“Brother. Riders,” I said in greeting, closing the distance. Lines and dots crossed the dirt at their feet, some crude map I couldn’t decipher at a glance.
“Erwin, has Ronan explained your task?” I asked.
The tall man straightened, goggles hanging at his throat. “He has, Your Majesty. Artorious will take to the sky and follow Gyrak’s lead.”
“Be ready to dive if needed,” I called to the ivory-horned black.
He huffed, arching his neck, his pupil narrowing in acknowledgment.
I turned to the soldiers shadowing me. “Step back.”
They hesitated.
“That was not a request.”
Without Kallias present, uncertainty lingered around me like a fog. Perhaps they carried orders to stay close. Still, there was no safer place on Radaan’s soil than where I stood, ringed by dragons.
Steel helms hid their expressions, but they retreated several paces.
“I expect this to go poorly,” I said to the riders. “Before the day ends, dragonfire will be necessary. When it comes to the soldiers lined up on the plains, their lives are forfeit. Show no mercy.”
Ronan tilted his head, a smirk pulling at his mouth.
“The city shall be spared as much as possible.” I met each rider’s gaze in turn. “Destroy weapons and enemy forces inside Reem if needed, but stay clear of the houses. Leave the villages untouched. Once Kallias enters the city, your only task is to cover him.”
My voice carried as I tipped my head back, addressing the dragons. All but Tsunami would understand. “Radaan’s people may know true terror today, but I will give them no reason to hate us. You are not instruments of cruelty. Your duty is to protect Kallias, me, and those loyal to us. You were brought here to destroy Radaan’s adversaries. Traitors stand beside the Velli. Both are our enemies.”
“Follow my lead once we’re airborne.” Ronan gestured to the dirt. “We stick to the plan. No one flies over the ballistas alone. Coverage at all times. Erwin, disable them, then fire the purple flare.”
Erwin tossed a small violet satchel into the air, caught it, and tucked it away. “Yes, sir.”
“Hopefully Tsunami will follow our lead,” Ronan added, pointing at the green dragon with his stick. “But once we start torching everything, I can’t babysit her.”
She snarled and lunged, teeth flashing.
Gyrak and Elmo moved in, hemming her in. She screamed and whipped around them, jaws wide. Elmo bellowed into her face; the reprimand unmistakable.
“I don’t know what to make of her,” I murmured. “Give her space.”
The ground shuddered as the two bulls withdrew, grumbling. She lashed her tail, its shadow cutting across me.
“Tsunami!” I shouted above her rage, and her jaws snapped shut.
She lifted her head high, then arched back toward me and sniffed, as if only now noticing my presence.
“Please—stay with the others.” I smiled despite myself. Words meant little to her, but intent carried weight.
A deep click rolled from her throat. She shuffled closer and lowered her muzzle until it hovered above my head.
I pressed my palm to her warm scales, a thin defense should she decide to eat me. “I need you with them.”
She drew in a long breath. Hot air blasted my braids, and embers danced between her lips. Her pupil widened, then shrank, scent and thought working behind it.
Ronan scoffed. “There’s no reasoning with her.”
I lifted a shoulder, the mantle’s scales shifting with the motion. “Perhaps. But she understands more than we give her credit for.”
Chapter Sixteen
