CHAPTER 41 - MEDRA

Medra goes to the Dragon Court at night, wearing Blake’s pendant, to facilitate a meeting between Blake and Nyxaris. Nyxaris arrives warily, sensing deceit, but trusts Medra enough to come. Instead of Blake, Professor Rodriguez and Kage appear with crossbows, ordering Medra to step away from Nyxaris.

When Medra refuses, Kage seizes her from behind. Rodriguez fires specially treated bolts that pierce Nyxaris’s scales, shocking both Medra and the dragon. Rodriguez reveals the bolts are alchemically prepared relics from his Emberwatch order and that they need Nyxaris’s blood.

Rodriguez declares the goal is to return Nyxaris to stone to prevent the collapse of the century-long balance and avert war, claiming it will protect Medra and Sangratha. Medra condemns the plan as evil. Nyxaris, poisoned and weakened, cannot summon flame.

Desperate, Medra draws a hidden dagger and stabs Kage, who howls but maintains his hold. She struggles relentlessly, but Kage disarms and restrains her. Nyxaris urges Medra not to be broken and apologizes for his weakness as the poison takes hold.

Rodriguez gathers vials and works near Nyxaris’s blood, focused on the extraction. As Medra continues to resist and threaten Kage, Rodriguez looks up and pointedly asks where Blake is. The question cracks something inside Medra as Nyxaris’s strength continues to fade.