by T. A. White
“Tate!” There was a growl in the word Ilith would have been impressed with if he hadn’t gotten her name wrong.
Not Tate, Ilith thought at him reproachfully.
There was a sigh in her mind. He knows that.
Ilith wasn’t entirely convinced. Two legger brains were pitifully small. Who knows how much information was lost every day?
“Explain,” Dewdrop barked at Ilith as his patience snapped.
The people carrying a lie on their chest misunderstood, glaring at Dewdrop as one of them dropped his hand to the weapon at his side.
“Watch your mouth, boy. You’re in the presence of the emperor.”
Dewdrop frowned, seeming to realize Ilith and Rath weren’t the only ones present.
Ilith pulled her lips back exposing her pretty, pretty teeth as she fixed her eyes on the man who’d threatened Dewdrop. Perhaps it was him who shouldn’t forget he was in a dragon’s presence.
Her teeth trumped an emperor every time.
Dewdrop tilted his head at Ilith. “If I were you, I wouldn’t threaten the dragon’s companions when the dragon is standing right there.”
Oh boy, Tate sighed.
The man tightened his grip on his sword, glaring. “She is the emperor’s weapon. She must obey.”
Dewdrop fixed a look on the man that asked if he was really that stupid. “Do you want to tell the dragon that?”
Ilith sat back and picked a front paw off the ground, regarding her claws thoughtfully. That gem on the man’s chest seemed to be calling her name. True, last time the gem turned out to be fake but who was to say the same thing would happen again. Maybe that gem was real. How would she know unless she tried?
Ilith sat her paw down and gave the man a dragon grin. Yes, she should make sure. Besides, those liars had threatened the lives of the tiny, brave one. They no longer deserved any gems in their possession.
Ilith, Tate said cautiously.
Dewdrop glared. “Don’t you think about it, crazy dragon. The sapphire isn’t real. Remember last time?”
The liar frowned at Dewdrop. “Threats against the emperor will only see your punishment increased.”
“Idiot. Your emperor’s not the one in danger,” Dewdrop snarled. “Ilith still wants his crown. She won’t do anything to him.”
Ilith nodded in agreement. There was also the small fact that this experience had proved the shiny one’s threat level. He was dangerous. It might be fun to mess with him—but not unless the incentive was right.
“You idiots are the ones in danger,” Dewdrop said.
Willa strolled a few paces away, putting distance between herself and the rest before sprawling on the ground to watch the show.
“Sir Daniel makes a good point,” the shiny man said. “Perhaps antagonizing her isn’t your best move.”
“Your majesty,” the man protested.
“I’m not going to say it again.” There was a threat in the shiny man’s words. One that made the guard shut his mouth.
Bored with the chatter of lesser beings, Ilith fixated on the maybe fake gem. She really wanted to know if it was real or not.
“Don’t you dare,” Dewdrop warned again.
Ilith made a sad sound in the back of her throat. She deserved that gem.
“I mean it.” Dewdrop moved so he was between her and the other guards.
Ilith inched forward. Rath came up behind the two leggers, curling his tail around the group while he spread his wings.
The shiny man looked up. “Ryu.”
Ilith snorted. Not Ryu. Rath.
Rath held Ilith’s gaze. My horde. Not yours.
Ilith curled a lip. Greedy dragon.
She examined the two leggers Rath hovered over protectively. Only one of them is in your horde.
The shiniest of the two leggers. The man who claimed ownership of her crown and whose aura currently contained flecks of brightly colored light marking him as bigger prey than Ilith cared to hunt at the moment.
Though Ilith didn’t put it out of the realm of possibility for the future. A battle with the shiny man would be gloriously destructive.
It doesn’t matter how many are in Ryu’s hoard. I forbid you from tackling any of them, Tate said.
Ilith huffed and rose out of her hunting crouch. Her Savior was such a spoil sport.
Despite the danger passing, none of the two leggers relaxed, remaining on guard against Ilith as the dragon waddled away.
It was rare for a dragon to target another dragon’s hoard. Such things were considered sacred to the dragon in question. Interfering with one brought far more trouble than it was worth, often resulting in the destruction of all involved.
Dewdrop raced around her, blocking her path as he glared at her. Ilith stopped, baffled at his expression.
Was he angry? She didn’t understand.
They’re worried, Tate told her.
I am dragon. There is no need.
That’s not how it works with friends.
Ilith’s tail moved as she tucked her wings in close. Two leggers were so hard to understand sometimes.
Tate’s laughter resounded in Ilith’s ears as Willa padded forward to prod a separated piece of the amalgam. She sneezed.
“What is she doing?” the shiny man asked as Ilith considered the amalgam’s remains.
Dewdrop shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
Ilith lifted her head, scanning the fog that had thickened at some point while she and Ryu were tearing the amalgam apart.
This wasn’t over.
Stupid amalgam and their ability to split.
Ilith wrapped her tail around Dewdrop and lifted him.
“What are you doing?” Dewdrop hugged her tail, his face pale.
“Should we interfere and help him?” one of those behind Ilith asked.
There was a short hesitation as the shiny man looked from Ilith to where Rath watched her and Dewdrop with interest. No trace of concern was on the other dragon’s face.
The shiny man shook his head. “Stand down but remain at the ready. I don’t think she’ll hurt him.”
Of course, she wouldn’t hurt Dewdrop. Her Savior would never forgive her for harming any of those she considered family.
These two leggers thought it was Ilith who was the true threat. They’d never seen what Tate was capable of when enraged.
Even a dragon wouldn’t be stupid enough to stand in her way.
Holding Dewdrop, Ilith waddled to the edge of the fog. She lifted Dewdrop to eye height, looking expectantly from him to the haze surrounding him.
Dewdrop followed her gaze, no trace of understanding in his eyes. Ilith shook him slightly, prompting another puzzled stare.
Pretty sure he has no clue what you want.
Ilith’s head drooped. How did her Savior always make this seem so easy? Dewdrop, Night and all the rest of the two leggers seemed to know what she wanted without her ever having to say a word.
Maybe it’s because I’m awesome.
Ilith croaked at the fog before looking at Dewdrop expectantly.
Ahhahahahaha. I can’t breathe. Tate’s voice cut off as guffaws consumed her. Bwahahaha.
Ilith ignored the way her Savior was losing it, instead, opening her mouth to release another croak. She looked expectantly at Dewdrop.
He had to have understood this time.
“Should we be worried about the dragon’s sanity?”
“From what I’ve seen, this is rather typical behavior from her,” the shiny man answered.
Seeing Dewdrop not getting it despite her stellar voice skills, Ilith bobbed her head toward the fog and held Dewdrop out to it again.
Dewdrop twisted in Ilith’s grip. “Willa? Any help?”
A weight landed on Ilith’s back and small paws scampered along her spine until the Veles arrived on the top of Ilith’s head.
Irritation filled her. Get off.
The small, furry creature ignored her, staring into the fog with a bored expression. Willa’
s mouth opened partially, and she sucked in air with an audible gasp.
A small tingle of energy brushed along Ilith’s scales as Willa changed part of her body to her human form, just enough to speak. “Something is out there.”
Dewdrop’s feet kicked as he got more comfortable in Ilith’s grip. He held her tail tighter.
“What kind of something?”
“The dangerous kind.”
Ilith snorted. Not really. Just tedious.
The brush of energy from before came again as Willa changed back to her bearcat form.
Hoping Dewdrop would get it this time, Ilith made the croaking sound again before fixing expectant eyes on Dewdrop.
“I think I know what she wants from me,” Dewdrop drawled.
“Does this present any danger to the rest of us?” the shiny man asked.
“None. Though it may be a tad obnoxious.”
Dewdrop didn’t wait for permission. A powerful wail issued from his throat. One pure, piercing note that shook everything before it.
Everyone but Ilith and Willa clapped hands over their ears and quailed. Black shadows in the shape of birds dropped like rain around them.
Good. It was working.
But their job wasn’t over yet.
Carrying Dewdrop, Ilith made a circuit of the platform. Each time she made her croaking sound, Dewdrop would wail. The pieces of the amalgam would fall, and they’d repeat the process.
After several attempts, Ilith no longer sensed the amalgam’s copies. Despite that, she didn’t let down her guard. That was how the amalgam survived their last battle.
That wasn’t going to happen again.
Ilith signaled for one last banshee scream. The sound lingered yet none of the amalgam fell.
“Is that the last of them?”
At the last second, before the final notes of Dewdrop’s death song faded, Ilith twisted, pointing him at the rest.
TWELVE
Ilith, what are you doing? Tate screamed as the shiny man and those beside him fell to the ground, trying to cover their ears in a futile effort to block out the sound.
Dewdrop tried to cut off his banshee scream, but too late. The damage was done.
Ugly sounds came from one of the shiny man’s guards. He bent forward and opened his mouth. His face was twisted and red, veins popping out along his temple and throat. Those around him drew back as a black ink blot the size of a fist used tiny, human looking hands to crawl out of his throat.
It fell to the ground with a splat. Its hands acted as feet as it fled.
Stupid, amalgam. Did he really think he could escape with the great and mighty Ilith present? She wasn’t the same dragon she’d been during their first battle. She’d learned and wouldn’t give him the chance to replicate again.
With an evil chortle, Ilith pounced. Dewdrop screamed in surprise at the sudden motion, reminding Ilith she hadn’t put the boy down yet. Willa flattened her body on top of Ilith’s head, her claws scrabbling for purchase along the dragon’s scales. Another person Ilith had forgotten.
It made Ilith’s landing much gentler than she’d initially planned as she held her head carefully to ensure Willa didn’t tumble off.
The ink blot darted away, but not fast enough. Ilith slapped a paw down, one claw spearing through the edge of its body, trapping the ink blot in place.
Gotcha.
It flailed as Willa slid off Ilith’s head. She crept up on the ink blot, her belly brushing against the ground as she watched the last remaining piece of the amalgam with fascination. Ilith did nothing as Willa reached out a paw slowly, smacking the ink blot before hopping out of reach.
Smart Veles. Brave but cautious.
When nothing happened, Willa reached out again, playfully batting the ink blot back and forth as Ilith carefully lowered onto her belly, shifting so her front paws encircled Willa and her new toy.
The ink blot’s capture assured, Ilith curled her tail around, setting Dewdrop down next to her head.
To her surprise, the boy looked worn and weary, drooping where he stood as he stared at Ilith with an appalled look.
Ilith’s head reared back. What? Why was he looking at her that way?
She glanced at the rest of the two leggers, hoping they could shed some light on the odd behavior of Tate’s companion.
To her surprise, the others appeared even more disbelieving and horrified than Dewdrop. There was animosity on more than one face.
Ilith didn’t understand. Shouldn’t they be happy she found the last piece of the amalgam?
Or maybe they didn’t know what would happen if even the smallest sliver of it escaped. It was possible. They weren’t as intelligent as a dragon.
Except even Rath had an exasperated look on his face. He shook his head at her before his body folded away, leaving his bonded standing in his place.
Ilith reared back, feeling uncomfortably as if she’d just been chided by an elder. Affront filled her. How dare he? Who was Rath to act like she’d done something wrong when she hadn’t?
His status as potential mate just saw a reduction in points.
Ilith squinted at the rest of two leggers, feeling a little unhappy. Where was her praise? Her worship? Didn’t they know the appropriate behavior for when a dragon saved them?
They probably see what you did as an assault. They’re going to say it’s an assassination attempt. Of course, they’re not going to give you a medal for that.
That was just stupid. If she’d wanted to kill the shiny man, she wouldn’t have used Dewdrop to do it. She would have used her teeth and claws as any proper dragon would.
Ilith nodded for emphasis. With a sneer, she watched the two leggers pick themselves off the ground.
A chill skated down Ilith’s back when the shiny man fixed her with a powerful stare. There was little expression on his face, but that didn’t detract from the feeling of danger radiating from him. As if he was cataloging Ilith’s weaknesses and calculating his odds.
Ilith rejected the sense of trepidation almost as soon as it registered. She was dragon. What did she have to worry about?
Even this predator wearing sheep’s clothing wouldn’t be able to match her if she put her mind to it.
You sure about that?
Ilith nodded once. Of course, she was sure.
A second later she frowned as a thought occurred to her. She was sure she could win. Absolutely certain of it. But a battle could spill over onto others. Not even counting Willa and Dewdrop, there was the crown and the large shiny gem on the top of the shiny man’s home. What if their fight damaged either of her treasures?
Not to mention he still hadn’t given her the reward for killing the amalgam. It would be difficult to get the gems for her hoard if he was dead.
Hmm. This needed careful consideration. Acting thoughtlessly might damage Ilith’s hoard. Such an action was unthinkable.
Very well. She’d do what Tate was always harping about. She’d be the bigger person.
Ilith let out a long sigh. The things she did for her Savior.
Your arrogance is breathtaking.
Not as much as my greed, Ilith thought smugly.
Tate’s growl, that would have made even a dragon proud accompanied Ilith as she nudged Willa away. The Veles went easily, her gaze focused alertly on the two leggers a short distance away. The cub might not look like it to the adult two leggers, but she was ready to kill if any of them became a threat.
Same for Dewdrop. His face was still pale, but he watched the shiny man’s protectors with the focus of a predator.
Ilith felt approval. Tate’s companions were young but showed considerable promise, standing beside her without thought to their own wellbeing and safety. Even more important, they extended that same mindset to Ilith, despite knowing Tate and Ilith were two different beings.
It was something not even those companions from the before time were willing to do. They feared Ilith and as a result some of that fear spilled onto Tate.
&nbs
p; Worse, they came to expect Tate to put herself into danger for the greater good. As if it was Tate’s duty to rescue everyone else. Never once considering she might need rescuing too.
Tate never looked at it that way, but Ilith did.
It was why she didn’t act as she normally would and chose to compromise instead of use the aggression that formed her foundation.
Careful to keep her gaze on her paws to ensure the ink blot didn’t escape, Ilith scooched and slid in an awkward shuffle until she faced the shiny man.
His gaze dropped as she lifted one paw. Seeing its chance to escape, the ink blot fluttered madly even as Ilith kept her other paw firmly in place.
The shiny man froze, grim realization descending. The faces of those around him reflected understanding as their gazes went to the man still hunched over, one hand on his throat. Sensing the gazes on him, he looked up, his eyes widening in fear when he realized he was the focus.
“William, who was on duty when the palace caught fire?” the shiny man asked.
The William man observed the guard. “He was.”
“Was he the only one?”
That’s why they said they didn’t see anyone enter, Tate said in understanding. They infected one of the guards with the amalgam and used it to control him.
Ilith’s tail swished. Her Savior was finally getting it. Took long enough.
I still maintain that you’re a stupid dragon.
Ilith sniffed. She was not. She was the best and smartest dragon in the world.
For instance, she knew Tate had only guessed one of the reasons the amalgam inserted a piece of itself into the humans.
What’s the other reason? Tate asked suspiciously.
Ilith’s tail swished. She wasn’t going to tell. Her Savior would have to figure it out for herself.
“He’ll need to be interrogated and monitored in the event the creature had any lasting effect on him,” a man dressed in all black said.
Ilith peered at him, fascinated by the glow of energy centered in his core.
He’s the Obsidian Lord. You should be careful. Night thinks he’s dangerous.
He was. Very much so. Ilith thought his line had been entirely destroyed by the ones her Savior called the Creators.