Page 80 of Ale Storm

The flames she’d expected didn’t come. Instead, a great screech of pain erupted from the other side of the rock pile. She dared lift her head in time to see her winged attacker stagger back, talons raking at the lance protruding from his maw. As if eager to dive into dragon flesh, the point had embedded itself deeply in the back of the creature’s throat.

Before her attacker could figure a way to pull it out, a great silver dragon reared up behind him. Jildarin. The other dragon he’d been battling lay crumpled and barely moving on the ground twenty feet away, blood leaking from dozens of fang and talon gouges.

Fury made Jildarin’s emerald eyes almost seem to glow. He sprang upon the dragon who’d dared attack Rylana, jaws wrapping around his neck. With a great flexing of powerful muscles, Jildarin hurled their foe into another tree.

Before Rylana could feel relieved, the three female dragons landed on the valley floor, observing as Jildarin defeated his enemy. Their interest in watching him didn’t keep them from noticing Rylana through the smoke wafting from the nearby burning trees.

Cursing again, she ran and grabbed her bow and as many arrows as she could find. Unfortunately, the lance had remained embedded in the other dragon’s throat as Jildarin hurled him away. Rylana couldn’t retrieve it without running in front of the females. Oh, but her arrows were such meager weapons in comparison. Still, she nocked one with determination as one of the black-scaled females—Loxvonla—strode in her direction.

But Jildarin, having defeated all the adversaries he’d battled, leaped in front of the cairn. He shifted to put his back to Rylana, to protect her as he faced the females. He roared defiantly at them.

Whatever powders they’d flung at him might have made him amenable to fighting others, but he didn’t appear inclined to now rush to the females with mating urges.

“Good,” Rylana muttered, not certain if it would be enough.

Such hatred roiled off the females when they looked past Jildarin toward Rylana. Even when she’d been part of the army working with the joint kingdoms to try to utterly defeat dragons, she’d never had any look at her with such loathing. She couldn’t help but feel fear, her muscles threatening to tremble as she struggled to hold her drawn bow steady.

It is time for your female servant to die, Jildarin-grozanarav, Loxvonla said telepathically, the words reaching all.

Her sister, Foxvonla, added, She interferes far too often in the affairs of dragons.

Jildarin roared. Neither of you will touch her, or I will slay you!

Another dragon arrived, gliding between the flaming evergreens to land. Rylana groaned. Killaynia.

If all the females decided to attack Jildarin, it would be four against one. He couldn’t battle so many at once, and all it would take was one getting around him to slay Rylana. She looked again toward the mithril lance, wondering if she might yet reach it and pull it free. It had been eager to slay dragons.

But her enemies would know the weapon was a threat. They would incinerate her before she could reach it.

To her surprise, Killaynia came to stand beside Jildarin and turned to face the sisters.

My brother’s human servant is loyal to him, she said telepathically. She was the one who led me here, who knew he was in danger.

He was not in danger, Foxvonla said, tail going out rigid. We invited him here to battle against the males interested in mating with us and siring our offspring. They had to prove themselves worthy, but it was he who defeated all lesser contenders.

He is the one we want, Loxvonla added. Looking at Jildarin, she issued a rumbling sound almost like a cat’s purr.

I do not want you. Jildarin growled. Once again, you have attempted to manipulate me. I declare you an enemy of the Killcrusher Clan.

Your mother, Jixana-grozanarav, presides over the clan, Loxvonla said. Only she may make such declarations.

After I inform her of what has occurred here, she may agree with my brother’s assessment, Killaynia said. Leave now. Take one of these lesser males to satisfy your urges and gift you with offspring.

They are too wounded to mate!

A weak groan came from the male dragon that Rylana had struck. He’d finally managed to pull the lance free, but he didn’t rise. He groaned again and remained on his side, bleeding from his many wounds.

Who would mate with one who lets a puny human impale him so? Loxvonla’s next vocalization was a sound of disgust.

Nonetheless, these are the males available to you, Killaynia said. Take them and leave.

Jildarin sprang from his position in front of the cairn, his movement startling the females. Wings flapping with haste, they flew back several yards. But he wasn’t heading toward them. Instead, he landed beside the injured male dragon and plucked up the bloody lance. He leaped back to the rock pile, his eyes meeting Rylana’s, and he lowered the weapon in his jaws.

She put aside her bow and accepted it, relieved to have its cool magic back in her hands. Emboldened, she climbed to the top of the cairn to stand visible to the female dragons as Jildarin rotated to face them again. He, Killaynia, and Rylana stood together, a united front.

Disgusting, Loxvonla said.

Yes, your actions have been, Killaynia said. Leave without embarrassing yourselves further, and know that I will report all of this to our mother.