“Zelda, Yeva,” he shouted as the wind smacked his face. “This is as slow as it’ll be! Just… embrace it.”
He knew what he said sounded like mere platitudes, words that would not provide any actual advice.
But Eric did his best to listen to his own advice. He stopped looking down. He stopped worrying about his chances of falling off the dragon. He stopped wondering what would happen if the dragon took a sharp climb or descent.
Instead, he relaxed his muscles. He still kept a tight grip, but instead of burning his forearms and hamstrings out, he just kept them in place, ready to squeeze if necessary but not blowing them out over what amounted to a stable flight. He lifted his head up and straightened his back, the better to get a clear view of the sky.
And when he did so, he felt a level of awe that he could never have imagined. Abe. I wish you’d lived to see this.
I’m not a dragon hunter. I’m a dragon rider. We’re dragon riders.
The possibilities seemed endless. Instead of taking days or weeks to travel by foot or sea, he could mount Margol and fly to his destination within hours. Already, he could make out Mathos below. It would still take him several minutes, if not hours, of flying, but riding a dragon gave him that advantage. Not only could he travel quickly, he could have a watchful eye over the world. Had he had this skill before, he could have conducted reconnaissance that would’ve proved mighty useful against Artemia.
But, nevertheless, he appreciated having this now. He imagined it would become an absolute necessity against Ragnor.
“I think I’m getting the hang of it,” Zelda shouted.
Eric glanced over. Her arms didn’t look as tense, though her wide eyes and tight legs suggested she had not let go to the degree that Eric had. He smiled and gave a thumbs up to her. Zelda nodded back, unwilling to free up an arm.
“The more time we have on this, the better!” Eric shouted.
He looked to his left at Yeva.
Oh, poor Yeva. Where Zelda was a few minutes ago with tense arms and her head tucked into the dragon’s neck, Yeva remained. She had stopped screaming, though Eric suspected that had more to do with running out of voice than anything else. He tried to give her a thumbs up, and she just returned the favor with a rude gesture that brought a laugh to Eric.
They continued on these dragons for about another hour before they reached Mathos. Thinking they had found a good resting spot, Eric ordered Margol down, and the rest of the dragons followed suit. The descent left his stomach in his throat, and beside him, both girls screamed. Guess she didn’t lose her voice.
The actual landing, however, felt like nothing. Margol’s touchdown upon grass didn’t even feel like a bump.
They perched just outside the Dragon Hunter Guild’s headquarters, on the far side of town, the better to avoid suspicious eyes. Eric knew they couldn’t hide forever, but wasting any time answering questions from the locals would do them no good.
“Don’t ever make me fly again,” Yeva said as she clumsily dismounted Luca and came over to Eric.
She had at least spoken in a tone that suggested she knew she would have to.
“You’ll get used to it,” Eric said. “The trick is—”
“To have hunted dragons for six years and know them like I know magic, got it.”
Yeva had spoken the words seriously, but she punctuated it with a smile. Eric smiled back, and for a brief moment, he thought that it might lead to something more. He felt himself drawn to her magnetic smile, those yearning eyes…
“Hey!”
Zelda’s voice snapped Eric out of his gaze. He turned his attention back to the sky, where he saw Ragnor flying vertically once more. This time, having gotten much closer, Eric could see the sheer size of the beast, and it left him mortified. Well, Roland was right about one thing. We’d never decapitate that beast.
We may never do anything to that beast without these dragons.
In addition to Ragnor, however, about two dozen dragons flew up with him to the heavens.
“Why is it just staying in one place?” Yeva asked. “It’s not even moving from the southern lands.”
“Because,” Zelda said. Eric knew the answer before she even said it. Gathering soldiers. “It’s building up its army. Ragnor is going to make sure that when it attacks Caia, it leaves nothing unturned. It already has the southern lands.”
Eric wouldn’t dare say it around the two magi, but a small part of him wondered if death at the hands of the empire made for a quicker and less terrifying end than at the claws of Ragnor and his army of dragons. At least one wouldn’t feel like hell had swallowed up Hydor in the process.
“Ragnor is probably going to Caia next,” Eric said. “We have got to get as many people out of there as possible. Evacuate the city. Send them to Mathos.”
“And what happens if Ragnor attacks?”
Eric shrugged.
“We fight back. There’s not much more to say to it.”
“You make it sound so simple,” Yeva said.
Eric couldn’t quite tell if she’d meant that as a compliment or a complaint.
“We often have pretty simple tasks. But that sure isn’t synonymous with easy.”
He saw Ragnor bellowing, and though the sound wave would not reach him for some time, he didn’t need another cue.
“Come on, let’s go,” he said, already in the process of mounting Margol. “We waste any time, people die. Margol! Remain somewhat close to the water and veer to your left. We don’t need Ragnor starting his war with us this early. Stay hidden.”
“Me understand!”
I seriously will never get past that.
The dragons lifted off once more, but true to Eric’s word, they did not fly higher than perhaps two dozen feet. If they came within range of a boat on the way over, Eric suspected he might be able to drop off and catch the high end of the mast without suffering damage.
In theory, at least. Practically, he knew that would never work. Doesn’t mean I might not have to try it at some point.
As the dragons soared across the sea, Eric glanced down. At first, beneath the surface of the waves, he saw nothing but dark blue water.
It didn’t take long for that to end, though. He saw the thick, long arms of the beast that had nearly killed the six of them on their journey from Caia to Mathos. He saw monstrous fins pierce the surface, and he didn’t dare yearn to know what great beast bore those fins. He saw many other outlines of creatures that left him certain he would never, ever go back into the water again.
And then he remembered the only way to evacuate a mass amount of people would be by boat.
Guess we’re going to have to defend the seas once more. We can’t fit more than a few people on these dragons. And there’s more than a few people in Caia.
People are going to die today. That just feels like an inevitability.
He shuddered. A couple of times, something breached the surface, as if evaluating what had flown overhead, but nothing ever came close to even threatening Eric or the two magi.
“There!”
Eric saw it. Now less than a few minutes of flying away, the port of Caia came into view. Eric would’ve seen it earlier at a higher elevation. Now, though, he had his target in sights. Hope we get a better reception than last time.
“Margol!” he shouted. “You’re going to see something you don’t like. Within this city are the bones of an old dragon. I want you and the rest of the dragons to land there.”
“Me understand!”
When they flew over Caia, Eric looked at the citizens and soldiers below. The town had devolved into something of pure chaos. The streets had food spilled over, citizens everywhere, and even the guards had seemed to give up hope. They think the end of the world is at hand.
If we don’t win, they won’t be wrong.
Eric guided the dragons toward the courtyard. Margol had to make a sharp turn, which Eric had not properly braced for, sending him to a nerve-wracking angle. Eric felt sur
e that had Margol done this while flying south, he would’ve fallen off. Fortunately, the dragon landed less than a couple seconds later, making Eric’s awkward slide off much easier. He still landed on his shoulder, but it was a controlled fall instead of a thud.
Immediately, citizens and soldiers gathered around in awe at three dragons and three humans riding atop them landing in the middle of their city.
“Kill it!” a soldier cried, his voice of fear than authority.
“No, stop!” Eric shouted, quickly rising.
His voice, which had sounded less like a plea and more like an order, held the men with their swords down. When he saw that not a single weapon was raised, he finally relaxed his body. He stepped forward, projecting confidence, and looked at the crowd.
In that moment, he realized what this opportunity represented. It didn’t just give him a chance to rescue the city. It didn’t just give him a chance to lead.
He had found his purpose. He would lead the people. His status as a dragon rider, at this particular time in Hydor’s history, gave him the title of leader, both in thought and in action. Everyone looked to him with eyes that begged for leadership and a path forward. No one else could enforce or demand authority as he had it. And if they do… I have a dragon. And magi.
And he would give it to them. From now until the day he died, he would lead the citizens of Hydor to safety. That would give his soul the peace the revenge had never come close to. Just don’t abuse it.
“Listen!” Eric yelled. He cleared his throat. He would have a lot more speaking to do in the next few minutes. And days. And weeks. Hopefully more. “Surely, you have seen the rise of the massive, god-like dragon to the west. You felt the quaking beneath your feet. Perhaps you even heard its voice. Does this sound correct?”
Murmurs of agreement went around. Eric wondered how the citizens would react to Ragnor’s proclamations, but that question would have to wait for another day. History wouldn’t mean anything without handling the present.
“Ragnor, the dragon you saw, has not spoken lies to terrorize you. It intends to come to Caia as soon as it has an army that can destroy this city. At this very moment, we cannot stop the great dragon.”
A few cries went up. Eric held his hand up in the air, waiting for attention to come back to him. He could not speak with the charm and charisma that the emperor did, but perhaps that would work just as well. Instead of bombastic, empty speech, he could bring stoic, confident, grounded leadership and words to the people.
“However, we can evacuate this city and help some of you. Many of you will need to take ships to the north. Our dragons will protect you from the dangers of the sea. Some of you may choose not to cross, and we cannot stop you. But if you stay here, you will almost certainly die. This city will not remain standing by the end of the night.”
More cries went up.
“Listen! Listen! What you are about to hear will go against many of your beliefs, but at this moment, you have no choice if you want to live.”
He glanced briefly at Yeva and Zelda. Both of them nodded to continue. Just don’t call them out.
“Behind me are two magi. The dragons you see with us come because of the magi’s power. These magi summoned these dragons and we flew here from an area so far north, humanity does not have maps of it. Perhaps you remember the monsters of Artemia from a week or so ago. We followed those monsters up and defeated them and her. But in the process, the legendary dragon Bahamut fell, and here we are.”
He cleared his throat again. The cries had mostly stopped.
“I know that I am just a boy. But I have seen things in this war that no elder in this town would ever imagine. What I know is that we must leave this town, now. If, after, you find someone more befitting of leadership status, put them in power. But today, you must follow my lead. We must evacuate Caia immediately.”
“Enough!”
Eric had only heard that voice in recent times, but he recognized it all too clearly.
“Eric Garland, traitor to the empire,” General Arthur said as the mass of soldiers around him cleared an opening for him. “In cohorts with the enemy. How polite of you to return for your punishment.”
“This isn’t the time, Arthur!” Eric warned, his eyes shifting with regular frequency to the sky.
“Isn’t the time?” Arthur said mockingly. “People of Caia, let me tell you what it is time for. It is time for traitors to die! This boy and these girls have awakened every monster that threatens our existence. Do you know what happens if we kill them? We eliminate any future threats! I say it is no coincidence that since they arrived, our world has suffered.”
He unsheathed a sword and pointed it at Eric.
“If you wish to follow the orders of a boy not even old enough to have a woman, what does that say about you, Caia? Listen to the man who has taken over for the emperor. What do they know? Don’t—”
But then the general disappeared in a breath of fire, so quickly that Eric jumped. He looked behind him and saw smoke coming from Emera’s nostrils.
“I won’t make the same mistake twice,” Zelda said, anger on her face.
Now that’s more like it.
Eric turned back to the crowd. All had gone silent. None seemed perturbed by what happened. In fact, a few soldiers looked visibly relieved. He thought to address it, but decided doing so would waste time. He had to save the people, not dwell on false leaders.
Here came the moment of truth.
“I know I am just a boy in age. But I have fought against enemies that go beyond humanity. I have witnessed death and come back. I have grown faster than any boy ever should, but it gives me the courage to ask this of all of you. Will you follow me?”
At first, no one said a word, perhaps hesitant to be the first to speak after Emera’s actions.
But then a younger woman, perhaps what Kara had looked like a couple of months ago, shouted that she would.
A few more voices followed that. Then many more. Then several more. Then, seemingly, all of them. Rich, poor. Soldiers, citizens. Children, adults. Maybe even magi and humans. Eric smiled and raised his hand for silence.
“Head for the docks, now. Soldiers of the empire, organize the evacuation to the proper boats. We will provide security for you as you cross with these dragons. Go!”
Quickly, the crowd dispersed, making their way for the docks. Despite the chaos of the situation, the crowd moved with much more control and regulation than Eric had expected. The guards held order not with threats but with gentle but authoritative warnings and advice. Perhaps we may yet save humanity.
Eric turned to the two young magi when no one would hear him.
“Can we grab anything before we go?” Yeva asked. “Garo’s journals are within.”
It seemed like an idea that wouldn’t take long. But Eric shook his head.
“We have no idea when Ragnor will strike. It could happen right now, it could happen tomorrow. If we ever get caught in a position where we cannot help within seconds, then we will doom all of humanity. We have to hope that something remains of this city.”
“But his books and his teachings are inside,” Yeva pleaded. “If we don’t bother to get them, we’ll lose all the knowledge he ever accumulated. More than what any other magi has ever acquired.”
Again, Eric shook his head.
“What happens if Ragnor comes while you’re in the library? Then what? You run to Luca, but Luca can’t save you in time and you both die. And then Ragnor destroys the library and what’s inside anyways. I’m sorry, Yeva. I know you’ll hate me for it, but I can’t let you do that.”
Yeva looked to the library as if considering willful disobedience. She then looked to Zelda as if she would have the answers, but Eric had to stay firm on this one. One of them could always gather the knowledge somehow through their own experiences and thoughts. But they had to live to to do that.
“Let me ask you then, Eric,” Yeva said. “What does happen if Ragnor comes?”
&n
bsp; “We fight,” he said with a shrug.
“I know that, but you know that’s not the question I’m asking. I want to know what we will do, how we will do it, if Ragnor comes.”
“We use the dragons,” Eric responded, but as he spoke, he understood that wouldn’t suffice. Three dragons and two magi, even as powerful as Yeva was and nearly all-powerful as Zelda was, could not both hold off Ragnor and protect the citizens from the monsters of the sea. They needed too many resources and had too few at their disposal to pull that off.
Yeva, it seemed, could sense Eric’s trepidation and waited for him to figure it out.
“But I know we can’t do it all,” Eric said, shrugging. “Our first priority, then, will be to protect the ships. The monsters in the seas are going to want to take down as much as they can, and we need to stop them. Zelda.”
He turned with the intent of just asking if she could provide monsters to protect the vessels across the dangerous territory. But a new idea came.
“Can you summon an army of dragons to fight Ragnor? And also one to guard the evacuees?”
She grimaced, wanting to give an affirming answer but not being able to. Eric knew a situation like this would never have an optimal solution, but even a partial one would work.
“If I had enough time, sure. I can start to summon dragons. I just don’t know how effective they’ll be.”
She paused, her eyes going wide.
“The essence of Bahamut,” she gasped. “I never grabbed it! Seeing Ragnor, it just… oh, Chrystos.”
No one did. It’s still waiting for us. Or for Ragnor, if it would take it.
“It might as well be the essence of Chrystos,” Zelda continued. “Nothing would be more powerful in this world, not even the essence of the true Ragnor.”
She gazed north, then back to Eric. He knew what she wanted to ask. He knew, if he wanted any chance of defeating Ragnor, he had to acquiesce to her wishes, even if in the short term it put them in a hideously bloody bind.
“You want to return there.”
“I do,” Zelda said. “I can make it in a few hours. I would teleport if I had the strength to go that far, but a dragon will get me there faster without me needing to rest. If I have that crystal, maybe I can make an army faster—”
Legends of the War (War of the Magi Book 3) Page 29
