Free Dragonfire by Karleen Bradford Page A

Protector—the hawk consumed by flames. He looked back at Catryn, unable to speak.
    “Where is the Protector? We need his help.”
    Catryn’s tone was desperate, but still Dahl couldn’t answer. He willed his mind to work, to think of something, but he was numb with shock. Was it over? Was everything finished? So soon? They had barely begun, but his Protector was dead; the horse, its incredible secret discovered only moments before, now mortally wounded. How could they possibly go on?
    “Dahl? The Protector, where is he?”
    “He is gone.”
    “Gone? Gone where? Why has he left us now?”
    “You did not see…The dragon…It killed him.”
    “ Killed? ” Catryn stared back, eyes wide and filled with horror. “How can that be? What are we going to do?”
    A rustle in the bushes beside Dahl sent needles of ice through him. Catryn no longer seemed to hear whatever it was that had been calling her, but the dark shapes that had tormented him—were they coming back? He put out a hand to warn Catryn.
    “Hush! There is something…Do you not hear it?” He grasped the hilt of his sword tightly and whirled around to face the trees.
    At first he saw nothing. No dark shapes whispered by. Then a bush moved. He tensed.
    “What is it?” Catryn’s voice pierced the unnatural silence that had fallen around them once more.
    The bush rustled again. A stirring spread through the bushes like ripples on a pond.
    “Dahl!” Catryn moved quickly to stand beside him. The forest seemed to be coming alive as they watched.
    Dahl’s heart, still hammering from the battle, began to pound even harder against his ribs. He fought against it for breath. Catryn grabbed for the nearest thing she could find. It was a sturdy branch, but it would be a useless weapon against the dangers of this hostile world.
    A form suddenly appeared out of the brush infront of them. Dahl stared unbelievingly. Almost human in appearance, but covered in shining, sleek blue-gray fur, the being advanced toward them. It was perfectly proportioned, even delicately built, but its head barely reached the level of Dahl’s waist.
    “It would seem you might be in need of assistance,” it said calmly.
    Before Dahl and Catryn could collect themselves sufficiently to answer, the bushes parted to reveal a multitude of other forms, all apparently identical to the first.
    “We are the Sele. I am called Sele the Parent because I was the first of our race. You may sheathe your sword.”
    Dumbly, Dahl did as he was bade.
    The being turned to Catryn. “And you. Your branch. Please drop it. Weapons of any kind annoy us.”
    She dropped it.
    It turned again to Dahl. “That was a brave fight. You did well.”
    “You…you saw it?” Dahl brought the words out with difficulty.
    “Of course. It is our business to see everything that goes on in our country. Good and evil.”
    “The dragon…” Dahl stammered.
    “Ah, yes. Not a very large one, as dragons go, but a nuisance. We are not sorry that you have rid us of it.”
    Dahl felt anger rise within him. The dragon who had killed the Protector, who had so sorely wounded the magical horse and who had so nearly killed him—so easily dismissed?
    “You say this is your country. What do you mean?” The words came out with belligerence.
    “We mean exactly what we say. We always do. It prevents confusion. This forest and the area just beyond it are ours. The Country of the Sele. We do not usually have visitors here. There are dangers here for those from outside. From time to time we do permit passage through, when we are asked. Your people begged our permission, although we warned them of the perils. It seemed that it was necessary. But you people, your minds betray you in this place. You bring your own horrors with you and then you cannot face them.”
    “The animals that pursued me out of the darkness, the voice that called to Catryn…?”
    “All your own creations. All let loose by you, yourselves. The animals—the