Page 44 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

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“Commander,can I see you outside for a moment?” The soldier disappeared and his leader followed quickly after him. Obviously, he didn’t recognize Morrow under the uniform. From where I sat, I glanced up at Griffon to see if he’d noticed. He looked away and nodded once, slowly.

I strained to listen but heard nothing over the dull murmurs echoing in the high stone ceiling over our heads. A few moments later, the commander called another soldier by name and asked him to join him outside. And another after that. One by one they left—even the injured—never questioning, until only a handful of soldiers remained standing guard over the dragon.

Sweetie, Bain, Dower and Nogel rose to stand at their backs, and wisely, they dropped their spears and surrendered. Lears, Poole, and the brothers took up the weapons and prodded the soldiers outside while Sweetie gathered up Minkin. Griffon and Lennon left Kivi in the safety of the cave, and together we moved out into the fresh air to find out what was happening.

I expected Tearloch to be in charge. He was not.

The first thing I noticed was a pile of soldiers to the left of the entrance between us and the bushes. Three or four lay unconscious, it was hard to tell how many in the dark. Off to the right, many of the soldiers were kneeling with their hands behind their backs, waiting to be freed by reinforcements who hurried to help them. Dozens more uniforms of black and gold swarmed the place.

In front of us, Sweetie, and the brothers knelt with their backs to us. Minkin was still in Sweetie's arms. Now that he had her there, he apparently wasn't willing to let her go whether or not he was allowed to stand. Nogel stood with two other men in red and black, talking privately, ignoring the rest.

Morrow and his men were on the ground being restrained. And beyond them, Tearloch lay on his belly, his hands behind him. A soldier with loose greasy hair and a crooked grin stood with his foot at the base of his spine. The man suddenly lifted his spear, which was aimed at Tearloch's heart!

"No!" I wasn't the only one to scream. The deadly point blessedly stopped short of its target. I had started forward, but Griffon restrained me. "Remember, you're the royalty here," he said quietly.

I nodded and he released me. As calmly as I could, I said, "Touch that man and I will see you tortured for it."

The commander who first found us, chuckled as he came forward. "But Princess, you already claimed this is your protector." He gestured to Griffon behind me. "So what can this one be to you?"

I lifted my chin and threatened revenge with my eyes. "Release my consort now."

His grin faltered. "He assaulted my men. For that, he must pay."

"He must pay for coming to my rescue? When it was you who were in the wrong to hold me prisoner? No. We will put it to the king.”

It was the best argument I could come up with. I couldn't think clearly while that spear hovered over Tearloch. Not a soul moved while we waited to see what the commander would do next.

Finally, he signaled for the prisoner to be brought forward. The weapon moved aside. Tearloch's hands remained at his back while his would-be murderer hefted him to his feet. As he came nearer, the bastard sneered. In his eyes, the confidence he’d get another chance to drive his spear to its intended home.

I turned, met Griffon's eyes, and plead silently for help. I was thrilled when he gave me a nod and moved off to the side. His bronze wings flexed out in a twenty-foot-wide yawn. The threatening hiss of his ruffling, lethal feathers made me catch my breath.

When they hung at his back once more, pieces of the sneering soldier's spear lay on the ground, leaving him holding a harmless third piece the length of a hand. Blood gathered and dripped from a cut on his arm. His mouth fell slack.

Finally, I looked Tearloch in the eye and saw disappointment there. But this was no time to ask why.

“Cut his binds,” I said.

“I think not?—”

“Cut them now,” I hissed. While the commander himself begrudgingly did as I’d ordered, the unmistakable sound of beating wings was accompanied by a powerful woosh of air. Beyond the bushes, a dragon the size of the cave itself landed with a boom that shook the ground and rumbled in my bones.

Another dragon screeched from the right. I hadn’t noticed it before or the smaller one sitting on a ledge behind it, thanks to some bright torches and a few glow stones scattered on the ground. There was no longer any mystery as to how so many soldiers had arrived all at once. And now, the area was beginning to feel as overcrowded as the cavern before the newest arrivals ever dismounted.

When his arms were free, Tearloch moved to stand beside me. He put an arm around my waist, careful to avoid my wound. I assumed he was just playing his new role as consort, but it was still a comfort. He was alive and warm and touching me. Our eyes met only briefly. A quick smile and a vague squeeze. What more could I ask for?

Sweetie and the brothers were allowed to sit, as were Morrow and his men, though they were closely guarded. The insects relaxed and resumed their night music. And the chilled air now smelled of beasts, leather, and sweaty men.

The newcomers included a tall Guardian Rider in an elaborate black and red uniform and a well-armed man with a contraption hanging under his chin and weapons of pure white. They marched into the clearing and stopped. The commander hurried to them, bowed, then started explaining, pointing to people, soldiers, and the entrance to the cave. Nogel and the other dragon riders joined them.

When the new Guardian started talking, all three dragon riders got upset and started arguing, ignoring the other man’s rank. After they’d exhausted themselves, it was clear the taller man rejected their arguments, and he pointed at the cave and nodded to his companion.

Nogel headed our way, biting his lips and cursing under his breath. Minkin detached herself from Sweetie and followed on his heels. They both came to stand before Lennon.

Nogel had difficulty looking her in the eye. “I’m sorry. I tried to change his mind. He wouldn’t listen.”

Lennon watched the armed man head for the cave. “Who is he?”

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