Chapter 3
New plan.
I need you.
I shifted my weight to reverse direction and found the men, minus the one still nursing his near-closed throat, surrounding me, weapons at the ready and cold hunger for revenge on their faces.
Jennik’s lips twisted in an unpleasant smile. “Impressive, for a female. But not good enough. Hand over the girl.”
Fasha’s skinny arms clung tight around my neck. She was trembling.
I slowly exhaled and began to straighten, just a little. I kept my head low as if in defeat, but examined each man in turn, my eyes searching for a weakness, the one weak link I could break through. They were all furious at having been shown up by a woman, that was clear enough. It seemed they weren’t about to let it happen a second time.
“I’m sorry,” I said to Fasha, then whispered too quietly for the men to hear. “Hold on and don’t let go.”
Her grip tightened.
I let out a slow breath, my eyes on Jennik but my focus on the man to his left, the olive-skinned man whose sword jerked erratically as he faced me.
I wrapped my arm around Fasha and bolted straight for him.
Shouts of anger echoed around me. A blade stabbed for my side, but I ducked low to dodge it and avoid a strike from the other side at the same time. I stumbled as I straightened, but didn’t slow for a moment.
Jennik roared and swung. I spun past the blade. Something caught my leg and set it on fire. I’d missed another strike. My leg gave out, dropping me toward the ground. Fasha screamed in my ear.
I clenched my teeth and turned the drop into a roll, coming back up on unsteady feet on the other side, outside the circle of attackers. A hand grabbed at me, but I dodged and ran with everything in me, clenching my teeth against the tearing fire in my leg. Had to get away. Had to reach the clearing.
Axen!
Air rushed around me in a powerful gust. She was ready. I just had to get to the clearing.
My legs stumbled, and the dizziness returned. Fasha whimpered into my neck.
Had to reach it.
I saw a shape drop in front of me and grabbed hold without conscious thought. Axen flicked her tail upward. I flew through the air toward her solid body. Twisted myself to shield the girl from the blow. Hit Axen’s scaled form hard enough to knock the air out of my body.
Fasha’s screams and the echoing screams from my legs deafened my senses.
We were sliding. Falling. I struggled for a grip on one of the scale ridges sailing past me. I’d done this before, more times than I could count. But never with a burden. Never with an injured leg and grazed arm and numb fingers that wouldn’t find a grip. I could see the ground beneath us getting closer. Fasha screamed again.
What’s wrong with you? Axen twisted partially sideways, trying to get underneath me. My fingers closed around a ridge. Our slide jerked to a stop that threatened to pull my arm clear of its socket. I struggled for air.
What is wrong with you? she repeated.
I looked down and saw movement. The approaching reinforcements, no longer held back by Axen. Break up the fight.
She was all too delighted to comply. She swooped in a circle, doubling back along the road, seeing the fighters below with her finely-tuned dragon senses. She ducked her head beneath the tree canopy and let out a blast of steam, then delivered more of the same to the approaching men. From the heat I felt at her side, she wasn’t holding much back. It wasn’t enough to kill them, but they would be fools to stay put and risk another dose.
My arm shook as I fought to keep my grip. I should climb higher and get a better position on Axen’s back, but I couldn’t coax my muscles into movement. Darkness and light fought an impressive battle at the corners of my vision.
You didn’t hurt anyone from Emsha, did you?
They’re all fighting so close. I avoided them, but some might be a little red.
I exhaled. Are they done?
She tilted her wings and retraced her path, ducking her head below the canopy once more. A couple of high branches tore at my legs, nearly unseating my grip.
She snuffed without any steam as she lifted her head, her thoughts filled with glee. They are now. The last ones saw me, wet themselves, and ran.
Go. I was too exhausted to say anything further. Back to the village. My whole body was shaking now. It took all my focus to keep my grip on Axen’s side.
Axen landed without warning, settling on the road as gently as she could. It was still more jarring than I was ready for, and I lost my grip, tumbling free toward the ground below. Axen’s wing snapped out underneath me, creating a sort of slide and gentler descent. I wrapped myself around Fasha as tightly as I could manage, and we tumbled down the wing, rolling a few times across the ground before coming to a stop.
Fasha disentangled herself from me in a flurry of bony elbows and knees, then raced toward the inn, screaming for her mother. I tried to sit up and failed. Axen dropped flat to the ground, snaking her neck around to rest her head at my side, tucking me into a protective semi-circle. What’s wrong with you? Do you need energy again?
Energy would blow my system at this point. I took a couple of slow breaths, then tried again, managing to get myself into a seated position this time. I couldn’t feel my leg. One look made it clear how much blood I’d lost. I need to bandage this and stop the bleeding. Then we need to move on. I tried to tug the tear in my legging wider to use the material as a bandage, but couldn’t get the fabric to budge. The men will be returning soon. They’ll need tending to. I yanked again with the same results. No one will come out into the road to help them while you’re here.
She snuffed. Want to bet?
Cool hands covered mine and gently moved them aside. “Let me see,” Magra said, kneeling at my side. She clucked her tongue, pressing her hands over the wound. Warmth flowed from her fingers. “Do you not recall me saying something about resting today?”
I met her eyes and saw a teasing sparkle there. “My most… sincere apologies, raisa,” I managed to say, my voice about as cooperative as the rest of my body.
The pained numbing in my leg eased into a more soothing sense of numbness. My vision and mind sharpened with renewed energy.
“There,” Magra said, leaning back. “I’ve stopped the bleeding, and you should be strong enough to stand, at least. Let’s get you inside.” She helped me to my feet. Dizziness threatened to return me to the ground, but she slid under my arm and supported me. At least I wasn’t as nauseated as before.
She paused and dipped her head respectfully toward Axen. “Thank you, raisa-dragon.”
Axen blinked. What’s that supposed to mean?
She respects you.
Axen snuffed.
Magra and I turned to find Fasha standing behind us, watching with wide eyes. The girl’s gaze flicked to my leg. “Are you hurt bad?”
I did my best to smile, though it may have looked more like a grimace. “Nothing more than Magra can handle. I’m just glad you weren’t harmed.”
She carefully bowed with practiced movements. “Thank you, raisa-ro.” She hesitated, then scurried forward and squeezed me on my uninjured side.
Before I could react, she let go and turned to Axen, repeating her bow. “Thank you, raisa-dragon.” She didn’t hesitate this time before dashing forward and flinging her arms wide against the side of Axen’s cheek.
Axen stared at me blankly. What is it doing?
It’s a hug. A sign of affection.
Oh. Cute tiny meat thing. She batted her eye, drawing a giggle from Fasha.
I heard male voices approaching. You better go. Hunt for your dinner. I’ll be all right here.
Where do I hunt?
Childish laughter trickled through my mind, the old joke that had become tradition between us. Where does a dragon the size of a castle hunt? Wherever she wants.
But I couldn’t give that answer this time. Stay to the west. Away from Krenish. If they’re smart, they’ll acc
ept their loss and not press for further humiliation, but we don’t want to goad them.
She snorted and launched into the air without response. She was irritated, part at being sent away, part at my not participating in our usual banter, part at the need to cater to the ego of a bunch of bullies. I couldn’t entirely blame her for that last one.
“Papan!” Fasha raced to meet the approaching men. Thone scooped her up into his arms, and Tarvia ran to meet them, the three of them clinging to each other.
I turned away and shuffled a step toward Magra’s home, prompting the healer to help me forward. It was a private moment of celebration for the family and the village, not something I was part of. Besides, Magra’s healing energy was wearing off. I needed to lie down.
Rik jogged to my side. “Were you hurt?” He saw my leg and sucked in a breath. “Here. Let me help.” He reached like he was going to pick me up.
I instinctively jerked away from his arms, accidentally running into Magra and almost knocking both of us over.
Rik caught my arm and steadied me. “I’m sorry,” he blurted, looking embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
The world was tilting again. I drew in a slow breath. “I can walk.”
He bobbed his head. “Right. I’m sorry.”
“But you can do me a favor and take my place,” Magra said, stepping away from my side and gently nudging my weight against him. “I’m not as young and strong as I once was.”
Rik obediently stepped to my injured side and supported me.
Why did I suddenly feel like Magra had betrayed me? I kept my eyes forward as she briskly walked ahead to hold the door for us.
When Rik spoke again, it was quieter. “I saw you there, in the fight. I tried to get through to you, but…”
“There were too many,” I finished for him. “I’d intended to get to where you and the others were, but I had to change plans. It all worked in the end.”
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt too badly. I hate the thought of what might have happened. What did happen, for that matter, you getting hurt.” He cleared his throat. “That is, for a lady to be in danger like that, it’s not right. You might not have always been in the traditional culture, but here, we prize women as the greatest treasures the Maker gives us.”
“I know,” I interrupted. “I understand.”
We were almost to Magra’s. Just a little bit further. The world shifted again in that disconcerting way, and I realized I was putting more weight on Rik. I tried to balance myself again.
“You fight well,” he said after a moment. “For a…” He broke off, as if realizing that finishing his though might not generate the ideal response.
“For a woman?” I finished it for him, unable to help myself.
He actually chuckled. “I was going to say that, out of habit. But then I realized, you fight well. Really. I know some men in this village who wouldn’t have made it out of there with as few injuries as you did.”
My cheeks felt warm. “I… I see. Thank you.”
To my relief, we crossed the doorway into Magra’s house. Rik helped me to the sickbed. He might have been planning to help me lie down, but I twisted away from him and plopped onto the mattress before he had a chance. “Thank you for your help.”
He gave me a small bow. “It’s you we should be thanking. We owe you a debt of gratitude for the way you rescued our leader’s daughter, even at great risk to yourself.”
Magra shooed him toward the door. “You can gush later. She needs rest.” She sat down at my side. “Now, you lie down, and listen to your healer this time.”
“Yes, raisa,” I mumbled, already sinking into the soft bed. I drifted off to sleep with her cool hands pressed against my leg, her healing warmth hard at work to knit the wound and heal the flesh.