Chapter 210 - Night Raid

Chapter 210 - Night Raid
LIRA

Aveline was waiting in the courtyard.

Her blue dragon stood beside her, its scales gleaming in the moonlight, its breath misting in the cold air. Beside it stood Kael, his bronze scales familiar and comforting, and also Luna, who had grown quite  large enough to carry me.

I approached them, my heart pounding.

"Aveline," I said. "What is going on?"

She turned to face me.

"The situation is dire," she said. "Cassian has been riding out every night to do as much as he can, but Sargon's army is tactical and smart. They outnumber us five to one. They shoot down our dragons with those cursed spears before we can even get close." 

"I know. Cassian told me."

"Yes, but he won't tell you that it's almost impossible for him to be doing all the work. With Evander stationed so far in the army and him trying to protect the northern passes, there is one more place that needs protection. And there is only one hope," she continued. "We must attack them at night. But dragons have poor night vision. They need a rider to guide them. A human eye to see what they cannot."

"Cassian..." 

"Cassian cannot do it all himself." Her voice was firm. "He has ridden out to the northern passes tonight. That is where the worst of the fighting is. But the eastern passes are also under threat. It's near the sea and stationed close to where most of our fields and crops are. If we lose the east, we lose our food."

"You want me to ride out with you?"

"I want you to help me." She stepped closer. "I will give you instructions. You will follow them exactly. And together, we will control the situation in the east before it gets even worse." 

I stared at her.

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will go alone. I don't mind riding out alone but I could use some help." Her voice was steady. "And I would rather have you beside me than anyone else." 

I looked at Kael. At Luna. At the dark sky beyond the courtyard walls.

This is what you wanted, I thought. This is what you asked for. A chance to fight. A chance to help.

Now it is here.

"I will do it," I said.

Aveline nodded.

"Good. Mount up. We leave now."

\---

I climbed onto Kael's back.

His scales were warm beneath my hands, his presence familiar and comforting. Luna circled overhead, her white wings catching the moonlight.

Stay close, I thought to her.

I will not leave you, she replied.

Aveline mounted her dragon, her movements practiced and sure.

"Follow me," she said. "Stay close. And whatever you do, do not panic."

She launched into the sky.

I followed.

\---

The wind was cold against my face.

The palace shrank beneath us, growing smaller and smaller until it was nothing but a speck of light in the darkness. The city followed, its streets empty, its windows dark. And then, the countryside.

The eastern passes were a maze of rocky terrain and narrow valleys. The moonlight was faint, barely enough to see by.

Follow Aveline, I told myself. Stay close. Do not panic.

Aveline's voice drifted back to me, carried by the wind.

"Lira! Do you see the ridge ahead?"

I squinted into the darkness.

"Yes. I think so."

"That is where they are hiding. Sargon's men. They have been using it as a staging ground for their attacks. If we can take them out, we can slow their advance."

"How?"

"Their weapons are stored in the valley below. If we can destroy them..." 

"Burn them?"

"Yes." She glanced back at me. "But we need to get close enough without being seen."

"Then we fly low. Use the ridges for cover."

"Exactly." She smiled, a brief, fierce smile. "You are learning."

I felt a surge of something that might have been pride.

I can do this, I thought. I can help.

I can make a difference.

\---

We flew low.

The wind whipped past my ears, the ground rushing beneath us. Kael moved with a grace that surprised me, his wings beating against the night sky, his body responding to my every thought.

'How are you doing this?' I asked him.

'Luna is guiding me,' he replied. 'Through her bond with you, she is guiding me.' 

I looked down at Luna, who flew just beneath us, her eyes fixed on the ground below.

Thank you, I thought.

'You are welcome,' she replied. 'Now focus.' 

\---

We reached the ridge.

Below us, the valley was dotted with tents and campfires. Soldiers moved between them, their shadows flickering in the firelight. Weapons were stacked in neat rows, huge spears, cannons, the dreaded dragon-killing projectiles.

"There they are," Aveline said. "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Follow my lead."

She dove.

Her dragon descended like a shadow, its wings folded against its body. I followed, Kael responding to my urgency.

The wind screamed in my ears.

The ground rushed toward me.

And then.... 

Aveline's dragon opened its mouth.

Fire erupted from its throat, a torrent of flame that swept across the valley, consuming tents and weapons and soldiers alike. I heard screams, shouts, the chaos of an enemy caught unaware.

"Kael!" I shouted. "Now!"

Kael opened his mouth.

Fire erupted from his throat, a wall of flame that swept across the valley, joining Aveline's fire, doubling the destruction.

The valley blazed.

We did it, I thought. We actually... 

A flash of movement.

A spear.

Sailing through the air toward me.

"Kael—!"

He swerved.

The spear missed my chest by inches, grazing his wing, tearing through the membrane. I felt him shudder beneath me, heard his roar of pain.

But he kept flying and he kept fighting.

And together, we escaped the valley and climbed back into the safety of the night sky.

\---

We flew for what felt like hours.

My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding. I could still see the flames in my mind, still hear the screams, still feel the rush of the spear as it passed by my head.

Aveline flew beside me, her face pale but determined.

"Are you all right?" she called.

"I think so."

"Kael?"

"He is hurt. The spear grazed his wing."

"We will get him treated when we return. He will be fine."

I nodded.

I did not trust myself to speak.

—————————————

We reached the palace as dawn was breaking.

The sky was streaked with pink and gold, the first rays of sunlight spilling over the horizon. The courtyard was empty, the guards just beginning to stir.

But one figure stood waiting.

Cassian.

He was still in his riding clothes, his face pale, his eyes wild. He was covered in soot and dust, his hair disheveled, his jaw tight.

And he was furious.

I dismounted from Kael, my legs shaky.

"Cassian..." 

"Where have you been?" His voice was ice. "Where have you been?"

"Aveline...."

"I asked you a question." He grabbed my arm. "You are supposed to be in your chambers. You are supposed to be safe. And instead, I find you flying into battle? I find you..." 

"Cassian, listen to me."

"No." His voice cracked. "No, Lira. You do not get to explain this. You do not get to..." 

"Aveline came to me," I interrupted. "She told me about the eastern passes. About the attacks..."

"Lira..." 

"We destroyed their weapons. We took out their staging ground. We did what needed to be done."

"Lira..." 

"We helped you." I met his eyes. "We helped, Cassian. And I would do it again. I would do it a hundred times. Because I will not sit back and watch you destroy yourself trying to protect everyone."

He stared at me.

His chest was heaving.

His eyes were blazing.

And then, 

He pulled me into his arms.

"Do not ever do that again," he whispered against my hair. "The both of you. Do not ever risk yourself like that again."

"Cassian..." 

"Promise me."

I was silent for a long moment.

"I promise," I said.

But even as I said it, I knew I was lying.