The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz Page 0,145

“I don’t want to demolish the shaft. I haven’t got enough magic in reserve to defend us against the Scaly One.”

Rodario and the Ido girl exchanged relieved glances. “We’re pleased to hear you’ve made your decision.”

“And it is down to the two of you that I am able to do this. I have thought a great deal about what you both said and I agree that I must face up to my responsibilities. My mother will not have trained me in vain.” She gave them a brisk smile. “But it won’t be easy. I’m not a fighter at heart.”

She reached the platform from where the cable gondola could take her to the shaft. Coïra was about to get in to the car but Rodario held her back. “Wouldn’t it be better to take the stairs? Our lives might hang from a rope.”

“It’ll be fine.” The queen got into the gondola. “Trust me.”

“I trust the construction but not that dragon that’s circling round the island.” He looked for the creature but it was not visible. “Where has it got to?”

“It’s underneath the island!” Mallenia shouted, coming over. “Let’s pray to Elria and Palandiell that we can get to the shaft in one piece.”

“Count Loytan will cover us with his catapult fire.” Coïra ordered four of the guards to join her, and the last of them shut the door after her as the steep downward trip began.

“Count Loytan is not at the fort, Highness,” said one of the men. “We met him up on the palace walls but no one has seen him since.”

Rodario was glad he had turned his face away: No one could read his expression. He considered himself a gifted enough actor to conceal his grin, but better safe than sorry.

The gondola swayed in the evening breeze and Mallenia went very pale. The rocking movement was not too severe, however, as the anchoring bolts were all secure.

It was all too slow for Coïra’s liking, and she told the guards to release the brakes a little further.

“But Your Highness, that’ll mean we’ll be too fast to stop at the landing stage.” The man risked an objection. “It’s not safe to go any quicker.”

The gondola had already dropped further away from the island when Rodario spied the creature again. “There it is! It’s hanging underneath the rock!”

Mallenia, Coïra and the soldiers leaned out for a better view.

It was like a lizard with the wings of a grasshopper. The scaled body was ten paces long, the mouth large enough to swallow a whole cow, and the black skin was shimmering damply in the last of the evening light: Rodario could pick out yellow and blue markings. It was wearing an iron chain around its neck, bearing an onyx pendant the size of a handcart.

“Why aren’t the catapults on the fortress firing?” He was worried now.

The stony eyes had the gondola in their sights.

Mallenia looked down at the arrow slings, which seemed to be aimed straight at them. “It’s because of us. We’re in the line of fire so we’re giving the creature cover.”

“It can’t be the Dragon—no, it’s certainly not Lohasbrand.” Coïra stated.

“Perhaps a small friend of his? Has he been sent out as an advance messenger?” Rodario could not make head or tail of the creature’s appearance. He had never met the like in any of the sagas he was conversant with. “It’s staring at me,” he said, moving away from the window. “As if it really likes actors.”

“I’m sure it only eats good ones,” Mallenia teased him, aware once more that she was behaving like a silly girl in love—and that this was a highly unsuitable time for such behavior.

“It’s staring at all of us,” said Coïra.

“To be honest, that’s not much of a comfort…” Rodario turned to the queen. “Can’t you send some magic his way? Zap him on the ugly bonce!”

She refused. “We don’t know yet what it wants. Perhaps it’s a peace-loving creature.”

“In Girdlegard? Looking like that?” He watched, shuddering, as the creature dangled a blue tongue. “There! Do you see? It’s getting up an appetite.”

Their gondola was two-thirds of the way across.

The creature dropped down and spun round as it fell, spreading its horny wings to come gliding over to the gondola. It opened its mouth and showed a row of very sharp teeth.

“I think it’s making abundantly clear what it wants.” Rodario sank down in front of Coïra to beg. “Save us!”

The queen did not need his plea. She collected the last remnants of her