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His words jerked me out of my thoughts.
"What—" Dex's eyes widened. He swore and all but threw himself out of his saddle. "Everyone down."
Bain echoed the order.
I slid down before Dex tossed me a bow and quiver. "Form up with the others."
I didn't hesitate. This was my chance to prove myself, and not just with my innate power. I would show them I was a badass in other ways as well.
I swung the quiver onto my shoulder and trotted over to the other archers. I ignored the funny looks they gave me. Instead, I focused on tightening the string on my bow and pulling out an arrow.
At Bain's order, we arrayed ourselves in front of a wiry coastal shrub and pressed ourselves as far back as we could. Skinny branches scratched at my skin, but I inhaled the scent of a handful of half-dried flowers and drew power as I drew my bow.
Was that cheating? Probably. Did I care? Not right now.
"It's getting closer," someone shouted. No one bothered to laugh at how obvious that was.
As one, the archers raised our bows and waited.
On the edge of my awareness, I caught the scent of vanilla, cinnamon and sandalwood, mixed with fear from the guards who grabbed the reins of the horses and led them to the relative shelter of the trees.
"Hold," Kerina said softly, when someone shifted and cursed.
Everything went still except a whisper of warm wind, the faint sound of waves breaking on sand and the beat of dragon wings. I hadn't noticed them the first time, but now they sounded loud.
The closer it came, the louder the wing beats. Did they move in unison with the rhythm of my heart, or did I imagine that?
"Sweet Hades," someone breathed.
"Hold." That was Bain this time. He must be close, but I didn't look. I kept my eyes on the dragon. It was almost close enough to dominate my vision.
The dragon grunted as though in anticipation of a fine meal. Perhaps the chance to take abundant meat back to his mate and young.
"Not today, Hades," Dex said, his voice clear and confident.
I suspected the point was to lift morale. From a subtle shift in the scent of those around me, it worked. At least for the moment.
The dragon spread its wings and fell into a glide toward us.
"Now!" Bain shouted.
As one, the archers loosed their arrows.
I was maybe a hair behind. Not enough to feel any shame or disappointment. That came a moment later when my arrow missed the dragon's wing by a fingertip.
"Fuck," I muttered. That wouldn't add any points to my badass card.
Several others’ arrows found their mark in the dragon's wings and one grazed his chest.
The dragon flicked its head back and screamed, but it was more a sound of annoyance than pain. It shook off all but one arrow, which lodged in a wing sail, and banked.
For a moment, I thought he might come back around again, but he soared off in a southerly direction and disappeared from sight.
I exhaled through pursed lips and lowered my bow.
"Stand down," Bain said.
Around me, the other archers lowered their bows. They mumbled in obvious dissatisfaction at not having brought down the beast.
