The Dashkova Memoirs 07 Dragons of Siberia by Thomas K. Carpenter

Author:Thomas K. Carpenter
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: historical fantasy
Publisher: Black Moon Books
Published: 2016-03-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Anton's news was like a hammer blow to everyone's chest. The khan gave everyone a few minutes to discuss potential options. I grabbed Franklin, Rowan, Brassy, and Ana.

"You have to tell me the plan," I said. "I feel like I'm sewing in the dark, hoping not to impale my fingers."

Ben and Rowan shared glances.

"No point in withholding the information now. I think the plan is broken," said Ben. "Harvest is pulling a sled with our way up the mountain on it. We constructed a hot-air balloon, which we were going to use to ferry us up the cliff during the night. It would give us a way past the canyon, then using shaman magic, they'd sneak you back to the dragon to do battle with it."

"About that," I said. "I don't think there's a way to kill it."

A grim line formed on Rowan's bloodred lips. "You'd be surprised. I didn't think so myself until Ana showed me what they'd found in the mountains."

Ana spoke hesitantly at first, glancing in the khan's direction the whole time.

"Our expedition to the other cave, the place we met, was not just for food and furs. Using our supernatural contacts"—her eyes hardened, and I knew she meant the Uthlaylaa, which meant she hadn't told the others of its existence—"we learned of an object that might help us defeat the Nenet."

"What is it?" I asked.

Ben spoke up. "The spear, Gungnir, said to have been wielded by Odin."

"But that box wasn't large enough for a spear," I said.

"It was the spearhead they found." Ben's eyes were wide with wonder. "I wouldn't have believed it myself, but Anton shoved the spear into a rock wall. The stone parted like milk cream."

"I know this spearhead. It's meant to be wielded at Ragnarök, the ending of the gods," I said, remembering my book of myths.

"You mean the ending of the world," said Brassy.

"No," I said, "that's the popular view of the word Ragnarök. The older translations call it the 'twilight of the gods,' or the 'doom of the gods.' Now, the ending of the gods might have some effect on the world, but the myths do not mention the end of the world. But, still, having the spear appear now, at this time, seems rather odd."

They sensed my unease and drew closer.

"In what way?" asked Rowan, studying my face as if it were a map.

"I don't know," I said. "I think there's more here than what we understand."

"That doesn't help us now," said Ben.

"So the plan you've been hiding from me was to sneak me up the cliff using a hot-air balloon and then just trust me to shove the spear into the dragon?" I asked.

"When you say it like that it doesn't sound as impressive," said Ben with a wink. "There were other parts to the plan: destroying the airship and the lift so they can't stop us from returning to Ice Lake, gathering intelligence on any connections to Veles, but I think we'd just be happy with the death of the dragon, freeing you from your obligations to the Great One.

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