Night Dragon An Epic Fantasy Adventure - D.K. Holmberg Page 0,106
overpower them.
“There is just so much power out there,” she said.
“David would be disappointed in you,” he said.
It was the only thing he could think of saying, but he knew it would have no effect on her. They had never been close. He doubted she even mourned the loss of her brother.
“David never really understood the nature of this power. He always thought the dragons were intelligent creatures that needed our care and never understood how they were tools.”
“You really are like Therin,” he said.
She smiled at him. “I will take that as a compliment. He understood the need to serve the people. He understood Lorach could never be completely free when there remained the threat of dragons in the world.”
Jason attempted to use an illusion, attempting to shift reality, but it failed. He tried another approach, trying to spin power, but even as he did, it failed again. The way she called on that power, using the tower to lock onto it, was too much.
He was at Jessica’s mercy.
He tried to lunge after her again but she slammed into him, pushing power at him.
“You’re going to weaken your people,” Jason said.
“I will strengthen my people. I’ll be able to protect them without fearing losing control of the dragons. My family and I will be able to direct this power. My family and I will be able to ensure the safety of Lorach. My family and I will be able to stretch the borders of our kingdom.” Names that Janeya had mentioned drifted through his mind. Vistel, Hamthen, Loth, Jol. She would attack them. “We will do it all without fear of dragon attacks. My people will finally be safe. Because of what my family has done!”
Jason blinked.
She and her family.
He knew what he needed to do.
The connection was still there, but it was faint. He focused on the earth dragons and their rumbling, and he focused on the ice dragon. It was a danger calling the ice dragon here, especially not knowing what Jessica might do to him.
It had to be done.
Jason held onto that power, and he let that energy fill him, and he sent the summons out to the ice dragon, but he also pushed within it a connection that attempted to tell the ice dragon what he needed. Along with that, he pushed out toward Janeya. He got to his feet and staggered toward Jessica.
“You aren’t going to be able to stop this.”
“I’m not going to stop it,” he said, his voice growing weaker by the moment. He wouldn’t be able to withstand this for much longer, but he didn’t think he had to.
Just long enough.
Jessica looked up. The dark-shadowed form of the ice dragon circled, heading toward them. She chuckled. It was a dark and angry sound. “Do you really think a dragon will harm me? In this place, with the power I have controlled all around us, there will not be anything one of your dragons would be able to do.”
“Not one of the dragons, either,” he said.
Power shot toward them. It wasn’t the ice dragon. It was ice lightning.
Janeya streaked toward the ground.
She dropped with that ice lightning and he buffered her fall with the north wind. It swirled. Jason used everything within him, summoning power through him, and he created a swirling wind that guided her down toward the tower.
Then she landed. Her dark hair streamed around her, and the power of the dragons filled her. She really was beautiful.
Jessica looked at him. “Another woman?” She sneered at Jason. “What will our Sarah do? That is her name, isn’t it? I remember when you were here before, how much she cared for you. How much she was willing to do on your behalf. And now, look at you. You have betrayed her.”
Jason ignored her. “Use the tower,” Jason said, ignoring her and focusing on Janeya.
Janeya frowned at him. “Use the what?”
“The tower. Can you feel that power?”
Janeya could scarcely look away from Jessica. He didn’t blame her. There was so much power coming off of her. It practically crackled in the air, connecting her to the tower.
Jason couldn’t use it.
He’d tried. He had failed.
But he wasn’t an Arnson.
He wasn’t a part of their family.
Janeya was.
“Use it,” he whispered.
“I can feel something,” she said, “though I don’t know what it is.”
“The tower. Draw on it.”
Jessica glared at Jason and then turned to Janeya. “She won’t be able to draw upon it. I have told you it requires the power of my family.”