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This can’t be happening.

This isn’t real.

I stare in horror as Vladykar Amon gazes at the wisps of orange magic in his claw-like hands, his once beautiful golden hazel eyes containing slit pupils, as if he were a snake.

But that’s just it. He was the Snake. The traitor amongst the people of Adytol—amongst the Wards—feeding information, supplies, even other Wards to the Vladykars. Tricking us. Me most of all, as evidenced by the ruby pendant that hangs like a millstone around my neck. The pain of his betrayal burns within me. I can see that Astralux, otherwise held still under whatever control Andeuten’s breath has over her, is digging deep trenches into the mossy forest ground despite his breath, her teeth bared up at Andeuten and Pesokvglazu, who are both holding her down.

“You should give your new power a try,” Vladykar Lochan says. “Why not on the little silver fox?”

(more…)

“How I’ve missed this,” Amon murmurs.

Astralux coasts through the air, using the gentle breeze to keep her aloft as the sky lights up with orange and purple, the sun peeking just between the mountains to the west directly behind us. I glance back at Amon, his warm brown locks of hair pushed off his face. His golden hazel eyes stare off east, his hand still outstretched to the side. My heart wonders at the pain he feels with the loss of Andeuten. How deep that hurt must go.

Banking around, Astralux flies a little more northeast, flapping her wings to stay up. I know carrying Amon must be difficult for her, but she hasn’t let on if she’s tiring yet. I trust that she’ll say something. Or maybe I’ll feel it—I’m not sure. I pat her on the neck and she gives me a smile out of the corner of her eye.

(more…)

Chapter 7: The Darkness of Betrayal

“Very good,” Neil says. “Now—attack!”

I can’t help flinching, even as I jab the oak wood staff in my hands at Lyssa. The tall, strong woman ducks and sidesteps, her small light gray eyes narrowing on me as she lifts her padded stick. I bring my shield around, blocking her attack with ease, but I can’t bring myself to swipe at her.

A smirk forms on Lyssa’s face, even as she pants for air. “You’re holding back again, Estelle.”

Huffing, I set the staff on the ground, leaning on it as I look up at Lyssa. “I’ve spent my whole life acting as a nurse. I’m still really uncomfortable with hurting someone.”

(more…)

Amon is still too weak to stand with the rest of the Wards when we see Thorn, Vitegadium, Volkan, and Tikokaftos off, so Thorn and Volkan head to the medical center to say goodbye. The rest of us wait by the Ward’s Palace, trying to chat despite the tension that hangs over us.

“I’ll see if Undabouclier and I can take a couple of scouting trips to the south,” Mortimer says, “in case they run into trouble.”

“I thought the dragon call doesn’t go that far?” I ask.

(more…)

Instead of our usual breakfast in the Sun Room, we all opt to eat in the medical center to be with Amon. He’s fast asleep, now washed, dressed in soft white and tan clothes, and tucked into a cot on the second floor, the wing dedicated to Wards. I stare at his face, anxious for Amon to wake but wanting him to get as much sleep as possible.

Neil nudges me with his elbow. “He ain’t food. Let the poor boy sleep.”

I scowl at Neil as the other Wards chuckle before going back to my apple, banana, strawberry, and fireweed salad. “I’m just relieved,” I say.

“Me too,” Veremund says. “I only wish Andeuten was still with us.”

(more…)

Astralux rushes back to the Sun Room as I sob into my hand. “Estelle? Estelle, breathe,” my dragon says.

“Amon,” I gasp in-between my cries. “Andeuten!”

“I know,” Astralux says. The pain is audible in her voice. “I know. The bastards.”

Mortimer picks me up off Astralux and sets me in a chair, tears in his own eyes as he dabs my face with a handkerchief from his pocket. “Sh. Take it easy.”

Veremund, who is walking toward us, freezes, staring at the table. “Where is Ariadna’s Star?”

(more…)

After recounting all that had transpired during our trip to Remyssus and then to acquire Ariadna’s Star, Thorn and I receive a round of applause by the other Wards.

“Well done, both of you!” Neil pats Thorn on the back, rather firmly, and grins. “Fighting off Vladykars left and right.”

I snort. “More like strategically evading.”

Astralux, who’s chowing down on a massive bowlful of assorted grilled meats and scrambled eggs, shakes her head. “You were definitely fighting at Riverton. Didn’t you fire a bolt into Raucharger?”

I shrug, but Mortimer, grinning, pats my shoulder.

(more…)

Ariadna be praised, Kalteratem and Veremund are here!

For the first time ever, I see fear—true fear—on the faces of many of the Vladykars. Eyes wide, they retreat as Kalteratem roars angrily. Veremund is poised on Kalteratem’s back, both of them in the Dragon Armor from their aeon bond, the glittering Dragon Weapon halberd in Veremund’s hands, glass-like wings upon his back.

And as if that weren’t enough, flying alongside him is Mortimer and Undabouclier, Volkan and Tikokaftos, and Thorn and Vitegadium!

“Grab Ward Estelle and the Star!” Vladykar Eder shouts. “We’re leaving!”

(more…)

“Ariadna be praised,” Astralux says again.

I nod. I can hardly breathe. We stare into the brilliant white light of Ariadna’s Star, the eight-point diamond-looking star lying on a rock jutting out like a pedestal in the center of the cavern we’ve entered, just a couple of meters from where we stand. Its warm glow plumes over us continuously.

“What should we do?” Astralux asks after another minute. “We can’t wait here forever.”

(more…)

“Eder, what of the two Ward pairs?” one of the Vladykar humans asks—and by his voice, I recognize it as Vladykar Jarogniew. He healed up well, as did his dragon Raucharger, faint white lines in-between his smoky dark gray scales the only remnants of our battle days ago. Vladykar Vaimiti and her dragon Salannagro, who fly nearby, look to have recovered as well. “Where are they?”

“Hidden, but not far,” Vladykar Eder says. I get the impression that he’s the highest ranking Vladykar of the present riders, given the way the other five Vladykar pairs hover around him and Velenosever respectfully. “We decided against pursuing in tight quarters, and instead came to lend support here. What news do you have? Any progress, Azar?”

(more…)