Everything sped up then. there was a gray flick in the center of the Empire’s lines as the dragon’s spells failed. At once, the resistance and Elven forces surged forward, all of the Venefica dumping energy into the forward group. They split the enemy line in a moment and the dragons all rushed forward, taking the stunned Iumenta off guard. The Iumenta dragons tried to block them, but it was too late. rivers of fire rained down on the Empire’s men, scorching them in an instant.
Sydin had said that the empire would retreat if they lost the advantage, that they weren’t ready to truly try their luck, and he was right. They sounded retreat. all of their dragons pulled back and their men ran, their hopes crushed with the slain dragon. Sasha heard over the mental network that Arkin was hurt, but that he was stable. As the men continued forward to secure the Sentinels, she felt Legon walking amongst the dead and wounded. She ran down to him, almost knocking him over.
He smiled at her. “Hey.”
“You’re an idiot!” she said, feeling the tears fill her eyes.
He smiled weakly and she heard a groan. She looked down. there was a man at their feet, dying. He was mumbling something about his wife and son. She didn’t know whose side he was on and it didn’t matter. they had no strength left to heal him. Legon knelt down and held the man’s head up off the stone.
“Who’s going to take care of them?” he was gasping. “M- my boy is too young and it will break her heart. What if they don’t-”
“They know that you love them,” Legon said in a soothing voice.
She felt him in the man’s mind. he was bring forward all of his happy memories, and with a gentle flick he forgot about his cares. Grateful happy tears filled the man’s eyes.
“Tha- thank y- you,” he said.
After a minute he passed. then she heard the waling and the crying from the other wounded. Legon went to as many as he could. He took their pain away. he made it so they didn’t have to die alone, so that someone was there, comforting. Finally, he was too weak to stand and she helped him across the field back to camp, the whole way biting back bile from what the day had cost.
Epilog
Propositions
“Our journeys never seem to end. That is what makes life enjoyable, or at least that’s what I tell myself when I’m camped out in a rain-soaked tent. If I thought of that more on the sunny days, maybe I wouldn’t need to journey for happiness.”
Legon’s feet were sore as he made it over the lip of the dome. he had his arm around Sasha, supporting her and also not wanting her to be too far away from him. After what he’d seen and done he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight. As they entered the dome Iselin flew overhead, just a little closer than was strictly necessary. he knew he was in for it. Ankle nearly rolled out of the way.
“She didn’t come that close, retard,” Barnin said.
“Easy for you to say. you’re what, five-three?” Ankle retorted.
“More like five-four,” Sara said, holding her hand above Barnin like she was measuring his height.
Barnin gritted his teeth. he hated short jokes. They were making their way down the staircase to the floor of the dragon dome. As they entered the large circular room they were met by the sound of Elves working to get mangled armor off the dragons.
They were almost to Iselin’s hangar when they heard a loud clanging of metal and then a crash. There were similar sounds across the floor as dragons shook off their armor into heaps onto the ground. They rounded the corner of Iselin’s hangar and entered. she was still in her dragon form, but within a few seconds she was back to the beautiful blonde with blue-green eyes. His heart gave an involuntary jump. there wasn’t a scratch on her. she walked over to them; no, it was more like a glide. When she was close there was no mistaking the fire in her eyes. she glared at him for a moment.
“I’m out of here,” Keither said, not even coming up with an excuse. Sara called after him, saying she needed something. Cowards.
Legon wished that Iselin had stayed in her dragon form. oddly, that was far less intimidating. He felt Ankle and Barnin standing stone-still with terror. neither said anything, which was saying a lot for Barnin. Legon opened his mouth to speak, but Iselin hit him hard on the arm.
“Ouch!”
“You idiot!” she roared.
“What? I saved your…” Legon started.
“Don’t you dare say you saved my life. I had him, and now you get partial credit for the kill!”
Now he got partial credit for the kill? She seriously wasn’t mad about that, was she? She hit him again.
“Ow! Ise, you were about to get eaten! I saved your life, and I’m the a-” Legon started again.
“Language,” Sasha said sharply.
“Yes, Legon. Language. Don’t befoul the air with your vulgarity or stupidity! I was faking. you have to be used to women doing that!”
Sydin was by them now. “Iselin, that’s hardly appropriate, and you were about-”
“Don’t you back him up, Sydin, or so help me-”
To his amazement Sydin was backing away with his hands up in a placating gesture.
Sasha attempted to intervene. “Iselin, come on, you saved Legon’s life there at the end, and if he wouldn’t have done what he did you wouldn’t have gotten that spectacular kill, and that was all you.”
Iselin paused for a bit. Sasha went on. “And you’re not actually mad at Legon for helping you with a kill, are you? It’s actually kind of sweet if you think about it.”
Now Iselin looked a little embarrassed. She turned to Legon. “What if you had gotten killed? Do you know what you mean to people?”
“Look Ise, I’m not saying what I did was smart, but it was better than the alternative.”
“Fine. I forgive you, but you owe me.”
He laughed, feeling better. “Fine, but not much, because you almost rolled on me.”
She rolled her eyes at him, but he knew she was fine now. Sasha’s mind was working overtime, he could feel it. she was plotting something.
“Maybe I could make it up to you over dinner?” he blurted.
Did he just do that? Sasha was smirking. Sydin and Barnin were looking away, but he thought he saw them both smile. Iselin looked dumbfounded, but not upset.
“Well, you don’t know any good places to eat in our land, so it would really be me taking you out, and I don’t want to go to Salmont right now…”
Ankle spoke. “Well, you’ll be sailing south from Manton won’t you?”
Sydin jumped in. “Yes they will, and I will be accompanying them.”
“It’s settled then. There is a great restaurant in Manton. you guys will love it, and it’s a great first date spot,” Ankle said jubilantly.
That made it final. he had asked an Elven dragon on a date. he wasn’t nervous around women, but still, he had just asked an Elven dragon on a date. Iselin smiled, and he suspected that she was hoping Ankle would be saying something like that.
“Fine, but I’m getting the most expensive thing on the menu.”
And with that she turned around and walked off.
As they left, Ankle sidled up alongside him and held out his fist. Legon tapped it with his own, but he wasn’t sure why.
“What are you doing, Ankle?” Legon asked, perplexed.
“Good work,” Ankle responded conspiratorially. “Barnin said that you were a cool guy.”
“Thanks, but what was that fist thing?”
“What? Don’t you do that back home?”
“No,” Legon said.
“You don’t? Well, it’s like a high five, you know?”
“No, I don’t, but thank you. so, what kind of restaurant is this?” Legon asked, changing the subject.
“It’s one that his parents own,” Barnin said.
“You’ll love it and so will she. just tell them I sent you, and tell them you want the table in the back corner. This is so great! Elves are going to eat at my family’s restaurant!”