“So, about your surrender?” Benet asked.
“I am sorry, but we can’t do that,” Cass said.
“I hate that. Then I am sorry, but you leave me no choice. You both will be put in the dungeons here at the Dark Hold, and your dragons will stay in the Void. You will remain here as prisoners until this war is finished and Elizabeth comes to release you, if she so chooses.” Benet said calmly.
Benet turned to face Kne. “If you would be so kind as to have your people take our friends to their new home and make preparations for two dragons to be landing on the pad, one of them is probably a large silver dragon by now,” Benet said looking to Hayden.
Benet waited a few moments but when Kne did not respond or even move Benet asked again. “Is there something wrong? Have your people take them to the dungeons.” Benet commanded.
“When you said freedom, what did you mean?” Kne asked Cass.
“Freedom for the races to rule themselves, no more branding of children or those who get to become riders. Each race would get their own ruler or chief, one that they choose.” Cass said.
“No more branding?” Kne asked.
“No,” Cass replied sternly.
“What are you doing?” Benet asked Kne. “You and your people are part of the Metallic Nation, you have to join us,” Benet said, worry breaking through his voice.
Hayden stood up from his black leather chair. “The Sea Serpents, the elves, and the Frost Fangs all fought side by side together at the Ice Keep, as equals. Queen Kirin has taken back her people while the Sea Serpents are now led by a council of captains, and the Frost Fangs are led by Klarack. All members of their own races that they chose without the Metallic Nation intervening.”
“We are fighting for freedom Kne. For every race, including humans to be free.” Cass said as she stood as well. “If you and your people decide to join us, you will be fighting for your own freedom, not because someone is telling you-you have to fight.” Cass finished. Benet looked at the bone mask covering Kne’s face with a blank stare.
Hayden, a copper dragon is flying overhead. Draek’s voice interrupted their conversation. Hayden looked at Benet and saw the blank look that meant he was talking to his dragon.
“Kne, Elizabeth has commanded the Bone Thieves to join her on the battlefield. If you disobey her.” Benet shook his head. “Her wrath will be unforgiving when this war is over.” Benet looked directly into the eyes of the skeletal mask that Kne wore.
“That is if she wins this war,” Kne stated. Benet picked up his copper helmet and leaned back in his chair.
“If she wins,” Benet said, thinking of each word as he spoke them. He looked at his reflection on the back of the helmet. “If she wins.”
Benet carefully pulled the helmet over his head, covering his face and completing the copper armor he wore. “She will win. None of you understand just what she will do to make sure that she wins.”
Benet stood up and drew his copper blade, testing the balance of the blade in his hand. “I will be sure to tell Elizabeth of your decision here today,” Benet said stepping away from the group.
As silent as a shadow moving in the darkness, a Bone Thief appeared on either side of Benet, seeming to appear out of nothing. Before Benet could respond a third Bone Thief appeared behind the copper rider and pulled one of the rib bones out from the breastplate of bones the thief wore. The bone had been filed down to a sharpened point, and the Bone Thief put the bone to Benet’s neck.
“We will tell her ourselves,” Kne said from his chair.
Chapter Twenty-One
Draek and Shaylin stood side by side on the landing pad with two black dragons and Siron, Benet’s copper dragon. Siron was calm and did not try to flee as Benet was brought out of the Dark Hold to see his dragon face to face.
“We don’t know what Elizabeth has done to you or what she has threatened to do to you, but that doesn’t matter. You are a dragon rider for the Metallic Nation, our enemies. Because of that, we cannot let you go.” Cass said.
“You won’t kill me,” Benet said. They had taken his armor and his sword, leaving him in his grey clothes. “Your only option is to lock me in the dungeons until this war is over, as I was going to do to you,” Benet said. He did not speak as a prisoner would but still as a rider.
“You are wrong,” Cass said. “We can kill you; this is war. People die in war.” Cass said. Benet met her gaze and looked deep into her eyes, looking for the lie he knew she was telling. After a few moments, he dropped his gaze. He knew she was telling the truth. “There is no punishment that we will reap for killing you Benet, remember that.”
“However, I will not kill you because I truly believe you were forced into this just as Shane was forced to leave us. We knew you before the war started and you were a good person, an honest person and for that, we will spare your life.” Cass was speaking like the ruler she was destined to be.
Hayden had watched her struggle with the idea of ruling over the Metallic Nation before the battles had started, but now she had grown into the role. She had been forged into a leader.
“You will remain here but not in the dungeon. You will be watched at all times, and you will be allowed to go wherever you please in the Dark Hold. You and your dragon may even fly around this crater together but only with two black dragons flying with you.” Cass said, looking to Kne.
The Bone Thief’s bones clicked together as Kne nodded in agreement.
“I don’t understand,” Benet said, truly shocked.
“We will come for you when the war is over, and you will have to choose which side you are on when this is all finished. If you still believe that Elizabeth’s path is the right one when the war is over, then that is a decision you and your dragon will have to make. If you want to be a part of a better Arvain, then we can figure out how you can help us with that.” Cass said, still not smiling.
Benet nodded his head. “Thank you,” Benet said. Siron lowered his copper head until his eye was looking at Cass. He blinked one long time. “Siron thanks you as well.”
“Kne, we will need to leave in full force as soon as possible. We will leave behind three dragons and their riders to make sure the Benet stays our guest, and in the worst-case scenario they will teach the next generation of your dragon riders.” Hayden hated hearing worst-case scenarios; he did his best not to think about them. Cass always seemed to be a few steps ahead.
“A small portion of our forces have gone ahead with the Metallic Riders that were stationed here before,” Kne exclaimed.
“I sent them on ahead to a secondary fortress at the edge of the Shadow Desert called Aldreth Stronghold. They were instructed to stay there and wait for our arrival where we would march to Celestial City together.” Benet interrupted.
“How fortified is Aldreth Stronghold?” Cass asked.
“It is well fortified, but it will be manned by Bone Thieves and only four Metallic Dragons and the humans there will mostly be civilians. Once our people know that we are fighting for you, they will take the stronghold easily.” Kne stated.
“There are more than just four Metallic Riders and civilians Cass. Aldreth Stronghold is manned at all times by a company of Metallic Nation soldiers. There won’t be any more Metallic Dragons than the four copper dragons, but there will be almost a hundred soldiers.” Benet stepped up as he spoke.
“Again, the Bone Thieves will be able to take the stronghold easily. A hundred soldiers will be nothing for our people to deal with.” Kne assured them.
Hayden hated how little life was valued in war, but he knew this was part of what needed to be done. “They are good, honorable men there,” Benet argued.
“I know Benet,” Cass said. “If they stand down and surrender then we will allow them to come and join you here for the duration of the war. If not, if they take up arms against us then we will fight.” Benet looked from Cass to Hayden as Kne nodded.
“Let me go with you. If the men there see me, see that I am alive an unharme
d then they will surrender without a fight.” Benet pleaded.
“Or they would rally around you, and that would add another Metallic Dragon to their ranks.” Kne’s bones clinked together as Kne turned to face Cass.
All eyes fell on the golden rider to decide. They assumed that Benet spoke the truth, but in war, there was always a risk. Cass did not look to Hayden for advice; her eyes stayed locked on Benet’s.
“I am sorry my friend; I cannot risk it. The soldiers defending Aldreth Stronghold will have to take my word that we will not harm them if they surrender.” Benet lowered his gaze but accepted her words.
“They will not surrender at first then. You know as well as I do how they are trained, and they will try to fight. Some will not surrender until they are killed.” Benet’s voice rose like ominous prophecy.
“I know Benet,” Cass said strongly. “This is war, and I hope that many will surrender before their deaths become necessary.” The Bone Thieves around Benet turned the rider around and walked him back to the Dark Hold while his dragon looked at Cass one last time before flying down into the canyon below.
“How soon can your people that are here be ready to march and fight?” Cass asked Kne.
“The night is late already, and soon the sun will rise. It is best that we wait until the new. It will give time for those going off to war to prepare themselves and their families for what is to come.” Kne did not sound sad as the Bone Thief spoke. It was a simple statement.
“Fine, send the word,” Cass said with authority. Kne nodded and walked away with the other Bone Thieves. The black dragons walked off the edge of the landing pad and disappeared into the darkness.
Cass and Hayden were left alone on the landing pad, but neither was eager to speak.
“You are truly becoming a Queen now.” Hayden complimented.
“I am Queen, Hayden. I have to act like it, or the people will not follow me.” Cass said without joy. “I have to do what’s best for the people, all the people and not just those of the Metallic Nation.” Cass insisted as she looked out over the wasteland surrounding them.
“Benet could have come with us, and I trust that he would have been able to convince the soldiers held up at the Aldreth Stronghold to surrender without a fight. I think the dragon riders would have been harder to convince, but they might have.” Cass explained.
“Why didn’t you let him try then? If you thought he wouldn’t have turned on us?” Hayden asked, thinking ahead of the battle that was sure to come.
“Because although I think he would not turn on us, I am not positive. More importantly what kind of message would that send to the Bone Thieves? They already want Benet killed just because he is a rider and they are wary of me now because I would not allow them to kill him.” Cass rubbed her forehead as she spoke as if she was in pain.
“At the very least I had to imprison him but again they wanted him and his dragon chained and kept in darkness. They want blood, Hayden. No, they demand blood. It is their way of life, their custom and they have been wronged just as the other races have and they want justice.” Hayden listened as Cass explained what was happening behind her words and choices.
“Justice or revenge?” Hayden asked,
“Is there that big of a difference between the two? They want to fight, and we need to take the stronghold. We can’t truly trust Benet to not turn on us or warn their dragons as we neared the stronghold. If we did allow him to try and he was able to do as he hoped, then the Bone Thieves would think we stole their chance to get even and once again the Metallic Nation was put above their own.” Cass took a deep breath when she finished.
“What’s done is done I guess. I know that we couldn’t defeat the Metallic Nation without any more fights. I hoped that the next one would be the last one.” Hayden admitted.
“We are getting close Hayden, very close to the end,” Cass confirmed with a smile. “Soon we will have the numbers and the dragons to defeat them,” Cass said with more energy than Hayden had heard her have since Shane had left.
“I know, especially with Elizabeth summoning all her troops and dragon riders to Celestial City along with the other races.” Hayden agreed.
“What?” Cass asked.
“Elizabeth is summoning all her troops and riders back to Celestial City,” Hayden stated. “That copper rider that Shane left with, Catrin was her name I think. She took Shane back to the city, and Benet was here to bring in the Bone Thieves and all the riders here back with him.” Cass narrowed her gaze at Hayden as he spoke.
“And remember when we took the Ice Keep? The Metallic Riders there were bringing all the tribes together to march them to Celestial City.” Hayden stated.
“She is massing her army together,” Cass said more to herself than to Hayden. She broke eye contact with him and looked down at her hand. The dry wind blew some of her dark hair into her face, but she seemed not to notice.
“That’s what I am guessing.” Hayden agreed.
“She is abandoning all of Arvain,” Cass said in almost a whisper.
“What do you mean she is abandoning all of Arvain? She is the Queen.” Hayden asked, trying to make sense of what Cass was getting at.
“She is, and we are at war. We are advancing on her, and she is retreating when she doesn’t have to. She is refusing to meet us in battle until we surround Celestial City.” Cass still refused to look up as she spoke. “We knew that they were massing their armies together but I thought for sure they would meet us in open battle somewhere they thought they would have the advantage at. It seems though that is not the case and everyone is going to Celestial City.”
Hayden felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as another breeze swept across the landing pad. This time Cass raised her hand to pull her loose hair behind her ear. Her hand seemed to move of its own accord.
Hayden felt like someone was watching them and he turned to find Kne standing like a gruesome dark statue directly behind him. It made Hayden jump back and reach for his sword, but Cass didn’t seem to even notice the Bone Thief.
“She is going to risk it all in one battle, and she is going to let us surround her, and we are going to have the dragons and the numbers. She knows all of this, or she will soon enough.” Cass said, her brow coming together as she was deep in thought.
“That sounds like she is desperate, and she knows we are going to win,” Kne said, the Bone Thieves’ voice dry as the wind.
“If you knew her you would know that she is never desperate. She is always two steps ahead and always has a plan to win.” Cass said shaking her head. “She has a plan, and we are playing into her plan.”
“We can’t stop though,” Hayden said. “Kirin and the elves, the Frost Fangs, and the Sea Serpents should all be getting close to Celestial City by now. With us leaving tomorrow if the fight for Aldreth Stronghold takes longer than a day we might be late to the fight at Celestial City. It’s too late to get word to them to stop or wait.” Hayden said as he tried to think of a way out of the problems he was coming up with.
“No, there is no way to stop what we have started.” Cass agreed. Hayden thought he heard the sound of fear in her voice, but he wasn’t sure.
“You are underestimating the power of my people. When Aldreth Stronghold falls you will see what we can do, and you will know that your fears have been misplaced.” Kne assured them.
“I might be underestimating what the Bone Thieves can do, I will admit, but Elizabeth knows full well what you can do. She knows what all of Arvain can do, and she welcomes us to fight on her battlefield, on her terms. She has a plan Kne; I promise you she has a plan, and she is not worried about us.” Cass said.
“What do we need to do?” Hayden asked.
“I am not sure Hayden,” Cass said sadly. “There is so much unknown, and we have to plan for multiple possible moves and find ways to counter each of them.”
“If I may, my Queen,” Kne said formally. It was odd to hear her referred to as Queen, but he needed to get
used to hearing it and saying it. “I believe I might have an idea, but first, the prisoner would like a word with Hayden.”
Hayden wanted to wait and hear what Kne had to say and more importantly, what Cass had to say. Cass nodded her head to Hayden before he could voice his thoughts.
“I would rather you not speak with Benet. He is probably going to complain about my ruling, but he might have some advice for the taking the stronghold. Go and let me know what he says the moment you are through with him.” Cass said. She didn’t command Hayden as she did the others, but Hayden didn’t want to test her orders.
Hayden nodded his head and gave a slight bow to Cass. As he turned, he nodded to Kne as well but did not give the Bone Thief a bow. “And Hayden,” Cass added, causing Hayden to stop mid-step and turn to face his friend.
“Please don’t speak of our problem with Benet. I still don’t believe that he means us any harm, but what you and I discuss, especially regarding our future plans, I would ask that you keep them between you and me.” Cass asked with a slight frown, making sure Hayden understood the importance of what she was saying.
“I do my Queen,” Hayden replied formally. “Thank you for trusting me,” Hayden added with a smile. Cass smiled back, and for a few moments, they were no longer Queen and subject. They were no longer in the midst of a war that was turning quickly around them.
“Of course, Hayden. You are my closest friend and fellow rider. No one knows me better than you, and there is no one I trust more than you.” Cass said with all seriousness. Hayden had never heard Cass speak so highly of him and it made him smile.
“Which is good because if we survive all this and we manage to win, I am going to need you to sit on the silver throne with me,” Cass said. Hayden was about to thank his friend for the words she had said.
He had wanted to reply and tell her how important she had grown to be to him. How much he relied on her as a leader and as a friend. Instead, he stood there and looked at her as if she was speaking a different language.
The Dream of Shadows (The Dragon Riders of Arvain Book 3) Page 17
