17. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
E meris landed back home, and Baron leapt down. I could see his mind racing as he offered me his hand to help me down.
“We must prepare, ready our warriors, set the traps. We will fight at daybreak.” I took his hand, watching the worry grow in his eyes.
We had never been to war. We lived here amongst the dragons and with our customs peacefully for as long as I could remember.
Even as a child, the stories told around the fire were tales of peace and filled with togetherness.
Now? It seemed Osparia was falling into the hands of the Fire Fae of Ember.
I turned to Emeris, running my hand down her snout.
“I’ll call for you when we’re ready.” She nudged me before lifting her head, blowing a gentle puff of smoke that made a smile hint at my lips.
Her smokey ash and milkweed rose scent engulfed me, reminding me of our home.
The intoxicating smell was sweet and heavy with warmth.
It was almost like I could feel the ashes of ancient times surrounding me.
Soothing my nerves. It was like Emeris held the embodiment of our homelands in the pits of her chest. I gave her one last pat as she took off into the skies.
We rushed back to camp. Sunset was approaching quickly, and we didn’t want to lose any more sunlight than we already had.
Through the last few years of hearing the rumors of Ember starting the war, we had been preparing for this day.
We knew being the closest islands to them, we’d be one of the first places they’d try to conquer as their own.
We’d never had to use deadly fae traps or be trained so fiercely as warriors until the rumors of war spread, making us push ourselves harder than before.
Baron had always been one to be prepared for anything, Ember included.
As a leader, it was a part of our job to be ready.
Baron called for the warning bell to be rung, and slowly, all of our people gathered around: wives, children, elders, fathers, warriors, all fae, but none of us had the gift of bending the elements like others did.
The islands had become a small haven for nonbenders, although I was sure plenty lived around Osparia. This was a home for many of them.
Seeing them gather around made my heart clench against my ribs. How were we going to keep everyone safe? The thought of knowing that some faces I saw would no longer be here tomorrow almost made the tears burning behind my eyes slip down my cheeks.
I took a deep breath to gather my composure.
The last thing I wanted to do was cause panic, but Ember took down the Sky Elves at Heavensreach.
They destroyed a powerful race of elves within a matter of a few days.
No warning. No compassion for life. Their fire rained down relentlessly.
It scorched the skies in the distance red for days after they left, almost like the flames that took the blood of the innocent stained the clouds.
Knowing these heartless ones were coming to our shores made me want to melt away.
The pressure of having so many lives resting on my shoulders made bile rise in my throat.
My hands clenched and released at my sides.
Baron stepped forward amongst the crowd and grabbed my hand, knowing the panic was rising within me.
It shot through our bond like lightning.
My body was rigid, and my heartbeat thumped as hard as Emeris’s wings.
“My people! Please, gather!” As Baron spoke, his voice was loud and calm. Murmurs along the worn paths through our village slowly grew more and more silent until the only noise was the branches of the trees swaying in the wind.
“Ember is approaching our shores.” The gasps of fear and inaudible whispers started up again in a panic as Baron continued to speak.
“We must remain calm, keep our heads clear.” He paused, letting his words sink in.
“They have initiated the war against all of Osparia, and we must prepare ourselves for what’s coming.
Gather our men and any women who want to join the fight.
Step up.” Multiple familiar faces stepped forward to the front.
“We have something on our side that Ember won’t be expecting.
” Everyone looked around a moment; confusion curled their brows while Baron glanced at me to tell them about Emeris.
I looked at the men and women I had known my whole life, not knowing how to explain to them that the creatures they had taught us to fear weren’t threats.
I felt the words caught somewhere between my throat and my mouth but was unable to say them.
Instead, I showed them. I looked up, making the whistle that called Emeris to me.
For a few heartbeats, there was nothing but silence as everyone looked around with their eyes filled with wonder until they heard her.
The deep rumble of a roar as the air from her wings moved through the treetops, and she landed right behind Baron and me.
The men and women drew their swords and axes.
Fear lined their faces, but Baron held up his muscled arm, stopping them as they stared at the scene in front of them: me, petting Emeris’s chest as she brought her neck down to hug me.
Everyone looked in awe at how close I was to her massive frame as her yellow eyes gleamed in their direction, looking over all of them.
Her deep breath kicked up all of the dirt at our feet.
My gaze darted around the crowd of my people, roaming over their faces before looking back up to Emeris.
Her posture was unyielding with nerves. For a moment, the only noise was our heavy breathing until I caught a glint of metal in my side view, but it was already too late.
One warrior, known as Ravi, rushed forward, axe drawn for Emeris.
The dragon pulled back, lowered her snout to her neck while she puffed out her chest, preparing for a battle.
My pulse thrummed; my mouth went dry. I jerked to the left, where Ravi was coming from, blocking his battle axe from Emeris’s side.
I brought my foot up to his chest and knocked him to the ground.
“She is not your enemy!” I heaved. Anger flooded my senses at how quick Ravi was to think I would do anything to harm my people by bringing Emeris here.
He kicked out his boot, hitting my ankles, knocking me to my back.
He got back to his feet while Emeris lunged forward for him until a small voice coming low from the ground stopped her.
“Daddy!” the child screamed, squeezing from the safety of her mother’s arms. Her mother’s eyes were wide with terror, and she tried to chase after her baby trying to get to Ravi. The only thing standing between this father and his daughter was Emeris. Ravi raised his blade before I could scream.
Baron ripped the axe from his hand, tossing it to the loose soil. He placed his two hands on Ravis’s shoulders, restraining him.
“No!” the mother cried from the crowd that held her back as Ravi jerked and pushed forward, but Baron gripped him firmly.
The young girl stood there trying her best to be brave—unafraid, as Emeris lowered her head down to hers.
The girl stood still, rooted to the ground with fear.
Her chest heaved so hard, her whole body quaked until Emeris nudged her, gently showing affection.
Emeris’s head was bigger than the child’s body.
The girl held up her arms, her tiny hands barely able to cover the tip of her snout.
Emeris released a huff of ashes and smoke from her nostrils, making the young girl giggle.
The smokey air tousled her long blonde hair back over her shoulders, and it was as if the entire world went silent.
My heart froze and my breath stalled as I looked from Ravi to his wife, Elise, to the crowd of our people.
Their postures stiffened, eyes wide. Some had splayed fingers over their chests and mouths open in amazement at what they were witnessing.
I rose to my feet, walking to where the little girl stood with a small smile spread over her face as Emeris nudged and played with her.
Every breath Emeris took whipped at her blonde hair. Ravi and Elise stepped forward.
“She is not our enemy,” I whispered, my voice breathy.
I held out my hand to Ravi and his wife.
Both of them lifted their arms with me, slowly placing their hands on Emeris’s forehead as their young daughter played with the end of her snout.
I looked at them and then at the crowd. My eye contact was unwavering.
My stance was open, my head held high—confidence laced every word.
“The dragons are not our enemies. They love this land just as much as we do and will protect it just as we are. We don’t have the power of the elements like most fae, but we all have the heart of the dragons on our side.
” My voice bellowed out through the crowd and Emeris lifted her head, releasing a loud purr like a calling to the sky.
The ground shook and the winds grew until the trees whipped and the dust swirled around us.
Looking up, all I could see were wings and scaled skin of all shades of color.
Dragons. An entire thunder of them. I’d seen glimpses of other dragons while flying with Emeris, but never like this.
Never this many.
I’d traveled through our islands and I’d never found their resting place or seen so many at once.
One by one, they all landed, circling my people as if they listened to Emeris’s call to them.
I took them all in, and Baron stood next to me.
He intertwined his fingers with mine as Ravi grabbed his daughter and wife and they stepped back into the crowd.
Eyes of all shades looked at me, blues, greens, yellows, and I swore one even had violet eyes beaming at me.
They all bowed their heads to the ground, facing Baron, Emeris, and me.
I squeezed Baron’s hand as we both looked up at Emeris.
She gave us a strong, decisive nod before she thrust out her chest, standing tall amongst the bowed dragons.
It took me a moment to understand, but soon I realized.
She chose us. The dragons had chosen us. They wanted to fight for their home just as much as we did.
I held my chin high as I spoke. “Listen to your chieftess. We misjudged the dragons. These creatures have a heart of passion and fire, just like us. Let us help each other protect our lands and our home!”
I unsheathed my sword. Baron followed my lead, and we lifted them above both of our heads, waiting for our people’s response. Our men, women, and warriors did the same with their axes, daggers, and pitchforks, gradually chanting something to themselves until they all grew louder and louder.
“Dragonheart, Dragonheart, Dragonheart!” The moment brought a lump of emotion to my throat.
Pride beamed from my chest at seeing my people unified with the beasts they’d once hunted.
Emeris lifted her head toward the skies, letting out a bellowed roar.
She quaked the very ground I stood on before bringing her head back down, rubbing the side of her head against Baron and me.
“Ember will be here at daybreak, but we’ll be waiting.” The cheers of our people roared along with the dragons of Osparia, filling my heart with something I hadn’t felt in a while—hope.