Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Ten: Iah-Ra in Action

"Slaves that are too old to work may be disposed of by the owner. The owner must report the death of the Slave to the Association of Slave Owners within forty-eight hours of the death."

Mauro's surroundings disappeared from his notice as he strived to carry himself and Garnet to the dungeon and away from the monsters which reaped fiery chaos on Aimonbay Estate. One of the servants waved wildly at him from the safe-haven.

"Come on, you two!" he called. "Get to the dungeon! Quickly now!"

Mauro made haste towards the servant and passed the grand hall just as it erupted into balls of flame. The heat from the burst singed all three of the desperate victims. Garnet screamed as both of her ankles caught fire, then screamed again as the servant vehemently put them out. Then the servant pushed Mauro forward, away from the massive inferno and towards the door to the dungeon.

That was the moment when four scaled legs as thick as tree trunks plunged through the ceiling of the grand hall. Talons of mercury breached the leathery limbs and clawed the gravel of the once marble floor. When the deep purple head drooped down to eye its prey, the beast ceased to hesitate in extending its long jowl to expose its slithering tongue and fangs like scimitars. Garnet's eyes grew wide as she dared to peer down the creature's throat where she watched the flames dance, just waiting to soar out of its mouth and wrap her in a blanket of death. Unable to bear the sight anymore, she shut her eyes tight and turned her head away.

Then, with Garnet and Mauro only feet away, the inevitable surge of fire ignited behind them and they heard the servant shriek in anguish. They dared not look back as they could feel the heat swiftly growing closer, larger, until the sparks licked their backs. Mauro shouted in both ache and desperation to make it to the dungeon before he was engulfed and consumed as the servant had been. The servants already inside the sanctuary gawked at the wall of fire which rapidly expanded towards them and they started to pull the door closed on the two desperate slaves...

***

Polaris and Drake took a separate road from the one Nadia was on. In the day, they would probably be able to see each other if they were looking, but as it was night, Polaris couldn't see the coach and Nadia wouldn't have been able to see Polaris even if she knew his exact location. Fortunately, fireflies inhabited this forest and they swarmed it tonight, which aided to light the way for Polaris and Drake, as well as the driver of Count Rallian's coach.

Soon, Polaris heard the sound of a vast number of hooves as they thrashed the dirt road behind him. Saíd had attacked Aimonbay and now a dozen of them were after the rest of the family. He looked over his shoulder and managed to spot the dim lights of many torches as they protruded through the dark trees. They moved fast and Polaris quickly deduced the approximate point where they were to catch up to the coach.

"Do you suppose they have a dragon with them?" Drake asked.

"Doubtful considering the denseness of this forest," Polaris replied. He peered over his shoulder again. "Ready your sword, Drake."

In the coach, the passengers could hear the war cries of the enemy soldiers and terror showed on all their faces. Nadia and Skye peeked out their windows to see the soldiers draw nearer and nearer.

"Go faster, you fool!" Skye shouted at the driver.

"We can't go any faster in a coach, my Lady," Nadia explained to her.

"Oh, shut up, Slave!" Skye snapped. "What do you know?"

Nadia missed the respect she had received in the Obsidian Palace. She decided that talking to this girl was a waste of breath and secretly concluded that when they got attacked, she'd make no attempt to save her.