Page 49 of Taloned Heart

Algor took a deep breath in through his nose and then a low rumble echoed from him. He hummed low and deep, like rocks shifting underneath the earth as the mountains moved and breathed. It was a stunning sound, and one that seemed to slice through her chest and deep into her heart.

Lore pressed a hand to her chest and was shocked to find her ribs vibrating. Abraxas and Beauty had done the same, and they all shared a horrified look before turning their attention back to the dwarf who hummed so low he shook their very bodies.

And then something moved again in the depths. A strange light that glimmered beyond the creatures. She could see them in stark relief. Long, eel-like bodies with feathered edges. No, not feathers, sharp serrated edges that would cut if they merely brushed past their prey. Their heads were small, and filled with sharp teeth that they bared at the light before they swam away from it.

She noted they appeared afraid of the light. If she had to save them all, that was the easiest trick up her sleeve.

But then the glimmer erupted out of the crack that Algor had made. Water splashed around them, surging out of the hole and rolling over their feet as the gift of the dwarves rested before them.

“Here,” Algor said, throwing his arms wide for her to survey their masterpiece. “This is the gift that has been centuries in the making. For you, the Fallen Star, only the best that the dwarves have to offer.”

A suit of armor stood before them. Not a single ounce of rust or algae upon it. In fact, there wasn’t even water dripping down its silver surface.

It was a complete set. Thigh braces that were molded into perfect shape, boots with the tiniest designs of swirling magic that made them seem to almost glimmer with diamonds. The metal skirt would move well with her, and the metal seemed thin enough so that she wouldn’t have to worry if it would hinder her movements. But the chest plate caught her attention most.

Flat and sturdy, it was covered in runes. Perhaps only she could see the glowing blue marks, but there were layers upon layers of magic cast upon its surface. Nothing would break through that. Nothing would be able to even touch her. Small links created armor for her arms, and the helm was a stunning, sleek beast. Twin plates of metal would stretch down her face, leaving the middle clear so she could see through it. But the beauty was the way the helm would curve around her skull.

It was both beautiful and deadly. And made far better than she had ever seen before.

“Impressive,” she said, her voice ringing out in the cavern. “I have never seen its like.”

Algor beamed. “And you never will see another. There is a second gift for the Fallen Star. It is something that I have worked on myself.”

With a flourish, he waved his hand, and a sword appeared in it. The blade was longer than he was tall, a perfect length for Lore. It was nearly the length from her hip to her feet, but so thin that it had to be a rapier. Except, when she took it from his grasp, she did not see the safeguard that a rapier should have. This was just a thin, sleek blade. A needle to pierce and tear.

She lifted it, eyeing the metal. “This is not made of anything I have seen before.”

“That is because when you were born, a star fell from the sky. My father knew what that meant. He was attuned to omens more than others. That blade is made of that star which fell. It is harder than any metal known to man. So thin it could pierce an eye like a toothpick, but it will not break even if a great sword should lock with it.”

Lore swung it in a slow circle, feeling the impeccable weight and how balanced it was. “This is better than elven-make.”

She’d thought it impossible for the dwarf to look any more proud, but his chest somehow puffed even wider at her words. “You’ll find no better make than these. Even the elves could not compete with what we have created.”

She hated to admit it, but he was right. This weapon was impressive and terrifying at the same time. It was one she was lucky to even hold in her hand.

Catching Abraxas’s eye, she lifted a brow and gestured at him with the sword. No need to ask him twice. Abraxas took the weapon and swung it, his arm moving much faster than hers. The blade whistled as it swung through the air, but it did not warp in the slightest. It didn’t even bend under the great speed that only a dragon could use.

Even more impressive.

Algor grinned at them both. “I’m afraid we were unaware that you would travel with a mortal friend. My apologies, Miss Beauty. But we knew that you would arrive on dragon back and... Well.”

He waved a hand, and the waters shifted again. This time, they revealed glimmering gold dragon armor. Larger than she’d ever imagined and beautiful all the same. Gems crusted the edges, a nod toward a creature who desired a hoard. A saddle was on one piece, with a large shield attached, as though they knew she would ride him into battle someday.

Even Abraxas’s jaw fell open at the sight. “Armor?” he gruffly asked.

“You’re going to need it.” Algor shrugged. “At least according to legend. I assume it suits you?”

It did. But, of course, it also made Lore’s stomach roll. So they were to battle, then. At least they would be well protected.

CHAPTER19

Abraxas had made a mistake.

He hadn’t known it at the time, of course. He’d thought that Beauty knew about Zephyr’s situation, or at the very least, she knew that he was being kept in a dungeon and tortured for information.

The girl knew what Margaret was capable of. She’d worked with the woman for years, so why would she think Margaret wouldn’t want to keep Zephyr quiet? Torture wasn’t a new tactic, and it certainly wasn’t something that Margaret had never used before. Beauty herself had seen people tortured!

Of course, he hadn’t thought about the fact that they had been in the dwarven kingdom for days now. Very close to being able to save Zephyr and yet still here. He wasn’t even sure why Lore was hesitating. Perhaps it had something to do with talking to the dwarf about an army. She wanted to make sure that the dwarves would be there to fight with them this time.

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