Inferno (Talon #5)(64)

He took a deep breath, then let it out and grinned savagely around the room. “All right,” he said in an overly grand voice. “There’s not much time left, and we have work to do. The dragon apocalypse is coming.”





PART III


INFERNO





RILEY




Ten days.

That was the countdown. We couldn’t wait much longer. Ten days to plan, to prepare, to wait for reinforcements to show up. That first afternoon passed in a flurry of confusion, questions and fear. When the video was shown to everyone, the soldiers of the Order had reacted with indignation and outrage, the rogues with horror and fear, but in the end, a steely resolve had settled over both groups, tinged with quiet resignation. Everyone knew what would happen if Talon’s mindless clone army was awakened. We’d all seen it firsthand, on a much smaller scale. We knew that if we didn’t destroy that army now, we wouldn’t have a chance when they woke up.

The soldiers of St. George arrived first. A few days after the meeting, Martin and St. George took the jeep away from the farm and returned that evening with a pair of grim-faced soldiers in the backseat. The following day, they did the same and brought back another three. Over the next few days, a handful of soldiers trickled in, all with the same story. They were the only survivors of their various chapterhouses, or they had been away on a mission when the Night of Fang and Fire hit and had returned to find that nothing remained of their home but cinders, ash and the bones of their comrades.

Naturally, everyone was extremely cautious of the newcomers. Dragons and soldiers alike eyed each other with suspicion, loathing and fear, uncertain whether or not the other would attack. I, St. George and both lieutenants strove to make it very clear that no one was allowed to harm or threaten anyone on the property, no matter who or what they were. The rules were nonnegotiable. If anyone had a problem working with each other, they were welcome to leave and take their chances with Talon, alone. If there were incidents of violence, if anyone—dragon or human—hurt or threatened anyone on the property, they would be driven to the nearest town and left there. No trial, no questions asked. We were all under the same banner, and those who could not get along were liabilities. It was harsh, but the situation was too grave to have to worry about infighting. Fortunately, the near-destruction of the entire Order of St. George had shown the soldiers exactly what Talon could do, and how dire things really were. They were much more willing to ally with dragons, now that there was no other way they stood a chance against the organization. Funny how things like that worked.

One evening, a little more than a week into our preparations, Wes and I were huddled over his laptop, trying to pinpoint exactly where the laboratory was, when there was a tap on the doorframe. Jade stepped into the room.

“I must go,” she announced without preamble.

I straightened. “What the hell? Now?” I stared at her, feeling the inevitable tick of the clock counting down the seconds. “Dammit, Jade, why do you always skip out on us when something big is going down? If you haven’t noticed, we’re about to start a war with Talon.”

“That is why I must leave,” the Eastern dragon said, unconcerned with my anger. “And I am not, as you Americans would put it, skipping out. But I know my people. They will not hear me if I plead with them from the other side of an ocean. I must go to them directly and speak with them face-to-face. It is the only way to make them understand.”

“And how long is this going to take? Weeks? Months?”

“I do not know,” Jade said. “Hopefully, it will not be that long.” I gave a sigh of frustration, and her eyes narrowed. “I have watched over your underground, Cobalt,” she reminded me. “I have fought with you in battle, time and time again. And I have always returned when I said I would. Can you not give me the benefit of the doubt in this? Do you think that I do not understand what is at stake, what will happen to us all if Talon wins?”

“I know.” I held up a hand. “I’m sorry. You’re right—you’ve always come back. It’s just…” I shrugged helplessly. “This is the big one, I think. If we don’t succeed here, the world is going to burn when that army wakes up. And you’re our heavy hitter, Jade. Against Talon, we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

“Which is why I am going,” the Eastern dragon returned. “The dragons of the East cannot remain neutral in this war any longer. I hope to bring back a few of my kin, at the very least. Even if I must drag them here by their overly elegant whiskers.” Her eyes glittered, and the statement would’ve been funny if Jade herself wasn’t so terrifying. “But you are wrong in saying that I am your ‘heaviest hitter,’ Cobalt,” she went on. “Physical strength is not the most important aspect in this war. If you want the true warriors, look to those whose hearts burn with passion, loyalty, justice and courage, for they will be the ones who will lead us to victory. You won’t have to look far.”

I gave a resigned nod. “Do the others know you’re leaving?”

“I’ve told the soldier. He has already wished me luck.” She stepped back and hovered in the doorway. “I’ll return as soon as I can,” she said. “Don’t wait for me here—I will find you again. Oh, and if you would, please tell Mist to lead the morning meditations in my absence. I don’t want the hatchlings to neglect their inner reflections, especially now.”