Order Of The Dragon (Omnibus 1-4)

by Jason Halstead

  "Jennaca is not a mistake!" the beastmistress all but growled. Whiskers and Brokenpaw shifted beside her. The rat dropped to all fours while the swamp cat crouched low and bared his teeth.

  Aleena's breath hissed through her teeth. She held out a hand and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

  Jethallin relaxed and nodded. The animals beside her settled down. Brokenpaw lifted his foot to bite at the fur on his leg. "She's with Thork."

  Groans and curses followed her admission. Aleena and Celos looked around and then at each other. "Thork?" Aleena asked. She looked at Alto and asked, "Isn't that the troll that helped you forge the sword you killed Sarya with in Highpeak?"

  "Thork's here?" Alto asked. "I figured he would be. I think he even said he'd see us up here."

  "He's not here," Jethallin said and then glanced around. "At least I don't think he is. He found me in the forest near the mountains south and west of here. He told me that someone would need my help and sent me on my way. He and his goblin apprentice promised to look after Jennaca while I helped out."

  Kar chuckled. "Saint Leander provides, all right."

  Celos stiffened and Aleena bristled. "I prayed for deliverance and Jethallin showed up with her friends."

  Kar managed a straight face before saying, "Jethallin, sent by a scion of Saint Jarook."

  Aleena frowned and then reached up to the symbol of the sun hanging from a fine golden chain on her neck. "The saints work in mysterious ways."

  "Indeed they do," Alto agreed before he sent a warning glare at the wizard. "Now about meeting Queen Rosalyn."

  "What about Graak?" Garrick asked.

  Aleena scowled. "He escaped us. We tracked him back to the mountains but we don't know where he is."

  "These mountains are filled with tunnels," Alto said. "I found many when I hunted Sarya."

  "True enough," Mordrim agreed. "Some run the length and breadth from the western edge to the mines in the east."

  "Dwarves beneath us?" Aleena asked.

  Mordrim tugged his beard and shook his head. "No, they'd stay in the east and guard the tunnels. Used to be, in times long past, trade routes beneath the mountains, though. Ages ago, before the elves grew feral and men ruled the lands south of here."

  Kar snorted and turned on the dwarf. "You're not old enough to know what times were like back then!"

  "Perhaps not, but I learned of the north before I began my quest to find the lost mines of my ancestors!"

  Kar rolled his eyes and turned to look at the others. "Well, there you have it, tunnels and feral elves."

  "No longer," Celos said.

  Aleena nodded and added, "Every elf we found is dead. If any survived, they've fled the forest. It belongs to the scavengers now."

  "Nature will reclaim it," Jethallin said and then swallowed when she saw everyone looking at her. "Um, I meant the animals will take care of things and the trees and plants will grow back."

  Alto walked over to Jethallin and looked her up and down. He caught Patrina watching him closely but he ignored her for the moment. "When I saw you last, you were dressed in rags and didn't know how to fight."

  Jethallin glanced at the dagger at one hip and the sword at her other side and then looked up at him. "I've learned a lot since you left. Your friends inspired me, especially Lady Patrina."

  Patrina started and took her hand off her weapon belt that held her axe strapped to her back. "I inspired you?"

  Jethallin nodded. "I didn't know women could be warriors until I saw you. I learned to fight and many adventures brought me north, in hopes that I could pledge myself to Alto's cause."

  Celos sniffed and Aleena gasped. "Alto's cause? What cause do you have? I thought you'd become a Kelgryn noble?"

  Alto sighed. "I sought the destruction of the Order of the Dragon," he said. "I've done as much as one man can, for now. At least until they show their face again."

  Jethallin let out a laugh along with Kar. She swallowed her laugh and looked away from the wizard as soon as she realized it. Kar raised a bushy eyebrow and then winked at her. "The boy's killed more dragons in his young life than even the Knights of Leander can claim since their inception."

  "You speak heresy!" Celos growled and turned to face the wizard.

  Kar nodded and said, "As often as I can! But not in this instance. Myskrakoth, Shazamir, and Sarya. That's three dragons. Leander's faithful have only claimed one that I can recall. Sarya wasn't slain until Alto here—"

  "I didn't kill Sarya," Alto said.

  Celos and Aleena turned to look at each other and then back. "Then who did? The bones—I saw them."

  Kar chuckled. "Well, yes, there is that."

  "Wizard, speak plainly!" Celos demanded.

  Alto let out a bitter laugh. "Good luck with that. What he means is that my sword would have killed her, save that the ritual was begun. Her soul is trapped and she is still alive."

  "Trapped? Where?" Aleena asked. Her eyes went to her sword and armor and she took a step closer to it.

  "The statue," Kar said.

  Aleena's mouth fell open. She turned to look at Celos and then stared at the entrance to the mountain. "I've hated that statue since the first time I laid eyes on it," she said. "It feels alive, like it watches me."

  "She probably is," Kar offered.

  "And Queen Rosalyn spends so much time near it, I've feared for her safety a few times. I've prayed for her." Aleena turned to look at Alto. "Did you know the queen came from a small village in the Kingdom? She was like you, a farm girl."

  Garrick snorted and Carson grinned.

  Aleena blushed and shook her head. "I don't mean you were a girl. I mean you—"

  Alto nodded. "We know what you meant. Garrick and Carson haven't spent much time in the company of civilized women who know how to bathe regularly."

  "Beastmistress," Mordrim tried—and failed—to whisper to the barbarian.

  Jethallin's eyes widened and she glanced at herself. Her nostrils flared and then her eyes narrowed as she looked at the dwarf.

  "What are your plans?" Aleena asked. She stepped over to her armor and picked up her cuirass. Her eyes went to Celos and the paladin moved to help her hold the plates in place and buckle them on.

  Alto watched her don her armor and said, "We came to find out if Sarya is still trapped. Wizards, both those in the south, those in the Order, and even Kar, believe she could break free any time, if not already. Especially with outside help. Have there been any wizards or witches here?"

  Aleena stopped and turned, one dented shoulder piece sticking up at an angle. "The queen is a witch and she spends much time with the statue. But she's a good woman. She has noble values and laws!"

  Alto frowned. "Does she?"

  "Yes, she does," Aleena stated.

  "Then let us meet with her and discuss things," Patrina stepped next to Alto and said.

  Aleena nodded and finished fixing her pauldron. "We will all go." She moved on to affix the single greave she had and then girded her sword to her waist. She nodded to Celos and the two of them turned and headed for the passage into the mountain.

  Garrick and Kar climbed to their feet and followed after the rest of them. "What about Karthor?" Namitus asked.

  "Try not to get yourself stuck and it won't matter," Kar advised.

  "Better yet," Alto said over his shoulder, "try not to get in any fights."

  A low chuckle was shared by several of the companions but it was Patrina who put a voice to the amusement. "In case you haven't noticed, fights tend to break out around you a lot."

  Alto frowned and realized his hand was on the hilt of his sword. He removed his hand and hurried to catch up to the paladins. Jethallin had fallen in with Alto's friends, Whiskers and Brokenpaw moving close behind her.

  They returned to the small chamber with the bench and the doors and this time Aleena led them through the door that went up towards Sarya's lair. After a dozen steps, Alto had to stop to avoid running into her. He could hear
gruff voices ahead but he couldn't make out the words. Aleena turned to meet his and Patrina's gaze.

  They could see the fire in her eyes as she hissed. "I hear Graak!"

  "Graak?" Garrick growled from his place down the passage. "Time I finished what I started."

  "I vowed to bring him to justice," Aleena hissed.

  "Garrick, Justice—you can call me whatever you want," the barbarian quipped.

  Namitus snorted but held his tongue.

  "If he's here, he's up to no good," Celos warned her. "We should hurry. Rosalyn may be in danger."

  "How did he get up here without anyone telling me?" Aleena wondered.

  "Questions later," Alto urged.

  Aleena frowned and then nodded. She reached down to put her hand on the hilt of her sword and then continued up the passage until they reached the door at the top. She opened it and stepped through, only to see a score of Graak's lieutenants standing between them and him. Graak was addressing the queen from where she stood in front of the massive silver statue of the dragon.

  "Saints above," Carson whispered as he laid eyes on the immense statue.

  "Aleena!" Graak hissed as he saw her. "You traitorous bitch! You will—"

  Garrick roared and pushed through the others so he could draw his great sword and face the ogre. Blue flames leapt up the blade. "Time I finished the cut I made last time we met."

  Graak's eyes widened and the ogre's ruddy cheeks paled. He howled and yanked the massive sword hanging from his back free.

  "Enough!" the queen shouted, her voice amplified to set the mortal enemies back. When Graak and Garrick stood their ground, glaring at each other, she moved to the ogre's side and looked at Alto and his companions. "Who are these people?"

  Aleena stepped forward to address her. "My queen, what's he doing here? Are you in danger?"

  "Danger? No," Rosalyn said. "Now tell me, who are they?"

  "Alto!" Kar hissed.

  Alto held his hand behind him to silence the wizard.

  "Queen Rosalyn, this is Alto and his companions: Lady Patrina, Namitus, Kar, Garrick, Mordrim, and a new member of his company I've not met before, Carson. You've already met Jethallin, the beastmistress who brought the forest to our aid to defeat this butcher's army."

  Graak snarled at her and took a step forward. Garrick mirrored the step until Rosalyn snapped, "Stop!"

  "You promised me his head," Graak growled at her.

  She stepped around Graak, ignoring him, and started towards Alto. She nodded her head at Alto and stopped. "Yes, yes, you are. It's been so long."

  Alto turned to Patrina and then looked at the witch again. "So long? Have we met?"

  She smiled. "I'm here because of you, Alto. You were supposed to save me. Instead, you made me something greater than I could have ever been on my own."

  Alto turned to Patrina again. She shook her head so he looked at the others and saw Kar scowling. He turned away from the wizard and looked back at her. "You don't look like you need saving," Alto said.

  Her nostrils flared and she took several quick and deep breaths. The queen closed her eyes and lowered her head. She folded her arms across her chest and sank her long fingernails into the dress she wore. Flames erupted at her feet and swept up her body, hiding her in a brief pyre of flames. They disappeared just as quickly, leaving behind the smell of burnt clothing and the emaciated-looking queen in her flesh and the patterns of magical runes tattooed under her flesh.

  "Do simple maidens look like this?" she spat before raising her head and glaring at them with a noticeable red glint in her eyes.

  Alto wrenched his eyes from her face and looked up at the dragon statue behind her. The rubies had the same gleam in them. He pulled his sword free and started forward until Aleena stepped in front of him. "Put your sword away!" Aleena demanded.

  "She's got some of the dragon's power in her," Kar warned.

  "Aleena, step away," Alto said. "I've got to finish what I started."

  "Oh, you finished it years ago," Queen Rosalyn said with a laugh that was nearly a cackle. "I saw my parents send you into the swamp to find me, but you fled as soon as you saw the wizard's cottage. He tormented me and used me for his sick pleasures, but he taught me how to be a witch, too. Taught me enough that one day I could kill him and steal his powers that he'd been given by the dark corruption in the forest."

  Aleena gasped and turned to face Queen Rosalyn. "The wizard in the swamp!" she said. "And the nymph, Nallipura."

  Kar snapped his fingers. "Of course!"

  Alto spared the wizard a quick glance and then looked back at Rosalyn. "We thought you were dead. Killed by the giant wasps."

  "I wasn't," she snapped. "I put all my hope into you. All the pain and torment he inflicted went away when I thought of you saving me. But you turned your back on me, like my parents did. Like everyone did! I had to survive on my own and that meant I needed power. I needed the wizard Therion's power, and then I came here to gather more."

  "Alto!" Kar warned as Rosalyn sucked in her breath.

  The possessed queen exhaled a stream of fire from her mouth that streaked across the room towards Alto. Kar's warning gave him time to grab his shield off his back and block the lance of flames. Instead of roasting him alive, they bounced off the magical shield and left his arm and legs hot to the touch.

  "Rosalyn!" Aleena shouted as the flames passed by her close enough to warm her armor and face.

  "Enough talk," Graak growled.

  "You. Will. Be. Silent!" Rosalyn shouted as she turned and thrust her hand out at the ogre. Graak stumbled back and looked down at the harness on his chest that was writhing under its own accord. It shrank and constricted, tightening against him and making his breath wheeze from his mouth.

  The other ogres stood dumbstruck until Graak waved his massive sword and managed to signal without words for them to attack. Celos intercepted the first ogre and took the behemoth's sword on his arm with a clang of steel against plate. Celos stumbled back and shook his hand while reaching for his great sword with his other arm. Mordrim joined the paladin and intercepted one of the other ogres before the brute could flank the paladin.

  "Rosalyn, stop!" Aleena cried out again. "This isn't you! I've seen what a fair and just person you are. You've been ensorcelled by the spirit of the dragon. You—"

  Aleena grunted as Patrina pulled her back out of the way of the swing of an ogre's sword and then stepped in to return a strike with her axe. The ogre avoided her shorter reach and displayed his sharp teeth in a wicked grin.

  Garrick rushed into the ogres that came towards them and hit the first one in the side with his shoulder, knocking the brute off balance and into another of Graak's bodyguards. He swung his sword into the thigh of the next one that moved to get in his way, hewing into the muscle far enough to make the large man crash to the ground. The fallen ogre left his sword where it skidded across the stone floor and tried to stem the flow of blood running from his leg.

  Carson moved to string his bow, bending it around his leg and arm and sliding the string up the length of curved wood. Movement from the shadows distracted him and made him cry out as a man leapt towards him with the point of a sword leading the way. He stumbled over his sword and fell to the ground, mercy for the murderous human who had been skulking nearby. Namitus intercepted the man's next attack with his scimitar and batted the sword aside.

  Mordrim charged after Garrick and drove his hammer into the skull of the ogre that Garrick had knocked to the ground. He spun about, ducking under a swing from another ogre sword, and connected with his hammer to the side of his new attacker's knee. The ogre howled and stumbled but managed to keep his feet.

  Jethallin leapt back and away from the chaotic melee. Whiskers stayed at her side while Brokenpaw moved between her and the combatants. He snarled when an ogre came at them and lunged forward, clawing at the ogre's leg and trying to bite his boot. The ogre kicked at him and missed, and then found himself hissing in pain as Jethallin's sword a
nd dagger left gashes on his side and arm.

  Garrick reached Graak as the ogre dropped his sword and clawed at the harness crushing his chest. The ogre looked up at him, a mixture of hate and terror twisting his face. Garrick lashed out and cut a shallow furrow in the ogre's shoulder. His blade also parted one of the major bands of the harness and caused the entire thing to fall loose.

  Graak staggered back and looked at the barbarian, his eyes narrowing even as his chest heaved to pull in fresh air. He knelt down and grabbed his sword, his eyes never leaving Garrick's, and then slowly circled until he stood near Rosalyn's back.

  Graak snarled at Garrick and brandished his sword overhead in one hand, and then in a move too quick for anyone to anticipate, the ogre turned and clubbed Rosalyn in the side of the head with his hand. The queen crumpled to the ground like a sack of wheat.

  Graak sneered down at her and then gasped when she burst into flames again at his feet. They leapt onto him and crawled up his body faster than he could draw in breath to cry out. The fire raced around him and in his open mouth, burrowing deep inside him until he staggered back and fell to his knees.

  Garrick stood still, watching in awe and confusion. Graak lifted his head and rose to his feet to face Garrick anew. This time, his eyes possessed the fiery gleam of the rubies in the dragon's statue behind him.

  Chapter 27

  "My queen!" the man fighting Namitus and Carson shouted as he lowered his swords.

  Namitus turned and glanced back to see Graak standing next to the crumpled form of the queen. He turned back, grimacing in expectation of a punishing blow. Instead, he saw the man standing still and staring with blank eyes.

  Carson leapt to his feet and drew his twin blades. He started to thrust towards the stunned man but Namitus knocked his sword aside with his scimitar. Namitus twisted back and struck the man in the temple with the hilt of his sword, dropping him to the floor like the queen.

  Alto rushed into the throng of ogres that pressed towards them. His sword flashed through the air, leaving a golden glow that turned green with each blood-spraying slice. The ogres fell back after two of them fell before the warrior. Three of them kept him pinned while the others turned to face the rest of the companions.