Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1)

by Pendragon, Nicole

  She gazed at the splendorous blade as it slowly twisted in the air, presenting its grip as it hovered closer to her.

  Unbidden, her hand reached up as the sword drifted closer. Her hand clasped the cool material and everything in the world around her suddenly snapped.

  Nothing made sense, everything was suddenly happening too fast and it escaped her understanding. She hadn’t been ready.

  The barrier above dissolved in a heartbeat as the light in the sword’s pommel flashed for a brief second and a final lock clicked inside Ange, soldering her new role as a true Dragonbound. For a single moment she could feel nine pairs of other minds exist tenuously in her body. Each burned with a unique life force, suddenly aware of her as she was of them and she felt overcrowded, overwhelmed as her breath caught. Then they were gone.

  The roar of a furious and triumphant beast rang in her ears like thunder as a massive force shuddered the ground underneath her feet and making her nearly fall over. Sora had landed in the clearing.

  Showl’s body shattered into a void as his figure turned into clear crystalline ice and broke away into shards of swirling snow and ice, twisting together to make a new form. The body of a mighty dragon suddenly existed in the clearing as the soft snowflakes mantled his scaly hide with iridescent white feathers as his jaws parted into a roar of his own as his long body launched over Ange, casting her in his shadow.

  The clouds vanished, twisted and violently pushed away by a gale of lashing wind.

  In the horizon, the first sun was rising.

  From the shadows of the night on the opposite side of the world shot out a void of darkness, streaking from the horizon towards them.

  It flashed over Showl and smashed into the mountain side above them with a chilling and quiet whisper through the air as the snow remained in place as if an impact had never occurred.

  A mass of shadows rippled over the rocks, licking at all that it touched and suddenly the world was utterly cold, as if death had arrived and chilled all life into silence.

  From the shadows came a terrible growling. Ange’s skin washed over with gooseflesh, her mind locked with wild fear.

  From the shadows melted away a frightening and intimidating figure, a dragon almost as large as Showl but easily twice the size of Sora. Pitch black feathers inked the body of this long and powerful beast, horns of jet onyx curled and spiked from its head. This dragon’s muzzle was long, unlike Showl’s or Sora’s mouths. Its long jaws sported long serrated fangs of glistening ebony as an obsidian beak-like edge rimmed its maw. Its long legs were covered with black scales as feathers showered the top of its legs, a mane of feathers perturbed from its throat as it roared out into the clearing. Strange white eyes glared menacing as it flexed its long black talons and stepped out of the darkness.

  In the cloak of a dragon, Ange recognized the shape of raven in the beast’s body and upon its head stood upon a strange platform holding reins was a young woman with a challenging and confident grin.

  From the light of the sunrise shot a bolt of blinding light that Ange’s eyes watered at the sight, in midflight the bolt of light melted away and revealed a white dragon jetting through the sky towards them.

  This dragon was pure white, not any other shade dirtied its hide of feathers. Long golden horns curled delicately upon the crown of its head. Its lower legs uncovered by feathers had a similar shade of glittering gold as long black talons accompanied each toe. Its jaws were short like Showl’s and Sora’s, gold trimmed the upper part of its beak edge as black painted the lower half as it opened its mouth to let out a ringing cry and reveal teeth similar to Sora’s fangs, the front teeth were black while the rest were white. It was only slightly larger if not the same size than the dragon that had first emerged onto the battlefield. Its eyes were a blazing color of rufous autumn leaves.

  Upon its head in a battle ready position was another young woman, face solemn and serious as she and her partner flew into the heart of conflict.

  Ange sucked in a heavy breath and swallowed hard.

  Shit. The only word that came into mind as her new sword fell to her side as her arms sagged as an undeniable defeat came closer every second.

  Chapter 14: A Sense of Time

  Dragons.

  Damnable, freaking dragons. Oversized lizard-birds about to make me their dang snack if not worse! What the hell have I been sucked into now? Ange cursed mentally under Showl’s shadow as she stared at the fast approaching white dragon.

  “No matter what, stay close, Angeline,” Showl’s voice echoed commandingly through her head and she froze involuntarily at the unexpected presence of words in her head that were not her own.

  She gazed up at him shocked around his leg to his snarling face and realizing she shouldn’t be surprised that their mental bond allowed them to speak to each other.

  Her skin crawled as the growling continued, she turned her eyes towards the black dragon as it advanced towards them.

  Showl’s feathers bristled across his body as he snarled in warning.

  Sora opened her jaws and roared at the black dragon.

  Ange swallowed a whimper as the menacing beast approached, tremors ran through the ground at its every step.

  Fear rushed through her and she latched onto some of the feathers of Showl’s foreleg with her free hand.

  The black dragon glanced at her momentarily before it stopped several feet away as Showl snapped his powerful jaws in the air as he strained his gaze between the two dragons.

  The black dragon snorted unbothered by Showl’s hostility, black smoke trailing from its nostrils as its rider glared at Sora.

  The beast turned to face Sora and snarled, revealing all its long glistening fangs.

  Confusion rose up in Ange.

  The earth shuddered once again as something massive landed to the right of them.

  Ange turned her hazel eyes to the white dragon as it stood beside their flank and walked several steps forward and crouched, snarling at Sora as well, protecting them.

  Ange blinked bewildered as she switched her gaze between the achromatic dragons.

  “They are not our enemies,” Showl reassured tensely through their bond. “But they are not our friends either.”

  Ange gasped astounded and realized they were the Sky Warriors, she took a more analytical view as she looked at the armored girls upon the two dragons.

  “What makes you say that?” She asked nervously, sending the words through her thoughts towards him, unsure how the mental speaking worked.

  “They want us to join them in their cause as well, there is no neutral ground to be had between the Sky Warriors and the Adherent. We are either with them or against them,” he replied glumly.

  “You mean…even the Sky Warriors won’t leave us alone? You’re saying they’ll hunt us?”

  “As sure as the Adherent,” Showl replied darkly. “They will not be as…forceful, but do not be mistaken. Words have the power to kill and enslave just as well as any weapon.”

  Ange was lost at his last words and she wondered if he meant magic, or something else. She didn’t know if magic even required verbalization.

  “This is not your battle, Sky Warriors,” Sora sneered through her teeth.

  “This is every much our battle as it yours, Adherent,” the woman spoke from upon the white dragon. “We will not let you harm these newly bonded,” she promised.

  Ange switched her gaze to the white dragon and its rider.

  Sora jeered as she raised her head high. “Can you not speak for yourself, Grace? Since when have the humans been the leaders of dragons?”

  The dragon raised its head from its crouch and snarled at Soar. “We are partners, Sora, you would do well to remember the difference.”

  Ange was surprised that even in the rough voice of a dragon, her voice was beautiful like the sound a crystal wind chime made on a day of gentle winds. The voice somehow reminded her of the sun’s warmth.

  “Partners?!” Sora spat with a gruff laugh.
“Do not make me laugh, Regina Lux,” she jeered the title as her harsh voice suddenly became thick with hatred. “They are our chains. Our doom, parasites, a malady to our great race.”

  “That is not true,” growled the black dragon, his voice quiet and velvety much to Ange’s disbelief.

  Sora let out a coughing laugh as she opened her jaws wide to reveal her fangs in the coming light of dawn, her laughter sounded more like choking, in Ange opinion and made her skin crawl horribly.

  Ange couldn’t believe the hate and disdain that the dragon displayed, Ange’s eyes traveled up to the Dragonbound sitting upon a saddle just behind the dragon’s horns. She was expressionless, void of life, of any reaction and Ange couldn’t help but feel pity for the unfortunate girl.

  “Be ready to fly. If we have any hope of dodging them we must run the moment they begin to fight.”

  “We’re running?!” Ange protested infuriated, her pride stung at the idea of fleeing in front of these dragons and being labeled as a coward.

  “Do you want to be bound by duty or your freedom, my little Soulbound? Now is the time to decide, because there will be no turning back once our course is set,” Showl asked with significance in his tone.

  Ange swallowed, realizing she hadn’t even a moment to consider her options and now she found herself at the crossroads of a vital decision that would change her life forever.

  “I haven’t had enough time to think!” She shouted overwhelmed.

  “Then we flee,” Showl decided abruptly.

  “How did you conclude that?!” Ange cried out exacerbated.

  Showl ignored her, his leg inching back a little, closer to her body. She looked up his downy leg, thrice her height, as his long talons scraped over the stone floor and scratched the engravings.

  “Get out of my way!” Sora roared, lunging forward her jaws snapped for the white dragon’s head, barely missing the nose by a breath.

  Grace roared and reared, slashing long black talons on Sora’s neck.

  Ange gasped, losing sight of the battle as long claws encircled her body, pulling her away and off the ground.

  Winds battered the clearing as Showl’s mighty wings propelled them into the air. Chunks of ice began to rain over the mountain.

  “Careful with that sword, little thief,” Showl’s voice cut in through her chaotic thoughts.

  Ange looked down as the clearing grew smaller with distance as three dragons tumbled, growled, and slashed at each other. She noticed for once that warmth was spreading through her right leg and as she gazed down she realized the blade had cut into Showl’s pads.

  “You’re the one that grabbed me!” she rebuked over the storming wind.

  “Grab on!” he roared as his head lowered and his arm brought her up to his skull, his ebony horns only a few inches away. She gulped nervous and measured the tiny gap with her eyes and then switched her gaze involuntarily to the dwindling surface below. She locked her hazel eyes with Showl’s huge golden eye and as she saw her reflection in his iris, she realized her fear was apparent on her face.

  “Do not be afraid, my little Soulbound. I will not let you fall,” he promised gently through their thoughts, trying to soothe her anxiety.

  She swallowed her fear and nodded, trusting him. With her left hand she let go a handful of feathers and gripped the narrowest part of one his long curving spikes of his horns.

  She pulled herself up as she felt his hold loosen around her body and yanked herself swiftly to his massive skull. The wind buffeted her skin with cool crystalized water and rushed her hair around her head in a wild disarray.

  She gazed out to the gray skies as snow swirled through the air as clouds collected.

  She smiled exhilarated, utterly at awe as frost grasped to strands of her hair and her eyelashes. The ice wasn’t cold to her, it cling to her like they required her to exist. The element didn’t chill her skin or sap the warmth from her limbs.

  “This is amazing Showl!” she uttered joyfully through their bond, relishing in the fresh wind and the sense of freedom the sky had to offer.

  “I am glad you are enjoying it,” he replied pleased though his thoughts were strained, flashes of the dragons below fighting jolted through her thoughts suddenly and her thoughts fell silent. Realizing the thoughts were not her own, but projected from Showl’s own mind as he carefully devised a plan to prevent the possibility of pursuit.

  Ange frowned thoughtfully and closed her eyes, delving into her own thoughts and envisioning the tunnel that connected their minds, it soon formed an image in her psyche before she plunged into the darkness.

  She quickly found a brilliant force of life past the connection and the envelopment of an alien mind as it warmly wrapped around her. She gazed into the mind in awe as she suddenly could understand the world in a different way through Showl’s powerful and sharp senses. His thoughts ran quickly and too fast for her to understand as he articulated tactics and information she couldn’t hope to understand as he decided upon a course of action. Ancient memories reflected far from reach, gleaming faintly. Powerful emotions were leashed tightly with control yet she could feel them tremble around her. Power hummed throughout his entire body, she felt disembodied in the ocean of energy as she sensed the world as he perceived it. The joy of flight as his body reacted and adjusted to the wind currents. The itching of his pads on his left paw as the wound sealed. Everything occurring simultaneously in his body seemed overwhelming to her, while he remained calm through the endeavor.

  She felt as if she had fallen into the body of a god, an entity connected through the very fabric of existence, and attuned to the elements that ran through it.

  “Feeling intrusive, are we?” chuckled Showl’s deep and rich voice, breaking her concentration.

  Her thoughts snapped and she was suddenly back in her own mind, which now seemed simple and primitive in comparison to the mind of her dragon.

  “Sorry,” she murmured aloud and through her thoughts, she didn’t feel apologetic though and she wondered if that would bother him as her apology wasn’t sincere. She had enjoyed the experience and she didn’t regret it, even though she had gained nothing truly insightful from the experience.

  Showl’s voice was quiet, soft, and careful.

  “My thoughts are yours, my little Soulbound. They were always meant for you to hear, and you alone. Do not be a stranger, page through them as you see fit, I am an open book for you.”

  Ange smiled delighted and allowed her gratitude to show and her awkwardness to dissipate as excitement built in her to experience his perspective again.

  “But perhaps another time,” Showl amended amused.

  Ange pouted sullenly and reluctantly agreed, constraining her mind to her own head.

  She distracted herself by inspecting her sword, blood had dried and gained a coat of frost. Her gaze traveled back as she hugged Showl’s horn with her left arm. She looked past his wings and his long body, surprised she could still see the three dragons fighting far below their descent.

  She could tell them all apart as Sora clamped her jaws on the white dragon, her tail lashing across the black dragon’s head and neck. She couldn’t hear their roars over the snowstorm as their shapes dwindled with distance.

  Her thoughts suddenly flashed back to the Dragon’s Hoard, the mine Daren had betrayed them.

  Vera’s hoarse yell filled her ears as the other thieves screamed in agony and choked on their last breaths. She remembered running away.

  Anger filled her as she remembered the terrible event that had destroyed her guild, the shifty family she had come to love, and leaving her in a cold world all alone.

  If she had stayed…would anything be different? Would somebody have lived?

  Ange scowled, lost for an answer she would never be able to know. She felt suddenly sullied, dirty, and guilty. Even though she rationalized one of the many famous thieves’ codes: ‘Look out for yourself, never anyone else.’

  If I had only done something. Maybe not
everyone would be dead.

  She suddenly decided she didn’t want to keep running forever, she wanted to make a difference, and she didn’t want her actions to always be cowardly and ignoble. She wanted to stand and fight.

  She nodded and cloaked herself with her new resolution before she had the time to change her mind.

  “Turn around, Showl! We’re not running,” she yelled over the wind.

  His head tilted slightly as his eye flashed to her face for a moment. His disbelief washed over her like a torrent as he growled.

  “Are you insane?” he snarled. “We’re no match for them in our current states.”

  “I don’t care!” Ange rebuked. “I want to fight, not run.”

  A deep rumbling began to rumble through his body, she could feel it under the soles of her feet through her boots.

  “We’re not turning back,” he said with finality. “I will not place you in danger.”

  Outrage washed over Ange as she snarled. She couldn’t believe Showl was implying she was incompetent. She knew she wasn’t ready but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try.

  “I said turn around!” She yelled into his mind, commanding that he listen to her. That her decision was just as important as his own. They were partners, their opinions should be equal.

  Something changed, tightened, and squeezed between them. Becoming almost chocking, for a mere moment the seals across her skin made an appearance and glowed a faint icy blue then blistered brilliant red before vanishing. Under Showl’s feathers, markings illuminated across his entire length in the same effect for a second before vanishing.

  Showl roared out in utter fury under her, his anger washing through her mind like a violent ocean.

  Without a word he twisted in midflight.

  Ange gasped and hugged his horn fearfully as he flipped over and began to dive back toward the battle, slicing through the storm like a white comet.

  She gazed down in astonishment and wondered what had just occurred. He had been immobile in his decision to turn around and place her in danger. Now suddenly he was delving for the battle he had refused to make her a part of only moments ago.