Page 71 of The Uncrowned Prince

“Answers.” The other woman seemed strangely apprehensive. “I do not believe that we must necessarily be enemies, though I do realize that kidnapping may not have been the best way to convince you of that fact.”

“Whatever your intentions, I will not permit you to harm either of your captives,” Karreya stated flatly.

The woman eyed her, curiosity in the tilt of her head and the slight crease of her brow. “By which you imply both that you care about their fate and that you, in fact, arenota captive.”

“It is not my fault that you were too foolish to bind me,” Karreya said, allowing her shrug to flow directly into an attack.

Not aimed at the woman, but at the elf, whom she judged to be the more dangerous of the two.

Karreya feinted low, then leaped, twisting in the air to aim a kick at the elf’s head, but he was dizzyingly fast—far faster than any human opponent she’d ever faced. And he was armed, she saw, with a dagger, which he did not draw as he spun towards her.

Her opponent placed some stake in honor, then—a weakness she would use against him if necessary. But for now, she simply faded back and to the side, taking slow steps away from the fire. Leading him away from his sole ally and the impediments posed by the unconscious prisoners.

“I have no desire to fight you,” the elf said, walking slowly towards her with his empty hands raised. “And it would bring me no pleasure to hurt you. But neither will I allow you to hurt anyone else, or to remove either of your companions before we have spoken with them.”

“You will have to demonstrate that you have the ability to deny me,” Karreya replied coolly, and kicked sand in his face.

It was her only advantage—her opponent seemed unfamiliar with the shifting grains underfoot—so she forced him to move, striking and feinting and then dancing away. But before too long, it became clear that for perhaps the first time outside the Enclave, she had engaged in a fight she was unlikely to win.

Despite his size, the elf was fast. He was also far stronger. Even when they landed, her strikes did not seem to be hurting him enough to slow him down, while each time she took a blow, it was like being kicked by a horse.

“Enough,” the elf finally growled, and Karreya twisted through the air to the side, expecting an all out attack.

Instead, her enemy vanished, and standing in his place was…

A dragon. This must be the beast that had taken her.

Actually, no, it was not a true dragon, but it was similar. It possessed a reptilian body with wings, but no forelegs, and it was considerably smaller than a true dragon. Its scales were black, and it hissed its annoyance as it crept towards her, wings flared and teeth clicking together in warning.

Karreya dropped into a crouch and considered her next move. This creature was not one she could fight. Not without a blade. Her only option was to flee, but it seemed likely the monster could see in the dark, and no doubt could fly faster than she could run.

“Kyrion, stop scaring her,” the woman said.

“Scaring her?”

Karreya’s eyes widened as the creature spoke in a deep, rumbling voice.

“I doubt this one recalls how to be frightened,” it said sarcastically. “Right now, she’s probably trying to decide whether she can gouge my eyes out with her fingernails or punch holes in my wings with her fists.”

Had she not been so focused on remaining alive, she might have blushed at such a delightful compliment.

“I just wanted her to realize that she cannot win, so she might as well stop fighting and start listening.”

Karreya had already come to that conclusion on her own. “I will hear what you have to say,” she offered cautiously. “But I will neither abandon nor betray my companions.”

“No one is asking you to,” the woman pointed out. “I must confess, the reason you are here… We overheard some of your conversation.” She paused, as if struggling to find the right words. “I need to know how the three of you are acquainted.”

“We are… friends.” The word still felt odd in Karreya’s mouth, but Mistress Bethia’s voice of warning had grown far fainter than before.

“Come now.” Niell’s voice was weak and slurred, as if he were drunk or half asleep, but he was struggling to a sitting position and shaking his head with determined vigor. “We’re more than mere friends. After the number of times you threatened to stab me and didn’t, I feel as if we are destined for something far greater.”

Keeping a wary eye on the small dragon, Karreya made her way swiftly to Niell’s side, dropping to one knee and surveying his face and clothing for blood or other injuries. She saw none, but he coughed several times and rubbed at his neck as if perhaps someone had made a concerted attempt to strangle him.

“Did you just attack a wyvern in order to save me?” he asked softly, a grin tugging at his lips.

“I attacked an enemy,” Karreya corrected, feeling a bit embarrassed by the look in his eyes. “Though I believe they are more your enemies than mine.”

“I do seem to have a surfeit of those, don’t I?” Niell looked her over in turn. “You are not hurt?”

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