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Chapter 6
Kendra sat rigidly in her griffin saddle as Didger the dwarf buckled in her legs.
The creature shifted beneath her, saddle creaking, plumage ruffling near the neck.
She patted the feathery shoulders, powerful muscles rolling beneath her palm.
Didger went to the head of the griffin and took the reins.
Steady, Sheba, the girl is already nervous.
He handed the reins to Kendra.
Should you tell her that?
She can smell your fear much better than I can see it, Didger said.
Fortunately, with Sheba, your worry makes her gentler.
Shes our oldest griffin, and the most considerate of her rider.
Gave her to you for a reason.
Kendra looked over at Tanu and Seth on their own griffins.
Sage for Seth, since she is faster and more maneuverable than some but still obedient, Didger said.
Tanu caught Kendra staring and gave a little salute.
She smiled back, then, jiggling the reins, glanced down at Didger.
How do I steer?
Hold the reins loosely, Didger advised.
The griffins know the way.
When you leave the feast, Tanu will assist you into the saddle.
Just tell Sheba home.
Shell do the rest.
All right, Kendra said.
Cant pull your legs out, can you?
Kendra squirmed, but her legs were immobilized.
Perfect, the dwarf replied, his smile showing a couple of gaps in his teeth.
When youre ready to dismount, pull the release down, right, and away like I showed you.
Got it, Kendra said.
You take care and watch out for your brother, Grandma said.
I will, Kendra promised.
Be polite, and make no agreements with Celebrant, Grandpa reminded her.
But dont take any of his sass, Grandma said.
Ill do my best, Kendra promised.
You come home safe, Grandpa said.
I will, Kendra said.
Grandpa and Grandma moved on to Seth, who was drinking a potion.
Kendra knew the courage effects would let Seth and Tanu interact with dragons for about eight hours.
They each carried two extra doses just in case.
Once the doses were gone, Tanu lacked some of the ingredients required to make more.
Come on, Mendigo, Kendra called.
Time to meet the dragons.
A featureless wooden humanoid with hooks for joints, Mendigo stood his ground, which was peculiar.
He always obeyed direct orders.
Mendigo, come, Kendra said.
The limberjack held up both palms and shook his head.
Agad, Kendra called.
Can Mendigo be afraid?
The wizard approached Mendigo.
What is the problem?
Mendigo doesnt want to come with me, Kendra said.
That doesnt seem right, Agad said.
He is an automaton.
Mendigo, go to Skyhold with Kendra.
The puppet shook his wooden head again.
Ive never seen him scared, Kendra said.
When Seth and I fought Siletta, her poison nearly destroyed him.
Only his hooks remained.
Do you think he remembers?
Perhaps at some level he does, Agad said.
Animating objects is a peculiar form of magic.
Wont you come protect me?
The puppet shrugged and shook his head.
There could be some residual trauma from his previous demise, Agad said.
He could be starting to develop a modest will of his own.
It happened to Hugo when the fairies resurrected him, Kenda said.
He started developing free will.
But that came from their magic, I think.
This new quirk was not deliberate, Agad said.
But a fear of dragons seems to have taken hold.
Best to leave him behind on this venture.
Watch out for Grandma and Grandpa, Kendra said.
The limberjack immediately headed toward her grandparents, lingering nearby.
Apparently he had not stopped obeying orders altogether.
Although the sun had just gone down, Kendra felt too warm in her heavy coat and gloves.
Didger had warned that it would get colder at higher altitudes.
Didger snapped his fingers, and Sheba followed him to the center of the courtyard.
Agad joined them there.
As the other griffins drew near, the wizard raised both hands, addressing all three riders.
Sadly, by the time you return, I will be gone.
There are other crises to deal with.
Youll keep looking for Bracken?
Kendra asked, squeezing the reins, her throat constricting with grief.
He is alive, Agad said.
The horn of his you carry confirms that.
Kendra reached down and touched the horn strapped to her side in a sheath like a knife.
you could take it if it would help you nd him.
Alas, I already tried, Agad said.
I could sense he is alive.
But I could derive no guess of where he is being held.
I do not expect that will change.
He wanted you to have it.
It should stay with you.
Good luck at the feast, Agad said.
You are doing an extraordinary job here.
Tanu, I will miss your company.
See you soon, the potion master said.
Seth, stay out of trouble, Agad said, and far from the Blackwell.
I will, Seth promised.
Kendra knew there was a deep pit full of the undead beneath the keep.
We will see you later tonight, Marat said.
Didger cried, waving his arms.
two other dwarfs called out.
Wings sweeping downward, Sheba leaped into the air.
The griffin continued to rise, wings heaving to gain altitude as Kendra wobbled in the creaking saddle.
Seth ascended off to the right, Tanu to the left.
The three griffins climbed steadily, turning Blackwell Keep into a toy model behind them.
The sunset gradually reversed until Kendra was squinting in the sunlight.
Its still day up here, Seth yelled.
Meanwhile Seth had both arms raised like he was riding a roller coaster.
She knew she was strapped to the saddle.
But what if some of the straps broke?
How old was the saddle?
And how competent were the dwarfs who had cinched it on?
What if it came loose?
Didger had mentioned that Sheba was the eldest griffin.
Still gaining altitude, her wings worked hard.
What if the griffin had a heart attack?
Did that ever happen?
Kendra tried to stay calm.
This was going to be fine.
The worst-case scenarios in her mind were far-fetched.
She would arrive without incident.
To panic about imagined hypotheticals was silly.
Under most circumstances she would have also worried about running into dragons.
Was it possible for the dragons to break their word?
Or for one of them to go rogue?
Or for some other creature to bother them?
She checked the bow Seth had acquired for her, secured to the saddle.
If something did choose to attack, at least she could give it three hundred arrows in the face.
The sack of wind could come in handy as well.
As they flew higher than some of the nearest peaks, the chill intensified from cool to cold.
As different scenery flowed by beneath her, Kendra gained a greater appreciation for the sheer size of Wyrmroost.
Kendra hunched forward, head down, letting her hood block the wind as her cheeks became numb.
Jagged mountains and ridges scrolled by below.
Heedless of the frigid air in her face, Kendra stared at Skyhold in astonishment.
Several dragons circled around the rugged towers of the gargantuan stronghold.
Huge entrances yawned behind oversized balconies.
She assumed the top of the highest tower had once been the peak.
A large dragon with bright red scales glided toward them, then wheeled around to guide them.
Kendra watched the last of the direct sunlight disappear from the top of the highest tower.
Sheba descended to a great opening at the base of the castle, about halfway up the mountain.
Wait, Kendra called, following Sheba.
The goblins pulled the griffin to a halt.
This place is big, Seth said, coming alongside Kendra.
Has to be, Tanu said.
Think how huge our castles are, and they only house people.
The fancy goblins crack me up, Seth said.
We dont want to offend anyone.
Were protected, arent we?
Seth asked with a smile.
Might be fun to ruffle some feathers.
These are dragons, not chickens, Kendra reminded him.
Remember what I told you, Tanu said.
Err on the side of caution tonight.
Dont say and do everything you think.
I can be as dull as we need.
Where are they taking the griffins?
I saw stables over that way as we were landing, Tanu said.
Prominent veins snaked around her thin, bare arms like leafless ivy.
Bedraggled clothing hung like becalmed sails on her spare frame.
The new caretakers, she said abruptly.
Puppies in a weighted sack.
Lobbed into a river, the old woman said.
Never had a chance.
Lowly Vatka, at your service, she said, inclining her head.
you’ve got the option to turn into a crow, Seth said.
What else can you become?
This and that, at need, Vatka replied.
Sad to see innocence abused.
The sludgefolk wish you well.
Not that wishes can help.
Do you know something?
Shuffling away, the woman cackled, then spoke in a higher voice.
Yelp, yelp, yelp.
She gave a strangled little howl that dissolved into laughter.
Shes cracked, Tanu said.
Remind me to never become queen of the Sludgeholes.
She thinks were doomed, Seth said.
Then she may not be very crazy, Kendra said.
Kendra led the way to the large opening in the wall of the castle.
No door covered the cavernous entrance.
A goblin guard in a furry hat stepped forward and croaked a single word: Invitations.
Tanu produced the invitation, and the guard looked it over.
He touched the sword hanging at Seths side and ran a hand along Kendras bow.
Seth spoke in a garbled language, and the guard spoke back, waving them through.
Gold dust glittered on the walls and ceiling, giving the entire room a metallic shimmer.
Many guests were already seated in the high-backed chairs.
At the far end of the room awaited Celebrant on a raised platform.
Only his head and neck had been visible when Kendra had interacted with him on the Perch.
She had never really had a chance to appreciate the grand scale of his entire form.
A flawless armor of gleaming platinum scales adorned every visible inch of his anatomy.
A goblin with exceedingly fleshy cheeks stepped forward and blew a bugle.
The brassy notes reverberated across the otherwise quiet hall.
Kendra and Seth Sorenson have arrived, with their manservant, he announced.
Also Lowly Vatka of the Sludgeholes.
Celebrant raised his head.
The guests of honor, he said, his voice as resonant as a mens chorus speaking in unison.
Welcome, my fellow caretakers.
Mingle with the other humanoids and like enjoy the food.
Well get to the more formal portion of the evening after you are fed and settled.
Does the manservant get to eat?
Tanu mumbled with a small smile.
With a surprising rush of wind, Raxtus landed beside them.
Greetings, Seth and Kendra.
Well talk more later.
For now, just follow instructions.
He sprang away before Kendra could reply, gliding to the side of the room.
Greetings, Kendra Sorenson, Dalgorel said.
And Seth, of course.
Are those medals of neutrality?
Charming as ever, Dalgorel replied.
Not all great deeds occur on a battlefield, though some of mine did, long ago.
You remember my daughter, Eve.
Kendra noticed Seth staring at Eve in her simple but gorgeous gown.
She was about his age and as exquisite as any of the Fair Folk.
Seth walked up to her, took her hand, and kissed it.
Kendra gaped in astonishment.
She glanced at Tanu, who watched with wide eyes.
She knew it must be the courage potion.
How did you get to come?
Eve waved an arm at the rest of the room.
Ive always wanted to see dragons.
Father needed a companion, and Mother hates journeys.
Its amazing, Seth said.
Ive only seen more dragons than this a couple of times.
Never so many so close.
Some are so weird.
And the one with a noggin like a hammerhead shark, Seth replied.
The fear doesnt bother you?
Father tested me, Eve said.
Ive always been brave.
Seth followed the recommendation reluctantly, and Tanu sat just beyond him.
Kendra took her seat beside Dalgorel and spread the silky napkin on her lap.
Well met, caretaker, he said, his voice rather high.
The Grand Imperator Karzal, Dalgorel introduced.
Good to meet you, Kendra replied in Gnomish.
Karzals eyes widened and his eyebrows raised.
It has been many cycles since a caretaker bothered to learn our tongue, he said in Gnomish.
Im honored to meet you, Kendra said, pleased by the good impression she was making.
She reached for the nearby plate of beef ribs.
Wait a moment, boomed a deep voice powerful enough to vibrate the glassware.
It was the bulky dragon with the bull horns.
Before everyone gets too comfortable, I formally challenge Celebrant the Just for the kingship.
