Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

collapse.”
    “Ysolde!”
    The world seemed to slow down at that point, time itself lagging until each second took five times as long to pass. I watched with an odd sense of detachment as Baltic vaulted over the still-fighting dragons, shifting as he did so back into human form, his face a mask of fear-fear for me, I knew. Beyond him, Thala stood with her arms outstretched, a horrible wail starting to scrape across the night sky. I knew it was a matter of only a few seconds before she completed the dirge, too long for Baltic to reach me.
    A sob choked in my throat as I dropped my morning star and ran toward him, needing his strength not to protect me, but to complete me.
    The dirge swelled into a sound that threatened to burst my eardrums ... and then it stopped, the air around us vibrating as it waited for the final note, the final word of the dirge to complete it. A golden light gathered itself before me, tiny little motes spinning around and around until they elongated into the shape of a man.
    “Your time has run out, daughter,” the First Dragon said, his eyes filled with sorrow.
    I stared at him for a second. Then, slow as molasses, my gaze shifted over his shoulder, to where Baltic still ran toward me in slow motion. Thala appeared to be frozen in time, what remained of her tribe staring with open mouths at the First Dragon as he strode forward.
    “Run out of time? You’re going to kill me?” My voice was pathetic and tiny, reflecting perfectly the uncertainty I felt at that moment. Was he so pissed at me that he’d kill me for failing to save Baltic’s honor? He wouldn’t do that, would he?
    His gaze flicked to the side as Baltic stumbled over a dead dragon, skidding to a stop next to me. “Baltic.”
    “I would have you cease harassing my mate,” Baltic said somewhat breathily, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
    I elbowed him and whispered, “A little more humility might be in order, my darling.”
    Baltic ignored me. “If you wish to punish me for the acts of the past, you will do so to me, not Ysolde. She is not to blame for any of my actions.”
    “You are correct. You alone are answerable for your sins.” The First Dragon glanced around at the gathering, his gaze pausing for a moment on Thala before returning to me.
    “I’m sorry. I haven’t yet managed to do what you wanted me to do,” I said, clasping Baltic’s hand for support.
    “This will end where it began,” the First Dragon said, and in the fraction of time between instants, we were no longer standing outside the sepulcher. Instead, we stood, all of us, in a cleared section of woods that surrounded a tall, grey structure.
    “Dauva,” I said, staring at it before spinning around, trying to look in all directions at once. “It’s Dauva.”
    “Fascinating, absolutely fascinating. I believe this translocation requires a few notes,” Dr. Kostich said, pulling out a small notebook and a gold pen.
    Jim snuffled the First Dragon’s shoes. “Wow. Those are some pretty awesome teleporting skills you got there, Your First Dragonness. Don’t suppose you’re looking for a devastatingly handsome demon sidekick, are you?”
    “Jim!” Aisling smacked it on its butt.
    “So the fighting has stopped for good?” Magoth put his hands on his naked hips and looked around in dismay. Suddenly, he brightened up. “I recognize this place. It’s where my sweet May enjoyed playing with me. May, my darling-”
    “No!” May said in a disgusted voice, but her eyes were large as she moved to press herself next to Gabriel, whose arm immediately went around her.
    “Fine, be that way. I’ll find someone else to tail-slap me.” He eyed Pavel, who looked more than a little startled.
    “So this is what the famed Dauva looked like all those centuries ago,” Holland said, strolling toward the wall. “I’ve always wonder-oof!”
    He bounced off the wall, taking himself-and the rest of us-by surprise. He rubbed his nose and reached out to pat the wall, turning to face us with disbelief in his eyes. “It’s real.”
    “It can’t be real,” I said, shaking my head. “Baltic hasn’t rebuilt it yet, and besides, I told him no moat. That clearly is a moat.” Everyone looked at where I pointed. “This has to be a vision of past Dauva.”
    “This is no vision,” Baltic said slowly, crossing the drawbridge upon which we all stood. He touched the stone gateway.
    “If it’s not a vision, then ... what? It’s real?”