Dragonfire by Karleen Bradford

Author:Karleen Bradford [Karleen Bradford ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781554689507
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

CHAPTER 7

Morning brought no relief. A Sele ducked in with two more bowls of the dry grain. This time Catryn was hungry enough to eat without complaint. There was only water to drink, but it was pure and sweet. Dahl drank it gratefully.

Catryn was on her feet as soon as she had finished.

“I must see to the horse,” she said. She looked as if she would say more, but bit her lip to stop the words before they could tumble out.

Dahl remained seated, dazed with sleeplessness, staring into the blackened remains of their fire. The morning air was cool and he shivered, but he made no move to pull on his cloak. He hardly even noticed when Catryn returned, but when she sank down onto the ground beside him and stared into the dead fire, equally wordless but obviously troubled, he was forced to acknowledge her.

“What is it?” he asked. “Is the horse no better?”

“It’s better,” she answered. “The bleeding has stopped and the Sele say it will mend, but it will be many days before it can travel. They say I must stay to nurse it. It seems to do better when I am with it.” She looked quickly at Dahl, obviously afraid her words would cause offense, but he did not react. “What shall we do, Dahl? Will you stay as well, or will you go on?”

Dahl looked away from her. He scuffed in the ashes with one toe. “How can I go on?” he said, his voice so low it could hardly be heard. “I know not what to do. I know not even how to find Daunus again.” He knew he should be facing this, making plans, but when he looked within himself for the strength to do it, he could find nothing but a great, hollow emptiness. He seemed paralyzed, unable to do anything, unable even to think.

“The Sele say they will lead you.”

“It’s useless. I can’t do it. I’ve failed.” Even the triumph he had felt at slaying the dragon was gone. Without the Protector, he was lost. Taun was lost.

“What do you plan on doing then? We cannot stay here indefinitely. Are we to retrace our steps when the horse is well again and tell the Elders that we have given up? Without even trying?”

Her words stung Dahl to a response. “Without the Protector it is impossible!” Even to speak his name brought pain.

“He said he was to be our guide only. He said it was you who would save Taun.”

Dahl leaped to his feet, goaded finally to action.

“You speak so,” he exploded. “You speak of ‘we,’ but it is not you who must be the doer of the thing! It is not you who must fight dragons!”

Catryn leaped to her feet as well and faced him, eyes blazing. “When the horse is better, I will follow you. I will find you, and it would seem likely that I would have to fight, too. And I will! The Elders—they said I was to have my part in this.

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