Gannet knelt and spread a wing low to the ground. Ren was immediately persuaded. A flight on a dragon's back was exhilarating. He hugged both wearlings and told them he would not be away for long. To Goodle, he said, "Guard them with your life." He glanced at Gariffred one last time, then climbed onto Gannet and was lifted away. They had barely crested the hills when Ren knew it was a trap. Two Veng closed in, one on either side of the startled roamer. "Set the boy down," one ordered. Gannet bravely flew on. "My orders were to deliver the boy to Prime Grynt's eyrie." "Your orders have changed," said the Veng. "Gannet, take me back to the cave!" Ren screamed. But the words had barely left his mouth when he felt himself snatched off Gannet's back. The Veng banked swiftly to the right and was gone. As the ground sped by beneath them, Ren could do nothing but tend his anger. But as the Veng pitched sideways again, Ren felt an awareness in his mind that pressed him to look down and not be afraid. Watch. Remember , a voice seemed to say. Her voice. The mother of the wearlings. Grystina. She was often in his mind at moments of danger, trying to encourage him to use his gifts and think like a dragon. Especially so when the Veng changed course and started its swift descent to the ground. They came down over what looked like a quarry, a place dug and burned and scraped and worked, where stones as big as Ren's head and bigger had been tossed aside in giant heaps. A dark spot loomed up. A hole among the rocks with no visible floor. Into this pit the Veng dropped Ren. Excerpted from Dark Wyng by Chris d'Lacey All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
