Page 166 of The Last Syphon

“Shut up!” Inara thundered. She didn’t mean to be rude, but she was in excruciating agony trying to keep this magic back, and her power was draining fast. There was no fucking time for pleasantries or niceties.

“Get on the dragon! Quickly!”

No one moved.

Can nobody read a fucking room? Do they not see the terrifying dark magic that is trying to eat them alive?!

It was a relatively small village, maybe fifty people or so. From what she could see, there were a mixture of different ages, ranging from youthen’s all the way to the elderly, and they were all staring at her as if she were the enemy.

She understood. They had no idea what was going on. A moment ago, they had just been going about their lives, and now, there was a random woman, a dragon the size of a fucking mountain, and a dark, evil, rotting darkness trying to kill them.

Regardless, they had to get a fucking grip or die.

Her head swam, disorientation hitting Inara hard. Her vision blurred. Her limbs trembled and shook. Fuck. Her magical threshold was fast approaching. She would not be able to last much longer.

She searched the crowd of frightened people for someone she knew. A large figure pushed his way through. Familiar eyes locked with hers.

“Grigoro!” She recognised him instantly. He was a big, burly man with a head full of dark curly hair and a bushy beard that took over half his face. Inara had only met him once or twice during trade season. He was the leader.

Ravagen. That was the village she was in.

Grigoro approached, shoving people out of the way as he went. “What in the Fates is going on here?” He grunted, voice rough. He looked at her shield holding back the rot. “The fuck is that?”

“There’s no time! If you and your people want to live, get the fuck on the dragon! I can’t hold it much longer!”

His eyes studied it for only a moment longer before he turned, barking, “Get to the beast! Now! Go!”

Finally, the villagers listened, and they rushed towards Fraener. Some tried to take anything they could carry with them, but Grigoro slammed it out of their hands. There wasn’t enough time, nor room for personal belongings.

“Tether the youthen’s to your bodies!” he commanded, tying a rope around a little girl’s waist before tying the other end to a young woman. “Help each other! Come on! Move it!”

Fatigue weighed heavily on Inara, and she swayed. Blood seeped from her nose. Shit. She couldn’t hold it. A strong rush of power flooded her system, the soul-link humming brightly in the centre of her chest.

The fatigue vanished and strength returned to her body. Inara sent a silent thank you to her Guardian, but already, that new found power was being drained right from her. All that power had only brought her a little bit of time.

Hopefully it was enough.

Tydus suddenly appeared above her, and her eyes locked with blazing violet orbs. Prince Walder had actually come back. Inara wasn’t sure if he would. Tydus circled above her shield, looking for a place to land.

Curses.

Two dragons were better than one, but now, she would have to extend her shield again.

Inara blew out a pain-filled breath and pushed with all her might. The extension was slower this time, the pressure hammering in her head so much fucking worse. Slowly, surely, the left side of her shield began to move outwards. She groaned. Blood seeped from her ears. Filled her mouth. Fraener sent another burst of power through their soul-link and it rejuvenated her instantly, holding the overextension of magic at bay. She sent a wave of appreciation to him, but also told him not to do it again. If he continued lending her his strength, he would have none for himself, and he would need it to carry all of those people out of here.

Her shield finally stretched far enough to allow Tydus to land. She looked up at Prince Walder and nodded stiffly. He nodded back and dived. There was no hesitation to pass through her shield like last time. He had faith she would allow him in. He crossed over without any problems and landed on her other side.

Prince Walder jumped off instantly, using his hands to manoeuvre his body through the air until his feet pounded on the ground. Something akin to relief flashed across his face as he covered the small distance between them, running up to her.

She smiled weakly. “Nice of you to join us.” Every word pained her, and she groaned again, swaying on her feet.

His hands plastered to her back, helping her hold herself up steadily. Panic filled the Crowned Prince’s eyes. Inara had never seen him so alarmed before. “What can I do?”

“Get the people on the dragons.”

He only just seemed to notice the line of villagers waiting to climb aboard Fraener. He hesitated, his gaze flitting between her and them.

“Hurry. I can’t hold it much longer.” The darkness had improvised and was now crawling up her shield, stretching over it. Pain hit her from nearly every direction. It was only by sheer willpower that she was still standing.