03 Sky Knight by Kevin Outlaw Read Free Book Online Page A

cuts along the right side of his snout. ‘And it is strong.’
    ‘Goodness,’ Captain Spectre said. ‘What manner of creature could do this to a dragon?’
    ‘Is it bad?’ Nimbus asked.
    Cumulo inched forwards, drawing the rest of his body out of the cave mouth. His back left leg had been ripped open, he was missing several scales from his flanks, and his wings were tattered. But worse than all those injuries was the thick metal collar that had been clamped around his neck, and which was attached to the gigantic chain embedded in the rock face. As he heaved himself onto the beach, the chain clanked heavily; and that sound was more painful for Nimbus to bear than any physical wound.
    ‘My injuries will heal. My pride, however, has taken a bit of a dent,’ Cumulo said.
    ‘This is a monstrous thing indeed,’ Spectre said.
    That anybody could treat the last of the dragons in such an undignified manner sent waves of fury surging through Nimbus’s body. ‘How could this happen?’ he said.
    ‘We were ambushed. You fell.’ Cumulo shook his head, and it was obvious to Nimbus that the dragon was deeply ashamed. ‘I tried to save you, Nim, but I couldn’t. That thing. That serpent. It was too strong. It rolled me until I didn’t know what was up and what was down. It beat me without even trying. I thought I was better than that. I’m sorry.’
    ‘You have nothing to apologise for, Cumulo.’
    ‘You could have died.’
    ‘Well, I get that a lot. Besides, I’m the one that should be sorry. We never should have come here.’
    ‘Your friend needed us.’
    ‘Tidal hates me. He’s made that obvious. I don’t know why I even wasted my time coming here.’ He kicked a pebble that had washed up on the beach. ‘I’ve got us in all this trouble and it’s Tide’s fault.’
    ‘Being angry isn’t going to help,’ Captain Spectre said. ‘And blaming Tidal for your misfortune won’t either. He is your friend, regardless of how he may have acted.’
    Nimbus laughed bitterly. ‘He doesn’t feel like a friend right now. And I’ve got plenty enough friends back home who need me. Here, Cumulo, let me get this chain off you.’
    As Nimbus reached for the collar, Cumulo roared and jumped away, bearing his fangs. His scales turned red; his eyes glowed alarmingly. ‘Stay back,’ he growled.
    ‘What’s wrong?’
    ‘The chain is enchanted. There is magic in the links that prevents me from breathing fire or ice, or using any of my other gifts. That is why I have not been able to heal these wounds of mine.’
    ‘Can’t you break out?’
    ‘I have tried, but it saps my strength somehow, and it’s getting worse. I fear this chain may have been made in another time, with the purpose of holding a dragon.’
    ‘If you let me take a look, I may be able to remove it.’
    ‘Or it may kill you.’ Cumulo snapped his teeth, causing Nimbus to retreat a few paces. ‘Magic strong enough to contain a dragon could tear you apart. I have already failed to save you once today. I will not allow you to risk your life again.’
    ‘You have to let me help.’
    ‘If it is my doom to stay chained to this cave, then so be it.’
    ‘This sounds like pride, Cumulo. I know what trouble pride can get you in.’
    ‘This is duty, and your duty is to Landmark. You need to find a way to get off this island before our captors return.’
    ‘But how? Without you to fly me, I’m stuck here too.’ Nimbus hung his head. ‘Besides, where would I go without you? Without you I’m nothing.’
    ‘You are too hard on yourself,’ Captain Spectre said, perching on the edge of a rock. ‘You forget, I was there when you faced the vampyr in the realm of the dead. You have come a long way since I first met you.’
    ‘I’m just making one mistake after another.’
    Cumulo lowered his head, so that his eye was level with Nimbus’s. ‘Go. Find a way to help the people.’
    ‘What do you think, Captain?’
    ‘Someone brought you here for a reason.