She wasn’t sure, but she knew she wanted the dragon as far away from Ashbourne and her family as can be.
“Your services?”
Yes, I’ll let you ride me when the time comes. I will stand with you against the Arachnids and the Orcs and any other enemy the Widow brings to the war.
“ ‘Let me’? I don’t think you have much of a choice.”
She could hear the dragon smile as she spoke, the words slightly higher pitched. My, my, nothing gets past you, Maria. Fine. I will cooperate, how does that sound? Together, you and I will be unstoppable. The Widow will not stand a chance, and the unspeakable evil she wants to free from that dreadful place between our worlds will never see the light of day.
Maria mulled the proposition over in her head. It was almost too good to be true. In a strange world where her allies were sparse, Maria would not mind having a dragon at her side, a Rogue Dragon at that.
“But what will I do with you while we prepare for this war?” she asked.
That smiling voice again. Well, Maria, you will let me roam free. I want nothing more than to breathe the sweet air of freedom again, in peace.
“No, you want death, destruction, and blood.”
Is that what you think of me? A barbarian?
“I saw firsthand what you are capable of.”
The mountains grew closer still. Their peaks poked through the dark clouds they glided above.
I want peace.
“But you want to go to war? That makes no sense, Odarth.”
She addresses me by name! Oh, I am not worthy!
“The flattery again, my friend.” Maria eased the sword hilt to the right. Odarth tried to resist, but it was useless. Then Maria pushed the hilt downward and they began their descent. Maria had an idea of what to do with the dragon. If she had to, she believed she could slay the beast, but she had been around too much death and destruction as it was—enough to fill three lifetimes.
Where are you taking me?
“To your freedom.”
So you will let me live?
“I will…for now,” Maria answered. “But you won’t roam the world. I can’t be to blame for you flying around and eating villages whole.”
I’m not hungry, Maria. Please—
“No,” she said sternly. “Go toward the mountain. Land in that pass.”
You are in control.
“It’s called a compromise. If you are going to war with me, then you’ll have to think on your own as much as I’ll have to do the thinking for you.”
The dragon gave in to Maria’s voice. It was not easy, and Maria kept her hand on the sword’s hilt, but they landed in the mountain pass right by the white tree.
I do not like this place, Odarth said. I sense its trickery.
“You will go forth into the darkness. Light your way with your dragonfire. I shall come back to you when war is declared. If you serve me well, I will set you free.”
She pulled the blade free from the dragon’s head. No blood trickled from the wound, and the slit the blade left between the white scales closed right before Maria’s eyes, as if by magic…
The dragon craned its neck so its fiery eyes bored into Maria’s own. There was a look of mischief in that gaze. Maria brandished the sword.
“Don’t try any funny business. I know the spell now. The one to control you.”
And if I choose to eat you now, then what?
“You won’t, because you respect me.”
The look faded. The dragon nodded. You are right, Maria Apple. There may be hope for you yet. But what if I do not like the inside of that mountain? What if I decide to break out and wait for you somewhere else?
“Just go inside,” Maria said, pointing her sword to the mouth of the Cave of Delusion. “An old friend awaits. He’ll take good care of you.”
You need a little punishment for all the pain and suffering you’ve caused, she thought.
The dragon folded her wings and walked on. Her horns scraped the top of the opening, causing rock and dust to cascade down. Then Odarth the Bright disappeared into the darkness—a weapon in waiting.
Maria turned and looked out at the passage before her. In the distance, she could see Ashbourne. The lake shimmered with reflecting moonlight; it was no longer on fire. Neither was the town…for the most part. That was good.
Maria, exhausted beyond belief, sheathed her sword and clutched the music box to her chest. In her head, she repeated the spell over and over again, so as not to forget it when the time to call upon Odarth came again.
For now, she missed her family—Sherlock, Gramps, and the rest of them. For the second time in her life, Maria headed down the rocky path with visions of Ashbourne’s gate fresh on her brain.
The few stragglers from the battle fled quickly. Ignatius let them go. He saw no joy in hurting or killing them. He, like Maria, was sick of all the violence.
Penelope and the rest of the townspeople eased their way out of the buildings they’d hidden in. The looks of fear on their faces did not subside; it would be a long time before they did.
“I can’t thank you all enough,” Penelope said as she took Ignatius’s hand. “Without your help, this place would be nothing but ashes.”
“We did our best. I’m sorry we couldn’t have been more help. But the true hero of this tale is my granddaughter Maria.”
“Where is she?” Penelope asked. “We would like to honor her.”
Ignatius shook his head. “I don’t know, but we’re gonna go find her, aren’t we?”
Sherlock barked. He was no longer limping, but he moved slower than normal.
“I saw her go toward the mountains,” Frieda whispered. “Toward the Cave
