Page 10 of Fire Dragon
Liam dove deep in the blowing sand then once he was far enough on the opposite side came up high so that she had a clear shot from above on the western side of the Magi squad. She fired steadily and carefully, making each shot count then reloading almost in the same split-second.
Down the three went, falling into the lake below. Several support teams were there to collect the dragons and haul them to interrogation spaces deep in the bowels of HQ.
But as she turned, she saw that five more dragons were on them and they’d been seen.We’re live. Evasive maneuvers. Now.
Liam responded instantly and flew straight up into the air as bullets swept the flow of sandy wind beneath them, exactly where they’d just been.
Her heart hammered in her ears. They’d almost bought it.
She’d made a rookie mistake with that pass. She should have been checking her backtrail just before she fired at the other three.
But Liam had served a long time and the enemy dragons, without riders of their own, were nearly blind in the sandstorm, so they’d escaped.
Like the trained warrior he was, he moved quickly behind the five.Keep checking the rear, Emma.
I am. The two remaining are a few hundred yards out.
He said nothing more, but again, the movement of his body allowed her to know which way they were heading.
The five dragons, however, weren’t in a tidy row like the last group. She held her pistol in her left hand. She might need it. She kept her rifle butted-up telekinetically against her hip.
As Liam dove through the air, she understood what he was thinking. She gripped his body hard as he rolled slightly so that she ended up with a clear upper view. She took her shot from the hip and the dragon began to fall. As he did, he clipped the one below him with his tail, which sent the second dragon into a roll.
Both hit the water which put them out of commission.
As expected, Liam righted himself and headed to the opposite side where the third, fourth and fifth dragons had darted toward them.
But this group had something special prepared. She said,They’re gearing up for a firestorm.
Again, Liam didn’t respond with words, instead she leaned forward almost lying against his neck as he began a swift upward flight, his wings pulling hard.
She saw the line of fire stretch out below them, where they’d just been, and felt the heat. Because Liam was a fire dragon, he could have taken the heat but not her.
She raised her rifle and took careful aim. She fired one, then reloaded. Second shot. Reloaded. Third shot. Each dragon arched then fell.
She immediately looked behind her.The last two have gained a hundred yards and moving in fast. They’re bigger, more powerful.
Liam’s voice was strong within her mind.No doubt hoping we’ll be tired from battling the first crew. Hah.
And that from a dragon who’d just brought in a caravan. Liam was amazingly strong.
They’re a hundred yards out.
I see them. I’m going to do a full three-sixty. Hold on.
Ready.She glued her body to his and kept her weapons secured at the same time. She pressed her knees so tight against Liam’s neck, she was sure she was bruising him.
He drove straight up but angled onto his back which caused the wind to catch him and drag his wings hard creating a whip-like effect and at the same time placing him behind the remaining two, monstrous, copper-colored dragons. The maneuver was an amazing feat of dragon-skill.
Once he righted himself, she fought the nausea and disorientation. She made a mental note to do more of this in practice as well. A few choice words blistered her mind as she brought her rifle up. Her arm was getting tired, so she switched sides.Left.
Understood.
He adjusted his course to come up on the opposite side of the dragons.
You’ve got a narrow window on this one.
She didn’t say anything. She felt the rhythm of his flight and leaned across his back for extra steadiness. She put the far dragon in her sites, fired once and missed. Reloaded.
