20

HIDDEN IN THE DARKNESS, A FEW STEPS away from where Nat and the drakon were conversing, Wes saw two things happen at once: The Queen emerged from the forest, golden armor covering her from helmet to shimmering sandals, a halo of white illuminating her brow. She wore a gleaming shield on one arm, and bore a great sword with the other. At the same time the Queen appeared, Nat swiftly turned to the red drakon, the creature bowed, and she leapt upon it, landing in the crook of its shoulders. Before the Queen could raise her weapon, the drakon and its rydder were airborne.

Its wings made whirlwinds of ash and dust rise into the air. The Queen shaded her eyes. Wes saw an opportunity and took it. He rushed into the clearing, weapon raised, ready to defend Nat. His mind was swimming from everything he’d overheard, and he wasn’t sure what to think of Nat or the drakon or what they had said to each other. What sacrifice? What was the drakon talking about? What did Nat have to do for the spell?

There was no time to mull things over, as the Queen met his attack with one of her own.

“You’ve served your purpose,” Nineveh sneered. “Do not try to fight me. It will only hasten your death.”

She drew back her blade, leaving herself open to his attack. With a cry, Wes hacked at her with his trusty axe, his blade glancing off her golden armor. He drew back his weapon in time to catch her sword. The blade bit into the axe handle, taking a chunk out of the wood. She motioned to withdraw the blade, but the sword had caught on the handle of his axe. She cursed, but for a moment her sword was lodged in the handle. Neither could strike with their weapon, so he put both hands on the axe and used it as a ram. He threw her backward and she stumbled, freeing their weapons. Drawing back his axe, he struck before she could parry. The axe bit into her armor, rending a narrow gash, but the Queen was unharmed. There must be some enchantment that made the armor impenetrable, he thought. No matter. He struck at the exposed flesh of her hand. The blade made contact and the Queen shrieked, losing her sword as she ducked a second attack. Before she could recover, he swung again, bringing his axe up against her throat. She might be a Queen, but she was no warrior. Wes held the blade to her skin.

She laughed, and when it touched her, the axe turned into fire in his hands. He threw it off as quickly as could, but the fire left burn marks on his hands. The blade tumbled through the air, but before it hit the earth, it turned into steam, evaporating into a cloud of white.

“I made that blade, as I made everything in Vallonis,” said the Queen, her teeth gritted. “Did you think you could use it against me?”

“Will you have a child fight your battle?” she yelled to the drakon. “Coward!” Nineveh taunted the creature, her voice cutting through the silence like fang through flesh.

In answer, the red drakon returned, Nat upon its back, gouts of white-hot flame pouring down upon the land. The heat was so intense Wes had to shield his face; he gathered what magic he had to push back against the drakonfire. He took a step back, but the Queen stood her ground. She locked eyes with Nat and met the flames with a haughty gaze. Like water bouncing off a stone, the fire splashed upon her shield. Her armor made the flames curve around the metal, without ever touching it. As Wes already knew, the suit was enchanted, designed to deflect drakonfire as well as axes.

The drakon roared its frustration and soared into the sky, its body making a hazy, red silhouette against the stars, blocking out their light before descending once more, gliding toward the forest and the Queen who waited, sword raised. Wes saw Nat hunched low on the drakon’s back, her eyes flashing, her hair whipping in the breeze.

This time, the drakon did not breathe flame. It hovered, beating its wings. The flapping made trees tumble and boulders spin. Nat sat upright upon the drakon’s back. She faced the Queen without fear or hesitation. Though Wes could not hear the words, he saw her whispering to the drakon, readying their attack. The drakon came closer, its wings flapping in increasingly powerful motions. The air swirled around the Queen. A strong wind became a hurricane of immeasurable strength. The roar alone was deafening. Wes stumbled backward to avoid the winds, but there was nowhere for the Queen to go. The drakon had focused the full force of its mighty wings upon her. A final, powerful gust knocked the Queen to her knees, her armor crunching as it struck the earth.

She was distracted, perhaps injured. Wes cast about for anything he could use in the fight. He had no other weapon, nothing but his hands.

Maybe I can distract her, wrestle her to the ground.

The winds abated and Wes lunged for the Queen, but she was already gone, and had recovered her weapon.

Nineveh threw herself upward, hurtling toward Nat and the drakon. In a blur of motion, she thrust her blade into its glistening red scales. There was nothing he could do, no way to stop her.

It was all over in an instant.

The drakon roared in pain, its cries echoing across the dark night.

Again the Queen plunged her sword into the drakon’s hide, and the creature faltered, sending Nat flying to the ground.