“Albens only managed to replicate the dragons,” replied Fyrian. “There are two more Forgotten Kings up there.”
“Can you ask Regiis how to counter a technique like that?” I asked. “If that’s really him duplicating himself then he’s trying to avoid ambushes.”
“Hold on.”
A golden lance materialized in the Forgotten King’s hand. He pointed it at the external wards, which were thicker now that Father and Aunt Cendrilla had brought reinforcements.
In that same loud, resonant voice as before, he said, “With the power of our steed, we are invincible! Reveal yourselves to me, my dragons, and no one will get hurt.”
“He’s bluffing,” said Evolene. “Someone all-powerful would have pulled down the wards by now. I’ll bet he’s still damaged from all the attacks.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” I replied.
King Magnar leaned across on Byrrus. “We should attack now.”
“Not until I get an important piece of information from Fyrian.”
“Right,” said Fyrian. “Regiis says three Forgotten Kings are attacking on the west. Another mage on a purple dragon checked the other two points, and no one’s there, yet.”
I exhaled a breath of relief. At least Niger and Muti’s team would be safe, if not bored. “What if the real Forgotten King is fighting Albens’ group?”
“Once we’ve defeated these three, we can always go over there and help them,” she replied.
“Did you get any advice on the replicas?”
“You have to wound the real one, otherwise they will keep popping up.”
“Any particular attack needed?”
“Just hurt the rider until he loses focus.”
I clapped my hands together. “Right! Here’s the new plan. Phoenix, can you use your ability to appear close enough for Evolene to attack and disappear before he gets the chance to retaliate?”
The purple dragon nodded.
Next, I turned to King Magnar. “Byrrus is a fast dragon. Your job is to keep your distance and fly out of firing range.” I turned to his sisters. “You two need to make as many attacks as possible, but don’t make yourself a target.”
“So, we’re distracting him?” asked Astri.
“That’s right.” I turned to Stafford. “You and Fulmens need to watch my back. When I get close to a Forgotten King, there’s a chance that another will try to attack me again. If that happens, I need your coldest flames.”
He gulped. “I won’t let him hurt you again, Albert.” He shook his head. “Sorry… Alba.”
A smile broke across my face. “You’ll get used to it.” I placed both hands on Fyrian’s neck. “Let’s go.”
With a speed that made my stomach lurch, she sped up and passed the Forgotten Kings, blowing a stream of pale-blue flames over them. Then she circled around and blew fire at their backs. The edges of each version of the Forgotten King shimmered out of existence and then reappeared so quickly, I would have thought it a trick of the moonlight.
“Did you see that?” I asked Fyri.
“The flickering?”
I clenched my fists. “They’re all impostors!”
She flew in a tight circle around the Forgotten Kings and spat her venom on each of them. “Looks like it.”
The warrior in the middle pointed his golden lance at Fyrian and shot out a stream of black magic. Raising her head, she shot up into the sky. I turned around and fixed my gaze on the Forgotten King, letting her see through my eyes to determine where to dodge. Streams of black magic followed us, but Fyrian darted from side to side, never giving the Forgotten King the chance to land a hit.
Phoenix appeared and disappeared around the Forgotten King, giving Evolene the chance to hurl bolts of fairy iron, enchanted to fly around and hit their target if she missed. The other two versions of the Forgotten King tried attacking them, but there was no way to predict where Phoenix’s movements, and their streams of black magic shot into thin air.
“Any word from Gladius?”
“No. He’s keeping out of our connection.”
“All right. It looks like he’s waiting to tire us out before attacking.”
“Should I tell the others?”
“We need your eyes and Fulmens’ sensitive nose. Keep attacking, but ask him to fly around and see if he can smell anything off.”
“All right. I’ve also told the others to get out of the way. I’m about to do something big.” Once out of range, Fyrian glided above the Forgotten King and spat out droplets of venom. Then with a gust of flames, she set them alight, making it look like globs of liquid fire drizzled down from the sky. Wherever they touched the Forgotten Kings, they shimmered out of existence for longer, before shimmering back.
“Oooh, clever, Fyri!”
“If that doesn’t make him show his cowardly face, I don’t know what will.”
“Where are you?” I yelled. “Hiding behind a boulder while these replicas fight your battles? At this rate, you won’t be able to fight an imp, let alone the Queen of the Fairies!”
“Fulmens says he smells something behind the lightning tree.”
“Tell the others and fly around in a larger circle. Now that I’ve exposed him for a coward, he’ll probably strike.”
“Or try to steal your magic again.”
“I’m counting on that.” Cupping my hands around my mouth, I shouted, “Why should the dragons follow someone as weak as you? You’re the one who needs their strength, not the other way around.”
“Careful. Whatever’s behind the lightning tree is moving,” said Fyrian.
I curled my lip. “Let him try to steal my magic again.”
Phoenix stopped attacking the fake Forgotten Kings, and flew around in a wide circle, making sure to pass over the Lightning Tree. As usual, the burned-out giant sequoia writhed with molten fire. Evolene threw down a giant, round-bottomed flask. It disintegrated in mid-air, before forming a red outline of the Forgotten King sitting atop Gladius.
I shook my head. “If the fairies knew this was what the feared monarch that had caused them to lock down their barriers was doing, they’d weep with shame.”
“Don’t underestimate the Forgotten King,” said Fyrian. “If you let him escape to absorb more magic, there’ll be no stopping him.”
“You’re right.”
Metal-clad arms seized me from behind. “Wonderful,” drawled a voice. “You have returned to donate even more of your delicious life-force!”
Chapter 22
My nostrils flared, and my entire body stiffened. The armor-covered arms around my shoulders and waist tightened and drew me into the Forgotten King’s body. A shiver spread down my spine and across my ribs, making me draw in a shocked breath. Even though I’d expected him to steal my magic again, I had thought he would have the confidence to face me head-on, not to attack from behind like a coward.
“Should I buck him off?” asked Fyrian.
“Not yet.” I widened my stance, securing the soles of my boots on her back. “But get ready in case it looks like he’s about to win.”
“All right.” Fyrian continued gliding around the meadow. The clouds shifted in the wind, bathing the back of her head in moonlight.
Sharp nails dug into my back, making me flinch. The Forgotten King hissed and jumped back, releasing me from his grip. “What is the meaning of this fairy iron?”
I turned to face him, heart hammering in my chest like thunder. He had changed his armor to silver with a helmet covering his features. Quicksilver eyes shone out from the visor amidst skin that had either been painted or had scabbed over black.
Squaring my shoulders, I said, “After you drained me of my magic, I drank an elixir that turned my blood into poison. See the slight silvery tinge to my skin? That’s fairy iron running through my veins.”
He reared back. “How?”
“My unique physiology that you like so much makes me immune to fairy iron.” I raised my chin. “And I’ve coated my body
with a layer of the same substance. Even if you get through that, the next time you steal my power, my toxic magic will make you so weak, a human could defeat you.”
The fairy stilled and gazed at me for an uncomfortably long time. My pulse thrummed the tune of a war drum, and my limbs twitched with quickening anticipation. When would the fight start? I ached to show him I wasn’t the same person he could take by surprise and drain to a husk like a coconut. Clouds covered the moon, casting him in shadow.
“Join me,” he said.
A laugh huffed out of my lungs. “What?”
“All I have ever wanted was an heir.” He spread his arms wide, making his armor creak. “One strong enough to fight by my side and take up my royal duties. Join me, great-granddaughter.”
Fyrian glided above the Lightning Tree, where Evolene’s powder still highlighted the trembling body of Gladius. I pushed aside the concern simmering in my gut. Until I’d defeated the Forgotten King or broken his hold over the wild dragon, there was nothing I could do to save him.
The Forgotten King stared back, his gaze as still as the moon reflecting on the Great Lake. He probably believed I was considering his ridiculous proposal. If I rejected him outright, he might try to attack again. While he couldn’t penetrate the fairy iron with his nails to steal my power, there was nothing stopping him from slashing me across the belly with a sword.
I placed my hands on my hips. “You stole my magic and left me for dead. Why would I be stupid enough to partner with you?”
He pressed his palms together in a gesture humans used for prayer. “I was wrong and believed you to be an insolent girl whose only use was to replenish my power. Now I wish to make amends. Join me, and I will make you the Queen of the Fairies.”
The corners of my mouth twitched into a smile. Everything the Forgotten King had said was consistent with how Gladius had described him. He hadn’t wanted to rule but needed the freedom to conduct his gruesome experiments. I imagined he thought with me ruling over the fairies, I’d overlook his atrocities out of a sense of gratitude.
I made a show of narrowing my eyes. “How do I know this partnership isn’t a ploy to steal my magic again?”
“I can swear an oath,” he said, voice low.
“Do they work on beings as powerful as you?”
The Forgotten King didn’t reply for several moments, but he took deep, labored breaths that made his silver breastplate heave up and down. “You’ll just have to trust me. I haven’t lied to you so far, have I?”
“Watch out for the double-cross,” said Fyrian. “I don’t trust him.”
“Neither do I. And I doubt he thinks I’m serious about taking him up on his offer.”
We stood on Fyrian’s back, staring into each other’s eyes for what felt like an eternity. A silence stretched out, punctuated by the reverberation of my heart. I might have also heard the Forgotten King’s frantic pulse, but it could have been the rattle of the Lightning Tree’s loose branches in the breeze. As much as I wanted to spit in the fairy’s face and call him a disgusting leech, I couldn’t show him the contempt he deserved until I’d gotten one more thing.
“All right,” I said. “The idea of ruling over those snobby fairies is appealing. But I want to upgrade my dragon for the one you covered in gold.”
“What?” said Fyrian.
“Just play along.”
She dipped her head, imitating how Byrrus had looked depressed after the loyalty elixir had worn off, and he’d realized the shame of having bonded with King Magnar.
“Gladius?” asked the Forgotten King. “Why?”
Trying not to glance at the cowering figure behind the Lightning Tree, I said, “I’ve become quite fond of him over the past few days. He’s the perfect war dragon. Fast, strong, and with a wide range of attacks I can use against the fairies”
“The dragons have made you their Queen, yes?”
“Why do you think I’m defending them? With you not around to rule them, they had to find someone of the right bloodline to serve.” Each word made my insides cringe. I’d made them sound like sheep when each dragon I had met was a person in their own right. Pressing my lips together, I exhaled a long breath. If I didn’t focus on defeating the Forgotten King right now, he would disappear and return stronger than ever.
He gave me a slight nod. “Fine. I gift you my golden dragon.”
“I like his iridescent scales. Melt the armor off him, please.”
The Forgotten King shook his head. “Without the golden helmet, he is wild and willful. You would not be able to control him.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “He’s followed my every order so far. Remove the gold painlessly, or the deal is off.”
With a flick of the fairy’s wrist, a pool of molten gold appeared on the ground around the Lightning Tree.
I suppressed the gush of relief trying to force its way out of my lungs and said, “I want to see him.”
The invisibility enchantment disappeared with a pop, and Gladius stepped out from behind the Lightning Tree. Molten fire within the broken trunk reflected on his scales. “You have freed me… Thank you.”
I gave him a gentle nod. “Don’t relax yet. I have one more thing left to do.”
The Forgotten King held out his hand. “Now that you have a suitable steed, you will command my dragon army. Together we will burn our way into Elphame. Now, take off the fairy iron, so we may seal our deal.”
Anticipation filled my stomach with lead balls, making my muscles tighten. If my bluff didn’t work, I would only make him stronger. Ensuring to only affect the outer layer, I fumbled at the collar of the fairy iron-laced invisibility cloak and undid the fastening. Its shimmering, metal covering shone in the moon.
The Forgotten King’s eyes gleamed, making nausea sliver up the back of my throat. That look either meant he was about to drain my magic again or steal me away so he could feed on me at his leisure. I’d bet he thought my unique mix of races meant I could heal from any wound and absorb ambient magic faster than any being in the Known World.
“Fine.” I stretched out my hand. “Let’s shake.”
The moment our fingers touched, the face beneath the visor twisted in a rictus of pain. “What is this?”
I held him in my strongest ogre handshake. Then with my free hand, I jabbed him through the visor with Master Jesper’s dagger, making him screech. The blackness around his eyes faded, revealing the burned and twisted flesh I’d seen at the end of the first battle. Our suspicions had been right all along. The Forgotten King hadn’t been able to replenish his magic from that first attack.
He thrashed and flailed and shoved at my shoulder, but I clenched my teeth and held him firm. Blocking a fairy’s access to their magic made them much like witches without their staffs. Of low to average strength and unable to fight against an ogre.
Gladius appeared behind him in human form, raising palms covered in black flames. “I will make sure you never rise!”
The Forgotten King’s head twisted to the side. “G-Gladius?”
With a snarl of determination, the wild dragon wrapped his hands around the Forgotten King’s neck, melting his armor to liquid silver. Fyrian flew upsidedown, letting the molten metal fall harmlessly to the ground instead of her scales. I reached for another dagger, waiting for the opportunity to plunge it into the fairy’s flesh without getting burned by the black fire.
The armor continued to melt, leaving an emaciated figure clad in the kinds of linen bandages used to embalm monarchs in the fairy islands. Where some of the fabric had torn away from our previous attacks, rib-bones protruded through flesh as thin and brown as aged parchment. I suppose this desiccated corpse was the Forgotten King’s true appearance.
“A thousand years in a magic-draining sarcophagus would dull the beauty of any fairy.” Fyrian righted herself and glided past a field of trembling largomorphus rex and back toward the wards .
I shuddered. “That’s an understatement.”
The Forgot
ten King reached for the dagger in his eye, but it remained fast. Whatever Master Jesper had imbued in its blade stung him, and he hissed, “Y-you betrayer!”
“I know what side of the family I got it from, then.” I lanced him through the belly with my parched sword, making him cry out. “That’s for sticking your nails through my heart!”
His remaining silver eye bulged. “Y-you would steal my magic?”
“Actually, it’s mine.” I slammed another of Master Jesper’s daggers into his chest.
The Forgotten King staggered back, but I held him in place and readied another dagger.
“Step back!” shouted King Magnar from above.
I drew away from the Forgotten King, leaving the monarch swaying on Fyrian’s back, his eyes half-lidded. White light flashed, and magic-draining daggers flew at him at top speed, piercing his chest. Then Stafford appeared on Fulmens and used his freezing flames to secure the daggers into place.
With a scream of anguish, the wretched fairy launched himself off Fyrian’s back.
We flew after him. Evolene, Astri, and Botilda pointed their staffs at the fairy to cushion his fall. Anything that could dislodge the magic-draining daggers might give him a second lease of power.
The Forgotten King landed on the ground, writhing and thrashing and trying to use the earth to slide out the daggers, but Stafford’s devastating attack held them in place. “I will return,” he wheezed. “High fairies cannot die. Royal fairies are eternal!”
Master Jesper strolled up to the Forgotten King and placed a metal around his blackened neck, which leached the color from his face. The troll glanced up at Stafford. “Cadet Perrault, please ensure this device cannot be moved.”
From up above, Fulmens blew a stream of frozen fire the Forgotten King’s upper body, pinning him to the ground. The fairy’s legs thrashed, but the flames were too strong.
I swallowed hard. This was a version of the magic-stealing extricator Mr. Bacon the alchemist had tried to use on me in the burning hut. The Forgotten King’s arms fell to his sides, and the tips of his fingers turned to stone.
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