All The Skills

The next few hours were a blur. Arthur did his best not to walk through them in an unthinking fog. Later, Brixaby insisted he had conducted himself as well as any Legendary rider should.

Arthur wasn’t sure he agreed, but he appreciated the attempt to cheer him up.

Most of his attention was spent on rescue, organization of remaining resources, and the beginning of cleanup.

The scourgelings had followed the Mind Singer like bees after their queen. Because she wore a dragon’s body, no one still fighting outside the hive had stopped her. Most were already intimidated by the sight of a white dragon in principle.

Arthur questioned everyone he found who’d seen the white dragon leave, and received conflicting answers. There may have been illusions involved, so he couldn’t be sure which direction she had gone.

If any of her scourgelings or remaining thralls were portal users, it wouldn’t matter. She could be anywhere in the world.

So, reluctantly, Arthur concentrated on the matters he could control: the rescue of the people and dragons who were left behind.

There was no denying the level of tragedy after all that had happened. The amount of dead hatchlings, piled up as if they were garbage, was a horror almost beyond telling. Their lives had been snuffed out before they’d had the chance to start.

And no one knew how many eggs had been lost.

One of the first tasks Arthur focused on once there was a vague semblance of order was to organize the earth-type dragons to search the tunnels for lost eggs. Many of the females, even the ones without helpful powers or were between current nest cycles, were eager to help. The instinct was strong.

Though not as demonstrative as the nesting mothers, the male dragons were more upset about the sight of dead hatchlings than the females. Laird had once mentioned that a male dragon’s duty started when the eggs were hatched. Those instincts, too, were strong.

Brixaby refused to admit it, however.

It was agreed once the main cavern had been cleared out, the entrance tunnels were to be sealed. It was the best version of a burial they could give the lost hatchlings. The place had once been called the Amphitheater. It was now referred to as the Tomb.

However, there were glimmers of hope.

The Mind Singer had either managed to travel far enough away to lose a connection to her thralls, or, more likely, had cut her losses to consolidate what she had left.

Either way, the dragons who had not followed her had returned to their former selves. Without the Mind Singer’s oppressive influence that had dampened their cards, the scourge-rot stopped advancing through their bodies. However, many would need healing.

Of this, the hive did have a few healers left. Some from their own number, and some who had come from Wolf Moon but hadn’t managed to make it back through the portal.

Arthur and Brixaby bullied the few that were left to start tending to the worst of the scourge-affected.

Upon checking on them later, they learned that many of the people and dragons would still have scars, but the infection could be fully healed.

Then there was the problem of the cards.

Once it was learned there was a card harvest available, Brixaby had to use every bit of intimidation he could to keep people out of the Tomb until it was sealed.

Luckily, he excelled at intimidation.

Every scourgeling that had fallen during that final battle had a full-fledged card. Some had two, and most had additional card shards in addition.

The Mind Singer’s dragon-farming operation had been profitable. If word got out to the wrong people . . . Arthur didn’t want to think of it.

However, not every card harvested from the hundreds of scourgelings had come from a dragon hatchling.

Once the people and dragons were put under thrall, they were required to give up all cards except for their original in their heart or core. The extras were donated to the Mind Singer.

That helped explain why the scourge-sickness had taken root. Their bodies were in a mild state of shock from losing cards from their decks.

These cards, once located, were returned to their owners.

That still left a surplus of remaining cards.

Arthur did his best to try to portion them out as equitably as possible, though he was certain that some people likely got more than their fair share, and some ended with less.

He made a show of taking no cards for himself, mostly because he and Brixaby had taken pains to keep the Legendary card as secret as possible.

That left the matter of his retinue.

“So you’re saying I should not be justly rewarded?” silver Tannai sniffed.

Arthur was getting a headache. “Of course you will be—”

“Did I not keep you topped up with mana? Follow you into the pits of the tomb, surrounded by scourgelings?”

“Yes,” Arthur said, annoyed.

“Did I not do all this without my own poor, hurt rider, who I left behind still injured from your attack—”

“Tannai.” Arthur cut him off before he could get going. The longer he spent in the silver’s company, the more he found he simply didn’t like him. What a shame he had such a useful card. “I can’t give you thirty cards. That’s ridiculous. While you were a huge help—and we couldn’t have done it without you—the entire retinue pulled together. Everyone was needed. Besides, you can’t possibly fit thirty cards, even split between you and your rider.”

Tannai pulled himself straight as if offended. “Of course not. It’s only that both my females’ nests survived. I would like to gift my hatchlings additional cards, when they’re old enough.”

That was . . . a little more noble than Arthur had feared. He eyed the silver. “How many eggs do you have?”

“Fifteen.”

“Really,” Arthur said flatly. “And if I send Brixaby to count them?”

“I have seven eggs in two nests,” Tannai hastily amended. “But I mean to say the hatchlings will have seven, their mothers two, and me and my rider will be given six to split.”

Arthur rubbed at his temple. Yes, he was definitely getting a headache. “You can pick out nine from the Common-Uncommon pile, and one Rare.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I can’t use a Rare. I’m an Uncommon.”

“Sell it. That’ll get you a handful of Uncommons if you’re smart about it.”

Tannai made a point of hemming and hawing but eventually agreed.

Arthur wondered if he really should have Brixaby check the number of eggs in those nests. His two mates might have laid seven eggs between them, but it didn’t mean they’d end up with seven hatchlings, even in the best of times. And these weren’t the best of times.

Arthur decided he didn’t have the time.

He moved on to the next problem on his list: the human beings who’d been in the hive when it was taken over.

The ones whose heart cards had not been located were still suffering emotional and psychological shock.

However, they had been lucky in some ways. The Mind Singer had lesser plans for humans than for the dragons. They’d been kept as servants in the bowels of the hive, several levels below where Arthur had seen. This kept them away from the worst of the scourge-infected air, though some had come out with a touch of scourge-sickness.

Since many of them had been riders, they were able to reunite with their dragons. Seeing that had been touching.

The best of all had been Digger and his rider, Stefan.

Stefan was exactly as stereotypically big, burly, and barrel-chested as Arthur had imagined someone linked to Digger.

He closed giant bear-paw-sized hands around Arthur’s own and shook his vigorously, thanking him over and over again.

Unfortunately, he and Digger declined to be part of Arthur’s retinue. They were much more interested in helping the refugees settle into their sister hive, the Island Free Hive. That meant hollowing out new passageways and complexes in the sandy soil. Stefan and Digger were excited about the challenge.

Every resident of the Free Hive of the Waves was being relocated to Island Free Hive. It would not be safe to stay here long term with the scourge-rot taking a foothold. And no one wanted to live near the tomb of hatchlings.

So Island Free Hive had agreed to take them in, especially their newfound wealth in the form of cards. They needed it. From what Arthur heard, the Mind Singer had managed to sneak a hidden Legendary card out from under them.

Finally, after a full half day of work, Arthur was able to meet with the remains of the Free Hive of the Waves council.

They were not as effusive as Stefan had been, but he was thanked. Mostly, however, they were worried Wolf Moon Hive would expect a payment.

“No,” Arthur said shortly. “All I want is for the people in this hive to recover.” He sighed, his headache threatening again, even though he’d had the first one fixed by a healer. “I like the free hives, and I believe they have a place in the world. But . . . you need to learn how to defend yourselves. You need combat cards.”

“What if this so-called Mind Singer comes back?” one of the councilmen asked with a chin thrust out aggressively. “Can we count on Wolf Moon Hive’s assistance again?”

“I won’t be in a position to help you,” Arthur said.

They looked troubled. The man was about ready to protest but was shushed.

At least they hadn’t treated him like a child. Maybe it was the lines of stress carved into his face.

Cressida made him rest after that. Arthur slept in somebody else’s bed who hadn’t been located yet.

When he woke, he found Brixaby by his side. The dragon had a smug expression on his face.

“I know where we’re going next.”

“Tell me,” Arthur said, needing good news.

* * *


By the next day, Arthur had to admit to himself that he was procrastinating going back to Wolf Moon Hive.

First, though, he needed to return those who’d followed him from Mesa Free Hive.

The vast majority of the eggs stolen from Mesa had been located. Now almost every returning dragon wore slings made of linen to hold eggs for the journey. A couple of the smaller blues and purples just carried a precious egg within their claws.

Arthur convinced Tannai to top him up on mana again—mostly so he could copy his power for the last time, and had Brixaby locate the single remaining shimmer green who had portal powers.

First, however, he met up with Laird.

The red dragon had come out quite well in terms of cards. Most he’d harvested on the sly right after the battle with the Mind Singer.

Arthur would have been annoyed about that, but he knew Laird intended to rebuild his combat team. He needed cards.

“I also found an Uncommon card that filters minerals from soil,” Laird told him. “That will help heal the damage left over from that saltwater dousing.”

“Do you have someone in mind?” Arthur asked, thinking of Len and Tamya.

Laird shrugged a wing. “I’m sure the council will. They enjoy giving out plum gifts.”

“If you still have any sway with them when you return,” Arthur said. “Try to get them to come around on the combat cards.”

“You know I will.” Laird paused. “I once spoke to you about a card of prophecy that was rumored to be Legendary. Was that what you harvested down in the Mind Singer’s chambers?”

“No,” Arthur said.

The dragon looked at him for a moment, narrow-eyed, then seemed to like what he saw. “Good. That card belongs with the free hives.”

He looked to the sky, where the green shimmer had just taken up position. It waited for Brixaby and Arthur to join up before the portal could be opened.

“I’m certain we will meet again,” Laird said. “Do try to do some growing up before then. You’re still nothing more than a tiny cub.”

* * *


Horatio, of course, did have a thing or two to complain about.

“Everyone else has gathered a whole deck’s worth of cards but me and Sams. Even your girlfriend.”

“Cressida’s not my girlfriend.”

Horatio gave him a sly look. “Mind if I try my hand with her, then?”

“She is a noblewoman. You don’t try your hand with her, you court her, and no, she wouldn’t be interested in you,” Arthur snapped. Though by the end, he knew he’d just fallen into Horatio’s trap.

His friend grinned. “So you two are . . . courting?”

“No,” Arthur grumbled. “I don’t know what we’re doing. Can we drop this?”

“She still has more cards than me and Sams,” Horatio said. “Who is your best friend, exactly?”

“Don’t act like I didn’t offer you cards the other day. You were part of Joy’s quest, just like everyone else.”

“Sams won’t take them. He calls them ‘blood cards.’ Can’t say I blame him,” Horatio said, “considering they came from the cores of dead baby dragons.”

Technically, most intact cards came from dragon deaths, but Arthur didn’t press it. “Cressida and Joy won’t tell me what cards they harvested,” he muttered. “I think Joy likes teasing Brixaby that she has something he doesn’t know about. But Cressida just seems . . . embarrassed about her new card? I don’t get it.”

“You sure she’s not trying to flirt with you, in a weird noblewoman way?” Horatio wagged his very dark, very bushy eyebrows at Arthur. “Maybe this is how she flirts.”

Arthur gave him a flat look. Though inside, he wasn’t sure.

“I have to ask . . . I’m still in your retinue, aren’t I?” Horatio suddenly blurted. His amusement had dropped, and now he looked concerned.

“Of course,” Arthur said, but then was forced to correct himself. “I mean, only if you want to be. But Horatio . . . I’m not going back to Wolf Moon Hive.”

“I figured as much.” Horatio smiled at Arthur’s startled look. “You’ve been pulling long faces all day, and you’re dragging your feet on opening that second portal to Wolf Moon. I know you’re not afraid of getting in trouble. So what’s the plan?”

For a moment, Arthur felt like he was twelve years old again, about ready to sneak out somewhere he shouldn’t be going with his friend. “Plan?” he asked teasingly.

“You’re not going to the hives. So where are we going?”

Arthur smiled at the sound of “we.” Then he told him.

* * *


Arthur ended up delaying one more day under the guise of helping settle the people of Free Hive the Waves in their new Island home.

At this point, he fully admitted he was procrastinating. He just didn’t care. No one else could do what he and Brixaby could do with their powers. No one dared to countermand his orders unless they were outrageous.

It was good being a Legendary.

But finally, it was time.

The remaining Wolf Moon Hive dragons gathered in the sky. Arthur and Brixaby, alongside the green shimmer, opened a portal directly to Wolf Moon.

He let everyone go through first, then swung around and took one look at the island hive.

By now, everyone who could safely move had been evacuated to Island Free Hive. With the rest now returned to Mesa Free Hive and Wolf Moon, the sky was clear.

The only exception was a spot of yellow and a second spot of pink on the horizon.

Horatio and Cressida had quietly stayed back along with their dragons.

Joy roared out a goodbye that was echoed by Sams. Then the two turned. They had their own journey. It was a long one, and they needed to get started.

Besides, it was only goodbye for now.

Arthur directed Brixaby through the portal.

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