Page 92 of Deadwood
Only the same place we all know, Vulcan replied.The one kingdom we cannot get into.
It didn’t make any sense. How was this here, and why was it preventing dragons from passing through?
I didn’t sense any magic, so whatever was powering the invisible wall did a good job at hiding its power source. My only thought was that there had to be something inside Amosite that wanted to keep dragons out. Fae were able to pass through it no problem. It was only the beasts it affected.
Deep in the cave, a crash echoed, pulling both mine and Vulcan’s attention to the sound. Seconds later, the bones dragon appeared, racing around the corner with its mouth wide, yellowed teeth bared, and a roar splitting through the air. I quickly stepped back over the line, hoping like hell the wall kept it on the other side. Otherwise, we were screwed. Vulcan could take it down no problem, but with the close proximity and the inability for him to stretch to his full size, it’d be difficult and likely result in the cave collapsing on top of us.
Behind me, Vulcan roared into my mind as his growl filled the tunnel.
“It won’t get past.” At least, I hoped.
Vulcan’s massive mouth was directly beside me, pungent saliva puddling at my boots as the bones dragon advanced. Not even a foot from me, as my heart thumped in my chest, screaming at me to run, it slammed into the wall. A clatter of bones clanking against one another echoed through the cave as the dragon roared in frustration.
It is truly stuck inside, Vulcan observed, schooling his features.
I nodded, watching as it got back on its bony feet. As soon as it did, it opened its massive jaw to release another ear-piercing bellow.
Vulcan’s foot disappeared from my periphery, and I turned to find him retreating.
“Where are you going?”
We will not find answers standing in an unstable tunnel. Leave the creature alone.
He was right. The cave could collapse at any moment, much like it had before, and provoking the bones dragon to act out wouldn’t help matters. I couldn’t help but note the sympathy squeezing through the cracks of Vulcan’s typically hard tone either. Seeing the dragon stuck there had to affect him somehow, even if he tried to hide it.
With one last glance at the dragon, I turned around, following Vulcan’s massive body out of the cave. The sun was blinding as we exited, the cloud cover finally gone, leaving the sky wide open, and I squinted my eyes until they adjusted.
What is your plan?Vulcan asked.
From where I stood on the edge of the ledge, I stared out at the land, watching as the sun and the reflective rays beat down on the nature surrounding us. I had not a clue where to start with figuring this thing out, other than whatever was powering it was coming from inside Amosite.
“I’m not sure yet.”
In the distance, a familiar dark green dragon appeared in the sky, powerful wings coasting along the skyline as it slowed its approach. Perched atop the beast’s back was Raiden, and I instantly recognized him on his dragon, Bratus. If he was here, that meant he had something to tell me that couldn’t wait until I returned.
Vulcan and I climbed a bit of the way down the rockslide to meet Bratus and Raiden where they landed. Raiden descended the dragon’s back, meeting me halfway.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I debated coming at all, but I wasn’t sure if you’d be pissed I didn’t tell you right away. Dixus, intoxicated as ever, passed me in the street like he usually does on his way home from Barter’s Hell. He made it a point to tell me to stop in at the bar.”
My eyes narrowed in confusion. “Why?”
“Guess he saw a beautiful woman from another world.”
My jaw clenched as what he said registered.
There was only one woman Dixus would be ogling over in his drunken state. The man wasn’t even into the female population to begin with.
I silently cursed, not giving Raiden another glance before turning to mount Vulcan.
If Auria was in Barter’s Hell by herself, she was in for a rude awakening.
Criminals were all too quick to lose their manners in the presence of pretty things.
CHAPTER 30
AURIA
