They were thinking of leaving.
What am I not seeing?
The gods would not bring her so close to saving him only for her to fail. She forced herself to watch demons being cut down like stalks of wheat, gritting her teeth against the bile that rose in her throat. Dark blood sprayed, and more bodies piled up on both sides of the plains.
There was an answer. There had to be.
If they didn’t have the enemy archers on the castle wall that were picking their fighters off one by one, or that blasted dragon, they might be evenly matched.
Their options were to find a way to skirt the dragon and enter the castle in overwhelming numbers or neutralize the dragon.
She watched the dragon lazily eating soldiers—scooping up a demon with twisted horns, tossing him up, and gobbling him down like a piece of steak.
She shuddered.I can’t slay a dragon.
She looked closely at the metal collar and the heavy chain.
Chained like a dog to its master.
On a whim, she cast out her awareness, brushing past hundreds of consciousnesses of darkness and pain until she found the mind of the dragon.
She brushed her consciousness against the dragon in greeting. Its consciousness felt vast and alien—highly organized and intelligent. There was no doubt about it; this was a being of superior intellect and power. Her mortal mind must feel messy and primitive by comparison, like an irksome fly.
Hello, dragon,she breathed into the mental connection.
Hello, enemy of my Master’s house. Where are you so I may start with you for dinner? A mortal, are you? Hmm. I haven’t seen one of you in an age. Where are you? I wonder how you taste.
Elizabeth projected images of the iron collar and chain she had watched stretch taut as the dragon had flown above the castle.
What is this chain for?she asked.
My Master dotes on me but fears me. Fears what I will do if set loose.The dragon cackled. A high, cold laugh filled Elizabeth’s mind with so much power that it hurt.He knows if I am freed, I would turn the world to blood and ash for spite.
Elizabeth took a deep breath to steel herself for what she was about to do. She thought of Charlotte’s fearless confidence. She thought of Charlotte speaking and expressing her views clearly in a way that brooked no argument. She let her body language absorb the memories like a sponge.
She lifted her chin, projecting cocky superiority.Your master should know better. You should never chain a dragon.Elizabeth put on a cold, amused tone.
I should think not,came the haughty reply. The dragon was a prideful creature, and female if her gut was to be believed.Yet, here we are.
The dragon clacked its talons on the ground and surveyed the fields, looking for her. The dragon’s neck elongated, her orange eyes narrowing as she searched the fields.
It really is a shame,Elizabeth thought, examining her nails.I would consider freeing you, but I don’t know what you will do to our ranks if I do.She felt joy radiate from the beast surveying the terror and destruction it had caused. What manner of devil was she even speaking to? Attempting to reason with? Elizabeth reined in the shudder that rolled down her spine.
A mortal cannot free me. Only a demon with considerable power can.
Elizabeth scoffed into their mental connection.I could do it if I wanted to.
Come, show me, little mortal. Free me, and I will decide if I should spare your precious life.
The dragon huffed angrily, smoke curling out from its nostrils. She stamped her clawed feet impatiently and tilted her head from side to side, craning her long neck, as if looking for her.
Elizabeth kept her gaze averted. Among the sea of bodies and impressive demon princes, she was nothing. She was a lone human, partially obstructed from view by Asmodeus’s large wings.
The dragon grew frustrated and roared, consuming the demons around it in flame. The handler struck it with a glinting whip—punishment for firing on their own forces.
The dragon’s mental presence twisted into a pit of wrath and rage.
It roared and snarled at the handler. The handler calmly motioned to the battlefield, gesturing for the chained dragon to get on with it.
