We made it back to the city in record time. The skeletons were closer to the castle now, but still out of range of the archers in the guard towers. The dragon swooped over them and into the city. Snatches of the cries from soldiers and villagers below caught my ears before the wind swept them away.
The dragon made two loops around the castle, and I forced myself to keep my eyes open even while my stomach churned.The beast’s head whipped to the side, gaze locking on to something below. I followed the direction of its stare and spotted a large courtyard. Many figures bustled about, but one, in a flowing purple robe, caught my eye. Amy.
For a second, I thought the dragon would incinerate him, but what happened was far worse. It folded its wings back, and we hurtled for the ground. Bitter bile tinged the back of my tongue as my stomach flipped yet again.
Cobblestones cracked from the impact of the dragon’s landing. Villagers scattered every which way as the beast lumbered forward. The dragon kept me cradled close to its chest as its three other feet hobbled in a broken but quick gait. We swerved suddenly. When my brain straightened itself in my skull so I could see again, I craned my neck to find Amy flanked by a few soldiers standing directly in front of us, their mouths open.
My world spun for the millionth time as the dragon tilted me upright and planted me on the ground before them. With a strangely gentle nudge from its two claws, the beast pushed me forward.
Wind knocked me in the back as the dragon took off with one final screech, soaring away. I stumbled forward, nearly falling into a soldier’s waiting arms. Thankfully for my dignity, I managed to keep my footing.
Unthankfully for my dignity, I still managed to find myself in the soldier’s embrace a second later when he declared, “The imposter!” and seized me from behind, his blade zipping up under my chin.
Greg had his dragon hand me over to let Amy do his dirty work? It didn’t make sense.
“What shall the imposter’s punishment be, then?” the soldier yelled at maximum volume into my ear.
“Ah,” said Amy, “a good question. Considering his crimes against the crown, our people, and the whole kingdom—”
Whatever words he had left—probably an abundance—theywere drowned out by the loud clanging of bells. Alarmed cries sang out from all the guard towers surrounding us.
“What’s the matter?” my soldier shouted, deafening me.
“The skeletons, sir,” another passing soldier yelled over his shoulder as he ran by. “They’re on the move.”
I squirmed, inching under my soldier’s sword like I was playing a high-stakes game of limbo, poking it out of my way with one delicate finger. My valiant escape met an untimely end, however, both because the potion made me stop edging away, and because Amy saw me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Amy asked. “Did you think we’d forgotten about you?”
I gulped. “Yes, that’s why I was leaving. Listen, I’m on your side. I’ll help you guys do whatever, as long as it gets us home.” I would too. Gone was my fear, and in its place sat determination. A sort of frantic, desperate determination because I didn’t have any other options in the matter, but still determination.
“How can we trust you?” Amy scowled. “You betrayed the whole kingdom.”
“If I were working for the Evil One, why would his dragon give me over to you to have me captured?”
Amy seemed to consider this, and my hopes lifted.
“The skeletons have breached the outer wall!” a guard yelled from a watchtower.
My heart quickened. “The mouse was manipulating us. I’ll help you. Ineedto help you so I can get home. Please, I just want to find Courtney, then we’ll be out of your hair.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible,” said Amy. “Lady Courtney’s crimes have been too many. We’ve already scheduled her hanging in the southern courtyard. Everyone’s so excited, and if we cancel last minute, it will make for quite a faux pas. We were headed there to take part in the festivities ourselves when youdroppedby.” Amy chuckled to himself.
“What?” I said. My world closed in, and it was hard tobreathe. “What does that mean, you’re hanging her? Like a picture of her?”
“Oh, bless,” said the soldier, clapping me on the shoulder. “Hanged by the neck until dead.”
I wanted to hurl. A tar-black abyss opened in my mind’s eye when I tried to envision a future without Courtney. It killed me that she didn’t know I’d been absolutely obsessed with her from the moment we met. She still thought I liked the perfect version of her, when really, I was smitten with the opposite. I pined over the Courtney who ate KitKats incorrectly. I had sex dreams about the Courtney who never took her trash to the curb. I’d fallen for the Courtney who revealed the worst parts of herself and stayed while I showed her mine.
“She’s obviously corrupted, unlike you,” Amy was saying. “We arrested her this morning. We can’t save her. What would the people think?”
I jolted forward, my feet free now that Amy had decided I was one of the good guys.
Then I was running. For once, not away from frightening things, but toward them. My brain felt swollen and stuffy, my ears full of pressure, like I was underwater. My legs burned, but I pressed harder.
It was my fault we were here. If I hadn’t let my trust issues take over my life, Courtney and I might’ve been home right now. Instead, I’d pushed people away. I’d pushed and pushed and pushed her straight to the gallows.
I ran around outbuildings and dodged squads of soldiers, ignoring the cries from the watchtower and the distant sounds of battle.
