Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol II - By Richard A. Knaak Page 0,438

no pleasant frame of mind. “…be certain that I will take the cost of everything out on you and your friends before I finally grant you the relief of death!”

There was a moment of silence… then a harsh slap. Morgis had to restrain himself from rushing in. He would do no one any good committing to a suicidal charge.

“We should just kill her and be done with it, my lord,” Captain D’Falc barked.

The drake hissed. At the very least, they had Kalena, whose only crimes had been first to warn Morgis and his comrades of the danger near the keep and then to try to rescue the drake and Leonin from D’Kairn.

He had to go in. Surveying the crumbling building, Morgis estimated his chances of reaching one of the open windows above. Unlike Kalena’s people, his were not known for their ability to climb while in their mortal forms. He had been fortunate once…

But even as he considered his other options, a slight rustling from his left alerted the drake as to company. Gripping the dagger, he listened as the newcomer slipped closer.

At the last moment, Morgis spun about—

“It’s me!” gasped Leonin. “Watch yourself with that thing!”

Morgis lowered the dagger. “I thought you were a prisssoner! How did you escape?”

Leonin peered at the entrance before answering the question. “I was just grabbin’ a torch when I heard them approaching. Slipped into one of the back rooms, hoping for a window, but while I was feelin’ along the wall, I stumbled into a hidden passage! This place is honeycombed with ’em, drake! Anyway, it finally led down the hill to the northeast of this place. Been circling ever since.”

“I found Awrak a short distance from here, Leonin. Hisss throat and chessst had been cut deep.”

“We knew that was likely what’d happened,” remarked the man. Yet, his tone hinted of barely-concealed anger.

“They have Kalena a prisssoner, Leonin.”

“Well, if she’s still alive, it’s because they want us runnin’ in after her, isn’t it? Of course, we’ll come, but not the way they want, right?”

“As you sssay. Tell me, isss this passage still unknown to them? Were you forced to leave it open?”

The bearded fighter thought for a moment. “No, I shut behind me. They shouldn’t be able to find it. We going to sneak in on them from behind?”

“Firssst tell me whether or not you think you can enter through the other end.”

Not only did Leonin think it possible to do so, but he gave Morgis an estimate on how long it would take to reach the room. The drake did some calculations of his own, then said, “The timing must be just right. I will count to myssself until I think you are ready.”

“And just what are you goin’ to do, then?”

“It is what we both must do, Leonin. When I believe that you are in position, I will come from the front, asss they expect. I will make certain that they focus on me while you ssslip in and grab Kalena.”

His partner snorted. “You’re goin’ to charge right in, draw them away, and let me be able to save the girl? You’d have to fall in among them to do that. The odds of you gettin’ out—”

“My concern is sssaving her, Leonin. You understand me?”

There was a momentary silence. “Yeah, I understand you just right, Morgis.”

“I am not foolhardy,” the drake continued, failing to mention his nearly-useless limb. “Once Kalena is safe, I will abandon the struggle.”

“Sure you will.”

Morgis did have a plan, though, albeit a risky one. He was skilled with the dagger, able to toss it with accuracy that even Leonin could not match. All Morgis needed was a few seconds of surprise, enough time to manage one focused throw.

A throw that would end with the dagger deep in D’Kairn’s unprotected throat.

Not only would that prevent any magical attack by the keeper, but it would also likely put an end to the spell D’Kairn had cast upon the drake. Then Morgis would not only be able to use his own magic, he would also be able to transform—assuming his friends had escaped already—within the old ruin.

That last alone would put an end to the rest of the wolf raiders.

He told none of this to Leonin, simply assuring the human once more that he would flee the moment they had escaped. Leonin did not entirely believe him, but with one final nod, the human darted off.

The time Morgis estimated it would take Leonin to reach his goal seemed to stretch