The Dream of Shadows

by Nicholas Clausen

  “If all of Arvain fight, many will die,” Se said flatly. With that Draek jumped into the air and began circling upwards.

  Hayden wanted to respond, but his gaze was drawn somewhere else before he could shout his words.

  In the midst of The Void, the canyon was alive with movement. Black dragons jumped from one side to the other and flew about while the floor was a wave of darkness moving faster than any horse Hayden had ever seen.

  What are those? Hayden asked, knowing Draek could make out the figures in the dying light. Just before Hayden lost sight of just about everything around them, Draek answered.

  Bone Thieves. They are riding giant black cats.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Hayden watched as the wave of darkness that was the Bone Thieves cascaded on the vast, blank landscape. Hayden still could not make out any of the details of the figures beneath him, but Draek had assured him that they were, in fact, riding atop of giant black cats.

  The moon was all but invisible in the night sky, a small sliver remaining. The stars gave little light to Hayden, but it was enough to just make out the outline of the land around him.

  He could see the sparkling reflection of the stars on the shining scales of Draek’s back. The black dragons flying around them were only shapes for a brief moment as they fluttered close and disappeared back into the shadows.

  Hayden remained silent as they flew. He had to fight the urge to place his hand on the hilt of his sword. His adrenaline was beginning to course through his veins as they flew. Hayden kept his eyes forward, and his mind focused on what was to come.

  He did not know if the soldiers at Aldreth Stronghold would fight, but he had to assume that they would and that the fight would be hard.

  Hayden closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. The Shadow Desert, while hot and scourged during the day, the night air had grown cold and frigid. Hayden tried to clear his mind when another black dragon flew overhead and disappeared again. Finally, Hayden broke his silence.

  These black dragons don’t know how to fly to battle properly. Hayden said in frustration. He strained his eyes to see if he could pick out any of the black dragons.

  They are simply excited. Draek said amused. This is their first large-scale battle and the beginning of a war for them. They are going to places they have never seen, none of their kind has ever seen. Draek explained. He was calm, or at least calm compared to Hayden.

  I don’t remember being that excited when we flew off to fight the dwarves. Hayden stated.

  We were, we have just become more accustomed to it now. Draek corrected. Hayden’s hands were beginning to shake slightly, so he flexed them to get his nerves under control.

  Can you tell where Cass and Shaylin are? Hayden asked. In the darkness, Hayden couldn’t tell where any of the dragons were let alone one specific one.

  I can’t, but the black dragons keep shouting out to each other, and it is almost impossible to hear any one voice. Draek tried to explain. Hayden was content with the answer, and he was sure they were somewhere behind them. They had left quickly after his meeting with Cass and Kne, and he guessed that it had taken them slightly longer to get ready.

  We can wait at Aldreth Stronghold when we arrive there. We will wait to attack the stronghold until they arrive. Hayden decided, and Draek agreed silently.

  They continued to move silently in the darkness for some time before the glow of Aldreth began to glow on the horizon.

  There it is. Draek said, but it was not necessary. Hayden could see the glow of dozens of torches and brazers alight, and he knew what it meant. Hayden’s heart began to beat faster and faster as they flew closer to the glowing stronghold, but they stopped short, and Draek quietly landed.

  We need to group together and see what Cass’s plan is. Draek instructed as he drew near to the ground beneath them. Hayden held on as Draek touched down and folded his winds in.

  They were still a good way off from Aldreth Stronghold. Close enough that they could attack the structures with a short flight but not close enough that any sentry would be able to spot them or even hear them.

  Hayden did not dismount from Draek’s saddle as they waited for the others to join them. When Draek was smaller, it would not have been so much work to quickly climb up Draek’s side, but now that he was so large it was not practical. If they were ambushed, Hayden wouldn’t be able to get onto Draek’s back fast enough.

  The black dragons were the first to land and emerge from the darkness. The night had left just enough light for Hayden to see the ones closest to him but everything else was simply moving darkness.

  Hayden waited patiently for Cass and Shaylin to arrive, but the black cats made it first.

  Hayden smelled them before he heard or saw them. The smell was faint, but it was a bitter smell. Just strong enough for Hayden to wonder what it was he was smelling. One of the black cats moved close enough for Hayden to see and it was almost enough for Hayden to draw his sword.

  The cat was black with dark gray stripes and looked like a lean, tiger that had simply grown too large. The Bone Thief laid on the creature’s back and hugged it as it moved, staying as low to the beast as possible.

  The cat’s paws were as large as an adult bear, and its tail was thicker than the ropes Hayden had seen on the Sea Serpent’s Ships. The most stunning thing about the cats were their teeth.

  The dagger-like teeth jutted around the lips of the cat and could be seen even from Hayden’s distance in the dark. The teeth were a dull white but glowed in comparison to the cat they belonged to.

  What are those things? Hayden asked. He was hoping Draek would give him a serious answer and not the obvious one, that they are large cats.

  Draek did not answer right away but stared at the closest black dragon, and Hayden figured that he must be communicating.

  They are called shadow cats. They are the only creatures that can traverse The Void as well as a black dragon. Draek answered.

  Are they planning on fighting from the back of them as if they were a horse? Hayden asked as the shadow cat moved on and left Hayden’s line of sight. The rider was still hunched over and hugging the cat.

  I believe they are. Draek replied after another short moment of silence.

  How many Bone Thieves are here with us and how many are we waiting for? Hayden asked, frustrated that he couldn’t tell how many were surrounding him.

  Draek did not respond for a much longer period this time.

  Here comes Kne and Kne the dragon. They will know. Hayden felt his anger flair at the Bone Thieves’ name and was surprised to feel the same emotion come out of Draek. The black dragon walked awkwardly like a bat; it’s winged front limbs working as crutches as the shorter back legs hopped and hobbled to keep up.

  Kne’s rider detached from the black dragon and the dark figure all but ran to Draek and quickly scaled the silver dragon, stopping right behind Hayden but instead of sitting Kne was crouched, ready to spring off at a moment’s notice.

  Before Hayden could mutter a surprised comment at the speed and agility that Kne displayed, the Bone Thief was motioning him to remain silent.

  “Don’t speak.” Kne’s voice was nearly as silent as the wind.

  Hayden knew that the chances of the soldiers or anyone at Aldreth Stronghold hearing them was almost nonexistent, but it still wouldn’t help to risk it.

  “We have nearly twenty black dragons and just shy of a hundred shadow cats and their riders.” Kne continued without giving a chance for Hayden to respond.

  Hayden thought about the numbers that Kne was telling him, and he hoped that it was going to be enough.

  “There are more black dragons on their way with the thieves that do not ride.” Kne continued. “With the black dragons that are at the stronghold already that will put our number at almost forty black dragons.” Hayden felt himself smile behind his helmet.

  That was a number he had wanted to hear. That was more riders than he had been expecting and that was enough
to really make a difference in the fight for Celestial City with the added help of the Frost Fangs’ white dragons.

  “We are to wait until the full force of my people are here, and then we are to approach Aldreth and offer them a chance to surrender.” Kne continued.

  With the full force of Bone Thieves and their black dragons, Aldreth stood no chance of fending them off. Surrender would be a clear choice, and hopefully, they would see it as well.

  “How far behind are the rest of your people?” Hayden asked. He tried to whisper, but it sounded to him like he was shouting. It must have sounded the same to Kne because the Bone Thief motioned for Hayden to be silent.

  “They are a few hours out,” Kne explained. “They should be here by first light.”

  “That will take too long,” Hayden said, knowing that Kne was going to tell him to remain silent.

  “We have to wait,” Kne said without emotion. “Cass insisted they be given a chance to surrender, and she feels they will be more likely to say yes if they see our full numbers.” Hayden agreed with the idea, but he hadn’t completely abandoned the idea of seeking out the dwarves for help, but if they took too long taking the stronghold he wouldn’t be able to seek the dwarves help.

  “It will take too long. We need to approach them now.” Hayden insisted.

  “No, Cass says we wait.” Kne would not move on the subject.

  There is no point in arguing now Hayden. Wait until Cass arrives and we can discuss it with her. Draek said calmly.

  “When is Cass to arrive? Is she with the second group?” Hayden asked. Kne did not respond right away.

  “Where is she?” Hayden asked when he was answered with only silence.

  “She is..” Kne started but did not finish.

  “Kne. Where is Cass?” Hayden asked with all the authority he could muster.

  “She is not coming,” Kne admitted finally but still with a monotone voice.

  Hayden could feel Draek tense up beneath him. “What did you say?” Hayden asked in disbelief.

  “She is not coming,” Kne repeated slowly.

  “What do you mean she is not coming? Where is she?” Hayden demanded. Kne tried to motion for him to be quieter but Hayden didn’t care. He didn’t care about the battle or anything but Cass.

  “I cannot say,” Kne said. Before Kne could say another word, Hayden had drawn his dagger and held it to the Bone Thieves’ cloth covered neck.

  “You can, and you will,” Hayden demanded. “What have you done to her?” Hayden added, thinking the worst.

  “I have done nothing except swear that I would keep her secrets. She is fine, but she is not coming with us. She has laid plans out, and there are those that she must follow on her own.” Kne said without fear of the blade pressed against the thief’s neck.

  Why isn’t she coming to join us? What could she be doing? Hayden demanded angerly. Draek did not have time to answer when Kne continued to talk.

  “You are to wait until tomorrow morning when the rest of the forces join with us. Together you and I are to make contact with the stronghold and negotiate their surrender. After that, you and I will lead my people to Celestial City where we will join Kirin.” Kne said just as Cass would have told him to say.

  “That is what we are to do?” Hayden asked sarcastically. Kne nodded even though that caused the blade to move slightly against the Bone Thieves’ throat.

  ROOOMMMMM. A horn echoed in the still night air. All conversation stopped and every head, dragon and Bone Thief alike, turned to face the area that the sound came from. Aldreth Stronghold was awake.

  ROOOMMMMM. Another long, drawn out horn blow followed the first.

  “Aldreth stirs,” Kne said. “They know we are here.” The Bone Thief jumped down Draek’s side and ran to the black dragon Kne.

  “We must go and meet with them and try and give them a chance to surrender,” Kne said loudly. The Bone Thief had disappeared onto the back of the black dragon.

  Hayden watched as more torches were lit on the walls of the stronghold, lighting up the fortress like a beacon. Hayden saw dozens of small lights flicker to life along the length of the wall facing them.

  “I don’t think that is going to work,” Hayden said. His anger at the situation, at Kne, at Cass, at everything that had happened to him over the past day turned his focus clear and straight. Aiming it straight at Aldreth Stronghold.

  “Why?” Kne asked.

  “ARROWS! GET DOWN!” Hayden shouted. His voice ringing in his helmet. The starlit sky gained a few dozen shimmering stars as the flaming arrows arched into the dark sky before raining down upon Hayden and the Bone Thieves.

  A roar rose into the night sky as a copper dragon leaped into the air from the top of the main building in the stronghold. The dragon roared its challenge and Draek was eager to respond.

  Out of the darkness, as fast as an arrow, Draek jumped into the air, covering the distance in a matter of seconds and lashing at the copper dragon before it could gain any height in the air. Engulfing it in flames as he clawed at it with his talons.

  The roar of the black dragons and the shadow cats melted together as they fell upon Aldreth.

  All thoughts of a peaceful surrender forgotten as the arrows continued to fall out of the sky and a flaming stone dragon crashed into the walls of the stronghold, breaching its defenses.

  Hayden and Draek roared together as the next copper dragon took flight to meet them in the sky.

  Epilogue

  Shane stood before the Hall of Stories, his head held low and his hands behind his back even though the chains had been removed. He wore a plain pair of grey clothes, and they had made sure to wrap up his wounds, so they did not bleed through his clothes. They hadn’t wanted the other riders to know what they had done to him.

  Riders in their grey clothes and metallic cloaks stood sentry around the edges of the great hall while the three ornate thrones stood vacant on a raised platform in front of Shane.

  The hall was silent as the doors behind the thrones squeaked open, and the sound of boots stepping on the metal floor echoed around the hall. Bryce the Copper walked in first, his head held high, and his fists balled up to his side as he walked.

  The copper rider wore the same greys and copper cloak that the other copper riders wore but upon his head was a simple copper band. It was something new that Elizabeth had thought would help distinguish them as the rulers.

  The copper rider moved and sat on his throne, a large chair made of dark wood with a high back that knotted and twisted at the top and seemed to have been dipped in liquid copper at the top. He made a show of sitting down with his back straight and keeping his eyes locked on Shane.

  Next to enter was a rider that Shane had not expected to see. Sebastian the Silver walked in with an ornate silver crown resting on his head.

  Since arriving at Celestial City, Shane had been separated from Rilora almost immediately and had been rushed to the dungeons. Shane had expected that, but he had been torn on if he should reveal what his friends were planning or try to keep some secrets. In the end, he had come back to save his family, and he wasn’t going to risk their safety now.

  Elizabeth had come to greet him with Bryce and Sebastian in tow. Shane had been shocked to see Sebastian with the other rulers, but after the failure of their battle over Eytherka, Elizabeth had rewarded Caine the Silver, the last ruler who sat on the silver throne and had orchestrated the battle, with an untimely end. Sebastian had been rewarded with him for getting his message of the Sea Serpents joining the fight to the Elizabeth.

  He was to hold the position as one of the ruler’s temporally until his father returned from the Frozen Tundra to join their side of the fight. They asked Shane what had taken place since the battle and when he got to the part about Hayden chasing down Ricen and killing him Sebastian had lost his cool. He had demanded a rider go to Erskine and see if Shane was telling the truth.

  They had left after that and didn’t return until the rider had made
it back and gave her findings of the battle that had taken place and the horrible way they had died. Sebastian returned with the others, and that’s when the beatings started.

  They had continued throughout the night as they demanded more answers which he gave freely. It did not stop the beatings. They were going to do that whether or not he answered the questions.

  They wanted to know every detail of what they had been up to. They wanted to know how they were able to take the Ice Keep and overthrow the riders that had been stationed there. Elizabeth had leaned in and looked at Shane’s face, the only part of him they didn’t touch.

  “You were on your way to the Bone Thieves, weren’t you?” Elizabeth demanded.

  Shane nodded his head quickly, a punch to his gut was his reward.

  “They are going to turn all the races of Arvain against me,” Elizabeth said to herself. “Finish with him here. I need him ready to surrender to me formally tomorrow and retake his place with our riders.” Elizabeth said as she had begun walking out of the cell.

  “You are going to trust him to fight with us?” Sebastian had asked.

  “I am, if he does anything we don’t like kill his family, slowly. Start with his mother.” Elizabeth turned and walked away quickly. “I have to make preparations; things are moving faster than I would like.”

  Shane listened to her footsteps fade away, and then Sebastian went to work.

  Now Shane kept his gaze low as Sebastian walked over to his throne. What became his throne by the death of his father. The silver throne was carved from wood like the copper throne, but the silver fell all the way to the armrest. Over half the chair was knotted silver that looked to be flowing down the chair.

  Sebastian grinned as he looked down at Shane from his seat, a thick silver band atop his head. He remained silent though; he knew it wasn’t his time to talk yet. All the riders dropped to one knee as the doors opened and Elizabeth the Gold slowly walked out. Her back was straight, and she was draped in gold colored clothes, not the greys like the others wore.