“If anyone is in this city by morning they are dead men” John screamed as he went over to the post Dennis was tied at, the old man was now on the ground since he was attached to the post the dragon ripped out. John cut his bonds and then did the same with Max, the Canary probably escaped but without her dragon she was probably not as scary.
“You took out the dragon” Dennis said looking over at the fallen beast.
“I am the Queen’s champion for a reason” John replied. “But I was scared to death fighting that thing, I am lucky he was a baby”.
“Where is the Canary?” Dennis asked.
“I don’t know” John admitted. “I do know everyone who sat and watched you get beaten are dead men. Corrupt or not, you were the law and they watched a foreign enemy almost kill you”.
“Where is Max?” Dennis asked looking around.
“I am here Dennis” Max said in a voice tinged with pain.
“Far as I am concerned you have suffered enough” John replied. “I need you both to relay what you have seen here to others. Go grab your things, tonight we ride for Jubilee to get my partner then on to Dyson. I suspect the dragon will be enough to convince the Queen to put every mage she has on the border. If you tell your story favorable to yourselves I will not contradict you, however you must tell about the Canary’s involvement and everything you know about dragons”.
CHAPTER 13
“I haven't seen one of these in a long time” Jonathan said looking over at the dead dragon. “Even now it has been too soon, that was nice work in taking it down”.
“It is just a juvenile” John replied.
“Don’t sell yourself short John the Relentless” Jonathan replied. “You are the Queen’s champion for a reason, the fact you took down a dragon is just making your legend grow. Maybe the Queen was right when she said you are not the son of Jonathan the Lightning but rather I am the father of John the Relentless”.
“I am still just John father” John replied.
“I can brag on my son if I want” Jonathan replied. “Besides I already knew what John Thunder was made of, you didn’t”.
“You are right about that” John replied. “What do you think the Queen is going to do about the Downey? Dennis Erwin gave a lot of good information”.
“Yeah but can he be trusted?” Jonathan asked. “Something about his story seemed fishy to me”.
“Oh he told some lies to make himself look better” John began. “But I trust the man and his word can be relied upon. The Knight Commander is recalling ten Knights and along with 60 city watchmen from all over the kingdom they are going to join me in wiping out and arresting many on the border. That kind of force should get instant reaction, the criminals won't know what hit them”.
“John not to change the subject but you know your mother and sister have been leaning on me about your relationship status” Jonathan replied. “Sara thinks you are just having a streak of good luck and wants to get you married off quickly, even the Crown Prince has asked about your status”.
“What does he care?” John asked.
“He cares because the Archmage has made a decree that all mages not of noble blood have to marry other mages unless special permission is given by our ruler or the next in command” Jonathan replied. “The law goes into further detail about the only exception is if a mage is not of noble blood wants to marry into a noble family. I think the whole thing is ridiculous but your mother and sister have both been applauding it. They are angry you have not tried to take advantage of the Nettleton girl despite the fact she has been showing a lot of interest in you”.
“Dawn Nettleton saved my life father” John began. “I admit I looked at her different on the trip here but if you tell either mother or Sara I won't be happy”.
“Well they know you are here somewhere” Jonathan replied. “The only reason I ran into you is because I was over here looking after that beast you call a horse. If I wasn’t taking care of him I would have never stopped to speak to David and never would have seen you fly in or heard the story from the people you brought in. Where is the Nettleton girl anyway?”.
“She wanted to be dropped off at the Tower” John began. “How long do you think it will take the Queen to listen to Dennis and Max?”
“I don’t know” Jonathan admitted. “But I do know they are going to want to see this dragon carcass up close. The only reason everyone hasn’t tried to look at it is because we are in the Knight area of the city and the Knights families aren’t fully moved in yet”.
“Well I can cross both of those bridges, the one with the Queen and mother when I come up on them” John replied. “How has things been going with the Golads?”
“Rusty Golad has decided to go to the front lines” Jonathan replied. “It was the only way he could even be considered for Archmage since working in the Tower with your mother wouldn’t have done anything for him. I think Sara is going to join him although she hasn’t said anything yet, she has been spending too much time away from Bissell palace for someone who is supposed to be apprenticed”.
“So Rusty wants to go fight a war” John smiled.
“Many people have been rubbing it in since you beat Gerald Morningstar” Jonathan replied. “All Rusty has heard is about how lucky he was that you didn’t seriously hurt him during your fight. The reputation he had went from the next big thing to something different. It has only been a few days but now he is becoming known more for fighting you and surviving, to a lout with a huge ego like Rusty he feels he has to prove himself now. Your sister has been trying to soothe him but he has been so angry that your sister talks to your mom about it. I of course fan the flames so she doesn’t mention his ego to me anymore. Other people though think you must have found some secret and want to know how to make barriers the way you do. Your mother has even been trying and wants the tower to teach classes on it in the future”.
“Well good luck to them” John laughed. “So the Crown Prince made it his business if I am seeing anyone”.
“I think Russell Golad knows where you stand when it comes to his niece” Jonathan replied. “If only because I told him so”.
“You told him so?” John asked.
“He told me I should be happy at least none of my grandchildren will be filthy commoners” Jonathan laughed. “I told him I doubt you would end up with the Nettleton girl and Tatterson’s niece had a better chance. He of course sent her to the far reaches of the kingdom with your mother’s help”.
“The far reaches?” John asked getting angry.
“Russell went to your mother and started asking questions about the Tatterson girl, like how was she doing on her studies” Jonathan began. “Russell told your mother he has a new post in relative safety in a rural area for three years that he thought a girl like Tatterson would enjoy. He told your mom that she wouldn’t be able to leave the posting for her entire stay including vacations. Your mother told him that Tatterson had not yet graduated, Russell said it was pity and let it drop that he would fill the position and make Tatterson your next partner. Your mother gave her a final exam which Tatterson barely passed and sent her off yesterday with the understanding that the Nettleton girl stays your partner. Your mother has been feeling so guilty about her part in this she confided in me. Russell though knows Sara being with his oaf of a son is insulting to me, you being with his niece will be just rubbing salt on the wound”.
“Well fuck him” John replied. “Dawn aint all bad though, as far as her morals they are in the right place even if her attitude isn’t”.
“Typical Nettleton” Jonathan replied.
“Dawn did tell me that she believes her mother still has a crush on you” John said and raised an eyebrow.
“Now you know where you get it from” Jonathan laughed. “The woman has a love hate relationship with me”.
“John Thunder” said a man riding up on a horse. “Her Majesty requests your presence and she uh..” the man said as he stared at the dead dragon.
“She wants me to bring this thing as well?” John asked pointing to the dragon.
“Yes Sir” the messenger replied never taking his eyes off of the body.
John nodded and used his magic to make a giant flat surface in which he took the dragon as well as himself and his father to Bissell. Men pointed as he landed on the grounds, the Queen and both of her sons were outside with the Knight Commander and the Archmage. John and his father both went to a knee as the Queen told him to stand up.
“You killed this thing?” the Queen asked.
“I did Your Majesty with my sword” John replied.
“The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, did it Jonathan?” the Queen asked.
“I am proud of my son Your Majesty” Jonathan replied.
“You make me proud John the Relentless” Prince Jordan said smiling. “Knight Commander Steele has given me your report, after reading it and hearing the story of those two men you brought, you have brought even more legitimacy to the Knights. I plan on having this thing stuffed and put on display, not even the Dragon Knights are exempt from the Queen’s justice”.
“It is just a little dragon brother” the Crown Prince replied.
“Is that why you can't keep your eyes off of it?” Prince Jordan asked. “I am sure our mages will bring down many more, for our sakes at least”.
“The Downey are sneaky” Knight Commander Steele said. “The informant you brought has made us aware of their techniques. They have huge barns which are constantly kept warm with many fires to house either individual dragons or many smaller dragons. This yellow one looks about twice the size of our warhorses, they can brave the weather better but their fire is no more than what a good mage can do. The big ones I hear can devastate an army”.
“That is true” Jonathan admitted. “Dragon fighting is hard, the only thing we had going for us is that dragons cannot stay in the war indefinitely. During the last war we just held them up, I killed a few which made them pause for a few days while they assessed our strength. Even then I was lucky, a lightning strike can't kill the really big ones, just stun them a little. It was a matter of timing, when they start diving to spew their fire I hit them right then, if timed right they smash into the ground. If the ground doesn’t kill them the soldiers on the ground will. If they can get off their fire though, Gods help us. I have seen a dragon overwhelm a mage’s shield quickly, I am just happy I have never taken a direct hit”.
“The Downey have more dragons than they have had previously” the Crown Prince replied. “I didn’t even know they let women become Dragon Knights, the fact that one was able to carry out criminal activities and not be missed says a lot about their strength. Archmage what are you going to do to bolster our army?”
“I am sending all available mages not involved with education or fighting elsewhere on the border to the front” Russell Golad replied. “The only ones spared will be the ones with the Knights, they need protection themselves. Even John the Relentless would have died if my niece was not there”.
“I totally agree Russell” Jonathan replied. “Mages are great healers and your niece is exceptional, I hear she almost drained herself and needed to be flown from the battle to Jubilee. Poor John had to go back and fight all those men alone including a dragon since the poor dear was busy recovering”.
“Gentlemen” the Queen said. “I know the Mages feel slighted by having Knights and the Knights think it is about time non magical people were held in such regard. But Downey is the enemy, not each other”.
“Sorry Your Majesty” Jonathan replied. “I should stop with these games, I can be a proud father without tearing others down. I do not envy you Russell, you have to prepare for a war and if it happens many people you send will die. Your own son has stated he wants to go to the border to prove himself, hopefully he will find what seeks there and return safely”.
“I know you don’t approve of the match” Russell replied.
“I am furious it ever happened” Jonathan admitted. “I furthermore never liked the way Rusty treated John, he continued our rivalry. It is because of him John hates Sara with all of his soul whether he wants to admit it or not. But my personal thoughts about social relationships has no bearing on whether I want to see your son home safe or not. My stomach was in knots when news of the barbarians spread throughout Dyson. I know yours must be the same. I was already packed and about to head to the border when I got news John survived”.
“That is about as cordial I have ever seen you be with the Arch Mage” the Crown Prince said entering the conversation.
“We are both fathers Your Highness” Jonathan replied. “It will be no glee in my family if anything permanent ever happens to Rusty. It is unlikely my daughter will take the news well and as far as the kingdom is concerned Rusty Golad has his sights set on being Archmage like his father before him. I may not like his son, but I respect that he was willing to put his life on the line to chase his dream. I stumbled into being Archmage and circumstances just lined up for me, same thing for being a named the Queen’s Champion. Rusty is not waiting for life to give him anything, he is pursuing it”.
“That is something we all can appreciate” John added.
“Well John I know you have not seen your mother” the Queen began. “And your partner is still recovering. I want you to visit them both and let all know the part your partner has played in your duties. You are a mage and a knight but before all of that you are my champion. You will help bridge the divide between mages and knights and assist your mother over the next few days on how she can help prepare young mages to partner with a knight. Right now the mages see the partnering as a chore and the Knights think they have been saddled with useless complaining weight. I am old but I hear things, I know you are not amused that Lady Dawn Nettleton has been made your partner. I am sure you know your mother and her parents are trying to make a match between you and that you are probably very resentful. I even heard you said you plan on marrying a non magical commoner which prompted my Archmage to issue his decree which I am sure your father has told you about. I am not asking you to marry the girl, I am telling you that while in public you will treat her with the respect you treat your fellow knights. People need to see that you both care for each other and the partnering can be positive. I plan on honoring her some small way just to get attitudes to change, who wouldn’t want to be praised by the Queen herself. Take your father and enjoy your time, mostly at the Tower”.
John kneeled then got up and departed. His father was looking at him oddly but then turned his head to marvel at being on a flying couch.
“I didn’t say anything the first time but this is quite nice” Jonathan said as he slapped down at the couch. “Fighting with this has to be a bit difficult since your constructions have no real weight to them”.
“If they did I would have killed that dragon easily” John replied. “I can make things sharp, that is about it for fighting or I can possibly squeeze someone”.
“How much can you carry?” Jonathan asked.
“I can carry a good amount of weight but I have never tried to max it out” John replied. “The more weight the more my aura drains”.
“Well here is the tower” Jonathan said with a sigh. “Back to fielding questions from your mother, she has been pushing for Nettleton like I told you. Her heart is in the right place, she just wants to see you rich and happy, unfortunately in that order”.
“I am the Queen’s champion, I already have money” John replied. “Not that I really need it, I am still a Knight. And I am young, why would I want to be with anyone permanently, I am a man”.
“Your mother knows that and thinks your celebrity will cause a bevy of beauties to chase after you” Jonathan replied. “She wants you to stay grounded and have no need to stray, she hopes being with a rich noble woman would provide that. Not to mention she is one of Sara’s best friends, your mother probably thought about the match long ago but thought it was out of the question. You just wait until she hears w
hat the Queen told you, you know I can't keep that a secret from her”.
The Knight Mage Page 14
