Jo frowned. “To get through a weasel’s tunnel, the dragon would have to be pretty small. He’d have to try to get in while the weasel was away or else risk fighting while he was in his injured state, wouldn’t he?” Jo shook her head. “No, from your description, Verdilith was far too hurt to risk fighting a weasel underground. He must have used a different passage to get inside.”
The dwarf bared his teeth in a vicious smile. “Yes—and I think I know which passage it is! Or, rather, which passages they are.” Braddoc pointed to the rocky summit of the hill. “The crown is littered with tiny crevices, crevices so tiny only a bat or a mouse could crawl through them.”
“How do you know they go all the way through?” Jo asked.
“Two days ago I saw half a dozen bats exit the hill—and they came through the crown. That’s how I found the crevices. That has to be the way Verdilith got in; it has to!” Braddoc said earnestly.
Jo stood and turned to Karleah and Dayin as the two of them dismounted. Jo watched in concern as the old wizardess nearly fell when her feet touched the loose shale covering the ground. Dayin hurried to Karleah’s side and handed the crone her staff. Slowly the pair made their way toward Jo and Braddoc.
“Karleah? Are you all right?” Jo asked tentatively as she saw how heavily the old woman leaned on the boy.
The wizardess shot the young squire a thunderous look. “Don’t ‘Karleah’ me, girl,” Karleah said testily. “A little saddle stiffness never killed anyone. If you’re thinking to send me home, you’ve another think coming.” She gestured at the hill with her staff. “Besides, how’re you going to get in there without me?”
Jo shrugged. “Short of our digging frozen earth, Karleah, you’re it. Braddoc swears the only two entrances are the weasel’s lair over there or the crown of the hill.” Jo pointed to the two areas. “What do you think? Can you get us inside? Could you teleport us inside, all at once? My blink-dog’s tail could have carried me alone in there, if it hadn’t gotten lost.”
“Alone to fight a dragon,” Karleah echoed irritably. “Think, girl!”
Jo’s eyes narrowed for a moment, and she touched the hilt of Wyrmblight. I wouldn’t be alone, she thought. She half expected to hear the sword repeat the words have faith to her, but the blade was silent.
The old woman cocked one eyebrow. “I’ve an idea,” Karleah drawled slowly, “but it’s going to take a bit of doing.” She shook her head. “I don’t like the idea of transporting us to a place I’ve never been—”
“But we’ve seen the inside of the lair, Karleah,” Dayin interrupted, “through the crystals. Isn’t that as good a vision as having been there?”
Jo looked hopefully at Karleah, who scratched her chin and was silent. Jo prompted, “I’m sure whatever you have in mind will get us inside, Karleah, but teleporting would be the quickest. We’ve already lost so many days that I hate the idea of waiting any longer. He’s had nearly a week to heal—”
“Yes, yes!” Karleah interrupted, waving her hands impatiently. Sighing, she said slowly, “It’s possible the dragon gave us a false vision when we saw his lair through the crystals. Have you thought about that?”
“Yes, it’s possible ” Jo said equally slowly, “but I think it’s unlikely.” Jo stretched to her fullest height and towered over the tiny crone, a technique she had seen Flinn use on the guards when he had entered the Castle of the Three Suns. She doubted Karleah would succumb to intimidation, but Jo had to try. She would tear the ground asunder with her bare hands if it was the only way to enter the lair and avenge Flinn’s death. “If you can get Braddoc and me in immediately via some kind of spell, Karleah, I think you should do it,” Jo said coolly.
The old woman frowned but stood her ground. She looked up at Jo for a long moment before finally saying, “Very well, I’ll teleport you, but I’m coming with you. You may need me.”
“And me!” Dayin called out.
Jo put a free hand on Dayin’s shoulder. She said sincerely, “Dayin, I know how much you want to come with us, but there’s an equally important task outside the lair: tending the animals. If we don’t come out of there alive, it’d be cruel to leave Carsig and the others tied to a tree to starve themselves to death. Besides, between orcs and abelaats, you’ll have your hands full keeping the mounts safe and hidden until we come back. Will you do it?” Jo didn’t add that she couldn’t afford the distraction of guarding Dayin while she was battling Verdilith.
“But—” Dayin began.
“A good soldier follows orders to the letter, Dayin,” Braddoc said gruffly. “The best help he can give is to do what he’s asked. Take the animals to that hill over there and keep watch at a distance. If something strange happens, retreat farther south, then wait for us.”
Jo nodded, then added grimly, “And if we don’t return in, say, two days, head back to the castle. The castellan will take care of you. Of that I’m sure.”
The boy nodded, placated. “I liked Sir Graybow. He was nice.” Jo smiled. The aging castellan had been Flinn’s mentor—and his good friend. Without Sir Graybow, Flinn would never have had the chance to present his case and demand justice from his false accusers.
Dayin gathered the mounts’ reins, then turned and left the trio still standing at the base of the hill. Jo looked from Karleah to Braddoc and said, “This is it.” She twisted Wyrmblight in her hands. “You know I don’t expect either of you to come with me,” she said seriously.
Braddoc and Karleah snorted in glottal chorus. Had Jo’s heart been any less heavy, she would have laughed.
“This isn’t even worth discussing, Johauna,” Braddoc said disdainfully. “Of course we’re coming with you. That’s final. Now, get on with your spell, witch.”
Karleah rummaged through her pockets and pulled out two amulets. She handed one to Jo and the other to Braddoc. The squire shifted the charm back and forth, catching the faint runes in the sunlight. Its rough links of tarnished gold held an oval of beaten silver. She looked at Braddoc, who raised his brow, and they both turned to the wizardess.
“They’re pendants,” Karleah noted unnecessarily. “They’ll protect you—or at least they should. I’ve never used them—never had need to ’til now. 1 traded for them more’n a year ago, so I hope they’re all right.”
Jo bit her lower lip. “What do you think we’ll find inside the dragon’s lair, Karleah?” She put her amulet on.
The old woman shrugged. “Verdilith’s an old wyrm; he knows how to protect himself. Chances are, the lair’s booby-trapped left and right. You can be sure those entrances Braddoc found are.”
“Will your teleport spell get us in past the traps?” Jo asked.
Again the older woman shrugged. “Past the ones the dragon has at the entrances, yes. Past anything inside, well … I can’t say for sure. ’Course, Verdilith may have this whole area charmed against that kind of entry. My spell might not even work.”
Braddoc pulled the amulet over his head and gripped his battle-axe. “I trust my reflexes and my weapon, old hag, but I’ll wear your charm anyway.” He grimaced uncomfortably at the magic medallion around his neck.
“Harrumph,” Karleah snorted. “You’d better. The amulet should help, especially if we find ourselves in the middle of one of Verdilith’s surprises.”
Jo stroked the hammered silver. “Are you going to be all right, Karleah? Do you have a charm of your own?”
“Don’t worry about me, girl,” the wizardess retorted. She held up her ornately twisted oak staff and fingered a few carved runes on it. “My staff is all the protection I need.” She planted the staff’s tip in the rocky soil in front of her. “‘Now, reach out and put one hand above mine.”