‘I will stay,’ said Frostback, ‘if you call me daughter.’
Deathfang’s gaze remained on the silver dragon, but he said nothing.
‘We discussed this earlier in the caves, Deathfang,’ said Darksky, ‘and I believe I made my feelings on this known to you.’
‘You did, my love, but my heart is torn.’
‘What about the compromise?’ said Burntskull. ‘Perhaps if Frostback was to give up one of her pet insects in order to feed the three infants, then everyone could be happy.’
‘But I offered to go hunting for her,’ said Frostback. ‘I will not surrender Aila to be ripped to shreds before my eyes. She is carrying a child…’
‘An insect child,’ said Darksky; ‘a child that will grow into yet another enemy we will have to face.’
‘Not all humans are evil; I learned this in the forests of Kinell. Kelsey used her powers to protect me from the Ascendant, and Aila used her cunning to provide me with good advice. They are my friends.’
Some of the gathered dragons gasped in horror at her words.
‘Your “friends?”’ said Darksky.
Frostback held her head high. ‘Yes. One of them, I may choose to be my rider.’
‘She condemns herself with her own words,’ said Darksky. ‘Those of us who escaped from the fighting pits of Alea Tanton, do you recall the way the insects jeered and mocked us in the arena? How they spat on us and laughed when we were injured?’
‘Some humans are evil,’ said Frostback; ‘that I will not deny. But if we are civilised beings, then we must be able to discriminate between the good and the wicked. Kelsey and Aila are not wicked.’
Darksky turned to face the others. ‘Hear me. I am prepared to accept the compromise offered by Burntskull. If Frostback surrenders one of her insects to me, then I will not object to her presence among us.’
Deathfang’s eyes beseeched Frostback. ‘Well? What do you say?’
Frostback turned from his gaze. ‘No.’
Burntskull turned to Halfclaw. ‘Speak up. Do you think this is right? Will you leave with Frostback, knowing that her heart has been corrupted by her friendship with these creatures?’
‘That is up to her,’ said Halfclaw. ‘I loathe the insects, but I respect Frostback’s decision. Without a protector here, I will be at the mercy of any older dragon who wishes to throw their weight around.’
‘Do not listen to him,’ said Darksky; ‘he is clearly besotted with Frostback; he has always chased after her. He is looking for a mate, and is not thinking clearly.’
Halfclaw looked aggrieved at her words, but didn’t deny them.
‘If that is all there is to say,’ said Frostback, ‘we shall go.’
She turned, ensuring that Kelsey and Aila remained shielded behind her forelimbs, then nodded to Halfclaw. The other dragons backed off, clearing a space for them. Halfclaw extended his long blue wings, their surface gleaming in the moonlight.
‘Wait,’ cried Deathfang. ‘Wait, my daughter.’
Frostback froze, then slowly turned her head. ‘I will not give up either of my humans.’
‘I know that, but yet I claim you as my own. Do not leave us. You broke my heart once before, when I had to send you into exile, and now Ashfall has also left me. Do not break my heart again.’
Darksky gave him a look of contempt, while a few of the other dragons muttered.
Deathfang turned on them, his eyes full of rage. ‘A short time ago, you all pledged your loyalty to me as your chief and lord. Are your promises worth so little, that you would oppose me at the first hurdle? If you want me as your leader, then you have to accept my commands; that is the bargain we struck.’ He raised a giant forelimb, the claws extended. ‘Does anyone intend to break their vows to me?’
No one spoke.
‘Then, my word has the force of law. Frostback, you are my daughter once more, without conditions. You can keep your pet insects and, as my daughter, what is yours now comes under my protection. Halfclaw, I also pledge to protect you; the loss of your mother in the Catacombs was a bitter blow, but you shall not come to harm because of it.’ He turned to Darksky. ‘My love, I know that this is painful for you to accept. Frostback has not given you the respect you deserve. That will change, I assure you.’
Darksky refused to meet his eyes, and turned her head away. Deathfang gazed at her, then nodded.
‘Father,’ said Frostback, ‘thank you. I will stay.’
Halfclaw pulled his wings back in. ‘I also thank you, my lord.’
‘It’s settled,’ cried Burntskull. ‘The Lord of the Catacombs has spoken.’
Darksky strode away, leading her children with her, and the dragons began to disperse.
‘Remain here,’ said Deathfang, ‘for I have not finished.’ He waited until everyone was watching him again. ‘Earlier, I spoke of two responses to the destruction of our home, and we have only discussed one of these. I now wish to turn to the other.’ He paused, making sure he had everyone’s attention. Darksky glanced over, her irritation evident. ‘It carries risk,’ he went on, ‘but must be done. The god who ruined our home is currently luxuriating in comfort within the palaces of Alea Tanton. In order to restore our honour and our pride, I shall lead a pack of our strongest and fastest, and we shall deliver vengeance unto our enemies. The high promontory known as Old Alea shall be our target. We shall strike, and burn their palaces to the ground.’
‘But, my lord,’ said Burntskull, ‘won’t those same gods use their death powers upon us?’
Deathfang turned to Frostback. ‘Your insect; you said that she can block these powers?’
The silver dragon nudged Kelsey forward. ‘Tell them.’
Kelsey stood amid the massive dragons, her eyes wide.
‘Hello,’ she said. The dragons stared back at her. ‘Thanks for not eating me or Aila. I know that we humans must seem a little
