accept it. The dragonet read that in the muscles of his throat, in the way his yellow eyes blazed, the mind behind them racing to imagine a way out of this mess.
Ra’aba rapped, “I’m the same as the girl, Sapphurion. Lia just demonstrated her powers. Her claim to be the child of a Dragon is insane. What prophecy is the girl blathering on about? Next, she’ll be taking philosophy lessons from a ralti sheep!”
The dragonet shook. In a sense, Ra’aba was right. His favourite fire-eyes might not be leading a Dragonwing in revolt against her leadership, or wantonly destroying Islands and trying to take over the Island-World, but she did have a certain rare Tourmaline Dragon eating right out of her pretty little paw. Of course, Grandion just hovered there like a brainless lump of scales, like the rest of his kind, while this drama played out before them.
A dragonet might have to take matters into his paws, for the tension between Ra’aba and Sapphurion was unbearable. Something was about to break. He did not know what, or how, but his Lia had sparked the rage that was slowly and certainly driving Ra’aba off the proverbial cliff. The words she had spoken, the very magic reaching from her smoky eyes, demanded answers.
The Roc said, “Ask that whelp of a cliff fox how she found Ianthine–how she even knows about Ianthine, Islands’ sakes! Ask her how she survived being thrown off a Dragonship. She’s a liar!”
Did it hinge upon what the Dragons believed of Ianthine? Or on what Ra’aba’s manner exposed, the squirming and snapping of a trapped animal? Either way, the dragonet was amazed that fungus-face could still move, given the wound Hualiama had dealt him. So much blood! Yet he still seemed to cling on with preternatural strength.
Suddenly, the King of Fra’anior shouted, “Is this how the Dragons delve into Human affairs, Sapphurion? Sending spies among us in the guise of Humans? Shame on you!”
Flicker gasped at the accusation. Oh, by his fires, no …
Sapphurion growled, “We Dragons will judge these Greens. Yours is a dispute between Humans.”
Chalcion screamed, “First your Dragons sack this city, now you’re–”
“Shut your stupid, bleating mouth, Chalcion!” Ra’aba roared back. “You’re unfit to rule. Sending your daughter to do your dirty work for you. You never loved her!”
As King Chalcion bawled his defiance, Flicker detected a swirl of magic in Ra’aba, a darker, more brutal form of magic than he had ever sensed before. Fungus-face’s hand rose. A dark, Dragon-like shape winged forth, fuelled by all the hatred and fury of a tortured soul, of a man with nothing left to lose.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Hualiama leap across to protect her father.
Flicker leaped first, and faster.
Chapter 31: Sacrifice
AN EXPLOSION RIPPED through Flicker’s body. Lia saw only the start of his dive, then something black slapped her forehead and she found herself lying crumpled atop King Chalcion, with the dragonet draped across her right wrist. Her ears rang. Someone was shouting–bellowing, perhaps–but she could barely hear them. Liquid ran into her left eye; she wiped it absently, and came away with a handful of golden Dragon blood mingled with her own red blood, and bits of flesh that draggled between her fingers.
Flicker started to rise, but collapsed with a startled wheeze. Blood trickled from his muzzle.
“Flicker? Flicker!” Lia panted. “Oh, darling …” She began to lift the dragonet into her lap, but her hands froze mid-motion. “No!”
“My turn … save.” He exhaled.
Hualiama groaned. Flicker’s poor tail … his belly … his hind leg! Gone! Blown away by that madman, that Ra’aba!
Before she knew it, she was on her feet, screaming incoherently. Lia ripped two throwing knives out of her wristlet as she sprinted across the flagstones toward Ra’aba. He began to raise his hands, but her roar paralysed him. No Human throat should have been able to produce such a sound. It punched into the Dragons gathered right behind Ra’aba, confounding even Sapphurion, the mighty Dragon Elder. Angling to rip his throat out with the blades, Lia slammed into Sapphurion’s paw.
“No!” she shrieked. “Let me at him! I’ll kill him!”
“No, little one,” Sapphurion growled.
Hualiama somersaulted over the Dragon’s paw, stabbing downward with all her strength. “Burn in a Cloudlands volcano, you fiend!” Sapphurion grunted as she stuck a blade between the knuckles of his other paw, which shielded Ra’aba’s head.
The Dragon growled, “Now just you–by the First Egg!”
Throwing herself backward, head over heels, Lia landed lightly on her toes. She sprang