Marcus steadied the Firestorm, aching from having been thrown from his seat, his arms shaking.

  They found themselves face-to-face with the gold dragon Aurufia.

  "Fenicks, where are my children?" Aurufia grumbled with a low, chittering tone.

  The dust began to settle. Then horns blared behind the dragon, followed by cannon fire and a volley of small arms.

  Aurufia bucked and craned her neck toward the commotion. She opened her maw and released a booming cry that rattled the cockpit interior despite facing away from the Firestorm.

  The remaining two infantry columns charged in with pikemen bearing down, musket men having just fired.

  Two of the Ironhides broke and routed with weapons in hand. The remaining Ironhide and all the artillery opened up on the dragon once more.

  Aurufia raised its wing and the cannonballs slammed into her, causing her to stumble into the Firestorm. Layne drove both arms forward and Marcus pushed to keep from being toppled and crushed by the beast. The dragon let out a wretched cry.

  Sliding to a stop, the upright shoved Aurufia back to standing. It limped forward and then howled for a moment before a wide plume of white-hot fire engulfed the grasslands. It vaporized the trees and left behind ash where both man and flora stood. The cannons melted into blobs. The remaining Ironide exploded before the more intense dragon fire extinguished the igniting fuel and collapsed in on itself. In a wide arc before Aurufia was nothing but a charcoal wasteland. The flame was so intense that it cleaved the thick cloud of soot and smog which permeated the area around the Burrow, leaving behind a pocket of clean air.

  The Hastatus stumbled backward away from Aurufia's breath, almost falling trying to escape the blast.

  After hobbling to turn and face the Firestorm, the dragon stared with little distance between them.

  "Now that matter is settled." Aurufia shifted her weight away from the battered wing. "Fenicks, where are my children?" Her voice was more composed, almost soothing.

  Marcus swallowed hard and flipped the intercom switch. "They're safe. We saved them."

  Aurufia's pupils contracted, cat-like. A sputter escaped from the corner of the dragon's maw. She took a slow step back. "This is no time for tricks, Fenicks."

  Fenicks remained noticeably silent.

  Ishild and Radaria emerged from around the far side of the Burrow. Aurufia slowly craned toward the two but passed a glance, with a side-eye, to the Firestorm. Cornelia followed the dragon and rider, meekly.

  "It's true, mother." Ishild said after closing on the dragon.

  After hesitating, the gold dragon relented and lowered her snout to the ground, facing Ishild. "What has become of my boy?" Aurufia turned her nose to Radaria.

  "We got ambushed." Ishild crossed her arms and looked away. "You said we needed to save her, but then that big fat oaf Sarasen showed up." She motioned to Cornelia with a thumb over shoulder.

  Cornelia stepped forward and bowed deeply to the dragon. "Lady Aurufia, it's a pleasure to--" She was interrupted by the dragon taking a massive whiff, tousling her hair. The princess winced. "...your acquaintance finally. I've heard so much about you."

  "You have my condolences regarding your father. Hearing the news of a fine dynasty such as yours laid to waste weighed heavy." Aurufia responded flatly.

  Cornelia stared at the ground and bowed her head.

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  Baldmund and Caeso stood, arms cross, staring from atop the Burrow.

  Arminius parked the Hastatus near the forest and dismounted, standing on the shoulder, and stared at the dragon.

  The dragon took in its surroundings. She squared off once more with the Firestorm. "It appears this is no trick." She scooped up Radaria into her palm. "Given the circumstances, perhaps a truce is in order, Fenicks." She turned her attention to the whelpling in her grasp. "In exchange, I surrender my daughter to you as hostage. I have no other means of restitution."

  "What?!" Ishild flailed her arms wide.

  "I don't--" Marcus started to speak.

  "It is done. Farewell for now." Aurufia turned and with limp wing, flapped and took flight.

  Layne turned and looked at Marcus. "What just happened?"

  Marcus turned off the intercom and shrugged, bewildered.

  Baldmund and Caeso looked at each other and shook their heads.

  Arminius mounted back up in the Hastatus. "We need to go to ground." He radioed as the upright stood.

  Layne reached down with the Firestorm's arms and picked up the sword dropped after the impact. Everyone else rallied at the wagons.

  After sheathing the blade, Marcus took the lead again and the group returned to following the path laid out as part of their plan. Strangely, the road was quiet. They expected maybe a passing cart or even groups of travelers, but it was entirely empty.

  As the sun set, they arrived at their first waypoint, behind schedule. It was a stone bridge, damaged by cannon fire. The surrounding area was pocked with impact craters, scars from fighting prior.

  The Firestorm stood a few paces away from the bridge. "The structure is sound, but it is unsafe to cross in its current state." Fenicks said over the intercom.

  "The area looks calm enough." Layne said.

  "Could probably squeeze the cart through, but we'll need to put down something to help us cross." Marcus pointed to the Hastatus.

  He brought the upright to the edge of the canyon that the bridge was built over. "That's a long way down."

  "I'd rather figure out how to fix this when it's light out and after a full night's rest." Layne spoke with a drained tone.

  Marcus reached over to the radio and switched it on. "Let's get off the road and camp for the night."

  "The best idea we've had all day." Arminius responded.

  They backtracked to a sparse part of the forest and carefully maneuvered, spreading trees apart to pass through without knocking them over. Under cover of canopy, the wagons followed.

  Marcus found a relatively flat spot and parked. "We're far enough away from the road we should be able to light a fire."

  Layne yawned then nodded.

  The group set up camp and built a meager fire to settle down and have a warm meal. Given the day, everyone quietly stared at the fire in silence. Ishild looked particularly depressed.

  "Cheer up, it's not so bad." Cornelia broke the silence, nodding at the dragon rider.

  "Why do I have to be a hostage." Ishild curled up, resting her chin on her crossed forearms propped on her knees.

  Cornelia blinked and looked around at everyone else before opening her mouth. "Well, perhaps there's a bigger plan that requires you to be with us."

  "Like what?" Ishild turned to look at her, still coiled.

  Cornelia smiled. "Well, they did just rescue us." With a sigh the princess nodded her head. "And besides, in the upper circles, hostage means something else. It's more like an exchange. Perhaps you're here to study us."

  Ishild scratched her head. "Study?"

  The princess turned and stared at Marcus overlong, then returned her attention to Ishild. "Certainly, I mean aren't they a bit... different?"

  Marcus took a swig from his flask, unsettled by Cornelia's strange glance.

  Ishild shrugged. "Humans are all different."

  The princess folded her hands on her lap. "Well, that is a good way to look at it. I think your--" She cleared her throat. "...mother would be disappointed if you had nothing at all to report about us."

  Ishild sighed but didn't relax.

  Quiet descended back upon the camp as snaps and crackles filled the forest from the dwindling fire.

  "Best we turned in." Arminius stood and placed a hand on Caeso's shoulder.

  The Myrmidon and his companions retreated to the cart beside the Hastatus.

  Layne had already passed out, laying on the log he'd been sitting on. The mechanics said their good nights and then returned to the jump box wagon. Ishild left to perch on a branch near the far end of the camp.

  Just Marcus and Cornelia were left awake, watching the embers fade on the campfire.

  He shifted and sighed, suddenly feeling like there was a need to strike up a conversation. Unable to come up with anything, and staring at the tiny flames, he blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Say, that thing you did with your eyes." He motioned toward his own face.

  Cornelia forced a smile and widened her eyes with a nod.

  Marcus suddenly lost his nerve, feeling awkward about bringing it up. Still, he straightened his posture and committed to it. "Is, uh, that something you trained or... something?"

  Cornelia shook her head, still pressing a smile on her face. "Oh, no. Definitely not something just anyone can train."

  Curiosity struck Marcus. "So, then you were born with the ability to do that?"

  Cornelia bobbed her head. "Well, I did need to train to get it down, but it's something I was born with. You know, just like you."

  Marcus recoiled. "What do you mean?"

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