Omensent: Wrath of a Dragon God

by Barry Gibbons

  The huge warrior stared at her helplessly. "Can't Estheryal do anything to stop the dragon god's plan?"

  "She can not take a direct hand in the affairs of the world." The old woman reminded him gently. "As long as Estheryal is bound by the pact, She cannot help."

  "Isn't there anyone in the mortal world that can save Leia?" Damarius asked desperately.

  Gwynth nodded. "Only one." She turned her gaze back to Damion.

  "I will not murder my daughter!" The huge warrior nearly shouted. "I don't care if it means the world will be destroyed! That is my child, my own flesh that you are asking me to slay! I would sooner kill myself!"

  "Then you must prevent her captors from handing her over to the dragon god." She told him firmly, taking another sip from her wine. "It is the only way to save both the world and your daughter."

  "Then that's exactly what I'll do." He growled, his eyes flashing red with anger.

  The wrinkled old woman laughed a youthful laugh. "I can see why Estheryal likes you so much. You have fire!" She chuckled again, then grabbed another leg of roasted chicken. "If you're going to be successful, then you had better eat up. It may be a while before you all have another decent meal."

  Taking her words to heart, they returned to the feast before them, intent on stuffing themselves with as much of the sumptuous meal as they could.

  When they finally had enough, they all leaned back in their seats with a sigh.

  "May I ask you a question?" Damarius asked Gwynth politely, patting his belly with a contented air. "Didn't Draco already violate the agreement between the gods by returning to this world?"

  The old woman frowned, an action that only deepened the wrinkles on her face. "Technically, no. The gods agreed to leave and never take a direct hand in the events of mortals, but they do return on occasion to look in on things. It's not a violation, but it's a short step from breaking their oath."

  "Is there any advice Estheryal can give us on how to stop the witch from reaching the dragon god?" Raven asked, her face pale.

  The old woman sat in quiet thought for several long moments. "Although He is a god," She started finally, her voice far away. "Draco is not perfect, by any means. He considers mortals nothing more than a scourge, a disease that infects the land. He underestimates what their capable of, and that may come in useful." She sighed regretfully, then rose to her feet. "I'm afraid, that's everything I have to tell you. I must now return, lest another deity need my services."

  They all rose to their feet to find their horses already saddled and waiting.

  "Remember, my friends," Gwynth warned them as they pulled themselves up into their saddles. "The fate of this world depends on your success. If the dragon god gains control over your child, this world will be lost to mankind, and all others who call this fair world home." She raised one hand in farewell.

  They started off down the trail, their minds on the enormity of what they were doing.

  "I forgot to ask," Damion started, turning back. "Do you..." He stopped, staring in surprise at the empty clearing. There was no sign of the old woman, nor the sumptuous feast that they had just enjoyed. He turned back to the others, a dubious look on his face, then nudged Storm with his heels, and set off down the trail at a trot.

  *************

  They finally arrived at the area where the trail rejoined the trade road two days later, just as the sun was setting, and found Sly and the twins patiently waiting for them to arrive.

  "Glad to see you made it." The little man greeted them. "I'm guessing you didn't find any sign of the witch."

  Damion shook his head. "How long have you been waiting here?"

  "Since yesterday evening. We considered continuing on, but decided to give it a day or so to make sure that we hadn't managed to get ahead of them. We were just preparing to set off again."

  "Let's get moving then." The huge warrior ordered, the sour taste of disappointment in his mouth. "We can fill you in on what we discovered along the way."

  They set off down the trade road, moving as quickly as they dared in the failing light, while Damion began to fill Sly and the twins in on their encounter with the old woman. It was well after dark by the time he was finished.

  "Gwynth of the Gods?" Jarom asked in disbelief.

  "Are you sure she wasn't just some delusional old woman?" Jacom asked, his expression skeptical.

  "She was no charlatan." Damarius assured them. "She more than proved that to us during our discussion."

  "Gwynth brought you a message from the Serpent Mother?" Sly sounded awestruck.

  Damion nodded grimly. "She sent us a warning. If we fail, and the Dragon God is able to use Leia to fulfill His plans, then this world will be lost."

  "That doesn't sound good." The twins muttered in unison.

  "Why is it when the gods decide to send us mortals a message, it's always bad news?" Sly asked sarcastically. "It's always destruction and doom. Just once I would like to hear that a god sent down a message saying that everything is fine, and to have a pleasant day."

  Damion chuckled in spite of himself. "I think I can agree with you there." He sighed heavily. "She warned us that if there were no other way to rescue Leia, then we should kill her to prevent the mankind from being obliterated."

  The little man jerked his horse to a stop. "What?" He looked outraged. "She asked you to murder your own daughter?"

  The huge warrior nodded grimly. "Gwynth was quite adamant that if Draco is able to fulfill His plans, it will bring about the destruction of all mankind."

  "Couldn't Estheryal help us?"

  "She is bound by oath not to directly interfere with events happening in the world," Damarius reminded the scruffy little man. "just as the other gods are bound."

  "Of course, we told her we would never murder our own child," Damion told them, a slight edge to his voice as the anger at such a thought resurfaced. "which makes our rescuing Leia even more paramount. If we can believe what Gwynth told us, and I'm pretty sure that we can, mankind will be lost if the witch is able to deliver her to Draco."

  "Then I guess that makes things simple, doesn't it?" Sly nudged his horse with his heels. "Let's go get our little Leia back."

  They spent the next several weeks pushing their horses to the brink of exhaustion, rising early every morning, and riding deep into the night in an effort to overtake Leia and her abductors. When they finally reached the border between Alioon and Teirsia, they were all exhausted.

  It was early evening when the small group of stone buildings that made up the border finally came into view. A dozen armored soldiers lounged against one of the buildings, each wielding a polished shield and long pike.

  "Will those soldiers give us any problems when we try to cross the border?" Sly asked the twins in a tired voice.

  "These men shouldn't," Jacom started in a dubious tone. "but the Teirsians on the other side of the border may prove a bit more difficult."

  "They are an obnoxious bunch." Jarom told them in the same dubious tone. "All they seem to care about is who has bigger muscles, and who has killed more men."

  They slowly passed the lounging soldiers, their eyes wary, and their hands on their weapons, but the men merely watched their arrival with mild curiosity.

  Several of the soldiers started to point at Damion, who rode atop Storm with a stern expression, and whisper to their companions in frightened tones as they watched him pass, an occurrence all too common for the huge warrior. People had been pointing and staring at him his entire life, but he had learned to ignore it, though it still irritated him from time to time.

  He grit his teeth and pressed on, leading the companions passed the staring soldiers, trying valiantly to resist the urge to chase the men down and poke out their eyes with a sharp stick.

  "That appears to be a tavern." Sly pointed to a large stone structure which had a large sign with a crude painting of grapes hanging over the entrance. "Maybe we could stop for a hot meal and a cold drink."

  Damion
gave the little man a hard look. "We need to keep moving. We don't have the time to spare."

  Raven reached out and touched the huge warrior's arm. "It may be a good idea to stop for a little while." She told him, her face weary. "We could really use some rest and a good meal, and the horses are nearly played out."

  Storm snorted, and tossed his head back in agreement.

  "Very well," He gave in, noticing how tired his young wife looked. "but only for a few hours." He looked around at the sky above, and saw Snowfeather gliding high overhead. "We're going to stop for a few hours to rest the horses and grab a quick meal."

  "Very well." The huge owl replied. "I'll think I'll go find myself some dinner as well."

  "Just keep your eyes open while you do." Damion reminded his familiar. "Leia and her abductors may be nearby." He watched as the snowy owl disappeared into the distance, then led the others towards the livery adjoining the tavern.

  A young boy of about ten, with straw blond hair and a rather vacant look in his eyes, hurried out of the stables, a huge smile on his youthful face. "Good evening, friends," He greeted them in a squeaky voice. "Would you like me to look after your horses?"

  "Are you sure you can handle them?" Damion asked in a dubious voice. "Shouldn't your father see to them?"

  "My father is dead, milord," The boy told him, his smile faltering. "He was thrown from a horse a year or so ago, and broke his neck. My mother is too ill to look after the livery, so..." He shrugged. "It's not so bad. Father taught me everything he knew about the business, and I love horses. It's been working out well. We're making more now than when father was alive." He made a face. "Of course my mother says that's just because father isn't drinking it away in the tavern." He smiled again. "I'm Michail, by the way."

  Damion slid down from Storm's back and withdrew several coins from the pouch on his belt. "In that case, Michail, see that the horses are fed and watered, then give them each a good rub down. They've had a tough journey, and it's not over yet."

  The boy's smile quickly returned as he took the handful of coins. "Very good, milord. I'll see that they are all well cared for."

  "Make sure to be wary around the big one. He can be a little aggressive." The huge warrior handed over Storm's reins, then took the warhorse firmly by the bridle. "Be nice."

  The stallion sighed heavily, then began walking to towards the stable, dragging the boy along behind by the reins.

  They entered the tavern, and made their way over to a table near the corner of the room. There was several more Aliono soldiers seated near the bar who watched the companions with suspicious eyes, but after a moment, they seemed to lose interest, and returned to their conversation.

  "Are we going to take rooms for the evening?" Damarius asked, lowering himself into a chair with a groan.

  Damion stared at the old man appraisingly. "I guess we could all do with a few hours of sleep in a soft bed." He conceded after a moment's thought. "We need to be off by dawn though."

  "Oh, thank the gods!" The old wizard sighed in relief. "I was dreading another night on the hard ground." He smiled. "These old bones of mine aren't quite what they used to be."

  "But you do look much more fit." Raven told him.

  Damion looked closer at his old teacher and had to agree with his wife. The old wizard had never looked better. His overhanging gut had disappeared, and the sun had given his pale skin a healthy glow.

  "I feel better than I have in years," Damarius agreed. "but that doesn't mean I enjoy sleeping on the cold hard ground."

  They ordered food and drinks, then sat back to enjoy their first hot meal in days.

  "Perhaps we should ask a few of the locals if the witch was seen passing through." Jacom suggested, devouring a sizzling chicken leg between words.

  "It would be a good idea to find out if she crossed the border here, or located another place to slip into Teirsia unseen." Jarom agreed, stuffing his mouth full of boiled potatoes.

  "I'll make some discreet inquiries once we have finished eating." Sly volunteered, waving his empty tankard in the air to get the serving girl's attention. "It shouldn't take long. I doubt there are more than a dozen locals here."

  They finished their meal, then lingered over their tankards with a contented air, while the little man wandered off to ask after the witch. He returned a few minutes later with a frown.

  "Any luck?" Raven asked hopefully.

  Sly shook his head. "I couldn't even find anyone who would talk with me. They seem to be a little standoffish around here."

  "That's not surprising." Jarom yawned sleepily. "They live right on the border of Teirsia."

  "Living that close to such a warlike people would make anyone nervous." Jacom reasoned in a tired voice.

  "We'll just have to press on and hope that we haven't lost their trail." Damion sighed unhappily.

  They rented several rooms from the grouchy looking innkeeper, and settled down for a few hours of rest. They rose an hour or so before before dawn, and returned to the common room to enjoy a hot breakfast before setting off.

  Once they had stuffed themselves with more eggs, sausage, and fruit than was good for them, they reluctantly pushed themselves away from the table, and made their way to the livery to retrieve their horses.

  They found Michail sleeping comfortably upon a soft bale of fresh hay just outside of the livery's entrance. His eyes instantly popped open when they approached, and he rolled from his makeshift bed and stretched. "Good morning, friends. I trust you slept well?"

  "Not well enough." Sly grumbled sleepily, leaning up against the stable door and closing his eyes. "I can use a few more hours."

  "Do you always sleep here at the livery?" Raven asked curiously, glancing at Sly, then rolling her eyes.

  The boy made a face, and shook his head. "I usually have a helper, Udo, that looks after the livery during the night, but I had some travelers stop in yesterday morning and ask for someone to help guiding them through the area, so I sent him to help. He still hasn't returned." He made a face. "He probably got lost. He isn't the smartest person in the world, you know. He was kicked in the head by a mule as a child, and he never quite recovered. He sometimes gets lost for a day or two, but he always manages to find his way home eventually."

  The companions exchanged glances. "What did these travelers look like?" Damion asked, trying not to sound too interested.

  "It was a large man in armor, escorting a woman with her child." Michail answered, leading one of the horses from its stall. "I was a little surprised that they would need a guide, but the man insisted that they needed someone to guide them through the area." He shrugged. "I guess I can understand their fear. They were heading into Teirsia, and that would make anyone nervous."

  "Did they continue along the trade road?"

  The blond haired boy shook his head. "They said they wanted to avoid unwanted attention. I had Udo show them another path that parallels the trade road for a dozen leagues or so, and is far less patrolled than the trade road. Not many people know about it, other than the locals who live in the area."

  "Can you tell us where to find this path?" Damion asked, unable to keep his interest from his voice.

  Michail stared at Damion with shrewd eyes. "You're chasing after those people, aren't you?"

  The huge warrior nodded. "They abducted our daughter, and we're trying to get her back."

  "I had the feeling that they were up to no good." The boy frowned. "Honest folk don't go out of their way to remain unseen." He looked to Damion and nodded. "I'll show you how to find the trail they took." He looked at Damion with a serious expression. "Is there any chance that Udo will return?" He asked in a tone that revealed he already knew the answer.

  Damion sighed, then shook his head sadly.

  "Ah, poor Udo." A look of painful remorse crossed the boy's face. "I knew I shouldn't have sent him with those people."

  "Don't worry," Raven assured the boy gently. "We will make those monsters pay for what they have done."<
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  Michail merely sighed regretfully, and returned to readying their horses.

  Before they set off, the boy gave them detailed directions to the trail that Leia and her abductors took to avoid detection, then bid them a sad farewell, and returned to his chores in the livery.

  "Poor boy." Raven said in a heartbreaking tone. "He's had such a hard life."

  "It could be worse." Sly disagreed. "Most boys in his position end up becoming beggars or thieves. Michail has his livery. As long as he keeps his nose to the grindstone, he and his mother should do well for themselves."

  They set off back the direction that they came the previous evening, passing the same group of Aliono soldiers who were still lounging against the stone building, then followed the road for nearly a mile until they reached a slight bend.