The Early Chronicles Book Six: Dragon Wing

Chapter 10

"Oh no..."  Swanwhite's heart began to pound.  They lay crouched in the trees as the angry dragon was breaking free of his bonds.  One of the chains snapped as if it had been no more than twine, and his thrashing about would surely break the rest.  Swanwhite bowed her head and squeezed her eyes shut.  "Aslan, help us..."  

"There's a weak spot at his underside," She heard Moondrift whisper to Goran, "I saw it myself.  He must have scratched a few scales loose with all that thrashing."

"A spear might do the rest..."  Goran answered.  Swanwhite's heard leapt for a moment, then plummeted once more as she stared at the angry roaring creature and the claws that guarded his underside.

"You want us to run underneath an angry dragon?"  She whispered sharply.

"It might work."  Goran gripped her shoulder.  "Do you people have a spear?"  He turned his attention to Isabel.  The girl nodded and pointed towards the cliffs behind the dragon.  Swanwhite heard an audible frustrated sigh from Goran.  They would have to somehow get around the dragon to retrieve the spear.  An idea popped into Swanwhite's mind.

"Listen to me."  She whispered.  "Moondrift and myself will run on the opposite side of the dragon to distract it.  Goran and the others will run towards the cliff to get the spear, then attack the dragon from behind.  You might be able to get a clear shot if its focused on us."

Goran's brow wrinkled and his face darkened.  "No, it's far too dangerous.  I am not allowing you to be the live bait."

Swanwhite squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.  "I'll mount Kismir.  He won't be able to catch a horse and a Centaur."  She could see by Goran's tense expression he still did not like this idea, so she added, "Would you rather me be the one with the spear?"  An amused small smile touched her lips as Goran mumbled something under his breath.

"Very well, but be careful, love."  He finally said as he gripped her hand briefly.  Her heart twisted at the fear that now shone through his eyes.  He quickly recovered, though, and soon he was relaying the plan to the others.  Swanwhite turned to Isabel. 

"Isabel, listen very carefully."  She said calmly.  "This is not your fight.  I want you and your people to run with Goran towards the cliff while we distract the dragon, and when you get there, I want you to keep going through the portal you came from and don't look back.  Do you understand?"

An expression Swanwhite couldn't quite read came across Isabel's face.  "You're telling us to escape?  While you fight the dragon here on your own?"  She seemed puzzled.

"Yes.  Run as fast as you can.  There is no need for you to put yourself in danger for us."  She answered, praying the girl would do as she said.  She did not want an innocent band of lost men killed by a dragon they never should have been in contact with.  Isabel seemed to hesitate, but then nodded and spoke to her men in another language.  

Swanwhite mounted Kismir and took her position beside Moondrift.  She looked over at Goran and the others for one brief moment, and her eyes locked with Goran's in an unspoken farewell, then she nodded to Moondrift.  The Centaur and stallion raced forward out of the trees towards the dragon, and Swanwhite's heart lurched in her throat when the monster's eyes locked on them.  The chains still kept it contained, but its wings beat the air and the ground and its piercing shriek throbbed Swanwhite's ears and head. 

 "Run swift, Kismir.  I trust you."  She whispered to her stallion.  The horse seemed to understand and matched his pace with Moondrift.  The Centaur shouted and waved at the dragon, seeming undeterred by the frightening image.  Smoke rose from the dragon's nostrils, and a red glow burned in its belly and neck.  Swanwhite knew what was coming.  They spurred forward and veered to the side to avoid the spray of flames that flew from the dragon's jaws.  Swanwhite fought to stay astride of Kismir as the heat wave surged around them.  When the flames behind them finally subsided, sweat poured off them both from the heat of the dragon's fire.  Swanwhite looked through the dragon's claws and saw Goran and the others just reaching the cliff.  "Oh Aslan, help them make it."