Page 45 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

“Dragon executioner,” he said. “He’s an exiled DeNoy.”

“Impervious to fire!” Lennon ran, clearly intending to head the man off. “Wait! You can’t do this! The dragon is mine!”

The executioner stopped, glanced back at the man now in charge. The other commander scoffed. “I knew it!” He came charging at me. “I knew you hadn’t just stumbled upon it. Harboring fugitives, my lady. I think the king will be on our side when he hears.” He gestured to his men, who forced Lennon back and surrounded our little party.

The points of two swords appeared at Lennon’s neck. “Wiggle a finger and we’ll remove her head,” said one of her tormentors. The man who had threatened Tearloch had found a new spear and stood at her back.

Griffon held perfectly still. We all did.

The henchman pulled his contraption up to cover his face, then stepped into the cave.

“He has Dormiteras,” Nogel said. “It’s a gas that will put your Kivi to sleep?—”

Tears poured down Lennon’s face.Fly.She mouthed the word, staring at Griffon.

“I can’t,” he said. “I won’t risk your life.”

Minkin looked up and whispered, “Steady. It’s not over yet.” The little woman stood holding her ripped gown across her chest, her eyes closed. Lennon’s eyes were closed as well and I was sure she was communicating with her dragon, hopefully warning her not to breath in that gas…

The guards watched Griffon, their muscles coiled and ready, expecting him to make a move. No one dared speak as we listened, hoping for the roar of fire and some screaming. But whatever was happening inside that cave, it happened silently.

Finally, footsteps. Human footsteps. My heart sank into my stomach. Poor Kivi. I had hoped she might swallow the man whole.

Lennon’s face was unreadable, but she emitted a guttural sound that made us all take a step back, including the guards. Griffon was the only one who moved forward, lunging for his woman and shooting up into the sky as soon as he had her. But something stopped him from getting far.

Something large and scattered blocked out some stars and not others. And whatever it was, it forced Griffon to return to the ground. His wings flapped slowly and with Lennon in his arms, he lit on a spot a good twenty feet from anyone in uniform. If they had a chance to flee again, they would take it.

The executioner stumbled out of the cave. “It’s gone. Nothing there. You fools allowed it to escape!”

I looked down at a grinning Minkin. She shrugged. “Must not be very clever,” she said quietly. “But she’s still there. And as soon as someone more intelligent goes looking…”

“Then we have to act fast,” Tearloch whispered.

I looked up at the sky again just as Griffon’s barrier started coming into focus. It wasn’t some massive blanket with holes, it was a layer of dragons. Dragons of all colors flapped at the ground as they descended creating a wickedly wild windstorm that buffeted us on every side. We could only close our eyes tight and lean on each other while we waited it out. I would have run for the cave, but we were still surrounded.

Nogel cursed. “It’s the DeNoy!”

21

LATE TO THE PARTY

Lennon had calmed down. Through whatever telepathy she had with Kivi, she had learned her dragon was still alive. Step by step, she and Griffon moved toward the cave while keeping an eye on the colorful newcomers, most of whom remained mounted on their dragons. Though a green and yellow beast had perched on the back of one of the black beasts, the latter didn’t complain. In fact, it looked terrified.

A shiny black dragon with narrow blue stripes descended into the middle of the fray and sent soldiers scurrying to make room for it. When it rested on solid ground, its rider dismounted, sliding smoothly from its back and hopping off its leg.

His hair was golden brown, his robes matched the colors of his dragon, and his smile never faltered as he searched the crowd. His attention skimmed over the commander, the ranking Guardian Rider, and took in the fact that some of us were being detained. Then he looked again, turning in a circle, and finally settling on our little party. Specifically, Tearloch.

He ambled our way, in no hurry, though fifty people waited on him. He offered Tearloch a terse bow. "Sir. I am Ciro."

"Tearloch."

"And which of you is DeNoy?"

Tearloch didn't so much as blink. "We were toldheis DeNoy." He pointed to the executioner who had rejoined his traveling companion and whose face had turned pale, even in the darkness.

"Ah." Ciro started for the henchman, who immediately retreated a step, then another. Sensing danger, the Guardian Rider put some distance between them. Ciro stretched out his right arm and another colorfully dressed DeNoy hurried to place a hilt in his grasp. He raised the sword without missing a step and brought it down and across, executing the executioner in one smooth move. When he stopped and spun on one heel, he was all smiles again. He marched back to Tearloch and tossed the blade to its original bearer. "Now, sir, where is the other?"

Tearloch said nothing. Moved nothing. Not a thing in his manner would have given Lennon away.

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