by Keri Arthur
It was loud, sharp, and close.
Then, from the hall beyond the sealed door—and barely audible above the screech of the siren—came the heavy sound of steps and voices. The Mareritt were now out there, and in growing numbers. They mightn’t know the exact location of this stairwell, but it surely wouldn’t take them long to uncover it—not when Randal’s blood pooled on the stone, giving them some idea of direction
“May Túxn help us,” Loretta muttered as she finished tying the ends of the sling around Randal’s neck.
“If Túxn won’t, maybe the drakkons will,” Randal said. “Let’s just pray to the gods of earth and air that the damn jammers work.”
If they didn’t, our gooses were cooked. And quite literally, if the drakkons were unleashed on us.
After jabbing a final needle into Randal’s shoulder, Loretta packed up and then helped him rise. Randal’s face was ashen, but his expression was pure determination.
“Nara, go,” Kaiden said. “I’ll take rear.”
Loretta opened her mouth as if to argue, then shut it again as Kaiden’s steely gaze met hers. I raced up the narrow steps, taking them two and three at a time, the flashlight’s pale glow catching the specks of quartz in the old bluestone and making it seem as if distant stars surrounded us.
We were eight spirals up when, after a massive bang, the stairwell shuddered and stone dust rose around us, a thick cloud that caught in my throat and made me cough.
“And that would be the Mareritt blasting open the wall.” Kaiden’s voice was matter-of-fact. “Go faster.”
The chase was now on, and the knowledge sent fresh energy to my legs. But my lungs were burning, and each breath was little more than a short, sharp, rasp. I was flight fit rather than fighting fit, and that difference was beginning to tell.
The siren cut out, and the silence was eerie. It didn’t last long. Footsteps echoed up the stairwell—not just one or two, but at least a dozen, if not more. And they were moving a whole lot faster than we were.
Fire surged to my fingertips and cast a bloody glow across the immediate shadows. “Kaiden, do you want me to—”
“No—the narrowness of the stairwell will restrict them to a one-by-one formation. Conventional weapons will cope with that just fine.”
“Unless they’re planning to sandwich us between two forces.” Randal’s comment was little more than a wheeze.
“Given they blew open the wall to get in here, it’s unlikely they know where it exits.” I crossed mental fingers even as I said that.
The stairs got narrower the higher we went, but there seemed to be no end in sight. My heart hammered so hard I swore it was about to tear out of my chest, and the burst of energy had left my legs.
I kept going. I had no other choice.
“How much longer do we have?” It came out a hoarse whisper, but Kaiden nevertheless heard it.
“One minute. How much farther?”
“Unknown.”
“Will the Mareritt react against the drakkons when they realize they’re not obeying orders?”
“I wouldn’t think so. Over half their force currently roosts in the aerie—they couldn’t afford to lose that many drakkons.”
But even as I said that, dread rose. What they couldn’t afford was to lose that many drakkons to us. The Mareritt were bloody-minded enough to consider culling over half their “stock” a far better option.
I silently reached for Oma. The second the jammers go online, I want you to order the drakkons to kill the Mareritt guarding them.
Have. Make easier for you.
I smiled, but it quickly faded as my foot slipped and I went down, smashing my knee on the edge of the stone step. Pain shuddered through me, but I pushed up and limped on.
The Mareritt below were closing in—fast. There was no time to stop and inspect the damage. I could walk; that was all that mattered right now.
You close, Kiva said.
How can you tell?
Ineke hears you, Oma replied. Once there, safe.
Not necessarily. Not if the jammers didn’t work and the Mareritt attacked with both drakkon and gunfire. And they surely would have been warned about my use of flame by now. Given they had an aerie full of drakkons who hated them, they must have developed a means of coping with “accidental” flaming incidents. They’d already proven they could contain my fires.
Will be there, Oma said. Will flame any who attempt to hurt.
It’s not safe for you to be there until the jammers—
I cut the thought off as another siren sounded—this time three short blasts followed by one long.
“Our three-pronged attack just hit them,” Kaiden said through the ear comm. “And jammer one is now online.”
“And jammer one is?” Anxiety made the comment sharp.
“Middle Arleeon.” He paused. “Harrod’s just got his up and working.”
Oma? I immediately said. The jammers just—
Know, she said. The Mareritt ordered drakkons to sky. Ineke and others crisped them instead.
And the male drakkons? How did they respond to suddenly being free of the Mareritt?
Are confused. Will listen, though.
Good. The smell of smoke and burned flesh touched the air. I raised the flashlight but couldn’t see any indication of a door, despite the fact both the drakkons and my nose were telling me we were close.
Unfortunately, the Mareritt chasing us were even closer.
A sharp burst of gunfire bit through the noise echoing up the stairwell; bullets pinged off the walls and sparks flew.
“Run,” Kaiden said, even as he stopped and swung off his backpack.
I bolted up the steep steps, keeping a grip on the central support in an effort to stop another fall. The musk of the drakkons sharpened. We were close. So close.
There was another explosion, and the shaking in the stone under our feet grew more violent. This time, it wasn’t just dust that rained down but also chunks of stone. I flung my free hand over my head in a vague effort at protection and raced on.
The steps finally gave away to a ramp that rose up to another stone doorway. I lunged for the lever and hauled it down. For a second, nothing happened; then, with an almost human-sounding groan, the door began to open. But slowly. Far too slowly. I thrust my weight against it to hasten the process; a heartbeat later, Loretta joined me.
When the gap was wide enough to squeeze through, I said, “Wait here,” and went in.
The only thing moving in the aerie were the ashen remains of the guards caught in the breeze that swirled through the main chamber. The drakkons watched me with varying degrees of interest but made no move toward me. My gaze swept the rest of the vast space, and my stomach twisted even as something deep in my soul rejoiced. This place was home, perhaps even more so than Zephrine itself. I’d spent so much of my time here as a newly chosen teenager, not only getting to know and understand Emri but also learning to ride. There’d been many times—especially during the winter months, when the heavy snows fell and the path down to the city became unusable—when I’d slept here for two or three or even more nights, safely curled up against Emri’s neck and kept toasty warm by her body heat.
I swallowed heavily and tried to concentrate on the present rather than the wash of memories. Lights now dotted the walls, an electric glow that gave the stone a deep and bloody shimmer. There were also metal pipes running across the chamber’s ceiling, with round water taps attached at regular intervals. I guessed that was one way to deal with the threat of fire, though how it helped against drakkon fire—which could cinder in an instant—I had no idea.
The twelve rooms that ran off the main chamber—areas of deeper warmth in which eggs could safely hatch—were also lit, although only one appeared to have hatchlings within. Oma was positioned close to the main entrance on the right-hand side of the chamber. From there, she’d be able to see the entire city. To my left was the secondary entrance, which overlooked the Black Claw Sea. Kiva waited
just inside the arch, her scales glistening in the moonlight.
The drakkon standing closest to me shifted, and it was then I spotted the thick, heavy chains around her leg. My gaze shot to the others—every drakkon here was similarly chained, which meant their movements were restricted to a space little bigger than their bodies. I glanced across to the room holding the drakklings; if they’d also been chained, it could have dire consequences for their development.
Drakklings have no chains, Oma said, fury in her mental tones. Just bands. Is very wrong.
Yes. But it also wasn’t surprising given it was the only way the Mareritt had any hope of controlling them. Even though drakklings weren’t capable of fire at such a young age, they could tear off a limb or two.
I took a deep breath, then pressed the ear comms and said, “The area is secure.”
Although how long it would remain that way once the Mareritt in the stairwell realized the exit led into the aerie was anyone’s guess.
Loretta stepped into the chamber and was quickly followed by Randal and Kaiden. As the two men pushed their weight against the door to close it again, she said, her eyes wide, “Are you sure it’s safe? Because there’s a whole lot of drakkon flesh in here, and none of them are looking too friendly.”
“As long as the jammers hold, we’re—”
I cut the sentence off as gunfire rattled. Bullets pinged off the wall near my head and sparks flew. I flung fire through the door’s decreasing gap and then threw my weight against it. Once it had slammed shut, Randal stepped back and shot the lock to pieces.
“I doubt that’s going to hold them for long.” His voice was grim, his expression even grimmer.
“The drakkons will take care of them when they do break through,” I said. “The bigger problem—”
Something ticks within wall, a drakkon cut in. Mareritt retreat.
Fear twisted my gut. There could be only one reason for the Mareritt to be moving away from the door. “Everybody run—now.”
We scattered, but I’d barely gone more than a few yards when, with a muffled whoomph, the door and part of the wall exploded. The force sent me flying even as rocks and deadly shards of stone sprayed through the chamber. A drakkon screamed in fury and pain, and then heat rippled across the air. I twisted around and saw a deadly stream of fire crisping the first wave of Mareritt coming up the ramp. Whether they realized it was a drakkon or not, I couldn’t say because, a heartbeat later, a small round object bounced into the room.
Grenade.
I swore, scrambled upright, and ran. Saw, out of the corner of my eye, the injured drakkon twist around and hit the grenade with the tip of her tail. It hurtled back into the stairwell and exploded. As more dirt and stone plumed into the aerie, there was a deepening rumble followed by a series of crashes and another thick cloud of debris.
“Soldiers, report.” Kaiden’s voice crackled in my ear.
I wiggled the ear comm and said, “Here, and fine.”
“Also fine,” Loretta said.
There was no response from Randal.
I pushed to my feet and quickly looked around. After a second, I spotted him. The force of the explosion had flung him halfway across the chamber. He’d landed face-first, and while that might have been survivable, the huge stone lying across his back and shoulders was not. The weight of it would have crushed him in an instant.
I briefly closed my eyes and said a silent prayer for the soldier I’d barely known. And hoped no more would follow him into the next life, even though I knew it was an impossible ask. Freedom was rarely won without blood being shed.
I hobbled across the chamber and joined Kaiden near the breach point. The ramp and the first few stair turns were gone. I gripped the wall’s broken edge and leaned a little farther out; there was nothing more than a deep drop into darkness. The other two explosions had obviously weakened the structure enough that the final grenade had caused a collapse.
“At least they won’t be using this access point any time soon.” Kaiden glanced at me. “How many others are there?”
“There’s the vehicle access up from Zephrine and at least three other stair points which they may or may not know about.”
“That’s not something we dare count on.” He swung off his pack and pulled a lockpick out of the front pocket. “Will the drakkons warn you if they hear anyone approaching?”
I nodded. “You undo the chains. I’ll tackle the control bands with the knife.”
I spun around and hobbled across to the one who’d saved us all.
Mareritt move up main path, Oma said.
Warn us when they get halfway.
The drakkon bobbed her head at me, as if in deference, and then said, Am Ineke.
She was the drakkon who’d warned me of the ticking. We owe you a great debt, Ineke. Your actions saved our lives.
You free us, she replied. Even.
I smiled and ducked under her wing. The thick silver chain that constrained her movements had been looped around her leg and sat just above the control band. Given how new the chain looked, I had to wonder if this was a response to me freeing Oma and Kiva.
While Kaiden worked on the chain, I unlocked the control band, then pulled the knifelike shards of stone out of her chest. Thankfully, the wounds were neither deep nor dangerous.
Once she was freed, Ineke shuffled away from the wall and us, then rose to her full height and bugled. It was a high, fierce sound filled with joy, but it was also a declaration of intent.
The drakkons were going to war.
Not for us.
For vengeance.
One by one, we released the other drakkons. One by one, they stepped into the center of the chamber and joined their voices to Ineke’s. The deafening sound had fire boiling through my veins and the fierce need to fight quivering through my body.
I clenched my fists against the urgency beating through my soul and said, Oma, what happens?
Tanks come.
Which suggested they were now planning to destroy the aerie. I swore and walked across to Kaiden.
“What?” he said immediately. Once I repeated what Oma had said, he added, “What’s our best option for getting out of here? One of the hidden stairwells?”
“It’ll take too long to get back down to Zephrine on foot. We need transportation.” I held up a hand to cut off his question and silently added, Oma, how many drakklings are there here?
Two, she said. One egg.
Can you ask the males and one of the smaller drakkons to fly them across to Black Claw and keep them safe?
There was a pause, then, Done. The others?
I hesitated. Now that the Mareritt knew we were here, getting to a bunker situated deep in the White Zone would be nigh on impossible on foot or in a vehicle.
Which left us with one option.
Kiva, are you willing to carry Kaiden?
Can, she grumbled. But flame after?
Yes. Ineke, are you also willing to carry someone?
Not done before, she said, doubt in her mental tone.
Just keep on an even keel and don’t make any sudden movements.
Will.
Thanks. Oma, tell the other drakkons to use the main entrance and take out those tanks as they sweep down.
The drakkons bugled in response and the sound echoed off the walls. I motioned Kaiden and Loretta out of their way and, as the drakkons raised their wings and hurried toward the main entrance, said, “The quickest way out of here is via drakkon back. Kiva and Ineke have volunteered to carry you both down to the bunker—”
“Has the wind stolen your wits?” Loretta cut in. “Neither of us are damn drakkon riders. There’s no way known—”
“You won’t fall off—not if you hang on properly.”
“Like I wouldn’t be?” Her tone was alarmed. “And you’re forgetting one major problem—these drakkons are half the size of the ones you’re used to riding.”
Half size, Kiva grumbled, but still strong.
&n
bsp; “Kiva carried both Kaiden and me in Esan. Ineke is almost the same size, so she won’t have any problem with your weight.”
Loretta’s expression suggested she wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t argue any further. The roar of the drakkons rose from beyond the cavern and was followed swiftly by a number of explosions. The tanks, I guessed, and crossed mental fingers that none of the drakkons had been hurt in the process.
I helped Loretta mount Ineke, showing her where to sit and what to hold even as Kiva gave Ineke some advice on how to fly with “lump on back,” as she ever so politely put it.
Once I repeated the process with Kaiden, I climbed onto Oma. She rose on her hind legs, her wings flapping hard, sending my hair flying across my face as her battle cry rang out across the night.
It was both a warning to the Mareritt and a signal to the other drakkons that we were coming.
She launched off the ledge and plummeted down. I held on tight, well used to the sensation of falling, a big grin on my face despite the danger we were flying into. This was what I was born to do. This was where I was meant to be.
Oma gained control of our descent and our flight evened out. From behind us came a long, drawn-out scream—Ineke had just dived off the edge. Kiva followed, and once they’d caught up, we flew in V-formation through the pass. Far below, tanks burned; others were moving back down the path. Either they realized it was now pointless to attack the aerie or they were being relocated to other battles.
We swept past Zephrine’s old gates and over the rebuilt fortress. The layout remained the same, though most of the buildings were topped with earth or stone rather than the metal sheets that had been prominent in my time. Portions of the main city beyond the fortress were also familiar, but there were many other buildings—vast ones that stretched on for blocks—that were new. Some of those were already alight, and there were plenty of Mareritt on the ground; some were scrambling to put out the fires while others raised weapons. Bullets zinged through the air in ever-increasing numbers, presenting a danger to fragile wing membranes. I gripped onto the front spine plate and ordered Oma higher. She immediately swept up, her wings pumping hard as she fought to rise beyond the range of the bullets.
