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“With scales, claws, wings,” Arry added.
It couldn’t be. It made no sense. “How did you know it was my brother?”
“He sent me a thought, saying he was in his other form, and that he was leaving with the Frostlake princess.”
Leandra? What was she even doing here? “And you believed what this thought said?”
“It was him, Naia. I know Fel.”
Her heart was thumping in her chest. This still didn’t make sense. Arry could be confused. “Did anyone else see this dragon?”
“Some people saw him burning the demons.”
This was getting strange. “Demons?”
“They were attacking the, uh… reawakened dead ironbringer army.”
More than strange. “The what now?”
Arry sat back. “Maybe I should start from the beginning.”
“Fine. And what about my father? Where is he?” Perhaps it was true that he wasn’t Naia’s real father, but it didn’t mean she didn’t worry about him.
“He left last night, traveled somewhere. Fel didn’t tell me where.”
“Did my brother know where he went?”
“I think so, but I think it was a secret or something. Fel wasn’t too worried about him, so maybe he wasn’t expected to return yet.”
Strange. Where had her father gone? And why? It meant that Ironhold had attacked Umbraar when he wasn’t here. It could be that this had been a plan to keep him away from his kingdom, so that he wouldn’t use his magic against his attackers. What was strange was her father not returning yet. Her chest tightened with worry. No, he had to be fine. Perhaps he had planned to be gone for a couple of days. Still, he should have a communication mirror. Oh, if only she could speak to her brother!
Arry then told her that Fel had raised an alarm at night, and it had been a good thing, as in the early morning, a large group of soldiers approached the Royal Fort, attacking it with some strange curving metal arrows, then melting the gate, meaning that they had ironbringers among them. Still, Fel defeated them. After the attackers were dead, though, they got up again, even if they had parts of their bodies missing.
Naia almost interrupted him, saying the dead couldn’t be raised, but he sounded sincere, startled, and as surprised and shocked as anyone would be when facing the impossible. He continued telling her that Fel had remained outside the fort, by himself, and even if Arry tried to help him, it was hard to get close. Their men were trying their best to fight off the attacking dead bodies, but only fire could defeat them.
“Fire?” Naia breathed out.
She clenched her fists and turned to where River had been, wondering if he was still there, wondering if he was aware that her magic could have helped her brother and Umbraar’s soldiers, except it hadn’t because she hadn’t been here. All because River had never bothered to warn her about the danger her brother had just faced.
“Yes,” Arry said. “Then, after that, everything went dark. It was odd. Some… creatures came, and took care of the Ironhold soldiers, the ones who were already dead. They were helping us, I know, but there was some odd magic in the air, something old, eerie. It was otherworldly, and I know that a dead army reawakening is strange enough, but just remembering those creatures makes my hairs stand on end. Not that I’m a coward.”
“What were they?”
“I’m not sure. I’m saying demons because that’s what I think they were, but I have no idea where they came from or how they got here. Then there was darkness, and instead of Fel there was a dragon, and he burned them.”
“Weren’t they on our side?”
“In theory, yes, but I’m not sure if they would remain there. It’s hard to explain. Then Fel flew away, with the princess.”
Naia frowned. “What was she doing here?”
“She wasn’t here when the battle was going on. She just… She appeared. With the creatures, I’d say, but that might be nonsense.”
The Frostlake Princess’ awful words to Fel still felt like nails grating on Naia’s skin. “And you’re sure he carried her away? Didn’t eat her?”
Arry chuckled. “Your brother would never hurt his princess.”
“His?”
