Dragon Choir (39 page)

The pirate fleet laying in wait saw its chance and pounced,
speeding down from the north to take advantage of the divided
Jandan fleet. The Jandans formed up, broadsiding the pirates’
advance. Shot tore across the pirate fleet and white smoke swirled
from the spitting cannons. The pirates pushed forward even faster,
aided by weather witches in a race to beat the second
volley.
Juniper
led the charge, beating the guns and boarding the closest
galleon.

Qarim blasted
lightning into a pirate galley, knocking its mast into the sea.
Their mission was to eliminate both pirates and the armada, but
guilt gnawed at Delik’s bones. He remembered Elrin staying his hand
back in Rum Hill, sparing the Jandan marines from the ungodly black
powder and shot. How was this any different?

Qarim
penetrated his mind. “I feel your doubts condense.”

“
It doesn’t seem fair. You could obliterate them
all.”

“
Yes.”

“
They have families waiting in the Caldera.”

“
And the others, do they not have families too? What
difference is there?”

“
They come to kill ... They would have us all dead or
enslaved, the rebels, the pirates, you. The pirates are thieves and
opportunists. They’re a mixed bag, but they don’t want us dead,
they don’t want you dead. They’re defending their home.”

“
What would you have us do?”

“
Help the pirates, they have shown you no harm and left your
hoard untouched. I cannot condemn them for a promise Kobb has not
yet broken.”

“
I am glad you have come to that conclusion. Yet again we find
something in common.”

Down in the
island channels Tetula sent a thunderous roar bleeding into the
sky.

***

Bone
Dancer
’s crew whooped and whistled,
watching the silver dragon breathe death upon their pursuers. Minni
watched on in awe. It had to be the biggest silver ever spotted,
swooping and diving with a grace and power unbelievable for its
size. As the ancient wyrm dodged a redeemer’s lightning bolt, it
twisted around revealing a human rider.

Minni gasped
and the pit of her stomach sank in a tumble of elation and
fear.

Amber grabbed
Minni’s arm and pointed, eyes wide with excitement.

“
I saw too! It’s Elrin. He did it!”

Kobb seized the crew’s boost in morale to press ahead. “Right
boys! Let’s see the
Dancer
clear. It’s time for the rebels to take some
heat.”

Amber summoned
a steady wind with her magical song and the crew set to work,
making the most of it. The Jandan ships kept coming, faster than
before, motivated more by fear of the dragon than the thrill of the
chase.

Menacing storm
clouds gathered to the west and the silhouette of another dragon
appeared in the clouds while lightning struck out with unnatural
abandon. Elrin and his dragon swooped through a barrage of arrows
and vehement bursts of magic, flying over the islands to engage the
ships sailing the other channels.

Minni lost
sight of them for a moment. A cannon fired, followed by a roar loud
enough to curdle the clouds. Silver wings appeared over the island
and a second cannon blasted. The dragon ripped the air with a
terrible scream. A bright flash scalded the daylight white. The
dragon lifted above the island and swooped away beating hard
through the sky.

Minni ran to
the rail squinting through the sun, trying to see if Elrin was
still safe atop the dragon. She couldn’t spot him through the glare
of the silver scales. The dragon flew in a wide circle and came
straight at them.

The Jandan ships that followed
Bone
Dancer
shot arrows up at the dragon as it
passed overhead. Several green bolts of energy shot out and hit.
The dragon ignored them, staying on course. Minni grabbed Amber and
pulled her to the side. The dragon landed on the stern, its
enormous claws digging into the aft castle, its tail dragging in
the water. The impact lifted the bow high, knocking the pirates off
their feet. The dragon brought its violently regal head level with
Minni, inspecting her with eyes as silver as her scales. Amber
clung to Minni’s side.

Elrin extended
his hand. “Climb up. She won’t hurt you.”

“
Are you sure?”

“
Quick, take my hand.”

Minni helped Amber up behind Elrin before climbing on
herself. The dragon leapt into the air, rocking
Bone Dancer
with a violent heave.
The ship’s mangled stern was left like a giant dog had gnawed on
it.

“
Where’s Tikis?” called Elrin.

“
On the big island just to the north,” she shouted back. “Did
the others make it?”

“
Jaspa and Hurn are guarding the sanctuary.” Elrin pointed to
the storm. “Delik’s in there.”

“
Daft bastard!”

They were
supposed to summon them not ride them. Give her a horse any day.
Something you could control. Not something that would eat the rider
if it got hungry. At least she had a nice view; there were worse
places to be killed. Minni resigned herself to the short flight,
making the most of her vantage point to survey the battle
below.

With no opposition, the armada’s eastern flank had sped
through the open sea, advancing ahead of the pirate ships in the
channels. The fleet escorted four barges, each armed with ballista.
The armada was set to rout Kobb’s retreat; those barges would
barricade them in.
Bone Dancer
wouldn’t make it out without Amber. Minni had a
soft spot for the long shot and harboured a secret hope the pirates
might have destroyed the armada on their own. She knew the pirates
had to be restrained though. Kobb couldn’t be trusted to govern the
sea. Even if he could, his power over the other pirate captains was
limited. They’d be trading slaves again and preying on merchant
traders unchecked.

The dragon
landed on a mountain of treasure, her chest heaving.

Minni swung
down and helped Amber off.

“
Get her to safety,” said Elrin.

“
What? You’re not coming?”

“
We battle together.”

Could he hear
himself? “Don’t be a hero, Elrin. You’re no warrior.”

Elrin
flinched, stung by her thoughtless words. “What am I then?”

My key, my
heart alight. “I don’t know.” I don’t want you to die.

“
I don’t know either. I won’t know until I find my
father.”

“
You’re not going to find him up there.”

“
They know him. They’re going to help me. So I will help
them.”

“
What use are you up there? You’ll just get yourself
killed.”

“
I have my honour, I have to do this.”

Honour be
damned.

***

Elrin couldn’t leave
Tetula to battle alone and expect her to help find his father
after. Besides, how could he pass up the opportunity to take to
battle riding on a dragon? Minni should be happy for him, but she
was angry. One minute she stole a kiss and the next she knocked him
down. How could he lose her favour so fast?

Tetula reached
into his mind. “Love is complicated. It has no place in
battle.”

“
I’ve disappointed her.”

“
Then let us impress her.”

Tetula leapt
from the mountain of treasure and beat her way into the sky. She
circled back over the archipelago to harry the Jandan ships
pursuing the pirate retreat. The weave tingled over his skin as
Tetula incanted a long verse. An orb of frosty blue energy formed
between her claws and shot bolts of ice upon the Jandans, ripping
through sails, piercing hulls and tearing through soldier and
sailor alike.

Ships from the
unhindered eastern fleet branched off into the channels to
intercept Kobb’s retreat. The hidden cannon batteries there opened
fire, splitting the air with hellish blasts and clouding their
positions in gun smoke. The bulk of the eastern fleet slowed and
formed up in the open sea near the caldera. The site of Wyggen
circling overhead and Obst guarding the sanctuary gave the Jandans
enough pause for Kobb’s retreat to emerge from the channels and
turn on their pursuers.

The eastern
fleet advanced to break the attack, but it was too late.

In a deafening
rage the rebel positions opened fire from the islands, ripping
through the Jandans with treasure shot in blast after blast. The
pursuing ships were already stretched thin in the pursuit and worn
down by Tetula’s fire and ice.

The Jandans
fought back with every cannon they had. Gun smoke hung a shroud
over them, the rebel ambush was inescapable, but they did not give
in. They fired with disciplined rhythm while the rebels peppered
them from the cover of the islands. The standoff would only last as
long as the black powder did.

Tetula rested
her assault, arcing around in an easy circle. She watched Qarim
attacking remnants of the armada’s western force and Elrin sensed
the edges of Tetula’s thoughts, flowing with a heady mix of tender
warmth and simmering excitement. She called out a vigorous song of
trills and rising notes, so enamoured of her mate she didn’t notice
the two dragons flying toward them from the sanctuary.

Elrin called
with his mind. “Tetula! The others have left their vigil. They’ve
come to help.”

Tetula cut
short her song and strove to gain altitude.

Zarkas and
Goranuk flew low over the armada’s eastern force. Elrin was
expecting them to attack, but they didn’t. A cone of energy snaked
up from one of the barges and the black shadow and red hulk rode
the shimmering pulse in a tight spiral.

Tetula
laboured on, breathing hard, while Zarkas and Goranuk were buoyed
on the magical thermal. As they rose higher and higher, Tetula’s
fear sunk into his mind. She couldn’t match them in height or speed
and shrieked her frustration.

Qarim heard
her call and sped towards them to help.

It was not
fast enough. The two dragons dove from the sky. Zarkas was a jet
black bolt, screaming toward Tetula. He phased in and out of view
as he dove, appearing in a different position with each blink.
Goranuk was rust-red fury, bleeding through the sky to intercept
Qarim.

Tetula cast
bolts of blue lightning searing through the weave toward Zarkas,
but the black dragon blinked in and out of sight, dodging each
one.

Tetula’s mind
screamed. “Why?”

Zarkas closed
in, belching a jet of acid at them. Tetula reared up shielding
Elrin from the worst of the attack, taking the brunt across her
exposed chest. The caustic splash licked at the soles of his feet
and he screamed in agony. Then Zarkas was upon them, crashing into
Tetula with his hind legs extended, raking her belly. The impact
sent both dragons tumbling off balance.

Elrin lost his
seating as they spun through the air, his legs trailed behind him,
but he kept his grip on Tetula’s bristly mane. Tetula regained her
balance and Elrin slammed into her neck. Blocking the pain of the
impact, he slung his legs around her again and gripped with his
knees, determined not to lose his seat again.

Tetula headed
for the sanctuary, beating her wings with a ferocious drive. Zarkas
followed, herding them toward the armada.

The barges had
come alongside each other, making a giant platform. Eight ballistae
loaded with cruel harpoons lined the sides and a large red circle
dominated the centre of the expanded deck.

Elrin tugged
on Tetula’s mane. “It’s a trap. Don’t go near that fleet.”

Tetula
screamed for help. Qarim was locked in battle with Goranuk, her
relentless attacks holding him back. Wyggen and Obst broke their
positions to intervene. Wyggen flew to the aid of Tetula and Obst
dipped and weaved toward Qarim.

Tetula
screamed again, reaching her mind out to warn Wyggen. The soaring
feathered giant dipped his wing and altered course, but it was too
late. Harpoons shot through the air like stingers on a jellyfish,
rope trailing behind them. Two lanced into Wyggen and pulled
taught. He struggled, straining against the line, shrieking. More
harpoons connected and he plummeted from the sky, coursing fire and
torching three ships before he hit the water, thrashing against his
captors.

Tetula veered
away from the barges. It was all that Zarkas needed to catch up
with her. He clamped his jaw around her tail and pulled. Elrin
clung on while the two dragons clawed and bit at each other,
spinning down in their death grip. Elrin drew his dagger and
stabbed Zarkas’s grip around Tetula’s throat.

Qarim flew
towards them, limping through the air. Behind him Obst wrestled in
the sea with Goranuk, keeping her back.

Elrin’s ears
split with Tetula’s last scream. Her body tensed in an explosion of
arcane power.

And with that
the young man was thrown from her back and into a void of
darkness.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Discord

The vile
corruption was hauled onto the barge and into the red circle, limp
and leadened by the blessed serum coating the harpoons. Gone was
its glory, its challenge in the face of the creator. The dragon was
a pathetic mess of blood and scale with broken wings and slack maw.
Their kind would no longer terrorise the Lord’s chosen. They would
no longer wield his power as gods themselves. They would remember
their place and pledge fealty to the Lord.