Free Warrior by Bryan Davis Page A

overseers.”
    “You’re right,” Elyssa said, “but pockets are very handy for other things besides sneaking.”
    “Your friend Jason turned his pockets inside out to prove they were empty. I demand that you do the same.”
    Keeping her stare fixed on Magnar, she thrust her hands into her pockets, palmed the crystal, and jerked out the inner lining of each. “You see?” she said, trying to keep the dragon’s attention on her words as she hid her hand behind the protruding pocket. “Nothing. Your suspicions are reasonable, but in my case—”
    “Silence!” Magnar spat a fireball that nicked Elyssa’s wrist. Bending double, she grasped her arm and cried out. The top and bottom of the peg extended beyond her concealing grip, making its presence clear.
    “You do have it!” With a beat of his wings, Magnar scooted to Elyssa and extended his clawed hand. “Give it to me immediately.”
    She scowled fiercely, biting her lip to keep from crying. She laid the peg in his hand and turned toward Wallace. “Think of something,” she whispered.
    “I’ll try.” He cleared his throat and stepped toward Magnar. “Magnar, sir, I think that crystal isn’t the one you’re looking for. This one is—”
    Magnar smacked Wallace with his tail, sending him sliding into Elyssa. She caught him in her arms and fell to her bottom.
    “Thanks for trying,” she said.
    He massaged his ribs. “You’re welcome … I think.”
    As she struggled to her feet and helped Wallace to his, Magnar turned to Arxad and spoke in an odd language.
    Wallace whispered to Elyssa. “Magnar said, ‘They will have to be imprisoned until I have time to interrogate them further.’”
    As the two dragons conversed, Wallace continued interpreting.
    “Where will you put them?” Arxad asked. “Every guard is occupied.”
    “I will let Thortune guard them in the Starlighter’s room. Once they are overcome, he will be adequate.”
    “But we cannot allow the secret —”
    “The secret will die with them,” Magnar said. “Once they succumb, they will tell me what I need to know, even though they are completely aware that they will die no matter what they say. Since the wench had the crystal, she must be the fulfillment of Gerrod’s Darksphere prophecy.”
    “And if she can heal Exodus, then you must know that I oppose her execution. Whether you care about the humans or not, Exodus cannot endure unless it is healed.”
    Elyssa studied Arxad’s eyes. He was trying to communicate something to her, knowing Wallace was translating, but it didn’t make much sense.
    Magnar cast a glance at Elyssa. “I will consider your appeal and delay the execution order.”
    “And what will you do with me?” Arxad asked.
    Magnar spiced his reply with a low growl. “I know exactly what to do.” He showed the crystal to Arxad. “I assume you know what this is. We will go as soon as possible.”
    Arxad gazed at the glittering peg. “Are you saying—”
    “Exactly. Until recent times, you and I have had many journeys together. I think it is time for us to restore what we once had and embark on a new excursion.”
    Arxad’s head drooped. “If I must.”
    “You must. I have no idea what we will face there, so I need an ally. I trust that you will not let me down again.”
    “Let you down? I told you how I escaped from the chains. I had to—”
    Magnar interrupted with a sharp growl. “Stop the pretense! I know why you really killed Maximus, and I am weary of allowing this ‘loyal priest’ charade to continue.”
    Arxad lifted his head. “I returned the egg, did I not? I proved my loyalty to our ultimate purpose.”
    “You did, and it is time that we unite once again and concentrate on our one common cause. I will explain on the way to our destination … Darksphere.”

four
     
    U riel Blackstone?” Jason glanced at Koren. “That’s impossible. He died decades ago.”
    Uriel raised a finger. “A man who is dead has many advantages, not the least