Page 25 of Dragon Fire

He loved her more than anything, but it was impossible to deal with her now. He wanted to keep her safe, and yet, by nearly imprisoning her in the house, he seemed to have driven her into even more dangerous pursuits.

He knew he was at fault, at least partially. He saw it clearly now, after the fact, when it was too late to fix things between himself and his only child.

If she died in this foolish exercise, he would have only himself to blame. Himself and those two upstarts who dared to court her. Captain O’Dare would have his revenge on those two men—dragons be damned. If one hair on Livia’s pretty head was harmed, both Seth and Gowan would be answering to the captain.

He gave the order to set sail with grim determination, knowing his other captains were following close behind. The harbor would be almost empty that night. All the O’Dare company ships would be at sea…heading at full speed for Gryphon Isle.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The flight was long, but uneventful. Seth had packed provisions, and the humans snacked along the way. They also threw a few tidbits—fruits and a fish or two—to the fliers. Flurrthith especially thought it was great fun to try to catch a fish hurtling through the air. The little game helped distract the youngster from what lie ahead. At least for a little while.

When the sun was a long way past its high point in the sky, Genlitha spotted the first signs of the island. As they drew nearer, she flew higher, her body camouflaged against detection from below. She orchestrated the flight paths of the others, sending Xanderanth and Flurrthith out to the east, making a wide loop to land on the far side of the island, which was free of the pirate menace from what she observed. She sent Hrardorr lower, to skim the waves before finally signaling him to dive beneath them before anyone on the ships could see him.

The plan was working so far. Now, Genlitha would land—hopefully without being seen—then Gowan and Seth would see what help they could be on the island while Gen went back up to act as high guard. The idea was that either Gowan or Seth could act as liaison between the inhabitants of Gryphon Isle and the dragons.

If they needed more fighters, Gowan would use his sword. If they needed more healers, Seth would ply his trade. Of course, both men could fight, but one or the other needed to liaise, so that was the division of labor they’d come up with. Livia, meanwhile, would be making her way overland from the secluded cove where she had landed with Xanderanth and Flurrthith. The gryphon and Livia would travel together while Leo and Xander fought under Genlitha’s direction.

Flurrthith might be too tired to fly after the long trip to the island, but if he could, he would carry Livia on his back and fly to the wizard’s keep. If he couldn’t fly, they would walk. Livia would watch over the young gryphon, and he would take care of her on his home island.

Gowan thought it was as sound a plan as they could come up with for now. Everything might change once they got on the ground and met with Gryffid’s people, but they would adjust on the fly, if they had to. They were all adaptable, and for now, at least, Livia was as safe as Gowan could make her on this island.

Genlitha was spiraling tightly, making her descent as quickly and stealthily as possible. She kept the sun behind her so nobody looking up could really see her. But at the final approach, she had to pull up sharply so as not to smack into the land too forcefully. She could break bones, as well as kill her two passengers.

Gowan didn’t interrupt, letting Gen do her thing. She was the expert flier here. He could only cause problems if he spoke at the wrong moment.

But there was one thing they could do, and that was try to let someone below know that they were coming. In all likelihood, nobody would attack a dragon—especially since Gryphon Isle had sent Flurrthith to bring dragons back—but it wasn’t good to startle those below. Some might act without thinking and fire upon Genlitha.

As Gowan thought about it, Seth was already broadcasting a call to those below, carefully shielding Genlitha out of his thoughts, Gowan noted.

“Ho, the island! I am Seth of Dragonscove. A dragon is coming in. A light blue dragon from high above, at great speed. Hold your fire. We come to help.”

“Who is this?”came a rather perturbed voice from somewhere far below.

“Seth of Dragonscove. Apprentice healer from the Southern Lair. We’ve come to help,”Seth repeated.

“You are not a knight?”The voice sounded suspicious now. It was time for Gowan to intervene.

“Seth is a healer and a swordsman. I am Gowan, knight partner to Lady Genlitha, the dragon now on approach. If you act hostilely toward her, she will have no choice but to defend herself. We come in peace, to help defend your island.”

He knew he sounded a bit belligerent, but Gen was picking up speed, and he was truly worried about this breakneck approach.

“Where is Flurrthith?”A new voice broke into the conversation, female, worried and gryphon, if Gowan wasn’t much mistaken, though he’d never talked mind to mind with a gryphon before.

“Landing on the other side of the island, away from the pirate ships with another dragon,”Gowan answered quickly.

“Thank you! Thank you, Sir Knight!”The female gryphon’s voice faded, and Gowan suspected she was already flying away toward the far side of the island. If he had to guess, he’d say that had probably been Flurrthith’s mother.

“Where are you?”the first voice came back.

“Hurtling toward the keep courtyard too fast for comfort,”Gowan replied truthfully.“We will be down shortly. Do not be alarmed. Genlitha is sky blue and very reflective.”

“I see her now,”came a new voice. A gryphon voice. Male, Gowan thought.“She flies like a mad thing.”The tone was complimentary, though the words were questionable.

“That’s Genlitha. The newest flight instructor at the Southern Lair,”Gowan said, feeling the need to brag on Gen a little.

“I can see why,”the gryphon responded.“We will clear her path, though she is threading the needle quite well without our help.”

There wasn’t any more time to communicate with those below as Genlitha started backwinging like crazy. The strain on her wings was enormous, and Gowan grew concerned for her wellbeing after this absurd landing. Would Seth have to treat her for muscle strain before they even got into battle? He hoped she knew what she was doing.

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