Free 6.0 - Raptor by Lindsay Buroker Page A

sense any dragons or evil sorceresses.
    Sardelle leaned forward and rested her hand on Ridge’s shoulder as a warning that she would answer telepathically. He rarely seemed surprised by that anymore, but she did not like to presume too much.
    We don’t sense anything , she told him.
    You’re sure? Because this didn’t happen that long ago. Ridge stuck an arm out of the cockpit and pointed toward the ground ahead of them.
    Sardelle had to fight with her harness to lean far enough to the side to see what he was pointing at. As soon as she did, a knot of worry tightened in her stomach. Several columns of black smoke rose from a farm village surrounded by a patchwork of fields. From this height, she couldn’t see any flames, but the destruction must have been recent if the destroyed buildings were still smoldering.
    “General?” came Duck’s voice over the communication crystal in the cockpit.
    “We see it, Duck. Looks like Prinvale had an incendiary visitor.”
    “Is the visitor around?”
    “Sardelle doesn’t think so, but keep an eye out,” Ridge said. “This is farther out from the mountains than any of the towns that were circled on the king’s map.” He lowered his voice to add, “Of course, our house wasn’t circled, either. The king’s map seems to be out of date.”
    Sardelle appreciated that he’d called it their house. He’d been out there so seldom since they signed the rental agreement that she’d wondered if he’d been thinking of it as the out-of-the-way place where he stashed his strange magical friends rather than his home.
    She squeezed his shoulder, letting her hand linger. Given the dire circumstances, she shouldn’t find this outing with him appealing, but it felt good to be heading off together again.
    Should we go down and see if they need help? Sardelle asked.
    Ridge hesitated. “We’re still within communication range of the city. I’ll send word back, so the army can get some people out here to check on the village. We better not deviate from the mission. I already got the feeling Angulus wasn’t pleased that we wanted to detour to the crystal mines before joining the dragon hunt.”
    Sardelle waited for him to send his message before responding. If we can learn more about Kasandral while we’re here, he won’t be displeased. My people’s library had a great deal of information. It seems likely there would be a record of that cavern of criminal dragons too.
    You don’t have to justify the trip to me . I’m always pleased at the chance to go off alone with you. Ridge turned and gave her a quick leer, though it didn’t last long. The clouds were thickening, and he had to pay attention to the air ahead.
    Not quite alone. Sardelle glanced toward Duck’s flier, though she shifted her hand to stroke the side of Ridge’s neck, sliding her fingers under his scarf.
    A general ought to warrant a private room there. We’ll arrive late enough that I think we can justify spending at least one night. Keep playing with my ear, and we might not make it to nightfall, though.
    Sardelle suspected work would pounce on Ridge as soon as they arrived, and he would be more likely to end up cloistered in a room with Colonel Therrik than with her, but she allowed herself to hope otherwise.
    He’s here , Tylie spoke into her mind.
    Phelistoth? Sardelle asked, but Tylie’s tone had lacked the exuberance it always held when she spoke of her companion.
    The other one. Over in the other flier, Tylie shrank low in her seat.
    Sardelle understood the feeling. If they encountered a gold dragon, what could they do? The fliers’ guns would be useless. It would be up to her and Jaxi, and they wouldn’t have a chance if it picked a fight.
    We’ll try to avoid it , Sardelle told Tylie. Jaxi? Do you sense it yet?
    I’m looking. She has amazing range for someone from this time period.
    Ridge? Sardelle asked.
    You’ve stopped fondling my ear. Should I be concerned?
    Yes.
    Damn. Sorceress?
    Dragon.
    How