Fifteen minutes later, they had relocated to a big pasture owned by Old Kenny, which was the closest suitable spot near the town. The four sheep that he kept there had been hastily rounded up and locked in the barn.
Most of the town was standing behind the wooden rail fence while Nira, Armond, Lentin, and Constable Kuldennie stood with the lord and lady. They had only just situated themselves on the field when a massive shadow crossed over them, big enough to darken most of the open space all at once. Nira’s heart felt like it was freezing up in her chest at the sight of the massive dragon that flew over them.
“That’s Gargax,” Declan said. “I think he’s considered the king of the dragons, or the alpha. I’m pretty sure it’s because he’s the largest.”
Nothing that big should be able to fly, let alone do so with the agility it displayed as it wheeled around for a landing. Gargax had to be almost ten times bigger than Storm, or at least that’s what Nira estimated as the beast landed on the ground with an earth-shaking impact. It turned its snaky head, which was as big as an ox, and studied them with predatory eyes.
Declan never hesitated, stepping forward and holding up one hand. “Greetings, Gargax,” he said in a normal voice.
A human-sized female voice suddenly answered him. “He says greetings, Middle Realm Holder.”
Nira looked and spotted a person high up on the dragon’s vast back. Gargax was bigger than the ship that Declan and Stacia had arrived on, and the top of his back was higher off the ground than the roof of the Whitefish Inn.
The person climbed down the dragon like one of the island’s boys going after sea bird eggs on a cliff. Within seconds, she was on the ground and approaching fast. She had black, black hair and dark eyes that tilted on the outside edges a bit like an elf’s, and she wore pants like Declan’s, with a thick brown leather jacket, a neck scarf, and up on her head were a set of round lenses that appeared to go over her eyes. That made sense to Nira; it must be very cold up in the skies and if the wind of a fast ship could make your eyes water, a flying dragon must be much, much worse.
Declan and Stacia both hugged her, then stood back to introduce her to Nira’s father and Lentin. They also immediately introduced Nira.
“Wow, the Irish genes are strong,” Ashley said aside to Declan when she shook Nira’s forearm.
Nira looked to the lord for explaination. “The folk on this island most likely came from a place on Old Earth called Ireland,” Declan said. “It’s also where my family came from. Your coloring and hair color ring true to that place. Even the name of your island, Lileire, refers back to Ireland, which the locals call Eirè.”
“This hair is common there?” Nira asked, clutching a strand of her reddish blonde hair.
“Yes, along with blue eyes and freckles,” Stacia said.
“Sorry, Nira, I didn’t mean to blurt that out,” Ashley, the Speaker to the Dragons, apologized with a smile. “It was a little unexpected. Awkward.”
“I don’t think she was offended, Ashley,” Declan said. “Were you?” he asked Nira.
“No, not at all. I’m actually fascinated.”
“Okay then. Moving on. What did you want to talk to Gargax about?” the Speaker asked.
“I was hoping to find out what roles the dragons played in driving off the Vorsook when they’ve attacked Fairie.”
The young Speaker, who was of an age with the lord and lady, turned and looked at the giant dragon, who in turn looked back. They shared a silent stare for a full minute before Ashley looked at the others with surprise on her face.
“From what he says, it seems almost as if they acted like anti-aircraft batteries,” she said, a note of wonder in her voice. Nira had no idea what that all meant, but both Declan and Stacia seemed surprised.
“How?” Declan asked.
Ashley glanced at the dragon and tilted her head. The answer seemed quicker this time. “They worked in pairs, or triplets, tucked into holes in the ground or rock. One or two would use their magic as a shield while the other would use their breath to attack Vorsook aircraft.”
“The dragon fire is fast and hot enough to damage spacecraft?” Declan asked.
The Speaker conferred with the King of the Dragons for another few moments. “He says normal dragon fire wouldn’t work. But the older ones eventually learn a variant of their fire that does work quite well.”
As she spoke, Gargax lifted his head to point at the sky above. He pulled back his neck like a fishing bird getting ready to spear prey. The air around his head and upper neck became distorted, blurry, as if immense heat waves were rising around it. Suddenly, he opened his vast jaws as wide as a snake and a ball of intense white blurred from within. The mini sun rose so fast, it was gone before Nira could even focus on it, her vision left with a starry streak of light that was almost blinding.
“Holy shit, that was plasma!” Declan said.
“You’re sure?” Stacia asked.
“Absolutely. Very similar to what I use,” he said.
“He says it is a skill that must be learned over countless years. Only the oldest can do it, but even the youngest can learn to help shield,” the Speaker translated.
“It would be like having dozens of you spread out all over the place,” Stacia said to her mate.
“That would be amazing,” Declan said.
Ashley’s head snapped around to the dragon. “Ah, Gargax says the dragons of Fairie will not be involved with the Others on your world, Realm Holder.”
Declan looked at Stacia and turned back, opening his mouth to speak. Ashley beat him to it.
“He says every battle with
