The Dragon Returns

He loathed himself because he had killed someone and not thought twice about it. Again, he stared at the pile of empty armor. A laser zipped from the sky and struck a tree near him. Its bark nearly blasted through, the tree toppled over and crashed down only feet from Jess.

"I have to get out of here."

He heard several voices and footsteps. Just as Jess dived under a bush, two zyglots come onto the beach. They held another who had been wounded in the explosion. Jess recognized one of them as the guard who helped carry him up the tree into the zyglot council chamber.

He got up and ran toward them. "Don't shoot," he said, mainly because he couldn't think of anything else to say.

"It's you!" the guard said.

"What's happening out there?" Jess asked.

"We're fighting your fight."

"Listen." He glanced at the bracelet and saw a name. "Illyon. It is your fight. My fight is in Effeldwart. How far from the city am I?"

"Less than a mile," the second answered. "You are Jess the Journeyer, I believe. I am Deciclon. Dainler is my brother."

Jess fell silent.

"Dainler believed in you, and so do I."

"I'm going to save your brother or die trying."

"Follow the river to the fort. You should be safe because most of the fighting is going on further inland." Deciclon knelt before the wounded man.

"How is the battle going?"