Page 84 of Happily Ever Witch
He didn’t sound sure. And Trevelyanalwayssounded sure. That probably meant they were doomed. It seemed like he was now willing to reveal some private doubts to her, though. That was the one promising sign, in the midst of disaster. With a dragon, you had to take all the positives you could get.
Esmeralda took hold of his palm, her fingers locking with his.
He was still for a moment. Then, he slowly gripped her hand back.
The Dormouse started shouting again, reaching a strategic decision. “On behalf of Maryanna, the illustrious Queen of Clubs, I refuse your offer! If you don’t yield to our mighty will, we will bomb you into…” His words stopped with a sudden resounding snore. His tiny head tipped back, his eyes closed and his breathing deep.
Esmeralda pursed her lips. “I think the Dormouse just fell asleep, midway through his dire threats.”
“I told you it was too early for a battle.”
With or without their narcoleptic general, the Queen of Clubs’ army prepared for their next attack. Cannons were being reloaded and aimed straight at the Heart Palace. Fuses were lit. Knights stepped back, counting down to the bombardment. This was going to happen and it was going to be terrible.
“Trev.”She whispered.
“Ihateknights.” He grumbled again. “They killed my parents. Did I ever tell you that? Those bastards kill everything.”
His magic arced out, way more than she’d ever seen Trevelyan use before. The shadowy churning of bats’ wings, mixed with showers of brilliant electric sparks and the snapping of massive teeth. All of it a vivid, malevolent green. Precise and sizzling with power, the charge of it made her skin tingle.
Esmeralda had been around witches her whole life, but she’d never felt energy like the dragon’s. It was huge and deadly and treacherously beautiful. Dark, butalive.
And he was in absolute control of it.
Despite her imminent death, Esmeralda’s body went damp. This was himweakened?
Trevelyan jerked his free hand up, like he was conducting a symphony. Every cannon on the field suddenly pointed straight into the air. Shouts of panic sounded from the soldiers, but there wasn’t enough time to fix the artillery. Instead, the cannons fired their heavy loads towards the sky.
Esmeralda’s eyes followed the projectiles’ trajectory, up, up, up… And then down, down, down. Countless cannonballs fell right onto the Queen of Clubs’ forces, decimating the lines. Men ran in every direction, trying to escape the barrage. Hundreds of them died, all from a single wave of Trevelyan’s palm.
“You’re spectacular.” Esmeralda murmured, awed by all the lovely destruction.
The army began to flee in terror, soldiers yelling as they retreated across the plaid landscape.
“That’s all I had.” Trevelyan swallowed, breathing hard. “I used too much last night.”
“What spell did you…?”
He cut her off. “I usually havefifty timesthis much power. I just can’t recoup my magic fast enough, yet.” Tremors of strain ran through his large body.
“It was enough. Look!” She pointed to the terrified army, running for their lives. “They don’t know that your powers are gone.”
“His powers are gone!” A deep voice bellowed from the field. “Don’t you remember that damn slideshow?”
“Slideshow…?” Esmeralda began in confusion.
Then, a big, blue dragon came into view and nothing else much mattered. The twelve-foot creature dominated the battlefield. Even his own side was intimidated by his arrival. Their frantic retreat slowed.
“Get back in formation!” The newcomer ordered again. “Stand fast or I’ll kill you myself!” And, just to prove he meantbusiness he shredded some random human with his claws. “Now.”
The soldiers weren’t sure which dragon they were more terrified of. The one on the ground with them seemed to win, because he was the more immediate threat. The knights reluctantly faced the castle again.
Beside her, Trevelyan stiffened. “Haigha of the Blue Dragons, Son of Haddock.Fuck.”
Somewhere in the transformative smoke that swirled around Haigha’s huge body, there was a figure that was both man and monster. An imposing, unstoppable beast, with animalistic features, and clawed hands, and eyes that glowed like aqua flames.
When it came to super-weapons, nothing beat a dragon and the Queen of Clubs apparently had one.
“Crap.”Esmeralda whispered.
