Rynn returned to consciousness with a loud buzzing sound in her ears. She groaned, not even bothering to try and roll over. She felt so warm... all her limbs numb and drowsey... just wanted to rest a little longer...
There was the loud sound of Arokh breathing fire, some hissing and more of that irritating buzzing.
Rynn tried to ignore it and fall back into that pleasant dark unconsciousness.
"No you don't," Arokh rumbled, and a foreclaw wrapped around her midsection to lift her up. She almost gasped with the heat of it, even through her armour, and dimly realised it felt so because she'd been lying in the chill snow. She might not have woken up again had Arokh not moved her.
"Thanks," she managed, lips numb and sore. She settled on his back and shivered convulsively. Removing her gloves, she touched her face and flinched at the coldness of it.
"Lie close to my scales. They should warm you up," Arokh instructed, and she was only too happy to comply. The red dragon looked at the portal. "Looks like the ebon dragons gave up. I hope they don't find another way through."
"Navaros sent them?" Rynn suggested, pressing her forehead to his muscled shoulder.
"One would assume. Either they were making sure Star, Nashiva, Glaive and Kang-shi killed us, or they were making sure all of us were killed. I tend to think the latter more probable." He started walking down the snow-filled ravine, looking around. "I think I recognise where we are. The Islands aren't too far."
Rynn made the effort to wrap her arms around his neck, and stayed lying down. "Let's go," she mumbled.
Arokh's wings swept down and they were aloft. After a minute or so of flying, Rynn felt warm and awake enough to sit up and take notice of their passage. They flew through the large valley where Arokh had battled and defeated the ice-dragon Werokh, then through an open portal to the sun-touched Islands.
"No snow," Rynn sighed. "Thank goodness."
Tilting his flight slightly, Arokh glided over the glittering sea and small islets, aiming for the northern coast and the bay that would lead to the Belltower. Rynn found herself looking more to the west. Something was itching at her mind.
"Arokh," she said after a little while. "Remember Alwarren?"
"Of course."
She frowned slightly, then nodded to herself. "I think I have an idea of how to stop Navaros from casting that spell. Or at least, of trapping him."
She felt his startlement rip through his body. "The Great Spell of Protection?" he exclaimed. "You can't be serious!"
"Why not?"
"For one thing, you don't know how."
"Do you?" she asked.
"Secondly," he went on, ignoring her query, "casting it while you're so inexperienced with magic will put you at deadly risk!"
"Arokh," she said firmly, "do you know how to cast the Great Spell of Protection?"
"Yes," he admitted reluctantly. "I can't cast it, though. No dragon can."
"Would it stop Navaros?"
"If it works, that spell will trap anything. Nothing, physical or otherwise, can pass through the field it generates."
Rynn allowed herself a grim smile of satisfaction and fell silent. Arokh said nothing more until they reached the Belltower, where the other three Bonded were waiting.
"What kept you?" Morghus asked.
"Some fifty or so ebon dragons," Arokh replied with a shrug. "Took a while to shake them off."
"So what's the plan?" Star asked.
"Ebontyne said that one of you knew the magicks of Fire, Water, Earth and Air," Rynn said.
"That would be me," Glaive said, coming to stand by Kang-shi's shoulder.
"Rimril said that I have the potential to be an Archmage. If you teach me the four cycles of elemental magic, then I can explore the powers of the Rift. I can hopefully use that magic to save my brother."
"And Navaros?"
"When Delon is safe, then we find a way to destroy Navaros for good."
Glaive raised a dark brow at Star, then looked at Rynn again. "And how do we plan to evade his forces until then? Unless you've forgotten, there's a hive of succubi in these islands and not a few dragons."
"Then I guess you teach me quickly."
Glaive snorted.
"This won't work," Kang-shi growled.
"Do you have a better idea?" Ebontyne asked coolly.
"Yes," Kang-shi replied, her tone equally cold. "The six of us make a frontal assault on Navaros' fortress and grind him to the dirt. Archmage and stolen dragon-soul he may be, but he is far from being immortal or invincible."
"You can't kill him without Runeblade, and you won't get my help unless I get yours," Rynn stated.
Kang-shi swivelled her golden head to face Rynn and bared her fangs. "We just need Runeblade. We don't need you. Why are we wasting all this time to save one human male?"
Glaive laid a mailed hand on her shoulder and the dragon subsided. "The boy is kin to her, Kang-shi." He paused, as though considering, then inclined his head to Rynn. "You have my help."
"Ours as well," Star said, and Nashiva nodded.
Rynn smiled in relief and looked at Glaive. "Let's get started, then."