A Dragon's Retribution [Book 3 in Rising Dragons]

Chapter 24: Thirak VIII

There wasn't time to organise anything with our allies. Rya had said the wolves wouldn't be able to cope with the heat, not to mention that we couldn't make it to Artifice and back in time. Same went for the other dragons who'd escaped the arena with us – they were all too far out of reach to contact. Aldrys had said he would do what he could whilst Fáelán and he flew top speed to the banished riders on our side and back, but didn't sound very promising. Our best hope had laid with the elves and their magic, which would help combat the magic of Mark and Alvah's forces. The elves were still on their island though, and we were left with nothing but what we had on paw.

We were obviously unprepared and it seemed all our alliances had been for nothing. But this was our best chance to deal with Mark and Alvah in one go without showing our cards to the other. Not to mention, it was better than attacking on their territory where they would have the advantage. This battle was taking place in the desert.

I couldn't help but think that it was fitting we planned to fight in the desert, for this was the place where they had first fallen, and so it made sense that this would be the place that we would survive in and win in. Karma, perhaps. After all, what comes around goes around, and this brought everything to a full circle. It was here we were going to face Mark and Alvah.

Mark. Who'd been my rider, once. Who I had loved...

And maybe that was alright. Maybe it was okay that there would always be some part of me that forever was in love with the boy my rider had once been. I... I had come to understand it, to comprehend it, to accept that Mark was no longer who he once had been. The boy I had bonded with was no longer, he had grown and changed. The time I had had with my rider had passed us by, and I had lost who my rider really was a long time ago.

How do you plan to fight? Azrael asked quietly as I shifted my weight, resting golden paws in the sand. Blinking slowly, I lifted my head to glance at the black wyvern by my side.

Azrael was right, but the knowledge I could turn human had sunken deep into my mind and rested in my very bones. Yes, I was a dragon and would always be a dragon no matter my shape or form, and fighting would always be appeasing to my instincts and they were a dragon's instincts. However, fighting was more than simply depending on instincts and my own strength, it was also thinking and weighing advantages against disadvantages. When it came to fighting, I would appear whatever would give me the greatest chance of winning.

I plan to fight the way that will make them fall, I replied, and maybe that wasn't what Azrael had been expecting in answer, but it was my answer. The wyvern huffed and nodded, dropping his head and closing his eyes, mind quickly dropping off to sleep.

Fight carefully, Rya advised, and I glanced over at her. She opened one eye, meeting my gaze evenly. You've rushed into battles many times without caring about yourselves, ignoring wounds and your own health. You avoided having your wounds checked. Do not do the same now.

Humming, I rubbed my head against the blue dragon's neck. I understand the importance of this, I murmured, and I won't do anything risky... unless I must do it.

It was easy to feel the words resting bittersweet on my chest, and I couldn't help but smile

***

They're coming, Aldrys reported softly.

Remember, we'll have no mental contact, for now, Rya warned the others. There was a muffled confirmation from someone just as Rya disrupted the mental links between everyone. She left the connection between Azrael and us, since it was considerably less draining on her power and also meant I could speak to the others if the need arose.