Chapter 56 #2
If they didn’t have the enemy archers on the castle wall that were picking their fighters off one by one, or that blasted dragon, they might be evenly matched.
Their options were to find a way to skirt the dragon and enter the castle in overwhelming numbers or neutralize the dragon.
She watched the dragon lazily eating soldiers—scooping up a demon with twisted horns, tossing him up, and gobbling him down like a piece of steak.
She shuddered. I can’t slay a dragon.
She looked closely at the metal collar and the heavy chain.
Chained like a dog to its master.
On a whim, she cast out her awareness, brushing past hundreds of consciousnesses of darkness and pain until she found the mind of the dragon.
She brushed her consciousness against the dragon in greeting. Its consciousness felt vast and alien—highly organized and intelligent. There was no doubt about it; this was a being of superior intellect and power. Her mortal mind must feel messy and primitive by comparison, like an irksome fly.
Hello, dragon, she breathed into the mental connection.
Hello, enemy of my Master’s house. Where are you so I may start with you for dinner? A mortal, are you? Hmm. I haven’t seen one of you in an age. Where are you? I wonder how you taste.
Elizabeth projected images of the iron collar and chain she had watched stretch taut as the dragon had flown above the castle.
What is this chain for? she asked.
My Master dotes on me but fears me. Fears what I will do if set loose. The dragon cackled. A high, cold laugh filled Elizabeth’s mind with so much power that it hurt. He knows if I am freed, I would turn the world to blood and ash for spite.
Elizabeth took a deep breath to steel herself for what she was about to do. She thought of Charlotte’s fearless confidence. She thought of Charlotte speaking and expressing her views clearly in a way that brooked no argument. She let her body language absorb the memories like a sponge.
She lifted her chin, projecting cocky superiority. Your master should know better. You should never chain a dragon. Elizabeth put on a cold, amused tone.
I should think not, came the haughty reply. The dragon was a prideful creature, and female if her gut was to be believed. Yet, here we are.
The dragon clacked its talons on the ground and surveyed the fields, looking for her. The dragon’s neck elongated, her orange eyes narrowing as she searched the fields.
It really is a shame, Elizabeth thought, examining her nails.
I would consider freeing you, but I don’t know what you will do to our ranks if I do.
She felt joy radiate from the beast surveying the terror and destruction it had caused.
What manner of devil was she even speaking to?
Attempting to reason with? Elizabeth reined in the shudder that rolled down her spine.
A mortal cannot free me. Only a demon with considerable power can.
Elizabeth scoffed into their mental connection. I could do it if I wanted to.
Come, show me, little mortal. Free me, and I will decide if I should spare your precious life.
The dragon huffed angrily, smoke curling out from its nostrils. She stamped her clawed feet impatiently and tilted her head from side to side, craning her long neck, as if looking for her.
Elizabeth kept her gaze averted. Among the sea of bodies and impressive demon princes, she was nothing. She was a lone human, partially obstructed from view by Asmodeus’s large wings.
The dragon grew frustrated and roared, consuming the demons around it in flame. The handler struck it with a glinting whip—punishment for firing on their own forces.
The dragon’s mental presence twisted into a pit of wrath and rage.
It roared and snarled at the handler. The handler calmly motioned to the battlefield, gesturing for the chained dragon to get on with it.
If I free you from your chains … What would you give me in return? Tell me why you would even be worth my time, Elizabeth breathed through their mental connection, looking down her nose at the creature who had slayed a third of their armies without batting an eye.
I am a dragon. I should be free to fly and taste the wind on my breath.
We do not care for your master. We are here for one demon. If we get him, we will leave this land in peace. Then, Elizabeth laid out the maddest idea she had ever had. I will free you if you help us rescue him.
The dragon considered it for a moment. Smoke curled from its nostrils, and the dragon’s orange, slit-pupilled eyes seemed to pierce her from across the battlefield.
Done.
“Asmodeus!” she called.
“Elizabeth, we are trying to figure out a way forward, but there is none.” Asmodeus scratched his head. “We may have to retreat.”
She quickly told him her plan.
He grimaced. “He is going to kill me if he finds out I did that.”
“Well, if it doesn’t work, he’s never getting out, Asmodeus dear.”
“True.” Asmodeus twitched his nose.
He turned to discuss her plan with Lucifer and the other demon princes.
Soon, their left flank pushed forward as a distraction. Abbadon shouted orders, sending a handful of her war demons to the front of the line, and then all hell broke loose. War cries erupted from the demons as they jumped into the fray, sowing discord and chaos.
Asmodeus grabbed Elizabeth and flew over the right side of their army. Arrows pierced Asmodeus’s wings. He grunted but didn’t drop her as his beating wings became increasingly laboured. An arrow hit her leg, making her wards ripple. Her thigh didn’t bleed, but it hurt.
Asmodeus swayed and deposited her near the dragon and faced off with the hulking dragon handler, wielding the barbed whip. Asmodeus unsheathed his sword and roared.
She turned her back on their fighting, trusting him to protect her.
Another arrow hit her side, a sharp ache through the wards and armoured vest. Her wards would not hold long like this. Anxiety filled her each time an arrow hit her, and she wondered if it might be the last one the wards would stop before the spells were exhausted.
There was no room for fear as she took precious seconds to curtsey.
Hello, dragon.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the barbed tail of the dragon handler’s whip snap through the air. But she dared not break eye contact with the dragon to see if Asmodeus was alright.
The dragon’s eyes remained riveted on her. She felt interest emanate from the dragon at being greeted like royalty.
Reining in her fear, she proceeded with a false sense of bravado.
She climbed up the dragon’s scaly leg and scrambled up to the joint between her shoulders.
There was a space between the large spires that ran up her tail and along her neck where she could sit.
The dragon flared her wings to hide Elizabeth so she could work.
Curiosity emanated from the dragon in waves. Elizabeth looked at the chains and drew from the pool of magic inside her.
Nothing is happening, the dragon snapped, breaking her concentration.
Give me a minute, please. It takes time.
Once again, Elizabeth reached into her pool of green fire, wrapping a tendril around the dragon’s thick collar.
“Tdth,” she said.
Nothing happened—the collar was too thick, or she was not strong enough. She scanned the chain, finding a joined link with beading on the iron. Yelling the spell, she imagined rust spreading through the metal and the iron link falling apart.
If this doesn’t work, I die.
The iron link rusted, weakened, then started to warp. The entire chain link became jagged, orange rust spreading through it like poison. The rust cracked, and the iron link began to disintegrate.
Her energy flagged, but the dragon was nearly free.
GO! she yelled into the dragon’s mind.
The dragon lifted her wings and took off. The dragon was caught on the chain by the collar and pulled up short.
“Fly!” she shouted.
The dragon strained again, then the chain snapped at the weakened link. The dragon bugled, roaring her pleasure as they climbed into the clouds.
Several arrows meant for the dragon glanced off Elizabeth’s legs. The arrows thudded against her before tumbling to the ground, leaving more bruises. Her wards flickered, nearly at their limit.
Asmodeus must have seen her take off with the dragon and took to the skies, flying back towards their side of the field, nursing an injured arm.
The dragon flapped her wings, flying high above the burning plains. They flew until the fighters shrank to the size of ants. Joy emanated from the dragon as she spun through the air. She let out a bugle of contentment.
Elizabeth felt a wave of nausea as they rolled in the air and tried not to throw up. She held on to the dragon’s neck spires as they flipped and circled. Her thigh muscles burned from tightly gripping the dragon’s scaled hide.
Elizabeth leaned forward as the dragon shot towards the army. Her arms burned from the effort of holding herself in such a way that she didn’t impale herself on the spikes.
Nothing she hadn’t ridden and survived before.
Just a very, very spirited horse.
After a few moments of flying in a straight line without turning or spinning in the air, Elizabeth was able to relax a fraction and appreciate flying high above the ground on dragonback. She grinned broadly.
Who would ever think to try and train a dragon like a common house cat? They should fear the horror and power you can unleash.
Approval rumbled through the dragon’s chest before she breathed a torrent of flame. As agonized cries sounded below, Elizabeth thought grimly that at least it wasn’t Caspian’s legion this time.
But the dragon breathed fire again—on Caspian’s fighters.
Your bargain, Elizabeth reminded firmly, as bloodlust and bottomless rage began to take over the dragon’s mind.
What bargain? the dragon said darkly, turning her massive orange eye towards Elizabeth.