Ultimate Magic by T. A. Barron Read Free Book Online

net. Despite the risks, he would land on Basilgarrad’s eyes and rip them out with his claws. Then—with great pleasure—he would breathe a blast of flames so powerful it would burn away his enemy’s brain.
    Basilgarrad glanced at the sky again just as Lo Valdearg dived. He’s attacking! And I still . . .
    He strained every muscle in his jaws, trying to break free.
    Can’t . . .
    Harder he worked, and still harder.
    Move.
    For all his desperate effort, he still couldn’t open his jaws! In just a few seconds, his nemesis would pounce on him, intending to kill, and he would be defenseless. Basilgarrad’s mind whirled. What can I do?
    Turning skyward again, his heart leaped—and then sank. Leaped, because he saw another dragon suddenly appear, bearing down on Lo Valdearg. Sank, because he recognized that dragon—smaller than her foe, flying awkwardly, and clearly not experienced as a fighter.
    No, Marnya! Don’t do this!
    He could only think, not shout, those passionate words. For his jaws, like the rest of him, remained bound.

6: A D RAGON’S T EAR
    Some say “The end is near,” as if that is somehow shocking news. The truth is, the end is always near. What is actually shocking is that we, ourselves, can help to choose which end.
    Marnya, seeing Basilgarrad’s plight, flew into battle. Despite her lack of fighting experience and the fire dragon’s superior size and strength, she didn’t hesitate. For she did possess one valuable quality—fury. The dragon she loved, whose company she longed for, would surely die unless she intervened.
    Spreading her long, sturdy flippers—narrower than wings but wide enough to support her body in flight—she dived headlong at Lo Valdearg. The deep blue scales on her back glistened like the waters of her home in the Rainbow Seas, though her azure eyes shone even brighter. Trying her best to steer, she opened the webbing on her flippers’ edges to their widest, just as Basilgarrad had taught her.
    Seeing her approach, Lo Valdearg abruptly veered out of his dive to defend himself. His hated enemy was still bound in the net—and, judging from this new foe’s slender frame and unsteady flight, it wouldn’t take more than a few seconds to vanquish her. Then he could return to his primary goal: killing Basilgarrad.
    He spun into attack position, stretching his wings for maximum agility. The hot furnace within his chest began to rumble. Only then did his uninjured eye notice something significant. This attacker was a water dragon!
    “How is that possible?” he puzzled aloud. Then, shaking his huge head, he added, “No matter. Now she will die!”
    Far below, Basilgarrad cringed. No, Marnya! Turn back. He will destroy you!
    Frantically, he tried again to open his jaws. He threw every fiber of his being into the task, shaking with effort. His eyes felt ready to pop out of his head. But the thick strands held tight. Dwarves continued to hack at them with their ax blades—though not fast enough.
    Desperately, he glanced around for any possible source of help. Yet no help existed. His remaining allies couldn’t do any more than what they were doing now—fighting for their lives. Urnalda, swinging her heavy ax wildly, would not be able to hold back the flamelons much longer. And the great warrior Babd Catha showed growing weakness. She wobbled unsteadily after every new thrust or parry, while her foes slashed at her mercilessly.
    Basilgarrad turned back to the sky, and what he saw struck more deeply than a battle wound. Marnya was charging Lo Valdearg head-on! But by flying straight at her foe as he hovered, she unwittingly gave him the opportunity to blast her with superheated flames. Without the advantage of élano hardened scales, as Basilgarrad possessed, she would surely die. Most painfully.
    As Marnya drew closer, the fire dragon’s chest rumbled louder. Smoke started to pour from his nostrils. He waited until the precise instant she flew into range, clawing at the air