Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 25

Empty streets were cast in shadows as the sun started to rise. I was yet to see a human wander through the streets despite having circled the city for several minutes. Even so, I knew better than to escape. The silhouettes of dragons swept across the sky, some even watching from the top of several nearby mountains.

All of them were loyal to the city. If I were to fly beyond the city's walls, they would stop me within seconds.

Tucking my wings against my flank, I veered down towards the city - towards the courtyard where Lord Carlos had commanded me to meet him at dawn. Any other time, I might have remained soaring above the city, making it hard for him to reach me. But now... he was my escape route. If I could just get him to trust me...

I'd be free.

Free to find  rest of my wing and warn them of this city. In the back of my mind, I could imagine Rutilus flinching, his golden eyes wide at such a thought. Soriak would surely snarl in fury, her talons digging into the ground as she defiantly insisted that we burn Azura down. Even Kronx would surely be shocked - his calm demeanour temporarily forgotten.

My heart tightened in my chest. Where were they now? Hopefully somewhere safe, hidden away from the humans. Surely they'd be able to find such a place!

A hint of smoke wafted from my jaws as I landed lightly on the stone pavement. Humans were starting to move around the city now, scurrying through its still fairly quiet streets. In not even an hour, they'd all be busy and loud - and the serene silence naught but a distant dream.

Several other dragons landed in the square, murmuring a warm greeting towards each other. A few glanced inquisitively at me, neither hostile nor welcoming.

My gaze drifted back towards the streets, and within moments, I glimpsed Lord Carlos, his black cloak billowing in the faint morning breeze. Only moments later, he faltered mid-step, his eyes widening as he spotted me.

I tilted my head slightly, carefully observing his raised eyebrows. Why was he surprised to see me? After all, he had demanded that I'd meet him here at dawn.

Perhaps it was merely that he'd thought I would be more resistant. Yes, perhaps that was it. I could not think of any other reason as to why he was shocked. As he said himself, he knew I could understand him.

Lord Carlos smirked, signalling towards several other humans whom were carrying a saddle, and chains. "Gear her up ready for flight," he commanded, barely glancing at them as he spoke.

Only minutes later, he was perched on my back, chains in his hand. "Fly," he demanded simply, pressing his heels against my flank.

Obediently, I soared into the air straight away, allowing him to tug the chains to steer me in certain directions.

But unlike yesterday, he continued to dig his heels into my flank, tugging the chains repeatedly.

"Faster," he grunted, whilst directing me to climb higher and higher into the air. Wings beating rapidly, I obeyed, though I couldn't help but wonder why he wanted me to fly faster at such a steep angle. Surely he didn't trust me enough to catch him should he fall!

But the lord didn't fall. His heels continued to dig into my flank - not only to urge me to fly faster, but to help him remain on my back. He continued to tightly grip the chains, his hands going red.  And then, of course, there was the way he'd ankles had been strapped into the saddle, attaching him to the saddle.

Leaning forwards in the saddle, the lord tugged my chains again. "Down," he gasped, repeating the command when I did not immediately respond.

Snapping my wings against my flank, I tilted myself forwards. Suddenly, wind roared past me, drowning out the sound of the dangling chains - as well as Lord Carlos's hoarse shout. Air rushed through my folded wings, almost as though urging them to open as we rapidly plummeted towards the ground.

I only snapped my wings open once I was just under a few of Azarin's many towers, allowing my momentum to carry me across the city.

"Again," Lord Carlos shouted, and from the corner of my eye, I glimpsed the wild grin stretched across his face.

"Wait!" A dragon shouted as I started to rise back up in to the sky. Hesitating, I whipped my head around, looking for the dragon. Within seconds, I spotted Keda hastily soaring towards us.

When I did not move, the lord repeated the commanded, his voice laced with irritation. A tug on the chains followed quickly after.

Suddenly confused, I hesitated. Surely he could hear the maroon dragoness telling us to wait! So why was he urging me to continue? Slowly, I twisted my head back towards Keda, watching as she climbed towards us. Like me, there was a human on her back - although I doubted he was controlling where she flew.

My chains slackened slightly as Lord Carlos recognised her, or perhaps the human on her back. His face was tinged red as he tentatively scratched the nape of his neck.

"Sir," the human on Keda's back panted. "The queen requests your presence at Saint George's Square."

"I'll be right there," the lord squared his shoulders, not bothering to say another word to the human before tugging my chains - urging me forwards. This time, though, he directed me down towards Azarin.

Tucking my wings against my flank, I swept down towards the city's sweets, swerving between the towers, before landing in a piazza. The piazza was fairly large - big enough for several dragons to stand inside. In the centre, water trickled from the jaws of a marble dragon statue, splashing quietly into the perfectly circular pool beneath it.

Two humans stood beside the fountain - the queen with her hand placed gently over it's rim. But it was the human beside her who snagged my attention, with his far-too-familiar frosty blue eyes.

My breath caught in my throat. What was Lord Raffael doing here?

"She's coming along nicely," Queen Azist nodded towards me before fixing Lord Carlos under her stare. "Better than expected, considering her... history."

"Thank you, your majesty," Lord Carlos bowed slightly, sneaking a glance towards his brother.

But Lord Raffael's attention was solely on me. Guilt and sorrow flashed across his face as he pursed his lips slightly.

The queen frowned slightly. "Come with me - both of you. We have much to speak about." Without another word, she whirled away from the statue, not even bothering to wait for Lord Carlos to slide down from my back.

Lord Raffael hesitantly followed her, his gaze lingering on me - as though he wanted to say something.

Then he too, sauntered away. Leaving me alone with Lord Carlos.

*~*

1157 words

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