“Okay… so we fight. Everyone who is able-bodied and willing to fight for our people,” Daegan says as he looks back at his father.
Kezra nearly startles me as she joins us, hovering in the air by my shoulder.
My mind is buzzing and doesn’t process everything as they begin talking strategy, moving pieces around the table to locations I’m not familiar with, arguing about tactics I don’t understand, and finally calling the meeting. Time is limited.
As we reconvene in the hallway with Raef and Kezra, my heart begins to race, the urgency in which everyone moves around us making it feel so much more real.
“So, what are we doing?” I ask.
In answer, Daegan grabs my hand and gives me a look that tells me he’s not leaving my side even for a moment.
“We fight, right?” Raef answers.
“No,” Kezra says with an abundance of impatience. Her wings are practically buzzing with it. “This is likely our last chance. All that we’ve done cannot die with you today. We must try the mountain one last time. Something ancient whispers to me about this spot.”
We all look at each other, not speaking. Everything feels so final suddenly. A lump forms in the pit of my stomach and I have a feeling it’s not going away any time soon.
“You two go,” Raef finally says. “I’ll stay and fight.”
A look of finality crosses between Raef and Daegan. I stand back as they step toward each other… and hug.
“Love you, brother,” Daegan says as he holds his arms around him tightly, clapping his back.
Raef nods. “Love you too, but don’t choose now to get all sappy on me. I’ll see you guys soon, okay?”
It tugs at my heart as Daegan gives him a subtle nod in return.
Raef approaches me next, wrapping me up into an embrace and lifting me off the ground. “Take care of him,” he tells me as he sets me back on the ground. “He’s not always as tough as he looks.”
I open my mouth to reply, but Kezra, growing even more impatient, cuts in. “Okay. We must go now. Enough of the pleasantries.”
“What’s pleasant about any of this?” Raef mumbles to himself.
“Nothing. But just know that if you all die today, I’ll make sure the work you’ve done does not die with you. I’ll find someone worthy to carry on your quest.”
“O…kay,” Raef responds, raising his brows at us.
“I must go with Elysande and Daegan and guide them to the destination, Raef, but fear not, I have sent for backup. They know what to do,” Kezra tells him.
Before Raef can respond, she flies off down the hallway. I guess that means we must follow.
Daegan and I run after Kezra through long, warm, airy hallways. There’s something buzzing in the wind today. I can feel it all around me as we reachthe outside. Like the culmination of all our plotting and scheming is coming down to this day. I don’t know how or why I can feel it, but I can.
Or perhaps there’s some other explanation for the sensation.
Maybe it’s the thousands of troops closing in on the village. Their heavy, synchronized, arrogant footsteps quietly shaking the ground.
Kezra doesn’t look back or say a word as we follow her lead along the base of the mountain. Daegan possesses the sword, the blood, plus the shard of emberstone still in his eyebrow in case we need it, while I carry the new blood vial and the necklace in an interior pocket of my shirt. Its heavy weight feels like it’s pressing in against me, almost as if it’s humming with anticipation. Again, that could just be in my head.
I look back as the land begins its slight incline, and my heart sinks. The elven army is already on the dragons’ doorstep. Not too far in the distance, they approach the walls in seemingly endless lines of marching, foreboding precision. I stand on the hill frozen, unable to peel my eyes away from the terrifying sight.
But all along the inside of the walls, dragons are beginning to line up. Dozens upon dozens of terrifying, massive, fire-breathing dragons in every color imaginable. There should be more. There should be thousands. The elderly and the young were evacuated to some hidden caves in the mountains, but there are still a few hundred. That could be enough.
I sense Daegan’s conflicted mood beside me, and I don’t have to look at his face to know that more than anything, he must wish to be down there fighting with his people, defending his home and all those who have suffered.
He meets my gaze and pulls in a steady breath. “I’m exactly where I want to be. By your side.” He nods toward the village that’s now filled with tension I can feel from all the way up here. “They can handle this. They will be victorious, and they will make those soldiers wish they never fucked with the dragons. Before they send them into oblivion, of course.”
I raise my eyebrows at his confidence, and I have to admit that it makes me feel just a little bit better.
