Order Of The Dragon (Omnibus 1-4)

by Jason Halstead

  Garrick closed his mouth and nodded.

  "Honored to meet you," Halfdir said. He rose from the table to an impressive height, though Garrick still towered over him, and offered his hand to the barbarian. Once Garrick clasped forearms with him, Halfdir continued, "Alto sailed to the south to Shazamir. We expect him back before fall. What brings you here?"

  Garrick stiffened at the news. "Shazamir? What's that?"

  Mordrim hopped off his chair and picked up his hammer. "Kingdom to the south in the desert. I'll tell you over an ale."

  "Wait, are we done here? We've much to discuss still," Halfdir said.

  "I came looking for Alto. I ran across a band of ogres in the mountains to the east. They came looking for war."

  "Not so uncommon," Halfdir said. "They are ogres."

  "Never seen that many at once except for when Sarya pulled the tribes together," Garrick said.

  "How many?" Mordrim asked.

  "Forty, maybe more."

  "Forty ogres! That's a war band," Mordrim grumbled.

  "You were wise to avoid them," Halfdir said.

  Garrick laughed. "I killed half their number and fought their leader. Cut his jewels off and sent them running to the hills, but not in time."

  Halfdir scoffed. "You slew more than a score of ogres?"

  Mordrim tightened his grip on his hammer and ignored the kelgryn man. "In time for what?" he asked Garrick.

  "They killed a family and burned their home. The man's youngest son, Borwin, came with me."

  Halfdir frowned. "Where is he now?"

  Garrick turned to him and said, "With clan Snowbear. They will teach him to be a man and keep the Spottedwolf clan alive."

  "This is troubling," Halfdir agreed. "The dragon is dead—what drives them to attack? You yourself killed the dragon's general, or so it's said."

  Mordrim held up his hammer. "He did. I seen it with my own eyes and he used this hammer to do it."

  Garrick let his chest swell with pride before he said, "That's why I wanted Alto. I want help searching the mountains. There's no man who knows them as well as Alto who I trust."

  Mordrim lowered his hammer and shook his head. "He's not here, but we need to know more. He left months ago and might be back in Holgasford now or soon. We should go there."

  "We?"

  "You think I'll be letting you do this on your own? Lady Patrina's with him and no doubt that boy's gotten her into trouble of some sort by now." Mordrim snorted.

  Garrick nodded and forced his lips to stay down when he said, "Fine, just try not to get underfoot."

  * * * *

  Garrick knew Mordrim's stamina was legendary but he still took delight in pushing the stocky man as they ran throughout the day. The northerner's longer legs ate up the distance and forced the dwarf to push his legs twice as fast to keep up.

  Their camp that first night was among the hills with the stars shining down on them. They were dining on dried meats and ale when Mordrim looked at the barbarian and asked, "You planning to run tomorrow like that giant's family is chasing you?"

  Garrick looked at his friend and smiled. He poked the fire with a spare log and tossed it in, and then shrugged. "Might be important that we get there and let them know something's going on."

  "And it might be that they're still in the southlands," Mordrim said.

  Garrick nodded and took a drink of ale. He tied off the skin and offered it to the dwarf, only to have Mordrim shake his head. Garrick shrugged and set it on the ground beside him. "How goes the mines?"

  "It's a mess. Some chambers and passages are fine. Most aren't. Clearing out the dead was the worst part," Mordrim said. "In places, they were trapped and ran out of air. In others, they had air, but no food or water. We got no way of knowing but I'm thinking the ogres and goblins fell to eating each other. No idea what happened with the men down there, but most of what we found was bones and a few bodies with rotting meat on them."

  Garrick grimaced. "Going to reopen the mines?"

  Mordrim nodded. "Soon. A month or two more. More mines than we got the dwarves to dig. Strong man like you could do some good down there. Ever think of mining?"

  Garrick scowled. "I spent enough time in caves. I'll take the tundra and open sky."

  Mordrim glanced up at the stars. "Suit yourself. No roof overhead has a way of making a man feel small."

  Garrick laughed. "That why there's no Mrs. Mordrim?"

  The dwarf's cheeks flushed under his beard. "Bah, you're a fool!" He stared into the fire and crossed his arms.

  Garrick smirked and let the silence draw on. The barbarian stared up at the night sky above and picked out the groups of stars his father had told him stories about as a child. The history of his people was written in the stars, his father had taught him. Garrick frowned. If enough ogres and giants came out of the mountains, the stars would remain but there'd be no one left to tell their stories.

  "How's the north been?" Mordrim asked after several minutes had passed.

  "Good, until now," Garrick said.

  "Heard you weren't to go back until the news of the mountains had been found?"

  Garrick nodded. "Word spread by the time I reached them. I went home to a hero's welcome."

  "That's good."

  The barbarian shrugged. "More was expected of me. Men came from other clans and villages to meet me and introduce their daughters to me. Seemed I was expected to take a woman."

  Mordrim laughed. "I don't remember you having trouble when it came to taking women!"

  It was Garrick's turn to turn red. "Not like that. I mean as a mate. A wife."

  Mordrim chuckled. "Were there any?"

  "There were a few good ones. One, in particular," Garrick trailed off as he thought back to the shy but strong Kendall.

  "Well? What of her? You going to have little Garricks running around the north?"

  "She's dead."

  "Oh!" Mordrim fell silent and stared into the fire again.

  Garrick shrugged it away. "She was part of the family the ogres came after."

  Mordrim grimaced but offered nothing in return. The dwarf used his boot to shift a few logs in the fire and then looked at the ground around him. "Well, if we've another day of running ahead, we'd best get some rest."

  Garrick grunted, "I'll take first watch."

  "I'll let you," Mordrim said as he shifted and lay on the soft grass.

  Garrick stared into the darkness and listened to the sounds of the night, becoming accustomed to them. He was about to rise and stretch when the dwarf rolled over and stared at him, his dark eyes glittering with the firelight.

  "Sorry to hear about the girl," Mordrim offered.

  Garrick nodded. "I fought the ogres with her father and brother, but there were too many. Her brother was killed and her father hurt. I kept the ogres busy while he ran to the house and made sure his wife and daughter were taken care of."

  "Taken care of?" Mordrim leaned up on his elbow.

  Garrick nodded. "The men would be killed, but women the ogres would use."

  "Use?"

  Garrick nodded. "Slaves, until they died from the abuse."

  "You mean…"

  "Yes, they'd be passed among the ogres until they were of no more use."

  "That's savage!" Mordrim growled.

  "Better a clean death."

  "I'm glad they got it then." The dwarf shook his head and lay back down. "You survived. Do you think they might have if they held out longer?"

  "No," Garrick said. "I've thought on that already. Had the house not been burning, they would have fought on. They had no more reason to fight with the spoils of war gone and me proving no easy victim."

  Mordrim blew out a sigh. "Again, I'm sorry."

  Garrick accepted the condolences and listened as Mordrim's breathing soon grew even and deep. He rose up and walked around the campsite, staring into the wilderness and keeping watch from a distance. His thoughts strayed to Patrina, the woman who had first captivated him. He ac
cepted her interest lay elsewhere, though, but then he'd met Alto's sister, Caitlyn. She had surprised him, at once soft and troubled but at other times strong and clever. Then she'd met the southlander and been swept up in his mystery. Garrick had left Holgasford behind then, disgusted by the man's exotic ways and longing for home.

  And now Caitlyn had gone south to marry the southlander. Kendall was dead. Patrina had no interest in him. All he had was a snoring dwarf for a companion. Garrick smirked and shook his head. At the very least he could go wake the dwarf up and make him take his turn at watch.

  * * * *

  "Mordrim! Garrick! It's good to see you. Tell me, has an agreement been reached at last?" Jarl Teorfyr asked two days later.

  Both men jumped up from the table they'd been sitting at and stood stiffly. Garrick chewed down the meat in his mouth and swallowed it noisily, and then glanced at his cup on the table. Mordrim glanced up at Garrick and then back to the jarl.

  "Not exactly, Jarl," Mordrim said. "Negotiations continue. At this rate they'll be ready to build inside of five years."

  Teorfyr scowled. "When we discussed bringing your people back to the mines, this was part of the deal."

  "I know that!" Mordrim sputtered. "It's what I told King Grimdar when I sent my letter. You saw it!"

  Teorfyr blew out a frustrated sigh and sat at the other side of the table. He waited and then motioned to both of them. "Sit, eat! You have the looks of men who have been too long without rest or a proper meal."

  "Too right," Mordrim muttered.

  "So what is the holdup now? When Alto left, he felt progress was being made. Halfdir has done next to nothing since."

  Mordrim nodded. "He's not committing to much. I think he fears making too many concessions."

  "What did Alto do?"

  "Alto's a stronger negotiator," Mordrim conceded. "And my kin feel indebted to him for discovering the mines and helping to clear them. Then there's that bit with the dragon."

  "Aren't you betraying your people, telling us this?" Garrick turned to Mordrim and asked.

  "Bah, just the greedy fools at the top. The rest of us would rather have things working proper."

  "Maybe you should be in charge," Garrick suggested.

  Mordrim scowled at him. "I told them I wanted no part of it and I meant it. Besides, I spent too much time walking among humans; I don't see things the same way as much anymore."

  Garrick chuckled. "Got a long walk to go and stumpy legs to do it."

  Mordrim shook his head and looked to Teorfyr for assistance. The jarl chuckled and turned to Garrick. "What brings you down from the north, Garrick?"

  "Ran out of snow bears to cuddle up to," Mordrim suggested. The dwarf gasped and turned to Garrick. "Wait a minute, that's why I never seen no northern women! They must be the polar bears!"

  "Ogres," Garrick said, ignoring Mordrim. "I witnessed a war band of over forty destroy the home of a family north of the mountains."

  "Forty? That's a large group for a raid," Teorfyr said.

  Garrick nodded. "More than three times. And this is the first I've heard of since the dragon was killed."

  Teorfyr nodded. "You fear there's more than just ogres working together?"

  Garrick nodded. "No one I trust knows the mountains as well as Alto, but he's gone."

  "To the south. I expect him back soon enough. Patrina and Namitus are with him; they went south for Caitlyn's wedding."

  Garrick stiffened and nodded.

  Teorfyr caught the movement. "I preferred you to Lord Sulim," the jarl offered.

  Garrick took a drink and pushed his plate back. "Will you tell Alto of what I have seen?"

  Teorfyr's brows furrowed. "You're leaving? Why not wait for him to return?"

  "The ogres didn't wait before butchering my people."

  "I understand," Teorfyr sighed. "Where will you go?"

  "Highpeak," Garrick said. "Tristam still rules?"

  Teorfyr nodded.

  "Then yes, I will go to Highpeak."

  "Drat, there'll be no agreement this year then," Mordrim grumbled.

  "Rockwood? Why not?" Teorfyr asked.

  "I'm the only one talking to the dwarves to get them to reason. Without me, there'll be no hope."

  Garrick smiled. "Think you can keep up?"

  "Think you can keep from trying to romance any animals we happen across?"

  "Jarl!"

  Garrick and Mordrim turned to see a guard rushing across the hall towards them. Teorfyr frowned and rose. "What news?"

  "Jarl, the Kraken's returned," the guard said in a rush.

  "Kraken?" Garrick asked.

  "Sea monster," Mordrim explained.

  "No, it's the name of the ship Alto and Patrina sailed south on," Teorfyr said. "It seems you need not go alone after all."

  The guard glanced back and forth between the three men. He forced his breathing even and then shook his head. "My lord, they're not on the ship."

  "They're not? What nonsense is this, a ghost ship?"

  "No, Jarl, the crew is there but Lady Patrina and her companions are not on it," he explained.

  Teorfyr's eyes narrowed. "What is the meaning of this?"

  The door to the hall opened before the guard could attempt an answer. A pair of men walked in, their legs and bodies stiff and awkward. "This man says my daughter and her betrothed are missing. Is this true?"

  "Aye, Jarl, it is," one of the men said.

  "Well, damn your eyes, Taldar, why?" the jarl demanded.

  Taldar, the captain of the Kraken, turned to the other man. "This is Dorgin. He was one of the men who took them ashore in a longboat. We waited but they never returned!"

  "Ashore where?"

  "The isle of Britanly," he said. "Alto and the lady insisted upon it even though we told them it was haunted."

  "We heard the ghosts of the Britanly that first night," Dorgin nodded his head and said. "Them ghosts knew they came ashore!"

  "How far is the island?" Mordrim asked.

  "Two days if the wind favors you," Taldar said.

  Mordrim turned to Garrick. "I'm sorry, my friend, but I can't go with you to Highpeak."

  "We'll still go," Garrick said, "but we'll take the longer route by way of this island they speak of."

  "We'll all be going," Teorfyr said. "I'll raise the fleet and—"

  "No," Mordrim turned back to him and said. "If Garrick's right, there might be trouble in the mountains coming."

  Teorfyr swore and looked at Taldar. "Did they say why they wanted to stop?"

  "Not in plain words but I think they were looking for some fun before they returned."

  "Fun?" Teorfyr spat out. "What fun is it now, to have them missing? Perhaps even dead."

  Before Teorfyr could say more, Mordrim caught sight of Lady Kenna, his wife, entering the hall. Mordrim coughed and muttered under his breath, "Lady Kenna comes!"

  He looked at Garrick and then at Mordrim. "Not a word of this to her. You will go?"

  Both men looked at each other and then to the jarl. Without a word, they nodded.

  Teorfyr looked at Taldar and said, "You will take them. Resupply immediately and set sail. Same crew, leave no man behind. No one is to know of this!"

  Taldar nodded.

  "I'll send a rider to the kingdom," he continued. "Stop at Amderfell. I'll see to it that your other friends, the priest and wizard, meet you there. Wait for them if you must. I'll have the messengers kill their horses if they must to speed their journey. Now go and may the saint's breath fill your sail."

  Chapter 10

  "Do you hear that?" Namitus hissed.

  The rogue's companions stopped and listened. Alto and Patrina looked at each other and then Namitus. "Sounds like a woman wailing," Alto said.

  "That's no woman," Patrina said. She paused and then nodded. "Nobody's got that much wind in the chest."

  "Sounds like a long ways away," Alto added.

  Namitus chuckled. "That's the wind carrying it away."

/>   Alto frowned and bent down to pick up a handful of the fine sand from the beach. He tossed it up in the air and watched as it swirled about. He frowned. "The sailors said the wind was blowing to the west, but now I'm not sure."

  "It's probably shifting," Patrina said. "That happens at night sometimes."

  "Why?" Alto asked.

  Patrina shrugged. "I live inland, not on the sea. I don't spend much time on the sea."

  "The air cools but the water is warm from the sun; it changes things," Namitus said.

  "Oh, so now you're a sailor?" Patrina asked.

  Namitus snorted. "Hardly. I keep my ears open, that's all."

  "Come on," Alto said. "Woman or beast, we won't find it standing on the beach."

  The others followed the young warrior as he trudged through the sand. He passed a line of tall grasses that marked the end of the beach and firmer footing before the sand was packed hard enough for trees and bushes to grow out of it. Alto frowned until he saw a path that seemed filled more with grass and weeds than it did with trees and heavier undergrowth.

  "Where are you going?" Patrina hissed.

  Alto shrugged. "Following a path."

  "This is a path?" she challenged.

  "Yes. Or at least it used to be."

  Patrina harrumphed but made no other noise. Alto took that as a sign to continue, at least for now. He pushed through the waist-high grass and kept scanning ahead of him. He'd convinced Tristam that he knew how to track when he joined the retired warrior's company, the Blades of Leander. With Tristam's injuries and promotion to baron of Highpeak, the Blades of Leander had fallen to Alto to lead. Alto had other duties ahead of him, but his friends and the company, now renamed the Band of the Dying Dragon, were never far from his mind.

  Alto had learned how to track passably well, and then his time alone in the mountains had forced him to hone his survival skills. The tropical island held terrain unlike anything he was accustomed to but he figured his self-taught survival skills were better than nothing.

  A snuffling and grunting sound brought him to a halt. Alto reached for his sword but it barely cleared the scabbard before something gray and brown burst out of the foliage and slammed into his left thigh and hip.

  Alto cried out as he was knocked to the ground. The impact jarred his magical blade free from his hand. Without contact with the bonded weapon, Alto felt worn down and weak. The creature that knocked him down pawed at him with sharp hooves and tusks that struck his plate and pushed him deeper into the grass.