As it ended, Cage dropped his women lightly while Sean cradled Ollai in his huge arms. As he sat her down she kissed his cheek tenderly. His blush was obvious as his own ruby scales showed.
“Get him!” one of Bryan’s mates yelled when the shock wore off and all eight women ran for retribution. Fredrick laughed as he pounced a half dozen yards away while sheathing his dual swords behind his back.
Bryan tried leaping away too, but two of his loves used a spell to glue him to the beach’s ground while three of Fredrick’s loosed a silver, red and dull gray rope from their fingers to coil around his body like a snake as he was tackled and immobilized. Then they all began to attack his weakness, Bryan was found to be highly ticklish as his deep voice laughed while squirming to free himself to no avail. It was so funny seeing them take down a man larger than them all doing this.
He soon stopped resisting and let them pay him back.
One of his women ordered Fredrick’s away and as soon as they were clear she erected a lime green dome none could see through, but none were ignorant to realize what they were doing inside as just before it went up one girl was working his lance with her hands and mouth.
“Well done, Fredrick.” Cage gloated as he laid a hand on his shoulder. “Soon you’ll be capable of giving me a fair challenge, but you need to work on not favoring thrusts with your left blade.”
“So I’ve been told before when my patterns are found out. It still isn’t easy altering the right amount of strength from my natural one. And when I was having sex I feared hurting my women during release.”
“Practice.”
“Oh, he doesn’t have a choice.” One of his women came up and draped an arm around his lower back. “Least not till he fathers a child… or four. We’ve been gone weeks and last night wasn’t enough to make up for all that lost time I could have had my way.” She then kissed her man’s freshly shaved cheek. “Right sisters?”
“Right.” The other three said simultaneously and laughed.
“Well it is good to see you doing well with everything. You sure settled in to life here. We’re going to check on Shorty, Luke and Bern over on the colony’s island. Have fun.” Meeka said as she took her man’s and Tohka’s hands.
Spread out before them was a huge change for what was once a lifeless asteroid had transformed into a lush and fertile island several times the size of the original Cage Island, but was still a few weeks away from the end of construction. Cage and his entire family flew over the water, feeling the salty breeze cooling them. Riding on his black board was Rena and Ananna in her overprotective care. Flanking them was Daku and his mates while next to them flew Sean and Ollai. Behind them, in a V formation glided Ulon and Poli who carried their respected partners. Connecting the islands was a stone bridge constructed over four miles long and over two hundred feet wide, materials were used to connect the two islands from excavation and tunneling. The bridge was done, but a huge southern facing beach was being made for dragons to frolic and relax once done. But all around the new island grew new plants and many assorted trees that were already mature. Fifty evenly spaced sheer drop offs made halfway up the mountain afforded ease of take off and landings for the gigantic inhabitants who all seemed busy at work. More than sixty percent of the new addition to Raliea was now covered in lush vegetation in preparation for animals to also use as a habitat and thrive. Dozens of vibrant scaled giants were busy using a mix of magic and physical labor to make a permanent home here. In Cage’s now vast mind he sensed what looked like an oversized anthill riddled in tunnels and caves running everywhere with military precision. A central shaft had been bore down the center of the now mountain so deep it reached magma, but was under complete control via magic and a system of rocks, that if hit correctly would fill the shaft and seal it before an eruption would occur. Magma created a powerful updraft two dragons inside were currently using to lazily glide up and out over the peak.
Below the ocean’s surface were the colony’s tunnels that gave plenty of space from pressure, but for a moment he wondered why so much loose sea floor outside was disturbed till he found four more dragons deep below, churning the silt to nourish the waters for life to grow and flourish. Those dragons had even modified gills along their long necks in which to breathe and in the water they flew more majestically than in the air. And some of the sand was used to reinforce the asteroid so no breaches ever dared flood the new colony buzzing with activity. Aside from the newly created and controlled volcano that warmed the entire island to a dragon’s liking, fresh water was pumped throughout and used for every imaginable purpose from hot springs to rivers that flowed and watered the new land. Cave branches sometimes led to holes where families and individuals called home now. All the excess dirt and stone created from excavating went to use without any needless waste.
“I still find it hard to see how completely different it looks each day, Dad.” Rena said in awe as she clutched her sister on her hip. Ananna simply was a happy go lucky toddler who enjoyed flying, and mashing her sister’s cheeks for more attention. “Have you been to it yet? Seen a dragon’s colony in the making?”
“No, Dad. I was told it is too dangerous right now… especially for children. What they consider a rock is a boulder that can kill a man. But I did cross the bridge on my horse with Elder Metak and Shorty several days ago, Dad.” Rena tilted her head back to smile. “It was pretty. They showed me all the different plants… in a safe place. I gave a gift of flowers from the lake below home and they were grateful. They used them to make a beautiful field the next day. I asked where and one dragon showed me what she had done by magic… I couldn’t see it myself because it isn’t safe on the beach they are making for themselves. Too rocky and holes would suck me right in if I slipped.”
“Well I’m glad you were kind to offer pretty flowers for their enjoyment.” He rubbed her head and it made her grin. Attention from their incoming had long necks lift mighty heads. Down at the end of the bridge stood Xamii and Moril, directing and doing their duty as Rex. Cage touched down and turned to view their decent as the others landed, but just as they did a rumble shook the land.
A violent tremor from deep beneath sent Cage’s twisting movement face first into a rock and before even he could react, his temple struck a sharp rock and darkness claimed him.
“DAD!” Rena screamed as she scooped up her crying sister and clutched her head to her neck protectively. She saw his blood staining the bridge.
Daku jumped over top his master, his legs protectively surrounding him as a deep rumble built in his chest.
Up on Poli and Ulon, Tohka, Brooke and Meeka all managed to create their boards before being thrown violently to the ground, but even as the ground shook they still heard their daughter’s scream.
“What happened!?” Xamii roared as Moril found her footing as the tremor slowed.
The roar of “Landslide!” had heads turn to beyond the beach under construction and bright color slammed the loosened debris from causing further destruction and saving some trees and shrubs. Tunnels held strong as none were stronger or as efficiently made as from a dragon’s eye for stability and craftsmanship. Some teleported into the open sky for safety and to see what happened.
Moril turned as she saw a flash of blue, green and topaz to find Cage’s mates flying hard for him as he lay unmoving. The tingle of magic enveloped the entire area, scanning for the cause. Moril rushed over too, careful to avoid Daku’s half spread wings.
Meeka instantly sent her power into her man and diagnosed why he was unresponsive. “Rena, it’s alright. Your dad’s denser skull hasn’t hurt his brain. He just has a deep gash.” She put her hand close to his slick and wet hair and looked closely at the wound before closing it and whispering under her breath a secret phrase to bypass his wards. A phrase only his family, their partners and Megdline knew. His temple stopped bleeding and knit together. Brooke meanwhile plucked a ball of saltwater to begin washing the blood from his face while Tohka protectively gathered h
er daughters close with Metali and Metalu trying to ease Ananna’s bawling.
Meeka then leaned back and drew back the slide in her right bracer along her arm and said “Smelling salts.” From in her own space altered pocket, out popped an inch long stick smelling heavily of ammonia. Brooke had already cleaned him and rolled him over for Meeka to administer the object Cage taught her about during the three weeks they were away and waved it under his nose.
His eyes snapped open and even as they we blurry, he just knew it was Meeka, so he didn’t strike her and get away till he recovered. Instead he asked “Wha…” only to be cut off as a second violent earthquake shook them. Even, not fully recovered, his new mind was plenty able to multitask.
Two dragons appeared near their human Rex, magically drawn to the rings all in her colony could feel so they knew where she was at all times and could be reached in an emergency. In front of Xamii though, they began speaking swiftly in Draconian.
Moril watched as Cage struggled to stand as the tremor abated, needing help from his mates. Before she could ask what was happening her eyes caught movement. Hopping towards their position like some kind of springing rabbit was Shorty, Bern and Luke, going from one boulder to the next, showing surprising agility. Before they landed Moril asked Cage “What are they saying.”
“I’m busy!” Cage snapped back and as he slightly turned, Moril and others saw his markings. His four roses, white, blue golden and green, connected by the stem and thorns to be seen as inseparable, seemed almost alive on his golden skin, but the single infinity on his back had framed it to over twenty loops. And the power rolling off him was greater than all four women’s combined.
So instead Daku cocked his head and opened his beak after calming down and seeing his partner well. “It was another attack… most likely. Xamii is getting a report that magma was just suddenly forced up the path they had just made here. The pressure nearly overwhelmed the wards put in place to keep an eruption from happening… right now they are working fast” Xamii spoke quickly and the two who came, just teleported away to do something by her order. “as possible to stop a volcanic explosion from happening. Right now it seems as if so much pressure has been built already, that without magic, we would all have been already killed.”
“Highly likely.” Xamii said. “Relief tunnels are being opened beside the greatest pressure and we are trying to send the liquid rock safely back down to the planets mantle. I’m lending my strength as we speak.”
“What about my people?” Moril said.
“I will go.” Ulon rumbled and disappeared forthwith.
“So will I.” Meeka said as the three men landed within twenty feet of them. “Something that strong… people might be hurt. Cage, are you…”
“I’m better.” He said and his jaw twitched. “Go on, Babe. This will take awhile. Really, I’m fine. Just make sure people know this wasn’t a natural occurrence. I sense magic is the cause of this event.”
“Alright.” And she ran straight into a blue portal to appear instantly among chaos. Right away she saw Bryan single handedly lift a mature palm tree off a griffin cub who was in the tree when it fell and couldn’t escape in time before being stabbed through the abdomen. Meeka ran over as Bryan forced the bleeding to slow with his large hands, giving her time enough to heal the internal hemorrhaging of the struggling cub. Right after the griffin stood under his own power and gave thanks, she locked eyes with the huge man and said “Find Elder Metak and make sure everyone is accounted for.” He didn’t say anything, just got up and ran like the wind. “Phone call, Brooke and Tohka.” She said and the crystals on her forearms glowed. “Loves, you better get over here. We’ve got many wounded… Damn, kids were sliding on the bridge when it hit us. Hurry, I need help here. End call.” Meeka leapt as she created he blue board and flew over to help, while replenishing her power from the stores she had supplied in her crystals.
Brooke, Tohka and Poli arrived not five seconds after and rushed to help everyone as Ulon stabilized a large group of children who had been injured, using his great mental prowess to simultaneously cast and aid saving the young.
“What now!?” Brooke grumbled several minutes later when a hand laid on her shoulder and she turned around and stepped back in surprise. “Megdline? What are you doing here? We’re a bit busy if you haven’t noticed.”
“Are you alright? Your covered in blood.”
Brooke looked down at herself and shrugged. “I’m uninjured.”
“So you were also attacked.” The second class sorceress’s storm grey gaze swept the area of hurt individuals. Frill at her side went over to see what he could do to help, even if it was to be stroked to give comfort.
“Also? Your people were also struck by the ground shaking and threatening hot rock from below the surface to destroy us in so cowardly a way?” Brooke’s hands had a grip on her tomahawks.
“We were and Rex Gralla and Nattan nearly lost their colonies as well and are calling for blood of the transgressors. Barbav sent me to see what happened here, but it looks like you all were hit just as hard. And casualties?”
Brooke’s jaw twitched as rage flared her nostrils. “One I know of, a three year old girl child. She fell off the bridge from the top and downed before Ulon could save her. You tell us who did this, Megdline. Blood will spill.”
“You weren’t the only ones to have lost people.” Megdline also went red in the cheeks. “Twilight lost over a hundred mages because of this, before my husband and the others could halt an eruption coming up from beneath our feet. One was a good friend I went to school with a long time ago and I too want to kill the ones responsible for this.”
A group of flyers were just then seen coming from the north. Cage landed with Ananna clutched to his chest and Rena holding his muscled thigh. Sean and Ollai broke off formation to go home while Moril, Xamii, Shorty, Bern, Luke and their dragon partners along with several others came to land. “Go on.” He passed Ananna to her big sister who then moved to did as a tribal priestess ought under such a condition. Rena was just there to console. “I take it you also had trouble, Granny?”
Megdline could only nod.
“Cage Love, how…” Broke began, but could not articulate herself well at the moment.
“Together we managed to divert the build up and I extended the wards of the island more than a hundred miles below us so it doesn’t happen again, or will alert us to another issue of the same caliber. Right now it’s being monitored, but risk of a volcanic eruption is slim at best now… but.”
“But?” the former priestess prompted for more.
Moril came forth and held her golden bracelet intentionally. “I was contacted by Rex Nattan and Semek several minutes ago. They want us to wed Princess Amy and Prince Sek as soon as possible so the two kingdoms can be seen as united against the enemy. But for now I’ve been summoned along with Cage and Daku to Rex Nattan’s lair.” She looked to her people who started gathering around silently. As she was doing so, Cage summoned his robe along with Ghosts Bane to begin preparations. At Brooke’s feet appeared her greaves. “I’m allowed to bring guards with me as both King Skylar and Tate will be there too. Fredrick, Shorty, Gregory, Bern, Bryan, Luke,” She called out. “you are among the best male warriors. Go find Cody and gather your armor and weapons along with the harness you showed me yesterday. Hammit, Quitte, Chala, you too. Brooke, you Meeka and Tohka are coming as well. Elder Shania, I also ask you accompany us. Your insight is always welcome.”
As chief of the Utala during such an event, none challenged her. Those called out sprinted to do what they must. While they waited, Moril and the others help in any way they could. Megdline told Cage she had to go as Xamii mind-linked and said she was needed. The sorceress teleported moments later.
Shorty was the first to return, clad in leather covered in chainmail along with his own harness system. Hidden beneath the sleeves were perfectly balanced throwing knives, ten per arm that a simple flick could leap to his hands. His steel quart
erstaff was halved, sticking out over both shoulders while a metal spiked bola along with woven wire as rope hung coiled at his hip.
His large woman gave him a deep kiss that spoke he should return home soon, before he moved and easily ascended his lightning blue/white male dragon.
Gregory and Bern came out at the same time with their bows, a double set of quivers, one peeking out over their right shoulder and another belted at their right hip. Their left arm remained unarmored, but armed with their dagger while their right had plated steel that protected their shoulder and the length of their arm. At their belt was also wire rope with a knife.
But when Fredric, Bryan, Luke and Cody came down the trail together, they were heavily armored and caused quite a statement. They readied for battle. All looked to be knights that they were. But instead of brightly polished plate armor that covered practically every inch of their body, they were all painted powder black, but across their breastplate was a lighter gray infinity symbol. The paint didn’t reflect, which was good. But their armor was designed to be applied over their harnesses without compromising the effectiveness of the armor over chainmail and leather. Luke and Cody each held their long swords sheathed in their large kite shields strapped securely over their backs. It make the weapon more effective, having a shield able to double as a sheathe. On Fredrick’s back he carried his twin swords as well as a new small targe shield built right into his left forearm. But in each of their armors the shoulders were spiked with five spines to either side, should they need to ram an opponent. Bryan’s armor was the largest of course, but no man wore their unadorned helms, rather keeping them either in hand or beneath their pits.
Empress's Endgame (Book 5 and final of the Death Incanate Saga) Page 23
