“Are you okay?” Micah’s worried face swam into sight.
“Nice spill, Strange Lady,” Vemar called, laughing. “I’ve done something similar a time or two.”
“I’ve got her.” Hannon braced one hand on Micah’s shoulder and pulled me away with the other. “Can you stand on your own, Finley?”
I rubbed my eyes and sagged but stayed standing. “Yeah. I’m exhausted, though.”
“Me too.” Vemar walked closer, a little wobble in his step.
“You wouldn’t be so exhausted if you’d flown straight and not tried to scare the piss out of me,” said Hadriel, staggering behind him.
Vemar laughed. “Worth it. You sure can scream, little man.”
“Oh, don’t worry, no offense taken, you giant wankstain,” Hadriel muttered.
Vemar turned back slowly, a mad gleam in his eyes.
Hadriel scowled at him. “Finley, I’ll be down by the docks asking after the faeries and wolves. Keep that crazy fucker on a leash, would you?”
Tamara and Lucille walked over with grins as they watched Hadriel stagger toward the docks.
“He should’ve known better than to accept a ride from Vemar,” Tamara said, bending over and bracing her hands on her knees.
Leala joined us, her hair windswept and stars in her eyes. “I think he figured they had some sort of rapport, and a dragon he knew was better than one he didn’t.”
“We do have a rapport.” Vemar rubbed a hand down his face. “One I probably appreciate more than he does. He’s fun to taunt.”
“We’ve always thought so,” Lucille replied.
“Okay.” I straightened up and nodded at Micah. “Thanks for helping us get here.”
“Of course,” he replied. “I have to warn you again, though, this port doesn’t typically like to deal with dragons. It might be harder than you expect to get a vessel.”
He’d told me that yesterday, while we were finishing our preparations. He’d relented on leaving at dawn but attempted to convince me to fly to the larger, busier port to the south, which would be easier for dragons to use. It would have taken us twice as long to get there, though, and time was one thing we didn’t have.
“We’ll make it work.” I took a slip from Leala and pulled it over my head. The non-fliers had been in charge of the clothes. We were keeping them simple, however, in case we had to fly again.
I turned and put a hand to Hannon’s arm so that he would step out of the way. The demons waited in a tense cluster, a few of them darting furtive looks at the dragons standing very close. It was one thing to allow the demons to wander a bit while in the mountains surrounded by nothing but dragons, but here, where there were plenty of escape routes, they were being watched closely. I was sure that was Micah’s doing, and it was a good call.
“Govam, with me,” I called, pushing aside my worry for Nyfain and refocusing on the challenges of the moment. Govam stepped away from the others without changing expression, stopping by my side expectantly. “Let’s go see what we’re up against.”
“Our boat is still here if needed,” he said as we made it out of the tall grass and weeds and onto a path that led down to the docks. It would merge with a path lined with the stalls and stands of merchants selling their goods.
“I’d rather not use a thing only you can operate,” I told him, watching Hadriel at one of the stalls nearest the village, up the slow rise. My stomach fluttered. Had the wolves returned as promised? And the faeries? “What are the chances that Dolion has closed down the portals?”
Govam took a deep breath and paused for a moment, probably thinking it through. “Unlikely. If he applies the obice, he won’t have to worry about anyone but my kind breaking in. He’ll post powerful demons to guard them in case there is such a breach. With this collection of dragons, we’d be able to get through them, but we might suffer losses, and it would certainly take more time. It would be best to avoid it if possible.”
I remembered to breathe as we made our way to the docks. My stomach was in knots. We could do without the wolves if we had to. We could even do without Calia if absolutely necessary. But each absence would stack the odds further in Dolion’s favor.
“How is this going to go down for you?” I asked, eyeing the various vessels bobbing in the sea. “We’re about to confront your people. Your king.”
Govam nodded as Hadriel glanced back at us. He turned again, staring at the vessels lining the water before shifting to look out at the village. Oh goddess, I hoped that was good news. Even just one of the two would greatly help our cause.
“Do you plan to fight with us?” I asked.
“There are a great many of Dolion’s supporters whom I would absolutely help you kill. But there are just as many who are simply trying to survive. They are the ones I would like to call on to help turn this tide.”
Regardless, the people in our kingdom wouldn’t know he was on our side. Which meant he’d have to be kept away from the actual fighting. He had knowledge that Nyfain could surely use. I didn’t want to risk him accidentally being killed, not to mention I still didn’t totally trust him. Only a fool would.
Hadriel hurried back down the path, scanning the docks again.
“Weston is here with a host of wolves…” He glanced around. “About this size. Good wolves, too. Strong and fast.” He smiled, his chest puffing out. “It’s a good turnout. They have a boat or ship or whatever docked, ready to take them, but it’s not huge. We’ll need to get our own.”
An incredible wave of relief washed through me. Worst case, we went through the portals. We’d have the numbers to clear the way.
“Good news, Hadriel—”
“Wait. Finley.”
I glanced over my shoulder, surprised to see Gunduin jogging down the docks behind us.
“Who is that guy?” Hadriel murmured.
“I didn’t know you’d come,” I told Gunduin. “I didn’t see you with the others from Micah’s village.”
Gunduin’s smile was sly. “You were too busy leading, I think. We fell to the back in case there were any stragglers.”
“We? Are Ami and Claudile here?” I asked. I would’ve thought they’d be happy to see the back of me.
“Of course! They wouldn’t miss a fight like this. Come, Finley. As I understand it, we don’t have any time to lose. I will be helping you procure a craft. It was felt that dragons should pay for the vessel, not…” He gave Govam some side-eye.
Govam took the cue and stepped back.
I didn’t care who was paying. Time was wasting. “Fine. Let’s go. I hear they don’t like dealing with dragons. Maybe Hadriel will need to do the talking.”
“We should’ve probably asked Weston for help,” Hadriel said as I slowed in approaching a ruddy-faced man with red cheeks and a bulbous, pockmarked nose. Wispy gray hair flew out from under his cap. His blue eyes narrowed when he saw me looking, and then his brows dipped when he caught sight of Gunduin.
“How do they know you’re even a dragon?” I asked, grimacing as another shock of pain roiled through me from Nyfain. He was still fighting, whatever he was doing. He was enduring Dolion’s treatment.