Starfinder

THE WAY THINGS HAVE TO BE

THE NEXT MORNING, MOTH and Fiona awoke with the sun. Merceron stood nearby, guarding them from a platform on the library tower. His drooping expression told Moth he’d been awake the whole night. He nudged Moth with his tail, trying to smile but failing to manage it.

“No time for breakfast,” he said softly. “We need to get moving.”

He turned away, his look distracted as he scanned the sky. So far, things had been quiet. If they were lucky, the Redeemers would leave them alone until nightfall.

“They never fly during the day,” Merceron had explained. “The Skylords won’t allow it.”

That single, curious statement remained with Moth all night. He dreamed about it, his sleep filled with fitful night-mares of being chased and captured, of becoming one of them. Even then—even with his own wings—the Skylords would keep him from flying.

He and Fiona gathered their things and climbed once more onto Merceron’s back. Merceron hadn’t told them where they’d be going, only that he might know where his beloved Dreojen was hiding. In the early days of the war, he explained, he and Dreojen had scouted out aeries in the cliffs where they could hide. Finding her was a terrible long shot, but with the dragons gone and the Redeemers chasing them, it was the only chance they had.

With the children on his back and Lady Esme at his tail, Merceron leaped from the tower with a sickening lurch. The sun felt warm on Moth’s face, but he knew he’d soon be shivering from the wind. He tucked himself down against Merceron’s powerful body, wishing desperately for sleep.

They flew on northward, following the river again, the river that never ended. And then they were falling, gliding down gently to the earth, and Moth didn’t know why. Merceron flared his wings and landed by the river, his claws alighting on the soft, loamy bank.

“Nice!” joked Fiona. “We’re there already?”

Merceron smiled but didn’t laugh. “Unbuckle yourselves,” he said.

They did as he asked, sliding off his back and looking up at him inquisitively. Lady Esme circled overhead, as surprised as they were by the abrupt landing. Merceron’s enormous head sank on his shoulders.

“Moth, Fiona…” His voice broke. “I need you to give me the Starfinder now.”

Confused, Moth reached into his coat. “Okay. Why?”

He handed the device off to Merceron, who cradled it in his giant claw.

“What’s going on?” asked Fiona. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re going on,” said Merceron. “Without me.” He sneered at the Starfinder. “Without this.”

Moth was incredulous. “What? We can’t go on by ourselves, Merceron. How are we supposed to find the other dragons?”

“You can’t,” said Merceron. “I’m going to find them alone. You’re going to Pandera. The Valley of the Centaurs.”

“By ourselves?” Moth’s head was really spinning now. “How?”

“It’s a two-day walk from here,” said Merceron. “Just follow the river. Pandera is surrounded by mountains. Once you clear these trees you’ll see them. The river flows right underneath the mountain. It’s a tight squeeze, but you can make it.”

“That’s crazy!” said Fiona. “You’re going to just leave us out here? What about those creatures?”

Merceron hefted the Starfinder. “If I don’t take this away they’ll find you for sure,” he said. “It’s the Starfinder they really want. They’ll be coming for it now.”

“Oh, my god,” sighed Fiona. “That’s why you told them your name! That’s why you want the Skylords to know you’re back—so they’ll chase you instead of us.”

“You’ll be safe with the centaurs,” said Merceron. His words fumbled with emotion. “The Skylords won’t bother you there, and the centaurs won’t give you up easily. They’re arrogant, but they’re brave. Remember I told you that?”

“What about you?” asked Moth. He could feel himself starting to panic. “Where will you go?”

“To find Dreojen, if I can. Esme will come with me. This is still about getting her back to normal, Moth. It’s what I owe her.” The dragon lowered himself to look right into Moth’s face. “I’ll be back for you when I can. Stay with the centaurs until then.”

“Merceron, I can’t,” choked Moth. “I can’t be alone anymore. There’s so much I still want to tell you. About Leroux. About me!”

“You’ll not be alone, boy! You’ll have Fiona. And I’m not abandoning you. I’ll be back, I swear it.”

Fiona’s face hardened. “Oh, it’s so easy for you. It’s so bloody simple for all of you to just walk away.”

Merceron shook his head. “No, it’s not. It’s just the way things have to be.”

“Merceron, no,” pleaded Moth.

“If the Redeemers find you they’ll take you back to the Skylords,” said Merceron. “And the Skylords won’t hesitate because you’re children. They’ll enslave you both. And they’ll get the Starfinder.”

“But they’ll kill you!” Moth cried.

“They will try,” admitted Merceron. “But I’m not easily killed, boy. I am a dragon!” He smiled at Fiona. “And you, girl—you’re the older one. You take care of him, hear me? And if you feel afraid, play that game you taught me. The one where you remember the best things in life.”

“I’ll take care of him,” said Fiona coldly. “I’m not going to leave like everybody else.”

Merceron’s long tail came around them both. Moth could feel it trembling as it hugged them. “Dragons live a very long time,” he said, “so they choose their friends carefully. They never forget them. Or leave them behind.”

Fiona bit her lip, then reached out to touch his face. “Crazy old dragon,” she said.

Moth felt empty. “Follow the river,” he whispered. He just couldn’t say good-bye.

“Follow the river,” echoed the dragon. “And remember—you are my friends.”