Alador and Nemara called a halt as they reached the cave. They would have to cross in front of it to get to their first ballista. Pressed against the rock wall, he listened for any sounds of footfalls or voices. It was quiet at this late hour. Guards out at the ballistae could be heard now and then, but there were no sounds from the entrance of the cave. He motioned for Nemara to be ready. She and one other pulled back their arrows in preparation. Once this was done, Alador darted across. There was no alarm or sound from within the cave. So far everything was going according to the plan.
Once safely across, he motioned the others to move. One by one they also darted to the other side of him. Alador’s heart was pounding so loudly that he was certain that those with him had to be able to hear it. They were approaching the point where the rock wall gave way to the wooden poles of the stockade. This would be the location of the first ballista. As they crawled forward, the light of the fire for the men at this location became more than a flickering fairy light.
Just as Alador had been about to give the signal to move in, there was a muffled cry that was cut off across the compound. The dragons chained in the centers shifted and a few of them let out guttural cries. Alador and his team froze. He hoped that the cry had been one of the mine guards falling. He also hoped that the dragons' irritation in the center would cover any additional movements of his own people.
“What has got them all stirred up?” snarled a male voice nearby.
“Who knows? Stupid beasts get riled up at the darndest things. Two days ago, you would have thought they had all seen their mother flying over. All there was in the air was a large eagle.” The woman’s voice sounded unhappy. “Not bound to be able to tell what’s got them in a snit in this fog and I do not intend to go look. If one got a bit loose, you wouldn’t know it before they bit your head off.”
“This fog is the thickest I have ever seen,” the male stated. “The only consolation is the dragons that are loose can’t see any better than we can.”
“That we know of…” The woman’s voice held a bit of humor, and Alador could tell she was enjoying her partner’s discomfort.
“Gee… thanks,” the man moved a bit towards Alador, and peered out towards the middle. Alador could only make out his shape.
Alador motioned for Nemara to be ready as he pulled his dagger. When the man turned his back to Alador, he moved. His hand was over the man’s mouth and Alador’s knife slit across the throat swiftly. The man made a gurgling sound as he sagged.
“Pate?” The woman moved forward and as soon as her outline was clear against the dimmed firelight, Nemara let her arrow fly, catching the woman in the throat. She fell to her knees as she clawed at the arrow. A second arrow landed in her chest before she could manage more of a noise than the one of drowning in her own blood.
The dragons became even more irritated and a couple howled now. Alador realized suddenly what had them agitated. It had to be the smell of the blood. As his people were dropping guards, the blood must be on the air. He cursed softly as it was unlikely that they would catch anyone else off guard. The dragons' cries and groans were sure to make the guards more alert.
A light suddenly cut through the fog from one of the towers. They swiftly pulled their two guards behind the ballista and Alador motioned to Nemara to stand. It was doubtful in the night and fog that any tower guard was going to be able to make out more than shapes. Two blackguard at this guard point was what they would expect to see. Sometimes, you could fool people more by being what they expected then trying to hide.
He watched the light curiously. It was too bright to be a lightstone and it was too white to be fire. It was focused into a beam that swept through the ranks of chained dragons on the main grounds. Even in the fog, the light seemed to allow the men in the tower the ability to see for even here from the ground he was able to make out the shape and general color of the dragons as the light swept over them. Later, he would have to find out what made such a light.
As the light swept to the far side of the enclosure, Alador beckoned the other four forward. They had two more ballistae to see to on this side of the enclosure. While Alador stood watch, Nemara swiftly doused the large crossbow like contraption with oil. She then carefully damaged the pullback in case the fire was doused somehow. Their goal was to make sure the device could not be used.
He picked up a flaming stick from the guard post fire. The mage waited, listening closely. He felt lucky so far. The plan seemed to be working other than the agitation of the dragons. It might be assisting them as the attention in the compound seemed to be focused on what had the dragons riled up. Far to his right, he heard a scream of alarm and the sound of swords clashing. He swiftly threw the flaming brand onto the ballista, watching it go up. The three across from him lit up right behind his and one of those to his right. The last one did not as the sound of alarms began to ring.
“Nemara, switch your tabard,” he called swiftly. He also pulled the middle piece of cloth from his back over his head. No longer were they showing the colors of the Blackguard, but they were also flagged so that the dragons could clearly see them.
“We have company,” hissed Nemara. He glanced at the cavern entrance as men and women began to flow from it. She unleashed an arrow dropping one as she moved forward out of the light of the now fully enflamed ballista.
The fog around them began to swiftly lift and Alador heard the first call of an adult dragon. He moved forward with his sword. There were more coming out of the cave than he had expected, the dragons were going to have to move quickly.
A guard saw Alador and moved to him. Nemara dropped a second with her bow and Alador was fully engaged. He brought his sword up and parried the blow, it narrowly slid by his face. The two circled one another warily. He heard Nemara’s bow snap again and a grunt of someone falling nearby.
Alador came in low, and his blow was met soundly as swords clashed into an age old cacophony of sound. It echoed about him as others of his compatriots were engaged. He swiped twice missing both times and found his opponent’s blade at his middle. Alador jumped back barely missing being impaled. He came in again first with a blow to the head and back around with one intent to the man’s left side. Both blows were again met soundly. His momentum carried him forward and he did not see how but somehow as the man passed him, the blade caught Alador in the midriff. His leather dulled most of the slicing cut as they moved beyond one another, but it still stung as first blood was drawn. Alador cursed softly.
As their swords clashed first left than right, Alador realized that this man was better with a sword than he was. He swung and his sword found nothing but air. He had to hop backwards to prevent a hard slice to his left leg. They came back together swords crossed before their faces. He did not know the man, but he could see the determination in his eyes to kill. They pushed off one another and circled. Alador did not have time for this. The only reason he was not fighting more than one adversary is that Nemara was dropping those that might interfere.
Alador put one hand behind his back as he met the other man’s blade twice more, barely able to deflect one handed. He pulled lightning into his hand and when he felt the power pulsing, he spun around as hard as he could with both hands on the hilt of his sword. As he did so, he let the spell loose to flow up the blade. When their blades met, the lightning flared onto the other man’s sword dancing down to the hilt. He dropped it in surprise even as Alador’s back swing came around. Alador’s sword caught him between helm and shoulder, biting deep into his neck.
Alador pulled his sword free staggering back. He glanced around just in time to see Keensight baring down on those that had flooded out of the cave. He dove for Nemara, shielding her against the rock wall next to the cave opening as flame lashed out along the ground towards the opening. Alador barely got his water shield up in time to protect the two of them. When he looked up, there were no guards standing at the cave entrance. He looked up into the sky to see it full of dragons.
“Ne
mara, we have to get that last ballista down.” Even as he spoke, a large arrow lanced up into the sky barely missing a green dragon’s wing. “Stick to the wall, some of those dragons may not care who is friend or foe.”
“Right behind you.” The two of them began to make their way around the enclosure bent low and as close to the stockade wall as possible. .
When they got to the second ballista that had been lit up, they found one of their party against the wooden wall holding her side. Alador paused at her side. She was alive and alert. “You okay?”
“Yes, took a blow to the side. It hurts, but I think the bleeding is slowing,” the woman moaned out.
Alador looked down at her side at the size of the pool of blood and the blood still oozing between her fingers. He did not have the heart to tell her that the slowing was due to the amount on the ground. “Rest.” He pulled her sword over and put it in her other hand. “Keep this close.” She was not likely to live and he could not spare Nemara to see to the woman. He met Nemara’s eyes and saw the truth in them.
“Go!” The woman nodded. “I will be fine. I will just wait here till it is over.”
"Press this to the wound." Nemara pulled a paste from her pouch and handed it to the woman. "It will help ease the pain and slow the bleeding." She pressed into the woman's hands. “May the gods be with you,” Nemara whispered.
Alador led the way to the third ballista. He saw four bodies on the ground as they approached. A fifth woman was winding back the ballista for another shot. Alador motioned for Nemara as he turned his back to her to ensure they were not surprised. Nemara drew back carefully and dropped the woman just as she was sighting the weapon. She tapped Alador, and they both hurried forward. Alador sheathed his sword and looked around for the oil they had brought. He found the oil in one of the packs of the men who had joined them. As he doused the weapon, an arrow lanced through his right shoulder spinning him around. Alador crawled swiftly to the other side of the ballista, winded by the force of the blow.
“Light it, Nemara!” He called out as he pushed the arrow through. Tears of pain stung his eyes as he managed to get it most of the way.
Nemara set the weapon on fire then grabbed Alador’s hand and helped him move tight up against the wall. She scanned the walls to see where the arrow had come from. Alador watched as she feathered another arrow and drew it back carefully. He said nothing till she let the arrow fly and watched a man drop off the wall about one hundred feet from them. The curved wall held its advantages to both friend and foe.
Nemara dropped her bow and moved around him. “I am going to pull it the rest of the way, you can’t cast with this embedded as it is.” She broke off the fletching of the arrow.
Alador nodded and grit his teeth preparing himself. When she yanked, he did not contain the yell of pain. Nemara ripped the blackguard portion of the tabard. She swiftly pulled a leaf from a pouch on her belt and pressed it into the wound, then shoved the portion of tabard against it as well, using his armor to hold it in place. The pain eased somewhat where the leaf was pressed tightly to him.
“Come on. We have work to do.” She pulled him up with a playful grin. They both scooped up their weapons scanning the compound. Dragons were everywhere. Adults were landing in the enclosure ripping loose the chains of the fledglings. The remaining guards on the walls were the target of every dragon in the air.
“We have to get into the cave.” Alador shouted over the sounds of flames, dragons ripping loose the chains of their children and kin, and the wings of those still in the air.
The two of them headed around the outskirts again towards the opening in the rock wall. They were almost there when Alador saw one of their own against the palisade, a dragon moving in on him. It was Ben; he had not switched his tabard.
“Go ahead and start to clear the inside with the others, I will get Ben.” He raced across the yard waving one hand at the brown dragon. It looked up to see his tabard and took a step back. “BEN! Show your tabard,” he yelled.
Ben frantically ripped the tabard over his head showing the blue dragon. He tossed his sword to the side to do so. Seeing his tabard, the dragon gave an indignant huff and flew off towards another bowman on the wall. Alador got to him and scooped up his sword handing it to him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” Ben panted out. “Thanks.”
“No problem, let's go. There are bound to still be a few inside.” Alador pulled his sword once more. The two hurried toward the opening in the cave wall.
Just before he was about to enter the cave, he heard a shout of his name then a large blow to his back. He hit the ground hard, sliding forward a few feet. Alador labored for breath as the blow had knocked the wind from him. He could not see anything but blue scale. He realized that it was Rena when the most horrible heart wrenching scream filled his ears. The lance of its volume and the heart wrenching wail coursed through him. He tried to move, but the claws against his back had him pinned firmly to the ground. The dragon’s wings were wrapped so tightly about him that everything was obscured.
Pain coursed through him, and he felt as if his skin were on fire. It took a moment before he realized that it was not his pain. “Rena!” he screamed.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Panic surged through Alador, pinned as he was. He knew something terrible had just happened, but not what. He struggled and could feel her talons through his leathers pinning him to the ground. She had pulled them enough that they did not penetrate his skin, but he could feel their sharp points.
“Rena, let me up!” he screamed from beneath her.
Rena managed to lift one wing and shift her weight enough to allow Alador to wiggle free from beneath her. Just as he managed to scoot loose, Amaum landed next to Rena as well. The sight that met his eyes sent pain then rage shooting through him. Even in the faint light he could see the acid bubbling along the dragon’s back. Sections of her wings were hissing in the pale light as the acid ate its way towards bone. He looked around quickly for what could have done such a thing and spotted them spiraling around the vale; three black dragons in a tight formation.
“Oh gods Rena! What can I do?” He moved to her head and put a hand on either side.
“I need a gold dragon,” she moaned.
Alador looked to Amaum who shook his great head. They did not have a gold dragon in their midst. “Hang on Rena, we will find something.”
He looked up to see that the black dragons were setting up for another run. “Amaum, warn the others.” He was sure they had seen the three, but he did not want anyone else caught off guard.
Amaum let out a great roar and some strange sounds as Alador turned to Nemara who had come back to the entrance. “Guard her,” he snapped. His tone left no room for argument. Nemara gave a single nod and moved to Rena’s head.
He swung around to see the three black dragons swinging around at the far end of the valley. “Take the left or right, the large one in the center is mine!” growled Alador. Amaum took off into the air calling the other dragons as he did.
Alador strode forward into the center of the compound, a large avenue between where the dragons had been chained led to the cave and to where Rena lay. As he moved forward, dragons swooped in pulling the left and right dragons off and a fight began mid-air. While the black dragons were outnumbered, their breath weapon of acid was deadly to any wing caught in its wake.
Alador had eyes only for the one in the center. He did not know which had caught Rena, but he had been their target and the one in the middle would be in charge. The dragon did not veer from its path towards Alador despite the battle raging to either side of it. Alador noted that Keensight moved to his left and a little behind him. Alador suspected that if he did not kill the dragon, Keensight and Pruatra would. He caught sight of Pruatra, sure enough positioning herself to his right.
His eyes flashed back to the black dragon now making its run. It dropped low into the valley and came straight at him. Alador came to rest in the ce
nter of the compound pulling power from every pool of water he could sense.
He held his hands together, letting the power build. The black dragon gave a final thrust of its wings as it approached the compound. It was as large as Keensight. Its hide was so black that the scales glimmered in the various flickering fires about them. Each wing had three points with talon hooks. Its true talons were outstretched and glimmered with some form of metal on each end.
Alador waited, just as he had so long ago with Keensight. The dragon would use its breath weapon as the acid was far more effective than any direct contact. The dragon jumped forward in his vision as he focused. Acid dripped from its fangs as the great mouth opened to draw the breath it needed to expel its breath weapon. Alador let his ball of lightning fly when the mouth was half open. He needed to catch it just before it began to breathe. The dragon was committed on its strafing run. Acid began to spew from its mouth about thirty feet from Alador, he back pedaled as the bright ball of light hit the back of the dragon’s mouth.
The dragon was knocked back by the force of the magic that hit it. It floundered, wings beating madly in an instinctive attempt at survival. Lightning rocketed through its head, out its mouth and danced along its wings. Keensight and Pruatra were already on the move, each sweeping in with their own weapons. Fire laced the floundering dragon from one side; steam hit it from the other. Its own acid was gasping out in sputtering upward waves. Fortunately, it had been knocked backwards enough by the three waves of magic and breath weapons that none of the remaining chained dragons were hit.
Alador did not intend to concede the killing of the beast to the two elder dragons. He hit it again with two smaller balls of lightning, one catching it in the right wing. It was too much for the wings and the dragon fell, belly up landing on the palisades of the stockade, a sharpened pole lanced through one wing and another through its chest, one wing was still blazing from the onslaught of Keensight’s fire. The other two black dragons were faltering under the onslaught of multiple dragons in the skies.
Pseudo-Dragon (The Blue Dragon's Geas Book 4) Page 35
