Chapter Sixty
Mahkah Tomahawk knew that his friends were bold. Whereas he was patient and careful in battle, Evan and Wilder usually employed more of a surprise attack approach. Sophia often relied on something in between, using strategy along with something the enemy didn’t expect. Their different styles in battle had played well for them, but this was the first time that Mahkah worried they simply didn’t have what it would take to defeat not one, but two deadly and dangerous enemies.
The eldest dragonrider sat atop Tala, the dragon impressively still as he hovered in the air, so as to not mess up Mahkah’s aim. However, no matter how still his dragon was or calm the air around them, it seemed impossible for him to get a good shot with the speed at which the simurgh flew as it darted after Evan.
Mahkah closed one eye and followed the simurgh’s path, nearly getting dizzy from its speed. The arrow that he had nocked was enchanted, but still the dragonrider worried that it wouldn’t be enough to penetrate through the simurgh’s feathers. The creature most likely had a protective quality shielding it. There wasn’t much known about the birds.
Centuries ago, they were much more prevalent, especially in the savannah where they had apparently been seen carrying off elephants to feast upon. That had been hard for Mahkah to imagine, but now studying the creature, he could totally see how that was possible.
Although much of the folklore that surrounded the simurgh saw the creatures as benevolent, Mahkah knew that the modern incarnations of the birds were anything but. Many times the animals of the old world were enhanced using magic until they became corrupted and possessed by evil. That was the problem with too much magic. Everything was about balance. The original simurgh might have been a blessing to many lands, and left alone, they brought many fortunes. Then a magician came along, thinking they could make these animals better, but more wasn’t usually better—it was dangerous, and this was proof of that.
Mahkah sucked in a low breath. When Evan had some distance on the simurgh, he released the arrow. It spiraled through the air and crossed the simurgh’s path a good distance after it passed. He wasn’t close to hitting the creature, and Evan was slowing down. Which meant they were running out of options.
He pulled another arrow from his quiver and nocked it, again following the monster’s path. He hadn’t wanted to call it that before, feeling that was too strong a term for something like this. But he had to admit that it was exactly what the simurgh was. It might have once been good and represented good, however this monster was anything but.
This simurgh was full of evil and it was the Dragon Elite’s job to take it down—hopefully before it ended them all.
Chapter Sixty-One
How are we going to get to Carl’s underside? Sophia asked, the first bit of fear entering her voice.
Maybe we can get it to play fetch and roll over, Lunis joked.
Usually Sophia found relief when her dragon made jokes in battle, but staring at a creature a hundred times bigger than them made the quip seem untimely.
Seriously, Lunis, we don’t have a plan.
We never have a plan for the most part and we’re still alive, he argued.
That’s not making me feel much better since this battle could be our last. Sophia dared to look up at where the guys were intercepting attacks from simurgh. The large bird appeared to be schooling all three dragonriders in stealthy attacks as it streaked through the air, sent Evan on a chase, gave Mahkah no chance of shooting it and—
“Wilder!” Sophia exclaimed as she watched her boyfriend and Simi race straight for the large bird. It didn’t seem to notice their approach, the beast’s attention on Evan who was no doubt taunting it into following him.
He’ll be okay, Lunis lied.
They both knew that there was little chance that any of them would be okay after this battle. There would be scars if any of them survived it.
We have to help them, she argued and felt Lunis’ fire suddenly warm underneath her.
We have our own problems, he stated, his voice tense.
She whipped around. The leviathan had decided to make its move. Or rather, moves.
It bolted forward, and its mouth widened as it roared. The creature blew sea water and monster saliva straight at them, which created a tropical storm of sorts.
Sophia’s hair blew violently around her face from the attack. The wind that spilled from the monster’s lungs pushed Lunis back. The waters soared in high waves that licked at the dragon’s belly. Then the beast’s tentacles slapped the water and turned the once somewhat calm scene into total chaos.
The standoff was over. It was time to fight.
Chapter Sixty-Two
If Wilder survived this and saved Evan, then he was going to regret it. There was no way that the younger dragonrider would ever shut up about it. For the rest of their hopefully long lives, he’d hold it over his head that he’d risked his life to save him. But there were some things worth enduring, and Wilder reasoned that he’d like the bragging rights of saying he was the one who defeated the giant bird—although it would undoubtedly have to be a team effort.
The simurgh hadn’t turned when Wilder barreled in the bird’s direction on Simi. That must have been how much the creature detested Evan’s presence. It simply took over all else and made the beast want to end him first.
I get it, Wilder thought with a laugh.
Simi’s wings flapped furiously as she cut through the cold winds and made quick progress. They were only thirty yards away when the monster turned its attention to Wilder. Its black eyes widened at the oncoming attack. Most must not have been so bold as to race straight at something so large and menacing. Wilder usually had better sense, but desperate times apparently called him to do dumb things. He wondered then if Evan thought he was in perpetual desperate times and that was his excuse for all his bad decisions.
The strategy had worked, Wilder realized with both relief and total horror. The simurgh had abandoned its pursuit of Evan and turned and hovered in the air, its attention solely on Wilder.
With the bird finally still, Mahkah took his opportunity and fired several arrows. They all rebounded off the simurgh’s feathers, which were obviously protected by strange magic.
“Thanks for that, mate,” Evan stated with relief as Coral halted in the air, probably to draw on her reserves. “I’m gonna dart down to Cyprus and get a drink. There’s a great bar there I found on my last visit.”
“Go help Sophia!” Wilder exclaimed while watching the beasty bird facing him. It moved methodically, but he knew that was about to change dramatically when the monster took off after him. Unlike Evan, Wilder had no intention of playing a game of chase with the creature. The only way to end things was with direct combat.
“Sophia?” Evan asked breathlessly over the comm.
“Evan!” Wilder yelled, suddenly feeling frantic with worry.
“Oh, the one about to get eaten by the sea monster,” Evan said in a rush. “Why didn’t you say so?”
Wilder noticed three things simultaneously. Evan darted into action as Coral plummeted toward the ocean where the leviathan was throwing an awful fit. Mahkah nocked another arrow on his bow. The simurgh shot forward and raced at Wilder as he and Simi closed the distance between it.