Flight of Dragons

by Elianne Adams, Sadie Haller, Zoe York, Shelley Munro, Zara Keane, LC Alleyne, Skye Jones, Evanne Lorraine, Ann Gimpel

  Thorsson shook his head. “My lord—”

  “Don’t argue with me. Do as I say or stay here.”

  His bodyguard frowned and opened his mouth but shut it again. “I will do as you ask.”

  “Good. Let’s get this over and done with.”

  They walked across the grassy field. Small rumblings beneath his feet alerted him that although Lysuhóll hadn’t erupted for several centuries, the lava deep below the surface still flowed. Balthazar sensed its unease, adding to his determination to get Eva away before the fight began.

  Ti’s features had remained unchanged over the decades. His auburn hair was longer, just past his shoulders and tied in a loose knot. He was dressed in loose beige slacks and a black silk shirt, looking unruffled in his natural element. His face was unlined, save for a faint crease above his eyebrows. His time away was spent worrying over something.

  But it was his eyes that caught Balthazar’s attention. They flashed red in the afternoon sunlight. Eva stood beside him, her hands in her pockets, a hint that she was scared.

  “Balthazar,” he called out, his voice deep and slightly patronizing. “Come closer and let me look at you.”

  Balthazar stopped several yards away from them and focused on Eva. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded and wrapped her arms around her chest.

  He felt her fear, and anguish filled his heart, but he had to be extremely careful for both of them. “What are you doing here, Ti?”

  He stepped forward. “I want two things, brother—the family hoard, and your dead body at my feet.”

  Balthazar sensed his brother’s fury. “It was a fair battle, Ti. I had you pinned with my teeth around your throat.”

  “That you did.” He stepped a little closer.

  “That’s far enough.”

  Ti stopped and smiled. “But then I tore a scale off your shoulder and forced you to shift back into human form. I was prepared to destroy you before Lancelot interfered. Where is our younger brother, by the way? I’d like to say hello.”

  “He’s around.” He glanced at Eva, who had a quizzical look on her face. He knew what it meant—did you get the vase and looked at it? He nodded, but shrugged as well—I looked at it but couldn’t figure out the clue. “I don’t understand what took you so long. I expected you back much sooner than this.”

  “I’ve kept myself occupied. I wasn’t always thinking about you, and I’m patient. I remembered the story Dad told us about what happened when a dragon shifter lost its scale. Your strength deteriorates until your own fire consumes you. I could have arrived sooner, but then I’d have to deal with Lancelot and your Viking bodyguards.” He smiled. “I figured if I timed it right, I could watch you disintegrate into a pile of ash.”

  Balthazar gritted his teeth as Bal roared in fury and fought for control, but he wouldn’t let go. The pain became so bad he doubled over, clutching his chest.

  “I see that Bal is giving you a hard time.” He looked at Eva. “However, I hadn’t expected a beautiful human addition to our family dispute. Come here, Eva. I won’t bite—unless you provoke me.”

  Ti clenched her hand. “She’s quite lovely, and very intelligent. I can see why you enjoy her company. And she doesn’t seem fazed by our—unique culture.” Ti glanced past his shoulder. “Ah, Thorsson, the always faithful bodyguard. You think you can help Balthazar by swinging your ancient letter opener at me? Good luck with that.”

  “Shut up, Ti.” Balthazar stared at Eva.

  “I’m okay.” She gave him a small smile. How she found the confidence that he lacked to defeat his brother was beyond him. But he would do it to free her, or die trying. “I guess you hadn’t found anything—useful?”

  “No, but thank you for trying.”

  “What’s this about?” Ti looked at him. “Was Eva looking for something for you?”

  He clenched his fists. “It’s none of your concern.”

  His brother’s quizzical expression cleared. “Don’t tell me that Miss Haraldsdóttir was hunting for your scale?” He laughed loudly. “Oh, this is highly amusing—a human looking for a missing dragon scale. Humans don’t even believe in dragons! What makes you think that you could locate something so elusive?”

  Eva glared at Ti. “You don’t think I can?”

  “Eva, please, he’s taunting you.” Balthazar adjusted his stance. “Ti’s good at that.”

  “That’s too bad. I might have explained to him how good I am at finding things.”

  “I didn’t take you for a braggart, Miss Haraldsdóttir.” Ti narrowed his eyes. “However, maybe I should allow you to amuse us with your theoretical findings of a dragon scale.” He smiled. “It may also provide Balthazar with enough time to think of a way not to get killed.”

  Balthazar tensed, but then felt a heavy hand on his shoulder—Thorsson.

  “So tell us, Miss Haraldsdóttir, how would you find a dragon scale?”

  Eva looked around the field. “Balthazar told me that you fought here.” She tugged her hand out of Ti’s and walked several feet away. “It must have been one hell of a fight.” She turned and smiled at Balthazar. “Congratulations.”

  Ti’s eyes flashed red. “Careful, human.”

  “My father and I explored this area. It’s interesting what one can find in a country steeped in history.” She scuffed the ground with her shoe. “Swords, shields, helmets, graves with Viking remains. Even artifacts like vases and jewelry.”

  Ti raised an eyebrow. “And you find this interesting—how?”

  “History, Ti Anda. You learn so much about a culture.” She finally turned to face them. “Like I said, I found a lot of things here.”

  “Wait a minute.” Ti stalked towards her, and Balthazar’s heart raced with fear, but he held still. “Are you saying that you found Balthazar’s scale?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  Balthazar sighed in utter defeat. Eva had risked her life to help him, and now he didn’t know what Ti would do to her after his death. Of course, his end was at hand—even if Lancelot decided at the last minute to take Ti on, Balthazar couldn’t transform, and his younger brother didn’t have the strength to kill Ti on his own. Ti would squash him like an insect, probably kill Lancelot and Thorsson too, and do unspeakable things to Eva.

  “However, we found something unique. A vase telling the story of your fight.” She glanced at Ti. “Three distinct pictures were on it. The first one displays the actual fight, and the Vikings hiding behind the hills surrounding the battlefield.”

  Balthazar remembered how the ground shook, the air filled with heat and flame as he and Ti fought that day. The volcano had erupted, spewing lava and ash everywhere.

  “The second painting showed Balthazar pinning Ti to the ground, and Ti struggling to get up. But the third painting…” Eva licked her lips. “The third painting shows Balthazar as a man, and another dragon shielding him from Ti’s attacks.”

  “Lancelot.” Balthazar would have been a dead man if his younger brother hadn’t come to his rescue.

  She nodded. “There was something else. A small vivid blue circle sitting on one of the hills—and a Viking stick figure bent over it.”

  “Well, that explains why you haven’t found your scale, Balthazar,” Ti said, smiling. “It’s probably collecting dust on an old woman’s armoire. A pity, really.”

  Balthazar watched carefully as Eva took several steps back. “No, I think it’s somewhere else.”

  Ti narrowed his eyes. “And where do you think it is?” When she didn’t answer, he reached out and grabbed her arm. “Well? If you’re as smart as you claim to be, tell us.”

  Thorsson cleared his sword from its scabbard. “You will release her at once.”

  Balthazar stood in front of him. “Don’t.”

  Ti looked at him. “Are you threatening me, Thorsson?” He pushed Eva away, and she fell while he approached them.

  “Back off, Ti,” Balthazar warned.

  He hadn’t stopped. “Why
? It’s not as if you can fight me.” His brother’s eyes flashed red as he drew nearer.

  “He’s right!” Eva screamed. “Thorsson, knock some sense into Balthazar!”

  “What the fuck?” he shouted. He turned in time to see Thorsson swing the sword and couldn’t dodge the blow in time. The hilt struck his shoulder where his wound lay, and he screamed in pain while his dragon Bal roared in triumph.

  The pommel shattered, releasing a shaft of iridescent blue as his scale burned through his clothing and melded to his flesh. He shuddered with joy as he felt raw strength surge through his limbs. His primal yell echoed across the battlefield, over Lysuhóll, and trembled the ground beneath his feet. “Thorsson, get Eva out of here!”

  Thorsson, his eyes wide with fear, nodded and ran off. He grabbed Eva, who fought against his hold as he dragged her away.

  He watched his brother, whose initial shock changed to rage, and released his dragon. His body grew and lengthened, and Balthazar screamed in pain after centuries of constraint. In moments, Bal stood over twenty feet in height, his massive tail swept the ground behind him, and he roared so that all in Iceland could hear.

  Bal Anda had returned.

  ***

  Power—raw, intense and savage—raged through his limbs.

  He lifted his leg to stare in fascination at its gleaming azure surface.

  He felt the lava flowing miles beneath his feet.

  He saw the Aurora Borealis hidden just beyond the deep blue of evening. He smelled the Atlantic Ocean, tasted the salt on his tongue when he opened his mouth. He heard the noise that was Reykjavík and its inhabitants over ten miles away, a constant buzz that annoyed him.

  Lysuhóll rose before him like a long lost home. He couldn’t wait to get inside and admire his family’s hoard.

  He heard Eva call his name, heard the mixture of awe and fear in her tone of voice.

  He stretched out his wings, their length covering half the battlefield, and their translucency the shade of a perfect sapphire. He wanted to fly, but he had other important business to take care of first.

  He walked across the battlefield and felt the soft grass beneath his feet. Insects tickled his senses as his talons dug deep furrows. The earth vibrated with his movements as he climbed the volcano and sat down. Ti stood before him, his brother and his threat. Bal roared his displeasure, and then tensed his muscles, ready to fight.

  Ti stretched his arms above his head, growing and changing shape until he stood in his true image. His scales rivaled the sunset, red and gold. His ruby eyes glared from beneath a hood of long, pointed scales, and he dug his talons into the ground, ready to pounce.

  Bal struck first, swiping his foot at his brother’s head. Ti reared back, his wings flaring, and opened his mouth. Flames spewed from between sharp teeth, their intense heat washing over him and across the side of the volcano, burning everything in its path to ash.

  Bal charged, his tail swinging wildly for balance before he struck Ti’s chest. They both went down in a tangle of limbs and wings, and he closed his jaws around Ti’s leg, shaking it furiously. Ti roared in pain and emitted fire into his face. Bal squinted but didn’t release his hold.

  Ti beat his wings, and dust and rocks pummeled Bal’s face until one struck just above his eye. Startled, Bal loosened his grip, and Ti pulled away, blood trailing from a series of deep gashes. In moments, Ti took to the air, his wings spread wide, circling above.

  Bal roared his challenge, walking in a tight circle, his tail swinging as anger engulfed him. He fired bolts of flame at his brother with no effect. Ti flew higher, still circling directly above him, until he snapped his wings together and dove straight down. Bal backed away, but he wasn’t fast enough. Ti crashed into him, knocking him flat on his back with his brother on top of him.

  He fought to regain his footing while dodging Ti’s jaws, but his brother anticipated his move. Sharp teeth sunk into his rear leg, and he roared as pain lanced through it. He snapped at Ti’s head, trying to gouge his eye or get a grip around his neck, but Ti kept just enough distance between them to avoid his counter-attack. Finally, Bal managed to hook a talon into Ti’s soft underside and pulled sharply. Flesh tore, and gouts of blood splashed his face, but his brother retaliated by biting down harder. Bal roared again. His leg grew numb. If he didn’t shake Ti off now, he would be hobbling on three legs and lose his advantage.

  That’s when he heard Eva’s urgent shouts. He found her standing on a cliff face, with Thorsson behind her. Even in the heat of battle, amidst the smell of blood and smoke, he picked up her scent and inhaled deeply, letting it settle into his being.

  “Don’t let Ti beat you!” she screamed. “Please, you can do this!”

  Her pleas propelled him into action. Bal snared Ti’s wing in his mouth and pulled. His brother screamed in surprised pain and released his leg. Bal rolled onto his feet and turned to ram his shoulder into Ti’s side. He went down, hissing loudly. Bal locked his jaws around his brother’s throat and sank his talons into his belly. Ti roared and fought wildly, but Bal hung on, shaking his head to get a better grip.

  Roars turned to terrified screams as Ti thrashed beneath him. His breathing became labored as his air was slowly cut off. Finally, with a loud groan that shook them both, Ti slumped to the ground. His eyes rolled back into their sockets, and he fought for air.

  Bal released him and raised his head to the darkened sky. Opening his mouth, he roared in triumph, reclaiming his authority over his family’s lands.

  He looked at Ti, but the urge to kill him wasn’t there. For as much trouble his brother had caused, Bal didn’t want to destroy him. As far as he knew, he and his brothers were the only dragon shifters left, and to kill Ti, no matter how justified, didn’t sit well with him. He climbed off, but growled a warning when Ti finally raised his head to look at him. Don’t fight me again. Ti lowered his head and curled into a tight ball, tucking his head beneath his wings. He had surrendered to Bal’s superiority.

  “Bal.”

  Her voice cut through his thoughts. She approached him slowly, but stopped when Thorsson commanded her. She hadn’t run away—knowing who he was, seeing his true appearance, she had stayed. He walked towards her, stepping as lightly as he could, until she stood directly beneath him. She stretched her arms towards him, and with an exultation that filled his heart to bursting, he kneeled in front of her and lowered his head.

  Her hands smoothed over his snout. “Are you all right?”

  He huffed gently, but its strength still made her stumble. Eva walked back and kissed his nose. “What about Ti? Is he…?”

  He shook his head.

  “I get it. He is your brother, after all.” She waved at Thorsson. “It’s okay! He’s not going to hurt you.”

  Thorsson remained where he was. “I can see everything quite clearly from over here.”

  Bal laughed, enjoying its gruff sound, and loving his human female even more. He closed his eyes, and in his mind, saw Balthazar standing in front of him, his shoulder fully healed, his body whole.

  He shifted until he stood on two legs once again. His left leg throbbed with pain, and when he looked, blood oozed from where Ti bit him.

  “Balthazar.” Eva threw herself into his open arms and he held tight, not wanting to let go of her. He kissed her face until she turned her lips up to his. He drank of her sweetness until he felt giddy.

  “You’re back to your old self again.”

  “No. I’m better than my old self. Your strength allowed me to believe.”

  “In what?”

  “Hope.”

  EPILOGUE

  Balthazar stared at the stars. They twinkled like diamonds. A shooting star arced above. It was a good sign. Silence now reigned over Lysuhóll, and he hoped it stayed that way for a long time.

  He drew the blanket tighter around him, but not to ward off the chill. He had enough dragon heat to keep him warm for several hours. What lingered in his mind was the thought of dying without any w
ay of protecting himself. If Lancelot had decided not to help him, if his dragon scale had not been found…

  He shook his head. Doubts were rare for a dragon, but he had had his share, and it scared him. By all accounts, he should be torn to shreds and lying in a pool of blood on that battlefield. Except that the fierce determination and wit of two humans—and one in particular—had outmaneuvered Ti’s plans.

  He glanced back where everyone waited in the Jeeps. Ti had accepted his defeat less than graciously, but with Lancelot as witness, he had no choice but concede and leave Iceland once and for all. Lancelot sat with their brother and kept watch.

  The broad figure of Thorsson approached in the darkness. “My lord.” He knelt in front of him.

  “Get up, Thorsson. There’s no need for that.”

  The blond man looked up, puzzled.

  “You’re my security, not a servant, for Odin’s sake. Besides, it’s embarrassing.”

  “Of course.” He rose. “Miss Haraldsdóttir is shivering in the car, despite my turning on the heat.”

  Eva. The great risks she had taken to find his scale. He followed Thorsson and got into the seat beside her. “I heard you were cold,” he said softly as the vehicles took off.

  She nodded, rubbing her arms briskly. “Even with the heat on, the cold seeps through.”

  “Let me see if I can help with that.” He wrapped an arm around her, drew her close, and kissed the top of her head. “Better?”

  “Yeah. Your body’s like a furnace.”

  “Oh, I’ll make sure you find out how hot I can get.”

  ***

  “Ti is on his way back to South America,” Balthazar announced. “But I don’t think it’ll be the last time we hear from him.”

  “We’ll be ready.” Eva reclined on the sofa, sipping tea. Thorsson and Lancelot talked quietly by the windows.

  “So, unless no one else is curious, I’m dying to know.” He sat by Eva’s feet and gently captured her foot in one hand. He traced a finger across her heel and down the center until she squirmed. “Out with it.”