by JD Monroe
Sunset was fading into dusk when he first glimpsed the patchwork ruins of the villages that once surrounded the Cradle of the Sun, the once legendary capital of Ifrahl. Kaldir growled in surprise. Azeria’s legs squeezed tight against his neck. “Look,” she murmured.
Hundreds of red and brown tents dotted the stone ruins, forming a makeshift city that pushed right up to the broken walls of the Cradle. Dozens of thin tendrils of smoke drifted up from the city. His heart pounded as he slowed his flight. At this pace, they’d be on the city before he realized it.
Kaldir veered eastward again, putting distance between them and the city. A shadow passed over him, sending a chill down his spine. Velati’s pale-scaled form flew over him and took the point. After putting another few miles between them and the city, the pale dragon descended slowly into a deep ravine.
Close on his tail, Kaldir glided to the ground. Behind him, the rest of the formation had compressed into a single file line to land one by one. At the back of the pack, cargo clanked to the ground as Sohaila’s guards put down her crates.
He waited for Azeria to slide off his neck, then tucked his wings in tight to shift. A familiar pain rolled down his spine. It felt like a gigantic fist squeezed him into mush. He groaned as his joints resituated themselves, shoulders and hips aching. Two days of hard flying had taken its toll.
Despite the ache in his body, he closed his eyes. Thank you, blessed Mother, for a safe flight. Make our eyes sharp and minds quick.
Feet scuffed against the stone next to him, and he opened to see a pair of loose gray pants dangling in front of him. Taking his clothes from Azeria, he reluctantly dressed and winced at the roughness of the fabric on his freshly-shifted skin.
A buzz of conversation picked up as the others changed, rising in intensity as they converged. “Gather,” Velati shouted as he rose from the ground. A pair of crimson-tattooed hands snaked around his waist from behind, covering him with a loose cloth. Without missing a beat, he gathered the cloth in one hand and pointed to Thaleza with the other. “Don’t get comfortable. Get back up there and scout.”
Thaleza nodded rapidly. She let the loose gray robe fall off her shoulders, revealing just a glimpse of her nude form before she disappeared in a flash of light. With a faint scrabbling of rock, her gray-scaled dragon form half-climbed and half-flew up the ravine. Once she was in the air, she disappeared into a shimmering mirage.
“Scouts,” Velati said. Vikosh and Chala, their Edra scouts, jumped to attention at his order. “When it’s fully dark, you’ll scout the city. I need numbers, weapons, anything you can spot without being noticed. Go ahead up now and make a wide perimeter.”
“And any sign of the Aesdar,” Sohaila said, stepping up next to Kaldir. Velati’s eyes drifted to her. “Wherever they are, Sidran probably isn’t far from them.”
“Agreed,” Velati said.
“Oh! And a Marashti healer,” she said. “She should—” She stopped abruptly as she caught Velati’s cold stare.
“If you see a healer, make note of it,” Velati said mildly.
The two Edra made a rapid shift. They didn’t bother removing their clothing. Vikosh, who had first brought word of Sohaila, shifted into a tiny brown sparrow. His linen shirt shifted comically as the bird fought its way from the folds of fabric. Despite her nearly white hair, Chala emerged from the pile of clothing as a large black raven with bright blue eyes. She led the way, with Vikosh close behind.
Sheer rock walls loomed over them, casting them in deep shadow. They still had the hazy light of dusk, but the sky was darkening fast. High above, the two birds perched on the edge of the stone, then fluttered out of sight.
Back home in Ironhold, the prince’s new wife was Edra. Though Princess Ohrena’s serpentine form was less than subtle, she employed several maids who transformed into birds and mice. Before they had come to a hard-fought agreement about palace security, those women had been all over his domain, sticking their beaks where they didn’t belong.
Since then, he’d gained more respect for the Edra, realizing that the large, spacious castles of the Kadirai were practically begging for Edra spies. Upon arriving in Farath, it was Kaldir’s idea to enlist the help of the Edra. They’d found quite a few allies in the Edra clans that had been run out of the desert cities of Adrahl.
“He’s got a whole fucking army down there,” Azeria murmured to Kaldir. Her hand lingered on the hilt of her blade as she stared up at the purple strip of sky. “Five times what we saw at Greenspire.”
His stomach dropped as he recalled the spread of it. She wasn’t wrong. They had fought an impressive force at Arvelor, and even more in Greenspire. Even knowing that they weren’t fighting Sidran’s full army in either place, their victories had been costly. This would be far worse.
“Dawnblaze, with me,” Velati ordered. He turned to Sohaila. “Sister, skip your evening rounds. Are you well-rested?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Good,” he said. “Save your energy for now.”
Her dark eyes widened. “Do you think I’ll need it?”
“I hope not,” he said. “But I’ll ask you to pray for our safety even so.”
Kaldir watched as her eyes narrowed slightly. Though the dark blue veil covered her mouth, he knew that look. She wanted to argue, but she simply nodded and beckoned to her two bodyguards. Virnan shook his head in protest, but Sohaila gave him a stern look. The young man sat on a large rock and braced his elbows on his knees. She ran her hands over his back, then began to massage his shoulders. There was no telltale glow of magic in her hands, just the simple cure of a gentle touch.
He was struck with a ferocious pang of jealousy. Long before she’d gained any healing power, Falmina Flamewrought could do the unimaginable with her hands. Virnan was a lucky man. Were they…
No. That was impossible.
“Dawnblaze,” Velati said sharply. Heat rose in Kaldir’s cheeks, as he irrationally wondered if the older man had heard his jealous thoughts. But he simply beckoned for him to follow deeper into the ravine, where the walls narrowed into a dark crevice. “What did you see?”
“Thousands of troops,” Kaldir said. He shook his head. “I turned away so quickly, I can’t estimate it accurately. But there were fires going in the city. And the Sunspire was occupied too.”
Velati nodded. “I saw that as well.” He raised his hand, placing a finger at the juncture of his forefinger and thumb. “From here, they could be going north to Ironhold,” he said, tracing his index finger. “Or to Farath.” He traced his thumb.
“Either way, we have time,” Kaldir said. “Assuming his army is consistent with what we encountered in Arvelor and Greenspire, most of their troops are human or hybrid. Even if some of them are riding dragons, they can’t move quickly as a group.”
“But they could send a vanguard with the Aesdar. At their size, they could close on either city in a day, two at the most.”
Horror washed over him in a sickening wave of heat. “If they haven’t already.”
The other man closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Let us pray that isn’t the case.” He sighed. “We’ll await word from the scouts. Unless we have a clear shot on Sidran, we’ll continue back to Farath with what we’ve learned. Viraszel will want to know this right away.”
He winced a little at the sound of her name. “Agreed. May I suggest sending word to Ironhold as well?” he said. “It’ll arrive faster if they go straight from here rather than waiting until we get to Farath.”
“I agree,” Velati said. His hard gaze softened. “Do you miss it?”
“What?”
“Ironhold,” he said. “Your home.”
He hesitated, unsure of Velati’s angle. “At times, yes. I will gladly go where I’m needed, but—”
“I’m asking as a person, not the Firestorm’s lackey,” Velati said with a little chuckle. “It’s not a test, Dawnblaze.”
“Yes,” he said, relaxing his defenses. “Marda
hl has always been my home, and I’ve served Queen Tarim since the day she took the throne. Her family is mine to protect. I am pleased to serve our people as needed, but I will be far more pleased when this ugliness has ended and I can go back to my life.”
There was a genuine warmth in Velati’s expression at that. “I can agree with that,” he said. He clapped Kaldir on the shoulder, sending a cold shock into his muscles. “Stay alert. If anyone asks, tell them the same, and that we’ll be moving in the morning.”
Kaldir returned to the camp, where Sohaila was now tending to Enalah, rubbing her shoulders and neck like she had done for Virnan. The other woman’s eyes were closed, a faint smile on her lips. Another pang of yearning swept through him. This whole situation was difficult enough without her being so close. She had rekindled a flame in him that had been dull and lifeless for so long.
For all of their time together, he’d never doubted that she loved him. Falmina had never been one for subtlety, which was one of the things he had adored. She’d walked up to him during a summer festival, offered him a glass of wine, and promptly planted a kiss on his lips that would change his life. “You’re dancing with me and no one else tonight,” she’d said as he fumbled to regain his composure. No one ruffled Kaldir Dawnblaze, but he momentarily forgot what his lips were for.
“Yes, I certainly am,” he’d replied. And from that moment, he had kissed no one else, danced with no one else, had barely looked at anyone else until the day he left her behind.
When he dared to get close to Sohaila, he glimpsed that old flame. But he didn’t know if it was real, or if he wanted it so badly that he willed it into existence. Part of him wanted to push her right against the stone wall, rip that piece of silk from her face, and make up for five decades without her touch. He would find out exactly how she felt then.
But those were the thoughts of a foolish young man, not a general who had to be on his toes. Even if the temptation of her hands was nearly unbearable.
Instead, he returned to Azeria, who had laid out both of their bedrolls. The thin blankets wouldn’t do much to soften the uneven rock, but it was better than nothing. She’d even folded an extra blanket on each to create a pillow. He never asked her to care for him, but she’d snapped at him once as they flew to Arvelor, when he protested her carrying his belongings like a servant. Clearly offended, she’d reminded him they were partners, and he clearly didn’t understand the meaning of the word. Since then, he’d been more appreciative and let her do what she wished.
Wincing, she sank into a deep squat. She gave him a wry look. “What’s happening?”
“Not certain. Stay alert,” he replied. He sat on the bedroll and stretched his legs. “Thank you for setting up. Are you feeling all right?”
She rested her elbows on her knees and stretched. “Two days of riding your back has me feeling like when I first met my husband,” she replied. A mischievous smile curved her lips. “Sorry. Too much?”
He chuckled. “It’s fine.”
“If you’d only let me put a saddle on your back, I’d be much more comfortable,” she teased. “I’m sure it would be very fetching.”
“I have to draw a line somewhere,” he said. “A man deserves his dignity.”
She finally plopped down and took a small ration of dried meat out of her bag. “I could even put red ribbons and silver bells on it. You’d be the prettiest mount in Ascavar.”
He shook his head. “Careful how you tease.”
“I know. You might crack a smile,” she replied. She offered him a piece of the jerky, which he gladly accepted. Chewing thoughtfully, she said, “You can rest. I’ll wake you if something happens.”
But he didn’t sleep. Lying on the hard stone, he stared at the dark strip of sky and contemplated their next move. In the hours that passed, he determined who he would send to Ironhold, mentally penning a message that would relay the urgency of the situation without sending the queen into a panic. He would send a second message directly to Zayir. Then he began planning how they would attack the Shattered Cradle with minimal losses.
A quiet buzz erupted as two small birds darted through the ravine. Adrenaline shot through his veins as he surged to his feet. He shook Azeria’s shoulder. Rubbing her eyes, she cursed and grabbed her sword. Together, they followed the two birds toward the center of the makeshift camp. Both transformed immediately, with Chala and Vikosh emerging from the tiny feathered forms.
In a rising chorus of murmurs, the Scalebreakers gathered around them. Both of the Edra shivered violently. Marlena hurried to Chala and wrapped a dark cloak around her shoulders. As the dark-haired Edra woman nestled into the cloak, Sohaila offered a blanket to Vikosh.
“It was…we saw….” Vikosh stammered. He closed his eyes, breathing deep. The longer the Edra spent in animal form, the longer it took them to regain their normal thought processes and speech.
Sohaila gently grasped his shoulders. A hazy, warm glow enveloped him, and he relaxed.
“Sister,” Velati said quietly. He shook his head.
Her brow creased, and she released Vikosh. Though Kaldir couldn’t see her mouth, he recognized the tension around her eyes as a barely concealed scowl.
“Thank you,” Vikosh said. “The city is packed with the Chosen. Mostly soldiers. I was in Arvelor when they invaded, and they had recruited locals. You can tell the difference. These are trained soldiers. Armor, weapons, uniforms.”
“How many?” Velati asked.
He shrugged a little. “Thousands. Mostly human, from the smell of it.”
Chala spoke up. “I counted about two hundred tents outside, another hundred or so inside. All different sizes, so it’s hard to say how many people were out there. There was a big building that looked like a bowl…”
“The Coliseum,” Velati said grimly. “It’s massive.”
“It’s filled with soldiers,” Chala said. “Doing drills. Very organized.”
“They have big weapons. Spear launchers, maybe,” Vikosh said. “A couple on the walls, but many more loaded onto carts.”
“What about the Elegy?” Velati asked. “You know what it looks like?”
Vikosh shook his head. “I do, but I didn’t see one out in the open. But I had to stay up high.”
“What about Sidran and the Aesdar?” Sohaila asked.
“I think they’re in the Sunspire,” Vikosh said. “I didn’t see Sidran himself, but one of the white dragons was out on the terrace, with a couple of Kadirai patrolling nearby. I saw another person with tattoos like hers,” he said, pointing to Marlena.
“He’d want to keep them close by,” Sohaila said. “Did either of you—”
Velati cleared his throat, shooting her a cold look. Her eyes widened and she lowered her gaze. “Did you go inside the Sunspire?” he asked.
“I was too worried they’d smell us,” Chala said. “I didn’t smell any Edra there, so I was afraid we’d stick out.”
Vikosh nodded his agreement. “I’m sorry, sir. If you want me to go back, I can.”
Velati shook his head. “Not right now. Anything else?”
“There were people outside the northern gate of the city,” Chala said. “They had carts loaded up and hundreds of people already in formation. They hadn’t moved yet, but it looked like they were getting ready to leave.”
A rush of cold air billowed over them as a large body swooped overhead. Whirling on his heel, Velati summoned thick blades of ice into his hands. Kaldir grabbed Sohaila and shoved her down behind him. She squawked in protest as he raised his hand, wreathed in flame.
A gray-scaled dragon landed hard just past the camp, shifting rapidly. Thaleza emerged, hands raised defensively. Claw marks raked down her side, with black marks radiating from the bloody gashes. “You were followed,” she breathed. “They’re coming now.” She let out a cry of pain, but braced herself against the stone wall.
“How many?” Velati asked.
“Eight,” Thaleza replied. “Five Kadirai, three with
riders. Breathing something that’s not just fire.”
“The Talons,” Sohaila said. She batted at Kaldir’s hand and stood. “They’re poisonous. Be careful.”
Velati made a circling gesture with his hands. “Do not let any of them get back to the city. Keep at least one alive. More if you can. Collar them. If you have to go up, lead them further south, but stay in cover. We cannot alert Sidran that we’re here, or we’re dead.” He gestured to Marlena. “Come on.” She peeled off her cloak, revealing the glowing tattoos on her skin. He pointed to Sohaila. “Out of sight. This is the real thing. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” she said, voice shaking. Her Shrine Wardens were already at her side. Enalah transformed back into her dark green dragon form, letting out a tiny belch of fire. Virnan climbed onto her back, and Enalah picked up Sohaila in her claws, carrying her further down the ravine into the darker bend where he and Velati had spoken. When she landed, Virnan spread his arms wide, and a shimmering mirage formed around them, concealing them from sight.
Overhead, a line of dark silhouettes formed over the ravine, diving deep. Roars and snarls filled the air as they barreled through the makeshift camp. Several of the hybrids threw themselves to the ground to avoid the sharp claws. In turn, each of the attackers breathed a wave of green-tinged fire. Kaldir threw his arm over his face and crouched, making his transformation painfully fast. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Azeria bolting toward him, coughing violently. He flattened himself, letting her jump onto his back.
With his sharp dragon senses attuned to the battlefield, he assessed the situation. Five attackers, three with armed riders. They had superior numbers, but poisonous smoke was slowly filling the ravine.
Kaldir tucked his wings tight and bolted after the last of the dragons, launching himself like an arrow and seizing its tail in his jaws. The other dragon screamed in surprise, and Kaldir clawed his way up its back.