Violet Stormwing's Arc

Chapter 17 of 46

The man with the torch backed up the steps. Above him, more boots gathered at the cellar mouth. Then a familiar voice cut through the shouting. Theo. Violet's stomach dropped. He had written the report that brought these men here. He was Kael's spy. She still did not know which side he would take when it counted. If she guessed wrong, the chains meant for the dragon would end on her wrists. Theo pushed past the men and stood at the top of the steps. His vest was clean, his smile easy, the same as always. "Stand down," he told them softly. "I speak for Lord Kael here." The men hesitated. One held up the chains. "The lord wants the wild one taken." Violet climbed the steps slow, the pink dragon behind her, wings still spread. She stopped where Theo could see her face. "Choose," she said. "Now." Theo looked at the dragon. He looked at Violet. Then he leaned close to the man with the chains and dropped his voice. "You saw an empty cellar," he said. "You report that the girl fled north with nothing. If Kael learns you cornered a bonded dragon and lost it, he'll chain you instead." The man's grip loosened. Theo pressed on, calm as still water. "I write the reports. I decide what the lord reads. Walk away and you never came here." One by one, the men stepped back. The chains hit the dirt with a dull clank. They turned and moved off through the ruined streets, quick, glad to be gone. Violet stared at Theo. "You lied for me." "I lie for whoever wins," he said. His smile faded. "You won. The dragon chose you. Kael can't hold what won't be held." He glanced at the pink dragon, wary. "But he'll send more men when my next letter is late. This buys days, not safety." A cry split the sky above the peaks. Violet looked up. A great dark shape circled the village, wings wide, a mane of black feathers streaming behind it. A griffin. It watched the dragon below with fierce yellow eyes, then screamed again and settled on a broken roof. Violet's mouth went dry. She had bonded the last wild dragon. She had turned Kael's own spy to her side. But this creature was no dragon, and it had come hunting the same mountain she now claimed as refuge. "Get the hatchlings inside," she told Theo. He moved without argument. The pink dragon pressed close to her shoulder, trusting, waiting for her to lead. Violet met the griffin's stare and did not look away. One threat had turned to an ally. A larger one had just landed on her roof.