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  He was doing a lot better thanks to her medical care, and that made her proud. She could tell how he was doing by the look in his eyes. Right now, his eyes troubled her. He was devising a plan.

  “What are we going to do with him?” she asked Almor.

  “That’s not my concern. It was your decision to take him with us.”

  “But he’s going to turn the dragon against me.”

  Almor’s indifferent shrug infuriated Lilith. “Tell me what to do!”

  “I’ve already told you, but you didn’t want to listen. If you want me to, I can still…”

  Lilith shook her head adamantly.

  “I still don’t understand what you want with him.” Almor walked up to Seraph.

  “It’s not too late to turn back, Lilith,” the Purified man said. “You tricked the dragons, so that the…”

  Almor gagged him. Seraph groaned.

  During their journey, Almor had suggested several times to push Seraph off the sledge and leave him behind. Lilith was the only one who had been given food by the Inuuk. It would have been enough for her and the dogs, but now that she had to share, supplies were dwindling. Most times, Lilith gave Seraph a few bites of her own portion, because she didn’t want to argue with her father. His disapproval hurt. Nevertheless, she was convinced that she was doing the right thing. She had no right to punish Seraph by taking his life.

  “Who does have the right to punish him?” Almor had asked a while ago.

  She had shrugged and harnessed the dogs.

  But in the meantime she had come up with an answer. “The Inuuk get to punish him. If you bring him to them, I’ll go on by myself.”

  “Not a chance. I’m not leaving you alone with a creature that has more than enough reasons to be angry with you. I first want to know what he’s like.”

  “As if you can protect me from a dragon,” Lilith muttered and brought the flute to her lips.

  Almor came to stand in front of her. His face looked grim. “You should be glad that I’m willing to try. You finally have someone who’s on your side.”

  Lilith felt her cheeks turn red. She nodded timidly. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  Almor nodded. “It’s time to call the dragon.”

  Lilith blew the flute a few times, all the while staring at the horizon. Deep down, Lilith had expected the dragon to turn up at the first note, and she was disappointed when that didn’t happen.

  “This is not the right place. I told you that we had to go further, didn’t I?”

  “And what is that then?”

  Lilith followed her father’s outstretched finger. A shadow was blocking the sun. As it grew, its shape became recognizable. Slowly beating its wings, the dragon came flying towards them with his white scales reflecting the sunlight. Lilith protected her eyes against the bright light, and stared into the distance. At long last she was going to meet another dragon. Shivering, she reached for her father’s hand.

  The dragon slowed down. The wind, caused by his wings, blew back Lilith’s hood. The dragon dropped something onto the snow before he landed. It was a dead polar bear. Lilith swallowed. It was hard to look away from the dead animal. Then she saw the claws of the white dragon. They were red with blood. Her gaze moved upwards.

  The fearsome creature towered over her. Underneath his scales his muscles were moving restlessly, as if he could attack at any moment. His light eyes were regarding her suspiciously. The oval shape of his eyes made his gaze all the more threatening. The hornlike spikes on his head were trembling.

  “Don’t squeeze so hard,” Almor whispered beside her.

  Lilith let go of his hand, and Almor put his arm around her shoulders.

  The dragon frowned when he noticed Seraph. “What are you doing here?” he finally asked.

  Some of the dogs whimpered. Lilith looked over her shoulder but dismissed any plan to escape. Even though she was convinced that she had made a mistake, she had to persevere.

  “Maybe you can help us.” Lilith took off her goggles.

  The dragon’s eyes flared up. “Are the Inuuk at war again?” he asked.

  Lilith shook her head. It was too late to offer protection to the villagers. “I want to learn what it’s like to be a dragon. Niul sent me to you.”

  He tilted his head and squinted. “Who are you?”

  “My daughter’s name is Lilith,” said Almor. “I’m Almor, son of Mosh-Ra. Maybe you knew her?”

  “You’re the dragon from Naftalia,” the creature concluded.

  Lilith nodded timidly. She had thought of so many scenarios, but in none of them had she considered the possibility that he would know immediately who she was. She wondered if this was a good sign or not. The look in his eyes didn’t tell her much; both curiosity and anger flared up in them.

  The dragon looked at Seraph again. Before he could say anything, Almor interjected: “He attacked us, so we took him captive. Lilith wanted to take him with us.”

  “Why do you need my help?” the dragon asked.

  “Two sorcerers want to use me in their war, because I’m a shapeshifter. If I go back, I’ll fall into their hands again.”

  The dragon frowned. Then he nodded. “You intrigue me. Follow me. I’ll show you where I live.”

  He jumped and took off. His tail spurted snow into the air. His sharp claws left behind deep imprints in the snow. Lilith and Almor got onto their sledges and followed the dragon that skimmed over the plain. His wings only just missed the ground, and the wind blew snow into Lilith’s face.

  All of a sudden, the dragon went straight up into the sky, tumbled on his way down, and disappeared from sight. “Where did he go?” Lilith yelled at Almor.

  Her father’s answer was blown away by the wind. Lilith was afraid that they had lost the dragon forever, so she spurred on her dogs. In the meantime, she scanned the horizon.

  Lilith was catapulted forwards and the handle of the sledge rammed into her stomach, when the dogs came to a sudden halt. Straight across the plain there was a huge crack in the ice into which the dragon had disappeared. Snow was whirling down the crack. The dogs took a few steps back, and Lilith jumped off the sledge.

  She inched forwards to the edge of the crack. The crack wasn’t all that wide where she was standing, but further down it opened up. As the cave grew deeper, the colour of the ice changed from light blue into the colour of the night.

  Almor walked up to her and pointed at a ledge along the wall that trailed down into the deep.

  “Is that the only way?” Lilith asked as she looked around. The ledge was barely wide enough for two feet and soon disappeared from sight because of the fanciful shapes of the cavern. Next to the ledge there was a dark line where the ice plummeted into the deep.

  She turned around with a sigh and walked back to the sledge.

  “What are you doing?” Almor asked as she undid the ropes that tied Seraph to the sledge.

  “We can’t leave him out here.”

  Almor pulled her hands away. “He can’t come with us. You’ll give him the perfect opportunity for revenge.”

  “But if he stays here, he’ll die of the cold.”

  “The only thing he wants to do is avenge Nander. He’ll do anything in his power to push me down that ledge. Or you. Because he knows that will hurt me even more.”

  Seraph was eagerly listening in on their conversation. Lilith knew that her father was right.

  “In that case, we tie him to ourselves. If he pushes us down, we’ll take him with us.”

  “Think, child!” Almor said in a stern voice. “The only thing he lives for is revenge. His own death won’t stop him.”

  Almor dragged her away from the sledge and led her towards the crack in the ice. Lilith looked back one more time, but because her father was pushing her, she was the first one to start the descent. Almor had released the dogs and they were following them.

  Slowly, they glided down. There was nothing for Lilith to hold on to. To her left there was nothing but
a dark, unfathomable depth. Lilith looked up, but again dismissed the urge to escape. She stooped to pass underneath an overhanging piece of ice. Behind it, there was a narrow tunnel. In the distance, the light grew brighter again.

  Lilith screamed as her foot slipped and she fell. She slid down faster and faster. She tried to grab onto something but her fingers couldn’t find any purchase on the ice. Her body gained so much momentum that she spun around and crashed into the icy wall. She opened her eyes. She was in a small space with two exits. Disoriented by the fall, Lilith had no idea through which passage she had come.

  “Lilith!”

  She heard the panic in her father’s voice. Then she heard cursing.

  “I’m fine! No need to rush,” she called to him.

  She crawled towards one of the passages. The tunnel was dark, and she could only see the beginning. Lilith inspected the other passage. It was lighter, but Lilith couldn’t tell from which passage she had come.

  She heard another curse. And then her father came sliding into the hole.

  “I’m glad you’re all right.” Almor hugged her.

  “We have to go on,” said Lilith, shrugging him off.

  Lilith led the way through the small opening. The passageway in front of her was higher, so she could stand up straight. The path rose slightly. Pressing her body against the two smooth walls, she worked her forwards.

  Pretty soon, they left the tunnel behind them. High in the sky, the sun shone on the massive expanse of ice in front of them. Lilith’s eyes took some time to adjust to the light, but soon she spotted the wide cave. It was the only tunnel that was big enough for the dragon. She grabbed her father’s arm and walked on. Imiq led the way. After a while, they saw a big open space. Orange light emanated from a lantern. The dragon was waiting for them in the middle of the room.

  Lilith had to take at least fifty steps to walk up to him. The dragon stared at her. Lilith smiled warily.

  “Where’s your prisoner?” he asked.

  “We had to leave him behind,” Almor answered. “He would have pushed us off the ledge.”

  “Now he’ll die.”

  Lilith nodded. “Unfortunately, there was no other way.”

  “I’ll pick him up.” The dragon rose to his feet and walked into the tunnel.

  “Wait!” Lilith called after him. “I’d like to talk to you first.”

  The dragon turned around. “I’ll be right back. Then we can talk.” He disappeared before Lilith could say anything else.

  She lowered herself to the floor and put her hands over her eyes.

  Lilith looked up when the dragon entered the room. Seraph was walking beside the dragon. The expression on his face, showing both contempt and pride, spoke volumes. The expression on the dragon’s face was just as revealing; the ice-blue eyes shone with hatred.

  “You bring me a dragon slayer,” the dragon growled. The muscles underneath his scales quivered.

  Almor jumped up and ran towards Seraph. “If anyone in this room is a dragon slayer, it’s you,” he said, brandishing his knife. “You robbed my daughter of her life!”

  The dragon knocked Almor to the ground. Seraph shrugged and didn’t say anything.

  “Tell him how you abducted Lilith when she was only seventeen days old!” Almor shouted, as he crawled back up and ran towards Seraph again.

  Lilith ran after him and seized his wrist. “Please, calm down.”

  Seraph stood motionless beside the dragon, with a smile on his lips. “Why don’t you tell lord Az-Zhara that you ordered your daughter to kill me and that she almost complied?”

  Almor tried to break free, causing Lilith to fall on her knees. Az-Zhara stared at the bloodstains on Lilith’s clothes and then gazed at Almor’s swollen eye. The dragon was looking increasingly furious.

  Lilith remained on her knees, searching for the right words. She didn’t, however, get a chance to say anything. Az-Zhara flexed the muscles in his claw. His nails drew tracks in the ice. Then he lashed out. Lilith fell, and everything went black. When the darkness had faded, she felt his claw on her chest. The sharp point of his nail was piercing her throat just below her jaw. She didn’t even dare to breathe. Almor was lying a bit further away. Apparently, he had been knocked off his feet during the dragon’s outburst as well. Groaning, he sat up, but was smart enough not to come any closer and infuriate Az-Zhara even more.

  “Killing them is indeed the only right choice,” Seraph encouraged the dragon. “It’s a just punishment for all they have done.”

  “Wouldn’t you like that,” Lilith whispered. “Yet another person to do your dirty work, just like you made me take your revenge on the Naftalians.”

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You know perfectly well. I shouldn’t have spared your life. That was a big mistake.”

  It was the first time that Lilith regretted her decision. If Seraph hadn’t been here, she might have had a chance to explain to Az-Zhara what had happened. She clenched her fists. If she got the chance, she would kill him after all. And she’d enjoy it.

  Lilith shivered.

  “Why do you believe him?” Almor asked Az-Zhara.

  “Seraph’s story sounds perfectly credible. You are using your daughter, a dragonshifter, to take revenge on the people who have Purified you.”

  Lilith shook her head. “Almor didn’t do that. Seraph did.”

  She was, however, drowned out by Almor.

  “I haven’t been Purified,” he shouted with a touch of triumph in his voice.

  Az-Zhara looked at the scar on Almor’s face. “You carry the signs.”

  “No follower of Margal has touched me.”

  Lilith saw Seraph freeze. Almor nodded at her. “I was the one who maimed my father,” she said to Az-Zhara, while trying to push away his claw. “I was ordered to destroy Tewarsum when my parents lived there. My father survived the attack, but sadly my mother was killed.”

  “Why would she attack me and her mother if I had been the one giving her orders?” Almor added.

  “A nicely cooked up story,” Seraph said.

  Az-Zhara lowered his head towards Lilith and looked at her. His ice cold, stinking breath brushed her cheeks. Lilith averted her head and held her breath. Seconds passed.

  Lilith inhaled and broke the silence. “Seraph and his friend were visiting Tewarsum a few days before I attacked the village. They spoke to my father. I’ve known Seraph since childhood, but I only recently met my father for the first time since I was a baby.”

  Az-Zhara looked at Seraph and Almor. Then he moved away his claw.

  Lilith sat up and rubbed her throat. There was blood on her glove, so she pressed her hand against her throat again. Almor walked up to her.

  “They are distorting the truth,” Seraph yelled with indignation. “Don’t tell me that you believe them!”

  “I need to think about what I’m going to do with you,” said Az-Zhara as he turned his back to Lilith. Seraph looked at Lilith, confusion showing on his face. Then he followed the dragon. Lilith couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it was clear that he was trying to convince Az-Zhara.

  10

  Lilith looked around. Az-Zhara had left without saying anything, and he had taken a few of the dogs with him. Lilith hoped that they wouldn’t meet with the same fate as the polar bear. Luckily, Imiq was still with her. The dog kept close as she always sensed when Lilith was scared. Imiq kept Seraph at bay by growling at him.

  The Purified man had just woken up and was staring at her, again. Now that Az-Zhara was gone, Lilith was even more afraid of Seraph. Fortunately, Almor was prepared to defend her. Still, it would be best if things didn’t lead to a confrontation.

  Lilith’s eyes were drawn to the sparkling wall and she moved closer. Dragons were depicted in the ice with coloured stones. She recognized Az-Zhara among the various species of dragons. He wasn’t the only frost dragon shown on the wall.

  Almor came to stand next to her. He pu
t his hand on her shoulder. Lilith smiled. Almor had predicted that Seraph was going to cause trouble, but he didn’t hold it against her.

  “I’ve never seen anything this beautiful in my life,” Lilith said.

  Almor nodded. “It’s impressive.”

  “Someone who makes such beautiful things must be able to listen to reason, don’t you think?” she asked.

  “Indeed, my reason.” Seraph showed up behind her.

  Lilith clenched her fists. Imiq came to sit next to Lilith. The dog’s presence calmed her. “What are you up to, Seraph?”

  “Nothing. I’d just like to see how Az-Zhara is going to punish you both.” Seraph laughed. “And in the meantime, I’m safe. If you harm me, there’s no way you’ll ever convince Az-Zhara.”

  Almor growled. “I don’t understand why he trusts you.”

  “Well, my father and his father were good friends. Az-Zhara told me he saw me once, but I was still a lovable toddler back then, so I don’t remember it.” Seraph laughed again. “It’s important to cherish old relations.”

  Lilith shook her head. It was worse than she had expected.

  Seraph pointed at Almor’s scar. “It all worked out even better than I had planned. Of course, I can see the difference between my scar and yours, but to an outsider they look the same. Have you noticed how they look away, Almor? That it’s too painful for them to look at your scar? Therefore, they’ll never be able to tell the difference.” He had sounded bitter, but now he was grinning. “There’s justice in the fact that you’ve been marked as well. And to think that it was your own daughter who executed the sentence. Now you know what I went through. In one night you had your family taken from you and you were maimed. Now you know what I had to endure.”

  “Margal also took my mother from me!” Almor yelled. “The Goddess tortured you. It wasn’t me. Why did you choose me…?” He shook his head.

  Lilith scrutinized Seraph. “Because he couldn’t get over the fact that you escaped the pain when he couldn’t. The fact that you were spared and he wasn’t, made him feel inferior to you.”