'Ha!' The eyes of Infernus gleamed. His mouth opened. A great burst of flame shot toward the minotaur. It was too wide to avoid. Kaz rolled to the floor, praying the flame would go over his head.
Instead, the length of flame turned upward at ah impossible angle just before it reached Kaz. Tapestries caught fire, and the ceiling began to smolder.
The dragon turned back to his captive. 'You again! You are becoming more trouble than you are worth! I can see that before I can remove the minotaur from my sight, I must first deal with you!'
To the minotaur's horror, Ty and the magical cage started to fade away.
'Kaz!'
'Ty! Fight it, Ty! You're a dragon, same as him! Your powers are every bit as strong! You've seen that! Don't let him send you away, Lass!'
'Ka-' The last faint image of Ty dissipated.
'Now, then!' roared Infernus, swinging his head around so he could again concentrate on the minotaur. 'Now, then. This has taken long enough, gnat. Emperor Polik should have begun the duel by now. I am needed by my people. It is time you died.'
'You think so?' Kaz held Honor's Face before him. It had served him well in the past, but he doubted it was strong enough to turn away the dragon's magical might.
Infernus chuckled. 'Oh, yes, gnat. I do.'
The dragon raised his head. There was no hope that the axe, even with its powers, could stop dragon flame from such a huge and savage creature.
All of a sudden, the floor began to rumble. The red dragon rocked back and forth, stunned by the unexpected quake. He roared his anger, but Infernus could do nothing, his balance already lost. His wings flapped., but in the chamber he did not have the room to rise aloft. In the end he merely tipped over, fortunately not in the direction of Kaz.
The minotaur rolled away from the center of the quake. Kaz had no idea what could be causing the natural occurrence, but thanked Paladine, Kiri-Jolith, Habbakuk, and any other god that might have had a hand in it.
From within the rising, cracking floor came a roar of challenge. Stone fragments flew in every direction as the swelling floor rose higher. Infernus struggled to roll over so he could right himself, but the vibrations shook him loose each time he almost gained a talonhold.
Then the cause of the quake burst through the floor, rising swiftly and pulling itself free. Its silver head gleamed, and wings as smooth as ice stretched for the first time ever. Despite the physical similarities between the two reptilian visages, there was something noble in the face of the second dragon, a sense of honor. That alone was the great contrast between the two behemoths.
The silver dragon looked around, finally locating Kaz, who could only stare in awe. 'Kaaazzz! I couldn't let him hurt you!'
'Ty… Tiberia.'
'So the hatchling has found herself!' mocked Infernus, righting his massive form. 'Not the most opportune time, but I will make do. This means I may start your education even sooner.'
'No!' Tiberia whirled about to face her counterpart. 'No! You don't care about anyone but yourself! You hurt others and expect everyone to obey you!' The silver dragon raised her head so she could almost look Infernus in the eyes. 'I don't have to! I don't have to, and I'm going to make sure no one else will ever have to, either!'
As powerful
Infernus leaned back as he spoke, possibly due to his injured forepaws. 'You challenge me, do you, Little One? You think you have the might? My kills, especially of your kind, number high. I've not had a good struggle in many years. I won't kill you, of course, since I have need of you, put you will not fly for decades and you will always move with a limp, perhaps because one of your limbs will have been bitten off.'
His words were having an effect on the silver dragon, who had never fought before. Kaz saw uncertainty grow in Tiberia's eyes, and the glittering wings began to twitch nervously.
Infernus was not paying any mind to the minotaur, the red considering the other dragon a more serious threat. Kaz waited until the larger creature's head swayed away from him, then ran as fast as he could.
'Give up now, Little One,' Infernus was saying. 'There is a place for you, too, if only you will see the way. There is-'
It was at that moment that Kaz leapt onto Tiberia's, back. The silver dragon jerked, but, fortunately, did not whip around to remove the sudden weight. What she did do, however, was back away abruptly from Infernus, the spell of fear broken by the minotaur's action.
'Tiberia… Ty… back away farther, but let me get to your neck so I can sit there!'
The dragon obeyed, albeit a bit awkwardly.
'A dragon rider are we?' Infernus unleashed a throaty chuckle. 'And where is your dragonlance, minotaur?'
'The axe and my friend will do just as well, Infernus!' Kaz's words were meant more to instill some degree of confidence in his companion than to frighten the red dragon.
As he expected, Infernus did not take his threat seriously. 'I will remember your sense of humor after you are gone, gnat!'
A whirlwind filled the chamber, tossing loose rubble directly at Kaz and Tiberia. The dragon managed to bash away the first few large pieces, but several easily flew past her guard. Kaz pulled himself behind Tiberia's head and neck as much as he could, but stone after stone pelted him, marking his arms and legs with small nicks and cuts. Tiberia roared as stones struck her with considerable force.
'Surrender him, hatchling, and I will cease!'
'I won't!' cried the silver dragon in a small voice. 'I won't!'
Kaz struggled upward. He needed to be high enough for Tiberia, and only Tiberia, to hear him. 'A fireball! If you can make a fireball, aim at his-'
Tiberia unleashed a fireball, a good-sized one, at Infernus's chest. The flames licked at the red dragon for several seconds, but the monstrous creature seemed barely affected by it.
'Fire? You send fire against me? I am a red dragon! Fire is my element more than yours!'
A ring of flame burst to life around the pair, causing the silver dragon to back up. The ring was so tight that Tiberia could move only a few steps. Infernus laughed.
Again he spoke so that only the silver could hear. 'Listen to everything I say first, Tiberia! I want you to make another fireball! I-'
'It won't hurt him!'
'Don't worry about hurting him that way! Listen! I want a fireball in his eyes! The biggest and strongest fireball you can create! Do it now!'
Kaz held his breath, hoping Tiberia would do as he said. They needed to reverse the course of battle.
He felt the silver leviathan shudder. A sphere of flame larger than the red dragon's head flew unerringly into Infernus's visage. The smile of mockery twisted into astonishment.
'Now, Tiberia! While he can't see! Jump and attack! It's our best hope!'
The massive silver form leapt forward, crossing over the flames without hesitation. The young dragon trusted Kaz that much. Smaller than Infernus, Tiberia was still an enormous projectile. Infernus, still fighting to restore his vision, was unprepared for the force of a half-grown dragon falling upon him. The injured paws scratched at Tiberia, but there was no stopping the silver's descent. The two leviathans crashed together, Kaz desperately hanging on and hoping Tiberia would not be forced onto her back.
'Again, in his eyes!' the minotaur cried.
To her credit, Tiberia managed a third, though smaller, fireball even while tangled up with the red dragon. Infernus roared as he sought again to protect his eyes.
'Hold him fast!' Kaz leaned to one side and, using his better arm, swung his battle-axe in the direction of the red dragon's neck. Infernus twisted, however, and instead of the neck, the axe bit into his shoulder.
The red roared, throwing Kaz and Tiberia to one side. The silver's great form crashed through the wall dividing the room from the audience chamber. Tiberia's momentum was such that she ended up almost on top of
