L’eesha sped back to the Terraces too and the moment she landed, I was already sliding off her back, waiting anxiously for M’alex to land.
“HURRY! HURRY!” I could hear L’eesha shouting. “HURRY UP AND LAND!”
The Midnight Gold-wing came in fast and barely managed to stop in time. The Terrace workers scattered as he slid to a halt and then I was running to his side.
The Madling was clinging to Ryse’s back, and it had its long, needle teeth sunk into his shoulder. He fell out of the saddle and rolled down M’alex’s foreleg with the thing still on him.
“HELP HIM! OH HELP HIM!” L’eesha was begging, but none of the Terrace workers were coming anywhere near. They all knew that a Madling bite meant death and they weren’t willing to risk their lives for a rider who was already as good as dead.
M’alex was keening with distress and pawing at the thing on Ryse’s back. I could feel L’eesha wanted to flame it, but I knew if she did, she would kill them both.
“No, no!” I shouted to her and M’alex both, in case he had the same idea she did. “No, don’t flame them—you’ll kill Ryse too!”
“At least fire is a clean death.”
I whipped my head around and saw Professor Zephyr standing there with a sorrowful look in her eyes. Beside her were several other Healers as well as the Head Master, who wasn’t part of any of the Wings and so hadn’t flown out with the rest of the Academy.
“She’s right, lad,” he said to me now. “Let the dragons flame them. I know how you feel about Skoren, but he’s gone now. You don’t want him to end like…like…”
But he couldn’t go on and I knew he was thinking of his lost son.
I wasn’t about to lose Ryse, though.
“Give me your dagger!” I demanded, glaring up at the Head Master. He was dressed in his battle uniform, and I could see the jeweled hilt of his ceremonial dagger at his side.
“What?” He frowned at me in confusion.
I had no time to ask again. Darting forward, I grabbed the hilt and pulled the dagger free. Then I ran to where Ryse was still grappling with the abomination on his back.
The Madling had him in a death grip—its long skinny arms and legs wrapped around his body as it gnawed on his shoulder. Ryse’s golden eyes were slitted in pain as he tried unsuccessfully to throw it off.
When he saw me coming, his eyes went wide, and he tried to shake his head.
“No, Auri! Don’t!” he cried hoarsely.
I didn’t bother replying. Dodging around the grappling pair, I waited until I saw my chance. Then, using all the strength I’d gained from the hours working out with him each morning, I drove the sharp silver blade of the dagger deep into the Madling’s back.
It let go of him at once. Screeching and flailing, it twisted and writhed, desperately trying to get the dagger out of its back. Its black teeth were red with Ryse’s blood, which only made me angrier. I kicked it as hard as I could and it rounded on me, screeching in fury.
“GET BACK!” I heard L’eesha shout in my head. “GET BACK, MY AURI! IT’S FAR ENOUGH FROM RYSE NOW. I AM GOING TO FLAME IT!”
I jumped to the side as the Madling rolled away, getting closer to the edge of the Flight Terrace. It seemed to think that it could still fly away, but L’eesha wasn’t having that.
“DIE YOU EVIL THING!” I heard her yell and then a swath of white-hot dragon fire shot from her mouth and the Madling was disintegrated.
Almost before it died, I was on the ground, turning Ryse over.
But it was already too late.
72
AURORA
“He’s gone—you mustn’t touch him!” Professor Zephyr was trying to pull me away, but I didn’t let her.
“He’s not gone—leave me alone. Leave me alone!” I insisted, pushing her away. “L’eesha—keep them back!” I ordered as the Head Master and several of the Terrace workers started to close in.
I heard her hiss in warning, and she stood guard for me, keeping them all away. M’alex stood beside her, but he was already keening for the death of his rider.
