Brom simmered for a long moment, pondering deeply. “I understand that it must seem a small thing to you, considering all these bones here, but I must revere the remains of the dragons and do what I have sworn to do. Dragons are honorable creatures.” He paused, regarding them one by one with his reptilian gaze. “I am an honorable creature.”
Now he faced Nicci, his eyes a molten gold. “However, I must acknowledge what you did for me, Sorceress. You gave me life. I was about to perish and become the last set of bones here, and then no dragon would have guarded Kuloth Vale. But with the fire that you placed in my heart, I am alive and powerful again. You have added centuries to my life and purpose.” He huffed and seemed to relax. “Perhaps a single rib bone is not an excessive price to ask.”
*
As dusk swallowed Kuloth Vale, the gray creature watched their every move while the companions searched through the graveyard of dragons. Nicci assessed each rib for its suitability. When she found exactly the right one, she ran her fingers along the smooth, ivory surface, bent it slightly, felt it spring back.
Nathan studied the head, the structure of the skull. “That skeleton belonged to a blue dragon. A medium-size one. The bones look undamaged.”
Brom loomed above them. A thick membrane flickered across his golden eyes, then slid back beneath the lids. His voice was somber. “Not just any blue dragon, that was Grimney. I remember him well. We were young together, hatched only a century apart. He was always a reckless adventurer, wanting to fly across the seas or soar off to the frozen wastes. He would play in the updrafts of the mountains, taking foolish risks.” He snorted a curl of smoke. “Once, Grimney crashed down in a thick forest and became so tangled in tree limbs that he bellowed there for days until other dragons arrived to extricate him. I helped burn the forest to ash so Grimney could pull himself free.”
Brom shook his heavy head from side to side. “Another time he flew high, high enough that he hoped to taste the fire of the sun. He came back long afterward, spiraling and flying unevenly. He was never right in the head after that.” The gray dragon flapped his wings, then folded them neatly against his back. “I believe it fitting that you use his rib for your quest. Take what you need. Grimney would approve.”
Nicci assessed the rib bone one last time to convince herself that it would make the perfect bow to kill Life’s Mistress. She used a line of magic to cut the rib free, and the long, curved arc came loose in her hands. “Thank you, Brom.”
“Now, leave this place,” said the gray dragon. “Much as I enjoy the conversation, it breaks my rules. Take Grimney’s rib and do what you must. Honor him—give him one last adventure.”
As darkness fell, they climbed up the rocky slopes to get past the wall that bounded the valley, so they could camp outside of Kuloth Vale. When they crossed the pass and began the rugged descent into the thickening darkness, Nicci stopped and turned back to look.
The gray dragon stood on the ridge, spreading his wings. Brom called after them in a loud thrumming voice. “I am the Guardian of the Vale. Do not think we are friends. I will kill you all if you ever intrude again.”
Nicci hoped they would never need to return.
CHAPTER 71
It was a long journey back to Cliffwall, but the terrain and the route were familiar to them now. During the initial trip to Kuloth Vale, Nathan had annotated the ancient charts, marking their way and identifying landforms, and also updating his life book.
Determined to get back to the archive, Nicci pressed them to their best possible speed, dreading what damage Victoria had caused while they were away from the isolated canyons. Now, she had the weapon she needed to destroy Life’s Mistress. She carried Grimney’s curved rib lashed across her shoulders, and she felt the faint tingling power intrinsic to the bone of the magnificent creature, a power resident in life, connected to the world itself.
Leaving the volcanic mountains behind and descending into the gradually opening terrain, she could sense Mrra out in the distance again, watching over them. The sand panther had been unwilling to enter the place of dead dragons, but now she was there to guard them, ranging ahead and scouting, keeping them safe on the way back to Cliffwall.
Knowing they had no time to lose, the companions walked for many miles until the terrain was too dark to see, and even then Nicci was not ready to stop. She would ignite a hand light to lead their way for a few hours longer. They slept when they could, and always set off into the first light of dawn.
When the hills finally gave way to high desert and red-rock canyons, the clear arid air carried the hint of a miasma. Even from a distance, Nicci could see a moist greenish haze beyond the plateau, simmering with primeval forest energy as it spread across the valley toward the cliffs.
Mrra left them again when they entered the network of canyons, not wanting to come too close to people, but Nicci could still feel the big cat out there, watching. Farmers and workers from the outlying settlements in the canyon-wall alcoves welcomed them back while sending runners to report to Cliffwall. When the companions reached the overarching cave grotto that held the primary archive buildings, anxious scholars rushed out to meet them. In the late-afternoon shadows, they gathered to welcome the weary but triumphant travelers as they climbed the steep cliff trail.
“Look, she has the dragon rib!” Gloria called, waving down at them. Beside her, Franklin was relieved. The mousy scholar Mia happily welcomed Nathan, helping him as he climbed up to the cave overhang, followed by Bannon. She chattered about the fascinating and useful books she had read in his absence, and the wizard gave her a warm, paternal pat on the back. “By the way, I used your kerchief while we were traveling, my dear. The spell worked quite well. It was very refreshing and restorative.” Mia responded with a glow of pride as he held out the perpetually cool, moist cloth to show her. “A remarkable and useful bit of magic.”
Inside the archive complex, a determined Nicci led the way into the main hall, where she unslung the large rib bone and dropped it onto the first table she found, moving aside other books that had been piled there by distracted scholars. “We can now make the weapon we need.” She ran her hand over the smooth ivory surface, studying it by the light of the magical torches burning in the main entry hall. The scholars gathered around, breathless and eager to see.
Nicci straightened her shoulders and explained. “This rib belonged to a blue dragon named Grimney. With this bone, I will fashion a powerful bow, and I will be the archer to stop Victoria. We have a chance to stop a scourge that I believe is even greater than the Lifedrinker.” She saw the hope in their eyes. “I just have to get ready. Ask the hunters among the canyon dwellers to bring me their best arrows and bowstring. I will prepare everything else here.”