Dragon's Challenge - D. R. Rosier Page 0,81
His change of form was for one reason, and one reason only, to challenge and destroy his sister.
No self-respecting dragon could resist the challenge he’d just delivered, and it wasn’t long before he saw the young woman with his hair and eyes run from one of the wagons, and shift.
He channeled two more streams of magic and formed a water and earth shield tightly around his draconic body. He hoped that would be enough to counter her magic, and his enhancements would match closely enough with hers. If it did, the fight would come down to tooth and claw. Her magic was much more advanced than his, but his was stronger, it had to work. Or he was already dead.
She finished shifting, and he felt the rage in his chest explode, as her golden scales shone like the sun. Her return roar accepting the challenge was rabid with hatred, and already tinged with victory as if he’d just played right into her hands. A stream of fire exploded out of her mouth, leading her way as she launched into the sky.
Perhaps he had played into her plans, but he’d make the traitorous bitch regret it.
They circled each other as they rode the air currents higher in the sky. Her golden body covered with bright golden scales was as he’d feared, half again as large as he was. Size wasn’t everything, but it did make her naturally stronger. He’d have to avoid brute force tactics, or she’d win by virtue of strength alone.
She said, “You’re a fool, I never imagined you’d be stupid enough to challenge me directly. My hands are untied, and I will see your end this day.”
He almost told her of her disgrace, just to piss her off, but if he died then he needed her to go home if she was to be punished. Warning her would be foolish, and she’d just live a life in voluntary exile on one of the endless middle planes. Perhaps even this one, to be a thorn in the side of the people he cared about. That was something he couldn’t countenance.
He said as insulting as possible, “I need not fear such a conniving coward, who has less control over her instincts than a mindless hatchling.”
He pissed her off alright, but she didn’t lose control. He felt a bit awed actually, as her magic rose and formed into a tight spiral of air and fire magic more powerful than the sum of its parts. The air supporting and greatly increasing the fire as it lanced from her and struck his water and earth shields. He grunted as the demand on his shields rose twenty-fold and magic left him in a torrent as the earth snuffed the powerful fire even as the water put it out.
He said, “You’ll have to do better than that, Khalea,” in a voice much calmer than he felt. He was more powerful, but focus mattered too. The more powerful the focus, the less magic consumed for the task, and she’d almost made up the difference with her much greater experience and completed magical training.
On the other side of things, he felt a surge of confidence that his plan might just work. Almost wasn’t good enough after all, she wouldn’t be taking him out anytime soon with magic.
She seemed to come to the same conclusion, and she roared as she let out a blast of her fire breath. She disappeared behind her own pluming fire, and he dodged with a sharp bank to the right to dodge the anticipated attack. Just not fast enough. He grunted as he felt her sharp claws dig along his side, as he twisted in midair and kicked out with his own back claws.
His claws barely damaged her thick chest scales, which were much stronger than the ones along their flanks. But it was enough to kick her off him and swerve into a circle. He channeled more magic while tugging on his bond with April, and life magic flooded his body and his bleeding side closed up quickly.
Her reach was better than his, and she’d been able to get to his more vulnerable spots when he’d been stuck with her leg or stronger protected chest. He considered what she might do next as they once again circled each other, both of them filled with angry rage and determination.
He roared and released a lightning bolt right at her face. It coruscated harmlessly around her scales, but it also blinded her for a moment,