Chapter 31: Chapter 31

SILVER

Storm flies with ease, while I crash-land at least a couple of times before I find my wings. The wind is as sharp as the ice-cold temperatures.

It makes flying a whole new experience in the Tempest Lands.

~“I suppose this lesson is still about fear, Storm,”~ I prod him as he ascends high suddenly, and I follow with an unsteady thwack of my wings.

~“Fear is over—you learned to be scared of the unknown while being hunted. Now you hunt with me against those who will kill you if they get the chance.~

~“Little one, this following lesson is about your survival instinct,”~ Storm neutrally responds, just as a teacher would to a student.

I see the fog clear a little higher in the air, and I work hard to keep up with Storm’s fast pace as my vision clears.

~“Any advice or tips before you no doubt try to humiliate me for how lost I am when the lesson officially begins?”~ I ask cheekily even as I get whipped around, gale after gale smashing into me while I try my best to keep a straight line.

Storm is barely trying, and he looks so relaxed. I am the opposite, as I am already exhausted while also curious about how the next phase of the lesson will roll out.

~“Tips? Sure, pipsqueak. Remember these. When we dive into the canyon and grab the attention of the Rogue Shadow Assassins, use the wind for speed to evade.~

~“Anticipate that you’ll probably freeze up on occasion, and find comfort in the thought that if you die today, deaths are always quick and less painful in the Tempest Lands.~

~“You can tell Jinx that she is sorely missed.”~

~“So you are preparing for my death, Storm? How romantic,”~ I state quizzically while also feeling a little hurt.

~“I am merely sharing some dark humor, pipsqueak. My last tip is the most important one, however, so listen carefully.”~

~“I have no one else to listen to,”~ I reply dryly as he flies ahead without looking back at me struggling to keep up.

~“From now on, no more mental reaching out of any kind. Keep to yourself. Understand, pipsqueak? Now, when I finish speaking, do not reply.~

“~We will descend into Death Canyon in a couple of seconds with the advantage of speed. Have faith in me, Silver. Have faith in your mate…and have faith in your Breed.~

~“We survive in Tempest Lands by using our sixth sense. Find it and trust it. If it does not save your life, I will.”~

Storm’s humor is certainly, at times, as barbaric as it is funny. I don’t know whether to laugh or scream at him—especially as he spoke of my maybe-death so casually.

All I know is that teamwork is the most valuable thing when facing death. The threat of the unknown land is now more dangerous, with killer Rogues just waiting to practice their hunting skills.

I yearn to ask Storm more questions, but I refrain. We have ascended to the tallest pillar, where Storm changes direction and seems to survey the canyon below.

While he does that, instead of looking to the direct path that should hold my own attention—my eyes can’t help but wander.

I witness the landscape full of pillars and mountains, covered in snow, mist, and fog. I see a city of lights in the distance, embedded within distant mountains.

But there is no time for questions that can wait for another time.

Because Storm dives when he finds the right position, and then I must follow.

Even as I start to swoop and hold in my wings, I notice golden eyes flash at me suddenly from the mountain-rock pillar—the scales of the Dragon are camouflaged in the familiar silver rock.

This particular golden-eyed Rogue Dragon is hiding, waiting for an opportunity such as this. To get behind and swoop after a small Dragon such as me.

I follow Storm swiftly, and as he dives into Death Canyon, I keep close behind. He pulls up suddenly and holds steady between either side of the canyon walls, hovering midair as he waits, confused.

~“This is cursed land; are you both crazy?”~

The new and heavily accented voice filters through both our minds as the Dragon I saw before unexpectedly flies down before us and hovers just ahead but above with the advantage.

~“How long has the land been cursed?”~ Storm asks. ~“What is the curse?”~

~“A curse that promises death for all those you love. How do you not know of the story? Ever since the Shadow was possessed, killing his Horde, no one has touched this part of the land for centuries.”~

~“And what do you do, guard it?”~ I ask, narrowing my eyes at the young-looking Dragon, not much bigger than me.

~“I live here,”~ the Dragon answers. ~“My name is Tamult, and I do not enjoy company.”~

~“You are lying to the Shadow you speak of—tell me now, who do you work for?”~ Storm growls, while the Dragon pauses and then flies higher as Storm ascends toward him. ~“Why do you lie?”~

~“Impossible.”~ Tamult fakes his surprise, and I follow Storm.

~“Who do you work for? Answer and you shall live.”~ Storm is forceful with the threat, hoping to gain the truth.

~“I am nobody, and you are the one lying to me, Lord,”~ Tamult replies anxiously.

~“You just referred to me as Lord, you fool—you know I am the cursed Shadow. You were lying in wait. How long? And whom do you serve? Which Tempest Warlord?~”

Tamult tries to dart away, but I watch as Storm uses a sharp wing movement to propel himself forward so his large jaws snap onto the Rogue’s tail.

Storm swings his head, and Tamult is thrown into the side of the canyon, where he claws for safety and eventually plummets to a jutting ledge of fairly flat rock.

~“Follow closely, pipsqueak,”~ Storm snarls at me. I hover close but not too close as Storm flies down to the ledge and lands upon it, trapping the Rogue. ~“Answer me now.”~

~“Shadow… I… I don’t suppose your rival would have the same name centuries later. Please do not kill me—I am but a fledgling, just grown to a small twenty winters.”~

~“A name will suffice, Tamult,”~ Storm snaps at Tamult, who tries to raise his head, but he rethinks and quickly slams it back down and freezes under Storm’s large jaws.

~“Sky Gods help me. He is called Skyler the Wicked.”~

~“I have never heard of such a name, and I have never had a rival, so tell me, Tamult, a little more about Skyler the Wicked. Is he seven centuries old?”~

~“Only one, Lord… He said the curse of the Shadow was only three centuries old. Is he the real liar?”~

~“Clearly, you are a fool. What lands does he war over?”~ Storm asks, amused now by Tamult’s increased anxiety.

~“He does not fight, Lord; he hires young Shadow Assassins such as I. We get paid little, and he often replaces us. The majority of his Horde are…are…females. Skyler’s females.~

~“There are only three male warriors left… Most leave after a month’s minimal pay…”~

~“The females?”~ I ask, curious to find out more from Tamult, even as the possible answer already starts to form in my mind.

~“Fifteen…most in chains. Lord, are you really the Shadow?”~

As Storm growls a response to Tamult, the poor young Dragon swiftly continues desperately, ~“Oh, Sky Gods, I am a fool… How can I serve you?”~

~“You are now a fool with no sense of loyalty to your employer. It is okay, a stupid soul within sacred silver scales is always of some use to me.~

~“You will tell us of Skyler’s location, and we will pay him a visit.”~ Storm’s voice changes tone, and he sends a personal message to me while Tamult is nodding, frightened. ~“Pipsqueak? You will slaughter this fool as soon as he is done talking.”~

~“But why?”~ I ask, confused.

~“The moment I move, he will attempt to strike. He is not a fool at all—he is playing the victim, and he will try and kill me and rape you…and then kill you as well.”~

Oh, okay. I guess Tamult should die then, before we become the targets.

~“The ice caverns, my Lord… Please, allow me to live, and I’ll serve you a lifetime.”~

~“Your life time is granted… But, young Tamult, in your next life, perhaps state how long you wish that next span to be… Silver?”~

As Storm moves off the ledge, Tamult strikes just as Storm predicted. However, while Storm smacks him in the head with his large talons, Storm also removes himself physically for me to intervene.

Without thinking past the attack on my mate, I swoop in and grab onto the canyon wall, confusing Tamult while I lunge in and grab hold of his neck with my very sharp fangs.

I squeeze until blood runs over my tongue and down my neck—and Tamult wheezes his last few breaths. When he is dead, I release my hold and gently look down at my first kill of a fellow Dragon.

~“The first of many lives you shall take today,”~ Storm insists happily.