Dragons and Mages: A Limited Edition Anthology

by Pauline Creeden

  “What do you know of Orsar? I want you to tell me everything we need to know. What is his weakness?” Ash fired at his friend, hoping Blaze knew Orsar’s Achilles heel. They needed something to use to their advantage.

  “I am not sure of any of his weaknesses, Ash. This dragon has never been beaten in a fight. We have to be careful. If we anger him too much then this whole village will be in flames, whether you wanted it to be or not. We have to try and lure him away from here. And then if you still insist on taking him down…well, then no innocent will get caught up in the cross-fire. Literally,” Blaze explained.

  Ash sighed deeply pondering all that Blaze had said. A loud smash and a scream of terror made them both jump, pulling them back to reality. Ash made for the door, Blaze stopping him before he could open it.

  “Human form, and we stay that way until we are certain we can shift safely with little harm coming to anyone,” Blaze muttered, the look in his eyes telling Ash this wasn’t up for discussion.

  Ash wondered when the tables had turned enough that Blaze gave the orders. But then, as Blaze had pointed out, away from Ustrina, Ash was not his future king. He was just his friend who had brought him on a suicide mission.

  “Fine. Human form. Now move Blaze, before we are all burnt to embers.” Ash snapped, pushing past him ready to step into whatever fight was about to greet them.

  Chapter 13

  The sight that greeted Ash and Blaze when they made it down the stairs was one Ash hoped he would never see again. There was the distinct smell of burning flesh where bodies of the other punters lay burnt to a crisp. The tavern owners were huddled in the far corner of the bar, their lips moving in a silent prayer to their mortal Gods to no doubt spare them. Although Orsar was stood in human form, towering over these poor people, it was clear that he had broken the rule sworn by all dragons. Never to show your true form to the mortals.

  “You can stop torturing these poor people now. I am who you seek,” Ash spoke up, causing Orsar to shift his attention onto him. Ash took a moment to let his eyes sweep over him, wondering if the beast inside was more impressive in dragon form.

  “You? You are the Prince of Ustrina. The famed white dragon?” Orsar mocked.

  His word fuelled the anger already burning within Ash. He couldn’t believe that this creature dared mock him. To mock his prince. Clearly he had no respect for the royal family of his kingdom.

  “Yes, I am Ashran. The prince of Ustrina. I am the white dragon, and you will do well to remember that. Now, I will ask only once that you return to Ustrina and leave these people in peace. They are innocent in whatever mission my father has sent you on. It is me you want. Not them,” Ash told him, grateful to Blaze standing just behind him.

  His presence keeping a steady calm over his mind. He just hoped that they would be able to force Orsar away from the village. Ash had no intention of letting this idiot return to his father. He couldn’t let his father know where he was. The king would have spies on him in no time should word get back to him. The hybrids would once more be at risk and he would never forgive himself if that were to happen again.

  “You think you scare me white dragon? And you think that I care what your father thinks. The only reason I agreed to come and hunt you down is because the reward I will get is worth it. if I have to kill every living being in this pathetic village to get you to come with me, then I will. I have no problem in doing so. Unfortunately, I cannot kill you. For some reason your father wants you back alive,” Orsar replied casually.

  Ash could feel his dragon thrash around in its cage. It was taking a lot of energy to stop the beast from taking control. Ash knew he couldn’t give into the white dragon that made up his soul. Couldn’t break the vow that he had sworn when he was just a youngster. He could not put the mortals at risk.

  “And if I come quietly you will let these people live?” Ash questioned, willing his voice to stay steady despite the rage flowing within.

  “If you come quietly little prince, on the word of the king no one else will be harmed this night.”

  Ash narrowed his eyes at these words. He felt his blood chill a little if that was even possible with the fire that ran so freely within his veins.

  “What do you mean no more will lose their lives? I see the ones you have taken here already you tell me there are more?” Ash hissed.

  Orsar simply shrugged in response, but the deadly smirk on the dragon’s face told Ash all he needed to know. How many innocent people this monster had killed he was sure he would never find out. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know if he was completely honest. Yet, he dared to ask.

  “How many?” Ash demanded.

  “Enough,” came the reply.

  “Ash don’t do this. Keep control,” Blaze hissed from behind him. His voice offering just a little comfort and helping him if just a little with his control.

  “Then let us leave. Right now. I promise I will go quietly back to Ustrina with you,” Ash spoke, stepping towards the door, praying the other dragon would follow him.

  “You see that is all well and good. But I do feel these people have seen far too much now, and you know that we are sworn to not show any of the dragon in us to the mortals unless it is needed,” Orsar stated, making no effort to move from his place still towering over the tavern owners. Ash felt a trickle of panic flood through him, pushing it aside he allowed his anger to take control.

  “You forced it upon them to see the beast that you are. But you have no right to take their lives, Orsar. I agreed to come with you quietly so that you will let these good people live…” Ash was stopped as a burst of flame flooded the tavern.

  The blood curdling scream of the dying rang loudly in his ears, the disgusting smell of burning flesh flooded his nostrils as Orsar incinerated the last remaining humans in their presence.

  As the blaze swept through the tavern, three dragons rose up from the inferno. A red, a deep green and a white. The beat of large heavy wings fanned the fire and through violet eyes Ash watched in anger as the flames took hold of the village. His ears ringing with the sound of its people screaming as death took them.

  Ash knew if he flew, Orsar would follow, and so he turned and lead them the opposite direction he and Blaze had been travelling. He knew that Blaze would not be happy, he would deal with his friend’s wrath once all this was over. He couldn’t risk any chance of his father finding out in which direction he had been heading.

  Ash dipped and dived through endless trees. Dodging the flames thrown at him from Orsar and Blaze’s own as his friend tried to deter the green dragon. A clearing at the bottom of a lone mountain brought the perfect drop for this battle that Ash knew he had to win. The only advantage he had was the fact he had Blaze at his side. It was two against one, yet Ash wasn’t so sure that bothered Orsar much.

  Letting out a blood curdling cry, Ash swooped down landing lightly on the blanket of green. The blazing city could be seen in the distance and the scent of death still lingered all around him. As Orsar landed in front of him Ash found himself taking in the beast before him. He was bigger than Ash by a large amount, his scales looking more black then green. The light of the moon only allowing the shimmer of emerald to shine through. Violet eyes held nothing but ice in them. This creature had no humanity. He was a killing machine, that was his purpose on this land.

  Ash wondered how he had never heard of this dragon before. How much had he been protected from by being hidden behind the castle walls? The thought alone made him resent his father even more, and he decided then that he would have Blaze tell him all there was to know about the streets beyond the wall. That was, of course, if they survived this fight that they now found themselves in. Ash felt another land by his side, and saw the magnificent from of the red dragon bare his teeth at their enemy.

  “I have your back friend. We can take this beast down but it will not be easy. Do not think that we have the advantage because there is two of us. I have seen him take out men double our size and not one at a
time,” Blaze spoke into Ash’s mind.

  Ash forced down the sliver of fear that dared to rear its ugly head. Blaze’s words didn’t exactly fill him with confidence, but he was damned if he was going to let Orsar smell their fear. Ash snarled as he began to circle the beast, the two of them sizing each other up like the hunter would his prey.

  “If I can get him into the skies Blaze I will need you to come up from below and strike him where all dragons are weak. The flesh by his heart. You will only have on shot and one chance,” Ash told his friend, his eyes never leaving Orsar.

  He didn’t have time to wait for Blaze’s reply as a burst of heat landed on his wing causing a cry of rage to fill the night sky and his own blue flame flew from his mouth, the cry of pain satisfying as Orsar felt Ash’s anger.

  Avoiding another hit Ash took to the heavens once more, praying that Blaze would do as he asked and keep below. Blaze needed to pick his timing right or Ash would die.

  The clearing and the mountain were alive with the dance of flames as two dragons fought. Ash could feel himself tiring. They had not eaten well on their travels nor had they had the chance to rest so much. Neither of the younger dragons were at their full strength and it was this that concerned Ash. He knew that Orsar knew this, he would have sensed their exhaustion as soon as they had entered the tavern. If Ash was honest he didn’t know how much longer he could keep this fight up. The harsh reality of his lack of strength came with a blow from one of Orsar’s deadly talons. Ash felt it slice through his left wing, tearing at the white flesh as it did so. His wing went limp, he couldn’t make it work, couldn’t make it support him. It was now or never for Blaze to take down the dark dragon. To rid these lands of him once and for all.

  With the last ounce of strength he had left, Ash took himself high into the sky before turning and diving down towards the ground. He could hear Orsar following him, the fool had clearly forgotten about the other dragon or he was too fixated on Ash to care. He had sworn to his king that he would bring Ash back alive, and clearly that was all that mattered to Orsar.

  “Now Blaze!” Ash cried out through their mental bond, and as he felt himself crash to the floor he saw a flash of red swoop up from below, talons extended as colours of red and green collided in the sky. The was a cry of death. The sound of exposed flesh ripping open, and the unmistakable smell of blood. But Ash saw no more, his own blood was still pouring from the wound on his wing, his body exhausted from the flight and fight. The last he remembered was the feel of the ground vibrating as a body crashed down inches from him. And as darkness took him he just prayed that the body was Orsar and that Blaze had won.

  Chapter 14

  Ember wasn’t sure what it was that pulled her from her sleep. The sound of a scream from so far away, the smell of burning flesh, or the forbidding sense of death. Whatever reason it was, it had her sat bolt upright in the thick of the cold night. It took her a few moments for her to gather her senses and realise that there was no screaming, there was no burning flesh and there was no death. That once more her mind had played tricks on her in her sleep.

  Shivering slightly, she glanced at the fire realising it no longer burned. With a simple flick of her finger the flames danced again. Yet Ember couldn’t shake of the cold feeling of dread that seemed to have settled on her.

  “You know I am going to start staying with Jaxe if you are going to make a habit of waking me up every night.” Obe muttered sleepily as he turned to face her.

  Ember sighed deeply allowing him to pull her down next to him once more, wrapping their furs around them to keep out the chill of the night.

  “I am sorry.” Was all she could managed. What else was she meant to say? She truly was sorry that Obe was the one that had to lose out on sleep just because her mind would not let her rest. She wouldn’t blame him if he kept true to his threat and did in fact go and stay with the demon.

  “You know I am joking right? That I never would leave you to suffer your nightmares alone, Ember.” Obe’s voice broke through her thoughts, his hand gently running up and down her bare skin, the feeling alone enough to soothe her.

  “I wouldn’t blame you if you did, Obe. It isn’t fair for you to have to lose out on sleep,” Ember replied, moulding herself to his body. The only body that she fitted so perfectly against.

  She felt his lips tease the bare flesh off her neck, his breath sending a shiver of lust down her spine. She often found herself wondering how the hell she managed to keep her desires under control, and praised herself mentally for being able to do so. She was getting good at keeping a safe enough distance from Obe when his alluring eyes weaved their way under her clothing, knowing he was mentally undressing her and being sure not to encourage him when they were around the others, or anyone for that matter.

  “I have no problem losing out on sleep, if, of course, it is worth my time to not sleep my little firecracker,” Obe muttered as his continued to torment her naked body with his lips.

  Sighing deeply, Ember pushed Obe off her. Leaving the bed, grabbing hold of the furs that were slung across the back of the lone chair in their bedroom, wrapping them around her as she made her way through the doorway into the small living area. Dropping down in front of the fire and allowing its warmth to welcome her comfort her cold body. She couldn’t understand why she could not shake the feeling of death from her soul. It wasn’t Morgan that was in danger, she would have known instantly if it had been him that had cried out in pain. Jaxe was safe also, no doubt getting to know that newest female that had entered their pack recently.

  “So, who is it then?” Obe’s voice made her jump, causing her to look up at him in confusion.

  “Who is what?” Ember questioned, before realisation dawned on her. Glaring at Obe as she added. “You know how I feel about you diving into my thoughts, Obe. Especially without asking permission first.”

  Obe simply shrugged in response as he sunk down next to her, wrapped in his own thick furs. He didn’t speak, and Ember knew that he was waiting for her to answer his question. She was also aware that if she didn’t do it soon enough then he would no doubt delve into her mind once more.

  “I don’t know, Obe. I have no idea who it was that cried out to me. Who reached into my dreams. I am not sure if they are even real or if it was just a nightmare. All I know is that I smelt burning flesh, and I can’t shake the feeling of death. I don’t think the soul that sought me out is dead, but I fear they are dying or badly injured,” Ember told him truthfully. She wondered if she closed her eyes again she would be able to connect with this soul, try and find out where it was they were so she could help them.

  “We are not leaving at this time of night Ember.”

  “Will you stop digging into my mind, Obe.” Ember snapped, fixing her attention once more on her love. She was getting fed up of the three males tapping into her emotions and thoughts whenever they fancied it, and using the excuse that it was to protect her to justify their actions.

  “Then you need to stop blocking us out and thinking of insane ways to get yourself killed.” Obe hit back.

  “We cannot hide here forever. We shouldn’t have to hide here forever.”

  “No one is saying that, Ember. I never even suggested it. But you have no idea where this soul is, or even if it is real. We cannot just up and leave in the dead of the night with no idea where we are going or what we might find. What if it is some dark magic tapping into your deepest thoughts, hoping to lead you straight to your death. We cannot risk that, not with Morgan gone. Wait till he returns, he will be able to tell you what these dreams mean,” Obe replied, his voicing softening as he spoke.

  Ember felt her anger fade as she fell heavily against him. She was getting so tired of sleepless nights and not knowing why her mind was plagued with such dark thoughts. Was Obe right? Was this a dark magic? Had the forgotten been found? If someone had found their hiding place then the danger was more real than it ever had been and Ember wasn’t so sure that they were ready for it.
/>   Chapter 15

  After two days and three nights of travel, Morgan finally allowed his Pegasus to rest. He landed smoothly in a large clearing that was just outside the boundary of Doterrian, and folding ebony wings before shifting back into elf form. A slight wave of a hand and his naked body was clothed in his usual dark attires, his ‘elf steal’ sword sheathed and hidden underneath the black velvet cloak fastened at his neck. He was almost certain no harm would come to him, but having lived as an outcast for so long, one could never be too sure.

  He let his hand brush lightly over the hilt of the weapon that had been gifted to him by Ember. She had four of the beautiful swords made. One for herself, the hilt of hers that of the fire bird she was. Obe’s had the hilt of a hound, Jaxe, the head of a serpent sat as his top, and Morgan’s had the head of a horse. The four of them were bound by the power of their own swords.

  Morgan often wondered how Ember had got the elves to agree to make such fine swords, let alone weave their magic through the metal. He felt the familiar tingle of power graze his fingertips as they brushed the ivory of the hilt. The feeling sent a surge of adrenaline through him, spurring him forward into the entrance of the forest.

  Morgan had never been to the land of his mother, but he’d heard of its beauty daring not to believe it. Yet as his eyes took in his new surroundings, he realised that all that was spoken of Doterrian was true and so much more. The towering trees had what looked like silver bark, their leaves caught the rays of sun making them seem like they were coated in pure gold. The air shimmered with the glow of magic. Even the animals as they passed him seemed to have their own gleam of magic to them. Morgan felt the power of his mother’s people flow through him with each step he took. His body felt more alive than it ever had, and he found himself wishing that he had visited long before now. There was still a nagging feeling inside that warned him not to be so comfortable. This was an unknown land to him, and although the elves had never shown any hostility towards him or the other hybrids, he still didn’t know them well enough to trust them. He couldn’t allow himself to get so caught up in the mythical land. He was here for a reason and that was to see if he could find the help he needed to understand Ember’s dreams.