The Hungering Flame by Andrew Hunter Page B

rider high above.
    “ Your legendary bravery and honor cries out through the histories of men, ” the rider shouted, “ You are worthy to join the Elect! ”
    “ I have been sent to extend the red hand of brotherhood to a noble people, ” the rider cried, “ Accept it and be cleansed of your iniquities. Be cleansed of your corruption. Be cleansed of your weakness! ”
    A roar of protest shook the city, but the dragon’s roar won out above the din. In the stunned silence that followed, the rider spoke again.
    “ A proud people, ” he said, “ That is good. But pride may blind you to the corruption within. ”
    A large block of masonry broke free of the tower and fell away. The dragon hissed and shifted its grip on the tower.
    “ I bring to you the gift of revelation! ” the rider called out, “ Let me show you your sins. ”
    The dragon bowed its head, shutting its golden eyes. The rider lifted his hands high and cried out in a voice that trembled with arcane power, “ Desaerath velu’teirawe nohk atherel! ”
    Garrett felt a pulse of power as though someone punched him in the chest. At the same moment, the stones of the fountain in the courtyard cracked with a loud retort. People screamed as the antlered head of the carven stag broke free and fell with a splash into the pool below. Garrett looked down to see cool water rushing over the toes of his boots, spilling from the cracked rim of the fountain pool.
    “ Dasaerath velu’vendaugre nohk branaa! ” the rider shouted, and the dragon shrieked out a cry full of rage and sorrow that shook the city walls.
    Garrett clamped his hands over his ears, unable to look away from the dragon’s terrible face. Tears of molten fire streamed from its eyes as it shook its head from side to side, roaring as though in mortal agony.
    The prince staggered against the wall, his knees buckling beneath him. Even the broad-shouldered Sir Baelan slumped with one gloved hand over his face, the other braced against stone.
    The dragon’s roar died away into a rattling hiss, but the silence that followed now filled with cries of terror. Cabre yelled, pulling his hands away from the wall. They were covered in blood. The look of horror on the prince’s face mirrored that of everyone else in the courtyard. Garrett’s stomach lurched at something half-remembered, a thing he had thought only a grim fantasy, a false memory of the day his own city had died.
    From the ground below, dark beads of red dew formed on the paving stones and trickled up the walls toward the sky, defying the rule of nature. Every stone now glistened with blood, drawn by dark magic to stain the silver city red.
    Cabre’s face twisted in disbelief and terror as he stared down at his bloody hands. Garrett seized him by the tunic and shook him.
    “ It’s only magic! ” Garrett shouted, “ It’s just a spell! ”
    Cabre looked at him, uncomprehending.
    Garrett pulled hard, dragging the prince to the edge of the broken fountain. “ Just wash it off! ” Garrett said, “ Wash your hands. ”
    Prince Cabre fell to his knees in the spilling water and thrust his hands down into the churning pool, scrubbing them frantically. Others nearby did the same, until the water ran pink.
    “ Come, Sire! ” Sir Baelan shouted, grasping the prince by his shoulder. He drew back his hand at once, staring down at the bloody handprint on the shoulder of Cabre’s tunic.
    Cabre took no notice of the stain but rose to his feet, dragging Garrett with him. The prince looked around at his people. They screamed and wept and buried their faces in their hands and cried out to him for help. Cabre’s eyes grew hopeless and desperate. “ My father... ” he said.
    “ Come, Sire, ” Sir Baelan said, and the prince followed with Garrett at his heel.
    They looked up once more as the dragon barked out three short, guttural roars . The dragon rider cried out again, “ Embrace the light of Malleatus and be cleansed. Purify your hearts and