“Nath, don’t you think I would have walked out of here if I could have?”
“I saw none of your captors, Selene. Let’s go.”
“You’ll see them soon enough,” she said, brushing her jet-black hair aside. “You’re trapped here the same as I am.”
“Trapped by what?”
She huffed the hair out of her face. “Nath, I’m pretty sure whatever they put on this island stays on this island.”
“Again, I don’t see anything, Selene.” He reached for her. She jerked away. “I’ll carry you out of here over my shoulder if I have to.”
She shot him a look.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Don’t test me,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Tell you what, Nath. Go ahead and step toward the flaming pond’s edge.”
He shrugged and made his way toward the lake of lava.
Plop! Plop! Plop! Plop!
The stones he had crossed on sunk into the magma.
“Guzan!”
“Told you,” she said, “and I don’t think Guzan will be of much help, either. Pretty sure he’s dead, to begin with.”
Nath leered at her over his shoulder.
“What?” she said, shrugging. “He’s just a legend. All legends are dead.” She laughed and said, “Except you.”
“Funny, Selene.” He sat down and crossed his legs, staring out over the blazing lava lake. “Very Funny.”
CHAPTER 28
Nath pitched a loose rock into the lake.
“Great.”
His frustration was mounting. None of this would have been so bad if he could transform and fly.
“Any suggestions?” he said, twisting toward Selene.
“Maybe the draykis will show at some time. Maybe some dragons, but by then I figure it will be too late.”
“You think your captors are coming to kill you?”
“They went to great length to capture me,” she said. “I’d say they have a contingency for everything.”
Nath dashed the sweat from his eyes. Any lesser person would have died from the suffocating heat of the molten lava, but dragons could survive in the harshest environments. Above, he could see bats hanging among the stalactites of the cave. He recalled the time he had drunk one of Brenwar’s potions and turned into a bat. He’d been blinded by it. It had almost killed him.
He scooted back alongside Selene and asked, “Who do you think is behind all of this?”
She rolled her eyes his way and said, “Are you really asking me that? Certainly you know who I think.”
“My father?” He shook his mane. “No, I don’t believe it.”
“Your father is as ruthless as he is good, Nath. Why wouldn’t he take me out? I’m the leader of his enemy. I’d take me out too, if I were him.”
“I don’t think my father does things this way.”
“Hah! Of course he does. Or he has someone else do it for him.” She shrugged and pulled her knees to her chest. “I can live with my fate, Nath.”
It was the only time he’d seen her vulnerable. He felt for her. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, “I don’t think it’s him.” He didn’t say anything for a moment then added, “Perhaps you can teach me something about my powers that can help us.”
“There’s not much I can think of, and besides”—her eyes pointed toward the ledges—“I think it’s too late for that. They come.”
Nath stepped in front of her. Fiery eyes burned within the distant crevices. Humanoid globs of lava emerged from the fiery lake.
“What are those things?” he said.
“Fire goblins and lava trolls,” she said. “My guardians, but not my captors. As I said, this was well thought out. The dragons will come at any moment. You had better grab some steel. I don’t think your fire breath will be much help.”
“I don’t have a sword,” he said.
“Look around,” she said. “Many have perished here long before I came around. This island is full of strange treasures. Small amount of use most of them are now.”
“MAAAAAH—ROOOOOOOO!”
The lava troll came forward out of the red-hot sludge. Lava slid off its ghastly grey form as it stood towering over the lake. Its head was a monstrosity, its mouth foul with busted teeth. Its lumpy skin was as smooth as a fish belly.
Nath rummaged through the decayed bones and rusting weapons.
Great Dragons! I wish I had Fang!
“Nath, look out!”
The troll splashed a wave of lava right at him. Nath dove away and rolled.
“Argh!”
Drops of lava sizzled on his scales. Wading through the bones of the dead, he found a spear and jerked it out of a skull.
“This’ll do.”
The troll splashed another wave of lava and lumbered onto the shore.
Nath danced away, squared up on the towering monster, and threw the spear.
“URK!”
The troll thrashed and flailed with the spear jutting from its chest. It teetered backward, and its head splashed into the lake of lava.
“Nice shot,” Selene said.
Nath walked over to the troll’s body and retrieved the spear. He tossed it to Selene, who plucked it from the air.
“Defend yourself, Selene. There’s plenty of weapons around here.”
“What can I say, Nath. You spoil me. I like seeing you in action…” She tossed the spear back to him. “Champion.”
An ear-splitting shriek caught his ears.
“Now what?”
A dragon the size of three men streaked through a hole in the ceiling of the cave. Its belly scales were a pale shade of red, and its body scales were cinnamon. Its claws were long, thick, and sharp as razors. It circled its prey from above.
“That’s the one, Nath,” Selene said, eyes wide. “That’s the one that’s going to kill me.”
“Her?” Nath said. “I think I can handle her.”
“Well, I can’t. Not without my power. It’s me or her, Nath. Me or her.”
Nath lingered by Selene and said, “I think you’ll be just fi—uh!”
A lightning bolt knocked him from his feet, and a blue streak buzzed right over him. Its talons tore a gash in his cheek. Nath sprang to his feet, only to catch another bolt in the chest. His teeth clattered off his chin, and he fell face first on the ground.
“Ugh, that hurts!”
***
From her knees, Selene watched Nath battle against the blue razor dragons.
It’s working.
Grasped inside the palms of her hands, an egg-shaped blue stone glowed. Jaxite. And her mind was attached to it.
She wanted to laugh. All of her planning had worked to perfection. Nath believed it all. Everything from the dragons capturing her to Nalzur’s Band of Negation was a complete sham. She had all of her powers and then some, including control of the good dragons that she was setting Nath up to kill.
Just a little longer, Selene. A little longer. She gave another command to the blue streak dragons. Keep him at bay as long as you can, and await my signal.
The blue razors reared up on their hind legs, spitting jolts of lightning at Nath. He lunged with the spear at one only to get blasted in the back by another. The blue streaks were the fastest living dragons. They could keep Nath corralled for a time.
Selene glanced up at the dragon circling over her head. It was a rose blossom. She was one of the most pure and innocent breeds of the dragons, and Selene had captured her quite some time ago for just such an occasion.
The shedding of her innocent blood will make him mine. He’ll serve Gorn by my side forever.
The stage was set. The weapons among the dead laid out for him. There were swords and spears, all forged from dragon claws and enchanted into dragon skinners. It was now or never to turn Nath Dragon.
She harnessed the power of the jaxite stone and turned loose her next command. To the rose blossom she said, “Attack! Attack me, the High Priestess Selene, without mercy
.”
The rose blossom swooped in front of her, and a hot blast of purple energy blasted from her mouth. The force pounded Selene into the rock.
“Save me, Nath! Save me!”
CHAPTER 29
Nath’s spear clipped the blue streak’s wing, drawing forth a shriek. Another jolt of lightning struck his back.
Szzzz!
A tail lashed out and cracked him in the back of the skull, toppling him over.
Smoking, he rose to his feet again. The blue streaks were lightning quick but not overly powerful. Speed and cunning were his skills.
“Get off me,” Nath yelled in Dragonese. “Have you gone mad?”
He bounced to his feet. Jabbed at one with his spear, twisted around, and warded off another. Another blast of bright lightning lit up his scales.
“Argh!” He shuddered. “Enough of this!” He drew back his spear.
An explosion of purple rocked the island. He stumbled, and the blue streaks scattered into the air.
“Save me, Nath! Save me!”
Gathering his senses, Nath dashed across the small island toward the voice of Selene.
“Guzan!”
The rose blossom dragon had Selene pinned to the ground under her weight.
Nath blew a fireball into his hand and slung it into the beast. The ball of flame exploded into its side. The female dragon roared but maintained her ground. She picked Selene up in her claws and slammed her hard into the rock.
Nath rushed in and poked the dragon’s shoulder with his spear. It bit in.
“Be gone, blossom!” he shouted in Dragonese.
Her purple eyes glared down on him, and her tail lashed out.
Swat!
The blow sent Nath skipping over the island, and he rolled partially into the lake of lava.
“Agh!” he screamed, flinching out of the molten rock. He got up snorting fire.
“I tire of this!” he yelled. “Get off of her now!”
The dragon’s paws slammed Selene into the ground again and again.
The High Priestess moaned.
“Kill her, Nath! Kill her, before she kills me!” Selene howled out in pain. “She’s killing me!”
Nath closed in and unleashed a gust of fire from his mouth. The flames splashed off the dragon’s scales. She turned her neck and unleashed a cone of purple energy of her own. Nath sprang to the side.
“Great Dragons!”
He needed to distract the dragon and get Selene free, but the dragon seemed determined to kill her.
“Nath please! End this!”
Still pinned, Selene struggled underneath the weight of the dragon. Her claws pushed Selene into the ground, and her serpentine neck bent so that her snout snapped in her face.
“Kill it, Nath! Use your spear and kill it!”
He charged again, saying, “You give me no choice!” He jabbed the spear into its hide again and again. The spear tip went deep.
The dragon’s assault on Selene didn’t falter. The dragon’s eyes blazed with purple fire. Her mouth primed to tear Selene apart.
“Strike her heart, Nath! The heart! Strike the heart!” Selene screamed.
Blood pumping, he gathered the spear up to his side and readied to charge. The heat of battle blurred his mind. The rose blossom was a fair breed of dragon. Peaceable. Loving. Female. It was a twist in reality, watching her try to tear Selene to shreds. It had to be one or the other. Nath set his shoulders, aimed for the heart, and charged.
Selene’s eyes lit up, but he didn’t catch it. He caught something else. The dragon’s long lashes. The beautiful softness deep inside the dragon’s eyes. He pulled up.
What am I doing?
He dropped the spear.
“Nath! What are you doing! Kill it!” Selene yelled.
I cannot kill this lady dragon. His clawed fingers clutched at the air. But I can wrestle her down, I bet.
He leapt onto the dragon’s head and locked his arms around the horns. With a heave, he twisted the dragon’s neck around and rode the great beast to the ground. The dragon’s wings flapped and fluttered. Her tail lashed into Nath’s back, but he held on.
“Selene!” he yelled. “Get out of there.”
The dragon, bigger than a great horse, twisted and bucked.
“Easy, girl. I don’t know what my father put you up to, but it’s time to settle down.”
Scaled muscles bulging, Nath twisted the dragon’s neck by the horns. The dragon flopped to her back and thrashed and roared on the ground.
“Selene!” Nath yelled again. “Are you free? Selene!”
Glitch!
The dragon’s body lurched with violence, slackened, and went still.
“What?” Nath looked into the eyes of the beautiful dragon and watched her rosy fire go dim. “No!” He saw Selene standing over the dragon’s chest, the spear jutting out of it.
“You saved me, Nath,” she said, swooning. “For now, that is.” She teetered and fell onto the ground and lay still.
“Selene! Selene!”
He rushed over, picked her up in his arms, and brushed the hair from her face. She was bruised and bleeding. A tremor shook inside the cavern, and the path of rocks popped up from the lava lake once more.
Dare I try it?
He noticed the eyes of the fire goblins were gone from within the caves, and no more trolls or dragons were to be found. He edged toward the burning shore. Geysers blasted, but the rocks remained. He glanced back at the rose blossom dragon. Sadness filled him. This is madness. In his arms, Selene’s battered face was unconscious. He hopped from rock to rock until he reached the shore.
He didn’t notice the jaxite stone she tossed into the lava.
An hour later, they emerged from the grave once more.
“We made it,” he said. The cool air was refreshing, and he let out a long breath, shaking. With Selene slung over his shoulder, he could feel her breathing and her heart beating. She’d be alright for now. “Let’s get you back to the army.”
Traversing the ledge, he made his way down to the bottom of the canyon and headed back for the horses. The commander, tall and heavy, was still there.
“High Priestess!” he said, rushing toward them. “What have you done, Dragon Prince?”
“I’ve saved her,” Nath said, “as I said I would.”
“It’s suspicious.”
Nath’s golden eyes narrowed, and smoke rolled from his nose.
“Er,” the commander continued, “let me ready a horse for her.”
Suspicious, Nath thought. Isn’t every bit of it?
Epilogue
Curse me!
Selene stood with her acolytes, rubbing the wrist where the Band of Negation had been. Her dark brows were furrowed. Her face was swollen. She’d taken the beating of a lifetime in order to fool Nath Dragon, but he had turned the tables on her. He had failed to take the life of the innocent.
There is no way he’ll be turned.
She took a seat inside the tent and said, “Secure that treasure and leave me.”
The men and women scurried away. Nalzur’s Band of Negation did work, but she had full control of it. She always had full control of everything. Except Nath Dragon.
Blast his white scales!
They seemed even whiter now, what he had anyway, but she’d only had a glimpse, recently. He’d come to visit, but she’d pretend to be sleeping, and the clerics would hurry him away. She ran her fingers along a jagged gash on her forehead and smiled.
I actually took a beating for that man. That dragon! What have I become?
The plan had failed. Had it succeeded, she was certain Nath would have remained by her side forever. That there was no way Balzurth would have been able to stop them. Nalzambor would have been theirs. The Mountain of Doom would have been their palace.
Her fantasies had evaporated, however. Her body ached as she sighed. Soon, Gorn Grattack would be calling, and Nath Dragon would have to die.
Finale
The Chronicles of Dragon: Book 10
By Craig Halloran
CHAPTER 1
Nath slung his fishing line into the stream. Wading in ankle deep, he could see fish swimming in the rippling waters but not taking the bait.
“Perhaps we should return,” the commander said, standing behind him on the bank with his arms folded over his chest. “The skies darken. Rain comes.”
Nath didn’t reply. He had other things on his mind, particularly the rose blossom dragon that Selene had killed. And Selene as well.
“The High Priestess will not care for this, Dragon Prince,” the commander added.
The man was very ominous underneath his dark helm. Peculiar, too. He’d stayed with Nath like a fly on glue.
Nath felt a nibble on his line and jerked his wrist. A fish snapped up out of the water. “Got him!”
He swung the fish over the bank, hitting the commander in his chest plate.
“It’s a big one,” Nath said. “Ever fish before, Commander?”
“Certainly,” the commander said, batting the fish aside. “Don’t be foolish.”
“Foolish,” Nath said, cocking his head. “Did you call me—”
“Apologies, I meant no disrespect.” He bowed. “A slip, Dragon Prince.”
“Aw, don’t call me that,” Nath said. He grabbed the fish, poked inside its mouth, and pulled the hook out. “I’m hungry.” He puffed a blast of fire, charring the fish. “Mmmm!” With his clawed finger, he gutted it, picked the meat off clean, and ate. “Want some?”
“No.”
“Funny, I never notice you eating anything. You’re a big man. I figure you eat plenty, too. Yet I never even hear your stomach growling.”
“Runs in the family.”
“Family, huh?” Nath said, chewing a mouthful. “Why don’t you tell me about them? Do you have a wife? Did you marry with or without that ugly metal bowl on your head?”
“I don’t have a wife.”
“Tell me about your father and mother, then. Do they wear bowls on their heads?”
The commander shifted in his armor. His head twisted in other directions. He turned away and started walking up the bank.
The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10) Page 117
