Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom

by Rosemary Lynch

  “My King,” Ophidian roared. “It worked.” He moved his head down lower, and nodded to the small party. The men and women bowed to him.

  “Yes Ophidian it did. Now please can you take us back to the shore? The time has come for us to track down Gemini and make our plan for his destruction.” The great water-dragon bowed his head graciously.

  All fourteen held on tight as he began to descend, the air bubble enveloped the entire boat, cocooning them safely as the boat descended down into the water. They glided underneath the pounding waterfall and effortlessly through the world of water, and they laughed at the startled fish as they darted about crazily in every direction. The boat began to rise and the brightness of the afternoon sun twinkling above them caused them to shelter their eyes with the back of their hands, as they broke through to the surface. The boat bobbed gently back and forth and Ophidian drew it alongside the shore. The small party jumped off and onto the bank.

  “Thank you again Ophidian, for everything. Hopefully the next time you see me it will be to release my people.” He dipped his head courteously towards the dragon.

  “Before you leave my King I would like you to know that one of the underwater lakes goes right underneath Gemini’s fortress. He draws his water from a well above.” Kainan looked at him for moment thinking.

  “That may prove very useful information, thank you Ophidian.” The dragon nodded.

  “Be safe and good luck my King. Just use the horn and I shall come.” The young king nodded and watched as the mighty Ophidian descended once again, into the clear waters of Lake Tamara. He sighed and then turned about.

  “Right let’s head off then.” Taking the lead Kainan and Arweyn set off in the direction of Gemini’s fortress, keeping as tight as possible within the trees to avoid detection. As they walked, Kainan and Arweyn told the dragon riders how they had met, and all about the battle with the Gorzars, the Ardor crystal and more recently their bonding ceremony and the attack by the black dragon. Kainan’s voice saddened as he told them what had happened to his father, how he lay in a sleeping death. They all listened intensely.

  “So,” Kainan continued as they walked. “It is hoped that by killing Gemini it will destroy the poison within my father and he will wake up as he once was.” Amerdril patted the young King’s back.

  “It seems my Lord that you and the Queen have both been reborn with the strength and magic as foretold by prophecy, and it seems have already been put to great use.” Kainan patted his arm.

  “Indeed Amerdril,” he glanced behind to his wife, she was talking to Sharelle.

  “Your Queen is the bravest and strongest woman I have ever known. You should have seen the way she fought, with no fear just pure strength and power.”

  “And you find this difference in her acceptable?” Amerdril asked.

  “Acceptable?” Kainan repeated with a frown, although he knew what he meant. In their previous life together, he had never allowed her into battle, never allowed her to fight. The fear of losing her to Gemini had been too great. “It is bloody fantastic,” he said grinning, and Amerdril smiled at him.

  “She is as strong, if not stronger, that any man. Her power in magic is incredible.”

  “Except you my King,” Amerdril said. Kainan raised his eyebrows at him.

  “Well I would not want to argue with her,” he said with a chuckle and Amerdril laughed, giving a knowing nod of his head.

  By late afternoon, they were about a day’s hike away from Gemini’s fortress. They were emerging out of a dip in a valley when in the distance they could hear a faint rumbling sound. Kainan pulled them to a stop.

  “Hear that?” he whispered and the others nodded.

  “What do you think it is?” Arweyn whispered.

  “Sounds like wagons to me,” Estooe said. Kainan agreed. They scrambled to the brow of the hill and lying flat on the grass they glanced cautiously over the top. The sun low in the horizon was just about to dip down behind the vast forest that lay ahead.

  “Black-wing riders,” Kainan growled. A group of thirty soldiers marched through the bottom of the valley, along a well-used dirt track Kainan, counted another twenty on horseback. Two carriages pulled by eight horses were full of what looked at first, like bounty from a raid. Each man armed with swords, wore black trousers and red tunics with a black hooded cloak fastened around their necks. Suddenly Arweyn grabbed his arm.

  “Kainan look. There are children in that carriage!” she cried in alarm. They all looked again. She was right one of the canvases that covered the coaches was lose and flapping about. Kainan sighed deeply.

  “What shall we do?” Morgana asked, turning to the King. Kainan shook his head.

  “Nothing, we lay low and let them pass. At this stage we do not want to alert Gemini to our presence, besides there are too many.” He glanced at his wife her eyes met his and shook his head.

  “I know, but we cannot. Getting ourselves captured will not help them or our people. I am sure that he will not harm children. When I have the Gameron sword we will be able to free them.” Nodding, she glanced back towards the disappearing coaches, knowing he was right. The group sat tight and soon the patrol disappeared into the forest below them. Kainan twisted around and sat up.

  “We had better find somewhere to camp for the night. It is probably another day to Gemini’s fortress. I expect those soldiers will camp, once they are in the forest. Therefore, we had better stay on this side of the hill for now. If we set off just before dawn we should reach the fortress by late afternoon.” He shifted his sword and rose to his feet. Holding out his hand, his wife jumped up, slipping hers into his. They headed down into the foothills of the valley. By now, it was dusk, and they were losing the light fast. Heading through the trees at the base of the valley, they searched for somewhere to stop. Kainan did not want to go too far as they would only have to double back in the morning.

  He stopped his hand instinctively went to his sword.

  “Listen,” he cautioned. “Can you hear that?” Kainan’s head tilted to one side as he stared into the trees. The group stood silently, heads turned to the direction he was looking.

  “I cannot hear anything,” Amerdril whispered. Kainan glanced at him, and then began edging forward.

  “I tell you I can hear something,” he insisted, raising his hand to shush them. Suddenly they all heard the sound Kainan had heard, and instantly drew their swords. From the shadows came six black-wing soldiers. They walked swiftly, purposely towards them, their swords drawn. Kainan’s group looked at each other, and then glanced behind them, as seven more black-wing soldiers appeared behind them. Half of his men turned around towards them and they stood back to back watching the advancing enemy.

  “Damn it,” Kainan hissed. “They must have had scouts. Keep it tight. Arweyn,” he called.

  “I am here,” she said, standing alongside him. He smiled at her. He was not particularly worried. Thirteen black-wing soldiers was no contest for them. Arweyn and he could probably take that many out by themselves. There was further movement. He frowned as they surrounded them; okay maybe thirty would be a bit harder.

  “Throw down your weapons and surrender,” the soldier ordered, stepping forward. He was a huge muscular man, and towered a foot above him. He stared hard at them.

  “Who are you all?” he then questioned. Kainan did not reply, instead he raised his sword. Arweyn pulled her sleeves back. She no longer needed to withdraw her wand to pull on her powers; she was already strong enough to command the magic at will. Sharelle, Estooe, and Martock the elves stood firm beside them their long steel blades ready.

  “My Lord,” Estooe whispered.

  “At my word,” he whispered back. Seeing they were not going to surrender, the black-wing soldier raised his sword.

  “Attack,” the soldier ordered, launching himself forward. Instantly Arweyn raised her hands towards him and blasted him and the two soldiers either side of him backwards, killing them instantly. The others came chargi
ng, yelling, and screaming towards them.

  “Now,” Kainan yelled in response. He strove forward, his sword meeting his attacker’s blade and pushing hard he whipped it around, disarming the man for a second, the man’s eyes pleaded but Kainan plunged his sword through his heart, and the man dropped to the ground dead. He sidestepped his next opponent, turning about sharply he struck at the man’s sword-arm, taking it right off just above the elbow. Clutching the stump of his severed arm, blood seeping through his fingers, the man screamed an agonising screech, but it only lasted a second as the King’s blade swung back around taking the man’s head off.

  The three elves swept through the black-wing soldiers like a whirlwind. Their long extended blades reaching their target before the soldiers’ blades could get anywhere near them. Using the pommel of the sword Forde cracked his opponent across the back of his head; the man stumbled, before quickly regaining his balance and thrusting his sword towards Forde. Forde met the blade with his own, his fist came up and he punched the man hard in the face, but the heavily built man stood firm and pushed back on his sword, Forde struggled; the man was much bigger than he was, and the blade was coming dangerously close to his throat. Sharelle, finishing a soldier off with a strike to his heart, spun around as she caught sight of Forde struggling, and her heart shook fearfully. Kicking out at the next man coming for her, she backhanded and sliced through his belly as she leapt towards Forde. Jumping, she spun, somersaulting through the air, and in one swift elegant movement, she took the man’s head off, and his headless corpse, along with his sword, dropped to the ground. Forde stumbled backwards before regaining his footing. Sharelle drew alongside him and smiled.

  “It looked like you need a hand,” she said a little sarcastically, eyeing him. He grinned back at her.

  “Nah, I had him,” he replied. She shook her head at him and laughed before launching herself towards another soldier. For a second Forde watched her, one day he knew he would have to find the courage to tell her how he felt about her. Raising his sword, he yelled, charging back into the main battle.

  Dross battled side-by-side with Destran, the two could not have been more different in their appearance; Dross had long dark hair, he was short and stocky whilst Destran, was tall and slim with short dark hair like his brother. However, they fought almost identically. Dross, although only being six years older, had trained Destran in mastering his sword.

  Morgose pulled back beside her cousin. Amerdril glanced towards her.

  “Okay?” he asked, quickly taking a breath. She nodded bringing her blade forward, the muscles in her arms flexed ready. She was a warrior like her cousin, and was ready as two more soldiers came towards them. They both swung their swords meeting their adversaries’ blades.

  “Just like the old days,” Amerdril cried to her as he battled. She laughed, swinging her blade around and kicking out, she sent the man flying backwards.

  “Worked harder than this in training,” she boasted with a grin, before spinning the sword around and plunging it down into the fallen man, killing him instantly.

  Kainan glanced to his wife beside him, she smiled back, and they both looked about them. All the soldiers appeared to be dead. Picking their way through the bodies they checked making sure that they were indeed dead.

  “Got a live one,” Kaleb yelled, pointing his sword down at the soldier lying in the scrub. Kainan shook his head at him. They could not afford any to survive. Kaleb raised an apologetic eyebrow at the man, and then plunged his sword through his heart. They continued to search but found no more alive.

  “Thirty,” Morgana said as they re-grouped.

  “We should get out of here,” Kainan announced, replacing his sword into its sheath. Although it was dark by now, the moon was bright and it cast out enough light for the party to see their way.

  “Which way do we go?” Arweyn asked. The young King thought for a moment.

  “We go wide get maybe five miles south of here. I do not think anymore will come, at least not till morning.” The others agreed and they set off.

  They made camp in a small clearing within the oak forest, and risked a small fire, as it was dark. Eating from their supplies, they boasted amongst themselves how easy it had been to take out Gemini’s men.

  He leaned into his wife and whispered.

  “You see how they talk as if it has only been a few days,” he smiled at her.

  “I remember how frightened I was when you said you were going to put the prophecy in play,” she whispered back. “I was so afraid that I would never see you again, but you always had complete faith in the prophecy.” He put his arm around her.

  “People like you and me are destined to be together forever, no prophecy or dark lord can keep us apart. We are like the sun and the moon, without each other neither would exist in harmony. It just would not work.” She smiled at his words.

  “They must have been so frightened Kainan, not knowing if they would ever awaken to see their loved ones again. The trust they had in us was unbelievable.”

  “I know we are very lucky.” He chuckled. “Look even Forde is still trying to woo Sharelle.” Arweyn scrunched her nose as she watched Sharelle jump up and move away, cursing him.

  “Really?” she questioned, looking at her husband. “And breaking wind is supposed to attract a female is it?” Kainan’s grin widened as he watched Forde fall about in hysterics.

  “Well it is in his world I guess.” Arweyn shook her head and then chuckled as Sharelle threw a cup of water over him.

  “You are right,” she admitted, turning to him and gazing into his dark eyes, he returned her gaze lovingly. “It worked.”

  “So throwing a cup of water into his face is telling him she is interested?”

  “Most definitely, she will ignore him now and pretend to be cross, but just watch them. Every now and then she will check to see if he is looking at her and he will do the same.”

  “So what are you an expert on flirting now?” She nudged him.

  “No I am a woman that is why. Trust me.” She raised her eyebrows towards Sharelle and sure enough, she stole a quick glance at Forde and he at her, quickly looking away when they caught each other’s eyes. Forde began cleaning his sword furiously, until it gleamed. Kainan laughed as he looked across at Sharelle, she was doing the exact same thing with her sword.

  “Well it is about time, he has had a thing for Sharelle for ages.”

  “How do you know that?” Arweyn asked. Kainan nodded towards Forde’s brother.

  “Destran told me around five hundred and six months ago!” he said, laughing. She laughed along with him. Drawing her knees up, she snuggled into him.

  “Early days yet then,” she whispered. He looked down at her and smiled, squeezing her tightly.

  “Yes early days.”

  Twelve ~ Gemini

  “My Lord,” the black-wing soldier said, bowing low to his master.

  “Yes?” Gemini replied, lifting his head towards him.

  “Black-wing four has returned.” Gemini smiled, rubbing his hands together expectantly, more slaves for him to enjoy. “There was a problem,” the soldier added.

  “What do you mean a problem?” Gemini questioned, raising a sharp eyebrow.

  “The scouts spotted a party of men, around twelve or so. They sent thirty soldiers to deal with them last night but none of them have yet returned.” Gemini sighed loudly it was now dawn.

  “Where was this?”

  “Just beyond the ridge my Lord,” he replied, still looking downwards.

  “Send the dragons to have a look. They most probably got drunk celebrating their kill.”

  “Yes my Lord,” the man acknowledged, backing away head still down, towards the door. Gemini walked to a table in the corner of the room and poured himself a drink. Thirty soldiers were unusual, but they could have got themselves drunk. He smiled. Alternatively, perhaps he might finally have someone trying to oppose him. Sitting himself down on the chair at his desk, he put his f
eet up on top. Sighing again knocking back his drink he thought, probably not.

  He gave it an hour before walking over to a large crystal orb.

  Linking with his dragon, Gemini then watched through his dragon’s eyes as it circled high in the sky. Swooping down low, it flew over the bodies of his men. Gemini frowned angrily, they were all dead, all thirty of them.

  “Span out and search now,” he ordered sharply. His eyes scanned the trees as the dragon swept the entire area.

  “Now what do we have here?” he muttered curiously to himself as he gazed into the crystal orb. The dragon, spotting movement descended lower, towards a clearing amongst the great oaks. He could see a group of men sat together around a fire, they did not look like the usual peasants that tried to hide in the forests surrounding his fortress, outlanders perhaps.

  “Move nearer,” he ordered. Obeying, the black dragon descended closer. Gemini looked hard.

  “Warriors,” he mused. “After all this time,” he then murmured to himself. There were females within their group, he was sure of it. Thinking about it for a moment he huffed, shaking his head, they may have killed his men but they would not be able to outrun his dragons.

  “Kill them,” he ordered. The dragon dived. Gemini grinned as he watched the panic within the group.

  ***

  It was pouring with rain, but they were sheltered under the branches of a large oak. As he ate breakfast, Kainan watched his men and women, as they bantered playfully between themselves. He still found it remarkable that they were here at all, and that the enchantments and the spells he made nearly five hundred years ago had remained in place. His people, the entire Groundling Empire was still alive, albeit as statues frozen in time. He breathed deep, this was their last chance, and he just hoped that he and his beloved wife Arweyn now had the power within them to defeat Gemini.