by Rinelle Grey
Karla explained to everyone else. “Life dragons apparently have super dragon powers. All the other dragons are afraid of them. That’s why Taurian is mating with Wayrian, because one of the elders said that the mating might produce a life dragon, and he hoped to use that to defeat Ultrima.”
Her father caught on quickly. “If Ultrima has a life dragon as well, that’s no advantage.”
“No,” Karla agreed. “Either way, it doesn’t matter now. They can’t put this challenge off until a child is old enough to fight. Ultrima is there now.”
“So what are you planning on doing?” Lisa demanded again.
“I’m going to find some way to defeat the dragons, then I’m going back in and rescuing Taurian and his clan.”
Goosebumps rose on her arms as she said the words. Could she really do this? Did it have any chance of working?
Obviously no one else thought it did, because there was a stunned silence in the room.
Then…
“I’m in,” Bruce said quietly.
“Me too,” Lisa echoed immediately, her voice high and excited.
“You know you can count on me,” her dad said. “But what, exactly, do you plan on doing?”
“Yeah,” Lisa asked. “What can we do against dragons? They’re way bigger than us, and they have magic.”
For a moment, Lisa’s words dampened some of Karla’s resolve. She’d seen Taurian and Ultrima fighting, flinging magic around as though it were confetti.
But she’d also seen Taurian stare at her phone when he’d first woken, and ask her what sort of magic it was. He had decided she was the one to help him when she’d shown him just a fraction of its abilities.
“Their magic isn’t so scary,” she said. “So they can control fire and electricity. So can we. We just do it with technology instead.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of weapons that could take out a dragon,” her father said gently. “But we don’t have any of them.”
It was a fact Karla had lamented many times since she started this journey, and it was just as true now as it had been then. She might have all the determination to fight, but she had no ability, no weapons.
“If only we had a gun,” she said in frustration.
“My dad has a gun,” Gretchen spoke up, her face was pale but determined. “I’m sure he’ll help us.”
Karla stared at her, her heart beating a little faster. Why hadn’t she thought to ask before this? “Your dad has a gun?”
Gretchen shrugged. “We live on a farm. He needs it to deal with foxes and wild dogs, or to put an injured animal out of its misery.”
Before Karla had a chance to get excited, Lisa spoke up. “One gun isn’t going to do anything useful. It might, if you get a good hit, take out one dragon. But that still leaves another twelve. I guess if you can take out Ultrima, the others might back down, or be able to be defeated, but it’s a long shot.”
Karla’s shoulders slumped. She didn’t want to admit it, but Lisa was right. One gun wasn’t going to do much. They’d need a lot more if they were going to go up against the Trima clan.
A lot more.
“What are we going to do?” she asked softly. She looked around at all her friends, but they all looked as hopeless as she felt.
Except Lisa. A half grin twisted her mouth. “I think I know where we can get some more firepower,” she said. “If you’re up for letting a few more people in on our secret?”
Karla hesitated, torn between the certainty in Lisa’s voice, and the reality of letting others in on Taurian’s secret.
He had been so set against letting any other humans know. His clan had been even more set against it. They were already annoyed enough at the small circle of people who did know. Was it really her choice to let others know?
Then again, what was the alternative? There was no way they could fight the Trima clan on their own. They needed more help.
*****
After making a few phone calls, they all drove out to a field on the edge of town. Karla was just beginning to get a bit annoyed at Lisa’s secretive refusal to divulge details, when she heard a hissing sound, and then a shape flew up in the air with a huge force.
Karla watched it go, shading her eyes from the sun, until it was out of sight. What was it? Some sort of weapon?
Bruce followed it too. “A rocket,” he said, his voice interested.
Karla’s heart began to beat a little faster. A rocket sounded promising. She looked down to search for the source of the object.
A man stood in the middle of the field, tipping his Akubra hat back as he followed the rocket’s trajectory. After a few moments, when it hit the ground again, he headed over to pick it up.
“That’s Chase,” Lisa said with satisfaction. “He’s the one to help us.”
Everyone trudged across the field after Lisa, but even though the rocket’s launch had been spectacular, Karla’s enthusiasm was fading. It just flew straight up, quickly disappearing out of sight. It might frighten the dragons, but only for a moment, and then they’d be back to fighting.
The man looked over and gave Lisa a warm smile. “Hey, how’s it going?”
He looked around at everyone else, and belatedly Karla realised how it must look. No one had bothered to change since their sleepless night last night. They must look quite a sight.
He didn’t bat an eyelid though, just nodded politely to everyone.
How had Lisa found this guy, and how had she not pissed him off by wanting to sleep with him already? He wasn’t anything like Karla had imagined. His tight jeans were only enhanced by the smudges of dirt, and his rugged face would make many a girl ready to swoon. Lisa though, seemed unaffected by his good looks. Most unlike her.
More surprising, Karla didn’t recognise him, even though he was about the right age to have been at school when she was.
“Not good, I’m afraid,” Lisa said solemnly.
Chase raised an eyebrow. “In trouble again, Lisa?” His tone was fond and amused.
“Sort of,” Lisa agreed. “I need your help.”
Karla listened as Lisa explained the whole dragon story, wincing at how fantastical it sounded. That was one possibility she hadn’t considered up until this point. Even if they told people about the dragons, they were never going to believe them.
But to her surprise, though Chase stared over at her a couple of times when Lisa mentioned her, it wasn’t disbelief on his face. He nodded thoughtfully “I’ve seen a couple of things, dark shapes, cows disappearing without a trace off Dad’s farm, and I’ve wondered,” he said finally. “People say you’re crazy, that the long nights do weird things to you, but I always knew there was something out here. He looked at Lisa, his eyes squinted. “You’re not joshing me, are you?”
“It’s the one hundred percent truth,” Lisa said solemnly.
He looked over at Karla, and she nodded. “It’s the truth,” she agreed.
“I can confirm all of it,” Karla’s father added.
Chase stared at them all for a few moments, then nodded. “What can I do to help then?”
“We need a way to defeat the Trima clan,” Lisa said. “I reckon your rockets are a good start.”
Chase considered her for a moment, his head on one side. “How high do they fly? And how fast?” he asked Karla.
Karla thought back to the fight outside the Trima lair. Taurian and Ultrima had been almost level with her viewing point on top of the mountain. “A few hundred metres, probably,” she guessed. “And they can only just keep up with the ute at full speed. Maybe fifty to sixty k’s?”
Chase frowned, and scratched at the stubble on his cheek. “Rockets aren’t going to help you, they’re past that height in a few seconds. We need something lower.”
“And preferably something that does some damage,” Karla threw in. Might as well go for broke while she was at it.
She half expected Chase to laugh at her. It was a tall order. But he just looked thoughtful. “I reckon you need
some fireworks then. They explode at around a hundred metres if you set them right. They might do some damage. Either way, the display should disorientate them.”
He looked at Karla, waiting for a response.
Her heart had leapt at the word explosion, but then fallen again. “Sounds ideal, but aren’t they illegal?”
Stupid question. She knew they were. But he was speaking as though he could get some anyway.
Chase shrugged. “Sure. But I suspect killing dragons would be illegal however you go about it, wouldn’t it? How far are you willing to go to save this dragon prince of yours?”
It was a good question. How far was she prepared to go?
The thought of doing something illegal didn’t seem to faze Chase at all. That fact gave Karla an inkling of how he and Lisa knew each other.
But she wasn’t like that. She’d always been the good girl, in school, and in life. It would never have occurred to her to cheat or steal, even if the opportunity was right in front of her, with no risk of being caught.
She’d obeyed the rules and laws, even when she disagreed with them, because that was what you did.
Now, in the face of the very real danger that Taurian faced, they all seemed to blow away in the wind. If there was anything, anything at all, that she could do to save him, she knew without a doubt that she was willing to do it.
“As far as it takes,” she said firmly. “Can you get some fireworks then?”
“Sure. I’ve got a few other ideas too.”
Karla looked over at Lisa. “Can you take care of this? I think we should go see Gretchen’s dad. That gun might come in handy too.”
Lisa’s eyes were shining. “Chase and I will take care of it.”
“We’re going to need a vehicle,” Chase pointed out. “My bike isn’t going to hold much. And I’ll have quite a bit of equipment to bring.”
“Bruce and I will go with Chase and Lisa,” her father offered. “We’ll all squeeze in the ute, and there’s plenty of room for supplies. You girls take the car and go see Gretchen’s father.”
Karla nodded. She wanted to stay and help prepare, but somehow, she suspected Gretchen would need her support. Besides, she didn’t know much about rockets.
“Let’s do this,” she said.
*****
Gretchen was quiet on the way out to her parent’s farm.
Karla didn’t press her to talk. There wasn’t much she could say that would help. Gretchen’s fears were as big as hers. She hadn’t said anything, but Karla was pretty sure she was wondering whether Jayrian would make it out of this alive.
Karla certainly didn’t want to discuss that. She didn’t even want to consider the possibility that he might not, because if she did, she’d have to consider Taurian might not.
That thought twisted her stomach into knots.
Karla pushed it away, using the fact that they were pulling into Gretchen’s parents driveway to help.
Another car was in the driveway, a dark blue four-wheel drive. Karla frowned, and looked over at Gretchen, who bit her lip. “My Aunt Mary,” she explained. “What’s she doing here?”
Karla had no answer for that. “Is I going to be a problem? We really can’t put this off.”
As if Gretchen didn’t know that.
“No, I’m sure it will be fine,” Gretchen said, but the furrow in her forehead didn’t disappear.
Karla hesitated. If Gretchen’s aunt was here, then it could be hard to get a chance to tell her parents about the dragons without her knowing. They were already taking a chance, telling so many people, did one more really matter?
The advantages of having a gun far outweighed the risks. Surely a relative of Gretchen’s wouldn’t cause them any problems?
“Let’s go then,” Karla said.
Even before they walked up onto the front veranda, the door had opened, and Gretchen’s mum stepped out, her face wreathed in smiles. “Gretchen, you’re just in time. Mary is here, and I think she has something to say to you.”
“Not now, Mum.” Gretchen’s voice was strained.
Her mum focused on Karla. “Oh, I see you’ve brought a friend. Have we met?”
Karla stepped forwards, “Gretchen and I knew each other in school.”
Her mum smiled, but looked to Gretchen. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes,” Gretchen said bluntly. “It’s Jayrian. He’s in trouble.”
Her mum’s face was instantly concerned. “Come inside and tell me all about it.”
Somehow, when they were all sitting in Gretchen’s parlour, with her dad and Aunt Mary standing watching them, telling them the truth was no easier.
“What’s going on?” Gretchen’s mum asked. “What sort of trouble is Jayrian in?”
Gretchen glanced over at her Aunt Mary, but when the woman said nothing, turned back to her mum. “It’s his family. They’re having a… fight… with some enemies, and it’s turning nasty.”
Her mother made a clicking noise of disapproval with her tongue. “Do you want me to talk to them?”
“I think the situation is past talking,” Karla said quietly.
Gretchen’s mum looked at her. “How are you involved?”
“The man I love is involved in it too.”
“It’s not drugs, is it?” Gretchen’s father, Jake, asked. His arms were crossed, but he sounded more concerned than angry.
“I always knew you read too many books,” Aunt Mary stated.
Gretchen’s mum glared at her. “Mary, this is not the time,” she scolded.
“What is she doing here?” Gretchen demanded. “Can you tell her to leave?”
“Mary came to apologise for her behaviour over Christmas,” Gretchen’s mum said quietly.
“Seems like starting another argument isn’t the way to do that.” Gretchen folded her arms and glared at both of them.
For a moment, Karla thought they were going to have a standoff. Then Aunt Mary’s face softened. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
Gretchen’s glare didn’t soften. “Good. Now can you give us some privacy?”
Aunt Mary opened her mouth to protest, then shut it again. “Of course,” she said quietly. She gathered up her purse and keys, and stepped towards the door.
“Maybe Mary can help?” Gretchen’s mum said. “She’s good at negotiation.”
Mary paused, and looked back at Gretchen.
All this family drama was too much for Karla. They didn’t have time for this. “Think you can negotiate with a dragon?” she challenged.
Everyone stared at her.
“What on earth are you talking about?” Gretchen’s mum said. She looked over at Gretchen. “What’s going on?”
Gretchen seemed almost relieved to have it out in the open. “It’s true,” she said quietly. “Jayrian is a dragon.”
Now everyone stared at Gretchen. Her parents looked worried. Aunt Mary folded her arms and watched in amusement.
“It must be drugs,” Gretchen’s father said, sounding far more concerned this time.
“He didn’t look like a dragon to me,” her mum said flatly.
“There was something about his eyes.” Aunt Mary’s voice was thoughtful. “And the dogs reacted very strangely to him, I thought it was weird at the time.”
Gretchen’s parents stared at Aunt Mary, and she shrugged. “What?”
“You’re not a little bit concerned.” Gretchen’s mother demanded.
“I’m trying to be supportive.” Aunt Mary insisted.
“It’s true,” Gretchen said quietly. “You have to believe me.”
Her mother looked at her for a moment, looked at her father, then walked across the room and pulled Gretchen into a hug. “If you say it’s true, honey, then of course we believe you. What can we do to help?”
Karla was pretty sure that they didn’t, actually, believe her. But right now, she’d take a pretence at believing.
Gretchen returned her mum’s hug, then pulled back and looked at both of her parents
. “We need you to bring your gun, Dad.”
The only sign of surprise her father gave was a slight widening of his eyes. “My gun?”
Karla stepped in. “Yes. Dragons are afraid of guns. It seems to be one of the few things they fear, human weapons. It would be better if we had more, but even one could make a major difference.”
“You’re serious,” Aunt Mary said slowly. She looked over at Gretchen’s mum. “She’s serious,” she repeated.
Her mother looked concerned. She looked at Gretchen and Karla. “Why don’t you start at the beginning.”
Karla looked at her watch. It was nearing midday already, but much as she wanted to get back to Taurian as quickly as possible, Chase had said it would take him a few hours to organise everything anyway. So, starting with the day Jayrian walked into her dad’s rock and gem store, she told Gretchen’s parents the whole story, with Gretchen interjecting her parts as well.
Gretchen’s parents and Aunt Mary listened, with wide eyes. Their expressions started out incredulous, and gradually moved to fascinated, and as Karla described Ultrima’s arrival, and the subsequent events, turned to angry.
“So this dragon is just going to kill everyone because Taurian’s sister refused to marry him?” Aunt Mary asked. “Sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale to me.”
This time though, her tone wasn’t disbelieving or scornful. It was, in fact, a little wistful.
“If we don’t do something, it’s not going to have a fairy tale ending,” Karla warned.
“I’ll get my gun,” Gretchen’s father said, his voice determined.
“I’ll get some food,” Gretchen’s mother offered. “No use heading into battle on an empty stomach. And I’m betting none of you had anything to eat since this morning, did you?”
Karla wanted to insist that the last thing she felt like right now was eating, but she didn’t want to upset Gretchen’s mum. It was kind of her to offer. Besides, the other’s might feel like eating, even if she didn’t.
A memory came, unbidden, of Taurian sitting in the café, eating chips as though Edtrima hadn’t been sitting just a few tables away. Throughout all of this, he’d been so certain he would win—somehow. Even when it seemed impossible.