The Dragon Legion Collection 9 (35 page)

“Far out there,”
she said, blowing him so that he faced the west.

“I see only the sea, stretching endlessly.”

“Not so endless. At its far reaches are the Pillars of Hercules. Beyond that is the Garden of the Hesperides, a refuge of my kind in the mortal world.”
She swirled around him again.
“And maybe a haven for us.”

“A long flight,”
Thad said, his wings beating with greater power. His determination to live up to her expectations fed her own confidence that she was making the right choice.
“I will do my best, Aura.”

“And I will help you,”
she vowed, urging his flight forward, as if he were no more than a seed in the wind.

* * *

Thad had never experienced anything like this before. He felt a sense of camaraderie with his fellow
Pyr
overall, plus the Dragon Legion fought well together, anticipating each other’s moves. This sense of union he felt with Aura was similar, but amplified. Flying with Aura, feeling her slide beneath his wings while the firestorm crackled and burned all around them, was exciting in every possible way. He hadn’t been joking about never flying so far or so high: given their dimensions, dragons were better suited to shorter flights. He knew that some of the other
Pyr
flew far, even across the Atlantic Ocean, but he had never been so bold.

Maybe because he couldn’t swim.

In Aura’s company, though, he was filled with optimism and sure that they could achieve anything together. The sun was sinking in the west when he first saw the two large stones, standing like gate posts on either side of the turquoise water of the Mediterranean. He soared past them, with Aura’s help, then turned as the wind she had become changed direction.

Immediately, he saw the green gem of the garden she had mentioned. It was nestled far below, between the peaks, so vivid a green that it could have been an emerald. The ocean was dark blue beneath him, crested with white waves, and stretched seemingly endlessly to the west. The western sky was smeared with orange light and in the east, far behind them, the first stars were emerging.

Thad had never flown so far in his life. He never would have attempted it alone. He was tired in one way, but in another, his body hummed with excitement. The firestorm’s heat couldn’t be forgotten, and its sparks tingled against his scales, promising a reward for his feat. On this night, they would consummate the firestorm. Thad had spent the entire flight trying to think of ways to prolong the flame, but doubted he would be able to. All day long, his desire for Aura had increased. All day long, the heat of the firestorm had filled his thoughts with the promise of pleasure.

With no small anticipation, he descended toward the garden. Aura’s wind was still beneath his wings, guiding him to the spot. He knew it was a good sign that she was taking him to a refuge of her kind. Hers was a choice that spoke of trust, and hinted at the shared future he wanted more than anything. The air rising from the garden was sweet, something in it heated by the sun of the afternoon, and he could smell apples.

Of course. The golden apples of the Hesperides. That was another story he’d been told, but Thad had never believed they were real. That made him smile, for more legends and myths were proving themselves true than he had expected.

Were their powers real? He had heard stories that eating just one bite from such an apple granted immortality, or universal knowledge, or made every dream come true.

Aura undoubtedly knew their real properties. That made him think of all the tales and truth they could share, and how much better they would be equipped to face the challenges of the world together.

To his surprise, she took a turn just before they entered the garden. The wind that was Aura guided him to the sloping path beneath the garden. It was a barren slope, and the path was hard and dry. There was a single tree, though, its leaves silvery green. Aura led him to it, for some reason, and he saw the breeze that was her rustle the leaves. He turned over the tree and headed back up to the garden, certain she was showing off.

Then there was the garden itself. The shadows were already drawing long in the shelter of the garden and the space was filled with velvety green darkness. He could discern that there was a well-tended orchard below them, and that the boughs of the trees were heavy with golden fruit. He heard the sleepy hum of bees and the trickle of water, he smelled rich soil and herbs like lavender, and knew that this garden must be an earthly paradise.

Aura hastened ahead of him, because the firestorm’s heat dimmed to a glow and the wind that had driven him so far faded to a breeze. There was a sparkle on the ground between the trees, then Aura in her human form appeared. She turned and opened her arms to him in welcome, her smile and her gesture making his heart pound.

Thad flew toward her, the firestorm feeding his desire to a higher pitch with every beat of his wings. He heard her heart and felt his own match its pace, a sensation that nearly overwhelmed him with the conviction that their partnership was right. He was over the trees, preparing to land, when another dragon erupted from the shadows of the orchard below.

The dragon was of deepest green, and he had nine heads, each of which was breathing fire at Thad. His eyes could have been burning coals and his talons were as sharp as knives. There was something of a snake in his agility and form, and Thad knew instinctively that he was ancient.

The other dragon had surprise on his side. He had latched a talon on to Thad’s tail before the
Pyr
could respond.

Ladon, Thad realized. This must be Ladon, the guardian of the golden apples, and another myth come to life. Even as they locked claws to grapple for supremacy, Thad knew he couldn’t injure his opponent. Thad managed to shake his tail free, but Ladon’s teeth left bleeding holes in his flesh. He tried to hold his slithering opponent at bay, but Ladon showed no such restraint. The fire he breathed was burning Thad’s scales, and he bit again, sinking his teeth into Thad’s shoulder.

“Ladon!” Aura cried. “He is a friend!”

“Only nymphs can enter the garden!” Ladon cried with one head. At least that one stopped breathing fire for a moment. “I let no others pass, by order of Hera herself.”

“But I brought him here!” Aura argued. “He is my guest!”

“Never trust a nymph!” Ladon twisted and bit, biting deeply into Thad’s wing with another head. The blood flowed from Thad’s wounds, and he knew that this dragon would willingly kill him.

It was one thing to fight to the death. It was another to let an opponent win a battle for the sake of honor. It was still a third to let a dragon of any kind interfere with the firestorm.

Thad roared with fury and began to fight in earnest.

* * *

Aura had never seen dragons fight, and she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to again.

She had feared that Thad would be easily beaten. Ladon had taken him by surprise and seemed likely to overwhelm her dragon. The smell of burning scales was terrible and it was worse to see Thad’s blood flowing. She worried that Thad was tired from their flight and that even a robust dragon could be defeated.

Had she put him in danger? She felt foolish for wanting to test him and responsible for his injuries. At the same time, she knew she could never fight Ladon and win. Ladon had to be tricked for a nymph to survive an encounter with him.

Just when Aura feared the worst, Thad’s manner changed. He spun and turned on Ladon with a roar of fury that put the ancient dragon to shame. To her delight, Aura realized that Thad had been holding back. He breathed a torrent of fire at the other dragon that was fearsome in both volume and intensity.

Oh, there was much to be admired about a man—or dragon—who used his power with discretion. Aura thought twice about her scheme, but stealthily stole a single golden apple anyway. The tree made a cry of pain, just as she had anticipated it would—they were terrible snitches, these trees—but Ladon didn’t hear the sound.

He was too busy crying out in pain himself. Ladon fell back from Thad’s plume of fire, but Thad flew right after him. He seized the green dragon and spun him around, striking one head then locking claws with him again. They spun through the air, their tales locked and their teeth flashing as they bit at each other. Aura hid the apple in her tunic just as Thad flung Ladon at the ground. The other dragon crashed through one of Hera’s trees, breaking a number of branches, then hit the ground so hard that it trembled. Thad pursued him in furious flight, teeth bared and talons outstretched.

“Don’t kill him!” Aura cried. “Hera will curse you!”

Thad hovered in the air above Ladon, seething. Aura was glad he’d listened to her, but uncertain as to what he would do.

Ladon seized the moment and took advantage of Thad’s momentary hesitation. The other dragon twisted around, then leapt into the air once more. He breathed fire as he launched himself at Thad. Aura lost track of them both in the blazes of fire.

To her dismay, Ladon seemed determined to kill Thad. If Thad was defeated now, it would be her fault! She couldn’t just stand by and watch, and she couldn’t let Thad be burned when he couldn’t fully defend himself. She changed to a breeze and blew into one of Ladon’s mouths in a gust of wind, extinguishing the fire he breathed before it reached Thad.

She heard Thad laugh in triumph and Ladon snarl in frustration. She watched Ladon closely and targeted each of his mouths in turn, stopping the fire he would have breathed. Her efforts gave Thad enough relief from the fire that he could fight back harder. The air glowed between herself and Thad, and sparks danced wherever she touched his scales.

It soon became clear to Aura that Ladon was older or less used to fighting his own kind, while Thad was a warrior accustomed to battle. Ladon had started out fighting hard, but he was fading quickly. Thad was consistent, pacing himself so that he could sustain a longer battle. There were a flurry of punches exchanged, then Thad’s claws tore through Ladon’s wing.

Ladon lost altitude, but bit into Thad’s wing with one set of teeth. He tore the leather and Thad cried out in pain. Ladon breathed fire with another head, moving so quickly that Aura didn’t manage to put out the first spurt of fire. It burned Thad’s wing so that it smoked. Aura extinguished the blaze with a gust of wind, then blew beneath Thad’s wings to keep him airborne.

Ladon bellowed with fury. “Interfering nymph!” He lashed at the air with his tail, as if he would injure her, and his tail cut through the glow of light generated by the firestorm.

Thad’s eyes blazed. “The fight is between you and me!” he cried.

“Then keep her from interfering!” Ladon shouted back.

“Stop, please, Aura,” Thad said, just before he flew directly at Ladon and sank his claws into the other dragon’s chest. Ladon’s blood flowed over his scales from the wounds, and he breathed fire with new desperation. He struggled and bit, even as Thad’s scales smoked, and Aura hated that she couldn’t help.

Would Thad’s sense of honor be his undoing? Ladon took a deep breath and breathed fire with all nine mouths, creating a blaze so bright that Aura couldn’t look at it.

“No!” she cried, but Thad slammed the other dragon into a tree. He held him there, and punched each head until it sagged on its neck. He left one, then cast Ladon high into the air.

“You’re no better than a viper,” Thad declared, sending the other dragon flying through the air with a thump of his tail. “No other dragon would dare to interfere with a firestorm. No other dragon would think to injure a mate!”

Ladon fell heavily and the ground shook with the impact. Thad dived after him, but the other dragon held up a claw.

He coughed and considered Thad. “A firestorm?” he echoed, looking between Aura and Thad. For the first time, he seemed to notice the radiant orb of light between them. His eyes widened as he considered Thad. “You are
Pyr
.”

“Aren’t you?” Thad demanded. He was still agitated, still ready to fight. He flew in restless circles around the other dragon, and his eyes were narrowed to watchful slits. Aura noted the blood that stained his scales and winced that they were so singed.

“I am a dragon through and through,” Ladon said with audible regret. “I have no power to change shape.”

Aura could see that, for there was no alternate guise visible when she looked at Ladon. Thad, though, was clearly surprised.

“I’ve never known a dragon,” he admitted.

“I’ve never known a
Pyr
,” Ladon countered and Aura would have laughed out loud at their mutual astonishment if she’d had a better idea what to expect from the guardian of the garden.

To her relief, Ladon held out a claw in concession. “Help me up and show me this firestorm of legend.”

Thad lifted Ladon bodily from the ground and eased him into one of the more sturdy of the apple trees. The dragon sighed contentment to be there and coiled his tail immediately around the trunk. His wings fluttered to his back and his chins settled on various boughs.

Aura shifted shape and stood at the edge of the forest, close to Ladon. She saw the eyes close on six of his battered heads, but one of his gazes remained locked upon her. A second head watched Thad, while a third surveyed the garden at large, seeking intruders. Thad flew overhead, circling the garden as he peered in every direction. Aura frowned at the delay, but Ladon chuckled.