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Zahara dropped into action, Raffa close on her tail. A roar sounded underneath them as Maija’s dragon poured forth a stream of fire aimed at Ivan. Anders’ eyes widened and he felt a rage forming toward Raffa for disobeying his wishes to capture Ivan alive. Just when he was going to shout, Anders saw the intended actions of Raffa’s technique. Extinguishing his anger, Anders watched as the scarlet dragon’s fire soared past them, forcing Ivan to pull up from the dive.

Understanding Raffa’s strategy to drive Ivan’s dragon away from their assumed allies below, Anders shouted a new plan to Maija, “You two drive him from below with fire and we’ll attack him from above.”

He waited until he saw her nod before steering Zahara above Ivan and the green dragon. Raffa and Maija continued to tail Ivan, working to drive them farther away from the group of soldiers below. Anders reached out with his mind, trying to gain some control over Ivan, but as he found before, Ivan’s body felt empty. Anders quickly revised his target and focused his assault on Ivan’s dragon. As soon as he touched the dragon’s mind, Anders felt the creature’s walls lock down, cutting him off.

Feeling Anders’ magic, the startled dragon panicked, flitting in different directions and trying to distract them. They turned back toward the mountains, the dragon trying to backtrack around them. It worked to evade Raffa; the bulky dragon was unable to turn as quickly as the petit green dragon. Ivan’s dragon, however, couldn’t shake Zahara. They stuck to Ivan like glue. Anders watched them carefully, realizing that the dragon’s panicked state had taken control of where it flew. He could see Ivan twisting over his shoulder to see where Raffa had gone. Ivan struggled to make the dragon obey. Anders knew then that Ivan had not re-bonded with a dragon. If he had, the dragon would’ve worked with him. Instead, the green dragon continued to shield its mind and fly like a scared hatchling.

Anders continued to bombard the dragon with his mental attacks. The effort left him fatigued. He continually looked to the sapphire, wanting to taste its energy. He knew from Zorna that he might use it with a different result since he was the one who enriched the crystal with energy this time. Each time he contemplated tapping into it, he held back, scared by what he’d done the first time he’d used its energy. If he acted with similar hate, whether it was fueled by his magic or Merglan’s, he might end up killing his father without trying to save him.

Zahara, I can keep this up, but I’m going to need some help, Anders said. Ivan’s getting frustrated. If Raffa and Maija continue to block his path and we keep forcing our way into the dragon’s mind, he might lose control. He’s already struggling to keep it. Anders felt Zahara’s strength seep into him and restore some of his energy. When she did, he could sense that it strained her. He realized then that she must be tiring from their sprint over and through the mountains.

We can continue to irritate them until Ivan gives up. He’ll be forced to land and continue on foot. From there, we’ll have him cornered, she said, reassuring Anders of her determination.

Together, Raffa and Zahara worked to drive the dragon farther from Ivan’s control. Zahara chased him along the mountain front while Raffa and Maija held their position blocking him from escaping into open air. Anders continued to pester the dragon with his mind, prying open walls and letting them close again to keep the dragon in a frenzy. From his frantic movements, Anders could see that Ivan’s patience was wearing thin.

After what felt like far too long, Anders saw Ivan drive the dragon sharply toward the coniferous mountainside. Reacting to the anticipated move, he and Zahara closed in on them. Without having to shout the order, Anders saw Raffa and Maija rush down with them.

As Ivan crashed his dragon into the trees, Zahara plunged into the foliage a half-second behind. Anders’ vision blurred as pine needles flew in his face. He felt Zahara land in a trot and come to a halt. Anders jumped down from the saddle, whirling around as he sought evidence of the green dragon’s crash. Not seeing any disturbance in their immediate area, Anders reached out with his senses, feeling for the dragon’s barricaded mind. Locating it quickly, Anders motioned for Maija and their two dragons to move downslope.

This way. The dragon’s not moving, so be prepared for an attack, Anders said as he pulled Lazuran from his belt and hastily moved downhill.

They rushed through the towering pines, Anders wide-eyed and ready for an attack from behind every tree. Hearing the roar of a dragon through the branches, Anders and Zahara paused for a moment to recalculate where to find Ivan and his dragon. As they burst through the branches to the source of the noise, Anders held his sword at the ready while Zahara bared her teeth in a vicious growl, the pointed scales along the back of her neck raised like hackles on a wolf, ready to fight. Anders locked his eyes on Ivan, seeing something he didn’t expect.

The roar from Ivan’s dragon moments before would be its last. Anders skidded to a stop as he witnessed his father’s absent-minded body withdrawing the broadsword from the dragon’s chest. As the dragon heaved its final breath, Ivan plunged his hand into the hole he’d created in the dragon’s chest. Speaking softly, Ivan chanted words that were not of this world and Anders knew he was conjuring evil and ancient magic spawned from the dragon’s ancient language.

No, Zahara roared, lunging at Ivan as he absorbed the dragon’s essence, robbing it of its return to the force in all things magical.

Before Anders could stop her, Zahara had vaulted through the air and down on top of Ivan. In an instant, Ivan went from sucking the life force from the dragon to being fully prepared for action. He faced Zahara head-on as she attacked. In a blast, Ivan clapped a shock wave of power, unlike any attack Anders had seen before. The rippling wall of energy hit Zahara, completely reversing her direction. She vanished from sight as her body soared back up and out of the forest, leaving behind only a hole in the trees.

“Zahara!” Anders shouted as he watched his dragon being expelled from sight. Turning to face Ivan, his skin now shining and rippling with blue energy taken unwillingly from the dragon’s soul. “What did you do?!” Anders shouted at him.

Not speaking, the blank expression on Ivan’s face remained unchanged. He stepped toward Anders at a slow and steady gate. Lifting his sword, Anders called on his magic, priming his limbs with the enhanced strength Zahara had lent him. He could kill Ivan for what he’d just done.

In a flash, Maija emerged from the trees with the speed of an elf. She struck out at Ivan with her sword and Raffa bounded in after her. Matching her inhuman speed, Ivan spun and blocked her blade from cleaving him in two. Maija’s momentum continued and she dropped, sliding under Ivan’s sword as she raked his blade with hers, mere inches from her face as she passed under it. Raffa bulled into Ivan with his head, smashing him with a sideways sweep as he tried to crush the rider.

Anders halted his charge, shocked at seeing Ivan somehow holding onto Raffa’s snout, saving himself from being violently tossed aside. He let go and dropped to the ground in front of the scarlet dragon. With one push from his arm, Ivan directed a blast of energy into Raffagaun, sending him crashing through the thick conifers as he slid. Seeing Ivan on his feet again, Anders returned to his charge. He rushed past Maija as she struggled to her feet, engaging Ivan with the sword. Moving with more speed than he was used to, Anders fought Ivan with this newly formed power. Ivan moved much faster than he did when they’d fought in the snow and Anders struggled to keep up.

Suddenly Maija’s blade swung in at Ivan’s side. Before Anders could see him reaching for it, Ivan blocked the incoming sword with the crystal-hilted dagger. In a flurry of blows, Anders and Maija tried to gain an upper hand on Ivan. Even as Maija continued to stab and hack at Ivan, he somehow managed to block all of her attempts while still forcing Anders back.

Their chance at disarming Ivan appeared to be dwindling. Ivan struck Anders with surge of energy. As if in slow motion, Anders saw his blade unable to match the speed of Ivan’s. Just when the tip of Ivan’s broadsword moved into the open space between Anders and his sword, Maija deflected the blade away and Anders stumbled onto his back in trying to lean away from the attack. To Anders’ horror, Ivan now turned his full attention on Maija. As she backed away, slashing at his two-handed attack, Anders saw Ivan launch into his signature finishing move, the way in which he used to beat Anders nearly every time they had practiced one-on-one combat.

Maija blocked the first two strikes as any novice sword-handler would, but when it came to deflect the third, her focus was on his broadsword. Launching himself off the ground with a pulse of magic, Anders sprinted to try to prevent what he knew would be Ivan’s fake a stab with his broadsword so he could slip the dagger between Maija’s ribs, which he did with success. Anders shouted as he dove at Ivan, seeing Maija clutching the dagger’s hilt.

Anders’ shoulders drove into Ivan’s side, pushing him away from Maija as she fell to the forest floor. Slamming him into the ground, Anders bounced off Ivan. Using magic to drive Ivan harder into the ground, he stumbled to his feet only to find Ivan rising just as quickly. Not fully understanding why Ivan did what he was doing to them, Anders attacked before he could move toward Maija.

Hacking at him, Ivan blocked each of Anders’ attempts. Seeing Ivan source magic, Anders dodged the shot that came from Ivan’s hand, spinning and swinging Lazuran. His father moved much more accurately and with greater speed than he had ever seen him do before. Anders used his magic to strengthen and quicken his own attacks, forcing fatigue from his mind. Each time he faced him, Ivan matched his strength and speed. Anders sent shots of energy at Ivan trying to knock him off balance or disarm him. Without the dagger, Anders’ magic could have the desired effect, but his father’s body was still fueled by the dead dragon’s power and he moved away from Anders’ assaults each time.

Anders concentrated, letting Lazuran guide him through the attacks. He drove Ivan back for the first time and gained an opening. Punching his father in the mouth, Anders watched his dull eyes lose him for a moment when his head snapped back from the blow. Ivan’s arms opened and Anders brought Lazuran down on his chest. The blade hit Ivan’s energy shield, but succeeded in knocking him down. Anders chopped his blade on Ivan with relentless force, trying to break through the protective magic and bring an end to the fighting.

Ivan attempted to retaliate to the flurry of blows, battered down each time he tried to raise his sword arm. Anders panted, breathless from having worked so hard to overpower his father. Ivan managed somehow to get to his feet with an energy-fueled attempt. He tried to attack Anders, but Anders blocked the wild attempt. Ivan had used up his strength; his tremendous power was dwindling. Sending one last enhanced series of blows, Anders knocked Ivan onto his back again, dropping his broadsword as he fell. Anders stood with Lazuran outstretched, held pointedly at Ivan’s chest.

He stared at Ivan’s pale, expressionless face, the life seeming to have left his eyes. Anders pressed the tip of the blade against Ivan’s chest. Lazuran met no resistance and he felt it cut through the leather down to skin. As he stared into his father’s glassy eyes, Anders searched for any sense of Ivan’s soul or personality.

“Why are you doing this?” Anders demanded.

Ivan didn’t respond.

“Can’t you see the hurt you’re causing? Ivan, whatever he did to you, whatever happened to you, we can fix it. You don’t have to keep hurting,” he paused, somewhat out of breath from both the fighting and the emotional exhaustion. “Ivan, it’s me, Anders, your son.” As he spoke, Anders saw Ivan’s eyes move to Maija and a flash of color returned to his eye. Anders moved Lazuran off Ivan’s chest and turned to go to Maija’s side.

The moment he turned toward Maija, Ivan attacked Anders with a bolt of energy. The shard hit him in the back like a spear and he splayed out face down on the ground, pain shooting through his entire body. Anders tried to fight through the pain and reach for his sword, but the magic paralyzed him. He watched helplessly as Ivan stalked toward Maija, still clutching at the dagger in her side. Every hope for Ivan’s redemption fled as Anders watched him stand over Maija with malice in his eyes. Anders could see her legs kicking in the dirt, trying to escape him as he bent down and grabbed the dagger’s hilt.

She screamed when he pulled it from her, the sound fueling every inch of Anders’ body. Forcing the pain from his mind, Anders pushed himself off the ground. He staggered toward Ivan as he raised the dagger up, intending to plunge it into Maija’s chest. Anders willed the remaining magic stores held deep within his exhausted body to do the only thing he could think of. Letting the spell drain him, he placed an energy shield around Maija. As Ivan plunged the dagger down tip first, Anders keeled over, Ivan’s magic still gripping him and crippling him to his knees. Though Ivan drove the dagger down with enhanced strength, Anders felt the shield pull more energy than he knew he had in him to deflect the descending blade. The dagger glanced off the sphere of protective magic, still carrying the full momentum of Ivan’s thrust and buried itself hilt-deep in the center of Ivan’s own chest. He stepped back, realizing the result, then turned slightly and tipped over backward, thudding onto the forest floor.

Seconds later, the intense pain left Anders’ body and his vision blurred with stress and fatigue. Stumbling like a drunkard unable to fully stand, Anders fell at Maija’s side, dropping his sword in the dirt. Looking at her body, he saw the blood soaking her shirt and starting to pool under her. It was too much blood loss. Anders knew she was dying.

Her pale face quivered and her body shivered as she looked back at him with her beautiful amber eyes. She whispered softly, “Anders, I love you, too.”

As this final sentence left her lips, shock set in and she slipped into darkness. Anders saw the light fading from her eyes and shook her, trying to keep her alive, shouting for her to stay with him. Tears and exhaustion further clouded Anders’ mind and he knew what he had to do. Acting without considering the consequences, Anders accessed the energy within his sword’s inhabitance crystal.

The blue-hued light wisped silently from his pommel on the ground at his side and into his extended palm. The energy brought strength into his body and his heart began to pulse harder and faster than before. An awakening that he’d been craving surged into him, but this time it was different. Whether it was the seriousness of what he must do or whether his reaction was different, Anders was able to maintain control of himself. He began speaking the words to heal Maija, not caring if he had enough energy to keep himself alive. Anders was prepared to give his life to save Maija’s. This was his fight and he had dragged her into it.

Anders felt the magic draining into Maija’s body, the blue light stitching closed the hole Ivan had created in her ribcage. As the energy worked to mend the base of her lung and restore the blood loss, Anders began to waver. He did not end the spell before he fell down at Maija’s side, the energy from his body still pouring into Maija’s. As he lay on the ground becoming more chilled, he saw the form of two dragons come into view. Their muffled voices didn’t register in his thoughts, but he felt the chilling grip of energy loss end and he blinked. A glow formed over him and he felt warmth re-entering his body.

For a moment Anders thought the sudden reversal of sensation was his healing attempt gone awry. Fearing that Maija was being robbed of his healing power, Anders cried out and bolted upright, now sitting at her side. As the light that consumed him vanished, Anders saw Zahara, beaten and bloodied, standing in front of him. His eyes widened and he turned to his right, calling Maija’s name.

To his surprise, Anders saw Maija also sitting up, her arms wrapped around Raffagaun’s massive snout. Immense relief came over him as he realized that she wasn’t dead. He sighed and turned to face Zahara. Before he could do anything but look at her, a wave of light flashed over them. Anders put his arm over his face to shield the blinding light as the air rushed around them, continuing in a ripple out through the trees causing them to bend and sway.

Anders held his breath in fear that Merglan had just attacked them. When the light vanished and he realized he hadn’t been blown to bits, he turned to check on Maija. She grinned back at him with the same realization. They’d survived yet again. Anders shook his head, not understanding what had just happened. Maija threw herself at him, now wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tight. Anders fell back with Maija gripping him snugly and thanking him over and over again.

Are sens

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