"Yeah. I trust-" Zylas' nostrils flared. "We've got to get out of here." He looked past Collins. "If one dog could follow our scent, others could."
Collins was not convinced of that.
"Or, they might just follow his scent."
That seemed much more likely. "Can Prinivere travel?"
"She should be able to make it to another of her…" Zylas ended lamely, "… places now." Apparently seized by another thought, he added, "In fact, she should go now, before she switches."
About eighteen hours had passed since Collins had seen Prinivere in human form. Somehow, he doubted she had to take any drugs to keep her dragon-time longer. Given that she could use all her higher functions as a dragon, plus magic and a vastly extended life-span, he suspected she considered it her more advanced form.
Zylas headed back toward Prinivere. "My lady," he said as he moved. "Forgive the abruptness of our departure, but I think it best if we all go as soon as possible." He put a subtle emphasis on the word "all" which Collins took to mean he wanted her to know that she should take off also. *He's just a boy,* Prinivere sent, Collins presumed to him and Zylas, at least, and certainly not to Korfius who still stared at her with undisguised awe.*Don't do anything rash.*
"I won't," Zylas promised. "Unless it becomes absolutely necessary. But we can't risk…" He glanced at Korfius, as if to read how much of the one-sided conversation he might fathom, "… you. And I don't know many…" he hedged, as if seeking a code word, then brightened. Casually, he removed the rose quartz stone from his pocket and set it on an irregularity in the rocky wall. He switched to broken English, surely aware only Collins and Prinivere could understand him. "… child can't hold secret. Will…"He struggled, then touched the stone. "… caution." He removed his fingers and returned to English. "But if it comes to a decision-your life or his-I have no choice, my lady." *I'm old,* she reminded.
"But got at least as many years left as he." Zylas inclined his head toward Korfius. "And need-" He struggled again; but, this time, did not resort to the translation stone. "-other life depend-" He glanced at Collins and fell silent, then scooped up his stone and returned it to his pocket. "Let's go," he growled in clear frustration.
Collins remained silent throughout the exchange, quietly putting the details together. Clearly, Korfius' finding them threw Zylas into a terrible dilemma. He had to keep Korfius quiet about Prinivere, not just for the duration of Collins' time here, but forever. Collins did not envy him that position; he could not kill a regular dog, let alone one who became a boy at intervals. Yet, Zylas had a loyalty to Prinivere that transcended Collins' understanding.
Collins and Zylas packed their gear in a tense hush punctuated only by occasional sighs from the rat/man. Collins did not press, certain his companion would speak in his own time. He did not have the words to comfort, so the best he could do was to listen.
Korfius seemed to share none of Zylas' consternation, chattering at the dragon with an exuberance Collins could not ever remember having. Apparently, the dragon answered him privately and with infinite patience, because Korfius kept bouncing and talking, often not waiting long enough for Prinivere to possibly have addressed the question before zipping off another. Shortly, they had everything, and Zylas signaled for everyone to go.
Korfius obediently bounded from the cave, Zylas and Collins behind him and Ialin hovering anxiously. Falima made no complaint as Zylas lashed the pack to her back then assisted Korfius astride, still talking.
"I can't believe I'm helping a royal and a dragon. A real dragon. I can't believe there really even is a real dragon to help. A real, live dragon."
Zylas looked as tense as a depressed spring.
Collins placed a hand on Korfius' calf. "Listen, little buddy."
Korfius turned him a happy look.
"Remember how I told you this was secret?"
"Yes, I…" Korfius turned thoughtful, features screwed up in apparent pain. "Oh. Does that mean…?"
"Yes," Collins said firmly, though the boy had never completed the question. "You can't tell anyone about Lady Prinivere."
"Ever?" The word seemed driven from his lips.
"Ever." Collins confirmed in a voice he hoped brooked no further questioning.
"Not even-"
To emphasize the point, Collins did not let Korfius finish. "Not even."
"But I didn't get to-"
"Doesn't matter. Not anyone. Ever." Collins dusted his hands to show the matter had ended, with no further discussion necessary or desirable. "It's as simple as that."
"Oh," Korfius said barely audibly. He hunched, disappointment clear from his stance as well as his features. "Well. At least, I'll get to help?" His tone suggested defeat, and he clearly expected Collins to burst his one last bubble.
"Of course, you can help," Collins said cheerfully, though he had no idea how. Knowing he would likely have to give Korfius a "busy" job, he added, "There are no small roles in the service of good and justice." He rather liked the sound of his own words and wondered whether he had just created them, as he believed, or if his subconscious had revived it from some long-ago comic book.
"I can't believe I met a…" This time, Korfius caught himself before he said, "dragon."
Collins made a "zip your lip" motion.
Though he could not understand the reference, Korfius apparently got the implication. He mimicked the gesture and fell silent.
As they headed off in a new direction, Collins glanced around. "Where's Vernon?"
Zylas continued to look worriedly between Collins and Korfius. "He'll get the lady off safely, then head back home." He held Collins' gaze. "We need him there."
Uncertain whether Zylas meant in general or for some reason related to their current mission, Collins did not press. Zylas clearly wanted to speak as little as possible about such matters in the boy's presence.
For the first few hours, they traveled in relative quiet. Then, Korfius drifted off to sleep, body sprawled across the pack, arms dangling on either side of Falima's neck. Collins paused to redistribute the boy's weight, to tuck limp hands beneath the weighted center, and to smooth hair from his eyes. Korfius mumbled something unintelligible but did not fully awaken. Collins now found himself able to continue without worrying constantly over the child's safety.
Finally, Collins went to Falima's head, where Zylas used the lead rope to haul her generally westward. "You know, between his only spending seven hours a day as a boy and the need to get sleep in both forms, he might just as well be a full-time dog.
"Lesariat," Zylas reminded in a grunt. "That's the whole idea."
Suddenly, Collins found the answer to a question he had asked himself earlier. Of course their civilization has stagnated for longer than a century. When you spend half or more of your life in animal form, it has to take all your time just to do the things necessary for survival. Who has time for innovation?
Zylas glanced at the boy, apparently to ascertain that he slept. "Let's get back to planning."
Collins nodded, surprised to find himself eager. The more he understood, the better his chances for success. The several hours of walking had proved just the break he needed. "Let's start with the moat."
Another day of travel brought them down from the mountains to a road that hugged the base and a broad expanse of forest. Collins realized they could have avoided thc crags and steppes simply by following thc path, which most people surely did. He did not begrudge the course they had taken. Though longer, even without the looping detours Zylas had taken to foil pursuit, it only made sense for Prinivere to live where few humans dared or bothered to go. On my world, she’d probably hide out on Everest. He amended. Or, perhaps, the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth highest mountain might not have quite as many determined climbers.
They entered the forest just in time. Clouds that had stalked and threatened through the night broke open to releases a splattering dounpour. Rain roared against the canopy, occasionally rolling through to soak them with icy pinoints or sudden streams of runoff. It continued into the evening, adding jagged bursts of lightning and rolling booms of thunder to the symphony of nature’s pique. They ate from a pack growing welcomely lighter, and Collins appreciated that his companions found the insects the most desirable of their fare. By now none of those remained, and they feasted on the foods he liked best: dried fruit, nut paste, and bread.