“Put me down like a wounded animal?” I question. “Are you going to like kill me?”
He mutters something that sounds a lot like, “It’s quite possible.” But I can’t ask him about it because we’re suddenly surrounded. I lift my knives in both hands, and Rauk goes still in a way that promises violence to whoever moves first. I’m just waiting for him to make the first move before I attack. But then a voice cuts through the noise. “Harper?”
I find the source of the voice, and relief flows through me. “Kaldar.” I take a somewhat unsteady step towards the king of the Jaguar Kingdom, but before I can take another, a big body steps in front of me, blocking me. “Um, unless you want me skewering your back, I suggest you move.”
“Call your soldiers off,” Rauk says in a voice that reeks of power and authority.
Knowing what I know of Kaldar, it doesn’t surprise me when he gives the order to stand down. Kaldar is a powerful king, but he’s also a peaceful guy at his core. “Move, you big oaf.” I push on Rauk’s back, but he doesn’t move. “Rauk, I swear I will disembowel you if you don’t move.”
“You might want to move. Harper doesn’t usually threaten and not follow through.” I can hear the dry tone from Kaldar. It makes me smile, well, sort of smile because good grief, it hurts to smile!
Rauk finally moves, and I step up beside him. My eyes find Kaldar instantly. He’s tall, taller even than Rysden but a littleleaner, though no less strong. “We need your help,” I waste no time saying.
“That’s why we’re here,” he says and walks over to us. A few of his closest protectors walk with him, and Rauk tenses up.
“They’re not a threat,” I tell him quietly.
“Redara, my dragon, is pinned down by a metal net. Can you help us free her? It’s too heavy for us alone.”
“Noxlyn could pull it off, but I’m afraid it’s embedded into her skin in too many places to just yank it off,” Rauk further explains, and my heart tugs.
Kaldar looks over at me. “Are you okay, Harper? I’m not really sure how you’re still standing. If you want, I can have my men take you to one of our healers—”
“I can see to it that she’s taken care of,” Rauk interrupts.
Kaldar turns his gaze to Rauk, his assessing eyes missing nothing. “You would have her wait hours to get the care she needs?” Rauk goes still next to me, and I feel like I should tell Kaldar to tread lightly. Why? I’m not sure. I can just feel his anger rising.
“How about we focus on getting Redara free?” I suggest and turn away from the two men to make my way back to Redara.I’m so sorry,I send to her.
I’m okay,she says in response.
Sure you are,I send back.
Just about as well as you.
I huff.Yeah? Well, at least I’m still standing.
True.
Her words aren’t as strong as they usually are, and I mentallyurge the men to hurry. Kaldar gives orders, and Rauk doesn’t hesitate to get in there and give orders as well. I don’t really care, as long as the end result is that Redara is freed. Noxlyn snorts and stomps the ground. I glance over my shoulder at him.Can you calm him? If he scares everyone away, we won’t be able to get you free.
I've been trying to,she responds.
He snorts again, and I smell the sulfur in the air. I take a breath, being careful not to breathe too deeply. I look for Rauk, so I can tell him to calm his dragon down. But I don’t see him right away, so I walk over to Noxlyn instead.He won’t hurt me, right?I ask Redara.
If he does, I’ll kill him,she sends back.
Hmm. Not sure if that brings me any comfort.
You should be fine.
Okay, yeah. No comfort at all.I push my fear aside and walk closer to Nox. I know he knows I'm here, but he doesn’t have any reaction to me getting closer. No scratch that; he seems to be...growling? I don’t know if dragons can growl, but whatever he’s doing, it’s not exactly non-threatening. “Noxlyn, you have to stop. Those men over there came to help us free Redara.” He snorts out a puff of air, and I gag at the smell of sulfur. “Yeah. That? That right there is not helping. If you scare them all away, nobody is going to be able to get her free. I know you’re worried about her. I am too, so please, don’t scare them away.” I take a step away and then turn back to him. I step close to his side and pat his leg. “And thank you for coming for us.” I walk back over to where the men are working to get the metal chain off Redara.
“You look like death warmed over.”
I turn at the sound of the cold voice and see Reika, one of Kaldar’s personal guards. “Reika, I would say it’s nice to see you, but...”
“That would be a lie,” she finishes for me. I crack a smile or try to anyway. “Can I at least wrap your ribs?”
