Veren had a broad smile on his face as he retrieved a small cask of ale from their provisions and returned to Damion and Raven's side. "I grabbed this before we left the border town. I don't have enough for everyone, but at least we three can have a drink with dinner."
The young woman shook her head. "Most Deirians do not drink ale. We prefer wine."
Veren shrugged. "Your loss." He poured some ale into a dinted mug and handed it to Damion, then poured some for himself. He took a long drink, then sighed. "Nectar of the gods!" He smiled dreamily.
Damion snorted in amusement. "You're beginning to sound a little like Sly!"
They had just finished eating when Snowfeather ghosted in from the darkness and landed gently on Damion's shoulder, a dead pigeon clutched tightly in his beak.
"What an unusual bird!" Raven exclaimed in astonishment. "I've never seen such a creature in our forests before!"
"This is Snowfeather." Damion smiled. "He is a snow owl. They live mostly in mountainous regions."
She stared at Snowfeather with wonder, then looked to Damion. "So what is your story exactly?" She gestured to Veren, who had stretched out on one the benches with another mug of ale. "Your friend has explained his reasons for being here. What are yours?"
Damion sighed heavily. "Do my reasons really matter?"
The young woman started to reply, but was cut off by an earsplitting shriek that echoed through the forest.
"By the gods!" One of the Deirian warriors exclaimed in fear. "What kind of beast makes that kind of sound?" He and his fellow warriors stared into the darkness surrounding them.
"You really don't want to know." Damion answered grimly. Both he and Veren drew their swords and began to stare up into the dark sky above.
"What is it?" Raven asked, drawing her bow and notching an arrow nervously.
Her question was answered as an enormous black form suddenly dropped from the night sky and landed on two of her warriors, crushing them like bugs. The shadowy creature whirled on the other warriors before they could react, breathing flames which instantly engulfed the helpless men.
Raven stood watching in horror and disbelief as her clansmen were slaughtered, then screamed in terror as the black serpent turned its gaze on her.
It drew a deep breath, preparing to breathe more flames, but Damion suddenly rushed forward, Dragon Sword in hand. Its blade suddenly burst into flames as he called upon its power, combining it with his own magic. The shadow dragon screeched in pain and fear as he released a blast of energy that struck the beast in its side, hurling it backward it off its feet. It crashed to the ground near the edge of the forest, still shrieking in pain and fury.
Veren rushed forward and snatched Raven by one arm, then dragged her off to the safety of the forest, leaving Damion behind to deal with the massive beast.
The shadow dragon belched a wave of flames across the clearing as it struggled to regain its feet, but Damion ignored it and rushed forward, swinging the Dragon Sword with all of his strength. The flaming sword sliced through the shadow dragon's armored hide with ease as he slashed it across it's massive breast.
It roared an ear splitting roar as he continued to chop away, leaving deep gashes in the thick armor-like scales, then it lashed out wildly, knocking him back across the clearing where he crashed into the shallow stream.
The shadow dragon scrambled to its feet, bleeding freely from the horrendous gashes across its chest, then launched itself into the air, seeming to almost melt into the dark sky. It roared one last roar that trailed off into a pitiful whimper as disappeared into the night.
Damion was cursing vehemently as he struggled his way from the stream, water dripping from his face. The clothing beneath his armor was in charred tatters, and he was bleeding from a gash over one eye, but he was otherwise unharmed.
Veren and Raven emerged from the edge of the forest and slowly made their way to Damion's side. The young woman seemed to be in a state of shock as she surveyed the carnage. Her camp was destroyed within the blink of an eye, and all of her men lay dead, their bodies mangled and charred beyond recognition.
"Do you think it was mortally injured?" Veren asked, his voice shaken.
Damion shook his head. "Not a chance." He cursed again. He made his way over to where the horses were corralled. A number of them had jumped the rough timber logs that kept them corralled and disappeared into the forest, but Storm and several others still remained and appeared uninjured.
"What was that beast?" Raven was still trembling uncontrollably.
"It's called a shadow dragon." Damion answered in an angry voice. "They are the cause of all of the destruction taking place."
"A shadow dragon?" She asked in disbelief. "I thought the dragons vanished centuries ago!"
"They have returned." Damion began to strip out of his armor, then rummaged their the packs to find some clothing to replace the charred tatters he now wore.
Raven stormed up to Damion, her eyes flashing in anger. "Just who are you? How do you know of these creatures?"
Damion was silent as he finished getting dressed. "The scarlet dragons were released from the Dragon Gem three years ago when it was joined with the Dragon Sword." He said finally, struggling back into his armor.
"I have heard the stories of the Dragon Lord." She admitted. "I had thought them nonsense!"
Damion shook his head. "The stories are true. The scarlet dragons emerged once more into this world, but they are still controlled by the Dragon Sword."
"But that dragon was black!" She said in confusion.
Damion nodded grimly. "The scarlet dragons banished the shadow dragons from this world thousands of years ago. They were all but forgotten, until they were released back into this world by accident when the scarlet dragons were freed from the Dragon Gem."
"How is it that you know all of this?" She asked in sudden suspicion.
He turned away from her without answering, but she caught sight of the Dragon Sword on his hip.
"It was you?" Her voice was scarcely more than a whisper. "You are the Dragon Lord? You are the one that released them?"
He sighed heavily. "Aye, I am the one responsible for what is happening."
"If the Dragon Sword controls the dragons, then can't you use the sword to stop them?"
He shook his head. "The Dragon Sword only controls the scarlet dragons. It doesn't have any power over the shadow dragons. That's why I have been trying to track these beasts down and stop them. It was my mistake that allowed them to return."
"Can't you just force the scarlet dragons to banish them again?" She asked desperately.
"The scarlet dragons are trying to track them down, but the shadow beasts are elusive creatures and almost impossible to detect in the darkness, which is the only time they appear."
"This all seems so unreal!" She said in a dazed voice.
"It's all too real." Veren assured her as he began loading their belongings onto the horses.
"I must report this news to my father! The council needs to know what's happening!" She looked around at her fallen clansmen. "We must bury my men first."
They helped her to bury the charred remains of her warriors, then finished loading their horses and set off for the trade road.
It was dawn by the time they finally reached the road, although it was still quite dark, the dense forest canopy overhead allowing very little light through for them to travel by. They moved at a careful walk until the sun was high enough to allow for faster travel, then they quickened their pace, following Raven as she confidently guided them through the forest she called home.
It was nearly noon when they finally stopped to rest their horses. Raven led them up another path to a natural spring located a half mile or so from the trade road, and they dismounted and allowed their weary horses to drink.
Veren rummaged through their packs and produced some rations, which he distributed between them. "You know," He said casually to Damion, who was gnawing on a piece of dried beef. "You have
to be the craziest person I've ever met!"
Damion snorted, but remained silent.
"I mean, what kind of sane person wades through a raging fire and attacks a dragon?" Veren shook his head in amused disbelief.
"Fire doesn't burn my flesh." He explained quietly. "It cannot harm me."
"What do you mean?" Raven asked curiously.
Damion frowned and looked away. "The dragon's blood in my veins makes me immune to fire."
The young woman stared at him in disbelief.
"My mother was violated by dragonspawn while I was still in her womb." He told her in an emotionless voice. "The attack left its mark upon me in many different ways."
"But who charges an attacking dragon?" Veren continued. "What was you thinking?"
Damion shrugged. "Believe it or not, it wasn't the first time that's happened."
They both stared at him in disbelief now, but he ignored them as Snowfeather appeared from overhead.
"Everything seems clear in the area," He reported as he landed on Storm's saddle. "but there is another patrol heading south along the trade road."
"How far away are they?" He asked silently.
"Two or three miles. They're not really moving very fast."
Damion looked to the others. "There is a group of riders moving along the trade road."
"How is it you know this?" Raven asked in confusion. "We're a half mile from the trade road!"
Damion nodded to the snow owl. "Snowfeather told me."
"You can talk to animals?" She asked in astonishment.
Damion smiled, then shook his head. "Only Snowfeather. He and I are linked by my magic."
"How far away are they?" Veren inquired, running one hand over his bald head.
"They are still a couple of miles to the north."
Raven rose from where she sat. "We should make our way back to the trade road. If it's another patrol, they need to be warned of what has transpired."
They set off back up the nearly invisible trail and soon reached the trade road. They continued to the north and it wasn't long before a group of riders appeared in the distance.
Damion noticed Raven's face darken as they drew closer, and she slowed to a stop in the middle of the road.
"Trouble?" Veren asked as he watched the Deirian riders approach.
"They are from the Blood Claw clan!" She said with heat. "They should not be this far into my people's lands!"
The riders reined in their horses twenty or so feet from where they waited and stared at them with fierce aggressive stares. There were twenty or so of the pale faced riders, each armed with long bows and short swords, which were belted tightly to their waists. Their leader was a thin dark haired man who was missing both of his front teeth. He was dressed in leather armor dyed a garish red, as were his men, and their horses had been painted with various designs using a bright red dye. "Ah! Raven Nightshade!" He exclaimed in a slightly mocking voice. "Out for a day's ride with friends, are we?"
Raven sneered at the man contemptuously. "Melvik Poisonoak." She said in a flat voice. "You should not be here! Your people's lands are to the north! You are violating the treaty between our people!"
The dark haired man scowled at her angrily. "Speak not of violating treaties, woman! I know it's your people that are attacking our camps, and as soon as I have the evidence, my people will finally wipe your tribe from this fair land!"
"These attacks are happening to our people too, you imbecile!" She informed him through clenched teeth. "Your people are not the only ones to have suffered losses!"
The dark haired man looked to Veren and Damion, who were watching the newcomers warily. "And with whom do you travel, Raven? A Jaghern and..." He faltered as his eyes fell upon Damion, who stared back at him with a look that promised death.
Raven smiled slightly, then gestured imperiously. "You and your friends will turn around and return to your own lands!"
"And who will make us?" He sneered mockingly. "Where are all your men, Raven? I've never known you go anywhere without a dozen or so of your lackeys at your back."
Raven's face grew stony. "We were attacked last night. My entire patrol was killed."
Melvik seemed taken aback. "Attacked? By who?"
She shook her head. "You would not believe me if I told you."
The dark haired man scoffed dismissively. "So your warriors died while you fled to save your own skin? I had thought better of you."
"You will watch what you say to me, dog," Raven snarled in a deadly voice. "and you will turn around and return to your own lands! I must report to my father what we have learned so he can present it before the council."
Melvik laughed condescendingly. "I don't think the council will believe the words of some cowardly female. Especially one who left her kinsmen to die."
Raven's hands were a blur as she notched an arrow into the bow that seemed materialize from nowhere. She leveled the arrow at Melvik's chest. "One more insult and you will die!"
The warriors following Melvik drew their own bows. The dark haired man laughed, then gestured to his men. "It seems you are a little outnumbered, Raven! And I don't think that one Jaghern, and one... freak, will be much help!"
Veren groaned at the word 'freak'. "You really shouldn't have said that." He told Melvik in a regretful voice. He looked to Damion, whose face was a thundercloud. "I'm just going to take the horses and wait over here. Are you coming, Raven?" His voice was casual, but he gestured insistently for her to join him.
Raven looked confused at first, but then caught sight of the look on Damion's face and quickly lowered her bow.
"You really should turn around and leave this place." Damion warned the dark haired man in a voice that was little more than a growl. "No one has to die here."
Melvik and several of his men began to laugh. "Do you think the words of some freak will frighten us?"
The men couldn't see the invisible force that suddenly swept them all from their mounts, sending them crashing hard to the ground. While the warriors lay gasping in pain on the ground, their horses panicked and disappeared into the surrounding forest.
Melvik struggled to his feet, his face filled with rage. "Witchcraft!" He snarled, raising his bow and notching an arrow. "You will die this day, Freak!"
Damion gestured with one hand and the Deirian screamed as his bow suddenly vanished and was replaced by a hissing snake which struck at his face, missing by mere inches.
Melvik tossed the snake aside fearfully, then drew his sword and charged at Damion, his eyes bulging insanely.
Damion leaned back in his saddle and kicked him hard in the chest, sending him crashing backwards into a number of his own men who had finally regained the feet.
"Damion!" Raven suddenly called, riding forward to join him. "Please, do not kill them!" She stared down at the warriors, many of whom were still laying on the ground, groaning in pain. "Go, Melvik. Go and take your men with you while you still can."
Melvik slowly struggled to his feet and snarled in defiance. "My men and I will die before we will run from a freak sorcerer and his whore!"
His men, on the other hand, began to slowly back away dragging their injured with them.
The dark haired Deirian didn't seem to notice as he scrambled to find the sword he dropped when he crashed into his men. He finally located his fallen weapon, then charged once more, howling insanely.
Storm suddenly whirled in place and lashed out with a steel clad hoof, catching the charging man directly in the crotch with an audible crunch. Melvik was lifted several feet into the air before he crashed back to the ground where he lay groaning, unable to move.
"Oh, that had to hurt!" Veren commented, wincing in sympathy. "Right in the clackers!"
"I shall... kill you... Freak!" He gasped, rolling on the ground in agony. "I..." He began to retch uncontrollably.
"Why don't you just turn him into a toad so we can continue our way?" Veren suggested with a snort of amusement.
"Do your wo
rst!" Melvik screamed in defiance, still holding his crotch with both hands. "I will die protecting my homeland from evil!"
Damion rolled his eyes, then slid from his saddle and grabbed the man by his throat. "You wish to protect your lands from evil?" He asked angrily. "Very well! Protect this land you shall!" He drew in his magic and gestured to a spot at one side of the trade road, which began to glow brightly. He then turned and gestured to a spot on the other side of the road, which also began to glow.
The remaining Deirian warriors watched in horrid fascination as several bright green sprouts suddenly appeared from the dark soil, quickly snaking up towards the forest canopy above.
Damion lifted Melvik higher into the air, and the writhing vines suddenly arched over and wrapped themselves around the thrashing man's arms. He screamed in terror as the vines slowly began to engulf his body even as it lifted him higher into the air above the trade road.
The vines continued to intertwine and thicken as they enveloped the Deirian, forming a large arch over the road. Melvik continued to scream as he struggled to free himself until the vines finally consumed him completely. What remained of the Deirian warrior when the vines finally fell dormant was the oddly formed outline of a human form which hung suspended from the highest point of the huge arch.
The remaining warriors broke and ran after witnessing their leaders fate, disappearing into the forest in terror.
"Is he dead?" Raven asked in a slightly fearful voice as she and Veren rejoined him.
Damion shook his head, then climbed back up onto Storm's broad back. "I just gave him what he wanted. He wished to protect his home from evil. Now, he will do just that. Anytime that evil tries to pass beneath this arch he will come alive to fulfill his duty."
"How long will he live like this?"
Damion shrugged. "Forever."
Veren rode forward leading their pack horses. "At least he will do something good for this land, instead of running around picking fights."
Omensent: Rise of the Shadow Dragons Page 11
