“The Iron River,” People’s Councilor Danikel breathed. “So you reached Ironfast? You walked its ancient streets, breathed its air?” Wonder sparkled in his eyes.
“It’s everything the stories say it is, Father,” Captain Daxos offered with an awe-filled smile. “Massive towers of stone, paved roads, and the very ceiling of the cavern glowing with the light from an unknown species of plant.”
“I understand that Ironfast is something you guys have been dreaming about for generations,” I interrupted, “but you’ll have plenty of time to explore it when you search for any roaming ghoulins. But before that happens, I need you all to help Whitespire defeat Curym and Zaddrith. Even now, their armies are marching toward Whitespire. It’s time you honor your end of the bargain and send the Blackguard to help fight.”
“And I fully intend to,” Danikel said with a deep bow. “But, as I mentioned, the passing of Military Councilor Warrald leaves us in a precarious position. Specifically, we have no one to command the Blackguard.”
“You should do it!” Nyvea purred in my head. “You’d be amazing at leading men into battle, and you’ve already proven you can do it. Plus, you’d look absolutely gorgeous in that black armor.”
“I’m not a general,” I replied. “I don’t know strategy or tactics or anything like that. I’m better off with my dragons kicking ass instead of being stuck behind a desk or over a map.”
“We will need to elect a new Military Councilor,” Justice Councilor Enton was saying to Danikel, “but it will take time for you to convene the Conclave of Windwall and give the people the chance to put forth their candidates.”
“Yes,” People’s Councilor Danikel said with a nod of his head. “That could take weeks, and as Sir Ethan is saying, the threat to Whitespire is immediate.”
“I still think it should be you!” Nyvea insisted. “Hell, you should be ruling this whole city, after what you did to save it. Or the whole of Iriador. You’re the hero that defeated three dragons and--”
“I believe Captain Daxos should be the commander of the Blackguard until the war with the dragons is over,” I said, both to silence Nyvea’s voice and to put a quick end to the debate.
“Me?” Captain Daxos’ eyes went wide.
“Yes, you,” I said as I turned to the man. “I’ve traveled beside you for these last few days, and I’ve seen what sort of man you are. If you were in Whitespire, I would have no doubt King Obragar would knight you for your bravery, nobility, and integrity. Sergeant Dai and even Lieutenant Trosken would have followed you down a demon’s throat or right into a dragon’s lair. I’ve no doubt there are many more Blackguards that feel the same way.”
People’s Councilor Danikel shot a questioning glance at Justice Councilor Enton
“It is not unprecedented,” Enton said, and his narrow face grew even more angular as he pressed his lips into a thin line. “In the exodus from Ironfast, after the fall of the wizards, Rodym Blackfist was elected to serve as interim commander until the people could select a new Military Councilor.”
“But, Father, I--” Captain Daxos began.
“And you believe he would have the Blackguards’ support in this matter?” People’s Councilor Danikel interrupted his son so he could ask Enton.
“As Sir Ethan surmised,” Enton said with a shrug, “there are many in the Blackguard who would follow him without question. I have little doubt that most of the men would accept his command, especially after we make it clear his part in Emroth and Vozaath’s defeat.”
“And what of Lavinus?” Danikel asked as he narrowed his eyes. “You believe he will simply accept this without balking?”
“I don’t give a fuck what that fat prick says,” Enton snapped, once again his behavior supremely un-judge-like. “He couldn’t be bothered to attend this Council. What’s more, I suspect he had something to do with Warrald’s plan to betray Sir Ethan. He would be the one to pay out whatever coin Warrald used to pay off the assassin.”
I saw Captain Daxos’ face tense, and I could see the hurt in his eyes at the mention of Lieutenant Trosken. I knew a large part of his unwillingness to command his men came from the fact that he’d failed to see Trosken’s treachery until it was too late. That sort of self-doubt could cripple even the most competent commander.
“Captain Daxos,” I said in a solemn voice, “we’re going to war against two dragons and their massive armies. I have fought by your side, and you saved my life more than once. Without you, I know I would never have completed my mission. I owe you a debt as does all of Windwall. It would be an honor to fight beside you again.”
“The goddesses have willed it so!” came a feminine voice from behind me, and I whirled around to see three black-cloaked and hooded figures sweeping into the room. They pulled back their hoods in unison to reveal their faces, one barely twenty years old, one middle-aged, and one with grey hair and deep wrinkles.
“The goddesses have spoken,” said the elderly Priestess Quailu in a strong voice that didn’t waver despite the fact that she had to be eighty or ninety. “They have proclaimed you the one best-fit to lead the armies of Windwall to battle.”
“They will strengthen your arm,” the middle-aged priestess said, “guide your aim, and influence your steps.”
“They will lead you to victory over the enemy,” the youngest priestess spoke up. “Though it will cost us all dearly, Iriador will be free once more.”
“Peace and plenty will return to this land,” all three spoke in unison. “With the Dragonrider, Fireblade, and Braveheart, mankind will find safety and hope for a better future.”
“So speaks the goddess Avennya,” said the youngest priestess.
“So speaks the goddess Merallia,” said the middle-aged woman.
“So speaks the goddess Roassa,” said the grey-haired woman.
“The goddesses have spoken,” they said in unison once more, “and their decree will be made manifest.”
In perfect synchronization, the three women lifted their hoods, turned, and strode from the room without another word.
Silence hung thick in the Council Chamber for long moments after the door closed behind the three priestesses. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what the hell just happened. I knew I was the Dragonrider they had mentioned, and Captain Daxos had to be Fireblade, though I had no idea how the priestesses knew about his magical fire sword. But who was Braveheart? Could it be Sir Galfred the Bold or someone else?
“Well, I believe our course of action is clear,” People’s Councilor Danikel said in a slow voice, and his eyes turned to the captain. “My son, do you believe yourself up to the challenge?”
“I…” Captain Daxos hesitated, and I could see the war going on inside him. He couldn’t argue with the goddesses, but he still doubted his abilities. But as long as he didn’t let the doubt control him, it would make him one hell of a commander. “I will do what is required of me, for the sake of Windwall, and the future of all mankind.”
“Fucking A!” I said with a grin, and I clapped the Captain on the back. People’s Councilor Danikel’s face broke into a proud smile, and even Justice Councilor Enton seemed pleased at the outcome.
“I know you guys have a lot of details to figure out,” I said to the two Councilors and the captain, “but I’ve got to get back to Whitespire as quickly as possible. The two dragons and their minions were already marching on the city before I came here, so I need to return to help Whitespire fight off the attack.”
“We will march to your aid as soon as possible,” People’s Councilor Danikel told me.
“There is still the matter of the ghoulins in the canyon below,” Captain Daxos said, “and those roaming the passages of Ironfast. We will need to man the Windwall, the city gates, and keep enough Blackguards here to maintain order. But I swear that I will come with every man we can spare. Whitespire will not stand alone.” He swept a deep bow to me.
“Thank you,” I said as I returned the bow, then added with a wink, “Capt
ain Fireblade.”
“No, Sir Ethan, thank you,” People’s Councilor Danikel said in a solemn tone. “Your presence here has shown us that the time for thinking of only ourselves is over. You risked much to help us, and you proved that we must be a part of something greater than just one city and its people. Power and position matter little when the fate of all humans on Iriador hangs in the balance. We will not fail you, Ethan. Goddesses smile on you on your journey home.”
“And on you,” I said, then turned and strode from the Council Chamber.
I felt a thousand pounds lighter as I emerged from the palace into the training yard. The sun shone brightly in the sky, and I could almost feel a sense of hopefulness in the air around me. I had succeeded in my mission to save Windwall, and now we would have the Blackguards and another dragon to help us fight both Curym and Zaddrith. That counted as a pretty fucking awesome day in my books.
“Let’s get home,” I told Irenya as I drew out the red gemstone.
She stripped quickly, winked at me when she noticed my eyes on her curvaceous body, and then stuffed her dress into her pack and presented her chest for my hand. It took a matter of seconds to summon the fire magic to transform her back into dragon form, but as soon as she was changed, I strapped my pack and hers in place and climbed onto her back. She let out a rumbling roar, then launched herself high into the air.
Some of the Blackguards on the Windwall actually waved at us as we soared over their heads, and their shouts of joy echoed around us. I grinned and shot them a military salute that they quickly returned.
My eyes went to the canyon floor far below and the corpse-like figures shuffling aimlessly around.
“What say we make the Blackguards clean-up job a bit easier?” I shouted to Irenya.
“With pleasure,” she growled, then tucked her wings tightly against her side to plummet along the face of the black stone Windwall.
I laughed aloud at the wind rushing up to meet me, and I clung tight to Irenya’s spine as she twirled and spun like a speeding bullet. At the last moment, she snapped her wings out, and my stomach leapt into my throat as she zoomed along thirty feet above the rocky floor of the canyon. A pillar of flame burst from her throat and engulfed the crowd of ghoulins. The stink of charred flesh had never smelled so sweet, and the gurgling cries of pain sounded like music to my ears.
Irenya’s fire ripped through the ranks of ghoulins, and they died by the thousands. By the time we had left the last of the shambling figures behind, the canyon was littered with blackened bodies and piles of ash. Fewer than five hundred ghoulins had survived, and they’d be easy pickings for the Blackguard.
Irenya caught an updraft and quickly gained altitude until we soared nearly a mile above the red, rugged landscape. It was truly beautiful, and it made me a bit homesick for Earth. I’d never visited the Grand Canyon, but now would I ever have the chance? I was enjoying my time on Agreon, but I was an outsider here. No one really knew where I was from, what a life I’d lived, or anything beyond what they saw of me. I couldn’t tell anyone the truth, not yet at least.
I tried to shove the little wistfulness down deep. I had more important things to worry about than a little homesickness. People were counting on me for their very survival. Once I had gathered enough power from the dragons, Barodan would have to send me home.
The thought of leaving Nyvea, Irenya, Arieste, Adath, Sir Galfred, Captain Daxos, and all the others I’d met here on Agreon left me a bit sad. I truly had grown fond of my dragon women, and I had become good friends with the men. Going home would feel strange, especially if I went back to Earth without magic. What would life be like?
“You can just stay here with us, hero,” Nyvea purred in my mind, and I realized that I must have been thinking so that she could hear me. “We love you on this world.”
Nyvea’s words brought a smile to my face and pushed the gloomy thoughts aside. Here I was, riding a fucking fire-breathing dragon a mile above this gorgeous mountainous landscape. That was the sort of thing I’d never have been able to do anywhere else. I’d damn well enjoy it while I could.
The sun steadily dropped toward the horizon as Irenya and I flew across the rugged landscape. The world beneath us soon turned to the scorched black wastelands that had once been Riamod’s land. The thick smell of smoke and ash hung in the air, but I welcomed it. It told me we were going to be home in Whitespire soon enough.
The blackened earth turned into grasslands and rolling hills of emerald green. Thick forests spread out far to the west, and I caught a hint of sparkling blue as we flew closer to the Crystal River. Far in the distance, I could see the yellow, orange, green, and dusty brown farmlands that spread out around Whitespire. I almost imagined I could see the enormous white tower that gave the city its name.
My blood turned to ice as something below caught my attention. The blue surface of the Crystal River churned to foamy white as sinewy, pale-skinned creatures emerged from its depths. Thousands of them swam along the length of the river like an enormous school of fish. Yet they were like no fish I’d ever seen. They moved like snakes but had human torsos and heads. Somewhere far behind us, I could sense the presence of Curym the blue dragon. Her magic felt like a flowing, tumbling cascade of water that seethed like fast-flowing rapids.
Another pulse of magic echoed from the forest to the west. This magic was sharp, biting, almost as if it left a metallic taste in my mind instead of my mouth. The forest seemed to be alive with moving creatures, like thousands of tiny ants moving through a grassy lawn. The thick canopy made it impossible to make out their features, but I could feel their magic.
There were thousands of Zaddrith’s minions, and they would all soon join Curym’s hordes in the invasion of Whitespire.
My heart sank, and I felt a curse form on my lips. The dragons’ armies would reach the city in no more than a day, and they’d overwhelm the villages and towns along the way far sooner. I could only hope Sir Galfred and the king’s men had a chance to evacuate the homes and get everyone to safety.
Yet even if there were no casualties, we were vastly outnumbered by the dragons’ hordes. Whitespire had no standing army to fight them, and the city’s defenses couldn’t hold out against such vast numbers.
The battle for the salvation of humankind had just begun, but even with all the odds stacked against us, I knew that we were going to win.
End of book 2
Thank you for reading this novel! Do you want to see another Dragon Slayer novel? Leave me a review and let me know!
A letter from the author:
Dear reader, if you REALLY want to read the next Dragon Slayer novel- I’ve got a bit of bad news for you. Unfortunately, Amazon will not tell you when book 3 comes out. They also won’t tell you when book 4, 5, or 6, etc... are published. You’ll probably never know about my next book, and you’ll be left wondering what happened to Ethan, Arieste, and Irenya.
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Editing by Ginger Earle, Nick Kuhns, Diane Velasquez, Jacqueline Miles (who also edits my audio books), Holly Lenz, Cody Elyko, Jay Taylor, Lucas Luvith, Anthony DePaolo, Kenneth Smith, Alex Hyde, and Zach Summers.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright 2018 by Michael-Scott Earle
Dragon Slayer 2_A Pulp Fantasy Harem Adventure Page 27