Chapter 66: Fighting is a Family Matter (3)

Chapter 66: Fighting is a Family Matter (3)

With the ballistae being drawn into position, most had disengaged from direct battle against the grounded dragons. Nets and the other ensnaring weapons were being traded for lances, as they set a perimeter to keep the beasties in place until they could be put down. From a distance, and safely, which was humanitys favorite option. The Lady had not disengaged. The Ladys left wing had been broken, in charming mirror of the dragon she currently fought, and it was not allowing her to disengage. She had experience on her side. But it was larger, and stronger, and significantly less worried about ending this fight alive. Perhaps it already knew that option was gone for it.

A second dragon was pushing itself out of the mud behind her. Its spine appeared to be broken somewhere before its hindquarterslikely the Ladys own handiworkbut it held itself up on trembling forelegs, and began that ominous cough, its neck coiling back to spit fire even as it swayed.

Aaron dove. Hed not gotten enough height for a proper hunting dive, but a pounce to its back would do. He clamped the hatchlings neck between his jaws, and if he failed to wrestle its aim awayif his grip was, in fact, doing more to steady the hatchlings aim than to thwart itwell. It wasnt as if anyone could prove hed used a dragon as a flamethrower.

The tar hit her wing, near the base. Flash-broiled the water there, and exploded outwards, showering her in grease sparks from head to hindquarters. She leapt back, one wing dragging and one blazing, trying to put distance between herself and the dragons even as the one shed been fighting directly pursued, even as the tar continued burning through her cloak, and soon it would reach

She unclasped the thing, throwing its blazing tatters into the first dragons face. The fire flared. Not more than a temporary inconvenience to the dragon, who simply started pawing the burning cloak away from its eyes. It would have been the perfect distraction for her apprentice to swoop in to the rescue, but alas, the dragon under Aaron writhed so strongly he was flung off into the mud. In rather the opposite direction to where the Lady crouched, because she was not stupid enough to think a human could outrun a creature the size of a longhouse.

Aaron was winded. More than hed planned, actually, but all the better. The dragon hed pounced had collapsed back to the ground, its sides heaving. The one the Lady faced had its vision back. It coiled, coughing, and what a tragedy that he could never reach her in time as it

Missed its shot. Because of course it did. The Lady danced out of the way at the last moment, in a rather more graceful version of the dodge her daughter had done up on the balcony earlier. It tried and missed again. And then, apparently growing as frustrated with this as Aaron was, it simply snapped down to bite her.

Tried to bite her. Missed. Maybe dragons werent as fireproof as advertised, because actual eye damage was the only excuse it could possibly have for misjudging that.

If Aaron had been sitting in the mud a little too long now, hed claim incredulity as his excuse.

The Lady caught him staring. She smirked. And continued leading the dragon one extremely frustrating narrow miss at a time, until its broad side was fully turned to the nearest ballista. The operators did notmiss. A lung shot, which was as close to a mercy kill as a giant arrow to the chest could be. Aaron spied Mabel aiming the thing. Hed wondered why she and her longbow hadnt been with the rear guard; like mother like daughter, it seemed.

The battle was short from there, if it could even be called as such. Aaron landed outside the line of cavalry and ballistae. The Lady joined him a moment later, picking her way over muddy wagon trails and the long furrows where dragons had been downed with a hopping, well-pleased sort of gait. The cavalry worked to keep the dragons separate, and penned. The ballistae crews moved from one target to the next, with practical efficiency.

The dragon with the broken spine was the last. It managed to lift itself up on its forepaws again, as it silently watched the operators ready their shot. Under the streaks of mud, colors rippled over its scales. Reds and oranges, pinks and purples. When it died, they settled into the dusky blue of twilight.

The rain had stopped, but the clouds remained. The day had gone without a sunset to herald it.

How did you do that? Aaron asked her, after the dragons Deaths had gone. Id thought you a goner.

Youll figure it out when youve more training, Journeyman Aaron, she replied, with that same smirk from before. Though I imagine the technique wouldnt be as effective for you.

He gave her a side-eye. She gave him a perfectly innocent look, as she stood smelling of burned fur, with a significant amount of blood on her that was not her own. How had that even happened through the griffin cloak, unless shed gotten so much on her it had seeped through

Fortunately, the approach of Rose and Lochlann stopped him from continuing that thought.

Im glad to see you well, Lady, the princess said, trying and failing to reign in Shenanigans before the red roan could affectionately headbutt the woman in question. Its coat, Aaron noted, very neatly hid any smears it may have just picked up.

I thought, I was told the king said. And then began fumbling with the sword on his belt. I have your

Which was what let Aaron place the name: Jessie, one of the soldiers from Orins old squad, the one whod willed him her sword. One of those who the Duke had claimed to be dead.

Keep it, she said, interrupting His Majestys continued clumsiness.

And then the both of them were resolutely not meeting each others eyes, which was as much of that drama as Aaron ever wished to be present for.

As you can see, his sister said, we all have much to discuss.

Im glad youre well, Adelaide, the Lady said.

His sisters scaled horse shifted under her. Aaron was pleased to see Seventh Down eyeing the flashy creature like a particularly unappetizing onion.

I am extremely upset with you, mother, Adelaide said. But that was good fighting, out there.

I brought a tin of those tarts you like. They make a terrible breakfast.

Extremely upset, his sister repeated.

You could bring your brother, the Lady said, as if this were some sort of peace offering.

Something pained crossed his sisters face, just briefly. I believe you require separate yelling sessions, she said, not ratting him out.

Ill see you, then?

Yes, mother.

The Lady smiled then, and though her golden hair was cut through with gray, it was difficult to tell which of them was the elder.

His Majesty could not yet enter the castle, of course; as the blood noble of highest rank, it was his place to wait. Until each of their casualties had been brought inside, to heal or to be watched over until their pyre tomorrow. Until each downed dragon had been checked, to ensure none were faking. The butchery would have to wait until sunrise. They were left where theyd fallen: their scales would keep out all but the scavengers no human should dispute.

When at last the final soldier had entered the plateaus gates, behind the final wheeled ballistae, their own little party turned to follow.

Both His Majesty and Adelaide were ensuring that Aaron did not leave their sight. They rode on either side of him, with Adelaides honor guard ringing them.

This put Lochlann and Princess Rose in the odd position of being the very last inside. The final post, where Lastrigns ruler should be.