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“She needs rest. You can see how much this is affecting her. Give her time!” Mina comes to my defense, but Otis is quick to argue.
“We have no time!” His loud voice bellows around the room. “Every single dragon in here must be awakened. It’s the only way Aeron will be satisfied and?—”
“What has he promised you? Otis, you don’t have to do this.” I hope to garner sympathy. I can’t wrap my mind around what hold Aeron has over Otis besides being more powerful.
“I’ll be by his side, as his second, and we will finally restore our kingdom to how it once was. The dragon king needs to be ruthless, and Malix makes us all weaker.”
I feel Mina tense up beside me at the same time I see Otis’s hand form talons. He’s on a precipice, one push will send him hurtling down and take us with him. I can’t have that. I won’t have that.
Before the argument can escalate, I push myself up, off the wall. My head spins and my vision gets hazy around the edges, but I ignore it. “I’ll do it.”
“But Rose?—”
I cut Mina off with a soft smile, trying to convey how much I appreciate her help. Unfortunately, we aren’t in a position to barter.
My eyes sweep the room. Only about 15 to 20 dragons remain, most of which are hatchlings. I should be done by now, but more dragons appear each time I wake up. Mina said something about a temple housing the sleeping dragons as well.
It’s not going to be easy, but at least now there is a clear finish line. “Give me another few hours and he’ll have all his dragons.”
Otis narrows his eyes. I steel myself, ready for the fight brewing inside of him. However, Otis sighs deeply, the tension in his body deflating some, but not going away entirely. “Three hours. That’s all you have.”
“That’s not enough time?—”
“I’ll do it.” I speak over Mina. She protests behind me, but I quickly move on. “But promise me, after three hours, you’ll return Mina to her son and let her see a healer.”
“Fine, whatever.” I’m under no delusion that Otis holds any power here. Ultimately it will be up to Aeron what happens to my friend, but I want to at least try to keep her from whatever dark fate awaits me.
“Three hours,” Otis repeats one more time. “Start now.”
I’m in no position to argue, even though I’m barely holding myself up. Mina is at my side, bracing me against her. Without her, I fear I’ll fall straight on my ass.
I survey the room once more and mentally prepare myself for the task ahead. And then, I start.
By the time the last dragon awakens, I don’t have the strength to stand up. My body falls to the ground in a crumpled heap the moment Otis leaves with the last hatchling. Everything hurts and a tension headache is starting to form.
Mina flits around me, trying to ask if I’m okay and what I need.
She’s sweet. A good friend. Probably the best friend I've ever had.
My eyes start to droop. I just need to sleep. For a second…or a year. Doesn’t matter. I’m so tired. So, so tired.
“Rose, we have to go.” Mina is in my head. Or ear. Or something. I feel her hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.
Doesn’t she understand that I just need five minutes?
I think I say that out loud because she says, “We don’t have five minutes. Rose, listen to me. Otis, idiot that he is, left the door to the cellar open. I didn’t hear it close when he rushed out of here. This is our chance to leave. We’ll find Aracelia. She’ll help us.”
Aracelia. Right, Malix’s council member. One that he trusted since he left the kingdom to her. Not me.
I don’t blame him for that. Look at how well I’m doing.
“But we have to go now before he discovers his mistake. Please, Rose. Get up.” This time Mina pulls me hard and I’m up on my feet. Not steady, but I’m standing and using Mina as support. She’s not much better off than I am but seems to possess a little more energy.
We struggle up the stairs. Mina’s left side is hurting her. I can tell by the grunts she makes each time she takes a step. I’m half walking, half being dragged by Mina. We move slowly and stop on occasions when Mina says she hears something. Her strong hearing is the only thing that is saving us now.
When we finally reach the top of the stairs, both of us are panting, gasping for air to fill our lungs. “Mina, I want to rest.” Even as I say it, I know it’s not a possibility and I can’t hinder Mina’s escape.
“Just a little bit longer. I promise,” she pants, looking left and right before deciding to head left, toward Malix’s meeting room.
