“Wait!” Vighon called after them.
“That’s not our fight!” Galanör shouted over the wind.
“We can’t stay out here!” Nathaniel warned them. “Get inside!”
Vighon followed them to the doorway but hesitated on the threshold. “All of our forces are down there,” he agonised.
“The path down to the valley would doom us all before we got there,” Reyna cautioned. “We have no choice now.”
Vighon entered The Bastion and watched the outside world narrow until Galanör and Aenwyn sealed the doors shut. The northman turned around and pulled back his hood to take in the cold and empty void of the fortress’s throne room, its ceiling oppressively low.
“You’ve been here before,” he stated, talking to the Galfreys.
“Yes,” Reyna answered. “And we had hoped to never return.”
Another question parted Vighon’s lips but the words never left his mouth. Instead, he held his breath and listened. It had been a distant sound that had caught his attention, but there was something to it that had given him pause - something insidious. The noise continued to grow, echoing through the passages and filling the throne room.
“What is that?” the king whispered.
Aenwyn slowly removed an arrow from her quiver. “It sounds like… claws.”
Nathaniel groaned. “Some things never change.” The old knight removed his sword cleanly from the scabbard and brandished it in both hands.
“What is it?” Vighon asked again, preferring to visualise his enemy before actually seeing them.
Reyna nocked an arrow onto her enchanted bow and pulled the string taut. “Darklings,” she uttered.
The wind howled as it rushed past Gideon’s ears. Ilargo had the lead in their pursuit, his wings closing the gap to Godrad and Vilyra. Ahead of them, Alijah and Malliath buffeted the air like a hurricane, a force of nature that none could withstand.
We have to get ahead of them! Inara commanded across their bond of three. Even one attack from Malliath will devastate our forces!
Gideon failed to see how they would achieve such a feat - Ilargo was flying as fast as he could. Before they could begin to strategise, the mountains fell away and the valley floor was revealed below. Like a ravenous maw, the Reavers were slowly devouring The Rebellion, engulfing the bulk of the army while closing in from the sides. Brilliant colours flashed across the battlefield as elven spells pushed Alijah’s fiends back.
Above it all, Godrad closed his ragged wings and plummeted towards the chaos. Gideon and Ilargo hesitated when Malliath not only continued his flight but began to climb even higher.
What’s he doing? Inara questioned.
No time! Gideon’s response came as Ilargo imitated Godrad and dived after the powerful Reavers.
They’re dividing us! Asher growled.
Just keep him away from the battle! Gideon instructed them.
To preserve their focus, Ilargo closed off his mind to Athis and Avandriell. Gideon kept himself flat to his saddle, his hands fixed around the handles. The ground rushed up to meet them, bringing the battle into more detail. Godrad had positioned himself to approach from the east, allowing him to fly over the majority of The Rebellion’s forces.
Hold on! Ilargo warned with fierce determination.
The green dragon twisted his body mid-dive and brought his claws into Godrad’s back leg. The collision interfered with their dive as claws and gnashing fangs lashed out. The attack run completely ruined, Godrad fanned his wings, leaving Ilargo to continue downward until he corrected his fall and glided over the top of the battle. Gideon looked up to discover that Vilyra was already instructing her dragon to renew their attack on the rebels.
They’re lining up for another attempt! Gideon warned.
As soon as Ilargo was free of the western tip of the battle, he beat his wings and ascended the valley. A quick banking roll brought him around to face Godrad, who was now only moments from bringing his fiery breath within range of the rebels. Ilargo dipped low and then hammered his wings to soar up into the ravaged beast. Again, the dragons slammed into each other with feral abandon, spinning and flipping out of their flight pattern.
Gideon held on through it all. He could feel the blows that Godrad’s claws brought to Ilargo’s body, but the pain was his alone. Enraged by the pain, Ilargo roared with defiance and dropped Godrad into the side of the nearest mountain, all the while their claws raking at each other.
In a daring move - the likes of which Gideon had never seen - Vilyra avoided being crushed between Godrad and the rocks by leaping and skipping through the chaos of the dragons’ attacks. Her movements seemed effortless as she darted across their scales and found her way onto the bony frame of Ilargo’s wing. From there, she dashed across his back and even took a swipe at Gideon with one of her twin blades. The old master parried the flash of steel with Mournblade and turned his head to watch Vilyra continue her journey and jump over the other side. It was all coordinated perfectly with Godrad, who detached himself from the vicious grapple with Ilargo and returned to flight as his companion came down on his neck once more.
Did you see that? Gideon asked, bewildered.
I was a little busy! Ilargo replied, pushing off from the rock in pursuit.
Gideon quickly came to the conclusion that he had wildly underestimated the prowess of Dragon Riders when it came to aerial combat. Vilyra had practically glided over Ilargo, having navigated the rough contours of both his and Godrad’s body, and even found time to lash out at him.
Don’t be impressed, Ilargo told him, his fangs gritting against the pain. Be better.
Gideon took on his companion’s words as well as his grit and maintained Mournblade in one hand. Ilargo relayed an image across their bond, informing Gideon of his intentions. The old master shifted his body to one side, his muscles braced for the manoeuvre.
