A hush fell over the clearing as a large, dark-blue Striker pushed through the gathered dragons. He was massive, nearly as large as Hein, with scales that shimmered like obsidian doused in midnight. I didn’t recognize him, but the authority in his steps made my pulse skip.
I will fight Hein,his voice rolled through our minds like thunder, low and absolute.If he can beat me, then there is no better choice.
Hein growled, low and lethal, and stepped away from Zander just as he reached for the reins. “You will regret that choice,” Zander said, as he stepped toward Hein.
Lorseth has no rider,Kaelith whispered in my mind.Hein must fight him without one.
Zander’s eyes darkened, black fire flickering at the edges, smoke curling from his clenched fists. He looked ready to lunge at the challenger himself.
Stand down,Siergen’s voice snapped across the link, laced with an authority that silenced even the fire. The flames in Zander’s eyes extinguished, but his jaw remained locked as Hein padded forward, massive and unyielding.
The two dragons began to circle, Hein’s heavy, armored scales gleaming in the moonlight, Lorseth’s sleeker body moving like a predator. Each step was measured, a test, a warning. Their tails lashed in rhythm, claws carving grooves into the soft earth of the clearing.
They didn’t roar.
Didn’t posture.
This wasn’t a show of dominance.
This was a battle for the soul of the horde.
Lorseth lunged first.
A blur of dark muscle and lethal intent, the massive blue Striker slammed into Hein with a sound like mountains colliding. Claws raked across Hein’s plated side, tearing through thick silver hide and sending shards of scale flying. Hein roared, deep, guttural, warlike, and retaliated with a brutal swing of his tail that cracked against Lorseth’s shoulder, spinning the challenger sideways.
But Lorseth was quick. Too quick.
He twisted in midair, wings flaring wide as he raked Hein’s side again, this time drawing blood. Dark ichor hissed against the grass as it fell, the scent of scorched iron thick in the air.
Hein bellowed, rising onto his hind legs and slamming his full weight into the challenger’s chest. The two titans crashed to the ground in a frenzy of snapping teeth and shredding claws. The earth trembled. Dirt exploded around them. I couldn’t tell where one dragon ended and the other began.
Kaelith’s voice trembled with tension.Lorseth fights like one who has never lost.
And Hein fights like one who refuses to, I breathed.
The fight turned savage.
Hein landed a crushing blow to Lorseth’s flank with his shoulder, toppling the blue Striker. But Lorseth twisted beneath him, his jaws snapping shut around Hein’s forearm. Blood poured freely now, painting both of them in streaks of war.
But Hein didn’t flinch.
With a snarl that shook the clearing, Hein ripped free and lunged, catching Lorseth by the neck. His jaws locked with thunderous force, and he wrenched the blue dragon to the ground, pinning him with the full weight of his armored body.
Lorseth thrashed once. Twice. Then stilled.
Hein stood over him, his breathing heavy, his sides heaving as blood dripped from his wounds. His teeth remained lockedaround Lorseth’s neck. One motion, one final tightening of his jaw, and it would be over. A clean, merciless death.
But Hein held.
Waiting. Watching.
The clearing held its breath.
Siergen’s voice was calm, but edged in command.Hein, release him.
Hein’s jaws slowly unclenched. Lorseth coughed as air surged back into his lungs, his body slumping to the earth in defeat. Hein stepped back, bleeding and battered, but with a prideful lift to his head.
Hein will be a good leader when the time comes,Siergen said to the gathering.But that is a ways off. I will see Kaelith’s clutch reach maturity before I relinquish the title.
