Only Redden was hanging back, unable to do anything but watch.

Then, abruptly, the dragon took to the air, spreading its wings and lifting away. The Druids and the Trolls tried to stop it, but the dragon shrugged off their efforts, too big and burly to contain. Crace Coram had climbed all the way up to its head and was hammering at it with his iron mace. But even that didn’t slow it.

At the last minute Oriantha made a sudden rush, caught hold of a leg, and scrambled onto the dragon’s back. Pleysia screamed in rage and disbelief and tried to follow her daughter, but the dragon had already risen too high. Together, she and Carrick continued to strike at the beast as it rose, fought to bring it down again and failed.

The dragon soared into the sky, its two riders clinging to it, the Dwarf hammering it with his mace, the beast girl tearing at it with teeth and claws.

In seconds it was only a dot on the horizon.

Railing Ohmsford came awake with a start, eyes blinking rapidly, and wondered where he was.

“There, now,” someone said, pressing down gently but firmly on his shoulders. “Easy does it.”

He looked up into Farshaun Req’s face, remembering. “Where’s Redden?” he asked.

The old man explained everything, not wasting words, trying his best to reassure the boy. But Railing, though he understood the reasons for it, was distressed that Redden had gone on without him. He couldn’t help himself; he didn’t like being separated from his twin for any reason. The two were always together, and he especially didn’t like it when one of them might be in danger.

“How bad is my leg?” he asked.

“It’s broken in two places.” Farshaun pointed to the splints. “You’ll have to go back to the ship, boy.”

“Not without Redden, I won’t.” He raised himself up on one elbow, wincing as a jolt of pain ratcheted through his injured leg. “How long have they been gone now?”

“Several hours.” Farshaun looked skyward. “Getting dark. They should be back soon.”

The boy looked around at the Trolls, standing over by the edge of the escarpment with Seersha and Skint. The latter glanced around, saw that Railing was awake, and wandered over.

“Feeling better? Leg all right? I set those splints myself.”

Railing nodded. “Farshaun says you found the waterfall and the company went into it, my brother with them.”

Skint nodded. “Wasn’t actually a waterfall. It was some sort of light. The Ard Rhys sent me back to tell the rest of you what happened. She said they would be back after they took a look around.”

Railing started to push himself to his feet. “I can’t wait for that. I have to find my brother now.”