Page 88 of Ashborne Phoenix

And through it all, I gripped Grace and screamed, calling the dragons down, claiming their power as my own.

Around us and throughout the churning chamber, the Cruors panicked.

They fled, robes twisting around their legs, flapping, throwing up dust, swirling smoke, and the remnants of power that made the air hazy.

I screamed until I was hoarse, holding Grace to me, and praying none of the falling rock would land on us as Cruors fled, pulling each other back, pushing each other aside, to sprint toward the spiraling stairs—the only easy escape from this chamber—despite the terrifying sounds the dragons made above.

When the chamber around us was empty of any other humanity, I slipped off the altar, pulled Grace to her feet and hunched over her, leading her toward the tall closets at the side of the chamber.

My heart nearly strangled me when another boulder dropped to shatter flagstones and break through the bone dust chalk lines that made the Cruors’ ritual marks.

That was a grim pleasure.

But there was no time to celebrate. Grace grasped at the open shreds of her shift, and we were both covered in blood smears and dust.

I tore open one of the closets and dug through the piles of carefully folded robes until I found what I’d been looking for.

Rich deep-purple silk robes. The color of magik royalty.

I threw one over her head, and as she dug through it to find the sleeves and hood, I knelt before her, tearing the rest of her shift, pulling it away from her sweet body—almost chuckling when I found the blade she’d secured to her thigh. Then, when she was safely covered, I tossed my shirt and jacket aside and threw on the other robe.

The room shivered now, roars still audible above, but growing more distant.

‘Where are you?’ I asked Kham, nerves tightening my belly. He wasn’t pleased with me about bringing them into the dark show.

‘We make a show at the grand steps. Some fled. Others watch.’

‘I’ll be there as quickly as I can.’

He didn’t respond, which only made me more nervous, but he didn’t deny me, either. So I took Grace’s hands and started running, pulling her with me, toward the stairs, then up, taking them two at a time as we curled around the first spiral.

‘We have to get up there now. If we meet anyone, you are entranced. You’ve got eyes only for me.’

‘Yes.’

‘We’re going for the main entrance. Let the Cruors see me stop the dragons attacking to start the rumors of my power, and then—’

I almost tripped on my own feet as we rounded the second spiral of the stairs and I stopped dead—so fast, Grace ran into my back. I caught her with my free hand, but held her there, behind me. Because my mother stood at the center of the stairway, arms folded, and eyes blazing.

The Power of the Dragons

~ GRACE ~

I yelped as I ran smack into Voski’s back. I clung to his waist and he put an arm back to steady me, but he never turned, and when he spoke, his voice was harsh, hoarse with all the dust and screaming. But his words were all for his mother, standing between us and escape from that chamber, her feet planted and arms folded.

“Out of the way, Mother,” he snarled, taking a stronger grip on my hand, then pulling me forward again, to slide past her.

“You will answer to me first. You will tell me what you plan—”

“Not if you want this to work in your favor. I have to get up there before the dragons kill everyone.” He continued walking, elbowing her aside as she fought to stop him. He pulled me to his other side, planting his free hand on her shoulder when she tried to reach for me. “I can’t lead a dead people, Mother. Back the fuck off!”

She jerked, but the moment she stopped fighting, he plowed on, pulling me with him. She was forced to follow, sprinting up the stairs without the assistance of his hand and strength pulling her forward, so that we drew ahead slowly.

The staircase opened into a grand but little used corridor. Yet Voski didn’t hesitate. He ran on, pulling me with him.

As we ran through the hall, the floor shook under our feet. Servants fled, some screaming, away from the main entrance of the castle. The roars of the dragons rose louder and louder, booming so that the walls seemed to shake around us—but they all came from outside.

The doors into the castle were too small to admit a fully grown dragon, unless they pulled it down, stone by stone.