Chapter 740: Dragon Rider
I thudded, breathless, into a hard, dark shape as Max, in drach form, swooped beneath me, banking to catch me across his broad back.
My swearing was lost in the rush of wind, but I have no doubt from the rumbling chuckle rising from his warm, scaled body he found it amusing when I explained to him just how furious I was to be dumped out and left to fall to my death.
And then there was no time for talking, or no breath for it at least, as he caught a thermal current and my stomach rose to my throat as I floated, weightless a moment, over the wide, emptiness of the barren landscape below.
Shudder. Just. Shudder.
And yet, lying there on his back, clinging on to the hard edges of his scales for dear life, as I looked out over the plane, I had to admit to myself this was the coolest freaking thing I'd ever done. Witches didn't fly, not in airplanes. Just in case our magic interfered with something important and made the aircraft plunge to fiery doom. And with my fear of heights, I never imagined I'd enjoy soaring.
Almost shattered my vertigo completely.
The stronghold stretched out to my right, massive, more so than I expected, covering a giant plot of ground. There had to be places in it no one explored, it was so vast. The plane itself seemed to go on forever, a vast expanse of nothing. No trees, shrubs, green, mountains, water... just gray and dead land and a gray and empty sky.
Whatever happened here, why this place seemed lifeless, I had no doubt the Brotherhood had a hand in its death.
The weight of Max's mind on mine told me my sightseeing was over.
There, he sent.
I looked where he turned, banking his massive form over the flat plain, one broad sweep of his wings carrying us toward the huge stone stronghold. His eyes were way better than mine, obviously, but it didn't take long for my demon sight, and his distance crushing flight, to show me what he saw.
A tiny figure ran across the emptiness, pursued by a river of ants. Or, at least that's what they looked like from up-
Gulp. My phobia returned in a rush of terror, chest tight, stomach a fist of agony, blood freezing in my veins-
You must help her, Max sent, cutting through my panic. Syd, I need to focus on the Brotherhood.
Right. Double cheek smack. Onward.
Wind rushed around me, pushing against me, trying to scoop me from Max's back. I anchored myself with power, feeling his energy embrace Shaylee as her Sidhe earth magic dug deep and locked me in place.
Still nervous, feeling hysterical giggles rising, I sat up, legs stretched uncomfortably to straddle his back. This was no horse, but a massive dragon I rode, and I finally had to just trust my Sidhe power and cross my legs in front of me.
Held firm by a cushion of earth power, confidence rising, I left Shaylee to handle our safety and reached for Ameline. And it was her, running toward us, as we flew toward her, Max swooping to the ground, rushing forward until I could see the brightness of her eyes.
My demon's power latched on, heaved her onto Max's shoulder as we skimmed over the furious Brotherhood sorcerers. Black balls of empty beat against his underside and I felt the drach shudder even as the massive down sweep of his wings carried us up again.
I peered over his back, saw the sorcerers fall, sprawled by the thrust of wind his wings created, their attack cut off as he threw himself into the air and far above their reach.
The veil tore, Max turning sideways to hurtle through the gap just as it snapped shut behind his tail.
No! I shouted into the veil. Go back!
I could still feel him, the anchor Shaylee created holding firm.
We cannot, he sent. Syd, the time is at hand. Your friends will have to wait.
My argument died in a bout of gasping and clutching at him as the veil opened one more time and he zoomed out, still sideways.
Oh. My. Swearword.
If you don't straighten up, I sent, I'm going to kick your drach ass.
Another chuckle, this one with a hint of wickedness. You'll never be free of your fear, he sent, unless you face it and defeat it. Besides, his wings beat once as he righted himself before dipping down to the familiar bowl-like peak under the Demonicon sky, I would never let you fall.
Says you, I sent even as my temper flared. I'm going back, with or without you.
His huge head swung around, diamond eye glittering.
If you go back, he sent, without her, without the fourth, you will die and this will all have been for nothing.
You don't know that, I sent. Wanted to call him a liar. Doubted myself too much to do so.
Syd, he sent. Please believe Fate works in ways none of us can comprehend. And, if it is meant to happen, your friends will survive.
That didn't sound hopeful.
I gathered my power, reached for the veil. To hell with him and Fate. I couldn't leave them to suffer.
Felt his swell around me, hold me tight.
I will do everything in my power to stop you, he sent. Just as I will do everything in my power to help you succeed against the Brotherhood. Please, trust Fate. There has to be a reason your friends are trapped there.
Easy for him to say.
And we will be there again soon, he sent. For the final battle. Which feels closer than I have ever felt it. We can find them then, when this is over.
Too late. What if we were too late? A storm of self-loathing and frustration swirled in my gut, poking me with fear, anger, the desperate need to help them.
And yet.
Why did it feel like he was right?
Fine, I snapped. But if anything happens to them, I'm holding you responsible.
If that makes you feel better, he sent.
Didn't. Not even a little bit.
I glanced over, noticed Ameline still struggling to hold on. Didn't offer to help.
She was maji now, too, wasn't she? I was done with handholding. And rescuing, thanks.
The drach waited for us, watching as Max landed, the backwash of his wing strokes sending a soft mist of dust into the air as his back legs settled onto the black stone before his front end joined them.
Smooth, precise landing. Thank you for flying Drach Air.
Ameline leaped free, her fury snapping and crackling around her as she glared up at me. Wow, Ahbi was really doing a number on her. I hadn't seen so much emotion from the dark maji ever.
"Why didn't you come with me?" Her magic thrashed against mine, but never made contact. Max's growl followed a puff of smoke, the glow of flame showing around his long, narrow muzzle while his power flowed outward to block her. "This could have been over if you had just come with me."
Max morphed as he spoke, going from looming drach to huge man in a few breaths. "Don't be a fool, Dark One," he said while his people hummed in agreement. "The prophecy-the Fates-are very specific. Not even we are outside their purview."
That was interesting. "I thought you were random?"
He shrugged, smiled. "Is there really such a thing, Syd? Or is random merely another term for a choice to be made?"
No time for philosophical discussions. Not with Ameline still blowing steam.
Max returned his attention to her. "There is much to happen between now and the time of your battle," he said. "Did you really think Fate would allow you to break the threads they created? That you, little maji, are more important than the prophecy itself?"
Zing. I liked him more and more as time went on, uh-huh. Even if he was between me and Quaid.
And the Zornovs, Syd.
Ameline's sullen scowl was her only answer.
"We have an appointment to keep," the female drach stepped forward again. The one who said she was for Ameline. I tried not to hold it against her.
"Two of them," Max agreed as I silently labeled the female Mabel.
What? Not like I could pronounce her name either, likely.
Ameline looked her up and down with an air of disdain while I shook my head and poked her with power. She snarled at me while I turned to Max.
"Is this the one we needed?"
He shook his head, diamond eyes cold and quiet. "No," he said. "Only Fate knows the identity of the one who must join you."
"Two maji," Mabel said while the song of the drach grew in volume and layered texture of harmony. I wished I had a recorder, some way to capture it. Now that I wasn't afraid and on edge about Meira, it was really beautiful.
"Two sorcerers." Max said.
"One of the Light and one of the Dark." Mabel nodded to Ameline who narrowed her eyes. I could see her mind churning even as my own spun circles.
"Does that mean Ameline is going to fight for the Brotherhood?" Just like her to turn to the bad guys at the end.
Just kill her now, my demon sent. We'll sort it out later.
"Only one can tell you what you need to know," Max said while Ameline's power snapped at me. He turned to her then. "And only one can share what knowledge you require."
Mabel reached out and set her hand on Ameline's shoulder.
"Come," she said. "It is time."
For?
I took Max's hand as Ameline shrugged free of Mabel's touch.
His diamond eyes blinked slowly, once.
"You must speak to Fate," he said.
***
