“Uhm, can--can Raziel defeat the Behemoth?” she asked.
“Yeah, but Raziel can’t leave the lair without putting Valerius in danger. The lair is their bond. I’m guessing if Raziel leaves it then the protection it gives Valerius is attenuated at best or maybe… maybe even gone until Raziel returns,” Caden explained.
“But if Valerius is somewhere safe--like tucked up in High Reach--what does that matter?” Landry asked. “Raziel goes, smashes the Behemoth, saves Iolaire and then we all go home!”
Caden turned to look at the Black Dragon. Landry’s plan sounded good. Okay, maybe it didn’t sound good, but it did sound possible. And really wasn’t that what they needed right now? But maybe there was something he didn’t know.
“Well? Could we do that?” Caden asked the Black Dragon. "Can you tell Valerius to get someplace safe and then--”
He is already in danger. Vozyth is mere feet from him, Raziel growled.
“Vozyth?! Who--”
Vozyth the Ruby Dragon. Mistress of Plasma, Raziel explained. Valerius has only Mephous to protect him and that is not enough.
“Wait… Valerius and Illarion are together? Well, that’s good--”
Mephous is not strong enough! Raziel tossed its head, but instead of taking that as a statement of fact, Caden wondered if it was still Raziel holding onto old hurts regarding the Green Dragon.
“But, Raziel, if we don’t save Iolaire and it is taken over by the Behemoth then…” Caden couldn’t say the words himself.
Then I will fall, Raziel admitted and its massive head drooped.
Caden dug his fingernails into his palms. The last thing he wanted to do was to leave Valerius defenseless when facing another dragon. But Mephous was there. Mephous was the second strongest under Raziel. Mephous could defeat this other dragon and keep Valerius safe, couldn’t it?
“Raziel, I would rather die than put Valerius in danger,” Caden said quietly but with every ounce of his love for the Black Dragon King in his voice. “But the only way to save him is to do just that. So I want you to ask him if you can leave the lair.”
The Black Dragon’s eyes widened in terror. He will be alone! He will be--
“I know. But imagine what will happen if the Behemoth does to you and him what it has done to me and Iolaire,” Caden pressed. “Then there will be no one strong enough to stop the Behemoth and we’ll be parted from you and Iolaire forever.”
The Black Dragon’s head rose and it tipped its mouth skyward before letting out a roar of rage and pain. The mountain shook. Caden grabbed a hold of Landry to stop her from being vibrated right off the ledge. Her brothers hit the deck. Jasper was suction-cupped to the mountain’s side.
Raziel?! Valerius’ voice, soft, but definitely his, came out of the lair. Raziel?! What’s wrong? Speak to me!
“Valerius?! Valerius, can you hear me?!” Caden cried, shocked to hear the Black Dragon King’s voice, but Raziel’s massive cry must have reached Valerius in the real world.
Caden did not think. He ran into the opening for the lair, underneath Raziel’s belly and into the cavern that he already knew so well. Inside the huge, rocky space, there was a mirror, much like the one in Valerius’ throne room, except this one was floating and made up of hexagonal sections of “mirror” that shifted as if caught in invisible breezes.
In the mirror, he could see Valerius and Illarion in a dimly lit tunnel. Beyond them was a huge pool where something moved. Neither of the two Dragon Shifters was looking at him even as Caden jumped up and down. The “mirror” was not there for Valerius. Instead, his gaze went distant as he looked “inside” himself or maybe through the veil to this place in the Spirit Realm. He smiled suddenly and Caden knew Valerius saw him.
Caden?! Caden???? Oh, thank the Gods! Valerius shouted with utter joy. But joy turned to confusion. How are you there in the lair with Raziel? And… is that Landry? Wait… is that Jasper and Landry’s brothers with you?
The others had run after him, whether because they had heard Valerius’ voice too--unlikely--or because they didn’t want to be anywhere near Raziel without him--more likely--he didn’t know. But they all stared around the lair and then back towards the mirror. Raziel, too, had come back inside. The ground shook with every step it took.
“Long story,” Caden told him. “But simply put. The Behemoth has taken Iolaire and has it in the crater where the dragons fought it before. The only way to save Iolaire is for Raziel to leave the lair and defeat the Behemoth--”
Then what are you waiting for? Go! Valerius frowned and spoke to his Spirit, Raziel, go! Defeat that beast! But when Raziel did not move, he asked, Why do you hesitate?
Because if I leave, you can die! Raziel cried and flapped its enormous wings, causing everyone to dive to the ground and cover their heads. You will not have my strength, none of our powers, and you can be killed!
Valerius frowned. I see, but that does not matter. He shook himself. We must save Iolaire and Caden! At all costs! Even if I am--
NO! I cannot be without you! Do not make me be without you! Raziel cried with more wing flaps that caused huge slabs of stone to crumble off the walls and strike the floor.
Caden curled over Landry to keep her safe from the stones. Some small ones hit his back and shoulders. He would have had them seek cover underneath Raziel, but the Black Dragon seemed to have forgotten them and was quite capable of stomping them to death beneath its clawed feet.
You will not be. As soon as you save Iolaire and Caden, you will return to me, Valerius insisted. Calm yourself!
