Mei is right. We cannot just stay here and do nothing. If they need us...
“There’s a way to see,” Valerius said
Valerius went over by the throne where Chione always kept several tablets. He grabbed one and connected it to a screen on the opposite wall of the throne room from the mirror. He was entering the code to see feeds from the outside cameras. But before he finished, someone gasped. And air gusted underneath the doors to the courtyard. Then there was a boom! And High Reach seemed to jump up and down.
Valerius nearly lost his balance, but he grabbed hold of one of the doors to the courtyard. He knew this shudder. It was a familiar shudder. It was the landing of a dragon out on the courtyard. His head snapped up to the windows.
The Behemoth’s yellow eyes glared at him through the glass.
The Power Of Command
We must get to Valerius and the others! The Behemoth will kill them without us there! Raziel roared.
The Black Dragon’s red eyes glowed like molten fire. Raziel was always huge, but somehow its wingspan seemed to increase and the giant, black body blotted out the sky.
My Illarion will fight and he will die! Mephous cried.
Mei will break herself upon the Behemoth! Xipil shouted.
Tez will shield the others. He will perish! Eldoron moaned.
Kaila will be scarred by the Behemoth’s evil before her body is shredded by it! Lana wailed.
Anwar will throw himself into the battle by Valerius’ side! Evren growled.
Esme will be right there beside them. She will give her life. She will give her everything! Scylla snarled.
Jahara will stand firm. She will do all she can to protect everyone. She will fall! Zephyra whispered.
The Dragon Spirits were all rising up, readying to fly back to the lair and exit the Spirit Realm and enter the human one. But Caden couldn’t let them do it.
“NO!” Caden jumped up and motioned for Iolaire to come to him so that he could get on the White Dragon’s back. His Spirit complied even as he felt its confusion. The other Dragon Spirits glared at him, thinking he was being foolish or some such. “Iolaire and I will go! We will be the only ones who go! You must remain here!”
WHAT?! WHY?! Sulfurous smoke poured from Raziel’s mouth.
“Because you have to kill the Behemoth here!” Caden got up on Iolaire’s back and aimed his Spirit towards the lair. “You cannot kill it on Earth. Look around you! Remember what will happen if you do!”
The crater that stretched farther than the eye could see--and where nothing grew and never would again--met their silent gazes.
Zephyra asked, You have a plan?
“Iolaire and I are going back,” Caden said.
You may be brave, but you are the smallest of all of us! Mephous growled.
It is true! Lana flapped unhappily. No one doubts your heart or Iolaire’s, Caden, but the Behemoth is too strong for you! We all must go and make it come back here!
“How? By hurting it so badly that all of Reach will be destroyed? Tens of thousands killed? No, that cannot happen!” Caden shook his head.
What can you and Iolaire do to make the Behemoth come back? If not fight it? Eldoron asked.
Iolaire had turned its head around to look at Caden. It twittered in confusion. The other Dragon Spirits tilted their heads at him as if a different viewpoint would clear things up.
“Mephous!” Caden blinked. “You, of all people, should understand!”
Mephous frowned, but Xipil let out a smoky snort.
Of course! You sent Mephous back to the Spirit Realm! Xipil cried. And Illarion could not shift back for 24 hours! Iolaire’s special gift!
