‘As you command, my queen,’ he murmured.
Amelie wasn’t sure she was comfortable with how he kept referring to her as his queen. She knew female dragons were often called queens but the way he said it was entirely too possessive. She swiftly created a shield spell with a mirror function so that any spell cast at him would rebound on those casting it. She helped him weave it about his large form, worried it wouldn’t work on such a massive scale, but his magical strength matched his size. She felt his sudden snort of glee; the wizards had all dropped flat on their faces and weren’t moving.
‘It works. Thank you my queen. Please find the little ones,’ he urged.
‘I will. Maintain that spell, they will probably send more against you,’ she warned but his tone and the feel of his mind already told her he was no longer under outside influence. He did still wear massive shackles however, and ropes circled his body tying his wings to his back.
Knowing his situation and that he were not in such immediate danger now, eased her mind. She turned and flew in the direction he had indicated, scanning carefully all around her. She spotted scattered groups of men acting like hunters. She intensely disliked the intent way they were hunting down the dragonets. She flew on, now keeping low and amongst the trees where her outline was not so obvious for miles around. Finally, she sensed them and flew to a branch above them. She searched with her senses all around their position before turning her attention to them.
‘There you are. Your father’s been quite frantic,’ she said to them. Eight pairs of eyes stared at her up in the tree.
‘Who are you?’ The russet dragonet asked suspiciously, staring in shock at a speaking eagle.
‘You may not remember me. I was there at your hatching after your mother died,’ she explained. ‘Your father sent for me when he was captured. I have aided his defence but I need to get you lot to safety before I can go back for him.’
‘You know where he is?’ the blue female asked. ‘Take us with you, we can help.’
‘No Tania. Your father was very specific about that. Your safety must come first. Those that managed to trap him would find it very easy to trap each of you and I believe you were their target. Your father would risk his very life if something were to befall any of you. Do you want his death on your conscience? These woods are crawling with men looking to capture you. We must leave quickly and quietly. Only once your father and I know you are safe can we concentrate on freeing him. Do you understand?’
‘Why should we obey you? You abandoned us and have no part in our lives,’ the russet snapped.
‘Your father called on me for aid. Now start walking. Our enemies are still approaching.’
The russet dragonet growled rebelliously. The huge eagle angrily dived at him, talons and hooked beak outstretched. He turned and ran in the direction he’d been told and only felt a light scratching of talons on his back rather than the gouges she could have inflicted.
‘Stripe, I have them,’ Amelie called. ‘Where do you want me to take them?’
‘Carry on north; there is a cave high up in a cliff where humans cannot reach. The little ones know of it. It’s an hour’s flight from your position. They are walking?’
‘For the moment; the area is full of human hunters. Once we are out of bow shot range we shall fly.’
‘You feel different,’ he commented aware of that now his mind was not so hazy. He looked out through her eyes again. She was flying above the dragonets through the trees. She turned her head and he spotted broad feathered wings; she had the shape of an eagle. He had been certain she was a were-dragon. What was she then? He’d think on it later. ‘Do not come for me,’ he added feeling her intention. ‘I will find a way to get free once I know they are safely away. Stay with them; they are becoming rebellious,’ he added.
‘I noticed that. They think they are invincible. A common and annoying childish trait,’ she filled in for him. ‘They will learn better in time.’
‘I will wait for you, my queen,’ Stripe told her and dropped his chin onto his front legs, his eyes focussed unwaveringly on the humans dragging the limp victims of the mirror spell away. He could smell their fear and it was satisfying.
‘Jim, I’m heading north with the little ones,’ Amelie called to him. ‘You’ll need to be on the lookout for hunters. The place is crawling with them. Fortunately now it’s dusk we’ll be able to take to the sky shortly and disappear. Where are you?’
‘Not that far away actually. Maybe it’d be better for the hunters to get a distant view of flying shapes and of an adult accompanying them. It might make them all go home and my passage safer,’ he added.
‘That’s a good idea. Find somewhere to hide and rest once you get near that place. I’ll take to the air now.’ Amelie landed on the ground and called the little ones to stop. She closed her eyes and became her blue dragon, growing as large as she could. ‘Come, we fly now to the cliff cave,’ she announced and launched immediately. She waited for them all to take off before she led the way, constantly checking they were all still with her.
‘It’s north from here,’ one of the dragonets piped up.
‘I know. I’d rather our pursuers didn’t know it too. So, we go north-northeast to those hills where we will go behind them and disappear from sight. We can then turn to our correct heading. You all know the way do you not?’
The cave was not very wide but went back into the cliff a good long way before narrowing to a tiny fissure. The one exit was perfect for keeping an eye on the dragonets. Amelie remained in dragon form and sat near the entrance so the little ones could please themselves in the remaining space.
‘Sit still and rest all of you. I don’t need stupid distractions when I speak with your father and try to help him escape. Is that understood?’ Dragons respected strength and these youngsters would walk all over her if they thought they could best her, so she searched each face making each of them meet her eyes.
‘Jim, are you somewhere safe?’ Amelie called first and heard his affirmation. She quickly filled him in on Stripe’s predicament and precise bondage. ‘If I was in there with him I could easily release him, but getting out is another matter. There were many archers out in the forest. I don’t feel like being shot in the back on my way out.’
‘Can you still shield whilst in animus form?’ Jim asked quickly.
‘I’ve never tried it. Hold on,’ she murmured and tried it now. ‘Something happened,’ she said.
‘Yes, your contact vanished for a moment. I’d say it was possible but would seriously sap your strength. Use that as a last resort please. Wouldn’t it be easier to funnel a spell into him that would release him? Then they will think he escaped without help. Everyone knows dragons have magic but no one really knows how much they’re capable of. I think that might work to our advantage.’
‘Stripe, I have the little ones safely in your cave,’ and she showed him the eight attentive faces.
‘Excellent news, my queen,’ he responded and stretched, eager for action.
‘I’m going to send you another spell; hopefully it will release your bonds.’
‘Good, I grow weary of this place.’ Strange human words suffused his mind and the heavy metal cuffs around each leg popped open. He felt a burst of satisfaction from her that it had worked then further words came to him and the heavy ropes trapping his wings slithered off his back. Now was his chance. He spread fire before those humans foolish enough to come through a small door to try to stop him. He charged over to the exit only to find metal bars blocking it. He swiped at the barrier with claws, teeth and even shoved it with his shoulder. The metal bent and squealed appallingly but did not give way.
‘Breathe fire at the places where it is fixed to the wall. Metal grows red and softens with intense heat.’
Stripe immediately took her advice and did indeed see the metal begin to glow. He snapped each bar as soon as it was hot enough. He had never focussed his fire so intensively before but he was gradually freeing him
self, following his queen’s guidance. He was so intent on this that he didn’t notice the irritating humans sneaking up behind him. They stabbed him with something that felled him in moments.
Amelie rose up snarling.
‘What happened?’ the dragonets all asked.
‘He nearly got free,’ Amelie hissed. ‘He would have succeeded if they hadn’t sneaked up behind him to attack him. I shall have to go to him. You must, all of you, promise me not to follow. I shall allow myself to be captured so I can get to him. If we need you we will call, remember that.’
She tried to reach Jim next but suddenly could not reach him either. She screamed in fear and anger and immediately launched from the cave. What had happened to her love? It was almost completely dark now; the moon had not yet come up. She took advantage of the dark and flew straight and quickly. She startled a boar on the way, its shrill squeals drawing her attention. She had been flying all afternoon and been using plenty of magic. If she didn’t eat she would be no good to either Jim or Stripe when they needed her most. Killing something took the edge off her fury. She ate the boar down to its bones in less than five minutes.
Amelie decided the only way to help was to pretend she truly was a dragon. Dragons were not likely to be stealthy; they were big, powerful and justly feared as lord of the skies. Those characteristics suited her furious frame of mind. She flew directly for the huge walled compound and deliberately shattered the protective shielding and searching spell over the grounds. She knew those who maintained that spell would receive backlash in the form of a dreadful stabbing headache. Her attack would also deplete their strength. She flew directly for the rear of the compound where the perimeter wall met a cliff face. The cave mouth was huge, easily big enough to allow a dragon access. She landed and approached warily. Just a few paces inside the cave mouth was a grid of metal barring access into the cave. She snarled afresh spotting the damage Stripe had accomplished before he’d been overcome; in one large area, the bars had been snapped, peeled back and torn. What she hadn’t seen through Stripe’s eyes were the hinges fixing the grille to the wall and large padlock. He was so tall, this lock at human height was well beneath his notice and thus the sight he had passed to her. If he had concentrated on that padlock, he would have broken free. Sensing wizards approaching from behind her she whipped round, snarling at them. Before they could try anything, she leapt into the air, the wind of her passage knocking them flat. She flew to the top of the nearby watchtower, terrifying the guards into fleeing.
‘Jim?’ she called desperately again. She searched the breeze and caught a trace of something familiar. Jim’s horse was here in the stables. They had captured Jim! The wizards were again approaching but rather nervously this time.
‘Stripe!’ she growled. ‘Wake up!’
‘I am,’ he grumbled clearly still hazy. ‘You’re here?’
‘Yes. Are you tied up again?’
‘No,’ Stripe responded, brightening a little.
‘Can you fly?’
‘No. They’ve done something to me,’ he snarled again in frustration. ‘What else is the matter? Why have you left the little ones?’
‘Those that have you also have my Jim. I cannot reach him; he must be hurt,’ she added fearfully. Both were in danger and she felt torn, furious and helpless.
‘You are a dragon,’ Stripe told her trying to bolster her spirit. ‘All your little ones are safe.’
‘But you and Jim are not. They come at me again,’ she growled in angry frustration. These wizards were nervously attempting to set up a meld but had not yet completed it. She stared into the eyes of a pimply youth already merged and usefully staring at her in terror and as she had done umpteen times at school, grasped control of their merge and soaked up their magical strength. She searched his mind but he was simply a junior and she disengaged immediately. Only two laggards to join the merge escaped her; the others fell to their knees drained of strength. She used their power to weave a shield about her body then flew back to Stripe’s cage. This time however the door was invitingly open but Stripe had not come out.
‘Stripe, the exit is open; come out quickly,’ she ordered.
Silence met her order. She rushed inside, knowing she was entering a trap but Stripe was obviously in danger; she had to help him. A ring of wizards surrounded the vast motionless dragon. She snarled ferociously and many flinched.
‘Keep it steady just a little longer and this big one will be under properly,’ an older wizard urged his team.
Amelie met his eyes; he was not as sure as he sounded. She advanced and her shield bumped into another shield. Now she knew why the wizards stood before her so boldly. They thought they were safe from anything she might do. She leaned on their shield exerting her dragon form’s weight. It gave ground before her and she noted the meld suddenly showed signs of strain and weakening. She wanted to divert their attention to her rather than to completing the subjugation of Stripe. She breathed fire over the shield inches above their heads and saw that too have an effect. Everyone instinctively feared a ball of flame. The older man was watching her now; she had his complete attention. She stared into his eyes and blasted aside his mild defences to enter his mind. It was clear he hadn’t even considered she could do this and so hadn’t barricaded his mind. She found his link to the merge and ruthlessly took it from him. Without the spell-caster’s lead, the spell holding Stripe began to fall apart. She examined what precisely they had done to imprison Stripe’s mind from access to his body. She mentally blasted around the merge, and used the strength of those still foolishly connected to undo the remnants of the spell. The shield wall evaporated before her and the wizards ran; all except the older wizard she had control of. She advanced on him and with a single touch rendered him unconscious. Now she had a handy prisoner of her own.
She hunted the wizards lurking in the corners of the cavern, driving them into the open, where they promptly ran for the small door and escape. Once the cavern was empty and safer she went to Stripe’s side and nudged him gently. Those spells had clearly taken a huge toll on him. He now slept, completely exhausted. She sat down beside him, pressed to his flank to monitor him, but slightly ahead of him so she could be sure no one could sneak up on her hidden by Stripe’s huge form. In his present state, he was very vulnerable. She watched the people milling in the doorway and wondered what they were planning but was happy enough with this respite. She had used a lot of strength, much only possible because she had robbed it off two melds. She knew that those wizards would not be able to do much for quite some hours. She very much hoped Stripe would wake before then and they could get away.
‘Jim?’ Amelie called forlornly again.
‘I’m ok,’ he responded suddenly but also rather guardedly.
‘What happened?’ she asked quickly and looked through his eyes. He’d been knocked out, judging by his headache and his earlier inability to communicate. Someone was now dragging him by the arm down a long corridor.
‘I got caught,’ he said simply, his angry disgust apparent.
‘Who the hell are you talking to?’ Jim’s guard demanded sensing the light hum of magic.
‘No one,’ Jim said. ‘You knocked me out. How could I be able to talk to someone?’
The man simply grumbled and jerked him roughly to a halt before a closed door. The door opened before the man could knock. The man opening the door invited Jim inside, although the grumpy individual guarding him did not wait for him to move under his own power, but shoved him roughly forward. Jim noticed the censorious glance passed to his guard and that he immediately retreated.
‘Do you wish me to stand guard, sir?’
‘That won’t be necessary. You are dismissed.’
‘But he’s powerful,’ the guard objected anxiously.
‘I know what he is, thank you.’ The guard reluctantly withdrew and closed the door. ‘My apologies for him, he is an anxious sort. I’m Jared of the Eastern Alliance. I’ve been following your progress young Jim.
You’ve been quite busy.’
‘What progress do you mean?’ Jim asked taking the chair Jared waved him to.
‘Since your arrival through the portal. We monitor the South Rosh portal. Needless to say it’s rare for anyone to use it, or should I say, exceedingly rare for anyone to survive using it,’ he added with a mirthless smile. ‘You can imagine our surprise to see two individuals come through, make it to the ground and walk off. Didn’t you think a portal would be watched?’ Jared asked, seeing his surprise.
‘It’s taken two years for anyone to appear to have noticed or to come and say anything about it to me. You’ll appreciate I’m surprised by that,’ Jim said casually. ‘So why have I been knocked out, roughed up and dragged here, wherever here is?’
‘We’ll get to that shortly,’ Jared smiled, trying but failing to disarm him. ‘Of more pressing interest is the companion you passed through the portal with. The one that looked, flew, and walked like a young dragon. We had someone follow your trail for quite some time and it is clear you travelled together and co-operatively.’
‘It seems you already have all the answers,’ Jim said coolly. ‘I make friends easily. Why is this relevant?’
‘Come, I want to show you something,’ Jared said and led the way from the office. He walked briskly down the corridor and was slightly unnerved that this young man kept pace as easily, but also as silently, as an animus. He was as tall as one too, yet he was obviously a wizard.
‘I thought you might be interested in this,’ Jared commented and opened a door around which many anxious people were gathered. They walked through. A pair of dragons was visible sitting side by side below on the far side of the huge dimly lit cavern. He glanced at Jim staring at the dragons and knew he was not remotely as innocent of or uninterested in them as he pretended. He had already known they were here.
‘You’ve captured dragons, why?’ Jim finally asked.
‘We’ll get to that later, but right now I need to know if that blue dragon is the one you travelled with,’ Jared asked urgently.
Clan Green Bear: Wizards of White Haven Page 29