Part 22 (1/2)

I peered north of the city, but if Templedark Memorial existed anymore, it was too far for me to see. I shook my head and ducked as Acid Breath banked eastward.

It was midmorning by the time buzzing flared in my thoughts.

<this is=”” the=”” place.=””> Going down was just as terrible as going up. The descent made us dip forward, and the impact of landing jarred every bone in my body, but then everything grew deliciously still and I imagined going to sleep in a real bed. Showering with hot water. Not living in a tent.

”Oh no.” Sam swore quietly, making me look up.

Menehem's lab lay in ruins.

23.

ALLIANCE.

MOST OF THE building remained standing, though there were holes in the roof and a tree had fallen on it, leaving one end open to the elements. The cisterns were on the ground, a sheet of ice spreading around them. The solar panels had been damaged beyond repair, and unidentifiable bits of machinery spilled from the door.

”No,” I breathed. ”No, no.” I fumbled for the straps of the harness, struggling to free myself from the ropes gouging into my midsection.

”Wait.” Sam grabbed my hands and held me still. ”Just wait. I'll get it.”

When he released my hands and began unbuckling the harness, I just stared at the ruins of my father's lab and watched as sylph emerged from the forest. They gave a long, melancholy wail as they drifted through the ruins.

”Now.” The harness loosened around me and I shoved the ropes off my shoulders and stomach, shoved aside the blankets, too. Hardly realizing what I was doing, I hopped onto Acid Breath's foreleg and slid down, then ran toward the wreckage.

Inside the building was even worse. There was the kitchen area where Sam and I had burned so many meals because we'd been kissing and lost track of time; now the contents of the cupboards lay scattered on the floor, crushed and spilling open.

There was the screen where I'd watched videos of my father experimenting on sylph; now it was cracked and hollowed out.

There was the sleeping area where Sam had sat next to me one afternoon and, for the first time, told me that he loved me; now the mattress was shredded, its foam and wool like snow on the floor.

In the back, the upper story had collapsed into the lab, crus.h.i.+ng machines and crates filled with Menehem's clothes and old gear. The cracked screen of a data console s.h.i.+mmered in morning light, which shone through holes in the roof and the open mouth of the rear door.

”Ana?” Sam's voice made me turn to find him standing in the doorway, framed by light. ”Are you okay?” He had our bags and my flute case, and behind him I could see Acid Breath peering suspiciously.

<humans live=”” in=”” squalor,=””> he muttered to one of the other dragons.

”Yeah. No.” I shook my head and tried to focus my thoughts around the exhaustion, the shock, and the constant ringing that came whenever dragons were near. ”I wasn't expecting this. But of course Deborl destroyed the lab. Of course.”

”There were earthquakes, too.”

I motioned at the springs ripped from the mattress, the whole thing sliced open like a prize waited inside. ”Some of this was deliberate. And there were drones.”

Sam dropped our backpacks and laid the flute on top, his movements stiff under the dragon's scrutiny. ”It's okay. Come back outside.”

Even as he spoke, the building gave a low groan and shuddered. He was right. It wasn't safe to be in here, not after the earthquakes, too.

I trudged outside to find Stef and Whit off their dragon and removing the harnesses in silence. Buzzing filled my head as Acid Breath studied me.

<you said=”” you=”” had=”” a=”” poison.=”” was=”” it=”” stored=”” here?=””> ”No.” I gazed north, toward the cave where I'd hidden the twenty canisters. ”I'm going to check on it, but it should be safe. The ones who did this wouldn't know where I hid the poison.”

Acid Breath huffed. <then our=”” deal=”” is=”” still=”” on.=”” we=”” will=”” gather=”” an=”” army.=”” where=”” will=”” you=”” be?=””> I gazed around the ruins, snow and ice and metal s.h.i.+ning in the sunlight. ”Here for a little bit, but not long. Maybe a night or two. Then we'll return to the city. We can walk.”

”And if Deborl left someone to watch for us?” Stef asked.

”We'll deal with them if it comes up.”

Sam nudged me. ”The canisters. How will we carry them?”

With four people and twenty canisters as big as my torso, it would be impossible. I'd hoped to have more, though. Twenty . . . I couldn't see how it would be enough.

Acid Breath narrowed his eyes. <take me=”” to=”” the=”” poison.=”” we=”” will=”” leave=”” it=”” outside=”” your=”” city.=””> That could work. ”We'll have to get them into the city somehow.”

Whit nodded. ”And right now we don't even know how we'll get ourselves inside.”

<when will=”” janan=”” ascend?=”” we=”” can=”” bring=”” the=”” canisters=”” into=”” the=”” city=”” when=”” it=”” begins.=””> Sam, Stef, Whit, and I glanced at one another. ”When does Soul Night officially begin?” I asked.

”Sundown.” Sam's voice was low and sober. ”Soul Night begins as soon as the sun sets.”

Eleven more days.

<that is=”” when=”” we=”” will=”” have=”” your=”” canisters=”” ready.=”” where=”” should=”” we=”” put=”” them=”” for=”” now?=”” where=”” should=”” we=”” bring=”” them=”” at=”” sundown?=””> Acid Breath asked.

I glanced at the others for suggestions, but when no one spoke, I said, ”For now, put them in Templedark Memorial. The field of black obelisks.”

<they're all=”” fallen.=””> From the earthquakes. Yes. ”I know. Put the canisters there, anyway. Can you do it at night so no one spots you?”

<they will=”” hear=”” us.=””> ”You can be quick, can't you?”

<yes.> Acid Breath's voice grated in my head.

”Then you'll be fine. The darkness is so they won't see what you're doing. Most people in the city want Janan to ascend. They don't want us to use the poison against him, because they're afraid. They're terrified of the unknowna”what happens if Janan doesn't ascend.”

”They don't know what happens if he does, though,” Whit said.

I nodded. ”But someone they trusta”Deborla”told them it will be good.”

The dragon blinked slowly, and the other two swung their heads around to look at me. <will the=”” other=”” humans=”” try=”” to=”” kill=”” us=”” during=”” the=”” spring=”” equinox?=””> ”Maybe.” Or maybe they'd be too busy with Janan and whatever the cage was for.

”That's what I'd prefer.” Though if he wanted to drown Deborl in a glob of acid, I wouldn't mind.

The dragon's grumble vibrated the ground. <where should=”” we=”” take=”” the=”” poison=”” inside=”” the=”” city?=””> I closed my eyes and thought about what places might be clear, what places would be easy for dragons to reach, while difficult for Deborl and his guards. ”The Councilhouse roof. We can get into the temple from there, release the poison, and duck away quickly.”

”And we'll fly onto the roof?” Whit asked. ”Magically?”

”I'm sure Stef will come up with something.”

Stef sighed and nodded. ”Of course I will.”