Aiden's Quest

by Dane Bagley

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  Though Agedon’s troops were less than half of what they were at the battle’s start, the armor had held strong and they had withstood the onslaught of wolves better than had Cardsten. The remaining men were the strength of Agedon. Though their king was down, the glue that held them together were their beliefs and the people of Agedon itself. These men fought with exceeding valor.

  This wave of wolves had run long and hard, they’d already fought with Cardsten, and they hadn’t familiarized themselves with armor. The men of Cardsten that had not fled joined themselves with Agedon and fought too, with their might. Slowly, the wolves were destroyed and a small battalion of men remained.

  Terrence looked over the men and the carnage. He had never imagined in his years of living on the edge of the dark forest that this magnitude of force was here. The great army of Agedon and the large portion of the army of Cardsten that was led by Aiden, had lost all but a small portion of their men in defeating the wolves, and Dromreign remained. What force would it take to defeat that foe? It wouldn’t take long to have that question confronted. A deafening screech filled the air. Terrance looked up and beheld his ultimate foe.

  A final pack of wolves became apparent. They were heading directly towards Terrence. This separated Terrence from his men as he had to turn his attention to, and attack, the wolves. The men, in complete shellshock, gathered together, swords and spears drawn looking at the sky.

  Terrence, filled with anger and annoyance, for he wanted to look upon his arch enemy, slaughtered the wolves with ease. They were no match for him. Ten wolves slaughtered, his mind hardly aware of the movements of his arms and his feet. He looked up and it was too late.

  Jack was standing firm with the men, and they began to throw their spears and swords at the beast. To a weapon, they all bounced off the armored black scales of the beast, Dromreign completely unaffected. The men gathered together in a cluster made the dragon’s work simple and efficient. Dromreign excelled his magnificent and horrific fire and the men were consumed in their armor. Terrence could feel the heat. The smell of burning flesh and of the forest full of carnage still could not eclipse the awful stench of the dragon.

  Terrence braced for the dragon to come upon him. He did not fear the beast and he felt ready to avenge all. But the beast did not turn to him. Instead, it began to make its way out of the forest and toward the land of Agedon.

  Terror entered into Terrence’s heart.

  Tira, he thought. His mind immediately caught hold of his last moments with her, as he looked upon her. She lay on the bed gorgeous and glorious, naked and vulnerable, completely at the mercy of Terrence’s protection. He would do anything to protect her!

  He mustered every last bit of strength he could find. Love, hatred, vengeance, and anger filled him. He hurled his sword with everything he had. It sailed true and struck the dragon in the breast. That sword made the improbable entry in-between two scales and struck within the dragon’s flesh. Dromreign let out a horrendous scream and doubled up in the air. Its flight was not long interrupted and the dragon recovered. It turned its red eyes upon the hurler of the sword and saw Terrence.

  Terrence stood weaponless and in short range. The dragon flew directly upon him and with every ounce of fury unleased such a powerful and furious fire that Terrence must have felt no pain as he was consumed.