Free Firestorm by Mark Robson Page A

his arm from round her neck and, to Elian’s total astonishment, she seemed to climb into the air in front of him. He blinked in amazement as she twisted into a sitting
position seemingly suspended in midair. She offered him her hand.
    ‘Come on. What are you waiting for? Fang says we must go. Now! The strange one has realised you’ve gone. He’s coming.’
    Still not quite believing his eyes, Elian grabbed her hand and tentatively raised his foot only to find what he thought to be thin air was in fact solid dragon. The camouflage was superb. He
could have walked within a handspan of Longfang and never seen him. A few mind-boggling heartbeats later he was seated behind Kira. He could feel the ridge between them, but even holding it, he
could not see the dragon.
    ‘Have you ridden bareback before?’ Kira whispered.
    ‘Once.’
    ‘Well hold tight then. A dusk dragon’s best defence is its camouflage. It’s effective, but flying when you can’t see your ride takes a bit of getting used to.’
    Elian did not doubt it. He felt himself lifted higher as Longfang stood up. Then they turned away from the line of the trees and Kira glanced back over her shoulder.
    ‘Here we go,’ she warned.
    Elian’s recent experience flying on Aurora proved invaluable during the next few heartbeats. The initial surge of acceleration was abrupt, but familiar. He felt the first downward sweep of
the dragon’s wings and a sense of exultation rushed through his stomach. They had done it. They had escaped the dragonhunters.

Chapter Eight
A Brave Flight
    Husam’s skin prickled as Kasau appeared next to him at the eastern edge of the woods. He had not heard the hunter approaching. How did the man move so silently? The
ground was littered with twigs and leaves, but Kasau seemed able to breeze across any surface as if walking on air. It was eerie.
    The golden dawn dragon paced back and forth about a hundred paces from the tree line, just out of range for a spear throw. This dragon is either very canny, or very stupid, he thought. She
turned again, lashing her tail with anger and apparent frustration. It was unusual. She had drawn attention to herself, allowing them time to get into position. Most dragons would have charged into
the trees by now.
    ‘She’s waiting for the sun to rise,’ he heard Kasau whisper. ‘Whatever she’s going to do, she’ll do it as the sun breaks the horizon.’
    The moment was imminent. The eastern sky was brightening by the heartbeat.
    ‘Another dragon!’
    Kasau’s exclamation was little more than a whisper, but it caught Husam’s attention. His head turned instantly to see where Kasau was looking. The strange hunter had stiffened, but
to Husam’s surprise his eyes did not appear to be focused. It was as if he were in a trance.
    The hairs on the back of Husam’s neck prickled again and he instinctively made a warding gesture he had been taught as a child.
    ‘Gods, but this is a wily one!’ Kasau breathed. ‘She’s not coming in after her rider. She’s got someone else to do it for her.’
    Suddenly Kasau’s eyes refocused and his head whipped round. His gaze pierced Husam with a chilling intensity.
    ‘Husam – you’re with me. Bring Tembo. Quickly!’
    Husam had more sense than to question the order. He scrambled through the undergrowth to where Tembo was waiting.
    ‘She’s beginning to glow!’ the big man said in a hoarse whisper. ‘Look, Husam. Can you see? Isn’t she beautiful?’
    Husam did cast a lightning glance at the dragon. Tembo was right. It was almost as if the dragon were beginning to illuminate from within, but he knew better than to get distracted.
    ‘Tembo, we have to go. Kasau wants us. Now. Bring your weapons.’
    The big man grumbled for a moment, but did as he was told. Soon the two were racing through the trees towards the campsite. When they arrived, they found Kasau examining the remains of the cords
with which he had tied the young dragonrider. The cords had