Page 38 of The Dragon Queen
“It might. We could all die for nothing…”
I don’t believe that likely. Many dragons, humans, and elves will die. We may be included in that list. But whether we live or perish, I believe those dragons will be free and Barron will be slain. Perhaps not by our hand, but by someone’s. It’ll pain me not to see it with my own eyes, but in my dying moments, I know it’ll come to pass.
“Please stop.”
Stop what, exactly?
“Stop talking about you dying.”
He was quiet for a while.The last thing I want to do is pain you, Talon. But that’s a real possibility—and I accept it.
“Well, I don’t,” I snapped. “You’re supposed to find a mate and have lots of hatchlings and live a long life.”
I hope you’re right. And I hope the same for you.
That same twinge of pain burned in my chest, never-ending.
I don’t want you to carry this, Talon. Especially into battle.
“I’ve wanted this for so long…but not if I lose you or Calista.”
He turned quiet for a while, letting the minutes trickle by.I wish I could console your fears, but I don’t make promises that I can’t keep.
I kept my gaze on the fire.
Just know that if the battle claims my life, it was worth it. And I’m sure Calista feels the same way. I feelher heart the way I feel yours. I know she cares more for others than she cares for herself—something you two have in common.
“How would you feel if you survived, but I died?” I didn’t know why I tortured myself by asking the question. It wasn’t worth the point I tried to make, not when this was a very real possibility.
Khazmuda was quiet.
I waited for him to say something.
But he remained silent, the pain in his chest growing like a physical entity. Like a fire that fed off an entire forest and grew in intensity. He rested his chin on his claws and let the silence trickle by, let the pain in his chest deepen until it was fully inside me.
“Now you understand.”
The fleet of ships left the harbor of the Hideaway, and all headed southwest. The weather was kind to us and the sailing conditions ideal, so the galleons moved at full speed with the wind in their sails.
The plan was officially set in motion—and there was no going back. Hopefully we arrived at the Southern Isles before Barron left for the north. If not, we would have to catch him on the sea and open fire in treacherous waters.
We would probably all die.
I stood on the deck with Ethan beside me. We didn’t say anything for hours, just looking at the world ahead.
“Never thought we would sail together again,” he said, leaning against the rail along the deck.
“And I never thought we would fight together again.”
He continued to look ahead while his first mate handled the wheel. “Remember when those fools tried to double-cross us at Butcher’s Bay?”
I nodded. “How could I forget.”
“And we took their ship, sailed back to port, and bedded their whores.”
I remembered that too. “Definitely a pirate’s life.”
“Have you missed it since you’ve been away?”