“When will you kneel?” Draeken demanded. “How many must I kill before you accept my rule?”
Elenyr looked skyward, and saw the sun nearing its zenith. Just a few minutes until midday, and they were out of time. She hoped Fire was ready. She shifted her feet and subtly drifted to the side. Then she sent a mental order to Mind.
“Last chance,” Elenyr said.
Draeken burst into a laugh and swept his hand at Elenyr’s collection of allies. “You have nothing that can harm me. I will crush you, and then your alliance will shatter.”
“Then I’m sorry,” Elenyr said, and then raised her voice. “Death? It’s time for you to look at me.”
Draeken blinked in confusion and turned to the assassin, but Death was already turning his head. He met Elenyr’s gaze—and leapt into a charge. He crossed the space in a burst of speed, rushing to Elenyr. But one individual stood in his path.
Plague.
“No!” Draeken roared, but the order came too late.
The scythe swung through Mimic’s body, slicing from spine to ribs. Her magic had withstood steel and shard, arrow and lance, but Death’s blade was unique, and it killed even a disease. Without uttering a sound, Plague crumpled to her knees, her body turning to dust.
“What have you done!” Draeken shrieked.
He stared in horror at the pile of dust, even as Gendor closed the gap to Elenyr. She turned ethereal and leapt backward—passing through the fragment of Mind, who raised his sword. His sword passed through her stomach and pierced Gendor’s chest.
Death fell to his knees, his scythe falling from his fingers, his cloak falling into the dirt, his cowl falling back to reveal Gendor’s stark white features and burning red eyes. Gasping for breath, he looked up to Elenyr, his fingers disintegrating to dust.
“Thank you,” he breathed.
Death faded to dust and the wind brushed him aside like a broom. The shocking kills left everyone speechless. Mind stepped free of Elenyr and she nodded her gratitude. Draeken stared at the spot of their demise.
Draeken groaned and fell to one knee, the weight of the fiend army falling upon him. He passed a hand over his face, his fingers trembling in rage. Even with many of the fiends disappearing, Draeken still struggled to carry the load.
“This place is more exciting than you described,” Belrisa said to Tardoq, who chuckled.
“You have no idea.”
Draeken clenched a fist and rose to his feet before turning to Elenyr. “That was a mistake, one for which you will be punished.” His eyes glowing with hatred as he advanced.
Chapter 41: Plummet
“Are you sure about this?” Lachonus asked uneasily.
Fire peered over the dragon’s side, a smile spreading on his features. “Doesn’t it sound like fun?”
“No,” Lachonus said.
I have to agree with him, Isray said, flapping his wings to maintain a hover. This plan is madness.
“Mine usually are,” Fire said.
“It’s the only one we have,” Senia said, her breathing labored.
They had flown above the clouds, rising to such a height that the air was thin and all four struggled to breath. Fire carefully extricated himself from spikes on the dragon’s spine and leaned over his wing. Lachonus did the same.
“If we survive this,” Lachonus said. “I don’t ever want to follow another of your plans.”
“If we survive, I won’t either,” Fire said.
They stood side by side, and Fire checked the pack he’d fastened onto Lachonus’s back. Bound with leather straps, the pack resembled a long cylinder, with rigid handles that extended forward, so Lachonus could hold them for stability.
“You ready?” Fire asked.
He laughed nervously. “Can anyone be ready to jump off a perfectly good dragon from several thousand feet in the air?”
Fire glanced to the sky. “We’re out of time. Let’s do this.”
“Nothing good ever comes from saying that,” Senia said.
“See you at the bottom,” Fire said with a grin.
“If we aren’t flattened into oblivion by the impact.” Lachonus eyed the drop and shuddered.
“Trust me,” Fire said, and jumped. “It will work!”
Lachonus drew in a breath, looked to Senia, and then jumped. Fire turned his head downward and squinted through the blasting wind. He fell freely, quickly accelerating as he plummeted through the clouds.
