Raffa glided down to the grass below to meet up with Zahara.

“Maija,” Anders said as they came alongside Raffa. “Are you okay?” 

Maija shook her head, “It hurts Anders. He got through to me. I felt him inside my head,” she winced at the pain. “He knows about the plan and he took one of our bags of crystals.”  

Anders cursed, then noticed her neck was bleeding and she was covered in dirt. “Do you need healing? You’re neck,” he said pointing. 

Maija shook her head, “It’s just a scratch. The dragons are worse.”  

“I’ll start the healing,” he said.  

Anders, I’m fine. We need to leave. It’s not safe here, Zahara said. 

Are you sure? Anders asked.  

Raffa’s only scratched and my injuries aren’t any worse. Tarron is the one we need to be worried about, she added. 

“Anders, look,” Maija said, pointing to the sky. 

He looked back to see what she was pointing at. Five dragons flew high in the sky. While he watched them draw closer, Zahara turned to mirror Raffa.

“How’s your hearing, Maija?” Anders asked.  

“Same,” she said.  

“That must be what chased the silver-back off,” Anders said, watching the group of dragons drop toward them. They slowed overhead and hovered. Riders sat atop each of them. “Stay together,” he said, not looking away from them. “Whatever happens, we stick together.”  

The dragons slowly flew closer and lower.

Maija asked, “Can we outrun them?” 

“Maybe,” Anders shrugged. “It’s almost dark, so we might have a chance.”

“We’re ready, just say when,” Maija said. 

The dragonriders were well within range of magic use but had not attacked. Anders kept his sword out and a steady stream of energy flowing in case he needed it. As the riders hovered above the ground, Anders felt Zahara shifting under his seat. She would pounce if he gave her the word.  

They haven’t attacked, Anders said through his mind to Maija. Let’s see what they want. 

Maija looked at him, her face, dimly lit in the evening light, was lined with worry. 

The dragons landed on the grass in front of them one after the other. One of them called out, “You need to come with us!” 

Anders looked at Maija, then faced the dragons again and replied, “What we need to do is our business.”  

“We mean you no harm,” the rider replied. “We have come to help you fight the rider in the east.”  

“Prove it,” Anders replied. 

“Our coming to your aid is not proof enough? We do not attack you with magic or weapons. We are here to help.”  

“Maybe they’re telling the truth?” Maija suggested. 

Anders nodded; they weren’t in a position to have another confrontation. “Why do you want us to come with you?” 

“To make peace and show the rest of our dragonrider army that you can be trusted.”  

“Our army is expecting us to return. They’ll become worried and come looking for us if we don’t”  

“We’ll take you to them,” he replied simply. 

“Do we have a choice?” Maija asked. 

“No,” the rider said.  

“What about Natalia?” Maija asked. 

“She and the elves will have to join the Rollo warriors when they arrive. Either that or they’ll return to the Army. If they’re telling us the truth and they take us to camp, one of us could try to fly out and find her?” Anders suggested.  

“I guess we’ll have to,” Maija said.  

Anders nodded. Zahara led Maija and Raffa closer to the other dragonriders. Stopping in front of them, Anders answered, “We’ll come.” 

Chapter 91

Into Aquina

“I don’t see anyone,” Max said to Britt. “Shouldn’t there be people coming to see what we’re doing here?”  

His question echoed the very thought in her mind. The dragonriders should have been here. They would’ve landed last night and warned the people of our arrival, she thought. Yet they saw no sign of a welcome party or a city defense.  

“Britt?” Max asked, his voice dropping an octave when she didn't answer.  

Britt blinked, returning to the reality they now faced. “The smoke,” Britt said, pointing to the columns on the opposite side of Aquina. “It’s widespread.”  

“Yeah, and it looks to me like something dangerous started it,” Max said. 

Britt nodded slowly, “For it to be widespread without a large column means it’s been burning through the night at least.” 

“Maybe that’s where all the people are?” Max suggested. 

Britt shook her head, “This city is too large for our group to go unnoticed at their border. Things did not go as planned. I think dragons were involved and we’re late to the party.”  

“You think Anders and Maija have already been here?” Max asked. 

“Could’ve been the dragonriders Anders ran into or it could’ve been the enemy riders. Either way, I think they’ve run the people off and set fire to one side of the place.”  

“Maybe everyone is on the other side of town trying to put the fire out?” Max suggested. “If dragons were involved, why would they only burn part of the city?” Max paused seeming to discover the answer to his own question, “Unless, Anders and Maija drove them off and that’s why they aren’t here to greet us.”