Page 69 of Red Dragon’s Flame

The Allohim leader sneered. “You have miscalculated, Draken,” he said. “You left it too late. The time of mating is near—it is imminent. And we have the male phoenix. You would never take him, even if you knew where to look.”

Emon returned the sneer. “I am a Draken king,” he said. “I have treasure—gold and jewels and magic beyond your imagining. Tell me your price for the male phoenix.”

The Allohim gave a harsh laugh. “And then you think you’ll bargain me down to a fraction of that? This is not a market stall, Draken, and the male phoenix is beyond price. You will give us the female, or we will destroy you.”

That got a little growl from Emon, and a few lightning bolts. “I am an Al-Maddeiri Draken sorcerer, more powerful than any living.”

I wonder what they’d think of that claim in the Dragonlands, Zak said privately.

It didn’t matter. Emon just had to prove that he was as arrogant as the Allohim, which he proceeded to do.

“I am the Master of Fire and the Lord of Lightning, not a flying monkey,” he said.

That’s torn it, Cazbek muttered in their minds, as lightning bolts started to form around the Allohim.

Emon responded by kicking his own lightning up a notch. He boasted, “I was born with ten times your power.”

“Then why have you stolen the female? You yearn for her power, even though you cannot use it as we can. Long ago, we learned to fuse with the phoenix at the time of mating. It makes us who we are—able to rise above this pitiful plane of existence, to rule the hearts of men and dragons. Those who swallow the phoenix have powers beyond your imagining, or even your ability to use. I have learned of you, Darkwing Dragon. Give the phoenix queen and its host to us, and we will reward you with the trinkets your beast craves.”

all the dragons chorused in outrage, at this insult to their hoards.

Emon said, “Your pitiful attempts to demean our majesty get you nowhere. We have no need of your valueless trinkets. But perhaps there is one thing I would accept.”

“Make your offer, then.”

Emon said, “I myself wish to experience the power of the phoenix. I have learned that to do that, I must have a male hatchling. I will bring the queen with her host to your world myself. I will then attend the mating ritual and fuse with one of the hatchlings. That is my price.”

“Impossible!”

Emon said, “Tell your coward of a king, I want the hatchling. At this time tomorrow, I will be on this roof with the host, and you will convey us to your world. That is my final offer—take it, or lose the female forever.”

The Allohim looked like it was going to electrocute itself with furious lightning. “You do not know with whom you try to deal, Draken. If we wish, we can enter your realm and tear your castle down, and take the phoenix by force. You would be wise to accept our offer of treasure.”

“If you had learned as much of me as you believe, you would know that I am powerful, deadly, unpredictable, and vindictive.” Emon paused, morphing slowly into his dragon, and baring his teeth. Then he spoke into their minds, so loudly it hurt the inside of Mikah’s head and made the Allohim flinch.

BUT NO ONE HAS YET CALLED ME WISE.

The Allohim left, but of course had to have the last word. “You will keep your bargain, Draken, or we come for the phoenix.”

Emon shot lightning at their asses, and they flew faster, disappearing into the night.

Then Emon Changed back, and they all looked at each other. “Do you think they bought it?” Zakerek asked.

Emon shrugged. “Hard to tell. They want Devon bad, though. They’ll probably take the chance.”

“What if they don’t?” Mikah said. “Or what if they try to just take Mayah off the roof and leave you behind?”

“Kira will be in the sky, cloaked. If they won’t take me, we’ll let them snatch Mayah. Kira will follow them. As soon as they transfer her to another world, Kira should be able to tell where they’ve gone. That’s her worldwalking superpower. And Mayah will have the beacon.”

“It’s iffy,” Cazbek said.

“It’s what we’ve got,” Emon returned.

“What about their claim that they can come to Al-Maddeiri and take Devon?” Zakerek asked. “They have to have some kind of portals or worldwalking ability, or they wouldn’t be here.”

“Al-Maddeiri has some of the tightest wards anywhere,” Emon pointed out. “If they could circumvent them, they’d have already done it.”

Cazbek said, “Then all we have to do is figure out what to do for Devon. I know she wouldn’t want to keep the phoenix captive any longer than she has to.”