Dragonlands(207)

Fi's wings stretched as they ascended. Tressa managed a glance at the ground as it dropped away. The ruins and dead trees spread underneath them, along with countless dragons bursting out of the dead forest. She couldn't see the holes they'd emerged from. The camouflage was too clever.

In the distance, a horde of dragons flew toward them in formation, one at the center. Tressa squinted, trying to see their colors, to confirm Fi's statement to Avital about the Yellow descending down on them. Unless dragons had far sharper sight, Tressa couldn't figure out how they would know the Yellow was headed toward them. They were too far away. Tressa wished she could ask Fi, but it would have to wait until they were both in human form.

Fi circled as the rest of the Black dragons joined them in the sky. They formed a loose circle around one dragon in the middle, his wingspan double that of any of the other dragons. His eyes were redder than blood and his teeth sharper than a thousand daggers. On his back rode Granna, her gray hair flying behind her, a sword raised in the air.

Tressa could barely reconcile that warrior woman with the great-grandmother who'd rubbed her back and cared for her when Tressa was sick. She'd changed so much. Or maybe Tressa had never really known her.

The dragon horde flew closer, and finally Tressa could confirm what Fi had told her underground. It was indeed dragons from the Yellow and the lead dragon was a bright gold with black wings.

Jacinda.

The Queen of Risos.

Jarrett's former lover and the woman who'd killed Tressa's baby, before leaving her for dead, floating on the sea.





Chapter Thirteen


Tressa was startled to observe that only two of the advancing dragons were Yellow. The first was Jacinda. The second Tressa recognized as the one that had carried her through the desert. The rest were Green, chained at the neck and pulled along behind the Yellow Queen, who landed and morphed into the woman Tressa had quickly grown to hate.

The other golden dragon also transformed into a human. He stood with his legs apart, arms crossed over his chest. His golden hair fell to his dark brown shoulders. He looked so much like Jacinda, it was obvious he was her son. Unlike his younger brother Henry who had died at the hands of the Blue dragon, Stacia, this young man appeared to be in full control of his dragon side.

Mestifito glided to the ground, and Granna slid off his back. Fi landed just behind, and Tressa dismounted. Fi and the other dragons changed into human form, except Mestifito. He remained a dragon, his nostrils snorting small bursts of fire.

Cruelty burned in the eyes of Jacinda's son. He searched the crowd and his gaze fell upon Tressa. He leaned over, whispering into his mother's ear. She, too, glared at Tressa, her lips snarling. Then Jacinda's eyes snapped back to Mestifito. She held her gown with her free hand and fell into a deep curtsey.

Mestifito snorted. A puff of smoke surrounded Jacinda and her son. Her servants waved it away. Jacinda emerged from the smoke, as regal as ever and nonplussed. Her chin jutted out, her back stiff.

"You may approach," Granna said.

"Who are you?" Jacinda demanded.

"I am Sophia, mate of Mestifito, and speaker of his words." Granna stuck her sword in the ground. "You may rise."

"I came here to speak with the King of the Black, not his concubine."

Granna slapped Jacinda, leaving a bright pink mark on her cheek. "You will burn if you speak to me that way again."

Jacinda rubbed her cheek, seething. Tressa fought the urge to run and hug Granna. Somehow she didn't think that would help the situation.

"Anything you say," Granna continued, "can be said to me. I will pass on Mestifito's words to you."

Jacinda dipped her chin, then tugged on the chains. The Green dragons followed meekly behind her. "Once we heard the Black had risen again, my son, Destrian, and I sought out a peace offering. While you've been away, the people of the Meadowlands have taken it upon themselves to turn their entire population into dragons. Along with the Red, we raised a barrier upon the Green to keep them from spreading their blasphemy to the rest of the Dragonlands. In an effort to maintain peace, we have brought you a passel of them as a gift.”

Granna laid a hand on Mestifito's head. Her eyes closed and she swayed a bit. Then her eyelids snapped open. "We will accept the dragons." Granna held out a hand. Jacinda laid the chains in Granna's hands. "I suggest you step away," Granna said to Jacinda.

Mestifito reared up on his back legs and took in a huge breath. He let it out in a burst of fire, melting the chains. Granna dropped the smoking chains to the ground.

"Fly free, friends," Granna said to the Green dragons, smiling. "You are no longer captives.” The dragons soared into the sky, beating their wings and heading north without looking back.