Meera and Kalrina were huddled together inside their mirror ball and shivered to no end. Kalrina had put on four extra layers of clothing, but it didn't do much. Even Meera was forced to put on a coat, but the cold was relentless. It permeated through their clothing and seemed to settle into their bones.

  Zerodra was carrying them in his palm, not giving a lick to see if they could handle the cold, and they were in no position to argue or fight. Through the crack in between his fingers, Meera witnessed the world flying by them. It was the fastest airplane she had ever been on, and someone had cranked the AC down to the lowest temperature possible.

  "H-How l-long do you t-think it will take?" Meera asked.

  "L-Long enough f-for both of us t-to be turned into f-frozen treats that he will g-give to his g-grandchildren," Kalrina quivered.

  Justifiably, she was not in the best mood. But she was right. They wouldn't last long in this cold. They needed heat, and for that, they needed fire. She ruffled around in her Hoard Belt and pulled out a torch, well, more like a wooden stick. She had collected a lot of these before heading into the Cave of Wraiths and never ended up using them much.

  "H-How are you g-going t-to light it?" Kalrina asked, sitting up straighter.

  "I-I have an idea, but for that to work, you n-need to cover yourself with a mirror shield because if it doesn't work, the fire might consume you."

  She raised an eyebrow. "What in Rothedon's name are you p-planning now?"

  "Just do it."

  Kalrina shrugged, or maybe she just shivered and raised a round mirror shield that engulfed her side of the mirror ball. Meera drew a deep breath and shivered. They had left a few holes in the mirror ball, as they needed fresh air. She hoped it would be enough to keep the fire going.

  Then, holding the wooden stick by one end, she activated her only fire skill. She activated Shadowflame Devastation with the least bit of Mana she could muster. Instantly, the dark flames exploded out of her hands and consumed half of the room. The end of the stick she had been holding crumbled to ashes immediately, but the stick was lit. Warmth spread through their little cage.

  Kalrina dropped the shield and scooted over hurriedly as if Meera had produced a banquet, and she had been hungry for ages.

  "Oh, I could kiss you, dearie." Kalrina rubbed her hands and held them out to the fire.

  "Please didn't," Meera replied. "At least we won't die of the cold. Now, our fate rests on the temperament of an archdragon."

  "Who abhors humans and still may kill us when we get back," the witch added.

  Meera said nothing, produced more sticks from her Belt, created a bonfire of dark flames, and awaited their fate.

  Zerodra cried out something in his tongue. To Meera, it sounded like a cry of pain and anguish. Through the crack between his fingers, she could make out a gigantic statue of a majestic dragon towering over everything around her.

  "We're here," Meera announced.

  Kalrina got on her knees, but she was knocked back down, and their dwindling bonfire was scattered as the dragon dashed through the air like a comet. Meera and Kalrina were pressed to the cold walls of the ball, and the speed at which Zerodra flew was so great they couldn't peel themselves off the wall. Then, just as abruptly as he had started, he stopped, sending them hurtling forward. Meera nearly cracked her head on the mirror ball.

  It was safe to say the war between the dragons and the sorceresses had paused. There was a loud thud as Zerodra landed, crushing numerous trees underfoot. His clawed hand reached out and caressed his lover's stoney head, uttering something in his guttural dragon tongue.

  From what Meera could see through the mirror ball, everyone had stopped, and justifiably so. It was like the wind itself had stopped flowing. Then, the ice archdragon roared, decimating the trees all around them. Some of the smaller dragonlings and sorceresses were thrown about like ragdolls.

  "Oh, am I sure glad that I'm safe in here," Meera said.

  "Are we?"

  "Always the voice of pessimism."

  "Well, we're stuck in the palms of an angry archdragon awaiting his decree of whether we live or not. It tends to bring out the pessimist in me." Kalrina smiled.

  Meera shook her head, and before she could reply, the dragon's roar quieted, and all else quieted once again.

  "Veridiana!" Zerodra bellowed. "Come out, witch. Come out and answer for your crimes."

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  Again, a heavy silence fell over the afternoon. Then, a hole in Akhessai's chest opened, and a small figure flew out on a stone platform. Even now, she was dressed in a rich dress with a shawl draped over her shoulders.

  It was more like Veridiana had come out for a stroll rather than answer for the murder of an archdragon. The whole world stood still as the queen of the sorceresses floated up to answer the archdragon's call.

  She started to speak in dragon tongue, but Raxor stopped her.

  "Do not profane my sacred tongue with your voice, witch," he barked.

  "I understand, Raxor," she replied. "I see, you've finally awoken from your slumber. I knew this day would come someday."

  Something moved, and Meera focused on this new entity. A shape flew from down below, but this was no human. It was too big to be a human, and secondly, it had wings. The tiger-striped scales of Ignis Sunbreath shone in the afternoon sun as he dashed at full speed to meet his father.

  It wasn't that Ignis wasn't very large; it was just that Zerodra was so enormous that it made Ignis the size of a small bird compared to him.

  "Is it true, witch?" Zerodra asked. "Was it you that killed my Akhessai?"

  Veridiana lowered her gaze.

  "So, it's true…" Zerodra grew silent.

  The silence stretched long enough to make Meera nervous, as they were still wholly in his power. He had but to clench his fist, and her hunt for Neel would come to an abrupt end.

  "I hate that we can't get a look at his face," Meera said.

  "I'm thankful that we can't," Kalrina replied. "This way we're hidden from his immediate wrath."

  "And you," Zerodra finally said, "my firstborn...you didn't think it was something I ought to know."

  Ignis looked down like a scolded child. "Father…I wanted to avenge Mother myself, so when you awoke, you would be proud of me."

  "And it took you four hundred years to muster up the courage to attack this wretched human," Zerodra snapped. He breathed heavily and must've clenched his fist a little tighter because the mirror ball cracked. "You didn't even have the gall to inform me, and I had to hear this news from a human."

  Veridiana and Ignis both perked up at that. They shared a glance, not understanding which human would go to him with this news.

  "Get ready, witch," Meera said. "Looks like we're about to enter center stage."

  "Huh? Center stage? You mean he's going to reveal us."

  Meera sighed. "Yes."

  "Why was it that I wasn't informed?" Zerodra went on. "Is it perhaps you continued to want to play king? Is that it, Ignis? Or is it because you wanted to attain the power of an archdragon first? Because you wanted to feel strong and in power?" Zerodra shook his head. "You're no son of mine, and once I'm done with this witch, I'll punish you like the petulant child you are."

  Ignis fell silent at that verbal bashing. Meera couldn't help but grin; this was going just like she had hoped. Ignis had just lost all control of his dragons, and after this, would they ever follow their esteemed leader or back him up and reject Zerodra?

  Oh, this is going so well that I almost want to stay and watch how it unfolds.

  "Who was it that informed you of Agniaz's demise?" Veridiana asked, stepping into the conversation.

  There was a sudden jolt as Zerodra raised his fist. Meera had to grab a wall to steady herself. Then Zerodra's fist stopped, and Meera could see everything from the walls of the mirror ball.

  "Show yourselves," the archdragon commanded.

  Meera drew a deep breath and nodded to Kalrina. The walls of the mirror ball opened like a cocoon, revealing them to a bewildered Ignis and Veridiana.

  "It was these humans who braved my wrath to inform me what had happened to my Akhessai," Zerodra said. "For if it were left to you, you would have left me slumber there till Aetheron awoke."

  "Father, but they—you don't know," Ignis sputtered.

  "Did I give you leave to use your voice," Zerodra said. "Keep your jaw sealed until I say so, boy."

  Veridiana stared at Meera expressionless. There was no hate or malice, not even anger, and then she finally smiled sadly. "Perhaps it was always fated to be so," she said. "Always fated to be you."

  That gave Meera pause. Now that it came down to it, she felt a little sad, as this woman had a hand in her massive growth. But if it were up to Veridiana, she would've kept her a prisoner until they found Neel, and then he, too, would've been a prisoner.

  "I'm sorry, Veridiana," Meera said. "I saw no other path."

  "I understand," the Sovereign replied. "Remember my lessons well, and remember it must be you...Do you understand?"

  Meera's eyes widened, and she gave a slow nod. "I understand."

  "You don't know what happened, Raxor," Veridiana said calmly, eyes slowly peeling away from Meera as if the threat of an angry archdragon was of no concern. "Agniaz was bewitched. She had lost all control. She didn't know friend from foe. She even charred Tigris. Maybe you should see what he looks like now before you pass judgment on us. She would have killed Ignis and Tigris if I didn't step in. In the end, she told me her dragon name and asked me to stop her."

  "Lies!" Zerodra bellowed. "All lies from a filthy human. You just wanted her power."

  "No, Raxor, it is the truth, but I know my words will not move you," Veridiana replied calmly.

  "No, they will not," Zerodra said. Then he looked down at Meera and Kalrina. "Since you illuminated me to the truth, I will grant you life."

  "You are most generous, O' mighty Raxor, the King of Eternal Winter," Kalrina said, going to her knees and groveling before the archdragon. "We'll both forever sing your good graces, my lord."

  Meera found it amusing that Kalrina had been silent all this time, and now that they were free to go, she was quick to grovel. Kalrina rapped Meera's knee, signaling her to do the same.

  She bowed at the waist. "Thank you, Lord Raxor."

  "Now, get out of my sight," Raxor drawled.

  "Yes, lord." Kalrina gripped Meera by the arm and jumped off the dragon's hand. She formed a mirror disc under their feet and sped away, gently lowering them to ground level.

  But Meera's eyes were fixed on the battle that was about to take place. Veridiana looked to Ignis. "It's best you draw your forces away, son."

  Ignis looked between her and her father and then flew away without a word. Veridiana zipped back, a hole opened in Akhessai's chest, and she went inside. Then, many holes opened in the gigantic stone statue, and sorceresses poured out of Akhessai.

  "Oh, she's going to use her," Meera whispered.

  "Huh?" Kalrina frowned and turned around, and her eyes widened with realization. "By the gods…"

  Then Akhessai moved. Centuries of dust fell, and most surprising of all, when it spoke, it spoke with Veridiana's voice. "It's time we settled this."

  "You dare use her against me," Zerodra growled.

  With a roar, he punched Veridiana or Akhessai's living statue. Veridiana matched his punch with one of her own. A shockwave reverberated outwards when their fists collided.

  Then, the battle between Archdragons commenced in earnest.