Omensent: Revealing the Dragon (The Dragon Lord Series) (33 page)

"It's about time!" Damion laughed, leaping atop the stallion's broad back.

Storm let out a fierce whinny, then laid his ears back and bared his teeth aggressively, his focus still on the Etazk, who had scrambled back to their feet and started to regroup.

Damion spurred the great beast forward, and they crashed into the Etazk once more. He cut three men down in succession, while Storm rode a forth down, crushing the howling man beneath churning hooves. They whirled around
to renew their attack, but a group of Deolan riders suddenly appeared and charged forward, quickly finishing off the last few Etazk.

Yet another explosion rocked the city, drawing the huge warrior's attention once more, and he whirled Storm back around and spurred the huge stallion forward, racing towards the sounds of the battle.

When they finally arrived, he found the open square to be in total chaos. There were still a thousand or so Etazk warriors remaining out of the large force that had been occupying the city, and they had formed up into a protective barrier around the large altar, shielding the last few priests that had managed to survive the chaos. Several more of the massive wolf-like creatures raged through the huge plaza, taking down tribesman after tribesman as the fierce horsemen continued to charge the Etazk warriors in an effort to break through to the priests.

The
massive army of tribesmen worked together like a well oiled machine as they used their fleet-footed horses to dash in and skillfully peel off small sections of the Etazk forces forces, then quickly retreating, allowing another group of riders to swoop in and attack another section of the human barrier.

The Etazk warriors were trying valiantly to hold the
Deola at bay while their priests screamed orders to them, their eyes desperate. One of the priests, an older man wearing a blood red robe that was bordered in gold, suddenly stepped forward and raised his hands.

Damion could clearly feel the magical energy as it b
uilt up around the Etazk priest, causing the hair on the back of the huge warrior's neck to stand on end.

The priest suddenly pointed at a group of approaching riders, and a bolt of searing energy suddenly leapt from his fingertips and went sizzling through the air, striking one of the riders in the chest. The tribesman and horse disappeared in a huge explosion that decimated the rest of the riders.

"You had better do something about those priests,"
Snowfeather told him, still circling high overhead.
"They're picking off entire groups of riders at a time"

Damion watched as the older priest blasted another group of riders to pieces, then looked up at his familiar
. "You had better get yourself clear."
He warned in a grim tone.
"I have the feeling this is going to be rather spectacular."

Chapter 14

He stared out over the ocean from His resting place on a large rocky outcropping near the very center of the churning sea, trying desperately to figure out what had happened to cause His new children flee in terror when they already had the Dragon Lord at their mercy.

He snarled
, and his long whip-like tail lashed out irritably, reducing a nearby boulder to dust. Finally, after all the effort and planning He had put into His designs, His new children had managed to render the Dragon Lord completely helpless, and merely had to finish him off, but they had failed Him once again. The Dragon Lord's child had suddenly appeared, and His new children turned and fled from her in absolute terror.

He shook his head in confusion.
They could have easily slaughtered the girl, and then finished off the Dragon Lord and brought Him the Dragon Sword, but instead, they chose to flee from a helpless mortal girl. The very thought was inconceivable!

He
watched as the sun dipped below the horizon, a burning anger building deep within Him. Once again, the Dragon Lord had somehow managed to slip from His grasp. It was becoming quite apparent that someone
else
was interfering in His plans, and that someone could only be the Serpent Mother.

"Estheryal." He growled softly, glancing up at the constellations that were just beginning to make their nightly appearance.

"Did you call?" An amused voice asked in a slightly mocking tone. The Serpent Mother materialized nearby, Her golden scales gleaming in the fading light.

"What is it that you think you are doing
?" Draco slowly turned to face the newcomer. "Why are you interfering in my plans? Don't you want our children to survive and flourish? Don't you want to see our children once again reign supreme over these pathetic mortals?"

"The path that you have chosen will only lead to our children's destruction." The golden dragon disagreed in a patient tone, settling down before the
Dragon God. "You have already endangered them all, dragons and mankind alike, with your actions. Because of you,
all
of the gods are free to return and walk amongst their people once again, and many have returned to the wars that once nearly consumed the very world you wish our children to reign over." She stared at Him with disbelief. "Can you really not see that the only chance our children have of surviving the wars that are already beginning to take place is if you turn away from this path that you have chosen to lead our children down? It's only going to lead to their destruction."

"Your
petty threats and predictions of doom will not frighten me, Estheryal." Draco snarled, turning His back on the golden dragon. "Our children will destroy the mortal scourge that has infested the lands, and take their rightful places as rulers of this world once more."

"You cannot continue to do this. You must turn away!" The Serpent Mother implored. "This is madness, Draco!"

"That I cannot do." He grumbled, turning to face her again. "I will continue until I have achieved my goals, no matter the cost." His eyes suddenly narrowed. "And
you
will cease interfering with my plans."

"
That
I cannot do." She threw His own words back in His face. "As long as you continue in your mad quest, I will continue to strive to thwart you. I will not allow this madness to continue." She fixed the Dragon God with a deadly glare. "Be warned. If you continue with this madness, there will be far greater consequences than even
you
can conceive." She stared at Him sternly for several long moments, then slowly faded into nothingness.

Draco continued to stare at the empty air where the Serpent Mother had just st
ood, His mind working quickly. He knew that Estheryal had been interfering in His plans, as She always did, but this time, something was different. He could tell by Her tone that She was genuinely concerned by His actions, which was quite unlike the Serpent Mother. She usually interfered in His plans merely for the enjoyment of annoying the Dragon God, but this time He could sense that She was trying in earnest to convince Him to turn away from His carefully devised plans. This, more than anything, troubled him.

He turned back to stare out over the churning waves, His eyes lost in thought.

**********

"
There is a large force heading north along the trade road towards Sevria." Captain Repheth reported to Shirk and Lady Skie as he leaned against one of the posts to Lady Skie's bed.

"They will be the reinforcements from
Crete." Shirk muttered wearily. The old bandit had refused to leave Lady Skie's side since the attack a couple of weeks earlier, going as far as handling all of the business of running the castle out of her spacious chambers.

"I thought so too," Captain Repheth told them in an unsure voice. "but our lookouts report that a large portion of the force is made up of dwarves."

"Dwarves?" Lady Skie sat up from her pillows. "Are they sure? The dwarves never leave their caverns."

"The lookouts swear they are dwarves.
" Captain Repheth held out his hands helplessly. "I thought they were jesting, but they insisted that they were telling the truth."

"What's happened?" Dar asked as he entered
the room and climbed up onto the bed next to Lady Skie.

"Our lookouts report that a large force is traveling north along the trade route." Shirk grunted with a frown.

"Reinforcements from Crete?"

Captain Repheth shrugged. "We thought so at first, but then we were told that a large part
of the force was made up of dwarves."

"Dwarves?" Dar suddenly burst out
laughing.

"What so funny?" Shirk demanded in a surly tone.

"King Garth must have decided that he and his people weren't going to be left out of the upcoming battle." Dar laughed again. "He must have gathered some of his kinsmen and joined with the rest of Damion's army. He and the other dwarves are probably heading to Sierra to help fortify the city."

"You actually think that King Garth is with his forces?" Captain Repheth asked skeptically.

"I know he is." The childlike sprite's face was bright red from laughter. "Garth isn't the type to miss out when there's fighting going on. He'll be at the head of the group, I guarantee it!"

"Well, we should know soon enough." Captain Repheth told them. "They should be here by
midday."

"
I guess we should get prepared to receive them." Lady Skie threw back her covers and started to climb from her bed.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shirk asked, jumping up from his seat.

"I going to make myself presentable so I may greet our visitors." She told him, ignoring his disapproving glare. "It's not often that we have royal visitors."

"I
really don't think you should be up and about just yet." The old bandit objected, his voice worried.

"Don't
be ridiculous. The clerics have told you that I was fine.
All
of them." She cast him a dark look. The old bandit had insisted that all four of the castle clerics examine her each and every day, just to insure the young woman would fine, ignoring Lady Skie's assurances that she was already feeling much better. "Besides, I've had enough of lounging around in bed all day long."

"But..." Shirk started, but she cut him off.

"I'm not going to shut myself off from the rest of the world just because you're afraid I may be attacked again." She glanced over to Captain Repheth. "You
are
sure that you have captured or killed every single Etazk in the city, correct?"

The old man smiled. "I'm sure
. We've turned this city over time and time again, just to be safe. There isn't an Etazk within twenty miles of Sevria."

"I would still feel better if
you stayed here where I know you are safe." Shirk told her, a pleading note in his voice.

"I cannot remain shut away in this room for the rest of my life." Lady Skie told him, a note of steel in her voice.
"I know you are only trying to keep me safe, but it's time that I quit lounging around in this bed. There's still far too much that still needs to taken care of before the Etazk finally strike."

Shirk sighed in resignation. "
Very well, but only if you agree to have a guard escort you wherever you go. I won't have you putting yourself in danger again."

"
If it makes you feel better, dear one." She agreed with a smile. "Now I suggest you all go and make yourselves presentable. We don't want to look like a bunch of beggars when go to greet the dwarven king, now do we?"

"We'll go visi
t the baths as soon as we go look in on Axel." The old bandit promised, motioning to Dar and Captain Repheth to follow him. "We'll meet you back here, in a couple of hours, and then go down to greet this dwarven king." He led the others from her chamber, then stopped just outside and whirled around to face the captain. "I want her to be escorted by our best men everywhere she goes. I don't care how much she complains. Just make sure that no one is able to get close enough to try and harm her again." He glanced down at Dar. "How are your ribs feeling?"

"Much better, thanks." Dar replied,
watching the old bandit with a curious expression.

"
Good. I want you at her side. She trusts you, and you've already proven that you can handle things yourself if the need arises."

"You know," The fiery haired sprite grinned knowingly up at the old bandit. "You seem awfully worried about Lady Skie's well being.
Why is that?" His grin grew even broader.

Shirk glared down at him. "Never mind that. Just make sure you stick by her side. I..., I mean,
we
, don't want a repeat of what happened last time."

"Of course." Dar giggled in enjoyment.

"Shut up." The old bandit growled, ignoring Captain Repheth's look of amusement.

They hurried down to Axel's private chambers
, where they found the young man sitting propped up in his bed working intently on an elaborate carving of a rearing stallion, which he was crafting from a large piece of dragon bone. He looked up and smiled as he saw them entering the room, then quickly set the carving aside and began to brush the bone shavings away.

"Good morning," He greeted them happily.

"Good morning." Dar greeted him, noticing the young man was looking much healthier. "You look like you're feeling better."

"Much better, thanks." Axel smiled, then lifted his shi
rt to show them his wound, was almost completely healed. "The clerics say I should be up and about in another week or so. It hardly even hurts anymore." He frowned. "It's a shame they couldn't do anything about the scar."

"You don't want to loose the scar." Captain Repheth advised him sagely. "You
r scars are a badge of honor. You should wear them proudly. Besides," He suddenly grinned. "Women love scars."

"Really?" The young man scratched his head thoughtfully, a slow grin spreading across his face.
He looked over to Shirk. "How is Lady Skie?"

"Stubborn." The old bandit grunted
wearily. "She's insisting on going down to greet the forces that are making their way up the trade road. Apparently there are a large number of dwarves with them, which leads Dar to believe their king is also somewhere among them. Lady Skie wants to be down there to greet him when he arrives."

"The
King of the Dwarves is coming to Sevria?" The young man looked excited. "When will he be here?"

"Sometime around
midday." Shirk replied, surprised by the young man's sudden excitement.

Axel stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly threw back his covers and started to climb from his bed.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dar asked, rushing to his bedside.

"
I need to get out of this bed." The young man had an almost desperate look in his eyes. He suddenly winced and grabbed at his side, then fell back into his bed, an expression of overwhelming disappointment on his face.

"What is it?
" Shirk asked in alarm. "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to present one of my carvings to the dwarven king. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

"I'll make sure he gets your carving." Shirk told him with a frown. "It's the least I can do after you saved me from that Etazk." He looked around the room at the various carvings. "Which one should I give him?"

"That one." The young man immediately pointed to a foot high figure of a dwarven warrior wielding a battleaxe.

The old bandit quickly wrapped the piece in a large piece of scrap linen to help keep it safe, then, after assuring Axel he would be sure the dwarven king received the carving, he and Dar hurried off towards the baths.

They met up
with Lady Skie outside of her chambers an hour or so later, then quickly made their way down to the guardhouse that had been constructed directly above the gates that led through the battlements that protected the city.