Free The Guardian Chronicles: Book 03 - The Dark Tide by Steven R. Burke

adding insult to injury.
    “So, you do not agree with how I am doing things?” asked Kana knowingly.  She was giving her fell beast a sideways look which clearly indicated that she knew what he was feeling even if she could not read his thoughts.  This was beginning to trouble her and she could not afford to have the rift between them get any worse.  The wings she had displayed vanished.
    “I do not agree with your decision to go after the orb or for your constant need to change the plan.  I have warned you that your choices will lead us to ruin unless you stick to the original plan.”   Ryo was not trying to hide his feelings from Kana because he knew that if he did throw up barriers that she would not trust him.  Even though he strongly disagreed with several of her choices, he knew that if he stayed with her that he would end up on the winning side.  However, there were times he doubted that there would be a winner in this particular contest.
    “I see…you still do not understand the burdens of leadership.  A true leader must be able to adapt to ever changing circumstances.  We have not been successful in any of our attacks on the free peoples of Tuwa, so we must change our stratagem.  Plus, in the beginning we did not know of the existence of the Orb of Nitesh.  That, in and of itself, changes everything.”  She had an air of superiority as she spoke.
    “You make a valid point about an ever changing situation.  Since the beginning of this war we have lost several of my kindred beasts in southern Landen where our armies should have been able to easily overrun the enemy.  We have yet to breach the cliffs!  Thousands have fallen for nothing!”   The usually calm dragon was letting his frustrations get the better of him.  He knew that this may actually get through the Kana.
    “I understand your frustration…I did not take into account that the druids would reunite and begin their search for the seventh secret druid.  I did not count on the guardian council working closely with the peoples of Tuwa.  I did not believe that the guardian himself would again banish the dark lord to the icy Bekra Keep in the north!”  She was losing her composure as she spoke to Ryo.  Nothing is going as it should!
    “I share your sense of frustration…we, however, must keep our wits about us.  Your former master is trying to unsettle you and push you into doing something foolish.”   He turned one of his jet black eyes toward her.  “What we need to do is decide what must be done now.  We have lost Drogan, but we still have his army in place over Lake Lachlan.  You need to determine who will lead them into battle.”
    “You are right…why don’t we agree for the time being to disagree about past choices.  You and I need to be one as we move forward.  I think that we must first finish with our business here and then we will decide what to do after that.”  She laid her right hand gently on the inky black scales and stroked Ryo’s neck.  It was the first time in a long while they had been able to overcome the chasm that existed between them.
    “I think you are right…I will see how close we are to finishing this purge.”   Without another word he took off into the air.  It was impossible to see where he went because of the thick steam that was everywhere now.  A sense of ease came over her as she continued her stroll.  She knew that she needed every powerful ally she could find and Ryo was definitely at the top of that list.
    After a few minutes the fiery sphere reappeared out of the canyon and climbed high into the sky above Kana.  Ryo was circling even higher above waiting for the final command.  The fallen guardian swung both her arms upward in the direction of the odd pair.  A bolt of red lightning shot at them with great speed from her outstretched hands.  The fiery ball and the dragon were melded together by this magic.  The burning beast soared a little higher and then went into a