of the room before Spencer’s severed head could hit the floor.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Saul traced the outline of the dragon imprinted on his wrist. The symbol meant everything to him. It meant that he was a part of something that would change the land forever. The Dunarians didn’t even know what kind of plot had been crafted against them. They had done well in the war against the Stühocs seventeen years before, but now the Stühocs were bringing everything they had. The plan started and ended with the seven Sleepers and he was proud to be one of them. He knew he was a possessed Human, but it didn’t bother him. In fact, it gave him great satisfaction. Most people didn’t understand what true possession was. Most thought that if one was possessed, that there was no more control over the actions or the body. This wasn’t true. Saul could make any decision he wanted. His possession allowed him to believe in a true cause, but most of all it opened his mind to the voice. Whatever was left of the old Saul before his possession was gone. He didn’t even remember most of his former self. He knew his spirit was still alive, but it wanted nothing more than to please the Stühoc Possessor. He was now Human and Stühoc. The voice inside his head gave him direction, told him what his next move should be. He didn’t remember where the voice came from, but he listened to it without question. It almost felt like a sixth sense, but more tangible, like someone else was in his mind at all times. Like he was possessed. Saul smiled.
After he had followed Silas and his group to the Gatekeeper’s old house on Blue Gate Mountain, he knew his mission would be better spent simply following the boy rather than just trying to kill him. Seeing him there confirmed that Silas’ quest for the Gatekeeper had begun. He knew Silas would find the Gatekeeper eventually and that he would lead Saul to him as well. Now, instead of tracking them down separately, he knew he could take out both Silas and the Gatekeeper at once.
But he might need help.
Though the Gatekeeper was weakening, that did not mean that his strength was completely diminished. The man was still powerful and Saul would have trouble defeating him by himself. The dragon that Saul rode wouldn’t be much help either. Maroke’s dragon hadn’t helped him in Mudavé.
He looked back at the creature that sat idly behind him, just on the other side of the hill. The dumb thing had nearly gotten him caught when flying over the Gated Passage, but he had been able to dive out of the Erellen’s sights quick enough. The dragon wasn’t known for its stealth.
He looked down at the wristband that had been given to him a long time ago. He hated the thing. Though he was one of the seven Sleepers, he still had to report to someone. As he sat on the hill overlooking the valley below him, his thoughts focused on the person he wanted to contact. He didn’t want the face to appear in front of him, so he kept his concentration at a minimum. Voice only.
“What is it?” The voice asked harshly.
“I’ve got the boy in my sight,” Saul said. “He’s with the girl, and they’re walking to a shack at the end of the valley. I think it’s the Gatekeeper’s.”
“Good,” the voice said. “Don’t make a move. We’ll bring a dragon.”
“I don’t need you to come,” Saul said.
“Going it alone didn’t work for you too well earlier did it? When you tried to kill Silas in the forest?”
Saul reached up and placed a hand on his aching left arm. Silas’ magical arrow had gone clean through. Saul had been surprised when he had reached to pull the arrow out and it suddenly disappeared from his arm. Nothing remained but the wound, bloody and torn. It had been days and Saul had tried to keep the wound from infection, but he felt it needed more attention.
“How long until you can get here?” Saul asked.
“We’ll be there before morning,” the voice said.
“What if they try to leave?”
“Keep following them and let us know. Otherwise, wait where you are.”
Saul took a moment to explain the valley’s location and advised him to fly in low and silent. The shack sat far away, but there was little sound in the valley, and any sort of commotion would be heard loud and