Rynn sat alone, living a nightmare she couldn't seem to wake from. Arokh, Morghus and Ebontyne conferred together a short distance away, discussing what should be done. Rynn didn't listen to what they were saying. What was the point? This couldn't be happening. It wasn't real, and any minute now she'd open her eyes and everything would be as it had been before... she'd be home... Delon would be in the room next to hers... Atimar would still be alive... her village would be peaceful and thriving... everything would be as it had been before...
But the two dragons and the war mage were still there when she looked. Her brother, Atimar and home were nowhere in sight. The sun shone brightly over the grasses and puffs of white cloud drifted across the brilliant blue sky. How could anyone think something terrible would happen when Drakan looked so beautiful?
"Rynn?"
She looked over her shoulder at the great red dragon. Arokh looked concerned, but determined.
"We must get moving," he said in his rumbling voice. When Rynn didn't answer, he added, "Morghus and Ebontyne think we should try and locate the other two Bonded and ask them to help us-"
"Do what?" Rynn interrupted in a dull tone. "Help us do what, Arokh? I read the histories. Last time it ended when Heron thrust Runeblade through Navaros' heart. Navaros was thrown into the Rift, Heron was killed and so were the armies of both the Dark Union and the Order of the Flame." Her green eyes narrowed at the dragon, her voice becoming more intense. "I'm not going out that way. I have to save my brother."
"You have to save Drakan," Arokh replied pointedly. "Navaros is almost certain to continue where he left off before Heron dealt with him; he'll try casting that spell again, and it will most likely kill every living thing in the whole world."
"Why?" Rynn demanded. "How will that serve Navaros?"
"Not even we know," Ebontyne said as she approached with Morghus. "His intentions as he explained them to us and the other Bonded who joined him turned out to be lies, as we later discovered. I think he only wanted us to delay the Order's armies so he could complete his spell."
"Do you think he's gone back to Mount Tibor?" Morghus suggested. "That's where he was going to cast his magic last time. He seemed adamant about the exact positioning-"
"I want to be able to stop him without killing myself and everyone around me!" Rynn shouted. The others were silent as she calmed down and took a few deep breaths. "How will the other two Bonded be able to help?"
"One of them knows four Cycles of the Elements," Ebontyne said intently. "Fire, water, air and earth. Rynn, listen. Heron was only a warrior. If he had magical potential, he didn't know how to use it." Arokh nodded at this. "But if you can master each of those Cycles then figure out how to use the powers of the Rift, you might be able to stand a good chance against Navaros in this world as you did in the edges of the Void where the Death Magi last summoned him."
"But time," Rynn said. "Do we have time to find those Bonded and for me to learn from them? Navaros could be casting his spell right now."
"He wouldn't dare - not without arranging some protection for himself," Arokh said, shaking his head. "He had to go into a trance to cast his spell last time. That made him vulnerable, and explains why he didn't fight back when Heron and I attacked him."
"He knows he still has enemies," Morghus said. "I doubt he'll make the same mistake as last time."
Ebontyne agreed. "I think he'll make sure we're out of the way before casting his spell again."
"You think or you're sure?" Rynn asked.
Ebontyne gave her a grim smile. "I'm sure. We'll know when he's started his casting, and it took him hours to prepare last time. No matter where he is, we'd be able to reach him before he completed it. Morghus is right. He won't make himself that vulnerable again. Not until he's sure he's in no danger."
"He's not stupid," Morghus growled. "Just power-hungry."
Rynn drew in a deep breath and nodded, pushing herself to her feet and trying to find her old determination. It wasn't over yet. "Any idea where to find these dragon riders?"
Morghus and Ebontyne looked at each other wryly, then sighed.
"They can find us," Arokh said. When the other three looked at him, he continued: "As I recall, there used to be a great horn that was winded to summon the Bonded to the Dragon Hall, the old meeting place for the Order. So powerful an instrument was it, and tuned so finely, that a dragon could hear its notes from almost anywhere."
"That's an idea," Morghus said, looking hopeful.
"What makes you think the two we're looking for will answer?" Rynn asked sceptically.
Arokh glanced at Morghus who scratched his head in thought before saying, "Well, for one thing, the horn hasn't been winded since Navaros returned to the Order from the Eastern Wilds and killed all those who'd gathered in the Dragon Hall to welcome him back."