Because he’s blind,she realized.
The scales of his belly rasped on the rock as Claw drew himself up on all fours. Gray lips drew away from blackened gums and yellowed teeth in the mockery of a smile.
“There you are.”The dragon crept towards her.“My, you smell familiar. What are you?”
Panic sparked in her blood. Emeline was running out of ledge to stand on. Only a few more feet and she’d be at—no, over—the edge.
“It’s true,” Hawthorne called from the other side, drawing the dragon’s attention to himself. Emeline held herself still, not breathing as she glanced to the young man standing tall andcalm as an oak. “The Wood King sent us—not to be eaten, mind you. We’ve come for the Song Mage’s music.”
Displeasure rippled through Emeline’s mind, as if the dragon had growled right into her head. Claw whirled on Hawthorne and the dazzling sunlight glinted off his silver-gray scales.
“Song Mage?”He spit the words, stalking towards Hawthorne.“More like Curse-Bringer. Good riddance to him! If I weren’t bound by my mistress to guard his music, I would burn it to ash.”
Curse-Bringer?
What did that mean?
“Nevertheless,” said Hawthorne, catching Emeline’s gaze. “We’re here to collect it.” He silently motioned for her togo back up.To climb the cliff and get to safety.
But as Emeline stepped towards the rocky wall, the dragon heard. Remembering the first thing that caught his attention, Claw swiftly turned his head towards her.
Emeline fell still.
“What is it? That thing over there.”
Black smoke plumed from his snout.
“Nothing to concern yourself with,” said Hawthorne, mouthing the wordGo!to Emeline. “Now let me pass so I can do as my king bids me.”
“Why should I care what the mad king bids?”Claw clearly had no intention of letting Hawthorne pass.“And if it’s nothing to concern myself with, why did you bring it?”
They were at an impasse. Hawthorne was trying to distract Claw from Emeline, so she could escape. But Hawthorne clearly had a plan for fetching the music. It should therefore be Emeline who distracted the dragon while he put his plan into action.
She gripped the rough rope around her waist. Several feet of slack lay on the ground.
“I’m the one who needs the music,” Emeline said, ensnaring Claw’s full attention with her voice. “That’s why he brought me.”
Hawthorne shot Emeline a look that said,Are you simple? I told you to climb.
“You?” Claw purred, abandoning Hawthorne entirely.“For what purpose?”
The aerie’s entrance grew less and less guarded the nearer Claw came. Since the dragon couldn’t see her, Emeline held Hawthorne’s furious gaze and pointed to the opening.
I’ ll handle this. You go.
“I have a deal with the king.” She tiptoed towards the rocky wall. If she climbed far enough outwards, past the ledge, she might be able to distract Claw while staying out of striking distance. “If I please him with my singing, he’ll set my grandfather free.”
“How curious.”
When she glanced back, Hawthorne had disappeared inside the cave.
Claw crept closer, his sharp nails clicking on the rock with every prowling step.
Emeline needed to get out of striking distance. Fast. But shealsoneeded to keep Claw’s attention away from the aerie.
“My companion believes the king will be less inclined to kill me if I sing the Song Mage’s songs.” Running her hands over the sun-warmed rock, Emeline found sturdy crevices with her fingers. “Is that true, do you think?”
The smell of smoke wrapped around her as Claw drew nearer.
