Shadow’s Wrath (Demon Generals Book 1)

by Gia Tsiknas

  Aidrian watched as the remnants fell to the ground. He grinned. “I will get my answers.”

  He melted into the dark opening; a shadow in the night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  COUNCIL

  Machi stiffened as she drew closer to the great doors that led to the council chamber. The butterflies in her stomach felt like miniature dragons on a stampede.

  Nervous? Anget whispered.

  Machi forced herself to keep looking forward, so the guards wouldn’t be tipped off to their mental conversation. She still couldn’t figure out why she needed guards to walk to the council room, and yet they were unnecessary to keep her in an unlocked room.

  Not at all. She lied. You?

  Not a chance!

  Machi chuckled as she felt his emotions. The butterflies in his stomach were dragons at war. He was terrified.

  Don’t worry. Machi felt herself growing more and more protective over Anget. She was still wary of the depth of her connection with him.

  I should say that. Anget complained.

  I said it first! Machi argued, trying to distract the young dragon.

  No fair!

  Machi almost slammed into the flank of one guard. He had stopped when she wasn’t paying attention.

  “You will enter with your introducer.” One guard grunted.

  “I am her introducer.” Icham walked up.

  The guards jerked their heads back but held their tongues and bowed. Machi and Icham walked into the Council chamber.

  “No problem.” Machi faked a confident smile. “I just convince a room full of bloodthirsty dragons not to eat me, I can deal.”

  Icham chuckled. “You remind me of Yue the more I spend time with you.”

  Machi flushed.

  As they reached their podium Machi had to focus to keep her mouth from dropping open. The two of them stood in the center ring of a massive coliseum. The ceiling stretched so far up Machi wasn’t sure there even was a ceiling. Another podium stood in the lowered center of the circle to their right. Two dragons stood beside it, looking angry. One was a soft blue and the other a tan color from the gray end of the spectrum.

  Machi knew from Icham that they had already told the audience their own argument, before both she and Icham had entered. They had a leg up, but Machi wasn’t one to lose a battle, even one of words. Machi squared her shoulders and glared at the surrounding dragons. The coliseum could fit twenty times more than were in the hall. Most were older, but there were a handful Drina’s size. Machi didn’t see any the size of Anget.

  Machi and Icham bowed to their opponents, and the council, as custom demanded, and the dragons bowed back.

  Icham cleared his voice and started speaking. “It is my understanding that we are here under the pretense that the offender is a spy using an illusion to gain access to our stronghold.”

  “Correct,” A faded green dragon with a long mustache said.

  “I shall proceed with the introduction.” Icham filled his lungs. Now that the traditional opening of the Council was complete, their defense would begin. “The main question of this Council is based on the assumption that this human is an outsider, but has anyone given thought to this main issue? I presume that the offended has given arguments of sound judgment about our aversion of outsiders. However, before you stands a Drakian, and so their arguments are invalid to this Council. This human is, in fact, no spy and has been wrongfully accused. She is a welcome member of our society.”

  He paused. A murmur rang through the crowd.

  “This human is Machi, daughter of Yue, my bonded.”

  The offended roared in challenge. They hadn’t planned on this defense. A blood rite couldn’t be disputed.

  “Quiet!” The mustache dragon said. The place fell silent. “I hope you have sufficient evidence for this claim.”

  “I do.” Icham seemed pleased with the turn of events.

  “Very well, then proceed.”

  Icham coughed, clearing his throat. The audience was in the palm of his hands. “Therefore we should ask ourselves. What is the offense? Machi has a right to come and go, just as her ancestors before her.” Icham bowed and stepped back.

  A rumble filled the hall as the dragons whispered to each other in alarm.

  Relax, I will guide your words, child.

  A knot loosened in Machi’s chest.

  The offended stepped forward. “We have not shown you this possibility because we—“

  “Enough!” The mustached dragon snarled. “You have had your say and sufficient time to cover all contingencies. Now it is the offenders’ chance to build their case.”

  The dragon fell silent. Machi smirked.

  “Step forward, Machi.” The mustached dragon beckoned to the open podium.

  Machi stepped up to it and sighed. “I am who Icham says I am. I was born in Aguden to Yue and have been in hiding ever since…” The words were thick on Machi’s tongue.

  What if they didn’t believe her? What if they called her a liar? She glanced to Icham, her panic crystallizing into anger. Why was she standing here, bandying words while Brizna struggled to survive? Why did she have to convince them she belonged? She didn’t need them, not these cowards.

  Machi glared into the hall, the fiery red of her eyes entrancing the watching dragons. She opened her mouth and snarled. “Shadow take me, you all are spineless snakes!”

  The dragons roared in offense, but Machi ignored them. She glared at the mustached dragon and pointed an accusing finger.

  “You ask me what I’m doing here. Well, I can’t give you a straight answer even if I wanted to. You act like I’m a disease for showing up on your doorstep then left the door unlocked to my cell. You treat me like a criminal because I found you by accident. Then you tell me to stand before a group of you and talk about why you shouldn’t kill me? You have got to be kidding! If I was a spy, I wouldn’t be standing here. I’d have gotten what I came here for and left within the day. Even if I don’t know why I’m here, I know I’m not supposed to be standing here swapping stories like a common midwife!”

  Machi paced back and forth in front of them like a panther waiting to be turned loose. Icham held his breath as all eyes were on her.

  “My mom was Yue. So what? It shouldn’t matter whether I’m related or have wings or if I’m a flying pig. You are supposed to be Raboni’s followers. And I see little following! You are supposed to love people, no matter what prejudice there is. You are supposed to be out there.” Machi jerked a hand toward the exit. “Not here cooped up and squabbling with yourselves like hens, deciding if you should possibly welcome a relation.”

  She turned back to the mustached dragon, her hair whipping as her anger stirred the surrounding air.

  “Stuff your rules and procedures. That means nothing if you don’t love. And believe me, you should be ashamed that I’m the one saying this. I’ve killed people for money for years!”

  The silence rang in the hall as Machi paused. No one moved; no one breathed. But Machi was not done. Her voice echoed in the chamber.

  “You left your bonded because you were scared. You call that event the Betrayal. It was. You betrayed your bonded. And because of your cowardice we’re stuck here, bickering. Instead of mourning the past get up and do something.”

  Machi’s voice dropped to a hiss. “Because the past is worth nothing, if you don’t learn from it.”

  Machi turned and marched out of the Council chamber, livid at the dragons for being so cowardly, but terrified of their answer. The guards were so shocked they let her go through. Machi was walking down the hall when Drina galloped toward her full speed.

  “Did it go well?” She asked.

  “It was something, at least.”

  Drina tilted her head then shook it. “Well, we have to go back.”

  “Why?” Machi wasn’t looking forward to returning.

  “The Chained Man is here!” Drina sprinted back to the council chamber.

  “Splendid!” Machi�
��s cry dripped in sarcasm. “If I stay, they may or may not kill me for my impudence and if I go, we may or may not die at the hands of the Chained Man. Perfect!”

  I thought your little rant was inspiring. Raboni laughed.

  Machi groaned and stalked towards her cell. Once she got to the open door Anget caught her.

  “Where did you go? The Council just ended and called you back, but you were nowhere.”

  Machi rolled her eyes. “I just got here Anget. Humans take a little longer walking to places.”

  Anget sniffed. “Whatever, we still need to go back.”

  A cold shiver ran down her spine. Machi blinked. Her eyes darted about the hallway. It was empty, the shadows flickering off the walls as the line of torches lit the path.

  Machi narrowed her eyes, sending out a thin mist of magic from her hands, trying to find what couldn’t be seen. It crept down the hallway to the cell and vanished.

  She spun and marched toward the Council chamber, grabbing Anget by the horn and trying to pull him along.

  “Yeah, let’s go. Now.”

  “What’s wrong, Machi?” Anget didn’t fight her, picking up on her anxiety.

  “Don’t ask. Just move.” She snapped. Machi kept glancing around the shadowed hallway, but she heard nothing and saw nothing. She continued to stretch out her magical sense, but every time it bled down the hallway it vanished sending new urgency into Machi’s steps.

  Anget grumbled and followed. Machi almost let out an audible sigh of relief when the double doors and dragon guards came into view.

  “Hello, little Drakian.” Aidrian’s breath tickled her ear.

  She cursed.

  With a bang the Council room doors slammed open and magic threw Machi into the room. She tumbled to her feet, but her ankle landed hard, and it hurt to move. Machi’s shield of magic faded. She glanced at the two guards. They were unconscious from the blast of magic. If she had been a moment slower…

  Anget stood dazed in the doorway. He had been between Machi and the blast. The lingering Council members froze, staring. Besides Drina and Icham, there were only a handful of dragons left in the chamber, including the mustached dragon.

  Aidrian’s crazed laughter spilled into the room, filling the deafening silence.

  He entered, his dead, milky eyes trained on Machi.

  “Hey now, hey now. Do you realize how much trouble you put me through?”

  “Not as much as I’d hoped. How did you find me?” Machi growled.

  Ulokhu materialized at Aidrian’s side, mangy and feral as ever. “Ulokhu here has this fascinating ability, you see. He can track any of my lovely obsessions wherever they go.”

  “Sounds petty, Aidrian, having a dog track for a dog.” Her voice steeled. “Where is your master hiding?”

  The dragons in the room started to move. Machi couldn’t spare the time to roll her eyes. Took you long enough.

  The mustached dragon hustled everyone from the room. Drina and Icham were too far from the door to escape unnoticed. Disgust soured Machi’s stomach. She would have no help from her captors.

  “Oh, goody, that means I don’t have to explain!” He crossed his arms and shook his head. “I do so hate explaining.”

  Machi felt for her swords, but they were back in the cell. Their plan for the Council was to make her as least threatening as possible, and swords were threatening. She had only smuggled in a palmful of knives. She loosed the two on her forearms and they dropped into her palms.

  Better than nothing. She eyed Aidrian’s drawn sword. But not much.

  “Then why the friendly chat? You could have taken me in the hallway.”

  Aidrian froze, a warring expression riddling his face. Ulokhu growled and nudged his leg but Aidrian lashed out.

  He’s fighting his beast. Realization sparked in Machi’s mind as she surveyed the odd scene.

  A flash of red scales told her Anget was creeping up on Aidrian’s back. His anger was rising, and Machi realized that Anget recognized Aidrian from her memories. She bit her lip and called to him. Don’t you dare attack him. You’re no match. Get Icham and Drina and get going.

  Anget bristled. Shut up! He’s a puny human, and he hurt you!

  Yeah, yeah. I can handle him, you’ll be in the way. Saiya’s warning rang in her thoughts. Pulling far more strength than she ever thought she possessed, Machi pushed Anget from her mind. She couldn’t let him get hurt. Not like Brizna.

  Anget hesitated, but his naïve trust wouldn’t allow him to doubt his bonded.

  Ok, but I’ll be back.

  Machi smiled, touched by his concern. She circled Aidrian as he bickered with Ulokhu.

  Wait for my distraction, then run.

  Anget nodded and slunk back away from Aidrian. Machi flapped her wings hard to get off her feet and launched forward, skimming the ground. She veered up and launched a two-footed kick at his head.

  Ulokhu growled, and Aidrian spun to face Machi’s attack. Even as distracted as he was Aidrian ducked to the side and Machi’s feet hit the ground. She winced but used her momentum to leap airborne again.

  “Took a visit to Den. It’s not nice to skip out on friends.” Aidrian kept glancing at her wings, a look of recognition and confusion warring his features.

  Machi’s mind reeled. Lua!

  Don’t fear, child, she is unharmed. Raboni whispered.

  Machi took a breath, focusing back on the fight. She dove again, drawing Aidrian’s gaze in the opposite direction of the cornered dragons.

  Aidrian shook his head as if he was trying to remember something, but he shrugged and started conjuring spears of ice.

  “Come on down here, little birdy.”

  Machi dodged the first ice spear, but the next was right behind it and she barely moved in time.

  Come on, Anget, get them out of here. Machi risked a glance and saw Anget leading Icham away. Drina was frozen, staring at Aidrian. Another spear grazed her.

  Machi dove at Aidrian again, slashing at his neck, but she missed.

  Grinning, Aidrian grabbed her leg as it passed and threw her against the wall, sending her crashing to the floor.

  Machi gasped for breath as she lay in a heap. Ulokhu had skulked off during her flight, and she did not know where the dog could be. She tried to stand, but her ankle refused to hold her weight. She gritted her teeth and launched airborne yet again.

  Something unexpected. Come on, think! Machi swerved around more ice spears and cursed. I’m too focused on flying. I can’t concentrate on magic.

  Machi flapped hard, aiming for the ceiling.

  Higher.

  It stretched on and on. Her wings ached from her crash.

  Higher.

  Her lungs screamed as the air thinned.

  She folded her wings and closed her eyes. The wind whistled as she plummeted.

  She poured all her focus to her magic.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAINS

  Drina stared at the Chained Man. Joy and terror filled her in equal parts, but she couldn’t move.

  He drew her.

  He repelled her.

  Get a grip. She told herself. Move.

  Drina had watched in amazement at the volley of cold, harsh words Machi and the Chained Man spewed. From what she had learned from the elders Machi had inspired them all with her tongue. Now she was like a demon herself, frigid and terrifying.

  She couldn’t stand it.

  Drina bolted, passing Anget at the doorway. She couldn’t watch the cold, foreign man that stood before her.

  He can’t be. He can’t be. Her heart wrenched. But he is.

  Drina lifted her head and breathed in the air through her nostrils, filtering the smells to find the one who would help, who would understand. Finding it she took off.

  Please don’t be too late.

  ***

  Anget’s head swam with visions and snippets of the battle. He had to lead Icham and Drina away, but Drina refused to move. Anget left her and got Icham out
of the Council chamber. He was heading back for her now. Anget reached the Council door only to have Drina streak by him.

  Ungrateful— Anget’s words caught in his throat.

  He watched as Machi’s wings crumpled high above the chamber floor and she plummeted to the ground. Anget roared. His bonded was in danger.

  He had to reach her.

  The Chained Man was cursing as he slashed at ice that grew around his ankles, but Anget ignored him. With a snap Anget spread his wings and surged forward leaping towards his bonded. He meant to swoop in and barrel roll, catching Machi with his forepaws before flipping back and soaring away.

  He had done this before as they played through the canyons sheltered in their keep, but never in so close of an area. And never catching something falling.

  His serpentine body sliced through the air and he completed the first flip, catching Machi. But in her surprise she flailed, knocking his wings with hers, and he couldn’t finish the second flip. With a sickening crunch he collided with the wall, breaking one wing, and losing his grip of Machi.

  Pain seared through his mind and he and his bonded screamed. Machi stumbled off of him, turning to the Chained Man, disorientated by his pain. The Chained Man grinned in triumph as he broke the last bit of ice from his boots.

  No, no, no! Anget threw up mental barriers; tried to isolate his pain from Machi, but it wasn’t happening fast enough.

  ***

  Drina skidded to a halt in front of Icham.

  “Help me!” She screamed.

  The elder dragon stumbled, startled by Drina’s sudden shout. His ears swung at the sides of his head, searching for danger.

  “What is it, Drina?” He was having difficulty breathing from his escape. He was too close to the Council room to be safe.

  Anget had left him as soon as they were out of sight of the chamber. Icham couldn’t stop him. Couldn’t see past his own regrets for not being by Yue’s side as she drew her last—.

  No, she will be fine. He turned to the younger dragon, giving his full attention.