be in full control of his dragon side.
Mestifito glided to the ground, and Granna slid off his back. Fi landed just behind, and Tressa dismounted. Fi and the other dragons changed into human form, except Mestifito. He remained a dragon, his nostrils snorting small bursts of fire.
Cruelty burned in the eyes of Jacinda's son. He searched the crowd and his gaze fell upon Tressa. He leaned over, whispering into his mother's ear. She, too, glared at Tressa, her lips snarling. Then Jacinda's eyes snapped back to Mestifito. She held her gown with her free hand and fell into a deep curtsey.
Mestifito snorted. A puff of smoke surrounded Jacinda and her son. Her servants waved it away. Jacinda emerged from the smoke, as regal as ever and nonplussed. Her chin jutted out, her back stiff.
"You may approach," Granna said.
"Who are you?" Jacinda demanded.
"I am Sophia, mate of Mestifito, and speaker of his words." Granna stuck her sword in the ground. "You may rise."
"I came here to speak with the King of the Black, not his concubine."
Granna slapped Jacinda, leaving a bright pink mark on her cheek. "You will burn if you speak to me that way again."
Jacinda rubbed her cheek, seething. Tressa fought the urge to run and hug Granna. Somehow she didn't think that would help the situation.
"Anything you say," Granna continued, "can be said to me. I will pass on Mestifito's words to you."
Jacinda dipped her chin, then tugged on the chains. The Green dragons followed meekly behind her. "Once we heard the Black had risen again, my son, Destrian, and I sought out a peace offering. While you've been away, the people of the Meadowlands have taken it upon themselves to turn their entire population into dragons. Along with the Red, we raised a barrier upon the Green to keep them from spreading their blasphemy to the rest of the Dragonlands. In an effort to maintain peace, we have brought you a passel of them as a gift.”
Granna laid a hand on Mestifito's head. Her eyes closed and she swayed a bit. Then her eyelids snapped open. "We will accept the dragons." Granna held out a hand. Jacinda laid the chains in Granna's hands. "I suggest you step away," Granna said to Jacinda.
Mestifito reared up on his back legs and took in a huge breath. He let it out in a burst of fire, melting the chains. Granna dropped the smoking chains to the ground.
"Fly free, friends," Granna said to the Green dragons, smiling. "You are no longer captives.” The dragons soared into the sky, beating their wings and heading north without looking back.
"How dare you!" Jacinda stomped a foot. "We came here, offering you friendship and peace."
Granna's chest heaved, her gray hair rippled in the wind. "You did no such thing. You came here attempting to bribe us into an uneasy alliance. We will not be partners with you in subduing an entire kingdom. It is not our way."
"No," Jacinda said. "Your way is to hide in the dark corners of our world and only emerge when it suits you. The Black is filled with cowards."
Granna shot an arm out, blocking Fi from attacking Jacinda. Fi relented, falling back next to Tressa.
"The Black is filled with people who want to live happily in freedom. When our kin is threatened, we take action," said Granna.
"Your kin?" Jacinda's eyes flashed toward Tressa.
"Yes," Granna said, her voice dripping with rage. "I'm told you killed my great-granddaughter's unborn child and put her out to sea to die."
Jacinda's eyes widened. "Your great-granddaughter? That girl?" She pointed to Tressa with one long fingernail. "She suffered a miscarriage and ran away when her lover spurned her. I take no responsibility for her problems."
Mestifito took another deep breath, his throat rumbling.
Jacinda slapped her arms to her side. Then did it again and again until she looked like a bird unable to take flight. "What have you done?" she screamed at Granna. "I cannot take my dragon form!" Her son imitated her, his arms flapping at his sides to no avail.
"Me?" Granna said, a smile on her face. "I have done nothing. My mage, on the other hand, he seems to have blocked your ability to transform into a dragon." Granna smiled and pointed to a man in a long, black robe just behind her. His hands were in the air, palms pointed toward Jacinda and her son.
Mestifito's chest expanded, smoke burst forth from his nostrils.
"No!" Jacinda screamed. "We cannot defend ourselves. At least allow us