Blood of Dragons

‘If only you knew,’ Selden replied. He was suddenly dizzy and faint with relief. ‘What do you here? Whence come all these dragons?’

‘Don’t you know them?’ asked Reyn. Tintaglia was ignoring her riders, carrying them higher and higher above the city, away from the death and destruction below them. ‘You saw them encased, you saw them hatched! We come from Kelsingra, Selden, and we come to kill the Duke of Chalced for daring to hunt dragons for their blood.’

Selden felt Tintaglia’s assent to Reyn’s words course through him, strong with her anger.

‘But what of you?’ continued Reyn. ‘You sent us no word! Your sister thinks you dead and your mother fears she is right. What happened to you? I do not think you were in that tower willingly, by the look of you. And who is this you have brought with you?’

Selden drew breath but before he could reply, Chassim spoke for herself. ‘My name is Chassim. And if this glorious queen and her dragons are able to fulfil their mission today, by nightfall I shall be the rightful Duchess of Chalced. And in your debt.’