“No,” Devarius interrupted.
“Devar—”
“No. We will not be collecting blood from the wyverns. It is inhumane. They are our allies, not our livestock.”
“Perhaps we should ask them—”
“I said no.”
“Devarius,” Ellisar interjected.
Devarius faced the leader of the resistance. “There are other ways.”
“What ways?” Ellisar asked. “What other choices do we have?”
“Dragonscales. We’ve collected a bunch of dragonscales. We just need to figure out how to use them, like Naveen has.”
“And how has that worked out for you? Have you found anyone besides Naveen and Fraeyn who can use the scales?”
“No,” Devarius admitted.
They’d carved and cleaned hundreds of dragonscales off the carcass of a dragon, but no one they gave them to had been able to use them. At first they wondered if it was the dragonscales themselves, but when given to Fraeyn or Naveen, they could use them to create fire. It was everyone else who couldn’t use them. Perhaps there was no real magic in the scales.
“We are talking about a matter of life and death here. Whatever we decide, whether it’s humane or not, is going to impact all of us in Saefron. If we choose to do nothing, and all die, then was it worth it?” Ellisar asked.
“What you’re suggesting—”
“Is a chance to defeat the empire here and now. After we defeat them, we can decide what is moral and not. But if we lose, then we will never have that chance. I have collected dragon blood myself, with Alora’s blessing. I had a feeling it could be used for something, but I didn’t know what at the time.”
“You’re no better than the emperor if that’s what you believe,” Devarius spat.
He stood, took a last look with cold eyes at Ellisar, then stormed out of the room.
Devarius wandered the streets, unsure of where to go. He was heated, and frustrated. How could Ellisar call himself noble, fighting for a good cause. What would happen if they defeated the empire and Ellisar were to take the emperor’s place? He claimed to not want power, but peace throughout the land; however, Devarius began to question his actions. Siphoning dragon blood? How could that ever be right?
He walked into the abandoned forge. Crates and crates of vials filled with wyvern oil filled the room. Why did they need blood? They had tons of wyvern oil. Surely they could find a way to better use it. Devarius paused as he looked at all the crates. Was he just as bad as the emperor and Ellisar? He was siphoning wyvern oil from the creatures. It was with their consent, but Ellisar claimed he had dragon blood with his dragon’s consent. Yet, Devarius had stormed out of the room, furious with him anyway.
Footsteps edged close from behind him. Devarius turned around, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Ellisar stood in the room. No one else was with him.
“I’m sorry,” Devarius said.
“I understand your anger, Devarius. I am not happy with this situation either. I don’t want to use these kinds of tactics. But, you have to remember, the emperor will be, and a lot worse. He will do whatever it takes to wipe us out. He won’t even care if he loses his entire army to do it. Because, without us, there is no hope for the rest of Kaeldroga.”
Devarius bent his knees to nearly sit on the ground. His hands were on top of his head, rubbing it furiously. He didn’t know what to do. They weren’t ready to face the Dragonia Empire yet.
Ellisar walked past him to a desk. A wooden vial holder sat on the desk, and a vial of each color of wyvern oil was displayed inside, cork caps protecting the contents. He ran his finger across the outside of each vial. Blue, green, gold, and red.
“I wonder if these have the same effect as dragon blood,” Ellisar whispered.
“What?” Devarius asked.
“This wyvern juice you’ve been milking.”
“I’m not milking it,” Devarius snapped.
Ellisar raised his eyebrows.
“All right, I’m sort of milking it.”
“Do you think it gives abilities like the dragon blood if ingested?”
“I’ve touched it. The fire juice burns, so does the ice—frostbite. I can’t imagine it being safe inside of you.”
“But have you drank it?” Ellisar asked.
“No, and no one else should.”
Ellisar grabbed the blue vial to inspect it closely. He bit his bottom lip and tilted his head.
“No, Ellisar,” Devarius said.
“Why not? It’s worth a try.”
“It would be suicidal.”
“You don’t know that,” Ellisar said.
“I will have no more deaths at my hand,” Devarius said through clenched teeth.
“It wouldn’t be your choice to make.”
Devarius snarled as he stood. He took one last look at Ellisar, who was still inspecting the vial with wonder in his eyes. Devarius stormed past him and out of the room. He would be no part of this. Too many innocent lives had been lost, and Devarius wouldn’t be a part of anything that may harm any more people. He needed air, and a hard drink.
Chapter 32
Vibrations shook through Devarius’ bedroom, knocking him onto the floor. His eyes sprang open. Thunder pounded outside. He got to his feet and slid on his leather armor. Once he secured his scabbard, he rushed out the door.
Flames covered the ground. Bells rang throughout the city. People ran through the streets, many of them clueless about what to do.
They were under attack. Devarius glanced to the sky. Dragons and wyverns flew around each other in circles. They blew elements at each other, but many of them missed. Every now and then, a dragon would lower its neck to look at the ground, and flames would erupt toward the city.
“Ayla,” Devarius called.
Paedyn stepped out of his room across the street. He was still in his nightclothes as he rushed to the center of the road to peer upward. One of the dragons blew fire.
“Paedyn!” Devarius yelled.
Paedyn dove forward, rolling toward Devarius. The flames missed him by inches. Devarius helped him to his feet.
“Are you all right?” Devarius asked.
“Why do they get to make fire?” Paedyn said. “I want to make fire. Pyro! Where are you, you no good coward wyvern!”
A growl echoed along the street. Paedyn turned around to see Pyro inches from him. He grinned at the wyvern. “Oh, there are you. Are you ready for flames?”
Paedyn climbed onto Pyro, and the two of them flew into the sky. Devarius rolled his eyes. His friend was foolish, he’d always known that, but to fly into the sky without even donning armor was pure lunacy.
Ayla dropped to the ground in front of Devarius. The groom had her saddled and ready to ride.
Hello, little one.
“Are you ready?” Devarius asked.
Quite.
Devarius climbed onto Ayla’s saddle and secured himself before patting her side. She ran forward five long steps, then leapt into the air. They soared into the sky to join the fight.
Devarius looked down, and shivers traveled along his spine. He’d been flying Ayla for a long while now, but he never got used to being so high up. Devarius had hoped the battle wouldn’t start so soon—it’d only been three days since bringing Naveen back. He’d known it was coming though. The anticipation had been killing him. Now it was over, all the long waiting was finished. The war had begun.
Arrows soared into the sky. Ayla dipped to her left, then right to dodge them. Devarius held on tight. He wondered how much the arrows were helping, and how much they were a hindrance. The arrows crashed into the underbelly of a dragon and bounced off. Ayla had to shift again to avoid them.
“Come on,” Devarius said through clenched teeth. “Use the oil!”
Ayla arched upward, and all the blood rushed to Devarius’ head. He held on tight as his head began to spin. Ayla twirled in circles to her left, making him even more dizzy. Fire blazed all around them. Finally, Ayla evene
d out, then blazed ice from her mouth. The blue mist hit one of the dragon’s wings. Its mobility suffered as it tried to balance itself with one usable wing. Ayla flew closer. She reached her claws out to grab the frozen wing. Her claws tore into the wing, and her teeth bit a large piece of flesh from the dragon.
The dragon snarled, turned its head around, and snapped at Ayla. She tried to escape, but the dragon’s talons wrapped around her leg. Devarius unsheathed his sword. The dragon’s mouth leaned in, its jaws wide, heading toward Ayla’s throat. Devarius waited. When the dragon’s head was close enough, he jumped up, thrusting his sword into the dragon’s open mouth. The sword penetrated its flesh and pierced through its snout right between the eyes. It released its grip on Ayla. Devarius dropped back into his saddle, groaning as the impact to his groin hurt him. Ayla dove, then spiraled to the side to escape the falling dragon. She flew higher, and the two of them watched as the dragon dropped to the ground.
Thanks.
Devarius smiled. “Who’s next?”
They scanned the battle below them. The empire was coming in strong. At a quick glance, Devarius counted more than a hundred dragonriders. He wondered how many dragonriders the empire had.
Wood rattled in the distance, and Devarius turned to glance the other direction. The army outside the gate of Saefron was loosing arrows into the city, and they gathered around the gate.
“Ayla, fly to the gate!”
Ayla didn’t ask questions. She obeyed. Once they were close enough, she ceased flapping her wings and glided in the wind current.
More than a hundred strong men held a thick tree trunk in their hands, and they continued to bash it into the gate. They reared back, then ran forward, over and over again. The echoing wood rattled.
“We need to do something, Ayla. I don’t know how much longer the gate will hold!”
Oil?
Devarius patted his chest pocket. “Yes.” He scratched his chin. “Which vial should I use?”
Depends. How well can you aim?
Devarius grinned. “Well enough.”
Green.
“Green?” he asked.
Acid burns through wood.
“Right. We’ll need a distraction. They have two dragonriders guarding the gate. Any suggestions?”
Paedyn.
Devarius laughed. “Can you reach him?”
Ayla closed her eyes and went silent for nearly a minute. Her eyes opened and she nodded.
“Did you reach him?”
Before she could answer, a massive wyvern dove from overhead to levitate in front of them.
“I am told a distraction is needed. Do not fret, do not fear, Paedyn is here.”
Devarius chuckled.
“What’s the plan, boss?”
“Boss?”
“You do have a plan, don’t you? I mean, what kind of person doesn’t have a plan?”
“You,” Devarius said.
Paedyn shrugged. “Well, I don’t count.”
“We need to protect the gate. I need you to distract those two dragonriders protecting them. Ayla and I will sneak in as you’re distracting them to destroy all the tree trunks they have prepared to bash our gate in.”
“One question,” Paedyn said.
“Yes?”
“Can I use fire?”
“I would expect nothing less from you,” Devarius said.
“One more question.”
“What?” Devarius sighed.
“If this works, can I get a toy boat?”
Devarius rolled his eyes.
“What? You told me I could get a toy boat ages ago.”
“I will make you a toy boat myself!” Devarius said.
Paedyn frowned. “It better be a good one.”
Devarius shook his head.
Paedyn grinned, then he and his wyvern flew off into the distance.
Devarius watched as Paedyn flew away. True to his style, Paedyn wasted no time in angling his wyvern down to begin blazing fire on the edges of the gate entrance. They slipped through the two dragons and blew another blast of fire, making flames burn on each side of the men with the tree trunk. Several of the men grew scared and ran away. More took their place. Some of the men who ran were struck down by their own captain, which caused the rest of them to press on. They slammed against the gate again.
Paedyn and Pyro flew high up into the sky, blazing fire all the while. The two dragons chased after him. Pyro made rings of fire in the air, then flew through them, doing loops and spins all the while. They looked like a circus act.
Ayla dove toward the men attempting to breach the gate. She opened her mouth and sent a blaze of icy mist over all the men, causing all of them to turn a light blue with frostbite. Ayla flew past them, then circled back around.
Devarius held his vial ready, and as she slowed, he dropped it. Two seconds went by before it shattered on top of the half-frozen tree trunk. True to Ayla’s word, the acid began eating the tree, dissolving it into nothingness. Ayla circled back around, hovering over the two other tree trunks ready to be used. Devarius dropped a red vial on them. It shattered, then burned the battering rams.
We need to go, Ayla said.
Devarius glanced up and noticed the two dragons flying down toward them. They’d given up on chasing Paedyn in endless circles. Though Paedyn turned toward them and Pyro tried to burn their riders from the backside, they didn’t take the bait. The dragons maneuvered away from the flames and continued toward Devarius.
“Go!” he shouted.
Ayla flew upward toward the two dragons. The two massive flying beasts were close together, flying toward them.
“Fly between them!” Devarius said.
She didn’t question him, but continued forward. The dragons opened their mouths, ready for fire. Devarius shivered, praying he wouldn’t become dinner.
“Ice!”
Her mouth opened and a light blue mist burst forth. Devarius fixed a blue vial to his slingshot and launched it forward. When it met her ice breath, the vial shattered at the same time as the flames came. The ice turned to water and followed the fire into the dragons’ mouths.
Ayla slipped between the two creatures. Devarius grabbed the dagger on his left leg. He threw it toward the rider on his left. The dagger struck true, penetrating the rider’s neck. Then he unsheathed his sword, held it steady with two hands, and slashed it into the rider on his right. His aim struck true, and the dragonrider’s head flew into the air.
They continued up into the sky for several long seconds before Ayla turned around to watch as the two dragons crashed into the camp, slamming into hundreds of warriors. People screamed at the camp.
Devarius smiled. “Great job, Ayla. Let’s get back into the city to help the others.”
Chapter 33
Pyro dipped low as fire blazed in the sky above them. Paedyn laughed as they spun in circles, dodging dragon after dragon. Pyro circled around the two dragons to their backside.
“Fly close to them from behind, then blast their riders with fire!” Paedyn shouted.
Pyro dipped her head down and glided toward the back of the left dragonrider. Paedyn snatched a vial from his sash, a large smile on his face as he prepared to throw it at the dragonrider to his right.
Flames erupted from Pyro’s mouth. The dragonrider screamed as the fire consumed him.
Paedyn tossed the vial toward the other dragonrider. It missed him and shattered at his side. The rider turned around to look at them. Paedyn waved at him.
You missed.
“Nope, I didn’t.”
Pyro had begun flying away, but now curious, she turned her body around and flapped her wings forward, causing her to fly backward.
Paedyn stretched his head to the side so he could watch as the dragon tried to make a sharp turn to face them. Before the dragon fully turned, the saddle came loose, burnt from the acid Paedyn had thrown on it. Before the dragon could approach them, the saddle completely came off the beast, and it, along with the rid
er, rushed toward the ground. The dragon dipped down, trying to catch its rider.
“Stop him, Pyro!”
Pyro nose-dived after the dragon. Fire blew from her mouth to nip at the dragon’s tail. The dragon turned its neck around to blow flames toward them. Pyro shifted, dodging the attacks. Paedyn held on tight as Pyro had to shift from left to right to dodge attacks. They continued to fly toward the ground. As it grew closer, Paedyn frantically hit Pyro’s side.
After one last blast of fire from the dragon, Pyro pulled up to even out. The dragon wasn’t so lucky. It crashed into the ground on top of its rider. The whole earth quaked at the impact. Paedyn as glad he was in the air so he couldn’t feel the near earthquake.
“That was fantastic, Pyro. Let’s do it again!”
A shadow overcame them. Paedyn looked around, spotting a large dragon blocking the red sun. He patted Pyro’s side to direct her toward it. She complied, flying toward the dragon.
Paedyn’s mouth dropped as they approached the beast. It was easily twice as large as any other dragon. Instead of red like the others, it was a reddish black, and fiercer than anything Paedyn had ever seen.
“Wow, that’s a big dragon,” Paedyn gasped.
Pyro snorted.
“Don’t worry, I like you better.”
Pyro shook her head from side to side.
“Take us closer.”
Closer? she asked.
“Yes, closer. We can’t let that dragon get the surprise on everyone.”
Paedyn ... I can’t defeat that.
“Of course you can’t. But we can. Or, at least, we can try.”
They approached the dragon from behind. Paedyn’s hands trembled as they neared. It was larger than he’d thought. The rider on the creature’s back wore black robes and a hood. Paedyn exhaled a deep breath. He clutched at the last acid vial in his hand. They would need to make this count. If this dragon descended on Saefron, they were all in danger.
When Pyro flew close enough to attack, the dragonrider turned to look at them. Paedyn froze as he stared at the rider. Shadow cast over the rider’s face, making Paedyn see nothing but darkness. Who was this rider? Whoever they were, they were powerful and important.
Dragonia: Revenge of the Dragons (Dragonia Empire Book 2) Page 14
