To Save The Broken Heart: Dragons, Griffons and Centaurs, Oh My! (Dragons, Griffons, and Centaurs, Oh My!)

by Margaret Taylor

  The savings grace? Maybe she wouldn’t have to suffer long with it.

  If the Master held true to form, she probably wouldn’t.

  A rotation, maybe two, would be about it before he killed her.

  Unless…

  Was his plan long-term? Is that why he wanted her so badly? Did he have some purpose in mind for the woman? Is that why he’d changed his orders when they stopped briefly for supplies on the Isle of Tucin?

  Most likely.

  In his Suns under the rotten bastard’s hoof, he’d learned every move had some goal at the end of it. Some, thing he was working toward. Not that he was privy to the inner workings of the miscreants mind, but he’d listened, he’d watched and he wasn’t stupid.

  No, he was stupid. An idiot for ever getting involved with any of this…

  Yes, she was going to hate him, if she ever figured out he was the betrayer at least.

  He cut her a look.

  She was perfectly at ease with the monstrous creature she rode and he envied the bond they shared. He’d seen it from the moment he’d carried her to the cave on the Harpy border where she’d recuperated from being mostly dead. As promised, he’d cared for her, fed her, changing the bandages on her wounds until she was well enough to do for herself.

  And Dinsa, all 20 lengths of him, had never strayed far from the nest he’d constructed in one corner.

  Now, as they rode the currents, it was all about to fall apart.

  And she would hate him. In the end.

  In the distance he saw them coming and readied for it. The specks grew, dipping and twisting across the air then disappeared into the clouds above before she could take note of their presence. It was their crackling caws that alerted Roc and Rider to trouble, but it was already too late.

  Five of the six Griffons emerged from above, wings folded tight to their bodies. With talons outstretched as they dive bombed their only natural enemy, slamming into the ancient predator as a single, cohesive unit.

  Two dug their wickedly sharp claws into Dinsa’s long, leathery wings, latching on then pulling back to keep him still. A third grappled with his tail, snapping its talons around the appendage like a steel trap. The fourth landed on his neck, the barbs of its feet sinking deep under the rippling scales and drawing first blood. And a fifth hovered near Dinsa’s snapping beak, a devilish grin on its own.

  But it was the sixth that did the most damage. In a blur of speed, it swooped between its companions and plucked Lanni from the saddle, carrying her away without looking back.

  He debated a heartbeat if should stay and watch the kill, but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Dinsa deserved an honorable, quick death. The poor beast wouldn’t get it, the Griffons would rip him apart piece by piece. But, they would toy with him first, tearing at him until he was just too weak to fight back and that fact thickened the blood in his veins to ice.

  Heart laden with guilt, he dropped away from the wildly flapping, squawking group. Turning for Garzug, Dinsa’s bellowing screams of pain echoed in his ears and would for many rotations to come…

  ***

  Golix the Unicorn watched another ship round the end of the peninsula and power its way across the waves to join the massive flotilla. His minions had procured every shape, size and type and he made a quick count, smiling slowly.

  Twenty-seven so far with another 10 reportedly on the way…

  On the beach below, thousands of Satyr’s, Ogre’s and even a few of the Cyclops he’d recruited had been working daylight to daylight for almost a full Sun.

  Cannons and guns sat in piles, waiting to be fit to the ships.

  Supplies to feed the troops had been carefully prepared, waiting to be loaded on the vessels.

  They’d been diligently working at the constructed forges to mold and meld the Rustac metal into the armor plating that would protect the armada’s hulls.

  It wouldn’t be long now. He just needed two more ingredients and then the work could really begin…

  Searching the horizon to the east, he wasn’t surprised to find it still empty. He wasn’t worried. He’d seen the kill take place in the vision pools. They had both ingredients now and were heading his way.

  “Is all ready?”

  He twisted a look over his flank, smiling at his Mother. “Yes. We will be able to begin soon.”

  Her head went up. The wind caught her mane, sliding it from one side of her graceful neck to the other. “You have done well, my Son.”

  He turned his eye back to the east. “Thank you.”

  Her hooves clacked against the rocks as she joined him on the edge of the cliff. Despite her age, her coat was still black as night, her horn still shone in the early morning daylight and her tail was just as long and full as it had been when he was a foal. Power glowed in the red eyes identical to his own and she smiled tightly. “You will need to be careful. Push too soon and you will lose before you start.”

  The warning was the same she gave every time and it grated on his nerves.

  He knew what he was doing! Hadn’t all his planning and preparations gotten them this far? It had, by the Dark Gods, so why couldn’t she see that for herself!

  He pulled in a calming burst of sea air and nodded slowly, giving the same response he always did. “Yes Mother.”

  She walked away again.

  He fumed, cracking a hoof against the rocks.

  Why couldn’t she trust him?! Why couldn’t she see he was capable of carrying out what they’d started?! Why couldn’t she let him do what needed to be done?!

  Pulling in another burst of air racing up the cliff, he got control of himself and turned for the beach.

  Despite a few hiccups along the path to their Destiny, things were falling into place.

  Just as they were foretold…

  Picking his way down the rocky outcroppings, he went over everything one more time.

  Draven was off the throne. Perfect.

  He’d rallied all the necessary factions to his cause. Perfect.

  The Abomination was on his way to his death. Perfect.

  Now all he needed to do was ensure the ships floating out in the waves were sky worthy as well as sea worthy.

  But, it had been such a long road…

  A hundred Suns of careful manipulations in fact!

  He’d spent rotations whispering just the right words in just the right ears. It had taken hundreds more rotations to gather the exact ingredients he needed to cast the exact spells necessary to guide their world down this exact path.

  He sighed, suddenly tired and paused at the water line. The lapping waves rolled over his hooves, soothing his soul.

  Why couldn’t Mother see he’d been the one to tantalize Draven’s father with dreams of the Human world? Didn’t she know he’d even showed the King the portal in a dream?

  Yes, she did.

  Would he ever get the rightful credit he deserved for something so ingenious?

  Probably not.

  When they’d cast the spell to find the perfect patsy to control, he knew it would take them an age to do it. And at first, he was fine with it. He was young, just barely coming into the power of their kind and full of wild, fanciful dreams. If he’d known what it would truly take, how patient he’d have to be, he might have done things differently.

  He would have failed, but he might have tried a faster track.

  The problem, back then, and now, had always been the damnable Dragons! They were a force one couldn’t counter easily and everyone knew it. Which is one of the reasons no one had ever really made a run at the Throne.

  Dragons had ruled everything since the beginning of their history. They were the top of the food chain. They had no natural enemies, aside from time itself, and were given due reverence by the masses for it. They didn’t deserve it, but they were given it, mainly because no one could fight them.

  No one had the technology or the guts to stand up to them!

  Until now.

  Getting Draven Taraxus out
of the picture had actually been the easiest part in all this. All it had taken was gutting his mate and casting a spell to keep him from remembering her. It had worked, at least until the interference from that witch of a Harpy!

  His tail swished.

  It was neither here nor there. The bastard and his wanna-be Queen were off to converse with his Grand Parentals in Lad’ak. They’d never make it, of course, he’d already seen to that, but he’d give the pair praise for trying.

  “Sire?”

  He turned a look down his snout at one of the Satyr’s. The poor, misshapen creature shifted from one broken hoof to the other and lifted a twisted finger, pointing to the east. “Incoming.”

  He spied the speck on the horizon and if he’d had hands, he would have rubbed them together.

  She was almost here. It was almost time.

  He stood rock still and watched the speck eventually form into a Griffon. The poor beast looked exhausted but he didn’t really care. He’d fulfilled his mission. It circled slowly to the ground, dropping the screaming, screeching bundle of human to the sand before collapsing himself.

  Several Satyr’s jumped on the creature, slipped a large pan under his neck and sliced his throat clean through, ending his involvement in their plans. He gurgled, flapped his wings several times, his brown eyes spitting the fire of betrayal as his life-force gushed into the container.

  Golix turned away, the beast no longer worthy of consideration. His primary concern now was one human with fire-red hair and the ability to commune with animals.

  Two more Satyr’s grabbed her arms and quickly tied leather bags over her hands. They’d heeded his warnings about her powers and just a tick of pride for his minions pulsed through his heart.

  She continued to screech and bellow, bucking wildly between the pair. She kicked out at the one on the left, bending his knee backwards with a snap and to the beasties credit, he didn’t let go until another took his place.

  “You bastard! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill all of you!”

  He sighed. He couldn’t really blame her. If he’d had everything taken away from him, he might feel the same.

  But, he hadn’t, so he didn’t.

  He strode forward and her silver eyes locked with his, blazing with a defiance even her sister hadn’t had. “Hello Ms. Heegan. I am Golix. I bid you welcome…”

  ***

  Lanni twisted at the tight grips on her arms, hoping her hate-fueled strength was enough. It wasn’t, but she did try. Her chest burned with enough fire and fury to set the nearby jungle ablaze.

  She didn’t want to believe Dinsa was gone, she didn’t, but she’d felt his last breath pulse along their connection…

  She gulped back hot tears, refusing to let them fall. He deserved better than a wailing mass of blubbering female and she would give him that honor. He hadn’t gone down without a fight though and for that she was proud of him. He’d taken one, if not two, with him and that swelled her chest with satisfaction.

  Glaring death rays at Golix and realizing she wasn’t getting out of this, yet, she planted her feet. “Bid me nothing you overflowing bucket of camel’s piss! Let me go and maybe I won’t kill you where you stand.”

  “My, my, such a mouth you have young lady. Is that any way to address your Elder?”

  She kicked a cloud of sand at him. He made it sound like he deserved some sort of respect. “Elder? Ha! You’re nothing but a conniving, manipulative piece of shit.”

  He smiled. The mongrel actually had the nerve to smile at her and it only served to rocket her rage up another notch.

  “Why, thank you.” His red eyes turned toward the beasts holding her. “Make her comfortable.”

  The two dragged her backwards and she let them. She’d seen the setup on the way down to the beach and was hopelessly outnumbered. She wanted to fight, she really did, but unlike Terra, she might get in a lucky shot or two and that would be that.

  They’d still take her and do whatever it was they were going to do.

  No, it was better to go along and just hope they didn’t kill her outright. She didn’t think they would. If she’d learned anything since she and Terra had been thrust into this adventure, evil always had a plan.

  For the time being, the Unicorn seemed to have some purpose for her. Otherwise, he probably would have killed her right along with Dinsa…

  Her heart clutched in agony for her friend and she blinked away more hot tears before they could fall.

  She’d failed him and guilt settled its heavy hand on her shoulders. She should have seen them coming. Should have expected something to happen. She’d been too complacent over the last 8 days and Dinsa had paid the price…

  The minions dragged her across the sand and none too gently tossed her in a cage that had been set up near the trees. It locked behind her with a loud, telling clank and she immediately set her teeth to the knots they’d used on the bags over her hands.

  She wasn’t sure why they did it, but it didn’t matter. Within a few moments, she had them free and gripped the bars, giving them a good, hard shake.

  Golix strode down the beach, stopping now and again to give commands to the troops and eventually worked his way over to where she’d been left. His red eyes glowed slightly and he tilted his head. “I do hope you will find your accommodations comfortable dearest. You will be here for the duration.”

  If she was going to get out of this, she needed information. If she could figure out his plan, maybe she could do something, anything to stop it. “Duration? Of what?”

  His head pulled back, eyes glowing a deeper shade of red. The wind chose that moment to blow across his mane, whipping it out to the side in a wave of pitch black. “My ascension to the Throne of course.”

  Chapter Three

  Lanni watched Golix walk away and almost laughed in his face, mainly because he sounded dead serious. She managed to keep it in check, but just barely.

  Alone, she gave the beach a good look, trying to put the pieces of this weird puzzle together.

  Not too far away, a group of ugly, misshapen Satyr’s stood around varying sized cauldrons, for lack of a better word. They took turns stirring whatever was in them until another group filed over and scooped out some of the liquid.

  This group headed for another further down the beach. These were bent over sheets of metal that had been set across large logs, and every now and again, they bent to dip the brushes in their hands into whatever was in the buckets.

  And yet further down the beach another group was stacking the sheets against one another to wait for more minions to come ashore in boats. These gathered up the metal and rowed them back out to the ships anchored among the gentle waves, where yet more were fastening them over every part of the hulls.

  It was giant assembly process but why they were doing it was the question.

  She recognized the sheen of the metal. It was Rustac and according to the book she’d read in Arin’s library way back when, it was stronger than the Tungsten and titanium alloys they used in buildings, various ships and aircraft back home.

  So, what would a purveyor of evil need with that and heated liquid?

  Golix stopped what he was doing and tilted a look toward the horizon. She followed his gaze and spotted three specks that eventually grew into the same Griffons that had attacked her and Dinsa. Like the one who’d brought her here, they flapped at the air tiredly and came in to the beach, dropping several massive bags from their talons.

  The Satyr’s descended. They scooped up the bags and carried them back to the boiling cauldrons where she got a good look at what they contained.

  Deep, rich silver blood slowly glopped into the vats and she gulped, hard. It was what remained of Dinsa. She felt him, or at least a bit of his spirit as the liquid slid from one container to the other.

  She knew from Terra’s experiences, Golix was fond of blood magic. The original spell he’d cast on Draven had caused him to forget his love for her sister and hate her was thanks to Terra’s b
lood. They’d only managed to break it by letting her die to sever the bond between herself and her twin.

  She hadn’t seen Draven since to know if it worked or not, but according to the Harpy Crone Mother, it had.

  The Dragon King was now free of Golix’s control.

  Thank the God’s, but what could he now want with Dinsa’s blood?

  She looked from the ships, to the sheets of metal, to the cauldrons and back again, trying to reason it out.

  ***

  Lanni spent the next 24 hours watching the minions working diligently to complete the tasks Golix had set them too. When she still couldn’t make heads or tails of it all, she leaned her head back, closed her eyes and for what seemed like the umpteenth million time, opened her mind.

  None of the beasties had come near her, none of them had spoken to her and save for a bowl of fruit they’d slid through the door around sunset none of them had really paid her any attention at all.

  Which was fine.

  She had no problem being invisible. She always had been. Only now, she used that to her advantage too. With no one watching her, she’d split the fruit into chunks with her fingers, tucking the majority of it in a pocket. Eating a few, she’d sat back to wait.

  Well after the sun had gone down, she tossed the pieces into the trees. She needed help to escape and hoped whatever creature found the tidbits would be amenable to doing so.

  She finally picked up on something coming along through the undergrowth. It sounded small, with four legs that scraped at the leaves and twigs.

  Cracking an eye, she spied a pair of red ones just at the edge of the foliage. They hovered about six inches off the ground and she discretely pulled out another chunk. Trying not to call attention to the action, she tossed it over her shoulder.

  It thumped softly in the sand and a squeak drifted across the air. She turned enough to catch a small rodent looking thing dart to it, scoop it up and retreat.

  Its eyes lifted up off ground level and she figured it was sitting up to eat.

  She tossed another hunk, this one landing closer to her prison.