The towering cliffs enveloped the fleeing biremes, casting them into shadow. The narrow defile that was the Chasm’s entrance was now the only thing separating the two forces. With sheer rock walls on both sides, it was nonetheless wide enough for Kargan to see the scores of red dragons hovering in the air above the ships they’d captured, wings beating down, each rider bringing his mount beside another. The dozen surviving ships of Kargan’s fleet sped as fast as they could for the waters of the Maltherean Sea. But they would never be able to move fast enough to escape.

Then something happened that made Kargan gasp.

At the end of the Chasm, the surface of the sea erupted at over a dozen places. For a moment everything was a confusion of spray and mist.

Then fourteen silver-scaled dragons climbed the sky, forming a line, blocking the Chasm’s entrance. No, Kargan realized, thirteen silver dragons. One, in the middle of the group, was as black as night.

The red dragons and the eldren faced each other at the same height.

Kargan gripped the rail tightly.

Dion, Eiric, and twelve powerful dragons from Sindara flew higher until they were hovering in the sky. They were facing a force several times their number. Their enemies had warriors with sharp weapons, and sorcerers with staffs.

But the king of Xanthos and the king of the eldren were undaunted.

Across the void, Dion’s gaze rested on one of the dragon riders, a tall warrior with gray-streaked hair and a braided beard. Somehow Palemon had escaped from the ancient city. If he chose to fight, Dion would do everything in his power to kill him.

Collared, unarmed, Dion had been no match for Palemon. But now he was a powerful dragon, with wings as black as night, far larger than the scarlet creature Palemon had enslaved to his will. Eiric was bigger still, the most immense dragon Dion had ever seen, and would strike terror into his enemies.

And Dion knew what it was that Palemon truly wanted.

As the two forces faced off, neither making the first move, Dion was well aware that every passing moment gave Kargan time to make his escape. He watched Palemon, seeing the copper chains in one hand, broadsword in the other. He remembered what it had felt like to be under the power of those chains.

Palemon, Dion projected his thoughts toward Palemon’s dragon. I know you can hear me.

There was a slight delay, but then Palemon’s menacing voice came back to him, relayed through the connection between dragons. You will never win this fight.

True. But know this. If you choose to fight, I will kill you. And more importantly for your people, the eldren with me will destroy the ships you’ve captured. What is it you truly want?

As time dragged out, the tension building, Dion waited for his enemy to make the first move.