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    The flogging was over. They all watched as the executioner bound Skera-Kina ’ s hands behind her back. Mugla sighed. “ Skera-Kina never had a chance at a normal life. Slavery and bondage is all she ’ s ever known. Life is unfair, Tallin. Sometimes people are victims of circumstances that they don ’ t deserve. ”
    The crowd cheered as the hangman ’ s noose was fitted around Skera-Kina ’ s neck. A black sack was placed over her head. Skera-Kina stood motionless as she waited for the inevitable. There were thousands of people packed into the square now, and every face was upturned with morbid anticipation.
    The High Priest was waiting until the last possible moment to give the final order; drawing out the spectacle. He smiled down at the crowd, enjoying their chants.
    Tallin felt a mixture of anxiety and disgust. The High Priest raised his right arm to give the final order, and the executioner placed his hand on the lever to release the trap door.
    Tallin held his breath.
    All of a sudden, there was a bright flash in the sky. A dazzling explosion split the air, causing a sound like thunder. It was so loud that it rattled the ground beneath their feet. A few people in the crowd screamed, but others applauded, thinking that it was all part of the show.
    “ What ’ s going on? ” whispered Amandila.
    Tallin smiled. “ The dragons are coming to save us. I can feel it. Somehow, Duskeye made it past the wards. ” A feeling of intense relief washed over him. Duskeye was alive!
    Through a cloud of dust, a group of dragons materialized in the sky. The High Priest looked up and screamed.
    Leading the pack was the elf queen, Xiiltharra. She was riding on the back of a magnificent emerald dragon that Tallin didn ’ t recognize. Duskeye, Nagendra, and Blacktooth followed behind her in a triangular formation. Blacktooth opened his mouth and sent a river of fire toward the crowd. People scattered, and the crowd started screaming.
    “ Guards! Guards! ” the High Priest shrieked. “ Arrest them! Catch them! ” Dozens of soldiers ran up the stairs to defend the hysterical old man.
    Duskeye pulled his wings in tight and landed on the platform with his forelegs outstretched. He roared, swiping at a guard with his enormous clawed foot. Blacktooth joined him, and together the two dragons fought the stream of soldiers bounding up the stage.
    Forgotten by the guards in the chaos, Tallin and Mugla muttered simple release spells, causing their ropes to fall away. Mugla smiled, but she was clearly exhausted from lack of food and sleep.
    Tallin reached out to help his aunt, but she waved him off. “ Don ’ t help me! Go help Skera-Kina! I ’ ll free the elves — I ’ m strong enough to do that. ”
    Tallin ran up the stairs and attacked a guard, stripping him of his sword. The guard fell backwards and knocked the lever back for the trap door, causing Skera-Kina to fall through it. Her body jerked violently as the hangman ’ s rope went taut around her neck.
    Tallin rushed forward to grab her and support her weight. Her body was limp and slippery; her back and shoulders still slick from the whipping. Tallin reached up and severed the rope around her neck. He removed the black bag from her face and laid her limp body on the floor.
    “ Skera-Kina? Can you hear me? ” he yelled, slapping her cheeks. She did not respond. Her eyes stared forward blankly, and her face and lips were blue. 
    Tallin tried to check for a pulse, but someone pulled his leg sharply and knocked him to the ground. He glanced over his shoulder to see a solider with a sword aimed at his head. Tallin twisted his body and avoided the killing stroke by rolling out of reach. The soldier swung again, and this time, Tallin rolled off the platform, twisting in midair to land on his feet on the street below. The soldier growled at him from above and jumped down with his sword in his hand, ready to fight.
    Tallin ran towards to the guard and thrust his stolen