Fire Dragons (Dragon Adventure Series 2: Book 1)

  Chapter 5

  Sapphire slept for several days while Draig and Lira took turns looking after her and the child. One morning while Lira was nursing the child, Sapphire yawned and opened her eyes.

  “How are you feeling?” Lira asked as she quickly covered the child with the blanket.

  “I feel fine, other than having a slight tingling sensation in my side,” Sapphire replied as she rose to her feet.

  “Do you recall what had happened to you?” Lira asked.

  “I remember being shot by an arrow,” Sapphire replied as she tried to remember.

  “Do you know who did it, or why?” Lira asked.

  “Yeah, it was Ironclaw and Talon. I think they were trying to kill me,” Sapphire snarled as she recalled the event.

  “That’s what Draig was afraid of,” Lira remarked.

  “Is Draig alive?” Sapphire asked as her eyes lit up with hope.

  “Yes, he’s playing with Splash and Bay down at the beach. Do you want me to fly down there and get him?” Lira offered so she could hide the child before Sapphire saw him.

  “Wait a minute, can you tell me what happened to him before you go? You know how he likes to put his own spin on things.”

  “Sure, he was taken captive and forced to work at a mine down in Cothi for the past year. When he escaped his captors, he stopped here so he could rest before heading back to Snowdon. After his respite, he spotted you in a meadow on his way home. When he saw that you were injured, he brought you back here and we patched you up. Once you were settled in, he went out to look for the person who shot you. He didn’t want to leave you, but he couldn’t stand the thought of the person getting away, or worse yet, shooting down another dragon. As he followed the trail of clues, he realized Ironclaw might have been involved but he couldn’t prove it,” Lira replied.

  “Draig is not going to be happy when I tell him that sniveling weasel Ironclaw and his sidekick Talon tried to kill me and make it look like the humans did it. I’m going to see that those two back-stabbers are bled out on the stone of punishment when I get back to Snowdon!” Sapphire roared.

  “Now that you’re up, I should probably go get Draig,” Lira offered when she felt the child stirring in her arms.

  “What are you holding?” Sapphire asked when she saw the blanket start to wiggle.

  “Nothing,” Lira replied.

  “I’m your friend, you can trust me,” Sapphire said when Lira started to turn away.

  “Alright, but it’s hard to explain, and you can’t tell anyone about this,” Lira insisted.

  “I won’t,” Sapphire promised without knowing what she was agreeing to.

  “There was a slave woman that helped Draig escape, and in return for her help he promised to take care of her child,” Lira replied.

  “That’s preposterous, why would he do that? Dragons don’t talk to humans, let alone make promises to them!” Sapphire scoffed.

  “I’m telling you the truth. Draig promised to care for her child until he could find him a suitable home,” Lira insisted.

  “I don’t know where you got that creature, but you need to take it back to its rightful owner before anyone realizes what you have done,” Sapphire ordered.

  “I didn’t take him, Draig did, and he asked me to help him take care of the child,” Lira said as she slowly backed away from Sapphire.

  “Give him to me and I’ll rid you of this silliness,” Sapphire said as she held out her claw.

  “No, you can’t have him, he’s a healer and he just saved you!” Lira said in a defiant tone.

  “How gullible do you think I am? A human can’t heal a dragon or anything else for that matter. Now give me the child,” Sapphire demanded as she reached for the blanket.

  “Don’t touch him!” Draig yelled as he flew into the cave and saw Sapphire grabbing at the blanket.

  “Draig? You really are alive! I thought Lira had taken someone’s child and was lying to cover up her crime,” Sapphire admitted.

  “I took the child, and he is under my protection. I swore an oath to his mother before she passed away and that is the truth,” Draig insisted.

  “She said the child healed me, surely that part of the story isn’t true.”

  “It is, the child is a healer. I don’t know how much you remember about what happened to you, but when I found you, you were near death and neither of us expected you to survive. The truth is, you only started to get better after the child curled up next to you,” Draig revealed.

  “Really?” Sapphire questioned.

  “I swear on my dragon skin that he brought you back from the darkness,” Draig insisted.

  “I owe him my life,” Sapphire said as she slowly withdrew her claw from the edge of the blanket.

  “If you don’t believe us take a look at your wound and then explain how you were healed,” Draig suggested. Sapphire slowly pulled the kelp off of her side and then lowered her head in shame for doubting them.

  “I am so sorry, it just seemed so far-fetched,” Sapphire apologized.

  “I know you’re still recovering, but can you tell me who shot you with the arrow?” Draig asked.

  “I am sorry to say it was your brother and Talon who attacked me,” Sapphire replied, knowing it might be hard for Draig to hear how vicious Ironclaw had become.

  “I am sorry to ask, but why would they want to harm you? Was there any justification for it?”

  “No, but things have drastically changed since you’ve been gone. The elders gave your seat on the council to your brother and he has used it to corrupt the others. Believe it or not, I was the only dragon who voted against the war. Your brother poisoned their minds and then had the audacity to rub his victory in my face. I lost my temper and I threw him on the ground. Then I called him a liar. It wasn’t one of my finer moments, but he deserved it,” Sapphire insisted.

  “That dispute wouldn’t give him the authority to attack you. Are you positive it was Ironclaw and Talon who shot you with the arrow, and not just some human passing by that fired it at you?” Draig asked.

  “Without a doubt. It was nighttime, but my vision is keen and I clearly saw Ironclaw and Talon trailing me in the moonlight. Ironclaw is the one who actually shot me, but Talon was flying right beside him so he needs to be punished as well,” Sapphire insisted.

  “Okay, we’ll take this matter up with the dragon council once you are well enough to fly back to Snowdon with me,” Draig replied.

  “I feel fine, but before we go there is something else you need to know about your brother,” Sapphire said in a hesitant tone.

  “What is it?”

  “Not only has he taken your seat at the head of the council, but the elders are also letting him plan and direct the battles now that we are at war with the humans,” Sapphire revealed.

  “Why on earth would they let him to do that?” Draig asked.

  “Because they knew that he had been secretly attacking their villages at night with some measure of success,” Sapphire admitted.

  “I can’t believe how bad things have gotten since he took over.”

  “I know. Ironclaw has fooled them all, and the sooner we can get back to Snowdon, the sooner you can boot him out on his dragon butt,” Sapphire snorted.

  “I know you’re eager to see Ironclaw and Talon pay for their crimes, but it’s too soon to make that trip. You were half dead just a few days ago.”

  “I’m fine,” Sapphire replied as she flapped her wings a couple of times to prove her point.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I believe the child healed me. Now let’s go get your brother before he endangers any more lives,” Sapphire exclaimed.

  “Lira, I hate to ask, but can you take care of the child until Sapphire and I can get things under control?”

  “Of course, you need to dethrone your brother and put an end to the war,” Lira replied without hesitation.

  “Thank you. I am sure we will be back in a few days time,” Draig promised as he fol
lowed Sapphire out of the cave.

  Once they were airborne, Sapphire flew alongside Draig as they headed northeast. Draig kept looking over at her every few minutes and she wasn’t sure if he was worried she wouldn’t make it all the way there, or if there was something else on his mind.

  “Can I help you?” she asked when she caught him staring at her.

  “Sorry, I just can’t believe you are healed. You have no idea how the thought of losing you affected me,” Draig admitted as he smiled at her lovingly.

  “You’re so sweet. I missed you too,” Sapphire replied.

  “I hope you understand why I offered to care for the child,” Draig remarked.

  “Whatever your reason I will never question it. You made a pact with a human and her child turned out to be a healer. Then you found me, and the child you saved, saved me. What are the odds of that?” Sapphire questioned.

  “I don’t know, but Lira found a passage in the cave of secrets that may have foretold of the healer’s arrival,” Draig admitted.

  “If the child is the healer of prophecy, then a great calamity awaits us,” Sapphire remarked.

  “What do you mean?” Draig asked.

  “The cave of secrets got that name because the elders clawed out any passages that spoke of a healer not of our kin. They knew his arrival would divide the Fire Dragons and they didn’t want him to be welcomed or protected. If the elders discover that the child you are protecting is a healer, they will stop at nothing to kill him,” Sapphire revealed.

  “How do you know all of this? I was on the council for years and there was no mention of these events to me,” Draig questioned.

  “That’s because the few elders that know of this have sworn an oath to hide the truth and keep watch for this healer. They believe the prophecy can be rewritten if he is killed,” Sapphire admitted.

  “Why would they tell you of their secret oath? They know you would never allow then to hunt down a healer even if he was a human,” Draig insisted.

  “They never told me, and I have kept this to myself fearing what they would do to me if they knew I had knowledge of it. The only reason I know about this is because a Pigmy Dragon read the prophecy before it was defaced and passed it down to his kin. He died long ago, but the Pigmy Dragons believe a descendant of the healer will unite them in a new land. They do not fear the one with power, and they call him by his name,” Sapphire replied.

  “And what name is that?” Draig asked.

  “The Dragon Wizard,” Sapphire replied. Draig didn’t know what to make of all the prophetic stories, but if half of what Sapphire had been told was true, then the prophecy was being fulfilled, and Megan’s child was the one with power.

  “I guess we’ll just have to see how this plays out,” Draig replied as he passed over a village he had not seen before.

  “It looks like they are preparing for battle,” Sapphire remarked when she saw him looking down at the humans that were clad in armor.

  “Yeah, things are spiraling out of control. I hope it is not too late to take back control of the council once my brother is ousted,” Draig added as he flew towards their mountain stronghold.

  When they landed at Snowdon, several elders rushed over the moment they saw them, but their demeanor seemed less welcoming than Draig had expected.

  “You seem surprised to see me?” Draig remarked.

  “Yes, where have you been all this time?” one of the elders asked as he eyed Draig suspiciously.

  “It’s a long story, but before I get into it, can you tell me if my brother and Talon are around?”

  “Yes, they are down near the lake drafting up the battle plan for tonight’s attack,” the elder replied in an uneasy tone.

  “I want the two of them arrested immediately, and then call the council to order!” Draig commanded.

  “Under whose authority?” the elder questioned.

  “Mine, I’m reclaiming my seat as head of the council and I’m ordering you to arrest Ironclaw and Talon,” Draig yelled in an angry tone when he realized the elder wasn’t taking him seriously.

  “I see,” the elder replied before flying off.

  When the elder returned with several more members of the dragon council in tow, Draig could see he was in for a fight.

  “Where’s my brother and the half-wit?” Draig demanded.

  “They will be here in a minute,” the elder replied as he motioned for the council members to surround Draig and Sapphire.

  “What are you doing?” Draig roared when he realized they were boxing them in.

  “You and Sapphire are under arrest. Do not resist, or I will order them to bind you,” the elder threatened.

  “This is absurd!” Draig snarled in protest. “Who is behind this?”

  “Your brother Ironclaw and Talon have evidence that you and Sapphire have been helping the humans, and you stand accused of treason,” the elder said in an accusatory tone.

  “That is ridiculous!” Draig yelled. “You have been duped by a liar and his fool!” The elder did not react to Draig’s insults and simply waited for Ironclaw and Talon to come up from the lake.

  “Oh goodie, the prodigal son has returned,” Ironclaw sneered as he landed behind the other dragons.

  “You are a disgrace to this clan!” Draig shouted.

  “Brother, you and the blue devil should have never returned. Now you will both have to pay for your treasonous acts,” he claimed as he looked over at Sapphire with a smug look on his scaly face.

  “Your lies won’t be enough to convict us,” Sapphire snorted in anger.

  “We’ll see about that,” Ironclaw replied as he motioned to have them taken to the stone of punishment. Draig and Sapphire immediately dug their claws into the rocky soil, as the elders dragged them along until they reached the stone. They could have tried to escape, but they didn’t want to give Ironclaw a reason to kill them without having a trial.

  “Even if your deception condemns us, you can’t execute us until dies Saturni,” Sapphire argued as one of the elders tied her and Draig to the stone with eel skin rope.

  “Not to worry your royal blueness, we’ll make an exception for you and your boyfriend,” Ironclaw snorted.

  “Are you listening to him?” Draig interrupted. “He bosses you around and makes up the rules as he goes. Have you made him your king? Because that’s what I see,” Draig added as he looked around at the elders, many of which he thought were his friends.

  “We are winning the fight against the humans under his command,” one of the dragons replied in Ironclaw’s defense.

  “Even if that is true, more soldiers are coming. Every dragon that falls in battle is irreplaceable, for they are many, and we are few,” Draig pointed out.

  “Of course you would side with them,” Ironclaw accused. “You and the blue devil exaggerate their numbers so we will turn tail and run like cowards.”

  “I am not exaggerating. I have overheard them discussing their plans and many more are coming to take this land,” Draig insisted.

  “I have heard enough, let’s start the trial so the elders can decide who is telling the truth, and who is the lover of the warm-bloods,” Ironclaw snorted.

  “Go ahead and ask your questions little brother, I don’t fear your lies, but you should fear the truth,” Draig contended.

  “Why don’t we start off by finding out where you have been for the past twelve months,” Ironclaw questioned.

  “I was taken captive by the humans, and forced to work at the Cothi gold mine,” Draig replied

  “Why did the humans decide to let you go after all this time?” he asked.

  “They didn’t just let me go. A slave girl who also worked at the mine took pity on me and set me free,” Draig replied.

  “Wow, you must have really impressed her if she risked her life to save a dragon,” Ironclaw sneered. Draig didn’t reply because he knew his brother was trying to get him to say something that would sound incriminating.

  “What about y
ou princess, you’re looking healthy,” Ironclaw remarked when he couldn’t see where the arrow had struck her.

  “Was that a question, or are you in love?” Sapphire replied with a look of disgust.

  “I just want to know where you have been hiding these past few days?” Ironclaw asked as he flicked his tongue at her disrespectfully.

  “I’ve been recovering from your attempt on my life, you scaleless worm!” she snarled.

  “Funny, I don’t see any claw marks or bite wounds on your pretty little scales?” Ironclaw remarked as he goaded her on.

  “That’s because you shot me with an arrow to make it look like the humans attacked me!” Sapphire snorted in frustration.

  “Really! Can you show the elders where this magical arrow struck you?” Ironclaw chuckled.

  “I heal quickly,” Sapphire replied when she realized she had fallen for his trap.

  “So you claim that I shot you with an arrow just a few days ago, yet there isn’t a scratch on you?” Ironclaw said in a patronizing tone.

  “I’m telling the truth!” Sapphire shouted in anger.

  “I don’t think so.” Ironclaw replied. “I think you and Draig are trying to blame me for an attack that clearly never happened, so you can get away with treason. Draig already admitted that the humans let him go and that’s because he taught them how to make the hardened steel in exchange for his freedom. We already know the weapons originated from the south, precisely where Draig was being held. We also know that Sapphire’s claim that I attacked her is a lie, and she is clearly trying to cover up Draig’s betrayal of us. I would like to point out that as his accomplice, she is also guilty of treason and subject to the same penalties that he is!” Ironclaw added.

  “Before we pass judgement, each of them has the right to speak in their own defense,” an elder interrupted.

  “Fine, let the blue devil and my treasonous brother have their say,” Ironclaw snorted.

  “Sapphire, you may go first.”

  “I swear to all of you that Ironclaw and Talon attacked me. I also know that Draig had nothing to do with the humans’ development of hardened steel, therefore neither of us is guilty of treason.”

  “Do you have any proof to back up your claims?” the elder asked.

  “Is my oath of truth not enough?” Sapphire exclaimed.

  “What about you Draig? Do you have any proof that can show us that you are innocent of these charges?” the elder asked.

  “Like Sapphire, I have my word of honor, and I swear to you that we are both telling the truth. As for proof, I have none, but what proof does my brother offer to show we are guilty? A tale that seems like the truth only because it’s easier to believe that the humans are evil, rather than admit that Ironclaw has fooled you?”

  “That’s your defense?” Ironclaw laughed. “The humans are bunny kissing, flower picking, do-gooders? Really, they’re not all evil? Because there is not a Fire Dragon on this mountain who has not seen dragon blood on their new swords and arrows.”

  “The only blood that has been spilt is on your hands!” Draig roared in anger.

  “That’s enough yelling, the both of you,” the elder interrupted. “Ironclaw, do you have any evidence to support your claims against them?”

  “I have Talon as my witness and Razorwing would have also have testified against them had he not been slain by a blade forged by my brother’s betrayal.”

  “Talon, are the accusations against Sapphire and Draig true?” the elder asked.

  “Yes, and I’m willing to swear it on my dragon skin,” Talon said as he gulped down his lie.

  “Alright, we have heard the testimony from both sides, now it’s time for us to adjourn and to decide on the verdict. When we reach it, we will either set the accused free, or wet the stone of punishment with their blood,” the elder remarked with indifference in his voice.

  Once the elders were gone, Sapphire tugged at the eel skin rope that bound her to the stone, but she could not break it.

  “There is a reason they use eel skin,” Draig whispered, “Not only is the slimy stuff fireproof, but it is virtually unbreakable.”

  “You are stronger than any dragon I know, see if you can break it,” Sapphire suggested in a hopeful tone. Draig pulled at the rope as hard as he could, but it only cut between his scales.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t break it,” Draig apologized.

  “Do you think we should have told them about the bow and arrows, or the scale that you found not far from where I was attacked?” Sapphire asked in a low voice.

  “All those things only prove that my brother was in the area, but it doesn’t prove that he attacked you. Unfortunately, the power that healed you also removed any trace that you were actually attacked,” Draig sighed.

  “Perhaps Lira would testify on our behalf,” Sapphire suggested.

  “I am sure she would, but if Ironclaw is able to discredit us, he will do the same to her. Then she would be executed for helping us, and the child I have sworn to protect would be killed. I’m willing to sacrifice my life to protect theirs, but I’m not going to risk their lives on the off chance that Lira could save ours. If you want to involve her I will not object because it is your choice to do so, and your life is also at risk,” Draig remarked.

  “No, I agree with you. Ironclaw has the elders eating out of his claws and exposing Lira would only result in more innocent dragon blood being shed,” Sapphire admitted as she lowered her head in defeat.

  “I am truly sorry that I dragged you into this whole mess,” Draig whispered as he leaned his head against hers.

  “Don’t be angry with yourself, I would already be dead if you had not come along after Ironclaw shot me down. To be honest, I’m happy I got to see you one last time. I love you Draig, I always have, and I always will,” Sapphire whispered back.

  “I love you too, and I am sorry I kept my feelings hidden for so long. I never meant to hurt you, and I didn’t want to hurt Lira either. I was conflicted and confused and it took me a long time to sort it all out. I hope you can forgive me for keeping it from you for so long,” Draig replied.

  “You should have told me how you felt long ago. I would have never held your youthful crush with Lira against you or her, you are both my friends,” Sapphire replied.

  “I see that now,” Draig sighed as he looked over at the circle of elders arguing over their fate.

  “Is there any chance they will set us free?” Sapphire asked when she looked up.

  “No. Ironclaw may be a coward and a liar, but he is quite crafty when it comes to manipulating the truth and getting his way.”

  “How can two brothers be so different?” Sapphire remarked as she intertwined her tail with Draig’s for comfort.

  “I don’t know, we were raised as equals, but he always blamed others when things didn’t go the way he wanted. I think he lacks empathy and truly only cares about himself,” Draig admitted.

  “Speak of the devil, here he comes now,” Sapphire whispered.

  “Good news brother. The elders have found you and the blue devil guilty of treason… and your sentence is death,” Ironclaw laughed as he pranced around the stone of punishment.

  “Your heart is as black as your scales,” Sapphire snorted in disgust.

  “Oh, you have no idea,” Ironclaw said as he stopped in front of her, and then suddenly grabbed her by the throat. “I’m going to bleed you out first, that way Draig can watch you die while he is powerless to stop me.”

  “The law requires that executions to be quick and merciful!” Draig demanded.

  “Brother, you have been gone a long time. The old ways have been forgotten, just as you shall be when this day is over,” Ironclaw said with a cruel smile.

  “There is still time to stop this madness. Admit your crimes and I will show you mercy,” Draig offered.

  “My only crime was not killing you after you crash-landed near Cothi.”

  “You were there?” Draig asked with a surprised look on hi
s face.

  “Yes, and I’ll tell you a little secret,” Ironclaw teased as he leaned towards Draig so he could whisper in his ear. “I dropped the net on you.” Draig pulled at the bindings with all of his strength, but even as enraged as he was they held fast.

  “Any last request?” Ironclaw asked as he turned back to Sapphire and started digging his talons into her neck.

  “Look behind you,” she muttered. Ironclaw ignored her warning thinking it was a trick until an arrow struck the ground next to him.

  “What the heck!” he exclaimed as he let go of her to see where the arrow had come from. Much to his surprise, he saw several armor clad soldiers running towards him.

  “I’ll let the humans seal your fate,” Ironclaw snarled as another arrow whizzed past his head as he took flight.

  Within minutes, the horde of soldiers had shot down and killed several dragons that had tried to stop them from taking over Snowdon, but Ironclaw and Talon escaped. Once the mountaintop was secured, the soldiers quickly encircled the stone of punishment in what was shaping up to be a free-for-all dragon slaying.

  “What do we have here?” the commander remarked as he prepared to thrust his sword into Draig’s chest to make an example out of him.

  “Wait! Don’t kill him!” a soldier cried out from the crowd.

  “Tegan, explain yourself!” the commander grumbled in a coarse tone as he motioned for him to step forward.

  “I think I might know this dragon,” Tegan replied as he stepped forward and stared at Draig for a moment. “Yes, he worked at the Cothi gold mine, I’m sure of it.”

  “Wonderful, now may I kill him?” the commander said as if he was asking for permission, when he was not.

  “No, he deserves to be set free!” Tegan interrupted.

  “Are you deranged? He will attack us if we do that,” the commander replied in a sharp tone.

  “No he won’t. This dragon is not like the others, he has honor. I saw him give a slave girl a proper burial back at the mine. He even said a prayer for her,” Tegan insisted.

  “You fool, dragons can’t talk,” the commander laughed.

  “Then I wager you this, if I can get him to speak, you will set him and his companion free. If I fail, then you may kill them both, and I’ll pay one gold solidus for your trouble,” Tegan offered.

  “You are willing to bet a year’s wages that this beast can speak?” the commander asked as if the offer was ridiculous.

  “Yes, I am certain I can get him to talk,” Tegan replied as he held the gold coin in his palm so his commander could see he wasn’t joking.

  “I will take that wager,” the commander said as he lowered his sword and then stepped back so everyone could watch Tegan make a fool of himself.

  “Dragon, if you and your friend want to be set free, then you must say something to prove that you can talk,” Tegan insisted as he placed the gold solidus back into his pocket. Draig looked over at Sapphire and she nodded her head up and down.

  “You are correct, I can talk,” Draig admitted in a low voice.

  “The demon speaks, kill it!” a soldier yelled out from the crowd.

  “No!” the commander interrupted. “I gave Tegan my word, and he won this bet fair and square.”

  “Does that mean you will honor your word?” Draig asked as though he was still uncertain of their fate.

  “Yes, but now that we know you can talk, will you tell us why you have been attacking us?” the commander asked as he looked at Draig still in disbelief that he could speak.

  “Sapphire and I are not part of this war, it is my brother’s fault. He has gone crazy, and convinced the other Fire Dragons to attack and burn your villages. As you can clearly see, he was about to kill both of us before you came along,” Draig replied.

  “Why would he want to kill you, if he is your brother as you claim?” the commander asked.

  “Sapphire and I opposed him, and our failed attempt to stop the war got both of us sentenced to death,” Draig replied.

  “Why has your brother declared war on us?” the commander questioned.

  “My brother sees your claim on this land as an invasion and he will not stop attacking you until you leave the Celtic realm. I beg of you, abandon your aspirations of conquest, and stop the bloodshed before it gets any worse,” Draig pleaded.

  “This land is rich in precious metals, and we will not be chased away by a race of serpents,” the commander insisted.

  “He will send every Fire Dragon into battle unless you leave,” Draig replied.

  “Our armies are vast, and more soldiers cross the channel every day. Your brother will not win this war,” the commander asserted.

  “Then I fear that this war has condemned us,” Draig sighed.

  “Perhaps you can stop him, and we can negotiate a peace?” the commander suggested.

  “I cannot pursue my brother if your men are free to shoot us down with their arrows,” Draig replied as he looked out at the soldiers.

  “Are there any other dark red or royal blue dragons in these parts?” the commander asked.

  “No, we are both unique,” Draig replied.

  “Then I will order my men not to shoot on red or blue as long as you promise not to attack our villages or harm any of my men.”

  “I agree to those terms, and you have my word that if I find my brother, I will do everything within my power to stop him and this war,” Draig promised.

  “Then let my men bear witness that I am a man of my word, Tegan you may cut both of them free,” the commander ordered. Tegan nodded and then sliced through the eel skin rope binding Draig’s legs.

  “I think they are a bit nervous,” Tegan remarked when his fellow soldiers kept their swords drawn.

  “I can see that,” Draig remarked, being careful not to make any sudden moves as he waited for Tegan to free Sapphire.

  “Thank you for coming forward on our behalf,” Sapphire said in a soft voice once she was free.

  “You’re welcome,” Tegan replied as he sheathed his sword and stepped back so she could step down off of the stone of punishment.

  “Your kindness will never be forgotten,” Sapphire added as she bowed her head to Tegan as a sign of respect.

  “It’s too bad there are not more dragons like the two of you,” Tegan remarked as he reached out and patted her on the head.

  “It is an equal shame that there are not more men with as much courage and honor as you have shown us today,” Sapphire replied as she looked around at the soldiers.

  “They think I am a fool for letting you go,” Tegan said as he glanced back for a second.

  “Either that, or you’re the bravest man they have ever seen,” Sapphire replied as she and Draig stretched out their wings and took to the air.