Omensent: Wrath of a Dragon God (45 page)

"Ha!" The old wizard exclaimed in satisfaction. He looked to the others, who stared at him in astonishment. "What?" He asked in a confused voice.

"We just never knew you had it in you." Sly laughed, rushing forward to attack the closest Teirsian, who was weakly struggling to his feet.

Chaos erupted as the companions fell into the
patrol with a viciousness that the Teirsians had never encountered before. The twins fought side by side, each wielding a pair of short swords that whistled through the air, carving a path of destruction threw the startled soldiers. Raven rained down death from a distance, her hands a blur as she notched, drew, and released her arrows with deadly accuracy. Sly's sword danced about so quickly that it was nearly impossible to follow, leaving severed limbs and mortal wounds in his wake. Damarius sent several balls of fire streaking from the end of his staff, each finding its mark, leaving a number of Teirsian warriors dead with great smoking holes in their chests.

But it was Damion,
roaring with fury, who caused the most fear among the attackers. He spurred Storm forward into the mass of Teirsians, and crashed through the first half dozen without slowing, laying about with the flaming Dragon Sword with a animalistic ferocity that even startled his companions. The fabled blade sliced through armor, flesh, and bone with ease, and the dead quickly began to pile up.

Fully half of the Teirsians lay dead within the first minute as the companions
unleashed upon their attackers. Damion and Storm continued to rage about through the chaos, riding down those who didn't flee. The snap of bone was clearly audible as the massive warhorse slammed into victim after victim, sending them tumbling beneath its churning hooves.

Raven and Damarius continued to rain death down upon the Teirsians from afar
, while Sly and the twins danced and chopped their way through the confusion.

The last few surviving Teirsians finally threw down their arms in surrender, and Sly and the twins quickly gathered them together
and waited for the others to join them.

"
Is everyone okay?" Damion asked, slipping down from the vicious warhorse, and looking around at the carnage.

"I'm fine." Sly grunted, stumping over to join them, slightly out of breath from the battle.

The twins, who were covered in bright red blood, looked at one another for a moment, then smiled. "We're good."

"As are we
." Damarius declared, riding forward with Raven, who looked winded, but otherwise unharmed."

"Who sent you?" Damion asked one of the men, his voice still full of
suppressed rage.

"I-It was a h-highland
witch." The man stammered, his face completely void of color. "S-She and her khalkan approached us earlier this morning and proclaimed that the spirits demanded us to track you down and kill you. Sh-she declared our lives to be forfeit if we failed!"

"What should we do with them?" The twins asked in unison, their faces both grim.

"Strip them of their armor and weapons, then set them loose." The huge warrior grumbled after a long moment. He looked at the Teirsians with a look that promised death. "You men will not come after us again. If I ever lay eyes upon any of you..." He left the statement hanging, allowing their imagination to fill in the blanks.

"Y-You'll never lay eyes on us again, milord."
The Teirsian promised fervently. His face suddenly faltered. "M-May I ask which way you plan on taking?"

"Why?" Sly asked suspiciously.

"Because if you are planning on heading into the highlands after that witch, we're heading as far south as we can get!" He shook his head helplessly. "I don't want to be anywhere close by when you finally meet. I have the feeling it will be cataclysmic!"

************

Dar and Tempest were relaxing in the courtyard outside of the Serpent's Keep enjoying the cool autumn breeze as they watched the sun drop behind the mountains, a custom for them since Tempest had taken up her watch over the city, when they were alerted to the circling dragon by the screams of the townspeople.

The huge scarlet beast
suddenly tucked its wings and dropped from the sky, landing in the courtyard before them.

"Hail,
Tempest." The beast rumbled, its deep voice echoing through the city.

"Hail,
Quickwing." Tempest greeted the newcomer with a look of surprise. "I'm a little surprised by your visit."

"Our brother,
Scale, bid me visit you with news from the Dragon Lord."

"Damion?" Dar exclaimed excitedly. "You have news from Damion?"

"I do." The massive beast smiled down at the childlike Alena. "He is still on the trail of the highland witch who abducted his daughter."

"Highland witch?" Dar exclaimed in shock. "It was a highland witch who abducted Leia?"

"That is what they believe. Apparently, she abducted the child upon the commands of the elder spirits, and now flees toward the Teirsian highlands to turn the child over to the dragon god, Draco."

"Where is Damion and the others now?"

"They were far to the east, in the lands of the Alioon, when Scale last saw him."

"
The Teirsian highlands?" Dar asked, his tiny face growing concerned. "They are notoriously difficult to navigate. People have been known to spend years lost and wandering around the endless maze of granite formations, never finding what they seek."

"How was he and the others faring?" Tempest asked
curiously.

"I was told that they were safe
," Quickwing shrugged. "though I never saw them for myself. Scale told me that they suspect that the witch is heading for the highland temples to hand the child over to Draco. They believe the dragon god is planning to use the child to help create a new race of dragons."

"They must stop
them from reaching those temples!" Dar cried, horrified. "Little Leia will be lost if that witch reaches those temples!"

"Leia, and much, much more." A woman's voice agreed in a grave tone.

They turned to see a elderly woman standing a few feet away, staring back at them with bright eyes. She wore a long satin robe that had been trimmed in a rich silver fur, and her long white hair had been carefully arranged into a bun. Her face was a mass of wrinkles, making it nearly impossible to determine her origins.

"And who are you?" Dar asked in surprise.

"I have many different names, Dar of the Alena," The old woman smiled mysteriously. "Some know me as Gwyneth of the Gods, others know me as Myrrill the Messenger."

"Gwyneth of the Gods?" Dar exclaimed in surprised astonishment. "The woman chosen by the gods to deliver their words to the mortal world?"

"You remember the old stories." The old woman stated approvingly. "It has been quite some time since I last spoke with an Alena. I had wondered if I would still be remembered."

"Of course
," Dar watched the elderly woman with wide eyes. He could clearly feel the aura of energy radiating off her, proclaiming louder than words that she was far more than what she appeared to be. "We of the Alena still remember the old legends, though many of us have wondered if they were true."

"They are true
." She made a face. "Well, most of them, anyway."

"
'What did you mean by much more than Leia will be lost if the witch succeeds?" Tempest asked, her tone one of concern.

"If the dragon god somehow succeeds in his effort to
acquire the daughter of the Dragon Lord, and through her manages to create a new race of dragons, the world of men will certainly be destroyed."

"That doesn't sound promising." Dar murmured with a worried expression.

The old woman laughed. "Fear not, friend Dar. All is not lost, yet." She huddled deeper into her satin robe. "I'd forgotten how cold it get here in the mountains."

"Take our guest inside where it's warm." Tempest suggested to the childlike Alena
. "You can get me caught up later. Right now, I'm sure that Lady Skie and Shirk would be interested in hearing everything that we have learned here."

"That's kind of you." Gwynth nodded to Tempest in appreciation.

Tempest turned back to Quickwing, who looked rather eager to be off. "Was that all Scale wished you to pass on to us?"

"It was. The Dragon Lord promised to send word once they have succeeded in rescuing his daughter."

"Thank you for your help." The massive dragon told the other scarlet serpent in gratitude. "Your help has been invaluable."

"Just call on me if you ever have the need." Quickwing smiled, then with a single thrust of its enormous wings, the huge bea
st launched itself into the air and disappeared towards the east.

They watched as the scarlet dragon quickly disappeared from view, then Dar led the elderly old woman into the keep, and up to Damion's office, where Lady Skie and Shirk continued to toil
away, doing their best to keep the castle and city running efficiently.

"
It's about time!" Shirk complained, glancing up from the stack of parchment that he and Lady Skie had been examining. "Where have you been? This paperwork is beginning to get out of hand!"

"We just had a message arrive from Damion." The childlike sprite told them excitedly. He went on to tell them everything that the scarlet dragon
had told him and Tempest during its brief visit. "The last time Scale spoke with Damion, they were in Alioon, on the trail of the highland witch who abducted Leia."

"A highland witch?" Shirk's face drained of color. "I didn't think any of them still existed."

"Oh, they exist," The freckle faced boy assured him. "and the one who abducted Leia is currently fleeing towards the highlands to turn her over to the dragon god."

"Who's your friend?" The bearded thief asked, suddenly noticing
Gwynth, who went to stand closer the fireplace.

"I have the pleasure to introduce you to
Gwynth of the Gods, also known as Myrrill the Messenger." The childlike sprite had an almost reverent tone in his voice.

"Gwynth of the Gods?" Lady Skie asked, her eyes wide in shock and surprise. "
The messenger of the gods?"

"The very same." Dar looked to their visitor
. "Would you care to join us for dinner?"

The elderly woman smiled. "That would be lovely, thank you."