Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6)

unleashed a torrent of flames down at Sanguino. Sable was ready, and she ducked under the thick covering as Sanguino was bathed in fire. He reared up to protect her from the worst of it, then let loose with his own flames as Grimsleep descended to attack him from above. His jaws opened, and Sanguino lashed out with his talons. Sable knew that he was temporarily blinded by her being under the thick cover, and she flung it off, her hands scalded from touching the scorched and burnt leather. She unclasped the buckles and let it fall; it had done its job.

As soon as Grimsleep closed with Sanguino, the dark red dragon turned and fled.

Grimsleep laughed. ‘See? He flees! Too late, however. There will be no escape for you this day.’

The black and red dragon surged after Sanguino, his speed catching him up as the younger dragon hurtled away, heading south-west away from the caves.

Be brave, Sable said; stick to the plan.

This part pains me so.

I know, my beloved Sanguino, I know. It’ll be over soon.

Grimsleep was gaining on them with every moment that passed, and Sable concentrated with all her strength, using her battle-vision to guide Sanguino’s reactions. They dived down into a deep ravine, where a river of lava was flowing, and raced along it, Grimsleep only yards behind. The ravine twisted through the broken landscape of dark basalt, and Sanguino kept low as he sped along. The cliffs grew higher on either side of the narrow canyon, and the bottom was filled with molten rock. Ahead, the ravine came to an abrupt end, where a broad pool of lava bubbled and steamed, and Sanguino banked sharply to avoid hitting the cliffs. He turned, and landed on a ledge of rock by the banks of the molten pool. Grimsleep reared up, his claws out.

‘There’s nowhere to hide,’ he growled down at Sanguino. ‘You should have stayed in your miserable tomb on the Catacombs, pining for Blackrose. Where is your mother now?’

‘Blackrose was a better parent than you ever were,’ said Sanguino.

‘Then where is she? I wonder; was it her fear of me, or her contempt for you that made her leave?’ His eyes caught sight of Sable. ‘I see you have an insect upon your shoulders; it was most considerate of you to have brought me breakfast.’ He laughed. ‘I will savour the taste of her flesh once you lie dead and broken before me.’

Sable cast her vision up to the side of the cliff.

Now, Maddie!

At the top of the cliff, she could see two figures among the rocks, each wielding the tools they had brought. Together, they broke down the little dam that Sanguino had made the night before, sending a torrent of liquid rock pouring from the side of the cliff. Lava burst down into the ravine, showering Grimsleep with molten rock. His right wing dipped under the weight, his thick skin smoking and burning, and he screamed in pain. At the same time, Sable broke her connection to Sanguino and drove her powers into the huge dragon’s mind, his agony lowering his resistance to her. She filled him with a blinding terror as more lava covered his right wing and the rear of his body; the stench of burning scales and dragon flesh filling her nostrils.

She reconnected to Sanguino and he surged forwards, his jaws opening. Grimsleep’s front talons were raised, but Sanguino swept past them, his teeth clamping round Grimsleep’s throat, and his own claws ripping down the chest of the huge dragon. Bones crunched and snapped in Grimsleep’s neck as Sanguino closed his jaws, and Grimsleep’s body began to fall. His tail hit the lava pool, then his rear limbs sank into the abyss of molten rock. Sable gripped onto the harness as waves of heat and vapours enveloped them. Sanguino beat his wings, using all of his great strength, and tore through Grimsleep’s neck, severing the huge, scarred head. The rest of him fell into the pool amid an eruption of steam and vapours as Sanguino retreated, his father’s head gripped in his front claws. He flew to the end of the ravine and collapsed onto the rocky ledge. A plume of lava had sprayed across his left flank, and the scales were blistered and angry-looking, and Sable could feel the pain tear through him.

You did it, my brave Badblood.

Sanguino gazed down at the head of Grimsleep on the rocks next to him. ‘I did.’

Sable shot her vision back up to Maddie.

Perfect timing, Maddie, perfect. Now hide; Ashfall and the others are coming.

She saw them scurry into the rocks of the cliffside as three dark specks approached through the sky. Ashfall was in the lead, with Broadwing and Deepblue behind her. Deathfang’s daughter raced towards them, then stared down in disbelief. Half of Grimsleep’s headless body lay next to the pool of lava, while the other half was submerged beneath the molten rock. Her eyes went to the monstrous head lying by Sanguino, and she let out a gasp.

‘You did it!’ cried Deepblue, coming closer.

The small blue dragon swooped down and landed next to Sanguino, her nose sniffing at the burns along his flank.

‘How?’ said Ashfall, hovering above them. ‘We saw you flee in terror.’

‘I tricked him,’ said Sanguino. ‘I made him think I was scared, and then I turned here, made my stand, and slew him. With my own teeth, I tore out his throat. The beast is dead.’

Ashfall tilted her head, as if bowing before him. ‘I underestimated you.’ A laugh escaped her. ‘My father will have trouble believing this, but I am a witness.’

‘As am I,’ said Broadwing. ‘This was a mighty deed, Sanguino.’

‘I told you,’ said Deepblue; ‘I told you he could do it.’

Sable smiled, feeling the intense pride swelling through Sanguino. It had been her plan, and her stubbornness that had cajoled them into carrying it out, but she was content for the dark red dragon to take all the glory. She lifted her hands from the