Chapter Eighteen

Wings in the Storm

Kalin brought his horse to a stop at the bottom of the slope as two of his scouts came back, wending their way between the pine trees.

Kalin enjoyed the chase as much as the next bounty hunter, but this was becoming tiresome. 'Well?'

'They've definitely been here.' One of the scouts held up something. Kalin squinted and saw that it was rabbit fur. Somebody had skinned a rabbit nearby. 'We found signs of a campfire. It's a couple of days old at least.'

'They've also been in a fight.' The other scout held up the hilt of a broken sword. 'Looks like they ran into a bunch of centaurs.'

'Any dead?'

'Just centaurs and a horse. If any of them were killed, they took the bodies or disposed of them.'

'Wait,' Kalin frowned. 'You said there was a horse?'

'Yes.'

'They've been travelling with a night-beast. Nobody mentioned a horse.'

'Maybe it slipped Gwanwyn's mind.'

'Maybe. But I doubt it.' Kalin continued to frown, thinking hard. A man being tortured tended to recall things, especially if his life depended on it. 'Maybe they met someone. Did you find any prints?'

'Some, but they were muddled amongst the trees.' The scout removed his hood and scratched his head. 'Now that I think about it, they seemed pretty determined to stay out of the open.'

'They're trying to avoid us.' Kalin muttered. 'Or they're being tracked by something else. Get back into formation. We'll have them soon enough.'

Kalin felt the flail at his waist shift as he nudged his horse's flanks. Hopefully soon, it would end up smashing somebody's skull.


Davion felt the change in the song again. It had been varying over the last three days, undulating between melodies.

The tolling of funeral bells was also there, faint but constantly present.

Vylgranox was hunting them again.

Davion had kept his eyes peeled, but so far the clear blue skies had remained devoid of Eldwurms. He had even told Mirana. She had the sharpest eyes out of all of them. If he didn't sense Vylgranox closing in, she would probably see him.

Davion was starting to become accustomed to the sounds in his head. Sometimes they were even pleasant. But he had to be careful whenever he listened. He would feel his heart pound, his blood surge and the scales would begin to form and slice through his skin if he listened too intently.

He much preferred to listen to Marci's whistling.

Marci was still dutifully following Fymryn as Mirana led them, Sagan plodding along behind her. Their journey had become much quieter since Fymryn had turned up. Mirana was still angry about her involvement, but Marci seemed to have calmed down recently. She was simply watching Fymryn because Mirana had asked her to.

The last couple of nights had been relatively quiet too. Marci went off with Sagan to drive prey towards Mirana, Davion watched over Fymryn, but the conversations over meals were short and sparse.

Instead, Davion continued to let Marci teach him her "language". He was getting there, slowly. This was a language developed over several years, he was going to struggle to learn it all in a few weeks. But he was still determined to learn, partially because he was stuck with Marci and Mirana for the foreseeable future, but also simply because he enjoyed Marci's company.

'How far is it to the sage's tower?' Mirana asked.

'It took me a week, but I had a horse.' Fymryn replied. 'I told you that we could try to use the river.'

'Us and what boat?'

'Hold up,' Davion approached Sagan as they came to a halt and pulled the map from one of his saddlebags. He unfolded it and tried to find out where they were. 'We're somewhere around here,' he pointed at the spot, 'and that's the river.' He traced a route with his finger. 'It'll be a bit of a detour, but there is a village up here. They might be able to lend us a boat.'

Marci tapped his shoulder, then indicated Sagan.

'A raft then.' Davion said. 'A lot of the work around here involves lumber. Maybe we can strike a bargain.'

'We need to cross the river anyway.' Fymryn said. 'We could try to cross anywhere, but why make things harder? We'd still have a long way to walk.'

Mirana huffed and looked to Marci. 'What do you think?'

Marci simply shrugged. It's up to you.

'How did you cross the river, Fymryn?'

'There's a ford further down the river. It's a week away, maybe longer.' Fymryn shrugged. 'I approached the tower from another direction. That's the only other way to cross, unless you'd prefer to swim.'

'We'd lose supplies.' Davion stated. 'And we'd have to abandon some of our gear.' It went without saying that he wouldn't be able to swim in armour. The water would probably ruin some of their rations too.

Mirana sighed. 'We're going to have to pick up some supplies anyway. We might as well see what this village has.'

With that mostly settled, they carried on. The air was cool and refreshing under the shadows cast by the trees. It should have been a nice day for a long walk, but they were all feeling tense. The only one more agitated than Davion had to be Fymryn.

Now there were three women who were not being totally honest around him.

Davion knew that Marci and Mirana probably had good reasons for not telling him everything. That was fine, he too did not like to talk about the past.

But Fymryn was being dishonest for different reasons. She may well have been leading them into a trap, but with Marci's amulet now acting as nothing more than jewellery, they had no choice but to follow her directions, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

Davion came to a halt, frowning. Something was different.

There was a faint keening sound in the song now, a small undercurrent filled with pain and fear.

Marci slowed down and glanced over her shoulder. She raised her eyebrows.

Davion held up a hand. Marci whistled to Mirana, who also came to a halt. All three women looked to him questioningly. Marci had shifted into a combat stance, Mirana was nocking an arrow, Fymryn was tense and ready to spring.

Davion pulled the axe from his belt and crept to the right. The keening sound grew louder in his head as he moved between the rough tree trunks, stepping over protruding roots carefully. Marci followed him. Mirana took up the rear with Sagan, keeping Fymryn in front of her.

Now Davion could hear a weak, rasping cry accompanying the song in his head. Clearly a creature in pain, and he could guess what it was.

He smelt blood just before he found it. Lying on the blood-soaked pine needles was a small winged shape, its hide and scales a brilliant, pure white. One wing was stretched upon the ground, the other was ragged and torn. Deep bite marks covered its back, partially clotted.

Davion heard Marci gasp behind him.

'What is it?' Fymryn whispered.

'A wyrmling.' Davion answered softly. 'A young sky dragon.'

Her eyes wide and pitying, Marci moved a little closer. Davion put out an arm to stop her. 'Careful. It may be young and hurt, but it's still dangerous. I've seen hatchlings rip a man's arm off.'

Marci looked doubtful. The unlucky wyrmling had clearly been attacked by something large. It barely had the strength to move.

It would not survive much longer. That much was obvious.

Mirana reached past Fymryn and placed her hand on Marci's shoulder. Davion could understand their pity. Though he may have hated dragons, they were still living creatures. They felt fear and pain just like anything else.

This one had barely lived.

Davion ejected the glowing shard from his gauntlet. 'I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do to save it.'

Marci did not argue. Even if they had been able to save this dragon, it never would have survived in the wild. Sky dragons hunted from the air, and without a wing this one was as good as dead. She averted her gaze and nodded.

Davion slowly approached the wyrmling. It growled and snapped at him as he stepped closer.

Marci moved in and started to whistle quietly. The wyrmling turned its sharp, angular head towards her, hissing faintly.

Davion took the opportunity. The wyrmling's scales were weaker than those of an adult dragon, and he struck where they would be weakest on a sky dragon—the back of the head. It was a quicker, less painful way for the poor thing to die.

'I'm sorry.' Davion murmured as he withdrew the shard, dripping with the wyrmling's blood.

When he stood, he noticed the haunted look in Marci's eyes. She seemed to understand the same simple and damning truth he did: it was impossible to save everyone and everything.

Mirana gave Marci's shoulder a squeeze. 'What could have attacked it, Davion?'

Davion sighed and shrugged. 'I'm not sure. It might have been another wyrmling. It might have been an older relative. Sky dragons are territorial.'

'Should we be worried about a bigger one turning up?' Fyrmyn asked, her eyes flicking upwards.

'No. Not yet anyway.' Davion wiped his shard clean. 'If there was one hanging around, it would have attacked us by now.' He did not say that he would have heard it in his head too. Now it was obvious that the song in his head changed if there were dragons around. The keening wail had faded away and the familiar undulation was back, as well as that foreboding ringing he associated with Vylgranox.

Davion turned his gaze skywards, but the skies remained empty. If Vylgranox really was hunting again, he was not close. Perhaps the other dragons in the area were confusing him. One wyrmling implied that there were other sky dragons around, including at least one adult.

An adult sky dragon might muddle the song for Vylgranox. Unfortunately, it would also pose a serious threat to the group. If it caught sight of them, it would attack. As well as being territorial, sky dragons were opportunistic. Anything smaller than themselves was potential prey. They also had the sharpest eyesight of all dragons, and the pine trees offered less cover than Davion would have liked.

'We should untie Fymryn.'

Mirana stared at him as if he had just sprouted a second head. 'What?'

'There might be another dragon out here—a bigger one. You can't outrun a sky dragon, they're way too fast for that. If one does attack us, we'll have to fight it.'

'Davion—'

'Look,' Davion gestured at himself. He still had some of the stolen armour from Weiß Wache, but it was nothing compared to his old armour. 'If I had my old armour and weapons, I'd be able to take it on alone. But all I have is simple steel, and that won't stand up to a dragon's claws. If one finds us, we will all need to fight.'

Marci was obviously prepared to take his word for it. She reached over and started to untie the rope.

'Marci!' Mirana shook her head. 'No. I see your point, Davion, but we can't trust Fymryn. If a dragon does attack, we'll unbind her hands, but not now.'

Davion scowled. 'You won't have enough time.'

'Like it or not, Priestess, we are in this together now.' Fymryn argued. 'Look, I don't want to be here any more than you do! I just want to go home.' She ground her small teeth together, her eyes becoming tearful. 'I might never see my pod again. Do you have any idea how that feels?'

Marci looked away, hiding her eyes. Davion thought he saw a faint shimmer in the sunlight and realised that she was tearing up. She was fighting to keep her chin from quivering.

Davion stepped closer and touched her arm. She did not look up, nor did she try to push him away.

Mirana's face twisted with anger. 'How dare you?' Her words came out as a low whisper, filled with equal parts hate and remorse. 'Because of you, I may be forever disgraced in the eyes of Selemene!'

'Why should I care about a servant of the Usurper?' Fymryn snarled, her hands clenched into fists.

Mirana reached for her dagger. 'We've already been forced to cast one life aside! I'll be damned if we have to lose another because of some stupid, impulsive, bratty elf!'

'Enough!' Davion stepped between them. 'Mirana, how are you going to find the lotuses if you kill Fymryn?'

Mirana realised that she had partially drawn her dagger. Her face paled and she let the weapon slide back into its sheath. She looked down, ashamed, and released a trembling breath. 'You may not believe me, Fymryn, but I do know how you feel.' She locked gazes with Fymryn. 'Just be grateful that you have a home to return to.' She looked to Marci and jerked her head.

Marci, eyes still downcast, stepped up to Fymryn and untied her hands, then handed over the elf's knives.

Fymryn sheathed her weapons. 'Thank you. I'll get you to the Invoker's tower. I promise.'

Davion doubted that Mirana would ever truly forgive Fymryn, and he could not blame her. He also knew for certain that Mirana and Marci had joined the Dark Moon Order to hide from their pasts.

An amulet from the Helio Imperium? Mirana a Princess? Marci her handmaiden and bodyguard?

Could they be...

No.

Maybe?

Living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, Davion had never heard the news from the Imperium about the birth of a Princess. But he had travelled a great deal since becoming a Dragon Knight, and he had heard things.

Word of the coup six years ago had spread far and wide at the time. The new Emperor had gone to great lengths to proclaim himself the rightful heir taking back a stolen throne. He had sent out word stating that there had never been a Princess. That had been a lie spread by his enemies to keep the throne. Some even said that they had made a commoner pose as the Princess to sustain the ruse.

Davion knew little of the Imperium, save that it was ruled by a paranoid tyrant. But none of this meant that Mirana was the supposed Princess who had either apparently been an imposter or had died during the coup.

Even if Mirana was not really the Princess of the Helio Imperium, a man like God Emperor Shabarra would not tolerate even the weakest of threats to his unstable rule. If he thought that she was a threat, he would have his assassins hunt her unto the ends of the earth, until the end of time, and anybody at her side would die too.

Davion would not let that happen. He owed both Marci and Mirana his life. They had risked their lives for his. It was only right that he be prepared to sacrifice it to save them in return.


This was definitely an odd pod.

Fymryn watched each of them as she ate, assessing them carefully. She knew little about humans, but she was curious about these three.

It seemed like a dysfunctional pod to her.

Marci was obviously attracted to Davion, and Davion seemed to like her. The two spent a fair amount of time communicating, and even flirted now and then. But they did not seem to be physically intimate.

As for Mirana, she did not seem to be interested in Davion, and Davion was not especially interested in her.

Odd, considering that Mirana was beautiful. But humans were strange creatures. Odder still was the simple fact that Mirana did not seem to mind.

Fymryn had also noticed something weird about Davion. When he slept, he would sometimes seem to become caught in a nightmare.

When that happened, fissures would appear across his skin and something would start to push through. Then the something would withdraw, the fissures would seal without leaving a mark, and Davion would continue to sleep. All that remained were specks of blood.

Whoever was on watch when he was not would also keep an eye on the Dragon Knight. It was usually Marci. She seemed to be the least scared of whatever was afflicting Davion.

Marci herself had nightmares. Fymryn would sometimes see her thrash madly in her sleep. She never screamed or spoke, she would just flail wildly. Mirana would then move over, whistling a tune which seemed to calm Marci. Often she would sit with Marci and hold her hand, whispering softly, sometimes stroking her hair.

Mirana might not have fancied Davion, but Fymryn was starting to form the impression that she was in love with Marci.

Marci did not appear to reciprocate these feelings. Perhaps she did not know, or she simply wasn't interested. She obviously cared about Mirana, but she seemed to act more as a friend or a sister towards the Priestess instead of a lover.

Whatever was between them, the bond ran deep. It was actually deeper than what Fymryn had with her pod. Sometimes all it took was a look from Marci for Mirana to know what she was thinking. The two also seemed to trust each other implicitly. Even so, they did not seem to be lovers.

Humans were strange.

At least this confusing system meant that they were mostly quiet at night.

They had only stopped for a brief rest. A quick bite to eat, and they would be on their way again. They only slept at night, simply because wandering around in the dark was begging for trouble.

Eating was a funny affair amongst these strange humans too. Mirana ate slowly and carefully, Marci devoured everything quickly and often messily, Davion was somewhere in the middle.

Marci had long since finished her helping of dried fruit and a strip of jerky. She was now checking Sagan's harness. Davion had only just finished and was waiting for Mirana, who was taking her time. Another funny habit they had was giving Marci slightly more food to eat than they took for themselves.

Fymryn had quickly found a possible reason for this: Marci possessed an impossible strength despite her size and build. Fymryn had seen her carrying around saddlebags last night and decided to try and ingratiate herself by helping. How heavy could they be if this slim, petite human could manage them? She even made it look easy.

Fymryn had nearly torn her arms from their sockets trying to move one of the bags. Marci had trotted over and lifted it as easily as she would a bag of feathers. She hadn't exactly been smug, she just seemed to like being helpful. Fymryn still hadn't figured out why she did not speak.

The saddlebags were crammed with supplies, mostly food. There was also a small canvas tent they likely kept in case the weather turned foul. Small wonder they didn't ride Sagan unless they had to. He was carrying enough weight without having to worry about them.

Mirana finally finished her food. 'Ready?'

Marci nodded.

Fymryn looked skywards, thinking that she had heard a rumble of thunder. There were thick grey clouds looming above the mountains.

'Looks like a storm.' Davion muttered.

'Then it's just as well that we're heading to the village first.' Mirana noted. 'Can you guide Sagan, Marci?'

Marci nodded and whistled to Sagan. The lunar-tiger obediently padded over and allowed Marci to take the reins. Mirana took the lead, Davion took the rear, Marci and Sagan went between.

Davion had his axe in hand. He kept glancing at the sky, but it wasn't the storm which bothered him. He was obviously still expecting to see a dragon in the air.

Fymryn slowed her pace until she was level with him. 'So?'

'So?' Davion repeated, clueless.

'You and Marci?'

'What?'

'Are you two a pod?'

'A what now?'

Fymryn made sure that Marci could not hear them before whispering: 'Lovers?'

Davion shook his head. 'No. We're just friends.' From his tone and the way he looked at Marci in that moment, Fymryn could tell that he would not have minded being with the strange woman. More than once, Fymryn had noticed him becoming distracted by the swaying of Marci's hips.

Marci glanced over her shoulder at them, her brow furrowing slightly. She seemed perturbed by Fymryn speaking to Davion.

Davion smiled at her. She returned the smile warmly, then turned her head away.

'You seem to like her.' Fymryn observed quietly. 'She certainly seems to like you.'

Davion did not say anything. It was obvious.

'Why doesn't she talk?'

'I don't know.'

'Really?'

'I didn't want to upset her by asking.'

Handsome and considerate? If he'd been in her pod, Fymryn would have enjoyed spending time with him.

'Is she with Mirana? Is that it?'

'No, they're just friends.'

Fymryn chuckled knowingly. 'Maybe. Haven't you noticed how attentive Mirana is towards her? How she seems to really care about her?'

Davion frowned. He was recalling something, Fymryn could tell. Though she did not know it, he was remembering how distraught Mirana had been when Marci had fallen during their trek across the mountains. He also remembered how relieved she had been to see her alive again, how she had swept Marci into her arms and thanked Davion for saving her. He remembered the way she sometimes gazed adoringly at her handmaiden.

"If I had lost her... I never would have forgiven myself."

'Maybe she does love her.' Davion murmured. 'They are pretty close.'

'Hmm.' Fymryn left it at that. An odd and dysfunctional pod for certain.


Marci whistled Mirana over. Mirana slowed down until Marci and Sagan had caught up.

'What is it?'

Marci glanced over her shoulder, looped Sagan's reins over her arm, then signed at Mirana. To anybody else, the rapid hand-signals would have been incomprehensible gibberish. Davion could not have kept up at this speed.

It was easy for Mirana though. She had known Marci for so long, and she had helped her to develop those signs. They had spent hours, days, weeks together working on them.

Mirana glanced over her shoulder, then signed back. No, I don't trust her either.

Maybe we should put her in front.

She might lead us into a trap.

Marci was starting to flush, more from annoyance than embarrassment. She glanced over her shoulder again. Following her gaze, Mirana started to realise what was really bothering her.

You're jealous.

Marci's eyes widened and the blush spread. No I'm not!

Marci.

Marci squeezed her eyes shut and sighed, then signed again. A little.

You barely know him, Marci. You saw him in Barreltown with a woman. He had a lover in Haupstadt too. He's probably going to make Fymryn another notch on his belt.

Marci scowled. That's not true. He cares about me.

Mirana could not argue that point. He did care about Marci. Though she was at times reluctant to admit it, he evidently had genuine feelings for Marci. She liked him in turn.

Although Mirana wanted Marci to be happy, this was still difficult for her at times. She found herself wondering if being chosen as Princess of the Moon had dampened Marci's feelings towards her, if there had been any like that before. Marci had never expressed anything along those lines.

Mirana was devoted to Selemene. The goddess had given them safety and shelter, a new life. Being with her was an amazing experience, and Mirana enjoyed every moment.

It had not distracted her from the truth though.

Since that first meeting fourteen years ago, she had spent almost every waking moment in Marci's company. She had been Mirana's only true friend for so long.

Marci had saved her during the coup, she had given up everything to keep her alive, she had risked her life many times for her.

Mirana could still remember the patrol catching up to them. One of them had launched an arrow at her.

Marci had not hesitated. She still had the scar.

She could have left when they had reached the Temple of Selemene. Mirana had even said as much to her. When Marci had refused to leave, Mirana had felt genuine happiness for the first time since the coup. It had been the first time she had smiled in an entire year.

Mirana sighed. I think they're just talking, Marci. She smiled at her handmaiden reassuringly. Hey. If he is trying something, you can punch him. And her.

Marci smiled.

Besides, he should know that you'll make him regret it. I'll punch him for you if you like, right where it hurts.

Marci's smile widened. Mirana loved that smile. She loved the way it made Marci's eyes light up. She loved the way it made her smile too, the way it made her heart sing.

She loved her. She would always love her, no matter what.

Davion's shout startled her. 'Down!'

Marci pulled Mirana down instantly, covering her with her own body. Mirana turned her head, knowing what had spooked Davion. She could feel Marci's heart beating through her tunic.

A large shadow passed over them, its shadow chilling them as its winged form blotted out the sun. Sagan growled and tensed. Fymryn cowered against a tree. Davion was crouched, the axe in his hand. Marci continued to shield Mirana, a dagger in her hand.

'Is it him?' Mirana whispered.

Davion shook his head. 'Sky dragon.'

Mirana risked another look. Overhead, high amongst the dark clouds, soared a much larger version of the wyrmling they had encountered. Unlike Vylgranox, this dragon's wings were part of its forelimbs. It was more like a bird in build, with legs better suited to a raptor and a hooked beak at the end of its snout.

It was also circling, passing in and out of the clouds.

Davion swore quietly. 'He's using the storm for cover.'

Marci released Mirana and knelt, looking up too. She signed at Davion, pointing up at the dragon and then at her eye.

'Yes.' Davion confirmed grimly. 'He's seen us.'

'What do we do?' Fymryn quivered.

Davion stood up and gestured for them to do the same. 'We keep moving and stay close to the trees. He's more likely to attack us if we enter an open space.'

'Can't it just knock the trees down?' Mirana asked.

'Don't give it ideas!' Fymryn exclaimed.

'Not without hurting himself.' Davion ignored Fymryn's outburst. 'I think he's a young one. His scales won't be as strong as those of an older dragon. If he tries to swoop through the trees, he might end up impaled on one.' Davion continued to watch the dragon as he spoke. 'Just stay close to the trees and keep your ears open. He'll screech just before he attacks.'

Marci grimaced and signed: That's comforting.

Despite everything, both Mirana and Davion managed to chuckle at her sarcasm. Fymryn was just confused.


Vylgranox was angry.

Not only had he been wounded by the idiotic Dragon Knights, he had also lost the abomination.

He knew roughly where he was, but the forests below were populated by a number of different dragons. The Thunder was confused and jumbled thanks to them.

Vylgranox had detected the sky dragon hunting something. It might have found the abomination. But it could have just as easily been hunting something else.

Still, it would not hurt to keep an eye on it.

Vylgranox remained high above, ignoring the storm crashing around him. Perhaps the sky dragon would do his work for him.


'Davion?'

'Yes, I know.' Davion replied. 'He's still up there. He's not going to leave us alone unless we leave his territory.'

'How far?'

'A couple of miles at least.'

'Wonderful.' Mirana nocked an arrow and lifted her bow.

Marci had also taken the hunting spear from Sagan's saddle. She wasn't sure if it would hurt the dragon or just annoy it, but it was reassuring.

Could they fight it? Davion had said that the dragon was likely young, and therefore not as tough. But it had taken several ballista bolts and Mirana's starstorm spell to drive Vylgranox off, and they had no siege engines on hand now.

Maybe if she threw the spear hard enough...

By now, the storm clouds had covered the sun. Marci could smell the coming rainfall in the air, and they could all hear the rumbling of the thunder.

Wasn't the dragon worried about being struck by lightning? Marci whistled to Davion and tried to ask him this.

'He might withdraw if it gets worse, but until then he'll stay above it.'

Another rumble of thunder preceded the rain. Marci felt the first drops strike the top of her head shortly before the deluge began in earnest. Their clothes quickly became sodden and clung to their frames. Sagan grumbled as he plodded along.

'Will this help?' Fymryn asked, raising her voice to be heard.

'No. Sky dragons have better eyesight than any other dragon.'

'I was hoping for good news.'

'We might get hit by lightning instead.'

'How is that good news?'

'It might be quicker.'

Fymryn groaned and adjusted her soggy tunic. 'Marci? Is he always this funny?'

Marci shrugged. She was still keeping her eyes on the sky. She blinked when a fork of lightning flashed across the clouds, followed by a crash of noise.

This was insane. They were being hunted by an Eldwurm, a sky dragon and were in the middle of a fearsome lightning storm. All they needed now was an ionic dragon to show up.

The trees would be struck by the lightning first simply because they were the tallest things around. The fire would not help them though. Unlike most animals, Sagan was not easily spooked by fire, but Marci was worried that the flames might spread.

Fire was not something she could beat up. Neither was lightning. Thinking about it, she would rather take her chances with the dragon.

She heard it first: a long, piercing screech.

The dragon was attacking!

Marci whistled sharply as she pulled Mirana down again. Davion and Fymryn dropped to the ground.

The dragon screeched again and Marci heard it swoop overhead, much closer than it had been before. Pine needles and fragments of wood fell around them, accompanying the rain.

Davion swore. 'He's testing! The next time he comes around, he'll come in closer!'

Marci grimaced as she stood, her tunic now muddy as well as wet. Mirana groaned as she sat up, her front covered in mud. She sighed and started to wipe the grime off her face. Marci offered an apologetic shrug and helped her to stand.

Fymryn was whispering something under her breath, either a series of curses or a prayer.

Davion swallowed. 'I'll draw him away.'

Marci stared at him and shook her head.

What was it with him and courting death? Then again, she was no better. How often had she risked her life for others?

At least they had something in common.

'He's more likely to go after me,' Davion argued, 'because of the song.'

'The what?' Fymryn demanded.

'I can try to distract him.' Davion continued. 'The rest of you should try to find somewhere to hide.'

'Davion, there is nowhere to hide.' Mirana retorted. 'You said it yourself: if he attacks, all four of us will have to work together. Maybe we would be better off luring him down and finishing this.'

Davion looked up once again, trying to find the dragon amongst the grim clouds. He actually smiled. 'Not many people would willingly pick a fight with a dragon.' He lifted his axe. 'Fymryn, are you able to fight?'

Fymryn eased her knives from their sheaths. 'Um... yes.' She swallowed. 'But... I've never fought a dragon before.'

Neither had Marci. There was a first time for everything. She whistled Davion's name and asked him one question.

What do you need us to do?