Prologue – King Locryn’s Celebration Day #5
An indigo dragon shot past, leading a pale green one. Anrai! Teron! Teron led Anrai over the valley between the mountains, meeting and passing a dragon who could be Teron’s twin. Good. Let him take Anrai far from here.
One of Urien’s sycophants flapped his wings in Daire’s direction.
What had Urien promised his fighters in exchange for their loyalty?
The dragon charged Ywain. Ywain, lighter and faster, flitted away, opening the attacker to Daire.
Daire dove, raking his talons along the dragon’s exposed flank.
He dared not spout fire and give away his location.
Besides, beta fire only stunned other betas or temporarily blinded them.
His greatest advantage lay in remaining unseen, a shadowy blot against the dark of night, with the sun now fully set.
The injured dragon bellowed and whipped around, only to find no one there. Ywain dropped like a stone from above, latching onto the dragon’s head, dragging him off balance.
The dragon didn’t notice its proximity to the cliff until Ywain whipped away, hurling his opponent face-first toward jagged stone. The dragon’s screech cut off. He fell. Daire didn’t stick around to watch him die, darting back into the fray.
Halvard swooped in beside another beta, turned, and dug his talons into the other dragon’s belly. Both roared, the enemy dragon spouting flame.
Fight, fight, fight. Both Daire and his dragon agreed. How dare these bastards attack High Reaches!
Isla darted past with two larger dragons in her wake. Daire took one, Ywain the other. They’d drilled together enough times to fight as a unit. Faster dragons lured prey for others in their company.
Isla turned, joining Ywain in disemboweling his dragon. Daire slammed into his, knocking his foe off course. The dragon corrected before hitting the ledge, turning to charge Daire. Daire ducked away, raking his claws over the dragon’s belly in passing.
A pale blue dragon approached, screaming out a challenge.
Fire exploded from between its powerful jaws.
Wait! That wasn’t a beta! That was an…alpha!
What was an alpha doing in the fight? Dragon law prohibited them because of unfair advantages.
An answering scream echoed behind Daire.
He whirled. Ywain flapped his wings, losing purchase on the air, his entire body engulfed in flames.
No! Daire abandoned his fight, launching himself toward Ywain.
He never saw the other dragon, only glimpsed extended claws.
Agony exploded across his face. No time!
He dove underneath the enemy, his wings spread, barely catching Ywain’s falling body.
Excruciating pain seared through his wings as fire raced over his scales from Ywain’s.
Must. Not. Fail! The fall took forever, each heartbeat an agony.
They plunged into the lake, sinking into the murky depths. The shock of frigid water seared through Daire’s nerve endings. Ywain’s weight slid from his back.
Where was Ywain? Oh, Goddess! Where was he?
Daire dove again and again, finally locating a sinking mass. Agony consumed his back again as he dove underneath Ywain. Burned and in pain, Daire fought his way upward, gulping in air once he broke the surface.
Was Ywain breathing?
Daire swam with Ywain balanced on his back, the shore seeming so very far away. Hold on Ywain! Everything will be all right!
After far too long, he reached the shallows and eased Ywain onto the sand. Where were the healers? He looked down at his dearest friend, dragon sight allowing him to see in the dark.
His heart slammed against his ribs at the sight of bone protruding from his friend’s back. Ywain! Daire shifted into human form, running his hands over Ywain’s now unrecognizable snout, flesh burned away to teeth in a death snarl.
“Ywain!” Tears and blood poured down Daire’s face.
He put his head on Ywain’s chest. Please let there be a heartbeat. Nothing. He pushed Ywain’s shoulder. “C’mon, Ywain! Wake up!”
No heartbeat, no rise and fall of his side with heavy breathing. Ywain lay still upon the beach. Too late! Daire had been too late. Was possibly too late the moment he’d come to Ywain’s aid.
Rage tore through his sorrow. Those traitorous bastards did this! Alphas! How dare this one flame a beta! Flame Ywain!
He drew back his head, joining his dragon in bellowing out his anguish. The bellow softened to a keening, mourning the dead.
Daire’s face throbbed, one eye too blurry to see through, but he couldn’t stop.
Wounded were off-limits. No one should bother him here.
But he must get up. He must avenge his father, Ywain, and any others who’d lost their lives this night.
Then he’d save Elouan and ensure he took Father’s place as king.
Goddess, let Teron have gotten Anrai to safety.
The pale blue alpha dove from above, talons extended.
Daire tried to shift, but sorrow and injuries broke his concentration. An enormous, unfamiliar and nearly white beta appeared out of the darkness, ramming into the attacker, sending the alpha spinning off course. Who was this dragon? Did Daire know him?
The attacker spun, spurting flame.
A fireball exploded in front of Daire.