“Yes, but Doc is good at fixing them. It will be good as new.”
Ben came over to shake Owen’s hand. “I am proud of you son. You gave all for your team, and you took that fall like the man you have become. I hope you do not feel guilt about the two who died. They sealed their own fate, with no help from you or anyone else.”
“Two men are dead and one horse. No, I am sad, father. They were both out to hurt or kill me in order to win, so I do have a part in their deaths. As for feeling guilt, no I do not, just sadness. This game is not worth it to me if it brings such avarice that men die while playing it, because of pride. There is something I must tell you all when we get home. It is important.”
“Why not tell me now, then?”
“This is for Hodgen ears only, father.”
Heath cornered Owen away from the others. “What gives Owen? Are you becoming a wizard too? And what is this about a dark lord who is hunting you?”
“Hush, Heath. Others will hear. You don’t want that and neither do I. There are things in this world it is better for you not to know about, but this thing will out before long anyway. I was born a Wizard, yet hid my power all this time. I do not use it in public, period. As such I am a threat to Belaros. He is a Demon Prince, the Demon Prince, and he is among us. Don’t make that face, or I will give you images of his minions Prince Jason has met in battle that will haunt your dreams! I will be leaving Fable’s Arch, and soon, so that I am not hunted here to cause this town grief. I pray it is not so, yet I am afraid all men will soon enter a life and death struggle against Belaros and his plans to enslave us. You must prepare. Take the five Guardsmen tonight. They are Elite and the best fighters the King has. Please!”
Heath was silent for a moment, considering. “I will take them and provide food and shelter for them, Owen. But if this Belaros wants another sworn enemy, he will attack my family.”
Owen was tired. He suffered through many more congratulations, hugs and handshakes before Ben gathered the Hodgens to go. Ben, Angie, Tom and Suzy rode in the carriage. Three guardsmen rode in front and two behind. Toms horse trotted behind, tied to the carriage.
“My name is Ender, Owen”, one said as Owen rode up beside the front guard.
“Oh, yes. Justin mentioned you, or he showed you to me in his memories of that battle near Windhaven. He thinks your name is very appropriate.”
“It is not my birth name, but never mind that. I was there all right. So was Rolph, who is with your friend Heath. Prince Justin assigned us, with Kirkland’s permission. The men we face now are worse than Orcs, however. These can think.”
“Albrite told me they are soulless and some are vampires, the beastly kind that thirst for blood.”
“Are there other kinds?
“Yes, from what I have been told. Pure blood vampires do not drink blood to survive.”
“Never heard that before”, said another guard.
“Owen, this is Karl, and that is Purdy on the other side, Blake in the rear to the left, and Akron on the right.”
Purdy nodded. He was a huge man with an axe to match, in brackets over his shoulder.
“Well, Karl, did you even believe there were really vampires?” asked Purdy.
“No, not really. But then I didn’t believe in Orcs either until I saw a field full of dead ones, or had to heave their stinking, heavy corpses into the fire. That Black Serpent Dragon was a surprise too. I thought Dragons were on our side, except now I know there are those that are not.”
“The black serpents are called dragons but they are not. They are Wyrms”, said Owen.
“You are pretty knowledgeable about these things for a young sprout”, laughed Purdy.
“The Wizard Baird is my teacher”.
“Oh. That explains everything”, said Ender, laughing. “Look out Purdy. He might change you into a big, bug ugly lout. Ooops. Guess it’s too late, what a cruel young Wizard.”
They all laughed, even Purdy.
When they got to the farm, Tom took care of his own horse and the carriage team, leaving Owen only Gander to take care of. He had put his saddle on the last adjustment so it would not bind Gander’s increased, yet invisible girth. “There is a way to change his shape in reality”, thought Owen. “It’s a high magic spell though, and I don’t want to attempt it right now. Maybe in Dragon form I can do it. Baird has a familiar that obeys that principal.”
“Well, boy. I hope you can still eat hay because giving you one of the hogs would get rather messy in there.” Gander snickered at him, and started eating the hay. “OK then, we’ll see if we can get you something better tomorrow.”
Ben had offered the hired hands bunkroom to the Guardsmen, but they had declined. They said they would bunk in the barn and patrol the grounds all night. Tom had put their horses in the spare stalls for them. The barn had room for ten hired hand horses, so now there were stalls to spare.
Ender strolled over to where Owen was watching Gander. “Hey Owen, I wanted to speak with you alone. Is that ok?”
“Of course, Ender. I have a feeling you are wanting some answers, no?”
“Well, I was there to see Justin as a Dragon, and the girl too, Denice. They killed most of the Orcs between the two of them. Justin killed the Wyrm. I was just wondering if, well, aren’t you one too? The way Justin speaks of you and all. He never said as much, though, don’t get me wrong.”
Owen smiled. “Justin trusts you and Rolph, and if he does then so do I. Yes, I am a Dragon too, a bit different than Justin. I am a Vampire Dragon. Does that frighten you, Ender?”
“One of those pure bloods you were talking about, I hope”, said Ender nervously.
“Uh Huh. I don’t drink blood as a rule. Never have even, but I suppose I could kill an enemy that way and use blood magic to take his life energy. Be assured, Ender. I am a creature of light, not darkness. I would never jeopardize my soul by drinking an innocent’s blood, never.”
“But you are only a boy, Owen, Dragon or not, Justin too. You have not seen what I have seen, or killed as I have killed. I hope you can keep your spirit clean, my friend.”
“Friend? Yes, Ender, I am your friend, and friend to any who stand by the Maker against darkness.”
“Well I need to speak with Father and the rest now, Ender. Take care tonight and keep a wakeful watch. I don’t want people killed because they were sleeping.”
“Don’t worry, Owen. We will give our lives if need be, and our watch shall be tight.”
“Then take care, friend. I will see you at first light. Oh, Ender. Gander here is not what he seems. I bled on him when we got smashed, and he changed. What you see is an illusion. Do you want to see him as he really is?”
“I don’t think so. He’s not dangerous is he?”
“Not to you, but I think he would be a great help if we are attacked”, said Owen as he left the barn. He waived at the other guardsmen who were storing their gear at the end of the barn closes to the house.
He found Ben, Tom, Angie and Suzy waiting for him in the living room. “I think you have something to tell us”, said Ben. “Yes, why the Guardsmen?” asked Angie.
“OK, here goes.” He fought tears, and almost won. “I must leave you in two days.”
“What, why?” “You don’t have to.” They had all spoken at once, and Owen held up his hand until they were quiet.
“You know how I came to you, and I have since learned why. It was for my protection that I was hidden, and you took me in. I love you all so much; it hurts to speak of this, yet I must. Maker give me strength to tell you the truth, and I pray you do not shun me when you learn it.”
“We would never”, said Tom. The rest nodded and agreed.
“I am His tool. His right hand, put here to battle the darkness that comes. That is why I am hunted, and the hunt came to Fable’s Arch this day.” He could not bear to show his real form to them. Not yet.
“You mean those dark riders, Owen?” asked Tom.
“I saw them as well”, said
Ben. “Evil looking men they were.”
“That is why the Elite Guard is here tonight, the King’s personal guard. The Royal family is hold up over at Pug’s place with an entire company of Guardsmen. More Elite Guardsmen are with Heath, because the dark riders might mistakenly go after him. The King intends to hunt down these men tomorrow.”
“Then why must you leave?” asked Tom.
“Because the hunt will not end until I am found or I am killed, even if Kirkland can get rid of this set of hunters. Everyone around me is now in mortal danger. This is real, Tom, as real as it gets. The one who hunts me is the Prince of Darkness himself, Satan’s son Belaros. Belaros has left Hell, and is in our plane. He intends to enslave all peoples of Cotera like he has those men you saw tonight. There are thirteen others like me sent here to help stop him.”
Suzy gasped, but the others were incredulous, not believing him.
“I am tired, and my arm hurts, so I think I will retire. Consider what I have said, for it is the truth. Sleep with your sword this night, Tom. You too, father. Mom, you and Suzy should stay in the center room tonight. If you hear fighting, bar the door.”
With that, Owen went through the halls to his room and closed the door. He really was tired, and his arm really hurt. He made a decision, and began a singsong incantation. First he sealed the room, and then he bit down on a leather glove as he uttered the spell. Sparkles ran down his left forearm into the splint. The broken bones in his arm sealed together, the bruising and lacerations vanished, and the tendons knitted together around the bone. Owen broke out in sweat and groaned, nearly passing out. Then he remembered that he had not eaten anything.
He was very hungry now, so he unsealed the door and went into the Kitchen where Tom was munching on a pair of cold fried chicken legs and a wing. “There is a breast in there, if you want it.”
“Perfect”. It was a nice big chicken breast, just what Owen needed.
“So you aren’t kidding about this Belaros, are you?”
“No, Tom. You know I love it here, and I wish my future would be simple and satisfying here in Fable’s Arch. I have never wanted any more than that.”
“And forty brigands in black armor have changed all of that?”
“Some of those brigands are vampires, Tom.”
Tom choked on his Chicken. “Who told you that?”
“The wizard Albrite. We spoke to each other in our minds.”
“So you really are a wizard?”
Owen recited a short spell in his mind, and Tom’s chicken suddenly warmed to the touch, and his too. “It’s better warm, huh?”
Tom nearly dropped his chicken leg, but not quite. He took another bite.
“Hey that’s handy”, said Tom after swallowing. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I guess you could cook someone like that, huh.”
“Uh huh. Nasty way to die, eck.” Owen had been taught a thousand ways to kill, except the idea of actually doing it made him queasy.
“Well I don’t think you should go, no matter what, Owen. We need you here, and if you can help defend the town then that’s all the better! Why go off and leave your friends. You know we will all stand by you.”
“I detest the thought of fighting and killing, Tom. But I would kill ten thousand soulless men and orcs before I would see this town destroyed because of me. I am not yet strong enough, but I swear to you my brother, if Fable’s Arch comes under the demon’s hammer I will return with all the might of the Dragons to defend it.”
“Dragons?”
“You haven’t heard have you, then? Of course you haven’t. I am to be the new Dragon King.”
Owen went back to his room and removed the splint. “No sense pretending anymore”, he thought. He pulled his sword and bow from under the bed and fell asleep with his sword and sheath under his arm.
Owen was ripped form his dreams of vampires and blood by a monstrous roar, swords clashing and the shouts of men. He felt the house shudder as he bolted down the hall with his sword held at the ready. He met Tom on the way and they entered the living room shoulder to shoulder.
There he saw the nightmare of his father going down under the fangs of a large vampire with blood read eyes. The thing had his father’s sword through its chest but was not affected by it. It sunk it’s fangs into his father’s neck, but coughed up blood as Owen’s sword punched through its brain. Owen saw another dark form, three of them in the room. One swung at Owen with a black sword, and Tom took the blow on his sword. That vampire and Tom went after each other as Owen drew his sword out of one vampire and met two lightning attacks by the other two. He could barely block their blows, and the vampire he thought he had killed was wobbling back to its feet.
“This is too much”, he thought. Owen spoke words that could not be heard but only felt, and pushed one of the vampires through the wall onto the porch in a shower of glass and splinters. Owen could hear fighting outside, shouts and the vicious growls of some angry beast.
Owen parried the vampire, dodged a feeble swing from the brainless vampire. He knocked the healthy one’s sword aside with a double handed blow, then spun with lightning speed, and it’s head flew and bounced against the wall. A surge of power entered Owen as he absorbed the dead vampire’s life energy.
Tom was falling, having been stabbed through his right shoulder by one of the elf vampire’s dual blades. The elf vampire raised his other blade to end Tom, and did not see Owen’s sword whistling in from behind. A second vampire head flew bouncing into the hall, and he heard Angie scream. More power flowed into Owen’s rage.
The wounded vampire took another feeble swing at Owen, and lost its head for its trouble. Owen glanced back to see Angie batting a vampire’s head out of the hall with a bat. He was almost giddy with power from the dead vampires.
He ran through the hole in the wall where the window had been, expecting more vicious fighting, to find Gander standing there with dark, dismembered forms all around him. There were some heads scattered about. The ‘horse’ was panting and a nimbus blue light played around its form. The glamour was gone from him, and he stood there in all of his peculiar, deadly beauty.
Ender and Purdy kneeled back to back, heaving and panting, resting on their bloody weapons.
Owen counted a total of four dead vampires and nine dead ‘men’. Blake and Akron were dead, and Karl was sorely wounded.
Owen dragged one of the mortally wounded soulless over and knelt by Karl. He had a pike through his chest and was pinned to the ground. Owen uttered words and snapped the pike above Karl’s chest. More words that could only be felt, and the pike turned to blood while the soulless corpse shriveled. The blood washed over Karl’s chest onto the ground and hissed into smoking steam. Owen lifted him and carried him over to the porch speaking words of power. Karl writhed and moaned, but then was silent as Owen laid him on the bench.
Tom had stumbled out on the porch and saw this whole procedure. He watched, stunned, as Karl drew a deep breath and sighed. The wound in his chest was gone, leaving only a ripped mail breastplate, which Owen had removed. Owen looked up at him and Tom caught a glimpse of something deep and powerful, beyond anything human. He shivered, remembering the words “Dragon King”.
“It’s still just me, Tom.” He walked over to Tom, placed his hand under Tom’s shirt, and spoke.
Tom felt his flesh crawl, his muscles and tendons weave together, and the tissues, veins and arteries crawling back together. He started to jerk, but Owen held him with a grip of iron. Tom screamed in pain, and then it was suddenly gone.
Owen let go and went inside to tend his father. He still had an excess of power burning through his veins after healing his father, while Suzy and Angie watched in awe. He had drawn the vampire’s poison and flung it burning into the fireplace. “Their blood is poison. Try not to get it on you. Burn them.” He dragged the dead vampires and their heads out into the yard.
“Ender, Purdy, will you ride with me? I am worried about Baird and Heath, and your other me
n.”
The two guardsmen had recovered their breath. “Is Karl going to be ok?” asked Purdy.
“Yes, I was able to get to him before he died. He will be fine in a day or so.”
“Just like Jason healed Rolph”, said Ender. “Yes. I will ride with you, Owen, and that reaper of yours”, he said, motioning toward Gander.
“Me too”, said Purdy.
“Oh that reminds me”. Owen walked over to Gander and put the glamour back on. Gander woofed and shook his head. “No sense scaring people in town, boy. I will take it off when we leave.”
The three saddled up and galloped toward Fable’s Arch. Owen had his sword on his back and his bow on the saddle.
They galloped through the edge of town and down the lane to Baird’s cabin.
Dragons Shining Page 9
