by Megg Jensen
Fi came over, a grimace on her face. "What are you doing here? You need to stay safe in your chambers."
"Don't tell me I can't fight just because of everything else I've gone through."
"Only hours ago, you were so sick you couldn't stand. It's not in your best interest to be flying off to battle now."
"Flying? If only I knew how to change, I would fly out with the rest of you." She gazed out at the soldiers. "I want to ride. Find me a dragon."
"I will do no such thing," Fi said. Her eyebrows drew together. "If you want to fly a dragon, you will be flying on me."
"What about me?" Avital asked. "I have ridden dragons into battle before. I am well-prepared to fight with you."
Fi crossed her arms over her chest. "We were not happy when we discovered you’d snuck into the Charred Barrens, Avital. It's your people out there. We cannot trust you in battle. You must remain here. You’re lucky we tolerate your presence at all." Fi nodded to a couple of nearby soldiers. "Keep an eye on him until we get back."
They flanked Avital, who shook his fist at Fi. "I am here to protect Tressa. I follow my brother's orders, not anyone else's."
"And if this comes to battle," Fi asked, "are you prepared to kill men you may know?"
"My only orders are to protect Tressa,” Avital said. “I will not fight anyone unless they directly threaten her."
"I'm sorry. We cannot allow you aboveground." Fi nodded and the two guard grabbed Avital's arms. They dragged him away, struggling against their tight grip. She turned back to Tressa. "I hope this doesn't upset you."
Tressa laughed. "It doesn't. I appreciate Avital’s loyalty to Jarrett, but I don't trust the man. The day I met him he promised to kill me if I ever hurt his brother. He is all smiles and jokes when they are together, but when they are apart, I don't have a good grasp on what he will do."
"Then it's settled. Do you want to ride out on me?" Fi bounced from one foot to the other. “My last assigned soldier felt I was too wild."
"Too wild?" Tressa smirked. "The first time I rode a dragon was to kill Stacia. The next time, a dragon plucked me off a camel and flew me across the desert, clutched in its talons. The couple of times I've ridden with you have been unremarkable."
"I'll have someone set you up with armor."
Tressa followed a running Fi though the crowd. Already dragons were lifting into the air.
"There isn't time," Tressa said, pointing up. “We need to go now.”
"Fine, but if there is a true battle, I’m bringing you back."
"Deal." Excitement pulsed in Tressa’s veins. Not only did she feel better than she had when they arrived, she felt like she could conquer the world.
Fi vaulted over the balcony, and before she could land on the ground, she morphed into her dragon form, a little pouch dangling around her ankle holding her clothes. Tressa ran to the railing. She wasn't quite ready to repeat Fi's stunt. Instead, she waited for her friend to fly closer. Then she pulled herself onto Fi's back. Wrapping her legs around the dragon's neck, Tressa gave a little tap to let Fi know she was ready.
They ascended higher into the cave. Tressa watched the other dragons, one by one, escape through a hole in the ceiling. She hadn't noticed it before. From the ground, the entire ceiling looked like a jumble of rock. When it was Fi's turn, she spiraled up toward the hole. Tressa clung to Fi’s scales, her hands throbbing.
Fi darted into the hole, and Tressa's world went dark, except for a tiny speck of light above them that grew wider with every passing second. Within only a few breaths they emerged aboveground, the sunlight stinging Tressa's eyes. She blinked repeatedly.
Fi's wings stretched as they ascended. Tressa managed a glance at the ground as it dropped away. The ruins and dead trees spread underneath them, along with countless dragons bursting out of the dead forest. She couldn't see the holes they'd emerged from. The camouflage was too clever.
In the distance, a horde of dragons flew toward them in formation, one at the center. Tressa squinted, trying to see their colors, to confirm Fi's statement to Avital about the Yellow descending down on them. Unless dragons had far sharper sight, Tressa couldn't figure out how they would know the Yellow was headed toward them. They were too far away. Tressa wished she could ask Fi, but it would have to wait until they were both in human form.
Fi circled as the rest of the Black dragons joined them in the sky. They formed a loose circle around one dragon in the middle, his wingspan double that of any of the other dragons. His eyes were redder than blood and his teeth sharper than a thousand daggers. On his back rode Granna, her gray hair flying behind her, a sword raised in the air.
Tressa could barely reconcile that warrior woman with the great-grandmother who'd rubbed her back and cared for her when Tressa was sick. She'd changed so much. Or maybe Tressa had never really known her.
The dragon horde flew closer, and finally Tressa could confirm what Fi had told her underground. It was indeed dragons from the Yellow and the lead dragon was a bright gold with black wings.
Jacinda.
The Queen of Risos.
Jarrett's former lover and the woman who'd killed Tressa's baby, before leaving her for dead, floating on the sea.
Chapter Thirteen
Tressa was startled to observe that only two of the advancing dragons were Yellow. The first was Jacinda. The second Tressa recognized as the one that had carried her through the desert. The rest were Green, chained at the neck and pulled along behind the Yellow Queen, who landed and morphed into the woman Tressa had quickly grown to hate.
The other golden dragon also transformed into a human. He stood with his legs apart, arms crossed over his chest. His golden hair fell to his dark brown shoulders. He looked so much like Jacinda, it was obvious he was her son. Unlike his younger brother Henry who had died at the hands of the Blue dragon, Stacia, this young man appeared to be in full control of his dragon side.
Mestifito glided to the ground, and Granna slid off his back. Fi landed just behind, and Tressa dismounted. Fi and the other dragons changed into human form, except Mestifito. He remained a dragon, his nostrils snorting small bursts of fire.
Cruelty burned in the eyes of Jacinda's son. He searched the crowd and his gaze fell upon Tressa. He leaned over, whispering into his mother's ear. She, too, glared at Tressa, her lips snarling. Then Jacinda's eyes snapped back to Mestifito. She held her gown with her free hand and fell into a deep curtsey.
Mestifito snorted. A puff of smoke surrounded Jacinda and her son. Her servants waved it away. Jacinda emerged from the smoke, as regal as ever and nonplussed. Her chin jutted out, her back stiff.
"You may approach," Granna said.
"Who are you?" Jacinda demanded.
"I am Sophia, mate of Mestifito, and speaker of his words." Granna stuck her sword in the ground. "You may rise."
"I came here to speak with the King of the Black, not his concubine."
Granna slapped Jacinda, leaving a bright pink mark on her cheek. "You will burn if you speak to me that way again."
Jacinda rubbed her cheek, seething. Tressa fought the urge to run and hug Granna. Somehow she didn't think that would help the situation.
"Anything you say," Granna continued, "can be said to me. I will pass on Mestifito's words to you."
Jacinda dipped her chin, then tugged on the chains. The Green dragons followed meekly behind her. "Once we heard the Black had risen again, my son, Destrian, and I sought out a peace offering. While you've been away, the people of the Meadowlands have taken it upon themselves to turn their entire population into dragons. Along with the Red, we raised a barrier upon the Green to keep them from spreading their blasphemy to the rest of the Dragonlands. In an effort to maintain peace, we have brought you a passel of them as a gift.”
Granna laid a hand on Mestifito's head. Her eyes closed and she swayed a bit. Then her eyelids snapped open. "We will accept the dragons." Granna held out a hand. Jacinda laid the chains in Granna's hands. "I suggest you step
away," Granna said to Jacinda.
Mestifito reared up on his back legs and took in a huge breath. He let it out in a burst of fire, melting the chains. Granna dropped the smoking chains to the ground.
"Fly free, friends," Granna said to the Green dragons, smiling. "You are no longer captives.” The dragons soared into the sky, beating their wings and heading north without looking back.
"How dare you!" Jacinda stomped a foot. "We came here, offering you friendship and peace."
Granna's chest heaved, her gray hair rippled in the wind. "You did no such thing. You came here attempting to bribe us into an uneasy alliance. We will not be partners with you in subduing an entire kingdom. It is not our way."
"No," Jacinda said. "Your way is to hide in the dark corners of our world and only emerge when it suits you. The Black is filled with cowards."
Granna shot an arm out, blocking Fi from attacking Jacinda. Fi relented, falling back next to Tressa.
"The Black is filled with people who want to live happily in freedom. When our kin is threatened, we take action," said Granna.
"Your kin?" Jacinda's eyes flashed toward Tressa.
"Yes," Granna said, her voice dripping with rage. "I'm told you killed my great-granddaughter's unborn child and put her out to sea to die."
Jacinda's eyes widened. "Your great-granddaughter? That girl?" She pointed to Tressa with one long fingernail. "She suffered a miscarriage and ran away when her lover spurned her. I take no responsibility for her problems."
Mestifito took another deep breath, his throat rumbling.
Jacinda slapped her arms to her side. Then did it again and again until she looked like a bird unable to take flight. "What have you done?" she screamed at Granna. "I cannot take my dragon form!" Her son imitated her, his arms flapping at his sides to no avail.
"Me?" Granna said, a smile on her face. "I have done nothing. My mage, on the other hand, he seems to have blocked your ability to transform into a dragon." Granna smiled and pointed to a man in a long, black robe just behind her. His hands were in the air, palms pointed toward Jacinda and her son.
Mestifito's chest expanded, smoke burst forth from his nostrils.
"No!" Jacinda screamed. "We cannot defend ourselves. At least allow us trial by combat! It is the fair thing to do!"
"Did you allow the unborn babe a chance to defend itself? Did you give Tressa a chance to fight back?" Granna looked back at her great-granddaughter.
Tressa couldn't read the expression on Granna’s face. There was no fear, and yet there did not appear to be any anger either.
"I didn't do anything to her! I swear it. My medicine woman, she did. It was her foul, evil magic that lead to Tressa's unfortunate incident."
"My incident?" Tressa said, finally speaking up. "You killed my baby. You left me to die!"
"Not me! My medicine woman!" Nervous sweat mingled with her makeup as it ran down her face.
"Yes, but by your command," Tressa said through gritted teeth. "I dare you to refute that."
"I—” Jacinda stammered. She looked to her son, but he had stepped away from her, a disgusted look on his face.
Destrian held his hands up in the air. "I knew nothing of this. I swear it to you."
Granna looked at her mage. He nodded, confirming the Yellow prince's statement.
"You know the punishment, Jacinda," Granna said.
Part of Tressa wanted to regret what was about to happen, to make amends with Jacinda before the inevitable, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All Tressa could see was the blood on Jacinda’s hands. The blood of a baby whose mother hadn't even had the chance to save it.
"Death leads to death." Granna raised her sword.
"No!" Jacinda fell to her knees. She crawled on the ground, laying her head on Granna's feet. "Don't do this. Have mercy on me!"
"Did you have mercy on Tressa? I think not." Granna stepped away, leaving Jacinda on the ground, a rumpled, pathetic mess.
Jacinda turned back to Destrian, her hand outstretched. He shook his head, also backing away. Wild, she looked toward Tressa. "I'm sorry. So, so sorry for what I did to you. It was petty jealousy, nothing more. I will give you and Jarrett a palace, a place for you to relax and make love for the rest of your days. You will be supplied with servants for the countless number of children you will have. I swear all this and more will be yours. Just have mercy on me!"
Tressa stepped toward Jacinda. "You destroyed the one thing I wanted in life. You took it away from me because you are a cruel, jealous woman. You had many opportunities to change your mind, but you didn't. You murdered my baby. Face your punishment like a woman." She stepped back, falling into Fi's outstretched arms.
Mestifito's jaw dropped. Heat billowed from between his teeth, followed by a loud spurting noise, drowning out Jacinda's wails and pleas for mercy. Fire flew from his mouth, engulfing Jacinda in flames.
No one turned away. They all watched justice being served upon one who willingly chose the path of anger and jealousy. Tressa was filled with sadness and a sense of relief. The woman who'd killed her unborn baby was dead. Burned alive in a cloud of flames.
In his mercy, Mestifito made it quick. Jacinda was a pile of ashes within a few breaths.
"Take her home," Granna said to Destrian. "Show your people what happens when they use cruelty to rule rather than justice. We will not stand for it, and soon we will show the rest of the Dragonlands what it means to be free."
The young man nodded, his face passive, dusting his mother’s ashes into a rag he carried in his pocket. He tied it up, then turned toward the north.
Granna waved a hand. "You may change back into your dragon now. Fly home."
Within moments Destrian transformed into the golden dragon and flew toward his home without so much as a glance back at the Black horde.
Chapter Fourteen
Jarrett lowered the anchor, mooring the boat not far off shore. Together, Jarrett and Connor cranked the winch, lowering the dinghy to the water. Connor climbed down the rope into the boat. Bastian lowered Elinor to Connor because she wasn’t shy to admit she didn’t have the upper body strength to make her way down the rope without falling. Bastian followed, and then Jarrett.
Jarrett sat at the back of the dinghy, paddling. Bastian threw up over the side while Elinor rubbed his back, and Connor stuck his face into the wind, enjoying the ride. Jarrett hoped Bastian would quickly regain his legs once they hit the shore. They'd need his steel to face whatever traps the Keepers had set. Jarrett only wished he knew more magic. He always claimed he only knew basic parlor tricks, but the truth was that he'd spent most of his life chasing down anyone who could teach him. Still, he'd only practiced the magic in secret or in dire situations, not trusting his abilities to be useful.
They stepped onto shore, their feet wet. Jarrett unrolled his pants, letting them fall past his ankles.
"Now what?" Elinor asked.
"I don't know," Jarrett said. All he knew was that Malachi had brought the dragons here and they had to find them. Keeper lore wasn't well known, or even fully understood. It was possible he was taking too much of it at face value. Maybe the Keepers were just a myth.
"What's that?" Bastian asked, pointing at the sky.
Four projectiles careened through the air.
"Run!" Jarrett screamed. They took off in three different directions, Elinor holding onto Bastian's hand. Jarrett watched the projectiles change course. Something was hunting them. He swerved, and the thing swerved with him, following every step with amazing precision. Yet it didn't seem to be coming any closer to the ground.
Jarrett stopped in a crouch, his hands over his head. He had to know if it would bomb him when it had a clear shot. He waited, his eyes trained on the sky. The thing hovered in the air above him.
"It's okay," he called out to the others. "They're just watching us."
The three made their way back to his position.
"Watching us? I don't like that," Bastian said.
; Elinor held tight to Bastian's hand. Jarrett couldn't help notice they were getting closer. He wished Tressa was with them. Soon, he kept reminding himself. She was in good hands with Fi. The Black had proven themselves to be allies and friends. He'd travel to the Charred Barrens as soon as he found the dragon eggs.
"I don't think they mean us any harm," Jarrett said. "Not at the moment. Let's keep walking, see if anything happens."
Together, the four walked north, away from shore and the water. The strange objects followed above, coming a little closer. A blue eye blinked inside the crystalline sphere, focused on Jarrett. The other three were the same, watching their charges.
"That's odd," Bastian said. "What is it?"
"Now that it’s still and I can see it better, it’s only a sentry," Elinor said. "We used them at the infirmary in Ashoom."
"Why?" Connor asked.
"To keep an eye on terminally sick patients while we slept, or ate, or took a break. They're harmless," she said. "Just simple magic."
Bastian shook his head. "There's nothing simple about magic."
"That's because you didn't grow up with it. I understand magic is very foreign to you, but trust me, sentries are nothing to worry about." Elinor smiled and squeezed Bastian's hand.
"Can they hear as well as see?" Jarrett asked Elinor, grateful for her insights on the esoteric. She was not a mage, but her father was. She had to have seen things others hadn’t.
"Ours could only see,” Elinor said.
"Okay. Just in case, let's keep our conversation general. No mention of our plans. Let's keep moving," Jarrett said.
"What are we looking for?" Connor asked.
"Anything," Jarrett said. "If something looks out of place or holds a clue to the whereabouts of what we seek, we need to examine it."
He tried to ignore the sentries, but they were distracting. They weren't subtle watchdogs. Clearly whoever was watching wanted them to know they weren't alone. But to what purpose?
