Aurora Read Free

tension. He flexed his legs. His muscles were stiffening. They had chased the dragons for more than a hundred leagues over the past week, and
his body was not used to being still for any length of time. The men would not want to be out here for long. There was something else, though. He could not shake the nagging feeling that they were
missing something.
    Barely an hour ago, a particularly large night dragon and his rider had launched from the treeline less than five hundred paces away from them. Husam had been as unaware of the dragon’s
presence as the rest of the hunters. Given their leader’s uncanny instincts and tracking skills, Tembo had been surprised to see Husam caught off guard. It was not the same night dragon they
had been tracking. This one was huge and had flown with no hint of any injury.
    The beast was airborne and out of reach before anyone had a chance to react. If the rider had gone for help, Husam and the hunters were as good as dead already. If the entire night dragon
enclave turned to tracking them down, then there would be no hiding place on Areth secure enough to guarantee their safety.
    Only the strongest and best of their party had dragonbone weapons now. Most of the bone-tipped spears had been lost during previous encounters. Those without dragonbone weapons were reduced to
carrying blades and spears tipped with metal, which would be next to useless if things turned nasty. Husam had outlined a bold plan, but it was fraught with danger. He was counting on the dragons
being weakened by their wounds and the effects of the long chase. If Tembo had learned anything from these past two weeks, it was that the dragons they had been hunting were full of surprises.
Their riders were young, but they were no fools. Husam’s plan lacked subtlety. The dragons were sure to see through it.
    Tembo shifted uneasily as he crouched, waiting. Apparently satisfied that his men were suitably positioned, Husam turned and strode towards him. Slim and upright, the hunter moved with a bounce
in his step.
    ‘Are you alright?’ Husam asked.
    ‘I’m just weary,’ Tembo sighed, hoping his friend would not probe further. He could not look Husam in the eyes. No one looked him in the eyes by choice. There was something
about Husam’s mismatched irises that chilled the marrow from one’s bones. Both eyes had been blue, but after the disastrous attack that had resulted in the death of their former leader,
Kasau, one had darkened to a colour that was almost purple. The other remained a more normal shade. It was strange, but not as strange as his friend’s change in behaviour.
    ‘Don’t lie to me, Tembo,’ Husam said, his tone dangerous. ‘You’re thinking my strategy is flawed. We’re too exposed. We have limited weaponry. If dragons come
from anywhere but through the castle gateway we’ll be totally at their mercy. You’re right to think these things.’
    The admission was a surprise. Tembo looked up at Husam and instantly regretted it. The man’s eyes glittered with anger. His gaze seemed to jab into Tembo’s head.
    ‘Trust me, my friend,’ Husam ordered. ‘We will leave this place triumphant today. I
know
we will.’
    Tembo had never been argumentative. Despite his misgivings, he nodded and climbed to his feet. He towered over Husam, but his size meant little in this relationship. Husam had always been the
leader.
    ‘I have always trusted you, Husam,’ Tembo said slowly, though in his heart he knew that to be a lie, too. ‘But this is as far as I go. If we don’t kill the dragons today,
I’m giving up the hunt. This has to end. There’ll be other dragons: dragons without riders; legitimate rogue dragons that need destroying. I’d like to hunt them with you, but
I’ll go alone if need be.’
    Pressure began to build inside Tembo’s head. Husam’s stare intensified. Pain flared and Tembo clamped his hands over his temples. He could not close his eyes. He could not even
blink.