Free Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 by Krista Wayment Page B

fire pit, Renick sat tied to a stake. The boy's head was hanging low. Every once in a while, it would bob up and down or sway back and forth. Renick must be drifting in and out of consciousness. They were not too late.
    With a few quick movements, Thane was back on the ground.
    "Well?" Lainey asked, her gray eyes searching through the dim light.
    "It'll be difficult. The place is crawling with hunters."
    "How's Renick doing?"
    Thane shook his head. "Not good."
    Lainey rolled her hand to ask for more information, an exasperated look on her face.
    "He's not fully awake—beyond that, I don't know."
    Lainey bit her lip and bounced a little bit. "Okay, I can work with that." She started digging in her healer's pouch, mumbling to herself.
    "Help?" the little lizard hissed.
    "No, Plyth, you're too small to help. You wait here with me," Lainey told it.
    "Help," the dragon insisted. It ran over to Thane and pressed its warm snout against his leg. The baby dragon let out a little puff of air; its heat penetrated Thane's boots and warmed his skin. The world around Thane tilted and the edges of his vision blurred. He had to brace himself against the ground with one hand. When the sensation passed, Thane looked up. Everything seemed to be slightly out of focus and a dull buzz echoed in the back of his head. A quick shake cleared his vision, but the buzz remained.
    "Shoo," Thane said and kicked his leg. The little lizard hobbled over to Lainey. Taking a deep breath, Thane crouched down and took a step into the darkness.
    He approached the barrier around the way station slowly, taking one careful step at a time. Staying low to the ground, Thane crept to the gap in the thorny wall and peeked around it. A lone man sat the first watch. The watchman's eyes scanned the night, ever alert. The fire had burned down and the camp was shrouded in darkness.
    Thane felt around in the dirt until he found a rock the size of his fist. Pulling back his arm, he lobbed the rock over the wall of bushes to the far side of the way station. When the hunter's head turned, Thane started moving. He circled around the camp to approach from the watchman's rear. His eyes stayed fixed on the hunter as Thane made his way closer to Renick.
    A sleeping man at Thane's feet coughed, and the watchman spun around to look in his direction. Despite his years of training, Thane froze. His mind told him to reach for his sword, to stand and face the enemy bravely. But something held him fast. The watchman's eyes scanned over the spot where Thane crouched. Thane could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. After seven painfully shallow breaths, the watchman turned away.
    Thane had to cover his mouth to keep from vocalizing his astonishment. The watchman had looked right at him, he was sure of it. Thane saw the firelight reflecting off the metal on his sword belt and sheath. Though not as polished as usual, it still glowed yellow against the dark night. If nothing else, that should have given him away.
    He took a deep breath and absently rubbed at his leg, which felt unusually hot. What was it Grahm was always saying? Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Taking advantage of his mysterious invisibility, Thane crossed to the center of the camp and knelt beside Renick.
    Thane tapped the younger boy's shoulder. Renick groaned and tossed his head a little.
    Thane whispered in his ear, "It's me, Thane."
    Renick shifted and pulled his head up. Weary, bloodshot eyes looked up from beneath straggly brown hair. "Thane?" he wheezed.
    Placing a finger at his lips, Thane reached down and deftly pulled the knife from his boot. He used it to slice through Renick's bonds, then moved his head toward the man on watch. Renick turned his head and nodded in understanding.
    "Can you stand?" Thane asked.
    Renick shook his head. Thane took hold of Renick's arm and pulled it over his shoulders, wrapping his free hand around Renick's thigh. With the injured boy laying across his back, he pushed himself