The Dragon Games

Chaos

Edmond strode forward, and all the Balthasars automatically parted to clear a path – all but one. The captain refused to give ground, sending a nervous glance at the vast audience. "Would it be wise to hurt another pledge in front of–"

Edmond flicked his hand, sending his captain flying. Then he lunged forward – only for a dragon to land between us, and he was so startled, he fell flat on his ass. He had a split second to process the wyvern towering over him, pulling back its lips in what I could only assume was a smirk – then Toh opened its jaws and roared, revealing rows of sharp, glistening teeth.

For a split second, it was like the whole world stood still. Then all hell broke loose. The dragons reacted first, having a visceral response to the wyvern. A couple took off into the sky, their wings clipping a group of rookies and throwing them into the stands. 

The rest rose on their hind legs and screeched – the awful, high pitched screech of a freighted animal. The stands' cheers turned into screams, but they couldn't run to the exit. Too many bodies blocked their path, trapping them in an amphitheater full of wild, out of control dragons.

Even the rookies and grads didn't know what to do. Some tried to drop to their knees for code red, only to be trampled by a mob of runners. Most had not seen the wyvern and had no idea what caused the chaos. "We're under attack!" a rookie screamed. "The Yurkins have declared war!" Which only ramped the mass panic from level ten to a hundred.

"Black!"

I whipped around, just as Cassian broke free from the crowd, shoving rookies and grads aside in his rush to get to me. He clutched my shoulders, his eyes bright, his face flushed. "You bonded with the wyvern?" Then, unable to contain himself, he roared at the top of his lungs, "You bonded with the bloody – "

"Have you noticed the wyvern's size?" I interrupted. "I bonded with a hatchling."

Cassian nodded, grinning ear to ear. "I figured! The wyvern has a long life ahead of it. It will be in your bloodline for centuries to come."

"You think I'll keep the wyvern that long?" I hissed. "That someone won't try to take it away within the hour?"

Cassian stared at me, his mouth bobbing up and down. He had no time to consider the implications of the wyvern. Hell, just a few minutes ago, he probably thought I was dead. "Sure, they'd all want your dragon, but no one would dare challenge a ..." 

His face dropped as he remembered that I did not have a wyvern. I had a hatchling wyvern, at a fraction of its true power. Cassian steeled his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "Let's go."

"Where?"

"Anywhere else. I wouldn't be surprised if a group of over ambitious pledges tried to beat the wyvern's true name out of you."

I glanced back at Toh, just as Toh took off, back into the sky.

"Raven!" Cassian urged. Together, we ran to the tunnel. I gripped the back of Cassian's jacket as we wove through the sea of panicking bodies. Outside the amphitheater, a row of carriages parked against the wall. Few were left, as most drivers had already fled – or were in the process of fleeing – at the sound of screaming crowds and roaring dragons. I started heading toward them, only for Cassian to cut in front of my path. "Here's enough room to take off."

"What?"

"I didn't bring my dragon," Cassian explained. "You'll have to let me join you on the wyvern."

"You can't. I mean – I can't." I stumbled over my words, only certain of one fact – I can't fly. At least, not yet. Not so soon. Just the thought of it made me dizzy.

"Of course you can, you flew on the way over here." Cassian grabbed my arm to pull me forward, and the second he touched me, Toh landed in front of us. It eyed Cassian dispassionatley, its eyes half shut, but I stepped infront of him, just to be safe.

"I can't fly," I told Cassian.

He stared at me, a hundred questions written all over his face. His hand shot out, and for a second, I thought he was attacking me with the world's weakest divine, only to realize he was waving at a fleeing driver.

"I need a ride," Cassian said.

The driver was shaking his head no before Cassian finished speaking. "Please sir, I beg you! I have a wife and three youngs ones, all who –"

Cassian handed the driver his coin purse — not a couple of coins. The whole purse.

"-- who will all very much appreciate this coin," the driver finished, his fear vanishing in an instant.

"Get me to Duke Tudor's Manor within the hour, and I will get you another bag thrice as big," Cassian said.

"Yes, sir," the driver said, pivoting for his horse.

"Tudor's Manor?" I said.

"They'll be looking for you at Skydescent. Tudor's Manor is the safest place we can go on such short notice."

As the carriage took off, I pulled back the curtains to confirm Toh's presence in the sky, then sank into the plush cushions. Suddenly, a month's worth of exhaustion hit me all at once, and I nearly fell asleep right then and there.

Meanwhile, Cassian rapidly thread his hands through his hair, five seconds away from an aneurysm. "The whole kingdom would kill for a wyvern."

I blinked wearily. "Kill me, you mean?"

"How did this happen?" Cassian exploded. "Did you solve the clue?"

"I–"

But Cassian was on a roll, too excited to even realize I had spoken. "Do you know how many times I have heard accounts of your death? First, the Balthasars say Edmond beheaded you, then the Windsors say Grace sacrificed you in some freak blood ritual, then Elio is in my ear, worried that the wyvern killed you – the same wyvern you bonded with, I take it. Up is down, right is wrong, and I don't know what to think."

I sat up, my eyes bright. "Elio is alive?"

"Not just alive. He bonded with a fairly decent dragon. I mean, no wyvern, to e sure, but no slouch, either – " Cassian stopped short, squinting at me. "What's that look on your face? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing," I said, my voice distant. 

I don't regret caving to Grace's orders and using my divine to save Elio.... That said, letting him die would have made my life a lot easier. Leon had interrogated the others raiders before their executions. He would know that every story I told about Sammy was deceitful – if not an outright lie – and would set his nephew straight the second my name came up. 

And even if I found some way to reach Elio first and spin the story in my favor, what would it matter? Elio made it clear that his first priority is revenge. As long as Sammy cares for me, I am more valuable dead than alive.

I rubbed my temple, feeling a headache come on. "But while we're on the subject, I need to switch chambers before Elio, like, smothers me in my sleep."

"Elio Bates?" Cassian repeated. "I spoke to him moments ago, and he had nothing but good things to say about you. In fact, the prospect of your death seemed to sicken him."

"Elio thinks Sammy killed his brother, and he's been plotting his revenge since the moment I entered Skydescent," I replied. "I should have died at least three times now, but luckily Elio is pretty subpar at murder."

Cassian stared at me for a long beat. He opened and shut his mouth a few times. Then he shook his head. "A new roommate it is."