Page 180 of The Forbidden Dragon King
I take a final deep breath, before pushing myself to start running again.
Then I grunt in shock, as my foot hits something hard and unexpected. I fall forward, landing onto my hands and knees.
I hiss out a breath, as my palms are scraped bloody.
I glance behind me, feeling out the shape of the object with my hands that I must have tripped over.
A low water trough.
“Taken out by a fucking trough. If my soldiers could see me now.” I turn my head toward the sky. Then I whistle. “On the sacred ash, my ravens, be my sight and guides.”
I push myself back to my feet, raising my arms.
My remaining magic wells through me. My wings spread wide.
Above me, like giant ruby dragonflies, the instructors hover in the azure sky.
Watching.
Monitoring.
Making sure that nobody escapes.
They’re the true danger here.
I close my eyes, indulging myself in the glorious sensation of the sun kissing my upturned face, the fresh but bitter scent of the grove, and my lapping magic.
I feel my ravens, like companionship and freedom, before they arrive.
Slowly, I smile, opening my eyes.
My conspiracy of ravens flock from the sky, croaking their greeting.
“The King of the Ravens greets you.” They like it when I’m formal. “Help me out, aye?”
The ravens fly around me in wide circles, feathered shadows.
I stand in the center of their whirlwind, relishing their beautiful chaos.
“I missed you too,” I say, fondly. “Now, show me a safe route to the gates.”
They fly up, flapping around me in a traditional Unseelie honor guard.
I follow their lead, running to keep up and certain that they won’t guide me into any more obstacles.
I’m going to make it.
I squint at the city walls.
I’ve dreamed of escaping them for the last few months. I never thought that I’d be so desperate to return back inside them.
All of a sudden, my ravens start up shrill, high-pitched cries of alarm. They circle up above me, shielding me with their wings.
I reach for a weapon that is no long at my side out of instinct, before I tip back my head and stare above me, wishing more than ever that I could make out clearly the threat.
Except, I can feel its shadow, and it’s dragon shaped.
The ruby dragons are swooping low overhead now in war patterns.
