It took a month for the dragons who were captive to heal and strengthen. It took another week to prepare every one of them to go home with Otreg and Cam while Zargis and I followed our females. And yet another two weeks to reach Tallanni.
"She's not here," I said, looking around.
Zargis was silent, seeming to sense or smell something. "That girl," he said, pointing to a young slave. "Thelia's scent is coming off her."
We go over and before reaching the slave, a large male blocked her. His eyes glared at us. I wanted to rip him apart, but Zargis said, "We need to ask your slave something. It's urgent."
The male still glared. "You should not be here, dragons." He glanced at something behind us, then gestured for us to follow, grabbing the girl on his way inside his home. I stopped just inside, looking around. "Shut the door, then speak," he ordered.
Zargis did as expected, then sat in a chair, gazing softly at the girl. "I need your help."
She smiled, unaffaid. "I'm always willing to help!"
I couldn't help but smile at her. "We are looking for two girls like you, but who may be traveling with a soldier."
The girl thought then shook her head. "Haven't seen anything like that."
Zargis sighed. I tried. "How about any girl maybe alone and starving? Perhaps bloodied and with some broken bones?"
Both male and girl stiffened. "Who's asking?" the male demanded.
I blinked. "Their mates."
The girl looked first at me, then at Zargis. "Let me see your wings."
Zargis growled. "Why?"
"Do as she says!" The male pulled the slave girl close, protective. "We don't trust without proof!"
Zargis sighed, but took off his shirt and revealed his wings. The girl gasped. She turned to the male and nodded. He grunted and she turned back to us. "Thelia?"
Zargis jumped up. "Yes!"
She smiled. "She said much about you while here."
I furrowed my brows. "She's not here?"
She shook her head. "She left. About a week ago. Said something about a friend needing help. I couldn't help her, but Citron did."
"Why was Citron here?" my king asked.
"Oh! You probably don't know either! Thelia didn't know!" she chirped. "He tells stories of his former slave! He says how strong and brave she is and how she married a king!"
Zargis blinked. "What?"
The girl nodded emphatically. "Yes! And Thelia seemed to know him, because they hugged and she said she needed his help!"
"Do you know where they headed?"
She frowned. "No."
"I do," the male spoke up. "They went north. Towards Sellan."
Zargis thanked them then began to leave. However he stopped at seeing my face. Without turning, he asked, "Did you hear of anything about another girl? Thelia's friend?"
There was complete silence for a long moment. Then the male said, "No." I dropped my head, my heart falling with it. "However I saw Thelia was pulling something on a sled behind her horse."
"Thank you," Zargis whispered.
We left. We exited the town and started on a road.
"She's probably sick?" Zargis thought, trying to get my hopes up.
"She could still ride if she were sick."
He said nothing until we reached a house that had a huge burn mark outside the front door. We went in and looked around. There were four rooms and one had vomit and blood. "Looks like whoever lived here last died of sickness," Zargis commented. I nod and we both go to bed.
The next day, we get into the sky and circle around to stretch our wings when Zargis roared at me. He gestured below and I saw a picture of ashes. In it were the words, Fly home! We will meet you there!
It wasn't Jose's drawing. It wasn't as precise and delicate, but I smiled at the work Thelia put into it.
We flew north.