Dragonlands(17)

Tressa looked around at the gathered crowd. It had swollen after the dragon died. Children crept out of their cottages to get a look at the fabled beast, while still hiding behind their mothers' skirts. Their eyes betrayed their new belief in Connor and Bastian's theory that a world might exist beyond their borders. It wasn't so easy to discount anything as a wild supposition anymore.

"Send them into the fog," one voice from the crowd shouted. The chant began quietly, growing with each repetition.

Connor nodded at Tressa, and took her hand. They stood in front of the crowd, determined. Out of the corner of her eye, Tressa saw Bastian advance toward them. She hoped he would think better of throwing away his life with Vinya and his daughter. Instead he walked right up to Connor's side and clapped his best friend on the shoulder.

"We are prepared to make the sacrifice," Connor said. "Tressa and I were supposed to leave, along with Geoff. But he's fallen ill, so Bastian has volunteered to join us."

A cry rang out from the crowd. Tressa cringed inside, knowing it was Vinya, Bastian's wife. "You will do no such thing. We are bonded and you have responsibilities here." She pushed through the masses, elbowing anyone in her way. "Don't do this. Please." But she wasn't looking at Bastian, Vinya stared at Tressa. The weight of the reality of his choice weighed on her.

Tressa looked over to Bastian, but he stood stone-faced, looking only at Vinya. "This is my decision. If Connor believes our families are in danger, I will stand with him. If I don't go, who will?" Bastian turned to the crowd. "Who among you will volunteer to risk your lives to save everyone else?"

Eyes turned away from them. Women grasped onto their husband's arms, letting them know they weren't to volunteer. No one else stood up to their mate, choosing to take the risk Connor and Bastian were.

Everyone knew Tressa had nothing to lose.

"I have to go." Bastian turned back to Vinya, his teeth gritted.

"You don't have to do anything," she snarled back at him. She shot a glance at Tressa, huffed, and stomped away. "Make sure you tell your daughter goodbye before you freely walk to your death," she tossed over her shoulder.

Hazel grabbed Vinya’s arm, sending the three a look of sympathy. Her understanding was beyond comprehension.

Bastian turned his back on his retreating wife. "When do we leave?"

"We need to gather any supplies we can carry." Connor turned to Tressa. "Did you unpack your bag?"

Tressa shook her head. "No. There wasn't time. I'm ready to go as soon as the two of you are."

"It'll only take me a few minutes," Connor said. "Bastian, go home, get a change of clothes, some food, and whatever else you think we'll need."

Bastian looked over his shoulder. Vinya was gone. "I don't need to. I keep extras of everything at the forge."

Connor looked at him in surprise.

Bastian shrugged his shoulders. "I sleep there sometimes."

Connor laid a hand on Bastian's shoulder. "You should say goodbye to your daughter. I'm going to give my boys big hugs and kisses before I leave."

Bastian mumbled something to Connor, but Tressa couldn't hear. She fought the urge to listen in. If it wasn't for her ears, then she'd have to live without knowing. When they were kids, Connor and Bastian would cook up plots to terrorize her. Spiders in her hair, that sort of thing. One day, she kicked Bastian between the legs, on purpose, and told him that's what he'd get if they ever kept secrets from her again. That was the last time they'd spoken in whispers in front of her. Until today.

Connor nodded. "I understand." He shifted a bit, including Tressa in their conversation. She pretended like she hadn't even noticed they were excluding her. "Bastian and I will be back here before the sun crests."

Tressa looked up into the sky. They didn't have long. "Okay. I'll be back then too. I just need to grab my pack and a couple of other things."

Connor tossed an arm over Tressa and Bastian's shoulders. "The old gang back together. This is going to be some adventure."

Bastian smiled, nodded, and then walked toward the forge. Tressa slipped out from Connor's arm and left for her cottage. She glanced over her shoulder one more time at the dead dragon. Her heart swelled and she knew only one thing: she needed to see another one of those, alive and strong.





Chapter Thirteen


Tressa snuck into her cottage, avoiding the crowds still milling around outside. They seemed to have lost interest in blaming her. In a way, the dragon saved her from an angry mob. They would have turned on her, all of them, and she knew it. Udor only would have fanned the flames of their ignorance, leading them into thinking she was everything he wanted them to believe.