But--
Old friend, you must do this. We cannot be without them, Valerius told the Black Dragon Spirit. He seemed completely at peace with this. There was no fear in Valerius, only what made up his name: valor.
Caden’s throat went tight. Valerius was the bravest person he knew.
Raziel trembled as it regarded Caden and then Valerius with those crimson eyes. Caden reached over and touched Raziel’s chest. He could feel the heat and the mighty heart inside.
“I know we’re asking you the impossible, Raziel,” Caden admitted. “I can’t live without Valerius either, but none of us can live without Iolaire.”
I am not afraid, old friend, Valerius said to his Spirit. There is no greater Dragon Spirit than you. The Behemoth will fall before you.
Raziel went very still, but then it slowly folded its wings and sat up straight. It finally gave a single, slow nod and said in a voice filled with finality, It will be done.
“Valerius, you and Illarion should head out of there. Go someplace safe,” Caden said, coughing in between words due to all the stone dust in the air.
We cannot, Caden, Valerius said grimly. We’re tracking your body. I fear if we do not retrieve it soon that you will have nowhere to return to.
It was Caden’s turn to gulp. He wasn’t sure if the Behemoth needed his body after he had absorbed Iolaire again. Maybe anyone could host the White Dragon Spirit after that. He could easily see the Behemoth killing his body out of spite.
“You must let Illarion take the lead then,” Caden implored him. “No heroics! Mephous must protect you both against Vozyth the Ruby Dragon. It uses plasma.”
Plasma? Interesting. Valerius’ eyebrows rose.
“Valerius, what is wrong with you?” Illarion growled, elbowing him. “I need you to be present. We have a Dragon to deal with.”
Valerius focused on the Green Dragon King. “I am about to lose the ability to Shift. Actually, more than that. Raziel must fight the Behemoth so it must leave me. I will be… human again. But we must continue on to get Caden’s body.”
“What? What the what now?” Illarion looked more than a little alarmed.
Valerius thumped his left shoulder. “You have been telling me for centuries how strong you are, how you don’t need me or Raziel to back you up. Now I need you to prove it.”
Illarion’s mouth opened and shut before he got out, “Yes, but that was--that was not this! Can Raziel not wait until we deal with this dragon--”
“Vozyth the Ruby Dragon, no, Raziel cannot. I have kept it too long already,” Valerius said. “This is all you and Mephous. You need to keep me safe.”
Mephous! MEPHOUS! Raziel’s voice rose up loud and crystal clear.
Illarion’s head jerked towards them as if he heard it, too. In fact, he did as his next words confirmed, “Was that--that Raziel?”
Mephous, you must keep my Valerius safe, Raziel intoned. If you do not, there will be no place safe for you.
Illarion’s eyes went unfocused and then he said in a voice that was and wasn’t his own, “I will show the world my strength and you shall bow to me, Raziel.”
There was a belch of black smoke from Raziel’s jaws. Let us see if you can best Vozyth the Ruby Dragon before you come for me. Then it turned to Caden, You must come with me, little dragon. I fear without the memory of you that Iolaire will succumb before the battle is over. Will you do this?
Caden nodded even as he lifted off the ground and flew to a spot on Raziel’s back where its mighty neck and body met. “Let’s do this, Raziel. Let’s take down the Behemoth!”
Human
A sharp pain stabbed Valerius in the center of his chest the moment that Raziel and Caden flew out of the lair. He sank to his knees as the strength left him like sand out of a punctured doll. And the presence he had felt with him for so long, that was a part of him, was no longer there. Like a child, he wanted to weep and scream and thrash.
Raziel was gone!
RAZIEL WAS GONE!
He clamped his jaw shut and he closed his eyelids tightly. He had to control himself. If he were to fall apart now that would only confirm for Raziel that it had been wrong to leave to save Iolaire. Except it had not been wrong.
This is what it will be like if the Behemoth is not stopped and Iolaire and Raziel are taken over, Valerius realized with a sickening lurch.
