The Bellatis remained in human form. Their horn spikes dangled from their belts, but the quiet menace in their demeanor was enough to have the miscreants casting them anxious glances.
The young human standing beside Nikolai had a face lined with worry as he spoke. “We’ll turn them in, for all the good it will do. They’ll be free again within the week.” He kept staring at Mai, as though attempting to figure out what she was, and why she was sitting on Nikolai’s shoulder.
“If they return, the mine won’t be here,” Nikolai stated emphatically. “But my men will be.”
Zezico rubbed his face. “Are you going to fill it in?” His glance focused on the digging equipment parked along the forest’s edges.
"Yes,” Nikolai answered him. It was the truth. He just wouldn’t be using the equipment to do it. The young man was a member of the Guajajara Guardians of the Forest, a group that used their wits, dirt bikes, and small arms to defend their tribal lands from illegal logging and mining.
They were volunteers that risked their lives daily without any backing from their government. In fact, it was often just the opposite. The men being escorted away likely had the government’s clandestine support for their activities.
With his gaze locked on the approaching men, Zezico didn’t notice the small wisps of black fog swirling around Nikolai.
Easy, Nikolai.Aria’s calm warrior-Zen spirit washed through him. From somewhere over the jungle, Lucas joined in the mix.
Nikolai breathed deeply as the two of them enabled him to find his balance. It took a lot of effort to keep him on an even keel. At times, it was all too easy to appreciate Galeran’s perspective on things.
But Nikolai wasn’t Galeran. Although the Elders were watching over him like a hawk, to see if he slipped.
Zezico’s comrades bound the miners’ hands and shoved them into the back of the ancient truck parked on the road. Zezico and several other Guajajara Guardians would be riding their dirt bikes as escorts.
The young man glanced at Nikolai, who towered over him. “I can stay, if you need me.”
Nikolai shook his head. “We’ll handle this. You look after yourself.”
Zezico shrugged, then mounted his bike and started the motor.
These guys are brave. They regularly endure threats against themselves and their families, Lucas noted through the link.They are prepared to die to defend this forest.
They would have made good Bellatis.Aria cast Nikolai a glance as she shoved the last miner into the truck. The entire group headed off up the road, leaving only Nikolai’s crew behind.
Are they gone?Lucas asked.
Yes,Aria answered.
A shadow passed overhead.You might want to duck and cover.
The crack of air against wings was their only warning. A Dragon the color of midnight dropped from above, wings thrashing as he attempted to touch down with some modicum of grace.
He almost made it. At the last moment, he underestimated his braking, so his hind feet slammed down too hard. He bounced and crashed headlong into a large shrub.
Better than the last landing,Aria judged.
Lucas extracted himself from the foliage and regarded her with disgust.Not much.
Yeah, well, next time I get to do the flying, and you can round up the sharding miscreants.
Lucas clicked his jaws open and closed.Hey, as you so callously pointed out, I need the practice.
You’ll get it,Nikolai encouraged. He loved looking at Lucas’s Dragon. Sleek and graceful, the dark scales reflected metallic blue and green in the sunlight. He tilted his head, assessing.Are you bigger?
Experimenting with crystal consumption,Lucas confirmed.
You were big enough before,Nikolai judged.
A little more size never hurts,Aria chipped in.
Nikolai snorted a laugh.I thought you were already going so high you couldn’t breathe.
