Page 63 of Empire of Death
He gave a slight shake of his head. “These are enormous spikes…not meant for humans.”
I took a slight step back when the air expanded in my lungs so quickly it nearly popped them. My muscles tightened for a battle against painful knowledge. I pictured Zehemoth in the air, his beautiful scales pierced by the golden spike before it became permanently lodged in his body, and then his wings toppling in the air before he fell. “No…”
His eyes softened into a deep look of pain.
“Not my dragons.” I cared more for them than my own people. Creatures so powerful yet so peaceful. This was a war among men, not dragons, and they had no business being the target.
The agony in his stare deepened. “They may have the ability to heal themselves before the injury claims their lives, but it depends on where they’re struck and how deeply.”
“This can’t be happening.” My stare started to glisten with tears that shed from my soul. “This can’t be real…it just can’t.”
“I didn’t want to tell you,” he said quietly.
“What—what am I going to do?”
“You need armor for your dragons. Do you have any?”
“I’m—I’m not sure. What’s stronger than dragon scales? That’s so much steel.” I went through all the logistics in my head, tryingto figure out how I could pull this off as quickly as possible. “Or maybe they should just flee. I don’t want them to die because of us.”
“You’ll die without them,Xivin. Talon risked his life to free them, and I know they won’t turn their backs on his daughter. They’re honorable creatures that respect and love the Rothschilds like their own kin.”
“But I love them. I can’t watch them fall out of the sky.”
“Then build them armor. Send a crew to search for the platinum. Maybe fortune will bless you before the battle.Xivin, I understand why you’re emotional right now, but you need to think logically.”
“I can’t do this?—”
“Yes, you can.” He moved closer to me, getting in my face the way my father had in the past, when I was scared of the storm that we sailed through on the sea, when I wanted to stop practicing the blade because my bruises hurt too much. He never let me give up. “You can and you will, Lily Rothschild.” His hand tightened into a fist over his chest. “I have no doubt.”
My eyes flicked away, the tears of fear and stress still coming.
“Order the Brigandine Empire to search for the platinum and report back. I will take you there so you can speak to Keeper Scurvy. Light the forges and build as much armor as you can to protect your dragons. You can do this.”
It took me a moment to calm down, to let the emotion pass out of my heart. “Okay.”
He took a step back and dropped his fist from his heart. “Their eyes are trained on the Empire Colonies. They wish to conquer it and use their navy against you for the battle.”
All the terror that had just left my body came rushing back. My heart raced like I was running at full speed rather than standing completely still. “I need to warn King Ithaca.”
“Prepare your fleet to sail to his defense. The Barbarians won’t expect your arrival. The surprise may be enough to end the war at the first battle.”
“I can’t bring my dragons. I don’t have armor?—”
“You don’t need them. You have your fleet and the element of surprise. Coordinate with King Ithaca, and you can ambush them.”
I nodded in agreement, but my mind was still in a rush of thoughts.
“Give your orders and prepare for battle. When you’re ready, I’ll take you to Jack and then the Empire Colonies.”
I mindlessly gave a nod, my eyes on the grass and then the ocean over the cliff. “Okay.”
“Xivin.”
My eyes lifted and found his again.
“I am with you in this.”
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