“What else can you tell me about the attack?” Dragon asked Lars as they ran across the hallway that connected his quarters to Gilda and Lauren’s.

Outside, the moons hadn’t risen yet, and the darkness of the night reflected on the windows like a black void, threatening to swallow him whole.

“Poisoned arrows,” Lars answered. “Like the ones used on Carellian.”

“It’s the same assassin then.” Dragon swore. “We must stop him tonight.” Otherwise, his plans would have to change. He couldn’t leave the princesses on Solaria. Even with Valerian keeping close guard on them, Dragon wouldn’t feel comfortable.

“I’ve already deployed the First Draglet Squadron,” Lars said. “And asked for Carellian and Corinna to be brought to the terrace.”

Dragon inwardly thanked the goddess for the best commanders he could have ever asked for. That Lars and Valerian were also family and friends at the same time only added to his sense of gratitude.

Sol Manor was as busy as usual, servants and mechanical helpers working hard at keeping the large house clean and dust free. As they crossed the long corridor, Dragon told everyone to leave at once and take refuge in the lower levels. By the time they reached the princesses’ quarters, word had spread, and people hurried toward the staircase at the other end of the corridor. Some of the guards were already directing the exodus.

Dragon and Lars burst into the quarters that were now empty but for the martial presence of Dragon’s Guard. His men stood in front of every door opening into the foyer.

“There’s nobody inside,” the Guard Captain said, stepping up to meet Dragon. “We secured the princesses’ apartments, and the aerial squad is watching the terrace.”

Loud whinnies and the sound of flapping wings drew their attention to the opposite side of the room where large French doors opened onto the balcony.

The mares and stallions forming the First Draglet Squadron broke formation to let Carellian and Corinna through.

“The princesses are in the dining hall with Sir Valerian. Send ten of your most trusted men to help him,” Dragon said to the captain before striding toward the terrace.

Carellian and Corinna landed at the edge and waited for Dragon and Lars to mount them. The animals felt the raw energy in the air and fed from it, their reactions jerky.

“Easy, boy.” Dragon patted Carellian between his shoulders, soothing his nerves.

Lars did the same with his she-draglet.

The squadron’s first aviator commanded his steed to glide lower until he could talk to Dragon. “High Lord.” He brought his fisted hand to his chest and pumped it twice. “What are your orders?”

“Let’s fly around the manor.” Dragon’s legs pressed against Carellian’s flanks, and the draglet responded to his command, stepping off the edge.

At first, gravity pulled them down, but Carellian deployed his wings and with a powerful stroke propelled his long body upward. To Dragon, it felt like they were swimming out of water, higher and higher, until his draglet towered over the rest of the squad.

Carellian turned his triangular head toward Corinna, and the she-draglet lowered hers, nodding at his mental command before they both dove toward the canyon. The rest of the draglets followed in close formation.

Taking full advantage of his formidable night vision, Dragon led them around the manor, circling the perimeter in a progressively larger path. When it was clear that the assassin was lying in wait somewhere safe, playing with them, Dragon split the squadron in three, sending them to scout the caves inside the Rocky Dome. The megalithic formation that housed Sol Manor was riddled with three tunneled caverns. One of them had been further excavated to build the animal bay. The other two had been left untouched and attracted wild draglets and all sorts of winged critters.

In the meantime, Dragon and Lars, followed by the remaining aviators, kept flying around the manor. Dragon commanded the men to circle in the opposite direction, so that nobody could approach the Rocky Dome without being caught.

After three hours of fruitless searching, Dragon commanded the squadron back to the manor. The draglets were starting to tire, and the men needed a break, too.

“We need to change our plans,” Dragon said to Lars once they landed on the terrace outside his quarters. “Sol Manor is compromised, and it isn’t safe for my guests here any longer.” He strolled directly to his studio.

Guards stood in the hallway, while Valerian paced in front of the door, his hand on the pommel of his scimitar.

“Lars stays. You’re coming to Celestia,” Dragon said to his lieutenant as he strode past him and entered his studio.

Gilda and Lauren sat in front of the fireplace. They raised their faces at the same time.

“Prepare your things. You are both coming to Celestia too. We leave in less than three hours,” he told them.

Gilda’s eyes went immediately over Dragon’s shoulder at the door, where Valerian stood.

Lauren’s face split in a satisfied grin. “Right away, High Lord.”