A/N: This chapter took me a little while. I got a bit stuck in here. Remember, if you have any suggestions or comments, please don't hesitate. I really miss the days when I would post a chapter of The Obsidian Arrow and I'd get like 10-20 comments with each update. It was really inspiring, and really helped me strive to write more faster. If you want me to pick up the speed on this story, I firmly believe the motivation would help. Please leave some comments tell me what you think. What you like and dislike. As a side note. I now have 3 reviews for The Chronicles of Starlyn on Amazon, if you haven't reviewed it, please do so! And I now have 33 reviews for The Crimson Claymore on Amazon. That means I only need 17 more before I post the video of me dancing to "Dancing Queen" by ABBA on YouTube. Reading my work is great, but comments, and reviews really help me a ton, please consider doing so. I'm going to try to knock this novel out so I can begin promoting the series and hopefully make a step toward writing full time. If you'd like to join my Street Team, where you can get review copies of final versions of my books, a beta reader, or anything else to help support me, let me know. I've created a private Facebook group for my Street Team. And as always, thank you for reading!
Chapter 17
Arria stood at the hill, watching as the red sun rose over the horizon. She grinned. A letter returned from Guerettos claiming they would surrender, but they would not be slaves. Arria took it to mean they didn't truly surrender. She planned to march into the city, hoping Elainya's poison had worked to weaken the men.
"Is everything ready?" Arria asked.
"Yes, milady," Adnevia said.
Instead of the scarce clothing and armor Adnevia normally wore, she wore full chainmail and platemail, as well as a helm, covering her entire body, making it hard to define her as a woman. Arria's mouth cracked open with another smile. The women liked to live comfortable, but they weren't foolish when it came to an important battle.
"Good." Arria straightened her chin. "Let's march."
Adnevia nodded. She turned to the Ikchani warriors. "Everybody stand formation, and march behind me."
Adnevia wasted no time before marching forward. The Ikchani women trailed behind her, chanting the poem of the Ikchani.
Arria trailed behind atop her dragon, petting the magnificent beast on its neck.
As the neared the village, bells began to ring through the once silent air. Clanging metal echoed inside the gates of the village as the villagers prepared for a battle they could not win. Adnevia stood at the front of a triangle formation at the gate of the city. Arria was directly behind her on her dragon. A man appeared at the top of the gate, looking down.
"What do you say to our terms?" the man called.
"You will be in chains in surrender, or you we will force you into them," Arria responded.
"Slavery then?" he asked.
Arria's cheeks lifted. "Yes."
"We do not accept."
Arria's jaw clenched. "So be it."
She patted her dragon on its neck. The beast reared forward and opened its jaw. A massive red flame escaped its mouth toward the man on the gate. His eyes bulged before he ducked out of harm's way.
Arria smiled as she whispered, "Drop the gate."
The dragon lunged forward to head-butt the gate. Arria held onto the reigns of her dragon tight, trying not to fall as the force vibrated from the creature's head all the way to its tail. When its head snapped back it looked at the splintered gate with a cocked head before lowering it once more to thrust forward. The second strike was all it took to shatter the gate.
YOU ARE READING
The Violet Flamberge
FantasíaBook 3 of the "Claymore of Calthoria" series. Starlyn is sick, Searon is searching for Anaela, and Arria just doesn't give a flying flamingo because she has a dragon.
