The Dragon’s Mage

back quickly.”  Ladon pulled her back into his arms for a hard kiss then carried her back so that she was closer to the rock face and under an overhang, as safe as they could make her.  He held her face against his briefly.

“Be safe.”  He whispered against her cheek.  Then he stepped to the ledge.

Eben came next.  He ran a hand down her neck until his thumb caressed the mark on her neck.  “Be good.”  His voice was a command that required an answer, so she nodded her agreement.  Then he too was at the ledge.  She watched them change in a swirl of magic that fluttered her new dress about her ankles.  Ladon had conjured it for her that morning to match her eyes.  He had been so pleased by his new powers, and the thought made her smile.  The happy thought fled even as she held the skirt in place.  She bit her lip as she watched them arch across the sky.

If either of you get hurt I’ll be coming in after you.  Just keep that in mind and don’t take chances.

The response from both dragons was immediate:

You step one foot off that rock and I’ll blister your ass.  Ladon

The thought alone is enough to get you punished.  When we reach your new home, we will see to that.  Ebens voice went very soft but the feeling behind them were hard as steel.  There is no one in these walls I will not sacrifice to see you safe.  Do not force me to make such a choice.  None of us will be happy with it.

I would never put you in that position, I said I will stay here and I will, but I meant what I said too:  Be careful, because once you both arrive, everything I love will be in that place, and you understand this, I won’t leave anybody behind here.  Not any of you.

The first attack hit them in the air before they could do more than curse her stubbornness.

The dark magic fireballs reigned through the sky.  From where Morgan stood, she could see the entire valley.  It looked as if the sky itself had exploded.  She lifted the lid on her magic thinking to help but Ebens voice roared through her mind.

DO NOT!  The Mage will be able to follow the magic back to its source!

Then Ladon was laughing in her head.  There is nothing here to harm us little Falcon, it is all just pretty sparkles.

Morgan closed the lid on her magic, and sealed it tight.  Then stop playing around and get in there.

As my lady commands.

As one, the dragons turned and dived at the dark mage’s Fortress.  They didn't bother with doors but crashed through the walls as if it was indeed the black glass it resembled, instead of rock.  Morgan lost sight of them but she felt Eben and Ladon merge thoroughly with her until she was in the castle with them.  She could feel her family.  Melisande was somewhere above, while Clare and Rhune were below.  The dragons split up.  Ladon headed down, crashing through floors and magic until he came to the dungeons of the blood mage.

Careful Ladon.  You don’t want to hurt anyone trapped there.

Ladon shifted in a swirl of magic until he stood there as a man with armor the color of a burning sun.  When the dark mage soldiers came, they found him in all his shining glory with a sword of fire ready in his hands.  Most of them ran as soon as they saw what they were up against.  The few who fought died.  Each cell he passed opened with a flick of dragon magic but there were none brave enough to try escape until he was long past.  That was, no one brave enough until he reached the last cell anyway.

He saw Rhune first.  The child stood before his taller sister as if he was a warrior grown.  He had Morgan’s fiery green eyes and a mop of dark auburn hair.  Stubborn determination was in every line of his little face.  The girl behind him had the same eyes.  She looked like a smaller, skinny version of Morgan up to the firm set of the lips and stubborn jaw.

I definitely see the resemblance, and I’m not talking about the eyes and hair. 

They are unhurt? 

No one would dare hurt these two.

Bring them to me.  Please, Ladon.  He could feel her worry and relief and he sent her a wave of reassurance.

“Morgan is waiting beyond the walls for you both.  If we keep her waiting much longer she will probably storm the gates herself.”

Clare stepped in front of the boy, her eyes hopeful but suspicious.

“Morgan is here?  Where is she?  We thought she was taken.  Who are you?  Where’s Morgan?”

“Yes.  She’s waiting for you outside the valley.  It’s a long story, but once I get you to Morgan all will be explained.”

“How do we know this isn’t a trick?”  This from the suspicious eight year old.

“Would you rather stay here?”

Then Clare raised that stubborn chin.  “We aren’t leaving without Melly.”

“Melly is being extracted, even as we speak.”  He hoped.

Eben had been strangely cut off for the last bit of time.  He shook that off; if anyone could take care of himself, it was Eben Kinkaid.

Before he could say anything else, a great dragon roar trumpeted above them.  Eben in a rage could not be a good thing.

“Time to go.”  He said all humor gone.

He expanded out with his power until the walls bulged outward and he shimmered into his dragon form, whipping the kids up into his clawed arms and wrapping his tail around them.  He didn't give them a chance to do anything but squeak and he was flying, hunched low to protect them from the debris.

He met blue sky and saw Eben exploding forth from the highest tower.  The sight of the fiery red tresses shining from within his arms had Ladon breathing a sigh of relief.  But Eben was still mad about something because he turned mid air and blasted the falling towers with a wave of dragon fire.  If anyone had survived his exit, they were dead now.

Ladon, Eben is closed to me.  What is happening?

 He’s fine, little Falcon and I have your hatchlings.  Eben is in a rage but we are clear and heading your way.

Melisande?

Eben has her.

By then Ladon was clear of the city.  Eben took a few more flybys spitting fire at any soldiers he could find.  Whatever had set off his temper was still riding him.  Ladon was careful to keep Morgan out of his thoughts.  He was sure that whatever was making Eben kill as many as he could, it had to do with the fiery haired wind talker he was cradling in his scaled arms.  He hoped he was wrong.

Ladon reached the cliff where Morgan waited first.  He placed his small wiggling burdens at her feet and watched as they squealed and threw themselves into Morgans waiting arms.  This, come to think of it, was what Ladon wanted to do too.

They all started talking at once.

“Did they hurt you?  Are you well?”

“We thought you were taken.”

“We came to rescue you.”  That from Rhune.

“You did what?! “

He looked from her to the Dragon.  “Well, we didn’t know you had a dragon did we?”

Before they could get into that Eben landed.  He didn't set his burden down, but changed back to his man shape with her still in his arms.  His face was as blank as Morgan had ever seen it.  She swallowed hard, leaving her suddenly quiet siblings behind her she reached Eben, her hand brushing back a fall of titanium hair to show a bruised and beaten face.

“Melly.”  She said her voice a whisper of pain.  As quiet as she was the girl heard it and opened the eye not swollen shut.

“Morgan?”  The voice was a whimper of hope.  Ladon wanted to break something.  Go back and level the fortress to the ground and burn the ashes.  The little face that looked so much like his mate smiled, her abused