Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

who showed up with a woman. Where are the others?” Savian asked.
    “Baltic?” Gareth ran toward the door. “God damn it, Sullivan, you brought that wyvern here? He’s just supposed to bring gold, not come into the fortress himself!”
    I listened as hard as I could but didn’t hear any sounds of fighting. Nonetheless, I was worried. Baltic was perfectly capable of handling a few dragons on his own, but I didn’t want him hurt. “Of course Baltic came with me; he loves Brom. Nico and Holland are upstairs one floor, Savian. Can you let them out? Baltic probably doesn’t need any help taking down whatever dragons Ruth found, but I’d hate for him to get carried away and kill them rather than just disable them.”
    Gareth’s eyes widened with panic.
    “Here, you take this, and keep her highness covered,” Savian said, handing the gun to me after gesturing with it toward Maura.
    “Why? I admit there’re a few things I’d like to say to her about her actions of the past, and more important, about how her family is worried sick over her, but really, I don’t think we need her.”
    “We do,” Savian said, pushing Maura farther into the room. “She knows the secret way out.”
    “Which, if you will recall, Bart, or whatever your name is, I offered to show to you, so you can stop treating me like a prisoner.”
    “The name is Savian Bartholomew, and you’re definitely a prisoner. Don’t let her get away, Ysolde.”
    “You’re making it very difficult for me to do what’s right, you know!” Maura yelled after him as he left the room and ran up the stairs to the floor above.
    “You offered to help us?” I asked Maura. “Why? You’re Thala’s second-in-command. And before you say anything, I should mention that the last time I spoke with your mother, she was very concerned about your being so involved with this outlaw tribe that you tried to kidnap me a few months ago, not to mention all the other nefarious things you’ve done.”
    “Yes, because I’m so very much the queen of nefarious,” Maura said, looking strangely drawn. “I offered to help your wyvern when he jumped me outside because I do not happen to agree with using children in this manner. And yes, I was Thala’s lieutenant, but-”
    A sudden explosion outside gave us all a moment of pause.
    “That sounded like an arcane compression blast,” I said thoughtfully. “One of your tribe must have pissed off Baltic enough that he’s using magic.”
    “Right, that’s it. I’ve had enough of you and your insanity,” Gareth said, shoving Maura hard into me, sending us backward until we tripped over a wooden chair and went down in a tumble of arms and legs. “You still owe me gold, Sullivan! I expect it to be delivered.”
    “By the rood, get off me-thank you. Brom?” I struggled out from under Maura, worried sick for a moment that Gareth had grabbed Brom as he escaped, but luck was once again with me.
    “I’m here. You OK?” he asked when I got to my feet and limped hurriedly to the door, rubbing my shin as I did so.
    “I’m fine, but your father has escaped, dammit. I hope he runs smack-dab into Baltic.”
    “I’m fine, too, not that anyone asked,” Maura said as she got to her feet. “You dropped your gun, Ysolde.”
    I took it when she held it out to me, thanking her. “I do appreciate your offering to help us get Brom out, even if it seems otherwise. In fact, it more than makes up for shooting Baltic and trying to kidnap us, so I suppose really, we’re even on that score.”
    “I truly am sorry about all of that,” she said, wringing her hands. “At the time, it seemed like the wisest thing to do, but I see now that what we were told about you was all wrong.”
    “Who told you-” I started to ask, but stopped when Nico, Savian, and Holland thundered down the stairs.
    “Brom! You’re all right?” Nico asked, coming forward to clap his hand on Brom’s shoulder, their approved method of showing affection.
    “Of course. I’m not a baby,” Brom said with a scathing look.
    “You’re far from that,” Nico agreed. “I’m proud of you for not being frightened by the situation. I know you must have been worried.”
    Brom shrugged. “I knew Baltic wouldn’t let Gareth and the dragons do anything to me. Is Baltic going to beat up Gareth? Do we get to watch when he does?”
    “Our first priority is going to be to get you to safety, my bloodthirsty child,” I said.
    “Baltic says I get that from you. He