The fire built. Vespir wondered if she should tell Karina to drop and hope they managed not to splat on the roof below…

“Wait,” Hyperia boomed. Aufidius growled but slowly shut his jaws. The eye-stinging heat of his flame disappeared as Hyperia unsheathed her sword.

What was this girl doing?

“Now. Set down, and fight me,” Hyperia shouted, lifting that sword overhead so that the rising sun fired it. The girl really was incredible. Even now, she wanted her duel.

She gives orders, and servants obey.

Vespir thought of her mother and father, of Tavi, of all her brothers and sisters bowing to people like this for generations.

She thought of Casca’s ashes on the dining room table.

She’d been born on her knees…but she didn’t have to die there.

Time. This was all about buying time…

“No,” she shouted back. She climbed to her feet, balancing on Karina’s shoulders. Though she wobbled, Vespir remained steady. “If you want me, you have to come to me.”

“You have no honor,” Hyperia roared.

“No, you don’t!” Vespir gripped the spire, her hand sweating. Vespir stared Hyperia straight in the eye. The blond girl’s expression slackened. She might’ve expected this insolence from Ajax, but not the servant. Never a girl like Vespir. “You’re broken. I’d rather see anyone else on the dragon throne. I’d be a better choice.” The most surreal part was that she meant it. “I am never going to obey you ever, ever again, you bitch.”

Hyperia reacted as if Vespir had physically slapped her. Aufidius opened his mouth, and fire collected at the back of his throat. Vespir slid down her dragon’s back and hung on as Karina scrambled to get out of the way. This was madness. How were they supposed to survive? But Vespir thought again and again, hold on. Hold on. Was Karina speaking those words, or were they her own thoughts? The two seemed indistinguishable now.

Flame licked just below them. Vespir’s eyes watered as they climbed higher. “Where are we going?” she shouted.

“Farther up.”

Vespir clung as they neared the top, screaming as Aufidius swept up to meet them. He blocked out the sun, Hyperia looking over his shoulder with her face twisted in fury. Smoke poured from out the dragon’s mouth, and embers fell to sizzle against Vespir’s cheeks.

Vespir saw Hyperia mouth the word fire. Flame built in the dragon’s gullet.

She could feel Karina’s trembling. If they launched, they’d only be able to spiral to the ground now. The dragon’s injury was too deep, her body too tired. Vespir hugged her friend tight around her neck, laid her cheek against those silken scales, and prepared.

“Gawp.”

Dog, flying beautifully, emerged out of the smoke overhead and let out a giant, warlike cry. Ajax, his blond hair undone and flowing in the wind, his face scarlet, screamed in triumph.

The pair slammed on top of Aufidius and Hyperia. The girl dropped her sword, which cut through the smoke and disappeared below. She fell forward, just managing to keep her seat. Aufidius belched smoke as the surprise attack propelled him down.

Karina released her claws, dropping fast as Aufidius was speared through the spire’s tip. It tore into the center of the golden beast’s body and out his shoulder. Blood rained onto Vespir’s upturned face. It smelled awful, like shit and oil. Coughing, she wiped her eyes and listened to the Hydra’s screams. The air moved rapidly next to her, blowing her hair into her face. Someone circled her as Karina struggled for purchase.

Ajax and Dog. The mad boy and his mad, wonderful dragon.

Karina and Vespir let go of the spire and spun down through the air, scrambling for a landing while Aufidius bellowed his defeat.