Page 92 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons
We fly together in diamond formation, Drey in the lead with Tor and me on each side and Del bringing up the rear.
The four of us tear toward the home we left almost two months ago, not knowing what we might find. But so long as we find Mari safe and sound, I don’t think any of us much care anymore.
We find when we get closer that there are great pits and crevices around the mountain that weren’t there when we left, scorched earth and blackened trees, as if our home has been attacked from above. I fear another faction has taken us at our weakest, but when we look closer, we notice that all the secret ways in and out have been destroyed except the main entrance. Our own brethren must have done this. Why?
At first I assume it’s so that we have to land in the high cavern, and we can easily be attacked. Though it’s likely a trap, we approach because there’s no other way in now. But as we all touch down, it’s to a noticeable lack of guards.
There’s no one here. At all.
Eyes open for ambushes, we go as far as we're able in our dragon forms before the bottleneck halts our progress. We change and throw on our clothes quickly, our weapons in our hands in case we’re drawn into fighting in places too small for our dragons.
‘Where the fuck is everyone?’ Del whispers.
I shake my head as we make our way through the deserted halls. Del and Tor split off to take the long way into the main hall from the other direction while Drey and I continue on. By the time we get to the main door, we still haven't seen or heard anyone.
I side eye the Commander. ‘What do you think?’ I say low.
He shakes his head. ‘I don't know what to think except that Aziel, or one of the Three Stooges always sniffing after him can scent mask, maybe even muffle sound. That would explain how they were able to get into my rooms and not leave a trace behind.’
I incline my head and then purse my lips in thought. ‘Who could have that power? It’s so rare. He kept it under wraps, that’s for sure. Bron’s dead so it wasn’t him. It can't have been Julius because otherwise he would have hidden his scent when he came to grab Mari.’
‘That leaves Glenen and Tobias. If you see him in there, be careful. He might have other tricks up his sleeve.’
I nod. ‘On three?’
‘One. Two Three!’
We burst into the main hall and stop short. Whatever we thought we’d find behind this door, it wasn’t a normal mealtime. But that’s what we find. Everyone is doing what they usually do, and now that we're inside the room, we can hear them doing it. Idle chatter, knives and forks on plates. They don’t even look surprised to see us. It’s sort of anticlimactic, actually.
My eyes find the throne Drey always wanted to get rid of. I thought for sure Aziel would be on it, lording it over everyone, but it’s empty.
‘Where is Aziel?’ Drey booms.
Everyone stops what they’re doing and stares dully.
‘Commander,’ one of the nearest males says slowly. ‘We thought you were at the Borderlands.’
‘Didn’t you hear the Commander? I growl at him. ‘He asked where Aziel is!’
The male blinks slowly. ‘Haven't seen him in days.’ He frowns as he looks down at his plate. ‘I think it’s been days.’
We leave the unhelpful male and start slowly across the room, keeping our weapons drawn. As we do, the lights flicker on and off a few times.
‘That’s not usual,’ I mutter.
‘I am the Commander of this faction!’ Drey yells suddenly. ‘What happened here?’
‘Commander?’
Orin, Tor’s young protégé comes forward. He’s glancing at the others in the room, his confusion evident at the way they’re all acting. He bows low.
‘Commander, we haven't heard from you in weeks. We were told you joined Tor and Brax in the Borderlands, but Bron disappeared. We thought you all had as well, killed by humans. Aziel told us to expect the worst. But,’ he lowers his voice, ‘I hoped you’d return to us. Many of us did.’
‘What’s been happening here, Orin?’ I ask.
The lights flicker again.
Orin looks up at them. ‘The power systems and the telephone lines only work sporadically now. Aziel heard that some of the humans were planning a revolt. He ordered us to blow two of the dams on the west side of our lands.’
