Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6) Christopher Mitchell (classic reads .txt) 📖

‘You have a strange concept of honour.’

The dragon’s eyes glowed a fiery red. ‘The honour of my kin is far superior to that of insects, who lie and cheat every day. And, were the soldiers not attacking my home? I have a right to defend my property. Even as we speak, my former lair is in flames; do you think I should have meekly surrendered? Do you take me for a coward, you ungrateful wretch?’

Aila edged back, fear racing through her. Her fingers scrabbled on the rock beneath her, but the ledge was smooth, and she braced herself as Frostback opened her jaws, a burning rage in her eyes.

‘Is this going to be your new lair?’ said Kelsey, her tone light. ‘I like it.’

Frostback’s head snapped round to face the Holdfast woman. ‘What did you say?’

‘The cave is big enough for us all to fit inside,’ Kelsey went on, getting to her feet and brushing the dirt from the front of her clothes. ‘And, even better, we can see for miles up here. There’s no way anyone will be able to surprise us again.’

‘That’s why I chose it,’ said Frostback.

‘Thank you again for rescuing us; we’re very grateful.’

‘You might be, but the demigod isn’t.’

‘I am grateful,’ said Aila, slowly rising to her feet, her palms outstretched. ‘I am. Without you, we would have been arrested, or we’d have burned to death. All I was trying to say was that the soldiers will still be coming after you. You killed another three of them. I know you were protecting us and defending your lair, but they won’t see it like that.’

‘You are right,’ said the dragon; ‘they have become my enemies, through no fault of my own. This makes things clearer, at least. If they are my enemies, then I need to strike them before they can strike at me.’ She turned her gaze to Aila. ‘Thank you, demigod, for your advice. I will take it. The soldiers that attacked us will pay; all of them.’

She beat her wings and surged into the air, as Aila and Kelsey stared, open-mouthed.

‘What have you done?’ whispered Kelsey.

‘I didn’t mean that to happen,’ said Aila, as the figure of Frostback grew fainter in the northern sky. ‘I didn’t know she was going to react that way. I was trying to tell her that we should keep flying south, to get away from the soldiers, not that she should attack them.’

‘Pyre’s arse; next time, just say “thank you.”’

* * *

Several hours passed. Aila and Kelsey stared at the northern horizon for a long time, then explored the cave at the rear of the ledge. It went back thirty yards or so, and was dry and clean, though quite narrow in places.

‘Frostback will need to reverse in,’ said Kelsey, ‘otherwise her bum will be sticking out of the entrance.’

Aila nodded, though her thoughts were on what the silver dragon might be doing at that moment.

‘There’s a little alcove further in,’ Kelsey went on, peering into the gloom of the cavern. ‘We could build a fire there, but it might get a bit smoky. I don’t think there’s any ventilation. Still, altogether it’s a much better lair than the last one.’

‘Does it matter?’ snapped Aila. ‘We won’t be here long.’

‘Here we go again,’ muttered Kelsey.

‘She took us twenty miles in under half an hour. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but it was fast. She could probably take us to Kin Dai in a couple of hours, then we could use our gold to live like royalty for a while.’

‘You would just abandon Frostback?’

‘Abandon her? Don’t exaggerate.’

‘Right now, she’s off burning and pillaging, because of us, well, partly because of us. If she brings down the wrath of the Ascendants upon her, then it will be our fault. They’ll kill her, unless I’m here to stop them. Do you want her death on your conscience?’

‘Your reasoning is contorted, to put it mildly. We aren’t responsible for her actions. Are you sure this isn’t about your fear of starving?’

Kelsey shook her head. ‘You say that like it’s an irrational fear. If we tell her we’re leaving, then she’ll refuse to carry us anywhere, and then, aye, I’m a little worried about starving in the forest. My humble apologies for being mortal.’

Aila sat back down on the ledge. ‘Malik’s ass; we should have taken Amalia’s Quadrant.’

‘Hey,’ said Kelsey. ‘Remember our rule – no “should have” or “could have” – they’re not allowed. Regret will get us nowhere.’

‘So will following your plan! All I’m trying to do is get us moving.’

She turned away from Kelsey, and stared out to the north. The sun was lowering to the west, and it was starting to turn cold up on the rocky hillside. Trees dotted the summit and the slopes, but none were in front of the ledge, and a chill wind was gusting from the east. Aila wasn’t sure how cold it would get over winter in Kinell, but they had no thick, warm clothes with them.

She peered forwards, noticing a small dark speck in the sky. ‘Kelsey.’

‘Aye?’

Aila pointed.

Kelsey wandered over from the cave entrance and crouched down next to her, a hand up to shield her eyes from the setting sun.

‘I think that’s her,’ she said. She glanced at Aila. ‘Let’s give it a day or so. I know you want to get back to Corthie as soon as possible, but I’m telling you now; I’m not leaving until I can be sure that either Frostback will take us, or we have enough food for the journey. I’m sorry, but that’s that.’

They watched as the dragon approached, her silver body glinting in the light from the fading sun. She circled over the hilltop a few times, then landed on the ledge as Aila and Kelsey stood. Frostback glanced at them, then dropped the carcass of a pig onto the ground in front of them.

‘Your dinner,’ said the dragon.

‘Thanks,’ said Kelsey. ‘Did you decide to