Free Rise Of The Dragon King (Book 5) by M. R. Mathias Page B

teleported away with a static pop.
    Something else comes
, Crimzon voiced through the ethereal, so that the others could hear. It turned out to be Jenka, though.
    A short while later, Rikky was tending Crystal’s burns with his exceptional healing magic, and Zahrellion was cursing the colossals and their wizards for all she was worth.
    “We’ve got to eliminate them, Jenka,” she growled.
    “We will, Zah.” Jenka nodded, but instead of going to his rattled wife, he went to Clover’s side.
    “What do you think we should do now?”
    “I think we should go hunting for those bastards, is what.”

    It was no easy chore getting Crystal back to Clover’s Castle, but together they managed it. They decided to hunt in groups of two, and Jenka and Clover were off while the others were still discussing strategies.
    Rikky watched Zahrellion and could sense her disappointment when she learned this, but the boys were there, and both she and Aikira were aglow with motherly adoration for their children. Amelia was giggling shrilly, and Rikky decided that, since she was running on her own two feet now, she was about to be a handful. He also noted how eerie the child was. It was as if she shared her father’s mind-drifting episodes, or maybe she just stared vacantly at times.
    It wasn’t fair to ask the women to go hunt these beasts, as they had so much more at risk than he, and so many more responsibilities. Aikira insisted, though, and Zahrellion agreed to watch over Pascal while she and Crystal rested their wounds and tended to the kingdom’s needs.
    “Be careful,” Zahrellion told them, as she gave them each a hug in turn. Rikky closed his eyes and savored her embrace. He wasn’t disappointed when she held him a little longer than usual, and she seemed pleased that he gave her an extra long squeeze in return. The moment made Aikira give them both a look, though, and Rikky found himself blushing as they levitated from the rotunda to the landing area.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    J
ade
can sense that wizard’s particular imprint in the essence
, Jenka said.
But only when he is using his magic
.
    So, you don’t know where he is, only where he was when he last cast a spell?
Clover asked.
    Yessss
, Jade hissed the answer, for his rider’s mind had already drifted from the conversation.
    Why didn’t you tell me about Vax?
The demanding tone of Clover’s voice pulled Jenka’s attention back to the moment.
    You were aging once we were free of that place
. Jenka surprised her with the clarity of his response.
I didn’t want you to spend the last few days of your life wallowing in regret. Had I known you’d be restored by the crazed dwarf’s fountain, I might have
.
    I’m thankful for you not telling me, Jenka
, Clover clarified.
I was just curious why
.
    Yessss
, Jade hissed.
    He just cast a spell
, said Jenka, letting Jade carry them toward the sensation.
    They started southwest, and soon the long, oval sheen of Demon’s Lake could be seen in the distance. Jenka was having to concentrate to keep focused, but he was managing it. There was only one place around the lake that he knew could conceal all of the beasts, and if they were hiding in the grottoes, then Jenka would have a huge advantage over them, for he had scoured King Richard’s mind once, and knew that his brother and Royal had escaped Gravelbone through a hidden tunnel in the depths of those haunted caves.
    It turned out not to be such an easy set up. There was a creature hiding in the shallower part of the grottoes, and a handful of wizardly spell casters attending it, but it was most likely the creature Silva and Rikky had scorched. The more powerful wizard Jade had sensed must have been there and gone.
    Jenka would have never thought to use heat as a focal point, but that was how Crimzon located the one creature they found. After trying it a few times and adjusting his mindset, Jenka managed to get the hang of the trick and could make out the individual men moving