Dralazar will kill Emane,” Lomay said.
Drustan sighed, leaning against the doorframe. “No, he won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” Alcander demanded, leaning forward. “He is evil. Evil shows no mercy.”
Drustan swallowed nervously. “I know Dralazar better than I wish I did. You are right—he shows no mercy. He took Emane for a reason. If he wanted him dead, he was more than capable of striking him down where he stood.” Drustan shook his head. “I suspect he took Emane to lure Kiora out. Which means he has figured out who she is.”
Alcander looked between Kiora and Drustan. “How would he not have known?”
“In Kiora’s home, things were different. Soluses were called whenever there was a need.” Drustan began walking back and forth across the floor with his hands behind his back, tall and proud, the way Kiora remembered him from the colony when she had first met him. “They defeated evil a thousand years ago and lived in peace. Dralazar returned as prophesied, and Kiora was called as the Solus. Not your Solus,” he pointed, “but ours. It was after she went through the change that Eleana and I began to suspect her calling was bigger than we had thought.” Alcander’s eyes darted to Kiora, fixing on the white streak in her dark hair. “Dralazar would not have come after her unless he realized what she really was. With Kiora gone, he would have been free to overrun the land. It is what he always wanted.”
“Epona told me he would seek help from the outside,” Kiora said.
Drustan nodded. “Perhaps, but he didn’t need any help with you gone. And I suspect that Dralazar realized his mistake in opening the gate. Whatever is on this side of the mountain will filter through eventually. Either good will overrun him . . . or things more evil, stronger than he, will take Meros from him.”
“Why doesn’t he just put the gate back up?” Alcander asked.
“I have a suspicion.” Drustan looked at Kiora. “He needed Eleana’s help when he erected it the first time didn’t he?” Kiora nodded. “Even if Dralazar figured out a way to perform the magic himself, he would be too weak to enact the spell.”
Alcander pushed himself up. “I am sorry to interrupt this delightful history lesson, but what are we going to do about Emane?”
Lomay raised one eyebrow. “You seem awfully concerned with this Witow.”
“He saved my life twice.”
“Is that the only reason?” Lomay said with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Or is it perhaps that you have realized you were wrong? That Witows are not so worthless after all?”
Alcander’s previous mask of indifference slammed down over the concern he had been showing. “Do you have any ideas, or should we engage in a philosophical conversation on the worth of others while Emane is mauled to death by a dragon?” His voice was cold and steely.
Kiora couldn’t help but feel gratitude for Alcander’s sudden concern.
“Calm yourself, Alcander, it was a simple question.” Lomay turned his attention to Drustan. “How sure are you that Dralazar won’t hurt Emane?”
Drustan looked at Kiora before dropping his gaze. “I did not say that. I said he wouldn’t kill him.”
“I see.” Lomay cleared his throat. “That is an important distinction.”
Kiora pulled at the leg of her pants, twisting the fabric. “Will he torture him?” she asked, swallowing hard.
“Yes.”
She flinched, a wave of nausea rolling over her. “At least he can heal himself,” she said, trying to comfort herself.
Drustan placed his hand on her shoulder. “I fear that will make it worse.” His voice was low and hoarse. “You can keep torturing when the victim heals.”
“It should have been me,” Kiora groaned, covering her face with her hands.
“Dralazar would have finished you off before you knew he was there. He wouldn’t risk you escaping again.” Looking at the others, Drustan said, “We must be careful. Dralazar will keep Emane alive until Kiora is within range. He would love nothing more than to kill Emane in front of her.”
“How do you know that?” Alcander asked.
Drustan looked him straight in the eye. “We must get Emane out before he can torture Kiora with his death.”
Kiora jumped to her feet. “The Wings,” she said. “I didn’t see where Dralazar took Emane, but the Wings would have! They can show us where Emane is.”
Lomay shook his head. “No. I do not like to depend on the Wings for that which we can do ourselves.”
“What?” she said, flabbergasted.
“Here we go again,” moaned Alcander. “What if it takes her a