The moon painted the Dragon Guard of Alleble silver as they surged across the night sky en route to Yewland. Kaliam commanded the guard from the lead dragon. On Kaliam’s left flank, Aelic rode upon Gabby, Gwenne’s dragon steed, sent from Alleble. Oswyn, Sir Gabriel, Trenna, and Lady Merewen’s dragons flew in formation on either side.
Aelic was thinking of Antoinette. He didn’t know why he felt so sure, but he truly believed she was still alive. But in the midst of the fight? How long? Aelic silently appealed to King Eliam for strength—strength to win the battle and deliver Antoinette from her bonds.
Kaliam’s dragon steed swooped low. Aelic looked down. The trail of the Paragor Knights was becoming very clear on the land below. They were heading right for the forests of Yewland, and because they were on foot, they were not far ahead of the Dragon Guard.
A deep horn sounded. That was the signal from Kaliam to ride the dragons just above the ground for the last few leagues. There it is, Aelic thought. Just ahead was the large hill Kaliam had told them all to expect. They were to stay low until that hill, and then, as if the hill were a ramp, they would soar up over it and swoop down upon the enemy at the Forest Road. They will not know what hit them, Aelic thought as he turned and looked over his shoulder at the thousands of knights on their dragon steeds. The eyes of the riders flashed blue in the darkness.
“This is it, Gabby!” Aelic called to his dragon. Aelic pulled back on the reins of his steed, and Gabby climbed high from the base of the hill. Up they all went, dragon after dragon. With their trajectory straight up, none of them could even see the trees that rose up on both sides of the Forest Road.
But as they arced down, the forest—glowing with the fires of battle—rose up to meet them. Clashing warriors—some wearing the black and crimson of Paragory, and others the green and brown of Yewland—filled the Forest Road. Kaliam raced ahead and rode his steed into the wide gap between the trees. Aelic and the others glided in behind their Sentinel, weapons drawn.
A hail of arrows, glistening briefly in the moonlight, sprayed from the trees on both sides of the road, adding to the fallen enemies that littered the ground. Kaliam, Aelic, and company raced west and did not worry about being slain by the arrows from their allies. For Yewland’s archers were born to wield a bow and raised to hunt in the dark. They picked off the enemy as fast as they could draw and fire.
Nock, Mallik, and Sir Rogan must have reached Yewland in time to warn Queen Illaria! Aelic thought as the Dragon Guard rode into the fray.
A warrior rose up ahead of Aelic and raised his sword menacingly, but before Aelic could thrust Fury forward, his dragon grabbed the enemy in her jaws and flung him cartwheeling into the air.
The ranks of the enemy thickened as the Dragon Guard swept up the road. Aelic brought Fury down on the helmet of one soldier and swept the legs out from another. A sudden flash of orange flame to Aelic’s left distracted him, and he heard someone sing out, “Oh-ho!” Apparently, Oswyn had given the enemy a taste of his fire powder.
Suddenly, Aelic sensed movement to his right and pulled the reins. Gabby’s wing bowled over a huge axe-wielding warrior. The enemy knight went down in a heap, but the axe struck the dragon’s wing at the joint. Gabby roared in agony, tried to stay above the ground, but tilted and crashed into the Blackwood side of the Forest Road.
Aelic flew out of the saddle and hit the ground. His head barely missed the base of an enormous tree. Aelic jumped to his feet, shook the disorientation away, and began searching for Fury. Then he saw it, the blade shining blue in the moonlight that shone down between the gaps in the foliage. He ran for the blade, grabbed the grip, but it would not move. Aelic looked up and saw a heavy Paragor Knight standing upon the blade. His eyes flashed red as he raised his axe.
The axe never fell. Gabby made sure of that. She severed the knight’s arm at the shoulder and spit it—axe and all—into the trees. The warrior howled, clutched his shoulder, and ran into the woods after his arm.
Aelic looked at Gabby’s ruined right wing. It was a clean break, so she would not fly. He smiled reverently at Gwenne’s dragon and patted her on the nose. “You have fought well, Gabby,” he said. “Now, stay under the tree. Keep out of sight! I will return for you when I can.” He grabbed Fury and hurried to search for Antoinette.
Most of the dragon-riders that left from Clarion were engaged in battle, but farther up the Forest Road, Kaliam and Lady Merewen were on foot. As they made their way around roaring fires, it became clear that the Wyrm Lord was not far away.
“This way!” Kaliam yelled, and he ran to help a Yewland Brave, who was struggling with a dark warrior wearing a sharp helmet and a long scarlet cape. But the warrior struck before Kaliam could get there, and the brave fell to the ground.
The warrior turned and raised two swords to greet Kaliam and Lady Merewen.
“Rucifel!” Kaliam yelled.
“Yes!” snarled the warrior. “It is fitting that you should know the name of your executioner. You, sir, are one of those whelps we fought at Mithegard! And, unless my eyes have failed, before me is Lady Merewen, traitor to Paragor’s cause! How fortunate that I should have the privilege of dispatching you both!”
He leaped at them, both swords flying, striking with precision. And it was all Kaliam and Lady Merewen could do to fend off the initial onslaught. Kaliam quickly ducked one slash and drove his broadsword forward at Rucifel’s chest. Deflecting Kaliam’s thrust, Rucifel brought his other sword down hard, missing Kaliam by a fraction of an inch. Rucifel sidestepped a slash from Lady Merewen, and flung both blades at her midsection.
She staggered backward to avoid his strike, and Kaliam advanced. Their battle raged out into the middle of the road. Yewland Braves loosed arrows from the heights of the trees, but the quick-moving Rucifel dodged them and kept coming. Kaliam defended, but like an uncoiling snake, Rucifel spun back the other way. Lady Merewen missed him with a high thrust, and Rucifel slammed a backfist into Kaliam’s chest. Kaliam sprawled on the road.
Rucifel pounced, but Lady Merewen threw herself shoulder-first into her enemy’s back. Rucifel stumbled forward and drove one of his blades into the ground. Kaliam rolled to his feet and slammed his broadsword into the center of his enemy’s trapped blade. The sword cracked and split. Shards fell to the ground. Rucifel was left with one sword and two opponents.
Aelic was cautiously approaching some enemy carriages, when a spear stuck hard into the wooden crate on the wagon in front of him. Aelic crashed Fury down on the spear, splitting it in two, before spinning around and driving his boot into the Paragor Knight’s stomach. The evil knight fell to the ground, clutching his midsection. A Yewland arrow from an unseen archer above finished him.
Aelic began to search the wagons and carriages. Antoinette has to be in one of them! The battle was heavy around him, and he grew weary as he ran from wagon to wagon looking for, but not finding, Antoinette.
Then ahead, he spotted a wagon pulled to the side of the Forest Road. A tall Paragor Knight stood at the rear of the wagon. He had long blond hair and a gray cloak around his shoulders. In his hand was a wide-bladed sword. It’s Kearn! What is he guarding? Aelic wondered.
Cautiously, Aelic approached him.
The Paragor Knight turned, and his green eyes met Aelic’s. “You!” Kearn screamed.
“Where is Antoinette?” Aelic demanded. He let the tip of Fury drift down, preparing a moulinet.
“Aelic!” came a voice from inside the wagon.
Kearn laughed. “Does that answer your question?”
“Let her go!” Aelic yelled.
“What fun would that be? You come and get her!” Kearn said quietly, and he slashed his heavy blade in front of Aelic.
“Aelic, no!” came Antoinette’s muffled voice. “Aelic, no! Don’t kill him!”
“That’s right, Aelic!” Kearn sneered. “You cannot kill me, or—what was his name—Aidan, yes, that was it. Aidan will lose his best friend.”
Aelic looked to the wagon and back to Kearn. He had to get Antoinette out. He had to save her. But in order to do it, he had to get past Kearn.
Kearn lashed out with a two-fisted blow. Aelic blocked it at his waist. The strike was so hard that Aelic’s ears rung and his hands tingled.
“You cannot kill me, Aelic!” Kearn mocked. “But I can kill you! And here is the marvelous thing about this arrangement. If I kill you, then I slay Aidan also!”
Aelic stood for a moment very still, but his eyes darted as if he was engaged in some silent, desperate debate. Then, suddenly, he sprang at Kearn, unleashing a sweeping backhanded slash. Kearn blocked but had been caught off guard. Before he could duck completely out of the way, Aelic whipped Fury up and opened a gash in Kearn’s cheek. Kearn wiped at the blood with his hand and stared wide-eyed at Aelic.
Aelic held Fury in one hand and stretched out his arm so that the sword’s point was at Kearn’s eye level. “Antoinette and Aidan might not kill you,” he said. “But I have no problem with it.”
