When Dragons Rage

68

Alexia took another step forward, despite the reptilian scent wafting off the Black Dragon. “I will sacrifice no one.”

Vriisureol turned his head slightly, watching her closely. “And were I to ask for Alexia of Okrannel? Would Alexia be sacrificed?”

Alexia started to answer, but Kerrigan shoved himself from the wall. “No. It’s me you want. Fine, then take me. My death doesn’t matter if it’s going to save the city.”

The Black’s wings spread, then snapped forward. A blast of air buffeted the both of them as the dragon launched itself into the sky. Alexia clung to Kerrigan, steadying him. They both watched as Vriisureol gained altitude, then began to soar in playful circles over the city.

The princess took the mage by the shoulders and held him out at arm’s length. “What were you thinking?”

He looked up at her sheepishly, and not a little bit hurt. “I was thinking the deal is good enough to save Nawal. You were going to offer yourself, weren’t you?”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

The question made her shiver. She grabbed the back of Kerrigan’s neck with her right hand. Drawing him close, she rested her forehead against his. “It’s different because it is my life. I’m the one responsible for Nawal’s defense, and you’ll be a lot more useful to the world, given all you can do, than I will be.”

“I might have been more useful.” Kerrigan pulled back and pointed toward the Aurolani camp. “But as strong as I am, I couldn’t have done that.”

The purple dragon had slunk on its belly back to the Aurolani lines. Its claws had ripped great furrows through the snow, bringing up black earth to mark its passage. It glanced back over its shoulder, lifting its chin from the snow and hissed, but fell silent as Vriisureol’s shadow passed over it again.

The Black came in low and snapped at the purple dragon’s hindquarters. The grounded beast yipped, then rolled onto its side, exposing its throat. Its quivering tail curled in to cover its belly.

The cloaked figure that had spoken to Procimre moved through the camp and flung off its red cloak. It towered over the fleeing gibberers. At least one caught itself on a hooked spike on the thing’s forearm. With a casual gesture the bleeding beast was tossed aside and the figure continued on its way without a break in stride.

It passed in front of the Aurolani lines, then called out in a keening tone that undulated into inaudibility.

The Black’s course shifted when the thing called out. Though she would not have thought it possible, Vriisureol turned in the air and swooped back with the ease of a Gyrkyme at play. The Black replied and they exchanged words, though Alexia could make no sense of the hisses and shrieks.

“Kerrigan, have you any idea what is being said?”

The mage shook his head. “Not a clue. I don’t know what that is, or why it speaks dragon. I hope it won’t negotiate a better bargain.”

Alexia shared that wish and wondered, just for a moment, if Vriisureol could read her thoughts. On the very next pass his tail came through and batted the figure into the air. With a powerful pump of his wings, Vriisureol surged forward, then rolled. His right wing curved and cupped the broken figure, then swatted it to the left. The left wing popped it back right, then the Black’s head came up and snapped the thing out of the air. Teeth flashed quickly and the figure vanished into that massive maw.

A great cry arose from the Aurolani camp. The purple dragon continued to slither forward, then stopped with its snout at what had been the command pavilion. All around it, gibberers and vylaens scrambled and ran. Hoargoun lumbered as best they could, using their long legs to retreat quickly toward the south. Kryalniri joined them—save for one leaving the command tent in the company of a slender woman dressed entirely in white.

Alexia shivered again. Even at that distance she knew her. That was the woman she had seen in her room in Caledo, when she first met Princess Dayley. Who is she?

The kryalniri walked the woman to Procimre’s left forepaw, then steadied her as she climbed up. The woman worked her way to a position between the dragon’s wings and tied herself into the harness that had held the hoargoun.

She sat there with her back against the creature’s back, as if in a carriage for a leisurely ride.

The kryalniri stood back and waved. Procimre gathered his feet beneath himself, then flapped his wings once, hard, to lift from the ground. A wingtip casually hit the white-furred creature, exploding him into a red stain upon the snow.

Vriisureol dove and snapped again at Procimre’s tail. The purple dragon shrieked in protest, though that protest quickly became a frightened mewing. He beat his wings more hastily and turned toward the ocean. The Black chased him out over the water, then drew up and with several pumps of his wings, arced skyward.

Alexia had spent most of her life in Gyrvirgul. She had watched countless Gyrkyme fly. The precision and power she had seen in the Warhawks, or the artistry of the Swifts, they had defined for her grace in flight, but this dragon reduced the Gyrkyme aerial artistry to panicked flutterings.

Vriisureol came over in a loop. His head and neck described an elegant arc, then one wing came up, the other down, and he rolled into a long swoop passing right over the Aurolani line. Alexia waited for him to open his mouth and release a fiery flood that would stretch a burning line from the ocean to the road to Caledo.

He did not. As he reached the middle of the camp, his wings flared forward and beat hard once, letting him hover. Vriisureol’s head came down and his jaws opened. He vented his rage over the command tent with a loud roar that was equal parts triumph and contempt.

A puddle of fire rolled from that spot. Burning wave fronts, like ripples in a pond, pulsed along, quickly overtaking gibberers, vylaens, and the frost giants. The smaller creatures just vanished as the liquid flames poured over them. The hoargoun made it several more steps, burning like torches, before they flopped forward into the incandescent lake.

Flames washed over the lines of dragonels. Some exploded, others just vaporized. Tents and tools, weapons and sleighs all evaporated in the rolling conflagration. Drearbeasts and frostclaws burned black in a heartbeat and disappeared.

The heat from the dragon’s assault and the force of the wind it created did push Alexia back. Kerrigan gestured and some of the heat abated. Bok had moved in at Kerrigan’s legs and clung to her as well.

The fire seeped across the open field that had separated the Aurolani from Nawal. People on the walls below—a few guards and the foolishly curious—began to run. It looked as if the burning tide would splash against the walls. Alexia expected they would erode them as ocean waves gnawed at castles of sand, but the dragon’s fire stopped short. Pennants and flags did ignite, but beyond that, little damage was done.

Vriisureol swooped through the flames, curling them in his wake, then drifted south and east. At various points his head lunged, and little bursts of fire exploded against the ground. He came around in interlocking loops, spitting more fire, then finally flew back toward the city.

He landed once again on the south tower and more of it crumbled. He thrust his head toward Alexia. “I have done as I said I would. The enemy is no more.”

“I see that. Why did you let the other dragon go? Who was the woman who escaped with him?”

The dragon snorted. He looked from Alexia to Kerrigan. “Kerrigan Reese, it is time for the honoring of the bargain.”

The Adept frowned. “The least you could do is answer her questions before you kill me. It would be polite.”

Vriisureol cocked his head to the side. “A lecture in manners. How… mortal.”

Kerrigan shrugged. “Well?”

“I said I would eliminate the enemy. Procimre was reduced to a beast of burden and sent away. The woman Procimre took was not your enemy.”

“But she was from Aurolan.”

“Alexia of Okrannel is wiser than to assume unanimity in any group.” Vriisureol straightened his head and looked at Kerrigan. “Is Kerrigan Reese prepared?”

“I guess so.” He turned and gave Alexia what was supposed to be a brave smile. She decided she would remember it that way and ignore the quivering of his lower lip. His voice came in a whisper. “Let the others know… Good luck to everyone.”

She nodded, then leaned in and kissed him once on each cheek. “I will. May the gods bless you in your next life.”

“Next life?” Vriisureol’s eyes narrowed. “This common tongue lacks nuance. I am not going to slay him. I have been sent to provide transport. I am to bear Kerrigan Reese and Bok to Vael. There are those who wish to speak with the Adept.”

Alexia blinked. “You came to get him? If you are just transport, than why did you…?”

The dragon’s head came up. “I was told to see to Kerrigan Reese’s comfort. I chose to see Procimre and the Aurolani as a discomfort. Do not question such fortune, Alexia of Okrannel.”

Her hands came up. “No, no, no question. I just wondered… the seeming gravity of what you demanded…”

“A lack of nuance.” Vriisureol extended his left wing to the balcony. “Come, Kerrigan, climb onto my back.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand. Why are you taking me to Dragonholm?”

“The struggles of mortals have not gone without notice. Certain efforts have attracted attention. Kerrigan Reese will be examined and decisions will be made.”

“Ah, wait.” Kerrigan’s brows knitted together. “You were to see to my comfort, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I won’t be comfortable unless Princess Alexia comes with me.”

Alexia’s guts began to boil. “Why do you want me there?”

He regarded her with innocent eyes. “You just told me about responsibility. If they are going to try to decide something based on me, I’m far from a good example. You are. If someone has to represent us mortals, you’re better for it than me.”

The sound issuing from the dragon sounded remarkably like a groan. “As desired, but that is it.”

“And we will meet you outside the city. We have to get our things and put our affairs here in order.” The magicker’s eyes narrowed. “Urn, isn’t there something else you want to do, like fly south to Caledo and drive that dragon off?”

Vriisureol raised his nose to the air and sniffed loudly. “No. Marimri has never been an annoyance. I shall wait over there.” With that he took off again and drifted to the blackened landscape that minutes earlier had been home to Nawal’s second most dire threat.

Kerrigan’s expression reflected how guilty he felt as Peri blinked her big eyes at him. “I am sorry; I didn’t think. I was tired. I should have included you as someone I needed.”

Alexia hugged the Gyrkyme tightly. “I am sorry, too, sister. I wouldn’t go, but this could be a chance to bring more help like Vriisureol.”

“If I am not there, Alyx, you will not be safe.”

The Okrans Princess held her sister tighter, feeling the soft down against her cheek. “I will be safe, sister. I know it.”

“Said without conviction.”

Alexia pulled back and met Perrine’s sad stare. “You have to trust me, Peri.”

The Gyrkyme frowned. “I do trust you. You know that. I just don’t like being apart from you. Kerrigan has Bok. Who have you got?”

“Who will Alexia need?” Vriisureol snorted at Perrine, ruffling feathers. “You need not fear for her.”

Alyx smiled despite the dulling of the light in her sister’s eyes. “I will be fine, Peri, and we will return quickly. Vriisureol has promised to bring us back.”

Sayce, her arms crossed over her belly, nodded solemnly. “Very fast, I hope. The news from Caledo is not good. The dragon there took down part of the city wall. It seems to be resting, but there is nothing we can do to stop it.”

“Marimri.” Kerrigan smiled and tugged on mittens. “Vriisureol said her name is Marimri. She’s young, so she’ll have to rest for a while before melting another wall.”

“So Caledo’s life can be measured in days, not hours.”

The dragon lifted his head, glanced at where Bok was tying a chest into the harnesses on his back, then looked at Sayce. “Marimri likes pretty things. Bribes will work. And songs; Marimri likes songs. If the songs are pleasing, Marimri will listen for as long as they are sung.”

Alexia nodded. “Then you bring the troops here to the east, hit any supply trains heading south from Porjal, and hit the rear of the army.”

Vriisureol nodded. “Bring bards. Have them sing loudly.”

The redheaded Murosan looked surprised. “That might work. I will see what my father thinks. That might just work. Thank you.”

Alexia smiled and gave Sayce a hug. “Take care of yourself. We will be back as soon as we can.”

She gave her sister a final hug, then followed Kerrigan to the dragon’s paw. She mounted behind him, steadying him. She seated herself opposite him and tied into the flight harness. The dragon scales, while quite hard, were smooth enough that they’d not be too uncomfortable.

Vriisureol craned his neck around to inspect his cargo. Apparently satisfied, he came up on all four feet. Muscle rippled beneath his flesh as his wings unfurled. With one tremendous downbeat, the dragon left the earth and Alexia laughed aloud. For the first time in a lifetime, she could feel what her sister felt when flying, and despite being where she was, she was happy.