The dragon reacted instinctively. He crouched down and tried to use the immobilised Aiden as a shield. A flash and a roar shook the world around them. Draco felt the incapacitated cadet slam into him and send him flying through the air. Flames danced all around them, causing even the tiniest sparks to spew embers.
The reptile plunged into the undergrowth along with Aiden, who glared at him reproachfully. The limp twigs cushioned their fall and concealed them somewhat from the gaze of the two fire mages.
‘I’m sorry…’ ’Draco muttered. ‘It was a reflex…’
He didn’t get a chance to say any more. Something wrapped itself around his shoulders and yanked him with great force, dragging him deeper into the undergrowth. Fire burst up around the spot where he’d just been standing. Someone didn’t care whether they were spotted or not and was simply giving free rein to their abilities. Several fiery projectiles crashed into the bushes and the area burst into flames, spreading dark, acrid smoke all around. The display didn’t end there, however, and two fiery spears shot out of the rapidly thickening clouds, tearing through everything in their path.
The explosion shook the forest in the immediate vicinity, and a crater gaped where it had fallen. Draco, still sliding along the ground on his back, hit something with his head; the next moment, he tumbled down into a stony ravine and plunged face-first into the water at the bottom. He wanted to curse, but the whistling of the burning projectiles effectively silenced him. He looked up at the weary parthir.
‘We need to get closer to our people.’
‘They’ll be here any minute now,’ the dragon hissed through clenched teeth.
‘Perhaps so, but we still need to warn everyone.’
‘Except those two aren’t likely to let us slip away quietly.’ He shuddered as the sound of another fiery spear exploding rippled through the air.
‘I’m more worried about the ones we can’t see.’
Draco looked at him, puzzled.
‘The teams are made up of five people…’
‘Right, we really do need to get out of here.’
