41. Riggs

41

Riggs

I sat in the meeting room in the Talon Complex, awaiting a Phoenix delivery that would set everything in motion.

"Are you sure he can get them?" I asked Cara.

"Jacques can get anything. But he's in mid-move, so everything is in a shambles at the moment."

I glanced to Breana, who sat beside me, but her glazed expression, and withdrawal from the link, indicated her thoughts were far away. Tez's evaluation of Caliel's state had her in a panic, and I wasn't far behind her.

But if we were to help him, we needed to keep our heads in the game.

Tez obviously agreed with me. The coalition is the main concern. His mindvoice dragged with exhaustion. I need to connect to lizards in Victor's room. If there are any there. They are kind of timid critters.

You need to rest first, Breana insisted as she leaped back into the link. You overextended yourself already. You're useless to us dead.

At one time, I would have argued that. But the guy was growing on me. He was a pain in the butt, but he was also brave. And right now, he was in the right place, at the right time.

We desperately needed that intel. But Breana was right.

Get some sleep before you tackle Victor's quarters, I said . That talent of yours is beyond useful, but if you overextend and kill yourself, I'll be dealing with a pissed-off mate for the rest of my days.

Damned right, Breana attested.

Contact me when you wake up, I continued . I'll give you another boost from the sword.

You could send that now. Tez sounded hopeful.

It's already taken you to the brink, Breana scolded. I shouldn't have sent you what I did. You're not getting more until you've rested.

You are a bossy bitch, mi sirenita, he said without rancor.

Does that mean siren? Breana's tone had softened, but held a hint of suspicion.

Only in a loving way, Tez admitted. Before she could reply, he said, I'll crash for just an hour, and he faded from the link.

The fact he agreed to it at all was testament to how far he'd pushed things, and I made a mental note that he'd keep going, if I didn't rein him in. It was important to know that about someone, if you were going to war alongside him.

At that moment, Jacques's Phoenix arrived in a shower of sparks with a thick roll clutched in her claws.

Cara took it from her, and the bird vanished again. The Watcher spread it out on the table, and we all eagerly crowded around to look.

A letter lay upon the flat surface. Cara picked it up, and her mouth straightened. "Jacques says that Daize sent more Dragons to guard his gateway. When he asked them why, they wouldn't tell him, but that they were to stop anyone from using it. No one is to leave."

"What does it mean?" Treyton stood on the far side of Tyrez. Seen so close, there was no doubt they were father and son—their features were so similar.

Just like Mykal and me. I exhaled through clenched teeth.

"It can't be good," Tyrez rumbled. He'd been pacing the room—not an insignificant feat as it was full of people, including a fair number of equally restless Dragons, and some Sabres as well.

Cara nodded. "It's a sign, for sure. The Legion is hemorrhaging warriors, and he's desperate to stop it." She tapped fingers against the table. "Lucky for us, we aren't reliant on the gateways. But Riley is only mortal." She glanced at the chronometer. "She wanted to rest for just two hours, but if I can buy her a third, it would be best."

Riley had been Jumping in defectors for most of the day, until her mates had both stepped in to stop her. By then, she was swaying with exhaustion.

I glanced at Cara. "You've helped her with your energy. Could the sword help her too?"

She tilted her head. "I've never before seen Excalibur do what it is doing for you. Its ability to tap into the lodestones is extraordinary. I assumed it would only work for you and your mates—but maybe I am wrong." The Watcher moved to stand beside me.

I drew the sword and laid it on the table. The entire room fell silent, staring at it as it lay there, glowing.

Cara placed her hand on my arm as the power surged through me—and into her.

"Dani," she called to the Mover. "Come over here, and touch Razir."

Dani had been at a table in the corner, digging through books that spoke of Drakes and their powers. Now she came over and tentatively reached out to my shoulder.

A moment later, she murmured, "Oh, my. That is—amazing."

"The only thing is," Breana warned, "it can push people to overextend. It did with Tez, and Caliel had to heal him. So we have to be careful using it."

Cara nodded. "But it does give us a potential source of energy, which I should have realized." She glanced again at the clock. "I will give Riley another hour, and then we'll have her tap into the sword's power. I hate to have to do it, but we need those Dragons."

I swallowed. If Daize came at us now, with the underworld contacts he'd established—we couldn't defeat him. And if he found those wanting to defect to us before we did—he'd kill them.

If we could knock out Victor, though—it might just dissolve the coalition before it could join Daize's efforts.

Tyrez leaned over the table to pull the roll apart, revealing three maps. One showed the topographical areas between Liall and Murkan, including the swamp. I was able to pick out the rock ridge Cara had gated us from, and even the farm where I'd found Breana.

The second was of Murkan itself, with a note of apology stating it was about ten years old and that there were sure to be changes. The gateway that serviced the city was clearly marked.

The third was a blueprint of the stronghold. Again, it was older, but it showed the large rooms in the dungeon.

"That's where I was kept," Breana said, pointing to a smaller room off a very large one. "It's marked as storage, but they had it set up as a bedroom."

It was a reminder of just how close Victor had come to culminating his plans, and she sensed my burst of anger. It didn't happen, she said.

It almost did, I responded.

"The cage isn't shown on this," she pointed out.

"It was likely built by Xumi," someone said. I glanced up to the Dragon Talakai, who'd been quietly lurking along the back wall. He had reason to know—he'd been held captive by Brock's mother.

"Xumi, Brock, and now Victor. A long series of ruthless underlords," Tyrez growled.

"Victor has become a monster, but he isn't the true power behind all this," Breana reminded us. "It's Finn."

Tyrez glanced over at her. "Are we sure of that?"

Breana nodded. "Yes. And according to Tez, Victor is slowly losing the battle with his Drake. He's becoming increasingly erratic."

"Erratic is good." Another figure pushed up to the table. Cody's keen gaze scanned the maps. "Erratic people make mistakes."

"Not sure how much it matters when you can set Dragons on fire." Dani shrugged.

"Point," the Sabre conceded.

"Getting past Finn will be the tricky part when this all goes to hell," Tyrez rumbled. "We don't have an answer for his power."

"Especially as he now has three sets of creepy eyes," Breana said.

"If we can get me close enough, I might be able to channel Nikolai's power to tackle Finn."

All eyes swiveled to Rafael. Tyrez's brows drew down. "It worked with Isobel and Galeran," he mused. "But Finn's not likely to let you anywhere near him."

Rafael was Nikolai's half-brother, and as such, could channel some of the Perditor's tremendous power. He'd used it in the past to eliminate enemies.

"It's a weapon we have to focus with care," Cara stated. "And I'm not sure that Nikolai's power, filtered through Rafael, will be enough to take out Finn."

Tyrez's gaze snapped back to Rafael. "There is something else we need from you right now. If we are to have any chance at all against Victor or Daize, we need more Dragons."

Rafael grimaced. "I have one mate yelling that she needs more rest. The other appreciates that we need her, but… So I guess I'm the one who gets to wake up Riley."

Cara looked at me. "Tell them that Razir is giving her power from the sword."

Rafael nodded and left. No sooner had he vanished, than a different Phoenix appeared in a spurt of flame. I recognized it as the one belonging to Cara.

The Watcher pulled an official-looking document off the harness strapped to the bird. She cracked open the seal and read it.

Every eye in the room was fastened on her. She stood very straight as she addressed us all.

"I left my personal Phoenix with Mivra, because I was expecting this." She waved the piece of paper. "Daize has sent a messenger to the council, declaring war upon it, the academy, and anyone daring to oppose his claim to the throne." The tips of her hair rose, ever so slightly, and energy permeated the room. "We are now, officially, at war with the Dragon Empire."

I left Breana sitting with the planners and followed Cara out the door.

She led the way to an amphitheater created on one of the lower levels. Much like the Coliseum at the academy, it was multiple stories tall, with tiered seating around the edges. Only this one was at least three times the size.

Nikolai didn't create anything in small scale.

We didn't have long to wait before Riley appeared, flanked by Marcus, and trailed by a harassed-looking Rafael as well as an extremely pissed-off Havoc.

"I don't fucking care if you have a fancy sword," the big red Dragon protested. "She hasn't had enough sleep."

Riley did have dark circles around her eyes.

We don't have another way to get those warriors out. Breana said. Her talent is absolutely vital.

Cara was saying much the same thing, while Havoc's eyes gleamed at her. His wings were now flared and twitching.

Rafael walked up to him and put a hand on his arm. "There are no alternatives," he said softly. "Riley is the only one who can do this."

"That's the only reason we're agreeing to it." Marcus's voice was almost a snarl. "But even if the sword can pump her power, there are limits. It won't help anyone if she falters mid-Jump."

"I will go with her," I told them. "That way, she has constant access to what the sword can tap into."

Marcus only looked marginally reassured, and Havoc not at all, but it was the best we could do. I drew the sword, and Riley walked up to me.

"Ganit had been bringing them directly in to the lake resort site," she said. "But he was worried that Daize would find them. So he's hiding them in the surrounding mountains and bringing them to me in small groups. He's got quite a number gathered, but I couldn't do any more jumps without a rest first."

"Put your hand on my arm," I said.

She did so, and her eyes widened as the power flooded into her.

Her mates felt it too. Even Havoc's eyes widened. "Wow," Rafael said.

"Ready?" Riley asked me.

I didn't have time to nod. The golden light engulfed us.

Snap!

When I blinked, we were no longer surrounded by rock. We were on a rise that overlooked the lake resort. Or what had been the resort—it was now only a burned-out husk.

As soon as we appeared, a small group of Dragons emerged from the trees in human form. Another took off as a beast, winging for the mountains.

Ganit was one of those approaching, and his eyes lit when he saw me. "Razir!" Then he frowned. "You're taking a hell of a risk, my friend. I'd rather you weren't anywhere near Daize."

I held up the drawn sword. "I'm the battery for this effort." I looked at the surrounding group. "How many can you take at once?" I asked Riley.

"As many as can hold onto me," she said. "It takes less energy to Jump a larger group than to make multiple trips."

"If we're tapping into the sword's power, why don't we try using a rope for them to hold onto? Or do they have to actually touch you?"

She considered. "We can try that," she said. "With the extra energy from the sword, we might be able to do it."

I loved how game she was to try. We took the first group to the amphitheater, and I collected a rope before we went back.

Ganit watched as we arranged the next group around Riley, and when another arrived, I had them hold onto the rope, which Riley gripped firmly.

Snap!

When the golden light cleared back at the Talon Complex, it had worked.

Riley's eyes were lit with excitement. "That," she said, "changes everything."