Page 71 of Fire Dragon
She loved Dusane and it was from the planet she now drew her strength. She wanted to protect Dusane from monsters like the Magi. She wanted a safe, beautiful world for her daughter and all the children of Arranfar.
The more she centered every fiber of her being on Dusane, the greater Liam’s energy vibrated.
His voice entered her mind.Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.
I will.
She wanted to explain, but she couldn’t say more, or she felt she would diminish her connection to the planet.
She pictured the five massive continents of Dusane and the interconnecting oceans, the whales and other sea-life, the animals that roamed their world, the lakes, rivers and mountains, the beauty of the sunrise and glory of the sunset, the stars at night, and their moon, so like Earth’s.
The vibration within her began to gather in a great mass around her and around Liam.
Needing to communicate, but unable to speak, she nudged him with her knees.
You can’t speak.
She nudged him once again to confirm what he’d said.
Emma, I’m feeling I could destroy the entire Magi squadron with what is building around me.
He was right. She nudged him again.
She felt him communicate with Santos and knew the nature of the exchange when the ADF dragons began to peel away in every direction.
A split-second later, Liam flew toward the enemy, aiming directly for the dragon now bearing the amplification device.
Emma knew the Magi were gearing up their fire, but it would be too late.
Before Liam had gotten within fifty yards, he let loose with his fire which was carried forward on a heavy, amplified wave.
He roared as the flames leaped a hundred yards across the breadth of the enemy lines.
The fire engulfed the Magi dragons. Each twisted in the air, then plummeted to the mud flats below.
The Magi had little protection against the massive fire. Many were forced, as he had been, to shift midair then fall. But all were burned to death.
The carnage was terrible. The odor worse.
The Magi support squadron, composed of lesser dragons, was no match for the ADF warriors who went in pursuit. They would be captured and interrogated later.
For a long moment, as Liam flapped his wings and remained hovering in the sky, Emma watched the bodies writhe on the muddy earth until one after the other, they fell still.
A sigh left her body, resonant, deep and full of grief for the lives lost here today. Even though the Magi warriors were the enemy, they were men, born of mothers, perhaps with wives and families back in Magiffe. She could only wish that by nature or by decision of will, the Magi would give up their desire to command the continent of Arranfar and stop making war. She doubted that would ever happen.
Shouting their victory, the rest of the ADF dragons flew past them and headed to the Magi dead and dying on the flats below.
Emma sighed again. With the enemy vanquished, she was grateful to be resting on top of Liam’s head and neck. The experience, as extraordinary as it had been, had taken a toll.
Liam headed back in the direction of HQ. Cocooned in his energy, Emma fell asleep.
When she woke up, she was in Liam’s bed and sensed immediately that night had fallen. This surprised her because the battle had taken place before noon. She’d slept for hours and couldn’t even remember how she’d gotten here.
She listened and could hear Liam in the other room, but not just him. She discerned a number of voices, several of which were female, as well as laughter and music.
It sounded like a party.
She smiled. Of course, there would be a party. The ADF had defeated a world-threatening Magi weapon.
