Dragonbound: Blue Dragon by Rebecca Shelley

away down the stairs.

Chapter Seven
     

     
    Kanvar got his arms free of the ropes, but there wasn't time to ready the crossbow.
    Dharanidhar's wings blasted air into Kanvar's face. Kanvar dropped his right hand to the sword and pulled it out. Dharanidhar reared back when he heard the sound of the blade leaving the sheath. He knew what sword Kanvar carried, knew it could cut through his scales. He'd been hurt enough from it already.
    "Come back so I can finish you off, have you?" Kanvar shouted, trying to sound a lot braver than he felt. His feet were still bound, he couldn't wield the sword against the dragon very well on his knees, and he doubted his armor would protect him from Dharanidhar's fire at this close of range.
    Dharanidhar roared, but his thoughts echoed with dark laughter at Kanvar's bravado. You won't survive this time, wyrmling. Indumauli can't save you now.
    Kanvar noticed Dharanidhar's right claw had grown swollen and ugly. A patch of scales was missing from the back where Indumauli had bitten him.
    Dharanidhar sucked in a breath, readying his fire.
    "But it was Indumauli who sent me up here," Kanvar shouted. "He must have had a reason."
    Dharanidhar recoiled and backbeat his wings to put more space between himself and Kanvar. You heard my voice?
    Kanvar's hand shook on the sword. He didn't have the strength to hold it up in defensive position for long even with its magic. "Yes, of course. I've heard your thoughts since you carried me off yesterday."
    Dharanidhar wiggled his claw where the sword had cut through his palm while he carried Kanvar. By the fountain, he swore . The sword . . . it cut you too? I thought I smelled your blood.
    Kanvar lowered the tip of the sword to the ground. "Split my leg open."
    Dharanidhar let out an ear-shattering roar.
    Pain stabbed Kanvar's left arm, and he realized it hurt where Dharanidhar had broken his wing. The blue dragon would not be able to stay aloft much longer. Maybe if Kanvar kept talking to it, he might be able to put off Dharanidhar's attack until the dragon plummeted back down into the jungle.
    Dharanidhar let loose an angry fire of breath that seared the rocks over Kanvar's head.
    Missed me , Kanvar though, then realized Dharanidhar could hear him. That wasn't a good way to try to keep the dragon from killing him.
    I wont miss again, you blood-sucking monster. He pulled in another breath.
    The air flashed gold behind Dharanidhar, and a spurt of sparkling gold light blew into Dharanidhar's face. Dharanidhar's head lowered. He let out a sigh, straightened his wings, and drifted down into the clouds.
    "Monster?" Kanvar muttered, sheathing the sword. "Why's he calling me a monster? He's the huge giant with claws and fire breath."
    A gold shimmer rippled toward the ledge, and a Great Gold dragon slipped into view in the cliff's shadow. It was gigantic, bigger than Dharanidhar, and older, though pristine and unscarred. Ancient wisdom shone from its eyes. The golden stone in its forehead burned with intense light, making Kanvar blink and look away. He heard a scuffing and looked back to see a man slide off of the dragon's neck onto the ledge. A man Kanvar had not seen in five years.
    "Father," Kanvar whispered. His father's face was the same and had not aged at all, but he seemed bigger somehow, brighter, his wavy golden hair more brilliant and set with a thin gold crown, his movements graceful and dragon like. He pulled a hunting knife from his belt and went straight for the ropes that held Kanvar's legs.
    The ropes fell away, and Amar enveloped Kanvar in a tight hug. "My boy, my boy. I thought you were dead."
    An old anger filled Kanvar, and his pushed his father away. "You left me to die!"
    Amar's face twisted in sorrow. "I was hurt, but I came back for you as soon as I could. It wasn't more than an hour later. I searched all over Daro for you and didn't give up until I heard word that Mani had killed you." Kanvar felt an intense sorrow burn through his father's