Dragonlands(259)

"Margret! You were told to wait until we were sure it was safe. You could have been killed," a woman called out.

Tressa looked up, letting the girl go.

"Sorry, Momma," Margret said. "I saw Renny’s claws were okay, so I took the chance."

"What if he had been wrong? What if he'd been off by only a few steps? You'd be laying on the ground, hurt, or worse." The woman strode forward, her curly red hair streaming down past her hips. She shook a finger at Margret.

"You must be Margret's mother," Tressa said, stepping between the two and offering her hand. "I'm happy to finally meet you."

The woman sighed, her shoulders drooping, and the anger washing away. "Yes, I'm Mary." She took Tressa's hand in hers, pumping it vigorously. "It's nice to meet you as well. Thank you for everything you've done for our people."

"I'm happy to," Tressa said.

"And we have a debt to pay," Blythe said, making her way over to Tressa and Mary. "You did as you said. Now we will do as we promised. Our wings and fire are yours. Our teeth and talons fight for you."

"Not for me. For freedom. For an end to tyranny." Tressa wrapped her arm around Margret's shoulder. "For the children and their future."

"Do you have children of your own?" Mary asked.

It was only a question born out of curiosity. Still, Tressa's lack of children haunted her in a way no one else could understand. She thought of the baby she'd lost without even knowing. She'd been healed in the sea and begun again in these grasslands.

"No," Tressa said, "but maybe someday. I would like to have children very much." She ruffled Margret's hair. "As much as I'd like to get to you know you better, Mary, we must begin our preparations for battle. We have a secret weapon." She glanced back at Jarrett, who sat alone at the edge of the milling crowds. "We need to prepare. I'll fill you in as the others get ready to sleep for the night."

***

The next morning, Tressa emerged from her sleeping roll in the meadow. Renny had offered her a place in the hall, but she chose to stay outside with the others from the Black. Granna had also turned them down, preferring to sleep curled up in Mestifito's wing. Their close relationship, one that had spanned decades and heartache touched Tressa. She looked over at Jarrett, still asleep and within arm's reach.

Tressa fought the urge to reach out and touch Jarrett's short hair. He'd shorn it to the scalp after arriving at the Ruins of Ebon, keeping it away from the still-healing wounds where his ears used to be. Instead, she held back, letting him sleep. He would need his strength for what lay ahead.

Tressa admired his conviction. He was willing to help the Black, even though it meant going back to the island and getting ever closer to the one who controlled him. He was a warrior, battle would be easy for him. Giving himself over to the beast that had mutilated him would prove the greater challenge. Freeing him from whatever held him captive would be their final task. Together they could do it. Tressa was sure of that. They could face anything together.

The camp sprang to life around her, as if they sensed her awakening. People ate over small campfires, sharing rounds of mead and water, breaking bread, and pulling grapes from their stems. Still, Jarrett slept, a neutral expression on his face. His chest rose and fell in measured breaths.

Tressa shook off the night's sleep and walked to Fi's fire. "May I sit with you?" she asked her dear friend.

"Of course," Fi said, scooting over on her log. "Are you ready for today?" She nodded at the dragons getting fitted with armor at the outskirts of the camp.

"I don't know if I can ever be ready for battle," Tressa admitted. "Honestly, I'm getting a little tired of it. Do you think this will really end the war?"

"If we can chop off the head, the snake will die," Fi said. "We'll lure the Red Queen out and we'll kill her."

"You make it sound so simple," Tressa said.

"It is. It's a simple plan, which is always the best. Unfortunately, we have a lot of people out there, and any one of them can make a mistake that tips the balance from our favor. We just have to hope we can pull it off, no matter what happens." Fi took a bite of jerky, chewing noisily with her mouth partially open. She swallowed and smiled at Tressa. "Sorry, but I like to eat a lot before a battle. No one wants to be up there with an empty stomach."

Off to the side, dragons began their mock battles. Knocking into each other, striking with a taloned foot, all in an effort to test their new armor. Not only did it hold, but there wasn't a dent to be seen.

"It's amazing," Tressa said. "The armor appears light enough to fly in without much trouble."