Above her, the guard paused, his weapon blazing with light, as furious as fire.
And then her eyes focused and Leena realized it wasn’t the sword.
The sky itself was burning.
A roar filled the air around them, deep and demanding, charged with fury and with freedom. A shadow passed across the sun, wings spread wide, flapping lazily against the sky, trailed by a river of flames.
A dragon.
Leena couldn’t believe her eyes.
And neither, it seemed, could the shadow.
The guard turned, staring at the sky, forgetting Leena for a moment. But then he looked back at her, ivory eyes filled with white-hot anger, and let his sword fall.
Leena braced herself for the pain.
Waited for the blade to strike her heart, to break her skin.
But before the steel could cut, fire rained down around them, engulfing the guard and then swallowing her in a river of bubbling orange. The sword landed against her arm, slicing just above her wrist, and she cried out, voice finally back, but it wasn’t a fatal blow. More alarming was the fire still burning around them. The guard standing over her turned black, burned to his very core, shielding her from the worst of the flames.
But Leena’s arms sizzled. Her skin boiled. And she blinked, trying to clear the black spots from her vision. The freeze released her, burned away along with a layer of her skin. But moving hurt too much. Her body was screaming. Through the flames, she spotted the dragon once more, liquid lava in the sky. But this time, she noticed something else.
A rider.
A rider whose red hair stood out even against the flames.
Whylrhen. Leena knew it in her soul.
Fight coursed through her, stronger than the ache, and she flipped herself over, using her still burning arms to drag herself across the sand. This would not be her end. This would not be her child’s end. No matter what, they would live. Leena was a survivor and her child would be too. Deep in her gut, a new idea took hold—that fate had a plan for her, different than she ever expected, but so much more glorious, if she could just live long enough to embrace it.
As her fingers dipped into the sea, her skin sizzled. Water turned to steam the moment it touched her scorching skin. Her tattoos had melted away to raw red flesh. And though she wanted more than anything to give up and scream until there was no sound left in her body, Leena kept crawling forward, gritting her teeth as the cool waves splashed against her, agonizing and glorious at the same time. Only when she was completely submerged did Leena let go.
Her muscles just stopped working.
Surrounded by blue, she floated, safe where no one could harm her.
Safe enough to give into the pain, to let it wash over her, drag her under.
Safe enough to hope.
Midnight blue splotched against her vision, barely distinguishable from the turquoise sea, and her eyes gradually slid shut. Leena’s consciousness gave way to the lull of the water, and she drifted into a different world where a new vision took hold.
A molten dragon soared across an open sky—a mix of crystal ice and undulating ocean, glassy like the sea on a calm day, yet with the strength of crashing waves in a storm. Ferocious, yet gentle. Hard, yet soft.
And perched on its back was a rider.
###
THE
IRON
RIDER
A Dance of Dragons #3.5
By Kaitlyn Davis
DESCRIPTION
From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes the fourth and final companion novella to the thrilling A Dance of Dragons series—perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Graceling, and Game of Thrones!
Princess Leena has finally discovered her fate—she's a dragon rider, humanity's only protection against the shadow. But deep in her heart, Leena hasn't forgotten about her homeland and the promises she made before waking her dragon. So when the shadow's phantom armies threaten Da'astiku, Leena jumps at the chance to return home and confront the king. No longer the powerless princess she once was, Leena will do whatever it takes to prove to her father and to her people that love is so much stronger than hate and that hope is far more powerful than fear.
Taking place parallel to the events in THE PHOENIX BORN, read Leena's side of the story as she seeks to end her father's reign and bring a new era of peace to Ourthuro.
ONE
Leena woke suddenly, transitioning from deep slumber to full alertness in the matter of an instant. She didn't move. Didn't speak. Nothing about her outer appearance changed. But her mind became fully aware as an odd tingle slipped up her spine, drawing her eyes open in nervous concern.
She blinked.
Once, twice, clearing the sleep from her gaze. The sand beneath her was damp. The sky was brightening to full day. The waves rolled in her ears. In fact, the only odd thing drawing her attention now, the only thing that could have possibly woken her, was Rhen.
Rhen, her fellow dragon rider.
Rhen, whom she trusted deeply.
Rhen, who was suspiciously bent over a pot of water, shielding two canteens as he filled them with liquid.
Leena shook her head slightly, trying to understand what he was doing and why he was doing it so secretively. But the longer she watched him, the more confused she became. He was as still as a rock, motionless as he held a clenched fist over the two canteens. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut, and his lips were forcefully pursed. He was a man who looked torn—completely and utterly torn. But why?
Leena remained silent, not wanting to alarm him. Her eyes wandered, searching for clues. Bran was still asleep by her side. Light snores still drifted over her shoulder, letting her know their newest member, Jasper, also slumbered. The riders were still camped out on the beach, which meant Jinji was still in hiding with her brother, with the shadow, unprepared to take the next step and send the evil back where it belonged. And the last Leena knew, all of them were still sitting idly by as time ran out. They were waiting for some plan to miraculously emerge—one where Jinji wouldn't have to murder her brother, one where they wouldn't have to encourage her to do so, one that didn't pit them all against each other.
Had Rhen discovered a way?
Then Leena noticed a tray of food resting by Rhen's feet—barely enough for two, definitely not meant for four. Cautiously, Leena shifted her head ever so slightly, giving herself a view of the rest of the beach.
There.
Just as she suspected.
Jinji sat with her eyes on the horizon, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her chin upon them. Deep in thought, just like Rhen.
When had she come back? When had she come out of hiding?
More importantly, where was Janu? Where was the shadow?
Had Jinji finally killed him? Or had she let him go free? Had she figured out another way, a better way? Or had she doomed the world to save him?
Leena shifted her gaze back to Rhen, noticing for the first time that the person he was shielding his actions from wasn't her—it was Jinji. He had turned his back to the woman he loved. And in that same moment, Leena realized his fist wasn't just clenched—it was holding a small object. There was a glass vial tucked between his taut fingers. And his eyes were no longer closed, they were staring at the vial, fierce and hard, cursing it and praising it at the same time.
In a swift motion, his palm flipped over.
The contents of the vial fell into one canteen.
Rhen sealed the top shut and slipped the glass back into his pocket.
All at once, his whole body relaxed. Whatever decision he'd had to make, he'd made it. The hard part was over, for him at least. But Leena still watched, utterly perplexed, wondering what she had witnessed and why she felt the sudden need to stop him.
Rhen looked up, meeting her gaze.
Her heart stopped.
His irises flooded with guilt.
Leena looked to the canteen again, back to his shame-ridden face, back to the canteen. What had he done? What was he
going to do? Surely it couldn't be poison—no matter how dire the situation, he would never hurt the woman he loved. So what did the vial hold and why did he look so guilty?
Leena sat up. Questions burned her tongue, but before she could ask any, Rhen reached out, covered her lips with his palm and shook his head. Silently, he pleaded with her to remain quiet, to trust him. And in that moment, memories of their time together rushed over Leena. Of the way he had stood up to her father so long ago in Da'astiku, giving her hope that one day maybe she could do the same. Of the way he had offered his protection and welcome when she first arrived in Rayfort, despite never meeting her before. Of the way he had led her to the castle at the Gates, taking her to the corridor full of water, explaining that on the other side of that test her dragon was waiting to be awoken. Of his face only days ago when he had realized Jinji's betrayal, when they had all realized that Janu was the shadow, and their enemy had been within their grasp all along. Her first instinct had been to stand with Rhen against Jinji, to keep the riders united in their support.
Biting back her questions, Leena nodded to Rhen. With his hand still covering her lips, her gaze slipped over his shoulder toward Jinji, all alone on the other side of the beach. And Leena knew her side had already been chosen. Rhen had never lied to her. He had never made her question that his first instinct was to protect the world and everyone in it. He had never made her wonder if he could be trusted. But no matter how much it pained Leena to admit, Jinji had lied, had made her question, had made her wonder. And though she considered her a dear friend and wanted the best for her, the world came first. It had to.
Leena sank back down to the sand, not looking at Rhen again. She closed her eyes, feigning sleep, and listened to the crunch of his boots as he walked away.
The minutes slipped painfully by.
One by one, slower and slower as Leena's curiosity mounted.
And when she could take it no longer, she opened her eyes again. But this time, Rhen was alone at the end of the beach, and Jinji was nowhere in sight.
Leena stood, careful not to wake the other two riders as she approached Rhen. His gaze was set hard on the distant horizon. His irises followed Firestorm's movements as the dragon flew in and out of the rays of the rising sun. For a moment, Leena didn't think Rhen had seen her, didn't even think he was aware of the world around him. But before she could open her mouth to speak, he sighed heavily.
"It was the only way," he murmured, voice strong even if quiet.
"What was?" she asked, taking a seat beside him on the sand.
Rhen turned to her, evergreen eyes downcast, rimmed by red and strained. "You know," he said, voice full of shame, overflowing with it. "You saw."
Leena shook her head. "I trust you, Rhen. I'm on your side, whatever it was that you did. But I don't know what I witnessed."
He licked his lips, swallowing deeply. "The spirit came to me in the night," he whispered, hardly louder than the breeze. Leena held her breath, afraid even the slightest interruption would distract him. "She had a plan to stop the shadow, to stop all of this. But she needed my help. Jinji is too strong. Was too strong. And she would never have let the spirit do what needed to be done."
"Rhen," Leena pushed softly.
His eyes lifted, meeting hers. "The vial, it held an elixir that made Jinji weak enough for the spirit to control. So weak that she'll be unable to fight back when the spirit sends her brother and the shadow from this world."
Leena exhaled, eyes widening in shock before she could control her reaction. "So it's over?" she asked, unable to hide the slight elation from her voice. "The shadow will be dead by end of day?"
Rhen nodded.
A smile cracked her lips as a weight seemed to lift from her chest.
The war was almost over.
They were going to win.
The world would be safe in a matter of hours.
"Rhen!" she exclaimed, excitement palpable. But when she focused on him again, Leena realized her own callousness. Shame filled her chest, shame that the one thing she hated so much about her culture had snuck its way into her heart—ruthlessness. One glance in Rhen's eyes was enough to tell her he was nearly broken. And she only just realized why.
"She'll forgive you," Leena murmured, placing her hand on his arm, trying to comfort him. "She loves you." But Rhen was beyond comforting. Leena could see that clearly. He had made his decision, and now he was being forced to live with it.
"I betrayed her trust," he confessed. "I took away her choice. Janu will be dead in a matter of hours, and I removed her ability to save him." He shook his head, whispering, "Jinji will never forgive me."
Leena swallowed. She didn't know what to say, how to make it better. He was right—Jinji might never forgive him. But Leena knew that had she been given the chance, she would have done the same thing to save the world. There were no easy options left, only hard ones.
Before she could say any of that, could lend any sympathy, Rhen inhaled sharply. "This isn't over yet," he said suddenly, voice loud and determined, empty of emotion. "We need to wake Bran and Jasper. The shadow won't go down without a fight, and the spirit told me to be prepared."
Abruptly, he stood and started marching across the beach.
Leena chased after him, worried by his quick change of mood. But before she could confront him and demand that he let her in, he was shaking Jasper awake. She had lost her chance to speak with him privately.
"What?" the air rider groaned, eyes closed as he swatted blindly at the space above his head, trying to fight off the hand forcing him awake.
The commotion roused Bran, who sat up without complaint, gaze immediately growing concerned as he took in the look on Rhen's face.
"What's happened?" he asked, voice heavy with sleep.
Jasper sat up, hearing the uneasy tone of the question and finally understanding that it was not the time for games. Both riders looked at Rhen, then Leena, then Rhen again, waiting for an explanation.
Before either could speak, Firestorm landed heavily on the beach behind them, spraying up sand. He nudged Rhen, growling in question and showering his rider in flames. The other dragons stood, alert, and the bond between all eight of them hummed as a shared sense of dread passed between them.
"As we speak, the shadow is calling forth his armies and preparing an attack that will end the world if we cannot stop it," Rhen said, voice calm despite his words. Bran and Jasper both dropped their jaws, preparing to jump forward with questions, but Rhen held up his hand. "The spirit has taken over control of Jinji's body and is meeting with the shadow now. She says they have made a deal to end the war and remove the shadow from this world. But he is sending his phantoms to four different cities, and he is going to fight, not relenting until he is sure the spirit has upheld her end of the bargain. So we must do everything in our power to limit the damage done before that time comes."
They all paused, letting the words sink in.
And then Leena noticed something, a single word that sent a sharp, foreboding pang down her spine. "Four?"
Rhen nodded gravely. "Rayfort—"
"Da'astiku," Leena interrupted.
"Lothlian," Jasper whispered.
"And Fayfall," Bran finished.
Their silence spoke volumes. Leena's mind flew to her home, to Tam, to her brother, to all of the innocent people she had promised she would save. And as she glanced at the other riders, she knew their thoughts had taken the same direction—to their loved ones. And to the promises in their hearts that they were suddenly afraid to voice out loud—promises to keep their families safe even if it went against the duty of a rider.
Four cities.
Four families.
Four riders who had to work together, who were useless alone, who could only be in one place at a time.
Leena swallowed. "How do we choose? How can we choose?"
"We don't," Rhen said. "Before the spirit left, she told me she has done what she could to help us, and I hope that mea
ns she has done what Jinji would have done—woven empty bodies outside of all four cities, the same empty bodies we used to trap the phantoms during the battle in Roninhythe. And while we could choose one city to save, I fear that would only serve to tear us apart. Perhaps not at first, but the seeds of guilt and bitterness would grow stronger with time."
"You think we should split up?" Leena asked.
"The spirit is meeting with the shadow now, and whatever agreement they've come to, it should be over soon. Which means we don't need to defeat the phantoms—"
"Just stall them," Jasper commented, grinning as he caught on to Rhen's line of thought.
"Something we can do alone," Rhen continued.
"People from each city will perish," Bran mumbled, biting his lip with uncertainty.
"People will perish either way," Rhen said. "But at least this way, we each have an equal chance to save someone we love."
"And we can each fight to defend our homes," Leena added.
They paused. Each rider took a turn meeting the other's eyes, silently agreeing, making the decision together. No one spoke. It was done. As connected as four people could be, they jumped into motion at the same time, mounting their dragons without needing to say another word.
Bran and Jasper left first, but Leena paused, catching Rhen's eye. She knew there was no time to spare, that her people needed her, that Da'astiku needed her. But something in her gut told her to wait. A vision of Rhen hunched over that canteen stopped her cold. His gaze was emptier than she'd ever seen it, devoid of the spark it normally held. And there could only be one reason why—Jinji. The sight of such hopelessness in someone she cared for was too hard to bear. She couldn't leave him like this. So she said the first thing that came to mind. And she meant every word.
"She'll always love you," Leena whispered. "Trust in that."
Leena's Story - The Complete Novellas (A Dance of Dragons Book 4) Page 17