Page 21

20

ONE BY ONE BY ONE

A s the minutes passed, the cavern grew increasingly warm with the combination of fire, living bodies, and the tension that rose and ebbed each time someone shifted their weight. Guards came and went through the opening, but there was no mention of trouble outside.

I was upset by the thought of Tearloch and Morrow being left behind if the king’s guards did as I suggested and took us all to Ristat. But what could I do?

Lennon left Minkin’s side to offer me water, which she did with a bow. “Princess,” she said, “you must drink.” Then, quietly, “You seem to have them on their heels. But what will we do when two large dragons arrive to take us away?”

“We can’t fight in here. But I assume, if we can get outside, Kivi can fight with fire? I hate to waste innocent lives. They’re only following orders.”

“True. But I cannot let them kill my dragon.”

“Let’s hope Tearloch and Morrow have a plan.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then they may have to find their own rides to Ristat.”

I took a drink and handed the skin back to her. “Tell everyone to play along. No rebelling. No bloodshed.” Then asked her, loudly, to make sure our people had a drink.

Lennon curtsied again. “I can’t help but wonder what will happen to you, my lady, when we reach the palace…and these men learn you are no princess.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, then winked.

* * *

Standing inside an alcove on the opposite end of the cavern, Tearloch listened to it all and chuckled to himself. Asper had managed to surprise him yet again. Princess Negotiator had managed to subdue her attacker with mere words, and in doing so, she’d arranged for yet another dragon to take her to the palace at Ristat.

He’d heard her scream, came running, then thought he was so clever to stay back and wait for a chance to save her—to save them all. But it seemed, yet again, that she’d done fine without him.

He was going to call her Phoenix—a name for a legendary, magical bird that always managed to rise from the ashes. But why, for once, couldn’t she need help rising? And why, in the name of the Fates, did he need her to need him?

If he could be helpful, however, he had to act quickly, before that skylith returned with help.

* * *

“Commander, can I see you outside for a moment?” The soldier disappeared and his leader followed quickly after him. Obviously, he didn’t recognize Morrow under the uniform. From where I sat, I glanced up at Griffon to see if he’d noticed. He looked away and nodded once, slowly.

I strained to listen but heard nothing over the dull murmurs echoing in the high stone ceiling over our heads. A few moments later, the commander called another soldier by name and asked him to join him outside. And another after that. One by one they left—even the injured—never questioning, until only a handful of soldiers remained standing guard over the dragon.

Sweetie, Bain, Dower and Nogel rose to stand at their backs, and wisely, they dropped their spears and surrendered. Lears, Poole, and the brothers took up the weapons and prodded the soldiers outside while Sweetie gathered up Minkin. Griffon and Lennon left Kivi in the safety of the cave, and together we moved out into the fresh air to find out what was happening.

I expected Tearloch to be in charge. He was not.

The first thing I noticed was a pile of soldiers to the left of the entrance between us and the bushes. Three or four lay unconscious, it was hard to tell how many in the dark. Off to the right, many of the soldiers were kneeling with their hands behind their backs, waiting to be freed by reinforcements who hurried to help them. Dozens more uniforms of black and gold swarmed the place.

In front of us, Sweetie, and the brothers knelt with their backs to us. Minkin was still in Sweetie's arms. Now that he had her there, he apparently wasn't willing to let her go whether or not he was allowed to stand. Nogel stood with two other men in red and black, talking privately, ignoring the rest.

Morrow and his men were on the ground being restrained. And beyond them, Tearloch lay on his belly, his hands behind him. A soldier with loose greasy hair and a crooked grin stood with his foot at the base of his spine. The man suddenly lifted his spear, which was aimed at Tearloch's heart!

"No!" I wasn't the only one to scream. The deadly point blessedly stopped short of its target. I had started forward, but Griffon restrained me. "Remember, you're the royalty here," he said quietly.

I nodded and he released me. As calmly as I could, I said, "Touch that man and I will see you tortured for it."

The commander who first found us, chuckled as he came forward. "But Princess, you already claimed this is your protector." He gestured to Griffon behind me. "So what can this one be to you?"

I lifted my chin and threatened revenge with my eyes. "Release my consort now."

His grin faltered. "He assaulted my men. For that, he must pay."

"He must pay for coming to my rescue? When it was you who were in the wrong to hold me prisoner? No. We will put it to the king.”

It was the best argument I could come up with. I couldn't think clearly while that spear hovered over Tearloch. Not a soul moved while we waited to see what the commander would do next.

Finally, he signaled for the prisoner to be brought forward. The weapon moved aside. Tearloch's hands remained at his back while his would-be murderer hefted him to his feet. As he came nearer, the bastard sneered. In his eyes, the confidence he’d get another chance to drive his spear to its intended home.

I turned, met Griffon's eyes, and plead silently for help. I was thrilled when he gave me a nod and moved off to the side. His bronze wings flexed out in a twenty-foot-wide yawn. The threatening hiss of his ruffling, lethal feathers made me catch my breath.

When they hung at his back once more, pieces of the sneering soldier's spear lay on the ground, leaving him holding a harmless third piece the length of a hand. Blood gathered and dripped from a cut on his arm. His mouth fell slack.

Finally, I looked Tearloch in the eye and saw disappointment there. But this was no time to ask why.

“Cut his binds,” I said.

“I think not?—”

“Cut them now,” I hissed. While the commander himself begrudgingly did as I’d ordered, the unmistakable sound of beating wings was accompanied by a powerful woosh of air. Beyond the bushes, a dragon the size of the cave itself landed with a boom that shook the ground and rumbled in my bones.

Another dragon screeched from the right. I hadn’t noticed it before or the smaller one sitting on a ledge behind it, thanks to some bright torches and a few glow stones scattered on the ground. There was no longer any mystery as to how so many soldiers had arrived all at once. And now, the area was beginning to feel as overcrowded as the cavern before the newest arrivals ever dismounted.

When his arms were free, Tearloch moved to stand beside me. He put an arm around my waist, careful to avoid my wound. I assumed he was just playing his new role as consort, but it was still a comfort. He was alive and warm and touching me. Our eyes met only briefly. A quick smile and a vague squeeze. What more could I ask for?

Sweetie and the brothers were allowed to sit, as were Morrow and his men, though they were closely guarded. The insects relaxed and resumed their night music. And the chilled air now smelled of beasts, leather, and sweaty men.

The newcomers included a tall Guardian Rider in an elaborate black and red uniform and a well-armed man with a contraption hanging under his chin and weapons of pure white. They marched into the clearing and stopped. The commander hurried to them, bowed, then started explaining, pointing to people, soldiers, and the entrance to the cave. Nogel and the other dragon riders joined them.

When the new Guardian started talking, all three dragon riders got upset and started arguing, ignoring the other man’s rank. After they’d exhausted themselves, it was clear the taller man rejected their arguments, and he pointed at the cave and nodded to his companion.

Nogel headed our way, biting his lips and cursing under his breath. Minkin detached herself from Sweetie and followed on his heels. They both came to stand before Lennon.

Nogel had difficulty looking her in the eye. “I’m sorry. I tried to change his mind. He wouldn’t listen.”

Lennon watched the armed man head for the cave. “Who is he?”

“Dragon executioner,” he said. “He’s an exiled DeNoy.”

“Impervious to fire!” Lennon ran, clearly intending to head the man off. “Wait! You can’t do this! The dragon is mine!”

The executioner stopped, glanced back at the man now in charge. The other commander scoffed. “I knew it!” He came charging at me. “I knew you hadn’t just stumbled upon it. Harboring fugitives, my lady. I think the king will be on our side when he hears.” He gestured to his men, who forced Lennon back and surrounded our little party.

The points of two swords appeared at Lennon’s neck. “Wiggle a finger and we’ll remove her head,” said one of her tormentors. The man who had threatened Tearloch had found a new spear and stood at her back.

Griffon held perfectly still. We all did.

The henchman pulled his contraption up to cover his face, then stepped into the cave.

“He has Dormiteras,” Nogel said. “It’s a gas that will put your Kivi to sleep?—”

Tears poured down Lennon’s face. Fly. She mouthed the word, staring at Griffon.

“I can’t,” he said. “I won’t risk your life.”

Minkin looked up and whispered, “Steady. It’s not over yet.” The little woman stood holding her ripped gown across her chest, her eyes closed. Lennon’s eyes were closed as well and I was sure she was communicating with her dragon, hopefully warning her not to breath in that gas…

The guards watched Griffon, their muscles coiled and ready, expecting him to make a move. No one dared speak as we listened, hoping for the roar of fire and some screaming. But whatever was happening inside that cave, it happened silently.

Finally, footsteps. Human footsteps. My heart sank into my stomach. Poor Kivi. I had hoped she might swallow the man whole.

Lennon’s face was unreadable, but she emitted a guttural sound that made us all take a step back, including the guards. Griffon was the only one who moved forward, lunging for his woman and shooting up into the sky as soon as he had her. But something stopped him from getting far.

Something large and scattered blocked out some stars and not others. And whatever it was, it forced Griffon to return to the ground. His wings flapped slowly and with Lennon in his arms, he lit on a spot a good twenty feet from anyone in uniform. If they had a chance to flee again, they would take it.

The executioner stumbled out of the cave. “It’s gone. Nothing there. You fools allowed it to escape!”

I looked down at a grinning Minkin. She shrugged. “Must not be very clever,” she said quietly. “But she’s still there. And as soon as someone more intelligent goes looking…”

“Then we have to act fast,” Tearloch whispered.

I looked up at the sky again just as Griffon’s barrier started coming into focus. It wasn’t some massive blanket with holes, it was a layer of dragons. Dragons of all colors flapped at the ground as they descended creating a wickedly wild windstorm that buffeted us on every side. We could only close our eyes tight and lean on each other while we waited it out. I would have run for the cave, but we were still surrounded.

Nogel cursed. “It’s the DeNoy!”