"I know it sounds mad, but they're here. A mother and her two whelps. Sleeping. I've seen them, and I've felt them breathing. Now, apparently, I'm going to wake them."
"Wake the dragons . . ." He whispered the words, his gaze going distant, as if he was falling back into his thoughts. "Why would the Seeker be the one who can do such a thing?"
"The Seeker or the Keeper. Either of us can. While those are our titles in the empire, Seekers and Keepers can come from any region, any bloodline. They are simply twin girls with powers. In the culture of the North, one of their powers is--"
"Twins," he breathed the word. "Yes, twins. There is a very old story. We had a bard from the North who used to say that the way to wake dragons was--"
He looked to her, his eyes wide with dawning horror. "No." He began to struggle. "Cut my bonds, Seeker. Quickly. Please. We must get you out--"
The tent door opened. The healer came in with the guard at her shoulder. Ashyn backed up quickly, her dagger raised. The woman looked at her, no shock on her face. Just anger.
"Take her," she said to the warrior.
"No!" Dalain said. "Ashyn, run!"
The approaching warrior blocked the door. She twisted, diving to wriggle through the hole she'd cut. The warrior grabbed her. The healer pressed a stinking cloth over her mouth. Dalain shouted, trying to tell her something, but his words were lost as she fell into darkness.
THIRTY-SIX
Ashyn woke staring at dragons. She flew up, expecting to find herself bound, and nearly fell onto her face when she wasn't. Hands caught her by the shoulders.
"Careful, child."
She turned to see Edwyn. He smiled down at her, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"Thank the goddess you've woken," he said. "I'm only glad we had enough strong warriors to carry you in here."
She was in the dragon's den. A half dozen of Edwyn's people watched her with mixtures of relief, anticipation, and concern. Three were warriors. The other three wore cowled hoods, their faces hidden, but from their shapes, two seemed to be women, the third a tall man. The flames of their torches caught the gold and jewels, and the whole room seemed to dance and glitter. Ashyn had to blink more, getting her bearings.
"Tova . . ." she whispered.
"I fear your hound is in no state to join us," Edwyn said. "He must rest until the effects of that sleeping draught have passed."
"Sleeping draught . . ." She struggled to remember what had happened the night before. Something about a girl. And a young warrior. A blade cutting through a tent. She rubbed her eyes hard. When she looked at Edwyn again, his face had gone solemn, his blue eyes alight with anger.
"It seems we had a traitor in our midst," he said. "The healer sought to prevent--or delay--the ritual. I do not know her reason, but she confessed it when we could not rouse you or your hound this morning."
Yes. The healer. She'd drugged Ronan and Tova, and she'd tried to drug Ashyn. And there was someone else. A young warrior with dark hair and gray eyes and wolves--
She looked up sharply. "Dalain Okami. Where is--?"
Edwyn's gaze shifted and she followed it to see Dalain bound and gagged on the other side of the dragons. When he saw her, he strained at his bounds, eyes wild.
&nbs
p; He'd been trying to tell her something about raising the dragons . . .
"I must speak to him," she said. "He does not need to be bound. It is a misunderstanding--"
"Perhaps," Edwyn cut in. "But we believe he may have been working with our healer. There are many who oppose the very thought of dragons. It's safer to keep him bound while he bears witness."
Ashyn stifled her protests and lowered her gaze. "As you wish, Grandfather. I trust your judgment. After all, he did nearly kill Ronan."
Edwyn seemed to exhale softly, as if he'd expected her to argue.
"May I do something before I begin?" Ashyn asked.
"We truly must--"