Page 57 of Lightningborn
Bart stepped forward and immediately lowered himself to a knee. “I swear to you, my princess,” he said, bowing his head, “I have not forgotten my oath as a sky knight, to protect the kingdom and the royal family at all costs. I will not tell a soul of what transpired here; you have my word.”
Gem gave a solemn nod, then glanced at Remy. He bobbed his head. “I promise, too,” he said. “I won’t tell anyone. You can trust me.”
“I do,” Gem said, and her gaze flicked to Storm, watching the conversation in silence. “Storm,” she murmured, and the dragon tilted his head. “You are a True Dragon,” she said. “That in itself gives me hope. Will you help us? Will you lend your strength to this mission, even though we are practically strangers, and the world itself is new to you?”
Storm regarded Gem with glowing purple eyes, seeming to ponder the question seriously.Human princess, he said, his voice echoing clearly in Remy’s mind.I don’t know you, or your world. So far it has not been kind to me. But Remy is my friend, and Bart was…helpful enough, I suppose.Even if it was begrudging. Bart gave a very dragon-like snort at that but didn’t say anything. Storm ignored him.
I have nowhere to go, the dragon went on, making Remy’s stomach clench. He knew that feeling all too well.But more than that, I want to know where I came from. There are other True Dragons out there, of this I am sure. I will agree to help you and hope that our paths bring us closer to meeting them. But only if Remy agrees as well.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Remy said, and put a hand on the dragon’s neck, causing him to peer down at him. “I want to help you find where you came from. We’re in this together; I’m not going anywhere.”
The dragon sniffed.I suppose that means I’m going to have to let you ride me, he sighed.
Bart shook his head. “I get the feeling I’m going to have to remember my dragon skills,” he muttered, and turned back to Gem. “Regardless, you have our oaths, Princess. Now, if you can, please tell us what is going on.”
Gem took a deep breath, briefly closed her eyes, and opened them again. Remy braced himself for bad news, but the princess’s next words caused everything inside him to freeze in absolute terror, a chunk of ice settling in the pit of his stomach.
“All the islands are in danger,” the princess said solemnly. “The crystals keeping them afloat are failing. If we don’t do something to stop it, everything we know will fall into the Maelstrom and be lost. Sir Bartello, you might be the only person alive with the knowledge of how to save the world.”