Though the pain from Loxvonla’s attack lingered—it had taken all Rylana had not to drop to her hands and knees and cry out—she managed to straighten. As Jildarin approached Loxvonla, who was rising to her feet, Rylana looked around for her bow. The pillar had knocked it dozens of feet and to the other side of the temple.
Now, Foxvonla was yelling, but she lay on her back, thrashing against a magical net that spat yellow sparks as it pinned her. Rylana recognized it now. The peacekeepers had thrown a similarnet at Jildarin when they’d first met and he’d changed into a dragon in the city.
Since Loxvonla was roaring herself, head back and arms spread, fingers curled into claws, Rylana made herself run to collect her bow. Though she winced at the idea of the pillar sending a beam at her again—the second time, it might strikeherinstead of her weapon—the vile sister didn’t look like she was done. Even as Rylana snatched up her bow, Loxvonla shifted into a huge black dragon right there on the beach.
This time, when she roared, it sent fear racing down Rylana’s spine as the great noise reverberated across the lake. Loxvonla’s tail smashed down, shattering the rowboat, and she crouched to spring.
Jildarin paused and glanced at the pillar, probably expecting it to strike at her, and itdidglow brighter. But then another quake struck, the ground shuddering more violently than before. Rylana had to pause and spread her arms for balance.
In the woods, thunderous snaps sounded, and a great evergreen toppled. An even louder snap came from the pillar, and Rylana gaped asittoppled. It crashed down to the beach, spitting sparks before its glow diminished.
Loxvonla roared again and sprang for Jildarin. But, by now,hewas shifting forms too. By the time she reached him with her talons raking the air and her fanged jaws snapping, he’d turned into his native form, the great silver dragon even larger than she. As the ground stilled, they crashed together and spewed fire into the air—and each other.
Sylin swore and raised her shovel. Likethatwould do anything against the battling dragons. But they weren’t her target. Foxvonla had risen to her feet and was trying to throw off the net. As it sparked with angry magic and she yowled with fury and pain, Sylin sprang at her. With her bow in hand, Rylana ran toward thebeach, certain that a shovel wouldn’t do much against a dragon, even one currently in human form.
Indeed, when the blade thudded against the side of Foxvonla’s head, it only made her more furious. She’d almost escaped the net and was lunging for Sylin. As the dragons writhed and roared scant yards away, Rylana leaped upon Foxvonla, knocking her to the ground.
“Should haveshother,” Rylana muttered as she struggled to pin their foe.
Even half-entangled by the magical net, Foxvonla nearly bucked her off. Sylin cracked the sister on the head again with the shovel, then dropped down beside Rylana to help pin their writhing foe to the pebbles.
A loud splash sounded. Loxvonla hitting the water. Jildarin had hurled her into the lake, and he roared and leaped after her, his ire thoroughly raised.
“I hope the bread isn’t burning,” Sylin said.
“I’d laugh at that being a concern right now, but ithasbeen our quest for the last week.” Rylana grunted as Foxvonla nearly shoved her off. She lowered her weight, putting everything into keeping her pinned down.
“Dragons!” came a distant cry from the direction of the boardwalk.
“I was wondering if the peacekeepers would ever arrive.” Sylin also grunted. Even with her elven strength and Rylana’s help, they struggled to keep the dragon down.
“I hope they’re bringing fifty golems.”
“And more nets,” Sylin said.
“Alotmore nets.” Rylana looked toward Jildarin where he bit and wrestled in the shallows with Loxvonla. He’d defeated the sister that he’d battled before, and she hoped he could do so again—swiftly. Then he could come take Foxvonla off their hands.
Halt your shenanigans,came the telepathic call of Jildarin’s mother.
Her voice was louder in Rylana’s mind than before, so she seemed closer. Ah, yes. There she was flying toward the island.
“Does she mean us?” Sylin grunted again, pushing her weight into Foxvonla’s shoulder to keep it pinned.
“I have no idea,” Rylana said. “She’s as mercurial and crabby as the sisters.”
Foxvonla paused her thrashing to look toward the approaching black dragon.You said he would mate with us!
Later,Jixana said.It is time for the curse to be ended. It affects even dragons. Those odious earthquakes are scaring away all the prey.
In the water, Jildarin had gained the advantage, pinning Loxvonla so that she’d struggled to keep her head above water. When his mother turned her baleful gaze toward them, he stepped away from the other dragon.
Even though our kind do not seek to appease the gods of any inferior race,Jixana continued,I deem my son’s work here important. You will leave and let him finish.
Surprisingly, her cool amber gaze shifted from the sisters to Rylana.
Shehadn’t been the one interrupting Jildarin’s work, but Foxvonla had stopped thrashing about, so Rylana stood and backed warily away. She grabbed her bow and nocked an arrow in case the sisters disobeyed Jildarin’s mother.
Sylin also backed away, though she kept the shovel over her shoulder. Left alone, Foxvonla squirmed out of the net. The glare of loathing that she cast at Rylana and Sylin promised she wanted to stay and slay them, but, with Jixana looking on, she instead shifted into her dragon form and flew away from the island. Since Jildarin had allowed Loxvonla to rise, she also flew away. Not looking back, the two sisters beat their wings and veered toward the south.
