Part 70 (1/2)

From within came a gasp. Yssa pressed against the opposing end, staring at the two newcomers open-mouthed.

Her eyes swept over Shade, then turned to the one that she knew. Her cheeks reddened. ”My Lady Bedlam . . .”

The rage that Gwen had held in check suddenly threatened to boil over. She satisfied herself with a glare at the Green Dragon's half-human daughter, then replied, ”You'll be coming with us, Yssa.”

Standing, the half-drake woman glanced at Shade again. The hooded figure held out his hand. After a moment's hesitation, she took it.

”I hope you know much about me,” Shade remarked casually.

Yssa frowned. ”I don't under-”

”This isn't the time or place to begin our discussion,” Gwen quickly interrupted. ”Shade, if you please?”

As Yssa gaped at this new revelation, the cloaked warlock led the pair through the wall.

But the storm was not the only thing to greet the escaping trio.

Through the black clouds burst a monstrous form. The dragon soared toward them, its huge maw open. It roared, a harsh sound that cut through the thunder. Crimson orbs glared at the tiny figures and the dragon stretched forth its ma.s.sive claws.

Undaunted, Shade walked toward it.

Both Gwen and Yssa struggled to pull him back, the notion of meeting a dragon in such a manner hardly sane, but the warlock dragged them forward with no effort whatsoever.

Gwen searched inside herself for her link to the forces from which she drew her magic. This time she felt it, but only as a faint sensation. Hardly enough to sufficiently cast a spell, especially one effective against the oncoming behemoth.

The gray dragon roared again. The huge maw opened wide, revealing sharp teeth nearly as tall as its intended victims. Its wings seemed to envelop the sky as it neared. It was one of the largest dragons that the enchantress had seen in her entire life.

As it closed, Shade suddenly released his grip on both women.

Gwen screamed as loudly as Yssa-screams that faltered when neither plummeted earthward. The two drifted helplessly in the storm, Shade's remarkable power keeping both of them alive even while he focused on the savage leviathan.

The hooded figure stretched his arms to the side as if seeking to embrace the winged giant. The dragon slowed, apparently suddenly wary of this tiny creature floating in the sky who showed no proper fear in his moment of death.

Shade brought his gloved hands together.

A crack of thunder dwarfing any so far heard shook the heavens. Gwen and Yssa put their hands to their ears in a futile attempt to block out the overwhelming sound.

As if struck by a solid blow, the dragon tumbled backward over and over. It roared in confusion and sought desperately to right itself. Only when it had tumbled far into the distance did it finally begin to recover.

”Did you see that?” Yssa called, as astounded as Gwen by the warlock's might. ”I'd heard that he knew all manner of spells, but-”

The rest of her comment ended in a startled scream. Gwen had no opportunity to react, for, at the same time, a terrible force pressed against her body and she was flung high into the storm. A cry as desperate as that by Yssa poured from her mouth.

The second dragon flew the two stunned women far from the scene of the astounding battle. Gasping for air, suddenly soaked by the horrendous storm, Gwen watched in horror as the first beast soared toward Shade. At the same time, the dark clouds above and around the hooded figure rumbled ominously.

With a heart-stumbling roar, the storm unleashed a relentless barrage of lightning bolts at Shade. The dragon approaching him let loose with a fearsome spray of fire . . .

But the beast carrying Gwen and Yssa veered away from the struggle, leaving the question of Shade's fate hanging. The enchantress could not imagine that he could survive such an attack. But if Shade had died, did that mean that he would even now be resurrected elsewhere? If so, would he be in the same confused state of mind?

The leviathan suddenly began descending. Gwen forgot all about the warlock as she saw them approach a familiar trio of peaks.

With one swift turn to the east, the dragon headed toward a huge cave mouth carved out of the top of the middle peak. Atop one of the other mountains, another dragon roared at the newcomer, who responded in kind.

The beast who carried them folded its wings as it entered the cave. Gwen felt every bone in her body jostle as they touched the rock floor.

Time and hundreds of dragons had worn this area almost smooth. No stalact.i.tes or stalagmites decorated the interior, those long ago cracked free by the huge inhabitants.

As it slowed, the dragon shoved the two ahead. The enchantress immediately whirled on the beast and, to her credit, Yssa did the same. Unfortunately, before they could do anything, a voice behind them said, ”It would be unwissse to anger the Great One further, femalesss . . .”

Behind them, a drake servitor stood waiting. He resembled one of the scaled warriors in every manner save that his helm was all but undecorated. He had no huge crest, only a thin, barely noticeable ridge going back. Even without it, however, he stood almost seven feet tall.

”I am Ssssurak. You will come with me.”

To emphasize his command, a pair of strong hands pushed both forward. Glancing over her shoulders, Gwen discovered the dragon gone. In its place stood an even more towering drake warrior, his savage crest the exact image of the head of the dragon who had brought them here.

”Move . . .” he ordered, eyes flaring red.

Ssssurak waved one hand over the palm of the other. A small, blue pyramid about the size of an acorn materialized in the palm. A faint light emanated from it.

”I will lead,” the servitor declared.

With Ssssurak ahead and the warrior behind, the four entered a darkened pa.s.sage at the deep end of the cave. No sooner had the servitor stepped inside, then the light from the pyramid immediately increased, filling the area with blue-tinted illumination.

A slight sound from Yssa made Gwen glance the other's way. The half-drake had a determined look in her eye and her expression tensed even as the enchantress watched.

With a flickering frown, Gwen tried to warn her not to try anything. The power of the Dragon King prevailed here. Gwen could feel her abilities being muted by his spellwork. Did Yssa think that she could fare any better?

Evidently she did, for in the next second the Green Dragon's daughter threw herself back into the unsuspecting guard. Physically, he should have been no more affected than if a gnat had collided with him, but an orange aura flared to life as Yssa struck the giant and both of them went flying.

The drake hit one of the walls, bounced off of it, then rammed into the other. The collisions were hardly chance; Gwen sensed Yssa's hand in each harsh crash.

Behind the enchantress, Ssssurak hissed. He closed his hand tight, which would have plunged the pa.s.sage into darkness save for Yssa's aura. Gwen turned on the servitor, but somehow despite his close proximity, he had become invisible to her.

Yssa seized Gwen by the hand. ”Hurry!”

Gwen did not argue. Despite her own handicap, Yssa's skills seemed entirely untouched. The enchantress belatedly thought of the younger woman's origins. Perhaps both Gwen and the Dragon King had underestimated what a cross between human and drake might be capable. Still, it seemed odd that the Storm Lord would not take that consideration in mind.

They ran back along the corridor, racing down the dark pa.s.sage toward freedom. However, it took Gwen only a few seconds to realize that they should be far, far closer to the exit than they were. Ssssurak had barely led them into it before Yssa had acted.

”Wait!” she called. ”Yssa! We're being led!”

Her companion stumbled to a halt, but by then it was already too late. A blinding light a.s.sailed them from both directions. Gwen and Yssa threw themselves against one another for protection.

And as the light died, the voice that Gwen had dreaded to hear echoed loud.

”Welcome, welcome, my chosen . . .”