Gash waited on the outskirts of that desert a long time for Edge, convinced that he would return, but the young dragon rider never did make it to that rendezvous. In the end Gash knew that he could not ignore the needs of his people, and he resolved that they should leave.

Standing alone in the desert, Gash closed his eyes; he was unable to admit to himself that Edge was truly gone. In the silence, a strange sound seemed to come down from the winds, though, if only for a moment; a sound like the beating of a dragon’s wings. But Gash was still alone, staring into the blue light of the sky.