“It ends tonight,” Darcon mumbled.
He relaxed his grip on Fion’s hair and his knife hand fell.
Thomas saw it then, saw Fion’s teary eyes suddenly burn with an emerald fire. Fion slowly lifted her knee and with all the anger surging through her body drove the heel of her boot into Darcon’s foot. Darcon cried out in pain.
Thomas leapt, knocking Fion clear. He turned as Darcon screamed a wild animal scream and plunged his blade down, only to be stopped by the iron grip of Daniel.
Thomas and Fion watched helplessly as the two men tumbled to the ground, wrestling over the dagger. Then suddenly there was a gasp from one of the men.
“Dad!” Thomas lunged toward the intertwined men.
Darcon saw it all. For a moment he thought he was having his nightmare again. Daniel turned in their struggle and something swung free from his jacket as it arched out on its chain, catching the moonlight. The pendant. THE PENDANT! And then he tripped and fell back and somehow his blade turned and he felt the cold steel of the dagger like he had so many times before in his dreams.
Darcon blinked up in searing pain and surprise into the eyes of the man from Earth, Daniel Colson. “You! It was you all along.”
Daniel rolled to his knees and looked upon his old mentor one last time. “Goodbye, Professor.”
Then the man who had been a brilliant man of learning on Earth. The man who had allowed his pride and greed and lust to ruin his life and the lives of countless others — The man known on N’albion as Darcon breathed his last.
Thomas and Fion rushed to Daniel’s side, and they huddled together, watching as one by one, men and dragons fell from the sky.
Eighty
Far above Thomas, Deacon and Captain Necron waged their battle. Swooping on their steeds, their swords clashed and sparked in the night.
Deacon could see the surrounding battle had turned. Now, with the addition of the shadow warriors, they were outnumbered. He blocked another blow from Necron and parried.
“General,” gurgled Necron. “We have overwhelmed your forces. Surrender and we will let you live.”
Deacon gritted his teeth and blocked another slash. “What? To be your slaves. No, we will fight to the end. Freedom in life or freedom in death. We go to the halls of our ancestors.”
“Have it your way.” And Necron leapt from his beast, slamming against the smaller human.
Deacon knew he was no match for the giant shadow warrior, as he grasped the wrist of his enemy keeping Necron’s wicked dagger from plunging toward his chest.
Thorn flew this way and that, attempting to dislodge the shadow warrior but to no avail.
The remaining Resistance hovered on their dragons, now surrounded by the shadow warriors.
Deacon thought of his wife and daughter. The dagger inched ever closer. He wished that he could see them again. It was over. This was the last stand of the humans.
Then a battle horn sounded, and another, and another. It was not the familiar tone of the resistance or the shadow warriors.
Necron’s concentration broke, and he looked away for the source of these sounds.
It was enough. Deacon twisted to the side and swung his own blade. Captain Necron’s body fell one way and his metal shrouded helm fell the other. The lava like eyes that had burned so bright, now cold and dead.
Thomas looked at the sound of the strange battle horns and, to his amazement, saw the snow-beasts pouring over the ridge like an icy avalanche. They came loping down the rocky slope, all roaring and slashing with their great claws.
“Snickerdoodles!” Thomas cheered. Fion laughed at her friend despite herself.
Some snow-beasts carried huge spears which they launched with horrific power, skewering the black beasts in the sky. Others had great slings that they swung around their furry heads firing giant bowling ball sized boulders, knocking shadow warriors off their beasts. Thomas, Fion and Daniel watched in awe as others flung giant bolos, whirling pieces of rock attached by ropes. Many shadow warriors’ beasts crashed to the ground, with bolos entangling their wings.
Heartened by their giant allies, with a shout, the Resistance took up the fight.
In his dark hall, the Shadow Lord summoned his Generals. They morphed almost immediately in the shadowy mist.
“My Lord?” They responded as one.
“It is over. Call your warriors. Return to the Shadow World. It is time for us to move on to other worlds ripe for the taking. Worlds where the beings aren’t so enamored with their freedom. Worlds where they want to be ruled over and led about their noses.”
“Yes, my Lord,” the generals responded with a hiss.
Thomas, Fion and Daniel watched as suddenly the remaining shadow warriors one by one dissolved into mist and evaporated, leaving their beasts to fly off into the South. One by one the remaining riders of the resistance lifted their swords and shouted, “Victory!” Until the triumphant roar of their dragons drowned them out.
A dragon swooped in and landed near the trio. Recognizing Thorn and her Father, Fion tore herself away from Thomas. She sprinted across the field into the arms of Deacon Stormcloud. Thomas smiled as he watched the reunion and wasn’t even embarrassed when a tear spilled down his cheek.
Eighty-One
Thomas awoke with a start. He sat up in the darkness, disoriented. Then he saw the stone walls and tapestry, and the last few weeks came rushing back into his memory. It was the most comfortable feeling. Like waking up after a bad dream only to find yourself in your parent’s bed where nothing could harm you. He lay there and listened as the stronghold came to life. Darcon was gone, and so was the shadow warrior army. No one knew for sure, but it seemed having lost their allies in this world they returned to their own dark world. Thomas thought of how most bullies if you stood up to them would finally go away. He prayed they were gone for good. But evil always seemed to wait, lurking in the shadows, seeking someone to devour. He shook his head, banishing the thought. At least now he was safe, thank the Creator.
The snow-beasts had saved the day. It thrilled him to see his old friends Grome, Scar and Pinkie again. They told him how, after helping his father, the snow-beast elders had convened a council to determine what they should do regarding the threat that was Darcon. Scar relayed to Thomas in his strange growling and hoots how the shadow hunter attack had changed forever his opinion of hiding away on their mountain.
“Tomar right.” Scar growled. “No hide head in snow.”
Grome even quoted Thomas to the war council. In the end, they had decided to help the humans, and the snow-beast elders called Scar to lead the attack.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Thomas said.
Thomas’s father, Daniel Colson, stepped in.
“All right, Son, it’s time.” He smiled.
Thomas nodded. He was ready to go home, but it tore at his heart to think of leaving this place and his friends again.
“I’ll be right there, Dad.”
Daniel turned to leave, then stopped and retrieved something from his jacket.
“Oh, yeah.” He tossed the object through the air. It glinted in the light, flipping end over end until it landed on Thomas’s bed. “This time don’t forget your key.” Daniel winked.
Thomas smiled. There, laying on the bedcovers, was the Pendant with its Celtic knot encircling the triune leaves and the ruby eye of the dragon glowing like a tiny flame.
Eighty-Two
Thomas rounded the corner and stepped breathlessly into the great dining hall ready to tell his dad he was sorry for the delay. He couldn’t find his leather riding jacket. He froze. The hall was full of people and every eye was on him.
Deacon Stormcloud stepped out of the crowd and spoke with authority.
“Stand, good people of N’albion.”
The crowd as one stood.
Thomas looked from face to face.
“Rider approaches,” Deacon announced.
Thomas looked behind him an
d then caught Fion’s eye.
“That’s you,” she whispered.
A few children giggled at that.
Thomas timidly walked forward and stood before Deacon and Ellie and Fion. Where was his dad?
Then from behind Deacon, Daniel Colson stepped, holding Thomas’s leather riding jacket. He beamed with pride.
“Thomas, Otherlander, son of Daniel, we proclaim today in the hearing of your people that you are a Rider of N’albion.”
With that Daniel helped Thomas slip into his jacket which Thomas noticed had been cleaned and smelled so good.
Daniel hugged his son which Thomas thought was the best feeling in the world.
Daniel looked Thomas up and down. “Son, I think you’ve grown.” He exclaimed.
Fion stepped forward with a smirk, “We are not through yet.”
Thomas smiled. “Sorry.”
Fion pulled her hand from behind her back. “No true rider can call himself a rider without a pair of these.” She held a pair of leather riding gloves.
“Wow, really, my own gloves?”
Fion held them out and Thomas slipped them on, flexing his hands.
“Man, thanks, they fit, well, like a glove,” he said awkwardly.
Fion gazed at him and her emerald eyes sparkled.
Then Ellie lifted up her voice and the whole congregation joined her as she sang.
Away you go
On wings of gold
Borne upon the wind
May your sword be swift
May your flight be brisk
Borne upon the wind
May the Creator bring you back
To those you love
May the Creator bring you back
Borne upon the wind.
Eighty-Three
The flight to the stone circle, Mairead Fhada, had been a long one. And Thomas was grateful because he wanted to relish every moment. The sky was the most brilliant blue, and it touched the mountains lightly. The plains stretched below them carpeted in green swaying grasses buffeted by the wind. They surprised a herd of N’albion deer that scattered and loped for cover. Seeing the deer, Runt gave a roar and tried to give chase. Thomas was happy now to have his new gloves and put them to good use reining Runt in.
Runt had recovered nicely after his hard landing on the shadow warriors and was as feisty as ever, snapping at any man or beast who got too close.
Thomas patted his little dragon’s neck. “I’m going to miss you, boy.”
The little dragon turned his head and growled.
Thomas looked across at Fion, who flew on Ember beside him. She caught his eye and gave her little smile but it seemed to have a hint of sadness. Ahead of them Deacon rode on Thorn with his dad, and Ellie on Splinter.
The wind in his hair, the sun above them, flying in and out of clouds, the sun sparkling off the wings of the dragons, Thomas wanted to remember every moment.
Now Thomas stood along with his father and the others outside Mairead Fhada. The monolithic stones forming the circle stood silent and waiting. Thomas knew the pendant would open the door and he would travel back through the mist and storm to his home world soon. But now it was time for goodbyes.
“Well, I guess this is it,” Thomas said to Fion. He awkwardly put out his hand to shake hers. He never saw it coming. Fion hauled off and punched him in the shoulder.
“Ow, that is going to leave a mark,” Thomas grimaced.
Then Fion wrapped him in the biggest hug.
“Thomas Otherlander, I am glad to call you friend.”
Thomas blushed. “Fion Stormcloud, I am glad you came to save me. Please take care of Runt for me.”
Hearing his name, Runt stuck his head between the two and whined. Thomas stroked the pale dragon’s head. “I’m going to miss you.”
Fion said, “Master Shepherd has already planned for his care. Gnat will look after him until you return.”
Thomas felt his father’s hand on his shoulder.
“Son, it’s time to go,” Daniel said softly.
Thomas looked up and dark clouds had gathered over the stone circle. Thunder rumbled overhead and lightning struck the tallest stone, the one known as Long Meg on Earth. Thomas waved one last time, then turned with his father and walked into the gathering storm.
Yes, he was going to miss this place.
Eighty-Four
Caroline Colson stood considering the Christmas tree. Leland had come over and helped her put it up, but had left the decorating to her. He was worried about her; she knew. Caroline just prayed that Daniel and Thomas were okay. She rubbed her pregnant belly. To fill the time, she had continued with her Christmas preparations. She retrieved the last item from the open boxes. Now, how was she going to get the star on top of the tree?
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Caroline looked out the kitchen window as lightning lit up the winter darkness.
“You need help with that?”
Caroline turned and gasped. Her husband and son were standing at the open front door.
Daniel smiled and nodded at the Christmas star she still held. “A woman in your condition shouldn’t be climbing on stools.”
Caroline burst into tears as Daniel and Thomas rushed into her arms.
“You’re home, you’re really home,” Caroline said, wiping her tears as she continued holding her husband and son.
“Yes, mom, we’re really home.” Thomas grinned ear to ear.
Daniel added, “No more adventures.”
Caroline suddenly made a face and grabbed her pregnant belly. “Oh,” she grimaced.
“Maybe one more,” she beamed. “Call the doctor.”
Thomas gulped and his eyes went as wide as saucers.
The End
About the Author
T. Kevin Bryan is an emerging author of Fantasy. Kevin lives in a little house in California with his wife and son and a Border Terrier named Sherlock.
Find out more at tkevinbryan.com
Also by T. Kevin Bryan
OTHERLANDER: A Long Way from Home
Book 1 in the thrilling Otherlander YA fantasy adventure.
Otherlander: Through the Storm Page 17
