Their horns clattered together like the antlers of battling elks. A silver dragon, Dorvin was smaller than Jeid but also half his age, quicker and more feral. He snapped his teeth, tore a scale off Jeid's shoulder, and spat it out. Blood gushed from the exposed flesh. The tangy taste filled Dorvin's mouth, and he licked his lips.

"Your reign ends now, old man!" He laughed and swiped his claws, aiming at an eye. "I am King Dorvin, Lord of Requi—"

Jeid's tail cracked like a whip, slamming into Dorvin's head.

He fell, seeing stars.

"Kill him, Grizzly!" Maev shouted, hopping up and down.

"Bash his head in!" Tanin cried.

Somewhere, Dorvin heard his own people chanting for him, shouting at him to stand up, to keep fighting. But they sounded so far away; he could barely cling to the voices. Alina was shouting too—something about an end to violence—but Dorvin couldn't hear her either. Grumbling, he shoved himself to his feet. But Jeid struck again. The beast's jaws closed around Dorvin's neck, cracking scales, cutting into flesh.

Dorvin screamed.

He slashed his claws against Jeid, drawing blood. His wings pounded against the earth. He tail whipped, hitting Jeid's back, but the coppery dragon would not release him. The jaws tightened, squeezing Dorvin's neck, constricting his breath. He tried to shove the beast off, to fly, to fight back, but could not.

"Serve me," Jeid grumbled, crushing Dorvin's neck. "Serve me now or I snap your neck. Serve me or die. Choose."

"He chooses death!" Maev said. The young woman ran forward, still in human form, and knelt before Dorvin. She stared into his eyes, smirking. "Say it, boy! Say you choose death. I'll enjoy pissing on your grave."

He tried to burn her, but only a stream of smoke left his jaws, scattering uselessly against the woman.

Dorvin managed to whisper hoarsely. "You dare not kill me, Jeid. You're a coward." He spat out smoke. "I surrender to no one."

"I'm not asking you to surrender." Jeid shook his head wildly, slamming Dorvin's head repeatedly against the earth. "Dragons of Requiem do not surrender. I'm asking you to fight for me. Fight for your king. Fight for Requiem. Do not fight for one you think weak; fight for one who showed you strength."

With that, Jeid tugged his jaws backward, lifting Dorvin's head several feet above the ground. Then Jeid slammed him back down. Dorvin's temple thumped against the earth so powerfully his ears rang, his eyes blackened, and his magic left him. He lay in the dust, a man again, blood trickling from his head. He tried to rise but Jeid stood above him, still a dragon, pinning him down.

"Wormy pig guts," Dorvin said, blinking to bring the world into focus. "You're a tough old bastard, you son of a goat-shagger."