Page 70 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

To keep from pulling my blade from my boot, I wove my fingers together and held tight.Too soon. Too soon.

33

ONE PISSED OFF DRAGON

Ilooked along my row of friends and wondered who would be next. Minkin sat on the end now, but I wished she would be spared. Hestia had funny notions about women. I hoped that extended to The Soundless, but since Ciro was in charge, that hope was probably misplaced.

“Our next criminal is unusual. We don't have many women breaking the law here in The Soundless. But nevertheless, punishment must be rendered. Bring her forward.”

They were going in order! If the pattern held, that meant Tearloch would be next to last, and I could have wept from just that limited reprieve.

I held my breath while I waited to see who Minkin would fight. She had no chance against a dragon; maybe a slow-witted man would be perfect.

At least they hadn't called Sweetie to the arena floor.

Once Minkin was in position, a short sword and a shield were dropped at her feet. Her guard retreated, and she stood alone, only a few yards from where Morrow's blood had spilled.

She picked up the offerings, tested their weight, then waited patiently.

“Considering her size, it wouldn't be fair to make her face a dragon. And it wouldn't be right to make her face a man.”

One of the female DeNoy started making her way down the steps. Her clothes flesh-colored, she was unmistakably the woman who had carried Tearloch, Nogel, and me into The Soundless that first day. She hadn't seemed simple-minded in the least, but even if she were, I didn’t know if Minkin's powers worked against women. This fight might be over even sooner than the last.

Poor Minkin was already backing away!

The DeNoy took her time. She raised her arms and invited encouragement from the crowd, which they were happy to give.

We were all distracted, however, by a commotion at the side of the arena where half a dozen men were trying to restrain Sweetie. There were ropes on his horns and around his arms, but they couldn't get him back into his seat. They had to settle for dragging him to the side and forcing him to his knees.

The DeNoy woman dared to walk his way, and in a loud voice, she promised Sweetie he could be next. "Won't that be romantic, to die by the same blade?"

The monsters loved her.

Still grinning, she headed back to face Minkin, moving with purpose, flaunting her practically nude body.

Again, I held my breath.

She didn't slow until she stood within ten yards of my little friend. Then she tossed her sword aside, which made me think Minkin might have a hold of her mind. But then she searched her belt and pulled out a dagger instead. She took a moment to glance up at her pale dragon before stepping forward and dropping to her knees. She placed the tip of the dagger against her heart…and fell forward.

The monsters waited for the trick to be revealed. But Minkin wasted no time. She ran to the downed body, tossed her shield to the ground and took her sword in both hands. She had to chop half a dozen times to remove her enemy’s head.

Still, the crowd waited, unbelieving.

Minkin dropped her blade and ran for Sweetie. High atop the arena, a dragon screamed. The tan beast spit fire into the sky until its breath was spent. Then it jumped from the black rock and dove for the arena floor, for Minkin.

Minkin’s skirts tripped her up. She hit the ground and rocked onto her face just as the dragon's talons reached for her. They bounced violently against the dirt floor and came up empty.

Up, up, and up, the dragon swooped to the top again. Its talons caught onto the metal grid of the dome and held. It watched Minkin, seething.

Ciro got to his feet and looked for his own dragon. Some communication went on between them and Skullcrusher flew up to join the tan. He, too, grabbed the metal grid and held there while he roared at the aggrieved beast.

Reluctantly, belligerently, the latter cowed to the larger dragon, released its hold, and returned to its perch. Once there, it let out another scream, another stream of fire, but stayed put.

"The little lady lives to fight another day."The announcer sounded as disappointed as the rest of the crowd, but his tone changed back to cheery as he moved on to the next battle at hand.

I was exhausted. I was exhilarated. Minkin had survived! I wanted to run to her, to celebrate with her, but I was stuck in a box with the mad DeNoy.

“Clever girl,” he said. “I had no idea she had powers. What about the others?”

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