Page 104 of Dragon Blood Curse
These were young trees. Planted since the last war with Tavornai. I was reminded of the forests we had passed through on our way to the Lakeshore Palace, filled with trees all the same age, planted in anticipation of House Atobe needing more lumber for its war machines.
Half the fresh forest had already burned. And through the intense smoke, it was impossible to see the imperial forces that had lit the tinder. The forest dragon hovered, just out of reach of the hot wind the fire had caused.
I extended my hands, knowing deep in my heart what I wanted, while at the same time I could feel the regret, the grief at the loss of what Tallu and I might have had.
In a different world, Spider had simply snipped the threads that bound Tallu to his curse, the fate that had yoked his family for generations. In a different world, he and I could now head north, confident that eventually Bemishu and Kacha would turn on each other.
I could see the future that we had hoped for and knew that it would never come to pass. Thick clouds formed over the flames and snow drifted down, becoming rain as it reached the burning air.
And under that, I could feel the forest itself, answering my grief, vines dragging burning trees into the dirt, suffocating the flames.
“This is not how you put out a fire,” Naî said. She hovered to our left, ignoring the tears collecting in the corners of my eyes.
I grimaced. “Then show me how to do better.”
“Gladly.” She preened, then swung her body in a wide arc, dropping an avalanche of snow on top of the flames. I used the pause to dig deep with forest magic, calling on the trees themselves to grow anew.
I added my magic to Naî’s, having the trees drink in the melted water, making themselves so wet that the embers couldn’t catch.
The flames subsided, then disappeared.
In the distance, Kacha’s flag whipped in the ash stained air, and battalions of troops formed together as they began to march.
“Should we kill them?” Naî asked.
“No.” I shook my head. They had been waiting. Waiting for Tallu. Which meant they would be prepared for Tallu’s weapons, including the dragon Kacha had watched me ride.
A massive spear headed toward us, the catapult hidden behind the vanguard forces. Naî dodged just in time, pulling her teeth back in a hiss.
“Let’s go.” I nudged the forest dragon with my knees, and it spun, its wings spreading wide as it headed back toward Namati’sfleet. “We will have plenty of time to fight them. We’re going to war.”
By the time the Pirate King’s fleet rose up in front of us again, I had come to a decision. Tallu and Namati were on the shore, talking to Saxu. Empress Koque stood back, observing the ships.
“The fire is out,” I said, after swinging down from the forest dragon.
“We must still prepare. Was it Kacha or Bemishu?” Saxu asked. He phrased it as a question, but his eyes were staring into the distance, seeing a war board that none of the rest of us did.
“Kacha’s forces are coming. But we must act before they arrive. We are going to bring the war to him. And we’re going to use forest magic to do it.” I looked at Tallu, and he nodded slowly.
There was no hiding anymore. Tallu would fashion himself into the bloodthirsty tyrant he had fought against becoming to create peace and alliances that no one in the Imperium wanted to see. And I would help him do it.
Airón and Tallu’s story continues in Crown of Ash, preorder available now. Chapters post weekly on my Patreon along with chapters from an exclusive Asahi and Sagam short story.
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