The Fallen Angel looked disinterestedly at Rynn. "You again."
Rynn glanced at the other Bonded. Ebontyne and Morghus, Star and Nashiva, Glaive and Kang-shi. The riders sat astride the dragons, who stood on either side of Arokh, Delon and herself.
"We've come to claim some souls."
"Indeed," it whispered. The firey feathers of its wings shifted as the angel turned its head to fully face her. "All have been given to me willingly, fairly, save those tho challenged me and lost."
"These three did not-"
"They parted with their souls, and do you claim they did not entrust them to one Navaros?"
"They did not belong to him, and they don't belong to you. Give them back."
"You make demands of me, mortal?" The angel's voice was no longer one of dry disinterest. There was a threatening tone, and it now looked more like a coiled spring than someone crouched with no intention of moving.
"Distract it," Rynn said over her shoulder.
"What will you do?" Morghus asked.
"Hit it with Runeblade a few times, if I can get close enough." She reached back over her shoulder and slid the sword free. "If it took Navaros and Kaeros from Delon the first time we fought, I'm hoping-"
"-it'll release souls from the Fallen," Ebontyne finished. "Count me in."
"Well, I'm with you," Morghus said dryly, but he grinned at his Bonded.
"Delon, I need you to ride with one of the others," Rynn said. "I have to be able to fight without you holding on to me, and I don't want you falling off."
"We'll take him, Rynn," Star said. "C'mon, Delon."
Delon slid off Arokh's back and ran to Nashiva.
"Glaive?" Ebontyne said. "Are you in?"
The dark-skinned Bonded nodded, but didn't speak.
As if sensing the approaching conflict, the Fallen Angel rose to its feet, wings stretching. The black shoulders shrugged and it crossed its arms in contempt.
"Try for around its head," Ebontyne whispered. "Then Rynn can get a clear attack on its legs. I hope," she added, "you don't have to get Runeblade in its chest."
"So do I." Rynn sent a silent signal to Arokh and the dragon lifted into the air. "Ready?
The other three Bonded flew to the attack, loosing firey breath at the angel's head... but the Fallen made no reaction. It wasn't until Morghus flew straight at its face that it made a move. One hand flicked up as one would shoo away a fly; Morghus and Ebontyne went hurtling off into Nowhere like a rock hit by a heavy stick.
"Morghus!" Arokh shouted, then flew at the angel's legs ass Rynn said, "Now!" The red dragon darted in with a few swift wingbeats and circled a thigh, gliding perpendicular to the ground so Rynn need only hold Runeblade up over her head to hit something...which she did.
Orange light sparked where she struck, and the angel reeled back.
"What have you done?" it screamed, and bent to clamp a dark hand over the wound. But the amber light curled around its fingers and wafted away like smoke. "No!" It grabbed for the escaping souls, allowing Arokh to make a second pass. Runeblade cut through the angel's left ankle and more sparks flew.
"Shall we continue?" Arokh roared at the Fallen.
"I must submit," the angel replied, its whispery voice a growl and its eyes flashing. "I have already lost more than what you wanted to take."
Arokh backwinged out of reach and Rynn pointed at Star and Glaive with Runeblade. "Return what is theirs."
Nashiva and Kang-shi hovered carefully before the angel, who brushed a huge finger over Star and Glaive's heads. There was more orange light, then the two humans glowed green for a second.
"It's done, Rynn," Star called. "Now what about Ebontyne?"
"Lead the way," Rynn yelled back. "We'll fly after the angel. And when Ebontyne's done," Rynn told the Fallen, "let's have a talk about Gholek's dragonstone."
The morning dawned brightly over the canyon, new light touching the early clouds with pink and gold, a startling contrast to the blue sky. Rynn sat with Delon on the edge of the cliffs above Gholek's former cave, watching Arokh, Morghus and the dragons' restored sister turn circles high in the air.
"They look happy," Delon said.
"How can you tell?"
He shrugged. "It just looks like they're playing. Like birds do." He wrapped his arms around his drawn-up knees. "What will we do now?"
It was a question Rynn hadn't had the time to ponder until now. "I don't know," she confessed. "What do you want to do?"
"I've always loved Atimar's stories of the Order of the Flame. Since it's real, and you've joined, maybe I should."
"We'd be the only ones in it," Rynn pointed out.
"No you wouldn't," Nashiva said, approaching from behind them. "You can include Star and myself."
"Is Star alright with that?" Rynn asked.
Nashiva stretched her wings, then yawned. "If he wasn't, I wouldn't have suggested it." She nodded up at where Gholek flew. "I'm sure she'll join as well, even if she never Bonds again."
"I like her," Delon said, " but she seems sad."
Rynn said, " She's been through a lot."
"Even so..." Nashiva sat down and folded her brown wings, "...she is a good dragon. Both of the old Order, and as a friend. You would be wise to invite her when you decide to rekindle the Flame."
"When I..?" Rynn began, but Delon interrupted.
"Are there any other dragons? Can I Bond?"
"There are bound to be some of us who still sleep," Nashiva said. "We could behing by waking them, once we find them."
"That's what I want to do, Rynn," Delon said. "Can we?"
And just like that, they were moving into tomorrow, not dwelling on yesterday. It felt good, Rynn thought, to get her mind out of the past. Her home was gone, but Delon was with her now. She had done what she's set out to do the night of the wartok raid.
It was time to plan their future.
Later that day, Ebontyne, Morghys, Glaive and Kang-shi disappeared. Rynn turned away from the empty campsite and sighed.
"You knew it might happen," Arokh rumbled. "They may have helped you stop Navaros, but restoring the Order is another matter."
"I expected Glaive to go, because of Kang-shi." Rynn stared off into the noon sky. "But Ebontyne and Morghus..." she trailed away, then continued bitterly, "They might have said something."
"People - and dragons - do what they want," Arokh said. He craned his neck back so he could see Delon, whom Star was teaching to draw a bow. Nashiva and Gholek were hunting further down the canyon. "You can save their souls, but it doesn't mean they'll set them to any worthy cause."
"What if they start another Dark Union?" Rynn fretted.
"If they do, the Order of the Flame will stop them."
Rynn sighed again, then nodded. "I guess we will. And on that note, I guess we should get moving."
But when she mounted Arokh a short while later and flew off with Star, Nashiva, Gholek and Delon, she couldn't help searching every horizon for a sign of the mising Bonded.
She saw nothing.