Whatever was going on in the Behemoth’s mind, it was distracted from them flying towards it. Raziel was flapping its massive wings only occasionally but more often, gliding and riding the currents. It was a stealth attack for now.
So what’s the plan? Caden asked. I’m a little concerned about sticking to your back when you’re fighting the Behemoth.
You will not remain on my back, Raziel sounded amused. You would be hurt. You will fly off and hide yourself nearby.
Uhm, hide where? Behind what? That crater is pretty barren, Caden said.
Not in the crater, on the edge of it. Anywhere nearer would be death. I would not have you even that close, but you need to call Iolaire to you when it is time, Raziel said.
Speaking of which, where is our White Dragon Spirit?
Caden scanned the ground, looking for Iolaire. Surely it would be separate and then… and then what? Would the Behemoth eat Iolaire in order to absorb his Spirit?
Oh, gods, please no!
Or maybe it would be a situation where Iolaire would be pulled into the Behemoth physically and melded into the bigger body.
That’s bad, too. Really bad! No!
Or maybe Iolaire would become pure spirit and be sucked inside of the Behemoth and a white head would simply sprout from the Behemoth’s massive shoulders.
Ugh, that’s horrible too! Caden shook his head. I have got to stop imagining what could happen and just look to see what is happening. Because surely it can’t be worse than what I’m thinking!
But no matter where he looked, there was no Iolaire around the Behemoth’s massive body. Caden frowned. Iolaire was small to be sure. But he should have been able to see the White Dragon Spirit from this distance. Caden closed his eyes and tried to sense Iolaire’s presence, but while Caden could feel the Behemoth’s life force, he couldn’t sense anything else. He opened his eyes and gripped Raziel’s back tighter in frustration.
I don’t see Iolaire, Raziel! Do you? Caden asked.
In the back, Raziel’s voice was soft, which confused Caden.
Caden squinted. The back? I don’t see anyone behind the Behemoth.
Not behind. On the Behemoth’s back. The white head, Raziel said, sounding so strange and not like itself at all.
The white head? I--I don’t understand! If Iolaire is just a head then the Behemoth has already… has already… taken control… no...
And that was when he saw Iolaire. The white head was on the back. Just like Raziel had said. It wasn’t moving like the others. It was looking in a completely different direction and the head was a little slumped as if depressed or forlorn. Caden felt like he was an ice statue. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even think! One of his hands lifted to his throat and he scrapped at his own flesh as if he were sunk into the Behemoth’s monstrous body.
Iolaire… he thought. IOLAIRE!
The white head stirred. Raziel growled.
Do not call Iolaire yet! You will draw the Behemoth’s attention as much as Iolaire’s, Raziel cautioned.
But Raziel, it’s already absorbed Iolaire! Aren’t we too late? The moment those words left Caden’s consciousness, he wanted to claw them back. He feared even thinking them would make them manifest, would make them true.
No, we still have time. But Raziel did not sound as certain as before. I am still free. That means that Iolaire is resisting. We must free it.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, Caden said, swallowing hard. Go over the plan.
In moments, you will leave me and fly down to the edge of the crater. Secrete yourself there so that the Behemoth does not see you, Raziel instructed. I must defeat the Behemoth. That is the only way I know to separate the other Spirits from it. At that time, you will call to Iolaire--
Wait, wait, wait, you’re going to do this by yourself?! Caden gasped.
What other Dragons are there, but me? Raziel asked. The others are in their lairs, far from here. Even if they would leave them, they would not get here in time.
But--
There is no other way, Little Dragon, Raziel interrupted gently.
