Dragonlands(247)

Elinor walked away, her hips swinging with each step. Bastian regretted he'd be spending a night without his arms wrapped around her waist, his fingers dipping dangerously low... Bastian shook his head. Not now.

He stood, and caught Hazel's eye. He pointed outside, indicating he had to use the privy. Really, he needed to get away from Elinor. Hazel nodded, and Bastian slipped out the door. He'd be back soon enough, ready to settle in for the night.

He glanced up at the sky again, the stars winking. Without thinking, he took off in the direction of Tressa's cottage. On the other side of the village, close to the forest, her cottage had always been away from everyone else's. He'd never thought to ask if that was Sophia's family's cottage when the fog fell or if she'd taken it for her own later.

He tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. It was yet another mystery surrounding Tressa. And now there was a new mystery: why Tressa’s great-grandmother haunted his daughter’s nightmares.





Chapter Thirty-Five


Tressa flew until her wings could no longer support her. She glided down to the ground, her feet landing solidly on the grass. She changed into human form and adjusted her leather top.

She'd flown through the boundaries of the Meadowlands, experiencing nothing more than a tingle when she passed through the magical barrier that kept the Green trapped inside. She was determined to add to the numbers fighting for freedom in the Dragonlands.

Tressa hadn’t encountered any other dragons on her way to the Meadowlands. Perhaps they’d all scrambled back to their homelands to lick their wounds after the last battle.

Tressa knew leaving the army behind wouldn't be looked upon kindly, but it wasn't her fault she had followed Jarrett’s siren song. He'd wielded black magic against her. She was lucky he hadn't destroyed her. If it weren't for Fi, Tressa would certainly be dead on that island, and Jarrett lost to whatever held him. Tressa hoped Fi wouldn’t be treated too harshly when she arrived back at the Ruins of Ebon with Jarrett.

Tressa had flown northwest, looking for the town she'd seen on the map. The Outpost. It was the largest town in the Meadowlands, although it wasn’t where the royalty resided, Tressa knew what she was about to propose was risky, and it was unlikely to be met with much enthusiasm. Still, she needed the Green’s support.

All her friends were doing so much to return peace to the Dragonlands. Bastian and Connor were keeping the children of Hutton's Bridge safe. Fi was going to find a way to sever the dark magic that held onto Jarrett. Tressa wouldn't sit idly by, doing nothing, while the rest of them found a way to help.

She knew she'd already be facing the wrath of her great-grandmother for deserting during the battle. Perhaps she could make up for it in the Meadowlands.

"Can I help you?" asked the guard at the gates. A tall wooden wall surrounded the town, standing in stark contrast to the tall grass surrounding it. She hadn’t realized The Outpost was fortified.

"I'm here looking for a family. There are three children: Margret, Peyter, and Edmond. I think they live on a farm west of here, but I wasn't sure where to look." Tressa stood tall, attempting to appear commanding.

"Don't know 'em," the guard said. "Now go back where you belong. Out of the Meadowlands. We don't want your kind here. I saw you fly in. I know what you are."

"I know what the Red and Yellow did to you,” Tressa said. “I'm here to help."

"Help?" The man laughed, his belly shaking. "We needed help the last couple years, and where has the Black been? Hiding! Cowards. We don't need you or your help." He turned his back on her, slamming the gate in Tressa's face.

Tressa jumped into the air, her wings appearing faster than she could remove her shirt. It hung in tatters from her wing. She cursed. Now she wouldn't be able to change back into a human without baring her breasts. It wasn't how she wanted to present herself to the people of the Meadowlands.

Beating her wings, and aided by the help of the breeze, Tressa rose straight up in the air and flew over the wall. Countless people milled in the streets below.

A child glanced up at the sky, shielding her eyes with her hand, and pointing. Everyone around her looked up. The man who had slammed the gate on Tressa shook his head. People scuttled around like ants. Five burst into the sky, taking their sparkling emerald dragon form. They flew up, circling Tressa.

Can you hear me? she asked them. Her neck whipped from side to side, looking at the other dragons. Their slitted eyes narrowed, glaring back at her.

Yes, one of them responded.

Tressa couldn't tell which, and none of them gave an indication.

I'm here to ask for your help, Tressa said. I am from the Charred Barrens. We're fighting against the Red and Yellow to bring freedom to all of the Dragonlands.