The Heart of a Dragon, Part 3

Following Leytan's directions, Lokie landed in a field about one mile away from the town of Warlock. A campfire had been set up, and it was being tended by a fairly short, definitely female figure. Leytan jumped off Lokie's back and went to speak to her.

  "We can rest easy here for a while," Wren grunted to Drago and Stiletta. "We're protected here under the terms of the treaty of sanctuary."

  "Yes, we know," Drago assured him. "Who's that over by the fire?"

  "Temperance Warfield," Wren replied, somewhat guardedly.

  "Is she another member of your gang?" asked Stiletta.

  "She is a probationary member," Wren growled, narrowing his eyes at Temperance and Leytan. "Very much like you, Drago."

  "That's assuming I want to join your operation at all," Drago said boldly.

  "I'm sure you haven't forgotten the terms we agreed before your rescue," Wren said darkly. "You're one of us now, and you and your dragon will help us to… no, I'd better not say too much. Leytan wants to explain everything to you himself."

  "Excuse me, but I don't think I'm going to be helping anyone do anything for a while," Lokie cut in. "I need to rest, and allow my wing some time to heal."

  "I can deal with that for you, Lokie," Midnight announced coolly. "If you'll allow me to take a look…"

  "Very well," Lokie agreed uncertainly. "I suppose it can't do any harm…"

Midnight located the injury on Lokie's wing. It was really nothing more than a flesh wound, but it looked as though it was going to be noticeably sore for a while. Closing her eyes and pinching her face in concentration, Midnight placed her hands over the wound. A few seconds later, it had completely disappeared.

  "Why, it's as if it were never there!" Lokie exclaimed in delight, flexing his wing exploratorily. "Thank you, my dear lady."

  "Don't mention it," Midnight smiled at him, rubbing her arm slightly. "You'll probably feel like taking a few hours' sleep now, but when you wake up you'll be as good as new."

With that, Midnight strode off towards the campfire, where Wren, Jan-Jan and Lady Mercury had already joined Leytan and Temperance Warfield. Suddenly feeling very drained, Drago leant back against Lokie's flank and sank to the ground. Stiletta sat down beside him.

  "Well, we made it to Grimdale in the end," Drago smiled at her.

  "So we did," Stiletta agreed. "The question is, what are we going to do next?"

  "Well, it looks like I'm going to have a friendly chat with Leytan," said Drago. "I don't think I really have any choice, and I do want to hear what he has to say."

  "How do you know this Leytan, anyway?"

  "We fought together in the Second Airwan Civil War. He's a good fighter, and a courageous one."

  "Really?" Stiletta reacted sceptically. "He seems like a bit of a bounder to me."

  "He's not as bad as he seems," Drago assured her. "At least, I don't think so…"

Leytan chose this moment to come over. He nodded expectantly at Drago, who rose to his feet.

  "Let us talk in private for a few minutes, Drago," Leytan said. "We have much to discuss."

  "Very well," Drago nodded. "Stiletta, will you wait here for me? We'll talk again when I get back."

  "Of course, darling," Stiletta smiled up at him. "I'll be happy to wait just as long as it takes."

Drago smiled back, then leant down and kissed her. Stiletta watched Leytan leading her companion off into the shadows, then turned her attention to the gang members assembled around the fire. They were discussing something together, and occasionally laughing. Stiletta was almost certain that Lady Mercury took a few moments to cast a disapproving look in her direction.

  "Are you unsure of this gang's intentions, my dear?" Lokie asked, in as quiet a voice as a dragon could generate.

  "Oh, I don't know," Stiletta sighed. "At least they're honest about their intentions, unlike Treguard… what do you think of them, Lokie?"

  "All humans seem the same to me," Lokie sighed, "unless they have a dragon's heart, like Drago… incidentally, my dear Stiletta, I am beginning to suspect that you may have one too."

  "Is that right?" Stiletta laughed gratefully. "Well, aren't I the lucky one?"

She leant her head back against Lokie's scales, and closed her eyes.


  "Stiletta! Wake up."

Drago's voice cut into her sleepy brain, and she snapped her eyes open. She could not have been asleep for very long, she realised, as the gang was still gathered around the campfire, talking together. Leytan had joined them, and they all seemed to be listening to him. Lokie had clearly fallen asleep, as he was emitting a rhythmic snoring noise.

  "Stiletta, I'm convinced!" Drago said with conviction. "I set out on this journey to find my path, and now I know I have. This gang is where my future lies, and maybe yours too!"

  "Do you really think so?" Stiletta asked in mild surprise. "Is this because of what Leytan's been telling you?"

  "Yes, and it's all so clear to me now!" Drago exclaimed elatedly. "These people are more like us than you can imagine. Just like us, they don't trust the Powers That Be or the Opposition! They follow their own rules, and trust their own judgment."

  "And what exactly do they do with themselves?" asked Stiletta. "I mean, what's their purpose?"

  "They offer themselves for hire to anyone who can afford to pay them," Drago explained.

  "You mean they're mercenaries."

  "Well, yes, but Leytan assures me that they won't do just anything because they're getting paid for it – it has be something they feel is acceptable… morally, I mean."

  "Hmm, well, I suppose there are much worse ways to live," Stiletta admitted. "I should know that better than anyone…"

  "Yes, you should!" Drago agreed fervently. "You're not happy working for the Powers That Be, are you? You feel lost and alone and betrayed. Join Fire & Ice with me, and you won't feel like that anymore!"

  "You seem so sure about the whole thing, Drago," Stiletta demurred. "How can we know that we're really making the right decision?"

  "Because my heart is telling me so," Drago said firmly, "and you can always trust a dragon's heart."

  "Lokie told me a few minutes ago that I have one of those, but I don't think it can really be true," Stiletta sighed. "You see, Drago, your heart may be sure, but mine is still expressing doubts."

  "A wise creature told me to look to the stars in times of doubt," Drago told her. "Why don't we try doing that?"

  "But it's practically dawn now," Stiletta pointed out. "The stars aren't shining anymore, Drago."

  "Well, perhaps we'll see a morning star," Drago suggested brightly, as he sat down next to her once again. "But you'll never see anything unless you look for it, Stiletta."

Drago and Stiletta stared up into the rapidly lightening sky. As if on cue, a bright star appeared and twinkled back at them, before shooting away at incredible speed, leaving a shining arc in the sky.

  "Night-star!" Drago exclaimed in delight.

  "I think it's called a shooting star, actually," Stiletta opined.

  "Yes, my love, you're right, and it's a sign!" Drago beamed. "A sign that we've both found what we're looking for!"

  "Yes, Drago, I do believe you're right!" Stiletta laughed. "You believe that this gang is where our future lies, and you have a dragon's heart, so I'm just going to have to let myself trust it! Anyway, I couldn't leave you now, so if you're staying, I'm staying too!"


At that moment, Leytan, Wren and Lady Mercury rose from the campfire and strode over to Drago and Stiletta. They both looked up expectantly.

  "We are all in agreement," Leytan announced. "Drago, you are one of us now. All that remains is to decide what is to become of Stiletta."

  "I'm one of you as well!" Stiletta piped up. "Drago and I have been discussing the matter and we've agreed…"

  "We've been discussing it too," Wren cut in, "and we have not yet agreed anything."

  "She has nothing to offer us," Lady Mercury sneered. "We should kill her now."

  "Please, Isabel," Leytan winced, "let's discuss this matter calmly and rationally. Personally, I am inclined to believe that the skills of a Warrior Thief of the Third Level are likely to be very useful to us."

  "I agree with you, Squire," Wren admitted gruffly.

  "If you want my help with this mission of yours, you certainly will let Stiletta join us!" Drago exclaimed heatedly. "I thought I made this clear to you, Leytan. You get all three of us – Stiletta, Lokie and me – or none of us!"

  "We are not in the habit of being dictated to like that," Lady Mercury said airily. "I might feel inclined to flay you for that outburst, Drago, if I did not consider the potential mutilation of your Adonis-like form to be a crime against all that I hold dear."

  "Listen, I've just had the most brilliant idea!" Stiletta announced unexpectedly. "You should let me go back to Knightmare Castle!"

Lady Mercury's mocking laughter echoed across the field, while Wren and Leytan cast Stiletta quizzical looks.

  "Don't you see what I'm suggesting here?" Stiletta continued excitedly. "I'll be a double agent! I'll pretend that I'm still working for Treguard, but I'll tell you lot all about what the Powers That Be are up to, and whether they're planning anything that could be of hazard to you! I think you'd find that jolly useful!"

  "My dear Stiletta, the idea has a great deal of merit," Leytan smiled slyly. "But why would you want to betray your employers so brazenly and so completely?"

  "Because then I shall be able to do to Treguard what he did to me!" Stiletta said with feeling. "I shall be able to take his trust and throw it back in his face, without him even realising it! Believe me, nothing would give me more pleasure!"

Drago could tell that Stiletta was speaking directly from the heart. He hoped fervently that his three new allies would be able to pick up on this fact.

  "We can't possibly trust her," Lady Mercury was adamant. "She's one of Treguard's lackeys – she'll run straight back to him and tell him everything she knows about us!"

  "Which isn't actually a great deal," Leytan pointed out.

  "Even so, Squire, do you really think we can afford to take that chance?" Wren demurred.

  "You've just told me I'm one of you now," Drago announced, "and that means you have to trust me, just like I have to trust you. And if you trust me, then you trust Stiletta."

  "Very well," Leytan smiled darkly. "You shall be responsible for Stiletta's actions, Drago. If she betrays us, then we betray you, if you get my meaning…"

  "I understand you perfectly," Drago assured him.

  "You'd best be on your way back to Dunshelm, then, Stiletta," Leytan said smoothly.

  "We'd better get Jan-Jan to give her a Spy Mirror," Wren pointed out.

  "Ah yes, an excellent idea," Leytan agreed. "Your Spy Mirror will be your link back to us, Stiletta, so be sure to keep it hidden from Treguard and his cronies at all costs! One of us will contact you later for a full report of how the land lies at Dunshelm. And I suggest you think very carefully about what you're going to say to Treguard. If he thinks you have already betrayed him, and he decides to punish you accordingly, that will be entirely your problem. But just remember, if you betray us – whether or not you still have Treguard's confidence – Drago will live to regret it."

With that, the three leaders of the gang turned and walked back towards the fireside, leaving Drago and Stiletta free to converse privately.

  "No, that Leytan isn't nearly as bad as he seems, is he?" Stiletta frowned.

  "Oh, he's just blustering," Drago was certain. "He wouldn't do anything to me – apart from anything else, he needs me and Lokie to get him and the others into this castle they're planning to plunder."

  "Oh, is that what he wants you for?"

  "Yes. It's one of those paid jobs I was telling you about."

  "How do you know they won't turn on you once you've helped them?" Stiletta was unsure.

  "I suppose I don't know for certain," Drago considered, "but in my heart, it feels like the right thing for me to do. Besides, I know they won't turn on me because I know you're not going to betray them to Treguard."

  "Do you really trust me that much, Drago?" Stiletta asked, with a small smile.

  "Of course I do," Drago assured her, "just like you trust me enough to risk everything you have for our new colleagues simply because of my gut feeling."

  "Yes, I suppose so," Stiletta agreed. "In a way, each of us has entrusted our life to the other."

  "That's because my life is yours now," Drago said softly.

  "And mine is yours," Stiletta returned.

  "Are you sure you really want to risk becoming a turncoat?" asked Drago. "If Treguard ever finds out, he's likely to do something terrible to you."

  "In a way, I don't really care if he does," Stiletta sighed. "I just want the chance to do to him what he's done to me! The knowledge that I am betraying him under his very nose is worth any sacrifice… any…"

  "The main problem with this idea of yours, of course, is that you and I will have to spend a lot of time apart," Drago considered. "If you're going to fool Treguard into believing that you're still on his side, you'll have to spend most of your time in Dunshelm, rather than with the rest of us."

  "I wanted so much to leave that accursed place, and run away with you," said Stiletta, "but now the chance for revenge seems too good to miss… but I do love you, Drago, and I'll always think of you whenever we're apart."

  "Yes, and I'll think of you too," Drago smiled at her. "And then, when we're together…"

  "We'll be able to enjoy each other's company to our hearts' content."

She laughed, and started to kiss him again.


Calwain entered the Great Hall of Knightmare and furnished Treguard with a curt bow. Treguard frowned slightly.

  "I hope you have at least a soupcon of information to share with me, Calwain," the Dungeon Master said sternly.

  "I'm afraid the details are still somewhat unclear, My Lord," Calwain said cautiously. "We believe they gained entry via an old sewer pipe, and the lock on the cell door appears to have been warped by some kind of magic, but that's about all I can tell you for now."

  "Bah!" Treguard fumed. "Still, I suppose Drago Lestrade can't have been entertaining plans of working with the Opposition, if he's part of this Fire & Ice setup. That is something to be thankful for."

  "Indeed so, My Lord," Calwain agreed readily. "Do you wish me to dispatch some of my men to hunt down the gang?"

  "I don't think that will be necessary," Treguard sighed. "Unless any of those renegades take it upon themselves to launch an open attack against us, I don't feel inclined to waste my time worrying about what they might be up to."

  "My Lord, there is someone who may be able to provide you with more information about this situation than I can," Calwain ventured. "Stiletta arrived back here about twenty minutes ago."

  "Stiletta!" Treguard exclaimed. "Then she did go with them!"

  "She was taken as a hostage, Dungeon Master," said Calwain, "or so she told me."

  "Bring her in at once!" Treguard commanded. "I am most anxious to hear what she has to say."

It was not long before Stiletta was standing before Treguard's throne, feeling very nervous and more than a little sick. Calwain stood at Treguard's right shoulder, staring impassively ahead.

  "Well, Stiletta, we were all wondering where you had got to," Treguard said levelly. "Tell me, how did this renegade gang manage to release my prisoner?"

  "Well, Dungeon Master, they broke in via the sewers and took him away with them," Stiletta reported.

  "And you could do nothing to stop them, or even raise the alarm?"

  "Well, to be honest, no, I couldn't. There were so many of them, and they sneaked up on me like shadows. They overpowered me and took me hostage – there was nothing I could do about it."

This, at least, was completely true, Stiletta reflected, although the rest of her story was likely to be less accurate, in the strictest sense of the word.

  "Tell me about the breakout," said Treguard.

  "Well, one of the gang's leaders broke Drago out with frost magic," Stiletta replied, deciding that there was no harm in sharing the details of the incident with Treguard. "Then they left the castle via the sewer pipe, and took me with them as a hostage."

  "And you all escaped on the back of a dragon, is that right?"

  "Yes, that's right. I was forced on to its back with a knife to my throat – I had to go with them, Treguard."

  "So you did," Treguard conceded, "but now you're back, aren't you? They must have been feeling very charitable to let you go just like that."

  "They… they didn't let me go," Stiletta said, slightly awkwardly.

  "Is that right?" Treguard questioned. "You managed to give them the slip, then, did you?"

  "Yes, that's right," Stiletta agreed. "As soon as their backs were turned, I got out of there - you're well aware of my particular skills, Treguard."

  "Yes, indeed I am," Treguard said significantly.

  "They'd tied me up, you see, and they were discussing what they were going to do with me," Stiletta related hastily, "but I managed to jiggle one of my knives out of its sheath and I cut the ropes, then I sneaked off and ran back here as quickly as I could."

  "I see," Treguard said impassively. "Can I assume, then, that you are able to tell us the present whereabouts of the gang?"

  "Well, I… I'm not sure," Stiletta replied, thinking quickly. "I was blindfolded while we were on the back of the dragon, and then on my way back here I wasn't really looking where I was going – I just plunged blindly through a lot of woodland until I came to Wolfenden, and then I thought to myself, 'Ah, I jolly well know my way back from here,' and so here I am!"

  "I see," Treguard said coolly. "Well, I'm sorry you had to go through such a harrowing experience on my account, Stiletta. You may refrain from reporting for duty for the next two days, and take some time to rest."

  "Thank you very much, Treguard," Stiletta smiled, bowing slightly. "Am I dismissed, then?"

Treguard nodded at her, so she took her leave. The thought flashed into her mind that Treguard had not believed her story, and was planning to have her watched… perhaps he had only given her two days off because he was hoping that she would lead him back to the gang. Very quickly, however, Stiletta decided she was just being paranoid. All the same, she reasoned, it would be better not to leave Dunshelm for the next two days, and force herself to wait a while before seeing Drago again, just in case. After all, now that she had managed to get herself into this position – which was something she was very pleased about – she did not want to risk jeopardising her chances of maintaining it for an indefinite period.

  "Well, Calwain, what do you think of Stiletta's story?" asked Treguard.

  "I see no reason to disbelieve any of what she said," Calwain replied. "Clearly Drago Lestrade is a member of this mercenary operation, and his friends came here to break him out. From what I know of these people, it would be well within their remit to take Stiletta as a hostage, but I don't believe they would actually have harmed her… not to any permanent extent, anyway."

  "Hmm, yes, I am inclined to agree with you," Treguard nodded. "Yet something is still bothering me slightly, Calwain. I think Stiletta was somewhat taken with that Drago character…"

  "Perhaps she was, Dungeon Master, but I can't see that it really matters – she is not likely ever to see him again," Calwain opined.

  "Hmm, perhaps not…"

  "You don't think she was party to the rescue, do you? With all due respect, Dungeon Master, I cannot imagine that to be the case."

  "It does seem hard to believe," Treguard agreed, "but still, she was so adamant that she wanted to relieve you on guard duty…"

  "If Stiletta had been in on the plan, surely she would have let the gang in to the castle via a more conventional entrance," Calwain reasoned. "And if she escaped with them of her own accord, why would she then go to such lengths to slip through their fingers and come back here? She would have stayed with them, surely, if she had defected."

  "Yes… yes, you are right, Calwain," Treguard nodded. "I am allowing myself to entertain thoughts of unwarranted paranoia. Very well, you are dismissed. See what you can do about getting those tunnels patched up, will you?"

  "Yes, Dungeon Master," Calwain bowed, as he backed out of the throne room.

Treguard kept his eyes on his Chief Ranger all the while, and stroked his beard ponderingly.


Lokie awoke feeling infinitely refreshed, and immediately noticed that his wing felt as good as new. Drago was sitting on the grass in front of him, watching intently with concern in his eyes.

  "How long have you been watching over me, Drago?" Lokie asked softly.

  "Oh, well, a few hours," Drago admitted sheepishly. "I was worried about you."

  "How sweet of you," Lokie chuckled. "Well, it appears that you've found your path, just as you set out to do. You can't imagine how thrilled I am that everything seems to be falling into place for you, Drago."

  "Well, I wouldn't go that far," Drago smiled wanly. "Not yet, anyway. Lokie, are you sure you're happy about joining us for this mission?"

  "If I say no and then fly off, I don't think you'll be very popular with your new friends," Lokie pointed out. "It is my wings they want, after all."

  "Yes, I know, which is why I'm really hoping you're going to stay."

  "Of course I am, Drago. As I told you before, you are my friend and I am going to stay with you. If you trust these people, I do too, for you truly have a dragon's heart, and I believe in you."

  "Thank you, Lokie," Drago beamed at his faithful companion.

  "What exactly do our new allies want me to do?" Lokie questioned. "Did I hear talk of my flying them inside a castle of some description?"

  "Yes, that's about the shape of it," Drago confirmed. "Leytan told me that they… that we have to gain access to a hilltop fortress that's completely impregnable except by air. I'm not sure exactly what we're going to do once we get inside, but I'm sure Leytan will fill us both in before long."

  "Yes, I'm sure he will," Lokie agreed. "I must confess to a slight feeling of excitement about the whole thing – it's been a while since I had a chance to really stretch my wings."

  "I get the feeling we'll both be stretching our wings – or whatever we have – on a regular basis now that we're part of Fire & Ice," Drago predicted. "But I said I wanted to use my skills to make a difference to the world – for better or worse – and now I think I'm really going to do it!"

  "And how will our actions make a difference?" asked Lokie. "Will they change this world for the better, or for the worse?"

  "Hmm, I'm not sure," Drago mused. "Maybe both. But whatever happens, I know I've found my path now, Lokie, and I intend to follow it for as long as I can!"