Liberator (24 page)

“I’m afraid it’s too late for Kenna,” Jason said, “but I appreciate whatever you can do for my brother.”

Benjamin pointed at Jason with his staff and called out, “Everyone who has some extra medicine, put it on this young man’s brother. We need warriors like him to go out and fight.” Spreading his arms widely, he shouted, “Look
at us! We’ve been sitting here like defeated donkeys, our backs slack and our tails between our legs. I don’t care how sick you are; we can’t let these men fight alone. There aren’t enough of them. If they die, we die. That’s no worse than living like cowards.”

A few weak cheers rose from the crowd, but they quickly faded. At least ten children pressed close, each one with a finger raised. One after another, they smeared ointment across Frederick’s face and rubbed it in.

Jason had to bite his lip to keep it from trembling. These slave children were giving all they could, and it might turn out to be the greatest treasure they could imagine.

By the time they finished, Frederick’s lips had turned from blue to pink. His cheeks flushed red. Then he blinked, looked around, and smiled. “Well, this is a pretty sight. Look at all these beautiful children.”

The children clapped their hands and bounced on their toes. Jason grasped Frederick’s wrist and hoisted him to his feet. Edison joined them and wrapped both his sons in a powerful hug.

Jason punched Frederick’s arm. “Are you ready to go back to battle?”

“Ready, little brother.” Frederick touched the sword at his hip. “What’s the word?”

“The Southlands dragons might retreat soon, so I say we battle them now and try to keep them here. It’s the best way to get help from the Benefile.”

“Won’t we add to their desire to retreat?” Edison asked.

Jason shook his head. “Not if we capture Taushin.”

“Good point, but what about Mallerin?”

“I’ll handle Mallerin.” Benjamin limped closer, his staff resting against his shoulder. “Just provide a distraction.”

“Any particular kind of distraction?” Jason asked.

Benjamin leaned to the side and peered at the sky. “I see Magnar is back in battle. If you could call him down, I think that will be the only distraction Mallerin will need. He’s her mate, and they have an unsettled feud.”

“A dragon spat as a distraction,” Edison said, nodding. “Will she attack Magnar?”

Benjamin smacked his staff with his palm. “Not if you get the Benefile to attack him first. One strange thing about dragons and their mates. They might scratch and claw each other, but if someone else threatens one, the other comes to its defense.”

Edison nodded again. “I have seen that in humans as well. It could work.”

“Father,” Jason said, “remember the war story you told us about the Piedmont Campaign?”

“Feigning dissension?”

“Right.” Jason sheathed his sword. “Just follow my lead.”

“Whatever you decide to do,” Benjamin said, “wait for me to get into position, then call Magnar down to join you. I’ll do the rest. When Mallerin leaves Taushin by himself, be ready to take him.” He hobbled down the stairs on the grottoes side, ducking to avoid the fiery rain.

Frederick drew his sword. “Let’s do it.”

“I’m ready.” Jason wrapped the litmus finger in the cloth the woman gave him and pushed it into his pocket. “Since Magnar is back, maybe Elyssa is, too. We’ll go to Arxad’s cave next.”

Jason, Frederick, and Edison hurried down the stairs. At the bottom, they summoned Captain Reed and the other soldiers. Ten stayed to guard the portico while the rest gathered at the bottom of the stairway. Above, the dragons continued their aerial battle. With only twenty or so Southlands dragons remaining, it wouldn’t last much longer, especially with Magnar fighting against both species, shooting and clawing any dragon within range. He seemed to be the most powerful force in the sky, larger than any other dragon, though not as fast and agile as the Benefile.

Edison cupped a hand around his mouth and shouted, “Magnar! Come to us!”

After slapping a drone with his tail, the mighty dragon flew down and landed on the run. When he stopped in front of the soldiers, he panted showers of sparks. “Have you finally decided to join the battle, as you promised?”

“We cannot fly,” Edison said, “and our spears are ineffective from this distance. If you have a way to bring the battle to us, we will gladly join it.”

Magnar pointed at the sky with a wing. “The key is to lure the Benefile down. We need to do something that would require punishment. Beth is their leader. If she comes, the others will follow.”

Jason glanced at Benjamin. Standing next to Mallerin about thirty paces down the street, Benjamin pointed toward the portico. Mallerin rose from her haunches. Even from this distance, the fire in her eyes was obvious.

“Will you be the bait?” Jason asked.

Magnar bobbed his head. “I am willing, but I expect you to be my allies and fight with me.”

“To the death,” Edison said, “but be ready for surprises. This deception will take perfect coordination.”

“I’ll be right back.” Jason hustled up the stairs, scooped up Kenna, and carried her down to the street. After laying her in front of Magnar, he called out, “Beth! Look at this dead girl!”

Above, Beth descended several feet and flew in an orbit over them. “Why have you summoned me? There are many dead girls.”

“This girl was a breeder, forced into the worst kind of slavery by a savage, uncaring dragon.” Jason pointed at Magnar. “And here is the culprit. Justice demands that he be punished, but he has eluded you. I demand that you come and execute justice. If you refuse, then justice itself will cry out against your apathy.”

Beth dove and landed in front of Jason. “Stand back, human, and we will focus our wrath on this evil son of corruption.”

Magnar’s eyes flared. For the first time, he appeared frightened.

“Back off!” Edison stepped in front of Magnar and waved his sword. “I will not allow anyone to hurt my ally!” Captain Reed and ten other soldiers joined him and blocked Beth’s way.

Beth let out a high-pitched whistle. The other two Benefile broke off from the battle and landed behind her, while the Southlands dragons flew to the edge of the grottoes and settled in a group, panting and gasping.

“Now you have too few allies, Magnar.” Beth’s eyes shone bright blue, and her voice rumbled like distant thunder. “It is finally time to face justice.”

Jason checked his sword in his scabbard and grabbed Frederick’s sleeve. “Let’s go!” They ran side by side toward Taushin. Mallerin passed them going in the opposite direction. Blind and alone, Taushin shouted something in the dragon language, but his mother continued her flying charge toward Magnar.

“I’ll get the neck,” Jason said. “You go after the belly.”

“I hear you, fiends!” Taushin shouted in the human tongue as he reared back his head. “Do not approach or—”

“Or what?” Jason leaped up his tail and ran across his spiny ridge. When he reached the top of Taushin’s back, he grabbed the black neck and pulled back as hard as he could.

When Taushin reared up, Frederick pricked the vulnerable spot with his blade. “Don’t move a muscle!”

Taushin froze, his head high and Jason riding his neck eight feet in the air. “Imbeciles! I am your only hope against the Benefile! My plan was proceeding perfectly, but you are ruining it. You are blinder than I am.”

“You’re not fooling anyone,” Jason growled. “The day of dragon deception is over. Just be quiet and still, or you’re dead.”

Back at the portico, Mallerin landed on Beth’s back and began clawing and biting. The other two Benefile sprayed her with ice. Edison, Captain Reed, and the other soldiers charged into the fray. Magnar joined them. Swinging blades gleamed. Wings and tails thrashed. Flames splashed against shields. Spears cracked and splintered. The other Southlands dragons launched toward the chaos. In seconds, the battle would turn into a bloodbath.

“Jason!” Frederick called. “Let’s go!”

“What about Taushin?”

“We brought the battle to the ground. It’s time for us to join it.” Frederick flexed his arm, as if ready to plunge the blade. Taushin beat his wings, shot backwards, and whipped his neck, flinging Jason off.

Jason rolled and sat up. Frederick grabbed Jason’s wrist and hoisted him to his feet. As they ran, Taushin flew toward the battle. Just as he slammed into the turmoil, the other dragons crashed in as well.

A light flashed in the sky, and a loud cry sounded. “Stop! Cease your fighting!”

Every swinging arm, beating wing, and snapping jaw fell limp. Heads angled toward the light, eyes wide. Exodus floated toward them from the direction of the barrier wall, still high but descending. Cassabrie stood within on the curved floor, her arms and cloak spread. Streams of light flowed from her eyes, though her face seemed strained, labored.

As she drew nearer to the crowd, she slowed. Jason jogged alongside, his scabbard whipping his leg. Humans and dragons alike squinted, some lifting arms or wings to block the brilliant glow. Blood flowed from cuts and gashes, but no one seemed to notice.

Jason slowed his pace to stay abreast of the decelerating star. “Is something wrong?”

“Something is pulling me, drawing me away.” Cassabrie’s voice was strained, as if she were carrying a heavy load. “The force is almost irresistible.”

“Can I help?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what’s causing it.”

“I might know. Maybe I should try —”

“Oh! I think I have it under control now.” Exodus stopped a few paces from the edge of the battleground. Cassabrie lowered her arms, her face pain-streaked. Sighing, she looked at Jason. “So it has come to this? All-out war?”

“Unfortunately.” Jason let his gaze pass across the scene. Dragons sat in various positions in a haphazard line from the bottom of the portico’s western stairway westward about a hundred paces. Soldiers stood in their midst. With swords and spears drawn and clutched stiffly, they looked like life-sized toys. Edison and Frederick stood back to back. Although blood trickled from a cut on Frederick’s cheek, they both seemed healthy. Some dead slaves lay here and there, while most of the living stayed under the portico roof. They, including Benjamin, stared without moving.

“Why am I not hypnotized?” Jason asked.

“You were. I released you immediately.”

Taushin shuffled out from the crowd, his body teetering. “I see you, Starlighter. My mother has her gaze fixed on you.” He stopped next to Jason and settled on his haunches. “What do you intend to do?”

“I am the liberator.” Cassabrie grimaced, and a grunt blended with her words. “I assume you know what that means.”

“I do, and I also know what is causing your struggle. If you will release my mother so that I will have mobile eyes, I will tell you so that you may fight it more effectively.”

“So you can escape the battle like a coward,” Jason said. “You plan to fly to a hiding place.”

“The human who attacks a blind enemy speaks against cowardice. Your hypocrisy astounds me.” Taushin cast his eyebeams on Cassabrie. “I need you to release my mother.”

Cassabrie batted through the beams. “You have no influence over me. I renounced my alliance with darkness long ago.”

“Then hear my appeal. I need my mother’s vision and power so that we can destroy the Benefile while they are entranced. It is our only hope of survival. They will destroy me and all the other Southlands dragons, and when they learn that all the humans are infected, they will destroy them as well.”

“Now who is the hypocrite?” Cassabrie asked. “Would you slaughter the Benefile while they are unable to defend themselves?”

Taushin dipped his head. “I grant your point, but I will choose hypocrisy over annihilation.”

“Cassabrie”—Jason pulled the wrapped finger from his pocket—”there’s a cure to the disease. If we can make more, the Benefile won’t kill us. All we need is stardrop material. We have the immune genetics.”

She drew Exodus closer and looked at his hand. “You have immune genetics in that cloth?”

Jason opened it over his palm, revealing the blood-smeared finger. “Yes.”

Cassabrie lifted her hand and looked at the gap in her fingers. “Your search for a cure is misguided. You are masking the symptoms but not killing the disease. It will return.”

“But it could buy us some time. Fewer people will die, and maybe the Benefile won’t know the difference.”

“Fear neither death nor the Benefile. Mercy will triumph over both.”

Exodus began drawing away. Cassabrie pushed against the forward wall, slowing its motion, but it continued backing up.

“Release Mallerin!” Taushin shouted. “We must destroy the Benefile or we all will perish!”

Jason pushed the finger back into his pocket. “If you release her, I’ll need protection! Give me Magnar and my father and brother!”

Her eyes wide, Cassabrie waved her arms. “I release you all!” Then she lifted higher.

Jason leaped and grasped for Exodus. His fingers dug into the membrane but quickly slipped away, leaving his hands filled with scalding radiance.

As he molded the particles into a big ball, the battlers shook their heads as if waking from a deep sleep.

Taushin shouted, “Mother! We must take Jason to Arxad’s cave!”

Mallerin leaped into the air, grabbed Jason’s tunic with her back claws, and lifted him into the air. Taushin joined them and flew at Jason’s side.

Still molding the ball, Jason glared at him. “What are you up to now?”

“Saving your people and foiling the Benefile.”

“For what purpose? There must be something in it for you.”

“There is, but I need not tell you. Just be assured that I will help you make and deliver the medicine. As you told Cassabrie, at least this will buy you some time.”

His hands burning terribly, Jason twisted and looked back. The battle continued, but the low angle allowed only a view from the side. Above the portico, Cassabrie pushed Exodus toward the north, but the Reflections Crystal pulled her back toward the dome room.

Jason gritted his teeth. If only he could help Cassabrie break free. Yet, that was impossible. She would have to fight that battle herself. Fortunately, she had the power to do so.