Eli searched for three days.
He checked farms.
Roads.
Abandoned cabins.
Every place where someone might hide a woman.
Nothing.
On the fourth night, he returned home exhausted.
Then he heard a strange sound outside.
A low growl.
Eli reached for his knife.
The front door shook.
Once.
Twice.
Then it broke from its hinges.
Eli stepped backward.
A giant black dragon stood outside.
Silver eyes.
Dark wings.
Smoke curling from its nostrils.
Eli raised his knife.
The dragon roared.
The windows rattled.
Eli shouted,
"Stay back!"
The dragon took one step forward.
Eli swung.
The dragon caught the blade between two claws.
Then threw it into the dirt.
Eli froze.
The dragon leaned closer.
His silver eyes searched the room.
Not for Eli.
For something else.
Eli slowly understood.
"You can understand me."
The dragon stared.
"You're looking for someone."
The dragon made a quiet sound.
Eli reached into his pocket.
He pulled out the piece of blue cloth he had found after Mara disappeared.
The dragon's expression changed instantly.
He snatched it.
Pressed it against his face.
Then looked at Eli.
Eli whispered,
"Mara."
The dragon nodded.
Eli's heart stopped.
"Mara is your mother?"
Rook lowered his head.
Eli stepped back.
"You're the creature she was hiding."
Rook looked ashamed.
Eli remembered Mara's words.
"My son."
Not creature.
Son.
Eli slowly lowered his hands.
"I know where she was taken."
Rook lifted his head.
Eli pointed toward the mountains.
"There was a group traveling north."
Rook stared.
"I think they took her."
The dragon spread his wings.
"Wait."
Rook stopped.
"If we're going after her, we need a plan."
Rook looked at him as if he didn't understand.
Eli sighed.
"You're not exactly good at plans."
For the first time, the dragon made a sound that almost resembled a laugh.
Eli smiled.
"Yeah."
He picked up his knife.
"I think we're going to get along."
The next morning, Eli climbed onto Rook's back.
The dragon launched into the sky.
For the first time, man and dragon flew together.
Neither knew where the road would lead.
But they knew one thing.
They were looking for the same woman.
Mara.
As they crossed the mountains, Rook suddenly stopped in midair.
Eli nearly fell.
"What?"
Rook looked down.
Far below them stood an abandoned stone tower.
Smoke was rising from its chimney.
Rook dove.
They landed outside.
Eli approached the door.
He heard voices inside.
One voice belonged to Calder.
"We leave for the wedding at dawn."
Another voice answered,
"And the dragon?"
Calder laughed.
"If it comes, we'll use the woman as bait."
Rook's eyes turned bright silver.
Eli grabbed his neck.
"Wait."
But Rook had already heard the words.
They were going to use Mara.
As bait.
The dragon's mouth began to glow.