Dragon and Phoenix by Joanne Bertin Page A

followed by Aumalaean and Aeld when the way was clear.
    What did he mean? Maurynna wondered as she watched the truedragons fly away.
     
    Nearly there. Lleld somehow forced her wings to beat a little faster. Time to angle up once more … . In another moment she would crest the ridge line and then she’d see—
    “Aaaaaaaaaahh!” Lleld screamed—the most she could do in dragon form—as she pulled up short and tumbled backwards through the air.
    For five enormous shapes had appeared as if out of nowhere in front of her. Only her small size had averted a disaster; Lleld was as nimble as a swallow, a tumbler in the air as well as on the ground.
    Still, it was a close thing. The sapphire blue truedragon she’d nearly collided with bellowed in angry surprise. Scarlet flames erupted from his mouth. Lleld clamped her wings to her body and dropped like a stone until she was out of range.
    Those flames had come too close for comfort.
    Your pardon, my lords! she yelled. I didn’t know you were—
    The truedragon roared and dove after her; his eyes shone with berserker rage. Lleld neatly reversed within her own length and prepared to fly for her life.
    *Enough, Aumalaean! Douse thy fires. It was naught but an honest mistake, and no harm was done,* said Morlen the Seer. *Little cousin, do not fear!*
    Lleld looked back over her shoulder, watched as Aumalaean struggled with his temper, saw when his leader’s command won. His jaws snapped shut with a sound like a portcullis crashing down. He glared at her, eyes glowing like red-hot coals.
    Despite Morlen’s reassurance, Lleld waited until the smoke pouring from Aumalaean’s nostrils became mere wisps before she joined the truedragons in their circling. It would be humiliating in the extreme to return to the Keep with a scorched tail. She’d never hear the end of it.
    Morlen said, *That was a pretty piece of fiying, little cousin.* His mindvoice was amused. *And if thee are well — which thee seem to be—then we will continue our journey to our homes. We bear desperate news.*
    There is a truedragon held captive in Jehanglan! Lleld crowed to herself in triumph. To Morlen she said respectfully, I am indeed well, my lord, and I thank you for the compliment .
    *Then we will be on our way. But I would ask thee to see to thy fellow Dragonlords, whom we left in the meadow. I think they are well enough now, but … *
    Dragonlords? Not just Linden, then. And “well enough now ?”
    Lleld thought furiously. The only thing that would bring Linden in such haste was something threatening his soultwin. So Maurynna was down there, too; she must have ridden out. But what was the threat? Certainly not the truedragons, even if Aumalaean was a crabby sort of fellow. And how did Linden get hurt? She couldn’t wait to find out.
    It will be my pleasure, my lord.
    Was that a muffled laugh she felt in her mind? Before she could say anything, the five truedragons turned as one and flew north.
    *My thanks, little cousin,* came faintly into her mind. This time there was no mistaking the laugh. Lleld snorted; twin curls of smoke drifted up from her nostrils.
    What was so funny? she thought irritably. Then she remembered the charge laid upon her and brightened. This was going to be better than a bard’s tale.
    There were no surprises this time when she crested the ridgeline. Just Linden, Maurynna, and Boreal in the meadow below. Lleld tucked her wings and dived. Her very scales itched with the need to know .
     
    Distant bellows of rage reached their ears.
    “What is it?” Maurynna asked. Her body tensed beneath Linden’s arm and one hand flew to her belt dagger.
    “Something attacked the truedragons,” Linden said grimly. He moved away to give himself enough room to Change, cursing as his abused muscles protested.
    “Don’t even think of it, you idiot!” Maurynna yelled. “You’re hurt.” She grabbed the front of his tunic and jerked him close until their noses nearly touched. “Whatever it