“But, Jah’ruud—”
Kaelun is cut off as the guards launch their attack. Darting in, they snap at us with sharp teeth and swipe with long pointed weapons.
Aurelion snarls. “This is madness, brother. She did not come here to start a war but to stop one.”
Tharael laughs wildly. “You think I am scared of Vathira? They are dried up. Powerless. It was only a matter of time before they fell to us.”
A dragon grabs at Kaelun, and he jumps back. Jah’ruud takes the opportunity to knock the guard off his feet but more are closing in.
Kaelun shouts, and something metal clatters to the floor.
I do not see what has happened, because Aurelion pulls me into his side beneath his wings as he lashes out at another guard.
Pressure in the room shifts, and I know Jah'ruud is trying to call the wind to him, but all that happens is a shift in pressure.
Then one of the dragons rushes to the king and hands him a brass lamp. Three things happen at once. Kaelun cries out. He lurches forward only to be stopped by two fearsome looking dragons.
Tharael shakes the lamp. “Stop! Tell me how this works.”
Jah’ruud seems to freeze, his hands spread wide, his shout broken off. The pressure shifts again. Then Jah’ruud disappears into a trail of smoke which is sucked through the spout and into the lamp in Tharael’s hands.
I cry out, but it is lost in the flurry of another attack. Aurelion is brought to his knees, bound and dragged away. Kaelun is pulled through a side door after him, fighting all the way.
I stand helpless in the circle of remaining guards until they grab me. My hands are bound behind me, and I’m pushed forward until I fall to the floor in front of the hideous throne.
I look up at his harsh features, so like Aurelion’s yet somehow not. He sneers down at me.
“Where have you taken them?” I ask Tharael weakly. How has this gone so badly wrong so quickly?
“Tell me how you found out about the dam first, then I might answer your questions.”
I sigh. “I needed to see for myself why the River Vaal has gone dry. Aurelion said the Fynister flows freely.”
He frowns. “So you turned him against me.”
“I have done nothing. You are the one who dammed both rivers and cut off our water. What did you think would happen?”
He stands, looming over me. His broad shoulders are bared by cut out shoulders of the ceremonial gown he wears, revealing scaly ridges topped with spikes. When he growls at me, it bares sharp teeth. “What would have been inevitable anyhow. Your weaker power would have succumbed to mine.”
I glare at him. “I thought we were allies.”
“I have no use for alliances with the likes of you. Now make yourself useful and tell me how the lamp works. How do I summon this demon?”
“I do not know, and even if I did, I would not tell you.”
“Tell me.” He holds it forward, shaking it in my face. As he does, I make a wild snatch for it, grabbing the handle and yanking it toward me. Tharael’s hands slip over the metal and he shouts. Then he reaches forward and closes a cruel fist around my wrist until I cry out in pain.
He squeezes harder, grinning as tears spring to my eyes.
I hold on as long as I can until finally I let go, defeated.
My wrist aches.
Jah’ruud appears beside us. For one joyous moment my heart lurches and then he turns to Tharael. “What is your wish?”
I stare at Jah’ruud, but he avoids my gaze.
Tharael turns to look at him, and the speculative expression on his face twists into a hideous grin. “Wish? This sounds promising. Explain.”
