Keanu and I were told the Elven Army was moving to strike at Merglan while he was still in the early stages of orchestrating a return to power. Asmond tasked us with guarding the skies. If Merglan showed up, we were to face him. When we found out Zahara was coming with us to be with Anders, we both knew the potential for a bonding was very high, so we made it our chief priority to protect her. 

As we watched Merglan and Killdoor approaching in the sky, I could feel the wealth of his power and hesitated. Keanu hadn’t been in a real fight before and was eager to test his skills. He and Ragnadore tried to attack. Realizing how powerful Merglan had become, I knew Keanu was in trouble. I raced after him and we worked to distract Killdoor and Merglan. Even two against one, we were out matched. Keanu continued to attack relentlessly, trying to drive Merglan away from the elves and Zahara. The strategy worked in drawing Merglan’s attention, but my power was draining as I tried to defend Keanu, while Merglan’s power remained too strong to hold off any longer. In an effort to give Keanu space to escape, I attacked. When I had Merglan’s full attention, I withdrew, hoping he would pursue me. Instead, Merglan attacked Keanu and Ragnadore one-on-one. Without any help, Keanu had no chance. He was too inexperienced. They were dead before they hit the ground,” Natalia said coldly. She withdrew from Maija’s mind and they rode in silence for a time. 

Raffa was the first to break the silence by saying, I have lost dragons, too. My father was a very aggressive male and could not be trusted when my siblings grew to full size. I watched my father kill my oldest brother when my brother tried to get our mother’s attention. After that I left them to be on my own. 

That’s terrible, Maija said. I didn’t mean to pry into old wounds, but I’m sure there’s something I can learn from it before facing Merglan. 

Don’t be sorry, Maija. It’s the way things are, and we can’t change the past, Natalia said. I will finish what I've started telling you as best I can. 

Take your time, Maija said. 

Natalia took several deep breaths and continued to describe what happened after Keanu fell. We tried to go back and help, but it was too late. I saw Killdoor turn his attention on us and felt the full strength of Merglan’s mental assault. Vieadore and I set our walls of defense, retreating into our minds. Just as we’d practiced, I tried holding him off as best I could while she focused on escaping Killdoor. After a hellish flight, I realized we’d successfully led them far enough away from the elves to allow Zahara to escape. I abandoned all hopes of returning to the army; my survival instincts kicked in. No matter what we tried, Merglan stayed on our tail.  

I don’t know if Vieadore slowed or if Killdoor sped up, but Killdoor attacked us. I tried to cut him with my sword because my mind was being bombarded by Merglan. Our dragons were locked, intertwined as they flew through the air. I could hear Vieadore screaming as Killdoor’s claws raked her underside. I fought Merglan with sword and magic, trying to get a killing blow on either of them, but he was too quick. I don't think I landed a single strike on either of them. Killdoor released us and Merglan’s blade cut Vieadore deeper than his dragon’s claws had. We fell to the ground, and she pinned me under her body weight. They left us when they could tell my dragon was near death. I used all the energy I had left to try to heal her. The magic drained me and I fell unconscious. 

 Believe me, Maija, I did everything I could to save her. When I woke up, she was gone and I was left lying in a pool of dragon blood. I wanted to die. Without her, I had no reason to live. I would’ve done it myself if I had had the strength, but I spent the next day slipping in and out of consciousness trying to summon more magic, to end my suffering. Somehow, Anders found me in a dream. He, Ivan and Nadir pulled me out of that living nightmare and brought me to our healers. I'm not sure if you can get anything out of that. Just know that Killdoor and Merglan are relentless and will do everything and anything in their power to destroy you.  

How are you able to go on after something like that? Maija asked. 

I take it one day at a time, she replied. 

Maija didn’t ask anything more about her sister’s experience. After bonding with Raffa, Maija knew she would be devastated if she lost him and they had only been together for little less than a month. Maija knew her sister had been bonded with Vieadore for years. Raffa’s mental presence reminded her of what he’d said earlier about not letting fear consume her. Focusing, she attempted to fine-tune her searching abilities with magic while Natalia’s sad story replayed in the back of her mind. 

Several hours later, she saw it, columns of smoke rising in the distance. Maija’s stomach turned at the sight. No, we’re too late, she thought. 

We don't know that for sure; it’s just smoke, Raffa responded. 

“Smoke on the horizon,” Natalia said, pointing her hand just past Maija’s face. Prepare yourself for anything, she added, switching to mindspeak. 

Maija felt Anders’ mind reaching out to hers. She opened her link with his and heard him say, Zahara and I are going to fly out ahead and see what’s burning. You and Raffa hang back in case it’s a trap.  

Anders, no, she blurted through their shared thoughts. We need to do this together. 

We're still doing this together, we just need to be smart about it, okay?  

But separating isn’t smart. The city is just ahead, Maija said. 

Zahara and I can fly faster. If there’s something strange, we’ll turn back and catch up with you. If something were to go wrong, the Army would suffer a greater loss if we both went down. I’m just going to fly ahead and see what the smoke is about. 

I hope it's just a wildfire, Maija said. 

Me, too, Anders replied. 

He didn’t say it to her, but she could feel his love for her. She reciprocated the emotion and watched as they sped ahead. We’re going to hang back and wait to see what he finds out about the apparent fire, Maija told Raffa and Natalia. 

You’re not going to stick together? Natalia asked. 

Zahara’s faster than we are; if there’s a reason to flee, speed will be better than strength. I don’t want to rush into a situation without knowing what we’re getting into, Maija said.  

So, you did learn something from my mistakes, Natalia said. 

I do not want to see Zahara in harm’s way, Raffa added. 

We can stay just close enough to stay in contact with Anders and Zahara, that way we’ll be ready to help them or run, Maija said. 

Raffa seemed to agree with her idea and slowed his pace. He dropped in elevation, keeping low in case other dragons or riders were nearby. Soon Aquina came into full view. Maija looked south to the Bareback River. She had thought that perhaps the Rollo ships had made much faster time than they’d anticipated and they were defending the city. Her thoughts were quickly proven wrong when she saw the wide river empty as far as she could see to the south. Knowing that the river didn’t lie much lower than the plains, Maija could’ve seen the ships’ masts if they had made it up the river. As they neared the outskirts of the city, Maija felt Anders trying to communicate with her. 

We need to hide. There’s fighting in the city. Do you see the river ahead? he asked. 

Yes, the Rollo Islanders are not here yet, she told him. 

Zahara and I are at the river. Come in low and the smoke should hide you. We’re just north of the city. We’ll wait for you here. 

Maija relayed the information to Raffa and Natalia. Keeping her mind’s eye on the lookout, Maija held onto the saddle as Raffa dropped to fly just over the ground. Just as Anders instructed, they glided in just north of the city. Thick smoke puffed up from the northeast side of the city, growing more dense as they neared the river. Maija didn’t know what the smoke was hiding them from, but she couldn’t see beyond it. Anders touched on her again; they were too far south of his hiding place. Staying just above the water, Raffa followed Anders’ directions north to their location. Landing on the river’s edge, Maija and Natalia leapt down from their saddle and joined Anders on the bank’s slope.  

“Did you see them?” Anders asked. 

Maija glanced at Natalia and they both shook their heads. “We couldn’t see beyond the smoke,” Maija replied. 

“What did you see?” Natalia asked. 

“A pack of fairnheir,” Anders replied. “But I could sense another sorcerer nearby. I think it’s one of Merglan’s riders.” 

“Did they feel you?” Natalia asked. 

Anders shook his head, “I don’t think they did.” 

“Good,” she said. 

“You couldn’t see them, and they likely didn’t see you either, then they probably don’t know we’re here,” Maija reasoned. 

Anders nodded, “So we have surprise on our side.”  

“Did you see how many fairnheir?” Natalia asked. 

“I only saw them at a distance,” Anders said. “As soon as we noticed them, we came in low behind the smoke and remained low. I’ve been glancing over the bank, but it’s too far to tell.” 

“And the Rollo warriors aren’t here,” Maija added.  

“They should be here soon, though,” Anders said. “Britt thought it would only take them about four days.” 

“It’s been three,” Maija said.  

“Yep, that’s where I accounted for the ‘about’ part of her guess,” Anders said. 

She could tell that Anders was thinking up a plan and asked, “So what do we do now?” 

Chapter 89