~20~

I am flying over the human lands, towards Cetia, towards Jose. Zargis and Otreg were able to gather fifty other dragons to come with us to save any and all who have been captured. We didn't want to wait for everyone else, however, both Zargis and I knew it would be stupid to go in alone.

I try not to think about what could be happening to Jose right now, try not to imagine her fearful face.

"Land!" Zargis orders. I furrow my brows, look to where he is headed, and felt my heart jump. It was the missing carriage and horses.

I drop to the ground and search inside for Jose, and end up disappointed. Growling, I whip around to see one of the others knelt on the ground, pointing at something. I run over. "Let me see!" I snarl.

They all move away, knowing I was in a dark mood. My heart jumps at the picture I see. It was of the landscape. Again, words were interwoven within, giving us clues to where she was going. "Zargis!"

"What did she say?" he demanded.

"Not Chetia. Further."

"What!"

I hold up a hand, squinting at her words. "Kotaroo. Gideon is pissed. Thelia is still dazed."

Zargis started to pace, frustrated just like I was. "That's another month's flight!"

"What if they have begun moving again?" Otreg asked.

It was a reasonable question, but one neither Zargis or I wanted to contemplate. "Why did they move in the first place?" Zargis growled.

"I think you guys should come see this!" called a soldier.

We walk over and find a vile, empty except for a small amount of red liquid. Beside it was some grass with blood on it. Whose was it? Jose's? Or Thelia's?

I begin to grumble and notice the horses sniffing at something on the ground, find freshly dug dirt. I feel my heart speed up, begin to dig.

Five minutes later, I find a trapped door. I lift it and jump down. Immediately after I turn on a flashlight, I see Jose's mark. I grin and call to the others, following her swirls down path after oath.

Soon, Cam catches up. "Your female is smart."

"That she is," I say.

"Kesar, I think she will be very cunning in how she reacts to what they do. I just hope you know that I believe in her."

I smile at the female. "Thanks, Cam."

We arrive at a steel door that can't be open without a code. It doesn't take long for me to find it hidden in Jose's swirls.

We enter into a hall of cells. I smell urine and shit and vomit and decay. My heart drops as I begin to search.