Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6), Christopher Mitchell [finding audrey TXT] 📗

There was a noise to the right, and Frostback thrust her head into the undergrowth. There was a scream, then the dragon pulled her head back, a soldier crushed between her jaws. She dropped the mangled corpse to the ground, then picked up the two women, one in each forelimb.

‘Halt, lizard,’ cried a voice.

They turned. A cluster of soldiers were standing to their right, forming a tight line. Behind them, a dark-skinned woman with red hair was staring at the dragon, her hand raised.

‘Do you know who I am, lizard?’ she said. ‘Do you remember me from Yoneath? You should have died that day, but I will finish the job now.’

Frostback didn’t move, her eyes widening. ‘Ascendant.’

‘That’s right,’ said the woman. ‘I wanted you to see the face of the one who kills you, beast. Die.’

She pointed at Frostback. The dragon flinched, but nothing happened. The Ascendant’s mouth opened, and a flicker of fear passed over her features.

Kelsey let out a laugh from where she was clasped behind the claws of Frostback’s right forelimb.

‘Hi, Arete,’ she said. ‘The last time we met, you had me chained up and at your mercy. This time, I have a dragon with me.’

‘Kelsey Holdfast?’ said the Ascendant

‘That’s right,’ she said. She glanced up at the dragon. ‘Frostback, burn them.’

The dragon hesitated for a second, then unleashed a torrent of flames at the line of soldiers. Arete’s hands moved, and she vanished as the stream of fire hit them. The soldiers screamed, then fell silent amid the inferno. A dozen trees went up in flames around where they had been standing, and Aila felt the heat from the fires on her face.

Frostback closed her jaws, and leaned her head forwards as the flames fell away.

‘Did you get her?’ said Kelsey.

‘I do not see her remains,’ said the dragon.

Aila tried to wriggle free of the dragon’s grasp. ‘She had a Quadrant; she’s gone, but she might come back. We have to leave.’

Frostback ignored her, and continued to sniff the remnants of the incinerated soldiers. She raised her head after a while, then turned to Kelsey.

‘I owe you an apology, Holdfast witch.’

‘It’s fine,’ said Kelsey.

‘It is not fine. I berated you for lying to me when you were telling the truth.’ She closed her eyes. ‘I have shamed myself; can you forgive me?’

‘Of course; don’t worry about it.’

‘But you saved my life, twice. You gave me salve when I was dying, and then you… I can scarcely believe I am saying the words, but you stopped the powers of an Ascendant. I was wrong, so wrong.’

The dragon began to weep. Aila and Kelsey glanced at each other, and said nothing.

‘Are you a god?’ said Frostback. ‘How is someone so small so powerful?’

‘It’s just as Aila said – I’m a Holdfast, and we have some funny powers.’

‘Funny? No, majestic. You are a queen, Kelsey Holdfast, and I have wronged you. How can I repay you for my unkind words?’

‘Eh, you could always make me your rider, you know, if you wanted to. Imagine; if I was on your back, then no god would ever be able to hurt us; we’d be invincible together.’

The dragon lowered her head. ‘I am not worthy.’

‘Come on, Frostback; of course you are. Most people don’t believe that I have any powers when they first meet me. I can do other things too, you know, useful things, but I don’t hold any grudge that you didn’t believe it.’

‘Are you being sincere? You think I am worthy, even after what I said?’

‘Eh,’ said Aila; ‘perhaps we should continue this discussion at the lair? The Ascendant might return at any minute with a thousand Banner soldiers. Kelsey can repel god powers, but a crossbow bolt in the guts will still kill her.’

‘You are right, demigod,’ said the dragon; ‘once again, your advice is sound. My apologies.’

She beat her wings, and they rose into the air. Aila groaned as they ascended, her chest and torso constricted by the grip of the dragon’s forelimb around her. Frostback kept low, and soared over the trees, then rose up the slope of the hill to the lair. She landed, and deposited the two women onto the ledge.

‘Aila,’ said the dragon; ‘I also owe you an apology. You told me that Kelsey was telling the truth, and I belittled you. You have consistently offered me good advice, and I have scorned you. My heart is riddled with shame, and my thoughts are bewildered with confusion. How could I have been so wrong?’

Aila nodded. She still felt sick about cutting the soldier’s throat, but didn’t want to admit it. Stormfire wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but she felt a weight of guilt pressing against her chest.

‘You are still angry with me, I see,’ said the dragon. ‘That is understandable. I have earned your ire.’

‘I’m not angry with you,’ said Aila.

‘All my life,’ the dragon said, ‘I have been taught that insects are worthless, stupid, selfish liars. We killed any that ventured too close to the Catacombs, and mocked Blackrose for her weakness in befriending them. I swear to you both that I will try to change.’

Kelsey placed a palm on the dragon’s face. ‘You don’t need to explain anything to us. We’re on your side.’

‘I don’t deserve you, Kelsey. If I did, I would ask you never to leave me.’

‘Take a breath. I can protect you from the powers of the gods, but who is going to protect me from swords and crossbows?’

The dragon’s eyes lit with fury. ‘I will. I would die for you, just as you risked yourself for me. Let me protect you, Kelsey; let me watch over you; let me prove that I can be worthy.’

‘You don’t have to prove anything to me.’

Aila frowned as she watched the Holdfast woman and the dragon gaze into each other’s eyes. Kelsey was smitten; it was obvious, and the dragon now clearly felt the same. She turned and glanced out over the forest. The Ascendant