Page 64 of Dragon Fight

“Youhaveto let us go,” I told Cynane, and all the dragons of the enclave gathered. I’d already said this to the golden dragon and when Glimmer and I had insisted, she’d gathered all of the other dragons together to hear us.

We didn’t want you here in the first place, the red dragon I now knew was called Agnath. He turned to Cynane.Let them go and keep the seer here.

This is a good plan, the burnt orange dragon said with a nod of his head,and it fits the terms of the treaty. The prince brought the seer to us for training and so the riders—

“No,” I said, which resulted in all those massive dragon heads swinging my way. I fought the urge to take a step backwards in the face of so many massive apex predators.Who the hell was I to tell them anything?I thought. Then my eyes dropped down to Glimmer. She watched me carefully, golden eyes gleaming as she waited for me to continue. “I mean, I understand that Glimmer is your seer but she’s my bondmate first.”

Which was never supposed to happen, Hadrian replied in an even but forbidding tone.Any queen dragon that resisted the bonding process was supposed to be brought straight to us. It’s written explicitly into the treaty.

Is that why you were able to resist Raina?I asked Glimmer.

It appears so, she replied, but her voice was wracked with uncertainty.

Dragon seers belong to us, Cynane said.Humans have been allowed to build their petty armies of tamed dragons as long as potential seers were brought to us. Other dragon queens have been delivered to Dragon Home in the past.

Which made me wonder what had happened to them.

Tanis foresaw the breakdown in human/dragon relations, the rise of human greed,she continued.The only hope she could offer was you, Glimmer.Cynane’s voice had become as rich and sweet as any mother’s just then.That one would come to right the wrongs, to bring back the balance and—

Where Pippin goes, I go.Glimmer’s flat voice cut brutally through the other queen’s speech.

Then the answer is to lock away this Pippin, to ensure the seer’s compliance!a dark blue dragon snapped and both queens reared their heads back in shock.

You dare. Hadrian’s voice was deep and forbidding, venom dripping from his tone.

This seer is little more than a hatchling with shards still clinging to her scales, the blue dragon spluttered.We can undo any damage the humans have created.

Damage?Glimmer and I both had the same response and it came out at the same time, making me feel like the two of us were one as we scanned the group, twin flames of indignation burning inside us.What damage?

You have been enslaved, the dragon continued, as he stood his ground. Apparently oblivious to the extent of the outrage being expressed by his leaders he seemed content to metaphorically walk himself right up to the scaffold and stretch his neck out so the noose could be tied around it.Your will subsumed by a human’s.

And it should be ruled by yours instead?Glimmer’s reply was so apt, I mentally punched my fist in the air.

I am a queen.

Yes, she bloody well was.

I am a seer.

I drew in a deep breath, feeling a violent mixture of pride and awe in my chest as my dragon stepped forward, her spine straight.

And as such I owe none of you my time, my energy or my presence.Glimmer turned abruptly then, coming to face me.Let us go, Pippin.

Our dragons began to shift restlessly, inching forward, muscles tensing as they readied themselves for a fight, but Glimmer showed no sign of any such concerns. Cloudy was closest to her, so she scaled his shoulder and then stood proudly on his neck.

If one of these enslaved dragons moves a wing—the blue dragon growled.

Attor, enough!Cynane’s voice brooked no argument, bringing silence to the enclave before she looked up at my dragon.Glimmer, you must understand. No matter what bond you must feel to this human, you have a duty—

I know, was all Glimmer would say in return, making me wonder what burdens she’d been carrying.

For the balance to be restored, Cynane started to say in her best ‘be reasonable’ tone.

The queen must rise, Glimmer finished for her.I am that queen.Her eyes dropped to me.We are that queen and it is towards that destiny I fly now, but you can help ensure that success.

The male dragons in the enclave all started to argue, all except for Hadrian, who watched us thoughtfully before turning to address Cynane.

My queen?

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