he'd read her mind. That also answered one looming question. He wasn't concerned about revealing himself to them.
Before she could hit him with a return quip, he backed away a few steps. She and Vale were carrying ether lanterns. Would Kai be offended if she shone it at him when he transformed? Clearly, Vale wasn't worried about draconic sensibilities. He'd fixed the beam of his lantern on him and watched with intense interest every move Kai made.
The transformation began with Kai raising his arms upward. The air grew thick, enveloping him in a dense shroud. Then a flash of such dazzling brightness erupted that Irene involuntarily had to blink. An instant later, in front of them was a thirty-foot long dragon. The scales on the serpentine coils were the color of crushed lapis lazuli.
She let out an involuntary gasp, despite vowing to maintain her cool.
"Jump on my back when you're ready." Kai's voice was pitched in a lower register than his human voice but still recognizable. Vale grinned like a kid at the sight of him.
"You've been hiding your true nature from me for far too long, my friend," he said. With one leap, Vale vaulted onto his back and extended a hand to Irene. She'd never been any great shakes at riding a horse. A dragon couldn't be any easier. Uttering a silent prayer to any gods with a soft spot for Librarians to keep her from sliding off, she clambered in front of Vale and tried to get comfortable on top of Kai's lustrous scales.
"I won't allow you to fall," he rumbled. "But if it gives you more security, you can grasp my mane."
With a few leisurely sweeps of his wings, Kai soared directly upward before turning to the ocean. His wingbeats were unlike anything she'd imagined. He didn't ride with the wind like birds. Instead, he appeared powered by some other form of energy. Kai's eyes had turned fiery red. His sinewy grace in flight left her breathless. Her reckless plan suddenly seemed not so crazy. On the back of a dragon, anything seemed possible.
Events take a turn for the worse in the Chapter 3: Aerial Assault which I'll post next Wednesday. A few notes about this chapter: In Vale's alternate, Merlin's Cave is on St. Michael's Mount, but in our world Merlin's Cave is near Tintagel Castle. Irene later meets female dragons and they're every bit as strikingly beautiful as she imagined they would be.
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