I gave a little screech but then the world spread out beneath me and I realized that I was flying... with a dragon. Raza could shift! I had not only seen my first dragon but I was being carried across a battlefield by one. Flying through the air supported by slick talons that could probably tear down mountains. It was exhilarating. I may have extended my arms like Superman.
Then we landed, a much softer landing than I'd anticipated. Raza had held me gently as he met the earth with only three feet. Then he placed me carefully on the ground and sat up, towering above me as his tail curved around us like a mini wall. I went to confront the wide-eyed witches coming warily forward.
“This is a mistake!” I shouted to them. “We didn't abduct the members of Flight. Our raven mockers were taken too, in the same manner as your witches. Their plane disappeared between San Francisco and Tulsa. We have a common enemy who is trying to frame both of us!”
A roar rumbled out behind me and I winced, turning to look up at the furious dragon. I'd completely forgotten that I wasn't supposed to tell Raza about his son. As fire spewed out of the dragon's maw, I did my best to hold my ground.
“We'll get them back, Raza!” I shouted as I held up placating hands. “I don't believe the witches are behind it. Please, calm down.”
“Of course we're not behind it,” Prime Flight Elder, Jennifer Wasutke stalked forward. “You are. I don't believe for a second that your fey are missing. That's just another lie created to trick us into trusting you.”
Fire streamed past me and hit the ground directly in front of Elder Wasutke. She fell back onto the grass and then shimmied even further backward on her elbows. Two men ran forward and grabbed her beneath the arms to help her retreat.
“This is Lord Raza,” I introduced the dragon. “His son is one of the missing raven mockers. You've only seen a fraction of what he is capable of, so please understand that it is not arrogance when I say to you that it doesn't matter what you believe, it only matters whathebelieves. And right now, he doesn't seem inclined to believe you're innocent.”
“Lord Raza,” Gabriel Alegre, Prime Elder of Beckoning, strode forward calmly. He'd gotten over his fear of dragons fast enough, even with his zombie army turning into embers. “We would not have come and attacked a fairy stronghold if we had instigated this. Wouldn't it make more sense for us to wait for you to attack us, somewhere where we had the advantage?”
The assemblage of witches went silent, everyone staring at the dragon. Except for the wolves, who whined and paced around the edges. I wasn't about to stand around waiting for Raza's volatile verdict. Instead, I stepped forward to speak with Gabriel myself, completely ignoring Raza.
“I've spoken with Aidan and we believe that a third party is at work here; trying to undermine our goal of a truce,” I said calmly. “It makes no sense for me to abduct your witches after I freed them. That would be about as reasonable as your attacking our stronghold. And yet, here we are.”
“Indeed,” Gabriel frowned and looked back towards the other elders. It looked like they'd all banded together to bring us down. They just hadn't factored fighting a dragon into the mix. “Perhaps we've acted rashly.”
“Where is my son?!” Raza's foot stomped the earth beside me and I stumbled away from the crater it made.
“I promise you, we do not have him,” Gabriel held up his hands. “And we in turn would like our coven members back.”
“Raza, stop thinking like a dragon and think like a man,” I snapped at him; mimicking what he'd once said to me in hopes that it would get through to him. “We'll find Rayetayah but you need to help me by regaining your composure. If you attack these witches, you're playing right into our enemy's hands.”
The dragon took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Thank you,” I huffed and turned back to Gabriel. “Why don't you come inside and we can talk this over with the Fairy High Council?”
“I think we'd prefer to stay out here,” Gabriel grimaced.
Alright,” I nodded. “I will serve as intermediary but I already know what they'll say. The only trace left to find when the plane disappeared, was a remnant of weather magic. That's all the evidence we have.”
“Nyet!” Illarion declared with a slashing motion of his hand. “Storm is no traitor to Coven. Ve are loyal.”
“I'm not questioning your loyalty,” I assured him.
“There was cold magic remaining at the site where the Flight members were last seen too,” Crispin came forward, giving me a quick nod of greeting. “I believe the Princess. We have another player in this game; a player who wants war.”
“Aidan and I came to the same conclusion,” I agreed. “And before I even spoke with him, our Chief High Councilman said something similar. He voiced doubts concerning your involvement in the disappearance of the raven mockers.”
“Zen he is vise man,” Illarion nodded and crossed his muscled arms.
“Can we work together on this?” I asked. “We can investigate leads among our people while you investigate yours. When one of us finds the culprit, they will inform the other.”
“Nyet, unacceptable,” Illarion shook his head and Raza rumbled behind me. “Ve need to combine efforts. How vill ve be able to trust zat ve each are truly trying to find villain unless ve exchange people?”
“What are you talking about, Illarion?” Crispin frowned.
“I think he means that we should send some hunters with you to investigate the witches, while you send some witches with us to investigate the fey,” I said.
“And Human Council,” Illarion nodded.
“I agree,” Gabriel declared.
