“Why?” Aquila asked.
Paedyn sighed. “Devarius hasn’t had an easy life. He lost his parents, and for many years, he lost his sister. Now, he finally has you, and he’s terrified if he doesn’t keep you at a distance, he will lose you too.”
Aquila gulped. “I can take care of myself.”
Paedyn shrugged. “When you only have an opponent or two, sure. I know you’re skilled, Aquila. Devarius knows it as well. But look at what the dragomen did to you. It could have happened to any of us. None of us would have been able to defeat them singlehandedly, but that’s not the point. The point is—his fears are justified. While he is overprotective, and overbearing, his fears are warranted. If you want him to back off, and let you be a bigger part of this war, first, I must ask you, do you really want that? Do you really want to ride into battle, where you may either die yourself, or see Devarius fall? And if so, if it’s that important to you, you’re going to have to let Devarius know when he returns. You’re going to have to make him understand.”
Aquila gulped. “I know. And I do want to be a part of it. I think he’s ignoring a very important tactic in aerial combat.”
Paedyn’s brow creased. “What’s that?”
“Archery.”
Paedyn frowned. “Look, Aquila … I know you’re good with a bow, but I don’t see archery being particularly useful in the air. The wyverns move too swift, you’ll never be able to loose an arrow properly. If you do get one off, your wyvern will just travel faster than it. Besides what are you going to aim at? The dragon scales are impenetrable, and I don’t imagine you’d be too accurate to strike a rider, not to mention, they’re pretty well protected with armor.”
“If the wyvern and rider knew what they were doing,” Aquila started, “they wouldn’t loose arrows while in motioned flight. Only while gliding.”
Paedyn’s lips scrunched together. “Interesting. What are you thinking, flying above and behind the dragonriders, gliding in the air, and releasing arrows at them?”
Aquila nodded.
“Still, what will you be aiming at?”
“The saddle straps.”
Paedyn’s eyes widened, his brows raising. “Are you that accurate?”
Aquila grinned. She stood, brushing off her knees. Walking to a tree stump, she picked up her bow and an arrow. On the far side of the nursery, just over a hundred paces away, was an archery target. She nocked an arrow, steadied her aim, and loosed.
The arrow flew through the air gracefully, and landed on the edge of the red center mark. The back of the arrow vibrated as it imbedded.
Paedyn nodded. “Impressive … but still, even though that was an unbelievable aim, I think there will be a tighter aim and quicker release needed for striking the saddle straps well enough to break them.”
“Exactly.”
Paedyn tilted his head. “What did you have in mind.”
“Tynaesha,” she whispered.
Her purple wyvern, still with an injured wing taped up by the medics, approached a little unsteadily to stand by Aquila’s side. Paedyn looked at the beautiful creature, his heart going out to the beast. And anger reentering his mind over the dragomen.
“Guide my arrow,” Aquila said.
She nocked another arrow, aimed carefully, and released. Her wyvern immediately opened its mouth, and blew. The wind wyvern’s incredible wind made the arrow soar at an unmatchable speed toward the target. In less than a fraction of a second, the arrow penetrated the target.
Paedyn gasped. He couldn’t see the arrow. Curious, he jogged over to the target. Aquila kept at his heel.
The arrow had penetrated the center of the target, but not only that, it penetrated completely through the target. Feathers blew in the wind, stuck on the outside of the target where the arrow had gone completely through. Glancing to the other side of the target, Paedyn found the arrow, shaft completely dug into the ground, with only the notch on the back of the arrow visible as it stuck up from the ground.
“Incredible,” he breathed. “So, you’re thinking archers on wind wyverns?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “You’re right, loosing arrows atop wyverns at top speeds would be impractical and wouldn’t work, but with wind wyverns, they can offset that unbalance, making it possible to loose arrows, no matter the wind or stability from above. I haven’t practiced it yet, but I believe it might even be possible with the wyvern moving in a forward momentum, if communication between wyvern and rider are clear, and the wyvern uses its breath to guide the arrow, it would solve the problem of arrows being ineffective against wind and air pressure of flying. If, the wyvern can position its neck and breath for a direct blow, but I believe the arrow will have to get far enough ahead of the wyvern’s head, for it to be able to use its wind on it. So, they might have to be at a standstill for it to work, but I’ll need to experiment.”
Paedyn’s lips pressed tightly together. He nodded his head. “I agree. This needs experimentation. You definitely need to bring this up to Devarius when he returns. He may not like the possibility of you going into battle with him, but if this works, he can get over it.”
Aquila laughed.
Chapter 33
Devarius stepped foot onto Adeth Peak Isle. It was midday and the red sun hung in the center of the sky, beaming down a little heat below, but not nearly enough to stay warm. Ayla immediately flew off to visit the other wyverns. Devarius felt like kissing the ground, but he restrained himself. For a long while during their journey, he felt like he’d never return home, if Adeth Peak Isle could be called a home. He supposed it was, but at the same time, it wasn’t permeant. When they defeated the Dragonia Empire, they wouldn’t continue to live on the island. They’d move back to Kaeldroga somewhere, which brought up another thought. What of Ayla? Adeth Peak Isle was her home. Would she stay there, or would she come with Devarius?
Paedyn rushed up to him. He threw his hands wide and embraced Devarius in a large hug. Devarius smiled as he hugged his friend back.
“It’s nice of you to finally return, you jerk,” Paedyn said.
“Jerk?” Devarius asked.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve put me through by leaving me in charge?”
“Given you responsibilities?”
Paedyn rolled his eyes. “If only it were that simple.”
“What’s happened?” Devarius frowned.
“The dragomen attacked again.”
“Who?”
“Well, first me for taking their oil. Then Aquila to steal more of the oil.”
Devarius’ eyes bulged. “They attacked Aquila? Is she all right?”
Paedyn nodded. “Her wyvern is in worse shape than she is. And, she has a good idea. I think you should listen to her.”
“Is she wanting to join the battle again?” Devarius asked, gritting his teeth.
Paedyn nodded. “Yes, but seriously, listen to her. She has great ideas.”
“All right. I’ll listen. What else has happened? Where are the dragomen?”
“They’re all imprisoned and sitting in the center of the wyverns’ camp, unable to leave.”
Devarius moved his squished lips from side to side. “Good.”
“Lilianya has been tasked with searching for more wyvern scales in the wildness north of here.”
“Do you have reason to believe there are more wyvern scales?” Devarius asked.
“Why wouldn’t there be? I mean, we’re on a land of wyverns. Surely there has to be scales somewhere.”
Devarius scratched his chin. “True.”
“What about you?” Paedyn beamed. “Did you find the stone?”
Devarius nodded, his head turned to look at Derkas and Zaviana behind him. They too were standing on the ground, off the dragon. Unlike Ayla, Chalce remained near them, looking curiously down at them. Derkas gazed longingly into Zaviana’s eyes, and he leaned close to her.
Devarius strolled toward them. “How was your flight?”
Derkas jerked backward from
Zaviana as he looked over to Devarius.
Devarius grinned.
Zaviana glared at Devarius, and he swore he could see steam coming out of her ears. Oh well, she should know better than to get all smoochy with the traitor right in front of him. Devarius was gaining a little respect for Derkas, but only a little. He still remembered the battle at Saefron, where so many lives were lost, all because Derkas had sold the knowledge to the empire. Granted, because he had, Zaviana was now free. Devarius wondered if he would have done the same, but shook his head as he didn’t want to imagine the scenario.
“A little more eventful than I’d hoped, and I’m exhausted,” Derkas admitted.
“Likewise,” Devarius said. “We’ve been up for far too long. Perhaps it’s time we catch some shut eye.”
Derkas nodded.
“Derkas?” Devarius said.
“Yes?”
“Thanks,” Devarius said.
Derkas frowned, his head tilting slightly as he studied Devarius. “What for?”
“You really came through back there. There was a time or two, I thought you would had left Ayla and I to take off with Zaviana, but you stayed, and you helped us fight the dragonriders so we could all escape. Thank you.”
Derkas smiled. “I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t think about it, but—” He wrapped his arm around Zaviana’s shoulder. “I couldn’t do that to Zavi. I know how important you are to her, and that means—you’re important to me.”
Devarius frowned as he looked at the mercenary’s arm around his sister, then he frowned even deeper at him using the nickname Devarius had given her years ago.
“Oh, Devarius. I have a favor to ask you,” Derkas said.
“What’s that?”
“I asked Zaviana, but she told me to ask you since you are technically the leader of the resistance.”
“Is that a dragon?” Paedyn asked, pointing to the little green dragon who stretched on Derkas’ shoulder.
No one answered him.
“Can I see the dragon stone? I want to try to use it to give Chalce’s intelligence back,” Derkas said.
Devarius’ forehead crinkled. “Do you know how to do that?”
Derkas shook his head. “No, but I want to try.”
Devarius nodded. “Go ahead. I would like to see if it works as well. We need to understand how to use the dragon stone.”
Zaviana unfastened the leather pouch across her shoulder and lifted the dragon stone out. She held it in front of her, offering it to Derkas.
“Careful,” she warned, “the first time I touched it with my bare hands, it hurt. The memories of hundreds of dragons slammed into my mind, causing a migraine.”
Derkas flinched as he looked at the stone. He took a deep breath as he accepted the stone. His eyes clenched tight as he touched it, and he remained in that state for a long moment before he opened his eyes.
He shook his head. “No pain. No memories.”
Zaviana frowned.
Derkas took another deep breath, then held the stone in his cupped hands. It changed colors from violet to blue as he held it up to Chalce. The dragon sniffed the stone, then closing her eyes, reared her head down and touched it with her nose. A blinding, blue spark flashed between the dragon stone and Chalce.
Everything went white, and for several long seconds, Devarius couldn’t see. He rubbed his eyes furiously. When his vision finally came back, he noticed everyone else was rubbing their eyes as well. Chalce was no longer touching the dragon stone, but her neck was stretched high and her head titled as she looked down at them. Derkas grinned up at her.
“Did it work?” Devarius asked.
Derkas nodded.
Thank you, Devarius, a soft voice said inside of Devarius’ head.
Devarius’ eyes widened as he looked up at the dragon. “Incredible,” he breathed.
Zaviana’s grin split her face from ear to ear. “Now, if we could just figure out how to use it to give all the dragons their intelligence back. Perhaps then, they wouldn’t aid the empire.”
“Agreed,” Devarius said. “But I don’t think we’ll be able to. It looks like physical contact may be the only way. Until then, we need to figure out how to use it to give powers to us. It doesn’t look like it worked on Derkas.”
Zaviana wrinkled her nose. “I wonder if it only works on those who have the extra sense.”
“Perhaps,” Devarius said.
“Chalce … it’s so good to hear your voice,” Derkas whispered, rubbing his hand on the dragon’s lowered neck.
Chapter 34
A smile swept across Lilianya’s face as she entered the city. The red sun was setting across the western sky. People strolled through the city more than usual, hope restored on their faces and smiles lighting the near twilight. After a moment, Lilianya realized the hope and celebration on people’s faces weren’t for her. A shattering moment of her flame being stolen came across her, along with an emptiness in her heart.
Naveen rushed over to her, eyes glistening with hope, a large and wide as a smile came across her face.
“Please tell me you’ve found some scales,” Naveen demanded.
Lilianya smiled. The warmth of her accomplishing something for the resistance.
“You did, didn’t you?”
Lilianya nodded. “Where is Paedyn?”
While Paedyn irritated Lilianya, he was the one who gave her a chance with the quest, and she wanted to bring him the news as soon as possible. She’d accomplished it, and he knew out of everyone, he’d be the most excited for her. Lilianya knew a lot of it would be because of his fondness for her, and his attempts to start a relationship with her, but it would also feel good to have that praise, despite what his feelings for her were.
“He’s with Devarius,” Naveen said.
“Devarius?” Lilianya asked, her high hopes fading slightly.
Naveen nodded.
“So, he’s returned?” she asked.
“Yes,” Naveen said.
“Did he find the dragon stone?”
Naveen beamed. “He did.”
Lilianya frowned. Her victory would be short lived, and completely shadowed in comparison to the dragon stone. If they could figure out how to use the dragon stone, would the wyvern scales she found and brought back to the city even be useful? Or would people just need to touch the stone and have all the elemental powers? No one would even need her scales then. She might as well toss them into the ocean.
“What’s wrong?” Naveen asked.
Lilianya shook her head. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it. I would still like to speak with Paedyn as soon as he has a chance.”
“I believe he’s still in the center of the city speaking with Devarius and the others,” Naveen said.
“Thank you,” Lilianya said as she began her trek farther into the city.
“Lilianya?” Naveen asked.
“Hm?”
“May I have some of the wyvern scales you found? I would very much like to try them out. I’ve been having some ideas about having a few of our members try a different element.”
Lilianya bit her lip as she tossed a small bag of mixed wyvern scales to Naveen. She kept the majority of them with her, and in the company of her companions. Lilianya wasn’t ready to give them all away just yet. She needed to speak to Paedyn.
Meandering through the city, Lilianya paid attention to the crowds of people. These were all the people she’d hoped to impress. She hoped to have them remember her name as she returned with all the wyvern scales. Instead, she knew the only thing they’d remember this day was the return of Devarius, and the arrival of the dragon stone. She hoped there were something she could do to be remembered as well.
Lilianya saw Paedyn and Devarius in the center of the city. They were speaking to Tynaer and a few of the soldiers and wyvernriders. She rushed over to them.
“Lilianya?” Paedyn nearly shouted as she approached.
She smiled at him.
“You’ve returned.”
He laughed. “Tell me you have good news.”
She beamed at him, grateful for his praise.
“Returned?” Devarius asked.
Paedyn clapped Devarius on the shoulder. “Yes, well, I had Lilianya lead an expedition to the north to search for wyvern scales.”
Devarius’ lips pressed together. “Wyvern scales? Why?”
“Well,” Paedyn started. “We have a lot of red dragon scales, and they allow the men and women who have the extra sense, the ability to use the fire element. However, we do have a few people who have blue scales and can use ice, and one, Naveen I believe, who has a purple scale, and can use wind magic. The type of scale apparently helps them focus a particular type of magic. I figured if we could find a few scales of different colors, perhaps we could have a more diverse team of spell casters in our ranks.”
Devarius brows raised as he nodded. “And you thought of this all by yourself?”
Paedyn smiled large. Too large. “Well, no. Your sister is the one who told me to look into it.”
Devarius laughed. “Ah, Zavi. Yes, that makes more sense. And, Lilianya, what did you find?”
Lilianya grinned. She reached for her sash, but realized she’d given the small pouch of wyvern scales over to Naveen. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
“I—” She gulped. “I gave over the small pouch I had to show you over to Naveen. She wanted to get started on analyzing the scales right away. I … I am sorry.”
Devarius’ eyes bulged. “But, you did find some?”
She grinned. “Not just some. We found hundreds. Perhaps thousands.”
Devarius’ jaw dropped. “Thousands?”
“Yes, well, we have to test them to make sure, I can only assume they’re wyvern or dragon scales. But I can’t know for sure. I am unable to use magic.”
Devarius nodded. “Understood. I do wonder if—”
“What?” Paedyn asked.
“The scales help a spell caster focus magic, like they can sense the element in the atmosphere—at least, that’s the way I believe Zavi explained it to me. Does that sound right?”
Dragonia: Dragon Stone (Dragonia Empire Book 3) Page 14