by Corin, G.
Ramaeka desperately strained his eyes, trying to see anything through the dust haze. There were a couple of sharp cracking sounds, muffled thumps and quick flares from what he assumed were Stripe’s hands. As the dust settled, it revealed Stripe standing on the chest of a half destroyed mud monster. He leaped off and headed towards the second creature which swung a huge clumsy fist at Stripe’s head. He ducked easily and pounded a fist into its stomach, blowing half of it out the other side. He followed that immediately by stepping up onto the exposed rock of its lower stomach, bringing him into easy reach of its blank face which he destroyed with a cruel swing of his right fist.
Ramaeka whooped, Stripe was brilliant! Who else would have thought of using their own magic as destructive armour? This was more like it. Finally some proper fighting. Tam laughed and cheered beside him as Amar shook his head in bemusement. As they quieted down to watch the third mud monster grab at Stripe; Ramaeka realised that he could hear a soft scraping sound. Frowning he turned to look around the tower, nobody was moving, all of them breathlessly watching as Stripe knocked the creatures hands away. Strange he could have sworn that it was coming from the other side of the wall. There, something had clunked slightly like muted metal hitting stone. An awful sinking feeling filled Ramaeka’s stomach as he realised what it might be.
“Amar,” he whispered. Amar looked at him surprised by his tone.
“I think there’s someone at the base of the wall.”
Amar looked confused for a moment before he paled as understanding dawned. He touched the rock of the tower wall and Ramaeka could almost feel his magic trickling down through the stone. In the distance the horde was moving restlessly, he could see them adjusting weapons, readying themselves. He watched in increasing horror as Stripe’s fight with the mud monster led him closer and closer to the wall, as Gasha raised his cold black blade a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Change Ramaeka,” Amar said urgently. He needed no second bidding, changing faster than he had ever changed before despite the ache in his muscles.
“I’m with ye,” Tam said bounding on to his back almost before the change had finished. Everything seemed to happen at that moment, almost simultaneously and yet excruciatingly slowly.
Stripe finished off the last mud monster with a punch to the head, hands still glowing bright. Eight arrows headed out from the shadows of the wall as Ramaeka roared a warning and launched himself into the air. Distracted, Stripe looked up and saw the arrows. He dropped to the ground behind the meagre protection of the decapitated mud monsters torso, the light stuttering and fading from his hands as he lost concentration. One arrow scraped his shoulder while another buried itself in his calf muscle.
A score of men ran out from below the wall even as the arrows were still flying through the air. The fastest had almost reached Stripe before Gasha stepped up to him, raising his sword as Stripe fumbled to draw his own.
“The sword is mine Stripe-dog,” he heard Gash taunt as he brought the blade down.
The first of Gasha’s men slammed into him, flinging him away from Stripe and sending him sprawling before the blade hit. The man yanked off his helmet and stood over Stripe, knives at the ready. All of this Ramaeka saw in moments, then in a blaze of fury he and Tam arrived at the fight. He was almost numb with rage as he decimated the remaining men that escaped Tam’s flashing blade, using both tail and claws to keep them away from Stripe. Finishing the last man he whipped around, determined to fulfil his promise to Stripe by finishing Gasha and then somehow getting all of them back up to the top of the wall. He was just in time to see Gasha run the man with the knives through with the black blade. With a cry of anguish Stripe pulled his sword free and threw himself at Gasha despite his wounded leg, hacking and pounding so hard he drove the Warlord back several paces. Tam ran forward and grabbed the slumped figure hauling him over to Ramaeka.
“Get ‘im up top,” he yelled. Mouth dry Ramaeka stared down at Shady’s pale face as he was pushed into his claws.
“I’ll ‘elp Stripe, just get back ‘ere fast.”
Ramaeka tightened his hold on the messy, bloody bundle of Shady and threw himself in the air. He narrowly missed a wave of arrows from the city walls as they destroyed the first rank of the rapidly approaching horde. Flapping hard he dropped Shady gently beside Amar.
“Help him,” he growled. Noticing his friend’s hesitation he added. “Take him down to the healers; I’ll be okay for that long.”
With that he launched himself out again. Unfortunately Amar must have been protecting him more than he realised or Mischief had it out for him because suddenly as he flew out there were two arrows sprouting from his front leg and his back. Luckily they missed both the wing and the wing joint. Also, fortunately for him, dragon hide, even young dragon hide, was tougher than human skin and they only sank in to the end of the pointed head, making it easy to pull out though he had to use his tail for the one on his back. Ignoring the blood, he looked around hurriedly for his friends. They were both fighting one armed as they backed up towards the wall, Tam supporting Stripe with an arm around the shoulders. However they were hard pressed with the horde threatening to sweep over them. Scanning the horde quickly he could find no sign at all of the Warlord. He could only hope that Stripe had taken care of him in the end.
The horde had Tam and Stripe pressed firmly against the rock of the wall both still fighting like wild beasts. With a growl Ramaeka called up the last of his magic, despite Amar’s warnings. He thought briefly about using his trusty fire spell then he remembered the fight with his siblings after they left Tanir. The spell his sister had used on Parrit and Gelber came to mind and he grinned wickedly, sending his magic down into the ground. The fighters surrounding Stripe and Tam started to scream and shout as they suddenly sank thigh deep into the earth and stuck there. Tam and Stripe finished them off. Exhaustion hovered like a shadow over Ramaeka as he landed in front of his friends, tripping over the bodies of those caught in his spell.
A grinding snarl ripped through the air and all he could think wearily was what now? Spreading his wings defensively in front of Tam and Stripe, he readied himself as best he could, hissing softly. Because his luck was that good, of course the creature approaching was one of the giant mountain trolls. It came roaring through the horde battering aside those unlucky enough to be caught by Ramaeka’s spell or who weren’t quick enough to get out of the way. At least it wasn’t a soul shaker he thought with grim optimism before roaring his defiance at it. Vaguely in the background he could have sworn he heard an echo. Then the creature was in front of him and he launched himself forward, ignoring Tam and Stripe’s cries. There was virtually no way they would be able to get out of this anyway unless Amar found a way to save them without alerting his babysitters. He was too tired to fly by himself let alone with two others and even if he could they would have to get through the arrows and spears which thickened the air. Best to die fighting for the people he cared for.
They met with a sickening thud, ripping and biting as they fought without any finesse. Ramaeka wrapped himself around the beast and slammed the blade of his tail into its chest, forcing the point in bit by bit. The troll shrieked in fury and reached back to grab Ramaeka’s head in a fierce headlock, battering at him furiously. As the ringing in his head became overwhelming, a bone deep shattering roar of fury swamped over him sending into the warmth of the waiting darkness.
Chapter Fourteen
The first thing that came to Ramaeka’s mind as he woke was how warm and comfortable he was. This is nice he thought sleepily, but he could have sworn that he had just been fighting someone or perhaps something. Now what was it he wondered, awareness drifting closer. Something big with claws and fangs but not a dragon.
“Troll,” he yelped trying to scramble up and promptly getting tangled in the blankets piled on top of him.
“I’ve been called a lot of names before but troll’s a first.”
Stripe helped him untangle himself from the blanket
s before hugging him fiercely.
“You’re such an idiot,” he growled, pulling back to shake Ramaeka gently. Since he was beaming as he said it Ramaeka knew he wasn’t really angry. He leaned back into the cushions behind him questioning Stripe eagerly.
“What happened? How are we still alive? Is Shady alive? What about...”
He glared as Stripe shoved a hand over his mouth.
“Calm down,” Stripe laughed, before wrinkling his nose and yanking his hand away as Ramaeka licked it.
“That’s disgusting, honestly who raised you? Dragons? I think I still have blood on there.”
Ramaeka generously ignored the comment on dragons and punched Stripe lightly on the arm.
“Tell me what happened!”
Stripe raised his hands in mock surrender, then sobered quickly.
“We came out alright in the end, nobody died. Though from what the healers were saying Shady was pretty close. Turns out dragons are good healers,” he looked at Ramaeka, raising an eyebrow.
“Not all dragons,” Ramaeka corrected automatically before his mind caught up. “Wait, Dragons? I thought I heard...,” he trailed off unsurely.
“Yep,” Stripe grinned at him. “Just over twenty of ‘em. They arrived just in time to see you fighting that giant troll. They were pretty angry about that, completely shattered Gasha’s horde, I’ve never seen anything like it; one of them even breathed fire. Amar is furious with you by the way, for putting yourself in danger like that. I think him and Tam will have a few things to say to you later. Not to mention Parrit and Gelber.”
Ramaeka winced; he was not looking forward to that. “You don’t seem too angry with me?”
“I am a little, but I guess it would be a bit two-faced since I was doing the same thing,” he grinned wryly.
“How are you anyway? And the others? You looked terrible last time I saw you.”
“Ha! Please I look wonderful even when I’m covered in blood and dirt,” he rolled his eyes at Ramaeka’s scornful snort.
“Yeah, the dragons fixed me up pretty good after they saved Shady. He’s still on bed rest like you but he’s going to be fine. Tam’s probably come out the worst, he lost an ear which, surprisingly, don’t grow back but he doesn’t seem overly concerned. Parrit and Gelber didn’t even get a chance to fight so Gelber’s sulking but other than that they’re both good.”
Ramaeka sighed with relief, a knot in his stomach unclenched as he relaxed.
“What about Gasha?” he asked tentatively. “I lost sight of what was happening when I took Shady up to Amar. Did you kill him?”
“I’m not sure,” Stripe admitted. “I definitely wounded him just before his horde reached us, got him across the head. Then Tam grabbed me and we got pushed back. I hope he’s dead but I won’t believe it till I see his body.”
Ramaeka nodded in agreement.
“We should find out as soon as we can all travel,” he said.
Stripe’s face lit up. “I was hoping you were going to say something like that, does that mean you’ll be staying with me and Shady?”
“Of course,” Ramaeka scoffed. “What else would I be doing?”
“I think the big white dragon has plans for you,” Stripe said. “And well, I didn’t exactly treat you like a friend when I found out you were a dragon.”
Flushed with shame he met Ramaeka’s eyes steadily. Ramaeka grinned crookedly.
“If it makes you feel better I probably looked like an idiot the first time I met a human. I didn’t even know you could talk, I thought you were animals.”
Stripe scowled, wrinkling his nose. “That really doesn’t make me feel better at all.”
Ramaeka laughed at him. “Poor little human, so delicate. Well you can’t say I didn’t try.”
Stripe huffed at that, though Ramaeka could tell he was fighting not to laugh.
“You’re lucky your injured short stuff.”
Ramaeka threw a pillow at him which he promptly caught and sent back with a grin.
As he settled back down Ramaeka peeked under the blankets at the bandages wrapped around his body. He was pretty sure he’d had worse though he couldn’t recall exactly when. With a sigh he dropped the blankets back down.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about what happened after we split up? Did you get into any trouble?”
“Not at all,” Stripe said looking vaguely disappointed. “Or at least not until we got into the city. Rama did we have trouble proving we were good enough to fight. Well not Gelber or Parrit but I had to prove myself.”
“That sounds interesting,” Ramaeka said propping himself up higher on the pillows.
“Perhaps a conversation that could be delayed a little while longer,” a warm voice interrupted from the doorway. Stripe spun around, putting a hand on Ramaeka’s shoulder to keep him in the bed.
“Sir,” Stripe said politely as Isahn stepped in. Isahn’s mouth twitched as he watched Ramaeka struggle against Stripe’s hand. Ramaeka flushed with exertion and embarrassment. To be in bed while one of the greatest dragons in Amaria was in the same room was disgraceful.
“Its fine Ramaeka, please just relax. I have no wish to be scolded by the healers.”
“Yes sir,” he stammered, hiding his shaking hands under the blankets. Stripe looked between the two of them warily.
“Did you need something sir?” he asked idly moving so that he stood between the two of them.
“I was hoping to take up a few moments of Ramaeka’s time,” Isahn said with a respectful tilt of his head to Stripe. “We have much to discuss.”
Stripe glanced back at Ramaeka who nodded shakily.
“I’ll be right outside,” he said looking meaningfully at Isahn. “Don’t talk too long, Ramaeka needs more rest.”
He limped past Isahn, pointedly leaving the door open a crack. Ramaeka covered his face with his hands, sure that his face was permanently stained red with embarrassment. If he had behaved like that at home his father would have shredded him. He’s just a human he scolded himself, he doesn’t understand.
“You’ve made a good friend there,” Isahn smiled at Ramaeka before gesturing towards a chair in the corner of the room which Ramaeka hadn’t noticed.
“Of course,” Ramaeka nodded frantically, itching to get up and show the Empara true respect. Isahn patted his shoulder sympathetically.
“It’s fine youngling, you need the rest. I feared we had reached you too late.”
“I’m fine,” Ramaeka reassured him voice rasping in his dry throat. “My friends and I looked after each other.”
Isahn hummed in agreement, he stood and went to a small table in the corner of the room.
“You have certainly made some interesting acquaintances. I’ve also heard that you have all proven yourselves rather impressively in battle.”
Returning to his seat, he offered Ramaeka a flask of water which he took gratefully.
“I have to tell you Ramaeka I was very relieved to hear that you had survived your battle with your father. When Yamari returned with your young human friend and informed me of what you had done I was determined to bring you to my school. We were both furious that you had apparently been killed before we arrived.”
“Yamari was the investigator I gave Alekra too,” Ramaeka remembered. “Did you confront my father? What happened?”
Isahn held up a hand. “I think I would like to hear your tale first if you don’t mind.”
“Where should I start?” he asked nervously, wishing he could refuse Isahn.
“Perhaps from the last time we spoke,” Isahn suggested, settling back into his chair.
Once he started, Ramaeka found it almost too easy to tell everything that had happened. It helped that Isahn proved to be one of those rare people who seemed to absorb what they heard no matter how ridiculous. Ramaeka kept only a few things to himself though he suspected that Isahn might know exactly who Amar was. Isahn just nodded thoughtfully to himself, in fact the only time he interrupted was when Ramaek
a was describing how he and Amar had stolen Gasha’s blade.
“Ha!” he said. “That will teach him to be so careless.”
When Ramaeka finally finished his rather epic story, Isahn tapped the flask in his hands, refilling it. Ramaeka blinked down at it in surprise before drinking.
“You did extraordinarily well,” Isahn said looking at him with what Ramaeka thought might be respect. “Far better than many dragons three times your rank. Far better than I would expect from any offspring of Ramanae, though I cannot dispute that he raises his children strong and tough.”
Ramaeka fidgeted uncomfortably, blushing both from the praise and from the criticism of his family. They may be horrible and trying their best to kill him but they were still family.
“My apologies,” Isahn said. “I should not criticise your family in your presence, I hope you will forgive me for being so rude.”
He smiled as Ramaeka nodded quickly.
“I’m afraid I am rather frustrated with your father at the moment. An Empara dragon has almost absolute rights in his own territory; the kidnapping of young Alekra earned nothing more than a few words of censure. You’re death, on the other claw, was to be brought up at the next Conclave since we were unable to collectively decide on a punishment at the previous one. However with the news that you were still alive, many of the other Empara’s thought that it should no longer be a concern.”
“So he isn’t being punished for any of it?” Ramaeka wasn’t overly surprised; his father had always seemed too powerful and sure of himself to be conquered by anything, even the law.
“At this point no,” Isahn sighed. “The Conclave is split; the conservatives are following your father’s lead. I was lucky to have enough support to pass the human protection law at the last Conclave. There were enough conservatives upset by your death to vote with me on the issue.”
