Peter imagined Lief would charge right away. Instead, the huge man just waited. His men backed away, forming a semi circle with enough room Jarn could move around between them and their prince. The warrior’s eyes were hidden behind a visor, but his grin was visible below that through the tangled blond beard. Peter felt his face flush and he grinned himself.

  “You must be crazy,” Peter said.

  “I have been told something to that affect,” the Prince replied. “Now come at me!”

  “Alright, then,” Peter said. “Jarn! Let’s get him!”

  Peter dashed forward. He felt the ground shake as the dragon moved with him off to the left, hissing a war-cry at the Nordarin warrior. The dragon was a lot faster than Peter, winding around mouth gaping open to bite down on their enemy.

  Lief ducked under the dragon’s chin in a flash, smashing his shield into the jaw. Jarnvaror’s mouth snapped closed, then the dragon flinched as the warrior brought his blade up to slash at the dragon’s face. The blade scattered off the scales protecting Jarn’s eyes, but the dragon backed away, startled by the giant’s speed. In the same motion, Lief brought his shield back around to guard against Peter.

  It was hard not to get distracted by the sheer speed of the man. Peter slid to a stop and had to kick off Lief’s shield to gain some more distance. His memory of losing to the warrior of Selasem flashed through his head. He grit his teeth. “Not this time,” he muttered.

  “Oh?” Lief asked in a casual tone. Jarn tried biting him again, and he just battered more at the dragon’s face. “Something wrong, dragon rider?”

  “Nothing. Just wish I was fighting the mottled again.”

  The Nordarin prince laughed. “Are you wanting to back out, then?”

  “No way,” Peter said. He charged again, and Lief moved, trying to keep both Peter and Jarn on the same side. Peter didn’t slow down. Instead, he leaned back and slid past the Warrior, crossing his blades just in time to block the strike aimed down at him. He twisted, striking out at his opponent, pressing up from the ground. The Selasi guards had told him they beat him because he wasn’t anchored as he fought. He didn’t use his footing or the ground well enough. This time, he was resolved to take that away from his enemy.

  Lief blocked the cut with his blade. “Nice show!” he shouted. Even as he did, Jarn came in, jaws open wide. The Prince didn’t have time to counter as before, and the dragon’s jaws clamped down on Lief’s shield. “Oh, that’s not good,” the Prince said. He yanked his arm out just as the dragon twisted snapping his head to the side. The shield went flying.

  Without waiting a moment, the prince changed to a two handed stance and shoved Peter away. He thrusted at the dragon, cutting Jarn under the eye. Jarnvaror howled his frustration, promising to break the sword and the prince just as soon as he could bite him.

  “Jarn, from the sky!” Peter said. The dragon hissed his understanding and bounded away.

  The warrior prince turned to Peter. “If you want him to crush me, he’s going to come away from it with a nasty splinter,” he said, twirling his great sword.

  “You sure you’ll have time?” Peter said, dashing in again. He tried stabbing, but the Prince swung out, and it was all Peter could do to keep the blow from crushing him. The Prince was even faster without his shield, and Peter couldn’t help feeling how unfair it was that this giant was at least as fast as he was strong.

  The Wisp in the hilt of his sword responded to the feeling. Peter felt strength flow into him. He didn’t think much of it, charging again. He caught Lief’s counter attack with his left hand sword, which Peter noticed was glowing red. His whole hand was, down to the elbow, as if it were on fire. Twisting, he used that to pull himself inside Lief’s range to strike with his other blade.

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  Sparks flew as Peter dragged his blade across the warriors chainmail. He leapt back, just out of range as the Nordarin kicked at him. “Well, what have we here?” Lief asked. He rubbed his shoulder where Peter had struck. “You use Wisps, too? You’re not with that creepy mage, are you?”

  Peter didn’t reply right away. He felt the change in the air overhead, and knew the man wouldn’t hear it as Jarnvaror glided over, talons out. Lief ducked, thrusting up with his blade, only for it to be turned by the dragon’s scales. Peter took advantage of the opening, trying to charge with the same sort of strike as before, only this time thrusting with the second blade instead of slashing.

  Lief had expected it, and the huge man shoved Peter away before he could try again. “You know,” the prince began. “I don’t think it matters if you know the mage. I feel like I should trust you less if you’re using Wisps.” As he spoke, he reached to his belt and pulled out an axe. The blade was too large for a hatchet’s, but the handle was much to short for a battle axe. Peter wondered if it was for throwing. Then he saw the red glow pour out and envelope Lief’s left arm like a fire.

  “Thought you might have that,” Peter said. His heart was sinking at the thought of the giant warrior getting the same sort of boost he’d just gotten. And from the waves of anger he felt flowing off the axe, he was pretty sure there was more than one Wisp in that axe. “That wouldn’t be why you want more crystals, would it?”

  “Course’ not,” Lief said. “Don’t properly know how to get the Wisps, myself. Though if you wanted to show me…?” The prince trailed off. Peter sensed he was about to strike, and was very thankful that Jarnvaror was faster. This time, the dragon landed, spinning around to batter the Prince with his tail.

  Lief slid back, holding his weapons up and crossed in front of himself. “Good move, beasty!” he shouted. “I might have taken one of your toes if you’d done the talon thing again!”

  In answer, Jarnvaror roared something back about crushing the little human in his talons, and Peter wished there was time to explain why that would be a particularly bad move at this point. But the warrior leapt at him, and he only just brought the swords up in time. Peter ducked and weaved, trying to find a way to strike back, but the warrior was too fast. Peter felt Lief’s boot drive into his gut, and he went sprawling. When he looked up, unable to breath, the axe was coming down at his chest.

  Jarn came to his rescue, crossing the space in an instant and plucking the warrior into the sky. Lief twisted in the dragons grip and brought the small axe down on Jarn’s ankle. The dragon screamed, but didn’t let go. He looped once through the air, then landed, placing full force on the leg with the Nordarin warrior. Peter heard the prince gasp. Then he struck out at Jarnvaror again, and the dragon had to leave him there.

  The warrior laid there only a moment. He and Peter both managed to get to their knees at the same time. Jarnvaror hovered protectively between the two fighters, but Peter could see the blood spurting from his ankle. A cold rage swept over him. He didn’t know if they’d be able to treat that. The Wisp fed off his feelings. He forced himself to his feet, wanting to lash out. Lief did the same. But each step was a struggle. Lief stumbled, barely managing not to fall on his face.

  A familiar sensation came over Peter. He didn’t dare turn, but he saw the blue light reflected in Lief’s eyes. A lot of blue light. And the calming influence was too much to just be one. Anna stepped up next to him, a cloud of Wisps all around her. “Neither of you can fight anymore,” Anna said. “Stop this.”

  “I just need to reach him,” Lief said.

  “Jarnvaror will rip you to pieces before he bleeds out,” Andrew said, startling Peter with how close he was.

  “Afraid I can’t surrender,” Lief said. “I’m a prince.”

  “How about a deal, then,” Andrew said. “We call this a draw. The battle ends, and both sides treat our wounded. After that, you wanted to know if we were connected to that ‘Creepy Mage?’ We can tell you. And you explain how you got your Wisps, and why you want the gemstones.”

  “Why we want the—you don’t know?” the prince asked. “Damn I thought the Ryukyuujin were supposed to be smart. It wasn’t obvious?”

  “I’m afraid it wasn’t,” came Captain Yamada’s voice. “We would appreciate you enlightening us.”

  As they spoke, Peter felt his bloodlust and battle rage ebbing out. He could only imagine how it felt for the prince, not being so used to Halcyon. He watched the struggle play out on the man’s face for a few moments. Then the prince’s shoulders slumped. “Fine,” he said. “Let’s go lick our wounds. After that… I want answers to everything.”

  Peter watched the Prince walk back toward his men, who had already begun working to treat his opponents. He slumped, Andrew catching him before he hit the ground. “That was a stupid fight, Peter.”

  “Help Jarn,” Peter said. “Stop the bleeding.”

  “Captain Yamada is on it,” Anna said.

  “Hear that, Jarn?” Peter said. the dragon looked down at him. “Fight’s over. The people here are going to bandage your leg. Make sure you don’t bleed out on me.” Jarnvaror snorted. But he didn’t change his protective stance over Peter. Even through the Wisps’ influence, Peter caught the frustration in the dragon’s tone. “Yeah…” Peter agreed. “I would have liked to win, too.”