"He looked like a human." The gnome shrugged. "I can't tell you creatures apart. You all look alike to me. I can tell you that he was nearly as big as this one." It pointed up at Damion.
"Was he alone?"
The little gnome shook its head, causing its sagging jowls to flop back and forth unpleasantly. "There was a human female with him. She was carrying a child in her arms that was fighting like mad to get free from her grip. Poor little thing seemed desperate to be rid of the woman."
Raven whimpered, and her hands flew to her mouth to stifle her cries.
"When did you last see these people?" Damion asked intently.
"A few days ago. They were heading towards the eastern gate when I last saw them."
"One last question." Sly asked, his eyes shrewd. "Do you have any idea where the Silver Gull is located?"
"Of course!" The gnome smiled happily. "It's about half a day's ride to the east, a stone's throw from the eastern gate. They serve some of the best dragon's milk you have ever tasted there!"
"Thank you for your time." Damion told the little creature sincerely. "And I'm sorry that I could not help you with your experiment."
They watched as the little creature disappeared into crowd, then looked amongst themselves.
"At least we have confirmation that they were heading east." Damarius murmured, brushing his brow lock from his eyes absently. "We weren't entirely sure that they didn't decide to change direction to try and throw us off their trail."
"And we know that Leia is still alive and well." Raven added, her eyes full of tears.
Seeing his wife in tears made Damion angry, and the thought of the witch placing her foul hands upon his daughter only made him angrier. "Let's get moving." He growled, trying valiantly to keep his temper under control.
They arrived at the doors of the Silver Gull later that evening, and Sly immediately darted inside, an eager gleam in his eyes.
"What's wrong with him?" The twin knights asked in bafflement.
"I think our old friend is eager to sample a bit of dragon's milk." Damarius chuckled, sliding wearily from his horse. "He's been yearning to taste it ever since he first heard about it."
"He had better not over do it." Damion frowned. "I know how he gets once he's had a few drinks."
They followed the little man inside, and quickly located him waiting anxiously at one of the many tables which filled the empty common room.
"Take a seat." The little man told everyone with a grin. "I've already ordered food and drink for everyone. It should be here shortly." He looked around for the serving girl, his expression eager.
"Is there any sign of Leia?" Raven asked breathlessly.
Sly frowned. "The serving girl I spoke with said that they stayed here overnight, four nights ago, then left early the following morning."
"It seems were are gaining on our quarry." Damarius commented, his eyes narrowed shrewdly. "I'm guessing that travelling with an infant child is proving a bit complicated for them, and it sounds as though Leia is trying to make it as difficult as she possibly can."
"What makes you say that?" Raven asked, wiping the unshed tears from her eyes.
"Every person that they have encountered has mentioned that she was constantly screaming and throwing fits." The old wizard laughed. "I think our little Leia is trying her best to make her abductor's lives completely miserable."
"Shall we press on," Jarom asked curiously. "or shall we rest here for the evening?"
"If you wish to keep moving, we must not linger here too long." Jacom cautioned them. "They close the gates at night, and they will not open them for any reason until the sun has risen once more."
Damion looked around at the others, then to his wife, who stared back at him with pleading eyes. "Let's keep moving." He decided finally. "Sly already discovered what we needed to know from the serving girl. Let's have a quick meal, then set back off. With a little luck, we may be able to shorten the witch's lead a bit more before we stop for the evening."
"Fine." Sly growled sullenly, clearly disappointed at not being able to spend the rest of the evening getting drunk. "I'm still going to try this dragon's milk before we leave though." His expression was one of defiance.
They dined on roast mutton, potatoes, gravy, and fresh baked bread with plenty of butter, and washed it all down with a delicate wine, then prepared to set back off, knowing the gates leading in and out of Sherish would soon be closed.
Sly lingered inside the tavern for several long minutes while the others prepared the horses, then emerged from the tavern carrying a large wineskin. "Ready when you are." He grunted to Damion, holding the wineskin with both hands as if he were afraid it might escape.
"So was the dragon's milk as good as you had hoped?" Damarius asked curiously.
"I haven't tried it yet," The little man smiled, then patted the wineskin softly. "but I made sure to get a little bit to sample."
They set off towards the east gate on foot, still leading the horses even though the streets were far less crowded now that the sun had set. They arrived just before the gates swung shut, sealing off the city from the rest of the world for another night.
Once clear of the city, they mounted their horses and set off at a careful trot, hoping to put a couple more miles between themselves and the city before they stopped for the night.
"We must be cautious while travelling east of Sherish." Jarom told everyone as they pressed on through the darkness.
"The border of Alioon lay a few leagues from here." Jacom warned them in the same cautious tone. "The Aliono are a strict, unbending people. They do not look kindly upon outsiders."
"Will they try to stop us?" Raven asked a bit timidly.
"They usually leave travelers alone, unless they're feeling belligerent," The twins murmured in unison, their voices quiet. "then they can be troublesome."
They kept moving along the dark road for several more hours, then finally stopped near a shallow brook that cut across the nearly invisible road.
"Let's stop here for the night, have a bit to eat, and try to get a little rest." Damion decided, ignoring Raven's huff of frustration.
Sly, Damarius, and Damion quickly set up camp while the twins searched the area for firewood and Raven prepared a quick meal of pork and beans from their provisions.
"How much further is it until we reach the borders of Alioon?" Damarius asked, his voice weary.
"Another day's ride." Jarom told the old wizard, shoveling a spoonful of beans into his mouth.
"The border is a little undefined," Jarom continued, swallowing a mouthful of pork. "so there isn't really any established crossing point. We'll probably begin running into their patrols sometime tomorrow evening."
Sly finished his meal first, then, burping thunderously, he withdrew the flask of dragon's milk, his face lit with anticipation. "I can't wait any longer!" He told them, smiling from ear to ear. "I'm finally going to try this stuff!" He removed the stopper, then sniffed at the wineskin experimentally. "It doesn't smell bad."
"Be careful with that stuff." One of the twins warned. "It's quite deceptive."
"It can reduce a man to imbecility in just a few sips." The other twin added his warning.
"There hasn't been a drink brewed that can best me." Sly sniffed dismissively, taking a long pull from the wineskin.
The twin knights exchanged knowing smiles, then sat back, their eyes dancing in amusement.
Sly smacked his lips a couple of times, one eye arched quizzically. "It's pleasant tasting enough, but it doesn't really have much of a kick."
The twins merely continued to smile.
"How far behind the witch do you think we are?" Raven asked Damion in a subdued voice. "Do you think we may have gained some ground?"
"I'm sure we have," Damion told her reassuringly. "They can't travel very quickly with a child in tow, and they have to be cautious while trying to reach the highland temples. From everything we've heard, that witch won't be welcome anywhere if her
identity is discovered, so they'll be forced to take special precautions to avoid any trouble."
"How do the Aliono feel about the witches?" Damarius asked the twins curiously.
"They despise them, as do most sensible people." Jarom looked away from Sly, whose face had grown bright red.
"They fear all magic, and those who wield it." Jacom also looked away from Sly, who took another long pull from his wineskin. "The witch you seek will have to be very cautious while passing through Alioon. If she is discovered, they will surely attempt to kill her, and all those with her."
"They wouldn't harm a child, would they?" Raven asked fearfully.
The young knights exchanged glances.
"The Aliono are a bit unreliable," Jacom started, choosing his words carefully.
"But they are not savages." Jarom finished in the same cautious tone. "I do not believe that they would harm a child."
Raven didn't look reassured.
The sudden rustle of feathers announced Snowfeather's arrival as the huge owl ghosted in from the darkness, a huge rabbit clenched tightly in his talons. "It's about time we stopped for the night." He complained, ripping into his meal ravenously. "I've passed up a dozen opportunities for a quick meal tonight, but I didn't want to chance missing something important."
"Did you see any sign of Leia or her abductors?" Damion asked him, although he already knew the answer.
"There isn't any sign of anyone for miles. The closest settlement is a tiny farm house a few miles to the north, but it was a bit too far away to investigate." The huge owl looked up from its meal. "I did see a scarlet dragon flying nearby, though. I think it may have a den somewhere nearby."
"Did he find any sign of Leia?" Raven asked hopefully, recognizing the blank look that always came into her husband's eyes when he was communicating with his familiar.
Damion frowned, and shook his head.
The young woman buried her face in her hands, and began to quietly weep.
He drew her close, his heart breaking. He feared for his daughter, and hated seeing his wife in such pain, and each day that passed, he became more and more furious and impatient. Unable to bear it anymore, he gently disengaged her embrace, and stood, his face determined.
"Where do you think you're going?" Damarius asked in a sleepy tone.
"Snowfeather mentioned that there was a scarlet dragon nearby." He murmured in a quiet voice, glancing at the twins, who were still watching Sly in amusement. "I thought maybe I would pay it a visit and see if it can help us in some way." He looked to his wife. "I'll return as quickly as I can. Try and get some rest."
He turned to leave, but stopped as Sly suddenly lurched to his feet, his eyes glazed. "I'll go with you." He volunteered, his voice heavily slurred. He took a step towards the huge warrior, then his eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he collapsed to the ground with a resounding snore.
The twin knights burst out laughing, then rose from their seats, and dragged the little man back to his bedroll.
Damion shook his head in resignation. "Keep a watch over the camp while I'm gone." He told them as they returned to their places near the fire, still giggling like school children. "I'll return soon." He turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Snowfeather quickly gobbled down the remainder of his rabbit, then leapt into the air, and followed him into the night.
The twin knights turned and looked at Damarius, their eyes curious. "Where is he going?" They asked the old wizard in unison.
Damarius chuckled and shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
************
As soon as he was away from their campsite, Damion drew in his magic, and slipped into the form of a panther. He shot off through the darkness, his keen eyes turning the night into day.
Snowfeather swooped down to glide just over his head, guiding him towards the last place the huge owl saw the scarlet dragon.
It took the nearly an hour, but they finally located the great beast's lair nestled deep within a cavern whose entrance was concealed by several conveniently placed boulders.
"Head on back to camp, and keep an eye on things." He told Snowfeather, shifting back into his normal form. "I shouldn't be too long."
"What are you planning on doing?"
"I'm going to see if we can recruit a little help." He slipped into the concealed opening, then carefully made his way through the darkness towards the rear of the cavern. He found the enormous scarlet dragon lounging at the back of the cavern feasting on a freshly killed ox.
It only took a moment for his scent to reach the beast's sensitive nostrils, and its head instantly snapped up from its meal, its eyes narrowed in fury.
"Easy, big guy." Damion told the massive dragon fearlessly, knowing the power of the Dragon Gem would keep the beast from attacking.
The dragon's eyes suddenly widened in surprised recognition. "Dragon Lord! I'm surprised to see you here! You are a long way from your home at the Serpent's Keep!"
"We have followed my daughter's abductors to this land." He told the beast in a grim voice. "They may have passed through here on their way towards the Teirsian highlands."
The great beast pushed the remains of its meal away absently. "I had heard your child had been stolen, but never realized they could be here in my territory." His eyes narrowed in thought. "You said that they were heading towards the highlands, correct?"
"We discovered that one of Leia's abductors is a highland witch. We suspect she is taking my daughter back to her homeland."
"What possible reason would a highland witch have for abducting your child?" The scarlet serpent asked in bafflement. "They usually spend most of their time in a daze, mumbling nonsense to the spirits."
Damion hesitated. "I believe it may have something to do with the disappearance of the dragon god's constellation. There have been numerous rumors that Draco has returned to this world once more. We are not sure why He would choose to use a witch to achieve His plans, though."
"Because His children are under the influence of the Dragon Gem, and the dragonspawn are far too unreliable." The great serpent rumbled knowingly. "He would never take a direct hand in influencing the events in the world. That is the agreement between the gods. They can only use mortals to carry out their wishes."
Damion frowned. "We have heard the same thing, but that still doesn't explain why He chose a highland witch to carry out His plans."
"Perhaps He didn't wish to have any contact with a mortal, so He chose to use the elder spirits to carry out His plans. They would have been the ones who decided to use a highland witch to carry out the abduction."
Damion thought this over carefully. "That would explain her involvement." He said finally. "It would also explain why she is taking Leia back to the highlands. That must be where she is to sacrifice her to the dragon god."
The dragon shook his head in disagreement. "Draco doesn't demand sacrifices." It assured him in a knowing tone. "He may have plans for your daughter, but they will not include her sacrifice."
Damion felt slightly better at these words. "I truly hope you are right, my friend." He sighed heavily. "I must hurry back to my friends so we may continue our search, but I came here to request a boon."
"Of course, Dragon Lord." The great beast drew itself up formally. "You released my brethren and myself from our prison within the Dragon Gem. We shall always be at your service."
"Thank you, my friend. What are you called?"
"I'm known as Scale, Dragon Lord." It replied proudly. "I was born of the same clutch as your close friend, Tempest. I was the first to emerge from the egg, actually." He added rather smugly.
Damion smiled. "I am proud to have her among my closest friends and advisors."
"What would you have me do for you, Dragon Lord?"
"Please," He asked in a pained tone. "call me Damion. The title of Dragon Lord still makes me uncomfortable."
Scale nodded approvingly. "It seems Tempest was correct in believing
that your honor was above reproach."
"I would ask you to travel toward the north and east, and search for my daughter and her abductors. If you cannot locate them, start raising as much of a fuss as you can, without harming anyone, of course. Perhaps you can slow them down enough for us to overtake them."
"I would be honored to aid you in recovering your daughter." The great scarlet serpent agreed immediately.
"Thank you, my friend. If you do locate them, find me immediately."
"Of course. I shall do my upmost to help you free your daughter."
Omensent: Wrath of a Dragon God Page 17
