My heart sinks and my eyes widen with realization.
Oh, no.
Thaden helped me create these weapons. When his human body was merged with the soul of a dragon, he was left with bronze scales across his right shoulder, up the side of his neck, and down to his waist. The scales covered his right arm and hand. Because of that, he is able to safely handle my medallions with that hand.
Not only that, but the Blacksmith magic that was left within him when he was transformed provided a well of power he could access.
By wrapping one of my medallions around his right palm, he was able to use an ordinary hammer to transfer the power from his body, through the medallion, and into the metal he forged.
I made the first crossbow bolt, but he made the second one.
This is the one he made.
It’shisenergy I sense within it.
I will never forget the moment Thaden accidentally touched me when the medallion was wrapped around his hand. A blast of heat, of dragon’s fire, lashed through me and I sensed the dragon’s pain and rage in its final moments. Its light had turned dark.Thatis the energy I sense in this bolt.
Which would explain why it isn’t answering my commands. This metal doesn’t recognize my power. It may as well be any other lump of iron that requires forging in crimson coal and hammering until it obeys me. If it were organic material, living matter, it would be a different story.
Damn!Hot tears burn behind my eyes as I accept the fact that I’ll have to push the bolt all the way through the Vandawolf’s body.
Again, I have no choice.
I steady my breathing and count myself lucky that the Vandawolf is unconscious.
Reaching as far left along the shaft of the bolt as I can, I grip it tightly on that side, preparing to push with my left hand while I steady it on this side with my right.
I harden my heart and clench my stomach muscles, while forcing myself to breathe evenly as I push the bolt slowly and carefully. Along the way, I stop and reposition my hand until I can reach the base of the shaft, wrapping my palm flat against it.
My breathing grows more rapid with every bit of progress, but it’s not because of the awful process.
The closer the end of the bolt gets to the entry wound, the closer my left palm draws to the Vandawolf’s chest.
The closer reality comes.
Finally, I’m half an inch away from pressing my powered hand to the Vandawolf’s skin.
It’s at that moment that I pick up the commotion in the distance; the creaking of the portcullis on the far side of the gate in the wall.
The humans must have decided to come out to hunt me.
Even if I thought the Vandawolf would survive longer, my time for choosing is at an end.
Thaden himself said to me:You have to fight cruelty with cruelty.
With that thought, I stop fighting the malice in my tools and allow it to cloak my heart and shield me from my choices. Oh, my guilt and fears will rage back at me when I have the chance to remove my tools again—assuming that time ever comes. But for now, my path is set.
Pulling the bolt through with my right hand, I allow my left palm to connect with the Vandawolf’s chest.
Power surges through me, so much power from both his body and mine, striking and clashing so hard that my head spins.
If the Vandawolf were at his full energy, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to breathe right now.
But it’s the wolf’s confusion that hits me the hardest, the question I sense from it, breaking through the cold shield I’ve welcomed around my heart.
Why would I do this when I know it’s the last thing he would want?
To keep him alive but wrapped in metal that may as well be barbs against his skin?
