by E. L. Todd
Rush gave a slight shake of his head. “Nah, I’m good.”
His eyes narrowed instantly, his hand giving a slight flinch toward the pommel of his sword. “You may be my son, but my patience is limited.”
“So is mine—and I lost my patience for you a long time ago.”
His eyes narrowed even further, his smile gone as well as the arrogance. “You served me for thousands of years. You kept peace in Anastille. You were a general who made your king proud. And you were a son who made his father proud.”
“Killing innocent people and enslaving an innocent race makes you proud? Those are your requirements?”
He took another step, his boot crunching into the dirt.
“I hope you hate me, then—because I hate you.”
His stoic face remained impassive, as if he didn’t hear a word. “You plot to overthrow me? You have no chance—”
“Really? Because you look pretty scared right now. Searching the skies for me. Leaving High Castle and doing the grunt work yourself because everyone else has failed to catch me. You must feel threatened to get off your ass like this.”
His fingers gripped the pommel, and he withdrew the sword from the scabbard, the blue scales singing against the steel as it emerged. “A father should never outlive his son. Nor should he have to execute him.”
“You know, there’s a third option…”
His blue sword hung at his side, his fingers squeezing the handle through his black gloves.
“I’m just as guilty as you are. I’ve committed atrocities I can never take back. No amount of remorse will pay for the blood I’ve spilled. But we can end this now. We can release the dragons and give them the freedom they deserve. We can start over.”
“If dragons were fit to rule, they wouldn’t have handed me the throne. If dragons were meant to be anything more than servants, they wouldn’t have handed me the keys to their kingdom.”
“You’ve been fused with Obsidian all this time—and you feel nothing for him?”
The king’s eyes remained fixed in place—empty inside.
“Then you must feel nothing for me too.”
“The only reason you’re alive is because I allow it.”
Rush released a drawn-out sigh. “That’s sweet, Dad…”
He moved forward again, the distance between them starting to close. “I can’t allow this to continue. Surrender.”
“You’re the one who needs to surrender.”
His fingers gripped the pommel noticeably tighter. “I’ve fought to wound—never to kill. But that’s about to change.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Careful.
Rush bottled his temper. “We don’t have to fight to kill—if you just let this go.”
His deep voice rumbled. “Perhaps you haven’t thought this all the way through. Because if we release our dragons, we die.”
“And we will die as father and son—in peace.”
He gave a subtle shake of his head. “I deserve to live forever. I took that immortality and claimed it as my own. I won’t give it up—not for anyone.”
“Really? Because I think it’s overrated.”
“You just don’t know how to live.”
“I didn’t know how to live—but now, I do.” He unsheathed his sword from his scabbard, stepped forward, and dragged the tip across the dirt, drawing a distinct line in the sand. “The line is officially drawn. Your call. We can fight each other to the death—or you can salvage what’s left of this torn relationship.”
“Our relationship has nothing to do with this—”
“It has everything to do with it. I’m your son—and I’ve pledged my life to fixing all of your destruction. Free dragons are extinct. The elves are isolated in their forest. The dwarves have been overrun by monsters. Everything that made this world pure has been destroyed—by us.” He slammed his hand into his chest. “If you feel anything for me, if family means a damn thing to you, you will join me.”
A long stare ensued.
“No man can be this evil.” He threw his arm down. “Come on, do the right thing here.”
“I already am.” He moved forward, taking several steps as he approached the line that separated them. “You’re too naïve to understand what your king has accomplished, what your father has done for his family. Our world was on fire, and I saved us from ruin. The only reason you’re alive, in more ways than one, is because of me.” His boot stepped on the line and dragged across, dissolving it back into the dirt. “I found us a new home. I saved our race from extinction. I’ve secured enough power that no one could ever oppose us again. You think I’m evil? If I surrendered our power, someone else would take it, and they would do the exact same thing. That’s the nature of this world. That’s the nature of all beings—from elves to dwarves. I watched our world burn behind us as we sailed away, and as long as I’m living, no one can ever take anything from us again. I will live forever. I will rule Anastille forever. No one will change that.” Once the dirt had been returned to what it was, he stepped back. “You’re the one who will join me. You’ve forgotten who you are. You’ve forgotten what you are. Because you’re just like me—blood, flesh, and bone.”
Rush gave a shake of his head, all the blood draining from his heart and dumping into his stomach. There was no chance of reconciliation. There was no chance that they would coexist peacefully. Someone had to die. And even if it wasn’t him, it was still the outcome he didn’t want.
He changed the grip on his sword. “I had a similar phase when I was young. Tired of living in the shade of my father’s mighty oak, I became difficult. Disobedient. Headstrong. Insubordinate. That shared experience is the only reason my blade points at the ground rather than at your throat. I need to enlighten you. Your cause is hopeless. The dwarves are no more. And neither is Eden Star.”
The drumming in Rush’s chest stopped. His pulse went still. Everything went still.
His eyes shifted left and right, reading the words that King Lux projected on his face. “General Noose and the Shamans have taken Eden Star. Your only allies are now my prisoners. As I said before, you have no chance.”
Rush held his sword at his side, except his grip was weak. Despair. Betrayal. Fury. He felt it all at once.
Pretty.
No…
He lies.
Talk to her.
I can’t do two things at once. I need to be here with you.
“You lost, Rush.”
“I don’t believe you. You can’t breach the magic of their forest.”
“I can when I know another way inside.” The arrogant smile was back, coupled with despicable joy in his gaze.
Shit.
How does he know?
Like he’d ever tell.
A growl escaped Flare’s throat. He must burn.
Yes.
King Lux straightened his shoulders as his smile slowly faded. “I will slay my own son—if I must.”
Rush felt new life enter his lungs. The world became clear. His vision expanded, seeing the entire topography of his surroundings, even behind his back where his eyes couldn’t see. Adrenaline pumped into his heart. Strength filled his muscles.
Now he noticed his father’s features in greater detail, the subtle lines in the corners of his eyes from sun exposure, the enormous muscles of his shoulders and arms. The fuse had frozen him in time, making him just ten years older than Rush in bodily form. The man looked more like a brother than a father, but Rush didn’t have the heart for either. His eyes swore an oath to deliver on his threat—and take his life.
I want him dead. But we must flee.
There’s nowhere to go.
He’ll kill us both.
Not if I kill him first.
You have no armor.
I don’t need it.
Rush—
His hand squeezed his sword so tightly he nearly yanked a tendon out of his hand. I end this now—and it’s over for good.
And if he ends us, it�
��s also over for good.
King Lux lunged, swinging his sword with the speed of the wind.
I’m sorry, Rush. Flare came into being, launched into the sky, and beat his wings harder than he ever had.
Obsidian came into being instantly, as if King Lux already knew what would happen.
There’s nowhere to go!
You’re outmatched, Rush. At least I have my scales.
Obsidian is nearly twice your size.
And I’m twice his speed.
I can take him on the ground.
You are thinking with fury—not logic.
Flare flapped his wings and maneuvered, flying as fast as he could toward the Shadow Lands.
Where are you going?
Hiding in the smoke.
The wind had carried the smoke north, the only cover they had.
Obsidian was fast to follow, appearing in the smoke, his massive jaws opening wide then closing right on his tail.
Rooooooooaaaaaar! Flare kicked him in the face with an enormous foot and got his tail free.
Go!
Flare beat his wings and maneuvered out of the way, diving down into the mist then jerking hard to the right.
He’s not messing around this time.
Neither am I. Flare dived then flew back up, never staying in the same position for long, using the smoke cloud as cover. Without sun or starlight, his scales didn’t reflect, and that shielded his red color a bit.
Cliiiiiiiick. Click. Click.
We’ve got company.
I can handle them.
And Obsidian? We have to figure out an escape plan.
The Shadow Lands?
I don’t know anything about that place.
Neither does he.
A Shaman on a steed appeared in the smoke, headed right toward them, his open palm showing the fireball he was about to launch.
Move, move, move!
Flare dived again then soared fast, breaking through the edge of the cloud and emerging on the other side.
Obsidian was there, flying in place, his open mouth giving a direct view of the fire coming down the pipe.
He’s corralling us like sheep.
I’m no sheep. He darted to the right and returned to the cloud, a Shaman whooshing by right across his face. But he is. He flew out the opposite side of the smoke and returned to the clean air, the surface of the mountain still ablaze with the corpses as fuel.
What’s your plan?
Another Shaman emerged in hot pursuit.
That’s Shadow.
How can you tell?
I just can.
The two Shamans were on their tail, and the fireballs began to launch. Flaming orbs of heat passed by in the darkness, the warmth passing across his scales like the force of the sun. They surrounded him in opposite directions, launching across the sky, almost hitting Flare a couple times.
Your plan sucks, Flare.
Just trust me. He continued to dodge the fire, flying low then high, outmaneuvering their throws like he knew exactly when they would launch.
Obsidian’s above you.
Yes. I see him.
Obsidian beat his wings as he remained in place, and then his throat opened to launch his stream of fire.
If you don’t do something right now, we’re toast. No pun intended.
Whether intended or not intended, now isn’t the time for one. Flare dropped down and flew directly beneath the blue dragon, dodging the line of fire and coming back up on the rear. Obsidian began to turn to face his assailant, but his bulky body slowed his movements. Flare seized the opportunity—and bit down on his tail.
Rooooooooaaaaaaar!
That’s your brilliant plan?
No. Flare dodged out of the way again and went straight for a Shaman. His talons reached out, and he yanked the Shaman right off his steed, biting into his hand before the fire could form in his palm. This is.
Shadow launched his fireball to free his comrade.
Flare released the Shaman and let him fall to the ground, his steed nowhere in sight.
Flare dropped too, missing the burning fireball by just a few inches.
The fire soared overhead—and hit Obsidian directly in the wing.
Roooooooaaaaaaar!
Who’s the sheep now? Baaaaaa!
The enormous blue dragon toppled from the sky, unable to carry his massive weight with a broken wing, and he plummeted into the darkness.
Flare…that was badass.
Yes, I know. But we still have to deal with Shadow.
What about the others?
We’ll come back for them. Flare pounded his wings and took off, headed away from the Stronghold and to the valley.
Wait.
Yes?
He’s wounded…
Flare kept going.
I can kill him.
Perhaps. But not with Shadow in the skies.
Take out Shadow. Then we do this.
Are you sure—
Yes.
Flare continued to fly, deliberating in his mind.
This is our chance, Flare.
You don’t have armor—
I don’t need armor! Bastard took Eden Star. Took Cora…
Flare continued to fly, but then he dropped down and turned around. This means we must kill Ashe’s brother…
He’ll understand…it’s necessary.
They entered the smoke once more, surrounded by a gray mist that was harsh on the lungs as well as the eyes.
Where are you, Shadow?
Rush absorbed the landscape, his heart about to burst with adrenaline. The only break in the silence was the flap of Flare’s wings in between his moments of glide. Minutes passed, and there was no sign of him.
Rush spotted him first. He’s behind you. Right on your tail.
Flare whipped around in a flash, pulling his wings flush against his body, and spun around to smack his enormous tail into the cloaked figure. Shaman and steed both gave a shriek before they were launched into the darkness.
Nice shot.
Flare dropped out of the cloud of smoke and opened his wings to catch his fall above the surface, eyes scanning for the enormous blue dragon with blood splashed on the rocks. Most of the fire had been quenched when all the flesh had been consumed, so the majority of them were pyres of smoke. But fires still burned in isolated camps. It lit the landscape—and there was no large blue dragon.
Both scanned the area, eyes piercing the darkness for the shine of blue scales. Their eyes lifted to the skies in the direction of High Castle, searching for the dark silhouette as he retreated.
There was nothing.
He’s changed into his human form so we can’t find him. Flare landed on the ground, his talons digging into the earth. Smoke and ash blew in the breeze, rising up with the flakes of embers.
Rush came forth, marching forward as he pulled the sword out of his scabbard. He gripped it by the pommel and held it at the ready, prepared to slice the blade across his father’s throat and watch him drown in his own blood. “And I’m the coward?” He shouted into the smoke, into the darkness, spit flying from his mouth. “Show your goddamn face so I can kill you! Come on!” He advanced through the rocky terrain, his eyes scanning his surroundings, gripping his sword so tightly his knuckles burned. “Fight me!”
Rush.
“Slay your son!” Angry tears poured down his face, the veins in his temple trying to burst through the flesh that kept them in place. “Do it!”
A gentle hand dropped onto his shoulder, strong fingers gripping him through his shirt.
Rush kept his eyes straight ahead, sucking the smoke into his lungs with every deep breath he took, his fingers loosening their grip on the sword. His eyes remained wet—from the anger, from the smoke, from it all.
Another hand moved to his other shoulder, just as gentle.
Rush dropped the sword on the ground.
Bridge squeezed his shoulder once again. “Come on…let’s go.”
28
Unkingly
Their silhouettes disappeared into the trees, but chaos ensued around her. The smoke in the air was so heavy that every breath drawn caused tired eyes to water, caused her seared throat to cough. Her sword lowered to her side, red like the flames that claimed Eden Star, and her fingers barely clung to the hilt. Her eyes remained on the place where General Noose had vanished, waiting for him to return even though she knew he was gone.
“Cora.” Callon’s strong hand gripped her shoulder and forced her in his direction, so she could see the wildness in his eyes. His forehead was still tense with wrinkles, incapacitated by the mental torture he’d endured before she’d intervened. One shoulder dropped lower than the other, and he carried himself as if physically wounded by a blade. But he had enough energy to scar her with his look. “It is my responsibility to protect the queen—not yours. You were supposed to stay hidden.” Spit flew from his mouth, he was so livid, rage stabbing her face with every look and every word. “How dare you—”
“I’m okay, Callon.” Her hand went to his shoulder, her touch gentle instead of angry like his.
His eyes flicked back and forth.
“I’m right here. Still here.”
The anger immediately receded back into his body. His fingers went limp at the same time.
“You trained me well, Tor-lei.”
His eyes softened in a brand-new way, a way that had never happened before. An involuntary breath took him, the kind that made his eyes water, and not from the smoke. His fingers gripped her shoulder again, and he pulled her into an embrace. His arm locked around her back, and his other hand cupped the back of her head. His breathing grew heavy as he held her, squeezing her like he never wanted to let her go.
“I’m okay…” With her cheek against his chest, she rubbed his back.
He continued to hold her, embrace her longer than he ever had before. “Rein-Lei-Vu, Sor-lei. It means—”
“I know what it means.” Her eyes watered more—and not from the smoke. “Rein-Lei-Vu…”
He held her a moment longer before he pulled away and looked her over with eyes that had regained their command and hardness. But a slight smile formed on his lips. “Between you and me…that was pretty badass.”
