“Now!” Paedyn screamed.
Pyro’s flames soared through the air. The dragon moved. Pyro’s flames missed. Paedyn’s jaw dropped. The dragon was massive, but it moved faster than any other dragon.
“Who is this?”
Paedyn ... I don’t have a good feeling about this.
“Get us closer. I need to use this vial on them. It’s our only hope.”
Pyro did vertical circles in the air to dodge flames from the massive beast. She evened out when above the dragon. Flames erupted from her mouth. The dragonrider held out his hands, and as the flames reached him, they separated to each side of him. Not a single flame touched the rider.
“Hold your flames steady to keep him distracted,” Paedyn called.
Pyro continued to blaze her flames.
“A little bit closer,” Paedyn said.
Pyro continued flying toward the creature. Paedyn clutched the vial in his hand. He judged the distance, then with all of his might, he threw the vial. It spun around in circles in the air as it approached. The rider saw it and released his hold on the flames, causing them to burn his clothing. His hands moved, his right touching his chest as his left arm stretched out. A blast of purple energy flew toward the vial from the rider’s hands. It enveloped the vial, halting it in midair.
Paedyn’s jaw dropped. Pyro ran out of air, her fire ceasing. The vial hovered for several long seconds. Then the dragonrider shifted his hands, bringing his left hand to his chest and flinging his right arm forward. The vial of acid began to fly toward Paedyn and Pyro. His eyes widened.
“Fly, Pyro! Retreat!”
Pyro spun to the side, then dove toward the ground. Paedyn glanced up and saw the vial arching down to follow them.
“Faster, Pyro!”
Pyro continued on, shifting from left to right as she descended. No matter which way she went, the vial followed. Paedyn grew dizzy as she descended, but he kept his focus on the vial above them. He reached to his side and pulled his rapier from its scabbard. Paedyn loved the weapon. He’d helped craft it. But he knew it would be worthless to him if he were dead. He locked his legs in the saddle, holding his rapier with two hands, and glanced up to find the vial only feet above them and traveling fast. Paedyn steadied his weapon, aimed, then let go. The rapier only took a second to impact with the vial. It shattered. The rapier disintegrated.
Acid filled the air. Pyro ran out of steam. The acid splashed over Pyro’s side as well as Paedyn, though it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Most of the acid separated, and sprayed in a large arch all over Saefron, which was better than a concentrated explosion on top of them; at least, for them it was better. Paedyn only hoped he hadn’t condemned too many people inside Saefron to death.
Pyro lost control. Her wing was burned badly from the acid. They spiraled toward the ground. She tried to spread her wings to slow their fall, which helped, but they still hit hard. Paedyn reached his hand out to graze Pyro’s neck as he lost consciousness and blackness overtook him.
Chapter 34
Zaviana stepped back as she watched Paedyn and his wyvern crash into the ground. Silence filled the city for several long moments as a cloud of dust filled the air. Archers ceased their attacks, warriors lowered their shields. Zaviana shivered as she approached the scene. Everyone fled the area before the impact. Before she made it more than a few steps, she sensed the acid in the atmosphere. She froze, her eyes glowing purple, then she cast a magical barrier to block the acid from reaching the city and all the innocent lives around her. Zaviana reached out for more energy and funneled the air to her shield. After a long pause, she used the air to push her shield outward, dispersing the acid back into the air.
Paedyn was still on the wyvern’s saddle, but he did not move. The wyvern, however, tried to get to her feet. Zaviana rushed over to the beast. She laid her hand on the creature’s snout, trying to soothe her.
Paedyn, Pyro transmitted into Zaviana’s head.
Zaviana moved her hand away from the wyvern’s snout. She untied Paedyn from the saddle, and with help from those around her, brought him to the ground. Her fingers found his pulse in his neck and she let go of a long-held breath.
“He’s alive,” she whispered.
Good, the wyvern said.
“He will need medical attention. Can you two take him to the medic bay?” Zaviana asked two of the archers next to her.
They two men nodded, then grabbed Paedyn’s head and feet. Zaviana watched as they disappeared toward the city’s hospital.
When she turned around to face the wyvern, she noticed her trying to get to her feet. The wyvern’s movements were erratic. Half of the creature’s body was burned from the acid, including parts of a leathery wing. She would not be able to fly until healed.
“Easy now, girl,” Zaviana said.
I have to get up. I have to help.
Zaviana shook her head. “No. You are too hurt. You need to rest. You need to heal.”
I can’t. They need me.
“No. Paedyn needs you. He will need you by his side when he wakes up.”
I can’t abandon them.
“You aren’t. You need to rest before you can help your kin. But, right now, you can be of help to Paedyn. Will you stay with him? Will you comfort him?”
The wyvern cringed as she glanced back to see her damaged wing. I can, she finally said.
Zaviana and a few of the others around her helped the wyvern to her feet. With aid, the wyvern was led to the infirmary to be by Paedyn’s side. Zaviana helped all the way to the door, before turning around to glance up at the sky. She felt so useless on the ground. The battle was happening in the sky. There was little she could do. She was worried if she tried casting magic into the sky, the target would move the opposite direction, and instead of being useful, she’d only make matters worse.
A shriek up above startled her. Zaviana glanced up to see another wyvern falling to the ground. The battle above was devastating, and Zaviana had a hard time following it. Another shriek came from the wyvern. Zaviana looked closer. The wyvern wasn’t hurt. It landed on the ground, sniffing something that had impacted only moments before.
Zaviana approached the purple wyvern. When she got closer, she noticed the dead human on the ground. Resistance colors were on the fallen man. It was her rider. The wyvern sniffed one last time, then tilted its head back to shriek into the air. Zaviana stepped closer. The wyvern looked at her, head tilted, eyes watering.
“It’s all right, girl.”
No, my rider is dead.
“I know. There’s nothing I can do about that. But don’t let your grief overtake you. There is still much that can be done.”
The dragons need to die. They are cruel beasts. At first, I thought they were intelligent like us. Foolish was I. I tried to communicate, to ask them why they attacked.
“Did they respond?” Zaviana asked.
No. They didn’t say a word.
“We need to stop them.”
Yes.
“We can’t let your rider’s death be in vain.”
It won’t be.
“We can stop them.”
We?
“You and I.” Zaviana reached her hand up toward the wyvern.
The purple wyvern sniffed Zaviana’s hand. I don’t need another rider. I can fight them myself.
“Please,” Zaviana said. “I want to help. There is little I can do down here.”
What difference could you possibly make up there?
Zaviana grinned. She held her hand out, palm up, and a small ball of fire formed. “Enough.”
The wyvern tilted her head. She reached her nose down to sniff the ball of flame. When it burned her, she recoiled.
All right, little one. I will allow it.
“What is your name?” Zaviana asked.
Yasmirah.
“Nice to meet you, Yasmirah. I’m Zaviana. And with your help, we’re going to make the difference.” Zaviana climbed onto the wvyern’s saddle.
Yasmirah leapt into the air, and together they searched the skies. An epic battle was taking place all around them. The wyverns outnumbered the dragons, but not by much. Zaviana hoped it would be enough, but she knew if she didn’t discover a way she could help, their chances weren’t likely. Yasmirah dodged several bursts of flames. Zaviana held on tight, growing a bit dizzy. She wondered if sky sickness was a thing—after all, she did get seasick.
A dragon to the west fought against two wyvernriders, and was winning. Zaviana directed her reins to tilt Yasmirah toward the battle. When they approached, the dragon was nearly at the rear of one of the wyverns. Its mouth opened wide, not with flame, but with intent to bite, and with its massive jaw, it would destroy the wyvern.
Zaviana opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Yasmirah’s mouth opened, and a beam of wind shot to the dragon. It caught the dragon inside the mouth, spinning its head around with whiplash. Zaviana grinned. She couldn’t have done a better job herself. The wyvern followed the dragon, using her wind ability several more times to knock the dragon off balance.
Zaviana decided it was her turn. She closed her eyes and felt the energy all around her. Moisture filled the air, though cold and frozen in the form of snow, it was still there. She could redirect heat to melt the falling ice, turning it to water, but she wanted something more. Positive and negative charges filled the air. Each cloud held electrical current, and Zaviana could feel the molecules in each one. They would only need to be shifted slightly to become deadly. A grin formed on her face. She moved the electrical current around inside of two clouds on each side of them.
Lightning flashed from one cloud to the other. It missed the dragon and its rider by a hairbreadth. The next flash though, they weren’t so lucky. The rider was zapped off of his saddle, screaming all the while as he fell to the earth. The dragon tilted down, ready to try and save the human, when thunder followed. Zaviana reached to cover her ears. It was loud, and shook the atmosphere near her. The sound startled the dragon, and while it was distracted, Zaviana shifted the electrical elements once more. Two bolts of lightning, this time one from each cloud, flashed toward the lone dragon. The current remained for a long while as they fed into the dragon. Zaviana held her ears tight as the thunder rolled. She could have sworn she saw the creature’s bones through the lightning, but she couldn’t be sure.
The lightning faded, and the dragon dropped to the earth. It was either dead or unconscious, but after the fall from hundreds of feet in the air, it wouldn’t matter either way. A shadow formed overhead, blocking out the winter clouds. Zaviana glanced up and saw a massive dragon above them. It was larger than any other she’d seen.
“Yasmirah, take us around to the side of that dragon so we can see it.”
The wyvern didn’t respond, but did as she was told. She circled around twice, then cut to the side and gained altitude. When Zaviana saw the dragon and its rider, her jaw dropped.
“No,” she whispered.
What? Yasmirah asked.
“This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.”
What is it?
“The emperor.”
Who?
“The one who is leader over all the Dragonia Empire. He never leaves his chambers, let alone his castle.”
Then we must defeat him. If he is no more, perhaps victory will be ours.
Zaviana shook her head. “He’s too powerful.”
We have to try. I saw your magic, your lightning. If we cannot defeat him, who can?
“No one,” Zaviana whispered.
We have to try.
Zaviana gulped. “You’re right. Prepare yourself. This will not be an easy foe.”
Prepared.
Yasmirah climbed higher and flew closer to the emperor. Zaviana shivered. She closed her eyes, becoming one with the elements around her. All she had to do was defeat him, no sweat, no problem. She shivered again. Big problem. A deep breath calmed her, but she still wasn’t ready. How could she defeat the emperor? There was little she could do against his torture in Dragonia, what could she possibly do now? Yes, her abilities had grown, but not that much.
It felt like only yesterday that the emperor was torturing her with his fire. Zaviana had spent years as his prisoner, and he’d done everything in his power to try and break her. He’d come close several times. His magic, his fire, was hard to tolerate. A cold sweat covered her face as they approached the massive dragon. She wouldn’t let fear overcome her. Zaviana was stronger than the fear. She was stronger than the emperor made her out to be; she had to be, or she would fail.
“Are you coming back to me, child?” the emperor called.
Zaviana clenched her teeth. He was so close. She watched as he let down his hood, showing his old, wrinkly skin, yellow eyes, and black, pointed beard.
“Your reign ends here,” she spat.
“Is that so?” He scratched his chin. “And I suppose you’re the one to stop me?” He laughed. “Honestly, I thought they would do better.”
He was toying with her. Yet, it was working. Anger consumed her.
“I am enough,” she muttered through gritted teeth.
“Are you?” he spat.
Flames erupted from his dragon, arching toward her in a spiral. Yasmirah dodged the attack, then blew wind toward the dragon. The creature shifted slightly, but otherwise the wind had no effect on the massive dragon.
Zaviana closed her eyes. She concentrated on the cloud once more. Lightning zapped out of the sky, reaching the emperor. She felt the energy being rearranged before she knew what was going on. When she opened her eyes, the lightning was heading straight for her and Yasmirah.
“Fly, Yasmirah!”
Yasmirah turned sharply to their left, avoiding the lightning. She flew hard away from the dragon, but the lightning continued to follow them. Zaviana stared in disbelief behind them as the bolt of lightning trailed them by mere feet. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The lightning was too powerful to stop, but she could divert it. She focused her energy to a nearby cloud, mixing up its elements until it became a negative charge. The lightning was inches from touching Yasmirah’s tail when it flashed the other direction.
Thunder rolled, creating large vibrations in the atmosphere behind them. Yasmirah trembled back and forth as she tried to ride the air waves to safety. Zaviana held tight.
Once the thunder settled, Zaviana focused again. She gathered the cold and the moisture surrounding her and directed it toward the emperor, who stayed on their trail.
It looked like the sheet of ice would strike them, but instead, it moved to the side as the emperor redirected it. He tossed it aside like it was nothing. He was too powerful. She didn’t know how she was going to stop him.
“Keep flying, Yasmirah! Keep flying!”
I don’t think we can fight him.
“I warned you.”
There is no time for blame. We must escape.
“No, you’re right. We need to stop him. We may not survive, but even if we only inflict a little bit of damage, it may help.”
How?
“He has one flaw.”
What flaw?
Zaviana grinned. “He’s arrogant.”
How are we going to use that to our advantage?
“Trust me. Turn around. We fight.”
Yasmirah hesitated for only an instant before complying. Zaviana saw the surprise on the emperor’s face when they looked back at him.
“Wind,” Zaviana whispered.
When Yasmirah opened her mouth, Zaviana shifted a sheet of water and a sheet of cold in front of her mouth. Her powerful wind first traveled through water, which froze, before it blasted toward the emperor.
The emperor raised both of his hands as he blocked the attack, shifting the elements in the air to redirect the ice storm back toward them.
“Fall,” Zaviana whispered.
Zaviana reached to create a shield. The ice storm crashed into them. Yasmirah ceased flapping
her wings, and the two of them fell out of the sky. Zaviana’s shield faltered. She’d had a suspicion it might. The emperor was much more powerful than she was. Ice impacted Yasmirah’s wing, and she shrieked.
As they fell toward the ground, Zaviana saw the grin on the emperor’s face. His arrogance showed. Zaviana released the rest of the energy that she’d been holding. Two massive icicles lingered in the sky above the emperor and his dragon. They struck the dragon’s wing and the emperor’s back at the same time. The dragon wailed as it tried to control itself in the sky. It slumped sideways, floating crooked in the sky as an icicle over a meter in length penetrated its wing. The ice shard penetrating the emperor’s back was a lot smaller, but just as effective. He fell sideways, gripping his reins tightly as he tried to keep from falling.
Zaviana had failed to defeat him, but she’d succeeded in injuring both the emperor and his dragon.
“Are you all right?” Zaviana asked.
Hurt. Hurt bad.
“Hold tight. Try to land easy. I will use my ability with the wind to help.”
Yasmirah continued to fall unsteadily. Her left wing was injured, but her right was strong. However, that wasn’t enough to keep her steady. Her right wing flapped against the wind to slow their descent, but the left barely moved. It looked like one of the cartilage on the wing’s exterior had snapped out of place. With only one wing working properly, Yasmirah spun around in circles, trying to use her one wing to steady them. Zaviana grew dizzy fast. She had to close her eyes to be able to concentrate. Once she could see all the molecules around them with her eyes closed, but her mind open, she was able to push air in the opposite direction against Yasmirah’s left side. It steadied them enough to see as they crashed to the ground.
Yasmirah’s feet hit hard, but not as hard as they would have without Zaviana’s help. The wyvern’s legs fell from under her, and they tumbled forward onto the ground.
Zaviana untied herself from the saddle and rolled out of the way as Yasmirah attempted to get to her feet.
Pain.
“Yasmirah?”
Dragonia: Revenge of the Dragons (Dragonia Empire Book 2) Page 15