“Yes Gemini was still feeding from his blood, he is weak but alive. We have to hurry I know the way.” She began to walk.
“Arweyn wait. I can feel my magic, it has returned. Give me your hands, let me heal you.” The room shook and the floor trembled beneath them. Any moment it would all come crashing down around them. She looked at her hands the flesh on one of them had almost melted away. She swallowed the adrenaline coursing through her had numbed the pain, until now. Now as she stared at them in horror they really did begin to hurt. She would not be much use until they healed.
“Okay. Hurry though.” She held her hands out to him. Reaching forward he took hold of one. She held her palm outwards, grimacing as the flesh stretched, and tore painfully. He frowned sympathetically at her. Taking a deep breath, he began to chant.
“Alora Mentoria escalida alora mentoria escalida, espora healarta.” The energy and warmth from his hand flowed into hers and gradually her flesh repaired and the skin healed, until once again her hand was normal. He repeated the same to her other hand.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling gratefully. “Now let me heal you, you look terrible,” she said, grinning at him. He grinned back, with a nod. Holding her hands to his beaten and scratched-up face, she closed her eyes and began to chant. Within minutes, his face had healed. Holding his hand out she grabbed it and together they began to run.
Gemini’s soldiers had thrown down their weapons and were fleeing from the collapsing Fortress, many racing to find their families. Kainan suddenly stopped, pulling her to a halt.
“What are you doing, why are we stopping?” she cried. Debris was crashing down all around them. The walls were shaking and the ground moved beneath their feet.
“I must contact Meladrom I cannot do it while I am running.” He stood for a moment, quiet amongst all the noise and chaos.
“Hurry Kainan,” she urged. Reaching with his mind, he called to his dragon.
***
Meladrom swooped towards the black-wing rider. Drawing a breath the dragon exhaled, sending a massive flame towards them. The black dragon pulled sharply to its left and Meladrom’s flame missed them by inches. The great dragon pulled back up into the skies.
Storm was in a ferocious battle, her talons locked together with a black dragon, his black-wing rider long been thrown. They tumbled through the air, rolling repeatedly as each dragon tried to gain the advantage, she snapped at it and wacked it with her barb. The sky was black with dragons. Amerdril had led Galtec down towards the Fortress, along with Eon, Keesra, and Dorac. Each of their riders was still intact and they concentrated their effort on burning all that was beneath them, whilst the rest took on the swarm of black dragons.
Forde and Erandril were in trouble, six black dragons, four with riders, chased them through the skies. Erandril growled swooping and diving, as he tried to out-manoeuvre them. Then roaring furiously Erandril had had enough and turning about he faced them. The huge dragon drew a deep breath and released a massive fireball, hitting two of the black dragons and incinerating them. Forde was injured, sweat poured from his face as he tried to maintain a hold on his dragon. His head dropped.
“Erandril,” he whispered. “I’m not going to make it.” He could feel his grip slipping and his eyes rolled as he desperately tried to remain conscious, struck by the tail of one of the black dragons it had knocked him senseless.
“Hold on Forde,” his dragon urged urgently. The dragon roared as he swooped down low, still trying to get the other four dragons off his back. “Ayver, Ayver,” his dragon called, as he hurtled towards Sharelle and her dragon.
“What is wrong?” Ayver replied, turning mid-air towards him.
“I’m losing Forde,” Erandril cried urgently.
“I’m on my way. Sharelle,”
“What is it Ayver? Sharelle replied, breathless.
“It is Forde; Erandril says he is losing him.” Sharelle’s heart shook fearfully as she looked for him amongst all the black dragons. Then she saw him, he was hanging on desperately with one arm as Erandril battled against the dragons.
“Hurry Ayver, get to him!” she cried urgently.
“Hold tight Sharelle,” Ayver warned as she pulled back her wings and began to hurtle through the black dragons, shooting her flames at them as she passed. Head down low to her back Sharelle hung on tight. Her eyes widened in panic as she saw Forde slip further.
“Ayver hurry, get underneath Erandril, he is falling!” At lightning speed Ayver shot towards them, Erandril was trying to fly sideways to avoid losing his rider but he was struggling against the black dragons. Ayver pulled up underneath, Sharelle reached her arms up to him.
“Forde, Forde come to me hurry,” she yelled. Forde opened his eyes at her voice and managed a smile. Grabbing him, she heaved him off his dragon and pulled him in front of her.
“Ayver go I have got him!” she yelled. Ayver immediately banked hard left, whilst Erandril now free of his rider stormed into the black dragons.
“Forde, Forde stay with me,” Sharelle begged, as she felt his body go limp. He groaned in response to her voice.
Meladrom prepared for another attack. This time he would not miss. His target came into view and he dived down towards them, hurtling through the skies at an unprecedented speed. All of a sudden the black dragon exploded, its rider thrown into the skies. A great mass of black dust, that had once been the dragon, scattered through the air. Meladrom abruptly stopped his descent in surprise, pulling back into the clouds. All around him, the black dragons were exploding and the other dragons and their riders soon found themselves without an opponent. Black-wing riders dropped out of the skies as their rides disappeared from under them, the ground below now littered with their broken bodies. Meladrom signalled the other dragons to regroup. Amerdril jumped off Galtec.
“What happened?” Galtec asked, walking towards Meladrom. Meladrom did not answer he was listening.
“The King calls me,” Meladrom grinned. “Kainan is still alive!” The great dragon remained quiet, listening. Galtec translated to Amerdril and Amerdril sighed with relief, relaying to the riders that had landed. Meladrom stamped his foot triumphantly upon the earth.
“Gemini is dead! The King wants us to go to the central courtyard. The Fortress is collapsing.” He went quiet again as he listened. “There are prisoners there. He wants us to get them out, he says…..” Meladrom’s huge head tilted to one side as if he could not quite believe what he was hearing. Breathing in a breath of disbelief, he then roared loudly, causing Amerdril to jump back in fright.
“My son is alive. The King has found him.” Galtec translated.
Ayver landed.
“Amerdril,” Sharelle cried desperately. Amerdril turned to her.
“It is Forde,” she snivelled, wiping tears from her eyes. Amerdril ran to her. Forde was motionless.
“What happened?” Sharelle shook her head.
“I do not know,” she cried, holding onto him tightly. Amerdril climbed up onto Ayver’s leg and reached towards him. He felt for a pulse, it was weak but he was still alive. Erandril landed, he could still feel Forde’s heart beating. Approaching his rider, he nudged him with his snout but he did not respond. He quickly explained to Ayver what had happened and she translated to Sharelle. Sniffing back her tears the elf looked at Amerdril.
“Erandril said he was hit by a black dragon’s tail.” Amerdril nodded concerned.
“We need to get him to the Queen,” he said. Sharelle nodded. Amerdril jumped down and mounted Galtec, raising his hand to the other riders he yelled.
“Well what are you waiting for let’s go.” With that Galtec, pushing off with his great hind legs, soared off into the skies towards the Fortress, and followed by the other fourteen dragons.
***
“Meladrom is on his way with the rest of the dragons.” Kainan looked at her and then frowned. “Forde has been badly hurt he is going to need you when they land.” She nodded, holding out her hand to him, he took
hold and held it tightly. They ran through the collapsing Fortress, dodging the falling masonry as they went. A huge piece of masonry fell towards them, Arweyn screamed, raising her arms to her head to protect herself. Instantly Kainan raised his hands and using an invisible force he held the giant block of stone off them, before hurtling it away. Arweyn’s heart pounded as she removed her arms from her head, she looked at him. His face flushed, she could see by the look in his eyes that it had surprised him too. He raised both his eyebrows at her before taking her hand and running once again. Turning abruptly around a corner they came face to face with three of the guards who had attacked him earlier. Pulling to a sudden halt Kainan drew the twin sword, pushing her behind him. The soldiers stared at him and then at the sword. Stepping backwards, they bowed down onto one knee.
“You have defeated Gemini, you are now our King, and our arms are yours.” They held their weapons towards him. Kainan taken aback for a moment then nodded to them.
“The prisoners who have come from Earth, do you know where this portal is?” They nodded and one replied.
“Yes my Lord we do.”
“If you help us, I will see to it that you are given homes in my city and if you prove yourselves loyal a place within my army should you wish it.” The men smiled gratefully.
“Thank you my Lord.”
“All of Gemini’s dragons have been destroyed, along with his magic. This Fortress is collapsing all around us. My wife has told me these prisoners are being kept within the courtyard.” The men nodded. One looked at the other and Kainan caught his eye. “You, what is it?” he questioned. The man stepped forward and lowered his head.
“There are more my Lord, than those that are within the gates.”
“More!” Arweyn cried shocked. “How many more are there?” The soldier hesitated.
“Easily another two hundred most of which are children.” Arweyn’s hand rose to her mouth. She had thought she had discovered everything, but she was clearly mistaken.
“The children, where are they?” she asked, in a whisper.
“They are kept within another fortress about four miles from here. Most of them will be children of the workers. It was Gemini’s way of guaranteeing their loyalty.”
“And the others?” she asked.
“Young men taken from Albion, and trained to be….” He looked across at the other black-wing soldier.
“To be what?” she pushed.
“Soldiers, like you.” Kainan interrupted. He nodded. “How old are you?
“Seventeen,” he replied. Kainan nodded.
“How long have you been here?”
“It is all I have ever known. I think I was about seven when I taken, I have vague memories but…..” He shook his head. Arweyn looked at her husband, her face showing the sorrow she felt as the young soldier continued.
“We had it beaten out of us, until he thought we remembered nothing.”
“You must understand,” the other said. “There was nowhere else for us to go. We had no choice but to do as he commanded.” He took a deep breath. “Once a black-wing solider reached thirty, they disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Kainan raised an eyebrow. The young soldier nodded.
“He said they were given lands for their service to him, homes for them, and their families. Some of us do have wives and children.”
“And you believed him?” The soldier shrugged.
“No, but there was nothing we could do about it. Some tried to escape with their families but he always found them…. When he did, he killed them all.”
“Will you take us to the children?” Kainan asked. The soldier nodded as did the other two. The ground shook again beneath their feet. Kainan replaced the sword into its sheath and took his wife’s hand.
“Come on, we will free those in the courtyard first, the dragons can take us to the others.”
“Kainan Gemini had a son he was killed when he was thirty.” He looked at his wife as they walked.
“You think he killed them because they were thirty?” She nodded.
“Kainan, his mind was not right. It looks like he would not allow anyone from Albion to live longer than his son did. There are no older people here at all.” Kainan took a hard breath.
“How can we be sure they are dead and not somewhere else on Malgar?” he questioned.
“We cannot. Maybe when this is over we can send scouts out to search for them?” He nodded thoughtfully.
“Yes I will do that. It will not take long for some of the dragons to do a sweep.”
Meladrom, the other dragons, and their riders touched down in the centre of the courtyard. The King and Queen immediately ran to Ayver. Kainan lifted Forde off her back, Sharelle jumped down.
“Can you save him my Queen,” Sharelle begged. Arweyn touched her arm.
“I will do my best,” she promised, kneeling down next to him. Scanning her hands up and down his body, she checked for damage. She smiled, looking up to Sharelle who clung onto Kainan in tears.
Arweyn nodded with a smile and then turning back to Forde she began running her healing hands up and down his body, chanting in a quiet whisper. Gradually Forde stirred, Sharelle knelt down beside him as Arweyn moved back out of her way. As Forde opened his eyes, he felt a gentle hand on his cheek. It was Sharelle he managed a smile.
“You silly sod,” she said, shaking her head angrily at him. Forde pushed himself up on one elbow.
“Would you have missed me?” he asked, grinning at her.
“Missed you!” she cried, throwing her arms around him. Forde was taken aback he looked up at Destran who stood looking down at his little brother, relieved that he was alive. Destran urged with his eyes for him to do something. Forde sat up and pulled his arms around her.
“Forde I love you,” she whispered. He pulled back from his embrace and wiped her tears with his thumb.
“I love you too Sharelle and I have done for a very long time,” he admitted. He kissed her. Destran grinned turning to Kainan.
“About bloody time,” he said with a laugh, and Kainan laughed along with him. He walked over to his dragon.
“Meladrom,” he said, relieved to see his dragon safe. The dragon turned to his voice.
“My King,” he acknowledged as Kainan approached him. The young King began to rub his snout affectionately and Meladrom nuzzled his head into him.
“My son?” the dragon asked. Kainan turned to his wife and she smiled at him.
“This way,” she replied, pointing towards a building at the rear of the Fortress. The dragon followed her eagerly.
“He is in there Meladrom, underground and locked inside a metal cage.” Meladrom nodded and Galtec stood alongside him.
“Brother we shall have to tear down the building,” Galtec said.
“That will not be a problem. Stand back my Queen,” he said, turning to Arweyn. She stepped well away as four of the dragons converged towards the building. An army of black-wing soldiers suddenly appeared Kainan and his party withdrew their swords, but the soldiers took one look at the Twin sword and the fourteen dragons, which now filled the courtyard that they threw their weapons down immediately.
“Please my Lord they have only come for their families, that’s all.” Kainan looked at the young black-wing soldier by his side.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“Eric, my Lord. They only want to save their families.” He pleaded. Kainan looked back towards the army of men.
“It is true what he speaks,” one soldier ventured, stepping forward from the crowd. “We just want our wives and children.” Storm moved towards the men, they veered backwards in fear.
“You had better speak the truth or I shall eat you,” she said menacingly. Kainan twitched a smile, for although he could understand her quite clearly, to the hundreds of men that had now gathered it was merely a loud and threatening growl. As Kainan replaced his sword, so did the others. He looked out onto Gemini’s army and there was not one man who appeared
over the age of thirty. He turned to Eric, the soldier by his side.
“Is it like this with the women is there no one here over thirty?” The man shook his head.
“No my Lord, when a man or woman reached their thirtieth birthday Gemini took them away. If they had youngens they were given to other women or placed in the nursery in the other fortress I told you about.” Kainan sighed. It was not just the soldiers from Albion; it looked like Gemini had taken his revenge on every race.
“Do you know where he took them?” he asked, wondering if there was any hope that they may still be alive.
“No, he took them alone he said it was a village on the other side of the Parneer Mountains.” Kainan closed his eyes briefly. The only ‘village’ on the other side of the mountains was his Kingdom. He was now sure Gemini had slaughtered them all.
“There was nothing we could do. Men had tried and had died by his hand; he was a great sorcerer he could rip out the insides of a man without even touching him. He had their children, their wives. The boys he would take and place them into the academy to train as Black-wing soldiers. The girls….” He trailed off, looking to the ground. “The girls he would take for himself between the ages of 16 and 20 if he liked them, or he would give them to some of the higher ranking soldiers. The rest would be used as his servants until they were old enough to bear children.” Kainan scowled with disgust and looked out at the crowd. Some of these men were probably guilty of sickening acts to these poor women but he would never know who they were. He addressed them.
“Today you are free from Gemini’s reign and I give to you the following choices. You could choose to stand against me but you will die. Alternatively, you can choose to join me and live within the protection of my Kingdom and to work as soldiers of Malgar or be free to follow another trade. I will see given homes for your families within our city. You may if you wish leave and search out your own place on this world or if you are from Earth, you may want to return there, the choice is yours. You may wish to remain here within this valley, and build your own village, if so we shall assist you, however, you will remain within the realm of Malgar and therefore expected to abide by my rules. Gemini’s reign of terror is over and I Kainan, King of Malgar take back the lands that belong to me. Go and see your families and make your choice. Once the dragons have released one of their own, we shall go to the outpost where I believe more of your children held. Those of you with children being kept there may join us.” For a moment the army remained silent and then one after the other they began talking amongst themselves. Kainan led them towards the wooden gates. The buildings within them appeared to be unaffected by the collapse of the Fortress and remained solid and stable.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom Page 32