by D K Drake
Taliya looked at Silverspike’s injuries with fresh eyes. Another dragon did this to him, a dragon Javan would inevitably encounter once he collected a Dusk Stalker. Javan was just a little bitty human. What would happen to him when he came face to face with Ayzyd, a dragon who struck fear in other dragons?
Chapter 58
Kisa’s Report
Javan hoped a walk would shake the dread and doom that gripped his heart after hearing Silverspike’s story. Had he come this far only to be denied his final dragon?
Granted, he did still have a Dusk Stalker to collect as well. He already knew her, though. Surely he could talk her into letting him ride her even if she didn’t talk back to him. Starshade didn’t scare or intimidate him. The thought of going anywhere near Ayzyd, however, sent fear coursing through his veins.
There you are.
Javan halted at the familiar sound of Kisa’s voice. He turned and saw his spotless white dragon daintily making her way through the golden sand. She shook each foot after every step as though the sand was the most repulsive object she had ever encountered. “You’re looking smashingly clean today.”
I’m not as clean as I should be. This golden sand likes to stick between my claws. I already need another bath.
“You can take as many baths as you want after you tell me how Starshade and Azurrior are doing. Please tell me they are ready to ride.” He needed to do something active and productive after being cooped up here for the past month. He also craved a distraction to keep his mind off the impending Midnight Stalker problem.
The Dusk Stalkers are becoming feared. They have learned well how to fight, how to utilize their speed, and how to survive. They have definitely established themselves as the top of the food chain.
“Good for those little guys.”
They are no longer so little. Starshade is now bigger than Mertzer. She is fierce, and I like to keep my distance even when she’s not hungry.
Javan felt a headache coming on. How was he supposed to talk a fierce dragon into letting him ride her when she refused to communicate with him like every other dragon he met? Fortunately his aim with the stun balls was getting better and better. If he couldn’t talk his way onto Starshade, he would resort to stunning her into submission. Too bad he couldn’t ride Azurrior. At least he talked to Javan. Alas, that dragon was meant for Taliya, and she would want to know how he was doing. “What about Azurrior?”
Kisa averted her gaze and snorted.
“Kisa? What’s wrong? What’s the matter with Azurrior?”
It’s…it’s his scales. They are magnificent when he feeds. My scales are spectacular, but even I cannot compete with his beauty.
“You don’t need to be jealous.” He let out a laugh of relief. “Taliya would kill me if I tried to collect him.”
I might have to kill you if you tried to collect him.
“Just because his scales are prettier than yours? That’s a bit harsh. One of these days, we’re going to have to talk about your obsession with looks. Your character is far more important than the color of your scales.”
That sounds wise, but I’m not sure how true that is.
Javan shook his head at the superficial nature of his dragon, thankful to have something to think about besides the danger lurking in Midnight Territory. He would deal with Ayzyd when the time came. Right now, he had to focus on collecting a Dusk Stalker before the Destroyer had a chance to cut off the dragon’s head.
◊◊◊
Micah took his time returning to his room and packing his minimal items once he heard the news that the dragons were grown and able to defend themselves against the four Bloodlines. He didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay here.
Aside from the obvious perks of being fed four full meals a day and having a safe, comfortable place to sleep, he felt like he was part of a family. He ate with people. He learned something new every day by working with Ravier and Kenton. He had never worked so hard or had so much fun.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. “Come in.”
“Everyone is waiting for you.” Ravier walked in. “I see you’re packed. You just need this.” He handed him his sword, which was leaning against the wall near his bed.
“Thanks.” Micah tried to take it from him, but Ravier didn’t let go.
“You are good with this sword. Use it for good.”
“I may be officially entering this battle as a Dragon Hunter, but I have no intention of using my sword to cut off any dragon tails.”
“Promise me that you will do whatever is necessary to keep Javan and the Dusk Stalkers safe.”
“I promise.”
Ravier nodded and released the sword. He squeezed Micah’s shoulder and left the room without another word.
“I’ll miss you, too, old man.” Micah smiled, threw his bag over his shoulder, and went to find Javan.
◊◊◊
“There he is!” Taliya waved Micah over to where she, Javan, and Krystyn were standing in front of Kisa. To alleviate her nervousness, she reminded them of the terms of the battle. “Remember the rules. People are off limits. We’re battling for dragons, and you can’t improve your chances by targeting any of your opponents.
“The first one to conquer a dragon--or in my case mark him as untouchable and mine to protect by taking the scale from between his eyes—wins that dragon. We’ll reconvene every five days at noon until the battle is over; the battle ends when both dragons are accounted for.”
“This is also an individual battle,” Krystyn said. “That means no working together, and no utilizing other dragons to help you win the Dusk Stalkers.”
“Agreed.”
“I don’t agree,” Javan said. “Banning teamwork is silly, and we should be able to use all the resources available to us. That includes Varjiek and Kisa for me, and Mertzer for Micah.”
“Is that worry in your voice, Collector?” Krystyn smiled a truly evil smile. “If you aren’t capable of collecting a Dusk Stalker on your own with nothing more than the resources you can carry, you don’t deserve to be king.”
“He collected Varjiek on his own,” Taliya said, “and he will duplicate that feat with Starshade. Right, Javan?”
“You’re right. I’ve done it once. I can do it again.”
“Then we are clear on the terms.” Taliya stretched out her arm. “Hands on mine if you agree to hurt no one and work solo during the battle.”
“I’m in.” Krystyn stacked her hand on Taliya’s.
Micah added his hand without a word. He hadn’t said anything about the battle since she first mentioned it, and she desperately wanted to ask him what he was thinking. Krystyn seemed to believe Micah was ready and willing to gain control over more dragons if given the chance, but Taliya wanted to believe he had changed.
“I will abide by those terms,” Javan said, topping off the stack of hands, “but I don’t have to like it.”
“Then let the Battle of the Bloodlines commence.” Taliya reached out with her free hand and touched Kisa. Seconds later, they found themselves on a hill in a section of Dusk Territory that didn’t look at all familiar to Taliya.
A winding river sparkled to the east, open meadows with patches of trees stretched to the west, a mountain range loomed to the north, and a section of Slanted Acres dominated the south.
“According to Kisa,” Javan said, “we’re in the northeastern section of the Territory. She says both dragons like to stay in and around this area because the landscape here provides the best sources for food and shelter.”
“Like I will believe that,” Krystyn said.
“Believe what he says or not,” said Taliya, “but wherever you choose to go, just be back at this spot in five days to check in.”
“I’ll see you then,” Krystyn said, “and I’ll have two dragon heads with me.” She sprinted down the hill to the west, leaving the Protector, Collector, and Hunter together.
“I guess I have some hunting to do,” Micah said, “but the only one
I plan to hunt has two legs instead of four. Good luck to the two of you.” He nodded at both of them and followed the Destroyer.
An awkwardness filled the air between her and Javan. Should they shake hands? Hug? Kiss? She shook that last thought away. Of course they shouldn’t kiss. They were rivals now. She had to start thinking of him as the enemy. It would be easier if he wasn’t so attractive. “Is it true? Do the Dusk Stalkers stick to the northeastern section?”
“That’s what Kisa said. I mentioned it because I was sure Krystyn wouldn’t believe me and would search for the dragons everywhere but where they are.”
“Slick move.”
“I have my moments.” He flashed her a grin. “You go get Azurrior, and I’ll see you back here with Starshade.”
“Deal. And Javan?”
“Yeah?”
“Take care of yourself, okay?”
“You, too.” Then he was gone without even a handshake.
Chapter 59
The Battle for Starshade
Javan spent the next hour and a half cursing himself for not hugging Taliya before they parted ways. But if he touched her, he knew he wouldn’t have wanted to let her go. They spent almost every day together for the past few months, and leaving her to collect his dragon just seemed wrong.
She was the only one on his mind as he wandered in and out of trees, through flowery meadows, and over rocky hills. The unexpected sighting of a dragon he hadn’t even been looking for surprised him. “Starshade,” he said under his breath. What luck!
He hid behind a tree and waited for her to approach. The afternoon sun glistened off her bright white scales as she flicked her tail aimlessly across an open field. Her muscular legs were taller than him, and her long, sleek body made her look like the most athletic dragon he had ever seen.
He tried to connect with her thoughts as she drew closer, but he couldn’t hear anything that was going on behind those round, alert eyes. Maybe if he spoke first, she would finally let him in.
Exhaling a deep, nervous breath, he stepped out from behind the tree and into the path of the formidable dragon. “Hello, Starshade. Remember me?”
She halted. Tilted her head. Narrowed her eyes on his.
“I’m Javan. I’m the one who picked out your egg, took you to Earth, and brought you back here. I kinda need you to let me ride you.”
She crouched. Pointed her ears up. Snarled.
He took a step back. “What are you thinking, girl? If you let me in, I can answer your questions, address your concerns. I promise I’ll take great care of you.”
In straining to hear her response, he heard another sound. A bewildering sound. That of an axe whirling through the air.
◊◊◊
After setting out on her own, Taliya’s first order of business was to find a river and build a raft. At least food wasn’t an issue. Like everyone else, she traveled with a pack full of food. To set her apart, though, she needed a way to move throughout the territory faster than her competitors and the best chance of finding Azurrior first. Traveling along the rivers the way she did in Keckrick would give her that advantage.
She spotted Javan a few times while hiking north in search of a river but had yet to see Krystyn or Micah. The temptation to follow Javan tugged at her heart. To overcome it, she made herself chop off a branch of a tree with the machete she brought from Gibbet every time her feet tried to follow Javan. As a result, she was now dragging a dozen branches behind her secured in a jumble with some vines.
“This was your stupid idea,” she mumbled to herself as she added another branch to her stash. “You had to make a deal with the Destroyer, and now two dragons might die. Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
Mumbled words that sounded like they came from Javan’s mouth cut into her self-berating session. Who was he talking to? Had he found Starshade already?
She abandoned her pile of sticks and followed Javan’s voice. She saw him standing in front of a magnificent dragon she instantly recognized as a grown-up Starshade. Only this dragon wasn’t making small talk with the Collector. She was crouching down and poising herself for an attack.
A slight movement to the right forced Taliya to avert her gaze. Krystyn!
The Destroyer waved her axe around and around her head, then flung it at the dragon who was fixated on Javan.
Taliya screamed. “Run, Starshade! Run!”
The dragon startled and took off a second before Krystyn’s axe stuck in the tree instead of Starshade’s neck.
“Nooo!” Krystyn yelled and stomped toward Taliya. “You. How dare you interfere. Teamwork is not allowed.”
“What teamwork?” Taliya stood her ground. “I was doing my job as a Protector by protecting that dragon from your axe.”
“You were here with Javan.” Krystyn reached Taliya and hovered over her. “You’re supposed to be on your own.”
“I am. I happened to hear him talking and saw you try to kill Starshade. I yelled for the dragon, not for him. You’re just upset because killing a Dusk Stalker isn’t as easy as you thought it would be.”
“Next time you get in my way,” Krystyn said, dragging her finger across Taliya’s throat, “don’t be surprised if my axe collides with your neck instead of a tree.”
The murderous intent in the Destroyer’s eyes made Taliya realize just how hazardous Krystyn was to both dragons and to her. This was a life and death battle, and the reality that everyone might not survive made Taliya shiver as the Destroyer walked away.
◊◊◊
Considering Micah’s lifetime of training, he figured hunting Krystyn throughout this battle would be easy. His simple plan was to track her movements and sabotage any attempt she made on the Dusk Stalkers to prevent her from winning. He wasn’t technically working with Javan, so he considered himself within the battle guidelines.
He was hunting; he just wasn’t hunting dragons.
Unfortunately Krystyn was quicker than he anticipated, and he lost sight of her a few times. When he spotted her again, he noticed her slinging her axe at a dragon. Had Taliya not hollered, Starshade would be dead.
Taliya wasn’t always going to be around. That meant he was going to have to step up his skills if he was going to be able to keep Krystyn from killing any dragons.
Chapter 60
Caught
Taliya’s stomach rumbled as she rowed her raft upstream. Sunset was a few hours away. Soon she would need to stop, set up camp, and eat. She wouldn’t be able to eat much. She only had enough food left for one more meal thanks to those hungry hyenas she threw most of her food supply at two days ago in order to get away from them.
The first check-in was tomorrow, and in her four days of searching, she had precisely zero sightings of Azurrior. Now that she was making her way through the northernmost section of the territory, a gut feeling told her that was about to change. Azurrior was close. She could sense it.
Trees rustled to her left. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked to the steep, rocky hill with a scattering of trees. She saw the back of Javan’s head instead of the dragon she sought. She desperately wanted to call out to Javan, but she swallowed the words before they could leave through her lips.
She was on her own. He was on his own. That’s the way things had to be until they found their respective dragons.
She threw her frustration into her paddling and nearly tipped her raft. As she worked to regain her balance on the water, a high-pitched yelp pierced her ears. Someone or something up ahead was in a lot of pain.
◊◊◊
Javan collapsed at the top of the steep hill and took a swig of his water. Slightly more than a dollop dripped out. Great. He was going to have to find more water. At least that should be easy. He knew of a freshwater stream not too far away that was a good source of cool, clean water.
Finding dragons was a different story. Those Dusk Stalkers were so stinking fast that they were always gone by the time he got to where he thought he spotted them. This whole quest was becoming more
and more futile without the help of his friends or his dragons.
Knowing that Krystyn was after the dragons kept him searching for them both day and night. He would let himself sleep for one or two hours at a time, then continue searching for any sign of Starshade. The lack of sleep and constant walking through uneven terrain left him feeling exhausted and hopeless.
“Javan?” Micah approached Javan from his left. “Wow, man, you look terrible.”
“Gee, thanks.” Javan wished he could say the same about Micah, but the Hunter had a vibrant, energized demeanor. “What have you been doing that has you so invigorated? You haven’t cut off any dragon’s tails, have you?”
“Nah. Nothing like that. I’ve been following the Destroyer. I love the challenge of keeping up with her. She walks through these woods with a swiftness I have never seen before, and she’s setting up brilliantly wicked traps everywhere around here. It’s just a matter of time before the dragons get caught.”
“Any chance you can tell me where the traps are so I can diffuse them?”
“There are too many. I’ve gone behind her and undone some of them but haven’t been able to get to them all. Your best chance of finding Starshade first is to take to the sky. You need Varjiek.”
“I know, but that’s against the rules.”
“I don’t know why you want to follow rules that favor the Destroyer, but I’ll do what I can to minimize the damage from the traps. If you don’t do something different soon, though, both of those dragons are going to die.”
“Hold her off for one more day. We’ll reset the rules when we meet tomorrow.”
“Javan!”
Javan stared at Micah. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah. Sounds like Taliya.”
“Javan, if you can hear me, come quick!”