Silverstone

by C E Johnson

  CHAPTER 18

  New Orleans

  The battlefield was chosen as New Orleans City Park, and the armies started forming up on either side of the green space in the early morning hours. Ash sprinkled through the air like rain and all was cold, dark, and black. Massive live oaks over one thousand years old watched the warriors assemble their rifles, string their bows, and sharpen their steel through Spanish moss which hung thickly from their mighty boughs.

  “Doeg is an idiot to fight against the military,” Dr. D said to Emily as he shook his head in amazement. “His magicians can’t be ready to shield all of them, can they?” They were standing around a battle map in his headquarters tent.

  “I don’t think he cares about everyone,” Emily answered with a growing hollowness inside of her. “If we kill humans, earthlings, word will get out.” Emily ignored the silence that formed with her words.

  “They will be martyrs,” Dr. D said in a hushed voice while narrowing his eyes.

  Anna nodded thoughtfully. “People will feel justified at flocking to Drogor’s side.” She peered at the map. “We need to find a way to stop this battle without killing people. We want the populace to back us.”

  “Where’s the President?” Luke asked angrily. “He should be here for this conflict calling the citizens out to rise up against the evil around us.”

  “He’s strong with policies, but he’s not a leader of men,” Dr. D retorted. He stroked the stubble on his chin and gestured toward a line on the map which represented sandbags that had been erected. “I’m going to place our troops behind this cover at the very edge of the field. If they come for us, we’re going to have to fight.”

  “Americans fighting Americans,” Elizabeth shook her head back and forth, her golden hair dancing on her shoulders. “This is another civil war. It’s all so horrible. There won’t be any winner.”

  “We could still retreat,” Isabelle threw in before countering her own idea, “but I think that would just make Doeg’s forces more confident. They’d arrive in D.C. with half the country behind them.”

  Without warning, a set of drums began to beat in a deep rhythm. “What in the world?” Dr. D asked. “Where did Doeg find war-drums?” Dr. D led them out of the tent. Across the field they could make out a team of young warriors wearing black leather armor pounding on their instruments. Trumpets, coronets, and bugles were added by a large squad of more youths in military precision. The music sounded like the “Ride of the Valkyries,” and despite their being the enemy, Emily felt chills flow through her spine and goosebumps form on her arms. “He’s treating this like a bloody football game,” Dr. D scoffed. A group of female warriors moved forward on the field. Instead of dance team attire, they also wore leather armor and carried staves. Moving with fluid attacks and slashes against imaginary enemies in time to the music, they began to perform in amazing precision.

  “People are coming to watch the show,” Oliver murmured, pointing to the edges of the field. Watching from behind magnolia, pine, and cypress trees, citizens of New Orleans were hesitantly approaching the borders of the park.

  “This is becoming a cluster,” Dr. D cursed. “Are you sure you still want to attempt a surgical strike against Doeg, Delores, and the half-deads?” Dr. D asked Emily. He raised his eyebrows while looking sideways at her.

  “We want to uphold virtue and what is right,” Emily answered. She tried to speak firmly, but a lump formed in her throat. “We have to hold to our ideals no matter what happens.” The wind nearly stole her words away. “If the people here won’t support us against the enemy, the battle is already lost.” She knew she was speaking the truth, but how to accomplish her mission left her nearly speechless.

  “He’s creating a spectacle,” Luke groaned. He stared at the band and performing warriors. “Did he plan all of this out?” Luke asked. He brushed back his sandy hair. “I thought Doeg would be a savage killer, but he’s a master at psychological warfare.”

  Emily turned to study the citizens who had showed up to view the killing field. People of New Orleans watched while leaning on shotguns and rifles. Huge horses wearing the colors of the local police departments were in scattered squads observing everything. This isn’t going to go well, Emily realized.

  We will do what we can, Xena tried to encourage her bondsmate.

  “Let’s be realistic,” Dr. D said as he pulled out his sword and studied his steel. “They can’t be as well organized as they look. They just started working together weeks ago. We simply need to disrupt their confidence by taking out Doeg and their half-deads like Emily suggests.”

  “How do we get to them?” Isabelle asked. She finished stringing her bow. “It looks like he’s going to let everyone else attack first while holding his half-deads to the rear.”

  Dr. D made a signal to his colonels. They began directing their military forces to organize behind the sandbags along with Blacksky troops. Extra clips of ammunition were distributed and their line of defense at the edge of the battlefield was fully formed. “Wait until they are almost upon us,” Dr. D directed the soldiers. “Give them a chance to think over what they’re doing and step aside.”

  They aren’t going to step aside, Xena warned. I smell anger and excitement, but very little fear.

  A platform was hastily erected, and Emily watched the auras of Doeg and Delores move onto their elevated position. She could see them now. Doeg had his helmet off. He appeared strong and dark with his hair cut high and tight in military fashion. He wore a silk flowing cape of a red as deep a crimson as his aura. Shining in the faint morning sunlight, his armor was a burnished burgundy. Delores wore a matching suit. Their plate was incredibly enameled with ornate inlaid silver that sparkled like diamonds. Delores was nearly as tall as Doeg and she looked every part a warrior with her dark brown hair tied up in a ponytail falling just below her shoulders. A team of goblins surrounded them. The goblins, ugly with their scraggly black hair, looked scrawny in comparison.

  “Citizens!” Doeg called out, shimmering in his polished suit of mail. “I welcome you to watch your enemies die.” He pointed toward Emily’s side of the field. “This chaos on Earth was caused by the President, the military, and a race of aliens called elves.” He walked around the edge of his platform; his words amplified by a spell. “If you give me your undying obedience through a dragon-oath, I will rid our planet of this evil. These are our lands.”

  Propaganda to make us appear evil, Xena’s voice was hushed.

  How do we fight this? Emily felt breathless. She wanted to scream.

  “Advance!” Delores thundered, acting as Doeg’s warlord. Their warriors began to spread out like a river of steel and leather flowing onto the snow and ash. Everything felt dark to Emily. What hope did they have on this frozen field? A cold wind whispered of despair and the trumpets and drums began to keep time with the marching feet. On their left arm, the men-at-arms carried square shields made of a hardwood with bright colors of blue, red, and green painted over the outer surface. Their right hands held long spears, the tips glistening deadly. The outer armor of the warriors was a deep brown boiled leather, and each had a metal half helm.

  “They’re organized much better than I thought, but they’re still no match for bullets,” Luke said in a calm voice “unless their magicians are much better than we believe.”

  They’ll think we’re killers, Emily worried. Her dreams of winning this fight were flickering away. I should have retreated.

  “Archers, out!” Delores roared. The archers ran on foot to the corners of the field arranging themselves in two long lines. They had quivers dangling from wide leather belts, and dark arrows readied on their longbows.

  “Goblins!” Delores ordered. The goblins stepped out into the center of the amassing forces. They wore greathelms ornamented with a spike on the peak of their helmet, but the differences in their appearance was readily visible. Their hands were on the hilts of their short swords. “Trolls!” she thundered. The trolls stood head and sho
ulders above every other creature on the field of battle. Their mohawks added extra height to their solid frames. They wore plain leather scabbards on their backs with wide-bladed great swords. The massive sword-hilts were carved in the shapes of trolls with redstones placed in the eyes. The half-deads began singing in a deep-throated manner that resembled the beat of the drums.

  “Notch!” Doeg blared across the battlefield. The archers selected their first arrows. “Pull!” He ordered in a voice that resonated across the city. With great strength, the warriors pulled back their weapons of death. “Loose!” He ordered. The soldiers released. Flying like a flock of birds on a deadly mission, scores of black arrows left their bowstrings. The arrows imbedded themselves into the sandbags with a series of pops. Although they caused no damage, the act showed the accuracy of the warriors.

  Delores motioned to the cavalry and they dug their spurs into the flanks of their mounts. The horses leapt forward with a choppy gait until they maneuvered into an organized pattern. The snow came up in clumps under the horses’ hooves before falling away to the ground. Emily was surprised at how calm the beasts were—not one reared or trumpeted in concern. Plumes of steam arose from the horses’ breath. The very ground began to shake with their ponderous approach. The lead horses were caparisoned in silver armor and silk. Everywhere Emily looked there was metal and steel. There’s no way to win this, she thought to herself.

  There’s always a way out, Xena retorted. We just haven’t thought of our best offense yet.

  “Magicians!” Delores thundered. “Prepare your shield spells!” A column of warriors strode onto the field of battle wearing long robes that signified the color of their magic. They wore a loose coat of ringmail under their outer robes. “Now!” Delores ordered. A cloud of auras flared as they performed their incantations. Many of the spellcasters were lower level magicians, but Emily spotted several auras that were higher in strength.

  “This doesn’t look promising,” Anna said in a low voice.

  I’m coming to you now. Don’t fire on me, a voice whispered in Emily’s mind.

  Ammolite? Emily questioned in shock. She nearly fell on the ground in surprise.

  It’s much tougher to fly on your planet, Ammolite answered with a warmth in her tone. She sent across thoughts and feelings that no words could possibly convey. I don’t like the look of these soldiers heading in your direction. Should I attempt to alter their course?

  Oh yes, Emily gushed. “Ammolite’s coming!” she exclaimed. Her heart felt like it was going to burst with happiness.

  “Don’t fire on an incoming dragon!” Dr. D roared to his wide-eyed soldiers. The unusual orders were passed down the line.

  “We’ve got to help shield Ammolite,” Emily told her friends whose faces had grown as bright as the sun. Hope was budding in their hearts. As Ammolite came into view, Emily held her breath in amazement at her beauty. She was much larger than the last time she had seen her, almost the size of Tiamat now. Streaked with every color of the rainbow, her scales were glorious. Her wings were furled along her back and she was diving gracefully with her strong head pointed downwards. “Thyreos O,” Emily mouthed her incantation along with her friends. They were using their magic to help protect themselves and the great dragon from harm.

  “They see her!” Luke called out excitedly. He directed their attention toward Doeg and Delores who were pointing upward. Ammolite roared out a storm of magic. Fireballs and ice projectiles screamed destruction as they flew from the great creature. The order in the ranks broke apart as the magic landed like bombs on the ground, all aimed at the half-deads. The trolls and goblins were nearly decimated on the first pass, but Ammolite banked and began to return for a second sortie. Enemy horses were bucking their riders and striking at the air. The steeds were trumpeting and screaming now. Shields were cast aside by men-at-arms and the earthling warriors were running away from the battle into the city along with many of the citizens of New Orleans. Doeg and Delores remained directing the archers and soldiers who stood their ground.

  Emily felt exhilarated as she rushed to Isabelle’s side. “Isabelle, we need the best horses you can find. Get us barded horses if you can. We have to finish off their last warriors. We have to cut off the head of the snake.”

  Casting her spell, Isabelle nodded with comprehension. Instantly, a small herd of the enemies armored horses raced toward their position. “These are the best Doeg and Delores can give us,” Isabelle said while running a hand along the heaving chest of a black warhorse that came to a halt at her side. “This one’s for you, Em.”

  Emily hugged Isabelle before leaping into her saddle. She felt flushed and excited after the twist in the battle. “This is a war we can fight!” she encouraged her friends. She kneed her mount and together they leapt forward over the tapestry of white before them. Her stallion was already wet with sweat and lather, but he galloped smoothly at her command. Black ash continued to fall, and a biting breeze rolled over the field. Their warhorses threw up gouts of snow as they traversed the field, but they never lost their balance. Emily no longer felt weak and trembling—she now had both of her bondsmates fighting with her.

  And this is the end of their half-deads, Ammolite promised as she released another blast of magic to cleanse the scourge from the Earth below her. At the last moment, Delores directed a surprise volley of arrows, several of which pierced the shields around Ammolite, even penetrating her scales. I’m not nearly as strong in this world, Ammolite admitted solemnly to Emily, her voice laden with anger and pain.

  We’re coming to help! Emily sent across their link. Fly away for now. I’ll call you if we need you. She felt angry with herself that any injury should come to her bondsmate. Drawing from Xena’s battle rage, Emily pulled Cadux from her pouch and expanded it to a fighting length. She would avenge any injury to her link. Thrust, swing, attack, she grunted with the effort as she dealt mighty blows at any who stood in her way. Bullets were flying from their side of the field as Blacksky warriors and military riflemen supported their charge. Enemy armor ripped and shattered as projectiles slammed into them.

  After a time, the majority of the conflict was over. Emily guided her horse to a small rise, and she paused in the fight to study the remnants of the scattering enemy. Elizabeth reined to a halt at Emily’s side and they sat in silence. All at once, Elizabeth pointed some distance behind them. “Em, Doeg is charging at Luke.”

  “Where?” Emily cried out. She wheeled her steed around to watch where Elizabeth was indicating. Two warhorses in full barding collided in a massive crash. Both men rolled on the ground in a slamming tangle of metal. Both were up in seconds clanging against one another with bone-jarring blows. Not wasting any time, Luke waded forward with a withering attack slashing at Doeg with blow after blow.

  “He’s in a fury,” Elizabeth whispered. Luke’s blade, Joyeuse, danced and sang. They both knew Doeg wasn’t anywhere close to Luke’s skill.

  “Leave him be!” Delores screamed. She was close enough to make a difference, and she came darting toward Luke on a horse with a steely lance lowered. Before she could complete her mission, Rune was there leaping into Delores and dragging her from her steed. Canines flashing with fury and teeth dripping red, Rune descended with snapping jaws, shearing through bone as Delores screamed in pain. Emily winced and turned away from the scene. She had too much history with Delores to watch her end in such a horrific way.

  It had to be done, Xena whispered.

  I know, Emily answered. I’ve just known her forever. The suddenness of Delores’ death took her breath away. I didn’t think I’d ever watch her die.

  Doeg himself faltered as he watched his daughter’s demise, and Luke released a last savage blow that connected with a sting of death. Something in Luke’s strength and brutal skill chilled Emily as much as the cold air around her.

  “There’s no way Doeg survived that,” Elizabeth said softly.

  Emily’s head hurt with all the death and destruction. Glancing sky
ward, she whispered to her great bondsmate, Ammolite, come to me. Let me heal you. Her heart felt heavy with the battle, but warm with love. Let me use my magic for good.

  Epilogue

  The sun was descending, and the temperature dropped rapidly. Dr. D held up a fist to slow the procession to a halt. “Time to set up camp!” he ordered. The wagons ground to a halt.

  Emily and her friends made sure their horses were brushed and fed before going to a blazing campfire that had been set up for them by their tent. Like the good old days, just a whole lot colder, Ammolite whispered as she approached through the steel gray darkening sky. The mighty dragon landed delicately despite her massive bulk.

  At least we’re together again, Xena added, sitting on her haunches, making contact with Ammolite as fur met scales.

  I miss our times on Acacia, Emily said sadly. She sent across her love of the parallel world along with her words. She leaned against both Xena’s fur and Ammolite’s scales to add skin to their merging bond. Marveling at the reds and oranges that had been added to the blue, violet, and greens in her aura, Emily traced her fingers in dancing and swirling patterns on her dragon bondsmate. She created an artistic painting of splashed colors.

  I’d like nothing better than to leave Earth and go back home, Ammolite stated plainly, but I’ve read the prophecies time and again. We need to finish off Drogor, restoring this world to some order, or Drogor will never rest until he rules both planets. Ammolite hesitated for a time before speaking in a faltering tone, Emily, there’s something else I’ve seen in my prophecies … something we will need to discuss.

  Before Ammolite could continue, Isabelle appeared. “I can’t believe we all have bondsmates,” Isabelle gushed as she sat next to Emily interrupting the thoughts Ammolite was sending. Isabelle leaned back on Ammolite with her falcon bondsmate Erma on her shoulder. The snow had stopped, and Emily blocked out the worry she felt in her dragon. Instead, she focused on the warmth rising not only on her skin, but also in her heart. Isabelle’s thick brown hair fell in lazy curls, and she smelled of musky orchids and velvet roses. Her aura was creating a wonderful wave of indigo on Ammolite’s scales.