Keep of Dragons (The Azuleah Trilogy Book 3)

by Daniel Adorno

  After Penna finished drinking, Lucius tied the animal with the other horses and she ate grass contentedly as he walked away to meet with the others.

  "We have to go back to Aldron," Dudley said to the group. "This mission has been a failure, aside from apprehending that assassin. It was ludicrous to think eleven of us could take on the dragons in Ghadarya. With our numbers reduced it's just plain suicide."

  Everyone was nodding their heads at the statement. Lucius decided to speak up and voice his dissent.

  "I think we should still go, Dudley. The odds might be stacked against us, but we stand to lose much more if we quit now," Lucius said.

  "We will not get within a stone's throw of the dragon mother's caves before being blasted by dragon fire. You saw what that monster did to the forest — look! It's still burning," Dudley snapped.

  "Yes, but he had the element of surprise on his side," Siegfried added. "In Ghadarya, we will have the advantage. They won't see us coming. It's the last thing our enemy will expect."

  Dudley shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe we're still discussing this. I'm the leader of this group. We cannot allow more loss of life when we can still aid the defense of our city."

  Darius cleared his throat and turned to his superior. "I think this will be the second time today that we are in disagreement, Captain."

  "Oh?" Dudley raised an eyebrow.

  "Lucius and Siegfried are right. If we abandon the mission now and turn back to Aldron. We will be fighting a losing battle. The king has made many defensive preparations, but none of those plans took into account dozens of dragon hatchlings. If we stay the course, even if only a single dragon dies from our efforts, we increase the king's chance of success," Dudley explained.

  Dudley still did not look convinced, but said nothing.

  "Darius, you lived in the Kroshen Wastes as a youth, correct?" Lucius asked. An idea struck him as the large Talij warrior answered the question.

  "That's correct," Darius replied.

  "Do you know of any locals we could recruit to help us with the dragons?" Lucius asked.

  It was likely a long shot that anyone who didn't have an immediate stake in this war would risk their life to kill a dragon. But perhaps Darius, a man who left his homeland to fight against the Draknoir and dragons, might know others with similar motivations

  Darius stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, now that you mention it. There are a number of warlords in the area that might be happy to join our ranks. Many have suffered terribly at the hands of Memnon and Kraegyn. Kroshen is borders both Ghadarya and Nasgothar, so they have been the unfortunate victims of many atrocities over the years."

  "Do you really think they would join us?" Liam, another member of the Drachengarde, spoke up.

  Lucius wasn't well-acquainted with Liam or the remaining Drachengarde warriors—Curtis, Bruce, and Gordon—but the stocky man with an overbite seemed adept in combat.

  "Of course they won't join us!" Dudley interrupted. "The warlords of Kroshen are unpredictable barbarians. You've told me so yourself on many occasions, Darius. How can we hope to trust them? They'll probably rob us blind then slit our throats in our sleep."

  Darius frowned. "I do not doubt there are some warlords who would do just that. But you're thinking of the bandits and scavengers in Kroshen. There are more honorable men who lead war bands and I think if we travel to Sajeen we can get a sense of who those men might be."

  "Sajeen?" Lucius asked.

  "It's a trading post on the border of Kroshen and the Onyx Mountains," Siegfried answered.

  "That's right," Darius said. He reached into his leather sack and procured a map. He unfurled it on the grass and pointed to a marker on the northern tip of the Onyx Mountain range. "The outpost is probably a week's ride from here. If we follow the Feilon River east, we'll reach it. I'm acquainted with a man named Zanzibar, who owns a local watering hole. He will know of any warlords who might be willing to help us in exchange for payment."

  Dudley scoffed. "Of course. Honorable men always fight for money."

  Darius shrugged. "Some men simply need a bit of coin to find their honor. Especially in a place like Kroshen," he said.

  Lucius exchanged a glance with Siegfried and they both turned to Dudley. The Drachengarde captain shifted uneasily on his feet as he realized all eyes were upon him for a decision.

  "We don't want to usurp your authority, Captain Dudley. But I think you understand the dire situation we're in and what's needed from us to serve our king," Lucius said.

  When he said the word king, he realized he wasn't talking about Silas. In his heart, Lucius understood that this difficult mission to Ghadarya was also a service he needed to complete for Yesu. After all, he had died and come back here for that very purpose. And there was also the distant hope that he might find his father in the Kroshen Wastes. Perhaps Darius' contact in Sajeen might know Simeon Nostra's whereabouts.

  "Fine. Let's do this. But if we all die on this mission, I want it on the record that I was not in favor of it," Dudley said. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

  Lucius and the Drachengarde laughed at the statement and the tension in the group seemed to melt away. They spent the rest of the day in the cove, gathering supplies for the trip. Darius made it clear they would need plenty of water to carry into the desert of Kroshen. Lucius filled five waterskins and attached them to the back of his saddle where his bedroll and tent hung. Once night fell on the camp, Siegfried went hunting for deer and came back with a mature buck. They ate a generous meal of venison stew and Liam smoked the rest of the meat for their trip. The rations they currently had would last until they reached the trading post in Sajeen.

  In the morning, they made their way along the Feilon River mostly under the cover of the trees. The smell of smoke from the forest Kraegyn burned was still pungent in the air. Lucius pushed Penna hard throughout the day to keep up with Dudley’s breakneck pace through the countryside. Due to their proximity to Arkadeus, they didn’t want any undue attention from the Draknoir. Scouts were likely in the area, but if they moved swiftly and stayed within the thick forest cover, they could avoid being seen. On one of the stops of their journey, they camped on an outcrop overlooking the river and the adjacent forest to the south. To the north, they just barely saw the spires of Arkadeus peeking over the forest miles away.

  “There it is,” Dudley said as he chewed on a piece of smoked venison.

  “It looks far worse up close,” Siegfried said.

  “I bet,” Lucius replied.

  The days along the Feilon were a blur to Lucius and often felt never-ending. They would spend the bulk of the day traversing woodlands as the rush of the river drowned out many other sounds. Some days they did not stop, opting to continue until the sun set before they camped. Those days were the hardest for Lucius. His legs and backside would be saddle-sore the entire night. Sleep came in small spurts punctuated with troublesome nightmares. The days of seeing Kraegyn’s glowing eyes and fearsome fire in his dreams had thankfully ceased. But he still felt a sense of dread whenever he slept.

  In four days' time, as Darius had predicted, they reached the northern part of the Onyx Mountains. The impressive range were ominous figures on the horizon like granite tombstones blotting out the sun. On the other side of the mountains, Memnon’s previous stronghold, Nasgothar, stood. Lucius found relief in the fact that their journey would not take them too close to that cursed place. He was also thankful to Yéwa they hadn't encountered any Draknoir on their track along the Feilon.

  The Drachengarde found a place along the river to ford it and crossed into the province of Loredia. Most of this province held the Kroshen Wastes and the Maguna Mountains in the north, two dangerous environments to traverse. Around midday, the landscape shifted from lush trees and green fields to barren prairies and eventually the sandy dunes of Kroshen appeared along the horizon. The temperature rose considerably and Lucius found himself taking massive gulps from his waterskin regula
rly to compensate for the dry heat.

  Darius stopped him at one point, placing an arm on his shoulder. "Be conservative with the water, Lucius. In a hot place like this it isn't wise to over hydrate yourself. Better to take small sips and swish them slowly in your mouth to keep you going. Otherwise, you'll run out of water quicker and then we'll really be in trouble," he said.

  The reasoning made sense to Lucius, but the unrelenting heat might make rationing water quite difficult.

  When the sun disappeared below the horizon, they finally came to the small outpost in Sajeen. The little village consisted of about a dozen huts surrounding a sturdy wooden building with a straw roof. This was the local inn and tavern that Darius mentioned previously, the Bumbling Echidna. As Lucius approached the inn, he saw a wooden sign over the threshold depicting an echidna flat on its back.

  "Well, at least they have a sense of humor," Lucius said, gesturing to the sign.

  "Oh, you'll find that in droves in the Kroshen Waste. People here don't have much to fill their days, and humor lifts downtrodden spirits," Darius said.

  Lucius and the others tethered their horses to a small stable alongside the inn. He gently stroked Penna's muzzle to reassure her. The horse snorted in reply then nudged her head at Lucius's chest — a curious habit she had whenever the two would part. He wasn't sure if it was a sign of affection or if Penna really just wanted him to leave her alone.

  "You've really grown fond of that horse, haven't you?" Siegfried asked as he tethered his own horse.

  Lucius nodded. "She's taught me how to be a better rider that's for sure. I suppose any horse that could be that patient naturally grows fond of you."

  "You'll hear no argument from me on that matter," Siegfried said with a wry smile.

  The party entered the Bumbling Echidna and allowed their eyes to adjust to the dim light inside. Numerous benches filled the interior and a simple bar near the back held a few patrons on wooden stools. Most of the locals inside gave them a cursory glance then returned to their meals and drinks. Darius mentioned that the residents of Sajeen did not care much for outsiders, often choosing to ignore them altogether. Behind the bar, a tall, slim bartender poured drinks into glasses the eyed the travelers for a moment before returning to his work. After a moment, he looked at them again and an expression of recognition filled his eyes.

  "Darius Tawfeek? Is that you, old friend?" The bartender asked.

  Darius smiled and approached the bar. "Nestor, I was afraid you'd sold this place to your brother. My heart is gladdened that you are still in charge of this dusty shack," he said.

  "My brother would turn this place into a brothel and gamblers den," Nestor said, shaking his head. "Mother would never stand for that. Tell me, what brings you back here and who are your friends?"

  "I'm here on a military matter from Aldron. These men are Drachengarde, you've heard of them, yes?"

  Nestor nodded slowly. "I've heard the legends. These are troublesome times and we need good warriors to do away with the filth in Nasgothar and Ghadarya."

  "Have you had much trouble here with... Draknoir or dragons?" Dudley asked.

  "No dragons yet, but I'm sure that will change. The Draknoir, however, are always a problem. We've lost many villages over the years to their cruelty and constant raiding. But these days they don't trouble us often. We're just a pebble in the way of the boulder they're trying to push over the cliff," the bartender replied.

  "By boulder do you mean Aldron?" Lucius asked.

  Nestor nodded as he poured another drink. "Yes. Aldron, the elves, and anyone else who is a threat to their plans," he said, handing the drink to Darius.

  "That's why we need your help Nestor," Darius said, taking the drink. He took a quick drag from the glass and exhaled loudly. "Ah, as strong as I remember."

  "What can a lowly bartender like me do to help the mighty warriors?" Nestor asked.

  Dudley cleared his throat then sat on an empty stool near the bar. "For starters, you could point us in the direction of any warlords willing to assist us on a dangerous mission," he said.

  Nestor laughed. "You Aldronians have a great sense of humor."

  "I believe he's quite serious," Siegfried cut in.

  Nestor seemed taken aback by the elf. The bartender hadn't noticed that a non-human was among them. "Warlords are a fickle bunch, Darius, you know that. Are you prepared to pay a considerable price for their help?"

  Darius nodded.

  Nestor sighed and poured himself a drink then emptied the glass in one quick drag. "There is a man who might help you, but it really depends on what you're hoping to accomplish."

  "We're traveling to Ghadarya to kill some dragons," Dudley replied.

  "Well then, that will come with a hefty price for the warlord I'm thinking of," Nestor said.

  "And which warlord would that be?" Darius asked.

  Nestor glanced from left to right around the room, making sure nobody else was listening to their conversation. Then he spoke in a lowered voice. "There is a warlord who goes by the name of Al-Abya. He roams the interior of the Kroshen Wastes with his war band. He is not one to trifle with and he doesn't like foreigners," he said.

  "You're making this such an intriguing prospect," Dudley said sarcastically.

  "He is a ruthless fellow and has gained quite a notorious reputation these last two years. There aren't many Talij that would cross swords with him, but I've heard he is an honorable man in his own right. Never going back on his word and that sort of thing," Nestor explained.

  "Where can we find him?" Lucius asked.

  Nestor shrugged. "As I say, he is known to roam the central region of Kroshen. Unfortunately, that is the most dangerous part for travelers. Lots of bandits and raiders in that desert land, but you Drachengarde seemed quite formidable, so they might not bother you."

  "Thank you for the lead, Nestor," Darius said, bowing his head slightly.

  "Anything for a brother of Kroshen," the bartender said, grinning. "Now is there anything else I can do for you, gentlemen?"

  "A round of drinks and a few rooms if you can spare them," Dudley said.

  Nestor spread his arms wide and swept them around. "Are you not in a respectable tavern and inn? Of course, I can oblige these requests. I have three rooms available upstairs. They are small, but they should accommodate your needs. I'll get my to chef stoke the fire of the oven for a hot meal."

  "Not too hot, I hope. This land has enough heat going for it," Lucius replied.

  The rooms inside the Bumbling Echidna were small and somewhat cramped, providing only a simple bed, table, and two chairs. But after riding for days and sleeping on the hard ground, Lucius had no complaints. Despite their modest size, the beds were comfortable and soft. Both he and Siegfried shared a room as did Darius and Dudley. Liam and the other warriors roomed in a larger suite at the end of the hall upstairs. Lucius' room had a small window with a thick curtain to keep the sun from beating down on them. The design of the inn allowed for cross ventilation that kept the rooms cool during the day. At night, temperatures dropped significantly and there was a small brazier in the center of the room to keep them warm.

  After a supper of roasted lamb and sweet dates, everyone settled down for the night. As always, Siegfried opted to sleep on the floor instead of sharing a bed with Lucius. Elves were always particular about their sleeping arrangements. Lucius believed that his brother preferred the goose down mattresses in Evingrad or the forest floor over anything humans built for slumbering.

  In the morning, they bid farewell to the innkeeper and set out for their long journey into the interior. Lucius, on the other hand, made it a priority to speak with Nestor before they saddled their horses. He specifically asked the innkeeper if he had heard or known about Simeon Nostra.

  "I don't believe I'm acquainted with the name," Nestor said. "I've seen many travelers over the years — Aldronians, men from Tarshish, and even some from Allesmeade. But I'm quite certain I would have remembered such a forei
gn name."

  Lucius, disappointed by the news, gave the innkeeper a gold solidus and headed back to the stable where the Drachengarde were nearly ready for their departure. Siegfried noticed the despondent look on his face as he shambled in to the stable. The others were unaware of it and continued saddling their steeds. As the Drachengarde filed out the stable Siegfried hung back to speak with Lucius.

  "Everything all right, brother?" The elf asked.

  "It's nothing. I spoke with Nestor and he hadn't heard of any Simeon Nostra traveling this area. I guess Elendon's friend was wrong," Lucius said.

  Siegfried said nothing. He placed a hand on Lucius's shoulder and gently squeezed. "Come, we should go. We don't want to lag behind."

  The intense heat of the day did not fully hit them until midday. Morning was a time when the desert was cooler and much more temperate than one might expect. Lucius even admitted there was a kind of ethereal beauty to the barren land. But once the bright sun shone directly overhead, the sweltering heat felt made it feel as they were shanks of meat trapped in Nestor's oven. Darius purchased cloaks made of breathable fabric for everyone to wear in the desert. The cloaks were useful in protecting them from hot winds that swept up granules of sand that became abrasive to one's skin over time.

  Now the cloaks helped to shade them from the sons unrelenting attack. Lucius fought the urge to dump the contents of the waterskin over his head for momentary relief from the elements. After another hour of riding through parched land and sand dunes, Dudley called for a rest near a dry gully where the rock walls provided some shade.

  When he dismounted, Lucius unpacked a leather water bucket that he used for Penna to drink from. As soon as he poured water into the bucket, Penna bumped him away with her head so she could take a drink.

  "Easy, girl! I know it's hot, but no need to be rude," Lucius said, taking a swig of water from his waterskin.

  "Shall we build a fire for food, Captain?" Gordon asked.

  Dudley shook his head emphatically. "In this heat? Just use one of those rocks to cook on. Seriously, Darius, how on earth did you live in this land?"