Chap. 349 The 12th Arrow

Chap. 349 The 12th arrow

K’ndar, Francie and Lizard all watched as Rath, carrying B’rost and Seven, flew high enough to have plenty of air space-and vanish.

K’ndar shook his head. “My father had a saying about jerks like Seven. “Hiring him was like firing three good men.”

Francie nodded in agreement. “He’s a user. I’m convinced he’d taken up with B’rost solely in order to have a dragon at his beck and call.”

Their fire lizards suddenly began to chatter. They flew as group to the top of an outcrop.

“There he is again,” Lizard said, “See above that outcrop? It’s a brown fire lizard.”

Indeed, a brown fire lizard had appeared from between. He hovered over the group, seeking a place amidst the group. The two bronzes, Batu and Coora bristled, letting him know he must stay clear of ‘their’ females. He landed a wings length away from the rest. He chittered to Siskin, who allowed him to perch next to him.

Raventh laughed.

What’s so funny? K’ndar asked.

Siskin told the brown he could sit next to him. He said, the bronzes won’t let me talk to the females either.

K’ndar laughed in his mind.

“Again? Who does he look to?” Francie asked.

“If he has a has a zigzag scar on his chest, he looks to one of the raiders, a tall man who got off the Stella Maris at the port west of here. He’s being used as a spy.”

“On you?” Francie asked.

“On anybody the raiders choose. They’re using fire lizards as communications links.”

Both Francie and K’ndar shook their heads in outrage.

“There’s something wrong about that,” she said.

“Yes, I agree. But it’s not anything we’ve not done with our fire lizards. I don’t blame the poor beast.”

Francie sighed. “You’re right.”

She turned to Lizard. “Now, sir. About you.”

“What about me?”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but we can’t just leave you here in the grass. What do you want to do? Return to your caravan?”

“It’s my home. If I still have one. They may have found it.”

“You hid it where?”

“West of here, in a blind canyon.” He whistled for his fire lizards. “Batu, Machli, check on the caravan.”

His fire lizards cheeped in unison and launched and went between.

They sent images of the draft horses swishing their tails as they grazed.

He sighed in relief. “It’s still there. The raiders went right past it.”

“You said you were attacked, by four men?”

I don’t feel like talking about the whole situation, he thought. My head hurts, my arm hurts, and I have animals that need feeding. To include me! But I guess I’d be just as puzzled. They DID come out to help me.

“Yes, four raiders. They were waiting to attack and steal a courier’s cargo at the port west of here. She managed to elude them, but not for long. She asked me to help her.”

I don’t want to go into the whole interpersonal thing, he thought. I’m a private man.

“You have to forgive me, I’m not thinking quite straight right now. We managed to divert them onto my trail, they followed me here and attacked me.”

“No matter. We didn’t see anyone when we came out of between,” Francie said, “Where did they go?”

“Well, one should be laying down, bleeding a lot, maybe a hundred, two hundred meters at most. But if he’s not there, then he’s either still alive or his mates took him off. As for where they went, I have no idea. Probably into the badlands with their booty. Which they’ll find out isn’t quite what they thought it was.”

He laughed. It hurt.

“Lizard, you’re being devious. What sort of cargo would inspire four men to attack a courier and then you?”

“I don’t have a devious bone in my body,” he lied. “I don’t know what the cargo was other than it’s in a barrel, covered by a canvas. She said it was destined to be delivered to Lord Toric. The girl was a certified Courier. They swear an oath of confidentiality and aren’t told the content of messages or cargo they’re carrying. So I’m assuming that, because they were laying for her, that it was of value. We knew there was no chance she could escape them, so we swapped the real cargo for a similar looking barrel. If they’ve managed to find a hiding place, they’re about to find out what happens when you shake up a barrel of beer!”

The two dragonriders laughed.

Still, Francie wondered how it was that a man would risk his life for a stranger? He’s hiding something.

“You’re sure she was legitimate? It wasn’t a reverse case, she had stolen it and they were trying to get it back?”

For the first time in his association with Lizard, K’ndar saw true fury in his eyes.

“Damn it, woman, no! I knew the girl since she was a kid. She’s…”

“Your daughter?”

“NO!! It is none of your business. Now drop it.”

Francie’s mouth opened and shut, unaccustomed to such a reaction.

Why did I do that, she wondered. It’s not nice to pry.

“I’m sorry. Please, forgive me.”

His fire lizards, having returned, squawked at her in indignation.

They are angry. Do not ask him any more questions that make them angry Motanith said of his fire lizards.

Lizard relented.”It’s okay. Just understand that I took her for her word, and that she needed help.”

“Listen! I hear hoofbeats,” K’ndar said, grateful that Francie had taken the brunt of his anger. Why did she ask that?

“The raiders? Are they returning?” she asked, suddenly wary.

The three sent their fire lizards into the sky. The brown fire lizard did not launch.

“I recognize them,” Lizard said, from the images his lizards sent, “They’re Toric’s men. They’re coming from the west, so it means the courier was successful.”

“Toric?” Francie growled, then remembered they weren’t on his Hold. In fact, they’re on “my” land, she thought.

“Yes, and don’t worry. In fact, I’d like to flag them down.”

The troop saw the dragons first. Lizard noticed they had a packhorse with them.

It had a barrel loaded on it, this time sans canvas.

They slowed. Their captain pointed at one of his men, snapped a few orders, and then they resumed their way east.

Two horsemen peeled off and rode to them. Their horses balked at approaching the dragons.

Motanith and Raventh backed away til they calmed down.

Crunch whined in happy recognition, but stayed next to his master.

One of the riders was Vixen. When they reined to a stop, she saw Lizard’s bare chest and put her hand to her mouth.

Their eyes met. Despite her dismay, she winked. Dragons. He said he had friends. Now I can get home today.

Then she pointed at the chit hidden beneath her shirt and sweater, and gave him a thumbs up.

Ah, mission accomplished, he thought

They came up to the three.

“Sir, I saw you leave the port. You are the trader Fire Lizard Man?” the trooper said.

“I am.”

“You…you’ve been wounded.”

“Yes, I have been. I was attacked by the raiders.”

He nodded. “Do you require basic aid?”

“Thank you, but no. My dragonrider friends here have fixed me up as well as can be expected.”

The man nodded his thanks to Francie and K’ndar.

“Didn’t get any licks in?” he asked, hesitantly. Hopefully.

Despite his pain, Lizard laughed.

“Oh, I did. At least one is in bad shape. I tried to cut his arm off, there should be a blood trail, at least.”

“Very good, sir.”

He looked around and noticed the fire lizards on the outcrop.

“That brown fire lizard. Is he yours?”

“No, sir. I’m fairly certain he looks to the leader of the raiders.”

“I think you’re right.”

“Was the, um, was your mission successful?”

Vixen nodded. The man laughed. “Oh, yes, sir, and my commander sends his compliments on your strategy. He said to tell you he doubts he’ll ever play chess with you. Never mind barter!”

I hope he tells me what they did, K’ndar thought.

Even with his sore ribs, Lizard chuckled. “He can rest easy, then. I don’t play it. Too peaceful.”

They all laughed at that.

“I hope you catch them, sir,” K’ndar said.

The man laughed. “Not to worry about that, dragonrider. We’re behind them, and Lord Holder Toric is coming with a contingent from the east. All they have left in the way of escape routes is a thousand kilometers of badlands to the south, and it’s all patrolled by dragonriders. The local yobs probably know every cave and gully in here, but still, if, as you say, one of them is injured, we’ll…well, we’ll find them sooner than later. They’re not the first set of bandits we’re having to deal with. They’re reproducing like insects, and our Hold folk are pissed off. This is my third batch of bandits, for instance, in the last six months. They’ve attacked the border Holders so often the Holders have adopted a shoot first and ask questions later policy. So be careful, openly and loudly state your business once you cross into Southern Hold. Otherwise you’re subject to attack without warning.”

If it wasn’t for Toric being such an arse, he thought, we’d have dragonriders to help manage the raiders. They’re coming from all over Pern. It’s why they’re so bold these days. No dragons to provide air cover. But I don’t dare say it.

“If you don’t mind, sir, I must catch up with my squad. I don’t want to miss out on the hunt,” the trooper said.

“Of course I don’t mind. Thank you for checking on me.”

“Um, before you go, please?” Vixen said, to the trooper. She turned to Lizard.

“Lizard, um, you said you could arrange for dragon transport for me?”

Lizard gawped.

“Yes, of course!”

K’ndar was first. “Do you require transport, ma’am?”

She nodded. “I do, dragonrider. This fine dun horse is not mine. She was stolen from Lord Toric, and I have no right to keep her. But I do need transport back to Lemos Hold.”

Both Francie and K’ndar said in the same breath, “I’ll do it!”

Laughing, she dismounted and handed the reins to the trooper.

“Vixen, you had two horses, a grey and a bay. If we find them, what shall we do with them?” he said.

“Um-I had planned on selling them but now I have dragon transport back to Lemos Hold. I’m expected there tonight.”

“Send them to me,” Lizard said, wondering why he said so. “There’s a meadow just west of this one, leave them there and I’ll manage to find a home for them.”

“I will, sir. Take care of yourself, that’s a pretty bad wound. Keep it clean.”

Lizard grinned. “Catch them for us, please.”

“Worry not, sir. That’s what we do.” The trooper took the reins of the dun and rode away.

Vixen sighed, the weight of her anxiety and responsibility lifting off her shoulders. “Thank you, sir,” she said to Lizard. “I have some things of yours,” she said. She removed her bandana, then pulled off her sweater.

Lizard took both with an unfathomable look in his eye.

Francie gasped. “Your hair! Whomever cut your hair was blind or drunk. Or both. And what in the world happened to your scalp?”

“It’s a long story,” she began, “and I’ve learned the worst haircut I ever got was the one I gave myself.” She giggled.

“Tell you what. Me and Motanith will take you home and perhaps you can tell me a little more,” Francie said. “I’m sure it will make for a fabulous tale! I’ll call Raylan and tell him I’ll be delayed a little longer.”

“By the way, Vixen, this is K’ndar, rider of brown Raventh, and Francie, rider of green Motanith. I’ve known both for years. You can dispense with the ‘sir,” Lizard said.

She nodded. “Please to meet you.”

He turned to the dragonriders

“This is Vixen, the daughter of a good friend of mine from long ago. She is a courier from Lemos Hold.”

“Pleased,” they all said. Vixen forced herself to look at Lizard’s wounds.

“You’re hurt.”

“Yes, one of the louts took me on in a knife fight.”

She inhaled sharply. “That was stupid. I know how you fight with a knife.”

K’ndar roared. “You DO know him, that’s exactly what I said when he told us!”

Crunch approached her, tail wagging.

“What the shaff? You’re all bloody, woofer!” Vixen said.”Where’d all the blood come from?”

“One of the raider’s arrows. He’s an excellent bowman, let me tell you. He missed me by centimeters, he did hit Crunch, and all from a moving horse. Oh, that dog, I’ve never heard him roar quite like that. He charged the bowman’s horse like a lion.”

“Crunch was hit?”

“He’s okay,” Francie said, returning to the group, “It just cut a groove in his skin.”

“With that arrow?” Vixen asked. Francie realized she was still holding the arrow she’d removed from the dog’s fur. ” No, not this specific arrow. It has a maker’s crest on it, I’m hoping I can research who made it and maybe, perhaps, we can find out who that raider is.”

She looked around, and realized the grass was just high enough to shield any arrows from view. HER view.

“Lizard. When you said you were shot at several times, was it here? In this meadow?”

“Here, yes, but they may have gone as far as the road behind you.”

She called her three fire lizards to her.

“Okay, gang. See this arrow? Find more for me. Find the arrows and bring them to me.”

Her three examined the arrow, putting the image in their minds, and launched.

“Good idea, Francie,” Lizard said. “Batu! Machli! Find? Find the arrows,” Lizard asked of his two.

“Siskin!” K’ndar’s blue leaped without being asked, loving the game.

“Was there only the one archer?” she asked.

“Only one. He shot from horseback. I was his target, but someone saved my topknot, if you can call being bolo’ed desirable. But it beat the alternative.”

The brown fire lizard watched. Francie was nervous. Will the raiders return, homing in the brown’s image? I don’t have a weapon other than my knife.

Their fire lizards returned, all carrying arrows.

“Well done, my beauties!” Lizard said. Batu and Machli each carried one.

Siskin returned, carrying two. He was chortling in satisfaction at having brought more than Batu.

Francie’s three were carrying two apiece.

They dropped them at Francie’s feet.

“Well done! You all are the most clever of lizards,” Francie gushed. Her three cheeped in satisfaction.

She picked them up. “Ten, eleven counting the one I pulled out of Crunch’s fur. A normal quiver has twelve, so they may have missed one or it’s buried too deep for them to see. No matter. I can see right away they’re all from the same maker.”

Her fire lizards swirled around her, then landed on her shoulders, all cheeping softly at their cleverness.

“Good lasses! Good lad! You’re the best!”

K’ndar stroked Siskin’s head. “Well done, Siskin.”

Batu and Machli chittered in victory.

“Your shirt, Lizard, it’s all cut up. And bloody,” Vixen said.

“Aye, but I can mend the shirt. Seven was quite neat about cutting it up, it seems. About the ONLY thing that man was capable of doing,” Lizard said.

Francie was about to say something when the brown fire lizard opened his wings and flew east. They watched him go.

“Good riddance, I guess,” Francie said, “I don’t like being spied on.”

You do not understand him Motanith said, He is lost.

Lost? What does that mean, lost? Francie asked.

I don’t know the right word. He shows his master is dead. The human is laying on the ground. The scavengers are on him now. They are eating him up. Soon he will be nothing but bones.

They can go through clothing?

Easily. They can cut through a wher’s hide very quickly. Humans outside skin is not that thick. Motanith said.

K’ndar wished he could see the brown’s images. Raventh was narrating them.

He tried to protect his human but he says the scavengers are hungry and tried to kill him. He tried to chase the scavengers away, but they are too many for him. More are coming, you can see them gathering in the sky.

He’s alive?

No. The brown saw him get hit with a flying stick, then carried away on the horse.

Flying stick? You mean arrow?

Yes. He says wait, Motanith is pinging him. I must listen.

Raventh stopped for a moment, gathering more images.

Then the humans stopped and dropped his master into a low spot. They rode away, one was on the packhorse. The brown says that one was the one who attacked Lizard. Now he is sending me his master’s dead face. The scavengers have already eaten the eyes out. He is sad. He is scared. He is alone.

Francie and K’ndar were both silent, pondering the information from their fire lizards.

The brown flew over the four of them. He hovered over Francie, then lowered to her knees and dropped an arrow at her feet.

They all gasped in amazement.

“The twelfth arrow,” she said.

He saw you wanted the arrows. That one was in his master’s head until a human pulled it out. He says he is alone now. Motanith said.

The fire lizard landed at her feet, looking up at her. His eyes rolled an unhappy, uncertain orange.

Her heart broke.