Page 114 of Queen of Legends and Lies
I’m not strong enough. None of us are. The dragons’ fire is going to free them. And then Xenon’s unhinged plan will play out.
We’re so fucked.
In that moment, Captain Fitz charges forward with several royal guards at his heels, their armor clanking. “Capture the traitors!” He points his sword at Celeste and the others. But as they near the dragons, a wall of dragonfire drives them back.
I glance around the courtyard, searching for reinforcements.
An icy realization hits me. The palace guards aren’t stationed at their usual posts. The torches that normally bathe the area in warm light are cold and dark.
No guards on duty? And where in the three hells is Agnar? He should be here by now.
But I have no time to dwell on questions I don’t have answers to.
A cruel smile twists Moise’s his lips. With a flick of his wrists, wind slams into my chest, knocking me backward.
I have to lean forward and bend my knees to keep from being tossed about like a leaf in a hurricane.
Celeste has finally righted herself on Dame’s back. Her eyes glow an eerie blue as she joins Moise’s magical onslaught. With powers that strong, she must have swallowed a dose of eyril too.
A whirlwind rises around me, tugging at my hair and clothes and threatening to lift me off the ground.
Oh, I think not.
I wreath myself in flames that buffer the gale with a sudden thermal updraft.
A triumphant roar fills the air.
Dame spreads her wings, the last of the ice crumbling away from her legs. Freed, she spins and destroys the ice trapping the others. No longer pinned, the dragons rise into the sky, their riders clinging to their backs.
Moments later, they wheel around as a group and dive straight for us, jaws agape.
Bright orange flame builds again in their throats, and a perverse sense of arrogance radiates from them. I can sense it even with my dampening shield up.
Their pride won’t allow them to flee while still being attacked.
They’ll kill us before they let that happen.
Fitz and his guards scatter as a jet of flame scorches the spot where they stood a heartbeat before.
Sterling thrusts up an ice barrier, but it shatters under the impact of a dragon’s tail.
The dragons land in the courtyard, each attacking whoever’s nearby.
Kaida lands next to me. His heavy tail lashes about and smashes down pillars while tearing up cobblestones.
Throwing my wings wide, I move backward, tossing aside the dragonfire aimed at me. Kaida isn’t the only dragon pursuing me. Chirean whips his head around, directing his flame at me, too, while Serle laughs.
Not everyone managed to react as quickly as I did.
Chaos erupts, magic and flame and screams filling the courtyard.
Dame lunges forward, jaws wide as she rushes for the guards who try to jump or fly out of her way. One isn’t fast enough, and she crushes his wing between her sharp teeth.
Dodging the projectiles I can’t burn, I focus on saving as many people as I can by attempting to redirect the flames.
It’s like moving a chest filled with armor.
Slow and nearly impossible to turn.
