The other dragons hissed; their king had been injured.
Darius gave no outward reaction. He simply opened his mouth and unleashed a terrible inferno.
Valerian raised his shield in the nick of time, blocking-but it wasn't long before the metal began to blister his hand. Can't stay down here. He leaped up and swung.
Clang. Metal vibrated against metal, swooping up his arm and stinging the wound in his arm. He blocked the pain, moving with the impetus, and twisted, slicing his spear through the air to force Darius to duck.
But Darius didn't duck; he charged. Valerian had to block and lunge, block and stab.
"I can do this all day," Darius growled. "Can you? Already you are drenched in sweat."
Valerian gouged his spear at a downward angle, hoping to slice into Darius's other thigh. If he could hobble the dragon, forcing him to rely only on his wings, Valerian could gain the advantage. But Darius flew up and dropped quickly, snapping the weapon in two.
Valerian slid the Skull from its scabbard inside his shield. A two-step run, a jump, and he cut downward. This time Darius didn't move quickly enough and the blade sliced into his arm.
Once again the surrounding dragons hissed, and once again Darius gave no reaction. It was as if he was impervious to pain. Unfortunately, Valerian was not any longer. His wounded arm throbbed, and his legs were growing shaky. If the fight didn't end soon...
Distantly he heard his men cheering for him.
"For Shaye," Broderick shouted. "Shaye. Shaye. Shaye."
Her lovely face flashed before his mind, and he gathered his strength. Rallied. He'd been pushed to the brink before. There had been times he'd gone without food and water, his people without shelter. He could prevail.
Perhaps he should change his battle strategy. Instead of forcing Darius to fly, perhaps he should cut into Darius's wings, grounding him?
The dragon king slammed into him, knocking him down and hacking at his chest armor. Valerian tasted dirt, felt warm blood ooze down his face, and kicked backward. Darius soared over him-taking Valerian's shield with him.
Valerian didn't bother rising this time. He spied Darius from the corner of his eye and simply extended his sword, jabbing the tip at his enemy, stabbing Darius between his arm and a rib.
A collective gasp from the dragons, as if they couldn't believe what had just happened. A hearty cheer from the nymphs.
Victory is...mine?
With a growl, Darius hit the sword with his own, proving the tip had actually slid through air rather than flesh.
Valerian anchored his feet and leaped up while swinging behind him. Clang. Quickly he pivoted, swinging again. Clang.
"Go now, and I'll let you keep the women," Darius said. Clang.
"And how will we shelter them without the palace?" He drew in a deep breath-and noticed the scents of blood and death that now thickened the air.
"Vampires," the dragons hissed in unison.
Darius stilled. Valerian could have struck him. A blow while the male was distracted would win him the battle. But...too much did he respect the dragon's strength.
Will win with honor. No one will ever have the right to question my victory.
He could see the vampires were interspersed with the contingent of men he'd sent to the rear of the dragon army.
"You tricked me," Darius snarled. "This wasn't to be a fair fight, after all. You planned the vampires ambush all along."
"I didn't ask them to come, but I certainly won't send them away. They are my allies. You and I, we can finish this fight here and now."
"As if I'll trust the vampires not to attack while I'm distracted. We will leave now, Valerian, but we aren't finished with you and yours. You have my word."
Black-clad vampires closed in fast, floating rather than walking, constantly hurling curses at the dragons. The dragons, in turn, mutated into their bestial forms, wings sprouting from their backs, ripping every piece of their clothing. Scales consumed their skin, green and black and menacing. Fangs grew in place of their teeth. Tails sprouted from their lower backs.
The beasts didn't engage the vampires or nymphs in any way. No, they sprang into the sky, moving higher and higher, before disappearing from sight altogether.
They would be back, just as Darius had promised. The next fight would be brutal. Violent. Nothing like the mild display today.
There would be a bloodbath between races.
LAYEL, KING OF THE VAMPIRES, came to an abrupt stop in front of Valerian. As the dragons disappeared from view, his men cheered.
"Good to see you again, my friend," Valerian said when the cheers died down.
"I heard the dragons were marching toward you and decided to help."
Valerian clapped him on the shoulder. "Last time we crossed paths, you were holding court with the demon queen. Do you ally yourself with her still?"