“What is this?How?”
“Go ahead,” he snaps. “Kill me. I dare you.” He tilts his chin up further, baring his thick, enchantment-marked neck. Like he wants me to do it.
It wouldn't even be hard. I could have my revenge.
The dragon’s wings continue beating outside the window. The witch closes his eyes, throat still stretched against my blade. But I’d be disobeying the War-Father’s commands.
Harfor told me to guard him. I’m going to do my job.
“Did you know your people were coming?”
“How would I?”
Harfordidsay the witches wanted him back. But how did our enemies even get behind our lines? They aren’t supposed to be able to find these shores at all. If they try, they just keep flying over an endless ocean, until they give up and turn around. I frown and draw a deep breath, trying to keep my thoughts steady even as panic hums in my veins. Adragon.I can’t fight a dragon without a Hellion.
My heart hammers. I can't fight a dragonat all. Don't I remember what happened last time? I should run, and hide.
I ignore the fear.
“Are you the reason they could get through the enchantments? They could somehow sense you, even behind it?”
“Whyelsedo you think your people brought me here?”
“So that’s a no, then,” I say. They brought him here so his dragon couldn’t reach him; the alternative would make no sense. Harfor could never have expected this. The witch’s brows furrow and he narrows his eyes at me. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something else, then slowly shuts it.
The War-Father sent him here so he’d be safe behind our lines. Something else must have led the dragons to the Bluff. A traitor on Harfor’s ship?
Right now, it doesn’t matter. I approach the window carefully and peer outside.
The dragon is absolutely massive, nearly as big as the castle we’re in. And I think I can see another one in the distance, its size indeterminate. My gut goes cold as I watch the first beast descend. I can’t make out any features in the dark, but somehow, I have a terrible feeling that it's the same dragon that burned me. Who else would come for him, if not his own familiar?
Its wings flare wide. The room goes dark as a tomb as the glow of the moon and crystals alike are blocked by its enormous leathery wings. With athudthe whole tower trembles. I hear the sound of glass shattering. The Observatory windows, maybe? A rock fallspast the window and crashes to the ground below, torn or shaken from the tower’s top. I brace myself for the ceiling to fall in and kill us all.
This dragon is big enough to raze the entire castle, if it wants to. Does it bear riders?
The faint, omnipresent hum of the castle’s crystals—a sound so soft and constant I had stopped noticing it—goes suddenly, horribly quiet.
The dragon must have crushed the crystals. Nowanybodycan find the Bluff, and the enchantment protecting our other islands is weaker, too. A wave of dizziness passes over me. Harfor better be right that we’re strong enough to take out the Gray Tower, because it seems bringing the hostage here just tore a giant hole in our defenses.
I race back from the window and fumble with matches long enough to get the lantern lit again before dragging my clothes back on. The sheath goes around my waist, the naked sword in my metal hand.
“Stay with me,” I tell the prisoner.
“A comman—”
“We’re under attack,” I snap at him. His people are trying to rescue him. There’s no time for me to be nice.
He scowls and follows me to the door. Peering through, I check that the hall is dark and empty, then slip out.
The Bluff doesn’t have protection besides the spells that keep, orkept, the island safe. The Governor has soldiers, but they’re only good enough to inflate his ego and keep the other exiles in line. As a former knight I’m easily the best fighter here.
But without a Hellion, I’m no use against a dragon. And that’s not even counting that there could be riders on the dragon’s back. A creature the size of the one that landed on the tower could fly with at least a dozen witches without trouble.
Malkin’s room is halfway down the hall. I wake her first, because I trust her to be sensible. She thrashes awake and draws astolen kitchen knife fast enough to make me proud, but not fast enough to cut me.
“It’s me,” I hiss quietly. The witch waits in the doorway where I commanded him to stay.
“Cai,” Malkin’s voice trembles. “I thought…”
