The Dragon Empress: The Dragonspire Chronicles Book 6

by James E. Wisher

  He absorbed that strength and kept pulling. Nothing less than his full power would be enough.

  With a final lurch, the door opened all the way.

  Yaz was washed away in a black tide.

  Yaz came back to himself and found his mother wrapped up in a blanket of dark energy and floating three feet above the floor, pained moans escaping her as the kid squeezed her tighter and tighter.

  The dark power responded to Yaz’s rage and lanced out. Scythes of dark energy cut her down while lances slammed into the boy’s hastily erected shield. His mother hit the floor hard, but Yaz didn’t dare spare a moment to help her up.

  His opponent quickly recovered from his initial assault. Clawed hands of darkness reached out to rend Yaz to pieces.

  He blew them to shards and countered with more dark blades of his own. The power rushing through him now made his earlier efforts feel like a torch compared to a dragon’s breath. It felt like he could do anything

  Could destroy anything.

  He constructed a shield to protect him from the boy’s attacks. Claws and dark beasts scrabbled against the barrier without so much as scratching it.

  “What are you doing?” the boy screamed as he backed away from Yaz. “We’re brothers. You were supposed to be my friend!”

  Yaz lashed out, sending him flying through the wall and out into the hall beyond.

  The boy landed hard, protected somewhat by his shield.

  “You tried to kill my mother,” Yaz said, his voice cold and calm. “For that I would murder you a thousand times.”

  Yaz lashed out again.

  The boy turned his blast aside, sending it into the left-side wall, blowing it to pieces and exposing the sky beyond.

  Yaz brushed aside a hail of daggers.

  Why had this pathetic creature seemed so strong before? He was nothing compared to the full power lurking behind the black door. That power continued to rush out in a torrent, filling him to bursting.

  “I’m sorry!” the boy wailed as he scrambled back, trying to put distance between himself and Yaz. “I’ll be good, I promise.”

  “You’re not capable of being good. It’s not your fault, it’s just how you were made. You’re too dangerous and uncontrollable to be allowed to live. I’m sorry.” Yaz sent a spear of condensed dark energy into the boy’s heart. “May you find peace in whatever waits beyond this world.”

  The darkness vanished from the boy’s eyes and he collapsed. Lying there, unmoving, powerless, he looked like a normal little boy.

  Yaz’s heart lurched at what he’d had to do.

  Then it lurched again. It wasn’t emotion, something was wrong.

  In his mind the door slammed shut.

  His power vanished.

  The world spun.

  He knew no more.

  Brigid paced in the snow, glanced up at the castle, and paced some more. Her mind raced between worrying about Yaz and wondering what he really was. After what his mother said, how he was made in a lab then implanted in her… She shuddered. It wasn’t natural.

  Despite that her feelings for him hadn’t changed so much as gotten complicated. The idea of having a family with him for instance scared the hell out of her. Would their kids turn out to be like that creature they encountered? Could they even have kids if he wasn’t fully human? She had so many questions and no answers. Brigid didn’t even know if there was anyone with answers.

  “Could you possibly calm down?” Silas asked. “You’re making me more nervous than I was before.”

  She stopped and turned to face him. “We should have gone with them.”

  “No. We would have been in the way. I hit that kid with the strongest lightning bolt I could conjure and it didn’t even scratch him. Their only chance is to sneak in and out without running into him.”

  “What do you figure the odds of that are?”

  He shook his head and refused to answer. That told her everything she needed to know.

  Silas wasn’t wrong though. If his magic wasn’t enough, what was she going to do, hit him on the head with her staff?

  “What do you think, about what his mother said? You know, how he isn’t totally human.”

  Silas shrugged. “He’s saved my life more than once, treated me with respect and as a friend. That’s better than I’ve gotten from most full-blooded humans I’ve met. Besides, you’re talking to a guy that travels with an undead dragon skull, so I might not be the best one to ask. Does it bother you?”

  “A little, maybe, I don’t know. It’s just a lot to take in.”

  “It is at that. Imagine how Yaz is feeling right now. One minute you’re a guy trying to help your people and the next you’re something… else. Yet he never hesitated to go back in with his mother. To go back for some potion that might make him even less human than he is now because it’s the best way to help his people. How can you not respect that?”

  Brigid stared at him for a moment. She’d been so wrapped up in how she was feeling that she hadn’t even considered how shaken Yaz must be. She hadn’t even said anything to reassure him. Instead she’d pulled away, looking at him like he was a monster instead of the person she knew he was inside. The person that came to rescue her from that basement. The person that had killed to save her even though it hurt him.

  Disgusted with herself, Brigid vowed that when he came back out, she’d tell Yaz how she felt. Damn the consequences. She loved him right down to her toes and nothing would change that. Not today, not ever.

  Her good mood last about five seconds before a chunk of the castle got blown out.

  “What was that?” she asked, heart in her throat.

  “Looks like they ran into our little friend. I hope they—”

  Brigid didn’t hear the rest. She sprinted for the castle. If he died before she got to tell him everything, she’d never forgive herself.

  “Wait!” Silas shouted.

  Brigid ignored him and pushed through the front door. Dust rained down as another explosion shook the castle.

  Her memory might not be as good as Yaz’s, but she recalled the path to the lab well enough. She ducked down corridors and around bends. Finally, she came to a stop at the end of the long hall that led to the lab door.

  The walls and floor looked like a war had been fought there. The boy that attacked them lay dead not far from the lab entrance. Further down Yaz’s mother knelt beside Yaz’s unmoving body. She held his head in her lap.

  Brigid gasped and his mother looked up.

  “He’s not dead,” she said and Brigid found she could breathe again.

  “What happened?”

  “Kranic’s weapon found us and attacked me. Yaz summoned his full power to defeat the monster, but the strain knocked him out.”

  “He’ll wake up again though, right?”

  “I don’t know. His power was never meant to be tapped without the key. It may have been too much for him.”

  Silas came pounding up behind her. “Of all the stupid… Oh no. Is he…?”

  “Still alive, thank the gods.” Brigid straightened. “What do we need to do to help him?”

  Yaz’s mom looked at her with a faint smile. “There is one thing. We can take him to the source of his power. The energy in the dark well might heal him.”

  Brigid nodded once. “What are we waiting for?”

  Chapter 7

  Leonidas stood with his hands above his head, the Black Ring glowing as he used it to steady the new mast they were installing on the flying ship. Jax had done all the work to prepare it in between scrying sessions. The wizard could only use his enchanted mirror for an hour or so each day without risking serious mental damage. So far he’d reported some movement in both Carttoom and Rend, mostly people who’d fled the burned capitals. There was no sign of major military activity. Which made sense given that an army wouldn’t last ten seconds against his dragons.

  Still, he knew they were planning something. Not that it mattered. Regardless of what came his way, the drag
ons’ power would allow him to crush any opposition. With Rondo and Shade out gathering forces for him to use in bringing the kingdoms fully under control, there was nothing to do except while away the hours until they finished. Besides, it was nice to be out of the tower and doing something besides giving Ariel orders.

  “Just another moment, Leonidas,” Jax said. “One more bolt and we’ll be done.”

  He didn’t bother to reply. Holding the mast took such a paltry amount of his strength, he wasn’t going to run out anytime soon.

  As he waited for Jax to finish, his mind drifted. There was something at the edge of his awareness but growing ever closer. Something powerful and magical. Perhaps the kings had finally made their move.

  Jax appeared at the ship’s rail. “I sense something.”

  “As do I. Is the mast secure?”

  “Yes. I think we need to get inside.” Jax leapt over the rail and landed beside him.

  “Can you make out any details?” Leonidas asked.

  “I sense five powerful magic users approaching from five different directions. They’re all focused on us.”

  “How powerful?”

  “The most powerful. I believe the five elemental dragons themselves are coming against us.”

  Leonidas frowned and studied the sky. The strongest wizards in the world answered to no king, so clearly this wasn’t the counterattack he’d been expecting. Perhaps activating the towers brought them out of whatever hole they hid in.

  He debated facing them himself. It would be a fine test for his ring. No, better to let the black dragon handle them. He had an empire to rule now. He couldn’t be taking unnecessary risks.

  By the time they made the short walk to the tower door, the air was thick with magical energy. Leonidas glanced up once more and spotted a flame-shrouded figure approaching from the west and a second surrounded by crackling lightning coming from the east. The other three were still out of sight, but they couldn’t be far behind.

  He punched in the rune code and stepped through into the tower library. Domina sat in one of the chairs chewing her lip while Polymus paced. They both looked at him when he closed the door.

  “What’s going on, Leonidas?” Domina asked. “I’ve never sensed power like this.”

  “The elemental dragons have come to pay us a visit. I need to go to the throne room and prepare a proper welcome.”

  “Don’t forget to have her activate the tower’s protective barrier,” Polymus said.

  “As if I’d forget something so important.” Leonidas hurried to the center of the room and began the ascent.

  In truth he hadn’t even known the tower had a protective barrier. Loath as he was to admit such ignorance, it might behoove him to have Polymus provide a full description of the tower’s abilities. Having a resource like the former heir to the throne and not making use of him was nothing short of foolish and while Leonidas was many things, he was no fool.

  When he reached the top he snapped his fingers. “Wake up.”

  Ariel stirred from her nap and looked at him expectantly.

  “Raise the tower’s protective barrier and summon the black dragon.”

  An explosion rocked the tower.

  “Quickly.”

  Three runes on the floor glowed to life. The next explosion was muffled and the tower hardly trembled. Leonidas let out the breath he’d been holding. They were secure for the moment.

  Half a minute passed before the window opened before the throne. In it all five wizards were bombarding the tower with elemental magic that burst on the invisible shield.

  “Kill them all,” Leonidas ordered.

  A moment later a woman in white robes grew large in the window.

  Black flames rushed out, engulfing her.

  The most powerful lightning wizard in the world fell to the ground. It was almost too easy.

  The wizards turned their attacks on the dragon. If they had any effect, it wasn’t enough to slow the ancient beast.

  One by one the wizards fell until after two minutes the attacks ended and the black dragon ruled the skies alone.

  Leonidas didn’t even try to hide his smile. Let the kings come against him. Let anyone stupid enough to try come against him. With the dragons’ power at his command no one could stand against him.

  Moz marched at the head of his team of ten rangers and fifteen bards. They’d been riding hard for days, but now the ruined city was in sight. They approached on foot to reduce the risk of being spotted. Any moment Moz expected a dragon to come swooping down on them.

  As if sensing his distress, the little dragon zipped in and landed on his shoulder. She’d been flying off and on for the past two days. Her wing still didn’t look perfect, but it was getting there. Moz would have liked to leave the dragon behind, but she had a mind of her own and was determined to come. Probably because she knew Ariel waited at the end of the mission.

  He glanced back at his team. It was a small group, but the bards made them stronger than an entire company of regular soldiers. Much as Moz hoped to reach the ruined imperial capital without anyone noticing them, he equally hoped that Carttoom didn’t betray them. They’d seen no sign of their erstwhile allies. That was either a good thing indicating that they were being careful not to draw attention or it was a sign that they weren’t coming at all.

  Of all the things he’d ever imagined doing, teaming up with anyone from Carttoom had to be the most unlikely. He took some solace in the fact that teaming up with rangers was probably pretty low on their to-do list as well. He smiled a little. A common enemy capable of controlling dragons made for strange bedfellows.

  Callie quickstepped up beside him. “What do you think?”

  “About what?”

  “The mission. So much is up in the air.”

  Moz shrugged. “Can’t worry about it now. The enemy is directly in front of us. We’ll do the best we can and hope it’s enough.”

  “And if it isn’t?”

  His laugh was short and bitter. “If it isn’t, we won’t live long enough for it to matter. Have either of our eyes seen anything of the Carttoom force?”

  “Tamsin’s birds haven’t said anything to her, but they’re terrified of flying over the city so they might not be paying attention. Tonia says the wind spirits are every bit as riled up as the birds. She says there’s a strange magical energy around the city that disturbs the spirits. Our earth and fire masters feel the same thing. I don’t know what it all means, so don’t ask.”

  “I know what it means,” Moz said. “It means we’re going in pretty much blind. Not exactly an ideal way to approach such a strong enemy.”

  “Nothing about this mess is ideal.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Albert, the earth master, came running up from the end of the line. Moz raised his hand to signal a halt.

  “What is it?” Moz asked.

  “Someone’s coming.” Albert pointed toward the city. “From that way.”

  Moz looked hard, but saw nothing beyond snow and an occasional tree. He looked back to Albert.

  “I can feel the vibration of footsteps,” Albert insisted.

  Moz wasn’t about to argue with an earth master. “Defensive positions. Nobody makes a move without my say-so.”

  The group deployed quickly, just as they practiced, with the rangers in front, their dual swords drawn, and the bards in back ready to use their magic as needed. Moz held his own swords at the ready and stood a little ahead of the main formation.

  Something shimmered and he tensed. A moment later the woman that approached their camp appeared fifteen feet away. She was dressed in a heavy, fur-lined cloak that hid most of her body. Only her pale face stood out among the shadows of her hood.

  “You made good time,” the wizard said. “We didn’t expect you for a few more days.”

  “Traveling’s quicker when we don’t have to dodge patrols. Have you been observing the city?”

  “For several days, yes. It was quiet unt
il two days ago when the elemental dragons appeared and attacked.”

  Moz frowned. Since the tower still stood and sent lightning skyward, the wizards’ attack couldn’t have gone well. “What happened?”

  “They hit the tower with everything they could muster and given who we’re talking about that’s quite a bit. Some sort of barrier stopped their magic cold. Then the black dragon came roaring out of the sky. Their spells couldn’t hurt it, but its fire hurt them. In less than five minutes the most powerful wizards in the world were defeated.”

  “Killed?” Moz asked.

  “They went down in the city and didn’t rise again. Beyond that I can tell you nothing.”

  “So they accomplished little beyond putting our enemies on alert. Terrific. This certainly complicates our attack plan.”

  The wizard loosed a humorless laugh. “Attack plan? There is no attack plan. I brought ten wizards and thirty of our finest warriors. Together we don’t have as much power as any one of the elemental dragons. If their magic couldn’t penetrate whatever barrier shields the tower, ours certainly can’t.”

  Moz tapped his chin. She certainly made a good point. “What do you suggest?”

  “A siege. However powerful they are, they still need to eat. We destroy any supply wagons that approach. Starve them out. If we keep spread out around the city, the dragon will have trouble targeting us.”

  Moz hated sieges, but if they couldn’t even get inside the tower, there wasn’t much point attacking. For now, the wizard’s suggestion made sense. There was still one other matter.

  “What about the citadel? We passed it on our way here, but it looked deserted.”

  “We sent a summoned spirit in to check. There’s a skeleton crew of staff, but no one with any power, just maids and cooks.”

  “So the rest of the Dark Sages have abandoned their leader to his fate, good or bad. Can’t say I blame them. In that case I guess it’s safe to ignore the citadel for now. Much as I dislike it, your plan is sound. We’ll take the south and west sides if you take the north and east, agreed?”