When Sticks Move Part Two
Welcome to the second part of the story!
If you missed the beginning just know that Micah led Layla out to a field to see a dragon but when she wanted to tell her brother, Alan, about seeing one, he cautioned her against it. Now Layla’s back out in the field to see the dragon again without Micah but she’s pretty sure she’s been followed.
Now for the story. Hope you enjoy=)
When Sticks Move Part Two
Instead of seeing a stick or something that might resemble a dragon, she was pretty sure she’d been followed. Something moved in the trees to her left. The movement hadn’t started until several minutes after she laid down. It was unlikely then that her follower could see her in the tall grass, but whomever it was seemed to be searching.
Layla wasn’t sure whether to be relieved that, with the motion no dragons would show themselves, or be disappointed someone ruined her chance of seeing one again.
Movement to her right, a flash of something dark, drew her attention. She shifted her eyes left but didn’t turn her head. More movement zeroed her eyes to the long arch of a scaled back.
Her follower stilled moved in the trees to her left. She could hear the occasional snap of a twig to prove it without her even looking. Surely the dragon could hear it. Why was it showing itself then?
A snout parted the grass. The nostrils flared and lips parted over long teeth. Layla stopped breathing. It was that or scream.
Finally she looked up from the teeth to meet the emerald eyes watching her.
Another seer.
Layla twitched.
“Seer?” She mouthed the words but no sound came with them.
Prett—
The dragon flinched. Layla cringed back as the parted lips pulled into a snarl and the eyes narrowed.
Trap!
The dragon tipped onto its side, its legs pulled from beneath it. The tail lashed out but something pulled it back mid-swing.
Layla sat up only to see men rushing at her. She scooted backwards from the ropes they threw but then she realized the ropes were not meant for her.
Several twisted around the dragon’s legs and more crossed over its back, holding the massive torso to the ground.
“What?” She couldn’t form the full question. She didn’t know what to ask.
“Well done, Layla.”
She pivoted into a crouch to see who spoke.
“Micah?”
He grinned. His eyes sparkled with the familiar humor but it was tinged with something mean.
Layla’s stomach clenched with the desire to throw up. “What are you doing?”
“Making money.” The grin widened. “You’ve any idea what a dragon will sell for?”
“Sell for?” Layla glanced over her shoulder at the beautiful beast.
Make it right, Seer. Find Alan.
She stared as the men finished trussing up the legs and then loaded the dragon onto the flatbed wagon they’d hidden in the trees.
Make it right?
No answer came.
“Don’t sweat it, Layla. This wouldn’t be the first time a seer’s helped capture a dragon.” And with that Micah strode away, following the wagon from the field.
Not the first time?
“Alan.” Layla was sure of it. That’s why Micah hadn’t wanted her to say anything to her brother.
***
“Alan.”
He didn’t immediately turn to acknowledge her. Tying up his horse, he pulled his coat from behind the saddle and gave Grover a scratch behind the ear.
“He tricked you, didn’t he?”
Layla twitched. “How’d you know?”
“Pulled the same stunt on me a few months back. Tried to convince me to help him again but I refused. When you mentioned Micah yesterday, I contacted Haverim.”
“Who?”
Alan eyed her and then sighed. “Micah didn’t let you introduce yourself?”
“No.”
Pushing his hair back, Alan sighed. “Follow me.”
He led the way into the house and then out the back door to the cellar. Layla stayed at his heels all the way into the cool darkness until he lit the lantern. She froze but Alan continued forward to place his hand on the dragon’s forehead.
This wasn’t the emerald-eyed beast she’d seen in the field. Of course not. That one was being held by Micah’s crew.
This creature was bigger with a spine running all the way from the tip of its tail to the end of its snout. And its scales glowed a dull golden brown.
Layla’s cheeks warmed in shame.
“Meet Haverim,” Alan introduced.
“Hi,” Layla stepped forward with a tentative hand stretched out.
“Place your hand on his forehead.”
She took another step to rest her palm on the cool scales. Haverim’s eyes closed.
Hello Layla.
“The one in the field didn’t need contact,” she blurted.
“Neither does Haverim to speak, but to understand us they need contact.”
“Oh.”
Mallon was taken.
“Yes, I think. I didn’t get his name.”
I cannot go into the city to save him.
“I’ll go,” Layla promised. “I messed up.”
Haverim nodded. Good. Make it right or I will make sure you never see us again. Then he vanished.
Layla jumped back with a choked screech.
“He does that sometimes.” Alan shrugged.
“Why did Micah need us?” Of course Micah had seen dragons before, otherwise he wouldn’t be trying to sell them. What did she and Alan have that he didn’t?
“We’re seers. Means we can connect with dragons, so they’re attracted to us.”
“But why haven’t I seen one before?”
“Never slowed down long enough.”
All of Micah’s words made sense now. Layla felt sick.
“What do we do?”
“We free Mallon.”
Layla followed him from the cellar with too many questions to voice.
***
Micah’s wagon was left beside a house in the city. It wasn’t a house his family owned but Layla recognized the arms above the door. The house of Erik Coglin, one of Micah’s friends.
Layla shook her head.
“Why didn’t I suspect him?” She asked again. She’d asked the question several times on the ride to the city.
Alan raised a brow at her. He’d already pointed out that she had suspected Micah, just not in the way he deserved.
I’m an idiot.
“You’re not an idiot,” Alan said.
Layla turned to stare at him.
“What? You’re not.”
She let it go. Alan always seemed to know her thoughts. It was creepy at times.
“They must be holding him in the basement.” Alan mused.
“How you figure?” Layla shook her head and joined him at the wagon.
“They wouldn’t have wanted to move Mallon far. Not in the middle of the day.”
The thought of moving a dragon brought up all sorts of difficulties. “How do they move a dragon?”
“Trussed up tight and with a lot of men,” Alan said. He moved around the wagon, considering it.
“Did you bring your fire kit?” Layla blurted as an idea hit her.
“Of course. Why?”
“Burn the wagon when you see Mallon. The smokier the better.”
“Layla!” Alan called after her but Layla was already moving. It was almost dusk and for her idea to work, she had to be in place before the sale of Mallon happened.
To Be Finished on Saturday
Blessings,
Jennifer
