A brisk walk brought her to the edge of town. There were only two dozen buildings, most single-family homes. The inn was at the side of the main road, stood two stories tall, and had a hitching rail out front. It also had a porch with rocking chairs for the guests to enjoy and Imogen was taking advantage of one when she arrived.
The sorcerer looked up at her approach. “You’re early today.”
“I received a summons. Something bad must be happening if the grandmaster used it. I’m going to the southern army camp to check in. Want to join me?”
“Sure. If the archmage wants me on patrol she can send me back.”
It took only minutes for them to gather their gear and take to the air. Imogen knew the location of all the army camps, so she took the lead. Marie-Bell followed along behind, trying to keep her imagination from conjuring a variety of threats she might have to deal with.
Three hours later the camp came into view. It looked like the soldiers were breaking it down. Imogen pulled up so abruptly Marie-Bell flew right past her.
She stopped and turned back. “What’s wrong?”
“Damien’s down there. I didn’t expect to run into him.”
Marie-Bell smiled. “That’s great. You guys can make up and if the trouble’s as bad as I think, having him here will be a huge help.”
“You don’t understand, he was really mad when we parted ways. It’s my fault, I know it is, but…”
“Just go down there, say you’re sorry, and don’t do it again. He’ll forgive you, I’m sure of it.”
Imogen made a visible effort to steady herself. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“That’s the spirit.” Marie-Bell led the way down.
They landed in a clearing near a wagon loaded with tents. A gray-bearded sergeant stopped barking orders long enough to march over to them. “Can I help you, paladin?”
“I received an emergency summons and this was the nearest camp. Who should I report to?”
“You can report to me,” Damien’s familiar voice said.
She spun and smiled as Damien and Jen strode their way. Marie-Bell ran over and gave them both hugs. “I didn’t expect to find you both here. That’s not a good thing is it?”
“Not too good, no,” Jen said. “We’ll brief you on the basics, but the archmage is due to return soon and I don’t want to go over everything twice.”
“Would you excuse us for a moment?” Damien had locked eyes with Imogen.
“Sure,” Jen said. “I think they’re fixing a final meal before the mess tent gets broken down. We’ll meet you there.”
Damien nodded and he and Imogen walked off on their own.
“Think they’ll be okay?” Marie-Bell asked.
“I think so. My brother felt bad about losing his temper with her. Come on, you can tell me about your new sword.”
Marie-Bell had been so happy to see her friends again she’d forgotten about the holy sword for a second.
“That might take a while.”
Jen grinned. “Just wait until you hear my story. It has two dragons in it and don’t get me started on what Damien’s been doing.”
Chapter Sixty-Six
Damien left Marie-Bell and his sister to get reacquainted while he led Imogen a little ways away from all the activity. When they were out of earshot of anyone but a curious warlord he took a breath.
“Sorry,” they both said at the same moment.
Damien grinned. “I didn’t mean to lose my temper earlier. You’ve been a great partner, but like I said from the beginning, our relationship will never be more than friends.”
Imogen hung her head. “I know. I guess I just had trouble accepting it. Maybe a little time apart was a good thing, let us reassess. Let me reassess anyway. Even if I can’t have more, I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”
“Fair enough. So, what did the archmage have you doing?”
“Border patrol. That’s where I ran into Marie-Bell.”
Damien nodded. There was a story there, no doubt. He looked forward to hearing it later.
“What about you?” Imogen asked.
“Archeology and then a war with an unknown race in an underground city. About usual for me.”
They laughed. It felt good too, like the tension that had been building between them the past few months was broken. For all their issues, he did enjoy her company and they worked well together, when they weren’t arguing.
Damien cocked his head. “The archmage is coming.”
“Your range never ceases to amaze me.”
A moment later a red-robed figure appeared in the sky overhead and angled their way. The archmage landed beside them, a familiar, dark-haired young man beside her.
She actually smiled. “Thank heaven, Damien. Your timing couldn’t have been better. We’ve got a real mess on our hands.”
“Jen gave me the gist. The thing is, I’ve got a problem of my own, so I might not be able to stick around.”
“What! What could be more important than two armies invading the kingdom at the same time?”
“It’s kind of a long story. Jen and Marie-Bell are waiting in the mess tent. How about we join them?”
“Perhaps I should go find the rest of Jennifer’s squad,” Al Elan said.
“No, this concerns you as well,” Damien said.
“It does?” Al Elan and the archmage said at the same time.
“Yeah. It’ll be faster if I just tell you everything.”
Damien led them towards the mess tent. Behind him he overheard the archmage asking why Imogen wasn’t still on patrol but didn’t listen too closely to the answer.
When they arrived, Jen and Marie-Bell were the only ones present. They sat at a long table in the center of the tent.
When everyone had settled in the archmage conjured a barrier against eavesdropping and said, “Who wants to go first?”
When everyone had told their story the archmage stared at Damien. “Another dragon. Another dragon lives under the kingdom? How is it possible that we’re surrounded by four of the five most powerful creatures in the world?”
Damien didn’t have a good answer and he doubted she expected one.
“You have been to the city of my dreams?” Al Elan asked.
“Yes, the dragon living there is anxious to meet you.”
“I am not certain I wish to become a dragon’s chosen. What will it mean for me?”
“You’ll instantly become one of the most powerful people in the world,” Damien said. “And judging by how strong the little taste he gave me felt, that’s strong indeed.”
Al Elan chewed his lip. “I’m not certain that’s a burden I wish to shoulder.”
“That’s good,” the archmage said. “Anyone that wanted that much power isn’t the sort of person I’d be comfortable having it. That said, defying a dragon might not be the best idea.”
Marie-Bell raised her hand, drawing a grin from Damien. “Do you think the danger the dragon mentioned is the same one my angel is afraid of?”
His master’s scowl deepened. “It better be. I don’t think we could handle a third emergency.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
When the meeting broke up, a grumbling archmage went to see the general. From the look on her face, Jen didn’t envy the man the upcoming conversation. She wanted to spend a little time with her brother, but Al Elan looked the more troubled of the two. He drifted out of the tent and she fell in beside him.
“I’m not going to try and run,” Al Elan said.
“I didn’t think you were. You look like my brother hit you between the eyes with a sledgehammer. He has a knack for that so don’t feel bad.”
He rewarded her poor attempt at humor with a weak smile. “I’m not certain what I should do.”
“Really? You’re summoned to appear before a dragon. I doubt there’s a polite way to bow out of that. Besides, from what Damien said, this dragon doesn’t seem like a bad sort, more like a protector.”
“In my country, the
red dragon rules with absolute power. No one dares question him and lives. I thought I was leaving that behind when I fled. To simply be summoned by a different one…” He shook his head. “If I refuse to go, would your brother try and force me? I would not wish to harm someone close to you.”
Jen chuckled at the idea of Al Elan hurting her nearly invincible brother. “Damien has a strong sense of honor. He won’t make you do anything. At least, not unless the archmage orders him to. In that case, you’re going to see the dragon.”
“I see. Perhaps I could speak to him. That city has haunted me for years. The idea of seeing it for real tugs at me. I believe I will go.”
“Come on. He’s probably at the command tent with his master.” Jen and Al Elan turned that way. As they walked Jen said, “Did I ever tell you about the time Damien destroyed an entire village filled with undead? It only took a single blast.”
Al Elan’s throat worked as he tried to swallow. “No, you didn’t. Perhaps now is not the best time.”
Jen grinned and they made the rest of the short walk in silence.
When they reached the tent, sure enough Damien was standing outside. Imogen and Marie-Bell must have gone off somewhere else, probably to get lunch. With all the talking, no one had a chance to eat.
Damien glanced their way as they approached. “Hey, sis. Everything okay?”
“As okay as possible under the circumstances. Al Elan wanted to talk to you.”
Damien shifted his gaze and raised an eyebrow. “What’s on your mind?”
“The city, what is it like?”
“Big and empty. The Builders all live in a smaller town a level below. It’s a little strange walking through a perfectly preserved city without a soul in sight, but you get used to it.”
“And the dragon?” Al Elan’s voice trembled a little with that question.
“Dreamer is…impressive. Though the dragon seems to live more in the psychic world than the physical one, his sheer power is stunning. The only creature I’ve seen that rivals him is the Leviathan and that’s another dragon. So, are you coming back with me?”
“Did you talk to the archmage about it?” Jen asked.
“Yeah. She wasn’t thrilled, but I convinced her to spare me for another day or two.”
Jen grinned. “How’d you manage that?”
“Simple, I asked her if she really wanted another pissed-off dragon on her hands.”
They laughed and Al Elan looked from Jen to Damien like he was surrounded by mad people. Maybe he was. You had to be a little crazy to do what Jen and her brother did.
“I will go with you,” Al Elan said. “Whatever threat the dragon worries over, I will do what I can to stop it.”
Damien clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man. I’ll grab some food and we’ll head out.”
“What about Imogen?” Jen asked.
“She wanted to come, but the archmage said she couldn’t spare two of her best sorcerers so she and Marie-Bell are going to stick with the army. Marie-Bell is hoping to hear something from her angel, but so far nothing. Until she gets orders to the contrary she’s content to help out here.”
Jen nodded and Damien ran off toward the mess tent to no doubt steal some meat and bread. For all his power and all he’d done, sometimes he still acted like a kid. She loved him for that.
“Your brother is an interesting man. I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone quite like him.”
“I don’t know that there is anyone else quite like him. Don’t worry. You’ll be in good hands with Damien.”
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Sig marched at the head of an army numbering in the tens of thousands. With the Ice Queen’s power filling him to bursting, he’d never felt so powerful. His troops had spent the last week killing half the mammoth population to secure enough meat to last until after the battle. Assuming the kingdom accepted his proposal, there’d be no foraging allowed. The ogres had grumbled amongst themselves, but none had questioned his orders.
Beside him Ilda was a vision in white fur robes. When he’d offered her a sword she’d refused. Her time as a warrior was over, she claimed, and no argument of his was going to change her mind. In the end he shrugged and allowed himself to enjoy the fact that she was beside him and if it came down to it a weapon could be found for her.
A white-masked berserker appeared in front of him as if out of nowhere. The brute took a knee and bowed his head. “I scouted the border as ordered. No human forces block our path.”
Sig cheered inside while keeping his expression stern. “Excellent. Rejoin your band.”
The berserker disappeared as quickly as it appeared and the army resumed its march. It took most of two hours to cross the border. Not that there was a mark in the snow that said “this side is yours and that ours.” Instead it was a feeling. He didn’t know if the others noticed it, but to Sig it felt like the limitless power the dragon had given him dimmed just a fraction.
Ignoring the feeling, he led his army deeper into the kingdom. Two miles from the border they found the northern army waiting. The soldiers stood in neat rows, their weapons pointed to the sky. Everything had been carefully staged to avoid anything that might be interpreted as a desire for battle. Sig appreciated the effort as he feared it would take little to set off the volatile monsters he commanded.
General Kord and a pair of his aides strode forward to greet them. Sig motioned the others to wait and went to pay his respects with Ilda at his side.
“General, I see the king accepted my proposal.”
“He did. We’ll be escorting you to the plains and observing your battle before escorting you back across the border.”
Sig grinned. “Don’t you trust us to keep our word?”
“You’re a traitor leading an army of ogres and trolls. Suffice it to say the king is not inclined to take any chances.”
“There’s still plenty of light,” Sig said. “Shall we get going?”
General Kord nodded. “Keep your forces together. We’ll be flanking you on either side to be sure no one gets lost on the way.”
“Good of you, General.”
Sig and Ilda turned and walked back to their army.
“He doesn’t trust you,” Ilda said.
“Of course he doesn’t. Our peoples have been killing each other since men first landed on this continent and in two years we’ll be at it again. A truce isn’t the same as an alliance. It’s enough that we’re being allowed safe passage.”
At Sig’s gesture the ogres set out. As they passed, the gathered human forces fell in beside them, making sure to keep a safe distance from the ogres’ weapons. The two sides stared at each other with hate in their eyes.
It was going to be a long walk to the plains. Hopefully everyone could maintain proper discipline, otherwise all hell would break loose.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Somehow, with the archmage’s none-too-gentle encouragement, the southern army had made it to their staging ground ahead of the invaders. But not by much.
Jen tried to keep her expression blank as thousands upon thousands of red-armored soldiers marched across the border, or flew, as was the case with the black-robed sorcerers. What did Al Elan call them, dragon priests? The army kicked up thick clouds of dust, but not a single soldier so much as cleared his throat. Talk about discipline.
The southern army didn’t even bother to unpack. It was clear to everyone that they would be on the move again soon. The archmage was busy talking with a woman in dark armor who led this force. Even from a distance she radiated power and authority.
Heaven’s mercy, she wished Damien hadn’t had to leave again so soon.
“Did you know there were going to be this many?” Talon asked.
Jen and her squad had been assigned as a free unit. It was their job, along with ten other groups of warlords, to make sure none of the enemy force wandered off and got up to mischief. Judging by the way they carried themselves, Jen doubted they’d break ranks for a charging d
ragon.
“No, but it is an army after all and they’re on their way to fight ogres and trolls so the number makes sense. Still, I’m glad we don’t have to fight them. There wouldn’t be much left of General Taos’s army afterward.”
“Amen to that,” Edward said. “Looks like the meeting up front is over.”
Jen enhanced her vision and sure enough the archmage was moving away from the enemy leader. The southern army shifted and fell in on either side of the outsiders. It was going to be a long and hopefully peaceful march north. Jen didn’t plan on getting much sleep, but if that was the worst thing that happened she would consider herself fortunate indeed.
Chapter Seventy
King Andrew pulled a tunic with minimal brocade out of his dresser and placed it in the trunk at the foot of the bed. He could’ve had a servant pack his things, but he preferred to keep the apartment as private as possible. Besides, he didn’t want every garment he owned jammed into ten trunks. This was an emergency trip, not a vacation.
He pawed through his drawers trying to find pants suitable for the fields. Heaven’s mercy, didn’t he have any practical clothes? Even a king shouldn’t have to wear this fancy stuff all the time. At the very bottom of the bottom drawer he found a pair of royal-blue trousers, no lace, no embroidery, thank the angels. They went into the trunk along with two pairs of socks. He had a comfortable pair of boots already.
The faint scent of roses arrived a moment ahead of his wife. Andrew refused to face her. He’d said all he intended to last night. The people needed to see their king in an emergency.
“Are you certain you won’t change your mind?” Audra asked.
“Absolutely.”
“The king shouldn’t risk himself like this,” she said. “You have people to handle dangerous matters. What happens if you fall? Karrie isn’t ready to assume the throne, she hasn’t even selected a husband.”
Dreaming in the Dark: Chains of the Fallen Volume 1 (Soul Force Saga Book 4) Page 24