by Megg Jensen
Blythe placed a hand on Jakob's clenched fists. "We are waiting to hear back from our scouts. We need to know if our people made it safely across the sea."
"Then leave a few back here to receive the message," Tressa said. "I don't see a problem with that, do you, Krom?"
He shook his head. "Of course not. I understand completely."
"No," Jakob said, fuming. "It is not that simple."
"Jakob," Blythe said under her breath, but it was still loud enough for everyone to hear.
"It is time they know the truth," Jakob said. He sat up straight. "As soon as we have word that our people are safe, we plan to fly across and join them."
Tressa gasped. "Then you're just as cowardly as the Black! You're refusing to fight to save our land."
"It isn't cowardice." Jakob stood so quickly his chair clattered to the floor. "We don't want to die. Do you? There is nothing more honorable than saving your people. Who cares where we live, as long as we survive? Let this Donovan have the Dragonlands. We can find peace elsewhere."
Tears stung the corner of Tressa's eyes. Instead of answering, she stormed out of the inn, leaving the others in silence.
Chapter Thirty
Tressa paced in the alley behind the inn. Why was everyone filled with so much apprehension? Yes, it was true, people might die. Fleeing would save their hides. But for how long and at what cost? Who was to say Donovan wouldn’t just follow them anyway?
"Tressa?" Fi crept up, resting a hand on Tressa's shoulder.
Tressa turned. Her friend smiled, and Tressa made a poor attempt at smiling back. "They must think I have no self-control."
"They're just scared. They aren't brave like you and me," Fi said.
"Or like me," Connor said, rounding the corner. "I'm with you, Tressa. I want to fight. Krom is in there, right now, dressing down the others."
"I'm sorry I stormed out like a child." Tressa could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks. She had expected the Green to fight. It hadn't occurred to her they might only want to defend their land until they could escape. Their refusal was another blow. It wasn't as painful as Granna and Mestifito turning their backs on her, but it still stung.
"No. They should be ashamed of themselves," Fi said. "Just as my people should. We will fight."
"You said we can't win," Tressa said with a sigh. "Donovan has too many warriors."
Fi shrugged. "It was fear speaking. As long as we live, there is a chance of victory. I'd rather try than hide the rest of my life. Donovan could just as easily follow the Green across the sea. There is nothing to stop him."
"We won't be safe until Donovan is dead," Tressa agreed. "We will march on without support from the dragons, then."
Connor cleared his throat. "I'm a dragon, remember? And I'm sure Bastian will join us. So, that's two."
Fi's mouth drooped. "There should be four. One Blue, one Green, and two Blacks. Instead, you have me, without my dragon, completely useless."
"You're not useless at all," Tressa insisted. "Without you, we wouldn't know where Donovan has been hiding. Now we can go to him, instead of waiting for him to come to us. We'll have the advantage, which could make all of the difference."
"I suppose... but when it comes to fighting, I'm useless." Fi tossed her arms in the air. "If I had my dragon, I could roast Donovan's arse before he could even draw a sword."
"Don't focus on what you don't have. Focus on what you do have," Connor said. "I let my anger at my memory loss get in the way of forming new memories with my wife and children. Now they are gone, and I have no guarantee I'll ever see them again. I long for more memories, not just for my comfort, but for theirs if I die." Connor wrapped an arm around Fi's shoulder. "I know it's hard, but you have to look forward, not backward."
"We all do," Tressa said. She still hadn't gotten over losing her dragon. Every day she wanted it back. She wanted to fly among the clouds again, like her ghost dragon friends. When she was in the Charred Barrens, she found herself lying on the ground with her arms out to the side, staring at the sky, and pretending she, too, was soaring through the air. It was a desire she feared would never leave.
Tressa dried the lingering tears with her sleeve. "I should go back in there."
"We're with you," Connor said.
Tressa straightened, then led the way around the inn to the front door. When she threw the door open and walked in, Jakob was leaning over the table, fire in his eyes, in the midst of a heated argument with Krom. "Stop," Tressa said.
The two men halted their argument, their eyes trained on Tressa.
"I am fighting. If the Green wants to stay in the Meadowlands, then that is their choice," she said.
"But—" Krom started.
Tressa held up a hand. "We will not force anyone to fight with us." She took in the others at the long table, who'd so far remained silent. "If you choose to stay here, that is up to you. If you want to fight, you are welcome to come with us. We will leave for the east in the morning."
Krom bowed. "As you wish. The warriors of the Vulture's Tower will travel with you."
Tressa waited a few breaths for others to speak up. Instead of a few brave voices, she was answered by downcast eyes and nervous coughs. "Fine. Thank you for your hospitality here in the Meadowlands. I wish all of you the very best."
Tressa spun on one heel and exited the inn. This time, the representatives from the Vulture's Tower followed her, Connor, and Fi out.
"Tressa," Krom said, quickly catching up to her and walking in stride. "I don't know if we can win without dragon reinforcements."
"If you don't want to come with us..." Tressa didn't even want to finish the sentence.
"It isn't that," Krom said. "I only wanted you to be aware of the uphill battle we face."
Tressa burst into uncomfortable laughter. "I expect to die out there. I just hope I can take Donovan with me. I have no children, no husband, no one who needs me to live. I'm walking into this battle fully aware of what I have to lose. However, if I can gain safety for those I love and for the next generation, then my sacrifice will be well worth it."
An uncomfortable silence followed. Tressa left her companions standing in place and made her way back to Bastian's cottage. She stormed through the door without knocking, slamming it shut behind her.
Bastian was standing in the middle of the room, stark naked, a pair of pants in his hand. "Tressa!"
She strode across the room, laid her hands on his chest, and pressed her lips onto his. Bastian didn't return the kiss.
Tressa broke it off, breathless. "I'm sorry." She looked down at Bastian's naked body, aware that though he hadn't returned the kiss, he'd enjoyed it.
"We're leaving tomorrow to try to surprise Donovan's army. Will you come with us?" She backed away a few steps, giving him his space.
"Um, yeah, of course," Bastian stammered. "If you want me there."
Tressa, pumped with adrenaline from the confrontation with the Green, rolled her eyes. "Of course I want you there. That's why I asked. Don't do that, Bastian."
"Do what?" he asked.
"This!" Tressa threw her hands in the air. "This tension between us is ridiculous. We used to be close. Closer than I've ever been with anyone. We shouldn't be reduced to this awkward behavior."
"You're right." Bastian let go of his pants. They dropped to the floor, landing in a messy heap. "Then let's not be. Let's have exactly what both of us want, but have been too afraid to ask for." He held a hand out to Tressa.
Suddenly, Tressa felt unsure. She'd said those things out of anger and frustration. The last time she and Bastian had been together it was because they'd been remembering their past. Now, it would only be because she was afraid of dying.
"It's okay," Bastian said. "It doesn't matter why. It only matters to me that it's with you."
Tressa took a deep breath, then let it out, allowing all of the boundaries she'd established to crumble. "I've missed you. So much." She placed her trembling hand in his.
; Bastian walked backward, guiding her toward his bed. Before he could sit, Tressa pushed him down. He landed on his back with a grunt, his head on the pillow. Tressa yanked her shirt over her head, then quickly pulled off her pants. She sat next to Bastian. "You only care as long as it's with me?"
Bastian reached up, cupping her cheeks. "It's always been you, Tressa. Always. You know that."
She did know. That's what made it so hard. She'd willingly given Bastian up for Jarrett, a man who was completely lost to her. She didn't return to Bastian because of pity, or because she had no options.
"Tressa, I love you." Bastian sat up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her with a passion she'd never felt from him before.
And that's when she knew it, too. Despite any choice she'd ever make, she would love Bastian first, and always. Tressa straddled Bastian's waist, losing herself for the last time before she'd have to face her greatest enemy.
Chapter Thirty-One
The next morning, Tressa woke with Bastian, their arms and legs tangled. She rested her chin on his chest and ran a fingertip down his cheek. Bastian blinked a few times, then opened his eyes completely.
"You're still here," he said, a nervous smile on his face.
"I am." Tressa sat up, holding the blanket over her chest. "And I don't plan on leaving your side again. I hope that's okay."
Bastian's smile grew as he relaxed. "I was afraid we'd have another awkward morning like the last time."
"No." Tressa stood, pulling on her clothes. "Not for me. You?"
Bastian shook his head, his red hair flopping from side to side.
"How's your head?" Tressa reached over, gently cupping his cheek. "Are you feeling better this morning?"
Bastian extended his arms out to the side, then stood slowly, stretching his legs. "I feel okay. It was just a little bump on the head. Nothing to worry about." Bastian grabbed his clothes from the floor.
"We're leaving this morning," Tressa said, straightening her tunic. She looked at Bastian over her shoulder. "I want you to come with us, but I have to warn you—the other Greens want to stay here."
"Jakob told me as much the other day, the same day I got knocked out. I would have mentioned it sooner, but..." A blush crept up Bastian's neck to his cheeks.
"It's okay," Tressa answered. "I would have wanted to hear it from him anyway." She slammed her fist down on the table. "What is wrong with everyone? When we left Hutton's Bridge, we barely knew anything about dragons. The more I got to know them I thought they were so brave and strong. Now I can see they're just cowards."
Bastian laid a hand on Tressa's shoulder. "They are trying to protect the ones they love."
"So am I!" Tressa insisted. "You, Fi, Connor..." she trailed off, not wanting to mention the last person who had come to her mind.
"Jarrett." Bastian said it for her.
"Yes, even Jarrett." Tressa threw her arms in the air. "I admit it. I loved him." She looked up at Bastian, finding sympathy in his eyes.
"As I loved Elinor, no matter how briefly. Sometimes people change, and we have to change with them, whether we want to or not."
There was something in Bastian's voice Tressa couldn't quite place. She'd heard Elinor had died of a strange condition, seemingly out of nowhere. Yet, Bastian didn't seem to miss her. In fact, he almost seemed relieved. It was a story that would have to wait.
An insistent knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Tressa flung the door open to find a breathless Connor leaning on the doorway. "We looked everywhere," he said between gasps, "but they're both gone."
"Who?" she asked, pulling Connor into the cottage and closing the door behind him.
Connor sank into a chair. "Jarrett." He took in another few quick breaths. "And Fi."
"Damn it!" Tressa yelled. "What happened to the guards?"
"Dead," Connor said. "All six of them. Their throats were slit. We've been frantically searching the village, but no one has seem them."
"Why didn't you come here first?" Tressa demanded. "I should have been involved in the search. What were you thinking?"
"I thought the two of you needed some time together," Connor said. "Either we would find them or we wouldn't. Letting you enjoy your morning wouldn't change a thing."
Tressa fumed. She clenched her fists and stared Connor down.
"That." Connor pointed at her face. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. I know you, Tressa, better than you know yourself sometimes. I made a judgment call, and you're just going to have to deal with it."
He was right. Of course. Connor was always right. "I liked you better when your memory was gone," Tressa said, annoyed.
"Too bad for you, my memory is back, Tressa," Connor said. "Now, come on. The warriors from the Vulture's Tower are prepared to leave with us. We’re heading east, and we’ll track Jarrett and Fi on the way. Despite Jakob's insistence on staying here, he managed to get us supplies, horses, and food for our journey."
"At least he's done that," Tressa said. "I feared we'd be kicked out of here with nothing."
"Jakob isn't a bad man," Bastian said. "None of them are. They just have a different perspective on Donovan than we do."
"It's the wrong perspective," Tressa said. She opened the door, stepping out into the gentle light of sunrise.
"That may be true," Connor said, following her, "but we can't force them to march with us."
Bastian was the final person out of the cottage, and he quietly stood next to Tressa.
"What do you have to say about this?" she asked him.
"I'm not getting between the two of you," Bastian said, holding up his hands in surrender.
"Good choice." Tressa rested a hand on his arm. "I know you agree with Connor."
Bastian's jaw dropped. Tressa pushed it up gently.
"It's okay. I'm angry. I'm also afraid for Fi. I can't believe Jarrett got through our security." Tressa stalked over to Krom, who stood at the head of the warriors from the Vulture's Tower.
"We are ready to ride east," Krom said. "Would you like to lead us?"
She eyed the horses warily. The mare she'd taken from the Charred Barrens had been stabled in the Meadowlands. This was no journey for an old horse. "I don't have a horse that I trust."
"You don't need one." Bastian kissed Tressa on the cheek, then ran ahead, quickly changing into his dragon.
Ride me, Bastian said. His voice echoed in Tressa's mind.
I can hear you! Tressa had only ever been able to hear Fi and Alden in her mind. She was surprised, and relieved, that she could hear Bastian, too.
Of course you can. Now, get on. Bastian knelt to the ground.
Tressa hoisted herself onto his back. His emerald scales sparkled in the morning sun. Tressa ran her hands along them. It was the first time she'd seen Bastian in dragon form, and he was majestic, nearly twice the size her dragon had been. If she had hers, they could soar together in the sky, coming together as they spiraled down toward the earth.
"Ready?" she yelled down to Krom.
The warriors from the Vulture's Tower clanked their swords on their shields. Horses reared back, whinnying. Connor slipped into his Blue dragon, standing alongside Bastian and Tressa. The ghost dragons flew above them, turning circles and blowing snowflakes from their jaws.
Without another look back at The Outpost, Tressa and her little army took off.
Tressa raised one arm above her brows, shielding her eyes from the blinding sun, while hanging on to Bastian’s scales with her other hand. She had only one goal—save Fi from Jarrett. When that was done, they'd take on Donovan.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Tressa rode through the air on Bastian's back for the better part of the day. At first they'd talked a lot, but they'd fallen into a companionable silence near the midday meal. After Bastian landed, Tressa slipped to the ground.
The warriors of the Vulture's Tower had nearly kept up on their horses. Tressa only had to wait a few moments before she saw the dust from their hor
ses' hoof beats rising in the distance.
"I didn't see any sign of Fi or Jarrett along the way, did you?" Connor asked.
"No," Tressa said. "There was nothing out of the ordinary that I could see. I know you and Bastian have better eyesight when you are dragons than I do as a human. Did you notice anything, Bastian?"
"It's as if they vanished." Bastian bent over, his hands on his knees, catching his breath.
They'd pushed themselves to the limit to get so far so fast. Tressa had done nothing but ride. It was taxing, but not nearly as exhausting as flapping wings for hours. Given the chance, though, she would have turned into a dragon.
It wasn't long before Krom’s horse pulled up alongside Tressa. He dismounted and smacked the horse's bottom, sending it toward the nearby stream. "I sent scouts, both north and south, to check for your friends. We'll pick up their trail soon. They couldn't just disappear."
Tressa wasn't so sure. Jarrett had claimed Donovan couldn't control him from so far away. He'd sworn it wasn't possible, and Tressa had believed him. Yet somehow he'd managed to kill his guards and Fi's and escape the Meadowlands without being noticed. It was a puzzle Tressa couldn't fit together. There was something missing, some piece of information she didn't quite have yet.
They sat down, pulling out the food from their satchels that Jakob had generously supplied. Tressa hungrily bit into an apple.
"As soon as they've had a chance to rest their horses, I'll send scouts ahead with messenger birds," Krom said between bites of jerky. "They'll let us know if they see the enemy or any of his minions."
"We're going for a full-on assault," Tressa told Bastian. Tressa, Krom, and Connor had discussed their plans on the way to the Meadowlands before they knew the Green wouldn’t help them. "It would be better if the Green had joined us."
"Or the Black," Connor muttered. "I still don't understand why they're being so fainthearted. I know it's difficult because Mestifito lost his dragon, but that doesn't mean the rest of them have. I had no idea they were dependent on him as a figurehead. The Black seemed so brave. When we fought with them on the Isle of Repose, I was grateful. Now, I'm furious."
