The Last Dragon

Chapter 19 - I Promised

Ilia squeezed her eyelids shut. The wind buffeted her, even tucked down behind Loni like she was. Her fingers gripped the woven handle so firmly they were white. She could barely hear the flapping wings of the griffin flying beside her.

"You're okay." Eri's warm hand rubbed her back. "You won't fall. There are enchantments. Besides, the timing was amazing. Miraculous, even. It must be fate. This is much better than my master's plan."

"I can do with fewer miracles like this." The wind sucked the air from her lungs. Ilia turned her head and curled up behind the Champion, where at least she could breathe. I hope she can fly this thing better than that piece of wood.

The Green Lady arranged it. Your mother. You're not without allies. The dragons are her children, too, remember.

Ilia glanced down at her bracelet. She was not letting go of that handle, no matter what Eri said. The carpet rippled under her, jostling her. How did it even support them all? The carpet sped across the sky, zipping towards the mountains in the southeast, hovering just over the trees a few dozen feet off the ground.

"There." Knight-Master Brannon pointed ahead, slightly to their left. "Three people coming from the trees."

"And one griffin," Eri muttered.

"Ilia, will your friend help us?"

She glanced back at the big knight behind Eri. "Maybe? I can't ask without being in contact, and we're kind of busy." She peered over Loni's shoulder. "Land at the edge of the forest away from them, and I can ask."

"Done." Loni grinned.

The carpet veered, tipping sharply. Ilia whimpered and pressed herself down against the rough wool. Leaves brushed against the bottom of the carpet. They sped to the edge of the forest and skidded down onto the grass. Ilia toppled forward as the Champion tucked and rolled, tossed from the carpet.

Ilia rolled onto her back and took a slow breath. No more carpets. Especially not a carpet from a merchant who just happens to be passing through the woods when they were. Nope, from here on, Ilia was walking.

The griffin rested his beak against her side. She smiled up at him and stroked his sleek head. Images flooded into her mind of him and his friend.

"Will you help?" she whispered.

He cooed and blinked at her. Images filled her mind of her healing him.

"Yes, I'll help her, too." She pressed herself up, sitting slowly. A few new bruises, but nothing she couldn't heal. "He'll help, if we can free and heal his friend."

"Will his friend attack us?" Loni staggered to her feet before dropping to one knee.

"He'll do what he can to keep her focused on him. He thinks he can do it." Ilia rubbed his beak.

"He thinks?" The big knight pushed himself up and stood. He stared at the griffin, holding its eye contact. "If he can keep his friend from attacking, the odds are much better. Eri, you and Loni take on the mages. Ilia and I will deal with the black knight. Remember, the sooner you're done, the sooner you can help us."

"Yes, Master." Eri nodded deeply.

"They have the eggs. We have to protect them. They're the last dragons. I promised." Ilia held her hand to her heart.

Loni set a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "We'll do everything we can. Is everyone ready?"

Ilia nodded. Her stomach flopped and rolled. Hopefully, she'd be reoriented by the time they confronted the knight. Eri grinned and nodded. The griffin clicked his beak and flapped his wings.