Army of the Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

fairly close to his head, Marak drew his knife and jammed it into the hole in Myka’s scale so that he had something to hang onto.
    “Wimp,” chortled the dragon as she banked so steeply that Marak felt his leg lifting off the dragon’s back.
    Marak laughed after he caught his breath. The laugh died in his throat as Myka headed straight into a mountain and then suddenly turned upward just in the nick of time. Marak held the knife with both hands as he felt his seat separate from the dragon’s scales.
    “Enough,” pleaded the Torak when he could speak. “I prefer to die in battle where I at least have a chance.”
    “You must learn how to fly, Torak,” taunted the dragon as she reached the peak of the mountain and immediately tilted to soar down the other side. “Learn to anticipate my moves and balance your body without the need to hang on. When we fly into battle, you will need both of your hands on the hilt of your sword.”
    “Fly into battle?” echoed the Torak. “What do you mean?”
    Myka snorted and smoke blew out of her nostrils. “Do you think I am just something to ride so that you can enjoy the scenery?” she quipped. “I am a winged warrior. Have you not figured out what my specialty is?”
    “I am to fly you into battle?” gasped the Torak.
    “So,” chortled the dragon, “you are not so stupid after all. I guess the elven princess was mistaken.”
    “What did she say?” Marak asked indignantly. “Which one was it?”
    Myka snickered and soared upward again, rising along the face of a snowcapped peak. She flew over the peak and headed down again. Marak saw that they had just entered the valley of StarCity. The Sakovans shouted and pointed at the dragon as Myka soared low over the streets of the city. The people scattered before the flying behemoth, and Myka cackled joyfully.
    “Into each life a little levity must fall,” quipped Myka as she glided to a halt atop the palace.
    Palace guards raced to surround the dragon, but they halted when they saw Emperor Marak sliding off the dragon’s back.
    “Which princess said I was stupid?” frowned Marak. “What did she say?”
    “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Myka said innocently. “I wonder if that last bank loosened something upstairs, if you know what I mean.”
    Myka chuckled and winked at the Torak. Marak tried to act stern, but he realized that he was being toyed with. He started laughing just as the Star of Sakova arrived.
    “I am glad that you can find humor in this situation,” frowned Lyra, “but I cannot. My people are about to start dying. I find no humor in that.”
    “It was my fault,” apologized Myka. “I thought some humor would ease the tension of the situation.”
    “Ease the tension?” echoed the Star of Sakova. “Does that include soaring into StarCity and terrorizing my people? You are very fortunate that my archers did not pepper you with arrows on your flight here. I am not sure what kind of sauce would go good with a giant lizard.”
    “Giant lizard?” whimpered Myka. “Oh, that hurts.”
    Marak started laughing so hard that he doubled over. Lyra stood with her hands on her hips looking angrier by the moment. Myka frowned in confusion, and her tail twitched nervously. Suddenly, Lyra could hold the pretense no longer. She started laughing also. Myka’s eyes narrowed as she watched the two humans.
    “How did you know Myka was coming?” asked Marak after he stopped laughing. “I thought you would be petrified by a dragon landing on your roof.”
    “So did Rejji,” chuckled Lyra. “He warned me hours ago. He also warned me about Myka’s strange sense of humor.”
    Large billows of smoke shot from Myka’s snout as she shook her head.
    “I guess I had that coming,” admitted the dragon, “but Rejji will rue this day.”
    “Just make sure that we are around to see it,” chuckled the Torak.
    “Were you able to find the armada?” asked Lyra as she turned to a more serious