“Well, folks, this is where I drop you off.”

William shielded his eyes as he peered out from under the cover of the wagon. He couldn’t be sure if it was the current situation, or just the area itself, but everything seemed gloomy. The lack of trees, the abundance of rocks, and the brown grass made the surrounding plain look washed out and dead.

“City of the dead, indeed” William mumbled as he stepped on solid ground. It felt like ages since he had stood up and stretched instead of being hunched over a dusty old book for hours on end.

Jefferey hopped off the wagon. Ever since they had confirmed the existence of Opalana, he had been on cloud nine. William doubted anything would wipe that grin off his face.

Lady Masterson on the other hand, had been the exact opposite. Her expression had been hard and unreadable. She spoke very little and constantly watched their surroundings. But thankfully, they had been left alone. Too alone for William’s tastes. He couldn’t recall a single time when they heard the sound of a bird or seen so much as a rat scurrying in the fields.

The only food and supplies they had were what they brought with them from Diamus and it was getting dangerously low.

The driver gripped the reigns and spat on the ground. “Listen, are you folks sure you wanna be doing this? There’s nothing out here but trouble.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, sir,” Jefferey replied enthusiastically, “Beyond this point lies the single greatest discovery of the modern age.”

“Yeah, I heard that line way too—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Lady Masterson calmly rode up beside him, drew the pistol from her belt, pointed it at the back of his head, and squeezed the trigger. He slumped in his seat and fell to the ground. The horses cried and bolted, dragging the wagon behind them and running over the body.

William stared in shock.

“Lady Masterson, why?” Jefferey asked.

Lady Masterson hopped from her horse and searched corpse. After a few seconds, she tossed something to William. He caught it out of reflex. It was a dragon-shaped broach.

“I had my suspicions when we hired him,” she said, still searching the body. “He was the only who agreed to take us and he didn’t even negotiate the price.” She fished a note out of his pocket and waved it in the air. “While you two were busy taking notes, so was he. He was going to report what he overheard to his superiors.”

“I doubt it would have done them any good,” William said. “Only a dragon can navigate the maze of rock protecting Opalana.”

“Yes, I was thinking about that and I may have a solution to our problem,” Jefferey said. “If what they say is true, then the most traveled route will be the correct one. Which suggests we can track their movements through the maze.”

“But how long has it been since anyone has used that path?” Lady Masterson asked.

“If our hunch is correct, it still gets a great deal of use.”

William turned to the large archway that marked the entrance to Opalana’s maze. It felt like a dream to be standing where his ancestor once stood. The broken arch looked every bit as mysterious and majestic as it had been described in the book. It felt much more imposing in person. Just beyond the archway lay the signature mist, blocking all sight a few feet beyond the entrance. Even where they stood, the distance was partially obscured behind a veil of white.

“This is just fascinating!” Jeffery cried. “There is so much we could learn from this spot alone! It’s the find of a lifetime!”

“I’m surprised no one’s come out here to study it,” Lady Masterson said.

“That is most likely due to the area’s sinister reputation,” Jefferey replied. “It’s quite hard to acquire funding and hire a crew to research an area deemed dangerous. Very few people are willing to risk their lives in the name of discovery.”

“Just tell them they’ll be rich, and they’ll line up outside your door.”

William stopped listening. Something had caught his attention. Just beyond the limit of his vision, he could swear he saw something move. If he stared long enough, it looked as if a pair of eyes watched from the gloom.

A touch to his shoulder snapped him back to reality.

“We have get going before it gets dark,” Lady Masterson said.

William nodded slowly and followed her beyond the threshold. He kept looking around despite knowing it was pointless. Being in the mist felt much more confining than he expected. Every step was a nightmare, carrying the threat of an attack, a sudden pitfall, or even tripping into a jagged rock. Sweat poured down his sides and his face. His ears felt full of fluid and muffled their steps and any surrounding sounds. He kept a tight grip on the pistol in his hands.

Lady Masterson stopped. William’s stomach plummeted before she even spoke.

“The tracks end here,” she said.

“Nonsense,” Jefferey said. “The only way the tracks would vanish is if they took to the air and we know there is no way to enter Opalana from above.”

William whirled around and raised his weapon. “It’s---”

Before he could complete the sentence, several large snarling shapes descended upon them. William was forced face-first into the dirt. He tasted gravel and blood. Sharp fangs dug painfully into his shoulder and a threatening growl sounded in his ear. He took the message and did not resist.

“Please be careful with that, there are priceless artifacts in there!” Jefferey cried.

“Shut it,” someone William didn’t recognize replied. He didn’t dare raise his head to see who it was. “Be grateful you’re still breathing, human.”

“Let them up,” someone else said. “We were told to bring anyone we find to Feylin.”

The dragon holding William’s shoulder released him, but he still didn’t move.

“Did we find anyone?” the first dragon replied. “I only see corpses.”

“If you want to explain to Feylin why you disobeyed her, go ahead. I’m taking mine in.”

William was hauled to his feet by the back of his shirt. Even in the thick mist he easily saw the three large Genials surrounding them. Lady Masterson and Jefferey looked shaken but otherwise unharmed.

One of them nudged him in the back. “Get moving.”

“Which way?” Lady Masterson asked.

“Follow me,” the furthest dragon said. “And don’t think about running off.”

“Let ‘em,” the one behind William said. “They’ll just die wandering in the mist anyway.”

“There’s always the chance they could get out.”

“And then where do they go? Last I heard, the nearest human settlement is weeks from here as the scaleless walk.”

“Enough,” William’s captor said. He nudged him rudely in the back. “Get moving.”

The walk was torture. The dragons forced them move at their pace which meant a light jog by human standards. Every time someone stumbled, they were shoved along and warned to keep moving. They couldn’t even slow down for water and had to drink what they could while on the move.

William was soaked in sweat. Jefferey seemed to be in the worst shape. He leaned against William for support and his breathing was ragged. He wanted to ask for a break but doubted the dragons would give it to them.

It was only after they reached the tunnel that one of the dragons announced they would take a break. William all but collapsed to the ground. He and Lady Masterson silently agreed that Jefferey could have the majority of their remaining water.

“Look at them,” Lady Masterson said. “They’re not even supervising us. The mist provides the perfect defense. I tried to memorize our route but I couldn’t get my bearings.”

William hadn’t even bothered to try to memorize their steps. He was too focused on not dying of exhaustion. If that were the dragon’s goal, it was genius. They were lost and too tired to even put up a fight.

Lady Masterson turned to the mouth of the cave and continued, “Just as well. Even if I knew the way, this place is perfect for ambushes. An army would get picked apart trying to travel through here.” She glanced at their captors who continued to ignore them and spoke in a hushed voice, “Do you know the name they mentioned? Feylin?”

William shook his head. None of the texts mentioned a Feylin. She looked at Jefferey as if to ask him if he knew anything but shook her head and left the question unasked. The poor man still struggled for breath; he likely couldn’t even cry out in pain yet alone answer a question.

“All right, humans. Break time’s over.”

It could have been do to the lack of light, but the walk through the tunnel was much more bearable. In pace anyway. In practice, they stumbled constantly and stubbed their toes every other step. William couldn’t decide which he hated more.

All the pain was forgotten when they exited the tunnel and set their sights on Opalana even if it was short-lived. Their dragon captors didn’t give them a chance to soak in the sight, but what little he did see was magnificent.

The city was nothing like he had imagined, however. Instead, the bustling city described in the tome, it looked like an ancient dead city. Most of the buildings they passed had crumbled from neglect or misuse. The few humans they did see had dirty, despair-ridden faces. The dragons looked angry and a few snorted at their passing.

William noticed they seemed to be doing construction on a some of the dilapidated buildings. They also passed more than one wagon filled with old bones.

“City of the dead is definitely an appropriate name,” Lady Masterson mumbled.

Eventually William kept his gaze fixed on the large building at the top of the city which they seemed to be going towards. His mind ran with theories of who they would find inside.

Inside the main chamber sitting on what William could only assume was a throne specially designed for dragons, sat a large dragon with black scales. The Matriarch straightened up and leered down her beak-like snout at them.

“We found them wandering outside,” one of their captors said.

The dragoness said nothing as she descended and inspected them, nudging and poking as if they were a sack on the road. William clenched his jaw and said nothing. If they decided he would be easier to inspect as a corpse it would be easily arranged. Jefferey and Lady Masterson also seemed to have reached that conclusion.

Once she was satified with her inspection, the Matriarch assumed to be Feylin went back to her seat.

“Who sent you?” she asked.

“We were not sent by anyone,” William said. “I discovered a map among my deceased wife’s belongings and assumed it lead to a hideen treasure of some sort. These people are my escorts. I agreed to split the treasure with them.”

Feylin studied them for a long time before speaking, “Show me.”

William swore under his breath. He hadn’t expected to be asked to provide proof. At the very least, he thought she would question his true intent or try to poke holes in the story; something he could talk through with logic and clever wording.

There was no getting around it. Even if he lied about leaving the map behind, one search would reveal the documents they carried. He motioned to Jefferey to hand him the bag.  He noticed the dragons surrounding them as he rummaged through it for the map.

They are very cautious of newcomers. But if that is true, why bring us in alive? Why not simply kill us and leave our bodies in the mist never be found again?

Carefully he removed the map and handed it to one of the kobolds who approached. It was the first and only human he had seen in the temple.

Feylin took one look at the ancient map and frowned. “What is this? Why do you have a map to this city?”

“I told you,” William said, bowing low. “It is an heirloom from a distant relative of my deceased wife. I don’t know how they acquired it or why its existence was kept hidden until now.”

Feylin motioned to the kobold who quickly balled up the map and threw it into the nearest brazier. Jefferey let out a surprised cry and started to rush towards them but Lady Masterson held him back. Judging by the way the dragons tensed at his movement, it was the right call.

“Who else knows you’re here?” she asked.

“No one,” William replied. “My ex-wife’s family are nothing but vultures. If they had even an notion of that map’s existence they would fight for rights to the treasure every step of the way.”

The dragoness narrowed her eyes and approached again. William swallowed the lump in his throat and bowed his head in submission.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Feylin asked.

“Of course not. I would never be so crass as to—”

The loud crack of a tail being slapping on the floor cut him off.

“Did they have anything else with them?”

“No,” one of the drakes replied. “There was a wagon but they shot the driver and the horses ran off.”

William felt the blood drain from his face.

“Show you came here with very little supplies and no wagon,” Feylin said. “And how did you plan on carrying the treasure back?”  She towered over William who didn’t dare lift his eyes higher than the scaled breast in his vision. “Think carefully before you lie to me again.”

“It wasn’t the plan. The driver tried to threaten us,” Lady Masterson said quickly. “The horses running off was just unfortunate.”

“Take one of their hands,” Feylin said monotonously. “Maybe they’ll talk then.”

William tried to jump to his feet but was pinned to the floor. He struggled against the sharp claws digging into his back but couldn’t dislodge his captor.

“Lyndria sent us!” Jefferey cried.

Everyone froze.

“What did you say?” Feylin asked her voice barely above a whisper.

The dragons holding them down leapt away as if burned. William turned to Jefferey who remained on the floor, shaking like a leaf in a windstorm.

“Lyndria sent us,” the scholar repeated. “She told us to come here to—"

“Leave us,” Feylin said shakily.

William had never seen a room clear out so fast. He also had never seen a Matriarch tremble. It made him even more worried about his current situation.

“So, what does L--she want now?” Feylin asked.

Now? Has she met with Lyndria before?

“She sent us here to find Eber and Gennoni,” Jefferey said. “They’re dragons with blue scales. I’m afraid we aren’t allowed to say more than that.”

He is a much better liar than I gave him credit for. When he blurted out Lyndria’s name before, I thought he had lost his senses.

Feylin tilted her head and frowned. “I don’t know any Eber or Gennoni, but I do know about a dragon with blue scales. I’ll take you to see him in the morning. For now, you should eat and get some rest. And I apologize for the way you were treated when you were brought here. I don’t trust anyone who comes near this place.”

“Yes, this place does have a rather sinister reputation,” William said. “And we noticed the carts of bones on the way in.”

“That was the last of them,” Feylin said. “We’ll take them outside and give them a proper sending later tonight.” She motioned to the door off to the side. “Through there you’ll find food, beds, and a bath. Just ask one of the humans to show you where. Now I have things to do.”

****

William was still nervous by the next day. He feared that they would be treated with the utmost suspicion and disdain but Feylin turned out to be an excellent hostess. Still, the threat of something going wrong stalked him. They were undoubtedly in the heart of Lyndria’s realm. It was clear that Feylin was one of her subordninates. It would only be a matter of time before Lyndria learned of their presence and the lie that currently kept them safe.

Even when they awoke the next morning instead of having their throats cut in their sleep, even when they ate yet again without being poisoned, he feared the worst.

Jeffery was either too elated to care or he had finally snapped and accepted his fate. He went on constantly about how excited he was for the newest discovery. Once the dragons stopped threatening them, he hadn’t shut up. Or blinked.

Lady Masterson was unusually quiet. William suspected she felt as nervous as he did. Things were going too smoothly, too well.

After breakfast, Feylin led them to the lower floors of the temple that the book hadn’t mentioned. The halls had been painted with several murals, unfortunately, most of them had been destroyed or too badly damaged to view properly. Jefferey loudly voiced his disappointment. William wondered why this part of the temple was damaged but the rest was left alone.

The Matriarch stopped in front of a large archway. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then crossed the threshold. William was hesitant to follow but remembering they had no better options, he mustered the courage.

The wide chamber was littered with old animal bones and empty bowls. The dimmer lighting made it hard to see but there was no mistaking the gouges in the walls and floor. A large shape sat at the far end of the room.

As they drew closer, there was no mistaking it was a dragon. His blue scales had lost all luster and one horn had broken off. But he looked no less majestic and intimidating. If anything it made him more unapproachable.

“I thought I told you not to disturb me,” the drake said, still staring at the wall. His voice was heavy and coarse as if he had been shouting for hours, but still carried a strong note of authority.

Feylin stopped and bowed low. William was stunned. Matriarch didn’t bow to anyone except a stronger Matriarch.

“These humans are looking for you,” she said.

The drake whirled around. William took an involuntary step backward at the look of anger being sent their way.

“What more does she want from me?” the drake asked. “I told Lyndria I have given enough. I will not assist her anymore.”

“Just fascinating!” Jefferey cried. His cheerful tone echoed through the room. “Oh, please forgive me, my good drake. It’s an honor and an absolute privilege to meet you. I’m Jefferey Jackman. Am I correct in assuming you’re Eber?”

The drake’s eyes narrowed as he studied Jefferey. “Yes, I am. Now what does Lyndria want of me?”

“I can’t believe it. I’m meeting an actual Celestial in the flesh! I’m not sure how much of the outside world you’re aware of, but your kind are quite rare. So much so that many of colleagues believe you’re—”

A sound like a thundercrack cut through the room. William and Lady Masterson instinctively covered their ears. Feylin remained where she was. Jefferey shrank away and for good reason. The look in Eber’s eyes was icy enough to freeze fire.

“I’m fully aware of the fate of my kind,” the drake said. “I was there, human. I don’t need it explained to me.”

“Yes, of course. Please forgive me. I had no intention of offending you. I just got so excited when I saw you. I always believed that your kind still roamed the world, despite what my colleagues claimed.  But…if I may ask…what happened?”

The fury instantly vanished, replaced with an immense sadness that tugged at William’s chest.

“I did what had to be done,” Eber said softly. “For the sake of the world, we committed a terrible sin. But I’m sure Lyndria told you all this if you have come here looking for me.”

“Actually, Lyndria has told us very little,” William said. “We were hoping you could help us. A dragon calling herself Cutter has taken the eye of the All-Mother. We fear she intends to finish what Tanor started.”

Eber snorted and turned away. “If my chosen had truly returned, you would know it, human.” He froze midstep. “Did you say, Cutter?”

“Yes, we did, your excellence.”

Eber slammed his tail on the floor hard enough to send vibrations through their feet. William fought the urge to run out of fear of the ceiling coming down.

“It’s wasn’t enough to take everything I cared about. But she won’t even leave me with the memories. Is nothing sacred to her? Of course it isn’t. I’ve known Lyndria for years. She has never once cared about tradition.”

“Excuse me,” William said, “But what do you mean by that?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, human. Now if we’re done here--”

“We need to know about the Eye of the All-Mother,” Lady Masterson said quickly. “I noticed you didn’t respond to that part. You know something, don’t you?”

Eber grumbled and turned around. “What I know is irrelevant. You came for answers. Very well, here is what you want to know: I do not know how Tanor came by the artifact or if it gives it her power or not. I just know that no dragon dared oppose her so long as she wore it.” He straightened up and looked his snout at them. “I suppose it is all the same. If the object gives the illusion of power then it is powerful regardless of what the reality is. It took three Matriarchs to defeat her and she wasn’t wearing it then. But I will say this: the Eye is dangerous. It creates a sickness that corrupts the strongest wills. Not even my chosen can resist its pull. If Lyndria has it, then it’s lost. Leave it alone. Let it stay buried. Take from that what you will. Now leave me to grieve in peace.”

“As you wish,” she motioned for the others to follow her out which they did reluctantly. It was only then it became apparent that Feylin had left them alone.

Before leaving, William risked one last look at the drake again.

It was only once they were back in the hall that Lady Masterson spoke again. “Well, that’s worrying.”

“I think leaving with our skins intact is cause for celebration,” Jefferey said. “I had really hoped the discovery of a lifetime would have been less dangerous.”

“No, I mean the things he said. He gave us more information than he thinks he did, or maybe that was his plan all along.”

“What do you mean?” William asked.

She didn’t respond for a long time. “Before I answer that, I need to confirm something first. I need to know how the peace talks went and I doubt Eber is in a sharing mood. Can you decipher it for me?”

“I can, but what is this about?”

“Something I hope I’m wrong about.” She glanced over her shoulder at their dragon escort who had been very quiet the entire time then spoke in a hushed tone. “I think we walked into a trap. Eber mentioned three Matriarchs. We know Sareen and Lyndria were likely in that fight, but who was the other one?”

“If I remember correctly, he did mention that he didn’t want his daughters to aid in the battle,” Jefferey said, “But perhaps something changed his mind?”

“Or mayber there’s a third dragon we don’t know about.”

“This dragon could have also perished in the battle,” William pointed out before stubbing his toe on a loose stone and swearing loudly.

“Until I see a body, I’m not convinced any of these dragons are dead,” Lady Masterson said. “But our only chance of knowing is the books. Finish deciphering them while I check something out.”

William wanted to know what she meant but chose not to press the issue. Not with a potential eavesdropper so close by.

Once they had returned to the main floor, Feylin cut in front of them, startling everyone. “Okay, what is this Eye thing you keep bringing up?”

William swore under his breath.

Jefferey shuffled forward, wringing his hands and refusing the look the Matriarch in the eye. “You haven’t heard of the Eye of the All-Mother?”

Feylin stepped back. “You’re talking about the Eye of the All-Mother? You’re looking for it? But that would mean…”

William saw the shift before it happened. He saw the subtle changes in her posture, her facial expression. He saw the wheels turning in her head as a devious plan drew itself before her eyes. He saw it and knew there was nothing he could do to stop it or what would come next.

She was on Jefferey in a single bound. The scholar cried out in fear and dropped to the floor. Lady Masterson started to reach for something only to look at her empty hands in rage.

“Where is it?” Feylin asked.

“We don’t know!” Jefferey said. His body trembled something fierce.

“But you have some idea, right? Where is it!” Her voice cut through the air like a peal of thunder. Jefferey cried out again and flattened himself on the floor.

“It’s here!” Lady Masterson said quickly. “Cutter took it, but instead of using it, she had it hidden away. We think this is where she put it.”

“Why should I believe you, human?”

“Because this is the perfect hiding spot. The natural defenses and that so few people believe this place exists means that no one is going to come looking for it. And on the off-chance that someone even does come here, the place is occupied, guarded by an entire dragon clan.”

William saw it again. The wheels turning in Feylin’s mind and the horrific realization that Lady Masterson spoke the truth. They did walk into a trap, but not just them. Feylin had been trapped as well, tricked into guarding an artifact she didn’t even know existed.

He took the opportunity to help Jeffery off the floor and back away. Feylin didn’t even look at them.

“So you planned all of this, did you?” Feylin mumbled.

“What?” Lady Masterson asked.

The look the dragoness sent her way made her step back. Feylin’s eyes were filled with a fierce dark determination that wouldn’t be denied.

“It looks like Lyndria miscalculated,” Feylin said. “You three are going to take me to where the Eye is.”

William cursed his foolishness. If they had left it alone, Feylin would not know the Eye even existed.

No, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when”, his mind chided him. Remember you aren’t dealing with a typical dragon. This was likely her plan from the beginning.

He couldn’t decide which thought worried him more. That Lyndria had planned this from the beginning or that they had revealed something they shouldn’t have.

There was no time to reflect on it as Feylin had drawn closer.

“I won’t ask again,” the dragoness said.

“We are uncertain of its exact location,” William said. “But our reason for being here is to find out.”

“How?”

“We brought books with us. Ancient texts that chronicle Lyndria’s life. We believe one of them holds the key. It is how we discovered this city. However, we are going to need time to decipher it. The text is written in an old language that very few can read.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat, realizing how dry his mouth had become. The next few words had to be chosen carefully. Feylin technically didn’t need them to decipher the books because they brought the cipher key with them, and even without it, she only needed one of them.

And all of that didn’t change that they were bluffing. Cutter had taken the artifact, the books wouldn’t tell them where she had hidden it nor was there evidence it was even here. Once that became apparent, they were dead.

“You could tear this whole city apart looking for it, but we both know Eber won’t sit idly by while you do so. And Lyndria knows this city far better than you do. There is no shortage of potential hiding spots. We could be standing on it right now and would never know.”

“So decipher the books then,” Feylin said. “You have until the end of the season. Or I’ll rip your heads off and do it my way.”

As they left, William leaned over to Lady Masterson and whispered, “That was genius.”

Lady Masterson whispered back, “When we live through this, then you can tell me if it was genius or not.”