But the talons tightened, and the dragon roared in irritation.
A pained shriek came from Wreylith’s battle. Lightning flashed on the south side of the volcano, and Syla glimpsed the blue dragon plummeting to the ground. With a great roar, Wreylith flew toward Syla.
The green dragon must have seen the threat too. She’d already been heading toward the sea, but she flapped her wings harder. Syla slipped in the creature’s grip. Even though she’d wanted that, it startled her and made her gasp in fear. She glanced down, hoping she was over water, not land, but in the darkness that had returned, it was hard to tell.
Reaching up, Syla grasped the foot gripping her, rethinking her plan. It would be better to wait for Wreylith to catch up and help than try to be dropped.
But as she grabbed the ointment-covered foot, her hand sliding, her moon-mark flared silver. Even though she didn’t try to draw upon her power, it flowed out of her and into the dragon, as if it was using the ointment as a conduit. The dragon roared in irritation and surprised Syla by releasing her.
A split second later, the clouds roiled, and lightning flashed. As Syla fell, she witnessed it striking the dragon—right where she’d smeared the ointment. The creature shrieked in utter pain, but Syla could feel no triumph as she plummeted to certain death.
She had the wherewithal to smash her spectacles to her face so they wouldn’t fly off but was startled when, instead of slamming into the ground, she fell past the black cliffs anddropped into the sea. Hitting the water knocked the air out of her and stung almost as much as she’d expected from hitting rock. The icy cold sea enveloped her, invading her throat and nostrils. Only the strap of her medical kit kept it from being torn away.
When she surfaced, gasping and coughing for air, something sharp brushed her, then fastened around her. She almost screamed as more talons wrapped around her, but she recognized Wreylith’s aura and tried to relax as the dragon drew her out of the sea. Dangling and coughing to get water out of her windpipe, she found relaxing difficult.
Cheers went up, confusing Syla. She adjusted her spectacles, but water droplets covered the lenses, and, in the night, she could barely see anything but bright yellow spots. Lanterns? Oh, the ships. The dragon had dropped her between the fleet and the cliffs.
Do you require medical attention?Wreylith asked as she gained altitude.I will take you to your vessel.
No. I’m fine.Syla coughed up water, somewhat belying the assertion but added,Can you take me back to Teyla? Wait, are those wild dragons still?—
Dead.
Both of them?
I slew the one I intercepted, and then hurried to fly after the one that captured you. Before I reached her, a tremendous branch of lightning came straight down from the clouds and slammed into her leg. More, it split and wrapped all around her body. You are fortunate that she dropped you first.Wreylith flew over land toward the buried shielder chamber.I had almost convinced myself that the lightning, if these clouds were conjured by the storm god, would not strike a dragon.
I may have helped that along.
I sensed… something. A flare of magic.
That was me. I smeared some of my burn concoction on the dragon and then tried to enhance it, to either make it draw the lightning or to make her grip slip so she would drop me. Neither might have been wise, given my position well above the ground—the sea—but it’s hard to think clearly when a dragon has you in her clutches.
So, your slimy goo led to the end of that dragon’s life.
It was a magical burn ointment.
I will attempt to remain hale in your presence so that I don’t need you to treat me again.
Under normal circumstances, the ointment would be soothing, healing, and restorative.
You will not put goo on my eggs when they are laid.
I wouldn’t dream of it.
Wreylith spread her wings, coming in to land next to Teyla, and brought Syla to the ground.
“What happened?” Teyla had climbed out of the pit and still held her sword.
As Wreylith returned to pulling out boulders, Syla said, “My dragon ally has forbidden me from using anything out of my medical kit on her eggs.”
“I meant over there.” Teyla pointed to where the other dragon had been struck by lightning.
“We may have proven your hypothesis true.”
18
Vorik walked around the cave,distributing the last of the goodies from Syla’s bag. Particularly popular were brown discs of a creamy sweet substance with dried cranberries embedded in it. The kids kept rearranging their positions in the cave to pretend like he hadn’t yet given them anything, and some had managed to snag three or four treats. Since Vorik was distracted by watching the chiefs talking in the back, as well as newly arrived tribal leaders walking into the camp, he barely noticed.
