“Spirit Dragon and Water Dragon,” the air elemental said. It looked like a barely-contained whirling tornado with arms. “Why are you here?”
“We’ve come to discuss an alliance,” I said.
The fire elemental leaned back in its chair, its body made entirely of flames and radiating heat. “Why would we want such a thing?”
“Because you want the same things we do—to rid of the world of the current Dragons and restore peace between humans and elementals.”
“We tried peace before,” the water elemental said, with the body of an upside-down tear that shifted like waves. “In your grandmother’s time. It didn’t work.”
“That was a long time ago, and it might have worked if not for the shades and the Black Dragon. I think it’s time we tried again. Or at the very least, let us unite against our common enemies for a short time.” I stepped forward and glanced between each of them, putting my heart into my words and hoping they heard my sincerity. “Humans and elementals do not have to be enemies. We’re more alike than anyone realizes, and we can learn so much from each other. When I become the next Spirit Dragon, I will be an advocate for both humans and elementals. I only want peace and balance—that’s the task the Gods have given me.”
“We’ve heard a tale of how you saved one of my kind,” the rock elemental spoke up. Like the one I’d rescued, it resembled a giant boulder more than anything, except it had arms and legs. “We owe you a debt, which is why you were allowed to arrive in Divine Isle unharmed. No other human has been so honored in hundreds of years. But that does not mean we trust you.”
“I’d like to hear her proposal,” the air elemental said.
“A battle will be held at the Spirit Temple on the day of the Fall Equinox. The goal is for my mates and I to get inside the temple, defeat the current Dragons, and take their place. We’re looking for allies to fight with us, as we know the other Dragons will have the support of the shades and much of the Onyx Army.”
“An impossible battle,” the fire elemental said. “You will all be destroyed.”
The water elemental waved a fluid hand at the fire elemental, as if trying to shush it, before turning back to me. “Who will fight by your side?”
“The Resistance,” I said. “And soldiers from the Air Realm.” Probably.
“The Assassin’s Guild has agreed to join us as well,” Reven added.
“We’re also contacting others who might be willing to assist us.” I decided it was better not to mention they were bandits. “But we fear it won’t be enough, especially against the shades. Not without the aid of the elementals.”
The rock elemental crossed its arms. “What you ask is too much. Many of our kind would perish.”
“And how many more will perish if things continue as they are?” Reven asked. “The humans, shades, and Dragons all see your kind as an enemy, something that should be wiped out from the world. By helping us, you will begin to change the minds of humans, and remove the Dragons and the shades from power.”
“I don’t want to put anyone in danger,” I said. “But this is the only way to stop the Dragons for good. The Gods choose me and my mates to do this, but we need your help.” I swallowed, then added, “Please. For the good of the world.”
The elementals began speaking to each other in their strange language, while Reven and I waited. It was clear they were arguing by the raised voices and frantic gestures, but we didn’t understand any of it. The earth elemental’s grumble made the floors vibrate like an earthquake, while the fire elemental flared so hot it made us step back. The water elemental whipped its arms about, sending cold droplets across the room, while the air elemental’s passionate words made our hair and clothes fly back.
When the elementals calmed, they all fixed their glowing us on us again. “We cannot help you,” the rock elemental said, its voice low and final.
My heart sank. I’d really thought they would agree to help us. After all, we wanted the same things, or so I’d thought. Without the elementals, I wasn’t sure if we would stand a chance.
“We cannot get involved in the affairs of humans,” the fire elemental said. “Especially when there is no obvious benefit to our kind.”
The water elemental nodded. “If you succeed, we will speak to you of a potential alliance then. If not, then none of this will matter anyway.”
“But the outcome of this battle affects all of your kind too!” I said. “You can’t stand by and do nothing while the world slips further and further into darkness. This is your chance to help bring back balance and peace, for both humans and elementals alike.”
“We have given you our answer,” the air elemental said. “It’s time for you to leave our lands.”
“But—”
Reven took my arm. “Come on, Kira. They’ve made their decision.”
I drew in a shaky breath, trying to accept that I had failed. I wanted to yell at them, beg them to help us, plead with them to reconsider, or whatever it would take, but I knew they wouldn’t change their minds. The division between humans and elementals was too strong and too old. I’d been a fool to think I could end hundreds of years of conflict so quickly. I’d hoped they would see that we could change, and that I was different from my mother, but they couldn’t.
But I was different from her. Even if the elementals wouldn’t help us, I wouldn’t stop fighting for peace. As long as I survived what was to come.
26
Slade
Kira should have been back by now.
I stared at the horizon in the direction I imagined she would arrive from on the back of a dark blue dragon. Sometimes I thought I saw something, but it was just a bird. It was always a bird.
Auric clasped a hand over my shoulder. “She’ll be okay. Reven is with her.”
“We don’t know that.”
I’d been the first to arrive in Clayridge after we’d all set out on our different tasks. Jasin had arrived a day later, with Auric showing up two days after that. And then…we’d waited.
“I can sense them both through the bond,” Auric said. “If they were in danger, we’d know it.”
“They should have been here by now.” I couldn’t keep the scowl off my face. I didn’t like being separated from Kira and not being able to see for myself she was safe.
“Come, the hour grows late, and your mother has prepared another feast for us. Staring at the sky isn’t going to bring Kira back any faster.” He gestured toward the house behind us, where I’d grown up. Warm, hearty smells drifted out of the open windows, beckoning us inside.
“Fine,” I grumbled, as I started to turn away. Except from the corner of my eye I spotted something, which made me pause. Another bird, most likely.
Except it was too big for a bird.
“Wait,” I said. “What is that?”
We both watched the black speck in the sky as it grew closer. Definitely not a bird.
“It’s Reven!” Auric said.
“How can you tell it’s him and not Doran?”
“Reven’s scales are a darker blue.”
I grunted in response as we watched the dragon fly closer, growing larger with each second. When I saw the two people on his back, I could finally breathe easier. As soon as Reven landed, Kira leaped off his back and rushed toward us. I caught her in my arms and squeezed her close, while Auric hugged her from behind.
“I’m so happy to see you both,” she said, as we held her between us.
Auric stroked her hair. “It’s been far too long.”
“We were getting worried about you,” I said, pressing my forehead against hers.
“Sorry, it took us longer than expected due to some bad weather, plus we had to go around Soulspire…”
Jasin ran out of the inn and swept Kira up in his arms and spun her around, while she laughed. They shared a few words, while Doran hopped off Reven’s back. The older man gave us all a nod, but his face was tight.
“I’ll be at the inn,” Doran said. “Meet
me there tomorrow for breakfast so we can go over everything and begin your next round of training.” He strode off into the dark town after that, without bothering to ask where the inn was.
“What’s his problem?” Jasin asked.
Reven changed into his human form and walked toward us. “He’s been like that ever since we got to Divine Isle, where the elementals live.”
“What happened?” Auric asked.
“It’s a long story,” Kira said. “Is that food I smell? I’m starving.”
I took her arm in mine. “Come inside. My mother has cooked way more food than any of us can eat and would be happy to see you.”
As soon as we stepped inside, Brin and Leni jumped to their feet. “Kira!” Brin said. The three women exchanged hugs, and then Brin patted the seat next to her. “Sit down and eat. We must hear about where you’ve been.”
“Not before saying hello to me.” My mother rushed forward and grabbed Kira in a tight squeeze. “It’s so good to see you again, dear.”
“And you, Yena,” Kira said, placing a kiss on my mother’s cheek. “The food smells wonderful, as usual.”
“Now you can sit,” my mother said, with a laugh. “Leni, help me bring everything out for our guests.”
Leni jumped up and ran to the kitchen, then returned with a giant roasted turkey that Jasin had caught us earlier. I began carving it, while they brought out more food—potatoes, onions, peas, and bread—along with tankards of ale.
While we all dug in, Kira told us about her encounter with the elementals, including the beauty of the island, the grandness of their capital, and the disappointment of their refusal to help.
Jasin clenched his fist tightly around his tankard. “I can’t believe they said no. Don’t they realize that we want to help them too?”
“They want to stay neutral and see what happens,” Auric said. “They probably consider it the safest thing to do for their people.”
“Cowards,” Jasin muttered.
“It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” I said. “We’ll do the best we can without them.”
We took a few minutes to load our plates and eat, before Jasin asked, “What’s going on with Doran?”
Kira sighed. “He’s been distant and grumpy ever since Reven found us. He’s upset we don’t trust him and thinks he could have done a better job convincing the elementals to join us. Maybe he’s right, I don’t know.”
“He’s not,” Reven said. “The elementals hate the other Dragons. If he’d been with you, they wouldn’t have spoken to you at all.”
“Perhaps.” She drew in a long breath and gazed across the table at me and Auric. “Please tell me the rest of us you had better luck.”
“We did,” Auric said. “My father agreed to send troops from the Air Realm’s division of the Onyx Army, along with plenty of supplies. My brother Garet will be leading them.”
“Thank the Gods,” Kira said, closing her eyes briefly. “And what of the others?”
Jasin took a sip of his ale. “Cadock took a lot of convincing, but he finally agreed in exchange for his people being pardoned of all their crimes and given positions in your new government or military.”
Kira raised her eyebrows. “I’m surprised he agreed at all. I’m sure we can figure something out for them.”
“The Assassin’s Guild has agreed to fight with us as well,” Reven told us. “For a fee, naturally.”
“That’s good news,” Auric said.
“The Resistance is willing to help, of course,” I said. “Although they have fewer people than they did before due to the fight at Salt Creek Tower. However, they’re sending messages to their other bases and expect a lot more people to join. Especially now that rumors have become widespread about a second group of Dragons.”
“Is that so?” Kira asked.
“The Resistance have been spreading them,” Leni said. “All thanks to Brin.”
Brin nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “People need something to fight for, a cause to rally behind. Tales of how you’ve fought the Dragons are spreading like wildfire. You’re already becoming legendary. I expect more people are joining the fight against the Dragons every day.”
“Yes, but did you have to go with those names?” Jasin asked, arching a brow. “Ruby Dragon, really?”
Brin laughed. “Trust me, people love them. It sounds regal, like you were meant to rule.”
“It could be worse,” Leni said. “They could call you the Pink Dragon.”
“My scales are not even close to pink!” Jasin said.
“What are they calling me?” Reven asked, as he tore off a piece of bread.
“The Sapphire Dragon,” Auric said. “I’m Citrine, and Slade is Emerald.”
Reven made a face. “I don’t remember agreeing to that.”
Leni grinned, clearly enjoying every second of this. “Too bad. The names have spread now, and you’re stuck with them.”
I began ticking off a list on my fingers. “So we’ll have people from the Resistance, the Air Realm’s army, the bandits, and the Assassin’s Guild. Will it be enough?”
“Oh, and Calla and her priests,” Auric added. “They’re still in Stormhaven under the protection of my father, but they wanted to help us.”
“Good,” Kira said. “It will be useful to have another magic user there. Especially against the shades. I don’t know if it will be enough, not without the elementals, but it will have to do.”
“There’s one thing that might help,” I said. “While we waited for you, we’ve been working on imbuing our weapons with magic. I think we’ve mastered it now, and we can do your sword tomorrow.”
“Yes, look at this.” Jasin stood up, moved back from the table, and pulled out his sword. The blade lit up on fire, making Kira gasp.
“We did it to all our weapons,” Auric explained.
Reven leaned forward, his eyes intrigued. “Can you do my swords too?”
“Yes, I can,” I said. “And now that you’re here, we can enchant Kira’s sword too, with all four elements. We’ll get started tomorrow.”
“How long do you think you’ll be in town?” my mother asked.
“About a week,” Kira said.
My mother sighed, but nodded. “Well, I wish it were longer, but I know you have important things to do. It’s just so good having all my children back in Clayridge.” She wrapped her arm around Leni and gave her a squeeze, before turning back to us with a smile. “And you too, Kira. All of you, really. It’s been a delight getting to know Auric and Jasin the last few days, and I’m sure you’re just as lovely, Reven. You’re all family now.”
Reven shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable, while Kira’s cheeks flushed. I reached over to take her hand and gave it a squeeze. I’d once worried my family would never accept our relationship or this situation, but my mother had treated Kira like my betrothed and the other men as if they were my brothers. I knew she worried about us and the upcoming battle, but she believed in us and in our destiny. I couldn’t ask for anything more…except that we make it through the battle alive.
27
Kira
We met with my father in the morning to go over everything the others had learned on their journey and to discuss strategy. After that, my mates and I went to Slade’s old forge, which was now run by his cousin, Noren.
The blacksmith’s shop was open on one side, allowing smoke to billow out. I leaned against a tree as I watched my men work. Slade enchanted Reven’s twin swords first, until they gleamed with a thin coat of sharp, deadly ice.
Slade walked over to me. “We’re ready for your sword now.”
I pulled my blade out of its sheath. Auric had bought it for me early in our adventures, and it was still the nicest thing I owned. It also fit my hand perfectly, the weight and balance exactly suited for my size.
I chewed on my lip as I handed it to him. “You’re sure this will work?”
He nodded. “Trust me. I’ve done t
his to all of our weapons now.”
“Yes, but you only did one element then.”
“I’m confident it will work. If not, I’ll make you a new sword. I promise.”
He returned to the forge, where he heated up the metal in my blade. I squirmed as it turned red-hot, and that’s when he placed it on a slab between my four mates. They stood in a circle around it, holding hands with each other, their eyes closed. Nothing happened at first, and I worried all of this was for nothing, but then I felt the magic growing. Fire danced across the sword before sinking into it. A gust of air swirled around it, and the blade absorbed that too, followed by a ripple of water that turned to ice, cooling the sword down. The metal hardened and shifted color, becoming lighter and stronger.
When the men stepped back and opened their eyes, my sword emitted a faint silver glow. Slade picked it up and presented it to me.
“A sword fit for the Silver Dragon,” he said.
I wrapped my hand around the hilt and was struck by the powerful magic running through it. All four elements were in there, acting as one. I held the blade up to the sunlight and it flashed bright silver.
Yes, this was a sword that could take down Dragons.
* * *
While the men practiced using their enchanted weapons against each other, I sat on an old tree trunk and ate some dried fruit. My sword lay across my lap, but I was hesitant to use it against my mates now for fearing of truly hurting them.
Doran leaned against a tree beside me, making me jump. I hadn’t heard him approach. Sometimes he was a little too much like Reven, sneaking about like that.
“Nice sword,” he said. “Can I see it?”
“Of course.” I handed it to him before popping a dried apricot in my mouth.
He held it up, testing the weight, catching the light. When he held it, the silvery glow dimmed, as if it only reacted strongly to my magic. He gave a few practice swipes at the air, and then he grunted. “Not bad. Now the real test.”
Ride The Wave: Her Elemental Dragons Book Four Page 12
