Omensent: Rise of the Shadow Dragons (49 page)

The man stared at the rubble in incomprehension for several long moments, then understanding suddenly dawned in his eyes, and he looked back up at Damion in terror. "
You really
are
him, aren't you?" He asked in fear, still holding his aching jaw in one hand. "You're the Dragon Lord! The man that released the dragons back into the world!"

"Tell me everything
you know of Tara and those cultists at Daconia." Damion growled at him threateningly. "Talk quickly, don't leave anything out, and you may just survive this encounter!"

The bearded man gulped audibly, then nodded. "Of-Of course! I will tell you everything you wish to know." He paused, not really sure where he should begin.

"Why don't you start at the beginning." Raven supplied helpfully. "When did you first meet Tara?"

The man scratched his head. "That would be roughly
six or seven months ago. Me and the others had fled into the marshes, one step of the law, after running into a few problems in Thissa. We took refuge here at Blind Man's cave, not knowing that the ruins nearby had been taken over by those dragon cultists, but we left them alone, and they left us alone. About a month after we arrived, that scar faced woman appeared and told me that it would be in our best interest to help protect this area from unwanted visitors in exchange for them continuing to turn a blind eye to our presence."

"Were there a lot of travelers heading to and from the ruins?"
Veren inquired curiously.

The man shook his head. "I've only seen that woman, and a few other cultists
heading to and from the temples. I've never even seen any supply wagons heading there!"

"Did you notice anything odd about the cultists
you encountered?"

The bearded man snorted. "Odd doesn't even scratch the surface! Besides the fact that
they are a secretive bunch, the few that I've encountered were especially vicious, even by my standards! Then there are all of the stories about their rituals and rites, and rumors of bloodletting and human sacrifice." He shook his head. "If that isn't bad enough, the men swear that they've seen dragons hiding amongst the ruins! I never saw one for myself, but enough of my men saw them to convince me that it was true!"

Damion, Raven, and
Veren exchanged glances.

"What did Tara tell you when she appeared tonight?"
Damion asked him, his tone still as cold as ice.

The man's face soured. "She appeared a couple of hours before midnight with a young slave girl, riding a horse that was half dead from exhaustion. She claimed she was being
pursued by..." He glanced at Damion. "well, you. She took the slave child to the back of the cave for an hour or so, then approached me and ordered me to send out my men to intercept and eliminate you and your friends." He shrugged helplessly. "After that, she returned to the child's side for a couple of more hours. She and the child left less than an hour before you appeared."

"Do you know of what her plans were once she reaches Daconia?"

The bearded man shook his head. "She didn't speak of her plans, although I suspect that they involve that slave girl." He shuddered. "If any of the rumors of the rites and rituals are true, that little girl is in for a bad time!"

"That's not going to happen!"
Damion declared firmly. "Is there anything else that you can tell us that would be of any help?"

"Just that you'll be spotted the instant you step foot into the ruins." The man warned him gravely. "The only people in Daconia are cultists, and believe me
when I say you'll have the entire cult descending on you as soon as you ride into the open!"

"That's just something that we'll have to deal with then. I'll not allow Susa to be used in some obscene rite
, or be sacrificed during some insane ritual. I made a promise to her that I wouldn't let anyone hurt her, and I plan on keeping that promise!"

"What do you want to do with him?"
Veren asked, gesturing to the helpless man. "Should we kill him?"

"He
has
been helpful." Raven pointed out. "Maybe just take his weapons, and send him on way? Why kill him if there's no real need?"

"I like her!" The bearded man blurted nervously. "I vote for her idea!"

Damion couldn't help but laugh. "I bet you do." He stared at the man for a long moment. "Can we count on you to flee directly to Daconia and warn them of our intentions?" He asked the man in a plaintive tone.

The man snorted. "Not a chance!" He swore fervently. "If you spare me, I'll be your man for life!"

"Not this again!" The big warrior groaned, staring up at the predawn sky in exasperation. "Why does everyone I spare want to pledge me their life?"

"It's your overwhelming personal
ity!" Veren laughed. "We are all drawn to you because we know you will take us under your wing!"

The bearded man sat forward until he was on his knees before Damion and the others. "I can be useful!" He assured them desperately. "I was born in these swamps
. I know them as well, or better, than anyone you'll find!"

"What good will that do us?"
Veren asked sourly. "We already know the way to Daconia!"

"But I know a short cut." He told them. "It's at least
four miles to Daconia following the road, but I know of a trail that will take you safely through the swamp without worrying about all of the twists and turns of the trade road."

"How did you come to find this trail?" Raven asked him suspiciously.

"As I said, I have lived in these marshes my entire life. As soon as we established our hideout here, we located and marked every useable trail in the area. One of the trails leads directly to Daconia, without all of the twists and turns. If we hurry, you may have a chance to save your slave girl!" He looked to Damion imploringly. "Allow me to redeem myself, Dragon Lord! I swear I will not lead you astray!"

"You had better not be lying to us!"
Veren snarled threateningly, testing the edge of his dagger with one thumb. "Or
I
swear I'll decorate this swamp with your entrails!"

"That won't be
necessary, Veren." Damion smiled at the one eared man. He turned and offered the bearded man his hand to help him to his feet. "What's your name?"

"Shirk
," The man grunted, taking Damion's offered hand. "and if you will take a bit of advice, we really should get moving if you hope to save that girl."

***********

The brood mother slowly strolled through the predawn shadows of the ruins, trying to ignore the dreadful feeling that threatened to overwhelm her. The dragon man had thwarted their every attempt to take the sword that controlled her enemies, and he was getting closer and closer with every second that passed. That thought alone made her shiver. She had seen what he was capable of first hand, and this would be her last chance to take the Dragon Sword into her possession.

She continued to wander, lost in thought, until she finally encountered Tar, who had sat patiently awaiting her orders. "What have you learned?"

"They are only a couple of miles from here, Mother." She reported from the shadows. "They should arrive here within the next couple of hours."

"Is everything prepared for their arrival?"

"Nearly the entire brood has arrived as ordered, Mother. There are only those few that are busy with other tasks that have yet to arrive."

"I need to be sure that everything goes exactly as I planned
!" She snarled, causing Tar to jump fearfully. "I have worked far too hard to fail when I am this close to having my revenge!"

"What if they give up looking for the slave girl?"

"They won't. The dragon man has grown attached to her, and will do anything to save her!" She smirked mockingly for a moment, then returned her attention to the matters at hand. "Make sure that the brood is prepared for what has to happen. I will
not
tolerate any mistakes from anyone! This
has
to go exactly as planned, or the entire brood could be at risk!"

"I will be sure that the others understand what they are to do, Mother."

"And what of the spawn?"

"They
have fled. They are no longer willing to face the dragon man any longer. He seems to take a particular delight in destroying every spawn he comes into contact with."

"It
matters not. They have served their purpose." She stared at the smaller serpent. "And what of you? Do you know what you are to do?"

"I know what I am to do, Mother. I will not fail you."

The brood mother gazed at her with unyielding black eyes. "I know, because if you fail, I will kill you myself."

Tar cringed
, and huddled farther back into the shadows.

"Go now and warn the others to be prepared. I wish to know the second he tries to enter the ruins!"

"As you wish, Mother." Tar quickly disappeared into the fading darkness.

She returned to her wanderings, absently cursing the sun that was less than an hour from appearing over the horizon. She would have had
preferred to put off the meeting until darkness had fallen once more, when she and her brood had the advantage of remaining virtually invisible, but she couldn't risk losing this opportunity over a few hours time. She
had
to act when the moment was right, whether it was day or night.

It could be a matter of hours before she could finally fulfill all of her plans, and take possession of the object that could insure
the enslavement, or destruction, of her enemies, but for some reason, she still could not shake the dreadful feeling of doom approaching.

She glanc
ed up into the predawn darkness and her eyes were instantly drawn to the constellation of the serpent god, who seemed to still be watching her every movement from the heavens above with an intense interest. It seemed that she could almost feel his displeasure in that gaze, and she stared back boldly, her resolve hardened by that displeasure. "I
will
have my revenge!" She roared in defiance, her voice echoing out into the fading night. "Even if it destroys me and my entire brood, I will have my revenge on those who cast me out of this world! I will make them suffer for what they have done, and nothing will stop me!"

She continued to stare up into the heavens until the sky was too bright to make out the constellation
any longer, then she slowly turned and disappeared back into the ruins to finish her preparations for the dragon man's arrival.

Chapter 16

The three dark forms dropped from the sky, breathing fire upon the panicked people of Sevria,
who began to push and shove their way through the crowd in an effort to flee the nightmares that had suddenly descended on their village.

"Stand your ground!" Sly roared to the castle soldiers
, who were preparing to desert their posts. "We still have those dragonspawn out there, in case you have forgotten!"

"We need to get the
se villagers to the castle!" Lady Skie cried, trying to make herself heard over the screams. "They can take refuge in the lower vaults!"

"Take
Dar and get them to safety then! We'll stay and do what we can here!" He watched as she and the childlike Alena disappeared into the crowd, then dove for cover as one of the shadow dragons swooped low overhead, belching flames at the men along the top of the wall.

Sly quickly scrambled back to his feet, then looked around for Damarius, who was at the closest machine, bellowing at the operator to take aim on the shadow dragons. "Where are the scarlet dragons Tempest promised would be watching over us?"