Myez shoved the blades into his belt, and he grabbed a few more for his boots, too.
"Do you have a plan?" he asked.
"I never have a plan." I gave our cave one last glance, then started for Nexus.
Myez grabbed hold of my arm. Nexus growled, so Myez promptly let go, but he still looked very concerned.
"It's okay," I said to Myez.
"They're going to war," he said as if he were making sure I really understood what that meant.
"I know."
He wasn't convinced. "It'll be dangerous, your highness, and you have no idea what defenses Lord Vega has. You need to consider your entry."
This time, I grabbed Myez by his shoulders and looked straight at him. "I appreciate your concern, I really do, and you're right—I don't know what Lord Vega's defenses are, but I do know that the last thing he's expecting is a full-fledged attack from a dragon. You haven't seen what Nexus is capable of. I have, and I'm more than willing to take my chances." I let go of Myez's shoulders and started for Nexus, then paused and glanced over my shoulder. "And I'm not your highness. I might have been once, but that title belongs to someone else now."
Myez didn't comment, not even as I climbed up the straps and into the saddle. He stood resolutely near the cave entrance.
"Are you coming, or not?" I asked.
"Am I allowed to?" His gaze swept to Nexus's extraordinary mandible.
"Well, I'm not leaving you here." I hadn't asked Nexus about this yet, but so far Nexus wasn't arguing. I waved Myez forward. "Come on. There's enough room."
Myez hesitated, as if he didn't trust Nexus not to eat him, but then he made up his mind and walked toward us. When he reached the straps, I leaned over and lowered my hand and he grabbed hold, using it to propel himself up and swing his leg over in the saddle behind me. It was a snug fit with two, but it would work.
"Hold on!" I said, and Myez just managed to put his arms around my waist as Nexus stood tall, flapped his wings, and took off.
Myez screamed. Wind howled and my ears popped, and Nexus burst through the layer of clouds and into the big blue. I stole a glance back. "Open your eyes!" I yelled.
"You're mad!" he yelled back.
I laughed, looking back to the sky. The sun dropped to the west, setting the horizon on fire with brilliant oranges and pinks and purples. The clouds below looked like pink puffs of cotton candy as Nexus soared over them, wings spread wide. He headed due south, and from this height, I could see a slight curvature to the horizon. We'd been flying like this for about twenty minutes when, without warning, Nexus dove…straight down.
This time Myez screamed so loudly in my ear I was sure I'd suffer permanent hearing damage. His arms cinched around my waist and I gripped the saddle as we dove, spinning and swirling into a pinwheel of pink clouds. There were a few seconds of rosy white and then we emerged through the clouds' belly, and a grey landscape spread below us.
I'd expected to see a battle, but all I could see were empty fields of snow…wait. I heard voices yelling just over…there. A dozen or so miles away, just at the crest of the next rise, was battle. Hundreds and hundreds of men, swarming the snow. Some wore furs, more wore armor. And then I saw a gargon circling over them, and I cursed.
Nexus snorted hot steam. That abomination is nothing compared to me.
Nexus banked hard, gravity pulling us downdowndown as we made a wide arc toward the battlefield. Those in the furs—those must be Nords—were completely mixed with Lord Vega's men, which meant it would be tricky using dragon fire without burning some of the Nords as well. The gargon didn't seem to care much though, hosing Nord and Campagnan alike, and it also didn't seem to have noticed us yet. But where was Alex? I could feel him down there…somewhere. The pull on my soul was much stronger now—or at least it seemed stronger. It was hard to tell since I hadn't been able to feel anything for a month.
A second gargon rose out of nowhere, whipping unseen and into the melee like a speeding bullet, and it landed on the ground behind one of the Nords. The other men ran in the opposite direction, and the Nord slowly turned around to face the gargon. No, that wasn't a Nord…
"Nexus!" I screamed, but Nexus was already heading straight for them.
Men shrieked below, suddenly noticing us flying right above them. I watched in horror as the gargon pinned Alex down. It reared its head to strike. Something burst into flames on the ground, but I couldn't tell what it was.
"Faster!" I yelled.
The gargon opened its mouth, bent its head forward, and Nexus dropped. His jaws clamped around the gargon's long neck and he rose, lifting the gargon off Alex and away from the battle. Nexus whipped his head back and forth with so much force I thought I was going to fall from the saddle. I held tight while Myez held on to me. The gargon wailed in agony, its pain shooting through my veins like thousands of tiny hot embers, and just when I didn't think I could hold on any longer, Nexus tossed the gargon aside. The gargon fell like a rock, landing in a broken heap on the ground. It didn't stir again. I whipped my head back to where Alex had been, and my chest swelled with relief. He was alive. But apparently Nexus wasn't done yet.
Nexus chased down the now retreating Campagnans, hosing them down with liquid flames. They screamed and ran like living torches, and Nexus was about to unleash that fire hose on the last small batch when I said, "Wait! We need prisoners! They might know something that could help!"
Nexus wasn't listening. Smoke curled from his nostrils and I saw the glow at his lips.
"Nexus, stop!" I screamed.
I felt Nexus's irritation, and he released his fire anyway. But instead of hosing the running guards, it hovered in a ball of flames like a miniature sun, and Nexus darted straight through it.
"Hold on!" I yelled to Myez as I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the heat and praying the saddle would protect Myez, too. My skin and lungs burned for a second, and then the air turned bitter cold again. I opened my eyes to find my leathers smoking. But the fire was gone.
"Are you okay?" I called back to Myez, who only coughed in reply.
I set my mouth in a grim line. Thanks a lot, Nexus.
Perhaps you'll think twice next time about giving me orders.
Nexus picked up a few of the retreating Campagnans in his talons, and then headed back toward the horde of cheering Nords. He dropped our prisoners unceremoniously on the ground and then landed with the grace of a swan upon water. I took a second to catch my breath and rub my dry eyes, and then I turned back to check on Myez, who looked petrified. "Wait here," I said.
He gave me a distracted nod and made no signs of moving. Carefully, so as not to kick Myez, I swung my leg over the saddle, slid down Nexus's neck, and landed on the ground, my boots crunching in the snow. And that's when I saw him.
He was dressed like them, hidden in a mass of leather and wool and fur, but he was also different, somehow. It was in the way he stood, the way he carried himself. So confident and fearless and strong, the way leaders are. No, the way kings are, and I wondered how I'd never put it together before. Looking at him now, it seemed obvious.
His dark hair was a tousled mess, and his face was covered in sweat and dirt and blood, but I thought he'd never looked more handsome. He'd become what he'd been born to do, and in becoming that, his steps were surer and stronger as he walked toward me. There wasn't any reserve in his face, either, as though he were coming to claim me before all these men, and he no longer cared what anyone else thought. This was a side of him I'd never seen before, and I suddenly felt nervous. My heart thumped fast and my body warmed even though the air was freezing. Alex was a few yards from me when he stopped, unsure, and glanced past me. Er, he glanced up.
In my distraction at seeing Alex, I'd almost forgotten.
The only thing that might be worse than an overprotective father was an overprotective man-eating dragon. The situation struck me so oddly I giggled.
Alex's eyes found mine again, and his lips cracked in an imperceptible grin. And the
n I ran to him. I didn't have to run very far before I was in his arms. He hugged me so tightly he picked me up off the ground, and I hugged him back, squeezing out every last piece of empty space between us. He smelled like winter and leather and sweat, but somehow through all of those scents, I still smelled him.
"And once again I see I've worried needlessly about you," he said, pulling back just enough so that he could run his hands through my short hair then hold my face between his palms. His eyes moved around my face as though checking everything was in its proper place, and then his gaze settled on my mouth. His love burned so strongly it warmed me from the inside out, and then he kissed me.
Time stopped with this kiss. An entire world and all its people and all its problems, held in suspension, giving us this moment as if we were alone, outside of it, existing together in our own dimension. My spirit soared higher than the clouds, higher than Nexus had ever flown us, so high I felt as though I could touch the stars.
A few catcalls and chuckles from the surrounding Nords pulled me down from the heavens and back to Earth. Alex slowly pulled away, but he took my breath with him. He smiled at me and traced his thumb along my bottom lip. "I love you," he whispered.
I thought I might melt right into his hands.
A throat cleared in the distance. Alex released my face, but he slid his arms around my waist and gently turned me around.
"Thad!" I slid right out of Alex's arms and bolted to Thad.
Thad laughed as I threw my arms around him. He squeezed me back. "And here I thought I was the only one who knew how to make an entrance. I'll never top that!"
"Someone's got to put you in your place every now and then."
"Well, when you hang out too much with Del Can't, 'now and then' ends up being every second of every day."
I pulled away, and then I noticed the pretty blonde standing right behind him. Vera gave me a curt nod of acknowledgement, but I stepped around Thad and hugged her, too. It was equivalent to hugging a marble statue, but when I pulled back, the hint of a grin touched her mouth. And then I remembered the crowd of Nords around us.
You've also completely forgotten about your human.
"Ah…right." I mumbled.
Alex looked curiously at me.
"One moment," I said, walking back toward the saddle. "I brought someone with me," I said over my shoulder.
Alex's gaze slid up to the saddle he couldn't see.
"He's a friend," I added, my meaning clear.
Alex nodded once, his gaze sliding between me and this elusive friend of mine, who was also a male.
I looked up to where Myez sat. "You can climb down now."
It took Myez a few seconds of fumbling and trying to decide just how to slide down, but he eventually figured it out and landed in the snow on all fours. I heard the scrape of metal as swords were drawn.
Alex's face was hard as stone.
"I said he's a friend," I said, placating, yet firm. "And he saved my life."
The others looked to Alex, waiting for his lead. Though the gesture was subtle, it spoke volumes about how the Nords viewed Alex, and it made my heart feel a little fuller.
Alex pinched his lips together, his eyes sliding from Myez to me. He cast one last glance at Myez filled with every threat imaginable, and then Alex sheathed his sword with a sharp scrape. The others relaxed, too.
I cleared my throat and gestured to the dragon. "This is Nexus."
Everyone was so quiet, I heard Thad's stomach rumble from a few feet away. He looked startled, as if he couldn't believe his stomach could make such a sound, and Vera glared sideways at him. He gave her a look that said, 'What?!'
Alex gazed up at Nexus, uncertain.
"Nexus has decided to help us," I added.
Nexus lowered his head a little, turning it so that he could observe Alex with one of his huge eyes. They stood there like that for a moment, Alex's reflection stretched over Nexus's eye, both of them appraising the other as if they were having their own silent conversation. Then Alex dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "Thank you, Nexus. For keeping her safe and for coming to our aid."
Mmm, yes, I like this young prince. Nexus sounded as if he'd pet Alex on the head if he had a hand.
I smiled. "He likes you," I said to Alex.
Alex gave me a funny look as he stood. "Did he…tell you that?"
I didn't really want to announce to all of these people that Nexus and I shared thoughts.
A wise decision, my little petulant one.
I pinched my lips together. "I can just tell," was all I said, but I gave Alex a look that said I'd explain later.
"Look what the reptile dragged in…" Thad nodded toward a dozen or so Nords who were dragging a few Campagnan soldiers between them. They were the soldiers Nexus had been forced to spare and pick up in his talons.
Please tell your harebrained cousin to watch his tongue before I eat him.
Not that it would do any good.
"Bind them up for questioning," Alex said to his men, though I thought the Campagnans looked too frightened by the dragon to try anything.
The Nords set to work tying up their prisoners, and then Alex glanced around us, at the carnage. There was so much sorrow on his face as he observed all the death, and that sorrow was followed by something else akin to disgust. "Gather our men," he said, collecting himself. "We'll send them off properly before we head for Rex Cross, assuming it still stands. It's not far from here, and we need the shelter"—he tilted his face to the blustery winter sky—"and rest." When he looked back down, his eyes landed on me.
Everyone busied themselves picking through the dead, searching for our own. Myez helped too, though everyone avoided him. Apparently, he'd even had a reputation amidst the Nords. Alex was quiet as he walked with me, but I felt his presence like a fire burning constantly beside me, bathing me in its heat and radiance, touching me all over with its warmth. He crouched down beside one man and frowned. "Niko," he whispered, and he squeezed Niko's dead fingers. I placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, and he tensed but then lifted his own hand and put it over mine.
"I hate this," he whispered, closing his eyes. "I hate that so many have to die and I can't stop it."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't think he was asking me to say anything, so I squeezed his shoulder gently to let him know I understood. He squeezed my hand back and stood. I helped him carry Niko over to where we were collecting the bodies of our dead, everyone moving in a reverent silence. I was carefully setting Niko's feet on the ground when I spotted Danton, helping gather our dead.
I was paralyzed, certain my eyes were playing tricks on me. Maybe it was an effect of the waning daylight. Just because the young man I'd seen had straight blond hair didn't mean he was also Danton. There were plenty of blond men in the world. But then I saw Carter beside him, the two of them carrying a fallen Nord between them. What in the world were they doing out here? Shouldn’t they be in Orindor, with their father? And why in the world was Danton working with Alex?
As if I'd called his name, Danton glanced up and met my gaze. His face was hard and unreadable, and I felt a swell of…relief? Pain? Was it both? And then he looked back down at the body he carried, and he didn't look back up again.
"Daria." Alex stood beside me, and I had the impression that this wasn't the first time he'd said my name in the past minute. I felt a prick of pain from Alex, but his face was a blank canvas.
"Why is he here?" I whispered.
He studied me, warm breath rising from his chapped, pink lips. "You really don't know?"
I glanced back to where Danton worked with Carter, his head down and his back to me as if he were physically trying to keep me out of his periphery. No, not just keep me out of it, but Alex, too. Yes, I did know why Danton was here, and I would be lying if I said I didn't.
Alex didn't say another word about it but went back to searching for his fallen, and I walked beside him. He kept close to me but awkwardness hovered between us now. It was subt
le, but it was there.
It took a few hours for us to gather everyone. We couldn’t bury them because the ground was frozen, so they were burned. Alex led the men in giving thanks for their sacrifice, people gave their blessings of safe passage to the afterlife, and one of the Nords lit the fire. We stood around in solemn silence as we watched the flames reclaim what the world had borne. The wind howled long and low as if Gaia herself mourned their sacrifice. At one point I caught Danton watching me from across the flames, but he looked quickly back to the fire and he didn't look back.
41
DARIA
There were a little less than a thousand in our company, plus a dragon, which I figured counted as at least another thousand. Nexus soared above us as we marched on. He offered to give me a lift for the few miles to Rex Cross, but I didn't want to fly just then. I wanted to trudge through the snow as Alex and his men trudged through it. I wanted to be a part of them and share their loss, and I couldn't do that from up there.
We reached Rex Cross within the hour. I'd been to Rex Cross once, when I'd first come to the world with Alex and his parents. We'd gone to the inn and stayed for the night, but apparently Rex Cross consisted of more than just that inn. There was a small town of sorts, which I hadn't noticed before, nestled in the trees behind the inn. This town technically belonged to Valdon, though situated on its fringes, and as we neared the low fence, a few of the people who lived there approached us, wary. Apparently, Lord Vega's men had used Rex Cross as an outpost, and they hadn't been very friendly about it.
So it wasn't any wonder the people of Rex Cross were equally concerned about our intentions. Also, because we had a dragon. Alex explained what we'd done to Campagna, that we only intended to regroup here, and that we'd be on our way to Castle Regius as soon as possible, but if it was still a problem, we'd camp outside. After that, the people didn't seem very concerned anymore. It also helped that Nexus perched himself in the surrounding forest and out of sight. He blended in astoundingly well with the landscape. And then Otis, the innkeeper at Rex Cross whom I'd met when I'd first come to Gaia with the Del Contes, opened up every room at his inn—free of charge—and even some of the people opened their homes for whoever needed a warm and dry place to sleep.
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